Wellington might be known for its craft beer, but let’s be real – Malaysian food here just hits differently. Whether it’s a takeaway joint or a fine-dining restaurant, Malaysian food is kind. But with so many options, where do you start?

To make sure you only try Wellington’s best, we spent weeks getting the buzz among local foodies. And you know names aren’t enough for us, right? We had to try each one to curate this list of top spots.

Dive in! 

1. Little Penang

After sampling dishes across three visits, we can say that Little Penang’s best quality is its consistency. Not only are the flavours maintained, but the portions are consistent as well – generous and don’t skimp on ingredients.

Certain dishes, like me siam and bak but teh, can be shared between 2 (or even 3) diners. 

In terms of service, we really appreciate how attentive they are. Their recommendations are always on point too, and we simply appreciate how warm they are when talking to customers. 

However, we did experience inconsistencies with the takeaway service. It’s longer than expected, with occasional delays in communicating unavailable items.

While we want to see improvements there, we do want to highlight that they can accommodate vegetarian and vegan diners. The clearly marked menu for these options is totally a plus.

Authentic Malaysian food

“My husband and I went in after our trip to farmers market today. The restaurant was nice and chill and had a nice ambience. I ordered the $12 curry combo roti, vegetable curry puffs and to drink the Malaysian white cold coffee. My husband ordered the BBQ bao buns and Nasi Goreng. The service was quick and our food came out just on time. We paid $44 for 2 people for our meals which was efficient. We will be back and will recommend this place. Authentic Malaysian Food”

Juwairiyah Nawaz | Google Reviews 

Will come back

“Went here on lunch time weekdays so super busy but queue is pretty fast and food is fast serving considering they are so busy. I tried the roti and nona curry. Really good. I enjoyed it. They also have malaysian traditional kueh for dessert. Also the drink, they have milo dinosaur!! I don’t even know if I am in NZ or Malaysia anymore. Lol. Food is good. Definitely will come back!”

Olivia Victorius | Google Reviews 

2. Istana Malaysia Restaurant

The first thing we immediately liked about Istana is its location. There are plenty of parking options, including free and paid street parking, so it’s definitely hassle-free to come here.

We also loved that each dish was cooked to order, ensuring each meal remained hot and fresh when served. Their ingredients, as revealed to us by staff, were also imported directly from Malaysia to maintain authenticity.

Service is pretty fast, as some of our team members received their orders in just a little over 10 minutes. However, that’s not always the case – sometimes serving times can be long, especially for big groups involving big orders.

For families, we also appreciate how kid-friendly the venue is. There are food options for the little ones and space to move around.

Plus, the prices are reasonable, costing only an average of $180 for orders good for 6 to 7 people.

Excellent as expected 

“I took my freind here because she wanted a genuine south indian/ malay meal and had suggested another restaurant that wasn’t the genuine deal. The seafood laksa was traditionally sour in the right way and was amazing. I ordered my friend the nasi lenak beef rendang which is a perfect example of that dish too. Tori made to order and excellent as expected. If you want an example of a refined malaysian meal in wellington you cannot do better!”

Grant Newdick | Google Reviews 

A delight from start to finish 

“Overall, dining at this restaurant was a delight from start to finish. The delicious food, impeccable service, and charming ambiance made for a memorable experience. Specially i love my all time favourite miegoreng here . Highly recommended.”

Harsh Shah | Google Reviews 

3. Macha, Jom Tapau!

Macha, Jom Tapau! Which translates to “Bro, let’s do takeaway!” absolutely lives up to its name. It’s a small takeaway spot that we find perfect for busy locals who just want a quick, simple meal to have at home.

While it’s a takeaway-first spot, it does have a bit of seating inside. It’s a minimal space, only a two-seater table, so dining in groups is definitely not possible.

The real star, though, is the impressively rich and diverse menu they have. In particular, we liked their smoky char kueh teow and the spicy beef rendang. There are vegan and vegetarian options for those on an alternative diet.

In terms of prices, they win in affordability. On top of that, the customers we interviewed told us that they look forward to their Instagram posts to check out their frequent specials.

This means customers can explore new flavours every week without breaking the bank.

Great place for Malaysian treats 

“Amazing people cooking amazing food! This is a take away place, but we managed to dine in! The food is amazing and the owners are great companies too 😁 the fried dishes can be sold out pretty early, so make sure you call first or come early! Great place for some Malaysian treats. Highly recommend!”

s s | Google Reviews 

Tastes like home 

“Authentic Malaysian food that tastes just like home! We tried the Nasi Lemak with 1) Fried Chicken and 2)Ayam Masak Merah + Iced Milk Tea (Teh Ais), all super delicious. Warm and lovely vibes all the time – a must-visit for anyone craving a true taste of Malaysia!”

AEI | Google Reviews 

4. Kanama Kopi Kadai

One of the best things we love about Kanama Kopi Kadai is that every dining experience feels very personal. During our meals, the staff consistently checked in with us after every course without feeling obtrusive.

As for options, we find it a great touch that their vegan dishes are clearly labeled. And when it comes to food quality, they couldn’t be more authentic – we loved their tender karu ayam and kentang, as well as their popular chicken laksa and mee goreng.

Our team also loved the family-friendly layout, as the space has enough ground for children to move around. For the parents, there are various options of local wines and beers, which can be accessed thanks to their on-license.

The only downside is that serving times are inconsistent, with a few of our team members experiencing a bit of delay. To be fair, it only happened during a time when they were understaffed.

Great dining experience 

“Great dining experience here. The mains are authentic Malaysian classics but sometimes with a personal twist while still maintaining (if not enhancing) the dish. Some may say the size of the serving is small but they are priced accordingly and were perfect for our appetites. Rendang was a standout, but there were plenty of other offerings that I’ll have to be back to try.”

Gerard Hermans | Google Reviews 

Food is amazing 

“Kanama Kopi Kadai just opened today so of course I wanted to support a local business 🙂 The food is amazing! I had a curry and my partner had a mee goreng and both meals were very tasty and filling. Wait time is a little long, but it’s their first day so I imagine that will improve in time. Wishing them all the best in this new business!”

Cornelia Tan | Google Reviews 

5. Cinta Malaysian Kitchen

Tucked away in Manners Street, Cinta got our attention with its laid-back, unpretentious dining experience. The portions are always generous, and the prices are just right, even if certain dishes can feel a bit pricier for their size.

We liked that their service is straightforward but warm. While not overly polished, the staff are friendly, quick, and attentive – our team agrees that orders arrive promptly and accurately, even during an evening rush.

Beyond on-site advantages, we also commend their online system for ordering and pickup. It’s fast, despite being manually managed. Orders also never arrive incomplete, something that most customers relayed to us.

There’s not a separate menu for vegetarians, but customers can request menu items to be cooked based on their needs. As for popular dishes, their stir-fried noodles and curry chicken are some of the best you’ll find in Wellington.

Absolute fantastic 

“The food here is absolutely fantastic. Found this place originally when I was picking up a DoorDash order. Came in on Friday with some of my mates before rush hour and service was prompt. Highly recommend the stir fried noodles and the chicken rice. Makes macro friendly good bulking foods. Portion size is generous. If the waitress from Friday is reading this, I go to WC please hit me up.”

Michael Law | Google Reviews 

A hidden gem 

“Nice little hidden gem on manners. Have seen this for passing by many times, finally decided to tey it last night and ended up being pleasantly surprised. Great little Malaysian restaurant with quality food and definitely not disappointed with the quantity.”

Fahad Ghazi | Google Reviews

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