This place is awesome! The food is consistently tasty, varied menu choices, decent portions, good price point and friendly service and nice homey ambiance. One thing I especially love about this place is that I can ask the chefs to change the spiciness level because I always want my food to be more spicy. I want it to be so spicy that I burn my mouth and cry into my meal, instantly regret asking for more spicy, go home to douse my face with milk and then learn nothing from the experience, only to do it all over again the next time I come back. I mean, what more could you want!?!
Where. Do. I. Start!!! ZAB THAI!!!!!! That sauce! Oh lord that sauce, that steaming hot sauce so thick it's like liquefied peanut butter lathered all over the perfectly chewy rice noodles. Every strand of it just coated all the way through, the consistency of it ensures the flavours stay in the mouth, hitting every bit of surface area on your tongue.
Classic flavours of sour, sweet and then salty in that order unravels on the tongue all working in tandem, none overpowering the other, an equilibrium very easily disturbed. There's also a toasty wok flavour with visible blackened charred bits scattered throuought the dish.
I only noticed after careful inspection there was also pickled vegetable present, later found out to be pickled turnip, very very sparsely distributed. Probably for its salty/sour flavour, I assume its purpose is to infuse in the sauce leaving the actual pickle behind for that pure element of texture which gives it a meaty bite and crunch when biting down. Very very welcome addition, have never had this in a Pad Thai anywhere else.
Bean sprouts slowly wilt over the course of the dish still retaining the crunch but leaving behind the innate rawness of its natural flavour so it conforms really well with the dish overall.
Crunchy, chewy, oily, the sauciness allows for the flavour of the pad Thai to slowly dissipate over a few seconds after the swallow. Lingering and almost just barely teasing with a numbing tingle on the tongue from the acidity from the residue of the thick sauce.
I can't say it enough the chewiness of the noodles is actually perfect for a sauce of this consistency and flavour, it just never ends. That's the thing I love about a beautifully cooked Pad Thai and a lot of Thai dishes in general, it comes packed with a punch.
9.2/10
Ive never been to Thailand so my 10 is quietly waiting for the day but this is, of all my experiences with pad Thai in melb, by far my favourite joint for its real home style food.
4.5/5
Customer service was really good as the waiter was really friendly towards us. The meat to rice ratio was so unusual because there were more meat than rice. The pork was absolutely delicious. For $14.50, it was definitely worth it.
Best place to get this Thai dish with pork belly and chinese broccoli. You can choose the level of spicyness, mild, medium or spicy. I usually get the medium and i feel like it is super super spicy in a good way. I always get a sunny side up egg on top as well, perfect combo!
Really good and delicious! I love the crispy pork on the special list very much! The vegetables inside tastes pretty good! The fried rice is also delicious. I will back again and try something else!
Good as always. Pork is good. Can’t go wrong with an extra egg. Regret not taking a pic. Will be back again every single month like I always do. Hood feed with friends
Zab Thai is a small family-owned restaurant located in Box Hill. It is a quite popular place among uni students. The classic was the pork on rice with an additional fried egg. It was a comfort food that leaves you craving for more.
I love this Thai restaurant! We have been here many times. The food is very good and not too expensive. The service from Ben is always friendly and efficient, he even remembers how we like our food!
So if you're looking for a quick meal definitely visit this place!
always visit this place whenever we go to Melbourne. their signature dish of kailan pork with fried egg is still the best! im happy that this menu soon to be served in jakarta. coming soon to jakarta in sept 2018: noble by zab thai.
Great little Thai takeaway in Boxhill. No frills setting but the food here packs a punch. Truly loved the massaman beef curry, basil chicken and the crispy pork on kai lan (not actually on the menu but you can just ask for it). There are jugs of water on the side which you can help yourself to. It gets incredibly busy during dinner so best to go early to avoid disappointment.
One of the best pork and kailanh meal in Melbourne. Small and mighty little shop.
An institution, restaurant with high consistency on doing delicious and affordable food. has been a loyal customer everytime we visit Melbourne. Their special menu is what most of the customer order. Crispy pork with gai lan which you can customise spiciness and eggs. Must try if you are in the area.
Love this place. Kana moo krob. Love it. The dish comes in 3 different spicy level. Great guilty pleasure. Spicy oily pork. At least u get to eat a bit of vege as well. Tried having it fried with kwe tiaw
Trust me, just order the rice + chinese broccoli + sunny side up egg is amazing. The portion is quite big if you dont eat too much ✌🏻
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