The Original Sab-E-Lee

Thai restaurant · San Diego

The Original Sab-E-Lee

Thai restaurant · San Diego

2

13223-2 Black Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA 92129

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Highlights

At The Original Sab-E-Lee, slip into a cozy eatery where vibrant Isaan-inspired Thai dishes burst with flavor, from curries to spicy salads, all served up with a dose of attentive service.  

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13223-2 Black Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA 92129 Get directions

originalsab-e-lee.com

$10–20 · Menu

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13223-2 Black Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA 92129 Get directions

+1 858 780 0022
originalsab-e-lee.com

$10–20 · Menu

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outdoor seating

Last updated

Jun 25, 2025

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@eater

"After closing its acclaimed spot in Linda Vista, this Rancho Penasquitos restaurant is still specializing in the Isaan style of cooking from the northeastern region of Thailand that borders Laos. Start off with a shredded green papaya salad and follow with the nahm tok with grilled beef made with homemade spicy chili and lime sauce." - Helen I. Hwang

Where to Find Terrific Thai Food in San Diego
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@leeannuh
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Jason

Google
Eaten here multiple times; got pad thai and pad see ew and wanted to try something new this time. Keep in mind their spice levels are adequate so if you dont have a tolerance, get ready to order a thai iced tea and have some napkins to wipe up the sweat. I tried the beef salad this time and an order of the duck larb out of adventurous curiosity. The larb at level 5 spice was still spicy for me, very good! 10/10 service too, waters always refilled and waiters are attentive.

Weon Lee

Google
Spicy level 3 is middle. I tried level 4, but it was very spicy. I ate a Pad Thai, and it was very tasty. Also, I tasted Crab fried rice. It had a unique taste, and I enjoyed it.

Rotphannee Rose

Google
My husband and I went on Friday, and it wasn't too crowded, which was nice. All of our ordered dishes were authentic, and my favorite is Thai Eastern sausage, which I like to eat with sticky rice, just like when I was young. This place reminds me of Thailand! I would definitely come back again!

Pete T

Google
It is authentic Isan food. The taste is very delicious. The staff provides good service. Recommended.

Marc P

Google
Great Thai food. Very flavorful. Low level of spice was enough for me.

Abhay Gupta

Google
*A Hidden Gem: The Original Sab-e-Lee Review* I've had the pleasure of dining at The Original Sab-e-Lee multiple times, and every experience has been consistently amazing. This unassuming restaurant has won my heart with its authentic Thai flavors, generous portions, and attentive service. *Standout Dishes:* - *Red Curry*: Rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced, with a depth of flavor that will leave you craving more. - *Green Curry*: A delightful harmony of coconut milk, lemongrass, and chilies, with tender chicken or your choice of protein. - *Tom Kha Soup*: A spicy and sour masterpiece, with a flavorful broth that's both refreshing and invigorating. - *Chicken Drum of Heavens*: Crispy fried chicken with a sweet and spicy glaze that will make your taste buds sing. - *Fresh Spring Rolls*: A delightful combination of crunchy vegetables, shrimp, and herbs, served with a sweet and tangy dipping sauce. - *Drunken Noodles*: Stir-fried noodles with a savory sauce, tender beef or chicken, and a hint of spice that will leave you wanting more. - *Pineapple Fried Rice with Fish*: A flavorful and filling dish that combines the sweetness of pineapple with the savory taste of fish and spices. *What Sets Them Apart:* - *Red Chilli Spice*: The perfect blend of heat and flavor, adding depth to each dish without overpowering the other ingredients. - *Spice Levels*: The staff expertly adjusts the spice level to your liking, ensuring that each dish is tailored to your taste buds. *Desserts:* - *Mango Sticky Rice*: A classic Thai dessert that's both sweet and satisfying, with a perfect balance of coconut milk and mango. - *Fried Banana with Ice Cream*: A decadent treat that combines the crispy texture of fried banana with the creamy sweetness of ice cream. *Why We'll Be Back:* - *Consistently Delicious Food*: Every dish we've tried has been flavorful and expertly prepared. - *Attentive Service*: The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating, making sure that every visit is a pleasant experience. - *Value for Money*: The generous portions and affordable prices make The Original Sab-e-Lee an excellent value for the quality of food and service. *Our Verdict:* The Original Sab-e-Lee is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves Thai food. With its authentic flavors, generous portions, and attentive service, it's no wonder that this restaurant has become our regular spot. We can't recommend it enough – you won't go wrong! Rating: 5/5 stars.

Vijay Shankar Balaji

Google
This restaurant shows great potential with flavorful dishes and attentive service. I enjoyed Panang curry, a personal favorite whenever I dine Thai. Our party ordered delightful green curry and drunken noodles. It was a bit disappointing to have to order rice separately from the curries, but overall, I enjoyed. A noteworthy tip: their spice scale is imbalanced, with 3 being medium on a scale of 0 to 10. However, they do clarify this on the menu. Stick to orders around level 3 or maximum 4; anything higher might be too intense for most.

chewie

Google
Food was really really good and authentic. Their spicy level is legit. I’m Thai and I actually can handle spicy well, but this is another level. I got level 7 and it was really good but also spicy haha

Pauline T.

Yelp
Yummy Thai restaurant in north county of San Diego. The service was really good -- quick to refill our waters, get our orders, bring out our dishes, etc. It was pretty busy when we came for dinner and rightfully so. We ordered 3 dishes and it was pretty good! Shrimp pad thai (3/5): I personally don't like my pad thai on the sweeter side but my bf loved how sweet they made their pad thai. They did such a good job with cooking the noodles though bc some places, the noodles stick together but the noodles were cooked perfectly! I did think they overcooked the shrimp though bc it was chewy and rubbery to me. Pork jerky (5/5): perfect amount of fats and meat. The sauce is sooo good. Definitely order it with a side of sticky rice to pair with it. Spicy baked shrimp (5/5): Thai people know how to make the perfect 'raw' shrimp dish. The texture is not off putting and the sauce is spicy (we picked level 5/10) and complimented it perfectly. I was surprised to see bitter melon as part of the dish but it actually paired so well with the acidity and spice of the sauce. All in all, if I'm in the area, we would come back to try other dishes!

Celeste N.

Yelp
This is my favorite Thai place in town. The restaurant is always busy so most of the times we'll have to wait 5-20 minutes but it is so worth it. We were a bit scared to learn that they had a new owner but the food was even better than before with more options! The food is fresh and very tasty.

Javier B.

Yelp
Thai food North county Large parking Amex accepted Indoor and out door seating 1990-2000 music playing Layback feel Vegan options Vegetarian options Togo orders Seafood options Sign sheet before seating Orders come out quick

Long D.

Yelp
Small restaurant but full of fragrance inside. We have to wait about 15-20 minutes for a party of three. Tables are inside and outside heated patio. Very genuine Thai deco, people and food. Recommended for sharing dish to enjoy a full Thai meal. We ordered tomka soup, garlic chicken wings, and panang Curry with one side rice. Food came out very quick and tasteful. Highly recommended.

Marc L.

Yelp
Did dine in once and take out twice from here. My sister introduced me to this place. She doesn't like spicy food so we ordered spice level 1. Even without the heat the flavors were really good. It's a pretty small restaurant but nice and cozy. Service was prompt and the food came out quickly. We got the Pa-nang curry, Tom Ka Soup, and Larb. My Son and his Girlfriend came to visit. They like spice so we tried some level 5 and level 7 dishes (medium is 3). These had a good amount of heat for me. Not sure I would go much higher than a 7. Everything was delicious. This will definitely be my goto Thai place going forward.

Kayiona G.

Yelp
Super cute thai place! My friends highly recommended this place so I had to try it. It is pretty small inside, but the workers are super efficient and friendly. My family and I ordered a ton of different dishes. My spice tolerance is pretty fair, but the 2 was pretty spicy for me. Just be careful when you order your level of spice! My favorite dish was the crab fried rice. I would come back!

Eric S.

Yelp
If you're not running to Sab-e-lee after reading this, you're probably one of those people who doesn't get excited about food... and that's just sad. Ambiance: Imagine stepping into a Thai grandmother's living room--if she decided to open a tiny, packed restaurant and serve her entire extended family and then some. The place was buzzing with energy, or maybe that was just me vibrating with anticipation for the food. It's cozy, loud, and about as fancy as a flip-flop, but you're not here for a candlelit dinner; you're here to eat your body weight in the most flavorful food you've had in months. Plus, the decor is a solid mix of "We should hang something on this wall, right?" and "Here's an elephant statue, because Thailand." Food: Oh. My. God. The boat noodle soup should come with a warning: "May cause spontaneous tears of joy." It's the kind of dish that makes you question every other soup you've ever had--like, what have I been doing with my life until now? Then came the pad Thai, which had the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and a little bit of "I'll fight you for the last bite" tang. The chicken wings? Crispy little miracles. And the fried ribs? Just don't wear white, because you'll be getting in there, hands first, primal style. And to top it all off, the mango sticky rice--oh, the mango sticky rice! It's the dessert equivalent of a warm hug from your grandma who smells like fresh mangos. Picture this: an army of servers, all moving with the precision and enthusiasm of a flash mob. These guys know what they're doing, and they know you're there to eat, not wait. Our server must have had ninja training because I didn't see her coming, but suddenly our table was full of food. And she was everywhere at once, smiling, refilling drinks, and subtly judging us for not ordering more food. But hey, that's what dessert is for. Sab-e-lee isn't just a meal; it's an experience. If you're still reading this, I assume you're on your way there now. Don't forget to order the boat noodle soup. And maybe wear your stretchy pants.

Sharon B.

Yelp
Authentic Thai food. I usually order their drunken noodles with vegetables and fried tofu. Beware! Their food is spicy! A level 3 is medium as I was told when I ordered. I ordered a level 5 and that's usually a level 8 at other thai restaurants.

Fumika T.

Yelp
So sad to be giving one of my favorites of all time a low rating... 5 years ago I would come to Sab e Lee to destroy my taste buds and internal organs. On a spicy level of 1 to 10, a 2 or 3 would already hurt, and a 4 would mean extended time on the toilet the next day. But the food was so good, it was worth it. In early May this year I came back for dinner with 2 of my spice loving friends and ordered a pad Thai level 2, seafood mix level 3, and red curry level 4. None of them were that spicy. The bean sprouts in the pad Thai were rotten. We ordered a seafood mix that should have included squid but it only had fish. There were no vegetables (such as eggplant or carrot or other common vegetables in curry) in the chicken curry as there used to be, but instead only peas and square carrots that felt like they were from a frozen mix. I don't know if they ran out of ingredients or what. Also, we were the only table of all Asian ethnicity and no chopsticks or water refills were offered to us. I also asked for water without ice but that was not provided. I don't think I will ever come back.

Christine T.

Yelp
I've been hearing a lot about Sab-E-Lee and finally had a chance to try it. I dined in once and ordered for takeout twice. All instances, the staff were super friendly and food came out quick. I've tried the papaya salad, chicken pad thai, crab noodles, spicy salmon fried rice, fried pork ribs, and nahm tok beef here. I think the portions are a little smaller than other restaurants, but overall it's a solid place for Thai food in the area. Also, a warning, the spicy levels are very spicy here! They have spicy levels 1-10, and 3 is their medium. We got a 3 and it was definitely spicy!

Joanna S.

Yelp
I LOVE THIS PLACE! Their papaya salad (Lao) is so good! It's on par with my aunts homemade one. And I've tried a lot of different papaya salads but none compares to theirs. Their pad see ew and pad Thai are also really good too. Their service is amazing, they're fast and kind. I only found out about this place because of my sister and come here when I'm craving Lao food but also when I'm homesick. 10/10

Janet T.

Yelp
Went on a lunch date with a friend and we split the Tom Yum Soup and Cashew Nut rice dish - so delicious! The soup broth was super flavorful (a bit spicy if you like a kick) and the cashew nut's sauce was so yummyyyy (sweet and salty). The food came out really fast too. After we ordered I stopped by the bathroom, and when I went to sit back down after a few minutes, our plates were already coming out! Waitress was very nice. Plentyful seating in the restaurant with nice photos or decor in the room to look at. Store is located in a Vons plaza so easy parking. Would recommend!

Shirley Wing L.

Yelp
I went here to take myself on a date around lunch time, and there was barely anyone. You know what I ordered - the boat noodles. I was having a great day but sh-t week and needed something to cheer me up. This brought me allll the way up. Especially, when I asked for the chili oil. Dude, that stuff is lethal. Just a little bit and your mouth will be on fire. I find that the quality here is always soooo consistent. I also love the efficiency, friendliness and service. Everyone is so attentive and I am happy to come back soon for another round!

Rebecca G.

Yelp
Back in college, Sab-E-Lee was the go-to for Thai food and it's great to see how well it's doing still. The last two times I've come, I was seated promptly and service is always friendly. Plenty of parking. Tried the panang curry with chicken at spicy level 2 which wasn't very spicy for me but more creamy. Pretty good. The duck noodles, however, are what I crave from here. I literally never get duck noodles anywhere, nor is it my natural dish of choice but the flavor here is so, so delicious. Level 2 was perfect for me, level 3 last time was burning lol. Come here and try the duck noodles! You won't be disappointed.

Simone R.

Yelp
I had high hopes after seeing the reviews for this place. Ordered fried pork rib that cost $15; and got a ridiculously small amount. Most of the reviews are dine-ins, so maybe it's a better experience as far as quality and quantity for the price. Probably won't be coming back to try again.

John D.

Yelp
We came here one night before looking at Christmas lights. The food was amazing and a real Thai spicy! The inside is has about 10-12 tables with a few larger tables outside for large groups. The service was fine, about average.

Hongbok W.

Yelp
I loved Sab E Lee crab fried rice, but I am really disappointed my order. I ordered take out crab fried rice spicy level 1 and 4 each two orders. The dishes marked right spicy level but actual spicy level is totally different. Two of 4 is extremely spicy and tow of level 1 also spicy same as 4. Really bad call attitude, he drop the call even though not finished call.

Masae R.

Yelp
This is my favorite Thai restaurant. Never disappoint on food or service. Always go home with leftovers too.

Deanne L.

Yelp
It's been many years since I've last had Sab-E-Lee and omg I fell in love with it all over again, even harder. I visited on a Saturday evening recently with no wait for 2 people, but a pretty full restaurant. We shared the Yellow Curry with Chicken, Tom Yum Soup with Shrimp, Thai Fried Rice with Beef, white rice, and Thai iced tea. Everything tasted great and had a lot of flavor. Service was nice. Will be back real soon!

Muthukumar M.

Yelp
Food quantity (fried rice) is less for the price. They increased the price over the years and reduced food quantity. Not sufficient for us. We like the food here but particularly avoid it for the small portion they give for the money.

Jessica L.

Yelp
This rating is for TO GO only! I've dined in here many times over several years and it never disappoints. Food and service is great, definitely one of my favorite Thai places. I decided to order a green curry with chicken to go, which came out to about $16. Upon picking up, I immediately noticed the container seemed small. I poured out all the ingredients, minus some of the curry broth because there was a lot and the amount was pretty disappointing. For reference, the last time I dined in, 4 of us ordered 5 dishes (2 were apps, 1 was a soup) and we still had 2 servings worth of leftovers. Today, I ate this entire curry with some rice and probably could have eaten more. I have a small appetite too. They did not ask me what spice level I wanted, but whatever the default is - it did have a small kick to it. It otherwise tasted the same as dining in - delicious. I genuinely love the food but the to go portions are just so small! I would have to estimate this was 2/3 the portion you receive when dining in. For that price, I'll know next time to always dine in.

Edgar B.

Yelp
It's always a good day at, the original-sab-e-lee. The food here is always good even the one that was in linda vista road. I come to this one for lunch, when I can get away from work. The service is good, the inside of the restaurant is family friendly. If you get anything here I don't think you will be upset because there is nothing to be upset about. If I can find one closer to home, I will be there every time, I could get a chance to.

Long N.

Yelp
I wouldn't call this Authentic Thai Food. Its made more for Non Asian people (ie White customers). The food is too salty because they use salt instead of fish sauce. Fish sauce is the heart of asian food ( Thai/laos,Cambodian and Vietnamese) and thats what makes everything tastes so delicious because fish sauce is full of umami. But when you use salt instead of fish sauce, the food doesn't taste the same. I guess they choose to use salt instead of fish sauce because the food here is tailored more towards White customers. Nothing wrong with that, but if you're like me and appreciate authentic food, then this is not it. Furthermore, i ordered raw beef larb but got well done larb. Thats very disappointing. On the brighter side, service was good. They were fast and very attentive to customers.

Jenny L.

Yelp
Be mindful of the hours before you go, they close and reopen. I typically go with Pad Thai, Drunken noodles or pad see ew. All have been pretty good. I haven't eaten here and have always gotten take out.

Stephanie H.

Yelp
The spice levels here aren't as spicy as other Thai food places. The mild barely had any spice and the medium was just right. And that's weird for me because I normally can't tolerate spice, so I always go for mild, but I actually wanted some spice. Service was friendly and quick and it was pretty lively for a Saturday night. Their Tom Kha soup is delicious and I want to try their mango sticky rice next!

Allyson R.

Yelp
Paid by card. Sab-E-Lee is located in a plaza and offers plaza parking. I go here frequently for dinner since it's one of my go-to Thai places and it's usually busy, with almost every seat full. There is indoor and outdoor seating and the servers are always nice. Depending on my mood I'll get Tom Yum soup with shrimp, green curry with shrimp, pad see ew with chicken, or something else. Everything is good. I usually go with spice level 2 now for a decent spice without burning too much. I would recommend this place and would go back.

Sarah C.

Yelp
Sadly, the volume of their food has decreased over the years, even as the price has increased.

Michelle V.

Yelp
Our group of 3 came here at 1:20pm on a Sunday. There was no wait. As it was a beautiful day, there were groups sitting outside, but we opted to sit inside. The parking here is easy in a spacious plaza. We got SIX items. Man, we were hungry! We chose a salad, noodle dish, curry dish with rice, and 3 types of meat salads. The larb and raw beef were recommended to me by a friend. All the meat salads tasted similar to each other, like the same seasoning. I don't regret trying so many! We chose 5 as a spice level and for some others, we chose medium. I would say the spice builds but for someone who loves Samyang spicy noodles, 5 is good. We could maybe even do 6, and then get sweaty at 7. They don't play around here! I recommend getting sticky rice to eat with these flavorful items. Som Tum Thai ( ) $12.37: Shredded green papaya mixed w/ tomatoes, green beans, peanuts, dried shrimp, fish sauce, chili, & lime juice - This tasted so fresh! I liked that the slices of papaya weren't too thin like other places. It felt like it was hand cut, and the spice level we got was perfect with it. Very juicy and addicting. Nahm Tok Beef ( ) $15.48: Grilled Beef mixed w/ homemade spicy chili & lime sauce - My cousin chose this as she was the most interested in it after reading its description. It's cooked meat with chili and lime sauce. Like I said before, the lime flavoring is the same for these meat salads, and this was good, although I think I liked it the least compared to the other two meat items. Pork Larb () $14.44: Char-boiled ground beef, chicken or pork mixed w/ spicy chili & lime sauce - This was so delicious! I loved the texture of the meat. We liked to eat it with the raw cabbage and cucumbers. The texture is like minced pork. I'm sure the other meat options would be great too. Spicy Raw Beef / Koy Nua () $15.48: Thin sliced raw beef rib eye mixed w/ garlic, mint, chili & lime sauce - This was my favorite of the three! I love the crunchy texture of the toasted flour (?) that they used. My friend compared it to a sandy feeling, but I think it made it more fun to eat. Even though it's raw meat, it wasn't as intimidating as it sounds. I've had tartare from Korean, American, German, and African places, and this one felt like it was coated in seasoning pretty heavily so the texture didn't throw us off. It was chewy and addicting! Green Curry with chicken () $14.44: Green chili based curry w/ bamboo shoots & eggplant, bell pepper, basil, peas & carrots - So delicious with jasmine rice! I especially liked the pieces of eggplant in here. My favorite topping was the bamboo slices. You can't go wrong with green curry. The portion was big enough for the three of us. Pad Thai () with chicken $14.44: Thin noodle w/ ground peanuts, green onion, carrots, cilantro, bean sprouts & eggs - This is my go-to Thai dish. I liked that there was a balance of sauce and sweetness; it wasn't too sweet nor wet here. The service was great. Overall I'd love to come back! I'll be thinking about the speciality dishes for a while.

Emily H.

Yelp
Love this place!! The green curry is so flavorful, that I like to take home the curry base to make more meals from it! Be careful on the spice tho, I can take spicy but even a 2/10 was a lot for me! Service is great! They can accommodate our party of 8 and were always refilling our water :). The restaurant itself is not too big but it's a great place to dine casually or for a date!

Cindy K.

Yelp
A solid Thai restaurant with great menu options and family-owned/operated! It seems difficult to find good Asian food generally in northern San Diego-good Thai food in particular. Only been here once, but will definitely be back to try more! So far, I've tried the tom yum soup, duck wonton noodle soup, and red curry. Notes * Owners are from Isaan (Northern Thailand), so specialty dishes and flavors will reflect that! Menu offers a wide range of options. * Tom yum was some of the best I've had in a long time, although it's not served over a flame. * Duck wonton noodle soup was pricey; duck was the star of this dish. Heavy on the noodles. Wontons were OK, it came with 3. Soup was salty as it is a soy sauce base. * Red curry was too sweet for my liking. Next time I'd try a different one. * Food overall was on the sweeter side. * Weirdly, rice is sold separate and costs extra for both steamed and sticky rice. * I don't factor this into my reviews, but service was nice and attentive. Other notes: * Parking is plentiful and easy to find, as it's located in a plaza. Will definitely be back!

Tommy C.

Yelp
The Original Sab E Lee : "B- or 3 stars" meaning "not bad, reasonable choice if in the area, and it's difficult to find a better restaurant." I've been wanting to come back after a good lunch about 6 months ago. We called at around 5:30pm on a Friday evening to make reservations for 8 people, and to my surprise, they accommodated us for 7:30pm! That was pretty awesome. The restaurant was quite busy when we arrived. I'm used to the curt & efficient type of service representative of many Asian restaurants and often appreciate it since I'm an introvert myself, so I suck at and hate long chit-chats, but I found the girl that brought us to our table and ultimately served us to be a little on the rude side. The tone of her response to me asking, "did you say you have mango sticky rice or are that you're out?" seemed a little scary. Must have been a really long, tough day and not hearing what she said the first time couldn't be tolerated. Anyway, I came to the conclusion that they're very good with their sauces and fried rice dishes, but other items are less strong. And they just love to overcook their meat. Crab fried rice / pork pineapple fried rice (B+ ) : both fried rice dishes were very nice. Very light, tantalizing smoky aromas from a super hot wok, with balanced seasoning that didn't overpower the rice. The crab fried rice was definitely the better of the two, and highly recommended. Green curry / Spicy eggplant (non-spicy) (B ) : very good sauce on both dishes. The green curry was a perfect blend of heat, savory and sweetness while the basil sauce in the eggplant dish was also very good, and mixed great with the sweet, mushy eggplants. However, the meats in both dishes were very overcooked to the point of being dry, bringing down both dishes. The other dishes were weaker. Fried pork ribs (C+ ), decent flavor but seriously over fried. Tofu pad see ewe (C+ ), again, decent flavor but very overcooked noodles. I like mushy eggplants, but not noodles. Spicy basil seafood (C+ ), good string beans but the seafood was tough to chew, especially the calamari because it was overcooked. See the theme? Fried bananas with ice cream (B ) : it's hard to screw up fried bananas. Thinner skin would be nice, and I found the coconut ice cream to be a bit too icy. But I'd definitely eat more if available. I'm a bit sad because I thought more highly about this restaurant based on what I tried last time. But now, having sampled more dishes, I'm downgrading them to a "B-." If they simply don't cook their meats to smithereens, their dishes would significantly improve! ------------------------------------------- Food Grading Scale: A+: Life changing. You remember these bites for the rest of your life. Occurs very infrequently and when it does, you'll know it. You don't even know how to further improve it with a magic wand. A: Wow! Excellent. You felt happy biting into it. You're considering whether it's life changing, but know it misses the mark. A-: Very very good. Whatever it is, it's one of the best, but you can think of further improvements. B+: Very good. Very enjoyable, not to the point of "impressive," but worth revisiting. B: Good. A solid example of whatever it is, offering enjoyment, but not enough for making an effort to get. B-: Not bad. If in a pinch to eat something, this offers some enjoyment and is a reasonable option. C+: Mediocre plus. Pretty average, but with one or two positive characteristics you can identify. C: Mediocre. "Meh". Very average. Not bad enough to make you angry, but nothing good about it at all. C-: Bad. You recognize it for what it is, but a very bad rendition. Your foodie self is a little pissed, and feeling like a dummy you ordered it. D: Awful. Whoever cooked it should be ashamed of themself. Somehow, you still managed to swallow a bite. F: WTF is this? Inedible. One chew, you had to spit it out. Fire the chef.

Stan S.

Yelp
Sab E Lee is my favorite Thai spot in San Diego! If your looking for a go to Thai restaurant look no further this is it Sab E Lee it great! Stop by and give the panang curry with duck a try it never disappoints

Nikki P.

Yelp
had to stop going here because i was eating it so often but it was still so good! it's gotten so much busier & it's well deserved but the food is amazing and the staff are super friendly and quick. all the food i've had here is a 5/5. i'll always get the chicken or shrimp pad thai and papaya salad, but the fried tilapia is super good as well. there's still so many dishes i want to try!

Cassie L.

Yelp
We used to love this place. Food is always great, customer service has been lacking the last 2 times. Our latest experience was less than impressive. One dish was mistakenly forgotten in our take out order. We called to let them know. The person we spoke to proceeded to blame us for the mistake stating we, the customer, should have checked the bag before we left. Sure, we could have, but the comment was off putting. They lost it when we politely asked for the charge for the missing dish in our order to be reversed. It's an accident, we get it. Accidents happen, but take accountability for it, for your business and for your customer service. Will think twice about going back.

David S.

Yelp
Sab-E-Lee is an "institute" in San Diego! But guess what?! You don't know that and you don't care, right?! You know why?! Because, if you do things right, and I mean, quality of service, quality of food and cleanliness, you as an owner/operator have NOTHING to worry about and ...and...and you turn into an "institution"! So, please don't waste your time researching if Sab-E-Lee is worth your time, money and energy, just go there now and either sit down and eat or get your food to-go heck these days you don't have to even do that, just call Yelp's Partner Delivery Service and have the food delivered to wherever you want!:) How do you say: Bon Appétit in Thaï?!:)

Noriko C.

Yelp
Great food if you are looking for Thai in the PQ area. Sometimes it's busy but it depends on time. I haven't seen the lunch crowd but dinner gets busy around 6. Thai tea is good (I always get it!). I haven't been disappointed with any dish I have selected here. My go-to is the Pad See Ewe, beef and eggplant and crab fried rice. One loss of star is for their service. We asked for hot sauce and water refill but they kept forgetting it. Waitress was nice but slightly forgetful. Willing to update when I go back again. 5 star for food! So definitely try them out if you haven't already.

Jack L.

Yelp
Fantastic service here. Be cautious of the spice level because the warning on the menu about the spice level is no joke. The place is very typical, no fuss, Thai restaurant decor. I actually prefer that over the fancy decor in downtown. I'm here for the food and I could not care less about the decorations. I ordered the pad see ewe, yellow curry, and tom yum soup noodles. I was really craving soupy noodles because of the cold weather. Although the Tom yum did hit the spot, I might have been craving a tom kha soup instead. I wonder if they would make that because it's not on the menu. Pad see ewe and yellow curry were both tasty. Well spiced, good seasoning and both were still good the next day. Highly recommend the curry and would have liked the bigger portions for the pad see ewe. Regionally, it deserves five-stars, but from personally this is a solid four stars. I would return to this place and crave the food, but only if I'm not in LA for the month.

Soo H.

Yelp
On cold rainy days one of my favorite place to visit is The Original Sab-E-Lee.  I always order the won ton soup with duck. I take in the rich aroma first.  Soy sauce based soup with hints of cilantro and duck was incredibly aromatic.  Egg noodles were firm and had a mild yet tasty flavor.  Duck was imbued with 5 spice powder flavor.  Tender and delicious.  Pork and shrimp won tons were tender and full of pork and shrimp flavor.  Loved the thin mild flavored egg based wrapper.  This is my favorite won ton soup in San Diego. Staff was nice and got my order out quick.  I enjoyed my bowl of hot soup while watching drops of rain falling from the sky.

Akiko H.

Yelp
I went for dinner on Sunday, the food service was amazing, always feel so happy , thai omelette, green curry and crab noodle always the best for me

Deck D.

Yelp
Food is very delicious and freshly cook. Service is quick but depends during rush hour since a lot of people order here.

David Z.

Yelp
This is my favorite Thai place in San Diego. If you are a spice lover and haven't found that place that will limit test you, come here. I've had friends who won't tear at the spiciest levels walk out like they're experiencing a life crisis. Out of 10 spicy level, their medium is a three, not a five, so be careful! I usually come here to get the drunken noodles, but this time I tried their specialty glass noodle dish with lime and their special sauce. Glad I took a chance, I've found a new favorite. If you're in San Diego, they have two locations, one in Linda Vista and one here in RPQ.

Mel H.

Yelp
I had such high expectation for this place. I ordered pad thai with chicken and tofu to go. When I got home and tasted it, it was so dry. I don't know if they were skimping on the sauce or what but it was super dry even after mixing it. Thus, the texture was chewy and dry. Service was ok since I just did a to go order. Took them 15 minutes to make it. Interior was a little on the dark side when I paid but that was fine. They also have outside seating. Im not sure if I will order pad thai here again though. Parking can be a challenge, as it is next to Vons.

Linda C.

Yelp
This is place is my go to for Thai food! Quick service and all dishes taste amazing! I always come here for their beef pad see ew, which is my significant others ultimate favorite! Highly recommend the following dishes: -Pad Thai w/chicken -Pad See Ew w/beef -Beef or Chicken Larb -Papaya Salad (Lao style) -Panang Chicken Curry -Tom Kha w/chicken (coconut curry soup) Spice level here is great for spicy lovers! Fair warning, the spice level is from 1-10 (10 being the spiciest). A number 3 is medium. I've tried as high as 7 and it gives you a good kick!

Tina K.

Yelp
1. Crabs noodles- 2. Pork's neck- + the sauce is good!! Must try it with 3. Yum woon sen salad- fresh and juicy 4. Spicy shrimps- we ordered spicy level 5. Level 5 was so spicy!!! We love spiciness but even for us it was so spicy but very delicious!! 5. Mango with sticky rice- good dessert sweet Overall, every dishes were so great!! Very very delicious!!! The service was great, food was great, the restaurant vibe was great. I would definitely come back here and recommend to my friends.

Laura Y.

Yelp
This Thai restaurant is not in our neighborhood but we gladly will drive a bit farther for it. It has authentic flavors and huge portions at great prices. consistently great service as well. Highly recommend.

James H.

Yelp
Pad see ew was delicious, service was quick and the restaurant has the traditional Thai restaurant feel to it.

Peter L.

Yelp
For a casual Thai diner in northern SD suburb it is adequate. They have spice level of 1-10 with 3 being the designated "medium" level. We can attest that even level 2 packed a punch. Papaya salad/somtum Thai (level 2 spice) was deceptively potent yet we couldn't stop eating it. It was sour, spicy, sweet & pungent. Green curry pork was solid & paired well with white rice. Pineapple fried rice was adequate with unusual amount of raisins than most places. Fried tilapia was under seasoned, flavors came in the form of 2 dipping sauce: sweet & sour and tamarind. You also have to deal with bones. Overall adequate food at very reasonable price. At least half the items on the menu are still under $15, this is unfathomable in SF bay area.

Stefany C.

Yelp
This place has great Thai food. My favorite is the chicken red curry. The food is delicious and consistent. I've been coming here for years. Customer Service is okay.. they can use a little more friendliness. I usually go in the evening. I went during lunch for the first time last week. The male waiters were great best customer service I've had.

Norbert K.

Yelp
Another great take-away dinner experience tonight. Easy to place my order by phone, and order was ready when I arrived. We switched it up tonight, enjoying Green Curry with Pork (5/5) and Drunken Noodles with Shrimp (4/5).