Little Penang

Little Penang (40 Dixon Street) I don’t think it would be an outrageous call to state that Little Penang is basically a Wellington institution. Located in the heart of the city, Little Penang has made a name for itself by serving extremely cheap, hearty and delicious Malaysian food. It doesn’t serve alcohol, but the atmosphere…

Istana Malaysia

Istana Malaysia (1 Allen Street) Istana Malaysia is somewhere that I often forget about, and then remember suddenly when people are calling for BYO options. Ironically, I think that actually my preferred dining experiences there have not been at rowdy BYOs. The mains are pricey enough that it seems a waste to be paying so…

PappaRich

PappaRich (1 Grey Street) The new kid on the block, PappaRich is a welcome addition to the relatively limited selection of food available in the CBD. Malaysian too, which is always exciting. The restaurant is big, bustling and smells delicious. When I went the first time we had to wait for a table; but it…

Thai Tara

Thai Tara (111 Vivian Street) I guess this place could be considered off the beaten track – Vivian Street runs perpendicular to Cuba, but Thai Tara is a few blocks along Vivian away from Cuba – so a little bit hidden. It’s always pretty quiet (aside from when the student BYOs roll in) but for…

The Long Bar on Brandon

The Long Bar on Brandon (22 Brandon Street) Aside from the restaurants on the Wellington waterfront, I think the Lambton Quay area struggles somewhat when it comes to good eateries. The Long Bar on Brandon is one of the few Malaysian restaurants in the area, and thankfully it does it well. The food is cheap,…