Review Imperial Palace Restaurant

Shi Yu Meng

Yumcha is a favorite way of eating and sharing Chinese cuisine. Imperial Palace is a great way to enjoy a Sunday brunch with friends and family with large tables and plenty of space. There are plentiful dishes to choose from and the staff even comes around with carts like you find in China. The food is delicious and make sure you order tea as it is a must.

彭笙瑞

It was pretty good. The shrimp dumplings were plentiful, and the rice noodle rolls were tasty. The service was attentive too.

Vanessa M

My daughter was wanting chinese food for dinner so we thought we'd try this place. We didn't have a booking but they were more than happy to accommodate our table of 4. We bought sweet and sour pork, chicken with cashews, spring rolls and vegetarian delight fried egg noodles. All the meals were very fresh and tasty. The spring rolls were cold in the middle and they could not have been more apologetic...replacing them and providing us with free drinks. They checked our food was fine and if we would like more drinks a couple of times. Very attentive, obliging and friendly we will be back.

Rob X

No rush, order what you want, receive some pretty good service as far as yum cha places go. Food was all pretty good, though a tad salty today on their har gow.

Google User

Dimsum: The wait here in general isn't as long as many others, quality 4/5. Selection isn't as impressive as some others, but still with sufficient options for an enjoyable dimsum session. The dimsum doesn't come around a trolley service and you order using a form after arriving at the table, so it's less fun but more efficient. We visited most recently on mother's day 2023 around 12pm, ie peak timing, the wait was only 30 minutes for a table, our order was taken within a minute of our form being ready, and started coming out within 10 minutes - very decent performance on a busy day. Of the 8 dishes we wanted, they were sold out of one ordered dish (baked BBQ buns), and had one further dish marked as unavailable on the menu (durian pastry). One dish arrived incomplete ( no peanut mix sauce for the rice roll with dough sticks and prawns). They had correctly removed the unavailable order from the bill without any following up from us. Parking can be difficult. Overall, would recommend, one of our go tos in East Auckland.

Jun Maruta

Very nice food, good service and friendly staff. Definitely go back again.

Pranesh Chand

The food was very nice.. easy to order. The food comes in 5 to 10mins. I the lady gave us 10% discount.. very nice

Charles Misquitta

The food was great at Imperial Palace. We were a group of 12 of us and they took our order and within 10 minutes our food was served. Everything was fantastic, fried squid, dimsum, etc etc, however the chicken feet was quite tough to eat and not falling off the bone as in some other places. Other than that the service was great.

Benedict Uy

Normally come here for yum cha. It gets quite busy so parking is hard to get. I aim to get there before 11.30am on a Sunday to be sure to get parking and a table without booking. Have come here at night as well and the food is decent. Menu has plenty of options.

Irene Palmer

Really good customer service. Slightly on the expensive side for the quantity, but quality was worth it. Meals came out fast for a busy Saturday night.

Alexander Collins

Imperial Palace is an odd place. The architect was high when he drew its plans, wasted spaces and funky corners. That being said, the food is stupendous. The staff is friendly, but you could see they where weary as our party of 7 was non-asian. Everyone else seated was asian, and apparently all having feasts. That is usually a good sign your gonna get served authentic fare. I've tried many Chinese places all over Auckland, and this is the only place where you can feel a unique sense of pride infused in the delicately crafted dishes. The seafood was clearly fresh, and the balance in the sauces all had a unique zing. For example, the stir-fried shrimp with garlic and chilly, that every single chinese restaurant apparently has to have in its menu was unique. For starters the shrimp where peeled. The finely sliced garlic covering the shrimp was toasted to a light brown crisp, with a touch of sauted scallions and other spices. This made the classic dish refreshingly new. Anyhoot, in my book this place is top of my short list for Authentic chinese in Auckland. Tommorrow I'm trying their Yam Tcha.

#Hashtag Lads

A very amazing Yumcha place! We had to order everything vs the trolley coming around but helped us find some goodies. Great for new people intro into Yumcha, would recommend the crepe cake!

Geoff Wilson

Can't complain especially when getting treated to a free banquet for a friends and family event. It was an extreme amount of food for our party and in general was all pretty good, some dishes definitely better than others (peking duck was great but tofu soup smelled like a clean port-a-loo for some reason?). Definitely well suited for large parties for either dinner or group dancing and such too. Plenty of parking and may even have had parking security.

William Lin

Haven't been here for yum cha for a while now, so was pleasantly surprised with how you have to order from a menu, rather than wait for the trolley. It used to always run out of food before it got around. Most of the savoury dishes were delicious, but I would have to say I was disappointed with the sweet ones, which were bland in flavour.

Usa Iswari

Went here for several times. It's always packed so better book first. Try the prawn toast (the best one), and the dumplings are great as well. Apparently the beef tripe and chicken feet were just average for me.

Annie Ling

Came here as it is a yum cha place that is opened to 3pm. Service was nice. Food was hot and fresh. Still prefer other places like yacht in Avondale (cheaper) or enjoy inn (closer to home).

T Me

A few years ago it was the best, then 1 year it sucked, then just recently it was better, still not the best. Overall not disappointed.

A

Cheap yum cha. Super crowded and busy every time I visit. The toilet is filthy which was not a good sign.

SP Lee

Booked a table for 12 people for 7pm. Was told when we arrived that the restaurant shuts at 8 30. This was for an occasion so we were in no mood to rush. Really angry they didn't tell us when we booked. Whoever picked up the phone for my booking probably didn't speak English because they said they told me. For sure they did not... it was a special occasion for me and they ruined that part of the night.

I_like_pickles

This restaurant is quite big and used as a venue for Chinese weddings and parties quite often. The yum cha is OK, it has the usual selection of dim sum. The waitresses come around often and the food is hot. I just feel there's something off with the presentation of the dim sum.

Cranberrycrackers

Honestly it’s hard for yum cha to be bad, but there’s something missing about this place I cannot really put my finger on. Also, I’ve definitely had better tasting yum chas. This place is huge, often used for special events or large gatherings. A place for family fun and big friend groups. It is probably one of the more reasonably priced yum cha place as sometimes they can get quite expensive. I tried durian buns for the first time in my life & I do not like durian or an overload of cream & that bun was the exact combination of those two things, so maybe I am a bit negatively biased because that place just reminds me of my friends forcing me to eat that. I think just go for the usual yum cha specialties like foods with prawns - can never go wrong with that. -> BE BACK OR BACK AWAY? I would be back if my friend suggested it & really wanted to go but I do not crave it & wouldn’t go out of my way to go to this place (1. Because it’s kinda far from where I live & 2. There’s better places out there).

Renee Singh

Love coming here every Sunday for Yum char. They have a big selection of food. Reasonable pricing and they are very fast for orders. Would definitely recommend.

Mihimaru Zoie

Me and my family of 10 were sitting on a large corner table, and the food trollies barely come to our side. So we told one of the younger waitresses about that and asked if we could make orders instead of waiting for the trollies and she was happy to help. After we got our food, an older waitress pushed her trolly to our table and said "hey! get your food now, stop saying we don't push your food here!" she didn't even wait for us to look at what food to get and wanted to leave after giving us bad attitude. Good food, bad experience.

Trish H2

Came for lunch. Awesome awesome service. First time been to a yum cha where the trolleys come around so frequently and with a lot of food. Even had my favourite- golden balls!!!!!! Well that’s what I call them. Tea was served quickly when we got seated. Service was very good. Just really impressed. Dishes were tasty and fresh. Has to be one of the best yum cha I have been to. The rest pale in comparison.

Alison

I’ve been coming to this place for a long time and it’s always been good. The best thing I got here was the hargow. I was quite disappointed by the chicken feet this time though as it was a little cold. Also, during my visit this time I finally asked what the price was for the dishes because it was always kind of a mystery to me.... and they seemed kind of annoyed by this. It’s in the photo below if you’re wondering.

Flun Ci

One of the best years cha I tried. Dishes are tasty and served hot n fresh. Two waitress are nice and friendly. Environment and facilities are little bit old. But I’ll definitely come back again for the food

May Hung

A good yum cha place close to home. Plenty of parking , but still can be difficult to park during weekend. Food are of good quality , didn’t take photo of every single dish obviously I got too hungry and ate them all before I realise...

JPK

Yumcha place to enjoy tea with friends with good service and best part were dimsums. Lot of options to try and one visit won't be enough to taste everything.

Charis Yang

Most dim sum are delicious, very canton styled service and environment. I personally do recommend this place and my family come here occasionally.

Arianaaa

affordable and close to authentic dimsum taste, really happy that they are have huge venue to accommodate to their customers! Personal fav: pork chongfun, egg tarts, hargaw, custard buns, dumplings, fried squids

Tony Shi

Yum cha here is pretty nice compared to the other places round in the east and service is usually quite good but parking is a nightmare on weekends. Signs clearly state the carpark is shared between Hansan (next door) and Imperial Palace but still staff prevent us from parking in the spots "reserved" for Hansan customers only (which remain empty all of lunch time)

Coriander Lover

Nice and clean food. Good service ! I recommand this place for family gathering. Their food is pretty big plate which 3~5 people can share with.

Mon.

Taste: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 Interior Deco: 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑 Customer service: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 Recommend: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 Back at my most eaten yumcha place! Really glad that the food trollies come up to the second floor more frequently now so we got to order soon after seated! Lots of selection, always consistent with the quality and taste of yumcha! Would recommend

LuNa The TuNa

This yumcha ace actually really good. I didn't give much expect when i walked in. But food was pretty good, and so much choices during lunch time. Service was good too.

Wendy Wang

A lot of choices for lunch time. And the price is from four dollar per dish up to eight dollar per dish, depending on what kind of dishes you have. The flavour is good. If you go there during busy time on the weekend, it’s a little hard to find a parking space in their parking lot.

Cushla Foley

I’ve been here twice in the last two weeks! Stumbled across it and am so glad I gave it a shot. Delicious fresh Yum Cha. A wide selection and friendly helpful staff. Very large restaurant so can cater for big groups. Everything is delicious- but I highly recommend the coriander dumplings and the crispy pork belly.

곰정안

4/5 Taste 4/5 Display 4/5 Quantity 3.5/5 Customer Service Great Yumcha Restaurant in Mt Wellington. Deep fried soft shell crabs o m g. I fell in love as soon as I got here. I liked it so much I ordered more and didnt even care about prices.

Marggie Pascua

My mom and I go here most of the time for yum cha, I really like their shu mai. Definitely one of the best yum cha in Auckland. It is quite busy and hectic sometimes to just look for parking and getting a table. But the food is so good and the variety of dim sum is really good. I love it.

Tee

This place is my new favourite yum cha and I don’t mind the extra drive to get there 🤤 it is always always packed with people. The trolleys are always full, and the staff is on point they are everywhere. Very different set up, unlike any other restaurants it looks like a oldschool theatre. I have already recommended this place to many friends.

GS

solid yumcha place filled with carts frequently going around with a wide range of savory and sweet food. we were seated really quickly and service was fast. if you dont see a dish that you want on the carts you can ask one of the staff to get the kitchen to make it and bring it to your table. highlights were the fried taro, sesame balls, and the durian pastry that was stuffed with delicious durian (pictured) if you're not familiar with yumcha i would highly recommend bringing along someone who is familiar to get the full experience.

Rosanne Choy

Came in for a family dinner tonight. The sweet and sour fish was really good. Really liked the large mushrooms they served with Bok Choy. Fruit tasted fresh at the end of the meal.

Dumpling Hunter NZ

Very busy. Went for Yum Cha on Sat am. Dumplings a bit dry. Ordered Xiao Long Bao but skin a bit thick. Still searching hint for the ultimate xiao long bao in Auckland.

Munchies

First off the service at this outlet is below average at its best. If there is going to be a hour limit on eating then the trolleys should be going around more frequently with more verity. Prices are okay and food is okay as well. Only upside is its the only yum cha outlet in the Mt wellington area. Probs be better heading to Hansans next door. Better service.

Munchy

Good solid yum cha place. The thing that really stands out is their range of food, I was so surprised when I saw takoyaki floating about on one of the carts, practically stood up from my insatiable lust for dem octopus balls. Also always get the egg tarts at the end of your meal, they're nice and warm in the centre but the flaky pastry is crispy and thin and together it just melts into your mouth. So absolutely finish off ur tea with these delightful treats! :)

Geoffreymairs

The customer service was terrible. Felt like we weren't welcome there. The duck was cold and rest of the food took too long to come out. Very bad experience and won't go back.

888bing888

The setting may be odd as the place seemed to be like an old movie theatre. Although the place may feel dated, this hasn’t stopped their popularity as a good yum-char place. They are very busy on weekends and parking may always be an issue during peak hours. However, the food is great with a variety of choices to choose from, service is fast and efficient. Definitely one of our favourite yum-char place in Auckland.

Jun Ma

flavor is good and portion is big! We came at night but service was not so good so 3 stars but I still recommend this place if you guys want good food to eat!

Bienmaria94

Nice place, clean, many choice for yumcha, reasonable price, tasty food, good customer service, very busy, but serve fast, top yumcha place.

Mari Flores

Probably one of the most popular Yum Cha places and that can be proven through the facts its always packed with people. It has quite an unusual set up but you get used to it quickly. They have alot of dishes and most of them are my favourite especially the chicken feet, har gow and the congee. There is so many options to choose from as they always have alot of dishes leaving the kitchen. Only downside to this is its very noisy and you could wait for a long time for a table when you go during the peak time around 11:30 and 12:30.

Maggie

Found hair in our food, then had to wait quite a well for the food to come, manager didn’t even show up to apologise! When we were getting the bill the young lady was very annoyed and telling us ‘next time you have to pay by 3pm’ which is their “closing time “. Very unpleasant dining experience!!

TTxiaoyang Luo

Good place that my Mrs always want to go over and over again. Busy time like the weekend lunch time might hard to find a parking and if you didn’t book might needs to wait around half n hour. One of the good Chinese one around the area.

Terence Liu

The pawn is not fresh and I smell it come from the pawn are deadly made. Also, the tofu seems like baby food. It should looks shine and smooth. I better buy it from Chinese supermarket.

Aimee.

My mom booked this place out for a celebration and the catered food was delicious. We came back here for CNY celebrations with family and ordered a bunch of food. I ordered the tofu and mushroom stir fry, eggplant and also the bokchoy with mushroom. The portions are extremely generous and the food is delicious. The wait staff and owner are all extremely friendly and helpful.

KavinJ823

Loved their YumCha!! One of the best authentic Hong Kong style yumcha in NZ!! So pleased we've found this place! This place is clean and being able to speak Cantonese myself, the owners & staff are friendly and super chatty. Efficient service and you've got a lot of yummy food to choose from! Thumbs up!!!. I'd recommend going there early or prebooking for a table. Preferably go with someone who can speak Cantonese because unfortunately most of the staff can't really speak English and we often see non Chinese speakers miss out some good food due to language barrier. I will definitely recommend this yumcha to my friends and family. I hope they continue to keep their consistency.

Little Borneo Girl

Updated this review with new photos today 1/7/2018. We come here quite often, both for lunch (yum cha) and dinner. We loved the yum cha here as there are lots of varieties and specials. Yesterday we ordered 10 or 11 small dishes for $80. No prawns or lobster this round but price is still pretty steep. However the yum cha here is good hence it is our regular restaurant. We will back again although it would be nice if we know how much they actually charge for the yum chai (ie small plates = $?, medium $?, etc). If printed on the order list, that would help as it is nice to know what we are paying for.

Tony Ma

It's not the best in Auckland. But definitely one of the top. When you walk in you will be like ?WTF!?"... why are we eating in a school hall... some people even eat on the stage... it's a really weird layout.. But you get use to it and it gives it a whole new level of legit yumcha vibe. Good food, whenever i'm around at lunch time I stop by. Service: 3/5 Environment: 3/5 Food Quality: 4/5 Food Quantity: 4/5 Presentation: 3/5 Price per person: $30-$40

®-®-©hin....

Popular yum char place for locals,have been here a few times now and this place seems to keep up a pretty good standard of food and service every time we come here and I've noticed recently they introduce a few new yum char items to their yum char carts,which where very unique to them,only down side here,not much parking,and the place can get quite noise as it fulls up!!!

Ms. Piggy Loves Food

Been here multiple times for yum cha..the food is amazing.. love the pork buns, coriander har gaw, wu kok or yam balls, shu mai, hk style chee chong fan, those spongy rice wine cakes, the floral seaweed jelly with goji berries.. mmm..they need to up their game with the tasteless weird oil with chilli..I usually bring my own Malaysian chilli prawn paste or sriracha garlic sauce..other than that, it's a good spread

Laurencelimkt

If you are looking for food quality this place is pretty good. Ample parking lot and easy to get table not need to book. Price is reasonable.

Jane Cassandra Ramos

Came here today for lunch with my classmates... food was so amazing and yummy. I guess this is the best yum cha in auckland ❤️. Staff and cashier are amazing and nice. Would definitely come back here with my family

Kiwi Eats Asia

Really nice yum cha - they've got a good operation going on, and less stressful than some others which are very strict about time limits. We were seated upstairs, which I usually dislike since you feel a bit forgotten up there as you watch food circulate downstairs. But this time, that wasn't an issue as the upstairs section rapidly filled out. I really enjoy their beef tendon, chicken feet, black sesame rice balls (generous filling!), Shao Mai, and prawn chive clear dumplings. Also had a fried, battered prawn dish which was nice. Rice rolls with prawns are not the best texture I've had but still ok, stewed tripe a little bit strong flavoured for me. Little yellow steamed buns with sweet egg in them were really bad - liquid had separated out into oil and solid and it was pretty gross. Both service and atmosphere was cold and clinical, pretty normal for yum cha. I think I still like lucky fortune best but this place is definitely really good :)

Anne-Marie Jeremiah

Always good food, lunch or dinner. Average prices. Only disappointment for me was that yum char/ dumpling options are not available at dinner session.

Icyicy Guo - 25%OFF GOLD Membership Code: ICYI7584

My family goes there quite often for yumcha in the weekends. There is parking, and you never really have to wait for a long time for a table. Reasonable priced with alot of chioces. Most of them are good just like what you expect for yumcha, nothing special though. One thing I wouldn't order again: oyster (too much mayo). Venue is good for large dinner functions with a stage and double deck. Been there a couple of times for different events. Not bad. Although the equipment are slightly outdated, i.e. stereo and video system.

Roger DD

Been wanting to go this restaurant for yum char and finally we're here today. Was really busy towards lunch time and glad that we arrived early. It's going to be one of our favourite yum char hang out place from now on. The service was quick, efficient and all staffs wearing the mouth protection which is very hygienic, l think. Food look fresh and hot with lots of varieties and just keep coming. Will definitely be back soon.

Sharon Louie

I've been here three times for dinner. The portions are quite large and relatively inexpensive for what you get. There were some dishes, which I would have considered as average but most of the dishes that we ordered were delicious!

Tsping91

The Food here is quite good compare to lots of other Yumcha/ Dimsum place. been there few times and there are difference if you go on weekends compare to weekdays. if you like to try more sweet dimsums do go on weekends, there will be a wait but if you go during the right time you might be lucky that there will be empty tables for you. don't expect too much from the service crew, they are fast and sometimes too fast that they walk pass you. but overall the food is nice.

Ian Pann

decent meal and service, nice atmosphere. had to ask the staffs to repeat a few times of what theyve got in their trolley. food was rather nice and staffs were quite accomodating of the requests, etc. keen to head back again with my group of friends

Jenz

Used to come here often, today i came at 12:00 for yumcha, asked for a dim sum lunch menu and nobody was able to assist. Sat there waiting while we were really hungry. Ordered 2 drinks that we never touched and were still charged for it. Don't think i would ever come back to this place after the way they treated us. The customer right next to us were also speaking in their own language complaining about us to the employer. Left the place with empty stomachs. Dissatisfied

Kombie Stanley

Only my last choice if i want to go yum cha. Tables always given to the staff's friends who have not booked table and is really unfair for those who get a ticket and wait.

Neelam Chandra

Not the best yumcha place I've been to only because it is rather small and it lacks a variety of dishes. They didn't have certain food items like chicken unfortunately. The dumplings here are standard but their crispy pork and roast duck is a winner. So delicious 😍👌

Jessica Halim

Great yumcha place out in Mt Wellington. Parking can get tricky. Venue is big and you normally only wait for a bit to get a table. Food are tasty and great to see the staffs are using mask. Can be tricky if you need to order as a few staff dont speak fluent english. We have been here a few times and thought their pork ribs, buns, and dumplings were good!

Luxuryloverxxx

2.34pm we arrived knowing they close at 3pm they happily served us. Took our order. Hot tea on a rainy day with fresh steamed dumplings I say no more!

Joanne Chives

Feels messy and disorganised. Staff was friendly, but food was below average. Price does not match food quality. Do not recommend, and will not be returning.

Vanessa

Yum cha during weekends is always packed. It's advisable to make a booking prior to showing up. Service as you can expect from a Chinese restaurant. Food was so so. Not the best yum cha I've had. Dinner however was very affordable and food was delicious especially their plum sauce pork ribs.

Miss Kiki

Dined here with friends for yum char one Saturday afternoon. Standard yum char fare, nothing special. The venue is strange, I think it used to be a club. So it's super old and worn inside. You definitely don't go here for the ambience. Food was good and there are heaps of tables. You probably won't need to wait long for a table here.

Leewenwong

We were there for lunch on a Saturday around 1pm. Was quickly seated on second floor. High chair being arranged immediately for our 2yo boy. Service of the food is fast. Recommended liu Sha bao is one of the best.

Sindy Xian

Always delicious yum cha. Unlike other popular yumcha they don't care if you eat with them or not. I like this place because the wide variety, the spacious place and almost speedy service.

Helen Wang

As soon as we stepped inside, the whole place looked too dark and dirty for a restaurant. It was big and spacious but definitely lacked the atmosphere and heat. We sat for about 10 minutes with no food coming our way (yumcha). The service was poor and the food quality was not worth what we paid for.

Brett

Been here for the yum char twice at lunch and by crikey it's good. Always busy on weekends but definitely worth it. Also been at the restaurant and it's amazing. I would recommend going in a group because dishes are all massive and made for sharing. Am a regular here and it is delicious .

Ronald Tan

Food was alright.excellent service. The waitress wears a mask for hygiene purpose which is really good. The food taste good except that it was a bit cold.

SHIKA 🍇

Been here twice already and I've had a great experience both times. I came here with my friends and we just love Yum Cha. With the variety and range of hot foods which are served every minute is amazing. It's a great place to go with a group of people just so you can taste the range of dishes they have but not worry about the cost as you can split the bill, which comes down to a reasonable amount. The food here is amazing. I loved everything we picked and I have my personal favourites now which I definitely will get next time round. The only hard thing is that not many of the servers speak English so you are unable to understand what's in the dishes which is why it's best to go with someone who can speak the language and once you know what everything is,you will have a better chance picking dishes next time round. Overall the experience I had here was great. The only thing which we weren't told was that we had a limit for one hour to eat, and we weren't finished with our food so we had to pack it up and leave as there was people waiting for our table. If we were told of this earlier than we would've been more prepared and ate faster or left earlier. I think they also had this one hour limit as it was a public holiday and also do 10% surcharge for these days. Other than that I had a great. The food is amazing!! 👍

Benz Chan

Since my boy was born, my wife and I always choose restaurants that are baby-friendly. Imperial Palace meets this criteria. The place is spacious and clean. Staff are very friendly and approachable. Although they are always full on whenever we dine there, they find ways to serve us with a smile - something that is hard to do especially if you have a noisy customer in the form of our 10-month-old rascal! Food portions are okay; prices are affordable and family-friendly. They serve a wide variety of dimsum dishes, and I must say most of them are delicious. They can perhaps improve their service by training all their staff to speak basic English. This will make their place more welcoming to locals and not just to oriental customers.

Kirsten

Based on the positive reviews about this place, thought I'd give it a shot. Quite impressed with the dim sum! The dining area is quite spacious, as there's another floor upstairs, so booking isn't necessary. Out of all the yum cha restaurants, I'd rank Imperial Palace as second place. Sun World remains as my favourite Chinese restaurant! Most of their dishes are tasty and aren't too salty or too sweet, so thumbs up to that. With their pineapple buns and egg tarts, they didn't looking appealing to me portion-wise. However, I was satisfied with everything and left the restaurant with a smile on my face.

Yusoff Kamal

This place is massive. (Two storey) Plenty of tables as they normally cater for events. We went for dinner and selected 6 dishes among us 5 which is way too much but non is gone to waste. You can request for small container for left overs. We really enjoy our food though there is a few 'hit & misses' with the dishes. My favorite will be the steam fish. I think it will be a good idea if they offer free slices of fruits (apple/orange) to cleanse our palate after meal. Many chinese restaurant offer such refreshment at the end of the meal. The staff and service is really good! They did more than well in this area. They always make sure our tea is filled. Definitely a place to go to with a large group.

Erica Zhang

Nice stuff and lovely food. They aims at serving the cantonese cuisine dishes. The steamed rice rolls with BBQ pork is the most amazing dish I have ever tasted.

Christian

Yum Cha in a former night club?? Yes, you got it here at this place. The owners cleverly use the split levelled space and created a busy Chinese restaurant in Panmure. The lunch yum Cha selection is extensive with a good mix of savoury and sweet dishes. The quality is pretty good and staff were friendly and efficient. It gets very busy so worth to book at the weekend.

Nathalie

First time dining here and the place was so packed despite booking we still had to wait around 5-10mins to be seated. We managed to get a table upstairs. Yum Cha had good flavours very nice sio mai and dim sum all very authentic. The only negative was that the food took very long to come around and we waited for a while, also there was not enough staff upstairs. Staff were also not very prompt at taking orders and orders took a while to Arrive. Will probably be back but we will avoid busy lunch time days.

Tony Wan

We came for yum-cha recently. The restaurant was spacious and comfortable. The service was good and very friendly. We ordered a range of food. They were tasty and also of reasoanble serving. We enjoyed the food and definitely will return. Thinking of trying their dinner dishes someday. We have been here a couple of times for dinner. We came here again on 19 March 2018 for dinner. We enjoyed the food. They were tasty and of reasonable serving. The prices were acceptable.

STRADS

Imperial Palace is a typical Chinese eatery with mediocre service. (Some of the full-part wait staff were just as bad as the part-time staff.) We were there for yum-cha. Food was generally just OK. (Food - 3.5/5; Service - 2/5; Ambience - 3/5)

Jaqueline Shuang

I really enjoy the huge variety they have. They have more variety than many other yum cha restaurants. My favourite place to go for yum cha. I love their ha gao, ma lai gao and the many types of buns they have. The chicken feet are saucy and full of flavour. However it can be a bit pricey, but it is worth it.

Cesar Luis

The food is definitely more authentic than other YumChar in town, however the place and the service is lower quality than other typical places, especially as prices are as high as having a meal in the city, we were quite disappointed about that, some typical dishes are not standard so needed to be ordered and chase the waiters for tea or cleaning empty dishes, having said that it feels more like of you were in actual HK

Medium_Rare

Classic Chinese restaurant where you order large shared meals. A group of 12 of us dined in on a busy and bustling Saturday night. We ordered a variety of dishes like the egg plant, fried green beans, sweet & sour spare ribs, BBQ & Roast Pork, fried ball things and a spicy tofu. Apologises for the pictures, but it's rather awkward taking every dish when you have a hungry group of individuals. The dishes were all tasty and sumptuous. However the ones that stood out for me was their BBQ Pork and their Spicy Tofu. The BBQ pork seemed to have exactly the right consistency of pork meat and fat, the sauce they used was sublime, and the pork had a visually pleasing shine to it. Our group all enjoyed the tofu because the sauce had enough kick without being too spicy and it complimented the tofu well. Showstopper: BBQ Pork and Spicy Tofu Overall Grade: B+

Sasha.Lin

Super busy over the weekends, better reserve the table before. They have a huge variety of Yum Cha choice, I have been a fun of Yum Cha, this restaurant is definitely a very good choice. I love their steamed dumplings and pan fried Lotus cake and beef tendor. Usually, I can't eat much, but whenever I am there, I felt like my appettizer could go 3 times more.

The Incredible Edible

Good yum cha Always busy means good turn over of food As expected for Auckland yum cha Yum dumplings and chicken feet Char siu Cheung fun or bbq pork rice rolls are a goodie Footballs or glutinous deep fried rice ball with pork mince in the middle Ba tung gor or sweet sticky rice cakes for dessert - looks like bread cut into triangles

AJ

Really, really poor experience with this place and the entire family seemed to dislike it. Really cold inside upon entry and the food was very sub-par - especially for the price. The whole duck we ordered was ridiculously small (compared to literally any other Chinese restaurant I have been too), and I can only think that this duck was somehow crippled from birth (hence missing limbs) or that half of the serving size had mysteriously disappeared in the kitchen. To add to this, half of the duck was just fried duck skin and only a select few pieces actually had meat on them. The pork dish had an aftertaste which resembled lemon dish washing liquid (have never tried this yet this meal gave me ideas) and was riddled with sharp bones (despite being 'boneless' on the menu). The beef seemed to be the only acceptable serving, yet there were issues with this too. Really disappointing experience, and the cost was appalling for the food standard. Had to go to MacDonalds afterwards in order to actually eat something for dinner! Would not recommend to anyone.

Benedict Uy

One of the better Yum Cha places in Auckland. They generally have a really large selection of foods and tend to come up with new ones every month or so. There is always carts moving around but more at peak times as expected. Usually has soy and chili sauce on the tables and the tea is topped up regularly. The biggest problem is the parking, there isn't enough since they share the lot with Hansan next door. They do a la carte for dinner but normally just come for Yum Cha. Normally try to come before 11.30am to get parking and a table without reserving. Otherwise there may be a wait for both.

Eve Espino

Went for lunch here for the first time today. Service was prompt despite the lunch rush, and the food was good. It was very busy and sometimes the servers would just pass our table without showing us what's in their cart. But overall good food and would go here again.

Misty

Awesome yumcha place! The restaurant is massive but it gets completely packed especially on weekends. Plenty of parking outside. The food trolleys come around fast and there are enough waiters walking around to fill your teapots and get the sauces for you etc without having to wait for long. Food quality is good too and fresh.

Rosemary Young

We went here based on recommendations from a few people. I must admit the venue is quite large which means the wait times for a table is quite short. However the dim sum selection is very limited. I had often find myself waiting for something to come out, which did not even exist. It did have the usual stuff like har gao and sui mai and beef ribs, but nothing overly exciting or very tasty to be honest. check out my website for an indepth review.

Debbie King

Been to a few Yum char places around Auckland, staff very friendly, and helpful, food came out quickly, and great range. reasonably price. It pays to get in early if it is the weekend.. as place does fill up. Decor needs an update, then would make a wonderful place Birthday etc, if you would like to take someone out to somewhere special. Service was great and the uniforms (black and white check) it made them stand out and look professional. Food taste great, was fresh, and had a few extra things on the trolley runs that haven't seen in other Yum Chars.

Stango

Went here on a weekend - and the parking was so difficult! We had to wait a while for a table too, but we didn't mind sharing so they placed us on a banquet table with some grandparents and grand kids. From what I saw, the selection isn't bad. There was a rush of two or three waiters (one after the other) when we first sat down, and then there was no service for at least 15 minutes. The same trolley seemed to be circulating and we didn't see any of the stuff we usually get elsewhere like the filled rice noodle rolls or fried squid. Furthermore, we could see dessert trays and other assorted foods circulating in our area upstairs, but they never brought these to our table for some reason. I feel like they didn't make the effort to bring the authentic dishes our way because we don't speak Chinese. At the very end (once we were ready to leave) one waitress was nice enough to bring us a printed menu with pictures and english names. This was helpful, although we were already full and there were no prices on it either. I would definitely go back, but the concept of ordering and not knowing the bill until the very end always makes me nervous. Overall spend wasn't as bad as I'd thought, but then again, we still could have ordered more food if they had just offered it to us.

Elliot Ewen Pasione Ikilei

Excellent ambience, service and flow of traffic, which is an unusual mixture of positives for a yum cha place. Food was yummy and a better than average range of food; the tea was filled quickly and was strong! Have to say that I enjoyed the friendly service and little touches that made a better overall experience than Grand Park. Will be back!

Nicole Chris Mihai

i was there last Saturday and did not had a very pleasant experience. the appetizers were good, for main we got a bbq platter and seafood combination with noodles. the noodles were soggy and had no taste, absolutely disgusting. the customer service very poor (-1) , just because your staff has poor knowledge of English doesn't mean we are death so they spoke to us on loud tone and in a very bossy meaner, with absolutely no consideration for the customers around they will drop very loudly the dirty dishes in the bins . What was supposed to be a birthday dinner, turned out the worse experience and a waist of $88, and having a sore tummy that night. would not go back again

Dennis Zhang

First time today at Imperial Palace for yumcha. Was a bit anxious as we thought it would be quite pricey comparative to other yumcha places. We arrived bang on 11am and were seated immediately, by the time we finished the place was full so book ahead if going at peak times. We ordered our typical favourite dim sums and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. Service was also great as carts flowed quickly and tea top-ups were fast. Also, the staff were quite nice unlike some other yumcha places who would snob non-Cantonese speakers. Lastly, price was very reasonable, especially for the quality! Dim sums ranged from $4.50-$6.30. Overall we spent less than $80 between 6 people and we were all very full. Definitely recommend!

Heidi Chapman

Exquisite dim sum at this place. I come here with my boyfriend every weekend since we live close by and it is simply flawless. Good quality food for good prices, the staff are extremely friendly when I want to practice my chinese and we leave every time with full tummies and a bag of leftovers to have for lunch or dinner. By the looks of the stage you could PROBABLY book the place privately for a celebratory occasion

Kim M

A lovely place for Yum Cha. Always very busy, but the staff are very friendly and efficient and always have a variety of choices. Very reasonable prices for the dishes - Love the Dim Sim, Roast duck, Chicken feet and steamed rice rolls. The Durian cream balls are amazing, as well as the banana pancakes as dessert. Have been to Imperial Palace many times now and have introduced family and friends to this place - and they are very impressed.

LeFoodie

Live down the road so we have yum char here once every week n sometimes dinner. The dim sims R the best in town. Very tasty. Service is great

Ed

I come here every so often with my family. There's not much to say about this place apart from the fact they they good yum cha dishes at fairly affordable prices. Would definitely recommend this place. Food: 7/10 Service: 3.5/5 Ambience: 3.5/5 Value: 4/5 Overall: 18/25

Zara Alexzandra Young

Me and mum came here for lunch and we were impressed! The selection of food coming out was great and there were heaps to choose from and all the dishes looked amazing. The pricing was pretty standard for yum char- we went a bit overboard and ended up taking some food home but for two people it was just over $40. The restaurant was inside an old theatre because there's a massive stage with tables on it which was a bit off. The food was so good though! Definitely coming back!

John Beswick

I have just been to the Imperial Palace for a Yum Cha lunch with my wife and son and I can say without any hesitation that I will not be going back as most of the food appeared to belong in the pet mince aisle at the supermarket. Not only did the food taste awful the service was abysmal, from one waitress in particular; one example being when the waitress was asked did an item contain prawns she said no it did not the said item had a lot of prawns inside. In all fairness the pork and prawn based food was not the worst, that deserved title goes to the beef balls which resembled nothing more than jellified pet food and contained not a hint of beef flavour, they where in fact so bad my son who will eat kimchi and nattoo happily spat them straight out. I can only hope that the standards here are normally much higher and today's experience was a one off caused by the restaurant being busy.

Candii Cao

Yumcha in the weekend is always hectic. This place is also busy in the weekend but unlike many other yumcha place it has plenty of carparks, tables and chairs are not right up against each other with no rooms for the food trolley to move. Also the staff there are reasonably helpful. Food is tasty and fresh. Reasonably clean.

Avi

Came here based on reviews. It's probably the biggest yum char halls in Auckland. I've only seen this size of operation in HK. Food was very tasty. But I was seated upstairs. Consequently, There was a lot of waiting for food and just not enough of it. Wait staff were quite unhelpful (bordering on rude) . Price was very reasonable. $65 for 4 people. Had to queue for a table and also again to pay. But despite some negatives I'll definitely come back. Food was delicious. But I'll make sure I sit in the main room. .

Musings Of A Foodie

One of my go to places for yum char. Weekends are hard to find parking. However, as busy as they are they are the wait for a table is not bad. It is a big place afterall. Service is not bad either. Place is clean. So much variety of food to choose from, love their deep fried crab and shrimps. More dessert option. Portion is generous. Will continue to come back.

SS

I was frequently visiting imperial palace when it first opened. Portions were great, taste was authentic and service was good too. I recently revisited and feel as though quality has dropped significantly. Both portion size and taste leave a lot to be desired. Somewhat pricier than the average Chinese restaurant but they do have certain aspects that stand out in comparison to others. I.e. They have quite a few VIP private dining rooms which can be good if you have a huge family with babies or elderly that dislike the rowdiness of other Chinese restaurants. Imperial palace also do a great range of seafood- all which are really fresh. Parking is probably also a positive. There is a massive parking lot right outside. Yum cha in my opinion is not as good as others. Still worth a try if you're close by though.

Super(･_･;Phoebe

I have been to this imperial couple of times as it is very close to my place. Always for yum cha on weekends. Food covers all sorts of deli cants that I can think of Yum Cha dishes and certainly good. Service is not bad as well.

Ian Wheatley

Arrived at an he before the session was over and wasn't treated with very much hospitality at all my partner told me that if that was her first time going to a yum Cha it would of been her last it was really quite sad how the staff were so impatient an almost aggressive that we did not want a certain food. Definitely won't be back there anytime soon 😒

Stephen Wong

Seriously not happy with the service first time after like 20 odd years of yum char in nz that got told you can't order things, ask 3 more people after and 40 mins later then I got a dish, food selection not great either with the drive by stuff, not gonna be here again.

Linny

A large group of us decided to try this place and when you enter the restaurant it's so large it makes you wonder if there is enough food or staff for everyone there. We were seated upstairs which is always a bit iffy as some places they tend to forget you and you don't get the variety or choices that you would if you were downstairs but we found the service to be quick and efficient despite it being packed with people. Most the times the English is a barrier but we were able to convey our choices and ask for things that weren't coming yet and they never did once ignore us which was just wonderful. The food was good, my favourite dishes were the right flavours and overall a great dining experience for us all. I definitely think we would be back if we were in the area again.

Brenda Phu

This is one of my family's favourite places to go for Yum Cha. The service is polite, efficient and clean. The food carts come out frequently and quickly, so regardless of where you're seated you don't have to worry about missing out. Everything is always fresh and tasty. You know you're at a great place when they have killer green tea, and it gets automatically topped up when you're running low. This place is perfect for big families like mine, a table can seat up to 10; and they have a huge carpark. But my favourite dish will always be their egg tarts.

Haro

As a Hongkonger growing up out East Auckland, it is almost a ritual to go to yumcha with the family on Saturday mornings. I am very impressed overall with the consistencies in taste and service. It is fair to say that imperial had taken the yumcha game to the next level! Highly recommend the siumai, beef tendons and sponge cakes. Price wise is expensive and dear compared to other yumcha places. However, if you are going for quality. This is definitely the place to be.

Kellie Lee

I've been to Imperial palace at least 6 times for yum cha in the past 2 months, so I think it's only fair that I voiced my opinion on it :) This place is probably my to-go to place if im in the mood for so good yum cha and service. Compared to many of the other yum cha places, the service here isn't the typical rude waitress behavior you tend to see + it's great to see the waitresses wear those little plastic mouth shields so spit doesn't go into the food. The food here never disappoints, especially the golden egg yolk buns ( Liu sa bao) which has consistently been liquid and warm inside. Having tried almost everything on the menu, my personal favourites would have to be the char siu baos ( best ones so far in auckland imo), the chicken feet and my ultimate favourite, century egg flaky pastry ! ( bei dan soh) My least favorite dishes would probably have to be the sticky coconut buns and the char siu sohs, but dish preferences really do depend on your own taste buds haha. The prices used to be lower, but due to popularity, are slightly dearer than other nearby yum cha places. Small : $4.20, medium : $ 5 and big : $5.50. I'd highly recommend this place though and suggest you give it a go if you haven't already done so :)

Josh Law

Great food, we only had two people for the table so were seated fast on a sunday lunch. More expensive than I remember yum cha being, similar pricing to grand harbour I believe.

Miah Dixon

Decided to head to Imperial Palace for my first yum cha lunch in a long time. Took the family along and arrived to a completely full carpark. Despite the restaurant being full to the brink we were seated no more than 5 minutes after arriving. Carts were frequent and full of a nice variety of steaming hot dishes. Unfortunately some dishes (e.g. bokchoy, beans, peppered beef, steamed buns) were few and far between, but could understand this considering the number of people there and obvious popularity of these dishes after having seen them on lots of other tables. Being set in an exhibition hall means there isn't much of a restaurant vibe, and noise echoes slightly, but the quality and price of the food well surpasses this. A nice lunch for four relative yum cha virgins was just under $70, which we picked to be pretty good value. Will definitely be back again!

David Parussini

Visited for yum char midweek, first visit here for my friend and I who have frequented many other yum char haunts so know what to appreciate...friendly staff, they were busy but we were seated immediately (not always the case at other busy establishments) and parking is easy. The selection of steamed dumplings seemed limited whilst we were there but a few stand outs (BBQ pork hor fun, beef balls) and some not so good (very average pork/prawn siu mai)...would visit again to try other dim sum and perhaps the congee. Price seemed okay however we never tried any plates of roast pork, etc which normally adds up. Wouldn't normally mention it, but the green tea was also very good, fragrant and not bitter.

Where.iate

Lots of tables, has a huge downstairs and also an upstairs. Also has a huge stage (wonder what that is for). The food came out quickly and the carts were very frequent. All food seemed hot and fresh. All the different dumpling types were super yummy!

Daniel Power

Big car park, big premises. Fit out is average. Food wise, the yum char is up there with New Sun World, Grand Park and Grand Harbour. Waitresses wear funny mouth masks that actually add to better hygiene. Price is pretty good, cheaper than the two Grands. Favourite yum char destination.

Rebben

Delicious yum char, good portions, food is hot and steaming in their bamboo baskets. Really, really good har gow! A little on the salty side, so be sure to drink water

David Mapilivai Tresvaunt

Good Hours. Food was good and I mean good. Out of all Yum Cha 's Imperial was okay. But very comfortable chairs, I have to add! When dining I always examine the chairs! Chairs and the comfort of a person is crutial when eating food. It is what anchors the whole experience. Overall I enjoyed service.

BeeQueUU

19 Sept 15: enjoyed a near faultless group dinner with two tables. All dishes were 4.5/5 or 5/5 Im not being too kind. No overdoses of salt or MSG or any tasteless experiences. Service was outstanding. Wow dishes were the roast chicken, steamed blue cod fish and the crispy pork meats.

Linda.C

I have been to Imperial Palace quite a few times, the food there is average as I've been to many different yum char places that served much better dim sims, my colleagues and I go to this place due to its convenience from our work place in Mt Wellington. The most recent time there with family was a very disappointing and frustrating experience, as the service was super poor. We asked for a bowl of rice to go with all our dim sims and after over 20 minutes of waiting, still no sign of the rice with our food getting cold. We finally managed to catch the attention of the manager there who was clearing the table next to us, we asked him if he could chase up on our rice and as a result, we were treated with the worse waiter attitude ever! Not only did he not apologize or go to the kitchen to check up on the rice, he rudely said if you've ordered the food, it will come sooner or later, no need to make a big fuss. We asked politely and that was his response, that will be the last time that we are ever going there again.

Angela

Friendly service and lots of food going around. Strange to have a big stage in the restaurant. Prawn rice rolls were lovely, as were the dumplings. Paid $50 for two people which may have been a bit on the pricey side.

Riley Rose Mercy

Quality yumchar that is not usually found in the industrial suburb! They employ fab cuisines that you can find in Yumchar restaurants in Central Auckland. (which is great, cos you don't have to worry about finding a carpark at panmure haha) They totally beat yumchar places at the Botany areas!! by a long mile! You gotta go at the right time, I've noticed great food served around the 11-12pm mark. (OMG Durian with fresh cream dessert buns...so goood!!!!) The wait staff are quite good (especially Rocky, i think that's his name) friendly and genuine middle-aged waiter that actually looks you in the eye and genuinely tries to help you get the best out of the experience..!) Dinner can be quite exquisite too, went there with a table of about 10 and it just came down to $20 pp with a delicious table of Chinese goodness. (though I would not recommend their CNY menu, not as good, i felt)

Candice Jayne Cunningham

What a great place!!! I have been there a few times and have taken friends and family and they all love it! Quick service and lovely food! The dumplings are amazing! Will definitely making it my new yum cha regular :)

Sovannara Meak

I would describe myself as a Chinese food enthusiast so when I saw they served yum cha I decided to give it a go. What a mistake... yum cha was very average prawn dumplings were very solid and hard flavor on chicken feet was horrible. I have eaten at every major yum establishment in Auckland so the difference was immediate. Also ordered combination fried rice which was horrible. 25 dollars for a dish that was so bad we gave it to our dog..... the first comment must be an inside job or maybe they don't know what good yum cha is. I was extremely disappointed as I live locally and always hoping this would be a regular spot for me.

Kylie Wirepa

went there for lunch today, loved it. I have been to a few yum cha and this is definitely going to be a regular. The staff were welcoming and friendly, especially the older Chinese man who took the time to explain what the meaning of yum char is. Food was yummy, reasonably priced, delicious crispy pork. Nice and spacious, clean and lots of parking.Definitely be back

Dylan

One month old new restaurant in Mt.Wellington. A plenty of free carparks right in front of the restaurant. Welcomed by friendly staff,good explanation about menu from a waitress. We ordered 2 course Peking Duck ($58),nicely presented & good size. Deep fried blue cod($48) was fresh and became my favourite in that evening. Sizzling lamb chop with black pepper sauce($30) was tasty and very generous portion. Yang Chow fried rice($25) was just OK what you'd expect from other chinese restaurants. Overall,very recommandable and definitely going back there. We got 10% off on our bill when we checked out because of opening special.

Lisa Edgar

Since it's opening less than a year ago, Imperial palace absolutely cemented it's place as a spot for great yum chai. Came here for lunch on Saturday and when we made our reservation (yes! best to book on weekends) they warned us of the limited parking space and was told to come just a little bit before 12 - Good advice. The place was chock-a-block and I guess the demand is reflected by the good food they serve. Great variety of signature dim sums, congee and dessert trolleys. Furthermore, all the seafood (particularly prawn dumplings - Har gow) was fresh and succulent. I was fortunate enough to dine with a regular who ordered a special dim sum that is only available through requests. It is basically a giant dumpling steamed in a ramekin which then releases a broth and cooks itself in the soup. It was served with thinly sliced ginger and red vinegar. Boy, it was DELICIOUS! So next time you are in the mood for yum chai - imperial palace is the place to go!

Rice & Kai

I have only been to Imperial Palace for yum cha, but have been here a few times now. The service is efficient (and usually friendly) and they have a good variety of food. You can get all the classic favourites like siu mai and har gao, as well as more unusual dishes. It does get really busy in the weekends so I suggest you book. Although they give you a time limit if it's busy, so far I haven't had the experience of them rushing us off the table. Plenty of food comes around, tea is refilled promptly and dirty plates are taken quickly as well. The tables are close together but not quite as crammed as some other popular yum cha restaurants. The decor is not great, but I think they've just inherited it from the events centre that it was previously and haven't been bothered to change it. I hope to try their dinner one day.

Review Imperial Palace Restaurant - Auckland Central