MELBOURNE | Early this year, a tiny Thai spot opened up without fanfare on King Street, and it’s quietly been building a reputation amongst those in the know, including a few Thai chefs that I’ve spoken to, as one of the best places in town for proper Thai food. It’s called Zabb Nua, and I popped in the other day to get some shots for What’s On Melbourne.
Owner Tuu, and the team, are cooking up a storm in the open kitchen. They’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, they simply want to serve authentic, top quality versions of Northeastern Thai, Isan-style street food dishes. There’s the favourites that have become commonplace in Melbourne in recent years, along with several dishes that are less common here.
As the food was being brought out, laid across small stainless steel tables flanked by colourful plastic chairs, my mind was taken back to my Bangkok trip last year. In particular, a place in Chinatown where I enjoyed several delicious things streetside. When specific memories like this are being evoked, you know that you’re in for a treat.
Zabb Nua is a great option for a shared meal with several people. On the menu you’ll find eight kinds of larb, a variety of hot pot and soup dishes, and a wide selection of seafood and salads. There’s something for everyone on the extensive menu, regardless of whether you’re new to Thai cuisine, or looking to expand you knowledge and delve deeper into the cuisine. There’s prime cuts and offal, and most dishes allow you to select the level of spice you want.
Favourites like Mama Tom Yum hot pot, crying tiger beef with sweet and sour nam jim jeaw, and pad kaprao all hit the spot. The signature dish, miang pla pao, is highly recommended. It’s a whole Barramundi, stuffed with lemongrass, and baked in salt until flaky and tender.
Dessert is things like the classic mango sticky rice, kanom thuai foy thong (steamed pandan and coconut milk pudding with salted egg yolk threads), and kanompang steamed bread, custard, and ice-cream. To drink, it’s the usual assortment of Thai drinks, and a few Thai beers.
Zabb Nua
275 King Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9942 2175
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Mon – Fri: 11:30am to 3:00pm; 5:00pm to 11:00pm
Sat – Sun: 5:00pm to 11:00pm