Revisiting the Rotation: Sab E Lee, plus more info on Sab E Lee 2

Yes, yet another post on Sab E Lee, though I'll keep it mainly to photos. Sab E Lee has only been open maybe 15 months, but has become a regular stop for us.  As the weather gets cooler, I notice that we've started to transition from the various Larb and Beef Salads to more hearty dishes, like the Chicken with Spicy Mint Leaves:

And other stuff......

 

Though there are some dishes that I just won't give up, like the Spicy Raw Beef (Koi Soi):

 
Since we've been eating at Sab E Lee, I've never had to declare a "heat level". Kobe always knew how spicy we wanted our food to be. In the case where I was having lunch or dinner with friends, I'd always ask for things "less spicy", or in one rare case, "Lao Spicy"....... When having dinner with FOY JohnL, who told me that he could eat spicy, I ordered everything "less spicy" except for the Koi Soi, which I asked to be "the way I like it". Poor John could only eat one spoon of the Koi Soi..... Which got me wondering what level of heat was being ordered for the Missus and I. Also, since Kobe was soon to be manning Sab E Lee 2, I'll be having to tell the folks here how spicy I want my food.  On one of our last visits, we asked Kobe what heat level he assigns to our dishes. The answer was surprising, most dishes are a 7, except for the Koi Soi, which is a 9!

 
And of course, the intimacy of Sab E Lee always means there's an interesting conversation floating through the air around you...... In this case, an over-dressed (for Sab E Lee) middle aged WASP couple, sampling some Pad Thai, Tom Yum, and Panang Curry (sigh.....Candice, Howie, and I have had conversations about this trinity). Female in a stage whisper; "this tastes really different...." Male: "yes, something's wrong, this doesn't taste anything like Taste of Thai and Thai House."

I really wanted to scream, "Amen brother, and I hope it never does......"

Sab-E-Lee Restaurant
2405 Ulric St
San Diego, CA 92111

More info on Sab E Lee 2:

Since I was in the area this morning, I decided to drop by and check out the new second location of Sab E Lee, which I posted about here.  

The first thing I noticed was the size of the parking lot........it looks like they won't be short of parking! So I snap my photo, and I hear a friendly little honk from a car to the rear of me..... and it's Kobe and his crew. I am so busted...... Kobe's all smiles, though he does look a bit tired. So I get a nice little tour of the restaurant, which is medium sized, but not large by any means. There's room for more tables and growth. Kobe told me that everything is on track, and they will opening for lunch at 11am tomorrow.

I also got a look at the menu, which is pretty hefty, with about three times the amount of dishes that Sab E Lee has. Luckily, many of our favorite dishes are on the menu (click to enlarge photos):

 

It does seem that some of the dishes from the Thai Restaurant at this location was kept, and the menu has a strong Bangkok Thai influence.

"Superwild Shrimp" sounds interesting, and there's Miang Kum and Kra Thong Tong.

To me, Sab E Lee is a wonderful success story. From a tiny hole-in-the-wall, to a second restaurant in fifteen months is quite an accomplishment. When we first moved to San Diego, the lack of the type Thai Food we enjoyed (non American-Thai) was a bit, well, depressing. We found a couple of places, that served a few dishes that we enjoyed. I distinctly remember a conversation with the owner of one of these restaurants. They had a few good dishes, and when I asked about some of our favorite Thai dishes using ingredients that I was used to eating in Thai Town I was told, "we could never have that on the menu. People in San Diego would never eat that, and it is economical suicide. There's no way a restaurant in San Diego could serve those dishes with Thai ingredients and survive." In a way, he is an excellent business man, as his restaurant empire has now expanded to several restaurants. But Kobe and crew has also proven him wrong.....you can get good un-Americanized Thai Food in San Diego. And I hope this is only the beginning.......

Some other info on Sab E Lee 2 - Grand opening date is Monday, November 2. Kobe also told me that during the first week, there will be a 15% discount on most dishes. So there you go.....

Sab E Lee 2
9159 Mission Gorge Road
Santee, CA 92071

Open Daily 1030 am - 930 pm

619-328-1568

Comments

[nhbilly]

I agree if you make any ethnic food be true to it. What's the point if you don't?

[Dennis]

I've been wanting to try the Isaan flavors of Sab E Lee for a long while. Anyhow, I'm really happy for these guys and best luck to them!

[Kirk]

Hi Billy - There's an over-riding belief that flavors need to be adjusted for the "American palate", which has a grain of truth to it.

Hi Dennis - You should check them out......

[caninecologne]

hi kirk
i think it's great that kobe is opening another location. i'm going to miss him at the old place. we were just there a couple of weeks ago and he gave us the info on the new restaurant (address, opening date, phone #); he's super nice! anyhow, we plan to stop by this weekend. for us, going to santee is a bit of an "adventure". i'm glad that Kobe stuck to his guns about what he serves and doesn't "Americanize" his food.

[kat]

I guess that is the same with the "Japanese palate" in Japan...great that you have a little treasure!

[dave]

i love that the sauce for the beef salad is described as 'zippy'.

[moowiesqrd]

Oh, Kirk, another opportunity for an un-Kirk-like moment that would have been hilariously fitting. I've seen so many people at SEL that I just wanted to say, "Look, if you want it to be Americanized Thai food, then go to a restaurant that serves it so I can have your table. Thanks." It's great that Koby's done so well, but I'd have to say that the influx of folks who can't (or won't) appreciate his food are a small downside to that success. They hear it's good by word-of-mouth and then don't have the capacity to understand why.

[Cathy]

I am here now. Nobody else is. Koby said it was busy at lunch and has reservatioms for dinner.

[Eat. Travel. Eat!]

That is a quick expansion. Hope Kobe has good success with his second restaurant. That Chicken with Spicy Mint Leaves looks so colorful. Would be a perfect dinner for me right now :).

[Carol]

I won't be able to make it out to the new location until this weekend. I can't wait!!!

[Kirk]

Hi CC - I do think they have a bunch of more Americanized dishes at this location, but it is balanced out with more "Thai".....

Hi Kat - Nothing wrong with adjusting for your customers if it is done well. But sometimes I just want the real-deal.....

Hi Dave - LOL! That's funny, you have sharp eyes!

HI GF - The funny thing is, that I think SEL has kinda ridden that line fairly well...... but some folks just want what is familiar and safe.

Hi Cathy - I'm figuring that he's pretty busy tonight.

Hi ETE - It's one of the Missus's current favorites.

Hi Carol - Hey, we may see you there!

[Little Miss Contrary]

I'm so glad that Kobe and the Sab-E-Lee crew are doing well and opening up another location. Although I wish they would have just expanded into one bigger location ...

[Kirk]

Hi LMCC - I think they were looking at larger places, but couldn't find one to suit their needs.....

[twitter.com/logovo]

Kirk, once again thanks to you I have a new place to lunch at near work! I gave their first location a try this afternoon and I can't wait to go back and try more menu items.

[Brian]

Is the new location cash-only?

[Kirk]

Hi logovo - I'm glad you enjoyed Sab E Lee!

Hi Brian - When I spoke to Kobe he said he hadn't received his credit card readers yet for SEL2, but they do have Visa/MC logos on their menu - so you may want to give him a call:

619-328-1568

[Ken]

Had dinner there last night and the food was excellent, as before. My wife had a curry dish that was not Issan style but still very well prepared. Judging from the sign in the window, they will soon have beer and wine available too.

[Saya]

I hate those WASP. Last time I went, I ran into 2 of those. Of course, they were eating Pad Thai.

I gotta try Sab-E-Lee 2 now.
I know I love Kobe, he also give us the kind of spicy we like.

[Tammy]

K, Q and I are coming to SEL 2 tonite. Do you have any new dishes that you've tried and would like to recommend?

[Kirk]

Hi Kenneth - I'm glad you had a good meal!

Hi Saya - It makes for interesting listening, though!

Hi Tammy - I left a message for you guys with Kobe - I hope he passes it on to you!