Mr. Ji’s Kitchen

I don’t agreed that it is a authentic Chinese restaurant. I had once take away there, and most of their dishes are fried sliced meat stir-​fried with other ingredients with the same flavor. While we was waiting for our order, there was one people got his phone order missed. I have never dined in, and I have no intention to do so.

Carrots in Kung Po chicken? The staff was very un attentive to us, we were thinking perhaps we were unwelcome pakeha. Or perhaps because we had a child who only ordered fried rice. Overall it was a very unpleasant experience and with so many choices within walking distance, Asian and otherwise which treat us better, can’t see returning here again.

Mr. Ji’s Kitchen has to be one of my favourite Chinese restaurants in Wellington.
The menu offers an extensive variety of traditional Chinese cuisine and it also includes a few Malaysian choices if you feel like something different.
Everything is very well-​priced, the staff are friendly, and the environment is nice, however, the interior and the toilets are in desperate need of an upgrade.
Try one or their sizzling hot plates and you will be amazed — the dishes are packed with flavour.
The restaurant is BYO and it also offers some very cheap, non-​alcoholic drinks.
Next time you’re over in Petone, give Mr. Ji’s a go — you’ll definitely come back for more.

Mr. Ji’s Kitchen is probably the best authentic Chinese restaurant in Wellington and its surrounding suburbs.
I say this without hesitation as I’ve pretty much been to all of them in search of good Chinese food.
You see all of these 5 star reviews, and they’re pretty spot on for a few dishes made famous by a local restaurant reviewer, but there are some other gems here that I think the Kiwi audience should consider.
The braised eggplant — Yu xiang qie zi (literally translated to «fish fragrant eggplant» even though there’s not one ounce of fish or seafood in it, it’s just a name) is fantastic with a bowl of steamed rice. Saucy, savoury, intensely soul-​satisfying.
Cumin lamb — very traditionally crafted with lots of spicy, numbing effects and, of course, cumin. There’s also a lamb dish with spring onions that takes me back to my childhood of good Chinese food from the North.
Stir-​fried potato strips — Yes, stir-​fried potatoes! Very tasty and totally different from the usual chips and mash and baked versions from the West. Coincidentally, the Chinese name for potato is «tu dou» which literally translates to «ground bean.» Cute name, don’t you think?
Get a side of greens, a soup and maybe a dandan or noodle dish and you’re set for a Chinese-​feast extravaganza.
Note: They serve Malaysian-​style food here (probably to appease the uninformed masses), but if you order it, you will be missing out on some of the best Chinese food in town. For the love of god, go somewhere else for your curries and mee goreng. If you order that stuff here, you’re likely to be disappointed and other diners will look at you and laugh.