Yor Yak Thai Eatery is a Thai restaurant on Cuba Street in the heart of Te Aro, Wellington — the realisation of a long-held dream for a young couple who took over the former Thai Tara Restaurant in early January 2022 with the help of their business mentor, friends and family.
Opening a restaurant in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic was a bold call, but the owners saw the potential and the possibility for success despite the risks. From that challenging start they have grown the eatery into its current home at 201 Cuba Street, serving lunch and dinner through the week.
From the 29th of July, Thai Tara rebranded to Yor Yak in a seamless transition. The name was chosen with care: the word 'Yak' represents an aspect of Thai culture that lives in the hearts of Thai people. Iconic Yak statues appear throughout Thailand guarding the gates of religious temples, carrying mythical, religious, artistic, cultural and militaristic significance. The rebrand is also a commitment — to expand the boundaries of appreciation for Thai cuisine with the general public.
In the kitchen, Yor Yak retained the Thai Tara chefs, who bring extensive culinary skills and expertise — creating exciting new dishes while continuing to serve the authentic Thai cuisine regulars already know and love. Think yellow curry with soft shell crab, classic khao kluk kapi, and Thai-style fish salads. Lunch runs Tuesday to Sunday, dinner every evening from 5pm, with Friday and Saturday dinners running late.
On Wellington's ever-bustling Cuba Street, Yor Yak Thai Eatery serves authentic Thai cuisine in the heart of Te Aro. The restaurant is the realisation of a long-held dream for its owners — a young couple who took over the former Thai Tara Restaurant in early January 2022 with the help of their business mentor, friends and family. Their goal was simple and ambitious: to run a restaurant business in the heart of Wellington city.
Opening any new restaurant is a leap of faith; opening one in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic might sound like a crazy time to do it. The owners saw it differently. "But we saw the potential and the possibility for success, despite the risks," they explain. "We are young. If we fail despite our best efforts, life and other opportunities will not stop here, but provide some very valuable experience." That blend of courage and clear-eyed pragmatism has defined the young eatery since its very first service.
Yor Yak's story begins with Thai Tara, which the couple took over on Vivian Street before the restaurant settled into its current home at 201 Cuba Street. From the 29th of July, "Thai Tara" rebranded to "Yor Yak" in a seamless transition, with the same kitchen continuing behind the new name.
The name was chosen with care. The word "Yak" represents an aspect of Thai culture that sits deep in the hearts of Thai people. Iconic Yak statues appear throughout Thailand, guarding the gates of religious temples, and the Yak holds mythical, religious, artistic, cultural and militaristic significance. For the team, the rebrand is also a mission statement: a commitment to expand the boundaries of appreciation for Thai cuisine with the general public.
Yor Yak is "super lucky," as the team puts it, to have the current Thai Tara chefs join the enterprise. Those chefs bring extensive culinary skills and expertise to the kitchen, creating exciting new dishes while continuing to serve the authentic Thai cuisine customers already know and love.
The dishes the restaurant showcases give a sense of the kitchen's range: yellow curry with soft shell crab, khao kluk kapi — the classic Thai rice dish tossed with shrimp paste — and pla yum, a Thai-style fish salad. The full menu is published online, and orders for in-store pickup or delivery can be placed through the restaurant's own website.
Lunch is served Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 14:30. Dinner runs every evening from 17:00 — until 21:30 Monday to Thursday and on Sunday, and late on Friday and Saturday for anyone turning a night out into a long one. Monday is dinner-only, so plan midday visits from Tuesday onwards.
Takeaway fans should note that Yor Yak encourages customers to order through its own website or by phone, via local delivery partner Easy Eats, because other delivery platforms charge high commission fees. Ordering direct, the team explains, not only helps the restaurant but also supports its local partner.
Table reservations and pickup orders can be made by calling 04 384 4092, and gift vouchers are available for anyone who wants to pass the experience on. Whether you are a longtime fan of the Thai Tara kitchen or new to the neighbourhood, Yor Yak offers a warm, genuinely Thai welcome on one of Wellington's most characterful streets.