23 Asian Kitchen

23 Asian Kitchen is the newest addition to the Malaysian food scene in Wellington. It's simple and unassuming, letting the Malaysian, Chinese and Thai dishes available on their menu do all the talking.

The modest establishment situated just off Cuba Street in Te Aro, is family run and aims to bring surrounding families in Wellington together through authentic hearty meals. It was the first thing we noticed as we arrived — big families sharing various dishes around the table, chatting and laughing. The team, headed up by an industry savvy mum, is friendly and welcoming, greeting us the moment we walked through the door.

The menu offers favourites like char kuay teow noodles, rendang with rice, and mee goreng. And the vegetarians haven't been left behind, with two starter and five main options. We arrived feeling quite hungry, so for starters we ordered the chicken satay with peanut sauce, and pan-fried prawns served with vegetables. For mains, we ordered the mee goreng and the Malaysian-style fried rice. Our dishes arrived all at once, and we dived right in.

The pan-fried prawns were served in the most amazing sauce and the chicken satay was our dish of the day — cooked perfectly and so good with the peanut sauce. A definite must, when you visit. The portion sizes for mains are incredibly generous, and fantastic value for money. We shared both plates, and had plenty left over to take home, which we were both more than happy about.

If you're pressed for time, or you're looking for weekday take-home meals, the restaurant offers takeaways and meals are served in cardboard containers, steering away from plastic. There's plenty of parking available, and each weekend you'll find a new special to feast on.

Be sure to pay 23 Asian Kitchen a visit, to experience their warm hospitality and authentic cuisine.