Mekong Baby

The highlight of Auckland getaway was eating here at Mekong Baby! We ordered Prawn Dumplings to start and they were light and cooked perfectly, our mains were Pad See Ew, and the Pork Belly and they were outstanding dishes. Cooked with love and perfection and it was one of the best pork belly dishes I've ever had! For dessert we had the coconut sago which was a light, tasty and.great end to a meal that was simply stunning. 10/10. The service and atmosphere was also fantastic and I'll be recommending this place to everyone I know and can't wait to revisit Auckland to eat here again!

Dunno if it was the dishes we ate, but just found everything to be average, maybe slightly above average. Nothing to write home about, drinks were alright and so was the food & service, nothing exceptional or terrible to come back for.

Yum and delicious! Had a wonderful dinner out. We ate the Banquet Menu which meant that food just kept coming, and we could spend that time having a well-deserved catch up with our friends. Staff attended to our dietary needs with ease. Delicious cocktails (especially the spicy margarita!) and great atmosphere.

Food, service and ambulance just amazing. The food was so delicious and we lost count of how many dishes we had. 😋

Great food in a cool location. Papaya salad was super fresh and perfectly seasoned. Amazing braised pork belly. Second restaurant we tried on the street and both were wonderful and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. NYC please learn from Auckland.

Vegan options are terrible. I ordered the salt and pepper tofu dish in vegan. The plate was filled with greens with only 6 tofu cubes. Please reconsider dining here if you are vegan. To the restaurant - please give more thought to the ethical options on your menu.

We came here in an off-shoot decision and enjoyed the dumplings a lot! Nice rustic interior with a great vibe! Service was great!

Food was sooooo good! It’s an Asian night last night and we Asian like the Asian fusion 🥰😘😍We are team from 🇱🇰🇳🇵🇯🇵🇹🇭🇨🇳 and actually one Kiwi American but we found this restaurant was the best option for our first team dinner and so far i Will say it’s the best Asian fusion in Auckland ❤️👏🫶Well done! Everyone pls try the fried chicken and pork belly💪

This place served literally one of the best meals I have ever had. The layers of flavors and freshness were amazing but I really just never knew food could taste this great. This place made me question what I have been doing in my life and the why I associate with the people I know, because I have not experienced food like this earlier. The crispy lamb ribs were just great with a perfect bite and zesty sauce. The pad see ew was packed with more beef flavor than the best steaks, I couldn't stop eating it. But the cauliflower curry was just dumbfounding for how great it was. The cocktails were very creative and perfectly crafted.

Wow this wad as fun and interesting as it was delicious! The decore is fabulous and the menu is an interesting Asian fusion one that highlights the flavors of SE Asia. Nothing really attempts to be authentic Asian of any particular region but uses lots of local ingredients in ASEAN ways. The lamb rib's appetizer is a perfect example of local ingredients tuned to Asian flavor. The Pork Belly is a MUST try!

THIS PLACE IS INSANELY GOOD!!! Cocktails To Tantalize The Most Judgmental Tongue! Food Made To Stimulate The Senses! Infusions Of Vietnam Reign Supreme! If Your Taste Buds can only handle meat pies & Pizzas, make your way to the nearest 7-Eleven. This place isn't for you!!! Immediately, walking into the restaurant, the ambiance has your eyes feasting on all the beautiful decor. There are a couple of private tables tucked nicely away from the crowds. But, reservations are HIGHLY recommended. So, COCKTAILS!!! The Hand-Crafted Cocktails Are Impeccable! My personal favorite is the Blushing Dragon! Don't forget about the Red Bliss.. What are they, you ask...? Get over there and check it out! I promise you they won't disappoint. For the appetizers, we had the papaya salad, mango salad & the veggie wraps. The Mango Salad had an array of spices including a 'Vietnamese Mint' that has you guessing what that good unexpected flavor is... The Entrées Are Next Level Crazy-Yum!!! Must-Haves: Pork Belly, Pad See Ew Noodles, Mekong Fried Rice & The Deep-Fried Squid!

We visited Mekong Baby for a late lunch on March 6, 2024. Why didn't we have multiple meals here during our first visit to Auckland in July of 2023? Somehow we missed this gem. BUT, we made it here on our second visit and will continue to visit on future holidays. Owner Jackie was cheerful and welcoming; what a friendly disposition. Our server, Kamaile, is a treasure. She offers spot on recommendations with a non-stop smile and friendliness that is contagious. She endeavors to make every aspect of your visit stellar! We had Pad See Ew and Braised Pork Belly followed by Coconut Sago for dessert! Wow! Good Stuff! Our only regret is we now have to wait until December for our next NZ holiday which will definitely include multiple visits to MEKONG BABY!!! If you haven't been here...GET HERE!

This is a Ponsonby gem! So many good spots in this area, but this is a standout for the great food, ambiance and service. It has a vintage southeast Asian feel, with a good range of seating from tables for two as well as for groups up to about 20. There are some private room books which would be perfect for a birthday dinner. The food is a real standout. We had remembered the pad see ew from last time and it didn't disappoint. The beef just melts in your mouth it is so tender and the rich brown sauce is perfection. Not your typical takeout Thai! The mango salad is also a great combination of flavors with the fresh mango and spicy chili, a perfect starter to prep the palette for what's to come. The barramundi fried fish is also excellent with a fresh salad slaw that balances flavors beautifully. Our server was attentive but relaxed and just a good person. We didn't have drinks this time around but they are great, with a tempting selection of beers and cocktails (and some wines too).

This was our first meal in New Zealand and what a meal it was. Located directly across the street from our hotel and recommended by the hotel owner, it was an easy decision to come and totally worth the recommendation. We started with cocktails that were on point, quickly followed by green papaya salad. The salad was bright and fresh with a perfect amount of heat. For our main, we shared the spicy chicken curry with rice and roti. The chicken was in an incredible curry sauce that hit all the right curry notes. It was spicy but not overwhelming at all. There was also a little yogurt and eggplant mixed in. The roti was perfect and flaky. It made the perfect vehicle for sopping up the delicious curry. Service was very friendly and very fast.

Perhaps the best Vietnamese I've EVER had! The carb bon bai was the best crab sandwich I've ever had. Goat curry? Never had it until this place and it was INCREDIBLE! the service was great... and coking from a world where the service/tipping economy is outstanding, this was a first in my experiences here in New Zealand (Jo offense Kiwi friends ). The drinks were killer and the atmosphere was wonderful.

We spent New Year's Eve at Mekong Baby this year, ordering some of their signature cocktails and taking their "Let's Eat" chef's table option. It was impressed across the board: great decor and ambience, friendly service, and food and drinks that are both distinctive and satisfying. The standout among the drinks was the Blushing Dragon, a gin and elderflower cocktail. Among the 8 or so courses on the chef's table, my favorite was the simply perfect pork belly, decadent rendered fat with a sticky sweet crisp exterior. Next favorite was the duck curry, hard to describe - unlike anything I'd had before. If you're really going to indulge yourself, you can expect $90NZ per person out the door. If you're having a lighter meal you could leave quite satisfied for half of that. Either way it's well worth the trip.

Mekong Baby is hands down the best South East Asian in Auckland. The service is incredible, the staff are so welcoming and really do look after you. They create an experience that is about more than just the food, it's about an awesome time out. The cocktail menu is outstanding and their wine list very comprehensive. In terms of food it's hard to choose a favourite dish, the lamb ribs, taro fritters, and pork belly in my opinion are not to be missed. It's one of my favourite restaurants in Auckland and shouldn't be missed!

I wanted to love Mekong Baby. I LOVE MooChowChow and was hoping for something along the same lines. Which is kinda what I got, but not quite up to the mark in my opinion. We had a group table on a bustling Friday night - just like other Ponsonby Road hotspots, the acoustics are horrible when it's busy, so prepare to yell at your friends to be heard. The ambience was cool & the place was pumping: the staff were slick & well organised though. The cocktails list is great - lots of little twists on old favourites. I was also pleasantly surprised to find a few out-of-the-box wine selections that were right up my alley: a nice Viognier as well as several other harder-to-find varieties. Nice work. The whole idea at places like this is to share your dishes: with a massive menu we choose a few goodies to start with, but no one was game enough to try the Pork Cheek & Clam Salad, with Fennel, Cress & Crispy Pig's Ear. Maybe next time! Instead, the Kingfish Sashimi with Green Nam Jim, Coconut & Basil was refreshing & light, and the Wok Fried squid with Nuoc Cham & Vietnamese Mint was ok. There are plenty more on the extensive menu I'd like to head back to try sometime. Whenever I see pork belly on a menu & I DON'T order it, I end up with food envy, so I've learnt to give in, and now my Rule 1: Always go with the pork belly! Served braised with Caramelised Chill & Soy and Asian Slaw, it was bloody delicious. I think they might have even deep-fried the slow-cooked pork before serving, because the whole outer edges of each slice were incredibly crispy. A decent-sized serving, and definitely a good sharing plate. Some of the other dishes were a bit hit & miss: the Green Fish Curry with Broccolini, Sugar Snaps & Choy Sum was a little flavourless for a good green curry, and the Crispy-Skinned Hapuka with Sweet & Sticky Pork was definitely heavy on the sweetness. One of our other dishes was a little over-salted too; perhaps we didn't order well. Normally I don't go for desserts when I'm eating Asian, but with selections such as Kaffir Lime & Ginger Chocolate Mousse and Coconut Pandan Pannacotta with Ginger Praline & Caramelised Banana, they were definitely tempting! The Salted Caramel & Coconut Icecream Sundae with Lemongrass Jelly & Peanut Praline was a pretty decadent ending: the ice-cream was meltingly good with just the right hint of salt, but the lemongrass jelly disappointed with a lack of flavour - it seemed to be there just for a contrast of texture. So although the food wasn't bad, we weren't left wanting more at the end of the night - the general consensus seemed to be that there were more misses than hits. I have heard rave reviews about this place, and it is a slick operation: perhaps too slick? Probably a good choice for a group to grab a bite before heading out in Ponsonby, but definitely not a romantic dinner date option!

Okay, I still love the place, but a Saturday lunch may not be the time to visit. The dessert I was swooning over was presented completely differently, and covered in a tower of toffee that had stuck to the plate. Hard to believe it was the same dish!

So far so good. The service is quick and the flavors are good. Pork belly is massive and great for sharing. Moist and crispy outside with a sweet and savory glaze. I like this. Ask for Martin at the front he's very accommodating. We walked in on Valentines night so it's busy but he made it happen for us within 20 min! The music feels very south of France beach restaurant feel. If you know what I mean? Good summer vibes.

Yeah (Mekong) Baby! This place was recommended by a coworker and didn't disappoint. The menu reminded me of Melbourne's Chin Chin although prices were a bit higher than I would have expected. Still the food was on point. Tasty greens, refreshing sashimi and beef stuffed betel leaves were my favorite. The duck curry was good but challenging to eat with only fork and spoon. The place was busy for a Tuesday night and I would suggest booking ahead. We were lucky to get an early seating. I think this would be a great date spot as the ambiance was warm and cosy yet upscale enough not to be a dive bar. I would definitely come again and try other yummy dishes on the menu. Plus there is ample seating outside, two areas inside and stairs that potentially lead to even more room!

From the street, Mekong Baby looks bit underwhelming, perhaps even drab, but from the inside this couldn't be further from the truth. It has a New York vibe, exposed brickwork, high ceilings, a heap of lush greenery and bright vietnamese paintings directly on the wall. I am yet to eat here but it's a great spot to come for drinks with friends. They wine and cocktail lists are extensive to say the leas and the atmosphere is great. The layout is also v.clever in that there are lots of little areas, which means you aren't listening to your neighbours convo's all night. Can't wait to get back to try the food - i've heard great things!

great atmosphere. great noodles. great cocktails! next time we're in Auckland we will return to Mekong Baby!

Before I sound off on Mekong Baby, I want to qualify it. I came right before closing time. Like 25 minutes before, but close enough that I didn't feel good about it. But we were hungry, this place was/is well-received, and we were craving Vietnamese food done-fancy-like after a night of drinking. We were disappointed. For starters, our server's face showed disbelief that we had the audacity to seek food. His grumblings, in French, were not lost on me as I speak French. We understood this, to a point. We didn't really see the server again until the food arrived, which is also when our water and single draft beer appeared. We had the decency to order through almost immediately, but that didn't stop our food from tasting, ironically, overcooked (the crepe); dry and old (prawn roll); or possibly even re-used (roast duck). The draft beer was the star of our meal, and my husband seemed to like parts of the roast duck, even though it seemed like it might have combined from 3-4 peoples' leftovers. I didn't like a single thing i had, including our waiter. Clearly, compared to other reviews, our experience must have been an aberration, but it was nevertheless our only visit to Mekong Baby and it will probably be quite a few years before we return to Auckland. Would anyone in our shoes try it again, anyhow?

There's something satisfying about finding a restaurant that ticks all the right boxes, at least in my books. Fusion cuisine has taken New Zealand by storm, and let's be honest, there's more misses than hits. Weird combinations of ingredients like blue cheese dumplings had me quite apprehensive about any self-labeled Asian fusion restaurant. In comes Mekong Baby in Ponsonby which had been recommended me to me many times by chefs and serious foodies. Walking in, I already took a liking to the interior. It was spacious with plenty of different seating arrangements for group dinners or date nights. The decor was young and trendy, the essence of what Ponsonby is about. To start, we each had a betel leaf with crab, kaffir lime and chilli which was so moreish and delicious, it set the tone and an eager expectation to try the other food. Absolutely go with people who love to share dishes, it's a good excuse to order just about everything on the menu. The braised pork belly was SO good. A juicy succulent pork belly with crispy crackling is so rare, let alone be it so bouncy and full of flavour. I don't even normally like pork and it was my favourite that night. Accompanied with caramelised chilli and soy with an Asian slaw, it balanced out the carnivorous element. The beef tartare with nashi and yuzu mayo was a beautifully presented dish. Mixed together, it was very creamy and the nashi crisps gave it a lighter balance. It was mellow and enjoyable but I felt like it could have incorporated some punch through the flavours or different textures. Another favourite was the prawn, sticky pork and mango salad, with the highlight being the sticky pork. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with a mango salad, and the prawns and pork complemented each other so well. All the elements are quite sweet though, so maybe that's why we didn't have a craving or room for dessert afterwards. The crispy rice flour crepes were probably the only let down. It wasn't crispy when it arrived and the fillings of mushroom and fried tempeh were mild in flavour. I've started to train myself to eat chilli and I had to add copious spoonfuls of the chilli jam in attempt to rescue some flavour in the dish. Overall, I can't wait to find the excuse to go back again. It's a perfect venue for group dinners or celebrations because if you book in advance you can secure a private dining area. It has a vibrant and exciting atmosphere and the food is varied and adventurous. Thank you Mekong Baby for rescuing Asian fusion in Auckland!

Very good experience. Dined in a party of six. Food was fantastic, pork belly was to die for. Pad See Ew was amazing. Service was excellent. Attentive and friendly. I would have said this place was more in the "$$$" than the "$$" category. However, it lived up to the price tag.

This place makes the best pork belly, I know everyone keeps saying that, but I don't just say that. Also order the balinese chicken and for dessert, don't even waste your time looking at options, you want the Apple & Almond Tart with Miso Butterscotch Ice Cream.

Yummy tasty delicious. What else can say. We went with the "Lets Eat" option which is where they just keep brining out dishes so you get a good range from the menu. The pork belly was my favourite. In regards to atmosphere the place has it. We actually sat outside and although basically on the footpath it was good.

Probably my new favourite restaurant in Auckland. Food was to die for and well presented. The waiters were friendly and efficient. Cocktails were amazing and the selection is great and at $18 is not badly priced. Really good layout and nice overall dining experience.

I ordered the beef curry with eggplant and it was delicious; my husband ordered the duck curry which came on the bone and was a little awkward to eat without a knife..(I mean, it IS fun to eat with hands). Our waiter thought it was strange we both ordered a curry since we were going to share--I can see why because the beef overpowered the duck a bit and the dishes didn't really compliment/contrast...but thats ok! Our very nice waiter also seemed worried we were ordering too much food and told us unprompted that they don't do takeaways (fine with us). We weren't worried, and lo and behold we ate it all. We have been spoiled by food choices on our vacation. Mekong Baby was very good, but not quite as exceptional as we were expecting based on the reviews. I'd give it 3.5 stars if that was an option.

Excellent addition to Ponsonby dining..Varied menu,quick service fresh tasting. Too noisy but a good area out back if you have a bigger group. Surrounded by options and car parking usually OK

I love Asian Fusion food and as I love Blue Breeze Inn I have to like Mekong Baby. The restaurant is bigger and has better acoustics to Blue Breeze. Very popular, and like most places you can't book so have to try your luck. But a nice drink and a prop up at the bar and 45 minutes goes fast. As in most modern fusion restaurants, things arrive as fast as the kitchen can make them, and in this case our first Small Beginnings and salad got to us quick smart as soon as we were seated. Shredded Chicken with grapefruit and coconut was really amazing and full of flavour and chilli kick but we thought it would have been nicer with a more subtle fruit like Watermelon or Papaya not grapefruit. Wok fried squid was great, it was nice to have the crunch with the freshness of the salad dish. The Roast Duck I found tricky to eat lady like considering they don't seem to supply knives, just forks, spoons and chop sticks. It came with Pineapple, Potatoes, Shallots, Peanuts in a Massaman Curry served with a side of rice. It was lacking maybe a little salt and some kick. It was a little bland which was the opposite to the chicken dish. The Pork belly was our favourite with Caramelised Chilli & Soy sauce and Asian Slaw. Next time I want to try the 'Let's just eat" & they'll serve up a selection of Mekong Baby's favourite dishes for $60pp. Sounds good to me.

This Asian fusion is *not* disappointing!! If you look for a big crowd this is *it*. The servers are attentive and informative**** stars up there with the food. The downside is the noise. We will come back again for the food on a Saturday lunch but not on a Friday night.

Oh my goodness. I don't even know where to start ! The food was so beautiful. I was taken here for a date and we had the Sashimi, Ribs, Wagyu and a chicken dish. The sashimi was the best I have ever had & the other dishes were just full of flavour. I eat out a lot but this is the best dinner place I have been to in a long time. The atmosphere was nice, I do feel that the place needs a little bit of a makeover as it was a littlw dated. But the food definitely made up for it. The bartenders and waiting staff were all very knowledgeable and explained all the ins and outs of the menu in a relaxed but efficient manner. Very very impressed !

Foods aiight .. Good actually, but I expected more of a vibe. Twas battlers boulevard on a Wednesday night but is probably much more fun on the weekend. worth a hoon for sure.

Initially hesitant to try this place due to mixed reviews, but sure glad we did. It's now one of our favorite places on Ponsonby Rd. Fully booked on a Friday evening, so we couldn't make same day reservations. Only option was to go and be put on a waiting list. Arrived around 7:30pm and waited about 30 mins at the bar before getting a table. AMBIANCE: Cool. Crowd mostly late 20s-40s people. Seemed people were there mostly for the food, though the bar saw more action as night wore on. Our table was next to the bar, so when it got really crowded, it was somewhat annoying that we were getting crowded by drunk people as we were eating. SERVICE: Friendly. There was a delay before our order was taken, making us wonder if we were forgotten. Food came out in a timely manner. Host, bartender, and wait staff all friendly. FOOD: Chili and ginger mo-no-no - Lychee Syrup, Lime, Chili, Ginger, Mint $10 (alcohol free) - sweet, refreshing. freshly grated ginger. Wok Fried Squid, Nuoc Cham, Vietnamese Mint $16 - delicate. light. hubby loved it. i thought it was above average. ***Braised Pork Belly, Caramelised Chilli & Soy, Asian Slaw $26 - Perfect combination of sweet and salty. Slightly crisp and perfectly caramelized on the outside, while melt-in-your-mouth tender on the inside. Not too greasy. Ample portion. Roast Duck & Lychee Salad, Cucumber, Sprouts, Red Nam Jim $18 - OK. Somehow didn't seem as crisp and fresh as we would have liked. Too much sauce and sauteed red onions? The duck was good, but not what we expected....more like pulled slow cooked duck. ***Coconut Sago, Vanilla Ice Cream, Puffed Wild Rice $12 - Love, love, love! Cool, light. Tapioca was perfect...not too rubbery or hard. Some sweetness thanks to the ice cream. Puffed rice provided crunchy contrast to lovely soft texture of tapioca. Will go back just for this dessert! *** Highly recommended

Currently when I view this rating, it's just right at 3.5 stars. This place is worth rounding up, and a visit to try in the area. Whenever I go to place like this (tapas-like) with just one other person, it makes for a difficult time choosing the right mix and amount of food to get. The staff here was super helpful in that department, and we ended up getting the right amount of food. First off, great atmosphere and place to be. The drink selection is decent, but the cocktails are okay. Maybe I'm just use to my American cocktails, but there was little booze in the cocktail that you pay $$ for. Foodwise, the beef skewers were highly recommended and were a tasty delight indeed. My only thing is I wasn't crazy about it coming in a baguette. I just want grilled meat and sauce! Still tasty though. Green Papaya salad and Pad See Ew were both quite nice and worth a try there. Bookings recommended.

I was told I had to go to Mekong Baby. A friends birthday provided the opportunity to give it a go. I booked late on a Thursday for the popular Friday night and was dealt with politely and helpfully. Half of our party arrived and were greeted by a busy maître d and promptly seated. Our waitress was lovely and quickly encouraged us to start drinking - we obliged. Mekong Baby has a great cocktail list but beer is my thing and they lack slightly when It comes to craft beer. In my opinion an establishment such as this should have an extensive craft beer selection to match their wine and cocktail options... Half of our group turned up late but at no point prior did we feel like we were being rushed or an inconvenience. We started off with the Spiced Lamb Ribs the Wagu and Lemongrass and the Hotwings. The consensus at the table was that the Lamb Ribs were the winner. They were succulent and very rich, exactly what you expect from NZ lamb. The chili relish that came with it proved a pinch that help cut through the richness of the lamb - we had to order another plate. Next up was the Madras Goat curry, the Pork Belly the Yellow curry and the Pad See Ew. Standouts here were the pork belly (which Is hard to stuff up) and especially the Pad See Ew. The Pad See Ew was amazing and hopefully its still on the menu by the time I get back. Aside from the beer selection all the dishes were top notch and the atmosphere was vibrant. Including drinks we ended up paying $100 per head which considering the quality of the food and the great atmosphere was reasonable.

What use to be GPK, Mekong Baby has had a big facelift and a new shuffle and is so much better for it. A short wait on a Thursday night (7pm) with no booking Decor is chic and suits the menu / theme, Protip, if you are with a table of 6+ try book the back booth for a sexy private affair. Its dim, moody and sultry. The cocktail list is pretty well rounded. The two that we ordered were heavy on the herb flavors and punchy. The dishes are a touch of French with wonderful Asian inspiration. Designed to be shared. "Small beginnings" (entrees) are a great taster leaving you wanting more... Out of the three we picked the Wagyu and Lamb ribs had a pretty tough fight for best dish of the night. The Crab was excellent and an awesome start. We picked a "little bigger" (mains) a green fish curry... no hint of which white fish it was, to us it was a little tooooo sweet and not enough zing... the entrees set such a high bar, sadly this just didn't cut it. Our biggest mistake of the night was to pick a really bland black rice "happy ending" (dessert). The service was fair, The bartender was short on eye contact and a tad terse. Our server was much more friendly, covering a huge area she stayed on top of things and never too far. The music was getting a dash too loud to talk over towards the end of the night.

I really love Vietnamese food and Mekong Baby gives it a good nudge. We came on a Wednesday so it wasn't exactly pumping. The decor is fun and bright and I like the fresh colourful flowers against the dark interior. The music could have been a bit louder to create more of an atmosphere and the staff were pretty lack lustre. The girl that brought out our food didn't even know what it was she was giving us. The food on the other hand was really really good. Quite hot, but I love hot food. The quail egg dumplings were gorgeous and beautifully presented, the other starters were tasty and well portioned. The Pad See Ew was really good, so was the red beef curry both fragrant and well balanced. Looking forward to coming back and trying more food and hope the staff get into more of a groove - it can make or break a place.

Ok the food is the best yet I've eaten in Auckland. The papaya salad and pork belly are awesome. Particularly the pork belly. Service really does need some ironing out. It's new so I hope it will get there. To know if you go in a large group, you will have to have the chef's banquet. They choose their most popular dishes they say but don't cater well to food allergies in this instance. I will definitely however return. Again.

We shared three small dishes and a green curry with fish, every dish was perfect. Fresh ingredients,deft preparation, seldom have had Vietnamese food this good outside of Vietnam. We ate at lunch so no wait, staff was friendly and service was quick. Looking forward to eating here again.

I was really excited to take the BF to Mekong Baby after coming for a cousins 21st Banquet dinner. I had been raving about how much I enjoyed the food and that we had to come back. However we were poorly disappointed by almost the whole overall meal and experience. We came on a Sunday evening around 8pm so it was rather quiet and there were at least 4-5 waiters working. We thought this would be great the service would be quick and efficient. The original waiter we had to begin with was friendly, though we didn't see him again after he took our order. All the dishes were served promptly after ordering. The best thing we ordered was the papaya salad. Great flavour and texture and refreshing. However it went downhill from there. We had ordered the jungle prawn curry and what we thought would be a thick sauced dish was pretty much an oily soup with overcooked prawns. The reason we ordered the roti which were actually really yum was to dip them into the curry but as you can see the "curry" was very unappetising and the pic shows the evidence that the fat hadn't been skimmed. If the prawn curry is more of a soup then the explanations on the menu should be clearer or the waiter should explain the dish upon ordering it. The fire chicken was nice and the heat was great but it was super oily and greasy. Once we finished all the dishes it took 45mins before someone finally cleared our dishes and asked whether we wanted dessert. We thought this was odd because there were hardly any diners by that stage but still plenty of staff walking past us, who we at one point saw them taking pics of themselves and eating in the open kitchen. Also no one took the time to ask how the dishes were. When I went up to pay, again the maitre d never asked how everything was, as I waiting to explain our disappointed but he never asked so I couldn't be bothered with complaining. Overall I was poorly disappointed with the food and service and wished I was welcomed more pleasantly the same others have boasted about previously. Rating Food: 4.5/10 Service: 3/10 Value for Money: Average 262 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby Opening Hours: Tues-Sun 12pm-Late

I've heard some excellent things about Mekong Baby and finally decided to give it a whirl for dinner. I wasn't disappointed! The service we got was fantastic. The best I've had for a long time - and totally in contrast to the usual indifferent service you tend to get in nice Ponsonby places. The waitress knew everything about the menu making some excellent recommendations and answering all the questions we threw at her about the food. Overall very knowledgeable, professional and and excellent sense of humour. The food was absolutely fantastic. To start we had the kebab which was served in a baguette - a great take on a kebab. As well as wagyu beef rolls. Mains were salmon and sweet pulled pork (described as Mekongs take on surf and turf) and a duck massaman curry. The salmon and pork was to die for. The massaman was good too but nothing spectacular. We also had the fire chicken which is boneless chicken thighs in a spicy sauce with lettuce and cucumber. A bit disappointing as we were told it was 8/10 level of spice but in reality was mild at best - but excellent with some extra chilli sauce. The cocktails though were great. I had a venom which was chilli, vodka and lemon juice in a short glass - best cocktail I've had in a while. A bottle of 2011 Cote du Rhone was excellent as well. I'm going to be back here again and again. Amazing experience.

Everything we tried was a hit. Made reservations for noon on a Sunday (opening time) and we were seated immediately. My favorites were the curry goat and lamb ribs, they were fantastic. This spot is definitely worth checking out.

I'm always weary of banquet menus but every dish on their Nine Dragons delta menu was amazing (even the salads!). I was there with a group and we were well looked after by the staff. The food comes out as it's ready and don't be fooled by the portions. I thought it might not be enough at first but I realised there were 10 more dishes to come. It all counts and I was feeling quite full halfway through it. The crispy spiced lamb ribs, the braised pork belly and the prawn, sticky pork and mango salad were stand outs on this menu.

One of those 'fusion' eateries, where it can be hard to pin down quite where the fusion starts and ends, Mekong Baby failed to deliver the goods on Tuesday night. We were a part of six wanting a really nice evening out, prebooked and looking forward to experiencing one of Ponsonby's newer well-reviewed establishments. But from the outset things went a wee bit awry: I suspect our booker asked for a table somewhere quiet (partly a reaction to the dire muzak), so we got the 'special room' but it came with a brief intense lecture from the maitre'd on how he would never normally do this and only on this occasion would he bend and by golly we should be humbly grateful he was being this accommodating, and... really quite odd! But it never got any better: we had to ask for water, and ask again when the one small bottle quickly ran out. In fact the service throughout the evening was so random and slack we wondered if the special room treatment was for guests who had offended - possibly not cool enough?? We got served by at least four different very young waitpersons, nice enough but barely up to the job; maybe there are simply not enough well-trained professionals to go round in Auckland! So, maybe the fusion food would provide that special touch, but again we were somewhat disappointed. In fact our meals (shared) were less than sensational, apart from an outburst of horror as one of the party ate a whole Beaufort scale 9 chili indistinguishable from silver beet in the blackout - just enough red backlit wall to know there was someone else in the room. Our fault, clearly we should have been a bit more assertive and asked for a couple of candles. We'd ordered dishes to share plus rice and roti. Smashed green papaya salad - just ok, not special; Green fish curry ditto (the fish was a bit overcooked and dryish); Aromatic yellow curry (tofu excellent), Braised pork belly - belly bits good; Prawn jungle curry very good. But the pawpaw salad came almost immediately, followed by the other dishes one by one at varying intervals, so no real opportunity to have a whole eating experience. And after five dishes had arrived (and four eaten) we had to ask where our rice and roti were. So we got the rice with the last dish, and the roti finally came when we'd finished. I think we set a record, of sorts: we'd had to ask for the roti four times. The highlight of the evening: the excellent roti for dessert! I'm fusioning out.

Food is good but when I asked if I couldn't do a variation that wasn't forth coming - good place to come with dogs as there are lots of tables outside - fire chicken is great

I had the pleasure of coming to this restaurant with my wife. It was a first time we visited and we were both amazed with the decor and the food of this fine restaurant. The most memorable dish of the night was the pork belly. This has to be one of the best meals I have every had.

We were seated right away, only a week after this new Ponsonby hot spot opened, which was a good start. We were given the corner of a shared table in the corner of the room. Unfortunately that was the only good part. Being vegetarian, there was next to nothing I could eat on the menu, so we left without ordering a thing. Totally inexcusable in 2013.

We arrived in Ponsonby too late at night to eat here unfortunately, but I did have the most fantastic cocktail. Went for the Bangkok Iced Tea which was LUSH and would happily have supped my way through the entire drinks menu it all sounded so delicious, but sadly the place was about to close for the eve.

We went as a large group to Mekong Baby for New Years Eve. The restaurant has had a great refurb since the old GPK days and it has a real New York feel. The food is just average really compared with some of the other offerings around like Ebisu but the service was excellent and we had a great time.

Food was good. Awesome service from Thacko and Duncan. However, the experience was a let down overall and will not be returning or recommending to anyone anymore due to the unprofessional behaviour from someone who is meant to be a manager. He was rude and abrupt and not just to me but to my poor guests. Will not be dining here anymore.

EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING! We were totally disgraced, one of the most horrible experiences ever in my life stepping foot in this restaurant on my actual birthday dinner. My friends & I were absolutely fine until ordering food for the evening then the drama kicked in as the waiter said we cannot order the set menu. The fact is we're feeling irritated just seeing his negative facial expression saying he needed to check with the manager. It's like come on guys, we're here for a happy experience and paying customers! Then the manager came and she wasn't helpful either ... The menu said we must have 4 or more people so we can order the set menu but it's a completely failure which really frustrating and the boss came as well which made it worst and he's so rude to my friends. He actually said he will call the police but we make no faults, but just wanting to order the set menu. It's a disaster!! I'll never ever set my feet back again to this restaurant, and totally not recommend this type of place for dining. Also the fact is I have already checked when I made my booking that the receptionist did say we can order the set menu or a la carte. But it's completely failure, what a horrible time! We don't want any trouble, we still settle our bill of what we have consumed. Well, if you're a clever customer who want to enjoy a great time, this is NOT the place to go. End of story. Peace

Mekong baby is faultless.. Time and time again. You may have to wait, but it's worth it. From my favourite spicy, ginger/chilli venom cocktail to the succulent chilli/mint lamb ribs that just fall apart. Pad see yew and the fire chicken are ridiculously good.. Then you have the pork belly.. Consistently caramelised perfection. If you really want to boost your calorie intake, get the roti bread on the side. Go crazy.. This place just WORKS.

Great food, especially the curries. However this is a very very noisy restaurant. If you like lively eateries you'll enjoy Mekong Baby.

One of my favourite restaurants in Auckland. Everything on the menu is great, but if you order the quail egg, pads see ew, and papaya salad you will have one of the best meals in Auckland.