Red Bowl Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Christchurch

If you’re like me, sometimes all you want for lunch is a hot plate of rice with a few hearty, familiar dishes. I found just that at a humble Chinese restaurant in Christchurch — and the best part? It was only $10.

Here’s what I had today: • 🔥 Mapo Tofu – Silky soft tofu with a light kick of spice and that signature numbing flavor. Not too oily, super comforting, and perfect with rice. • 🥬 Stir-fried Celery with Pork – Crisp celery and tender pork slices cooked simply but full of wok hei — tasted just like home cooking. • 🥔 Braised Beef Brisket with Potato – The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the potato soaked up all that rich, savory sauce. It honestly felt like something that had been simmering for hours in a family kitchen.

🍚 Served with a generous portion of steamed white rice, the whole meal felt hearty, warm, and deeply satisfying. No frills, just honest-to-goodness food that reminds you of a meal back home.

📍 If you’re in Christchurch and craving a real Chinese lunch that doesn’t break the bank, this spot is a hidden gem. The dishes change daily too — so there’s always...

Last night was the first time I had dined at this restaurant and would have no complaints if it wasnt for seeing Shark Fin soup on the menu. This fact alone will stop me returning. The service, atmosphere, food was all fine (nothing spectacular, pretty much what was expected) but I was so disappointed and rather horrified to see shark fin on the menu. The practice of collecting shark fin is barbaric, inhumane and totally unacceptable. It shouldnt be allowed in NZ, fullstop. If I hadnt been with others, I would have upped and left right away but sadly I couldnt. Until such time that they remove this item from the menu, I will not return and will tell my friends and family to similarly boycott...

Tried the stir fry vegetables on noodles, no vegetables, just a tiny amount of shredded cabbage. Gave them a second chance, but added tofu for $3. Still no vegetables and tofu that was old and chewy, basically Styrofoam, unfit for human consumption, threw it out. Tofu literally had the taste and texture of something left out on the bench a few days, and nothing was even hot. They also had no change when I paid cash, made up some unintelligible rubbish so charged me $20 instead of $18. Inedible food, ripped off our change. Will never go back, worst chinese food we've ever had. Staff were friendly and smiled while they ripped us off though, so I guess...