Pepe’s Café

Celebrating island flavours with a local twist, Pepe's Café is Porirua's very own modern Pacific eatery. Perched at the edge of an industrial estate on Broken Hill Road, this compact café transforms humble flavours, rich in nostalgia, into fresh, exciting dishes made with alofa.

What began as a dream to bring everyday Pacific home cooking into a modern café setting, a place where people from the Pacific could see themselves reflected in something new and innovative, has blossomed into much more. Pepe, meaning "baby" in Samoan, is the nickname of owners Yanah Partsch and James Tangitamaiti's daughter, but it also means "butterfly", a nod to transformation and growth.

Known especially for its creative takes on a Kiwi classic (the good old hearty pie), Pepe’s adopts a down-to-earth approach to contemporary café life. Outside, traditional tones of red, black, and white complement the lush bush of Colonial Knob overhead, while two picnic tables in front of long rectangular windows establish a welcoming feel. Step inside and you’ll feel like you've stumbled into a family kitchen that's quietly evolved into the neighbourhood's favourite spot. Salvaged pallets form the counter, cans of corned beef have been repurposed as salt shakers; the scene is familiar yet polished, with sprinkles of island soul throughout.

Honouring flavours of home such as boil-up, taro, coconut cream and corned beef, Pepe’s signature pies range from povi masima and lūʻau to seafood chowder and creamy paua. Looking for something heartier? Try the boil-up pizza with buttermilk chicken and paua-loaded fries, or Raro donut burgers as a sweeter option. With limited-edition items popping up regularly, including those that celebrate the Pacific Language Weeks, and a lunch menu that changes daily, Pepe's continually redefines what island food looks like.

Whether you’re a local tradie grabbing a pie on the go or someone sitting down to a plate that stirs memories of back home, at Pepe’s Cafe, food is love and connection. Relaxed, welcoming and proudly Pacific, every dish carries with it heritage, hard work and home.