Amelia WilliamsYum cha, anyone? If you’ve never tried Yum Cha in your life, you are missing out. Yum cha is basically the Cantonese version of dim sum. You got your small plates, rounds of tea, and more dumplings than you can imagine.
Over the past few months, I’ve sort of been on a yum cha fix. Needless to say, I probably gained a few more pounds than I would’ve liked.
But it was not in vain! I found the best yum cha spots in Auckland, so I now have a reliable list whenever I feel like going on a small plates galore!
If you’re in need of a go-to yum cha place too, check out my list!
- 1. Yum Cha Restaurant
- 2. Grand Harbour
- 3. Grand Park Chinese Seafood Restaurant
- 4. Pearl Garden Restaurant
- 5. Asian Wok Yum Cha Albany 华府美味
- 6. Mr Lobster Private Kitchen 龍虾皇私房菜
- 7. Cypress Restaurant
- 8. The Yacht Chinese Restaurant
- 9. Huami
- 10. Lucky Fortune Restaurant
- 11. No. 1 BBQ & Seafood Restaurant
- 12. Chow Foo Restaurant
- 13. Sun World Seafood Restaurant 新世界海鲜酒家
1. Yum Cha Restaurant
– Media credit: yumcha.nz
Address: 286 Mount Wellington Highway, Mount Wellington
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 11 AM to 9 PM
Phone: +64 9 948 6789
Price: $$
Yum Cha Restaurant brings real Cantonese dim sum to your table. I love their crystal shrimp dumplings. They’re so light and fresh you almost don’t want to bite into them.
The crispy barbecue pork buns are another fave of mine, with that sweet sticky pork inside and a perfectly golden flaky crust.
And the golden black egg lau sa bun? It’s soft, filled with warm, gooey custard that just melts in your mouth. The pork and shrimp siao mai are juicy and packed with flavor too.
What’s cool is they don’t just stop at food. You get to choose from five different teas (Tie Guan Yin, Pu-Erh, Chrysanthemum, Oolong, and Jasmine), which all go great with the dim sum.
| Pro Tip: There’s a bar with a solid cocktail list and happy hour from 3-6 every day. You can get a glass of Asahi or house wine for $6. |
2. Grand Harbour
– Media credit: grandharbourchinese
Address: Cnr Customs Street West and Pakenham Street East, CBD,
Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 11 AM to 3 PM and 5:30 PM to 10 PM
- Saturday 10:30 AM to 3 PM and 5:30 PM to 10 PM
Phone: +64 9 357 6889
Price: $$
Grand Harbour dim sum is great, with around 80 options to choose from. You’ll see steamed buns and dumplings with pork, chicken, and beef. There are even options for prawn and veggie fillings!
The dim sum comes around on trolleys, and you just pick what you like. Some of my faves here are the pork spare ribs with black bean sauce – tender and full of flavor – and the pork and peanut dumplings, which have a great texture mix.
If you’re feeling adventurous, the beef tripe with seafood sauce is a must-try, and the barbecue pork cakes are crispy and satisfying.
They also have several teas to choose from – jasmine, tieguanyin, pu-erh, and chrysanthemum.
| Pro Tip: There is 2-hour free parking for diners after 5:30 pm. Just a heads up, they do allow BYO, but there’s a $15 corkage fee per bottle. |
3. Grand Park Chinese Seafood Restaurant
– Media credit: grandparkrestaurant
Address: Green Lane West Rd, GATE B Alexandra Park, Epsom, Auckland 1344, New Zealand
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 10:30 AM to 3 PM, 5:30 PM to 10 PM
Phone: +64 9 638-6998
Price:$$
Grand Park Chinese Seafood Restaurant serves dim sum in a banquet style. Whenever I come here, it’s slightly chaotic, but I’m all for it because the food is just that great.
I normally start off with their pan-fried turnip cakes. They’re crispy and don’t have that bitter taste that turnips normally leave in your mouth. I also really like that they don’t skimp out on the prawns in their coriander and prawn dumplings.
The stuffed tofu with fish paste is good if you like salty dishes. The black sesame rice cakes are a better option if you like sweet and nutty flavors.
| Pro Tip: Order your dim sum with one of their fresh juices made to order with flavors like watermelon, pineapple, and mango. |
4. Pearl Garden Restaurant
– Media credit: JY the Hungry Ronin
Address: Level 1/1 Teed Street, Newmarket
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, Monday – 11 AM to 3 PM, 5:30 PM to 9 PM
Phone: 095233696
Price: $$
Pearl Garden Restaurant has a massive dim sum menu that combines classic Cantonese with some cool regional Chinese twists.
They’ve got a great selection of steamed dumplings, sweets and savories – like their famous custard buns, which are seriously addictive.
Some must-try dishes are the steamed chicken feet (yes, they’re good!), Malaysian sponge cake with its light and fluffy texture, and the red bean coconut jelly that offers a perfect sweet finish.
The Yum Yum prawn wontons are full of flavor, and the sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf is a classic.
| Pro Tip: If you’re driving, no worries about parking because there’s plenty of space right next to the restaurant at night. There’s really no excuse not to book a table here! |
5. Asian Wok Yum Cha Albany 华府美味
– Media credit: asianwok.albany
Address: 28 Corinthian Drive, Albany
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 3 PM, 5 PM to 10 PM
Phone: 094769028
Price: $$
Asian Wok Yum Cha Albany 华府美味 is your place to go for a casual yum cha. The service is quick, so you can get your dim sum fix without the wait.
The must-try here is the half-roasted BBQ duck. Yes, I know duck is not something everyone loves, but I swear it’s not rough here. They make it so tender and flavorful.
Fans of homemade tofu will like theirs here. They use a special sauce that gives it a nice kick.
The xiao long bao is also always a winner. I like the hot, steaming soup broth. If you like something crispy, try their pan-fried prawn and pork buns.
| Pro Tip: Save room for the piggy custard buns. They are soft, sweet, and creamy! |
6. Mr Lobster Private Kitchen 龍虾皇私房菜
– Media credit: chaoticplants
Address: 4/301 Lincoln Road, Henderson
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM, 5 PM to 9:30 PM
Phone: +64 9 218 8180
Price: $$
If you’re a seafood lover looking for something a bit more fancy and indulgent in taste, Mr Lobster Private Kitchen is where you go. It’s not quite fancy on the inside of the restaurant, but the food is delicious.
Obviously, you have to try one of their lobster dim sum dishes. I would say go with their lobster rice rolls. Their lobster rice rolls slide across your tongue, bursting with fresh, sweet lobster flavor.
If you want something more unique, you can’t go wrong with sea cucumbers. Interestingly, they don’t taste so fishy. I like how their sea cucumber rolls in abalone sauce are silky, tender, and umami-rich.
| Pro Tip: If you don’t like seafood, I’d say go with their bacon and cheese pan-fried buns. They’re oozing with smoky bacon and melted cheese inside. They’re a savory indulgence that goes perfectly with the seafood-heavy menu. |
7. Cypress Restaurant
– Media credit: cypress.restaurant
Address: 296 Dominion Road, Mount Eden
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 3 PM, 5 PM to 10 PM
Phone: +64 9 930 0818
Price: $
Now I’m not normally a fan of ox, but I’ve tried it here at Cypress Restaurant and I didn’t regret it.
Their Sliced Beef & Ox Tongue looks a little interesting at first. But once you take a bite of it, the spiciness hits you for a few seconds, and then the delicious marinade from the beef rounds out.
I also like their Spicy Beef Salad. It packs a Sichuan punch with layers of numbing spice and fresh herbs that will wake up your taste buds.
For dessert, the Pan Fried Red Bean Cake has a sweet, soft center. The Ginger Milk Pudding is silky and soothing, so it’s worth giving a try too.
| Pro Tip: Dim sum is delivered only between 11 am-2:30 pm, so plan ahead. |
8. The Yacht Chinese Restaurant
– Media credit: amomo.eats
Address: 2023 Great North Road, Avondale
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 9:30 PM
Phone: +64 9 820 8638
Price: $
The Yacht Chinese Restaurant has to die for Beef and Egg Congee. For those who have never had congee, it is a creamy and nourishing bowl of China’s version of porridge. The Yacht’s version has tender beef bits that just melt into the rice porridge.
Another thing that I like to get here is their beef meatballs. They are juicy and well-seasoned, full of flavor in every bite.
Now, I’ve never had this dish, but people tell me the Ox Stomach is surprisingly tender here. I usually play it safe and go with the Pork Bean Curd Rolls. They have a savory pork filling and silky bean curd skin.
| Pro Tip: Those who really want to eat something adventurous should try the Salt and Pepper Duck Beak. People told me it’s a novelty, crispy, salty, and full of bold flavor. |
9. Huami
– Media credit: huamiakl
Address: SkyCity 87 Federal Street, Auckland Central
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday – 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Phone: +64 9 363 6699
Price: $$
Huami is the place to go for real, handmade dim sum. Their Marinated Bang-Bang Chicken is smothered in a creamy, spicy peanut sauce.
The Ha Kao prawn dumplings are elevated with fresh truffle, so earthy and luxurious. The XO chili Siew Mai is shrimp and chicken with a serious heat that lingers pleasantly on the tongue.
Their Manuka honey-glazed char siu pork is sticky, sweet, and with a tangy mustard sauce that’s hard to resist.
| Pro Tip: Finish with the Hong Kong-style wok-fried rice noodles and beef. It’s a savory, satisfying dish with a smoky “wok hei” flavor that pairs perfectly with the dim sum. |
10. Lucky Fortune Restaurant
– Media credit: ngainomnoms
Address: 532 Mount Albert Road, Three Kings
Hours: Monday to Friday – 11 AM to 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Phone: +64 9 625 3998
Price: $$
Lucky Fortune’s Steamed Shanghai Pork Buns are like eating clouds—they’re that soft. They have a juicy, savory pork filling that’s comforting and rich with just the right amount of sweetness.
Their Almond Taro Paste Balls have a smooth taro center wrapped in almond paste that’s subtly nutty and sweet.
I also like their Steamed Beef Omasum. The chef’s skill in balancing textures and seasoning is on point.
| Pro Tip: For dessert, get their mango pudding. It’s silky and tropical—refreshing and velvety. It’s a good dish to cool and cleanse your palate. |
11. No. 1 BBQ & Seafood Restaurant
@hannahsjoys We don’t gatekeep around here and times are getting tough so here is an affordable but still very tasty place to eat whenever you crave Chinese food! 🫶 enjoyy 📍No. 1 BBQ and Seafood Restaurant 552 Glenfield Rd, Auckland #auckland #aucklandeats #foodtok #chinesefood #yumcha #pov #explore #travel #northshore #fyp #viral #nz #newzealand #mukbang #aucklandcheapeats #cheapeats #yummy #hungry #tiktoknz #nzfoodie #hiddengem #underrated #foodreview #follow #tasty #budgetfriendly #siumai #riceroll #eggtart #sesameball #squid #restaurant #suggestions
♬ original sound – hannahsjoys
– Media credit: hannahsjoys
Address: 552 Glenfield Road, Glenfield
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 11 AM to 9:30 PM
Phone: +64 9 440 9888
Price: $$
No. 1 BBQ & Seafood Restaurant’s fried squid is golden, crispy, and each bite is satisfying. I like how it’s seasoned just right to keep you hooked.
But my favorite dish here is the Yang Chow fried rice. I love how the chef combines the rice with smoked shrimp, egg ribbons, and tons of fresh veggies. Besides, who doesn’t love that wok-fried addictive taste?
The Char siu here is also delicious. It’s glazed with a sticky, sweet-savory marinade that caramelises into beautifully tender, melt-in-your-mouth slices.
| Pro Tip: Duck fans should definitely try their Peking duck. It’s got crackling skin and juicy meat wrapped in thin pancakes with scallions and hoisin sauce. |
12. Chow Foo Restaurant
– Media credit: myunilunch
Address: 325 Albany Highway, Rosedale
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 3 PM, 5 PM to 9 PM
Phone: +64 9 576 6666
Price: $$
Chow Foo Restaurant’s spareribs in black bean sauce are what I always get here. I love how rich they are and how the meat just falls off the bones.
Their deep-fried taro dumplings are also great. They crackle with a crispy, golden shell that gives way to a silky, savory taro filling.
Their barbecue pork pastry with walnut is a masterclass in contrasts. I like how the flaky, buttery pastry encases sweet, sticky pork with the subtle crunch and earthiness of the toasted walnuts.
| Pro Tip: If you want something luxurious, get their Beancurd roll with abalone sauce. The delicate tofu skin wraps around the savory fillings, all bathed in a luscious abalone sauce that takes it to the next level. |
13. Sun World Seafood Restaurant 新世界海鲜酒家
– Media credit: goodfoodonly.thx
Address: 2A York Street, Newmarket
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 10:30 AM to 10 PM
Phone: +64 9 520 3218
Price: $$
Sun World Seafood Restaurant does the classic steamed pork siu mai just right. I like how their version is very plump and juicy.
The seasoning they use on their pork isn’t so salty either. The steamed prawn dumplings are filled with sweet shrimp that almost tastes like it was caught that morning.
Beyond dim sum, they have everything from chicken to congee to vibrant vegetable dishes.
| Pro Tip: You can pre-order online and have your favorite dishes ready and waiting, making your dining experience a stress-free one. |
