Three Donkeys
MondayClosed.
TuesdayClosed.
WednesdayClosed.
Thursday5:00 – 9:30 pm.
Friday5:00 – 9:30 pm.
Saturday5:00 – 9:30 pm.
SundayClosed.
Located in the heart of New Brighton, Three Donkeys is a small restaurant focused on an authentic yet elegantly modern take on Indian and Japanese cuisine. The menu embodies a unique blend of ethnic and progressive dishes offering meat, poultry and seafood plus vegetarian and vegan options. Their mission is to provide vibrant food and beautifully constructed dishes that surprise and intrigue. The team can also create tailor-made menus to your taste on request.
Chef Samson Samikannu started his culinary journey in his mother's kitchen in Pondichery, India, and is trained by some of the best chefs in France. In 2021, he opened The Three Donkeys restaurant, a place to share the flavours and cuisines he grew to love over the years. Samson loves to explore how food can promote energy and engagement amongst diners. Upon visiting, you might also recall Samson and his familiar smile from his food cart, The Rolling Om, in The Arts Centre.
The restaurant's interior was renovated by local artist Chris Reddington using as many recycled materials as possible, creating a sociable and relaxed dining atmosphere. Sharing Carnaby Lane with some quality neighbours such as The Burger Joint and Switch New Brighton, Three Donkeys is a much welcomed addition to the small but popular New Brighton food scene.
Words by Johnny Gibson & Photography by Nancy Zhou
Information not correct? Report an error
Location
78 Brighton Mall, New Brighton, Christchurch
Nearby Places
Saturdays
Saturdays is a celebration of not just the weekend, but every day. It’s an ode to what saturdays stand for: slowing down, enjoying one another and pairing it all with excellent food and drink.
Switch New Brighton
Switch is a bit of an institution of the seaside suburb of New Brighton.
He Puna Taimoana
Nestled beside the sandy beaches of New Brighton, you’ll find He Puna Taimoana, aka the New Brighton Hot Pools, boasting five luxurious hot pools with jaw dropping...
The Burger Joint
The Burger Joint has an ethos that is plain and simple – and pretty hard to miss, with it boldly printed across the entranceway: Real Food, Real Local.
Similar Places
Smokey T's
Expect the softest, juiciest slow cooked meat you’ve ever tasted at Smokey T's.
The Beer Library
Listen up craft beer lovers of Christchurch and beyond, if you haven’t already visited The Beer Library, you must rectify this situation immediately.
BUTTER Pastry
At the Phillipstown end of Tuam Street in Christchurch stands a small kitchen where award winning pastry chef Corentin Esquenet works his magic.
Eruption Brewing
Located on the main drag of the harbourside township of Lyttelton, Eruption Brewing is a destination for good beer, good food and good vibes.
Featured in
New Brighton
Bygone days of seaside prosperity linger in the eastern suburb of New Brighton, but don’t be surprised if you fall for its current scruffy charm. With newly emerging hospitality, He Puna Taimoana hot pools and eighteen kilometres of sandy coastline, New Brighton has a distinctive appeal.
Having famously gained popularity in the 1960s - when New Brighton was the only shopping centre open on a Saturday in Christchurch - crowds would routinely flock to the shops where they could pick up their wares, an ice cream and stroll along the pier. Nowadays, locals and visitors alike can still be seen meandering down the longest pier in Australasia and breathing in some of that salty sea air.
Best of 2023: The Neatest Newcomers of Christchurch’s Food Scene
