Thai Chef's Restaurant Wellington

About Thai Chef's Restaurant Wellington

Thai Chef's is a Thai restaurant on Blair Street in Te Aro, Wellington, serving a large menu that spans classic curries and wok dishes through to Regional E-sarn (northeastern Thai) specialities. The menu leans into playful, cheeky dish names — from The 3 Alcoholics® to Sexy Little Duck® and Naughty Pig® — while sticking to traditional Thai preparations underneath the branding.

The kitchen covers the full range of Thai cooking styles: appetisers like Kraree Puff and Thai Dim Sim, the classic Tom Yum and Tom Kha soups, a large "Favourite Woks" section, curries including Green, Red, Royal Panang, Mussaman and Duck curries, an "Extraordinary" section of seafood, chicken, pork and lamb specialities, noodle and rice dishes including Phad Thai, and a dedicated Regional E-sarn section of Thai salads. A kids' menu and a range of side accompaniments — including Thai roti bread, coconut rice and sticky rice — round out the offering.

Thai Chef's operates a pickup service, with opening hours split between lunch and dinner sittings most days of the week.

Thai Chef's: Bold, Playful Thai Cooking in Te Aro, Wellington

On Blair Street in Te Aro, Thai Chef's has built a menu that's equal parts serious Thai cooking and cheeky branding. Dish names like The 3 Alcoholics®, Sexy Little Duck®, Lady Barcadi and Naughty Pig® give the menu a distinct personality, but underneath the playful naming is a genuinely broad spread of Thai regional cooking.

Starters and Soups

The appetiser list runs from Kraree Puff — a curried, minced chicken and mashed potato-stuffed pastry — through to Thai Dim Sim, described on the menu as "the Thai version of Chinese invented cuisine," steamed with water chestnuts and shiitake mushroom and wrapped in thin pastry. There's also a Mixed Entrée for anyone wanting to sample several starters at once, pulling together the Kraree Puff, Rock & Roll spring rolls, tiger prawn roll and Sleepy Pig in Bed. On the soup side, Tom Yum is called out directly on the menu as the most popular Thai soup, alongside the creamy, coconut-based Tom Kha.

Favourite Woks and Curries

The "Favourite Woks" section is the biggest on the menu, spanning mild to very hot dishes. The Ginger and Sweet Honey sit at the milder end, while Lady Barcadi — described as "a special creation from our naughty sexy chef" — is billed as very hot, built on homemade chilli paste and coconut cream. Sexy Little Duck brings roasted duck into the wok with shredded kaffir leaves, and a Vege Wok option lets vegetarian-leaning diners build a dish with bok choi, broccoli and mushrooms.

The curry list covers the expected Thai classics — Green, Red, and Yellow curry — alongside the Royal Panang, a thick, creamy peanut curry sauce sourced from a Royal Thai cuisine recipe (note: it contains peanuts and no vegetables), the mild, coconut-and-potato Mussaman Curry, and Duck in Love, a duck curry finished with pineapple, lychees and tomatoes.

The Extraordinary Section and Seafood

Thai Chef's saves some of its most elaborate dishes for its "Extraordinary" section. The Ocean Volcano arrives as a steamed mixed seafood dish served in a sparkling flame, while Three Kings combines prawns, squid and fish fillets for what the menu calls "the perfect dish of seafood." Phuket Island wraps chicken, prawns, squid and shiitake mushrooms in steamed cabbage with a Thai whiskey sauce, and Famous Chick — described as "a Kiwi favourite" — is built on tender, satay-marinated chicken breast.

Noodles, Rice and Regional E-sarn

For noodle and rice dishes, the Phad Thai is listed as the "Thai Chef's Specialist," alongside Phad See-iew, fried rice, and a Phad Thai Yellow Noodle variation using thick egg noodles. A dedicated Regional E-sarn section brings in northeastern Thai salads — Nuea Num Tok (warm grilled beef salad), Yum Moo Krob (crispy pork salad), Larb Gai (minced chicken salad), and the well-known Carrot Salad, or Som-Tam.

Kids and Sides

For younger diners, there's a small kids' menu of chicken nuggets, battered fish fillets, and a seafood basket, all served with chips. Sides cover jasmine, coconut and sticky rice, along with Thai roti bread and dipping sauces including peanut satay sauce and Nam Pra Prik (Thai chilli fish sauce).

Visiting Thai Chef's

Thai Chef's operates a pickup service, with hours split between a lunch sitting and a dinner sitting most days of the week — Monday and Saturday are dinner-only, while the rest of the week runs both lunch and dinner. With peanuts featured in several curry sauces, it's worth checking with the kitchen if you have allergies before ordering.

Signature items

• Tom Yum
• Phad Thai - Thai Chef's Specialist
• The 3 Alcoholics
• Royal Panang
• Duck in Love
• Naughty Pig (Crispy Pork)

Menu

Kids

• Chicken Nuggets with Chips — Five chicken nuggets served with chips.
• Battered Fish Fillets with Chips — Four battered fish fillets served with chips.
• Seafood Baskets with Chips — Breaded squid, fish fillet, prawn and scallop, served with hot chips.

Soups

• Tom Yum — A unique spicy and sour soup, simmered with lemon juice, lemon grass, fresh chillies, herbs, mushroom and coriander; the most popular Thai soup.
• Tom Kha — Creamy coconut soup with lemon juice, cabbage, mushrooms, tomatoes, lemon grass and kaffir leaves.

Curries

• Green Curry — Green curry paste, coconut milk, bamboo shoots, green beans, capsicum and pumpkin.
• Red Curry — Red curry paste, coconut milk, bamboo shoots, green beans, capsicum and pumpkin.
• Royal Panang — A thick, creamy peanut curry sauce with choice of meat, sprinkled with crushed peanuts and kaffir lime leaves; no vegetables. Contains peanuts.
• Mussaman Curry — Braised beef in a traditional mild curry with coconut cream, potatoes, onions and roasted peanuts. Contains peanuts.
• Duck in Love (Duck Curry) — Roasted duck fillets in a special curry recipe with coconut cream, pineapple chunks, lychees, tomatoes and courgettes.
• Yellow Curry — A mild yellow curry with potatoes, capsicum and mixed vegetables.

Appetiser

• Kraree Puff — Thai puff with curry spices, minced chicken and mashed potato stuffing, served with Thai sweet chilli sauce.
• Satay Chicken (3 Sticks) — Grilled skewers of sliced marinated chicken or beef, served with peanut sauce.
• Rock & Roll — Thai-style spring rolls filled with vermicelli, cabbage, carrot and celery, served with Thai sweet chilli sauce.
• Thai Dim Sim — Steamed minced pork marinated with water chestnuts and shiitake mushrooms, wrapped in thin pastry, served with homemade dipping sauce and crispy garlic.
• Rainy Season — Lightly battered stuffed mushrooms with minced pork, served with Thai sweet chilli sauce.
• Sleepy Pig in Bed — Marinated minced pork and herbs on toast, served with Thai sweet chilli sauce.
• Thai Chef's Fresh Rolls — Grilled marinated pork wrapped in rice paper with lettuce, carrot and cucumber, served with Thai dressing.
• Prawn Cakes — Minced king prawns with coriander, coated in panko breadcrumb, served with plum sauce.
• Mixed Entrée — Kraree puff, rock & roll, tiger prawn roll and sleepy pig in bed, served with Thai sweet chilli sauce.

Extraordinary

• Sweet Chilli Fish — Crispy fish fillets with special sauce, tomatoes, spring onions, ginger and mushrooms.
• Herbal Fish — Crispy fish fillets topped with homemade herbal sauce, red onion, spring onion, Thai herbs and cashew nuts.
• Three Kings — Prawns, squid and fish fillets with ginger, spring onion, lemon rind and coriander; medium spicy and slightly sour.
• Lamb Yum Yum — Stir-fried lamb with chilli paste, Thai herbs, courgettes, cauliflower and capsicum.
• Bangkok Showtime — Mixed seafood (prawns, squid, fish fillets) sizzled in Thai whiskey and tomato sauce with pineapple chunks, cashew nuts and vegetables; not hot.
• The Ocean Volcano — Steamed mixed seafood with mild curry paste, herbs, spices and vegetables, served in a sparkling flame.
• Mr Bean in Bangkok — Sautéed green beans and crispy pork belly with homemade chilli paste and kaffir lime leaves.
• Phuket Island — Chicken, prawns, squid, shiitake mushrooms and vegetables with Thai whiskey sauce, wrapped in steamed cabbage.
• Naughty Pig (Crispy Pork) — Crispy pork with green curry paste, Thai herbs, peppercorn, broccoli, cauliflower and courgettes.
• Famous Chick — Tender chicken breast marinated and stir-fried in satay sauce with broccoli, leeks, onions and carrots, sprinkled with roasted cashew nuts.
• Crispy Chicken — Breadcrumb-coated chicken strips stir-fried in a medium spicy chilli sauce with carrots, onions, capsicums, green beans and courgettes.
• Tropical Paradise — Stir-fried chicken in a special tropical sauce with Thai herbs, young coconut meat, broccoli and carrots.

Accompaniments

• Jasmine Rice — Side accompaniment.
• Thai Roti Bread — A popular flattened bread.
• Coconut Rice — Side accompaniment.
• Sticky Rice — Side accompaniment.
• Dipping Sauce (Peanut Satay Sauce) — Side sauce.
• Nam Pra Prik (Thai Chilli Fish Sauce) — Side sauce.

Favourite Woks

• The 3 Alcoholics — A combination of three meats with secret sauce, mixed herbs, fresh chillies, carrots, green beans, mushrooms and capsicum.
• Holy Basil — Holy basil, chilli paste, garlic, green beans, bamboo shoots and capsicum.
• Spice Girl — Tossed fresh chillies, garlic, onions, capsicum and seasonal vegetables.
• Lady Barcadi — Sautéed choice of meat with homemade chilli paste and coconut cream; very hot.
• Pad Ped Thai Chef's — Special blended spicy sauce, Thai chilli paste, herbs, leeks, capsicum, bamboo shoots and courgettes (not Pad Thai noodles).
• Ped Med Mamuang (The Cashew Nut) — Stir-fried with homemade sauce, seasonal vegetables, onions, spring onions and cashew nuts.
• The Ginger — Stir-fried with ginger, homemade soybean paste sauce, green vegetables, carrots, onions and mushrooms.
• Sweet Honey — Sautéed in honey-lemon sauce with pineapple chunks, carrots, onions, capsicum, cucumber, tomatoes and spring onions.
• Sexy Little Duck — Roasted duck with homemade chilli paste, green beans, leeks, courgettes, capsicum and shredded kaffir leaves.
• Vege Wok — Tossed bok choi, broccoli, mushrooms, garlic and leeks with oyster sauce and your choice of meat.
• Black Pepper Beef — Marinated beef with black pepper, garlic, onions, capsicum and spring onion.

Noodles And Rice

• Phad Thai - Thai Chef's Specialist — Thin rice noodles stir-fried with special sauce, eggs, bean sprouts, spring onion and crushed peanuts.
• Phad See-iew — Fresh wide rice noodles in dark soy sauce with fried egg and green vegetables.
• The Alcoholic's Noodles — Wide rice noodles with garlic, chillies, mushroom, capsicum, carrots, green beans, bamboo shoots, onion, spring onions and holy basil.
• Fried Rice — Fried jasmine rice with fried eggs, onions, tomatoes, spring onions and mixed vegetables.
• Phad Thai Yellow Noodle — Fresh thick egg noodles stir-fried with special sauce, egg, bean sprouts, spring onion, crushed peanuts and your choice of meat.

Regional E-Sarn Dish

• Nuea Num Tok (Warm Beef Salad) — Grilled sliced sirloin beef salad with ground rice, dried chillies, lemon juice, spring onions, red onions and coriander, served warm.
• Yum Moo Krob (Crispy Pork Salad) — Sliced marinated crispy pork salad with spices, lemon juice, spring onions, red onions, secret dressing and hot and sour chilli sauce.
• Pattaya Girls — King prawns with Thai spices and sauces; a traditional Thai salad, medium hot.
• Carrot Salad (Som-Tam) — Sliced carrot with lime juice, tomatoes, green beans, chillies, garlic and crushed peanuts, served cold.
• Larb Gai — Minced chicken salad with red onion, spring onions and ground roasted rice in Thai dressing.

Frequently asked questions

What are Thai Chef's opening hours?

Tuesday to Friday and Sunday: 12:00pm-2:30pm and 5:00pm-10:00pm. Monday and Saturday: 5:00pm-10:00pm only (dinner only).

Where is Thai Chef's located?

1 Blair Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand.

Does Thai Chef's offer pickup?

Yes, pickup is listed as a service.

What is the most popular dish?

The menu names Tom Yum as the most popular Thai soup, and Phad Thai as the house specialist noodle dish.

Are there vegetarian options?

Yes, the Vege Wok is a vegetable-based wok dish with a choice of meat that can be omitted.

Do any dishes contain peanuts?

Yes, the Royal Panang and Mussaman curries both note that peanuts are contained in the sauce.

Is there a kids menu?

Yes, including chicken nuggets, battered fish fillets, and a seafood basket, all served with chips.

Tips

• {"body":"Many dishes are marked MED, HOT or MILD — ask staff if you want it adjusted.","title":"Ask about spice levels"}
• {"body":"Royal Panang and Mussaman curry both contain peanuts in the sauce.","title":"Watch for peanuts"}
• {"body":"Monday and Saturday are dinner only; other days run a lunch sitting and a separate dinner sitting.","title":"Note the lunch/dinner split"}
• {"body":"Worth ordering alongside the curries and woks for a different, tangier side of Thai cooking.","title":"Try the Regional E-sarn salads"}

Good to know

• {"family":"A kids' menu is available","dietary":"Royal Panang and Mussaman curries contain peanuts in the sauce"}