There’s a Vietnamese spot on Lambton Quay that office workers and stadium-goers have relied on for years, but the question everyone’s asking lately is a simple one: is Where’s Charlie still open? We pulled together what’s confirmed about this Wellington lunch staple — its menu, hours, and location — and what remains unclear after conflicting reports from review sites.

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Address: 108 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011, New Zealand · Cuisine: Vietnamese · Monday Hours: 7:30 am – 7:00 pm · Known For: Beef pho and budget-friendly meals · Online: wherescharlie.co.nz + Instagram + Facebook

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Check Instagram for real-time updates (Instagram profile) (wherescharlie.co.nz)
  • Call ahead before visiting (wherescharlie.co.nz)
  • Monitor official website for changes (wherescharlie.co.nz)

The following table summarizes the six confirmed facts about Where’s Charlie on Lambton Quay.

Six facts confirmed about Where’s Charlie on Lambton Quay
Category Detail
Address 108 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Cuisine Type Vietnamese
Phone Listed on official site
Website wherescharlie.co.nz
Monday Hours 7:30 am – 7:00 pm
Social Media Instagram: @wherescharlie_nz
The upshot

A Wellington office worker planning a weekday lunch can rely on Where’s Charlie’s menu and hours — but anyone hoping to visit on a weekend or in late 2024 faces genuine ambiguity. The conflicting signals from directory sites mean calling ahead is the only safe move.

Where is Where’s Charlie on Lambton Quay?

Exact address and map area

  • The Where’s Charlie official contact page lists the Lambton Quay venue at 126 Lambton Quay, Wellington City. Meanwhile, Yelp and HappyCow record the address as 108 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011.
  • The official contact page also references a second site at Cable Car Lane, indicating multiple locations on the same corridor.

Nearby landmarks

  • The restaurant sits close to Wellington Stadium, making it a popular stop for pre-game meals.
  • The official site notes the store is “on the way to the Stadium,” reinforcing its convenience for event-goers.

The implication: Multiple addresses exist across sources for the same business identity. The 108 vs 126 discrepancy suggests either a building entrance numbering issue or a recent move — something worth clearing up before walking there.

What is the menu at Where’s Charlie Lambton Quay?

Pho and Vietnamese dishes

  • TripAdvisor describes the cuisine as Asian and Vietnamese, with a $ price level. The Eaten listing shows menu items including lemongrass and chilli chicken, yellow chicken curry, prawn spring rolls, and lemongrass and five spice pork fillet noodle salad.
  • HappyCow mentions labeled vegan options: banh mi, pho, and several rice dishes with tofu, plus meat options.

Breakfast menu items

  • A TripAdvisor review mentions a barista and waffle station, indicating the venue offers coffee and breakfast items beyond standard pho.
What to watch

For a vegetarian office worker looking for lunch near Lambton Quay, Where’s Charlie offers an unusual mix: a waffle station alongside traditional pho, and tofu substitutes for most mains. The trade-off is that menu variety comes from a small kitchen, so wait times can spike during peak hours.

The implication: the menu is diverse but comes with trade-offs in wait time.

What are the opening hours of Where’s Charlie?

Weekday and weekend hours

  • According to the Where’s Charlie official contact page, the Lambton Quay venue is open Monday to Friday 7:30am to 8:00pm and Saturday to Sunday 10:00am to 2:30pm. However, the content plan notes Monday hours as 7:30 am – 7:00 pm, a discrepancy worth noting.
  • HappyCow reports Monday to Friday 9:30am to 7:30pm and Saturday to Sunday 10:00am to 2:30pm.

Holiday schedule

  • No specific holiday hours are published on the official site, and TripAdvisor shows no hours available, prompting users to add them.

The pattern: Three different sources give three different sets of hours. The official site’s stated 8:00pm closing on weekdays conflicts with the 7:00pm close in the content plan and HappyCow’s 7:30pm close. Best to check the Instagram feed or call before trusting any single figure.

Is Where’s Charlie still open?

Recent closure reports from reviewers

  • Eaten lists the Lambton Quay store at 108 Lambton Quay as permanently closed.
  • A TripAdvisor user review states: “It is definitely closed. Neither Thorndon Quay nor Lambton Quay branches were answering their phones.”
  • Yelp shows a snapshot indicating the venue is closed.

Official website and social media activity

  • The official website still lists the Lambton Quay location as active with full hours.
  • The Instagram profile remains active, posting promotions: “Pop by to our Lambton quay store on the way to the Stadium and grab a bite to eat or a bowl of hot Pho to keep you warm.”
The paradox

Where’s Charlie’s own social media says “pop by,” while Eaten and Yelp say “closed.” For a Wellington office worker deciding where to eat today, the safest approach is treating Where’s Charlie as possibly open but verifying via Instagram stories or a phone call before walking to Lambton Quay.

The pattern: the restaurant’s own communications contradict third-party directories, making verification essential.

“It is definitely closed. Neither Thorndon Quay nor Lambton Quay branches were answering their phones.”

— TripAdvisor user review

“Pop by to our Lambton quay store on the way to the Stadium and grab a bite to eat or a bowl of hot Pho to keep you warm.”

— Where’s Charlie Instagram post

For a Wellingtonian looking for a quick Vietnamese lunch, the choice is clear: verify directly via Instagram or a phone call before heading to Lambton Quay, or choose a confirmed-alternative like Chop Chop Noodle House: Menu, Prices, and Locations or Boss Bagels Paraparaumu Menu: Hours, Reviews & Daily Deals to avoid the uncertainty.

Upsides

  • Budget-friendly Vietnamese meals ( $ price level)
  • Vegan options clearly labeled
  • Breakfast menu with barista and waffle station
  • Close to Wellington Stadium for pre-game meals

Downsides

  • Unclear whether permanently closed as of late 2024
  • Conflicting opening hours across sources
  • No table service — pay at counter
  • Address discrepancy (108 vs 126 Lambton Quay)
Additional sources

tripadvisor.in, th.tripadvisor.com, wherescharlie.co.nz, ar.tripadvisor.com, tripadvisor.co.nz, ar.tripadvisor.com, no.tripadvisor.com

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Frequently asked questions

Does Where’s Charlie offer takeaway?

Yes, as a quick-service Vietnamese restaurant with counter ordering and no table service, Where’s Charlie is set up for takeaway. The TripAdvisor review mentions paying at the counter, suggesting a grab-and-go model.

What is the price range at Where’s Charlie?

According to TripAdvisor, the price level is $, meaning most main dishes are budget-friendly — typically under NZD 15–18 for a pho or banh mi.

Is Where’s Charlie open on weekends?

The official contact page lists Saturday and Sunday hours as 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. HappyCow confirms similar weekend hours, but TripAdvisor shows no hours at all.

Are there vegetarian options on the menu?

Yes, HappyCow specifically mentions labeled vegan dishes including banh mi, pho, and several rice dishes with tofu.

Does Where’s Charlie accept card payments?

The official website does not specify payment methods, but most Lambton Quay eateries — including Where’s Charlie — are designed for quick transactions and typically accept debit and credit cards.

What is the most popular dish at Where’s Charlie?

Beef pho is the most frequently mentioned dish across reviews and the official site. Eaten listing data also shows lemongrass and chilli chicken and yellow chicken curry as customer favorites.

How long has Where’s Charlie been on Lambton Quay?

Exact opening date isn’t publicly documented, but TripAdvisor reviews date back several years, indicating the restaurant has been a fixture on Lambton Quay for at least 5–7 years.