King of Snake Menu

King of Snake occupies the first floor of 79 Cashel Street, high enough to look over Cashel Mall, the Bridge of Remembrance and the willow-lined Avon River. The dining room leans into a dark, contemporary mood, while the deck opens the experience back toward the city and water. That contrast suits a restaurant designed for several kinds of visit: a full à la carte meal, cocktails and small plates at the bar, or a drink outside. Daily service keeps the room active from lunch into the evening rather than limiting its elaborate setting to dinner alone.

The menu draws broadly from East and Southeast Asia, refining bold sauces and spices into dishes intended for sharing. Roasted coconut spinach leaves combine peanuts, garlic, chilli and lime in a small, concentrated bite, while sticky beef wontons and pork wontons bring a richer counterpoint. Blade-cut salmon with white miso and roe, fried rice balls with kaffir-lime cream, and squid with garlic, peppercorns and Sichuan sauce show how quickly the starters can move between delicate, crisp and spicy textures.

Larger plates continue that range rather than settling into one regional style. Prawn pad Thai and chicken pad Thai sit beside stir-fried chilli prawns, Kung Pao chicken and chicken satay with chilli relish and pickled cucumber. Duck can arrive crisp with caramelised mandarin, in a red curry with pineapple and kaffir lime, or stir-fried with greens, bean sprouts and cashews. A Penang curry built around beef cheek offers another slow-cooked centrepiece, while tuna and coconut salad, mixed-seed salad and vegetable curry create lighter and meat-free routes through the menu.

Cocktails are an integral part of the experience, supported by Monarch just inside the entrance. The adjoining bar works for a drink before or after dinner and adds a private function room, while King of Snake’s food remains available for guests who want to extend a bar visit into a meal. A lime pudding with coconut milk, citrus and yam crumb provides a fresh finish after the menu’s richer curries and fried dishes. Together, the river-facing location, shareable cooking and connected cocktail bar make the venue especially adaptable for groups and long evenings.

Address: Level 1, 79 Cashel Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand

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