Saigon Kingdom Remarkables Park is the Frankton branch of the Queenstown Vietnamese restaurant, set in Unit 25 at the Hawthorne Drive town centre. It has its own full menu and daily service, distinct from the Steamer Wharf location. The format works for both a quick bowl of noodles and a shared meal: small bites, salads and soups lead into wok dishes, seafood, fried rice and a notably broad vegan section.
The opening plates cover several familiar Vietnamese textures. Pork spring rolls come with nuoc cham, summer rolls wrap pickled vegetables and vermicelli in rice paper, and grilled pork skewers are paired with a house peanut sauce. Nem lui brings minced pork wrapped around lemongrass skewers, while crispy calamari and soy-glazed tofu extend the selection. For something more complete but still light, bun thit nuong combines grilled pork, spring rolls, herbs, pickles and vermicelli, and bánh xèo folds prawns and barbecue pork into a crisp rice-flour crepe.
Noodle soup is a core strength. Pho bo combines sliced Angus beef and brisket in an aromatic broth, while pho ga uses shredded chicken, herbs and bean sprouts. A vegan pho option replaces the meat with vegetables and tofu, and the menu also moves beyond pho through hot-and-sour tom yum seafood, a mixed seafood noodle soup and coconut laksa scented with lemongrass. Regular and extra-large portions make the soup section suitable for either lunch or a more substantial evening order.
Wok and grill dishes bring stronger flavours to the main-course side of the menu. Shaking beef, lemongrass and chilli chicken, four-hour braised beef stew, caramelised pork chop, grilled fish and whole tiger prawns all give groups plenty to share with rice. Vegan diners can build an equally varied table from tofu summer rolls, crisp tofu salad, vegetable bánh xèo, lemongrass tofu, coconut curry and cashew vegetables. The branch succeeds by offering breadth without losing the bright herbs, pickles, broths and sauces that connect the menu.
Address: Unit 25, Remarkables Park Town Centre, 12 Hawthorne Drive, Frankton, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Been to Saigon Kingdom Remarkables Park? Be one of the first to rate it.
+ Log your visit
