Paua pies, Pacific pizzas, and plenty of love at Pepe's Cafe

Step inside Pepe’s Café, and you will be greeted by the unmistakable scent of freshly baked pies - those that transport you from an industrial estate in Porirua straight to your grandparents’ dining table.

At Pepe’s, stories are shared just as easily as plates filled with povi masima (salted brisket) and taro, or canned spaghetti and pisupo (canned corned beef). Every dish carries the warmth of home.

For owner Yanah Partsch, whose lineage stretches from Tawa, Wellington, to Nono’a Saleimoa and Lotopa in Upolu, food is about more than just flavour; it’s about connection, comfort, and culture.

“We definitely wanted it to be a place for our people where they felt like it was a taste of home,” Partsch says.

“When our elders were coming in saying they heard about us from lotu (church), that’s when we realised we were doing something right. Because if good words are going through lotu, you must be doing something right.”

Partsch smiles as she recalls moments when local faifeau (ministers) gather around a table at Pepe’s, sharing kai and kōrero. “It’s these moments when you think, ‘Yeah, we’re doing something good for our community.”

From pies to Pacific Pizzas

What began with homemade paua pies in the family kitchen has grown into a menu filled with Pacific flavours. Pepe’s paua pie remains the best-seller, and is a nostalgic taste for many customers.

“Paua is black gold, you know? We have elders who come up and say they haven’t had paua in over 10 years. To see them enjoy it again is really special,” Partsch says.

Alongside classics like povi masima pie and luau pie, Partsch says the team is constantly pushing creative boundaries, trying new creations and flavour combinations. This includes a lu’au burger, paua wontons, and innovations like a sosisi (sausage) curry pie or a pisupo and keleve (gravy) pie.

Pepe’s has added a new twist to the menu - Pacific Pizzas. These thin and crispy bases feature toppings that reflect island favourites.

Their Le Samoana Pizza has a luau base topped with povi masima, fa’alifu kalo (cooked taro with coconut cream), cheese, and sweet chilli. Other offerings include the Saucy Bolos Pizza with sweet and sour meatballs, a seafood boil pizza, and even a boil-up pizza.

“It’s all about taking the food we know and love and putting it in a new form.”

Pepe's Café dinner menu. Photo/Facebook

Flavourful language weeks

The café also marks Pacific Language Weeks with special creations. For Le Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa, Pepe’s served a falai maukegi and mamoe pie (fried pumpkin and lamb), while for Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga, they introduced a lusipi pie.

During Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, the team rolled out a hangi pie.

“We’re always trying new things. It’s about making sure our Pacific culture is coming through strongly in what we do - not just in the food, but in the way we serve. There’s a lot of love in our food and the way we care for our people.”

Community, family, and growth

Behind the counter, Pepe’s is a family affair. Partsch co-owns the café with her partner, James Tangitamaiti, who helps with the baking, while her mother contributes items like sapa sui, panipopo, and “the best” oka.

The staff also bring their own skills, offering Māori fry bread and plenty of other homestyle dishes.

Pepe’s Café first opened in April 2024, and it quickly became a hit, clearing trays in just two hours. Since then, the business has experienced highs and lows.

The rising cost-of-living squeeze has made things tougher, but Partsch says they are determined to keep innovating.

Their food truck is soon to be back on the road again, bringing Pepe’s menu to community gatherings, from church conferences to local festivals.

Looking ahead, Partsch dreams of opening more sites in central Wellington and beyond. “Where we are now was always supposed to be just a starting point. We’d love to expand, but for now, it’s about focusing on what we do and doing it well.”

Hearty servings of love. Photo/Facebook

Every bite’s a taste of home

Pepe’s motto is simple: every bite is a taste of home.

“We want people to feel connected to where they’re from,” Partsch says. “But even if you’re not Pasifika, we just want you to walk out feeling satisfied, like your money was well spent and your taste buds were happy.”

She’s quick to acknowledge the team and family behind the café’s success. “Nothing we do would be possible without them. Working in food is hard - some days are harder than others. But we’re still here because of the support around us.

Pepe’s Café is located at 10 Broken Hill Road, Kenepuru, Porirua. Keep an eye on their social media pages for updates on their food truck at upcoming community events.