According to Google, ‘Sabaidee’ is a generic but warm and meaningful Lao greeting. It can mean hello, how are you, and, in some cases, literally translates to “it goes well.” I cannot think of a more fitting name for the wonderfully warm and inviting experience you’ll find at Sabaidee Thai Lao Cuisine in Bellevue. Nestled in the Twin Creek Shopping Center just off 42nd and Highway 370, this cozy eatery inhabits what used to be a Dickey’s Barbeque. It seems like that would be a cumbersome transition, but Sabaidee has made a masterful pivot. Leveraging a surprising amount of the left-over western décor, the restaurant achieves a more intentionally cultured atmosphere than I’ve seen in many Midwest Asian joints that suffer from gold and red Buddhist ornaments plastered across an otherwise florescent-lit, low-pile-carpet-laid strip mall stall. The artwork and table appointments here make the wood planked walls and wagon wheel chandeliers feel delightfully rustic in a new and intriguing way. 

But what’s a restaurant plug without talking about the food? I’ll be honest: I’m a sucker for Pad Thai. I’ve had several other incredible Thai dishes, but it’s a basic and predictable choice for a reason. And while I wouldn’t dare refer to myself as a connoisseur, I am surprisingly particular about this dish. A very close friend’s family owned and operated ‘Bangkok Cuisine’ (and later ‘Bangkok Kitchen) for nearly 20 years just off the periphery of the old market. That restaurant had a significant impact on my formative years – many late-teen and early-20-something late nights were spent there as the owners’ son always had a key. It was there that I developed a love not just for Thai food, but having it prepared as spicy as they would serve a white boy like me. I’m talking hot hot. Eventually I developed a mild allergic reaction, and my shoulders would break out in hives, but they would go away after ten minutes or so, so I never backed down.

But now I’ve had Thai food all over Bellevue and Omaha, and even some in San Diego,and I am not exaggerating when I say Sabaidee serves my favorite Pad Thai. It's just so bright and flavorful – an exceptional blend of sweet, sour, and savory. A generous portion is equally adorned with the expected crunch of peanuts, bean sprouts, and green onion. I muddled the included lime wedge to completion and it’s the perfect finishing note. While I used to exclusively order beef with my Pad Thai, I’ve now converted to chicken. It’s so much better of a compliment, and likely more authentic. The strong, irony flavors of the beef are delicious, but just don’t pair with the rest of the ballad of flavors like the poultry does. I ordered my food at a spice of 4 out of 5. I was punishing and divine. My strategy, of course, is that it's so hot I can’t eat it all in one sitting, even if I want to. My wife, also a fan of heat, ordered a 2.

I’ve now been to Sabaidee several times. I have ordered it to go (it travels quite well), but this time around my wife and I were enjoying a date night. In addition to our go-to entrees, we also ordered chicken egg rolls as an appetizer. They’re standard but done well – another consistent combination of good ingredients served hot and fresh. Alongside our meals, we also ordered a Thai iced tea with two straws. Here’s where Sabaidee really lives up to its name.

Beyond the food and general atmosphere, the real welcome comes from the staff and their gracious and friendly service. The restaurant industry is hard, and many mom-and-pop shops have had to compromise or even sacrifice their flexibility at the cost of…well, costs. But there wasn’t a momentary pause at my request for two straws for this one Thai iced tea. That may not seem like a big deal, but it really helped us feel like we were on a date and not just shoveling food down our gullets while trying to enjoy a reprieve from our girls. It was cute. It was fun. And it’s a good thing we shared it too because it was served in a sizeable enough glass that either one of us would have been wired late into the night. The drink itself is syrupy sweet with a floral and smokey finish. It is very boba adjacent – which is also on the menu by the way. Not to mention a whole page of wings, jerky, and sausage I haven’t even tried yet.

As we ate, a group of older women gathered one by one behind my wife. As each arrived, they were met with a warm greeting from their table. Each would pose and offer the friends a “who me?” type response which elicited a fresh wave of chatter and cackling. They totaled between 8 to 10 by the time we left and it was clear that their collective bond was warm and loving and strong. Elsewhere, couples and groups of 4 filled the tables. The place is always full, but never packed so much that you are turned away.

And so it is all these things that bring me back again and again. The warm atmosphere. The warm service. The very warm food. So as the name implies, Sabaidee is, in fact, a warm greeting.

Matt Hebert is an engineer and self-published author. His dopamine-fueled creative pursuits have spanned from chicken keeping, sand sculpture, acting, and public speaking, but writing is nearest and dearest to his heart. He lives in Bellevue with his wife and two daughters. You can find him on Instagram at @jerkofalltradeshebert or email him at matt.hebert.books@gmail.com

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