What’s on offer?
Paul Cadden took a trip to Bangkok with his father in April 2006 which set in motion his long partnership with chef Tao (Taweesak Trakoolwattana), with the first Saba restaurant opening on Clarendon Street in Dublin 2 in September of that year. There are now two Saba restaurants in Dublin, and one in Kildare Village.
Saba To Go takeaway operates as a separate business unit in three Dublin suburban locations and is run by Paul’s brother, Alan. Thai and Vietnamese food is what this restaurant is famous for, and the idea is to provide a restaurant experience at home.
The food is healthy and nutritious, made with premium Irish produce and specialist products from Bangkok. There is a good choice of dishes on the menu, customisation means that there’s quite a bit of flexibility, and it caters particularly well for vegetarians and vegans. There are meals for two and family feast deals, and if you want to go even further, there is dessert and bottles of wine for €15.
What did we order?
Por pia thod (vegetable spring rolls), phad nam prik pao (stir fry with chilli paste) with egg fried rice, and Bangkok beef.
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How was the service?
Ordering online was easy, and our food arrived hot and on time.
Was the food nice?
The por pia thod (vegetable spring rolls) were piping hot; crisp pastry filled with glass noodles, bean sprouts, carrots and wood ear mushrooms, with a plum sauce dip. The pad nam prik, ordered with prawns, was generous, with baby corn, green peppers, spinach and a good level of spice. The egg-fried rice was nicely cooked. Again the Bangkok beef was a generous portion, mildly spiced and very tasty.
What about the packaging?
Sustainability is a big thing with Saba To Go. Clearly labelled cardboard containers, which are compostable or recyclable, come in paper bags. The only plastic element is the dipping sauce containers, which are recyclable.
What did it cost?
€47.46 for dinner for three people: por pia thod, €7.99; phad mam prik pao, €19.89; Bangkok beef, €18.39; and service fee, €1.49
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Where does it deliver?
Open daily, 4pm to 10pm. There are three outlets – Rathmines, Deansgrange and Windy Arbour from which you can order directly, or order through Deliveroo. Delivery at a 5km radius.
Would I order it again?
Yes, this is solid cooking with bright flavours and generous portions. The range of dishes is considerable, with good vegetarian and vegan options. However, do order directly on their website, as I discovered some of the dishes are more expensive on Deliveroo.
