On an average night walking along Lonsdale Street in Braddon, you can’t help but be drawn toward the lights, beats and aromas beaming from the traditional Thai-Lao hotspot, Zaab.

Instantly welcomed into the venue like one of the family, you will be greeted at the front of house by owner Becky, while brother, Su shakes up one of Zaab’s famous cocktails at the bar, and after the friendly staff take your order dad will cook you up a treat in the kitchen.

Opening its doors only last year, Zaab has already earned its place as a go-to for a delicious bite to eat, drink and night out in the city. A truly unique dining experience for Canberra, the food and atmosphere instantly transport you to the traditional flavours and hum of the streets of Thailand and Laos. The interior is inviting with authentic furniture sent directly from Thailand – mixed with textured, dimmed lights to create a sense of nostalgia.

“The idea for Zaab came to me about eight years ago, basically I was brought up around all this amazing food but you couldn’t get it here in Canberra,” Becky says.

“I wanted to bring the food back to its grass roots, I wanted to take it back to the source, back to the streets of Thailand and Laos.”

The name ‘Zaab’ has two different meanings in two different languages. In Lao it means delicious food and in Thai it means extra spicy, sour, sweet and salty – and boy does it live up to its name!

“Zaab isn’t just a word, it is an intensity, it’s sweet, sour and spicy – that’s what we’re all about,” Becky explains.

So next time you’re wandering the streets of Braddon, transport yourself to the buzzing streets of Thailand with Zaab’s traditional flavours combined with a modern, pumping vibe and, of course, a delectable range of sweet, sour and spicy cocktails at the bar.