Mari T.'s
Best Yum Cha
- 16Regal Chinese RestaurantTe AroThe original yum cha restaurant in Wellington, Regal have a huge range of delicious morsels both sweet and savoury. I highly recommend their char siu bao and sticky rice. If you’re feeling brave, try their chickens feet, surprisingly yum. If you don’t mind wrangling with a bit of bone, their ribs are tasty too.
- 210DragonsTe AroMy favourite yum cha for the fact that it’s always bustling. The staff here are friendly too and their mango pudding is my pick of the bunch!
- 35Grand CenturyTe AroNot only do they do great food, dumplings in particluar. They will let you split the bill at the end which is always extremely helpful. This place is the best for large groups. Don’t forget to book as it fills out fast!
Mari T.'s
Best caramel slice
- 13Vic BooksKelburnThe caramel slices here often sell out and for good reason, they are delicious! The perfect balance of chewy caramel and sweet chocolate on top. The slice is a pretty decent slab too so save a bit for later if you can control yourself.
- 227EspressoholicTe AroThey have a huge range of cabinet treats even late in to the night. They also have beers if you’re into that and a sassy looking pig that looks after one of the menu boards. A cool place to go, especially for their caramel slice, not for the faint hearted!
- 34Beannie CafePetoneNot your traditional caramel slice, these guys do a Snickers Slice, a massive layer of chewy caramel topped with peanuts and coated heavily with a rich dark chocolate. It’s as delicious as it is sweet, the perfect afternoon sugar rush.
Mari T.'s
When you feel like something meaty
- 112El MatadorTe AroThis Argentinian restaurant is a great place to go with friends. My group shared one of their steak plates, which was loaded with perfectly cooked meat and came with a side of their delicious chimichurri. I also highly recommend saving room for the churros, which comes with an incredibly moreish chilli chocolate dipping sauce. Muy bueno!
- 27Le CanardThorndonA must for duck lovers. Beautiful French food in lovely Thorndon. Try their profiteroles! And if you’re feeling extra fancy, they have a degustation menu too.
- 35GasworksMiramarIf you’re up for some serious meat eating, head on down to Gasworks for their all you can eat ribs night. Delicious ribs for as long as you can get them down ya.
Mari T.'s
Cool Spots on Courtney Place
- 119Amazing cocktails and an excellent lay out in general. A great place to kick off a night on the town.
- 25Arashi Kushiyaki BarTe AroThere’s a great range of food here including kushiyaki which is a tasty grilled morsel on a stick. To make things easier, they also do sets which come with rice, miso soup and salad. The portions are well sized and I’d say Arashi is my favourite Japanese BYO!
- 35ChaTe AroSo many beautiful cakes here at the cosy Cha cafe you're bound to come back to try something else. Cha is open until late which suits me just fine and there is an even bigger range of teas to wash all the cake down.
- 445Sweet Mother's KitchenTe AroA Wellington institution, Sweet Mother’s does a great brunch. The Mr always gets the waffles, which comes with fried chicken and maple syrup! I often switch it up between their tacos and po boys - a crispy baguette with fish (or whatever meat you choose), crispy lettuce and their amazing Creole mayo. Ordered with the curly fries and a dessert and you’re set to conquer the rest of the day! The staff are hip and helpful and there are loads on the walls to keep your wandering eye entertained. You can’t book so you’ll just have to try your luck.
- 54K C Cafe & TakeawayTe AroNo night out is complete without a meal at KC's. They have a huge range of food and it comes out nice and quick! KC's is also good during the week too ;)
Mari T.'s
Best Japanese Food
- 19KAZU Yakitori BarTe AroGreat range of sake to help loosen the purse strings. Splash out on their sashimi and try as many yakitori sticks as you can. I also recommend their sashimi and avocado salad, the dressing is sensational.
- 25Arashi Kushiyaki BarTe AroThere’s a great range of food here including kushiyaki which is a tasty grilled morsel on a stick. To make things easier, they also do sets which come with rice, miso soup and salad. The portions are well sized and I’d say Arashi is my favourite Japanese BYO!
- 36Kazu RestaurantTe AroIrashaimase! Is what the workers here yell as you enter the restaurant, it means ‘welcome’ and is heard everywhere in Japan. Once inside you can choose to sit at the traditional low tables, at the bar or at a table with chairs. The menu is full of a mixture of traditional and made-for-locals dishes. A few of my faves are - the agedashi tofu, which is deep fried tofu served in a light broth. The sashimi and avocado salad which has an incredible dressing And the spicy crab which the waiter agreed was delicious if not very traditional. I would say this was the most authentic of Japanese restaurants with their variety dishes and their Japanese speaking staff. They also have a great selection of Japanese drinks!
Mari T.'s
Where to eat when you don't fancy meat
- 19MeowTe AroLots of yummy plates of organic, vegan and vegetarian food. Order a big selection to share with your mates. They’ve got a pretty cool selection of beers too.
- 25Chow WoodwardWellington CentralNot only do Chow do delicious food for meat lovers, they offer great vegetarian dishes too. I recommend their Jungle Curry and Beggars purse. Yum!
- 315Deluxe Espresso BarMount VictoriaDeluxe have an awesome selection of vegan and vegetarian food, both sweet and savoury. They also do lots of dairy and gluten free goodies too.
- 420Fast, fresh, cheap and tasty. An excellent place to go and get your 5+ count!
- 510Though they only do two vege burgers, they are so delicious it doesn’t even matter. Also, make sure to get their kumara fries.