- Zaab Kak Kak Restaurant and Bar is a casual Thai restaurant located in Sukhumvit Soi 16 in the Asoke section of Bangkok, Thailand.
- Zaab Kak Kak serves a mouthwatering menu of dishes from Esan in Northeastern Thailand.
- Phad Thai is one the the Esan eatery’s most popular dishes.
- Zaab Kak Kah has indoor and outdoor dining rooms.
- There is live music a couple of nights a week.
In This Post
The Back Story
Join me on a culinary adventure as I stumble upon Zaab Kak Kak Restaurant and Bar, a hidden gem serving mouthwatering Esan cuisine in the heart of Bangkok’s trendy Asoke district!Â
IÂ discovered Zaab Kak Kak as I explored the neighborhood surrounding my hotel, Jono Bangkok Asok Hotel, where I spent several months.
In fact, Zaab Kak Kak is one of several eateries lining Sukhumvit Soi 16. And I ended up eating there several times during my extended stay in the Big Mango.
Restaurant Overview – Zaab Kak Kak
Zaab Kak Kak serves Esan cuisine, which has its roots in the culinary traditions of Northeastern Thailand. Esan cuisine is famous for its generous use of chilies, garlic, and lime juice as well as various herbs and spices.
Esan chefs are also known for their liberal use fermented fish sauces, which add a distinctive flavor to Esan dishes.
BTW, in case you’re wondering, “zaab kak kak” is Thai for “extraordinarily delicious”! And I couldn’t agree more. What an apt appellation for a restaurant focusing on Esan cuisine
Recommended Dishes – Zaab Kak Kak
Without doubt, Tom Yum Goong is Thailand’s most popular soup. Tom yum means “soup” and “goong” means “shrimp.
Both spicey and sour, tom yung goong – made with shrimp, lemongrass, galangal, makrut lime leaves, and Thai chilies – is packed with zesty flavor.
BTW, makrut limes are also known as “kaffir” limes. Indigenous to Southeast Asia, they are different to the limes found in the United States and other Western countries.
Of all the dishes I’ve sampled at Zaab Kak Kak, their version of tom yung goong is my absolute favorite. And I think it is one of the best tom yung goongs I’ve ever tasted!
BTW, it is listed as “tom yung soup” rather than “tom yung goong” on the menu.
Phad Thai is a popular Thai dish. In fact, many foodies describe Phad Thai as Thailand’s national dish.
Phad Thai consists of stir-fried rice noodles, eggs, tofu, and shrimp, pork or chicken. It is seasoned with tamarind pulp, fish sauce, garlic, and chilies.
Phad Thai is usually served with makrut lime wedges, bean sprouts, spring onions, dried chilies, chopped peanuts, and cilantro on the side.
Zaab Kak Kak serves four varieties of Phad Thai: Phad Thai with Shrimp, Phad Thai with Pork, Thad Thai with Chicken, and Vegetarian Phad Thai.
I’ve tried the first three on different occasions, and they were all absolutely delicious! Since I’m not vegan, I gave the fourth version a pass.
One night I decided to pair a stir-fried mince pork, which is served with jasmine rice, with a papaya salad. It was a delicious combination.Â
BTW, there are several types of papaya salad on the menu, but IÂ decided to stick with the “no frills’ basic version.Â
Another night, I paired stir-fried chicken, which is also served with jasmine rice, with a Thai omelet, one of several inexpensive “add-ons”. It, too, was a delicious combination!
Other add-ons include salted eggs, fried eggs, black sticky rice, rice noodles, and crispy fried pork rinds.
I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, so I don’t usually indulge in dessert. But I decided to splurge on one of their home-made delicacies on my final visit.
It was a hard choice, but I finally settled on their Signature Golden Thread Ice Cream, which consisted of coconut ice cream, peanuts, and kernels of sweet corn.
The corn was a bit of a surprise, but it turned out to be an interesting touch.
The Ambiance
Zaab Kak Kak has an outdoor terrace overlooking the street and an indoor dining room, which is more comfortable in hot weather as it is air conditioned. The surroundings are both informal and comfortable.
The Verdict
Zaab Kak Kak is an informal Thai restaurant serving mouthwatering Esan cuisine in comfortable surroundings.
The food is not only delicious, it is also beautifully plated. And the prices are very reasonable.
I give Zaab Kak Kak an enthusiastic thumbs up!Â
The Location
Zaak Kak Kak – 37 Soi Sukhumvit 16, Khlongtoei Subdistrict, Khlongtoei District, Bangkok, Thailand. Â
The restaurant is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the Asoke BTS and Sukhumvit MRT stations.
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Your Feedback Wanted
If you have eaten at Zaab Kak Kak, please leave a review of the restaurant in the comments section or on social media. Also, please feel free to recommend Thai restaurants in Bangkok or other cities.
  