Wellington’s beloved Malaysian restaurant, Little Penang, is coming to Auckland for a fully immersive restaurant takeover, offering dinner sittings.
A full à la carte menu has been created for the occasion, blending Little Penang’s fragrant and unique take on Nyonya-style Perikanan flavours with Harbour Society’s refined bistro edge, all heightened by SO/ Auckland’s signature mānuka wood-fired grill.
Some of the Malaysian comfort classics Little Penang is known for will receive a chic spin exclusively for this takeover.
Key dishes from the special menu include: Otak Otak, a spiced fish custard wrapped in banana leaf; Kapitan Curry, a fragrant Nyonya-style chicken curry; and Rendang Tok, a rich, dry-style beef rendang.
Small and large plates are available on the menu, allowing foodies to create their own dinner adventure entirely. There are also fragrant desserts, such as selections of Nyonya Kuih and colourful Bubur Cha Cha.
The SO/ Auckland x Little Penang Takeover is the second fully immersive restaurant pop-up hosted at the hotel in 2025. In May, Charley Noble set up shop for three sold-out nights.
“This is more than a takeover, it’s personal. The Little Penang team are like family to me here,” said SO/ Auckland’s Director of Culinary Chef Roy Giam, originally hailing from Malaysia and whose local culinary career took off in Wellington.
“It’s going to be a fragrant, fun take on the ultra-rich and bold cuisine of Nyonya. Having Aunty Bee in our kitchen is incredibly special.”
Tee Phee, the owner of Little Penang, shared the sentiment. She added that the takeover provided an excellent opportunity to share Malay heritage and culture through food from recipes handed down through the generations.
Aunty Bee (Tee Phee’s sister, and an iconic personality in the Little Penang world) will be present across the takeover with a splash of dinnertime interaction. As the matriarch behind many dishes, Bee’s touch is central to Little Penang’s food.
Growing up in the British Colonial era, she honed her cooking skills by learning from her mother, grandmother, and aunts, who cooked for endless festivities and made everything from scratch in their kitchens.
The SO/ Auckland x Little Penang Takeover will take place from the 3rd to the 5th of July at SO/ Auckland’s 15th-floor restaurant, Harbour Society.
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