Restaurant
South Garden Chinese Restaurant
4/6 Brake Street, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
Find South Garden Chinese Restaurant
4/6 Brake Street, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Book NowAbout South Garden Chinese Restaurant
South Garden pairs sprawling banquets and fiery regional cooking with no-frills Upper Riccarton ease. It is big, casual, and built for sharing across a lazy Susan. Groups pack the floor for generous, punchy plates—think Boiled Fish with Pickled Vegetable and Hot and Spicy Chicken Knuckles carrying real heat. By midday, Cantonese-speaking staff wheel out baskets of har gao, crisp-edged turnip cake, and red rice shrimp rolls for a lively weekend yum cha. Come evening, Northern specialties like guobaorou share table space with sizzling pork belly and wok-fried sticky rice.
- Weekend Yum Cha: Cantonese-speaking carts roll out tender har gao, fried turnip cakes, and shrimp red rice rolls for the midday crowd.
- Fiery Regional Specialties: Heaped platters of Boiled Fish with Pickled Vegetable, spicy chicken knuckles, and crisp regional guobaorou.
- Large Group Banquets: Dedicated dining rooms and hefty family-style portions built to feed multi-generational celebrations at fair prices.
What's On at South Garden Chinese Restaurant
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Dining Advantages
Why diners choose South Garden for authentic regional dishes and family banquets
Dedicated Private Rooms for Family Celebrations
The restaurant provides bookable private dining rooms tailored for larger family celebrations and hosting special guests.
We have often used one of the separate rooms for special gatherings, especially when treating family friends.
John Harris Abundant Shared Banquets for Groups
Generous multi-dish portions allow extended families and groups to feast abundantly without running short.
Our group of four adults and two children enjoyed a meal here on a Monday evening. We ordered five dishes and an entree to share. The food was delicious and we couldn’t finish it all.
Rachel Smith Traditional Cantonese Yum Cha Ambiance
Cantonese-speaking floor and dim sum staff deliver an authentic atmosphere and quality yum cha service.
When you see Dimsum shop workers speaking Cantonese, it's a sign of having good Dimsum.
Tomo Tan Authentic Regional Dongbei Craftsmanship
A dedicated Northeast Chinese chef prepares authentic regional staples like guobaorou with genuine hometown technique.
没想到大厨手艺真的很正宗，东北人完全认可的锅包肉，就是那个味！
薛洋 Fresh Handcrafted Dim Sum Selection
Freshly made handmade dim sum, including crisp turnip cakes and egg tarts, are prepared quickly for midday diners.
The fried radish cakes was absolutely amazing, the shrimp dumplings were great as well, with generous fillings. The egg tarts were also a must-try!
Bella Law Generous Servings and Substantial Value
Generous portions across roasted meats and shared hot dishes ensure diners leave thoroughly satisfied at reasonable prices.
You will not leave hungry and the price was so good.
Richard Berry
Most popular items
Signature Cantonese dim sum and regional Chinese specialties praised by our diners
Boiled Fish w/ Pickled Vegetable
The Boiled Fish w/ Pickled Vegetable was incredibly flavorful, perfectly cooked, and came in a generous portion.
Jill Lim 锅包肉 (Guo Bao Rou)
东北人完全认可的锅包肉，就是那个味！
薛洋 Har Gao (Shrimp Dumplings)
Hargow (Shrimp Dumpling) tastes fresh and dumpling skin are just nice.
Tomo Tan Pan Fried Turnip Cake
Pan fried Turnip Cake is full of flavour, the cake is oil fried before being stir fried which gives a little crisps on the skin
Tomo Tan
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I book a table in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekend yum cha lunch and larger dinner gatherings, as the dining room can get very crowded. Private dining rooms are also available for extended family gatherings.
What dim sum items are popular for yum cha?
Dim sum is served during lunch hours. Standout items include har gao (shrimp dumplings), turnip and radish cakes, Macau egg tarts, siu mai, and shrimp red rice rolls.
What are the parking options nearby?
Parking immediately adjacent to the restaurant is limited to a small carpark with around three spaces, but additional street parking is available along Brake Street and nearby Church Corner.
How large are the portions for groups?
Dishes are served in generous sharing portions. Groups frequently find that ordering five to seven dishes leaves more than enough food to feed four to ten people comfortably.
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