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Zom Tum

4.8 (44 reviews)
Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Zom Tum Photos

ZOM TUM ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - Zom Tum

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Reviews With Photos - Zom Tum

Exterior
Peter D.

I wished I dined here as the interior was cute, but had to get takeout. I placed my order online, and it only took 20 minutes to pick up my order. It was quite speedy. Food-wise... my mild chicken pad thai order was pretty good. The sauce was pretty good and the noodles didn't taste anything out of the ordinary. I will call out that this pad thai order was probably the most expensive I've had in dc... I wouldn't rush coming back here, but it's good nonetheless

Dave D.

If we lived within a few blocks of Zom Tum we'd be stopping by at least every other week. The vibe is so right, the service is excellent and the food well ... it's just plain YUMMY! The Tom Yum soup had a little kick but was filled with fresh ingredients... really filled... I almost licked the bowl! The entrees were large and just as delicious! I loved the music choices and if I didn't have a train to catch I would have stayed longer in this attractive dining oasis. The bar looked enticing but that darn train. Next time I'm the Nation's Capitol I just might be catching a ride to Zom Tum ... really a perfect dinner after a long work day!!

Austin G.

Per a friend's recommendation, I popped into Zom Tum to order takeout on a Wednesday evening around 6 p.m. A kind staff member helped me right away and within 15 minutes, I was out the door with our food. Everything we ordered came in hearty portions and full of flavor. The spicy basil fried rice was excellent. My eight-year-old daughter devoured the fried rice with chicken. My wife loved the drunken noodles with chicken and the larb. The tom yum soup was delicious. For dessert, the mango and sticky rice was excellent. The space itself is the old Joselito space along Pennsylvania Avenue SE near the Eastern Market Metro. There's bar seating and a large dining room with tables.

Thai Iced Coffee
Sam O.

Haven't tried the food yet but the drunken noodles have my name on it!! Was walking by after the eastern market farmers and decided to grab a Thai Iced Coffee. Phenomenal. No notes. Gimme 14 more of em immediately!!!

Khao Soi
Luke C.

Zom Tum is an excellent Thai place in southeast DC. The vibes inside Zom Tum are modern, clean and bright. It wasn't too busy but it was cold outside. I ordered the Khao Soi. The curry is thick and very savory, with spice that is present but not overpowering. It has a good texture in that it feel thin enough to keep eating. The egg noodles have a great texture, crunchy on top over the noodles and then separately, it is soft underneath the curry Red raw onions, green onions, and cilantro are all excellent. The sour veggies provide a great contrast to the rest of the dish. The number of different vegetables stood out The meat-to-noodle ratio is good, and there is plenty of meat. Though maybe it felt a bit less seasoned than the rest of the food. The quality is high for the $24 price point. The service is very fast and very attentive, with food arriving in about 5 to 10 minutes. Definitely would come back.

Entrance inside seating
Rikin S.

Thai food is one of my favorites and I was craving it on a Friday night. My friends and I found Zom Tum in the nearby Eastern Market neighborhood. Street parking is available and at that time of night it was abundant. The restaurant has a charming bistro type of vibe with marble tops and cafe style chair with fresh flowers on each. The menu is plentiful with choices of known favorites and even some unique offerings like Gang Ohm a Laotian style curry. I'm always concerned about getting a true vegetarian option without fish or oyster sauce. Best part the waiter and staff aware of vegetarian and vegan options and they are willing to make nearly any dish with that option. We ordered the springs rolls (3 per order), the Green curry with Tofu and vegetables and the basil fried rice. Everything came out hot, fresh and tasty. Only issue we had was the green curry was clearly missing salt and even some spice. We ordered it medium but it was completely lacking any spice. They provided us with a spice tray so we can make it spicer, even after that it was lacking, so it must have been the salt. Nonetheless the food was good, service was personable, they are accommodating to vegans /vegetarians, and it's nearby! I'm definitely coming here again.

Drunken Noodle
Isaac W.

Drunken Noodle is pretty tasty. Service is friendly and attentive. Ambiance is clean and simple. I think there may be some Laotian options as well. I find the place a little pricy, but most of DC is overpriced. The food is great for Capitol Hill.

Special meni
Min Z.

We stumbled upon this spot near Eastern Market and loved it. The prices are reasonable, and the service is wonderfully friendly. 5*We tried the Pad Thai: it was perfect, with noodles cooked just right. 3*The Papaya Salad: it was a bit too spicy for us, but very fresh. A great find with delicious food. We can't wait to go back and try more dishes!

Saha S.

We were in Eastern Market and came here to try some Thai food. We started off with spring rolls, which were really good. We also got two entrees to share: one Noodle and one curry. Both were super flavorful and hit the spot. The service was great and the food came out pretty quickly. The only complaint is that we felt like the entrees could have been a little bigger.

Yuri L.

Had a great lunch at Zom Tum. Steve and the rest of the staff were friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better. The food was excellent. I especially loved the eggplant dish. Can't wait to go back!

Green curry! Yum!!
Lorrie Y.

The food was delicious and the atmosphere is so soothing and beautiful. But what really stands out is the service. I don't recall the last time I have experienced service this amazing. Oh, and don't skip the mango sticky rice (sorry no pic because we destroyed it).

ZT Combo
Cherie S.

Fantastic addition to the neighborhood. Great service, tasty and authentic cuisine, and decent prices. Who could ask for more?

Margarita & Blue Hawaii
Rodger S.

Last night's meal was disappointing. I started with a flaming volcano. Yes, it flamed, but it didn't have much flavor. Then we had 2 appetizers. The pinky (shrimp spring rolls) were fine, but the chicken wonton consisted of too much crispy wontons. The biggest disappointment was the sweet & sour entree with pork. I'll never get it again because the pork was fatty & it didn't have much flavor. The service was under par as well. We waited way too long to get our check.

Kana Moo Grob - crispy pork belly

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10 months ago

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9 months ago

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Thip Khao - Fried rice Kua Khao Jaew Bong

Thip Khao

4.4(1.5k reviews)
3.8 miColumbia Heights
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Came here for date night after hearing so much about this restaurant and it didn't disappoint!…read moreLaotian food is always a hit. We had major indecision because there's SO many things on the menu we wanted to try but ended up getting: Naem khao: 4/5 probably better with the sour pork, but loved how fresh this was. It was a large portion too, so we got kind of full from finishing it before our mains even arrived. Shrimp pad see ew: 5/5 the best pad see ew I've had in the DMV. So much wok fire flavor. You can really taste the caramelization. And the large shrimp were velveted which was made it extra satisfying to eat. Also a good shareable portion size! Muu Som: 4/5 this was super rich and heavy. Would get this again only to share with a larger group. Loved that it came with sticky rice. Mango sticky rice: 4/5 delicious but in my opinion didn't need the ice cream on top (my boyfriend thinks otherwise though). Very large portion as well. The cocktails were a little pricy ($15) for what they were but I did love the tamarind margarita. Just wish it was a larger drink or a smaller price tag. Service was very attentive!

This Laotian spot is a big hit in Columbia Heights. We live minutes away from this spot. I like…read morethat we have a higher end restaurant with such accolades. It has a unique menu, not like you'd typically find. The ambiance is classy and located in a nicer mixed use living facility. Overall, I haven't really found a dish that speaks to me. I've gone here at least a dozen times. I do love the ambiance and service but maybe Laotian is just not my flavor. Regardless, it's nice to have the spot in the hood.

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Baan Siam

Baan Siam

4.5(724 reviews)
1.6 mi
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This Thai restaurant is the best in the city. Their food is consistently flavorful, fresh, and…read moredelicious. The service is timely and effective. Plus, the ambience is a mix of relaxation and class. I ordered the Lychee Martini to start, followed by the Tom Yum Fried Rice with Shrimp. It was cold, fresh, and so flavorful. Plus, it packed a punch. Although I normally eat the pork belly with fried rice, I decided to go with the Tom Yum Fried Rice with Shrimp, which did not disappoint. The freshness and spicy/sour flavors really delight the pallet. Plus, the pepper tray provides vinegar and hot sauces to supplement, if needed. The owner not only cares about the quality of the food in this restaurant, but about his customers and the community. I haven't visited for a while, and the staff still remembered my standard order. That attention to detail is something that makes people feel appreciated and want to come back again and again. Kudos to Baan Siam for their success year over year!

Amazing Thai food at this restaurant. Got the green mango Salad, chicken wings, khao soi, and beef…read morecurry. The mango salad was delicious, I could eat that all day. The khao soi had good flavor, and it came with rice. The chicken wings were for my son, he said they were the best wings he's ever had. The beef curry had good flavor, but the beef was a bit overcooked. Service was a little bit of a miss. When the waiter first came, he asked us for our food order. However, we wanted to order drinks first. I was able to order my cocktail, however, the waiter left before anyone else at my table could speak to order a beverage. Food came out very quickly. This is not the type of place where you would want to enjoy drinks and food over a period of time. However, if you are super hungry, your food will definitely get to you quickly. Restaurant was crowded, but not super loud. Overall, I would come back for the food, I just wish that I could have more time to enjoy my restaurant experience.

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Baan Mae - Hua poi - PHENOMENAL

Baan Mae

4.6(87 reviews)
2.3 miShaw

Sakoo- tasted like a mochi and spring roll cross over. The filling is a savory peanut sauce…read more Imagine eating a pan fried summer roll with the dipping sauce wrapped inside. Delightful Gaeng dang curry- yummy yellow curry. It was umami, salty, and there was a touch of spice from the chili oil drizzled on top. I thought the kick of spice was unique and made the dish Pad see eaw- this was also done well. The noodles had a great chewy texture. It was not too salty either I would give it a 4.5

I'm always excited for Lao food, and Baan Mae did not disappoint! I came here with a friend for a…read morebirthday dinner. Even though they are pescatarian, there were still plenty of options on the menu for both of us. We started with Thai green teas, the Sakoo, and the Enoki--both starters were delicious. For mains, we shared the Fried Catfish Laab and the Pad See Eaw with Shrimp. Both were delicious, though I preferred the flavorful laab while my friend loved the Pad See Eaw. My only minor critique was the sticky rice; it was a bit too soft and stuck to my fingers. That said, the Jeow Bong I ordered on the side was incredible. I'll definitely be stopping by often to grab some to go for my home-cooked meals! I'll be dipping everything with Jeow Bong! As someone who grew up eating Lao food, I can confidently say this is the real deal. The space is very small and intimate. We were practically sharing conversations with the table next to us, so I highly recommend making a reservation

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Padaek - Arlington - crab noodles

Padaek - Arlington

4.4(164 reviews)
4.8 mi
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Took an extended walk a few weeks ago to check this place out before getting groceries, as it's…read moresupposedly some of the best Thai in South Arlington and had to verify that. Was seated by a delightful young lady, and found the decor and layout to be quite pleasing; modest by elegant. As for the fare, it was indeed quite worth the walk. Ordered a bowl of Tom Yum and the Pad Thai Mun Goong. The Tom Yum was solid and quite flavorful, a flux of tangy lemongrass with the oniony sweetness of steeped scallions, and enoki mushrooms to provide some heartiness. The Pad Thai Mun Goong was a chef specialty pad Thai made with stir fried rice noodle, prawns shrimp tomalley oil (a crucial element for this version), egg and bean sprouts, naturally topped with green onions, peanuts and a lime for squeezing, and this also was quite phenomenal. Savory, sweet, a little tingle of sourness from the citrus in the mid-palate, and the juicy, briny shrimp balancing the dense carbs and rich flavorful sauce. All-in-all, I was well pleased this visit. As this is Padaek's second location, I hope they don't expand too much further/quickly and compromise on quality.

My food was good but it could use some improvement…read more Naem Khao Todd - served cold and I didn't like that, not even the meat was warm, nor the rice - it came out almost instantly - delicious flavorful - $19 Piing - it looked like an appetizer when it came out - the presentation was boring - needed more pickled cucumber - the toasted rice sauce was good - meat was chewy and took a while to break down Atmosphere - I don't know if they had the air on, but it was raining and they had a floor fan blowing, because it was hot and humid inside which made for a slightly uncomfortable dining experience - free parking in lot of shopping center which is a plus for Arlington I don't plan on returning.

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Padaek - Tum Lao

Padaek

4.3(1.1k reviews)
8.4 mi
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Loved Padaek. The service was friendly and thoughtful. Our server made great suggestions. We…read moreordered all kinds of dishes. The kra prow and the Burmese tea salad stood out the most. Flavors are authentic and the perfect balance of sweet spicy and sour. They also serve delicious cocktails. I had a tamarind cocktail which was to die for.

It's been almost 2 years since I ate there last. Went on a Sat night and surprisingly not busy…read more Guessing the extreme cold made everyone stay home. We got the crunchy rice with sour pork (naem khao thadaeu), pork shoulder (ping), fried catfish (patod), chicken pad thai (kua mee), and warm coconut milky dessert (bua loy). All the dishes were delicious but a bit more salty than Thai. Feels like a lot of fish sauces in all the dishes. The crunchy rice came with lettuce but ours were not the best lettuce. The fried catfish were nicely fried with a perfect coating. Definitely a dish to get. The pork shoulder is another dish to get. Nicely seasoned with sticky rice. Their version of pad thai is uniquely different than Thai. A bit more sweet but the lime makes it better. Wife wanted to try bua loy dessert. It is a warm sweet dessert that balanced out all the salty flavors of the dishes. Something to try as well. Flavor are still the same. The dishes we order were too much for 2 of us. My only complaint was the restaurant smelled like smoke when we walked in. Not the kind where there was a fire in the kitchen but more like someone smoking in the kitchen?

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Maketto - Spicy cauliflower

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4.2(1.4k reviews)
1.1 mi
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My group of friends has a supper club where we explore interesting restaurants. I coordinated a…read morePrix Fixe menu with the chef/owner who was incredibly responsive, helpful, and willing to recommend menu options I coordinated a Seven Course Prix Fixe menu for our group of 11. The chef made great suggestions and allowed me to adjust based upon food preferences. Our entire group was blown away by Maketto. Cocktails were complicated, interesting, and well balanced. A few favorites: The Angkor Wat, Singapore Sling, and Brothers and Sisters. In the first four small plate courses, our group raved about the Spicy Cucumbers and Chicken Ginger Soup Dumplings but the Tomato and Tofu and Shrimp Dumplings were also wonderful. For the three main entrees, all three were wonderful. The standout was the Cambodian Brisket, Pickled Vegetables, and homemade roti but we also loved the complexity of the wok fried noodles with mushrooms but you must get the Pork Char Sui. Our final entree was the Spicy Beef and Rice bowl which was also delicious. For dessert , the Mochi Beignets were a hit along with the coconut ice cream and Egg Custard Tart. Bottom line, you will love Maketto. Our entire group was impressed with the food. Service was also wonderful. Thanks for a great night!

This place is still stellar after all these years. Came late on a Saturday night where they had two…read moreprivate parties and they still squeezed us in. Can't beat the vibe - laid back but buzzing. Service was very attentive and welcoming. Everything we tried was delicious, complex and unique. It's a daily menu with a lot of staples -- we felt like we could not have chosen wrong. For cocktails we tried the Ankor what - Szechuan-infused bourbon, maple cynar and lemon. I wasn't sure what to expect and how spirit forward it would be but it was perfectly balanced. Not too sweet, not too spicy or peppery with the sezchuan pepper but subtly complex. And the Chinese opera - Lemongrass-Infused Macchu Pisco, St. Germain, Lemon, Apple Shrub, Aquafaba. This one looked beautiful, topped with pink peppercorns and went down too easy. Light and refreshing. I would recommend all the dishes we tried. The Chinese soup dumplings with this fragrant peanut sauce are a must. My boyfriend's favorite was the Gruyère beef chili dumplings which reminded me of croquettes. Definitely recommend the Peking duck build your own bao entree. We loved the vegetable toppings so much we asked if we could purchase their homemade kimchi to take some home :) Finished with the egg tartes which were so light and luscious, the brulee crust is everything. Appreciated the chef even stopping by the table to check on the meal! Such a nice impromptu dining out experience

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Zom Tum - laotian - Updated July 2026

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