Midtown Lunch

H-Mart and the restaurant plaza surrounding it is one of my favorite and most concentrated areas for ethnic dining. The turnover rate is the one negative- your favorite new spot could be gone in a few months, as was the case with El Sabroso and their awesome pupusas. Sa Bai Dee has been around for a few years, however, so they must be doing something right. The approachable  space and menu would appeal to a wide audience. The restaurant does Thai and Loatian food, though more of the menu seems to be straight Thai.

A grilled squid appetizer was not our favorite, too chewy and not fresh tasting.

But the noodles! The noodles were a nice surprise.  I love the flavors in Pad Thai, but prefer the bigger noodles found in Pad See Ew ($8.50), and chose the latter. The not too sweet black sweet soy sauce  coated the slippery noodles, Chinese broccoli, and egg bits.

Upper Darby is a little far just to get some good noodles, but Center City’s Thai game is lacking. You’d be surprised how quick of a ride it is on the Market-Frankford line.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• Approachable menu
• Great noodles

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

• All the way in Upper Darby
• Closed Mondays
• Squid did not impress

Sa Bai Dee, 7038 Terminal Square, Upper Darby,  610 352-1119