Wellington Cheap Eats

3:00 and I'm starving. Time for an affordable late lunch. I have a vicious craving for Basil Chicken, but by this hour most Thai restaurants are closed between services. Enter the Capital Market - Good Taste Thai to be specific. I place my order with the friendly chef, who does a bit of a double take when I ask for it Thai Hot. Unlike some places, Good Taste takes no prisoners when it comes to heat. I sit close to the stall, the sizzle of the wok induces salivation in anticipation. The Basil Chicken at Good Taste is one of the better ones in town, and at a mere $11 it is quite possibly the cheapest. An added bonus is that it is the same price at dinner as it is at lunch. Capital Market is hardly the most ambient surrounding but at this price point to flavour/quality ratio who cares? You can't eat the decor. My meal is ready in a flash. As pictured, the generous chef has even included chopped chilli on the side in case I want to take it to the next level of fire. After s...

Little Penang is a Wellington institution, yet I have never been. Until now. Every time I walk past it is packed to the gills. This time I arrive right on opening time (11am) and it is a little less crowded. I have been assured by many that it is some of the best Malaysian food in town. The decor is simple, clean and modern, and the drinks fridge contains a wide selection of soft drinks, including the trendy Six Barrel Soda range (Little Penang is unlicensed). Oak Otak is a dish of fish steamed or grilled in banana leaf, which locks in the flavours and prevents drying out. It is common across Southeast Asia, though traditionally it is made from ground fish, while Little Penang's utilises a whole fillet instead. Oddly enough, "Otak" means "brains" in Malay, as the dish is soft and pale and squishy, although traditionally in Malaysia it is also flavoured with tumeric and curry powder. Insert Malaysian zombie joke here. Little Penang's Otak is served wi...

On a sunny Saturday afternoon I have a craving for one thing and one thing only: masala dosa. Luckily, I am in Newtown, home of what may just be the best and most authentic dosa experience in Wellington. Indian Sweets and Snacks looks unassuming from the outside, but the inside is cute and cozy with its brick walls and Bollywood videos playing on a tv on top of the drinks fridge. The menu on the wall has mostly snack type offerings, but there is an extensive laminated menu at the table with dishes ranging from Delhi Goat to Nasi Goreng. We take a seat and are served a pitcher of water with little metal cups. Masala dosa is a South Indian dish that consists of a crispy lentil pancake stuffed with a curried potato mixture, a vegetable curry or sambar and various chutneys. Common spices in the potato mixture include green chilli, tumeric (for that gorgeous yellow colouring) and curry leaves. Our food arrives quickly. A long, cylindrical pancake accompanied by a crimson chutney, sam...