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The SABA WAY

It is a dream come true for me and Tao. Seeing the brand grow from strength to strength over the past 17 years is something I am immensely proud of.

17 years later, three restaurants, three takeaways, two food trucks and over 150 staff, and with lots of exciting activity in the pipeline.

Paul Cadden – Owner

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The Saba story started over 20 years ago. Paul had no team, no chefs, no money and no building. All he had was an idea, which led him to travel to Thailand in hope of getting his old co-worker, Tao, on board with the Saba dream.

The story of how Saba started over 20 years ago when Tao and I became close friends. What brought us together was a passion for authentic Thai cuisine, a love for hospitality and the fact we love being in each other’s company. A brother from another mother is how I’d describe Tao. We both grew up in our family food businesses, Tao in Bangkok and I in Westport. We both trained internationally and as a result have the same mindset, high standards and love of a challenge.

One Great Idea
In 2005, I went to Thailand to meet Tao and tell him the plan to open a restaurant. I had no team, no chefs, no money and most importantly no building, but I had a great idea! Before signing the contract on Clarendon Street, my dad and I travelled to Thailand in the hope of getting Tao to come back to Ireland and get on board the Saba dream. He said he had plans but would make enquiries for chefs on my behalf.

Familiar faces
That evening we met for dinner in a restaurant on the Chao Praya river, a beautiful spot with the longtail boats whizzing past and the river breeze providing a welcome respite from the humidity of Bangkok city. As we walked in Tao was already there and behind him were four familiar faces: Paek, Lek, Ting and Addy– all of whom I had worked with previously. Tao announced they wanted to be part of the new project and would return to Dublin. This was an unexpected but welcome surprise. The Singha beers tasted sweeter that night, there was no going back. It was game on.

It’s our team that makes it all happen, their passion and commitment, their sense of fun and wanting to make every guest happy. They create friendships and care for each other, and their extended families.

Going from Strength to Strength
Since then, we have gone from strength to strength, with the Saba Restaurant Group comprising three Saba restaurants, three Saba To Go takeaway and two Food Trucks. We have won numerous awards and accolades. We import our key ingredients directly from Thailand and work with Irish producers and growers to champion our amazing produce.

Passion and Commitment
It’s our team that makes it all happen, their passion and commitment, their sense of fun and wanting to make every guest happy. They create friendships and care for each other, and their extended families.

The words ‘Sa’ and ‘Ba’ mean ‘happy meeting place’ and this sums up what Saba is all about. A place to meet friends and family and enjoy reasonably priced, delicious authentic food with fantastic cocktails and professional friendly service. I love the buzz of a busy night – the chatter, fun and laughter, the clinking of glasses, the beat of the music – people truly having a happy time.

Sanook {Enjoy}
Paul.

Our Values

Happy Meeting Place

SABA means ‘happy meeting place’, so our very first aim is to provide happy experiences and memories for our customers. As soon as you step inside Saba you can expect a smile, friendly, professional service, and a happy vibe.

Authenticity

Our chefs work with genuine, Asian-sourced ingredients. The authentic flavours are ensured by sourcing herbs and vegetables from Thai farmers in Bangkok. We also source products from local Irish suppliers and producers to guarantee high quality and freshness.

Every Choice is Considered

We have implemented new sustainability strategies through the Fifty Shades Greener Programme which help us measure, manage and reduce our environmental impact.

Healthy and Nutritious

All of our dishes have been carefully selected, using the best quality ingredients. We have worked with various Nutritional specialists to highlight the nutritional elements of each dish and make improvements where needed.

Family at the Centre

Not only does Saba create a family atmosphere at work, but our team is also full of generations of families who have come from Thailand. We are proud to have 18 staff who have worked with us for over 10 years.

Awards

Saba is a multi-award-winning restaurant and takeaway. We have won numerous National Just-Eat Awards, including Best Thai in Ireland for four consecutive years, Best Takeaway to Spicebag and Curry Excellence. Beyond culinary achievements, Saba’s awards extend to the best cocktail bar, best cocktail, customer service, casual dining experience, and sustainable practices, by esteemed institutions like the Irish Restaurant Awards and Yes Chef Awards.

Additionally, Saba’s cookbook has garnered global acclaim. The Cookbook beat prestigious competition from around the globe and went on to win many awards including ‘The Gourmand Award: Best Asian Cookbook in the World’ as well as ‘Best Asian Cookbook in the World in the last 20 years’. The Gourmand Awards are otherwise known as the ‘Oscars of the cookbook world’ in the publishing world.

Our Partnerships

Saba has been an Official Partner of the Irish Women’s Hockey Team since 2019 and fuels the team’s training sessions and games.

The Saba team has worked closely with the team nutritionist and management to provide meals and nutrition for the players. The partnership with the Women’s Hockey Ireland team is something the team at Saba is extremely proud of, as not only do we get to work with highly inspirational and dedicated women in sport, but we also get to highlight the importance of nutrition and how Saba is not only tasty but also healthy and nutritious.

Our Charities

We believe in doing good as a happy consequence, so we’ve chosen to support several very deserving charities. We have worked with a range of local and International charities and hosted various fundraising activities to raise vital funds for our charity partners.

Notable among these partnerships are Anam Cara, focusing on supporting bereaved parents and families, The Saba Cookbook which contributes proceeds to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and Thai Red Cross, supporting their humanitarian efforts in Thailand. Saba’s commitment to philanthropy is evident through its ongoing support for these impactful causes.

Friends of the Earth

To help give back to the planet, we’ve teamed up with Friends of the Earth, the world’s largest network of environmental groups. For every green curry sold, we make a donation to Friends of the Earth in support of its terrific work for environmental justice and sustainability.

Anam Cara

Anam Cara does incredible work supporting parents and families after bereavement. We’ve been privileged to help them with their fundraisers.

Crumlin Children’s Hospital

We created an award- winning CookBook so that all proceeds from the CookBook would go to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.

Christina Noble Children’s Foundation

Christina Noble set up the foundation to help alleviate child poverty in Vietnam and Mongolia. The Foundation has held its annual fundraising dinner in Saba for many years.

Thai Red Cross

Thanks to the huge success of SABA: The Cookbook, we were able to donate €3,500 of proceeds to the Thai Red Cross in 2013.

What our customers say

Second time in SABA and this time I ordered food for collection. Definitely worth recommending as the portion was really decent as well as the meal was tasty! 5/5 well done ✅

Customer Review

Really lovely spot. Service was attentive and fast. Menu was big and varied with loads of delicious options and lots of diets accounted for. We had a lovely dinner with absolutely zero complaints, full marks!

Customer Review

A lovely Asian restaurant with great food and staff. Try to get seated in the Secret Garden. It’s gorgeous. Perfect for functions too.

Customer Review

Wonderful service and food for our birthday party, great atmosphere. Special thanks to the Manageress Annie was genuinely friendly and lovely.

Customer Review

Good place for Thai and Vietnamese food for a decent price and a nice ambience. Friendly staff too. Will come back to try other food on their menu so I can give better review 😋

Customer Review

Enjoyed my lunch date with a friend here. Sweet and sour chicken was just deliciously good.

Customer Review

Food was absolutely amazing, filling but light, the staff were so friendly and the atmosphere was nice and relaxing too.

Customer Review

Lovely food and service 🤩Meals just so much flavour and restaurant is so beautiful decoration, make you feel like you in Vietnam. We have starters, main courses, dressers and everything is just so perfect. Highly recommended to Dining. Can’t wait to go back to visit again and again

Customer Review

The food was stunning, simple as that. The staff were very friendly and attentive, but never intrusive. Service was very quick. The desserts were incredible. Can’t recommend this enough. Even the setting was great, bright and airy and not cramped at all.

Customer Review

The service was amazing and the staff were so friendly. The ambience of the restaurant’s environment was lovely and family friendly. The food was prepared and cooked with full care and amazing eye for detail. The chef Richie was lovely enough to come talk to us and take care of our table. We can’t wait to come again!!

Customer Review

An awesome experience. I had the Crispy Duck which was sensational and my wife had the Peanut Noodle dish -also awesome. Highly recommended
We returned to try Saba again as we were shopping at Kildare Village. Six of us had an awesome meal again. I recommend booking in advance. There is plenty of safe parking and great accessibility. Wheelchair access is also good. Due to its size and popularity the vibe is great. The service is very professional and quick. All round just an awesome place to enjoy a great meal.

Customer Review

I liked their food so much that we also bought the SABA cookbook (all proceeds go to Our Lady’s transplant unit). l have been flicking through the book this morning and there are so many dishes I want to make!!

Customer Review
South William Street

Eatery & Cocktail Bar

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Baggot Street

Neighbourhood Eatery

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Kildare Village

Eatery & Cocktail Bar

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FAQs

Need more information? We have everything you need to know below in our FAQ section.

We have three Saba restaurants; two are located in Dublin City Centre and one in Kildare Village.

Saba, South William Street, Dublin 2
7 William St S, Dublin 2, D02 CV65
T: 01-6792000, www.sabadublin.com

Saba, Baggot Street, Dublin 4
22 Baggot Street Upper, Dublin 4, D04 W5R2
T: 01-5631999, www.sabadublin.com

Saba, Kildare Village
Kildare, Nurney Road, Co. Kildare, R51 R265
T: +353-1-45574445, www.sabadublin.com

  • Saba South William Street is open from 12 to late 7 days a week.
  • Saba Baggot Street is open from 12 to late Monday-Saturday and 2 to late on Sunday.
  • Saba Kildare Village opens from 8.30 am serving breakfast, until 7.30 Sunday to Thursday, and 8.30 pm Friday & Saturday
We do our best to accommodate walk-ins, however, we advise you to book to avoid disappointment.

You can book directly through our website HERE
Or you can contact each location directly via phone or email.

Saba, South William Street, Dublin 2
T: 01-6792000, [email protected]

Saba, Baggot Street, Dublin 4
T: 01-5631999,  [email protected]

Saba, Kildare Village
T: +353-1-45574445, [email protected]

We specialise in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, offering a diverse menu that includes flavourful curries, delightful noodle dishes, and delicious wok-prepared meals. Our dishes are crafted with authentic ingredients to provide a true taste of Southeast Asian culinary excellence.
Yes, we have a children’s menu with kid-friendly options.

You can find the children’s menu HERE.

We cater to a diverse range of dietary requirements, ensuring inclusivity for all, from vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or any other dietary preference.
Yes, we accommodate most dietary restrictions and allergies. Our menu includes options for various dietary needs but please inform us of your restrictions or allergies when placing your order, and we will do our best to ensure a safe and enjoyable dining experience for you.
Yes, we provide takeout options from our restaurants, and we also have 3 Saba To Go outlets across South Dublin. To place a takeaway order, you can contact your local Saba or Saba To Go directly. Additionally, online ordering is available at Saba To Go.
Yes, we offer gift cards that can be used at any of our Saba restaurants or Saba To Go takeaway. Gift cards can be purchased directly at our restaurant or conveniently ordered online. Give the gift of delicious meals and memorable moments with our gift cards.
Yes, we cater to all private events and parties. Saba is perfect for any occasion, including birthdays, engagements, graduations, day-two weddings, anniversaries, baby showers and any corporate event. No matter the occasion, Saba is the perfect backdrop for your celebration.
Yes, absolutely! We’re thrilled to cater to Hen Parties, providing a fantastic dining experience paired with fabulous cocktails. If you’re looking to elevate the celebration, try our private cocktail classes which are led by our award-winning mixologist. Your group will have the opportunity to craft a range of cocktails, followed by the chance to sit back, sip, and savour your creations while enjoying a delicious meal. It’s the perfect recipe for a memorable and enjoyable Hen Party celebration! You can get in touch today.
Saba has a range of private meeting spaces that are ideal for conducting off-site business meetings, conferences or team-building events. We can tailor an experience to your preferences from coffee and tea on arrival, to bespoke menus for all dietary requirements, we are sure to leave a lasting impression on your esteemed guests. If looking to add a sense of excitement after your meetings, our venue transforms into a vibrant hub for corporate nights out. Immerse your team in a buzzing atmosphere, incredible cocktails and a diverse menu that caters to every palate.
Our cancellation policy may vary across our restaurants, so we recommend checking with the specific restaurant when making a reservation. You can find detailed information on reservation policies, including cancellation windows, for each of our restaurants on our website. Visit our terms and conditions page for more details.
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