Mama San Invercargill

thai restaurant — Richmond · Invercargill

About Mama San Invercargill

Mama San Invercargill brings South East Asian hawker street food to 163 Dee Street, describing itself as the only Mama San location open for both lunch and dinner. The menu spans Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian influences, with must-order dishes including the Banh Xeo Vietnamese Pancake, Dang Dang Balado and General Tso Kung Pao Chicken.

The restaurant is fully licensed and offers BYO wine, set inside a modern interior that leans into street culture styling, designed to make it easy to linger over an extra dish. Mama San welcomes families and larger groups for informal à la carte dining or from a selection of set menus, and recommends booking ahead given its popularity in the heart of the city.

Every dish on the menu is also available for takeaway, cooked fresh to order with at least a 30 minute wait. Mama San Invercargill is part of a growing family of restaurants that includes Thai (Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin), Mama San (Christchurch, Nelson, Invercargill), Commi (Christchurch), Le Xom (Christchurch), Spirit House (Dunedin, Wellington), and Buddha Stix (Dunedin, Rangiora, Petone).

Mama San Invercargill: South East Asian Street Food in the Deep South

Mama San brings South East Asian hawker street food all the way to the deep South, setting up at 163 Dee Street in Invercargill. It stands out within its own restaurant family as the only Mama San location open for both lunch and dinner, running Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 2pm for lunch and from 5pm to 8.30pm for dinner, dine-in or takeaway.

Street food flavours, must-order dishes

The menu draws on Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian traditions, and the restaurant is upfront about what to order first: the Banh Xeo Vietnamese Pancake, Dang Dang Balado, and General Tso Kung Pao Chicken are all called out as must-orders. Beyond those, the Entrees & Sharing section covers everything from Fresh Rice Paper Rolls and Satay Chicken Skewers to a Sharing Platter built for 2–4 people, while the Signatures section includes an Indonesian Beef Rendang made from slow-cooked beef cheek, a Thai Green Curry, and a Shaking Beef Hot Plate.

Built for sharing and groups

Mama San Invercargill welcomes families and larger groups, offering both informal à la carte dining and three set menus — A, B and C — each built around a sharing platter plus a run of curries, noodles and stir-fries. Given how popular the restaurant is in the heart of the city, booking ahead for group bookings is recommended to guarantee space.

A fully stocked menu

Beyond the signatures, the Curries & Wok Favourites section covers dishes like Lemongrass Chicken, Cambodian Peppercorn Prawns and a vegetarian-friendly Buddha Feast, while Noodles & Rice brings in a Bun Ha Noi Noodle Bowl and Cantonese Basil Noodles. The Fresh & Light section offers a Spicy Thai Beef Salad and a Vietnamese Chicken Salad alongside the Banh Xeo pancake, and desserts round things out with a Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Salted Caramel Cheesecake and an Ice Cream Sundae. Many dishes are marked for gluten-free or gluten-free-on-request options, and vegetarian options are available too.

Drinks and takeaway

Mama San Invercargill is fully licensed and also offers BYO wine, giving guests flexibility on how they'd like to drink with their meal. For those not dining in, every dish on the menu is available for takeaway, with the kitchen asking for at least 30 minutes since everything is cooked fresh to order.

Part of a growing family

Mama San Invercargill is one location within a wider group of South East Asian restaurants, including Thai (Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin), Mama San (Christchurch, Nelson, Invercargill), Commi (Christchurch), Le Xom (Christchurch), Spirit House (Dunedin, Wellington), and Buddha Stix (Dunedin, Rangiora, Petone).

Visiting Mama San Invercargill

Mama San Invercargill is located at 163 Dee Street, open seven days a week for both lunch and dinner. Reservations can be made online, and the restaurant can be reached by phone for bookings or enquiries.

Signature items

  • Vietnamese Pancake Banh Xeo
  • Dang Dang Balado
  • Kungpao Chicken
  • Sharing Platter
  • Indonesian Beef Rendang
  • Thai Green Curry

Menu

Desserts

  • Chocolate Fudge Brownie — Served with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and ice cream.
  • Salted Caramel Cheesecake — Served with a side of whipped cream and ice cream.
  • Ice Cream Sundae — With a choice of raspberry or chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

Set Menus

  • Set Menu A — Sharing platter, Pad Thai Chicken, Orange or Honey Chicken, Green Curry Chicken and Shaking Beef Hot Plate.
  • Set Menu B — Sharing platter, Kung Pao Chicken, Beef Massaman Curry, Thai Basil Pork Belly and Pad Thai Chicken.
  • Set Menu C — Sharing platter, Beef Rendang, Cashew Tempura Chicken, Vietnamese Chicken Salad and Wok Fried Noodles.

Signatures

  • Thai Green Curry — Chicken, beef, pork or tofu simmered in coconut milk with bamboo shoots, capsicum, peas and basil; prawns available as an add-on.
  • Kungpao Chicken — Sweet, spicy chicken with Sichuan pepper, garlic, ginger, spring onion, dried chillies and crunchy peanuts.
  • Cashew Tempura Chicken — Crispy chicken in sweet chilli jam and vegetables.
  • Shaking Beef Hot Plate — Chicken, beef, pork or tofu with fried potato, seasonal veggies, cracked pepper and garlic sauce.
  • Fried Fish Steak — Lightly battered fish fillets served with stir-fried tomato, red onions, mushrooms, garlic, chilli and black pepper.
  • Indonesian Beef Rendang — Beef cheek slow-cooked in coconut milk and spices, caramelised into a rich, tender curry.
  • Pad Thai — Chicken, beef, pork or tofu with rice noodles, egg, bean sprouts, spring onion, peanuts and lemon.
  • Orange or Honey Lemon Chicken — Battered chicken tossed in a tangy orange or honey lemon sauce, with prawn crackers and fresh salad.
  • Massaman Curry — Chicken, beef, pork or tofu with potato, onion and peanuts; prawns available as an add-on.

Fresh & Light

  • Spicy Thai Beef Salad — Grilled chicken or beef with mint, coriander, roasted rice, lemongrass and a hot-sour dressing.
  • Vietnamese Pancake Banh Xeo — Crispy pancake with pork, prawns, herbs, salad and nuoc cham.
  • Vietnamese Chicken Salad — Mint, coriander, lime, fish sauce, red onion, tomato and fresh salad; prawns available as an add-on.

Noodles & Rice

  • Bun Ha Noi Noodle Bowl — Grilled pork or beef with vermicelli noodles, herbs, peanuts, crispy spring roll and house sauce; prawns available as an add-on.
  • Cantonese Basil Noodles — Flat rice noodles with egg, vegetables and fresh basil; chicken, beef, pork, tofu or prawns.

Sides & Extras

  • Jasmine Rice — A side of jasmine rice.
  • Roti Bread — A side of roti bread.
  • Extra Chicken / Beef / Pork / Prawn — Additional protein add-on.
  • Extra Cashews — Additional cashews.
  • Extra Vegetables — Additional vegetables.
  • Side of Stir Fried Vege — A side of stir-fried vegetables.

Entrees & Sharing

  • Fresh Rice Paper Rolls — Pork and prawns, herbs, vermicelli noodles, carrot, cucumber and lettuce, with dipping sauce (2 rolls) (GF/GFO).
  • Satay Chicken Skewers — Marinated grilled chicken skewers served on jasmine rice with homemade peanut sauce (GF/GFO).
  • Crispy Fish Roti — Crispy fish, red onion and coriander wrapped in toasted roti, topped with house sauces (GFO).
  • Chiang Mai Pork Belly — Asian-spiced pork belly with Thai dipping sauce (GF/GFO).
  • Popcorn Chicken — Five-spice chicken bites with sriracha mayo (GFO).
  • Panang Pork Dumplings — Steamed pork dumplings topped with Panang curry sauce and kaffir lime leaves (GFO).
  • Sharing Platter — Pork belly, dumplings, crispy spring rolls, popcorn chicken and Asian dipping sauce, for 2–4 people (GFO).
  • Vietnamese Crispy Spring Rolls — Crispy rice-paper rolls filled with sautéed vegetables and vermicelli noodles, with dipping sauce (GFO/V).
  • Roti & Peanut Sauce — Roti served with peanut sauce (GFO).

Curries & Wok Favourites

  • Lemongrass Chicken — Marinated chicken stir-fried with lemongrass, garlic, chilli, onion and turmeric.
  • Cambodian Peppercorn Prawns — Prawns with lemongrass, basil, garlic, green peppercorn and vegetables.
  • Singapore Satay Stir Fry — Chicken, beef, pork or tofu in homemade peanut sauce with seasonal vegetables.
  • Buddha Feast — Broccoli, carrot, cabbage, mushroom, baby corn, tofu and capsicum in garlic sauce.
  • Sunbathe Tofu — Silken tofu deep-fried, then stir-fried in a crisp lemongrass sauce and onion.
  • Thai Basil Pork Belly — Pork belly, chicken or beef wok-fried with basil, chilli, garlic and fresh vegetables.

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Mama San Invercargill serve?
South East Asian hawker street food, spanning Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian influences.
What are Mama San Invercargill's hours?
Lunch is served Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 2pm, and dinner (dine-in or takeaway) runs 7 days from 5pm to 8.30pm.
Is Mama San Invercargill the only branch open for lunch?
Yes, it's described as the only Mama San location open for both lunch and dinner.
What are the must-order dishes?
The Banh Xeo Vietnamese Pancake, Dang Dang Balado, and General Tso Kung Pao Chicken.
Can I bring my own wine?
Yes, Mama San is fully licensed and also offers BYO wine.
Does Mama San offer set menus for groups?
Yes, Set Menus A, B and C are available for group dining, alongside informal à la carte options.
Is takeaway available?
Yes, every dish is available for takeaway; allow at least 30 minutes as food is cooked fresh to order.

Tips

  • {"body":"Mama San is a popular city-centre destination, so book in advance for larger groups.","title":"Book ahead for groups"}
  • {"body":"The Banh Xeo Vietnamese Pancake, Dang Dang Balado and Kung Pao Chicken are recommended starting points.","title":"Try the must-order dishes"}
  • {"body":"Set Menus A, B and C are built for sharing across a group.","title":"Consider a set menu"}
  • {"body":"Every dish is cooked fresh to order, so allow at least 30 minutes for pickup.","title":"Allow time for takeaway"}

Good to know

  • {"family":"Families and large groups are welcomed for à la carte dining or set menus.","dietary":"Many dishes are marked gluten-free (GF) or gluten-free on request (GFO), and vegetarian (V) options are available."}