Newly opened in Vancouver is Zab Bite, a restaurant serving authentic flavours and dishes inspired by the North Eastern region of Thailand also known as E-Sarn (or Isaan).
The owners and Chef of Zab Bite are originally from E-Sarn and wanted to bring a taste of their homeland to a Vancouver audience.
E-Sarn cuisine tends to be very light (probably due to the hot climate) so you’ll find salads and light soups as well as lean in general. The heat also means food spoils quickly there, so their dishes tends to be heavily seasoned with salt, acid and chilli, all of which are natural preservatives.
Their cuisine can also characterized by the liberal use of aromatic herbs along with bold, punchy flavours. Not to mention a lot of dipping sauces, like the nam jim jaew. Meals are typically enjoyed with sticky rice, which is the most common starch in the region.
We were hosted at Zab Bite and enjoyed the following:
Ruam Zab Tod
- Veggie Spring Rolls – deep fried spring rolls with glass noodle and assorted vegetables
- Crispy Toast – deep fried toast with seasoned pork and seasoned shrimp, served with signature sweet and sour cucumber relish
- Laab Zab Tod – deep fried wrapped spicy and sour minced pork
- Goong Hom Pha – deep – fried shrimp wrapped in spring roll wrapper
Som Tum Thai
Shredded Green Papaya Salad
Nam Tok Crying Tiger
Grilled juicy beef short ribs salad in spicy sauce served with assorted fresh vegetables
Boat Noodle
Authentic rich beef broth with beef stew
Kor Moo Yang
Grilled juicy pork toro served with Chef’s signature “Nam Jim Jaew,” Thai sweet dried – chili dipping sauce.
Roti
Purple Passion Cocktail
Gin and hibiscus infused syrup
Drinks
- Cha-Yen – Thai tea with condensed milk
- O-Wan-Tin Volcano – Iced malt drink topped with Ovaltine powder
Sticky Rice
The Som Tum Thai was a memorable dish featuring spiciness, saltiness, sourness, sweetness, umami and a bit of bitterness. The Boat Noodle was a hearty dish with a flavourful clear broth and tasty egg noodles. The grilled, juicy pork toro went well with the sweet, sour and spicy flavours of the Nam Jim Jaew. All the drinks we tried were refreshing and the Thai Tea and Ovaltine drinks were not overly sweet.
Zab Bite features an aesthetic, clean and inviting interior and has a mix of booths and dining tables.
They make for a unique addition to the Vancouver food scene. Zab Bite is located at 4197 Fraser St, Vancouver.
