New Zealand’s first dedicated khao soi eatery has made its way north, bringing the flavours of Northern Thailand to the heart of Remuera after first building a following in Wellington. The concept began with Yor Yak Thai Eatery, before evolving into Khao Soi Welly Eatery in 2025, with one dish at its centre from the beginning: the deeply comforting curry noodle bowl for which the restaurant is named.

Khao soi is a Northern Thai staple built around contrast. A fragrant, richly spiced curry broth carries soft egg noodles or rice noodles and slow-cooked meat, before a tangle of crisp fried noodles is piled over the top. Pickled mustard greens, shallots and fresh lime cut through the richness, bringing brightness and acidity to each spoonful. It is layered, generous and deeply satisfying, with the sort of balance that makes the bowl feel far more considered than its comfort-food credentials might suggest.

That same Northern Thai sensibility runs through the wider menu, where herbal grilled chicken, sai oua sausage and other small plates sit alongside the signature noodle bowls. Thai-inspired drinks and bingsu round things out, while the Remuera dining room keeps things warm and understated, with timber, woven details and amber light giving the space an easy intimacy.

For anyone yet to try khao soi, this is a compelling introduction. For those already converted, Khao Soi’s arrival in Auckland gives the dish a dedicated home, and one that feels particularly well suited to the way we want to eat now.

khaosoi.nz