Where to Get the Best Hand-Pulled Noodle Spots in NZ

This pint-sized steamy little space has a cult following; word of mouth has most definitely spread amongst Wellingtonians. Yo Po Mian (or hot oil noodles) are a Taste of Home special, and the chef/owners reckon they’re the only noodles like this in the capital. Have them with your choice of pork belly, crispy squid, wontons, spiced egg, fried tofu or chicken. The constant flow of hungry customers every lunchtime should be motivation enough to join the queue.

Establishing itself as a destination in the seaside community of Sumner, ​​Miss Peppercorn doesn’t disappoint with a menu based around Sichuan peppercorns. Owner and operator Nicole Zou hails from the Chinese province of Sichuan, so prepare for the famous peppercorn kick. The star of the show is The Biang Biang Noodles, named after the clapping and slapping sound the thick hand-pulled heavenly noodles make. Drizzled in that distinctive spicy sauce with vegetables, the Biang Biang are available with beef, pork, chicken or vegetables, though we hear beef is the most popular.

Dominion Road is a hot pot of noodles, you just need to know where to look, even then it’s hard to pick a favourite, and even harder to pass Eden Noodles. The first choice is to pick a noodle - wide, thick, thin, kumara or rice noodles. Following that, the staple Dandan Noodles is the signature dish for good reason. You’ll be greeted by a healthy portion of goodness with dandan sauce and crispy pork mince up top. What more could you ask for?

Hamilton has a solid selection of great Chinese restaurants, so noodle lovers are in good hands, but the best around town are at Garden Place Noodle Bar. This understated little local has a dark wooden interior and is lit by fun lantern lighting, the ideal place to dive headfirst into a bowl of noodles. The Beef Sirloin Noodle Soup is the favourite and is available Gluten-Free, followed closely by the Pork Mince Noodle, a hot second. Lovers of the cheap and cheerful, quick and quality, will find a little haven in Garden Place Noodle Bar.