Zabb Elee
(Now Closed)Thai Restaurant$$$$
East Village, New York
The folks at Time Out New York and The Wall Street Journal like this place. Would you agree?
121 Tips and reviews
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Village VoiceAugust 4, 2014Pla goong, or steamed shrimp with lashings of chiles, lemongrass, and herbs, is a must-order, as are the delicious larbs, a/k/a ground meat salads (try the duck or catfish), and som tum papaya salads. Read more
This is flavorful Northern Thai cuisine & not your typical curry shop. Get the Kra Pao Moo Krob (crispy pork, basil leaf, white onions, oyster sauce served over white rice) and morning glory as a side
ElizaJune 20, 2013Pukk Boong Fai Dang aka sauteed Morning Glory with Thai chili - just makes you want to take another bite after you've had the sweet/spicy flavors exploding in your mouth at the same time. YUM YUM =9
Andrew CerdaApril 9, 2013Kao Moo Dang: sweet glazed pork and sausage with rice, hard boiled egg, and cucumber. The trick is to cut up the egg and cucumber. Mix it up a bit. Pour a little sweet glaze over it all and chow down!
Douglas EllimanJuly 24, 2014With a focus on unique dishes from the Northeastern Isan Region, this is not your typical Thai place! We come here for a family-style meal. We love the stir-fried clams and fried morning glory!
My go to's: som tom korat, morning glory with chilis, grilled squid, larb pla dook. The spice level is on a scale of 1-5. I usually do a mix of 3 and 4. It is legit spicy. You've been warned.- Village VoiceNovember 26, 2012Spice level can be made as hot as you like (try the catfish larb). We recommend sticking with level 8. Any higher won't leave much skin on the roof of your mouth. Critics' choice for best Thai!
Laurence GirardJuly 9, 2015Spent a month in Thailand eating street food. This place hit the spot. It's Northern Thai and their spice levels are real Thai too: medium is American hot (same as in Thailand). Noms!
C RJanuary 3, 2016Best Thai in city!! Papaya salad, morning glory and larb are amazing. But the specialties take this place over the top... get the coconut durian sticky rice dessert!
Sandra RubinchikSeptember 1, 2014If you're looking for pad thai, you're out of luck. This place offers up a bunch of authentic Thai dishes with spice levels that'll knock your socks off. The larb is amazing.- Village VoiceJune 3, 2013This offshoot of a popular Jackson Heights cafe brings authentic Isaan Thai food to the East Village. A word of caution to the weak of tongue: food can be mouth-searingly spicy here.
Real Cheap EatsNovember 5, 2012The Som Tum Kortmuar hides a slew of unexpected goodies in a pile of rice noodles and shredded fruit: slices of pork sausage, raw Thai eggplant, crunchy fried fish, pork skin & tangy pickled cabbage. Read more
CompassJuly 24, 2013You won’t find Pad Thai or drunken noodles at this traditional Isan Thai restaurant, but dishes are spicy and rich in flavor. It’s better than the average Thai joint, and just as affordable.
Jane KatzJune 5, 2015The noodle dish just below pad Thai (can't recall the name) is amazing. thick rice noodles with sweet sticky sauce and basil, peppers onions. so good
Time Out New YorkOctober 5, 2011Try the spicy and sweet kai tod, Asian fried chicken with a garlicky marinade, sweet chili dipping sauce and succulent flesh. It’s one of our #100best dishes and drinks of 2011. Read more
Caroline SchulweisJune 28, 2015The drunken seafood noodles and chicken and broccoli dishes were my favorites. Great casual spot with authentic Thai food. Gets spicy!
Ms HeleneMay 16, 2013Issan Thai style food, i.e. very spicy! The steamed prawn salad was fresh and balanced in flavors whilst the Crispy Pork was like eating leather, although tasty sauce.
Adam Noonan-KellyApril 28, 2013Get the ground duck salad, first item on the menu. Amazing. Also, this place gets your food to you faster than a fast food joint, yet is a million times better.- L. T.March 30, 2017Great lunch specials come with drink, salad, appetizer, and entree! All for 9.95 (3/2017)!!
TiffanyNovember 16, 2015A huge variety of Thai food. Get the duck larb, papaya salad and the tom yum soup with a side of rice or noodle.
Lori LuoAugust 11, 2014Excellent Isan Thai dishes are served at this East Village eatery, such as the crispy pok, som tum, and larb salads.- S. FanAugust 26, 2013Get the papaya salad (any of the 7 types), the fried frog legs and sauteed morning glory!
- Village VoiceNovember 14, 2011Winner of Best Use of Blood in the Village Voice 2011 Best Of issue! The nam tok is a savory soup that makes amazing use of pigs blood for flavor.
Ernesto GutierrezAugust 20, 2016For those looking for truly spicy dishes, remember to bring it up when you order. Nobody will bring it up if you don't. Very flavorful dishes at this place.
Fried egg salad, faux duck curry are both craveworthy. They'll kick up the spice for real on som tom if you can handle it.
Serious EatsSeptember 15, 2013The Isan Thai fare here isn't as good as it used to be, but it's still some of our favorite in Manhattan.- S. FanAugust 25, 2013They have the best green papaya salad in the city! 7 different versions. Huge portion!
Duygu AKTANOctober 29, 2014First time: veggie duck, papaya salad, duck larb, watercrest, sticky rice. YUM
Victoria WongMay 9, 2013No Americanized BS here. Yes that means no mild curries, no sweetish, tomato-y creamy sauces. All round authentic spicy aromatic goodness that warms my tummy and soul.
The Wall Street JournalApril 6, 2012The larb salad features ground meat seasoned with mint, lime, cilantro and scallions. It's cool and refreshing, perfect for the summer. Read more- Pla Goong - steamed shrimp salad with Thai herb and chili lime dressing - Get this bouquet of flavors and spice! Delicious.
Kay DFebruary 11, 2015Som tum Thai and duck larb- authentic and some of the best in the city. Music selection can be improved.
Dan ChenOctober 5, 2014The morning glory is amazing, and the medium spicy papaya salad is phenomenal. So spicy so worth it!
There are 5 level of spiciness. I love spicy food and usually laugh a what people considered "super spicy". But level 5 spiciness is no joke here!
Brian CopeFebruary 10, 2012Best value in the city. Have the Pla Goong, spicy shrimp salad. So good. I can't handle anything over 2 (out of 5) spicy so be careful.
Asim JaweedMarch 14, 2014Most authentic restaurant in NYC. For anything, ever. Get a Som Tum papaya salad and some larb. But bathrooms are unheated.- Yum Kai Dao, pad ped proam are my favorites here. Beer Lao light, which can be hard to find in the city. Love this place.
- Moo Ping (grilled pork skewer with tamarind fish sauce and chili powder)
Best papaya salad place I have had outside of Thailand. Stick to the Isaan fare ( spicy salads and grilled meats) that's their speciality.- Kathryn YuNovember 12, 2011Try the som tum with peanuts and dried shrimp, pork larb, moo yang (grilled pork), or chinese broccoli with crispy pork (kana moo korb).
You can't come here and not get the Papaya salad to start! Pukk Boong Fai Dang and Moo Tod Kratiem are super flavorful dishes.
Jack AmornvivatMarch 19, 2015Their northeastern Thai dishes are good. Also one-plate entrees for pickup are fast and consistent.- Get the Kana Moo Krob, Pad Ped Moo Krob, and Larb Kai.
Orchid LiuJuly 22, 2012Not sure why ppl say they have bad service, but I've been here multiple times and they're always super nice, attentive and helpful. Best Tom Yum soup ever.
- Everything here is really great. Not a red curry on the menu, which is refreshing. I am particularly a fan of anything they serve with cripsy pork.
- The Kai Tod and Kana Moo Krob are awesome. Get your meals with sticky rice, like the real deal.
- Seth Frader-ThompsonJune 14, 2015Larb moo, essam sour sausage, morning glory with crispy pork, papaya salad with dried shrimp
- In addition to the papaya salads. The tom yum noodle soup is great.
Noah WeissMay 11, 2011SeriousEats loves this place. Recommended dishes: Toam Zabb soup with chili, Pad Ped Moo Korb (stir fry), and Kra Pao. Read more
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Permanently closed (Show more)
- Mon–Thu, Sun
- 11:30 AM–10:30 PM
- Fri–Sat
- 11:30 AM–11:30 PM
(212) 505-9533
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