Sabai Sabai Toronto: Best Thai Restaurant in Yorkville

Sabai Sabai Toronto is the best Thai restaurant in Yorkville.

Located a short walk from Yonge and Bloor, Sabai Sabai Toronto offers classic Thai dishes alongside authentic Laotian specialties.

Sabai Sabai is a Thai restaurant in Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood. — Sabai Sabai is a Thai restaurant in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood.

Sabai Sabai Toronto

The popular Thai restaurant on Bloor Street was the dream of Laotians Seng Luong and Jason Jiang. The duo co-own the restaurant with Thai restaurant power couple Chef Nuit and Jeff Regular (of Pai and Kiin fame).

Chef Nuit is originally from Northern Thailand (Chang Mai) while Seng and Jason grew up in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

Seng Luong explains, “We came up with the concept of Sabai Sabai in early 2012 and first opened at a location on Church and Dundas in November. Sabai Sabai is the brainchild of Jason and Chef Nuit. The inspiration behind Sabai Sabai was to offer Northern Thai food with a mix of lesser known Lao dishes.”

Seng Luong explains Sabai Sabai Toronto’s relocation to Yorkville, “Due to redevelopment of our original Church Street location we had to relocate. Yonge and Bloor was our first choice when we started searching for our new home. Fortunately for us, 81 Bloor Street, formerly occupied by The Spotted Dick, had just come on the market. It was the first and only space we looked at, but knew immediately it was perfect. We moved to the Bloor Street location in September, 2016.”

The funky dining room at Sabai Sabai Toronto.

Step Inside Sabai Sabai Toronto

The popular Thai restaurant sits on the south side of Bloor Street, across from the Marriott Hotel. The luxury hotel property is scheduled to relaunch in 2019 as the second W Hotel in Canada (after W Montreal). The addition of the W Hotel Toronto to the Yorkville neighbourhood will make Sabai Sabai an even more popular culinary destination on Bloor Street.

Step inside Sabai Sabai and you’ll find yourself transported to Thailand. We’ve traveled through Thailand extensively and enjoy the restaurant’s Thai-inspired decor and authentically prepared dishes. Dinner at Sabai Sabai always has us swooning for past travels to Bangkok, Sukothai, Phuket, Ko Phi Phi, Krabi, and Ko Samui.

Seng Luong chats about Sabai Sabai Toronto’s design, “The interior is an eclectic collection of artifacts we’ve picked up in our travels through Laos and Thailand. Our goal was to transport our guests back to Southeast Asia through the flavours, smells, and design aesthetics.”

Craft cocktails and Thai beer at Sabai Sabai's bar. — Craft cocktails and Thai beer at Sabai Sabai’s bar.

The Bar at Sabai Sabai Toronto

The popular Thai restaurant in Toronto offers one of the best bars in Yorkville. If you’re popping in for after work cocktails and don’t have time for a seated dinner, hop up on a stool at the bar.

“Our cocktail menu is inspired by ingredients commonly found in Thai and Lao kitchens, including lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, sweet Thai basil, galangal and turmeric. We were one of the first restaurants in Canada to offer Singha on draught and are diligently working to get BeerLao permanently back on our menu,” says Seng Luong.

He adds, “Our wine list is hand selected by Seng and Jason to compliment our food. We offer a selection of local Niagara and Prince Edward County wines as well international old and new world wines.”

Asian Inspired Cocktails at Sabai Sabai Toronto

Midnight Monsoon: spiced rum, cold press ginger, thai basil, lime
Sabai Sabai Sangria: tropical fruits, brandy, triple sec, passion fruit, rose wine
Tom Yum Martini: malibu, pama, lemongrass, galangal, lime leaf, chili, house syrup
The Naga: turmeric infused tanqueray gin, grand marnier, mango juice, lemon, sage
The Mojito: havana club 3 year, lemongrass, lime leaf, mint, lime

Lao BBQ Chicken Ping Gai at Sabai Sabai Toronto.

Sabai Sabai Toronto Menu

Sabai Sabai is one of the only restaurants in Toronto offering authentic dishes from Laos. You’ll find all your favourite Thai staples here, but we suggest focussing on the restaurants unique offerings from Laos as they’re hard to find elsewhere in the city.

Seng Luong suggests, “Laab, a minced meat and herb salad, Khao Poon, a noodle dish in an aromatic coconut, chicken and red curry broth, Ping Gai, a common BBQ chicken street food, Lao papaya salad, grilled chicken wings and pork belly sausage.”

Pork Belly Lao Sausage "Sai Oua" at Sabai Sabai Toronto. — Pork Belly Lao Sausage “Sai Oua” at Sabai Sabai Toronto.

Minced Pork Salad Laap Lao at Sabai Sabai Toronto.

Sabai Sabai Toronto Share Plates

Crispy Fried Fish: lightly battered, sweet and tangy tamarind sauce.
Steamed Fish Curry Mousse “Hor Mok”: wild ginger, red curry, steamed in banana leaf.
Red Flame Stir-Fried Spinach: garlic and chili
Eggplant Stir-Fry: thai basil, red pepper, shallot
Northern Thai Pork Skewers: house marinade, chili nam jim dip
Minced Pork Salad “Laap Lao”: unofficial national dish of Laos, fresh herbs, lettuce
Lao BBQ Chicken “Ping Gai”: boneless chicken marinated with in-house spices, fresh herbs, chili garlic dipping sauce, papaya salad.
Lao Chicken Wings: housemade marinade, grilled
Grilled Beef Salad “Nam Tok Neua”: AAA angus thinly sliced, fresh herbs
Grilled Satay Chicken: turmeric, coconut milk, peanut sauce, cucumber vinaigrette
Pork Belly Lao Sausage “Sai Oua”: housemade, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, galangal, chili
Cucumber Salad “Tum Mak Thang”: cucumber, cherry tomato, lime, fresh herbs

Holy Basil Stir-Fry Pad Gra Prao at Sabai Sabai Toronto.

Sabai Sabai Toronto Large Plates

Khao Poon: lao rice noodle dish, red curry coconut broth, chicken, fresh herbs, shredded banana blossom, black pudding.
Fried Rice: eggs, snow peas, king oyster mushrooms (add chicken or shrimp)
Green Curry: bamboo shoots, shrimp paste, thai eggplant, rice (add chicken or shrimp)
Panang Curry: red curry, shrimp paste, rice (add chicken or shrimp)
Coconut Noodles “Mee Kati”: thin rice noodles, coconut and tamarind sauce, chicken, egg threads.
Street-Style Tossed Noodles: rice noodles, chicken, peanut, tamarind sauce.
Massaman Curry: braised beef, tamarind, cinnamon, cloves, peanut, potato, coconut milk, rice.
Holy Basil Stir-Fry “Pad Gra Prao”: fried egg, rice, (add chicken, pork, or shrimp)
Drunken Noodles “Pad Kee Mao”: rice noodles, thai basil, eggs, soya sauce, (add chicken or shrimp).
Khao Soi: golden curry, egg noodles, coconut milk (add chicken, braised beef, or shrimp).

Khao Poon is a rice noodle dish from Laos.

Massaman Curry with braised beef at Sabai Sabai restaurant in Yorkville.

Sabai Sabai Toronto Side Dishes

Squash Fritters: red curry, wild ginger batter, tamarind peanut dip.
Deep Fried Garlic Shrimp: pank crusted, tamarind sauce.
Crispy Fried Taro Roll: taro, water chestnut, beancurd wrap, sweet and sour chili dip.
Crispy Shrimp Chips: tamarind dipping sauce.
Spring Rolls: glass noodles, mushrooms, carrots.
Thai Style Papaya Salad: green papaya, dried shrimp, fish sauce, long bean, tomato.
Lao Style Papaya Salad “Som Tum”: green papaya, salted crab, fermented fish sauce, shrimp paste.
Tom Yum Goong Soup: hot and sour, shrimp, lemongrass.
Tom Ka Soup: coconut milk, galangal (add chicken or shrimp).