While a myraid of mall, Habito, Saeb Lai is determined to stick to cuisine with roots that are closer to home. Saeb Lai (“very delicious” in Isaan) specializes in Thai-Isan and Lao food, offering up to 15 kinds of somtum, including somtum with rice noodles (B75) and somtum with pickled fish and salted crab (B75). Prepare some napkins and a big glass of iced tea, as the spice is guaranteed to make you cry your eyes out.
For more subtle dishes, try the Thai-style glass noodle salad with Khon Kaen sausage, pork mince and local herbs (B100), bamboo shoot soup made with an aromatic ya nang (bamboo grass) broth (B130), and the signature grilled free-range chicken marinated with lemongrass, garlic and coriander roots (B155).
Owner and founder Thien Duc Cao, the former director of Union Mall, reflects his life journey from Laos to Thailand through Isaan-style décor, including crafted bamboo lamps hanging from the high ceiling to a series of pop-art paintings on the wall depicting everyday elements of the Isan kitchen like kratip (bamboo container for holding cooked sticky rice), and mortar and pestles.
Saeb Lai has plans to put up an outdoor terrace bar where people can come and sip their favorite cocktails while enjoying live acoustic music on the weekends.