Restaurant
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Sri Pinang
Long-running family Malaysian restaurant on Karangahape Road serving Malay and Nyonya home-style dishes, with fresh roti, rendang and a rare BYO policy.
At a glance
- Type
- Malaysian and Nyonya
- Area
- Karangahape Road, Auckland, New Zealand
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
Good to know
- BYO
- Lunch and dinner
- Family run
Why we recommend it
Sri Pinang is a small family-run Malaysian restaurant on Karangahape Road that has been feeding Aucklanders since the 1990s. It is owned by Angie Siew and her husband Kun Kaw, who does most of the wok cooking. In 2022 it was the only New Zealand restaurant included on Condé Nast Traveler's list of 210 restaurants worth travelling for, one of just nine in Oceania. Its entry was written by the Thai chef Pim Techamuanvivit, who called the food very more-ish.
The food is home-style regional Malay and Peranakan, or Nyonya, cooking, which blends Chinese, Indonesian and southern Indian spices and techniques. Roti is made fresh on site every day and served with curry, and beef rendang, slow-cooked until tender, is described by the owners as the most popular dish. Other dishes that regulars return for include sambal prawns served in the shell, char kuey teow, nasi goreng, stir-fried beans with black olives, lamb curry and snapper otak-otak. Starters such as prawn toast, fried tofu with sesame dressing and a spicy Nyonya pickle are good for sharing, and caramel sago pudding makes a fitting finish.
One of Sri Pinang's draws is its BYO policy. It is one of the few remaining BYO restaurants in Auckland, charging only a small corkage fee, so bring a bottle of wine or some beer from a nearby shop.
Lunch is served from Tuesday to Friday and dinner from Monday to Saturday. The restaurant is popular, with some regulars eating there every week, and they say it can be hard to get a table at peak times, so phone ahead to book, especially for dinner at the end of the week. Prices are moderate, which makes it a good choice for groups who want to order several dishes to share.
Sri Pinang suits budget-conscious travellers, groups of friends and anyone who wants straightforward, flavourful cooking rather than a polished fine-dining experience. Vegetarians are catered for, with a vegetable curry and roti among the options mentioned by regulars.
The restaurant is at 356 Karangahape Road. Phone ahead on +64 9 358 3886 to book or to check opening times on public holidays.
Sri Pinang FAQs
What kind of food does Sri Pinang serve?
Home-style regional Malay and Peranakan (Nyonya) dishes.
Is Sri Pinang BYO?
Yes. It is one of the few remaining BYO restaurants in Auckland and charges a small corkage fee.
What should you order?
Fresh roti with curry and the beef rendang, which the owners say is the most popular dish.
When is it open?
Lunch Tuesday to Friday and dinner Monday to Saturday.
Do you need to book?
It is popular, so phone ahead, especially for dinner later in the week.
Who owns Sri Pinang?
Angie Siew and her husband Kun Kaw, who does most of the wok cooking.
Has it received recognition?
In 2022 it was the only New Zealand restaurant on Condé Nast Traveler's list of 210 restaurants worth travelling for.
What is the phone number?
+64 9 358 3886.