Saan restaurant review: Metro Top 50 2019

By Metro date May 2, 2019

Saan is a finalist in the Metro Peugeot Restaurant of the Year 2019 awards for Best Smart Restaurant and won the Peugeot People’s Choice Award for their soft shell crab. To see a full rundown of all our winners, click here.

While a couple of our old favourites have disappeared from the menu under new head chef, Chutima “Say” Polvit, Saan’s menu is still as spicy, smoky and punchy as ever. Building on the groundwork of founding chef, Lek Trirattanavatin, whose family recipes were the foundation of the original menu, Chef Say’s updates continue the combination of Thai street food, traditional home cooking, local ingredients, and contemporary refinement. The Nat Cheshire-designed washed-out blond wood interior is ageing beautifully as Saan inches towards becoming a modern Ponsonby classic. Oh, and they serve some of Auckland’s best cocktails too.
What it offers
Shared-plate options / good for vegetarians and vegans / Takes large groups

A favourite dish: Stir-fried roast pork belly with Asian greens, shiitake mushrooms and oyster sauce

Awards
Winner, Peugeot People’s Choice Award for Best Dish

Hours: Lunch Wed-Sun, Dinner 7 days
Bookings: Yes
Price: $$
Chef: Chutima “Say” Polvit