PM
Pankaj Mathur
Jun 30, 2026
I genuinely don’t understand the hype around Zaab Zaab Elmhurst. We ordered the fried rice, drunken noodles, pad kra pao, and the ribeye steak. The steak was the only dish that showed any sign of life. Everything else tasted as if it had been rinsed with water before being served—completely stripped of seasoning, aroma, and any trace of authentic Thai flavor.
It’s astonishing that a restaurant with such a strong reputation could produce food that’s less flavorful than the faux Thai takeout spots tucked inside Chinese restaurants off the Ohio Turnpike. That’s not an exaggeration.
What’s even more baffling is the location. In the heart of Queens, surrounded by Thai restaurants serving bold, vibrant, unapologetically flavorful food, Zaab Zaab somehow manages to be a culinary desert. The fried rice was bland, the drunken noodles were lifeless, and the pad kra pao lacked the punch, basil, heat, and savoriness that define the dish.
It honestly felt as though the menu had been engineered for diners who think black pepper is adventurous. Instead of authentic Thai flavors, everything seemed toned down to the point of being unrecognizable.
For a restaurant with this reputation, the meal was a massive letdown. There are countless nearby Thai restaurants that deliver the bold, aromatic flavors Thailand is known for. Save your money and your appetite for one of them.