Little Borneo Hobart — Restaurant in Hobart

For our final night in Tassie, we were staying in North Hobart and wanted to keep dinner local. While browsing options, we came across a recommendation on the Australian Good Food Guide and were instantly intrigued—especially when we saw Nasi Lemak and other classics on the menu. With strong reviews and an already tempting lineup, we decided to give Little Borneo Hobart a try.

We ordered the nasi goreng, sambal eggplant, and kolo mee—and wow. As someone who is half Indonesian and has spent a fair amount of time in Southeast Asia over the years, I’ve had the chance to try my fair share of Indonesian and Malaysian cuisine, both overseas and at highly regarded spots around Melbourne and Sydney. Let me say: Little Borneo Hobart stands out head and shoulders above the rest.

The authenticity, quality of ingredients, depth of spice, and boldness of flavour absolutely slapped! It reminded me of the humble excellence I’d expect from a longtime favourite like VN Street Food in Marrickville. Having dined at Mamak in Haymarket and Laksa King in Flemington, I can confidently say that Little Borneo is a step above. If I were a local, I’d be coming back every other week.

There are just a couple of small points of feedback I’d like to gently offer. One of our mains arrived a little later than the other, and while not a big issue at all, it’s always lovely when mains come out together so everyone can begin eating at the same time. The second point is about the decor—it could benefit from a bit of thoughtful curation to better reflect the warmth and soul of the food. A few design tweaks could really help elevate the ambiance and make the space feel even more inviting.

That said, these are minor details in the grand scheme. The real star here is the food—and the friendly, welcoming people behind it. Little Borneo Hobart is a real gem, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for authentic, really delicious...

EXCELLENT PEOPLE, EXCELLENT PLACE! This is a place not to be missed!

Unfortunately, we were too hungry and we only managed to take one picture of the last dish!

We ordered the following:

Char Kuay Teow: This was the favourite for 4 Singaporeans! If we didn't have small tummies, we would have ordered a second serve! I would rate this 10/10 and I am not saying this because I was starving but this is really good and our favourite dish of the night! We felt that there was enough wok hei in the dish!

Wan Tan Hor: This is nice too but not as nice as the Char Kuay Teow, in my personal opinion. I would rate this 8/10 as I felt that the charring (wok hei) wasn't enough and there was a lack of vegetables.

Kolo Mee: This was like a Singapore Wonton Noodle. Personally, I wouldn't order this again and will explore other dishes instead. However, I am not a Kolo Mee fan to begin with. I would probably rate it 7/10.

Ondeh Ondeh Kueh: I would rate this 8.5/10. I love how the gula melaka flows in the mouth and it was chewy. However, we found the skin too thick.

Some brown-coloured round kueh (not sure what it was called): This was unfortunately, my least favourite food / dish / snack out of all.

Three layer milk tea: We felt that this was too milky in our opinion and could do with a bit stronger tea flavour. I would probably rate this a 6/10.

Service was 10/10! The ladies were friendly and extremely approachable. The place was immaculately clean and comfortable! We didn't have to wait too long for the food either, approximately 10 minutes?

Pricing was acceptable! With all the orders above, the total bill came out to be $66, which wasn't too expensive in our opinion, seeing that we are visiting from Melbourne.

Thank you so much for the wonderful Char Kuay Teow though! It's been a while since we had such great Char Kuay...

5 Stars - Authentic Flavors in a Convenient Location!

Little Borneo Hobart is a hidden gem that delivers an unforgettable culinary experience! The food here is nothing short of spectacular, with authentic Malaysian flavors that transport you straight to Southeast Asia. Every dish is perfectly balanced, from the rich laksa to the fragrant nasi lemak, and the portions are generous without being overwhelming.

It’s in a super convenient spot in Hobart, easy to get to, and there’s parking nearby. The vibe is chill, and the staff are really friendly. Definitely worth checking out if you’re into great food.

The location is fantastic, right in the heart of Hobart, making it super easy to find whether you’re a local or a visitor. It’s accessible by public transport,

Highly recommend Little Borneo for anyone looking for delicious, authentic food in a convenient and welcoming setting. This place is a...