Istana Malaysia Restaurant

Someone from this business manages this listing.

659 reviews

#18 of 592 Restaurants in Wellington$$ - $$$, Asian, Malaysian, Vegetarian Friendly

+64 4-801 7989+ Add website

Hours

Sun

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Tue

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Wed

12:00 pm - 2:30 pm5:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Thu

5:00 am - 10:30 pm

Fri

12:00 pm - 2:30 pm5:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Sat

5:00 pm - 11:00 pm

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Ratings and reviews

4.5

659 reviews

#18 of 592 Restaurants in Wellington

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

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PRICE RANGE

$15.00 – $22.00

CUISINES

Asian, Malaysian

Special Diets

Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Halal, Gluten Free Options

meals, features

Location and contact

1-5 Allen Street, Wellington 6011 New Zealand

+64 4-801 7989

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Does this restaurant specialise in Halal food?

Yes

Unsure

Details

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About

Welcome to Istana Malaysia in Wellington. Istana Malaysia translates to Palace of Malaysia, where the royals dwell and are served the finest Malaysian cuisine. First established on August 31st 1994, Istana Malaysia has long been recognised by its clientele as the best Malaysian restaurant in town. We warmly welcome you to come in and sample the rich and complex flavours of Malaysian cooking. Book a table for lunch or dinner at our fully licensed restaurant and experience the real taste of Malaysia! At Istana Malaysia each meal is cooked to order using fresh and authentic ingredients and methods. All spices are directly imported from Malaysia, guaranteeing that you will receive only the finest in traditional Malaysian cuisine. Each dish offers you a choice of mild, medium or hot to accommodate your individual tastes and preferences. From spicy satay and invigorating soups to indulgent banquets, Istana Malaysia's menu reflects the full spectrum of the Malay kitchen.

PRICE RANGE

$15.00 – $22.00

CUISINES

Asian, Malaysian

Special Diets

Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Halal, Gluten Free Options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, After-hours

FEATURES

Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Gift Cards Available

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4.5

659 reviews

Excellent

445

Very good

137

Average

Poor

Terrible

Veeral Patel

Wellington168 contributions

Friendly Service and Good Food

Feb 2020 • solo

The chicken 🐓 sambal dish had good spices 🌶 and the meat was cooked perfectly. It complimented well with my stir-fried veggies, which was seasoned and flavoured with oyster 🦪 sauce. However, the service was exceptionally friendly, where they make the extra effort to make me feel comfortable with table adjustments and get feedback on the dishes. Do give Istana Malaysia a try if you are at the Wellington CBD, I certainly will be back to try out their mee Goreng 🍲 + other chicken/fish curry 🍛 dishes.

Written 25 August 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GeorgiePie

Wellington1 contribution

Quality Food vs Quality Service

Sept 2020 • none

Firstly I need to say that I am highly critical of eateries in Wellington, i.e. just too many of them offering the same below par cuisine and appalling service. BUT, what I recently experienced at Istana was very close to how I was, as a classically trained chef, made to understand and appreciate food service, i.e. quality food vs quality service...something that really does not exist in modern day food service, especially in Wellington. Mrs. Mary Arulandu shows a special interest in her patrons and her establishment, yes you may find many other similar restaurants in Wellington, but at Istana it's the 'first' impression that lingers for good. This eatery deserves way more than the allotted five stars and as a local food critique I give my seal of approval. Istana Malaysia comes highly recommended.

Written 22 September 2020

Wai T

Tauranga10 contributions

A wonderful meal experience

Jan 2021 • none

From the moment we went into the restaurant, we instantly felt welcomed. I felt like I was visiting my aunty because Mary the hostess made the place so homely. Aunty Mary was so lovely and she helped us with getting extra spice (sambal) and a napkin for me when she saw that laksa soup was leaking out of my mouth from eating like a barbarian that I am when presented with so much deliciousness. We loved all the dishes we ordered. I liked the Malaysian dessert

Written 28 January 2021

Randall S

Wellington1 contribution

July 2021 • couples

We arrived and were welcomed and seated promptly. First time to try this place. Ordered lamb curry but,… the curry was tasting like it was not properly cooked and poured over the meat and a measly lunch portion.First place I’ve eaten curry where I have to pay for rice separately. We ordered masala tea and waited and waited until we called the waiter who seemed like they had forgotten about it and quickly raced to finish it. We decided to have it on the go. Instead of real masala tea we were given instant tea which was not only cold but tasteless and was charged for mocchaccino instead. My partner ordered fish curry but take it from me, stay away from this one. They joked and said don’t worry we won’t overcharge you. A nice looking restaurant with lotsa potential but really needs a Gordon Ramsay touch in the kitchen

Written 3 July 2021

Istana Malaysia Restaurant Wellington

Hi there Thank you for your review. I'm sorry about your experience, however, at the time you dined we asked you about your meal, and there were no complaints. So we are surprised to find your negative review on here. Our lamb curry on the dinner menu, is a large generous portion. Many asian restaurants charge extra for rice, it is very common. We make our own masala tea in house, so we are very surprised you think it taste store bought. You dined in on a very busy night, so that explains why the masala tea may have taken some time to get to you. Once again thank you for your review, hope to see you again sometime in the future.

Written 19 July 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

ymt888

Petaling Jaya1817 contributions

Indian food

Nov 2019 • none

We had dinner at Istana Malaysia as part of a group tour from Malaysia. The menu is mostly on Indian food and portions quite large. We ordered a bit of everything to share with. The mee goreng was very nice but the lamb soup too spicy, roti too tough and satay unimpressive. However service was great and it is still lovely to have Malaysian food if you crave it.

Written 11 March 2020

Katsolo

226 contributions

Fabulous evening of delicious food

Sept 2020 • friends

Myself and a friend had such an enjoyable evening here. I asked the host to surprise me with a dish of her choice and i was not disappointed. Everything we ordered was bursting with flavor, colour and fragrance. The service was 10/10. Thank you for making our evening perfect.

Written 11 September 2020

Jarr_mich

122 contributions

Rowdy and chaotic

July 2020 • couples

We were brought the wrong meals twice and although the food looked good, it had little taste. The only defining difference between the beef and lamb dish was the texture of the meat. It is nice to be in a restaurant with a buzz but this was ridiculous. It was difficult to hold a conversation as it felt like we were at a rugby match with so much noise coming from drunken large groups. Tables were squished together.

Written 17 July 2020

Florencia H

5 contributions

The best of the best !

Aug 2020 • friends

I have lived in Wellington for 3 years and this restaurant always surprises me with something new. Food is yummy and not pricey at all. The best thing is that make you feel welcome from the moment you get it. Check on your table frequently and even the owners are up for a chat, giving you sweets to try. I love the Istana Malaysia family!

Written 27 August 2020

Helen

Ellerslie23 contributions

Terrible

Mar 2021 • none

“Your meal has been sitting out for ages so it might be a bit cold. If it is let me know and I’ll put it in the microwave for you” Cold old rice also, got offered for it to be put in the microwave, had to specially ask for new rice. Overpriced and very average food.

Written 20 March 2021

Istana Malaysia Restaurant Wellington

Hi Hilary, Thank you for your feedback and we are sorry that your experience with us did not meet your expectations. We did bring out two lamb kormas to the table, but only one was claimed. With people moving around the table after ordering, it can be difficult for us to match meals to the person who ordered it. We did ask a few times if the lamb korma belonged to anyone but no one claimed it, so we assumed it may have been a mistake and took it back to the kitchen. While still delivering the rest of the meals you asked where your lamb korma was, to which we explained what had happened and brought it back out again. At that point we offered to heat it up for you and you said you would let us know if you wanted that, to which you later asked for. When we cook or even heat food up, we do not use a microwave, as all our meals are cooked fresh to order on the stove, and a mircrowave would only ruin the flavours. Likewise our rice is continuously throughout the night. We did check on the table a few more times throughout the night to make sure everything was ok and did not receive any complaints, and we believe you ordered an extra garlic roti. Once again we are sorry you did not enjoy your experience with us and we hope to see you again. Thanks Istana Malaysia Management

Written 26 March 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

markusparker

Brisbane154 contributions

A Pretty Good Dinner Option

May 2021 • none

I grabbed some takeaway here last week as it was right outside my hotel and the weather was rather poor so it looked like it was worth a gamble. My meal was generous, the ingredients were high quality, the rice and bread fresh and cooked well. The dish I ordered lacked a little bit of punch - but that could just be my expectations of a Malay meal having worked in Malaysia for a few years. If I was staying in this area again I'd most likely come back and dine-in. I'd encourage anyone in the area to give it a go.

Written 15 May 2021

June H

10 contributions

Authentic Malaysian Food with fair price

Sept 2020 • none

I had a wonderful evening in Istana Malaysia. They serves authentic Malaysian food with reasonable pricing. The friendly owner make sure all my needs were met. The mains were delicious, but the highlight of the meal is the traditional Malay sweet cake made by the owner. It tasted just like what we have back in Malaysia!

Written 20 September 2020

Alan P

1 contribution

Best Malaysian food in Wellington

Feb 2022 • none

Another lovely Malaysian meal, atmosphere is great, hosts Meri and Danny always make you welcome, great authentic Malaysian food at a reasonable price. We have been dining at Istana Malaysia regularly for over 20 years, always consistently great food and service. We’ll be back.

Written 17 February 2022

susi47

Frankfurt43 contributions

Delicious and authentic food

Feb 2020 • couples

It was by chance that we saw this restaurant and we are happy that we did. The food was delicious - we wanted it hot and the spice level was exactly what we hoped for. I had a chicken dish my husband a lamb curry and both were superb. Also the roti were yummy and freshly prepared. The service was very friendly and attentive. The value for money relationship very good. We will come again to enjoy the taste.

Written 16 February 2020

Mat

Lower Hutt1 contribution

You just can't get better

Apr 2022 • none

When you find a resturant that you feel like you are one of the family you know that you have found somewhere very special. I go here for both business and pleasure, and no matter wether it is with clients or family friends the comment is always the same... "Wow what a great place". Authentic, tasty food served with a smile and a joke, Istana Malaysia is someting very special and if you are in Wellington and want to dine somewhere that will keep you wanting to come back, then this is it.

Written 11 April 2022

Fauz J

3 contributions

Best Malaysian I have eaten outside Malaysia *Halal*

Dec 2020 • family

We found this gem when we googled halal Malaysian! And what a find... 😋 The food was absolutely mouthwatering, we ordered Beef Rendang, Chicken Sambal, Mee Goreng... Roti Chanai. We were so impressed with the service, food and ambiance! Mary waited on us and checked to see all was good. I saw her walk around the tables checking and making sure everyone was enjoying the food. It felt like we were at their home eating and she was a fabulous hostess! We wish we had this in Auckland! We will definitely be back! Thank you Istana, you made our bellies very happy 😃 Janif Family