Looking for the best Chinese restaurants in Taupo? From dine-in bowls of beef noodle soup a short walk from the lake to family feeds of chow mein and sweet and sour pork for the couch, Chinese restaurants in Taupo cover both a relaxed sit-down meal and a quick takeaway. Rice and Noodle House on Tongariro Street and Double Happy Takeaways in Tauhara are two good places to start.
1Rice and Noodle House
Rice and Noodle House is a Chinese eatery at the lake end of Tongariro Street in central Taupo, serving rice bowls, stir-fries, soups and snacks. The menu mixes familiar favourites with regional dishes such as braised pork belly, Kung Pao chicken, mapo tofu and dry-fried green beans. It suits visitors and locals wanting a sit-down Chinese meal in the town centre, seven days a week.
Services
- Meat dishes including sweet and sour pork, braised pork belly and crispy duck
- Stir-fried seafood such as salt and pepper squid and shrimp with cashew nuts
- Beef noodle soup, wonton noodle soup and stir-fried rice noodles with beef
- Vegetable dishes including mapo tofu, dry-fried green beans and sour and spicy shredded potatoes
- Pan-fried dumplings, fried wontons and spring rolls
Highlights
- Open 11am to 9pm, seven days
- Bilingual Chinese and English menu
- Pan-fried dumplings in beef and onion, pork and cabbage, or chicken and mushroom
- Vegetarian dishes marked on the menu
Location & Contact
Name: Rice and Noodle House
Address: 9 Tongariro Street, Taupō 3330
Phone: 07 219 6891
Website: riceandnoodlehouse.vercel.app
2Double Happy Takeaways
Double Happy Takeaways is a small, family-run Chinese takeaway on Taharepa Road in Tauhara, cooking traditional Chinese and Indonesian dishes alongside a fish and chips menu. Its kitchen covers the Kiwi-Chinese classics, from chop suey and egg fu young to hand-made dumplings and satay. It suits households after a family feed for pickup or delivery around Taupo, six days a week.
Services
- Chow mein, chop suey, fried rice and fried noodles
- Egg fu young, sweet and sour, and honey and lemon sauce dishes
- Hand-made dumplings, pan fried or steamed
- Black bean, oyster and ginger sauce dishes with beef, chicken, prawn or scallop
- Family specials for two to seven people
Highlights
- Family-run business
- Indonesian dishes including nasi goreng, bami goreng and satay on white rice
- Online ordering for pickup and delivery
Location & Contact
Name: Double Happy Takeaways
Address: 226 Taharepa Road, Tauhara, Taupō 3330
Phone: 07 377 3228
Website: doublehappytakeaways.co.nz
How to Choose the Right Chinese Restaurant in Taupo
- Dine in or takeaway: decide whether you want a table in the town centre or a family feed collected or delivered to your door.
- Style of cooking: Kiwi-Chinese takeaway classics such as chop suey and egg fu young differ from regional dishes like mapo tofu or braised pork belly, so read the menu first.
- Dietary needs: look for marked vegetarian dishes and ask about allergens, as soy, wheat, shellfish and nuts are common in Chinese cooking.
- Group size: family specials and sharing plates make feeding a group simpler and often better value.
- Opening days: some Chinese takeaways close one day a week, so check hours before you head out.
Frequently Asked Questions About Taupo Chinese Restaurants
Where can I find a Chinese restaurant near the Taupo lakefront?
The lake end of Tongariro Street in the town centre is the easiest place to find a sit-down Chinese meal within walking distance of the lakefront, the Great Lake Pathway and most central motels.
Are there Chinese takeaways in Taupo that deliver?
Yes. Several Chinese takeaways in Taupo take online orders for pickup or delivery, particularly around Tauhara and the eastern suburbs. Delivery areas vary, so check at checkout.
What is the difference between chow mein and chop suey?
In New Zealand Chinese takeaways, chow mein is served with noodles and chop suey is the same style of stir-fried meat and vegetables served without noodles.
Can I get vegetarian Chinese food in Taupo?
Most Chinese menus include vegetable versions of fried rice, chow mein and stir-fries, and dishes such as dry-fried green beans or sour and spicy potatoes. Mapo tofu often contains minced pork, so ask before ordering.
Do Chinese restaurants in Taupo cater for groups?
Family specials that combine fried rice, chow mein, sweet and sour and wontons are a common way to feed four to seven people, and sharing plates work well for a group dining in.
How much does Chinese food cost in Taupo?
As a rough guide, most mains at Chinese takeaways and eateries in Taupo sit in the low to mid twenty-dollar range, with seafood and duck costing more and family specials priced by group size.
Are Chinese restaurants in Taupo open every day?
Hours vary. Some eateries open seven days, while a number of takeaways close on Mondays, so it is worth checking before a Monday night order.