Formosa Modern Asian Cuisine opened in 2017 on West Street in Ashburton, founded as a dream to share Taiwan's rich culinary flavours with New Zealand. The restaurant blends authentic Asian cuisine with a warm, welcoming atmosphere, built from the ground up by owner and chef Don Chen and the team without prior business experience, through hard work and dedication.
The menu is centred on Formosa's signature Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup, alongside wok stir-fries, handmade noodles and dumplings, and indulgent desserts crafted by a dedicated pastry team. A dedicated vegan menu is also available, and the restaurant caters for private events, celebrations and company functions.
Formosa's cooking has been recognised at the 2017 NZ International Chef Challenge, winning a Group Challenge Gold Medal and, in the Personal Challenge, two Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal. The restaurant has also been featured in Latitude Magazine (Issue 67, Oct-Nov 2019) and Metropol Magazine (25 September 2019). It's open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday, with online ordering and free delivery on orders over $68.
On West Street in Ashburton, Formosa Modern Asian Cuisine has been sharing the heart of Asian traditions since 2017. What began as a dream to bring Taiwan's rich culinary flavours to New Zealand, without any prior business experience, has grown into a restaurant built on resilience, inspiration and passion.
Formosa's food centres on authentic, flavourful cooking - its signature Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup anchors a menu that also spans sizzling wok stir-fries and handmade noodles and dumplings. The restaurant describes its focus as crafting memorable meals that are flavourful, affordable, and deeply rooted in tradition, with a dedicated pastry team turning out indulgent, handcrafted desserts to finish the meal.
Formosa's cooking has been formally recognised at the 2017 NZ International Chef Challenge, where the team won a Group Challenge Gold Medal, along with two Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal in the Personal Challenge. The restaurant has also caught the attention of New Zealand media, featuring in Latitude Magazine's October-November 2019 issue and in Metropol Magazine in September 2019, both highlighting its authentic Asian flavours in the heart of Canterbury.
Formosa positions itself as more than a dining spot - a gathering place for celebrations, shared meals and lasting memories. The restaurant hosts private events, family gatherings and company functions, and offers a dedicated vegan menu alongside its regular offerings, catering to a broad range of guests.
Formosa offers online ordering with free delivery on orders over $68, along with dine-in reservations. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday, at 173 West Street, Ashburton. Whether it's a quick lunch special, a family dinner built around the signature beef noodle soup, or a celebration with catering, Formosa aims to bring people, food and love together.