Review Zab Thai Takeaway - Box Hill

This place seems like a perfect cheap eat place for the family. However the place is completely run down, the food isn’t fantastic and it’s actually completely overpriced. I would’ve been happy with a bill for $60, but ended with $92. All the prices are about $5 more expensive than advertised online. The final nail in the coffin was a hair in my food too. So I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone. There are nicer places around the area that are cheaper and better quality.

This place just ain't it. TLDR: overpriced for what they give you. My main qualm with this place is the value (dine in). The pricing seemed acceptable at first, around $16.50 for a dish. But the portions were so small compared to so many other Asian takeaways. My photos make it seem bigger than it was. Payed $9.50 for 6 chicken satay skewers but they were like 10cm long each. Absolute rip off. You can always judge a Thai restaurant by its Pad Thai. No traditional at all. We got what seemed like frozen veges in ours. cauliflower and broccoli don't belong in Pad Thai. And it was too sour. Lime should be optional, not something predetermined. The smallest bowl of rice for $3.50 was also a joke. And the moo yaang (grilled pork) is a definite skip. One piece of pork, grilled horribly and put on a bed of lettuce is not how it's done. Give me a real salad with Thai flavours. Green Curry was decent but again, WAY too small. It's only saving grace is its Pad Siew. That one was actually good and comparable to other restaurants, maybe better. The only caveat is the portion was smaller than its competitors. Our family of 4 legitimately finished the entree and 4 dishes in 12 minutes.

Used to love going here for their crispy pork on rice because they used to be wallet friendly and super delicious. In terms of taste, its not really different from back then but one thing that has changed over the years is how overpriced they became.

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

Was an OK Thai restaurant. Very famous with the local students. Price is a bit on the expensive side and the portion is not that much. Taste alright, but there are few other better place.

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 ✌🏻

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!?!

It doesn’t worth this high mark. Food is not cheap and in small amount. The taste is good but still meters away from authentic.

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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>9.2/10<br/><br/>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 <br/>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!<br/><br/>So if you're looking for a quick meal definitely visit this place!

Such a disappointment. Was really looking forward to some yummy Thai food and tried this place based on it’s review score. Had 2 salads. Both were incredibly salty but bland at the same time. Grilled chicken was tasteless and full of gristle. Pad Thai was dry and stodgy. The guy who served us was nice which is why I gave it 2 stars rather than 1. Will not be back.

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.

We only ever order one thing: Kalian crispy pork with rice. Been here for a few years now, and never get sick of it. Restaurant hours are irregular though, have been there a few times where they are not open despite listed hours. Now we just call ahead to check if they are open before going.

What can I say.. I’ve frequented the shop for the last 15+ years from before they moved to the current location till now. Just order the ‘stir fry special’ and the uncle will understand. You get to choose the meat and level of spiciness, but beware, HOT is proper HOT. Have a chit chat with the owner he is very friendly. Highly recommended.

Since its inception in a small Glenferrie store, I've enjoyed the pork with chinese broccoli on rice. Don't forget to order the right level of spiciness. Chilli lovers give the hot level a go. Their kwe tiaw varitation of this dish is pretty delish as well. For the non-pork eater, you can substitute it with beef.

Pros: the pad thai and pad siew were mouthwatering. The flavours were definitely there with the tanginess of the pad thai and how seasoning and perfectly peppered the beef was. I really rate the thai noodles here, probably up there in all the pad thais/siews I have had, went down very well! Service was great also. Will definitely be back!<br/><br/>Cons: the setting and interior of the place was not as pleasant to dine in given it is mainly for takeaways.

This place is LEGEND! I still remember the 1st time i came to melbourne and all my new friends talk about Zabthai, they asked me to try it.. IT'S DELICIOUS! I feel like if u order mild, it doesnt taste so good, therefore i recommend u guys to order spicy.. The omelette is too pricey, i hope they can give a reasonable price :)<br/><br/>FUN FACT about this resto:<br/> When it's crowded, the level spicy is very very spicy but when it's not crowded the spicy is MEHHHH..<br/><br/>

Amazing authentic Thai food! Love the Masaman and Panang curry. Another staple is the stir fry basil chicken! All the dishes come with lots of meat and vegetables. Great value for money too! Staff are friendly and kind which adds to the experience

We went there before for their signature crispy pork dish, and it was really good. But this time, we went and got takeaway from it, the chicken in the chicken curry was so little and and it was cut like shredded chicken. For nearly 17 dollar chicken curry dish, all I have was probably 1/3 of the the chicken breast/ chicken tight, the rest are some pumpkin and shredded bamboo shoot to bulk the dish. Flavour was ok, but the contain is not worth the money at all. Will not go back again. Very disappointed, if you want make money, please don't fool your customer.

The best crispy pork belly I’ve ever tasted!! I know this restaurant is very famous even though it’s located in the suburb. It’s near my uni, Deakin, that’s why I’m a pretty regular customer to this restaurant. If you cannot eat pork, I heard their other menu is also delicious as well, so it’s worth to try. Another plus point is the staffs are very friendly to us. Great ambiance as well

Tried stir fried crispy pork and chinese brocolli from a few thai restaurant and this one is the best! I always eat in and have 1 take away without rice for stick at home cause i live far away from box hill (this is how good the food is) the uncle and what i think to be his son is also very nice,they remember me and know that i always order the pork extra spicy lol. And now i'm missing this place a little bit too much

To be honest, the food is not good as other people mention, maybe I was doing take away so the taste might be different. I was ordering the Crispy Pork and kailan, and Chicken Tom Yam Soup. Both of it was so bad, the Crispy Pork was too Oily and the Pork was too salty. The Soup don’t have any flavour at all.

If you like PORK and CHILLI - this is a place you must visit. <br/><br/>The shop is run by uncle from Thailand for almost 30 years. <br/>Their most popular dish is the pork and kailan. Just say that and they will know which one you after.<br/><br/>Pork is so tasty and kailan is cook perfectly. <br/><br/>Make sure you order the right level of spicy. I go for medium, but if you are looking for something that will burn your tounge, definately go for more spicy. <br/><br/>

Love all the food items here, they seasoned the food really well, kailan with crispy pork is a must order! Their fried rice is very fragrant and tasty! Love the tom yum soup and pad thai as well! You can request the level of your spiciness. This is a family business and they are all very nice and friendly, no wonder they always busy! Their place is a bit small but who cares, we come here for the great food!! :)

Small takeaway or dine in Thai restaurant. The food is very tasty and kicks a punch but the serving sizes get smaller and smaller as the years have gone by . The pork and egg on rice is a must, one of my favorite take away dishes

While this place is mainly a take away outlet, you can still dine there as long as you get there early.<br/><br/>You can't go wrong with their pork and egg on rice, not sure of the name but if you say that they'll know what you're ordering.<br/><br/>Take care as well when you choose your spiciness level as they don't go easy on you!<br/><br/>Enjoy your sumptuous plate of pork, veggies and egg. Winning combo!

The pork belly was to die for. But don’t order extra spicy for the sake of your poor belly. Friendly staff. 13/10 would go again. Highly recommended. Delish!!! C:

When 80% of the customers are Indonesian or Thai, you know this place has got their flavours right. Their specialties is the Crispy Pork Belly and Kailan on Rice with a fried egg on top. This dish is certainly not for the faint hearted. A generous portion of fatty pork belly is sliced thinly and fried to a light crisp then mixed in with the kailan (Chinese broccoli) then served on too little rice (I take mine medium spicy). The combination is hearty and perfect. If you are a healthy eater this place is not for you. If you are after great tasty food, try this out! We also had the boat noodle which is one of the most authentic tasting in town, but even better is the generous portion. And finally, a sweet Thai milk tea to wash it all down. The chefs cook each dish as it is ordered, so expect a little wait. The decor is dated, and the space is a bit cramp. But you don’t come here for that. You come here for these two dishes. Recommended.

Authentic Thai food at its best.. Engaging and friendly boss. My personal preference is stir fried chicken with pepper garlic sauce. An egg on top is a bonus!

Zap Thai has been already popular since they were in Hawthorn years ago. The owner is so friendly and has a sense of humor. My favorite dish here must only be ‘stir fried Chinese broccoli with pork belly’ topped with crispy fried egg... absolutely beautiful. If you are around this lovely restaurant, I recommend you to give it a try. 👌

Toss the paper menu, go to the counter and just remember these three magic words: crispy pork belly. For the brave and the bold, go for spicy. <br/><br/>Once I was seated and go after my first bite, I can't remember what happened that night, I was probably taken up to cloud 9 filled with goodness and MSG. The next thing I remembered was the next morning where I was sitting on my toilet, trying to purify my body from all the evil chillies. Strangely, I was smiling.

This is my favourite thai place. I think I go thus place more than 5 times per week.Everyone has to try Spicy crispy pork. It is just amazing.

Zab Thai is a family business Thai restaurant and located in the Boxhill. It's still accessible by public transport. It is a family business Thai restaurant and the owner was very friendly.<br/>The place is considerable as a small restaurant but they still have limited seats for people who<br/>want to have the meal there. When it gets busy, the restaurant is getting very uncomfortable because it will be very hot and suffocating.<br/><br/>The customer staff / owner was very friendly. A friend advised me to order their signature dish but they didn't put in their menu. The dish is the Crispy Pork Belly with Chinese Broccoli and Fried Egg for $15.00  (without eeg would be $2.00 less). In addition, my mate suggested me to call the restaurant first before you want to come in as the opening hour is not consistent.<br/><br/>You can choose the spiciness, if you're brave enough you can ask for "Thai" spicy level.<br/>We ordered the dish and chose mild as the spicy level. The signature dish was amazing, the crispy pork was cooked well.<br/>They totally nailed this dish and the sauce was tasty and balance, they cooked without any MSG added.<br/>Even though from the price wise, It's slightly above the average meal but it's totally worth it to try.<br/><br/>We really enjoyed the dish served and it's the best Thai restaurant in Boxhill.<br/><br/>Yay : Food was excellent, customer service was great<br/>Nay : Inconsistent opening hours<br/><br/>Service : 4.5<br/>Taste : 4.5<br/>Price : 3.5<br/><br/>Location : 1132 Riversdale Road, Box Hill, Melbourne<br/>Phone :  03 9888 0082

Zab Thai has one of the best Thai boat noodles in Melbourne. The broth is flavoursome, but not too rich or salty which many other Thai restaurants fail to balance. The rice dishes here are cooked well, but are not nearly as outstanding as the boat noodles. One rich dish that is notable is the crispy pork. A fried egg on top of the rice is recommended. The staff here are friendly enough, and the decor is a little lackluster, but the food makes up for it. The only complaint this review would have to include is their confusing and inconsistent open hours. It almost seems like the manager of this place opens shop whenever he feels fit, in ill-regard of his customers.

Food tasted superb! 😍🙌🏽 Definitely one of the tastiest food I've tried in Melbourne! The spices were just in perfect harmony (and they didn't use MSG). <br/><br/>The price point was not bad ($15). The place wasn't the best, but the food have definitely won my heart. <br/><br/>Will come back here again!

Consistent good food, very affordable. The go-to for simple Thai food for the lazy weeknight. Friendly staff and obviously a local favourite due to the packed restaurant on most nights. Don't expect any frills in terms of service but that doesn't stop me from visiting on a regular basis. Recommend to ask for the crispy pork dish that's not on the menu.

1st time takeaway from here after locals recommended and reading many reviews. Best Thai take away in the area.....EVER!<br/>Go the special (not on menu) dish...crispy spicy pork on chinese broccoli with rice....yum! And medium is enough, even for those who like it quite hot😅 Yum, yum, yum. The green chicken curry & chicken tom yum soup has also just been top quality!<br/>Thank you Zab.....we will definitely be back!

This is so yummy! The best Asian food I've ever had in Melbourne. It's so far from the city or from where I live but it's worth it. The price is okay. I think it was $17/portion. This one that I'm eating is not on the menu, so you have to ask them to cook this one 'special menu'. 👌

Try special menu; spicy crispy pork with eggs. I love this! This gets a kick to it!!<br/>This restaurant is quite cosy and busy, so I recommend take-away. Staff are friendly and kind anyway.

Delicious Thai aroma that you can take home ...<br/>My palate was satisfied but if my hair and clothes could talk .. bigger exhaust please or open some windows.<br/>For around $15 you'll be treated with some authentic Thai food; Crispy Pork Belly and Greens on Rice, Pad Thai, curries and the like. Crispy Pork Belly can be overcooked sometimes but that spicy sauce made up for it.<br/>This is where the legendary "student" & "office workers" go to place for lunch m Zab Thai, Lido Hawthorn has moved into. Mear Wattle Park, corner block, right on the traffic light, a bit hard to locate but definitely worth the trip and washing your clothes, shampoo and shower after.

We have been going there for almost 10 years on a weekly basis. This is the best Thai place ever. Love their fried rice, fried noodles with basil, all the curries and soups. Highly recommend

I used to come often few years ago back when I was at uni. I always ordered their spicy Vegetarian fried rice with extra egg. It was superb and delicious!<br/><br/>If you fancy spicy food, their dish will suit you best. It's a bit small cafetaria so I recommend you to take away instead of dine in.<br/><br/>From city, you can easily take tram no 70 and get off on the last stop. Two minutes walk and you'll find this gem.

Really tasty food !!!! <br/>Ordered their special menu.. the pork & fried egg.. its super good, especially if you are a big fan of spicy foods... I will definitely come back here 👍🏻

Its a long drive from the city but their crispy pork dish made it all worth it. They have other things on the menu but normally we just order the crispy pork on rice and you can choose your spiciness level. I used to eat mild but now I have gone to the next level (Medium). Don't order the spicy unless you can handle it, because it is really spicy. Their pork is thinly sliced unlike other places. If you don't like pork you can replace it to fried fish fillet. Don't forget to add an egg and grab the pork crackling!

Been here for many times but always forgot to drop a review. A small cozy Thai restaurant located near Deakin university. Always had a great service and good food, especially the crispy pork with chinese broccoli. <br/>Food : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/>Service : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/>Place : ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Been coming here every now and then. Always order the crispy pork with kaylan and extra fried egg. ALways satisfy with the menu. Would like to try another meal, but end up always order the same thing.<br/>Tips: If you live far from the area, it is better to call before going there, as often they tend to close without notice.

This hidden venue is my go-to for a quick tasty Thai meal. It is small and secluded in the suburbs but has friendly staff and hordes of regular diners.<br/><br/>I particularly like the pad thai here. If you are daring enough you can order above medium spicy but you have been warned!<br/><br/>Another yummy dish is the gai lan (Chinese broccoli) on rice. This is served with fried pork slices. Make sure you get the fried egg on top. <br/><br/>If you have a sweet tooth, get the Thai iced milk tea. It'll send you to sugar heaven. <br/><br/>Always love grabbing a bite here for either eat in or take away.

We eat here once a week, it's our local Thai restaurant, and every meal has been fantastic- so fresh and amazing flavours! The best Thai restaurant in Box Hill.

Been eating there for few years and always order their crispy pork stir fried with Chinese broccoli. Their fried rice are pretty good too buy their tom yum goong is a bit too sour for my taste.

A nice budget meal to fill your stomach, taste is good and portion is bigger than normal size. Not only take-away, you can dine in as well. The kitchen is open so your clothes will get full of smokey wok smell. But still worth to come back.

it was hands down the best food in burwood. may not look like a decent restaurant but you should really try their crispy pork with chinese brocolli and top it with fried egg (optional)! it has different renge of spicy level (i like mine hot) and when i say hot it means really" spicy. been here couple of times already and they never let me down! its like a little gem in burwood area!

Dont be fooled from the outside as it looks dark and shielded. Its bustling inside and has a very loud school cafeteria vibe & layout<br/><br/>20+ min wait for food, they seem kinda short staffed. In saying that the guy who serves you has really good service👍🏼<br/><br/>The famous chilli pork kailan ($13 previously $8.50) + $2 for egg taste very home cooked style. In my opinion its not worth the wait as it seems like a simple stir fry dish. <br/><br/>Would only recommend if you're in the area. <br/>

Very small eatery tucked away in a corner of Box Hill South. Although small, it has a host of loyal diners who all come in, and, without even glancing at the menu, order the Moo Grob (crispy pork belly). This dish is what Zab is renowned for, and it doesn't even appear on the menu, but is rather a permanent special. I'd been waiting almost two years to try it, during which time many of my family and friends visited Zab, raving about the crispy pork. Father's Day seemed as a good a day as any to finally go, since dad was a big fan of the place already. <br/>So what was my verdict on the famous dish? Well, it gets big points for flavour. Chili spice, gai lan, tasty sauce and crispy, fatty pork belly all culminate in a party for the taste buds. When it comes to value for money, I don't think it's quite as good as what it could be or might be. Despite the portion being of a good size and quite filling, there is not a lot of actual meat served. The pork belly is sliced very fine and small. I think the pieces end up small because slicing so fine also makes the pieces brittle along the streaks of fat when they are cooking. So they break apart easily during the process. Cutting the pork belly up this way before cooking ensures that it is very crispy. In fact, it's all just crunch really--tiny crunchy pork pieces. Unfortunately, it also means that you end up with a lot of fat on your plate. Just as much, if not more than the amount of actual meat, from what I saw on my plate anyway. They charge $13 for this plate of moo grob, gui lan and rice. I got a fried egg on top for $15. For the taste and enjoyment, $13 is probably ok, but factoring in how much meat you get, then I'm not so sure. I know the fat definitely contributes to the epic flavour, but by rights there should be far more meat than fat. Regardless, the amount of fat in the dish probably means that it's a once-in-a-while thing for me anyway.

It’s my all time favourite menu – the crispy pork with Chinese broccoli (Kailan). You can add extra egg to make a perfect combination of meal. How do you want your eggs to be cooked – omelette or fried egg. The crispy pork is a killer! Totally recommended! I like to have mine hot. Bear in mind that when you ask for hot, the food is way too hot! You can ask for a milder version. It may takes a while to get to eat your food, but well worth the wait! Sadly, the place is not quite well decorated and slightly cramped out. Not many seats available as it just a small space, so it is quite understandable. Therefore, takeaway orders may have been very efficient here. Well priced and friendly service. Those people who love to eat spicy food will keep coming back for more!

Absolutely delicious food! Love the green curry! They're a bit disorganised, but the food is defo worth the wait! Tucked around the corner at fiveways, you'd never know it was there! Worth searching out!

Small take out store with limited seating available. Cheap eat for Thai cuisine with very quick service. Food tasted great with generous serving portions. Definitely recommend.

Just recently discovered this place and love it!  The staff are very friendly and the food is cooked fresh! <br/><br/>My favourites are the Larb, Pad Grapow and Crispy Pork stir fry with Chinese broccoli!  Servings are generous and food is very tasty!<br/><br/>The spice level here is quite spicy so beware! Wish I lived closed to Zab Thai so that I could visit more often!

Crispy pork with chinese broccoli + fried egg! That's what I always order other than papaya salad for entree. They are very generous in serving the pork belly unlike other place. Choose wisely on the spicy level as they can be really really spicy. I usually stick to the medium.

generous portion with great service! Only the waiting time is a bit long even there are not so many customers. Am I coming back? The answer is yes!

We've been here many times for Sunday comfort food and always order the same dish: spicy crispy pork chinese brocolli with rice. The crispy pork is a bit tougher than the usual but its crunchiness complements. Order the fried egg for $1 for that extra rich taste. For condiments, add lots of sour green chilli sauce to make the dish extra special!

Had their famous Pad Kha Na Moo Krob which was apparently not on their menu. We are able to choose between 3 levels of spiciness and I went with the most spicy one. The crispy pork was flavoursome but I felt that it was too salty and oily (maybe because I had ordered the most spicy level). This was one of better Pad Kha Na Moo Krob that I have had, but the oiliness and saltiness was just too overwhelming for me. Maybe the medium level spiciness would be a better choice for me.

Had the popular thai crispy pork and kailan on rice and without egg ($12). This is not listed on the menu. Asked for the medium hot level. It wasn't hot for me, next time I may ask for the very spicy level. Portion was huge, more kailans and porks than rice. Additional rice cost 30 cents. It is for those who has an acquried taste. I preferred my porks not so hard and dry. Anyway, it was delicious. Service was friendly and fast; I got my meal in 7 minutes after ordering. May go back to check out the rest of the menu.

One of my favourite local thai restaurants in the eastern suburbs! <br/>Our favourite dish is the crispy pork on rice with fried egg. A special dish by Zab Thai, therefore a must try! <br/>Other dishes including the pad thai, pud see ew are all delicious flavoursome dishes. Sometimes there is a little bit of a wait however staff are friendly and always willing to chat. <br/>Will I return? Of course! I come here at least once a week!

We usually order take away from here and it's pretty decent. How ever few weeks ago we had a a few guests over and we ordered take away. We ordered medium as always but it was way too hot for medium. We took the food back as it was actually inedible. We were very polite but one of the elderly person who appeared to be he owner literally yelled at me and my sisters. We kept our calm and left without the food. We had to make alternate arrangement for food and ended up wasting around $150. Never going back and safe to say nor are our guests. Please be polite to your customers. Rudest person I've met in 2015. Hah!

Service was amazing!<br/>However… Massaman curry was much too runny.<br/>It's meant to be a thick curry.<br/>Roti had no dipping sauce either :(<br/>The other dishes were great…<br/>Much better last time.

Got takeaway last night, ordered medium hot food as usual. Took the food home to discover that it was unbearably hot, so took it back to tell them so. Wasn't expecting a refund but  would've liked a replacement. The manager/owner was extremely rude and screamed at us! Never going back! Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone!

So it's been 40 minutes and we're still waiting. I haven't had a chance to even include the food in the review. What I've noticed is the takeaways get first priority. Major dislike 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼

You should try the crispy pork... If you like spicy food, you should order extra hot... Second recommendation is pork crackling... It is so delicious.... Love them all...

One of the Best Thai food joints around that area hands down. Everyone tries the crispy pork but I say try their boat noodles.. Pretty damn good. Close to authentic ones in Thailand.

Why does this Thai place have to be so far away! I used to be local to the area and it was a frequent take away choice for me. The restaurant is nothing flashy (at all), personally I wouldn't eat there but I may have to reconsider. Food is full of flavour and when you ask for hot, you're getting on fire food. Not for the meek, traditional Thai that will keep you coming back for more.

Foods: 5/5<br/>- MUST TRY: crispy pork, spicy level should be medium for people love spicy foods. <br/>Service: 2.5/5<br/>- a bit slow service due to staff numbers, however they are nice and kind. <br/>

Amazing is all I can say about Zab Thai. Their crispy fried pork is simply the best and I've had crispy fried pork in a couple of Thailand restaurant across Melbourne but Zab Thai is unarguably on top of the list. You can ask for extra egg for extra taste and if you like your food to be spicy then you can ask for either with mild or hot sauce.

Zab Thai is located so far away from the city. But, this place is worth to try. Everytime I go to Zab Thai, I always order the crispy pork belly that's serve with chinese brocolli. I always request a mild spicy level and it's still very spicy for me. My friend had it with fried egg and it taste better! Try this food!

The place is abit far from the city but worth the effort. I love their crispy pork belly dish. It is a must try that is not on the menu. Also ask for an extra egg topping to go with

Love it.

Zab looks to be a tiny, no-fuss restaurant but is definitely popular with people in-the-know! The small staff was definitely put the test to cope with all its hungry patrons on a Saturday night- the wait for the food was much longer than expected (45minutes). In-store service is average at best, but the food is pretty damn good. <br/><br/>No frills, just great Thai food. Would go again, albeit take-away this time.

Wow is all I can say, I am super satisfied with this hidden gem in Surrey hills. I didn't really have any expectations coming into this restaurant but I was pleasantly surprised. The decor is simple but the food is fantastic and well priced. The service is also really fast too and the whole place just has a nice vibe too it. I went out with my family and this is what we ordered; Satay skewers, Massman beef curry, Kao prud prik and Fried rice, kailanh pork.<br/><br/>The skewers were small but great, really good peanut sauce and moist chicken. The massman beef was the standout of all the dishes. It came with some of the most tender meat I've had in a delectable sauce. The kao prud prik and fried rice were both great too and went really well with the massman beef. The kao prud prik has a good spice to it as well which I think most people would enjoy. Finally I ordered the kailanh pork ( which isn't on the menu) because a lot of people on zomato had ordered it. It was nice and came with a bed of rice and greens. The pork was crunchy and had the same kick too it that the kao prud prik had.<br/><br/>I couldn't speak highly enough of this place and hope it does well in the future because it deserves too. I will be recommending too all my friends in the area.

Excellent flavours, friendly service, well priced. The biggest disservice I could do for this restaurant is to upload a picture of the menu, nonetheless I will do exactly just that. The reason the menu isn't important is that you can order dishes that are not on there. A great example is the crispy pork and gai lan dish that is mentioned in most reviews, not on the menu but readily available for order. I recommend this restaurant but warn you, the medium chilli packs punch. Enjoy

Best Thai in Melbourne I have found so far. You can get it very spicy very Thai style.

Most authentic Thai. We lived in Thailand for 8 years, and this restaurant is the most authentic we have been able to find, even in the eastern suburbs where there are many Thai restaurants. Many Thais hang out there, which is a good sign! Never been disappointed. My favorite is Yum Neur, my husband love Massaman Gai and our sons loves Moo Grop.

Great Food. Very Very good food. Had the chicken Pad Thai, generous serving. great flavour. Will be back soon.A+

Fantastic food. I m thai and I had lunch and dinner there so many times when I was study in Deakin University. I love stir frie rice with crispy pork and sweet basil. I think taste is similar as thai nature. You won't miss to try this restaurant I really recommended.

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We are very lucky to have one of the best Thai places in the eastern suburbs a short walk away! Ask for "hot" and you will get "hot"! Well balanced dishes, good value and friendly service.

Crispy Pork with Kailan. Best!!

Order Crispy Pork With Kai Lan Medium Spicy! The best ever in Melbourne! To be honest it's a bit overpriced in my opinion. Some of the people I know stoped going there after they up the price.

Loved the basil chilli fried rice! Finally found this place again after they moved from Glenferrie Rd! Will be back to try the Thai special!

Yearning for Chat Thai’s Pad Prik Moo Krob. My food buddy and I are huge fans of Chat Thai Sydney's pad prik moo krob (crispy pork belly with green beans in dry red curry) and were excited to find it in Melbourne. Sadly our excitement was short lived as the moo (crispy pork) at Zab Thai was anything but! Sliced very thinly, it lacked the crunch and the hardened meat and fat was quite chewy. That being said, the par prik khing sauce was very addictive and tasty but the red curry lacked depth and was rather sweet and diluted. How I wish for a Chat Thai in Melbourne!<br/> <br/>Zab Thai’s FOH (or rather front of cash register) bloke was really friendly and we could tell that the place was popular with locals based on the number of takeaways they were churning out. <br/><br/>They could definitely improve if the crispy pork belly were cut into thicker squares and still retained the crispy skin!

It's a little secret and all the food is fresh. Great meal thanks

Absolutely disgusting. Had the most atrocious experience at Zab with the most disgraceful customer service I have ever received. Having had a delightful meal the previous time, i took some friends to Zab's anticipating another good meal. After patiently waiting 45 minutes for our meal, I approached the owner and attempted to find out how much longer we'd have to take. He bluntly dismissed my query and put his hands in the air, rudely exclaiming "if you want my food you wait, another 25 minutes". I was astonished as I have never encountered this level of unprofessionalism. I threatened to leave and he threw my money on the table and said "if you want faster food, go to mcDonalds". We did exactly that vouched to never go back. Disgusting!!!!!

Awesome

Amazing food and service. Staff were so friendly! I ordered the beef salad, chicken pad Thai, chicken satay skewers and some rice dish and they were all so yummy! Best Thai restaurant!

Prepare to pay $6 of steam rice for 2. Dine in today ordered a curry and pad thai. Taste was just like any thai but quite pricey for takeaway. Customer service however was shocking. Served by the mid-age bloke at the counter got a bad attitude. Curry doesn't come with rice and you need to pay $3 for 3 spoon full. Thought can re-fill and asked for it but the guy rudely said pay another $3 or leave it. Couldn't believe we paid $6 for steam rice and I have never paid this much in any thai restaurants in Melbourne so far (usually is $2/head free refill). This will be my first and last visit.

RUDE!!! and RIP OFF.. Never go there again. The menu seems pricy for such a small take away restaurant. Most shocking thing was that they charged $3 for a very very small bowl of rice. Of course that was not enough and ask them to refill after we finished it, and we got charged another $3. We kindly showed that "Oh really? / no refill?" Then the waiter (old guy) was absolutely rude telling us "you WANT? Or NOT????" Oh my goodness... how can he be so rude?? Never Never go there again.

The price of fame. Zab thai is fantastically prepared authentic Thai. And everyone in the local area seems to know it. Sunday lunch (which I would assume to be a non-peak time), there were 15+ orders just for takeaway. So yes, they can be a little slow in service (not 1 hr though), but that is not to the detriment of their food. It was amazing - definitely first timers should try the crispy pork with gai lan. We tried a few of their other dishes and they were truly tasty. Bear in mind, if you ask for hot, it will be hot. Their medium heat is not bad for me, but I know other people wouldn't even handle that.

Tucked away in redintial street near a small business strip, we came to this place based on it's positive ratings and it totally lived up to it. As we walked we were greeted by a welcoming waiter who's english wasnt great but was still very nice. Ordered the green chicken curry and coconut rice and boy it was beautiful!! Will become one of my regular take away shops for many winter nights ahead!

Fantastic. This is the best Thai takeaway I have ever lived near! joe is fabulous and always friendly and the food is terrific.

This is our regular restaurant and the taste never failed us. Always order the one that's not appeared on the menu and choose 'hot' as the level of spiciness. Works every time. Don't mind with the long wait l, just don't come at the rush hour, that's it