Zabb Thai Spice (Las Vegas Restaurant Review)
LAS VEGAS RESTAURANT REVIEW: ZABB (THAI)
Let me cut to the chase and get to the point: I loved this place!
Thai restaurants in Las Vegas have become a Bhat a block (that’s a lazy wordplay on “dime a dozen”). Most are decent. Many are good. A few are great.
I don’t get excited much about trying new Thai places because I already have my reservoir of usual dependable choices, which I’ve written about many times. That’s why ZABB THAI SPICE KITCHEN, a new small Thai sit-down restaurant-kitchen in southwest Las Vegas near Warm Springs and Durango was such a surprise and an outlier — for variety, taste, and value.
Did I mention that I loved this place?
Zabb is small. It’s kinda’ funky inside, which tells me this is a fun owner who loves that they do and puts their stamp on the walls just as much as the menu, even though it’s pretty standard so far as Thai restaurants go. Zabb doesn’t seem like it would be a standout as it’s anonymously nestled into a dull strip mall. There’s nothing to indicate anything special about it. However, the presentation of food was both unusual and amplified the wonderful mix of taste, texture, and temperature. There were no reheated stale frozen spring rolls here. Everything was hot and fresh, and delivered with a smile.
We loved the $12.95 lunch special pricing, which allowed the two of us on this midweek afternoon visit to step out and order three exceptional dishes. We had drunken noodles (be sure and ask for the egg on top, I missed that on my visit).
We shared a cashew chicken, which was good, but was probably the third-best choice we devoured (cashew nuts weren’t enough).
However, my Mongolian Beef was off the map delicious! Finding a great Mongolian Beef in Las Vegas has become about as rare as free parking on The Strip. I mean, impossible.
But this pepper-laced, Mongolian sauce drenched, tender roasted beed delicacy was just as good as anything in a high dollar place. Sure, go ahead and pay double the price elsewhere. This Mongolian Beef was OUTSTANDING (and I’m very tough to please on this dish). As is standard, the meals arrived with a generous bowl of steamed white rice.
Our bargain lunch specials also arrived with a small salad, which had an unusual mustard dressing. First time I’ve been served this on an economy lunch meal, and it was fantastic. I also really liked the tray, covered in wax paper. I hate too-small plates, which is so annoying in some Thai places, but here I loved the entire expansive presentation.
Service was polite, efficient, and perfectly-paced.
We enjoyed three marvelous menu items, and were out the door for $40, plus a $10 tip.
Afterwards, out in the parking lot, we told ourselves — we just found ANOTHER great Thai place in Las Vegas.
Zabb was a terrific experience at an economy price.
Rating: 9/10
