Som Tam Gai is here to satisfy those hearty hankerings with its elevated take on Thai favourites. Perched next door to Bistro Lamp and neighbouring Poké Poké, Goccia Italian, Background (Barista) and Lovechild Kitchen + Bar in the highway-fronting complex in Mermaid Beach, the pint-sized newcomer is all about the experience of dining together. Born from a pandemic that enforced isolation, the venue is designed to bring people together with a range of plates that are intended for sharing. The skewers cooked on the charcoal grill will transport your tastebuds to a makeshift roadside market in Thailand whilst the pan-fried scallops with coriander dressing offer a tasty starter. The salads here prove once and for all that you do, in fact, make friends with salad with the spicy-yet-sweet green mango, lychee and herb salad with sinus-clearing green Nahm Jim a real hero. The curries are all made from scratch in-house and whilst they all sound mighty appetising, the Thai-red curry with roasted salmon is guaranteed to hit the spot. If you simply cannot decide, the banquet menu is an excellent option at $49 per person. Som Tam Gai also offers a succinct selection of swill including mostly Australian wines in red, white and sparkling varietals, frothies from Burleigh’s Black Hops and Varsity’s Aardvark & Arrow as well as classic cocktails.

Make a booking here.