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Restaurant

Rangoon Ruby Christchurch New Zealand

819 Colombo Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand

Recommended by 8 people

Updated

Find Rangoon Ruby Christchurch New Zealand

819 Colombo Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand

Directions ↗
+64 22 028 0920
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 5:30 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 5:30 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 5:30 – 9:00 PM Friday: 5:30 – 9:00 PM Saturday: 5:30 – 9:00 PM Sunday: Closed

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Rangoon Ruby Christchurch New Zealand

Colombo Street’s Rangoon Ruby serves up fragrant, unmistakable Burmese heat that cuts straight through standard city dining routines. Under ceilings hung with colorful umbrellas, diners gather around modest, tapas-style plates built for passing across the table. regulars make a beeline for the lahpet thoke—fermented tea leaves tossed with crunchy nuts and legumes for a savory, tart snap. Small plates keep coming: crumbly fish, rich eggplant, and fork-tender beef curry cooked down until a knife is pointless. Dinner winds down over warm rice pudding sponge cake topped with fresh fruit.

  • Iconic Lahpet Thoke: Fermented tea leaves tossed with toasted nuts and legumes deliver an intensely savory, tart crunch.
  • Shareable Burmese Plates: Modest tapas-style portions invite guests to pass and sample curries, crumbly fish, and spiced vegetables.
  • Vibrant Cultural Decor: The dining room features striking murals and colorful umbrellas suspended across the ceiling.
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What's On at Rangoon Ruby Christchurch New Zealand

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Dine at Rangoon Ruby

Discover what sets Rangoon Ruby apart in central Christchurch

  • Iconic Burmese Flavors and Textures

    Rangoon Ruby delivers authentic Myanmar culinary traditions centered on signature items like fermented tea leaf salad and delicate curries.

    It’s a super crunchy experience paired with an explosion of flavour; not your usual salad and one of the most iconic Burmese dishes.

    Ben Ch

  • Complex, Layered Regional Palate

    Diners discover a distinctive regional palate characterized by subtle umami, fermentation, and balanced spices rarely found in standard Asian fare.

    The tea salad was delicious with a deep, umami flavour throughout due to the fermented tea-leaves.

    Adeline Lim

  • Communal Small-Plate Dining

    Dishes are intentionally portioned in a small-plate format that enables tables to sample a wide variety of flavors together.

    If you like to try little dishes and share it‘s just perfect.

    Elena Liebel

  • Interactive Variety for Groups

    The menu accommodates shared dining with dining partners and groups, providing a collaborative culinary exploration.

    Menu is meant to be shared as the dishes aren’t huge but they are packed full of flavour.

    Jack Shewell

  • Distinctive Central Christchurch Dining

    Rangoon Ruby offers an authentic alternative to Christchurch's prevailing pan-Asian fusion street food landscape.

    Very pleasantly surprised to find authentic Burmese food in Christchurch where most of the Asian options are fusion street food.

    WCYH

  • Authentic Heritage in the City

    The restaurant provides a standout discovery off the central city grid, crafted by Burmese chefs with focused attention to detail.

    Very beautifully decorated in authentic style with authentic genuine chef and food from Burma it’s a real treat !

    Rafael K (Raf)

Iconic traditional specialties and communal favorites

  • Tea Salad

    the one dish you absolutely have to try is the tea salad.

    Ben Ch

  • Eggplant

    Eggplant was yummy as well!

    Pearl Lin

  • Beef Curry

    The beef curry was melt-in-your-mouth tender, no knife required.

    Sarah

  • Crumbly Fish

    the crumbly fish was perfectly cooked and so satisfying.

    Sandra Saw

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality and distinct touches that elevate dining at Rangoon Ruby

  • Personal Kitchen Greetings

    Chefs and kitchen staff step out into the dining room to personally greet guests and welcome them to the restaurant.

  • Solo Diner Seating Care

    Solo diners are thoughtfully seated by the window to provide an enjoyable, comfortable vantage point.

  • Attentive Dietary Customisation

    Staff accommodate vegan preferences by custom-omitting fish sauce across small plates upon request.

  • Acoustic Comfort Design

    The dining room incorporates acoustic carpeting to reduce noise and maintain a comfortable conversation level.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do portion sizes and dish sharing work?

The menu is structured around small sharing plates rather than large individual mains. Reviewers recommend ordering at least two dishes per person or choosing three entrees and a main to share between two diners.

What dishes are considered must-orders?

The fermented tea leaf salad (Laphet Thoke) is the restaurant's signature dish, praised for its crunchy texture, nuts, legumes, and rich umami flavour. Other popular starters include the crumbly fish, eggplant dishes, and raw or marinated fish.

Should you book a table in advance?

Yes, reservations are strongly recommended as the dining room gets busy, especially on weekends. Bookings can be made by calling or texting the restaurant directly.

Are there vegetarian and vegan options?

Yes, the menu includes vegetarian and plant-based dishes such as tea leaf salad, yellow pea tofu (Tohu Thoke), eggplant (Ciandi Thoke), and green beans (Beidi Thoke). Guests seeking vegan preparation should notify the staff when ordering to avoid fish sauce.

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