Review Monsoon Poon - Wellington

Yum yum and yum, a few dishes were hit and miss but overall was a yummy place to try. Staff were friendly and welcoming as soon as you enter. I had shaking beef, the flavours were there and so juicy but was really tough. Other than that I enjoyed myself and would come back and try something else 😊

Firecracker chicken evening! Very nice indeed. Great value and the food is so tasty. Highly recommend if you like it a bit spicy.

This is it guys! Friendly staff, quick service, cool ambience, delicious food and scrumptious cocktails. They have it all. We ordered a bunch of dishes, the sweet chilli eggplant was IT! For me, the mowgli channa masala was lacking flavour and zestiness. Other than that, everything was really good and we enjoyed our dinner date here.

Had my birthday dinner in their Atrium space, which is a great little private space to hire for an occasion with a large group. We had the $55 banquet menu option - the food was delicious & there was plenty of it! Also great that they let you takeaway leftovers so they don't go to waste. The staff were lovely, helpful & very accommodating. Would definitely recommend! :)

Totally surprised by this highly affordable spot. The cocktail were fantastic and we enjoyed every morsel of food.

Food choices were amazing, and service was simply superb, but you must book in advance. Restaurant was not taking online/phone booking on the day we visited, so we waited for some time. Otherwise, we had a great family time. Cheers.

An absolute hidden gem nestled amongst other restaurants in the heart of the CBD Wellington. I highly recommend this place. Has amazing fast service. Excellent wait staff and the food is a 10 out of 10.. cocktails were delicious and overall a great experience. Highly recommended we will be back for sure. On our way to WOW.

They were very accommodating to us as we hadn't booked a table, we were able to eat at the bar which was very nice. They have a very good menu that shows all the different food allergies and what you can order from the menu, as well as the normal style menu. The food was lovely and tasty. Bar selection was good too. Very friendly staff. I will be back.

We've eaten in a lot of SE Asian restaurants over the years, and this is definitely one of the best. The chicken satay was tasty, the beef rendang was flavoursome, the service and efficiency was amazing, and all for a reasonable price given the quality of the establishment. Definitely worth another visit, it's a shame we didn't try here earlier on during our visit to Wellington.

Very happy with our dinner service here. The starter we ordered was the summer rolls, they were nice and fresh but I think there was coriander in them which I cannot stand, not listed on the menu. The food was very tasty, we shared Singapore noodles and Bangkok noodles. Unfortunately there was a little bit of plastic found in my food, definitely an accident but they quickly replaced it. The cocktail, ruby Tuesday was very tasty as well and there was a lovely vibe in the restaurant.

As always excellent food, fragrant, tasty, not too hot. We had 4 starters and 2 mains + rice & roti between 3 people - and it was way too much!

Had the burger that’s on offer for WOAP 2019 - Fyre Burger which delicious 😋 the chips were like kettle fry chips. Lovely non alcoholic drink - made in China was sooo goood. There is so many great options to try so will be back. Gave it a 4 as the waitress cleared my plate still while I was still eating.

Loved everything about this place... outstanding service and exceptional food with an open kitchen. I had the pepper and chill tofu and I’ve never eaten tofu like it, beautiful puffy parcels of goodness with a slight crunch on the outside and the coconut rice was to die for. The dark chocolate mouse dessert is heavenly... delicious and not too rich. Cannot recommend this place highly enough

Very busy here on a Friday night<br/>Staff were very friendly<br/>And the atmosphere was very welcoming <br/>The food was delicious and the service was top notch<br/>We’ll definitely come back

It's too long for food. More than 40 minutes the food is not coming. I don't recommend it. we got served later than people who just came. It sucks

Great food we ordered the lamb curry, I can't really handle too much spice and the waitress assured us the meal was mild couldn't have been further from the truth it was so spicy I could only eat half my meal, as we were seated the waitress asked if we would like tap water or sparkling, we said sparkling assuming they used soda water on tap at the bar free of charge only to find that it added an extra $9 to the bill, I was disappointed that the waitress didn't tell us there was a charge for this, because if she had we would have declined and drank tap water.<br/>

I really enjoyed my dining experience at Monsoon Poon for my Anniversary with my partner.<br/>Friendly and professional service. Even when they were busy the wait for a table wasn't too long.<br/>The food was beautifully presented and delicious. The firecracker chicken is no joke, quite spicy and I love spicy food.<br/>My girlfriend had the pork and we shared stuffed roti bread and fried squid tentacles. They all tasted great and I don't know what sauce they had but it was awesome.<br/>Also we tried the Mr. Miyagi, Monsoon Punch and a coffee cocktail and they were all well made and tasted great.<br/>Highly recommended and look forward to returning there.

Such amazing yummy and flavoursome meals here! Every time it just seems to get better and better. The staff and so friendly and welcoming and very attentive throughout your meal. Slowly working my way through the amazing menu!!

Great staff. Vegetarian option. Food good portion size. Fun venue to sit in. Came here on a Monday night and the punters were all looking happy. Busy old place so you might need to wait for your food.

Great service, amazing food and upbeat atmosphere love this place. We often travel into Wellington to come here. Always get the shaking beef and duck noodles so good!

I loved the place, in fact I waited for 45 mins to be seated on a Saturday night. <br/>The food was great, but it’s not great if you don’t like crowded and noisy places. <br/>

I have only ever had positive experiences when venturing to Monsoon Poon on Allen St.<br/>Thoroughly enjoy the mee goreng, sides and other noodle dishes here. <br/>Excellent service, atmosphere, drinks and nibbles.

Amazing food and atmosphere, just a super dark setting. Had to read the menu with my phone torch lol. Best experience food wise I’ve had in a while and the service was good, too.

Everyone Wellingtonian or a visitor to Wellington must go to Monsoon Poon. The food is always consistently amazing and the atmosphere is always fun. This is a busy place, therefore there is no booking allowed which is a good thing. You can go to this place anytime you want.<br/><br/>Some great meal ideas are 25 Herbs and Spices Lamb, or if you like your hot food then go for the Firecracker chicken.. make sure you have lots of water with you though.<br/><br/>Great place for a dinner with friends or family.

Great food, had the take out option and it was quite expensive! He take out menu is just as extensive as the dine in menu and the food was still hot when I got it home!

I loved the ambiance and the customer service. The food however was too mild for my liking given their food is indian- inspired. This place is usually buzzing with people at dinner time so would be a good idea to book in advance.

Saturday night. Waited 60 mins for a table. Too loud to talk. Restaurant got louder. Platter and FC chicken sliders for entree - Delish! Spiced cashews - morish. Butter chicken very sweet. Don't need to add honey or sugar! Bangkok noodles, and Singaporean noodles - yum. FC chicken was let down. Big pieces of chicken, but sauce took over. Chicken with sauce removed, and garlic naan - nice. Service great. Other tables struggled to talk too. Bathrooms needed clean.

YUM YUM YUM This food is DELICIOUS.<br/><br/>We shared the Malay Hawker Fried Fish with prawns an with a yummy sauce. <br/><br/>Also had he Shaking Beef which fr us was the stand-out meal with lovely tasty sauce; and quite a lot of beef for an asian meal.<br/><br/>All complemented with Coconut rice and Roti bread. It was a quiet Monday, and the service was excellent. Worth a visit!

During our recent trip to Wellington we had dinner at this place.  The restaurant was quite crowded on that night but the service was still friendly and prompt.  The place was well presented and the food was nice and tasty. Will definitely drop in again.

Not sure what all the hype is about this place. I got the fish dish and it was full of skin and gunk. My partner said something to the waitress and they brought out another one and it was way better (must of just got a bad fish). A friend of ours ordered the shaking beef and it was expensive for what it was, $26 for a bit of beef over greens.

We really all enjoyed the dinner including the casual setting and aromatic dishes however few things that could have been improved. The served dishes were cold so food got cold very quickly. The soy salmon were soft but there was literally no sauce so it was a bit tasteless. With these things improved I would easily keep this place as my one my regulars.

Hype for this restaurant is insane, my flatmate high recommended coming here but was a wee bit disappointed. Staff were awesome, but food was a wee bit average. Got the platter to start and it was all deep fried, and this salad wasn't anything great

Definitely one of the best restaurant In the wellington area that I've been to, highly enjoyed the kung pao chicken wings the were fantastic and the coating was spectacular,I had the butter chicken as well it was pretty mediocre but not the worst I've had. Definitely recommend this restaurant if you are looking for some delicious asian food, but I also have to mention the price it was a little bit on the expensive side but it's definitely worth it.

Loved the feel and decor of this place. Despite being a busy Friday night we received a great service and slap up nosh! Fusion element to their menu works well; our party of three all enjoyed picking new and interesting things to try. Drinks and cocktails menu is impressive. Their salted caramel hardshake combines the best of booze and pudding (a win win situation). I would have given this place a 5 but my white chocolate and lemon curd mousse was a bit naff and for me its all about the finish.

I really love the decor and ambience of this restaurant and the waitstaff were very friendly. We had little dragon tacos and the firecracker sliders - both really good. The firecracker slider was just amazing. For the mains, we had sticky pork belly (another really good dish) and the Bangkok Street noodles which was just alright for me. Would recommend for sure, and I'd definitely go back to try other dishes.

Great place with super cool atmosphere! Service was pretty good but prices of food and drink was a bit pricy! However, there is a great range of cocktails, and despite the price, the ones I had were great!

I really enjoyed my dinner here! The food was delicious. The only negative criticism I have is that our main courses were quite small portions for the price. Other than that, very yum and the service was great :)

Loved my prawns! The meal was a little small but came out very quickly and the taste was good just needed a little something else with the meal, I loved the set out and the service was good, I will be back to try again!

Amazing service, delicious food and an exciting atmosphere. What more could you want!!! I got butter chicken and my partner got duck noodles. A great way to celebrate and they even gave us a free fortune cookie! The price is a little steep however. I also enjoyed how they have a dietary requirements menu :)

Wow.  Just wow.  My bestie and I were out for a glass of wine on a cold wintry Thursday night, and took a while to decide where we should go for something to eat.  We opted for Monsoon Poon as it's generally consistently good food, and we felt like something fairly hearty.  We arrived at 8pm and the fabulous Henry greeted us (and I MEAN fabulous - he absolutely knocked our socks off with his friendly attitude and impeccable service).   The place was absolutely packed, but we clearly looked hungry and not in the mood to linger, so Henry created a work around - he seated us at the bar, and said that he'd take care of us personally.  He was back at the table within 5 minutes, took our order, and apparently told the chefs to hustle - all with the end result that we were seated, served drinks, ate three courses of AMAZING food and were wrapped up and ready to leave within 30 minutes of arrival.  Monsoon Poon - the environment, the food - and the lovely Henry - just absolutely hit the spot.  I hadn't been to Monsoon Poon in simply AGES prior to this visit, but this experience has elevated it back to the top of my "go to" list.

Came here for a work team dinner and it was a great choice, they're easily able to accommodate larger numbers which is helpful. <br/>The food was really good, there wasn't a single criticism from anyone in our group of 10 which shows how consistent the standard is. <br/>Would be happy to recommend Monsoon Poon to others.

Very busy with a short wait but i would have waited long for the amazing food. Service wa great and the food is some of the best i have had. I will defintly be back for more. I got a pork dish which was a little fatty otherwise it would have got a 5. Im not from wellington but i will recommend this to anyone living or traveling there.

Considering how long I've lived in wellington it was about time I got to monsoon poon. We had a great experience - service was a little slow although the place was packed. There is a good selection of Asian dishes - not the best I've ever had but well cooked and nicely presented. Great to see a kids menu in line with the cuisine theme instead of resorting to nuggets and chips.

It had been a long time since my last meal at Monsoon Poon. It's good to see that nothing much has changed: excellent Asian fusion food in a dark, mystical environment - so dark that phone torches make an appearance as diners peruse the menu. There's an extensive cocktail list with comedic descriptions that will keep you entertained at the bar while you wait to be seated. We began by sharing peppered squid with panko crumbs and chili flakes. The squid was very tender and the flavour set off beautifully with lemon juice and seasoned mayo. Our main course of 25 herb and spice Indian lamb curry with naan was good with a slight kick to the spices, although the lamb was bordering on tough. Rice and bread is ordered separately. I really enjoyed the fresh flavours of the Bangkok street noodles dish. Sharing an entree and two mains left us with no room for dessert but the dessert menu and cocktails looked appealing. Efficient service topped off a great meal for our group.

My partner and I went here for dinner in January and it was amazing. Service was great, food was absolutely fantastic. I got little dragon tacos and duck noodle soup and I rate them very highly. Price very good for the food we got. I will definitely be returning.

We started with the stuffed naan (yum) and peppered squid.  Our mains were kid's butter chicken, Kashmir potato and pea curry and shaking beef.  All of the food was very nice and service was very quick.<br/>On the down side, the bathroom is so small you have to take turns moving if there's more than one person in there at a time.  :-)  And our child was given fat little crayons to use on the kids menu, which were way to fat to draw on what was there.  No big deal though.

Monsoon Poon was a great experience, the wait staff were extremely helpful and friendly, the menu offers a wide variety of Asian cuisine and is a very reasonable price. Meals came out fast and were very good! Be warned the firecracker chicken is very hot! But the staff will warn you as well.

Busy place, the food is good, the service is great would recommend it to any one who likes Thai spicy food. The decor is comfortable and we liked the lights which created a fantastic atmosphere.

I had heard a lot about this place and finally got a chance to go here today.....<br/>Let me start with the highlight of this place... The ambience! It is a fusion of Indian and South East Asian decor. The open kitchen is the highlight for sure! Beautifully designed place. I would give the ambience a 5/5.<br/>Coming to the entrées, we ordered the money bag wontons(loved it!), the firecracker sliders( too spicy for my taste), malai chicken( one of the best I have ever had!). <br/>For the mains, we had the naan roti, chicken firecrackers( a little less spicy than the entrée), Bangkok street noodles (pretty good), curry fish ( very nice), butter chicken ( nice!). I had ordered the Colonial mocktail which was fantastic! <br/>I would give the food a 4/5.<br/>Service was quick, hassle free and friendly. A 4.5/5.

I've wanted to try Monsoon Poon for a loooong time! I’d heard great things.I 'd just picked my partner up from the airport and we couldn't be bothered shopping then cooking, so a meal out at Monsoon it was!<br/><br/>Great decor and ambience. I like the open kitchen and all the fresh ingredients on show.<br/><br/>Attentive, friendly staff.<br/><br/>The menu surprised me as it didn't have what I expected. Not that it was bad, it was varied, but I expected something else, maybe more curry based options. <br/><br/>However, the mix of Asian cuisine was broad. Many nice choices.<br/><br/>I wasn't quite in the mood for a curry, neither was my partner. We decided on a selection of starters and a side of Bok choi. We ordered:<br/><br/>* Deutz Bubbles: $12.00<br/>* Chang: $8.00<br/>* Wontons: $14.00<br/>* Pakhoras: $11.00<br/>* Squid: $14.00<br/>* Malai Chicken: $15.00<br/>* Bok Choy: $9.00<br/>TOTAL: $83.00<br/><br/>Food was ready in 8 minutes.<br/><br/>Presentation and portion sizes were good. The meal itself was a mixed bag. Three of the dishes were superb, two were average.<br/><br/>The wontons were nice but I found the pork a bit dense. I wasn't a fan of the dip. The Pakhoras were not what I expected. They were a bit of a let-down as they were dense fried lumps. Again, not a fan.<br/><br/>However, the squid was soft and light and the dip was sharp and fresh, a lovely dish. The Bok Choi was flavoursome with the black beans and the oyster sauce. And finally the Chicken was tender and juicy with great flavour. These were very enjoyable.<br/><br/>On this visit I wasn't blown away, but I would love to go back and try one of their curries.

Amazing food! Highly recommend the fire cracker chicken sliders & the shaking beef salad. My absolute faves! The cocktails are awesome too. Can't get enough of this place.

Early dinner at Monsoon Poon - I've been to the Auckland restaurant many times, but this was my first visit to Wellington.<br/>Great service & welcome - all staff I encountered were very friendly. Nice environment as with Auckland's branch. The booth seats are particularly good for 'people watching' & the kitchen is open with a reflective mirror above the bench enabling you to see some of the food prep.<br/>Decided to ask for a recommendation from the cocktail menu - was told about the $10 special (they are normally $14) & it was very nice & refreshing - similar to a mule.<br/>Was deciding between shaking beef which is a favourite & the pork belly which is quite new. Went for the pork belly. It was a good choice! <br/>Flavours were well rounded with salty & sweet. It comes with a Chinese cabbage/Apple sticks slaw on top & a black vinegar on the side. Everything was well cooked & presented although the pork needed a bit more rendering - on some pieces the fat between the meat & crackle was tough rather than melting & I had to cut it off.<br/>A great meal & experience - will be back.

Went here for dinner with friends the otehr day and had a great time. For a Wednesday it was absolutely packed out. We ordered firecracker sliders to share and a main each. The firecracker sliders were phenomenal. Although really really hot, they managed to retain a gorgeous sweet, fruity flavour to them. The chicken inside the sliders was delicious, tender and just perfect. I ordered the duck mee goreng. The duck was perfectly cooked, and the noodles were great too- subtle flavours, but all worked harmoniously together. Also, their non alcoholic cocktails are gorgeous. Our waitress was attentive and extremely friendly- refilled our water twice without asking and came around to check on us frequently despite it being busy. Great atmosphere, great food and great service. Would recommend.

I'm not a fan of fusion cuisine and that's because I'm the kind of person who likes to separate everything into its proper place. Needless to say, I prefer my Asian food wholly and completely Asian and my European food likewise. Also, I've been put off in the past with fusion type places for their exorbitant prices for a plate of ersatz dumplings and spring rolls.<br/><br/>Anyway, it was Sunday night we were entertaining a friend of ours from Christchurch and laid it upon our guest to pick a type of food. I inwardly groaned a little when he said he wanted fusion. So I suggested Monsoon Poon and I'm not going to lie - it was simply because their prices were the most reasonable. There was no finesse involved in the decision making.<br/><br/>So we arrived and were seated by the friendly maitre d'. The first thing that catches your eye when you arrive at Monsoon Poon are the bright, almost garish looking decorations, but it actually kind of works. It was like I had sort of stepped into a place that some crazy Asian grandma of mine had decorated - which I guess is the whole point. <br/><br/>We were handed the menu - drinks completely and utterly filling up one side, with food on the other side. Their cocktail selection is extensive and mouthwatering. I had trouble deciding which ones to select and in the end, we went with the salted caramel hard shake and rosebud. They arrived fairly fast and I was impressed with the salted caramel hard shake. Imagine salted caramel rum (from CGR in Wellington) in a milkshake, topped with cookie crumb. Is your mouth watering? It should be.<br/><br/>Between the three of us, we chose:<br/>- Shaking Beef: This was probably my favourite. Tender beef pieces with the most delightful sauce - it was like someone had decided to make steak and then added some soy sauce based dressing. Beef was slightly crispy on the outside and this contrasted beautifully with the slightly undercooked interior.<br/>- 25 Herb and Spice Indian Lamb Curry: Most Indian curries have a really awful fatty aftertaste due to the massive cream content and it makes you feel quite ill. This one had all the flavour and none of the oiliness coating the inside of the mouth. The lamb had been slow cooked and pretty much dissolved in my mouth. Fantastic.<br/>- Sticky Pork Belly: Served with slaw, this one was actually quite spicy. While I prefer my pork belly made the Cantonese style (i.e. with super crispy crackling), this one was still pretty good. <br/><br/>So, while Monsoon Poon is more Asian than fusion, you have to admit that it's not your traditional Asian cuisine. The slight twist on the classics makes the food exciting with that hint of freshness that sometimes is lacking in traditional Asian food.

Came here for an early dinner one night. While the atmosphere is top notch, I was really underwhelmed by the food. We had the yellow curry which, while very aromatic and flavourful, wasn't above other yellow curries I had had. The firecracker chicken delivered on the heat, but had a strange barbecue type<br/> sauce instead of the traditional flavouring. Again, I preferred this at other restaurants (wagamama makes a great firecracker chicken). While the meal wasn't bad, it absolutely wasn't worth the price. Go to your small local Malaysian restaurant instead.

There aren't many places I give a five star to.. 4 star sometimes, 4.5 occasionally. But monsoon poon is certainly deserving of the five star I give it. <br/><br/>From the moment I entered the building I was greeted by smiles and friendly staff. The decorations are superb, with curtains, Chinese lanterns and oriental statues and the like really set the scene for the type of food you are about to eat. <br/><br/>To start I had the fried squid, a particular favourite of mine and was seasoned perfectly. All other entrées looked delicious as well and the main courses did not fail to impress, the Bali prawns in a coconut sauce went fantastically with the coconut rice. <br/><br/>I was also able to discover one of my new favourite sauces, a sweet soy sauce called kecap manis. And has worked its way into my own cooking adventures.<br/><br/>If top quality Asian food is what you want with the possibility of trying and finding new tastes and smells then monsoon poon is the location for you :)

Hadn’t been to Monsoon Poon for about 5 years or so but decided it would be a good place for my birthday dinner. I made a good choice, this place is still fantastic. We were a group of five and ordered some entrees to share: rice paper rolls and chicken tacos. The tacos were absolutely divine and the rice paper rolls were pretty good too. One of my friends and I ordered a cocktail which was amazing! For main I had the salmon which was cooked to absolute perfection: translucent and falling apart at the slightest touch of my fork. My friends all enjoyed their meals as well. The service here was attentive and polite enough; they could have been a bit friendlier though. I love the decor of this restaurant and all the little detailing. I really recommend this place for a special occasion: fantastic food and amazing atmosphere! I’m pleased to say this is still one of my favourite restaurants in Welly!

yummy food, interesting drinks, friendly service and funky decor.<br/>Highly recommend the firecracker chicken sliders. Not my favourite Asian restaurant in Wellington, seeing that there are so many, however they never disappoint. The open kitchen has mirrors for customers to watch plating and garnishing which is intriguing! Will definitely recommend to others.

Nice place to go for dinner, it's always consistent in terms of food and service alike.<br/><br/>My picks are the firecracker chicken sliders (for those who want that spicy taste but not for their whole meal!) and the beef rib. The meat just falls off the bone so lovely and delicious!

First thing to say is that Monsoon Poon has amazing service, the staff there were absolutely attentive, quick and polite. The food was amazing, my partner and I ordered a few entrees; wontons, chicken satay & little dragon tacos with a side of coconut rice. They were all delicious, we got so full from just that but I'll definitely be going back for a main. The desserts however were exceptional, I ordered the Whittaker's Triple Choc Trifle and it was simply devine. Very happy.

First time back in years and I was not disappointed. My partner and I ordered spiced grilled chicken satay, money bag wontons and little dragon tacos. They had all the flavors packed into these little dishes. My favorite was the spiced grilled chicken satay, it was amazing. Feeling like we could tuck a wee bit more in, we ordered dessert i got the vanilla bean, hazel nut and cappuccino cinnamon gelato and i have to say this blew my mind, best dessert I have ever had. I would go back just to reorder it .<br/><br/>I would highly recommend this to others, we were looked after very well, the food was great and we had a fun night out. Cheers

I must say that the service at Monsoon Poon is just as outstanding as the restaurant's wonderful Thai cuisine! We ordered our food and it was brought out to us in such a timely manner that it completely took us by surprise. We will be back again soon!

Great atmosphere, amazing flavours! Always busy and always up to standard. Perfect curries!<br/><br/>I'd love more parking but that's a pipe dream haha...

Came in with a friend last night! Drinks were really delicious! however found the food slightly disappointing. Had the Thai noodles vegetarian option - was expecting tofu as a replacement for the meat but found it to be mainly noodles with a few vegetables. Taste was also really different to what I had expected. Would definitely come back for drinks and to test out one of the curry options. Really lively, fun atmosphere!

Trendy, upbeat atmosphere with a tasteful appointment of decor. The firecracker chicken lives up to its name, although I'm certainly glad I didn't take them up on the "all you can eat" as it would have been hell the next day. Overall would recommend

We had seen Monsoon Poon at Beervana, where they served delicious food. We then saw an advertisement for unlimited fire cracker chicken.<br/>We've been there in 2014, with a couple of friends.<br/>The chicken itself was good, but it was way too spicy, absolutely ridiculous. I am used to spicy food, but this was 100 times over the top. One of my friends was sweating like he had run a marathon.<br/>The entire next day I felt sick.<br/><br/>We only had one extra plate, so not really profited that it was unlimited.<br/><br/>I understand that you don't want people to order too many plates in an unlimited offer, and/or make it more salty, but this was just disgusting.

Went on Tuesday, 9 June 2015. Group of 8 people. Rang up with 5 mins notice asking if they could squeeze the group in. Not a problem. Arrived and were seated straight away. The place was humming with diners, so surprised we got a table given how busy they were. Various dishes ordered. I had the chicken fire (or whatever it was called - you can also get this dish as an entree slider!! Go for it I reckon!!). It was explained that it was a hot dish and was I OK with that. Yes I said. Well it was hot and fantastic. Had it with brilliant roti and rice. Others had a variety of dishes and not one complaint. Highly recommended. One negative, which is really not a negative but a gripe with some restaurants, don't charge 4 or 5 dollars for plain rice. It's overpriced for what you are offering and most people would rather you increased you price by a couple of bucks on each main to cover the rice. Anyhow, minor issue and would definitely go again.

Came with a large group (12) and tried many different dishes. The salmon was not fresh and while I understand you can eat it raw this was very rare and luke warm which was not expected (half this meal went back). The yellow curry was luke warm. One of our group ordered the butter chicken and asked for it spicy hot but was told its pre-made so cant be changed?? Really? Is it a jar or packet sauce mix? Rendang was sold out which we were not informed about until time to order which meant last minute changes but we were the second diners that night so not sure how this happened. The disabled toilet had at least six chairs stacked in there so you couldnt go in with a wheel chair... (I (dad) had to take my daughter to the toilet so this was the best option). Noodle dishes were OK, did not taste authentic and we have eaten those dishes in the countries of origin and many other spots in Wellington. Chicken satay didnt rattle the tastebuds either. Such a shame as this was a good spot a few years ago but the love of food seems to have died. When we booked we said we were dining with kids... when we turned up we had kids that were very excited... we never even knew there was a kids menu and the kids never got the wee games/colouring in pics or anything from the wait staff.... stinker. If you like decor try Monsoon Poon...if you are a foodie I would suggest somewhere different.

Best Asian restaurant and one of the best overall restaurants in Wellington.! Good food, great ambience. Go early since they don't take bookings especially on the weekends. Vegetarian options are limited but still tasty.

bout 6pm, we headed over to Monsoon Poon to meet Jono for dinner. The place was bustling with people (on a Tuesday!) but we managed to get a table without prior booking (Monsoon Poon doesn’t take bookings anyway). Hmm, what should I have for dinner tonight…maybe the Nasi Goreng…“I’m getting the Firecracker Chicken,” announced Jono and we explained to Dad that it was the spiciest dish on the menu (chicken rubbed in Malay chilli paste and wok fried) to which he asked “Really? Jono can handle spicy food??!”. Oh yeah, he can handle spicy food alright, way better than I can – I’ve no idea how that tummy of his copes! We each selected a main dish and had a side serving of Asian greens to share. The food at the restaurant has been consistently good every time I’ve been here and tonight was no exception. Even the Malaysians (my folks, that is) agreed that the food was delicious. Great, I’m glad they liked our pick of restaurant!

The best Asian restaurant I experienced in Wellington. Costly but worth. Excellent decor, outstanding courtesy and so nicely spoken chef! They mainly concentrate on dishes from Thailand, India, Singapore and Malaysia. Supreme quality od ingredients and awesome flavours. In 2010, it used to take around 45 NZD to fill my tummy in lunch. I was a frequent customer. Miss them.

Monsoon Poon was highly recommended by my friends especially the famous firecracker chicken. The ambiance was indeed great and good space for get togethers. I love hot foods so I ordered the firecracker chicken. Unfortunately it was a huge disappontment. I found nothing special as the chicken was very ordinary which was fried and covered with sauce. My wife's order was the beef rendang which equally disappointing. It tasted like the beef from beef brisket noodle in chinese restatutant and just topped with rendang curry. It was a total rip-off! Not recommended, not going back here either!!!

We came here with a Xmas gift voucher! What a great place! Food was on point and came out in good time. We ordered strong, and couldn't get through it all (so they doggy bagged it for us). Atmosphere is second to none. Highly recommend!

I've eaten at Monsoon Poon a lot as it is a favourite amongst my friends when choosing somewhere for a get-together. Unfortunately, I have hardly ever been impressed by it. The decor is lovely and inviting but the service is not; their wait times are lengthy and once you are finally seated you feel rushed throughout your meal. The food is ho-hum pan asian, but I guess people go for the hustle bustle atmosphere! I can confirm the cocktails are good though- I've sipped plenty of those whilst waiting at the bar for that elusive table.

Wow what a pleasure it was dining. <br/><br/>My family and I came for dinner on a packed Sunday night before heading to the airport. After mentioning to our waiter we were on a tight schedule, we ordered and our food was delivered in a flash and by god it was amazing. <br/><br/>Top notch from a top rated restaurant and brand name. Thank you.

Whooo!!! Firecracker Chicken Monday. I'll pay for it later no doubt.<br/><br/>Firecracker has to be the hottest dish in Wellington, but what is great about it is that you can taste all the flavours, not just chilli. Chard Farm Gewurz was the ticket as well.

Came on a Thursday night and we were very lucky to be seated! Very friendly service, I wouldn't have known the waiter was only on his second shift.<br/><br/>Nice to have a good selection of non-alcoholic coctails and the beef salad was lovely.

Great non-alcoholic cocktails and fantastic service. Can't understand why I couldn't order my curry spicy though..they come out incredibly mild, and we had to spice it ourselves at the table.

Been here about 5 times in the last 6 months! Best Asian place yet, and cocktails are divine! We have tried something different on all visits and without fail delish! The staff are super friendly and helpful.

A long time favourite...<br/>Monsooon Poon is always exciting!<br/>The Asian decor makes you feel as though you are deep in Thailand or Vietnam &amp; the food is just as authentic. Noisy banter &amp; music add to the ambiance. <br/>A huge selection of Asian dishes - Thai, Indian, Vietnamese...<br/>Try the firecracker chicken sliders if you get a chance &amp; the 25 spice curry is delicious!<br/>Bring a big appetite, plenty of friends and make sure you choose a large selection to share!

Enjoyed a lovely meal at this character filled restaurant. The food came out fresh and spicy...just the way I like it, and our waitress Willow was delightful and accommodating. The only criticism was the music....LOUD!!! I would have preferred something Asian to match the superb food. I will definitely be back.

Awesome place, bought my grandmother here everything about the place was good, atmosphere, waiters etc highly recommend this place to anyone after a good time and keen on good food, the Firecracker Chicken is a must and also the 25 spice lamb curry, overall top marks to a great restaurant.<br/><br/>A+++

First of all, brilliant interior! The inside is rather interesting to look at and I do admit I got a little captivated watching the reflection of the Chef cooking the ingredients from the long mirror slanted above him. We came with a group of friends and since we had a reservation we were promptly seated at a table with two awkward wooden benches as seats. The one thing I distinctively remember was trying to maintain my dignity while getting my legs under the table and out again in a dress. <br/><br/>After ordering a lemon chicken as my main, side of rice and a cocktail, I tried to chat to my friend in front of me. Though the music was so fast paced, intrusive and loud, it was impossible to hold a conversation. <br/>The atmosphere in the restaurant kind of felt like a 'don't talk, eat and go.' When our food came we barely talked to each other between and after our meals. The food was good, very fresh and defined on your taste-buds, service was friendly, but the vibe of the place let it down.

Very nice spicy food. Big portions. Highly recommended!

Great and attentive staff, with the location and environment to suit. Unfortunately that is where it ends. The function of great restaurant should (largely) be defined by the food they serve. With more than a decade being immersed in South East Asian culture and cuisine, I can safely and confidently reflect that the dishes are neither authentic nor worthy of the assigned menu names they masquerade themselves in. The meals came out warm at best; unless called for, one would never try a dish served warm in Asia unless you are fond for frequent trips to the bathroom. It is done hot for a reason but being so far away from that part of the world doesn't make it any more acceptable to qualify that - certainly not from a place that tries so hard to transport you to a foreign place upon entering through the doors. <br/><br/>The establishment's famous Firecracker chicken dish was nothing but a fizzle with tender chicken being drowned in sweet and sour sauce that one could obtain from a jar with the spices kicked up a few notches. One could be forgiven if it was more of a traditional pork based dish. The other dish in question was the clearly implied Malay fish and prawn medley which was fused with, insultingly, what appears to be Thai green curry sauce - given that South East Asian cuisine from one particular country should already have a lot going on for the palette care should be taken to fuse it with a different country - again from a sauce base that could be found from a jar. To round things off, the jasmine rice served was poorly made which stuck to the cutlery and did not fall apart. A simple staple like this can even be made in a microwave with better results!<br/><br/>This establishment struggles too much to create the visual appeal with lack of evidence to support in areas that should matter most - the food. Overall I found the experience to be inspirational and underwhelming at the same time amidst the club/disco music with detracts from the overall experience. Seats were crammed to maximise intake of patrons where you could overhear conversations from the next table or shoulder surf the text message of another patron. Given the final bill total, there are many better places in Wellington to be had. Place suits those who want to be seen and heard (intentionally or otherwise) and couldn't care less what they consumed at the end of the sitting.

We had a large party (16) so was impressed we could be together, sort of, over two tables (no bookings - why not for a big group?) Food was great. Service was OK except the waitress insisted on leaning over us to reach other diners - that was rude! She even asked that we passed dishes around so she wouldn't have to go to the effort of walking around. But, the big clincher why we will never go back was the very loud disco music with an consistent loud beat that, apparently, was the 'managers play list'. Not music conducive to dinning but would have been ideal in a night club. After asking a waitress if it could be turned down, we were convinced it went up!

Love the vibe of the place. Definitely helped lighten up our moods after a day in the terrible weather.<br/>Staff were attentive, helpful and very friendly. I might be bias because southeast cuisine is definitely one of my favourites, but the food is incredible! For drinks, the Punjabi Punch was really lovely. Definitely recommend.

Shaking Beef is amazing!<br/><br/>Staff are friendly, but the cocktails let the place down. Needs updating, but very very highly rated in my eyes!

Very impressed, we dined here on a a busy public holiday (Good Friday, no surcharge). <br/>The atmosphere was humming and despite being very busy, the service was fantastic. <br/>Loved the duck salad and prawn toast. The rest of our party were really impressed with food and enjoyed the variety in cocktails, beers and wines. <br/>Recommend for great service, selection and tasty dishes

Not good. Went for dinner with family, service was slow because it was very busy. The food meals arrived cold and unexciting.<br/>It was so poor we complained and didn't pay (so I guess I can't complain about value).

This place used to be a favourite of mine but the standards seem to the be slipping. Last two times I've been the food has been bland and luke warm.

FANTASSSSSSTIC. Best place in Wellington, best food, best location, best staff, best atmosphere, best service. Would go for any lunch/dinner outing, best to go hungry, meals are big and well worth your dollar. Medium pricing- so worth it though!!!!!

Such a great place for good meals and a positive vibe. This busy restaurant is also really tasty and a great place to take friends. There are some large tables, and a great bar area for a drink before you're seated.<br/><br/>If you haven't had the Firecracker Chicken then is simply a must have. Spicy and delicious. You can't past the Bali Prawns either. There is also a great selection of curries, and Rendang is very tasty.<br/><br/>Service is good for how busy the place is, and sometimes there might be a small wait, but overall I can't recommend Monsoon Poon enough. Give it a go.

The first thing I noticed about this restaurant was the great decor. The service was fantastic, waitresses that were not afraid to smile and knew the menu! The booth seating was very comfortable. Both my wife and I had great tasting hearty meals, and a drink! The price was extremely reasonable for the amount of food! To top it all the manager was the one who cleared our table and asked how we enjoyed our meal and dining experience! I would recommend this great venue to all!

Have been a few times, and each visit has been great.<br/><br/>The food is fantastic and the service very good.<br/><br/>Monsoon Poon is always our pick when we head into town, either just the 2 of us or with the kids in tow, (they love it too).<br/><br/>Keep up the great work.

Monsoon Poon is my favourite restaurant in Wellington. The atmosphere, the food and the service is all impeccable. I really love to bring friends and family here for a fun and vibrant night out. The way the restaurant is decorated is amazing and everyone I know can't fault the food or service. Will be returning here many more times to come!

Such a good restaurant. A great vibe and aesthetics. The service has been spot on every visit even though it is always bustling and full to the brim of patrons. The food is tasty and so are the cocktails! Definitely a must when in Wellington.

I don't understand the hype, I've had dinner here three times and each time it was an average meal. I do like it that you can see the chefs cooking, reassures you about the hygiene of the place. Every time I've been the place has been packed out and yet the wait staff have been very efficient so that's good.

We were lucky enough to be invited to a birthday here this weekend.<br/>What lovely food, friendly staff and a fun atmosphere.<br/>Music maybe a tad loud for me (I'm getting old) but it was a great vibe.<br/>we had over 15 dishes for the table, to many to list, but I was delighted with them all.<br/>we cannot wait to go back again.

Love Monsoon Poon, great food, atmosphere and never ever disappointed. We have been here several times with friends and with the family (very large groups as well). They have colouring in for the kids to keep them entertained plus a fantastic kids menu and an extensive beverage selection to keep everyone satisfied.<br/>Lovely tasting food, superior service, nice open plan kitchen so you feel at home.

Food and service was fine but felt that the portion sizes were a little small. Found the music too loud and the place too noisy, and non conducive for conversations. More suited to big group.

In my opinion, has to be the best restaurant in Wellington.<br/>Had a great time the other night. The food was fast and delicious and the staff were friendly and efficient. Great service! Can't wait to go back

I like to get here when in Wellington, it's the best restaurant for fun and casual dining. It has a young easy-going vibe, there's a great cocktail list, a diverse range of South East Asian dishes and service is really efficient.

Ok sold on this place they have never disappointed with their service or the food which is excellent. If you want a dining experience that will savour for a long long time and have you travelling all the way to Wellington to experience please please go here. My partner and I are devoted customers and we come from Whakatane. He has the yellow curry and I have the fish and prawns dish beautiful.

Have been here a couple of times for both late lunch and also dinner. Dishes were averagely sized and the decor was amazing. Lots of details have been pinned into and truly reflects the South East Asian concept. Menu offers a fairly extensive option and the waitresses are friendly. A little pricey compared to other Asian restaurants but I am happy to pay the price. Fire Cracker chicken is a must try dish!

Never ever been disappointed here! Friendly, helpful and attentive staff, excellent food and great atmosphere. Personally, I don't know why anyone would give MP anything less than 5 stars.<br/>Firecracker chicken could easily be my last supper!

Has gone a bit downhill, was good about 5 years ago. But as per the other reviews, the food isn't as tasty. Seems to be too hastily put together

Very good. I have heard much of Moonson Poon and really enjoyed my meal (Lemon Chicken). Well cooked and great taste. We also had a mixed entree as well, which was lovely - a nice variety of different nibbles. The only minor negative was the main meal seemed a smaller than other mains in our group. I'm taking that this was one off situation.

Delicious! Definitely a fan of Monsoon Poon. Went here on a busy Wednesday night - it was pretty busy so sat at the bar which was great as it allowed us to look over the whole restaurant and soak up the vibrant atmosphere. We shared wontons with a beautiful plum dipping sauce, salt &amp; pepper squid and crab &amp; fish lettuce cups, to start and all were fantastic. For mains we shared the shaking beef and fire cracker. The firecracker chicken is wickedly addictive.<br/>The service was great - young friendly staff who offered great recommendations on both cocktails and dishes. <br/>Overall a fabulous dining experience. Thanks for a great evening.

A Comfortable place and a intresting menu..I have tried a couple of dishes and will def go back for more<br/><br/>I distinctly remember the kashmiri Aloo ..i think its called bombay aloo on the menu...nice flavors

Love U long time Monsoon Poon.<br/>We celebrated my partner's birthday here and had a fabulous time - a lively vibe but still intimate, beautifully presented, fresh and delicious food. The staff were busy but made sure we were well looked after. Thanks for a great evening!

Went here for dinner on a busy Thursday evening. Not being from Wellington, We really appreciated the friendly welcome and local insight on the area. Felt really well looked after.<br/>Everything on the menu sounded delicious and it was a hard choice. Definitely recommend the wontons with the delicious plum dipping sauce, and the duck curry was fantastic.<br/>Really recommend this place for anyone visiting Wellington, and being in the heart of the city is a great location too.

Good food, but last night the service was not as good as it should have been. The waiter who bought out our dishes was very forceful and almost slammed the plates down our tables. He was rude and when we enquired what the dishes were, he was non-responsive. However, the waitress who took out orders earlier was pleasant and friendly, although we did have to wave her down when we were ready to order.

Had a awesome evening here. A vibrant and colourful place with a great menu and cheeky cocktails. We shared a few dishes, fire cracker chicken, prawn curry and duck salad. All were bang-on authentic dishes and the service was pretty good for a busy place. We loved being able to watch the chefs at work too.<br/>Will definitely be going back.

What a great place to eat. The atmosphere was warm and inviting with the staff also reflecting this. The service was efficient as well as informative. The menu provided a wide variety of dishes but wasn't overwhelming with too many choices. All the dishes we ordered were tasty, cooked well and good portion size. A thoroughly enjoyable experience. My only suggestion would be to have a water bottle and glass on the table when seated.

Went back to Monsoon Poon after a year or so, it's still a great spot for a fun evening out. The decor's warm and vibrant, a great drinks menu and the food 's authentic and delicious flavours. <br/>The 'Bangkok Noodles' is still one of my favourite dishes. <br/>One of the best Asian restaurants in the capital for food, fun, ambience and service.

Felt as though we were imposing on the waitress who rattled out the specials like a Sergeant at arms! Food did not take long enough to cook for us to imagine it was anything other than from a large pot. Reasonable but safe flavours.<br/>Very noisy venue, which cannot be assisted with the level at which the music selection is played. Interesting site &amp; I will revisit perhaps at lunchtime to see if things are different.

One of my fav. places in Wellington and owned by one of the best in the business! the food, service and menu are excellent and always exceed expectations from the staff, clients and friends I bring to this exciting, vibrant and fun restaurant.<br/><br/>It missed one star from me because that is best to go to the Whitehouse.

I have been there a few times and the food is really good and tasty.<br/><br/>Its really good that you can see the chefs preparing the food too.<br/><br/>The vegetarian menu is a bit limited though.<br/><br/>I would recommend booking a table. It can get very busy there.

went here on fireworks night and waited for an hour and half, which we didn't mind in the end for we were offered the banquet meal at a good price. Was told that it was all you can eat till you are full, then was told that you have to eat all your food till they will bring out more,which we did, than was told we have had enough to eat and shouldn't abuse the system. Very unprofessional talking to customers they way they did, definitely wasn't impressed........started on a low due to the wait, picked up again excited for the banquet and then disgusted you talk to customers in that manner..........<br/><br/>p.s our group were not fatty's....just hungry diners

Great atmosphere. Good service. We went there on Tuesday night and it was packed. We nearly couldn't get the table. The food was OK not very tasty as what we were told. I had Nasi Goreng fried rice and it was ok. The only thing that we like was Coconut rice.

Monsoon Poon in unfailingly good - the not taking bookings thing is a bit of a pain as the wait time can be up to an hour on busy nights but it's usually worth it.<br/><br/>The only thing I would say is avoid Tuesdays - have dined twice recently on a Tuesday and it's obvious that it's a different (and I'm guessing inexperienced) chef(s) than on the weekend as in both cases the food wasn't nearly as good as usual - including basic things like the rice which was gluggy and overdone.

Amazing food- the best I've had yet in Wellington!!!! Awesome friendly service. Highly recommended :)

Loved it - some of the best food we had in NZ. Eclectic vibe. Kids menu that was in the style of the restaurant's food. Have the beef, medium rare - exceptional!

great food, great atmosphere...good idea to book, as it seems very popular!

Always good food here. Dined many many times, or been info a drink. Busy, but fast and great food.<br/>Always recommend to locals and strangers.

Fantastic food, fantastic atmosphere &amp; service the best in Wellington. Shaun the full time maitre de is an absolute asset to this restaurant. We as a family will be coming back. Something for every taste, child friendly &amp; a great beverage selection...really loved the overhead mirror on the chefs area, we were able to see the fresh &amp; beautifully colourful food as it was being assembled..now want to try a tiffen lunch!!

My favorite place to eat!<br/>Have always been impressed with the food and the service. Great menu!<br/>Definitely recommend! :)

Great restaurant to take the kids to! Very friendly and tolerant staff, with a really good childrens menu. Adults are able to eat a great meal here and know the kids are being fed decent food too! Definately worth a trip.

Overall a great dining experience. I was impressed with the service especially when I complained to wait staff about my chicken being pink, very gracious in dealing with the feedback. The lamb curry was divine!! Will be back for sure

Right from the minute we walked in, I was impressed by this place. We started with a drink at the bar, and admired the vibrant décor. If you're after a quiet dinner out, then this is not the place for you - there seemed to always be something going on. My meal was delicious, and we all found it to be great value for money. I'd recommend it for sure. Love you long time.