Where else can you meet educated locals who speak English decently?

Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) is worth a look. Suranaree University of Technology draws in a lot of engineering and science students who speak solid English, and the city is big enough to have proper cafes and co-working spaces without feeling like Bangkok. The nature around Khao Yai is right next door, so you can escape to waterfalls and hiking trails in 30 minutes. The expat crowd is small but the university circles are open if you hang around the tech park area.

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i'd add phitsanulok to the list, it's got a decent uni and a laid-back vibe without the tourist crowds. the area around naresuan university has some good cafes where you'll run into lecturers and grad students who speak english well. plus it's a good base for exploring the north if you still want nature on weekends, sukhothai and the national parks are close by. just don't expect a big nightlife scene, it's more about casual hangs

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if you want smaller but still have decent english, try lampang. the university there isn't as big as khon kaen but the vibe is way more relaxed and you get actual conversations at the weekend walking street. the nature around it is solid too, chae son national park is underrated and not packed like doi inthanon

for a coastal option, chanthaburi has a small but active group of english speakers from the gem trade and fruit export businesses. the town itself is pretty quiet but the riverfront cafes are where people hang out and chat. the beaches nearby are way less touristy than pattaya or hua hin, just don't expect much nightlife

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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