close button

Metro Top 50 Restaurants 2017: Saan

Metro Top 50 Restaurants 2017: Saan

Jun 30, 2017 Restaurants

For the latest review, see the 2018 review of Saan.

Metro Top 50 Restaurants 2017: Saan

Book now

Saan

City-Fringe Bistro—Modern Thai

The fragrant spices and smoke from the chargrill floating on the air place you firmly in the streets of Thailand at Saan, where chef Lek Trirattanavatin calls on a wealth of knowledge and family history to turn out northern Thai food unlike this city has seen before. Pretty blond wood, lush plants and handcrafted Ben Glass furniture (brought together by none other than Nat Cheshire) are the backdrop for Trirattanavatin’s Lanna and Isaan cuisine, a style characterised by its pungent and fiery flavours. His skill is evident on the menu, where he tweaks old recipes to work with local produce and offers dishes even Thai-food devotees won’t have seen before. There are New Zealand wines, craft beers and delightful cocktails to match. Hospitality doyenne Krishna Botica is a wizardly conductor of service, ensuring a pace that’s always energetic but never rushed.

A favourite dish
Larb moo: pork mince, chicken liver, toasted rice, fresh herbs and dried chillies, served with crunchy vegetables.

What it offers
Shared-plate options / Fixed-price meals / Good for vegetarians / Free-range chicken and/or pork / Good seating outside / Bar / Craft beer selection / Good for kids

Hours—L Wed-Fri; D 7 days
Bookings—Yes
Price—$$
Seats—110
Chef—Lek Trirattanavatin

PONSONBY
160 Ponsonby Rd
Ph 320-4237
saan.co.nz

Book now


Click below for each restaurant’s review 

Amano
Apero
Artwok
Augustus Bistro
Azabu
Baduzzi
Beirut
Cafe hanoi
Casita Miro
Cassia
Cazador
Cibo
Clooney
Cocoro
Coco’s Cantina
Culprit
Depot
Ebisu
Euro
Federal Delicatessen
Gemmazye St
Gusto at the Grand
Ima
Kazuya
Masu
Merediths
Molten
MooChowChow
O’Connell Street Bistro
Orphans Kitchen
Ortolana
Paris Butter
Pasta & Cuore
Pasture
Ponsonby Road Bistro
Rosie
Sidart
Siostra
Soul Bar & Bistro
Spacca
Blue Breeze Inn
The Engine Room
The French Cafe
The Grill by Sean Connolly
The Grove
The Oyster Inn
The Shed , Te Motu
The Tasting Shed
Woodpecker Hill

Latest

Latest issue shadow

Metro N°441 is Out Now.

It’s our annual, inflation-busting ‘Where to Eat for Less Than $25’ list (with thanks to Uber Eats) issue! PLUS the Summer Books Special and the Auckland Property Report Card (with thanks to Barfoot and Thompson). Also, Sir Bob Harvey looks into the missing treasures in our museums and talks to Jacqui Knight about monarch butterflies. AND NOT ONLY THAT: Emil Scheffmann looks into our secondary art market, Matthew Hooton and Morgan Godfery look into the new government, Jamie Wall into the tennis, Hana Pera Aoake into the Māori response to the war in Palestine and Abby Howells into being the lion in the Wizard of Oz. We also find the 10 Best Bakeries in Auckland, a great recipe for a Japanese Breakfast and the king of the supermarket pasta brands. All this and much, much more.

Buy the latest issue