Mr Go’s: A popular pan-Asian cuisine restaurant

Mr Go’s — it’s where everyone goes. And rightly so. The restaurant, specialising in pan-Asian cuisine, is a popular gathering point in the central city. It shares the Hannah Laneway with a clutch of excellent bars and restaurants all adding to the downtown buzz. Its warm wooden exterior cladding and bright green neon sign entice you in. The décor divides the dining area into ‘rooms’ with the clever use of different furnishings and floor tiles. Some areas have a bright checkered diner feel, and others are cosy with warm wooden walls.

Most nights of the week, you can count on Mr Go’s being packed to the rafters. The chances of getting a table are still good though as the restaurant has a 50% booking / 50% walk-ins policy. You won’t be waiting too long as the restaurant seats 140 and features a large, all-weather outdoor area. If you do have to wait a little while the bar is big and offers a great selection of drinks to help you work up an appetite.

A bartender shakes a cocktail behind the bar at Mr Go's.

Two friends chat over drinks at Mr. Go's in Wellington. They're sitting next to each other on a pale blue bench along a decorative wooden wall and their drinks are served in animal-shaped cups.

A close-up of three dishes on a table at Mr. Go's. A person uses chopsticks to pick up a prawn from one of the plates.

The front door of Mr Go's restaurant located on Eva Street in Wellington's city centre with wooden garden beds, white walls and a green sign.

Officially, Mr Go’s serves “modern pan-Asian” cuisine. Unofficially, the mantra in the kitchen is “quality, quick, and tasty”. The menu focuses on Taiwanese and Chinese food with nods to Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan. The portions are designed to share so you have a good chance of trying most cuisines.

You’re welcome to order for yourself or take a convivial approach to food selection. Grab a gua bao (steamed bun) and then two or three other plates to share with the table. Some dishes have a cult following. The Kung Pao cauliflower, Taiwanese popcorn chicken, and cream cheese wontons are perennially popular. There would be rioting in the streets if they are ever taken off the menu. There are plenty of other fabulous flavours if you delve deeper into the menu.

The drinks menu features a good selection of New Zealand wines and local craft beers, but the real stars are the cocktails. There are plenty of classics plus some wild ones served in novelty tiki mugs. Like everything Mr Go’s does, they’re bright, fun, a bit surprising, and so delicious you’ll be happy to join the waiting list for your next one.

Four different dishes on a table at Mr. Go's.

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