Muthus South Indian & Malaysian

About Muthus South Indian & Malaysian

Chef Muthu's journey began in Seelathikulam, a small village in the South Indian district of Tirunelveli, where he started helping his mother in the kitchen at the age of twelve. After studying a Bachelor of Hotel Management & Catering Technology at SRM in Chennai, he joined the popular Malaysian restaurant Roti Chenai as its chef — and there discovered Malaysian cooking, with all its parallels to his South Indian roots. He mastered roti canai and created signature dishes of his own along the way. That dual heritage became Muthu's Restaurant in Strathmore Park, Wellington: one kitchen where South Indian traditions and Malaysian delicacies genuinely meet.

The menu ranges from satay skewers, curry puffs and bhajis through dosai, idlis, uthppam and the house roti chenai, to mains like dum biryani, kothu parotta, varutharacha coconut curry, sukka, butter chicken and the chef's own special curry. The Malaysian side brings rendang, curry laksa, nasi goreng and mee goreng, while seafood fans can pick from fish and prawn curries, including Goan-style fusions. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options run across the menu, and there are kids' favourites for younger diners.

Drinks are taken seriously: Muthu commissioned Wellington-based wine advisor Francis Auclert to match wines and beers to his cooking, and the list spans Marlborough sauvignon blanc, Central Otago pinot noir, mango and salted lassi and masala chai. Muthu's serves eat in and take out, with lunch Wednesday to Sunday from 11.30am and the dinner menu from 3pm Tuesday to Sunday, and the kitchen also caters functions. Orders can go online or through Uber Eats, and tables can be booked in advance.

The tone throughout is what the site itself promises: an authentic dining experience with a touch of sophistication and genuine hospitality — a neighbourhood restaurant where one chef's story is told dish by dish.

Muthu's South Indian & Malaysian: A Fusion Table in Strathmore Park, Wellington

Muthu's story begins a long way from Wellington, in the small village of Seelathikulam in South India's Tirunelveli district. Chef Muthu was twelve when his mother first drew him into the kitchen, helping with her preparations before long he was cooking on his own — and improvising, even then. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Hotel Management & Catering Technology at SRM in Chennai, a degree that equipped him to blend modern hospitality with homegrown culinary skill. Then came a turning point: a chef's role at the popular Malaysian restaurant Roti Chenai. Muthu fell in love with Malaysian cuisine, recognising deep parallels with his South Indian roots, and mastered roti canai, the flaky flatbread Malaysians adore. Several of his own signature dishes grew from that foundation, and the dream of serving both cuisines side by side became Muthu's Restaurant, now at 504 Broadway in Strathmore Park.

That fusion is the whole point of the menu. Muthu offers a unique variety of dishes built on South Indian and Malaysian traditions, cooked with the homemade masalas, chutneys and sambars of his childhood and the Malaysian techniques he adopted as a young chef. Nothing is scoped down to a token dish from each cuisine; the two traditions genuinely share one kitchen.

What's on the menu

Start with satay skewers in the chef's fusion Malaysian marinade, curry puffs, or a plate of Chicken 65. The South Indian street-food side of the menu brings ulundu vada (a savoury dhal doughnut), bonda potato fritters, chickpea-batter bhajis, steamed idlis, crisp dosai and thick uthppam. The roti chenai section is the heart of the house: plain, garlic or egg-filled roti, each served with a curry of your choice, plus the showstopping murtabak — Malaysian flatbread folded around egg filling.

Mains run deeper still. Dum biryani cooks basmati rice together with goat, chicken or vegetables; kothu parotta chops flaky parotta with onion, tomato and spice; keerai curry pairs pureed spinach with ginger-garlic masala; varutharacha builds a coconut curry finished with fried curry leaves and cashews. Sukka, masala curry, butter chicken and the chef's own special curry — a fusion of South Indian flavour and Malaysian spice — round out that side. From Malaysia come rendang, curry laksa noodle soup, nasi goreng and mee goreng from the wok. Seafood lovers can choose between coastal fish curry, prawn curry and their Goan-style fusions. Save room for dessert: banana roti with maple syrup, chocolate roti, gulab jamun with ice cream, or kesari, a South Indian semolina pudding.

Signatures to try

Roti chenai is the dish to order first — two rotis with chicken, lamb or dhal curry, with cheese if you like. Dosai, the fermented rice-and-urad-dhal crepe, arrives with chutney and a curry of choice. Satay skewers show the Malaysian marinade at work, dum biryani and kothu parotta prove the range, and the chef's special curry distils both cuisines into a single bowl.

The experience

Muthu's serves eat-in and takeaway, with a dinner menu from 3pm Tuesday to Sunday and lunch Wednesday to Sunday from 11.30am to 3pm. Drinks were commissioned with intent: Muthu engaged Wellington wine advisor Francis Auclert to match wines and beers to his cooking, from Marlborough sauvignon blanc to Central Otago pinot noir, alongside Kingfisher, Tuatara brews, mango or salted lassi and masala chai.

Dietary needs are planned for rather than patched on — vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options are available across the menu — and there are kids' favourites too, from samosas and spring rolls to a milder butter chicken. If you'd rather stay in, orders go out through online ordering and Uber Eats, and the kitchen also caters functions.

What keeps people coming back is the combination Muthu set out to offer: an authentic dining experience with a touch of sophistication and genuine hospitality, right on Broadway in Strathmore Park. Phone 04 388 7000 or email [email protected] for bookings and catering.

Signature items

• Roti Chenai
• Dosai
• Murtabak
• Dum Biryani
• Kothu Parotta
• Rendang

Menu

Beers

• Heineken Lager — Bottled lager.
• Heineken Light — Light bottled lager.
• Heineken Zero Alcohol — Zero-alcohol bottled lager.
• Kingfisher Lager — Bottled lager.
• Kingfisher Strong — Stronger bottled lager.
• Corona — Bottled lager.
• Tuatara Pilsner — Craft pilsner.
• Tuatara Hazy IPA — Craft hazy IPA.

Sides

• Plain Roti — Simple flaky roti.
• Garlic Roti — Roti rubbed with homemade garlic spread.
• Egg Roti — Roti filled with egg.
• Cheese Roti — Roti with cheese.
• Cheese & Garlic Roti — Cheese and garlic spread combined.
• Cheese & Egg Roti — Cheese and egg filling.
• Plain Dosai — A single crisp fermented crepe.
• Extra Curry — Additional curry of your choice.
• Plain Rice — Steamed basmati rice.
• Coconut Rice — Fragrant coconut rice.
• Pickle — House pickle.
• Papadam — Crisp lentil wafer.
• Raita Yoghurt — Cooling yoghurt side.
• Extra Chutney — Additional house chutney.
• Extra Sambar — Additional homemade sambar.

Wines

• La Marca Prosecco (200ml) — Italian sparkling from Veneto.
• Sartori Prosecco (750ml) — Italian sparkling from Veneto.
• Sauvignon Blanc — Whyte Estate, Marlborough — NZ sauvignon blanc, by the glass or bottle.
• Pinot Gris — Hawkshead Vineyard, Central Otago — Central Otago pinot gris, glass or bottle.
• Gewürztraminer — Bohemian — Aromatic gewürztraminer, glass or bottle.
• Chardonnay — Bogle Vineyard, California — Californian chardonnay, glass or bottle.
• Riesling — Mountford, Canterbury — Canterbury riesling, glass or bottle.
• Pinot Noir — Johner Estate, Wairarapa — Wairarapa pinot noir, glass or bottle.
• Pinot Noir — Hawkshead Vineyard, Central Otago — Central Otago pinot noir, by the bottle.
• Malbec — Santa Ana, Mendoza — Argentinian malbec, glass or bottle.
• Merlot — Bohemian, Hawkes Bay — NZ merlot, glass or bottle.
• Shiraz — Knappstein, Clare Valley — Australian shiraz, glass or bottle.
• Cabernet Sauvignon — De Martino, Chile — Chilean cabernet sauvignon, glass or bottle.

Desserts

• Gulab Jamun — Served with ice cream.
• Vanilla Ice Cream — Topped with fried cashew nuts and chocolate or caramel sauce.
• Banana Roti & Maple Syrup — With maple syrup, cinnamon sugar and whipped cream.
• Chocolate Roti — Grilled flatbread with shredded chocolate, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and coconut.
• Kesari — South Indian semolina pudding served with whipped cream.

Starters

• Satay Skewers — Five skewers in the chef's fusion Malaysian marinade with homemade peanut sauce and garden salad.
• Curry Puffs — Served with garden salad and sweet chilli sauce.
• Chicken 65 — Marinated chicken in homemade South Indian masala with garden salad and homemade sauce.
• Paneer 65 — Marinated paneer in homemade South Indian masala with garden salad and homemade sauce.
• Prawn 65 — Marinated prawns in homemade South Indian masala with garden salad and homemade sauce.
• Fried Fish — Marinated in special homemade South Indian masala, served with garden salad and homemade sauce.
• Bhajis (Fritters) — Chickpea-batter fritters with homemade masala — onion, veg, prawn or egg.
• Ulundu Vada — South Indian dhal doughnut with herbs, served with chutney and homemade sambar.
• Bonda (Potato Fritters) — Stir-fried potato and vegetables in chickpea batter, served with homemade chutney.

Roti Chenai

• Roti Chenai — Two roti with a curry of your choice — chicken, lamb or dhal.
• Garlic Roti Chenai — One roti rubbed with homemade garlic spread, served with your chosen curry.
• Egg Roti Chenai — Roti filled with egg, onion and curry leaves, grilled, with a curry of choice.

Dinner Mains

• Murtabak — Malaysian flatbread folded with egg filling, served with a curry of choice.
• Idlis — Four fermented rice and urad dhal cakes served with chutneys and homemade sambar.
• Dosai — Fermented rice and urad dhal crepes with chutney and a curry of choice — plain, garlic, ghee, cheese, egg or filled versions.
• Uthppam — Three thick pancakes, plain or tomato and onion.
• Dum Biryani — Basmati rice and protein cooked with homemade spices, served with curry sauce and raita.
• Kothu Parotta — Shredded flaky parotta cooked with onion, tomato and homemade spices.
• South Indian Curry — Rich, authentic curry from the chef's secret herbs and spices, served with basmati rice.
• Chef's Special Curry — A fusion of South Indian flavours and Malaysian spices and herbs, with basmati rice.
• Masala Curry — Cooked with blended dried chilli paste, onions, tomatoes and spices, served with basmati rice.
• Butter Chicken — The all-time favourite in classic South Indian style with rich spices, with basmati rice.
• Butter Vegetable Curry — Paneer and vegetables in a rich, creamy tomato sauce with basmati rice.
• Keerai Curry — Pureed spinach cooked with ginger and garlic homemade masala, with basmati rice.
• Varutharacha — Traditional coconut-based curry garnished with fried curry leaves and cashews, with basmati rice.
• Sukka — South Indian stir-fry with special spices, masala and cashews, garnished with curry leaves.
• Rendang — Classic Malaysian rendang with a touch of the chef's South Indian spices; basmati or coconut rice.
• Curry Laksa — Authentic Malaysian noodle soup — chicken, vegetable or seafood.
• Fish Curry — Seasonal fish coated in coastal spices and herbs, served with basmati rice.
• Goan Fish Curry — Fish curry fusion with South Indian and Malaysian herbs, served with basmati rice.
• Prawn Curry — Traditional South Indian curry with chilli, tomato and onion, with basmati rice.
• Goan Prawn Curry — Prawn curry fusion with South Indian and Malaysian herbs, served with basmati rice.
• Nasi Goreng — Fresh stir-fried rice with a choice of chicken, vegetable or seafood.
• Mee Goreng — Fresh stir-fried noodles with a choice of chicken, vegetable or seafood.

Kids Favourites

• Samosas & Spring Rolls — A kid-friendly plate of samosas and spring rolls.
• Kids Butter Chicken — Butter chicken sized for younger diners.
• Roti Chenai Combo — A roti chenai combo plate for kids.

Soft Drinks & Hot Drinks

• Coke — Classic cola.
• Coke Zero — Zero-sugar cola.
• Sprite — Lemon-lime soft drink.
• Fanta — Orange soft drink.
• Ginger Beer — Ginger beer.
• Mineral Water — Bottled mineral water.
• Apple Juice — Chilled apple juice.
• Orange Juice — Chilled orange juice.
• Mango or Salted Lassi — Yoghurt drink, mango or salted.
• Masala Chai — Spiced Indian tea.
• Coffee — Freshly brewed coffee.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Muthu's South Indian & Malaysian?

At 504 Broadway, Strathmore Park, Wellington 6022. Phone 04 388 7000 or email [email protected].

What kind of food does Muthu's serve?

A fusion of authentic South Indian and Malaysian cuisine — dosai, idlis and roti chenai alongside rendang, nasi goreng and curry laksa.

Are there vegan and gluten-free options?

Yes. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options are available across the menu.

Can I book a table?

Yes — tables can be booked online through the reservations page.

Do you offer takeaway or delivery?

Muthu's serves eat in and take out, with online ordering and Uber Eats both available.

What are the opening hours?

Monday and Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm–9pm; Tuesday, 2pm–9pm. Lunch is served Wednesday to Sunday, 11.30am–3pm, and the dinner menu runs from 3pm Tuesday to Sunday.

Does Muthu's cater functions?

Yes — the restaurant offers catering for functions; enquire by phone or email.

Tips

• {"body":"Lunch runs Wednesday to Sunday, 11.30am–3pm, and dinner from 3pm Tuesday to Sunday; the site lists full opening hours of 12pm–9pm, from 2pm on Tuesdays.","title":"Mind the split service"}
• {"body":"Roti chenai is the house signature — chef Muthu mastered it in Malaysia — and you can go garlic, egg, or add cheese.","title":"Start with the roti"}
• {"body":"The wine and beer list was matched to the menu by Wellington wine advisor Francis Auclert — worth asking for a pairing.","title":"Ask about the wine"}
• {"body":"Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options are available across the menu.","title":"Dietary? Just say so"}
• {"body":"Order online or via Uber Eats, and the kitchen also caters functions.","title":"Eating at home"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Kids' favourites menu with samosas, spring rolls, butter chicken and a roti combo.","dietary":"Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options available."}