Christchurch Restaurant Tips by knerten

Restaurant Name: Tandoori Palace on Ilam Rd

Located on Ilam, near Canterbury Uni, modern design, spacious, lights nicely dimmed, friendly staff, even the head chef came to check on our table, great service.
This is a chain restaurant with 5 restaurants in Christchurch, one in Dunedin and one in Rotorua. I cannot vouch for the other ones.

Favorite Dish: I went here with a group of 7, and as gruop you can do a banquet with a set of 4 entrees, a main course of 4 currys with 4 different nan breads, free refills of curry and bread for NZ$22.50, drinks and desserts are extra.

P.S. The ice cream desert is humonguous. I only had a meager Mango Cheesecake...

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Theme: Indian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 3437816
Address: 71 Ilam Rd

Restaurant Name: Sticky Fingers

Bar/pub/restaurant. Friday night, so a lot people, loud and noisy, hard to make a conversation. We were sitting in an outdoor tent, heated by gas lanters that did not work (kept going on and off), so our feet were freezing cold, and the upper body so-so. Anyway, we enjoyed ourselves. I guess it was just not the right season to be sitting outside. Inside would have been too crowded. Good food, so if you're coming for the food, try during the day, not at night, and not on a Friday night.

Favorite Dish: Rib steak. A 450 gram (1 pound) steak on the bone, served on roasted potates with salad. A very simple dish, but tasty and filling. I asked for rare and it was perfectly rare, just right. NZ$ 29.50. Judging from what else I had tried in Chch this seemed a bit overpriced. Looking at what the other people in party had, which cost about the same, and which was deliciously prepared and served, the price was right. It's just that I chose the simple dish with no thrills.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: Oxford Terrace

Restaurant Name: Mum's 24

Centrally located, I had passed this restaurant many times. It's on the corner of Colombo St and Gloucester St, right next to Cathedral square. It looked nice and inviting, and the prices were on the lower end of the scale. It turned out to be warm and friendly with an ambience, and judging by the number of locals eating here, it must be quite authentic.

Favorite Dish: I had Bulgiogi, at least that's what I think it was. $10 for a BIG wooden box with rice, stir fried beef, kimchi, bean sprouts and more vegetables, plus a bowl of soup. Well, I was pretty full after that. Everything nicely done, nicely served. A good meal, and worth for than the $10 I paid.

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Theme: Japanese/Sushi
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Corner of Colombo St and Gloucester St.
Directions: In fron of the cathedral, turn left, 1 block and it's on your right.

Restaurant Name: Choy's Restaurant and Bar

I went here with a Korean colleague, he recommended this place, and he would know whet is authentic and what is not. I had my best meal in a long time, even though I had to sit on the floor at a very low table, true Korean style.

Favorite Dish: I had Bibimbap rice mix, which was heavenly and he had Spicy pork stir fry, Jae Yook Bokum, very gingery, and yummy...he let me try some.

My colleague really took time to explain all the dishes. They had Englsih translations alright, but that does not tell you much unless you see the dish in front of you.

The radish Kimchi was perfect, according to him, so were the potatoes in soy and honey sauce, but the "normal" kimchi did not pass...low quality. Now I know how bad kimchi tastes, and I can attest to that it tastes worse than other kimchi I had tried before. And gave me a tip on how to use the leftover kimchi broth: Add a few drops of sesamy oil and pour over hot rice. Oh, he also said that the radish kimchi at the restaurant was actually better than the one he had at home.

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: Riccarton Rd, near Hagley Park
Directions: From the city centre, on the left side, shortly after the roundabout where Hagley Park ends.

Restaurant Name: Weekend Market / Saturday Food Stalls

Enjoy the arts and crafts show at the Weekend Market and while there, have some food at the International food stalls, usually Greek, Thai, Korean, Chinese and German.
Enjoy your meal while watching the crowds, there's always something interesting.

Favorite Dish: A dish cost in the ballpark of 6 dollars.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: The Arts Centre
Directions: Off Worcester Blvd

Restaurant Name: Greek Souvlaki from the food stalls

Away from the other food stalls, tucked away in a corner closes to Worcester Blvd, you'll find a foodstall selling Greek Souvlaki and Kebab. Always popular.

Favorite Dish: Lamb Kebab, NZ$ 6.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Weekend Market at The Arts Centre

Restaurant Name: Thai

The vendors are always eager to attract customers, and the lady at the Thai foodstall even offered me a small taster, hence I bought my lunch here.

Favorite Dish: Thai spicy stir fry, rice and pancake, NZ$ 6

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Food stalls at the Weekend Market

Restaurant Name: The Mona Vale Homestead

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday. On my morning walk I decided to take a stroll through Mona Vale, since I had just gotten to Chch, and since I had not seen this area before. This was a great park, perfect for a picnic.
The Mona Vale homestead lies on the banks of the River Avon and serves tea on their outside terrace. Now, even in mid winter, while there was a chilly wind in the park, I did not sense the slightest breeze on the terrace, and with the sun being quite warm after all, I took my chance at having my brunch outside.
That was the best hour of that day. Yes, I sat there for one full hour, just enjoying myself.
I had sparrows hopping on and off my table, surely they would have hopped on and off my food too, had I let them. There were ducks swimming on the river, and the view was so calm and soothing.
That was until a group of Japanese tourists arrived, clicking away with their cameras. I felt like I was on display like some tourist attraction. Luckily, they vansished as quickly as they had appeared.

Favorite Dish: Devonshire Tea:
A big warm and freshly baked sultana scone, with jam, butter and cream in separate dishes, two cucumber salmon sandwiches, and a hot drink of your choice, $11.

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Theme: Coffeehouse
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Mona Vale
Website: http://www.nzine.co.nz/features/monavale.html

Restaurant Name: Any Sushi takeaway

If you like Asian food, that is Korean and Japanese food, then Christchurch is like heaven, almost.

There are Sushi takeaways on very corner, almost, and you will find them in every mall.

A typical box costs between 5-7 dollars and you get a full meal for that...listing all variations will take too much time and space here, but there is something for everyone, I guarantee it.

I was surprised (read: shocked) to see the Asian influence here. I LOVE Asian food and was preparing myself for 2 months on a baked-beans-and-sausage-and-some-fish-and-chips-diet, but this is fantastic. There's hardly a day without a sushi lunchbox...I'll miss that when I get back.

I normally go for the seafood ones, but they douse the seafood in a mayonaise sauce, which hides the taste, but the sauce isn't that bad really.

Favorite Dish: The Korean takeaway at the bus exchange (down the stairs to the right from the information desk) sell their lunch boxes for $5, but in the late afternoon the leftovers sell for $4. The choice is by then rather limited, but if you're on a budget, it's a good deal.
Try their sweet chili chicken, soggy, but delicious!

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Theme: Japanese/Sushi
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: University cafes - "yesterday's" at half price

If you're on a tight budget, and as a student you often are, make it to the cafes on campus early in the morning (they usually open at 8.30), because they're selling yesterday's sandwiches and scones etc. at 50% off. I've discovered that scones are quite filling and at 70 cents a piece that's really not much to pay...a bit dry perhaps, but that's ok.


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Theme: Other
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: University of Canterbury