We wanted to have a quick fix after a long tiring day frolicking around at the beach and the hotel pool. Did a quick Google search for a recommended spot and we found Sabaijai Cafe to be within a 10 minutes drive from our hotel in Karon.
Headed there and the parking there was limited due to ongoing construction activity along the kerb side even at 8pm. The cafe had like 8 tables inside and we were in luck as a table was about to leave when we approached. The cafe was air-conditioned but it was filled with greasy kitchen smells, which we wanted to avoid as we just had our showers. But deciding between the polluted construction activity outside and the greasy smells, we decided to stay inside.
We ordered a few staples as the menu was fairly limited. Service was not great, no pleasantries, no smiles and the staff told us curtly that we would have to wait 30 minutes more if we were to order additional food after our initial order.
Tom Yum Goong was not bad, this was the best out of the 3 dishes we ordered.
The Stir Fried Morning Glory was a simple stir fry with fish sauce and garlic.
The Pad See Ew (Thai Stir Fried Noodles) with Pork was clumpy and the pork slices were tough and dry. And the thick chunks of crinkle-cut carrot just look out of place on that plate.
Given the high ratings on Google and Tripadvisor, we expected the food to be at least average. However, during our visit, we noticed there were no locals dining, suggesting the café may primarily attract only tourists like us. It’s possible we visited on an off day, which could explain the disappointing service attitude. My review is based solely on that single experience.
Rating: 2.5 / 5
Sabaijai Cafe
5/3 Patak Soi 24, Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100, Thailand
Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pVezmYiqiTE8xE2f7
