Where is Phinz Vietnamese Eatery located?

Phinz is located at 224 Stafford Street in Timaru Central.

What was Phinz previously known as?

The eatery previously operated as Wetlands Cafe, which first opened on August 23, 2017, before relocating and rebranding into Phinz Vietnamese Eatery.

What are the opening hours at Phinz?

Phinz is open Monday to Wednesday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, and Saturday from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. It is closed on Sundays.

Does Phinz offer evening dining?

Yes, Phinz is open late until 8:00 pm on Thursday and Friday nights.

Are there vegetarian options available?

Yes, vegetarian choices include tofu bánh mì, tofu bao buns, vegetarian noodle salad bowls, coconut vegetable curry, scallion pancakes, and a dedicated vegetarian catering platter.

Does Phinz provide event catering?

Yes, Phinz offers several catering sets and platters including mixed platters, slider sets, bao bun collections, vegetarian platters, and dinner platters.

PHINZ Vietnamese Eatery

cafe — Timaru Central · Timaru

About PHINZ Vietnamese Eatery

Phinz Vietnamese Eatery is a vibrant dining spot situated in the heart of Timaru's central business district at 224 Stafford Street. Formerly known as Wetlands Cafe, which first opened its doors in August 2017, the eatery transformed and relocated to bring an authentic and fresh array of Vietnamese flavours to the local community.

From traditional street food staples to hearty café morning favourites, Phinz serves an extensive selection that covers breakfast, rice plates, noodle soups, handmade dumplings, and bao buns. Diners can enjoy everything from slow-cooked Vietnamese beef stew and caramelised pork belly to fresh summer rolls and crisp bánh mì baguettes.

Open throughout the week with extended evening hours on Thursdays and Fridays, Phinz provides a welcoming space for quick weekday lunches, relaxed dinners, and comprehensive catering platters designed for events and gatherings.

Phinz Vietnamese Eatery: Bringing Fresh Southeast Asian Flavours to Central Timaru

Centrally located on Stafford Street, Phinz Vietnamese Eatery stands as a go-to culinary destination for fresh, aromatic Vietnamese cuisine in South Canterbury. The story behind Phinz represents an exciting evolution for local diners: beginning as Wetlands Cafe in August 2017, the team built a loyal following over years of hospitality before moving right into the Timaru CBD and rebranding to celebrate authentic Vietnamese dishes.

Whether you are stopping by for a brisk daytime bite or settling in during their evening dinner service later in the week, Phinz brings together traditional Southeast Asian recipes alongside comforting café staples.

Street Food Classics and Hearty Noodle Dishes

At the core of the Phinz menu is a dedication to classic Vietnamese flavours characterised by fresh herbs, bright dressings, and slow-simmered comfort. The kitchen produces a fortnightly chef special noodle soup that provides a changing showcase of traditional broths alongside staple favourites. For noodle lovers seeking something crisp and refreshing, their noodle salad bowls pile rice vermicelli with fresh herbs, house dressings, and options ranging from lemongrass chicken and grilled pork to tofu.

Another standout is the Vietnamese beef stew, which pairs slow-cooked beef brisket infused with five spice and tomato with rice noodles or a warm, crusty baguette. Diners on the go frequently opt for the freshly assembled bánh mì—the iconic Vietnamese baguette packed with pickled vegetables, herbs, and fillings such as grilled pork, chicken, beef, tofu, or garlic prawns.

Small Bites, Handmade Dumplings, and Platters

The small plates and dumpling menus offer substantial variety for sharing or building a multi-dish meal. From crispy pork and prawn spring rolls to light summer rice paper rolls, the kitchen covers a full spectrum of textures. Uniquely crafted green prawns come coated in delicate green rice flakes and shredded coconut before being fried to a golden crisp and served with dipping sauce.

Dumpling fans can explore baskets of pork and kimchi, chicken and mushroom, or classic pork and prawn dumplings, alongside steamed buns and spicy beef wontons tossed in chilli oil. Soft bao buns stuffed with pulled pork or sweet chilli chicken and scallion pancakes round out an accessible lineup of handheld street bites.

Catering and Community Feasts

Phinz also caters to office lunches, celebrations, and gatherings across Timaru with an extensive set of catering platters. Their offerings span from multi-item mix platters and slider sets to dedicated vegetarian assortments and special dinner platters featuring crispy pork belly, chicken satay skewers, and honey butter fried chicken on Wednesday through Friday evenings. With its welcoming central location and rich, herb-filled menu, Phinz continues to provide an inviting culinary escape in downtown Timaru.

Signature items

Bánh mì
Vietnamese Beef Stew
Caramelized Pork Belly
Green Prawn
Noodle Salad Bowl
Prawn Wonton Soup

Chicken Satay — Grilled chicken with homemade peanut sauce served with rice and salad
Coconut Curry — Fragrant curry with your choice of chicken, vegetarian, or prawn
Caramelized Pork Belly — Caramelized pork belly served with boiled egg and rice
Sweet Chilli Chicken — Sweet chilli chicken served with steamed rice, sesame seeds and salad
Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs — Sweet and sour short pork ribs served with rice
Beef and Onion Stir-Fry — Beef with onion stir-fry served on rice

Small Plate

Summer Rolls - 4pc — Rice paper rolls packed with noodles and choice of chicken, vegetable or prawn
Spring Rolls - 4pc — Crispy fried rolls filled with mixed pork and prawn
Bánh mì — Vietnamese style baguette with choice of grilled pork, chicken, beef, tofu or garlic prawn
Bao Bun — Two steamed buns filled with choice of sweet chilli chicken, pulled pork, or tofu
Beef Wonton — Steamed or fried wontons served with savoury chilli oil
Green Prawn — Deep-fried prawns coated in green rice and shredded coconut, served with chilli sauce
Scallion Pancake — Soft savoury pancake with salad and chilli mayo, choice of fried chicken, pork belly, or tofu
Chicken Burger — Tender chicken burger served on its own or paired with fries
Fried Honey Chicken — Crispy fried chicken drizzled with honey
Fried Chicken and Chips — Crispy golden fried chicken served alongside chips

Noodle & Soup

Noodle soup — Chef special noodle soup that varies fortnightly
Noodle salad bowl — Rice noodles mixed with fresh herbs and salad, homemade sauce, and choice of chicken, pork, beef or tofu
Vietnamese Beef Stew — Slow cooked beef brisket with five spice and tomato served with rice noodle or grilled baguette

Dumplings Menu

Pork & Kimchi — Dumplings stuffed with savoury minced pork and tangy kimchi
Chicken & Mushroom — Dumplings filled with seasoned minced chicken and mushrooms
Steam Bun — Soft steamed buns filled with chicken or pork
Beef Wonton — Steamed or fried beef wontons
Prawn Wonton Soup — Delicate prawn wontons served in a warm, savoury broth
Pork & Prawn — Dumplings filled with a classic combination of minced pork and prawn

Catering Options

Mix Platter — Green prawns, spicy beef wontons, summer rolls, spring rolls, mix greens, steam buns and fried chicken
Set #1 — Summer or spring rolls, bao buns, beef sliders, and fried chicken
Set #2 — Bao buns, banh mi, green prawns, dumplings and fried chicken
Set #3 — Sushi, beef sliders, satay skewers, summer or spring rolls, and fried chicken
Set #4 — Sandwiches, sausage rolls, pies, cheese rolls and fried chicken
Set #5 — Pulled pork tortillas, sweet chilli chicken bao, dumplings, and summer or spring rolls
Vegetarian Platter — Summer rolls, bao buns, mushroom sliders and spring rolls
Dinner Platter — Egg fried rice, crispy pork belly, noodle salad, coconut green prawns, chicken satay skewers, pork and prawn spring rolls, and fried honey butter chicken (Available Wed, Thurs, Fri nights)

Frequently asked questions

Where is Phinz Vietnamese Eatery located?: Phinz is located at 224 Stafford Street in Timaru Central.
What was Phinz previously known as?: The eatery previously operated as Wetlands Cafe, which first opened on August 23, 2017, before relocating and rebranding into Phinz Vietnamese Eatery.
What are the opening hours at Phinz?: Phinz is open Monday to Wednesday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, and Saturday from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. It is closed on Sundays.
Does Phinz offer evening dining?: Yes, Phinz is open late until 8:00 pm on Thursday and Friday nights.
Are there vegetarian options available?: Yes, vegetarian choices include tofu bánh mì, tofu bao buns, vegetarian noodle salad bowls, coconut vegetable curry, scallion pancakes, and a dedicated vegetarian catering platter.
Does Phinz provide event catering?: Yes, Phinz offers several catering sets and platters including mixed platters, slider sets, bao bun collections, vegetarian platters, and dinner platters.

Tips

{"body":"While Phinz closes in the mid-afternoon from Monday to Wednesday, they stay open until 8:00 pm on Thursdays and Fridays for evening meals.","title":"Visit for Thursday or Friday Dinner"}
{"body":"The kitchen rotates its chef special noodle soup every fortnight, offering a regular chance to taste different Vietnamese broth styles.","title":"Try the Chef Special Soup"}
{"body":"Phinz provides specialised catering sets ranging from bao and dumpling boxes to evening platters featuring crispy pork belly and satay skewers.","title":"Order Platters for Group Events"}

Good to know

{"dietary":"Vegetarian and tofu options available across noodle bowls, rice dishes, bao buns, and catering platters."}