After spending more than a decade working in someone else’s restaurant, Nyda Sin decided to open her own place with her family in Grapevine. And in early August, Sabai Sabai Southeast Asian Kitchen officially opened.

The restaurant serves dishes popular in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. They include food that Sin and her sister grew up eating and commonly found in Asian street markets, Sin said. The goal was to make it a one-stop shop for Southeast Asian cuisine with authentic dishes made from scratch.

Diners can taste slight nuances in flavor from the different regions, Sin said. For example, sweetness tends to cling to Thai dishes, while Laotian cuisine is traditionally more savory. The menu features popular items such as fried rice and pho noodles. But it also builds on well-known favorites, such as the pad thai noodles served in a thin omelet.

Customers with a sweet tooth can also order dessert at Sabai Sabai. One that Sin recommends is the sticky rice custard, which is made with purple rice that is soaked with coconut cream and served with an egg custard and sesame seeds on top.

Essentially, there is something for everyone as the menu ranges from cool and refreshing to spicy and savory, Sin said.

“[Sabai Sabai] means easy-going,” she said. “We want everyone when they come in to feel relaxed.”

Sabai Sabai Southeast Asian Kitchen
2350 Hall-Johnson Road, Grapevine
940-999-1168
www.sabaisabaikitchen.com
Hours: Mon.-Sun. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.