Just a few weeks ago, I was hungry and pacing around Courtenay Place like a lunatic when I saw it – a tiny Chinese eatery serving hot, stir-fried noodles. One order later, and I was obsessed – I just knew that won’t be the last restaurant I’ll ever be in!

Only this time, I didn’t do it alone. With our team, I searched far and wide for some of the best Chinese restaurants in Wellington. It took us a while, but we’re finally down to just a few spots that really deliver.

Here are Chinese restaurants that should be on your radar now. 

1. KC Cafe & Takeaway

After visiting KC, we quickly understood why this humble eater enjoys such a cult following. Outside, it’s not the fanciest looking. But what it lacks in presentation, it makes up for in authenticity, flavour, and service.

Their menu alone is impressively big, with over 160 dishes to choose from. Some of their best-sellers include their BBQ pork wonton noodle soup, mapo tofu, and sweet and sour pork.

The roast duck was just right and enjoyable, though we’ll say we’d have had better elsewhere. Still, with generous portions and prices that range from $10 to $30, we think the quality matched what we paid for.

KC is open late and often bustling, but the wait is rarely long, which we’re happy to note. Plus, as a takeaway-reliant restaurant, their service for takeouts is considerably fast. Food often arrives still warm at the buyer’s doorsteps.

It’s tightly packed during busy nights, which feels overwhelming as the noise levels can be too high. Patrons often don’t mind as the energetic vibe also fuels the experience, though you may want to skip this if you want a more intimate feel.

Satisfying meal

“New in the country and craving for familiar food. Very glad to walk into KC Cafe. Ordered sweet and sour pork. Pleasantly surprised it taste just liked home. Craving satisfied and tummy filled. Will surely come again for other stuff.”

Evonne Tee | Google Reviews

Satisfies Cantonese cravings

“Best roast duck in town.. they might be correct. But it’s still a bit mid compared to any other city, even compared to Auckland. The rice was too lukewarm, they were a bit heavy with the saucing over the duck. But super cheap, always busy, open late, this place seems to satisfy Cantonese cravings well.”

Keith Van | Google Reviews

2. TOP Kitchen

TOP Kitchen keeps things simple – their menu focuses on classic Hong Kong-style dishes with a few regional specialities. The flavours are always just right, with portions that are hearty enough to make a full meal.

We definitely liked their combination beef. It has a mix of tendon, turnip, cartilage, and beef. It’s cooked well, so it has a nice texture to it that’s soft rather than rubbery.

As pairings, anything from the wonton noodle soup and crispy tofu is a nice option. They’re nothing extraordinary, flavour and presentation-wise. But they do have that traditional, homey taste that makes them enjoyable.

The stir-fried beef rice noodles were served piping hot, and with the dumplings in chilli oil, it’s a nice order for those cold months in the Welly.

Service is another highlight – though they’re on a walk-in basis only, the staff moves fast, so tables are cleared out almost immediately. Plus, the meals range from $20 to $30 per person, making it a solid value for money.

Just a downside, which we think is typical of most mid-range eateries, is that the tastes are inconsistent. We had a visit where the dish was over-sauced, and another visit where the broth was bland. 

If you come at a less busy time, you may avoid these issues. 

Delicious and generous portions

“I had the wonton noodle soup, the staple hk style noodle soup. Had to try the “ round beans” a.k.a. “ garlic green beans” in the states.  Also crispy tofu to accompany the rice. Every thing was delicious and the portions were very generous.  Would suggest you order just one entree. Amazing find, I must say.  A gem among all others in same area.”

Henriette H Rieffel | Google Reviews

Friendly staff and great food

“Awesome Chinese restaurant in Wellington CBD! Staff are so friendly. You gonna try the combination beef, it is sooooooooo good! I can eat the whole bowl of it by myself. Will definitely come back to eat and recommend to my friends!”

Carol Yang | Google Reviews

3. FJ Noodles and Dumplings

All it took was one visit to FJ to finally understand why it’s one of the city’s top spots for handmade noodles and dumplings. This unassuming Chinese restaurant offers a no-fuss experience, with dine-in and takeaway options for meals.

Their strongest asset is their hand-pulled noodles. We like that we can choose between various textures: soft, firm, and chewy. Plus, the broth of the Lanzhou beef noodle soup really hits with the perfect umami profile and tender beef.

Apart from the noodles, they have a good range of stir-fried dishes, soups, and dumplings too. There are many that we liked, at least for the comfort of the experience, but the steamed dumplings were delicious and packed with meat.

Prices are budget-friendly, ranging from $10 to $30 per person. And with service being fast, we can see why it’s a top choice for many individuals, especially for workers on a quick lunch break or after-work dining.

However, there are instances when the texture of the noodles is noticeably off, even if you’ve chosen a specific texture. We think it might be because they’re not freshly pulled, although it’s not something that happens frequently.

An enjoyable experience

“There are varieties of dishes to choose from. However, I will recommend the handmade noodles. You can choose several types of noodle from soft to chewy, and different soup bases. I tried the braised beef noodle. The soup was flavourful and not overpowering spicy. I enjoyed it.”

CF Sustrismo | Google Reviews

Quick service and delicious food

“Awesome and quick service by a lovely lady at the front counter. Chef even ran our meals out and hand-made the noodles. These noodles are delicious ! Huge portions for a very fair price also. Would definitely recommend the fried chicken. Not many places nowadays have free containers when you purchase a meal, so this place deserves a 5 stars. ”

Payton Paranihi | Google Reviews

4. Mr Go’s

Located in the heart of the city, Mr Go’s offers the ideal blend of Taiwanese, Chinese, and Southeast Asian flavours. For many regulars, it’s a go-to spot for gatherings thanks to its share-plate style menu.

Speaking of which, the menu features a wide variety of small and large plates, making it easy to match. Some of the choices that stood out to us were the cream cheese wontons, popcorn chicken, and pork dumplings.

There are vegetarian options too, which we liked, particularly as their Kung Pao cauliflower and tofu bao were both perfect for light meal options. The menu is clearly labelled for allergies too, earning good marks from us.

The food here in general is pretty affordable, but if you want to save a bit more, you can look into specials from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. While you’re there, we recommend ordering their Ping Pong and Yuzu gin for a refreshing sip.

However, we’re not fully satisfied with their cooking and preparation. Sometimes the fried dumplings are overcooked, while the noodles feel a little too rubbery. Fortunately, the tastes make up for it.

High-quality food with reasonable prices

“Went for a wedding anniversary lunch here and really enjoyed all the food! We shared the pork dumplings, mushroom dumplings, cream cheese wontons, Taiwanese chicken and the kimchi fries. Loved all the dishes except the fries – cold kimchi just didn’t work on top of hot fries for us. Also thought the popcorn chicken would be better with a hot sauce rather than aioli.Service was excellent and very helpful and friendly. Also though the prices were very reasonable for the high quality food. We’ll be back!”

Kelz (Kelznz) | Google Reviews

Fantastic food and friendly staff

“Fantastic food especially with 4-6pm specials. Staff were very friendly and helpful , even helping out with a quick “how to” for chopsticks (thanks Rose).

Have not been disappointed and will keep going back . Keep up the great work 👍, thanks”

Kevin Hodge | Google Reviews

5. Peking House Restaurant

Located slightly off the beaten track in the city, this restaurant is often overlooked. But those in the know recognise it as a hidden gem for Chinese cuisine, especially for some of the best Beijing-style hotpot and Peking duck.

One of our favourite options here is their $44 all-you-can-eat hotpot buffet, which is inexpensive for what it offers. This option features lamb rolls, crab sticks, tripe, tofu, noodles, and a fresh range of dishes.

Beyond the buffet, we also like their a la carte dishes like orange beef and the cold Sichuan sesame noodles. For something a little more special, we find their Peking duck awesome – crispy duck skin with non-overpowering flavours.

Service is also solid – the staff were warm, prompt, and accommodating to requests. Even during rush hours, the turnaround ranges from 10 to 20 minutes only. We also find it nice that diners can pre-order the duck to ensure availability. 

If there’s one drawback, it’s that rice isn’t included with many main dishes and must be ordered separately. The prices aren’t that expensive anyway, but it may surprise many first-timers at this location.

Excellent food and service 

“We got the $44 buffet hotpot deal which included all you can eat lamb, crab stick, tripe, vegetables, tofu and noodles, plus the most delicious homemade steamed buns. The initial portions were so generous we didn’t need to ask for more, and all the ingredients were delicious. The service was excellent, very helpful when we were deciding how much to order! Highly recommend for Beijing style hotpot in Wellington”

Sam Steel | Google Reviews

Good recommendations 

“Amazing food, nice chilled environment as I missed the rush. Good recommendations by staff and plenty of food with one dish. Surprised you have to buy rice separately, but it wasn’t an issue.”

Michael Patrick | Google Reviews

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