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Sabai

Jeeves De Veyra

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765275317535exterior 2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Sabai is located outside the Shangri-la at the Fort fronting 30th Street. Jeeves de Veyra"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sabai is located outside the Shangri-la at the Fort fronting 30th Street. <em>Jeeves de Veyra</em></span></span></span></div><p>For foodies looking for a different side of Thai cuisine, Sabai serves up dishes and  flavors that go beyond the expected favorites.</p><p>F&amp;B veterans Michael Needham and Alex Offe, the folks behind Michelin-Selected Brazilian-Japanese restaurant Uma Nota, guaranteed that there are dishes on the menu that even Thai food fans have never tasted before.</p><p>The enterprising businessmen saw an opportunity when the space barely a couple of steps away from Uma Nota became available. They opted to open a Thai restaurant citing a gap in the BGC area.</p><p>Needham jokes that they racked their brains looking for something that would have the same meaning in Filipino and Thai. The only thing they could come up with, aside from Sabai, was karaoke.</p><p>And that is what it is. It’s a space where one can comfortably have Thai food together with friends, family and colleagues.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765275432660Chris Offe, Chef and .jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Alex Offe, Chef Tob and Michael Needham. Jeeves de Veyra"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Alex Offe, Chef Tob and Michael Needham. <em>Jeeves de Veyra</em></span></span></span></div><p>They found Chef Puwadol “Tob” Assavadathkamjorn, after searching long and hard for someone who can take care of Sabai’s kitchen. While Chef Tobs got his humble start at his family’s Isaan restaurant, he has gone on to different Michelin-starred restaurants and five-star hotels in Thailand by being skilled in preparing food from Thailand’s different regions.</p><p>Needham and Offe have an interesting approach to sourcing their ingredients. While sourcing produce for Thailand is an option, they’ve gone another direction by importing seeds for ingredients like kaffir lime and galangal and then having local partner farms grow them locally. It’s a practical solution that ensures that Chef Tob gets just the exact flavors he needs for his menu.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765275590340interiors 3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765275621741frunction karaoke room 2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Sabai has a main dining area as well as private function rooms. Jeeves de Veyra"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sabai has a main dining area as well as private function rooms. <em>Jeeves de Veyra</em></span></span></span></div><p>Sabai includes different parts of Thailand within its confines. At first glance, Sabai may seem like a small space from the outside, but it extends deep into the building. A casual dining area greets guests upon entry, while a few steps up lead to a more secluded mezzanine that evokes the modern, cosmopolitan vibe of Bangkok. </p><p>A corridor opens to three fully equipped function rooms of varying sizes, perfect for private lunches, dinners, or even after-hours karaoke sessions. Even the restrooms reflect Thailand’s playful side, painted bright red and adorned with prints of vintage Thai movie posters.</p><p>A note of caution though. Sabai is not a Shangri-La concept and thus, guests cannot have their tickets validated. If you want slightly cheaper parking, there are open parking lots right across Rizal Drive, across the park inside One Bonifacio High Street, or a slightly further one on top of Landmark on 30th Street.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765275733902Drinks.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Drinks at Sabai. Jeeves de Veyra"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Drinks at Sabai. <em>Jeeves de Veyra</em></span></span></span></div><p>Sabai’s mixologists and bartenders stationed in the mezzanine upholds the stellar drinks reputation of its next-door sibling with a nicely curated menu of cocktails to pair with their food. They can whip up the classics like mojitos and screwdrivers. Sabai specialty cocktails include the Blue Bliss, which is a Vodka Umeshu with blue butterfly tea on the side; the rum-forward Jungle Breeze; and the Watermelon Sugar High made with Victoria Rejia Pink Gin, watermelon, and pop rocks. </p><p>For those who prefer to skip alcohol, Sabai offers virgin versions of these specialty cocktails. As expected, they also have Thai Milk Tea on their drinks list.</p><p>The trio of appetizers offers a glimpse of the unique flavors Chef Tob brings to Sabai. A fermented shrimp paste, featured in these bites, also appears elsewhere on the menu. Among the shrimp cake, scallop on a tortilla, and the shrimp, I enjoyed the latter most —- it delivered a spicy, sour tom yum flavor in a single bite, with a distinct Isaan fermenty note. It was, in my opinion, the most telling representation of Sabai and Chef Tob’s take on Thai cuisine.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765276030864FOOD -  Beef Salad.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Wagyu Beef Salad. Jeeves de Veyra "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Wagyu Beef Salad. <em>Jeeves de Veyra </em></span></span></span></div><div>The Wagyu Beef Salad was easily the favorite entrée of the meal. This was a bowl of melt-in-your-mouth beef in a Thai patis and kaffir lime leaf. This was a refreshing, but filling dish.<span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765276076284FOOD -  PanaNg Curry.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Panang Beef Curry. Jeeves de Veyra "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Panang Beef Curry.<em> Jeeves de Veyra </em></span></span></span></div><p>What’s a Thai restaurant without curry? Sabai’s Panang Beef Curry was thick, rich, and creamy. I was with people who weren’t into spicy food, so we had a mild version of this. I’d go back to have the version with more heat and more rice.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765276097704FOOD -  Fermented Pork.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Fermented Pork. Jeeves de Veyra "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Fermented Pork. <em>Jeeves de Veyra </em></span></span></span></div><p>While this may look like Thai-style fried chicken, this is pork fermented with rice and garlic. Along with peanuts, bites of ginger, and that sriracha like hot sauce, these were exotic flavor packed bites.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765276119764FOOD -  Krapow.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Kra Pow. Jeeves de Veyra "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Kra Pow. <em>Jeeves de Veyra </em></span></span></span></div><div>Kra Pow is Thailand’s version of “giniling” usually with basil and chilies. This usually served as a complete set with rice topped with a burnt-on-the-side sunny side up egg. Sabai’s kra pow is loaded with meat though one can request for this to be topped with an egg and the kitchen will gladly oblige. Do order rice with this. As is, this is spicy and the carbs will help balance it out.<span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765276140844FOOD -  TOM YUM.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Tom Yum. Jeeves de Veyra "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Tom Yum.<em> Jeeves de Veyra </em></span></span></span></div><p>The Tom Yum is a loaded bowl with four meaty prawns. This is sour and spicy but what makes Sabai’s different are notes of that fermented shrimp paste which add some unusual umami notes to this dish.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765276159204FOOD -  Sticky Mango Rice.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Mango Sticky Rice. Jeeves de Veyra"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Mango Sticky Rice. <em>Jeeves de Veyra</em></span></span></span></div><p>We’ve had Mango Sticky Rice before and didn’t think anyone could innovate on this traditional Thai dessert. This one comes with a quenelle of mango sorbet to keep it cold.</p><p>For those who want to taste the best of Sabai in one visit, the restaurant has a Feed Me tasting menu featuring recommended items on the menu.</p><p>Thai restaurants are few and far between in BGC. That makes Sabai a must-visit for adventurous foodies who are comfortable with strong flavors and heat, with some of that Isaan fermented notes from Chef Tobs.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>Sabai is located outside the Shangri-la at the Fort fronting 30th Street and is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Check @eat.sabai on their socials for their complete menu and more information.</em></div>

<p>From spicy tom yum bites to creative Panang curry, Sabai offers adventurous Thai flavors and a vibrant dining experience in the heart of BGC.</p>

From spicy tom yum bites to creative Panang curry, Sabai offers adventurous Thai flavors and a vibrant dining experience in the heart of BGC.

BGC eats: Sabai serves Thai food that’s anything but usual

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BGC eats: Sabai serves Thai food that’s anything but usual

Jeeves De Veyra

Published December 09, 2025 06:36 PM PHT

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