Zap 4 Esan Thai Cuisine

NOOOO… Ive heard a rumor that Zap 4 Esan is closing today Friday 22 Jan is the last day.
the Lunch crew is heading over today for one last huraugh… RIP ZAP

After the Game of Rhones event we were roaming around the CBD looking for a quick meal. I spotted this place and went in with low expectations give the location, but boy were we pleasantly surprised. It is a large cantina/​food court style restaurant, with large portions for reasonable prices. We had a pad see ew and a chicken dish and both were very good. This is a great place for take out or a lunch date.

If the lunchtime line of hungry office workers is anything to go by, then Zap 4 Esan Thai is a winner.
This cheap and cheerful restaurant is centrally located on Commerce St, and has a foodcourt-​y feel to it. It speedily serves up extremely tasty and authentic food from a large menu which displays the dish’s Thai name, and also offers lovely after-​treats which are packaged to take back to your desk, such as mango sticky rice.
I’ve tried a lot of the vegetarian menu and can recommend, but there is quite a range I haven’t yet tried — a few days ago a friend and I were lunching there and chose the standard New Zealand-​Thai fare of spring rolls, chicken pad Thai and vegetable chilli cashew — and the businessman next to us was tucking into a whole fish! I also like that they have the traditional Thai condiments of fish sauce, chilli oil and flakes and sugar on the tables.
They’re open for dinner too, and I notice they serve beer (not sure about wine?), so could be a cheap but filling option before a concert in the city.

If you are after volume this is for you. The servings are large.
Not one of my favourite Thai restaurants. Lacks flavor and the quality is not there.
A lot of better Thai restaurants in Auckland

Came here for dinner with a friend on a holiday, thankfully (for us, prob not for their employees) they were open! I had the wonton soup, which was pretty good! My friend had some prawn & rice dish and was underwhelmed. I think the portions were large, but I’m not a hungry dude to take that into consideration. I wouldn’t go out of my way for Zap, bc Auckland is rife with Thai places, but it did the trick.

Do you ever feel like not wanting anything special for lunch, but still don’t want to settle for the cold sandwiches or sushi?
Zap 4 is one of my once in a while kind of place. I have visited here numerous times over the past years. And they don’t really disappoint much.
I usually just get the Pad Thai with prawns, and its always nice and hot when it gets to my table. All the thai flavours working in harmony to create a party in my mouth.
Why don’t I get the curries you ask? I just can’t justify paying for the rice which should be free with the curries, that’s all.

Disappointing. Prawn chu chee was so watered down it was weak tasting for how flavourful thai should be. Asked for sticky rice, she went to the back so I left her to it, got my food asked if it was sticky rice, he had to go change it. Then came back after someone in the back said no — i could see him, so he came back and told me they had run out. I had literally just seen another woman empty out a new batch of sticky rice exactly 2 minutes before all this. They just didn’t want to take back the jasmine and dish out some sticky rice. Also the counter girl was rude to customers before me, until she saw my recoil reaction to her disgusting customer service behaviour, and then she realised people had judgements and got alot more patient with customers. I won’t be going bsck. Thai me up Ponsonby Rd is cheaper. Star thai has the best choo chee. But order takeaway, they are horribly rude in the restaurant without remorse, google them you’ll see). No one goes back.

Review pertains only to menu items ordered. Had the #42 Nam Tok Beef. Tough meat, tasteless and overpriced for the quality. Sticky rice was not the lightly sweet quality I am used too. If you like fast food Thai, you may like this place. Order at the counter, take your number, sit down and food is brought to you. Hard to judge restaurant based on just one item on the menu, however, restaurant seems geared for younger university audience, not finer diners or tourist looking for genuine Thai food.

Mediocre Thai food.
Pros: Clean, cheap, and fast.
Cons:
I ordered the Chicken Ginger stir-​fry and I think they gave me beef or pork — whatever meat it was — it wasn’t good. And, it wasn’t chicken. It was chewy and seemed old.
Conclusion:
The other food was ok, we ordered spring rolls and curry puffs and sweet and sour chicken — all ok. Go to Blue Elephant Thai restaurant instead.

This place is great, we were craving Thai food on our vacation and were not disappointed. We ordered the curry coconut thing and noodles with chicken and tofu and the plates were empty. Service was quick and people were nice.

One of my favourite restaurant in downtown. I have been here for many times and it is always full. However, they serve really fast and you only have to wait for about 5 mins. The decoration is mostly red that make you feel warm and comfortable. The food is amazing and cheap (most of the dishes are about $ 10 – 15). This is a must-​try place!

If you’re after «cheap and cheerful» Thai, then this is the place. VERY reasonably priced for the quality of the dishes. Staff are always friendly, helpful, and quick.
Every time I’ve been the food has been excellent.

Zap4 is the best casual Thai in the CBD. It’s a staple for a casual and quick lunch. I’ve never been disappointed here!

Here’s a handy Thai place in the city — it’s great for a casual or non-​important lunch or a cheap dinner. It’s not flash — in fact I’d say it’s like a restaurant with a foodcourt feel. So not the greatest place if you want to impress someone but the food is pretty good.
My tip: The eat in portions seem bigger than the takeout — not sure if that’s true or not but it seems that way. So if you have the time, eat in. To be honest it’s not the best Thai in the world but still a great lunch option to add to your weekly selection!

I went to this place last night for dinner for about the third time in two months. I say ‘this place’ because I don;t actually know how many of those words are it’s actual name? Anyway, it doesn’t matter, beause this place is reallllly yum.
You know those places that have really average décor, but you know it’s because their food is awesome? This is one of those places. It has a food hall vibe and was super busy.
Me and the two people I went with all orderd the Red Duck Curry, which isn;t very good for a review, but soooo good for our tastebuds. This is a delicius curry, with the perfect balacne of sweet, sour and spicy. They also give you a lot of rice which is refreshing.
They also serve beer and wine, which is always good, and it can be a really fun and casual atmosphere if you have the time to hang around.
Situated right in the centre of town, its perfect for pre-​town adventures or just after work.
Really good thai, great valiue.