Zaab Zaab - Authentic Isan Thai Dining in Williamsburg - Menu, Reservations, and Reviews

Zaab Zaab in Williamsburg delivers an authentic Isan (Northeastern Thai) dining experience in a lively, colorful space. The decor, featuring vibrant murals and a striking lobster sculpture, sets the tone for a fun and flavorful meal. The dishes we enjoyed showcased bold flavors and fresh ingredients. Highlights included the whole steamed fish with lime and chili, delivering a perfect balance of tangy and spicy notes, and the smoky, tender grilled beef served with fresh herbs and dipping sauces. The mixed skewers, featuring squid, shrimp, and meat, were grilled to perfection and paired well with a savory dipping sauce. The spicy larb salad combined a satisfying crunch with a complex mix of spices, while the dessert - a pandan cake served with sticky rice and coconut cream - was a delightful way to end the meal. Zaab Zaab is a great spot for those seeking vibrant Thai dishes in a casual yet energetic environment. It's ideal for sharing plates with friends or enjoying a lively dinner before exploring Williamsburg.

Have you ever tried a Khao Jee burger?! Me either till now and when I tell you it was sooooo freaking good. Very flavorful. The rice bun wasn't dry at all, the meat was made like. Smash burger. I'm honestly not even sure what all was on it, but I know it was good. The wasn't much service to be had since it was a food hall, but the guys behind the counter were nice. The food hall had a lot of different food options. Most of the stuff seemed fresh from the garden or butcher.

The food took a pretty long time to arrive and every dish came with fifteen minutes at least in between. The crab curry was great and I liked that it came with rice noodles and a bunch of toppings! The som tum Thai is solid, but the Tom yum noodle soup was really sour in an odd way (and didn't really taste like Tom yum).

Zaab Zaab has very good food, and man they'll make it spicy for you if you ask. My usual move is the Pad ka prao with ground pork - a classic thai street food dish that they execute perfectly. I also love their som tum, it's a little on the fishier side with the baby shrimp, but flavors are right on, and they'll also make it super hot. I'm usually getting takeout from here so don't know about the service or ambiance, but for to-go food, it hits.

Cute spot in Williamsburg w a blue lobster hanging from the ceiling! Came with some friends for dinner recently- such a fun spot with bright and colorful decor! Standouts include the clay pot pork belly (Moo Palo) which had tender and succulent pork belly with flavorful tofu puffs, and the dessert- Pandan Mango Sticky Rice with toasted rice puffs, juicy mangoes, and fragrant sticky rice. Service is fantastic and so friendly!

A venue sporting a giant blue lobster hanging from the ceiling might not immediately appeal to most vegetarians. Indeed, this is one of the few Thai establishments I've been to where they refuse to make most of the noodle offerings with tofu or without meat/fish, which was somewhat disappointing. That being said, we loved the vegan kra pao, which appeared to be made with seitan or some similar soy product. Vegan versions of the dish, which is prepared with a heavy dose of tulsi, are quickly appearing on more dishes and becoming my go to order at Thai restaurants in the city. It had an excellent crunchy texture, and the red chilis gave the dish just the right amount of heat.

I was excited to finally try Zaab Zaab after hearing about their well rated Elmhurst location. Fortunately, their success allowed them to open a Brooklyn outpost, saving me a trip to Queens. Getting a table for two on a Saturday night was easy as a walk-in. Right off the bat, our server's aggressive upselling was annoying. I know restaurants need to make money, but constantly pushing extra dishes and drinks when I'm confident in my order is a turn off. A good server should ensure I don't over-order, not pressure me into it. Being seated next to the door, we were blasted with cold air in every time it opened which also dampened the experience. On to the food - it really delivered on the promise of intense spice. I loved that they offer catfish as a larb protein option. The larb packed a good amount of heat and I even popped extra peppers into my mouth for even more of a kick. The charcoal chicken, however, was disappointing - dry and difficult to cut. The pad thai was better in flavor, but like all the dishes, the portion felt small for the price point. Our modest three savory plates, plus a wine and beer, still ran us $140. Zaab Zaab's food brings the heat and I'd totally go back for more of that catfish larb!