Buddha Stix Wellington

About Buddha Stix Wellington

Buddha Stix is a Thai and Vietnamese restaurant on historic Jackson Street in Petone, serving the wider Lower Hutt, Eastbourne and Wellington City area. The restaurant blends punchy Thai street food flavours with the more nuanced textures of Vietnamese cuisine, built around sharing plates, aromatic noodle soups and seafood dishes.

The space is designed with colour and energy in mind — an opulent, contemporary take on Southeast Asian dining meant for lingering rather than rushing through a meal. It comfortably hosts both small tables and larger groups, with Set Menus built for parties of five or more, banquet style, and any dish on the menu able to be swapped into a set menu.

Beyond dine-in, the full menu is available for takeaway and online ordering, with in-store pickup or delivery, and every dish is made fresh to order. Buddha Stix is part of a wider group of South East Asian restaurants that has grown across the South Island and into Wellington, including sister brands like Spirithouse, Mama San and Hoi An House.

Buddha Stix Petone: Thai and Vietnamese Dining on Jackson Street

On historic Jackson Street in Petone, Buddha Stix brings together the punchy, herb-forward flavours of Thai street food with the more delicate textures of Vietnamese cooking. It's a restaurant built for the Lower Hutt and Eastbourne crowd, as well as Wellington City commuters looking for a dinner destination worth the trip out.

From Panang to Petone

The restaurant is open seven days a week for dinner, from 5.00pm to 8.30pm, at 354 Jackson Street. It's the kind of menu built to be explored slowly — small plates to start, spicy salads and soups to move through, and a long list of curries, noodles and stir fries to land on. The name of the game here is variety: whether you're after a mild Massaman or something as hot as the Hot Jungle Curry with fresh basil, there's a version of Southeast Asian comfort food on the menu for it.

A Menu of Distinction

Start with the Tasty Nibbles — Marinated Spare Ribs, Crunchy Pork Belly, Chicken Wings or the Combination platter that brings a few of them together. From there, the menu opens into Asian Spicy Soups like the Spicy Tom Yum, Spicy Asian Salads such as the Larb Chicken Salad, and a full run of curries, noodles, fried rice and stir fries. The Vietnamese Seafood Boat — a mix of mussels, squid, fish and prawns in an Asian coconut broth — is the restaurant's stated signature dish, while the Vietnamese Fried Fish Fillet, tempura-battered and finished on a hot plate with garlic, chilli and black pepper sauce, is another standout worth calling out.

The Ambience

Buddha Stix leans into colour and pattern, going for an opulent, contemporary read on Southeast Asian energy rather than a minimalist one. It's designed as a place to linger — the kind of restaurant where a meal turns into a longer evening rather than a quick stop before heading elsewhere.

Dining for Groups

There's plenty of room for both small tables and larger parties, and Buddha Stix designs its Set Menus specifically for groups of five or more, served banquet style so everyone shares. Any dish on the Set Menu can be swapped for something else off the main menu, which gives larger groups some flexibility without losing the communal format. Given the popularity of group bookings, the restaurant recommends reserving at least the day before.

Takeaway and Delivery

The entire menu is available for takeaway, whether for lunch or dinner, through online ordering with a choice of in-store pickup or delivery. Because every dish is made fresh to order, the restaurant asks for at least 30 minutes to prepare an order — worth factoring in if you're timing a pickup around something else.

Part of a Bigger Family

Buddha Stix Petone is one location in a growing group of South East Asian restaurants, with sister brands including Thai (Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin), Mama San (Christchurch, Nelson, Invercargill), Commi (Christchurch), Le Xom Indochina Vietnamese Street Cuisine (Christchurch), Spirithouse (Dunedin, Wellington), Hoi An House (Christchurch), a second Buddha Stix in Dunedin, and Hutong Asian Street Food (Dunedin). For Wellington region diners, though, the Jackson Street location remains the local base for that same family of flavours.

Signature items

• Vietnamese Seafood Boat
• Pad Thai
• Panang Curry
• Hot Jungle Curry With Fresh Basil
• Vietnamese Fried Fish Fillet
• Crunchy Pork Belly

Menu

Extras

• Protein & Side Add-ons — Chicken, beef, pork, vegetables, peanut sauce, steamed jasmine rice, tofu or kumara crisps.
• Seafood Add-ons — Mussel, squid, prawn, fish or cashew nuts.
• Roti — Roti served as an extra.

Curries

• Green Curry — Green curry paste slow cooked with coconut cream, spices, selected vegetables and fresh basil.
• Red Curry — Succulent cuts of meat or seafood cooked in coconut cream and vegetables.
• Massaman Curry — A mild curry cooked in coconut cream, potatoes, ginger and peanuts.
• Panang Curry — A spicy curry with coconut cream, kaffir leaves and vegetables, with a slight lime tang.
• Hot Jungle Curry With Fresh Basil — Red based curry cooked without coconut cream, with vegetables, lime leaves and fresh basil.
• Massaman Curry with Lamb — Lamb slow-cooked in Massaman curry paste and coconut cream, with chunky potatoes, pickled onion and peanuts.
• Vietnamese Laksa (No Rice) — Fresh vegetables in Laksa paste and coconut cream over rice vermicelli, topped with omelette, coriander and fried shallot.
• Vietnamese Seafood Boat — Fresh mussels, squid, fish and prawns in an Asian coconut broth, served with rice. Their signature dish.

Noodles

• Pad Thai — White rice noodles with bean sprouts, spring onion and crushed peanuts in special pad thai sauce, served with lemon and sprouts.
• Stir Fried Egg Noodles — Egg noodles and seasonal vegetables stir fried in the wok.
• Vietnamese Spicy Fried Noodle With Basil — Flat white rice noodles stir fried with seasonal vegetables, fresh basil, chilli and spicy paste.

Stir Fry

• Chilli Stir Fry — Fresh seasonal vegetables stir fried with hot chilli paste sauce.
• Garlic Hot Plate — Fresh garlic fried in the wok with a selection of vegetables, served on a hot plate.
• Fresh Chilli And Basil — Fresh basil and hot chilli cooked with a generous assortment of fresh vegetables.
• Cashew Nut Stir Fry — Fresh vegetables and cashew nuts, a popular choice.
• Cashews And Tempura Battered Chicken — Sweet chilli jam sauce cooked with battered chicken and vegetables.
• Ginger Stir Fry — Fresh ginger root fried in the wok with fresh vegetables and mushrooms.
• Sweet And Sour — A special sweet and sour sauce cooked with vegetables and pineapple.
• Singapore Satay Stir Fry — Roasted spiced peanut sauce combined with seasonal vegetables.
• Oyster Sauce Stir Fry — Fresh broccoli and vegetables stir fried with mushrooms and oyster sauce.
• Black Pepper Hot Plate — Fried potatoes and fresh vegetables with cracked black pepper and garlic sauce.
• Vietnamese Lemongrass Stir Fry — Stir fried with fresh lemongrass and seasonal vegetables.
• Spicy Herbs — Lemongrass, fresh basil, garlic, green peppercorns and ka-chai with stir fried vegetables and bamboo shoots.
• Honey Lemon Chicken — Crispy chicken in a tangy lemon and sweet honey sauce, with crispy kumara, salad and jasmine rice.
• Vietnamese Fried Fish Fillet — Fresh fish fillets in tempura batter, deep fried, on a hot plate with stir fried tomatoes, red onion, mushrooms and a mild garlic, chilli and black pepper sauce.
• Kung Pao Chicken — A slightly spicy, sweet sauce with Sichuan peppercorn, peanut, garlic, ginger, spring onion and roasted whole chilli.

Fried Rice

• Nasi Goreng — A traditional favourite cooked with jasmine rice and fresh seasonal vegetables.
• Pineapple Fried Rice — Stir fried with ginger and fresh vegetables, topped with sweet soy sauce and roasted cashew nuts.
• Spicy Singapore Fried Rice — Cooked with special curry paste and spices.

Sharing Menus

• Sharing Menu 1 — Combination Entrée, Stir Fried Noodles Beef, Chicken Cashew Nut, Massaman Curry Pork, Chicken Pad Thai, Prawn Garlic Hot Plate, Steamed Jasmine Rice.
• Sharing Menu 2 — Combination Entrée, Prawn Tom Yum, Vietnamese Spicy Fried Noodles, Thai Salad Beef, Peanut Sauce Pork, Fried Fish Hot Plate, Steamed Jasmine Rice.
• Sharing Menu 3 — Combination Entrée, Black Pepper Hot Plate Beef, Vietnamese Laksa Chicken, Sweet And Sour Pork, Fried Rice Seafood, Green Curry Chicken, Steamed Jasmine Rice.

Tasty Nibbles

• Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls (3) — Freshly made rice paper rolls stuffed with minced pork, blanched bean sprouts, fresh mint and udon-style noodles.
• Chicken Wings (4) — Cured in an Asian spicy marinade and served with sweet chilli sauce.
• Coconut Cream Soup — Spicy yet smooth, similar to Tom Yum but with coconut cream, lime and coriander.
• Spring Rolls (4) — Sautéed vegetables and meat mixed with vermicelli noodles, rolled in pastry and deep fried, served with dipping sauces.
• Marinated Spare Ribs (4) — Pork ribs marinated in spices and sauces, served with soy and sweet chilli dipping sauces.
• Guri Puffs (4) — Sweet potatoes and vegetables wrapped in fluffy pastry, served with dipping sauces.
• Combination — A combination of chicken wings, spring rolls, spare ribs and guri puffs.
• Satay Chicken Sticks (3) — Dipped in spices, grilled and covered with peanut topping, served on steamed rice.
• Crunchy Pork Belly — Thai street style crunchy pork belly served with dipping sauce.
• Roti And Peanut Sauce — Roti served with peanut sauce.

Asian Spicy Soups

• Spicy Tom Yum Soup — Hot and spicy, refreshing soup with kaffir lime leaf, lemongrass, galangal and fresh lime juice, topped with spring onion and coriander.
• Coconut Cream Soup — Similar to Tom Yum but with coconut cream, lime and coriander.
• Noodle Soup (No Rice) — A generous portion of this famous Asian soup cooked with special sauce, fresh vegetables and noodles.

Spicy Asian Salads

• Yum Salad — Cooked at a lower heat in stock, this very spicy dish includes celery, shallots and tomato.
• Sweet Chilli Salad — Meat slices with sweet chilli sauce, shallot, lemon slices and fresh coriander.
• Larb Chicken Salad — Minced chicken with roasted rice powder, shallots, spring onions, coriander, chilli and lime juice.
• Vietnamese Salad — Mint, lime juice, fish sauce and coriander with chopped cucumber, carrots, red onion and tomato, served with crispy kumara slices.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Buddha Stix Petone located?

At 354 Jackson Street, Petone, in the Wellington region.

What are the opening hours?

Open 7 days for dinner from 5.00pm to 8.30pm.

What is the restaurant known for?

The Vietnamese Seafood Boat is their stated signature dish.

Can I order takeaway or delivery?

Yes, the full menu is available for online ordering with in-store pickup or delivery; delivery has a $10 charge.

How long does an order take to prepare?

Please allow at least 30 minutes as meals are made fresh to order.

Do you cater for large groups?

Yes, Set Menus are designed for parties of five or more, served banquet style, and it's recommended to book at least a day ahead.

Are there other Buddha Stix or sister restaurant locations?

Yes, the group includes locations in Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill under brands like Thai, Mama San, Spirithouse and Hoi An House.

Tips

• {"body":"For Set Menu dining with five or more people, reserve at least the day before.","title":"Book ahead for groups"}
• {"body":"Give the kitchen at least 30 minutes since everything is made fresh to order.","title":"Allow time for takeaway orders"}
• {"body":"The Vietnamese Seafood Boat, a coconut broth with mussels, squid, fish and prawns, is the restaurant's own pick as its signature dish.","title":"Try the signature seafood boat"}
• {"body":"Many nibbles are labelled GF, GFO or V if you're catering to dietary needs.","title":"Check dietary marks on the menu"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Set Menus designed for groups of five or more, served banquet style","dietary":"Many dishes are marked GF, GFO (gluten-free option) or V on the menu"}