Monsoon Poon Wellington

Restaurants key icon.
Restaurants key icon.

Monday12:00 – 9:00 pm.

Tuesday12:00 – 9:00 pm.

Wednesday12:00 – 9:00 pm.

Thursday12:00 – 9:00 pm.

Friday12:00 – 10:00 pm.

Saturday5:00 – 10:00 pm.

Sunday5:00 – 9:00 pm.

12 Blair St, Te Aro, Wellington

04 803 3555

Providing nourishment in abundance (as the name would suggest), Wellington’s Monsoon Poon has been a Blair Street fixture for a quarter of a century and counting. Vibrant and inviting, this family-run institution delivers Pan Asian excellence from a former market warehouse, wherein lies popular, approachable food and drink, plus enough space to seat and satiate an army.

Climb the streetside stairs beneath the golden Buddha, step through the iconic powder blue entrance, and discover a cabinet of Eastern curiosities. Frankly, there's too much to recount, so while the photos do the heavy lifting, here are some highlights: black leather banquettes wrap around red lacquered tables. Balinese masks hang beside Chinese ancestral portraits. Ochre walls, layered with travel photography and vintage posters, are intimately lit by silk lanterns. And although two decorative road signs point to Ubud and Seminyak, you'll hardly want to venture elsewhere.

Instead, find a seat by the open kitchen, with its overhanging mirror offering front-row views of the action, or get comfortable with your crew within the aptly named Shangri-La room. For bigger celebrations, the Atrium caters for 100 diners seated or increase that to 150 standing.

Served in these spaces is a menu that draws inspiration from around South East Asia, and the dishes are designed to share. The pho takes three whole days to make: bones roasted, stock slow-simmered (P.S. many of their Vietnamese regulars refuse to order anything else). The shaking beef, a recipe shared by chef Charles Phan of San Francisco's Slanted Door, has been a top seller since it made its way across the Pacific. Pair either with a signature cocktail, local craft brews, or imported Asian drops.

Beyond Monsoon Poon's premises, their Mumbai-inspired Tiffin lunch delivery has brought equal flavour and care to office desks across the city. Since they first opened, Blair Street has shifted plenty, from restaurant row to party precinct to today's well-rounded mix. Through it all, there's been a constant: the proudly maximalist Monsoon Poon, forever doing its delicious thing.

Words by Lachlan Woods-Davidson & Photography by Werk

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

12 Blair St, Te Aro, Wellington

Nearby Places

Boar and Blade

Boar head on a wall above a barber chair.
Place Wellington
Services key icon.

Whether you’re in need of a quick trim or a hot towel shave, the boys at Boar and Blade will have you looking your freshest in no time.

Aurora Argentinian Bakery

Exterior of Aurora Argentinian Bakery with signs outside.
Place Wellington
Cafes key icon.

You can tell right away that Aurora Argentinian Bakery is the kind of place that was built from scratch with love, and that’s because it was.

Enjoy Contemporary Art Space

A man browsing the works at Enjoy Art Gallery.
Place Wellington
Galleries and museum key icon.

With a regularly rotating schedule of work on display in Enjoy's two separate exhibition spaces, you will always find something new and exciting to draw you in.

Pickle and Pie

The cafe space at Pickle and Pie.
Place Wellington
Cafes key icon.

After many a lunchtime spent hankering for just a ‘good old sandwich’, Tim Tracey and Mia Freeman decided to take matters into their own hands.

Similar Places

Aurora Argentinian Bakery

Exterior of Aurora Argentinian Bakery with signs outside.
Place Wellington
Cafes key icon.

You can tell right away that Aurora Argentinian Bakery is the kind of place that was built from scratch with love, and that’s because it was.

Apache

Colourful interior in the dining room at Apache.
Place Wellington
Restaurants key icon.

Lovers of Vietnamese fusion, fret not - Apache is here to stay.

Cake & Kitchen

A busy cafe in Upper Hutt.
Place Hutt Valley Upper Hutt
Cafes key icon.

A home away from home, this Upper Hutt cafe plays an important role in the community and leads by example when it comes to sustainability.

The Dutch Shop

Someone slicing a wheel of Dutch cheese in specialty food store
Place Hutt Valley Lower Hutt
Goods key icon.

The Dutch Shop is a perennial favourite among Petone locals and visitors alike - particularly those with a penchant for cheese.