Somtum Der Red Hook

THAILAND 🇹🇭

[COVID-19 UPDATE: See below for the nice backyard setup at Somtum Der's newer location, a comfortable deck where they can serve about six groups of people at a time. Tables are spaced very well and staff is acting very safely. Wear your mask.]

Somtum Der comes with a well-established reputation for delicious food from the Isaan region of Thailand, with a focus on brilliantly prepared fresh som tum. Their first location on Avenue A in the East Village was possibly the first place in the city that served excellent Thai food outside of Elmhurst, a trend that has continued throughout a few parts of the city since.

Their new location on Red Hook's main drag continues the theme of being located in a place you might now expect (although two short-lived restaurants briefly disproved that), and also the tradition of cooking excellent food. Conveniently for 2020, they also have a nice backyard.

Heat levels are up, all the right ingredients are on point, and so far everything seems just right. For more please read our 2013 review of the original location:
Somtum Der East Village

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RED HOOK Brooklyn
380 Van Brunt Street

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IKEA Restaurant

SWEDEN

There are not a ton of places to get Swedish food in New York City, with the cheapest option probably being the terrific Midsummer Celebration. The restaurants tend to be a bit expensive and highbrow. And then there is the restaurant in every IKEA, sort of a go-to place for everyone's love of Swedish meatballs. A trip to the furniture store is hardly complete without first visiting the restaurant.

The restaurant is cafeteria style, if you haven't heard already. In Brooklyn, it's not that pleasant of an experience, to be honest. The employees are just passing through their day, no emotion, heaping things on your plate with no regard. Whatever.

Don't be ashamed to pick the Swedish meatballs ($4.99 for 15, $5.99 for 20, above) because they are still the best thing on the menu. It comes served with a side of mashed potatoes, a bit of lingonberry sauce for dipping, and is covered in an excellent cream sauce. The quality control of the whole operation might be slacking though, as some balls are cold inside and other lukewarm. It's surprising that IKEA does not have a tighter leash on its operation.

While it is certainly not great coffee by any standards, it should be noted that at 99 cents (which includes free refills), this could be a very economical coffee shop for freelancers. Stop downstairs at the food store, bring up some candy, and nurse your coffee all day while working. A cheapskate's dream!

RED HOOK Brooklyn
1 Beard Street

Red Hook Ball Fields Vendors

EL SALVADOR 🇸🇻
MEXICO 🇲🇽

Despite all their success (well-earned it must be said), the vendors lining the intersection of Clinton and Bay in Red Hook still remain affable and charming, humbly offering their foods each weekend during warm months, from the end of April to October. It's a tradition that has lately caught in with the "in" crowd, but no matter, the food is still top notch. Get their by noon and one or two trucks might still be setting up, but you'll beat the crowds and maybe enjoy a word or two with the proprietors.

Recent Vendy award nominees "Country Boys"

The corner is lined with trucks and still a few small carts, selling ceviches, pupusas, tacos, and all the rest. The Country Boys truck (above) is usually the most crowded, and for good reason, they know how to cook. I especially like their sopes ($6 for 2, below), which are molded into a small plate-like shape with edges to hold in the beans. The corn base is also crispy, something of a rarity in the sope world, but a very good change.

De pollo y de carne

They also make a mega quesadilla ($6, below) that when picked up starts dripping and breaking apart immediately. Keep your wits about you though and munch fast, making sure to pick up all the juicy remains.

There are two competing (Actually they are all friends, and Vendy winners) Salvadoran pupusa trucks, both with similar offerings and pricing. I don't remember which, but one of them sets up camp over at Brooklyn Flea on Saturdays, one of two locations that the vendors have expanded to this year. You can also find some random offerings there too, but fighting the hipster mob is kind of defeating sometimes.

Back at the ball fields, I always like to grab my food and head for the opposite side of the soccer pitch, where families of the players gather with children and music to watch or not watch the games. It's more festive, and it's even fun to watch the players strut their stuff on the field. If you are lucky enuogh to see a score, a nice show usually follows.

[UPDATE OCTOBER 2016: Hard times]
From the sound of their social media, not all is well in Red Hook. During the years when the vendors were all the rage, they spent money renewing permits, upgrading trucks and equipment, etc., and now that their "hipster moment" has passed, it seems they are struggling for business. My visits the past couple years have seen no lines or waiting, especially after the leagues have finished for the season.

El Olomega is still churning out some beautiful pupusas. Here are a couple snaps from a visit on the last weekend of the season in late October:

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RED HOOK Brooklyn

Bay Street & Clinton Street

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