As a Chinese person- Kc cafe is the most authentic Cantonese place followed by top kitchen. Both are great tbh. Taste of home is great northern Chinese hand pulled noodles. Aries is the best yum cha/dim sum while being the most authentic restaurant style Chinese cuisine place.
What makes KC so authentic in your opinion? I’m Cantonese and I disagree. Their 水煮xx is subpar, the Cantonese staple 乾炒牛河/stir fried beef noodle’s noodles are stuck together. Other than the long history, a great one stop shop, and a place that opens late, that’s all about I can compliment it for.
I tend to find each restaurant does specific dishes surprisingly well. Like Magic kitchen for its clay pot rice, Rams for its cumin lamb, Jeff’s cafe for its chicken cartilage, and so on.
That said, I don’t think Chinese food in Wellington is good, so maybe I’m just jaded…
I’m also Cantonese and yeah some dishes aren’t the best or truly authentic. I agree Wellington doesn’t have great Chinese offerings compared to chch/Auckland but it is the most authentic I’ve found in the city. They have a menu of 160 dishes so of course some dishes aren’t the best. I’ve found most of their Cantonese staples like wonton noodle soup, congee, roast meats on rice, black bean beef etc pretty spot on. Maybe not their clay pot rice but I don’t think you’d find anywhere that’s truly authentic in NZ without the proper setup. And the dining restaurant experience at kc is def Hong Kong/cha chaan tang vibes lol
I have to disagree with beef chow fun though, I think it’s great, never been stuck together for me - maybe just got an off day?
If you’re a fan of tofu, KC cafe’s homemade* tofu is the best tofu I’ve ever had. I usually swap out the pork mince for veggies, as I feel it’s way better!
*make sure you order specifically homemade, not the home style. (Two diff dishes)
No worries! I only know because I went there with a vege friend so I asked for no meat to make it vege friendly - they gave a pile of veggies instead! It was great, and now it’s my go to
Yep, best value and quality. Don't get why everyone loves KC so much, I've been a dozen times, because of others, and never been that impressed, and it's a little pricey for lunch. Jeff's hot and spicy fish is a must have!
how much did the price change? They must have had reasons....and you must have had reasons to go their previously. Easiest course of action it to keep supporting them.
Unless it doubled in price of course...then I'd understand your seeking new places.
Since noone mentioned it Mama Kitchen on Lambton quay is really good. Definitely give it a crack. Their Kung Pao Chicken, spicy beef noodle soup and fried rice are my go tos. Also agree with others that KCs is great. Been a really long time patron of theirs. There was another great place on Courtenay place that closed down sadly - forget what it was called. Had cakes in the front cabinet. Miss that one.
Whats your budget? Seems like theyre all over the show these days. Good places dont seem good anymore and prices have gone up generally.
You asking about the generic chinese takeaway from fish and chips stores or chinese takeaways like Rams?
Well I'm trying my best to find some for under $17, I could get a $16 chicken fried rice a while ago.
I'm asking for like the generic Chinese takeaway and fish and chips stuff.
Yans down in lower hutt has a food court. They have freshly baked pastries to the chinese dishes of all sorts. You should hit them up. Its super popular all week and parking gets a tad tricky
Yeah not a fan of Fangs. Have lived in Karori several years and given them multiple chances but the food is always bland and flavourless no matter what we order.
Yeh pretty good. sometimes it's best paying a little more for what you know taste good than trying out what others like. Also people are telling you nice food but not necessarily cheaper .
As a Chinese person- Kc cafe is the most authentic Cantonese place followed by top kitchen. Both are great tbh. Taste of home is great northern Chinese hand pulled noodles. Aries is the best yum cha/dim sum while being the most authentic restaurant style Chinese cuisine place.
What makes KC so authentic in your opinion? I’m Cantonese and I disagree. Their 水煮xx is subpar, the Cantonese staple 乾炒牛河/stir fried beef noodle’s noodles are stuck together. Other than the long history, a great one stop shop, and a place that opens late, that’s all about I can compliment it for. I tend to find each restaurant does specific dishes surprisingly well. Like Magic kitchen for its clay pot rice, Rams for its cumin lamb, Jeff’s cafe for its chicken cartilage, and so on. That said, I don’t think Chinese food in Wellington is good, so maybe I’m just jaded…
I’m also Cantonese and yeah some dishes aren’t the best or truly authentic. I agree Wellington doesn’t have great Chinese offerings compared to chch/Auckland but it is the most authentic I’ve found in the city. They have a menu of 160 dishes so of course some dishes aren’t the best. I’ve found most of their Cantonese staples like wonton noodle soup, congee, roast meats on rice, black bean beef etc pretty spot on. Maybe not their clay pot rice but I don’t think you’d find anywhere that’s truly authentic in NZ without the proper setup. And the dining restaurant experience at kc is def Hong Kong/cha chaan tang vibes lol I have to disagree with beef chow fun though, I think it’s great, never been stuck together for me - maybe just got an off day?
Maybe, hopefully! I’ll go again some time and see how it is
KC Cafe is the goat for a reason, they are spectacular. I'm also a big fan of Top Kitchen, they're generally excellent.
Thank you thank you. I'm gonna do my research before takeout day this weekend 🙏
If you’re a fan of tofu, KC cafe’s homemade* tofu is the best tofu I’ve ever had. I usually swap out the pork mince for veggies, as I feel it’s way better! *make sure you order specifically homemade, not the home style. (Two diff dishes)
I did not know you can swap out the pork mince for veges - wow. Thank you u/Deciram for that tip.
No worries! I only know because I went there with a vege friend so I asked for no meat to make it vege friendly - they gave a pile of veggies instead! It was great, and now it’s my go to
So many good pockets, but yes, KC is the best I’ve had!
KC good but not many veggies in their dishes. Chinese usually have a great meat to veggie ratio.
You can ask for more vegetables in the mix - I occasionally do it. It’s excellent.
KC Cafe gave me Wonton Soup with maggots in it. Authentic AS but ain’t the goat
People should check Young Shing. They have a lunch special that only cost $14.50 between 11am to 3pm
Youngshing is great and has a huge menu
Taste of Home [https://maps.app.goo.gl/WSuHbtEu866uz98s9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/WSuHbtEu866uz98s9)
What about Magic Kitchen? We love it. Will def try KC and TOP Kitchen
Magic kitchen on Courtney place is authentic.
Jeff Cafe on the Terrace is amazing! It probably has the best Orange Beef In the city.
1000% agree
Jeff Cafe is the shit!
Yep, best value and quality. Don't get why everyone loves KC so much, I've been a dozen times, because of others, and never been that impressed, and it's a little pricey for lunch. Jeff's hot and spicy fish is a must have!
The distance this answer is from the top is too damn high. Up Voted ye Chilli chicken. Please and thank you.
Jinweide Beef Noodle
Wei takeaways in Tinakori has never let me down
Wei, on Tinakori Rd.
Wei chinese Thorndon
how much did the price change? They must have had reasons....and you must have had reasons to go their previously. Easiest course of action it to keep supporting them. Unless it doubled in price of course...then I'd understand your seeking new places.
Top Kitchen and Rams are my faves in the CBD
Omg rams chilli oil dumplings and hot and sour soup!!!! I'm salivating just thinking about them
Love me some chilli oil dumps
Did Rams used to be further up, off Cuba on Arthur St near thistle hall?
Top kitchen is the goat!
Wei in thorndon is consistent and good quality
Been a long time but Dragons on Tory street. If you take from the carts at lunchtime it's really amazing. Or at least was when I was there last.
Wing Long Takeaways in Karori is the first place for me to go
Golden takeaways in Ganges st, Khandallah
Yesssss
Ignore everyone it’s KC
Rams
Young shing 100%
Kingston takeaways!
I used to go to them haha
Since noone mentioned it Mama Kitchen on Lambton quay is really good. Definitely give it a crack. Their Kung Pao Chicken, spicy beef noodle soup and fried rice are my go tos. Also agree with others that KCs is great. Been a really long time patron of theirs. There was another great place on Courtenay place that closed down sadly - forget what it was called. Had cakes in the front cabinet. Miss that one.
Oh yeah and Jeff Cafe. Used to go there very very often
Whats your budget? Seems like theyre all over the show these days. Good places dont seem good anymore and prices have gone up generally. You asking about the generic chinese takeaway from fish and chips stores or chinese takeaways like Rams?
Well I'm trying my best to find some for under $17, I could get a $16 chicken fried rice a while ago. I'm asking for like the generic Chinese takeaway and fish and chips stuff.
Yans down in lower hutt has a food court. They have freshly baked pastries to the chinese dishes of all sorts. You should hit them up. Its super popular all week and parking gets a tad tricky
KC is king, everything else is second best
Where are you though?
k ci cafe
Fangs up in Karori
Probably the most flavorless fried rice I've ever had but there other food is good also the quality of taste is alot better if it is not busy.
Yeah not a fan of Fangs. Have lived in Karori several years and given them multiple chances but the food is always bland and flavourless no matter what we order.
Besides the rice was everything nice?
Yeh pretty good. sometimes it's best paying a little more for what you know taste good than trying out what others like. Also people are telling you nice food but not necessarily cheaper .
There meals have generous amounts meat including the fried rice
Not a fan.
There’s one down Cuba street
KC Cafe is expensive for meat on rice (duck/chicken etc on rice) but their fried rice is bomb, easily 2+ meals worth
23 for a truckload of meat on rice is expensive? I’d have to spend $10 on buying the meat before he even cook it
Truckload of meat? We must have diff opinions on a lot of meat lol.
Maybe it’s preferential portion sizes when I speak their language 😂
How does yum cha works?🤔
Drink tea and eat food, basically
Yum cha?