The Yum Char dining experience is becoming increasingly popular and there’s no shortage of great Chinese restaurants in Auckland that offer this civilised and age-old style of dining.
There’s nothing better than sitting around a table with friends and family, sharing BBQ pork buns, big fat noodles, steamed or fried dumplings, and a pot of jasmine tea.
Here are some of our favourite spots for yum char
China Yum Char
A great spot for the perfect Dim Sum and Chinese tea. Sit back, let the hustle and bustle of the waiters meld into the rhythm of the restaurant’s general activity and enjoy their great selection of steamed and fried dishes.
Jade Dragon
If you’re new to Auckland and looking for somewhere easy to find, you can’t get any easier than the Sky Tower. Sky City’s Yum Char restaurant, Jade Dragon, has a great live seafood selection, as well as a simple Yum Char platter that makes for easy peasy dining.
Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour seats around 300 diners making it ideal for that weekend lunch with family or catching up with friends. It’s extremely popular so you’d do well to book. The menu includes duck and an extensive range of seafood, including lobster fish and crabs. Watch out for the Chef’s Specials which offer a fresh and innovative take on some Chinese classics.
Crystal Harbour
One of Auckland’s largest Chinese restaurants, Crystal Harbour has something for every taste on its fresh, authentic and frequently changing menu.
Pearl Garden
A veteran on the Yum Char scene, Pearl Garden has served multiple generations of families – it is so good people keep coming back! A Yum Char lunch is available daily. Pearl Garden uses only the freshest ingredients and all of its dishes are MSG free.
Dragon Boat
Situated in the Atrium on Elliott shopping centre at the heart of the CBD, the long–established Dragon Boat is a great place for a work team or business meal. Open seven days, it serves bona fide Hong Kong-style cuisine and offers a dim sum lunch daily.
Editorial by Nicholas Chidley
12 January 2012
