ESARN ROCKET Thai Street Food

About ESARN ROCKET Thai Street Food

Esarn Rocket is a modern Thai street food restaurant on Garnet Road in Westmere, Auckland, built around the bold, herb-driven flavours of Esarn — Thailand's northeast — and the kitchen's motto of Thai made with love. The menu blends tastes from across Thailand with its own twist, running from street snacks and punchy salads to curries, stir-fries, whole fish and noodle classics.

The E-Sarn Street Food section is the heart of the list: larb minced meat salads, som tum papaya salads, tom zap hot-and-sour soups, Esarn grilled chicken with jeaw sauce and goong chae nam pla, raw prawns with garlic, chilli and fish sauce. Around it sit small bites like golden curry puffs and money bags, signature soups such as tom yum goong, crispy whole fish two ways, Massaman curry with slow-cooked beef or lamb shank, pad kra pao and pad thai.

There is a dedicated vegetarian and vegan menu, kids' meals, and desserts like deep-fried banana fritters with Duck Island coconut ice cream. Esarn Rocket opens Tuesday to Sunday over two sittings — 2–3pm, then 5pm until late — with online ordering and bookings available through its website.

Esarn Rocket Westmere: Modern Thai Street Food with an Esarn Soul

Walk along Garnet Road in Westmere and you'll come to Esarn Rocket, a modern Thai street food restaurant that wears its personality on its sleeve. The house tagline — 'larb you long time' — sets the tone: this is Thai food with a sense of humour, rooted in the bold, herb-driven cooking of Esarn, Thailand's northeastern region, and served with a contemporary polish. The kitchen's promise is simple: Thai made with love.

That promise shapes a menu that goes beyond the usual greatest hits. Rather than trimming Thai food down to a handful of takeaway favourites, Esarn Rocket brings together tastes from across Thailand with its own twist, giving the punchy salads, soups and grilled meats of Isan equal billing alongside the curries, stir-fries and noodle classics Aucklanders know well.

The Esarn way

Esarn cooking is Thai food at its most vivid — hot, sour, salty and fresh all at once. On this menu that means larb, the traditional minced pork or chicken salad tossed with red onion, roasted chilli flakes and fresh herbs; som tum papaya salads built on peanut, tomato, green bean and dried shrimp; and tom zap, the hot-and-sour Esarn soups made with beef or slow-simmered pork trotters.

For the adventurous there's plenty more: a spicy pork liver salad cooked medium, crispy pork jowl salads dressed with fermented fish sauce, a slow-cooked beef hot pot with brisket, shank and tendon in an aromatic broth, and goong chae nam pla — raw prawns with garlic, chilli and fish sauce. Pair any of it with the Esarn grilled chicken, marinated thighs served with lettuce, cucumber and jeaw sauce, and sticky rice from the add-ons list.

From small bites to whole fish

The rest of the menu covers the full Thai repertoire. It starts with small bites made for sharing — crispy spring rolls, golden curry puffs, chicken satay with peanut sauce, money bags and street-style fried chicken wings — before moving into signature dishes like tom yum goong, the hot and sour prawn soup, and tom kha chicken, a coconut soup with lemongrass and kaffir lime.

Stir-fries span pad kra pao with crispy pork belly, cashew nut chicken, beef in black pepper sauce and pu pad pong ga ree, a soft shell crab stir-fried with curry powder and egg. Whole fish comes two ways: deep fried and topped with Thai three-flavour sauce, or dressed Esarn-style as pla lui suan with herbs and green apple. Curries run from green, yellow and red to a rich Massaman with slow-cooked beef or lamb shank, while the noodles-and-rice list takes in pad thai with chicken or prawns, pad see ew, drunken noodles with mixed seafood, railway fried rice and tom yum fried rice.

Everyone at the table

Vegan and vegetarian diners get a dedicated section that mirrors the main menu — spring rolls and curry puffs, green, yellow, red and Massaman curries made with tofu, pad kra pao tofu, pad Thai tofu and a vegan som tum. Kids have a small menu of their own, with chicken fried rice and chicken pad see ew. Save room for dessert: deep-fried banana fritters with Duck Island coconut ice cream, or Thai black sticky rice with mango compote, listed as dairy- and gluten-free. Thai iced tea, Thai iced coffee, Noom Yen and a butterfly pea lemonade round out the drinks list.

Plan your visit

Esarn Rocket opens Tuesday to Sunday over two sittings — a short 2–3pm window, then dinner service from 5pm until late — with Mondays closed, so plan dinner as the main event. You can order online for pickup or book a table through the website, and keep an eye on Instagram and Facebook for what's coming out of the kitchen. You'll find the restaurant at 170 Garnet Road, Westmere, Auckland.

Signature items

• Larb Minced Pork or Chicken
• Esarn Grilled Chicken
• Som Tum Thai
• Pad Kra Pao with Crispy Pork Belly
• Deep Fried Fish with Three Flavour Sauce
• Massaman Curry with Slow Cooked Beef

Menu

Fish

• Deep Fried Fish with Three Flavour Sauce — Crispy whole fish topped with Thai three-flavour sauce, shallots, coriander and red onion.
• Pla Lui Suan — Crispy whole fish topped with Thai herbs, green apple, roasted chilli flakes and chilli paste.

Curry

• Green Curry with Chicken, Beef or Pork — Traditional Thai green curry with broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, green beans and zucchini.
• Yellow Curry with Chicken — Mild yellow curry with potato, carrot and onion.
• Red Curry with Chicken or Beef — Classic Thai red curry with broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, green beans and zucchini.
• Red Curry with Prawns — Classic Thai red curry with prawns and seasonal vegetables.
• Massaman Curry with Slow Cooked Beef — Rich Massaman curry with potato, carrot, onion and fried shallot.
• Massaman Curry with Slow Cooked Lamb Shank — Rich Massaman curry with potato, carrot, onion and fried shallot.

Drinks

• Soft Drinks — Coke, Coke Zero, Fanta, Lemonade and L&P.
• Lemon Lime Bitters, Ginger Beer or Coconut Juice — Refreshing cold picks.
• Organics Phoenix Juice — Apple, or mango and passionfruit.
• Still or Sparkling Water — Available in 500ml or 1000ml.
• Thai Iced Tea & Coffee — Iced tea with lemon or milk, Thai iced coffee, Noom Yen and Thai lemonade with butterfly pea.

Add Ons

• Jasmine Rice — A side of jasmine rice.
• Sticky Rice — A side of Thai sticky rice.
• Roti — A side of roti.
• Fresh Vegetables Bowl — A bowl of fresh vegetables.
• Rice Vermicelli — A side of rice vermicelli.

Dessert

• Deep Fried Banana Fritters — Served with Duck Island coconut ice cream, cinnamon sugar and caramel.
• Thai Black Sticky Rice with Mango Compote — Dairy- and gluten-free; with roasted coconut, coconut cream and Duck Island coconut ice cream.

Kids Meals

• Chicken Fried Rice — Fried rice with chicken, egg and light soy sauce.
• Chicken Pad See Ew — Flat rice noodles stir-fried with egg and light soy sauce.

Stir-Fried

• Sweet and Sour Chicken or Pork — Deep-fried chicken or pork stir-fried with carrot, pineapple, tomato and onion.
• Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables with Chicken or Pork — Stir-fried seasonal vegetables with your choice of meat.
• Stir Fried Cashew Nut Chicken — Deep-fried chicken stir-fried with onion, cashew nuts and dried chilli.
• Pad Kra Pao with Chicken or Pork Mince — Basil stir-fry with minced meat, green beans and fresh chilli, served on rice.
• Pad Kra Pao with Crispy Pork Belly — Basil stir-fried with crispy pork, green beans and fresh chilli, served on rice.
• Stir-Fried Kai Lan with Crispy Pork Belly — With chilli, garlic and soybean paste.
• Stir Fried Beef in Black Pepper Sauce — Stir-fried beef with seasonal vegetables, garlic and black pepper sauce.
• Pu Pad Pong Ga Ree — Deep-fried soft shell crab with curry powder, onion, chinese celery and egg.

Small Bites

• Crispy Spring Rolls (3 pcs) — Filled with vermicelli, cabbage and shiitake mushroom.
• Golden Curry Puff (3 pcs) — Filled with onion, kumara, potato and carrot.
• Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce (3 pcs) — Grilled chicken breast skewers served with peanut sauce.
• Thai Fried Chicken Wings — Street-style crispy chicken wings served with sweet chilli sauce.
• Grilled Pork Skewers (3 pcs) — Marinated pork skewers with hot chilli sauce.
• Money Bags (3 pcs) — Crispy wonton filled with water chestnuts, chicken, prawn, peas and corn.
• Pork Spare Ribs — Deep-fried pork spare ribs with jeaw sauce.
• Yum Pork Wonton — Crispy pork wontons tossed with peanuts and signature yum dressing.
• Corn Fritters — With green beans, kaffir lime leaves and red curry paste, served with sweet chilli sauce.

Noodles Or Rice

• Pad Thai with Chicken — Thin rice noodles stir-fried with chicken, egg, chives, bean sprouts, dried shrimp and peanuts.
• Pad See Ew with Chicken or Pork — Stir-fried flat rice noodles with egg, carrot and kai lan.
• Railway Fried Rice with Chicken or Pork — Thai-style fried rice with kailan, tomato, onion and egg.
• Tom Yum Fried Rice with Chicken — Fried rice with aromatic tom yum paste, egg, kaffir lime leaves, tomato and red onion.
• Pad Thai with Prawns — Thin rice noodles stir-fried with prawns, egg, chives, bean sprouts, dried shrimp and peanuts.
• Drunken Noodles — Stir-fried flat rice noodles with mixed seafood, green beans, onion and Thai herbs.
• Fried Rice with Crab or Prawns — Fried rice with egg, soy sauce, spring onions and sesame oil.

Signature Dishes

• Tom Yum Goong Soup — Hot and sour prawn soup with tomatoes, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and red onion.
• Tom Kha Chicken Soup — Coconut soup with chicken, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and onion.
• Larb Minced Pork or Chicken — Traditional Esarn minced meat salad with red onion, roasted chilli flakes and fresh herbs.
• Spicy Pork Liver Salad — Medium-cooked pork liver with red onion, roasted chilli flakes and fresh herbs.
• Gaeng Om of Pork or Chicken Thighs — E-Sarn style curry soup with seasonal vegetables, dill, fermented fish sauce and aromatic herbs.
• E-Sarn Style Salad with Fried Pork Jowl — Crispy pork jowl salad with red onion, roasted chilli flakes and fresh herbs.
• Som Tum Pla La with Raw Prawn — Papaya salad with fermented fish sauce, raw prawns, green bean and dried shrimp.
• Hot & Sour Pork Bones Soup — Spicy and sour pork bone soup with lime juice, fresh chilli and fresh herbs.
• Slow Cooked Beef Hot Pot — Braised beef brisket, shank and tendon in aromatic broth with kai lan and bean sprouts.

E-Sarn Street Food

• Esarn Grilled Chicken (250g) — Marinated chicken thighs served with lettuce, cucumber and jeaw sauce.
• Som Tum Thai — Papaya salad with peanut, green bean, tomato and dried shrimp.
• Som Tum Pla La — Papaya salad with fermented fish sauce, peanut, tomato, green bean and dried shrimp.
• E-Sarn Tom Zap Beef Soup — Hot and sour beef soup with white onion, roasted chilli flakes and fresh herbs.
• E-Sarn Tom Zap Pork Trotters — Hot and sour pork trotter soup with red onion, roasted chilli flakes and fresh herbs.
• Spicy Pork Ham Salad with Anchovy — With onion, lime, tomato and chinese celery.
• E-Sarn Style Spicy Salad Beef — Beef salad with red onion, roasted chilli flakes and fresh herbs.
• Spicy Pork Jowl Salad with Anchovy — Crispy pork jowl salad with fermented fish sauce, onion, lime, roasted chilli and seasonal herbs.
• Som Tum Sua Pork Ham and Raw Prawns with Anchovy — Papaya salad with vermicelli, pork ham, raw prawn, peanuts, green beans, tomato and dried shrimp.
• Goong Chae Nam Pla — Raw prawns with garlic, chilli, fish sauce and fresh herbs.

Vegetarian / Vegan

• Spring Rolls — Vegan rolls filled with vermicelli, cabbage and shiitake mushroom.
• Curry Puff — Vegan puff filled with onion, kumara, potato and carrot.
• Deep Fried Tofu — Crispy fried tofu served with peanut dipping sauce.
• Som Tum Jay — Vegan green papaya salad with peanut, tomato and green beans.
• Green Curry Tofu — Traditional Thai green curry with broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, green beans and zucchini.
• Yellow Curry Tofu — Mild yellow curry with potato, carrot and onion.
• Red Curry Tofu — Classic Thai red curry with broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, green beans and zucchini.
• Massaman Curry Tofu — Rich Massaman curry with potato, carrot, onion and fried shallot.
• Fried Rice Tofu — Fried rice with tofu, egg and mixed seasonal vegetables.
• Stir Fried Kailan with Tofu — Stir-fried with tofu, garlic and soybean paste.
• Pad Kra Pao Tofu — Basil stir-fried with mixed seasonal vegetables, served on rice.
• Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables — Mixed seasonal vegetables stir-fried with tofu.
• Pad Thai Tofu — Thin rice noodles stir-fried with chives, bean sprouts and peanuts.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Esarn Rocket?

At 170 Garnet Road, Westmere, Auckland — directions and a click-to-call number are on their website.

What are the opening hours?

Closed Mondays. Tuesday to Sunday there are two sittings: 2–3pm, then dinner from 5pm until late.

Can I book a table or order online?

Yes — both bookings and online ordering are available through the Esarn Rocket website.

Are there vegan or vegetarian options?

Yes, there's a dedicated vegetarian/vegan menu: tofu versions of green, yellow, red and Massaman curries, vegan spring rolls and curry puffs, Som Tum Jay, Pad Kra Pao tofu, Pad Thai tofu and more.

What is Esarn (Isan) food?

It's the cuisine of northeastern Thailand — larb minced meat salads, som tum papaya salad, grilled chicken with jeaw sauce and hot-and-sour tom zap soups, often paired with sticky rice and seasoned with fermented fish sauce.

Is it suitable for kids?

Yes — there's a kids' meals section with chicken fried rice and chicken pad see ew.

Are there dairy-free or gluten-free options?

The Thai black sticky rice with mango compote is listed as dairy- and gluten-free; ask the team about other dietary needs when you order.

Tips

• {"body":"The kitchen opens 2–3pm, then again 5pm until late, Tuesday to Sunday. Mondays are closed, so plan dinner as the main event.","title":"Mind the split hours"}
• {"body":"Beyond the classics, try larb, tom zap soups, crispy pork jowl salads or goong chae nam pla — raw prawns with garlic, chilli and fish sauce.","title":"Venture into the E-Sarn list"}
• {"body":"A full vegan section mirrors the main menu, from curry puffs to Massaman curry tofu and vegan pad Thai.","title":"Vegans are well covered"}
• {"body":"Deep-fried banana fritters come with Duck Island coconut ice cream, and the Thai black sticky rice with mango compote is dairy- and gluten-free.","title":"Save room for dessert"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Kids' meals include chicken fried rice and chicken pad see ew.","dietary":"Dedicated vegetarian/vegan menu; the black sticky rice dessert is dairy- and gluten-free."}