New Zealand restaurant triggers controversy, sparks off online criticisms over 'racist menu'

The controversy is centring around a restaurant in Christchurch city of New Zealand named Bamboozle.

As per media reports, the restaurant features food items with controversial names like "Chirri Garrik an Prawn Dumpring" and "Ho Lee Kok".

"Some of the other dishes on the menu include "Eja Ku Rait" and "Tay's Velly Special Penang Style Seafood", a reference to how some Chinese speakers are seen to mix up the pronunciation of the letters L and R," BBC reported.

One Alice Galletly used Twitter to first share the controversially named menu of the restaurant when she posted images on social media.

Alice Galletly tweeted: "Ho lee phuk, the menu for Bamboozle restaurant in Chch is some super juvenile racist trash!"

Another social media user, whose handle was named as 2Tapu, remarked: "Lots of incredible Kiwi chefs and restaurants: let’s give the racist ones a miss #ByeByeBamboozle."

A Twitter user named Grant Shimmin said the restaurant will no more be visited following the incident.

Grant Shimmin posted: "This. Will never step through those doors: Restaurant review: Bamboozle, Christchurch has mediocre food and racist menu."

Restaurant owner Philip Kraal defended the menu book and names and said visitors enjoyed the 'written menu as part of their overall experience'.

He told NZ Herald: "Pretty much everyone [sic] of our customers enjoys the written menu as part of their overall experience and often express disappointment when items are removed with seasonal menu changes. But we appreciate the feedback and are actively considering it."

Image: Bamboozle Facebook page