Venturing beyond the familiar pad thai and spring rolls, 9Zaab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, elevates the Thai dining experience by specializing in authentic street food. While many Asian restaurants in the US cater to mainstream palates with dishes like General Tso’s chicken, 9Zaab dares to delve deeper into the rich and diverse culinary landscape of Thailand. This unassuming eatery offers a menu that stretches from the bustling streets of Bangkok to the northern charm of Chiang Rai, delivering a genuine taste of Thailand right in East Cambridge. The meticulous food preparation and attentive service further enhance the experience, making 9Zaab a standout destination for those seeking culinary adventure.
My recent lunch visit to 9Zaab presented the usual lunch special, a tempting offer of an appetizer and rice dish at a set price. However, to truly explore the depths of 9Zaab’s culinary offerings, I opted for the main menu, eager to uncover the restaurant’s hidden gems beyond the typical lunch fare.
My gastronomic journey began with the fried curry fish cakes, a generous serving of delicately fried patties, likely made with tilapia or red fish, interspersed with onions and vegetables. These were not the bland, rubbery fish cakes sometimes encountered; instead, they were flavorful and aromatic, hinting at exotic spices. The accompanying cool cucumber sauce provided a refreshing counterpoint, perfectly balancing and accentuating the subtle curry spice. This appetizer was a delightful surprise, a dish I wouldn’t typically order but one that has now become a must-have on future visits. The crispy exterior and flavorful interior of the fish cakes were incredibly moreish, making it difficult to stop once I started.
Crispy and flavorful fried curry fish cakes appetizer at 9Zaab Thai street food restaurant in Cambridge, MA
For the main course, I chose the khao mun gai, a dish of poached chicken served atop fragrant, fluffy garlic rice, accompanied by a savory brown peppery sauce. This was a revelation in chicken dishes. The chicken was incredibly tender, arguably the most tender I’ve ever tasted, and the dish as a whole was both subtle and satisfying. The beauty of khao mun gai lies in its simplicity and the diner’s ability to customize each bite with the provided pepper sauce, allowing for personalized flavor intensity. The poached chicken skin, while not crispy, is an integral part of the authentic experience; however, it can be easily removed for those who prefer. While a fried version exists, the poached khao mun gai felt both healthier and more authentically Thai.
Delicious Khao Mun Gai, poached chicken with garlic rice, a signature dish at 9Zaab Thai street food in Cambridge
Another enticing rice dish on the menu is the khao na gai, a chicken stew with Chinese sausage and a fried egg, served over the same delectable garlic rice and enveloped in a rich gravy. This dish is earmarked for my next visit, along with its duck variation, khao na ped. The extensive menu at 9Zaab promises a wealth of culinary treasures waiting to be discovered. Dishes like the salt-and-pepper crab, the pad woon sen (sautéed shrimp or crab with clear noodles in a ginger and white pepper sauce, served in a traditional Thai pot), the pineapple fried rice (highly recommended by fellow diners), and the nam fried rice, a rich, eggy version with broccoli and sai ua (Thai sausage made from pork underbelly), all beckon with the promise of unique and authentic Thai flavors.
To conclude the meal, 9Zaab offers classic Thai desserts such as shaved ice and mango sticky rice. My advice to anyone visiting 9Zaab is to be adventurous and step outside your usual Thai food comfort zone. Embrace the opportunity to explore the diverse and authentic street food offerings – you are unlikely to be disappointed.
