Original Sab-E-Lee is the best Thai food in San Diego – yeah, I said it!

Original Sab-E-Lee at 6925 Linda Vista Rd. B, San Diego, CA 92111 has closed. :(

Neighborhood: Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego

Price: $

Vibe: Small, casual restaurant tucked away in the Vons shopping center. The beer and wine selection leaves much to be desired, but you’re here for the food and it’s worth it.

UPDATE: It is with a heavy heart and a lump in my throat that I share that our beloved Sab-E-Lee at the Linda Vista location has closed. Because life is sometimes cruel and unfair, and the owners decided they could no longer keep both locations open. It has been replaced by Zab Linda - which I tried once, accidentally. They assured me that they have been given all of the Sab-E-Lee recipes, and trained up by the original staff, but it’s just missing that….je ne sais quoi. There is something magic about the Original Sab-E-Lee kitchen that just can’t be replicated. But all hope is not lost friends, because the location in Rancho Penasquitos is still open! I have already mapped it out from my house and it’s only about 25 minutes away, which is totally worth it for the best Thai food in San Diego. I probably won’t be making weekly (or sometimes twice a week) trips to get my Thai fix, but don’t doubt this one will stay in the rotation.

I’m keeping my original blog post below, because it’s filled with great memories and may spark some of your memories of this amazing restaurant and staff as well.

My love affair with Sab-E-Lee started many, many years ago.  After traveling to Thailand, I came back to San Diego in search of my favorite Thai dish, the not-so-sexily-named “larb”, consisting of minced chicken (gai), onion, and loads of fresh spices and lime.  I ate larb every day during my trip to Thailand.  In fact, the only time I didn’t eat it was when it wasn’t an option on the menu.  I spent almost two weeks traveling around the southeastern islands of Thailand, filling my days with larb, whole fried fish, beach time and foot massages. In the evenings we would play connect four with the lady boys, listen to amazing cover bands and howl at the full moon.  If you’ve never been, put it on your bucket list! There are so many fresh and delicious options within the Thai cuisine, I never once craved anything from home. Am I Thai? (Ancestry.com says no, but I wonder…)

My good foodie friend lived in Linda Vista and raved about this tiny little restaurant with about 3.5 tables, cranking out some of the most authentic and delicious Thai food that one has ever eaten.  The Original Sab-E-Lee has since moved to a much larger space across the street and quadrupled in table space.  But the food quality is just as good, maybe better.  My friend and I have been known to frequent Sab-E-Lee on a regular basis, and yes, there have been times we have gone twice in one day. To the pure delight of the serving staff who giggled and said as we left the second time that day, “see you tomorrow!”

There are a lot of people who say they like Thai food, and I can’t help but wince when I see said people order Pad Thai noodles and call it a day.  I want to be clear that I am not here to offend.  I totally get it - it can be a little scary to branch out.  But oh, there is SO much more to this amazing cuisine!  So, I’m here to share with you some of my favorite non-mainstream dishes at Sab-E-Lee that I implore you all to try.  And for those that want to challenge my assertion that Sab-E-Lee is “the best Thai food in San Diego” – bring it!  I’m happy to take on that challenge. Any. Day. 

I think spice level varies greatly depending on the Thai restaurant.  At Sab-E-Lee the spice # is an actual representation of how many whole Thai chilis go into the dish.  Now I LOVE spice, but I have also ruined my palette and my taste buds because I thought I could go up to a 5 or 6.  DON’T DO IT.  For most dishes my max spice level is a 3 and in a few, I go up to a 4. Please trust me on this and you’re welcome.

·         Napa Cabbage soup (Chinese cabbage, pork and mushrooms) - Oh how love the flavor of this soup!  This is what I crave when I’m not feeling well, on a cold day, or just because.  They will sometimes add woon sen noodles for you. Sometimes not.  It’s delish either way.  No spice.

·         Pad Pak Boong (AKA Morning glory, AKA stir fried water spinach with bean sauce). I’ve had this both with spice (spicy #2) and without and I love them both.

·         Larb Gai spicy #3

·         Pa-nang Curry is my favorite type of curry and Sab-E-Lee has perfected this sweet and savory dish.  I add chicken, but it’s good with any protein.  Spicy #3.

·         Drunken noodles with chicken.  Go easy on the spice here, the noodles seem to absorb the chili and it heats up quickly.  I suggest spicy #2.

·         Pad Krapow - I get this dish with either ground chicken or ground pork, and I sometimes will request it without the bell peppers.  This one I like extra spicy because I’m typically eating it with rice, spicy #4.

The Original Sab-E-Lee

13223 Black Mountain Road

San Diego, CA 92129

Check out our recipe section for some inspiration. Because sometimes its better when you make it.