Khu Khu Milford

The Verdict

If you’re a shore guy or gal then listen up. Cult vegan Thai restaurant, Khu Khu, has opened a second location in Milford, so you can fill your face with delicious vegan fare until your heart's content—and trust us, your heart will be left feeling very content after a night at Khu Khu. 

After making waves in Ponsonby, owner Michael Khuwattenasenee has teamed up with his longtime friend, Alex Huo, to make their mark on the North Shore and our taste buds couldn’t be happier. Gone are the days of shore locals having to drive across the bridge for their much-needed vegan fix. 

It’s a brand new space in a new location but their mission remains the same—to change people’s perceptions of vegan food. If it’s anything like their Ponsonby road spot, even the hardcore carnivores will be turned. 

For those of you who haven’t indulged at Khu Khu, you’ll be pleased to know that bland salads and raw veggies are not on the menu, instead sink your teeth into big, bold and boisterous dishes filled with exotic Asian flavours. Think fresh flavoursome curries, juicy stir-fries, crispy spring rolls, saucy noodles and a sweet and sour ‘chicken’ dish that’s to die for (more on that later). 

Khu Khu prides itself on bringing people together through good old-fashioned hearty food, so grab your mates and plenty of plates (trust us, you’re going to want to try it all). The crunchy kumara spring rolls drizzled with a sweet carrot sauce are the perfect appetizer, while the rice paper rolls stuffed with garden greens and a moreish peanut carrot dipping sauce will freshen up your palate. 

It’s the meat substitutes that’s got our mouths watering and taste buds tingling. Challenging the stereotype of vegan food, the delicious meat alternatives are made from soy (who knew it could taste this good). Wrap your chops around the juicy ‘pork’ belly stir-fry smothered in garlic black pepper sauce or get your slurp on with the ‘duck’ drunken noodles. 

If it’s oodles of noodles you’re after, then opt for the tempeh pad thai—classic saucy sweet rice noodles served with crunchy peanuts and organic protein-packed tempeh. Get in our bellies. 

Now it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. This dish deserves its own introduction, the ‘chicken’ sweet and sour is simply on another level and we swear this could be some of the tastiest fake chook in town—it’s perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside and comes with veggies, cashew nuts and is coated in a tangy sweet and sour sauce. Pair this with the mixed purple rice with sunflower seeds and you’ve got a dish fit for a king. Warning: this dish is extremely moreish so you may want to unbuckle your belt a tad. 

Good vegan desserts are hard to come by, but not at Khu Khu. With a little help from the dessert godmother, Mudita Cakes, their sweet offering is bangin’. The creamy pandan-flavoured cheesecake is soft and fluffy, while the piping hot date pudding smothered in caramel sauce is the perfect wintery sweet treat. 

Now what about a tipple or two to wash down all this delicious grub? With a wide range of alcoholic drinks to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice. There’s even a selection of wine on tap and a variety of cocktails to quench your thirst, oh and let’s not forget about the DIY gin and tonic. 

Boozy doesn’t always mean boujee, so if you’re looking for an alcohol-free option, the Spicee Lychee mocktail will hit the spot as well as a hearty selection of kombucha from the purest in the land—New Leaf Kombucha. 

Community is at the heart of Khu Khu, so much so that they support and donate to different charities and causes each month. So far they've helped Auckland Women's Refuge, Sustainable Coastlines, The Vegan Shop, and heaps more. 

So, whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or just open to trying new things, Khu Khu will welcome you with open arms at both locations—but be warned, your heart and taste buds are guaranteed to be captured and there's no going back. 

Image credit: Dave Marano.