Review The Old Quarter - Wellington

Delicious. They ran out of mango for my salad and dessert but they used replacement fruits and the food was still a vibe. It gets busy early but I was dining solo and they popped me on the bar. Echoing advice below: book in advance for a group.

Really really good food! This is my second time visiting and both times were excellent. I'll be coming back for sure.

Food was authentic, good value for money and service was top notch!

The food was good, but nothing special. Nice to try, but I wouldn’t go back here (except for the desert🤤). We had the salmon in banana leaf and the chicken curry, both with coconut rice. The salmon was tasty, but the portion was very small in my opinion. The chicken curry was good, but a bit too sweet in my opinion. The desert (sticky rice pudding) was amazing! Although I am a bit biased probably because it reminded me of the mango sticky rice which was my favorite desert in Thailand. But if you are a fan of this kind of deserts, I strongly recommend you try it😁 Note: the restaurant is pretty full (at least for dinner) so booking in advance is probably better.

Cracking food! We had some really fresh Vietnamese food which we loved and super speedy and friendly service. Not to mention the Welly on a plate cocktail was very impressive.

We ordered many items on the list and shared-as it is intended - SO good! Ribs, Bao Buns, Curry, Dumplings,.. Cannot recommend more. Delicious and people are friendly, atmo is right - price is defo worth!

Very good good, comes out quickly and just at the right temperature. Lovely stuff and always ready to help. The pho is outstanding, the boa are delicious and the curry are as good as the rest. The outdoor seating are nice on a warm summer day or evening.

This place is always busy, so has a good buzz. The food is delicious and great value. Had a cocktail this time and that was really tasty too!

As soon as you walk in you can smell the different flavours in the air. The food tasted amazing and came out quick. Its a perfect spot to get together and share the variety of dishes. The staff were attentive and cleared empty dishes quickly. Would definitely recommend.

Have never tasted fusion food like this before👌😋

Great food friendly service

The smallest serving of stir fry and rice I’ve ever seen. Veggie stir fry only has green beans and brócoli only 4 pieces. It seemed like a joke. For $15 this was extremely poor. Coming from Melbourne we have high expectations of Asian food. So surprised this place rates so high? calamari tasted average like you would get at any cafe not a thai restaurant which usually has a unique flavor. The sauce it came with was bland.

First meal in Wellington and I’m so glad I came to this place for lunch! $15 and I could get a bao with soft shell crab, 3 chicken wings, small pho broth and a tiny piece of brownie.<br/><br/>The bao was so soft and the soft shell crab was nicely fried and crunchy. The sauce inside the bao was so yum! Wings were really juicy but I personally think that it was not enough flavour (or maybe because the pho broth was savoury and masked the taste of the wings). Pho broth smelt and tasted really good! In fact when I entered the place I could already smell the nice broth and made me really want to order pho but at the same time I also wanted to try their bao.:) <br/><br/>Well the food didn’t disappoint me and I highly recommend this place if you are travelling to Wellington!

Getting the $15 lunch deal is a very good option, as it comes with a variety of food. This is also a good place to go with vegetarians and vegans as there are many options for them to choose from. The staff is always lovely and the food is delicious

FOOD 3/5<br/>SERVICE 1/5<br/>AMBIENCE 3/5<br/>PRICE 2/5<br/><br/>Our family of six came here for lunch a couple of days ago for the very first time.<br/><br/>While the food was quite nice and the ambience was quite exciting, it didn't hide the fact the it was all kinda spoilt by the long 50 minutes wait for our food to arrive. We had to ask our waiter several times when is our food coming and he kept saying that it won't be long.<br/><br/>I don't think we will be back again as there are now similar Asian restaurants nearby with even better authentic Vietnamese food, lower prices, and half the wait time.

Food: 5/5<br/>Service: 5/5<br/>Ambience: 4/5<br/>Price: 4/5<br/><br/>Coming from a gal who’s favourite cuisine is Vietnamese, this place was absolutely delicious. Every mouthful was bursting with the perfect balance of flavours and hit the right spot. <br/><br/>We ordered the “Five spice roasted pork bun” (4/5), “Bun cha hanoi” (5/5) and the “Creamy Chicken curry” (5/5). <br/><br/>Five Spice Roasted Pork Bun - The bao itself was nice, soft and squishy. The filling inside was OK, found it a little bit dry, but flavours were all there. <br/><br/>Bun Cha Hanoi - I was blown away of how authentic it tasted.<br/><br/>Creamy Chicken Curry - YUM YUM YUM! Creamy and so flavoursome. I was left wanting more. A must try!! <br/><br/><br/>

A group of us who always lunch together went to The Old Quarter today. We’ve been there before and really enjoyed the food, ambience and service. <br/>Today, sadly, while the food was as good as ever - a waiter somewhat ruined the experience.<br/>I am prepared to bet he doesn’t have a equity stake in the place given his surly demeanour and rude behaviour.<br/>The waitress on duty was everything he wasn’t and compensated for his rudeness - if I was the owner, I’d put him on dishwashing duties until he left the establishment.<br/>Onto the food - one had the vegetarian option and was well pleased, three had the chicken curry, one had Satays on lemon grass stalks, another the green curry and another a pho bowl that he pronounced delightful.<br/>We’ll be back - hopefully today’s waiter will be gone

Really cool ambiance and has a typical hipster trendy vibe to it. <br/>The baos were not that great but the other mains were okay so overall the food was good. <br/>I love the baos from chinoiserie so they just didn’t compare although their bun itself was really soft and fluffy so I think it was the filling that could be better. <br/>Overall I think if you try this place once youd be happy but I might come back to their other dishes since they do a lot more than baos!

Went here for lunch and got one of the $15 lunch specials (bbq chicken bao, 3x fries pork dumpling, cup of broth, small brownie) and it was DELICIOUS. Bone broth was a serious stand out, will have to get pho next time because the broth was that good. But everything I had on my plate was stacked full of flavour. Lots of gf, vegan and vegetarian options. Only thing I’d say is if you’re feeling particularly or you’re a big eater would be to order something bigger than the lunch special.

Dunno why I'd never been here before. Fresh, yummy food with enough vegan options to make you feel like you actually have a choice. Fresh funky decor too. Friendly staff. Would give 4.5 stars as a more accurate review as food is good while not absolutely amazing, still will definitely be coming back!

This is one amazing place. The service was fast and food was scrumptious. There was a huge variety of food if you like this type of food. We will be back.

Three of us had the bao and dumplings $15 lunch special today. It’s a great way to try three main course dishes. The salt and pepper soft shell crab came in a light and fluffy bao bun, complemented by kimchi mayo. Three chicken and mushroom dumplings were well balanced with pho broth and spring onions. It was all finished off with a small piece of brownie swimming in chocolate sauce. Good value and friendly service.

Yeah MFs! This place is where its at! Tried the $15 lunch special and I am hooked! My friend had the beef curry and it was jam packed with flavour. I had the soft shell crab bao and dumplings :) yep this place does good dumplings.<br/>This is also the first time I've had a bao that doesn't have a dry bun!!! What was also awesome and unexpected was a chocolate brownie to finish off!<br/><br/>Big ups to the front of house staff too 👌. #1fan

Cute little hole in the wall that doesn't look too impressive if you're standing on the street. The food is amazing and full of flavor. We had the Duck curry, chicken wings, pork ribs & shaking beef. <br/><br/>The duck was cooked to perfection and the lychees added a wonderful pop of sweetness to the creamy duck curry. The beef was cooked medium rare and was beautiful to eat. The pork ribs and chicken wings weren't anything too out of the ordinary but still pretty tasty. <br/><br/>The service was top notch with extremely attentive wait staff. The menu was explained to us clearly and when we asked for recommendations the wait staff was completely honest! Not something you see everywhere. <br/><br/>Overall, a really great place for a nice dinner with friends or even a funky date night.

This pl is lovely and affordable - good service. has a bunch of great $15 lunch deals on offer (see pics). The Bahn mi was on the small side tho. Pho & pork noodles were a top pick from my group - biggest portions The vegetarian option was nice. I will be back to try some bao & a duck salad.

Excellent service from start to finish. Food was fresh and tasty. Soft shell crab bao along with the duck to start - generous serving and delivered quickly. Mains were coconut salmon and grandmas curry - again arrived quickly and we faultless. I would probably order a side of rice next time I get the salmon. All in all fantastic meal, great casual dining experience.<br/>

4 adults ate lunch here. Absolutely fantastic. Couldn’t have asked for better service or food. The toilets sadly let this great restaurant down. 4/10 for the men’s toilets. Having said all this, we’ll come back here again cos the food is so good, when we visit Wellington. Well done.

We have enjoyed a couple of really great meals here over the past couple of months (Oct/Dec), firstly as a couple, then as a group of 5. Both times, we have been well impressed with the variety of flavours and textures on offer, with each dish vying for favourite of the night. The bao buns are essential to start off the night on a high note. On the last outing, we had the pork, BBQ chicken, crab and eggplant baos, chicken wings, chicken dumplings, zucchini fritters, pork spare ribs, mango salad, Banh Xeo pancakes, bun cha Hanoi, creamy chicken curry, and shaking beef sirloin. The only dish that failed to impress was the shaking beef, but otherwise each dish was fought over till gone. The cocktails and beverage menu caters for most, and the ambience is bright and colourful, themed on Vietnamese colours. For the 5 of us, it worked out to $203 for food, and $118 for drinks. They do accept vouchers, which one our party redeemed for the arty and saved us $35 off the price. Highly recommended.

Beautiful food ! Amazing friendly service.. relaxing vibes when dinning in and quick friendly service when ordering take out !! Love that there is delivery also.. <br/>

Vegetarians x2 for lunch - not the biggest fan of cilantro which was in both but of course it is a main component of vietnamese food. $15 each for the lunch special.<br/><br/>Great atmosphere and chill staff.<br/><br/>Had the vegetarian option with the rolls which had a great sauce to go with it, and tasty salad. The sweet/sticky rice was a nice dessert with the mango, although a little sweet.<br/><br/>The vegan green curry wasnt heavy and had plenty of beans to go with. Potato was great in it but not much of it. Pretty good balance with the rice although I had to be very conscious about it.

Disappointed. Service and food were average, beef curry was swimming in oil. You need to love your customers guys, so many places to eat in Wellington!

We were so impressed with our meal last night. Everything was fresh, delicious and so so flavoursome. We ordered the crying tiger, Peking duck, chicken dumplings and mango salad. Each had so much flavour, think the duck was probably our favourite but hard to choose really. We then had the sticky rice pudding and coconut pannacotta. The rice was yummy but the pannacotta was out of this world. Definitely my new fav place to go in all of Wellington

Thank goodness I tried the Bo Kho before it taken off the menu! A hearty bowl of beef goodness with a freshly-made baguette to soak up all the yummy juices. First-timer here - will definitely go back to try their new $15 lunch deals!

As a person of colour...........I just have to say..........that fusion pineapple duck curry shit was fkn weird...........................definitely not ordering that again

Food, ambience, service were excellent. First, the ambience. I really get the street market vibe with the noise and proximity with other diners. The service was fantastic! Servers were very courteous, helpful, friendly. The bar manager greeted me right from the start when I was waiting to be seated. Food was splendid! The Vietnamese flavors really came thru, that tarty, citrusy, spiciness. Loved it! Had the duck, pork, fish, beef dishes. The "Crying Tiger" beef was seared really well, while still rare in the middle like a Tataki! Last word, it was packed all the way till 9pm, near closing time, so that itself speaks volumes about this place!<br/><br/>Updated: The second time going the food was equally consistent! Service was also very good. I don't understand why the low ratings for this restaurant here. Had Caramelised Pork Belly, Crying Tiger (Wakanui beef), Pork Spare Ribs, Soft Shell Crab Bao. Combination sure went well, with Hanoi beer to wash it all down! My friends all agreed the food was fresh, nice balance of sweet and sour flavors, really kudos to the skills of the chefs!

Extremely poor service<br/>Partner booked online for dinner at 6.30 as we were in Wellington on my birthday and I had requested Vietnamese. Menu looked appealing. Server arrived to take our order within 5 mins of being seated, felt a bit rushed but ordered anyway. Decided on 2 smaller dishes to share as appetizers and a curry and rice each. First dish - a rare beef type of appetizer arrived 5 minutes later followed immediately by the curries before we had even finished the beef.There was barely room on the table and we felt pressured to finish the beef before the curries got cold. Flavours were reasonable - good vietnamese salsa for the beef although the serving was small. Duck curry mild but tasty enough. Beef curry tender, flavour not quite to my taste. Again before finishing these the final appetizer of popcorn chicken was delivered. This was overly salty bar food. We finished the food and ordered a second drink each feeling disappointed at the poor timing of the food. The server brought the bill over at this stage and we felt pressured to leave despite it being before 8.00! We chose to ignore the bill and a few minutes later the server reappeared asking if we were going to be much longer as they had booked the table for 8.00!! This was not mentioned on the online booking or when we arrived or we would have gone elsewhere. We left at 8.00 feeling extremely disappointed with the service we had received.

Went here for lunch with a colleague. Busy lunchtime spot. Cool decor. We ordered and waited for about half an hour for a bun. Too long for a lunchtime takeaway. <br/><br/>Bun was nice; it didn’t blow me away, especially after the wait but was enjoyable enough; quite small too.<br/><br/>I’d sit in next time; but not in a rush to return.

We ordered the rare beef pho, bum cha hanoi, and tropical duck curry. The pho was the best dish we ordered, the broth was pleasantly tasty, rice noodles cooked to perfection, and the beef was tender. Bum cha were good, but the pork tasted a bit bland and got overpowered by the herbs. The curry was fruity indeed but it was a bit too sweet for our liking. Service was nothing special either. Overall, it was just okay, nothing mind-blowing. Worth a try still for the pho.

This a busy eating spot so i would recommend making a booking.  Very good service . I had the apple salad, all the elements worked well together, i liked the heat of the chilli and the freshness of the apple in one bite.

Ordered the mango salad, summer rolls, and bao buns. Food looked really nice and prices are pretty reasonable but taste average. Would still recommend the place!

First of all, the food were good with a reasonable selection of Southeast Asian dishes.. the service however was a bit patchy from time to time. Came to ask twice half way through the dinner that whether we want to take food away. Also, when we requested things they didn’t arrive until being asked few times. Place is also quite noisy for my liking.

We dined at The Old Quarter on a Sunday night as a group of 5. My wife and I ordered two bao buns, Pho, Bun Cha Hanoi and Chocolate Mousse. Everything was very tasty and we were in a food coma afterward. There was alittle too much sauce in the bbq chicken bao buns (masked the bbq taste) for me. Staff was very friendly and approachable. Good for groups and couples. 100% will come again :)

Booked a table got 5 on a Sunday night, and despite us running 10 minutes late, our table was still reserved! Some of the things we ordered were a beef pho, the grandma's curry and the caramelised pork belly. They were amazing dishes, with great flavours. And they came out within 10 minutes of us ordering. We also ordered a couple of chocolate mousses and they were smashing. Overall, a very wonderful dining experience with great customer service.Lendl Oosthuizen

A tasty evening. Have had the old quarter delivered several times before dining in. The drinks were delicious including the champagne fizz that had a succulent lychee in it. Two essentially “gin and tonics” followed by the softshell crab baos. Light buns and crunchy batter and the kimchi mayo is a nice touch. The appe salad and bun cha were also full of flavour and not too heavy. I can also vouch for grandma’s beef curry, the salt and pepper squud, green beans and the mango salad. The lamb rack is also outstanding!

Delicious Vietnamese fare. We shared a myriad of dishes including:<br/>crying tiger- delicious succulent beef<br/>Peking duck- ah-mazing. Sauce was tasty and lettuce wraps were very refreshing. <br/>Beef curry- very fragrant and not heavy or overpowering. Beef pulled away beautifully. <br/>Tofu bao- yum! Sauces and pickled veggies worked really well together. <br/>Salt and pepper squid- very well cooked. Generous serving sizes. <br/>Staff were very attentive and friendly. Will definitely be back.