REVIEW : Sabai Sabai Anniversary menu

Sabai Sabai 20^th Birthday Celebration Meal

Sabai Sabai has been providing authentic Thai tastes to diners in and around the Midlands for 20 years. This seems improbable considering the fresh faces of founders Torquil and Juree but anyone who has ever dined at one of their five restaurants will have experienced the warm welcome they’re famed for; wherever they choose to dine.

Starting out as a neighbourhood restaurant in Moseley in 2004, their next restaurant was opened in Harborne in 2011, followed by Stratford Upon Avon in 2016, Birmingham City Centre in 2017 and most recently in their hometown of Solihull in 2023. 

I had the pleasure of dining at the Birmingham City Centre location for a special celebratory meal to mark the occasion, in the company of some of the city’s finest influencers.

Six courses of Thai tastes were in store for us, with the tasting menu including Prawn and Crab on Sour Dough Crackle & Pop King Prawn, Beef and Chicken Skewers, Pad Ba Mee, Seabass Southern Choo Chee, Aged Sirloin Steak and finishing with Mango & Sticky Rice. 

In addition, a wine flight was carefully selected and provided to accompany each dish. 

The seafood starter was a crispy affair, with meaty prawn and crab beautifully presented atop a sticky sweet sauce. 

The Beef and Chicken skewers were served one of each, marinated and topped with a creamy satay style sauce. Juicy and tender, this was a great way to ease into the meal. 

Pad Ba Mee closely resembled Pad Thai for the initiated, but with a powerful punch of chili which more closely resembles the Thai original. 

Onto the Seabass, this beautiful white fillet was served dressed in a smooth, creamy, light sauce with plain rice to provide a contrast to the hotter dishes. This course was my favourite; calming and cooling like a the calm still waters of the sea.

The steak that followed was one of the most tender, juicy and flavoursome cuts I have ever tried, and not something I would have expected from a Thai restaurant. Perfectly cooked to pink, the herbs, spices and chillis on top brought fire to the dish in homage to it’s Thai influence. The slaw style side salad was tangy and fresh, which was most welcome amongst the strong flavours of the menu. 

Finally, the dessert was simple, clean and refreshing. Fresh mango was paired with sticky rice and topped with sweet creamed condensed milk to round off this culinary adventure.

Throughout the evening we had the pleasure of spending time with the owners and Torquil’s brother Ciaran who presented the wine pairings, who incidentally worked front of house when they first opened alongside Juree’s mother who headed up the kitchen. 

A family affair that stays true to Thailand, Sabai Sabai is a must visit wherever you are.

Reviewed by Alev Dervish