Newmarket's latest foodie offering is serving up a whole new taste of Thailand. Located on Davis Crescent, Khao San creates traditional Thai cuisine with a twist.

The neon-lit space is fully equipped with sprawling murals, colourful umbrellas and a well-stocked bar that references the nightlife in Thailand. Owner Nat Harrington, describes this spot as a culmination of his experiences growing up around the hospitality industry. "When trying bizarre and wonderful flavours in Thailand, all I could think was, I want to bring this back to New Zealand,” says Nat. “We’re serving up modern Thai fare with a twist and have paired it with our own original cocktails.”

Khao San's menu includes smaller sized tasting plates and bigger plates to share, as well as rice and noodle dishes. With plenty of fresh seafood on offer, crowd favourites such as Soft Shell Crab and Tiger Prawn Wraps have been smothered in traditional Thai flavours like roasted peanut and Miang Kham dressing. Our top pick is the Lamb Shank Massaman Curry. Smothered in Massaman sauce and slow cooked in the oven for five hours, this dish is worth every second of its preparation.

While you're there, be sure to check out their extensive list of house-made cocktails as well, or for the beer fans - their very own Khao San IPA.

61 DavisCrescent | khaosanproject.co.nz