Monsoon Poon has brought the flavours of Thailand, Malaysia, India, China and Indonesia to Blair Street since 2001. Its setting deliberately evokes the bustle and colour of Asian night markets, and the lively room sits just off Courtenay Place in Wellington's entertainment district. The restaurant welcomes both reservations and walk-ins, with a bar available while tables turn. That energy suits the menu: it is designed for passing plates around a group, but it also offers noodles, curries and salads that make a complete individual meal.
The opening dishes move quickly across regions and techniques. Firecracker chicken sliders arrive with chilli mayonnaise, Little Dragon tacos place smoky chilli prawns and avocado on soft naan, and salt and pepper squid is paired with lemongrass mayonnaise. Thai Gulf prawns, kanpachi crudo and crispy pork belly widen the seafood and meat choices, while sweet chilli eggplant and Krishna pakora give vegetable dishes equal presence. A mixed platter makes sense for first-time groups that want to sample several of the restaurant's best-known starters.
Larger plates keep that broad compass. West Sumatran beef rendang is slow braised with coconut milk, star anise and cardamom; a 25-herb-and-spice lamb curry is a long-standing house dish; and charred onion prawn curry uses a Sri Lankan coconut broth. There is also Vietnamese shaking beef, Malay fried fish and prawns, Thai yellow chicken and wok-seared salmon with prawns and scallops. Vegetarian diners can turn to South Indian lentil curry, crispy potato curry or Sichuan vegetables, while rice, naan, roti and fresh sides make the table easy to build communally.
Cocktails are written to match the playful room, from the lychee-led Poon-Tini to the coconut mojito and the lemongrass and makrut lime Tom Yum Collins. Several alcohol-free mixes preserve the tropical fruit, tea, herb and spice combinations without spirits. Beyond an ordinary meal, two private spaces accommodate groups, weekday tiffins deliver lunch in reusable stainless-steel carriers within the central city, and catering is available for events. Those different service styles extend the same idea: bold, sociable food presented with a strong sense of theatre.
Address: 12 Blair Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
Monsoon Poon Menu
Nibbles
Garlic Crackers
V, VG
Prawn Crackers
Housemade Togarashi Spiced Peanuts
V, VG
Poppadoms & Mango Chutney
V, VG
To Start & Share
Combo Platter
a selection of our most popular entrées to share
Sweet Chilli Eggplant
crispy slices wok tossed with garlic & coriander; V, VG
Little Dragon Tacos
Southeast Asian shrimp in a smoky chilli sauce with Thai basil & citrus avocado on soft Naan bread tacos
Firecracker Sliders
our famous Firecracker spiced chicken sandwiched in a fresh bun with chilli mayo
Salt & Black Pepper Squid
panko crumbed with lemongrass mayonnaise & chilli crisp sweet Thai sauce
Vietnamese Summer Rolls
vegetables & glass noodles wrapped in rice paper, & served with a lime, garlic & chilli dipping sauce; V*, VG*
Crispy Gochujang Fried Chicken
crispy fried chicken dipped in our sweet, savoury and gently spiced Korean tomato paste
Thai Gulf Jumbo Prawns
steamed with fresh spring onion, coriander, mint & basil
Kanpachi Crudo
fresh raw fish cured in our spiced ‘Tiger’s Milk’ dressing of lime, ginger & housemate chilli oil, with red onion, cucumber & tamari pearls
Crispy Pork Belly
with fresh green apple, pineapple salsa & Lot 8 Flavours of the East Olive Oil
Baby Pho Bo
a smaller serve of our Vietnamese beef fillet noodle soup
Three Cheese Naan
stuffed with a blend of spiced mozzarella, paneer, cream cheese & onion; V
Malai Chicken
tender pieces of chicken marinated in yoghurt, cumin, ginger, cardamom & pepper then baked in the tandoor oven
Krishna Pakhora
cauliflower, pumpkin & potato slices fried in chickpea batter, served with a mint, coriander & tamarind dipping sauce; V, VG
Meat, Seafood & Vegetables
Wok Seared Salmon
tossed with jumbo prawns, scallops, market vegetables, water chestnuts & XO sauce
Thai Yellow Chicken
tender chicken in our yellow coconut curry with makrut lime, lemongrass & galangal
Large Kanpachi Crudo
fresh raw fish cured in our spiced ‘Tiger’s Milk’ dressing of lime, ginger & housemate chilli oil, with red onion, cucumber & tamari pearls
Butter Chicken
marinated tandoor baked chicken, served in our creamy tomato & butter sauce
Pho Bo
twice cooked beef fillet, rice noodles, bean sprouts, chilli, Asian herbs & crushed peanuts, in a fragrant beef broth
Black Pepper & Chilli Tofu
with wok tossed bok choy & broccoli; V
Charred Onion Prawn Curry
with garlic, ginger eggplant, capsicum in our Sri Lankan spiced coconut broth
25 Herb & Spice Indian Lamb Curry
slow cooked lamb shoulder in a savoury spiced curry with out secret mix of spices; this is a Monsoon Poon classic
Sichuan Style Vegetables
market vegetables, fresh chilli & tofu wok fried in Chinese hot bean paste; V*, VG*
Nasi Goreng
Indonesian spiced fried rice with chicken, squid, shrimp, market vegetables, chilli & a fried free range egg &
South Indian Spice Lentil Curry
dhal & kidney beans in a spiced coconut cream; V, VG
Gunpowder Spiced Crispy Potato Curry
smashed & crispy potatoes served on a creamy sauce of coconut, chilli, tomato, turmeric, onion & fresh coriander; V, VG
Shaking Beef
Vietnamese style wok seared beef fillet with garlic, spring onion & red onion, served on peppery leaves with a lime dipping sauce
Sticky Pork Belly
with a chilli caramel glaze & asian black vinegar, topped with a Chinese cabbage, raddish, peanut, mint & coriander slaw
Malay Hawker Style Fried Fish & Prawns
with a makrut lime, coconut, candlenut & chilli sauce
West Sumatran Short Rib Beef Rendang
Indonesian dry curry; slow braised beef with coconut milk, star anise & cardamom
Firecracker Chicken
chilli crumbed pieces wok fried in our famous hot Malay chilli sambal sauce
Salads
Thai Beef Salad
roasted beef fillet, cucumber, spiced cashew nuts, bean sprouts, cherry tomatoes & Asian herbs, tossed with a chilli, lime, lemongrass & ginger dressing
Peking Duck Salad
house roasted 5 spice duck with mandarin, capsicum, cucumber, mesclun, spinach, pine nuts & a sesame lime dressing
Bang Bang Ji Salad
finely shredded vegetables, rice noodles, crispy shallots, crushed roasted peanuts & sesame, soy, garlic, chilli oil & black vinegar dressing; V*, VG*; Choose from Shredded Chicken or Crispy Tofu
Noodles
Singapore Fried Noodles
rice noodles, chicken, shrimp, bean sprouts, red & green peppers, onion, chilli & egg; V*, VG*; MAKE IT chilli crumbed chicken +$3
Roast Duck Mee Goreng
udon noodles, house roasted 5 spice duck, red & green peppers, onion & bean sprouts; V*, VG*
Bangkok Street Noodles
flat rice noodles, chicken, market vegetables, tamarind, chilli, egg & crushed spiced cashew nuts; V*, VG*
On The Side
Bok Choy
with black beans, oyster sauce & garlic; V, VG*
Fire Crushed Cucumber
with chilli oil, soy, coriander, garlic, crispy shallots, sesame seeds & picked onions; V, VG
Steamed Seasonal Greens
with coriander & Thai basil pesto; V
House Side Salad
fresh leaves, cucumber & house dressing; V, VG
Rice
Steamed Basmati Rice
V, VG
Coconut Rice
V, VG
Uncle Paul’s Rice
tossed with fragrant spices & finished with fresh lemon; V, VG
Breads
Poppadoms
V, VG
Roti
V
Classic Naan
V
Garlic Naan
V
Condiments
$5 each
Peanut Sauce
Chilli Sambal
Raita
V
Chopped Chilli
V, VG
Mango Chutney
V, VG
Desserts
All desserts $14. DF – dairy free, GF – gluten free, NF – nut free, V – vegetarian, VG – vegan, * – available on request
Dark Chocolate Mousse
Topped with a mandarin & honeycomb crunch; GF, NF
Crème Brûlée
Lemongrass & mascarpone, with raspberry coulis; GF, NF, V
Vietnamese Tiramisu
Makrut lime, palm sugar, Vietnamese coffee & Mekong whiskey infused sponge, with coconut cream & a chocolate dusting; NF, V
Mango Pomelo Sago
With mandarin, mango, black rice and coconut ice cream; GF, NF, V
Malaysian Sago Pudding
Sago pearls set in coconut cream & served with palm sugar; DF, GF, NF, V, VG
Fortune Cookies (x4)
Kung Fu Kids Menu
For children 12 and under only. Includes a drink (Sparkling Apple Juice) and dessert (Mango Lassi Popsicle).
The Tiger
creamy Butter Chicken on a bed of steamed rice with a mini naan bread & grated carrot
The Monkey
chicken satay on a bed of steamed rice with a mini naan, peanut sauce & grated carrot
The Panda
Baby Pho Bo; Vietnamese beef noodle soup
Monsoon Classics
Rosebud
Fruit juice for grown-ups; Stoli Vanilla vodka, cranberry, pineapple, passionfruit, lemon
Ruby Tuesday
The ultimate pink drink; Absolut Raspberri vodka, Cointreau orange liqueur, De Kuyper Sour Rhubarb liqueur, grapefruit, lemon, raspberries
Ho Chi Minh Mule
A Monsoon Poon classic & a real treat; Stil Feijoa vodka, New Zealand Pinot Noir, cranberry, mint, lime, ginger beer
Mr Miyagi
The perfect thirst quencher after a bout of karate; Reid & Reid ‘Native’ gin, lemon, basil, elderflower, watermelon, cucumber, soda
Cheeky Pick Me Up
Espresso Martini
A great treat at any time of day; Jumping Goat coffee vodka, Baileys Irish cream, Mr Black coffee liqueur, Frangelico hazelnut liqueur, cold brew coffee, palm sugar
Banoffee Dream
A heavenly mix; Langs banana rum, banana liqueur, cacao bitters, caramel, coconut foam
One Night In Bangkok
A dessert lovers dream; Stoli Vanilla Vodka, Disaronno Amaretto, Crème De Cacao, hazelnut, vanilla, fresh cream
Ocean Dip
Finish your night on a high; Pallini Limoncello, Finlandia vodka, Galliano vanilla liqueur, pineapple, yuzu, crushed meringue
In-House Creations
Master Oogway
Our tiki-inspired Daiquiri; Monsoon’s 5-gold rum blend, Aperol, lime, tandoor roasted pineapple
French Quarter Fizz
A beautiful herbaceous homage to a French 75; The Bond Store kawakawa gin, Crème de Violette, lavender, lemon, kawakawa reduction, topped with prosecco
King Cobra
Sink your teeth into this one; El Jimador tequila, Vago El Manantial mezcal, tandoor roasted pineapple, cinnamon, lime
Shaolin Smash
Freshen up with this juicy number; freshly squeezed Granny Smith apples, Woodford Reserve bourbon, Jameson whiskey, turmeric honey, lemon, soda
Twists On Classics
Coconut Mojito
Picture yourself lying on the beach with this one in hand; Flor de Cana 4yo rum, coconut nectar, mint, lime, soda, coconut foam
The Poon-Tini
Refreshingly simple and oh so tasty; Svitlo vodka, Kwai Feh lychee liqueur, Dolin dry vermouth, elderflower
Malabang Mule
Like a Dark & Stormy only better; Black Tears spiced rum, Black Strap rum, ginger, palm sugar, lime, chilli, lemongrass, ginger beer
Silk Road Sour
Our silky smooth whiskey sour; Slane whiskey, Scapegrace Anthem, Fernet, ginger, smoked maple, lime
On The Rickshaw
Our Non-Alcoholic Options
Blushing Buddha
The ultimate poolside hydration; Black Dorris plum, jasmine tea, lemon, mint, soda; ADD IN Peddler’s Plum gin +$5
Kowloon Cooler
Long, juicy & refreshing; passionfruit, lime, lemon, bitters, lemonade; ADD IN Absolut Citron vodka +$5
Virgin Rosebud
A fruity little number; cranberry, pineapple, passionfruit, vanilla, lemon; ADD IN Finlandia Cranberry vodka +$5
Komodo Dragon
A thirst-quencher; lychees, grapefruit, elderflower, basil, lemon, soda; ADD IN Flor de Cana 4yo rum +$5
Happy Endings – Liqueurs
Kiwi Distillery Coffee Liqueur
Frangelico
Disaronno Amaretto
Mac Macadamia & Wattle Seed Liqueur
Whisky/Whiskey
Glenmorangie The Original 10yr, Scotland
Oily, Vanilla, Delicate
Laphroaig 10yr, Scotland
Peaty, Smoky, Light
Amrut Indian Single Malt, India
Smooth, Apricot, Honey
Tea & Coffee
Earl Grey
English Breakfast
Moroccan Mint
From Happy Menu members
Reviews from locals: every member has confirmed a New Zealand mobile.
Been to Monsoon Poon? Be one of the first to rate it.
+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Wellington
- Butter chicken Typical in Wellington: $20.50 $32.00
- Nasi goreng Typical in Wellington: $22.95 $32.00
Featured in our guide
Best Asian Fusion Restaurants Near Me In Wellington
Monsoon Poon is in this guide. Here are the others.
-
Mr Go's
Wellington · 490 m ·$
Asian · Chinese
-
Dragonfly
Wellington · 210 m ·$$
Asian · Malaysian
- Asian L Lulu Wellington · 140 m ·$ Asian · Fusion
-
Master Kong Wellington
Wellington · 1.1 km ·$
Asian · Chinese
- Asian S Siem Reap Restaurant Wellington · 750 m ·$ Asian
-
Chow Tory Street
Wellington · 190 m ·$
Asian · Fusion
Around the corner
Within 1 km of Monsoon Poon
-
Jugnu’s Little India Blair St
Wellington · 20 m ·$
Indian
-
Thai Chef's Restaurant Wellington
Wellington · 40 m ·$$
Thai
- Italian F Fratelli Wellington · 40 m ·$$ Italian
- European G Glou Glou Wellington · 40 m ·$ European · New Zealand
-
Nicolini's
Wellington · 40 m ·$
European · Italian
-
Istana Malaysia Restaurant
Wellington · 50 m ·$$
Malaysian
More Asian nearby
Within 10 km
-
Rock Yard Restaurant
Wellington · 70 m ·$
Asian · Fusion
- Asian H Hideout Wellington · 140 m ·$ Asian · Taiwanese
-
Koji
Wellington · 200 m ·$
Asian · Fusion
- Asian N Ngon Wellington · 220 m ·$ Asian · Vietnamese
-
Dirty Little Secret
Wellington · 400 m ·$$
Asian · Fusion
- Asian S Satay Palace Wellington · 640 m ·$$ Asian · Indonesian