Little Street Kitchen

About Little Street Kitchen

Little Street Kitchen is a vibrant, relaxed restaurant in Wānaka founded on a simple philosophy: thoughtful food without the fuss. Originally born out of a scratch-built food truck, the kitchen carries that same street-food spirit into a refined dining room where bold, Asian-inspired flavours and seasonal produce take center stage.

Every element on the plate—from house-made sauces and dressings to delicate broths and steamed buns—is crafted entirely in-house. Designed around sharing, the menu invites diners to sample across small plates, hearty bao, and satisfying mains, creating an unpretentious and lively dining experience against the backdrop of the Southern Alps.

Little Street Kitchen: Bold Asian Flavours and Shared Dining in Wānaka

Perched on Little Street in the alpine resort town of Wānaka, Little Street Kitchen brings a vibrant, unpretentious energy to the local dining scene. Its story began not in a polished brick-and-mortar dining room, but inside a mobile food truck built entirely from scratch. Driven by long nights, calculated risks, and a commitment to uncomplicated flavour, that tight truck kitchen taught the team to focus squarely on what counts: mastering culinary fundamentals and making every single bite taste exceptional.

Today, that founding ethos is alive and well in their permanent Wānaka restaurant. Little Street Kitchen offers the same lively spirit and punchy profiles that earned them an initial following, dialed up with thoughtful presentation and an expanded menu.

Everything Made in House

A hallmark of Little Street Kitchen is its unwavering dedication to scratch cooking. From dressings, pickles, and stocks to complex reductions and hand-crafted dipping sauces, the kitchen prepares every component internally. Rather than taking shortcuts, the culinary team embraces the extra preparation time to build layered, nuanced textures and deep aromatics across the entire bill of fare.

The menu leans into Asian-inspired street food classics alongside contemporary bistro plates. Fluffy steamed bao buns arrive loaded with slow-cooked goat rendang, sticky sweet char siu pork, or crispy tofu with a punchy house sauce. Delicate prawn and pork sui mai float in fragrant consommé, while larger appetite-pleasers feature wagyu steak frites with peppery sauce au poivre, duck and masa waffles with port reduction, and rich curried gnocchi with braised lamb.

Designed for Sharing and Good Times

Dining at Little Street Kitchen is centered on sharing. Guests are encouraged to fill the table with smaller bites, pass plates across the table, and mop up every remaining drop of sauce. For those seeking an effortless culinary journey, the "Trust the Chef" option delivers a curated procession of fresh, seasonal creations selected directly by the kitchen team.

Complementing the dishes is an extensive drink program featuring regional Central Otago wines, craft beers from local brewers like RxR and Altitude, artisanal sakes, and creative craft cocktails such as the Lemongrass Boulevardier and Tamarindo. Whether stopping in for a quick bao bun lunch or settling in for an evening over cocktails and shared plates, Little Street Kitchen delivers a warm, relaxed dining experience framed by stunning mountain surroundings.

Signature items

• Char Siu Pork Bao
• Goat Rendang Bao
• Karaage Chicken
• Prawn & Pork Sui Mai
• Steak Frites
• Trust the Chef

Menu

Sake

• Zenkuro Shizuku Junmai Ginjo — Drip Pressed 375ml
• Zenkuro White Cloud — Nigori Junmai Cloudy

Wine

• Carrick Bannockburn Chardonnay 2023 — Bannockburn, Central Otago
• Brennan Chardonnay 2023 — Gibbston, Central Otago
• Carrick Sauvignon Blanc 2023 — Bannockburn, Central Otago
• Coal Pit Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2024 — Gibbston Valley, Central Otago
• Maude Pinot Gris 2026 — Central Otago
• Burn Cottage Riesling Grüner Veltliner 2022 — Central Otago
• Mondillo Riesling 2024 — Bendigo, Central Otago
• The Boneline Hellblock Riesling 2024 — Waipara, North Canterbury
• Clearview Gewürztraminer 2025 — Hawke’s Bay
• Brennan Trio 2022 — Gibbston Valley, Central Otago
• No.1 Sparkling Rosé — Marlborough Méthode Traditionnelle NV
• Maude Sparkling — Central Otago Méthode Traditionnelle
• Mondillo Rosé 2025 — Bendigo, Central Otago
• Coal Pit Pinot Noir Rosé 2025 — Gibbston Valley, Central Otago
• Alpine Wine Co Head Over Heels Rosé 2024 — Wanaka Central Otago
• Carrick Unravelled Pinot Noir 2022 — Bannockburn, Central Otago
• Mondillo Pinot Noir 2024 — Bendigo, Central Otago
• Brennan B2 Pinot Noir 2024 — Gibbston Valley, Central Otago
• Burn Cottage Sauvage Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 — Bannockburn, Central Otago
• Brennan Tempranillo 2022 — Gibbston Valley

Cider

• Paynter’s Pict Pear — 5.0% pear cider

Bao Buns

• Char Siu Pork — sticky, sweet roasted pork
• Goat Rendang — slow-cooked, rich and spiced
• Venison Mince & Cheese — savoury, hearty, proper comfort
• Buffalo Chicken — crispy, spicy, cooling blue cheese sauce
• Tofu — crispy tofu, punchy house sauce
• Tempura Fish — light, crunchy, fresh

Tap Beer

• Fruity Patootie — Hazy IPA 4.9% RxR Wanaka
• Brain Fade — Cold IPA 5% RxR Wanaka
• Joy Rider — Pale Ale 5.2% RxR Wanaka
• Suika Herumetto — RxR Watermelon Rice Lager 4.5%

Cocktails

• Bloody Mary — Vodka, tomato juice, lemon, spices
• Sour Monk — Gin, Benedictine, lemon, ginger
• Tamarindo — Tequila, triple sec, lime juice, tamarind syrup
• Lemongrass Boulevardier — Rye whiskey, Campari, lemongrass infused vermouth
• Doris After Dark — Disaronno, doris plum, lemon
• The Grasshopper — Crème de menthe, cocoa, rum cream
• French 75, Reimagined — Cognac, lemon, sparkling wine

Mocktails

• Easy Breezy — 0% Rum, passion fruit, pineapple, and coconut
• Twilight Plum — 0% amaretti, plum, lemon
• Winter Fizz — Rosemary, ginger, lemonade

Hot Drinks

• Espresso Coffee — Short Black, Long Black, Americano
• Vietnamese Iced Coffee — Traditional brewed coffee with condensed milk
• Specialty Lattes & Chocolate — Hot Chocolate, Chai, Matcha
• Webster’s Tea — Earl Grey, Jasmine, Mint

Sandwiches

• Banh Mi — smoked pork belly, duck mousse nuoc cham dressing
• Karaage Chicken Burger — miso mayo, lettuce, pickles
• Vegan Reuben — Maple smoked tempeh, thousand island, sauerkraut on rye

Canned Beer

• Kirin Ichiban — Premium Japanese Lager 5%
• Emersons Day Tripper — Low Carb Hazy IPA 5.4%
• 8 wired — Sticky Barley Wine 12%
• Behemoth — Triple Chocolate Milk Stout 4.4%
• Hop federation — Red IPA 6.4%
• Altitude — Powder Day Pilsner 5.2%
• Altitude Zen Shiro — Sake Pilsner 4.9%
• Ballast Point Sculpin — Grapefruit IPA 7%
• Mikkeller Forest Friends — West coast IPA 6.0%
• Garage Project — Boysenberry Sour Ale 8.2%

Dessert Wine

• Tailors Tawny Port — Port
• Clearview Estate 2025 — Late Harvest Viognier

Large Plates

• Steak Frites — wagyu striploin, sauce au poivre, smoke tarragon emulsion
• Pork Fried Rice — crispy crackling, fried egg, big flavour
• Seared Salmon — potato rosti, kimchi, saffron emulsion
• Duck & Masa Waffles — orange glaze, port reduction, goats cheese
• Curried Gnocchi — soft gnocchi, braised lamb, coconut labneh
• Jerk BBQ Chicken — Miso glazed root vegetables kumara mash
• Trust the Chef — A rotating selection of dishes chosen by the chef, designed to showcase what’s fresh, seasonal, and tasting best right now.

Small Plates

• Prawn & Pork Sui Mai — dumplings in a light, fragrant broth
• Beer & Cheese Soup — rich, warming, with focaccia and bacon
• Karaage Chicken — crispy fried chicken, pickled onion, miso mayo
• White Fish Crudo — fresh raw fish, salsa verde, tostada crunch
• Country Terrine — rustic pâté, capers, focaccia, onion cream
• Crispy Fries — With Fancy Sauce

Non-Alcoholic And Low Alcohol

• Sidekick soda — current selection
• Fizzy Drinks — Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite
• Pete’s Lemonade — Craft lemonade
• Homegrown Juice — Orange, Apple, Pineapple
• Antipodes Water — Still or Sparkling mineral water
• Everybody’s Kombucha — Cola, Raspberry, Ginger & Lemon
• Altitude Good times XPA — 0.00 abv
• Little Deck Energy — 2.5 abv beer

Frequently asked questions

Where is Little Street Kitchen located?

The restaurant is located at 2 Little Street in Wānaka, Otago, New Zealand.

What are the opening hours?

Little Street Kitchen is open Monday through Sunday from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Can I book a table in advance?

Yes, reservations can be booked online via NowBookIt directly through their website.

Do they offer gluten-friendly or vegan options?

Yes, the menu clearly marks dietary accommodations, including gluten-free and gluten-friendly dishes like Karaage Chicken and Steak Frites, as well as vegan items like the Vegan Reuben and Tofu Bao.

Can I order takeaway online?

Yes, online ordering is supported via Bopple.

What is the 'Trust the Chef' dining option?

It is a curated dining experience where the chef selects a rotating multi-course menu showcasing the freshest seasonal ingredients.

Tips

• {"body":"The dishes are designed for sharing, so mix and match a few bao buns and small plates before moving on to larger mains.","title":"Order for the Table"}
• {"body":"If you are dining with a group and want to sample the best seasonal dishes without decision fatigue, choose the Trust the Chef option.","title":"Opt for Trust the Chef"}
• {"body":"Secure a table in advance through their online booking system, particularly for evening dinners in central Wānaka.","title":"Reserve Ahead During Peak Hours"}
• {"body":"Pair your meal with locally brewed Wānaka craft beers on tap or one of their house cocktails like the Lemongrass Boulevardier.","title":"Explore Local Brews and Cocktails"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Menu includes designated gluten-free, gluten-friendly, and vegan options.","accessibility":"Provides an official website accessibility statement."}