Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine

Restaurant · Riley Park-Kensington

Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine

Restaurant · Riley Park-Kensington

1

4197 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC V5V 4E9, Canada

Photos

Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null
Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine by null

Highlights

Authentic Northeastern Thai specialties like boat noodles and pork jowl.  

Placeholder
Placeholder

4197 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC V5V 4E9, Canada Get directions

zabbite.ca
@zabbite.yvr

CA$20–30 · Menu

Information

Static Map

4197 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC V5V 4E9, Canada Get directions

+1 778 681 5752
zabbite.ca
@zabbite.yvr

CA$20–30 · Menu

Features

wifi
payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations

Last updated

Aug 14, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@michelinguide

15 Cuisines to Try in Vancouver

"A casual Thai restaurant focusing on the cuisine of northeastern Thailand with a menu of regional specialties." - Michael He

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/features/15-cuisines-to-try-in-vancouver-michelin-star-guide
View Postcard for Zab Bite - Thai E-Sarn Cuisine

Ingrid Kwok

Google
This place is an absolute hidden gem. Every dish we ordered was bursting with authentic Thai flavors—beautifully balanced, aromatic, and deeply satisfying. The menu offers a wide variety, with something for every palate, and everything is very reasonably priced for the quality and portion size. What truly stood out to me was how each bite instantly transported me back to the vibrant street food scenes and warm hospitality I experienced during my travels in Thailand. It’s rare to find a spot that captures the essence of Thai cuisine so perfectly outside of the country itself. Whether you’re craving comfort food or looking to try something new, this place delivers both familiarity and adventure in every dish. I’ll definitely be coming back—and bringing friends next time!

Victoria P

Google
#1 thai food in Vancouver! This place seriously has the best Thai food I’ve ever had. The prices are on the higher side, but it’s absolutely worth every penny. I went once just to try it out, and now I find myself going almost every week to try different dishes—and every single one has been amazing. No matter what you order, it’s delicious! Highly recommend.

Gloria Lombardi

Google
We had a fabolous lunch here yesterday. The food is incredible and it's the best Thai food we had outside Thailand, it's authentic and well presented. The staff are very nice, super welcoming and take good care of you. We'll definitely be back for more! 🍛🇹🇭

Alisha_Jira

Google
Best Thai E-sarn in Vancouver! We have been here so many times and our favourite dish is Somtum Korat/ Somtum Plara and sticky rice! This time we get to try E-sarn sausages and it tastes great! I also put more photos of my orders on other visits as well so you can see what they look like. This place is very busy so we recommend to make a reservation if possible. We got Fern as our server and she is very friendly. Great service!!

Evelyn W

Google
Ended up visiting this place two days in a row—no wonder it’s so popular! ✔️ Boat Noodle The amount of beef in this bowl blew my mind—stewed beef chunks, shank, tendon, tripe, and meatballs piled up high. The broth is simmered with blood (traditional style) and herbal spices, delivering a savory flavor with a hint of spice and a subtle sweetness from radish. Opted for rice noodles, which soaked up the broth perfectly. 👍 ✔️ Dry-mixed Noodle The flavor combo and texture were a fun surprise! Sweet and tangy, almost like pad thai but lighter and fresher. The thick, translucent rice noodles reminded me of chewy rice rolls (cheung fun). Topped with tender pork slices—never had this at other Thai spots. Unique and highly recommended! 👍 ✔️ Pad See Ew Came back the next day to try the stir-fried wide noodles—loaded with smoky wok aroma and plenty of meat. ✔️ Green Chicken Curry Their green curry packs a punch even at the base spice level. Creamy with rich coconut flavor, and the thick texture is spot-on. Besides rice and sticky rice, they even offer roti for dipping—nice touch! ✔️ Tum Thai Standard papaya salad—heavy on the fish sauce, but tangy and appetizing. 🧋 Thai Milk Tea The only letdown—$8 a cup but tasted way too bland. Skip it. ❌ Overall, my favorites were the boat noodles and dry-mixed noodles (apparently Eastern Thai specialties!). Everything else was solid too. The modern, clean, and bright vibe adds to the experience—just make sure to book ahead! 📍 Zab Bite

Htet Htet Phoo Wai

Google
They do have 2 set menu 80$ for 2 people. My favourite Thai restaurant in town so far. Hard to find the parking. Make sure to reserve the table. Service is good. We really like Authentic taste of corn salad and papaya salad from here. You can’t get anywhere in Vancouver like this taste.

Ingsumond Jaengkamolkulchai

Google
Exceptional Thai Food—The Best in Town! As a Thai person visiting Vancouver for the first time, I didn’t expect to find such amazing Thai food here. But this place exceeded all my expectations—it’s even better than some Thai food in Bangkok! The grilled pork neck and *som tum* (papaya salad) are outstanding and made me feel right at home. If you haven’t tried this restaurant yet, you’re missing out! **Important note:** Reservations are highly recommended - it's that popular! While they don't serve dessert, the kind owner suggested grabbing ice cream at one of the best shops nearby (just one junction away). It made for the perfect ending to an incredible meal. 10/10 - Already dreaming about my next visit!

Jennifer L

Google
Great spot for Thai food! The pad thai and assorted appetizers were flavorful and perfectly seasoned. The Thai milk tea was also excellent – refreshing and not overly sweet, perfect for a hot day. Portions are generous, and the servers were friendly, quick, and professional. The interior is cute with a fun vibe, though it can get a bit loud.
google avatar

Cristalle L.

Yelp
Vibes are vibin' here! Super busy on a Sat night, a bit too loud for my liking as you could barely hear the person across from you and everyone had to raise their voice to be heard. 1.5hr dining limit for us but as it died down they didn't enforce it. We shared the grilled pork, tom zab, and dry mix thick noodle. Would definitely recommend choosing a thinner noodle for the dry mix as the thick noodle was a wide glass noodle and so bit of a mushy texture in contrast with the rest of the ingredients. Tom zab soup wasn't spicy at all (we asked for mild) and was very flavourful and aromatic with the kaffir lime leaves. As someone who can't handle spice, I loved this soup! Delicious meaty mushrooms too. Grilled pork was divine. I could eat dishes of this for days, along with the dipping sauce! Service was excellent, someone constantly came by to top up my water. Will definitely be back to try more dishes! Oh and parking was so easy for a Saturday night. Snagged a primo spot right out front of the restaurant on the street, and plenty more spots available on the side streets.
google avatar

Kelly N.

Yelp
Expected a more unique experience. Service also was just very average. Don't think I would recommend this place to others.
google avatar

Anson L.

Yelp
My friends and I stopped by for a late post dodgeball session meal here. I've never had Thai food before aside from Thai Express. I didn't really know what to expect. There are lots of different items on the menu, and honestly a lot of them sounded pretty good to me. The Tum Pla Ra and Pad See Ew were the main things I ate with my group. I was very impressed because the flavours were a lot more intense than I had expected it. I had eaten beforehand but the food was good enough that I could have ate a whole plate on my own. Fantastic experience here. The service was very good as our server was happy to chat and give his suggestions. I would very much want to come back and try more of the menu in future.
google avatar

Jenny W.

Yelp
Everyone in my party really enjoyed dinner at this place. I would skip the crying tiger dish. It was the only dish we ordered that we were disappointed in and felt like it wasn't worth the price. The roti was amazing and paired well with the green curry. I've never had roti with Thai food before but it was an enjoyable combination. The service was very warm and welcoming. Be sure to make a reservation because this place fills up, even on a weeknight.
google avatar

Betty L.

Yelp
Cute little surprise, we were craving Thai and was in the area so we popped in with no reservations and got a table within minutes. The flavors of every dish we tried was authentically delicious! I will definitely be back next time I'm in the area. I liked their clean modern decor also
google avatar

Mandy T.

Yelp
Zab Bite is located on the corner of Fraser and E26th; street parking is easy to find. The restaurant was not too busy on a weekday lunch hour so we were promptly seated. For weekday lunch, they had a small lunch menu that had some of the same items as their regular menu but with a $1+ or so discount. Check your bill at the end though because they charged us the regular price instead of the lunch menu price; they fixed it after we notified them. Serving up Thai cuisine, the plating is very aesthetic and Instagrammable; and the pricing reflects that. They've got a lot of appetizer and dishes that I haven't had in other Thai restaurants before; a lot of stir fries and grilled dishes. I normally get curries at Thai restaurants but Zab Bite does not have many curry options on their menu, so I ended up getting the Pad Thai on their lunch menu - it was not very good, on the dry side and flavor-wise I've had better. We also tried the Crispy Pork Toast which was interesting and pretty dense, best to share with 2-3 others. And the Crispy Grilled Pork was probably the best dish of the ones we tried - the fat to lean ratio gives it a nice bouncy texture and this one is worth getting. I wouldn't come out of my way, but if in the neighborhood and wanted some appies, they would be a decent choice.
google avatar

Andrew S.

Yelp
A new place on Fraser Street and 26th, in Vancouver. It used to be Pho Cilantro, then was Saigon and now it's Zab Bite. The staff are nice, friendly and efficient. The food comes out pretty quickly so make sure you order accordingly as you may not have enough room. You can always order more as you ewt. It is basic inside with a couple of booths and tables. The lighting is good which is wicker style cylinder shaped. The shrimp and the crying tiger ( grilled beef ) were really good. I'd definitely order those again. The spring rolls were good too but not that spectacular. The grilled pork was flavorful with a hint of spice. Between the beef and pork, I would get the beef, unless you don't eat beef then go for the pork.
google avatar

Matt B.

Yelp
One of the best Thai restaurants in Vancouver in a local scene that does not have the greatest quality Thai food compared to many other cosmopolitan North American cities. My wife & I visited for dinner after confirming that they can make some dishes vegan -- which mostly means no fish sauce and egg for the already vegetarian dishes. We ordered: -Green curry with tofu ($19) -- we ordered this Thai spicy, which came with a decent kick but could've been spicier for out tastes. Regardless, the curry was rich, complex and wonderfully balanced, coming with 6 large pieces of deep fried tofu and sliced eggplant. It would have been good to have some more/additional vegetables, but, regardless, this was fantastic. -Thai Hot & Herbal Stir-Fry with tofu ($19; made vegan by omitting egg) -- very tasty, lightly sweet and very nicely savoury stirfry amped up by the peppercorns and Thai herbs, coming with gai lan, baby corn, and 6 large pieces of deep fried tofu, served with a side of steamed rice. Probably the least interesting of the 3 dishes we ordered, but still damn delicious. -Pad see ew with tofu ($22; made vegan by omitting the egg) -- this came with perfectly cooked wide rice noodles, copious amounts of gai lan, and 6 large pieces of deep fried tofu. Wonderfully flavoured, amply portioned -- top-notch pad see ew. Portions were plentiful and prices were reasonable compared to Thai food prices in Vancouver. The way they cooked the tofu for all 3 dishes was especially satisfying. The quality was top-notch and perhaps only rivalled by Kin Kao (both locations but especially Song) in town for vegan-friendly Thai food. The service was also fantastic -- extremely friendly, attentive, and clear. Great spot. Highly recommended.
google avatar

Michelle S.

Yelp
Zab Bite has been on my wish list for a while, particularly since the place is recommended to me by Thai friends. We finally went there a few weeks ago. It's definitely better than some of the places I tried, but I was expecting the dishes to be spicier tbh. Tum Corn ($18) 6/10 A light and refreshing corn and carrot salad, tangy with nice crunch from the peanut. Has some dried shrimp inside. Was an okay appetizer. Yum Crispy Grilled Pork ($21) 7.5/10 Grilled pork served with dipping sauce. I really enjoyed the sweet-sour sauce (cilantro, lime, thai chili). Pork itself was very juicy and not smelly. Yum Salmon Zab ($28) 7/10 Thai version of salmon sashimi, where the fish is marinated with the same sauce as the grilled pork one. This was also pretty good though salmon texture was a bit too mushy. Tom Zab ($25) 7/10 Pork spicy sour soup served with rice powder and mushroom. Don't get me wrong, the soup was good, I wish it was actually spicy though. Our friend (who was from Thailand) specifically asked for Thai spicy, but I felt like they gave us one tailored for the local taste? Pad See Ew Beef ($25) 7/10 Stir fry wide noodle with beef and brocolli with soy-oyster based sauce. Nice wok hey and plenty of protein for the portion. reminds me of kwe tiau (in a good way) with slightly more sticky-translucent noodle. Mango Sticky Rice ($13) 5/10 I was expecting traditional mango sticky rice (which I prefer, sometimes simple is best) but they tried to be fancy with the pandan infused rice and crispy crackers. It's not bad per se, but I don't think the pandan works with the mango.
google avatar

Edward L.

Yelp
Super tasty Thai place on Fraser. What a pleasant surprise. Parking is available on the side streets. This place sure is popular. There was a 30-60 minute lineup when I went. On a weekday. The inside has a tropical theme going, with lots of bamboo trim. Staff are friendly. I think I heard them speaking Thai. The stir-fri Thai holy basil, which is a signature dish. The spiciness comes in 4 levels: mild, medium, spicy, and Thai spicy. Most Thai places here are "North American spicy" so this raised an eyebrow or two. I had my dish spicy (Level 3) and sure enough, it wasn't exactly Thai spicy, so my buddy and I asked for some red cut chili. This brought the spiciness level to what I remember from Thailand. The stewed beef was tender and not dry. Served with an inverted dome of jasmine rice, and a fried egg. Quite tasty I must say. I would come back. Recommended.
google avatar

Kate M.

Yelp
Loved LOVED Zab Bite today! Fantastic Thai spot that we've been wanting to go to for the past year and finally we made a lunch reso on my day off. It was busy but not packed, the ambience is really laid back which I love. The staff was on it too and the food came out quite quickly and everything was piping hot! We ordered the following from best to not as best but still great and no exaggeration everything was AMAZING and so so flavourful! Addictive! Padang curry (red curry) spicy - so incredible flavourful with perfectly cooked eggplant and prawn. Get the Roti for dipping!! Drunken Noodles with Tofu - I could eat plates of this! The tofu was crispy and soft on the inside and the noodles were chewy and spicy! Salmon sashimi - had flavours like a salmon ceviche, nice and refreshing. Crispy pork - so so tender my god it was good and the dipping sauce was great too. Shrimp wrap - yummy crunch fried bites with a sweet chili dipper. We all enjoyed our lunch and for four people it came to $140 total and we had beers too, which I thought was really reasonable for all four of us! Go here if you want great Thai food!!
google avatar

Maya Mayuko T.

Yelp
I found this restaurant while browsing Instagram, and it sounds very interesting to me since they offer Northern Thai food. What I ordered was: Assorted Appertizers Veggie Spring Rolls, Crispy Pork Toasts, Shrimp Wraps, and Pork Jerky -The spring roll and shrimp wrap were just okay. The pork toast was better than the other items; however, I prefer a little bit more filling. The pork jerky was also just okay. Compared to the pork jerky in Thailand, it was more like grilled pork than pork jerky. Nam Tok Crispy Grilled Pork -The grilled pork salad was the best dish. The pork was juicy and well-marinated. The herbs and lime brought out strong flavors. I really liked this dish. Pad See Ew -There are a lot of ingredients, including the pork I chose, that taste really good Mango Sticky rice -The presentation was great. The sticky rice had a green color, and there was a small paper umbrella placed on top of the mango. However, the mango was not ripe, and the sticky rice needed more coconut flavor. The coconut milk on the side was not enough, and the sticky rice needed to cool down more as it was hot. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing dish. Overall, my experience at Zabbite was just okay. I hope they improve some dishes, and I will visit again to try different ones.
google avatar

Carolyn L.

Yelp
I want to love this place but I think consistency is not there yet. I was the first customer and it still took some time for the order to be taken and food to be served. I ordered the pad gra pao (Thai holy basil with minced pork). That's the dish I usually order to see how authentic or good the place is. It's a common dish all over Thailand. I was really disappointed when it came out. There was barely any basil leaves or chili etc. just a mound of minced meat. The fried egg didn't have crispy edges. It looked so plain. Not that saucy either. Later I found a couple of basil leaves underneath the meat. It was not very good at all. I also ordered the crispy grilled pork highly recommended by other yelpers. This was really nice. I loved the dipping sauce which came with it. Unfortunately it took about 20 minutes for it to be served. When I asked about the status of the dish, the staff then told me it was made to order. That's why it took 15-20 minutes to be ready. I wish the staff would inform customers about the wait time when being ordered. Or have that indicated on the menu. The upside was I got full by the time the crispy grilled pork came out so I tried some and then packed the leftovers. The crispy grilled pork sauce made the pad gra pao taste so much better when I had them the next day. Pro tip: no blinds on windows so avoid tables where the sun shines directly in. Service was a bit slow. Make reservations as it got busy by 1230 pm on weekdays.
google avatar

Jonny M.

Yelp
Decided to try Zab Bite, a NE Thai restaurant, that took over the space from Saigon Taste. They're next door to Grand View Szechuan. We dropped in on a Wednesday evening (7:30pm). Make reservations because it was packed. Waters were constantly refilled. There's a lunch menu (Monday to Thursday, 11:30am to 2:00pm) but you only save a few bucks. - Virgin "be salamati" ($7.00) - refreshing. - Crispy roti ($3.00) - light, flaky but greasy. - 3x Jasmine rice ($2.00) - ordered three bowls to share between our group of four. - Pad see ew ($21.00) - my favourite dish. Wide, flat noodles had a great chew/elasticity. - Panang curry ($19.00) - zero spice level. Eggplant slices but wish there was more substance. - Yum crispy grilled pork ($21.00) - juicy but the sauce really elevated the flavours. Small portion. - Nam tok crying tiger ($29.00) - short ribs came out medium rare. Again, small portion. - Mango sticky rice parfait ($13.00) - sticky rice was interestingly infused with pandan. Good flavours but small portions. 3.5 stars.
google avatar

Sandra D.

Yelp
I enjoy it here, from drinks to food. I enjoy these dishes mostly and some appies. I don't like some of the other stuff but that's personal preference. Service is quick and nice. Ambiance is casual and the place is clean. I always come back.
google avatar

Beverly A.

Yelp
Food: delicious and tasty! We love Thai food and they did not disappoint! Must try the Pad See Ew and the crispy grilled pork slices -- the dipping sauce makes this *chef's kiss*! Service: we went on Father's Day with no reservations but luckily, we were seated within a few mins. But we were told we had to eat and finish within an hr because they needed the table for a reservation later in the evening. We told the hostess that we will try to finish our food as quickly as possible so long as the food arrived at our table quickly. They promised they'd put a rush in the kitchen for our dishes. Luckily, we all finished relatively fast since we were all hungry and servings weren't massive. We should've made reservations for this evening, I know, but I'm glad it all worked out for us. The restaurant itself was simple and had no frills. Clean tables and super clean bathrooms -- very impressed for an Asian restaurant in Vancouver! Staff were attentive and moved quickly without feeling impersonal. Overall, I'd come back to this place!
google avatar

Marilyn V.

Yelp
Ambiance is bright and clean with a modern interior. Space is quite small and tight so reservations is highly recommended to secure a table. I find the noise level high not from music but from people talking. I think the place needs to improve on acoustics. Servers were very busy but nonetheless did a good job to accommodate us. Love Thai food and came here after seeing posts on IG. It didn't disappoint. Gosh our group of 6 was in heaven! It was so good bite after bite. *Nam Tok Crispy Grilled Pork $21: oooo love the crispy texture and the sauce it's in. Crispy skin is not thick like other versions of crispy pork but there's a crisp texture to it. *Crying Tiger $27: gosh so so delicious esp with the Thai seeet chili dipping sauce *Boat Noodle $24: deep- flavored beef soup tastes like it's cooked in herbs. *Stir Fry Thai Holy Basil $19: ground pork recommended as it is the original version accdg to our server. Very very delicious & flavourful *Laab Moo $18: unusual salad dish...if only all salads are made with meat and less veggies. *Pad Thai $20: although a staple in Thai food, this dish elicited a "wow" from our party. *Pad See Ew $21: yummy and delicious Would have eaten buckets of rice with above dishes if only I'm not on a carb diet.
google avatar

Natalie W.

Yelp
Bright space with tables and booths for seating. For a Wednesday night, it got busy and I could see a few groups waiting. Luckily, we arrived before then. They had a 2 for 1 deal for beer as a grand opening special, which was a pretty good deal. We tried a few dishes and all were tasty. Pad Thai with pork- I liked how the peanut and chili flakes were on the side, so we could customize it. The portion of pad Thai was slightly on the smaller side, but there was plenty pieces of pork in it. Wish there was a bit more noodles. But the overall flavour was tasty. Nam Tok Crispy Grilled Pork- the pork toro was tender and the spicy sauce with herbs was good. It had a nice acidity to balance out the fatty pieces of pork. Boat noodles- we chose the thick noodle, and it was a thick glass noodle. Different from what we were expecting, but it was good. The broth was like a richer pho broth. It had various pieces of beef. There were beef balls, chunks of beef, and slices. All pretty tender. Overall, the food was tasty. A bit on the pricier side, but quality of food was pretty good. Servers were friendly and attentive. Although when I was first seated, I was waiting for the rest of my party and they asked if I was ready to order. So I felt a bit rushed at the beginning, but after that it was all good. This is a nice addition to the neighborhood and I'd come back to try other dishes!
google avatar

Winnie S.

Yelp
Food was very tasty and service was good. Came here for lunch with friends and family. We started with the papaya salad. It was good and refreshing but on the vinegary side. Portion was smaller than most other restaurants though. We also had the mix appetizer platter. It was pricey for what we got. We would rather order another entree. Non alcoholic drinks were also pricey. Hot tea with just a tea bag was $6 and Thai milk tea was $8!!! We will definitely not order that again. However their entre dishes were all good and tasty. The pad Siew was tasty. The pork belly was nice and also the rice with beef and Thai basil were all good and favourable.
google avatar

Yso F.

Yelp
resos were made through tock for lunch at 1:00 pm, party of three on a wednesday and marks zab bite as our first dine out of 2024. we had arrived early and the place was busy, we were greeted promptly, and seated shortly after. the servers were professional and accommodating, they allowed us to move to a booth as one became available. due to a mix up in the date for lunch, my girlfriend arrived 45 minutes late, and one of the servers reassured us, there was no problem, there were no reservations after us, which was a huge relief. zab bite is located on the corner of fraser and east 26th, and is small, and a little cramped, seating capacity may be around 30. street parking is available on fraser and nearby neighbourhoods. this thai e-sarn restaurant is clean and features a lot of wood, and weaving textures, like in their chair seats, lighting fixtures, and what looked like a bamboo fish trap. when we were there, they had young, modern thai music videos, similar to kpop on their tv. there is a smell that lingers in the air, i can't quite place my finger on it, perhaps it's fish sauce and/or dried shrimp. they have lunch o'clock specials on a few selected items, monday through thursday, from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, along with their regular menu. many of their dishes are spicy. we ordered the following items: tum thai, shredded green papaya salad topped with dried shrimp and peanut, this dish was spicy, and lacked acidity pad thai, stir fried rice noodle cooked with chef's signature sweet and sour sauce with chicken, there was a generous amount of chicken and tasted okay pad see ew, stir fried wide rice noodles with gai lan, scrambled egg, and chef's signature seasoning sauce, with pork, of the three dishes ordered, this was the star. the wide rice noodles were silky and caramelized, this was flavourful with the pork. after lunch, we asked about their dessert and was told they have mango sticky rice. we can't say no to mango sticky rice, even though we were full. they came back and told us their mangoes were not ripe enough. i appreciate that we were not rushed at all, and waters were refilled frequently. we thoroughly enjoyed our first luncheon of the year, explored a new northeastern thai cuisine while catching up with a dear friend. i think it would be great to visit zab bite again with a larger group, to try more dishes, but may prove to be challenging as this place is ideal for small groups.
google avatar

Scanly L.

Yelp
The food is amazing and the servers were so helpful. The crying tiger highly recommended, the sauce is very unique. The tom yum is very authentic. Everything is so tasty .
google avatar

Maria Y.

Yelp
Pad See Ew, this dish is chewy and so delicious. It has just enough "wok hei". The seasoning is perfect and it is making me want to have more. I will definitely want to go back to try their other dishes. The price point is a little on the high side but that did not stop people from frequenting this joint. It was almost a full house with only one empty table when I was there. The other dish we ordered is the crispy pork jowl. Again this was another hit. A definite must if u go. Love to try the sharing basket for the presentation and assortment of appies.
google avatar

Lynn M.

Yelp
We had take out and absolutely no complaints. One of our party has been to Thailand numerous times and said this was the most authentic food he had found in Vancouver. It was absolutely delicious. We had six dishes and everyone of them was outstanding. We can not wait to go back and actually eat in the restaurant. We would absolutely recommend trying the food here. Fantastic
google avatar

Josephine W.

Yelp
Was excited to try this restaurant as the menu focuses on northern Thailand cuisine with a lot of menu options to choose from. One of my favourite drinks is Thai Milk tea and I am happy that Zab bite doesn't make theirs too sweet--it was just right. My friend and I decided to share the appetizer platter and the drunken noodle spicy dish. The platter comes with Veggie Spring Rolls, Crispy Pork Toasts, Shrimp Wraps, and Pork Jerky. My favourite was the pork toasts. The pork jerky and shrimp wrap had great flavour but was a bit dry. The noodle dish was very delicious with a kick to it! You can choose your protein and the noodles are nice and chewy. I would definitely come back to try some other dishes!

Kate C.

Yelp
Was looking forward to the boat noodle. It's pretty good just only there wasn't enough soup but lots of meat. The broth is very meaty rich with a hint of sourness.
google avatar

Elsie W.

Yelp
BEWARE SEATING TIME LIMIT Went to try this place out w/ a friend. Order glass noodle dish that was mushy & seem like it was baby food consistency. I asked server if this is how this dish suppose to be like, he took dish in and made new dish. Roti was fried & oily. Mini pork toast was bland & tasteless. Less than 1.5hr of seating, I'm still holding my utensils in hand and had food on my dish, a server comes and asks me if I like to wrap leftover. I was shocked they pushing us to leave when table beside us (table of 3) sat down before us is not getting kicked out. I would NOT recommend this place if you planning to sit & talk. Unsuitable for big parties. I felt like having fast food. I did not like fact they did not disclose there is seating time limit. This is HORRIBLE MANAGEMENT. Dinner is not enjoyable being rushed. I did not even had a chance to even see a dessert menu, if there is one. Food was mediocre and experience was worsened when I we rushed to pay.
google avatar

Tiffany T.

Yelp
Came in on a cold thursday night. The place is small but it had quite a few tables. Got two dishes to share between 2 people. I loved the glass noodle they used for the pad see ew! Overall this place is good but expensive, just for these two things the total was $42. It is on the pricey side but it's good average thai food. I did really appreciate the attentive workers, my water was filled 3 times, love to see it.
google avatar

Yolanda L.

Yelp
Highly recommended by a friend so came by to try a few things. The food was great and I highly recommend eating it family style to try more dishes. The service was attentive. The ambiance was chill. My favourite dish was the Pad See Ew. The wide needle was delicious! Their curry and appy were also delicious too! Don't forget to order some roti and rice! Make a reso as it gets busy!

C M.

Yelp
my favourite favourite favourite restaurant at the moment !! just came back from bkk so was missing thai food and the food at zab bite just hit the spot for me will come here sm times again!!!

Brian L.

Yelp
Came here for dinner. Get a reservation - they get busy. Easily done for free online - linked from their website. Food we tried: chicken pad thai - kind of my benchmark for thai food. I like their version. As close to the ones I got on the street in Bangkok as Ive found in Vancouver. Tum Thai - just ok. I would prefer the papaya julienned a bit thinner. Dressing was well balanced. Boat noodles - great. Not as deeply flavorful as what I had in Thailand but again, about as good as Ive ever found it in Vancouver. Tom Zab soup - good, nice flavours, well balanced. Red lime soda - not bad. Refreshing, but ask for it with minimal sweetness. Service: excellent. They were happy to get us a new drink when we mentioned it was too sweet. Servers were friendly and polite. They certainly respected reservations too. Our table was ready in advance, blocked off, while people were waiting to get a spot. Parking: street parking. Can be hard to find. Good luck. Restaurant itself is new and clean, but nothing fancy. Looks like a place for a casual thai meal with some drinks. Its very small too. If I had to knock it for something, its the prices. They are quite pricey compared to other places, and they do not look like anything upscale, nor is the food any type of Thai fine dining. Value proposition is not really there. What saves them is the food. IMO about as good and authentic as Thai food gets in Vancouver. Its also a great sign that the employees were Thai, and many of the diners were also Thai. If they can lower the prices to be more reasonable, its an easy 5/5. Or, really ramp up the ambiance and service to a more upscale level to be more appropriate for their pricing.

Jeff D.

Yelp
The food was ok. Ordered the Holy Basil chicken at a medium spice level, but it was more on the "if you want heat, eat the dried chilli" The Pad Thai was ok, but not to the point where it was "so good". Especially for the price point. The Thai milk tea tasted like it came from a can, and the mojito was a no go. Although it's the only Thai place in the neighborhood, it's not gonna be a place that I would recommend to anyone I know.

Stacy W.

Yelp
By far the absolute worst thai food I have ever tasted! I love Thai food but this.... Mmmmm no, the chicken tasted, just... wrong and there was a layer of oil floating on top of my tom yum, I have had Thai tons of times before and have never tasted the likes of this..... just dont, unfortunately 100% do not recommend, I wish I could just return all the food, because I wont be finishing it. :/

Dan T.

Yelp
Fantastic food. Pad Thai, Drunken Noodle, and Garlic Pepper is fantastic. Would highly recommend to anyone.

Dhitha P.

Yelp
The food was authentic Thai. The flavours were really powerful. The staffs were very attentive and nice. The service was excellent. They check on us several times. Overall, totally recommend. 10/10!

Fake U.

Yelp
Delicious and friendly envinronment, cozy place ! Pad Se Ew and khoa soi is the best I've ever had!! :)

Kayleigh S.

Yelp
great cozy relaxed ambience. food and service were amazing. the crispy grilled pork was 100/10 and tasted so good, the dipping sauce that came with it was perfection. drink selection is great and i loved the thai milk. the appetizers were yummy especially the crispy pork toast. best thai cuisine in van!