Yong Li Noodle is a casual Chinese restaurant on Rosedale Road on Auckland's North Shore, drawing a loyal following for hearty, authentic cooking at some of the gentlest prices in the city. The room is clean, tidy and well organised, with plenty of tables for dine-in, and generous portions plus warm, attentive service earn steady praise — the listing holds a 4.4 average across 176 guest reviews.
The restaurant's calling card is its famous meal deal: choose one carb — plain white rice, fried rice, fried noodles, corn and potatoes, or soft mantou — pair it with a meat and two vegetable dishes, and the kitchen rounds it out with a complimentary soup (tomato or seaweed), a side such as seasoned pickles, a couple of apple slices and free crackers. A drink can be added for just a dollar. Reviewers call the deal unbeatable, and it has made Yong Li a go-to spot for the local community at lunch and dinner alike.
Noodles are the house specialty. The lamb noodles come highly recommended for their juicy, robust flavour, and the lamb shumai are prized for being super juicy — especially with a dash of vinegar. The lamb soup rewards diners who follow the seasoning instructions with a rich, meaty depth that lingers. Elsewhere on the menu, favourites include beef offal noodles, egg fried rice, smashed cucumber salad and a seasoned raw fish starter; the tomato fried pork and flatbread draw more mixed notes but add to the range.
Practically speaking, Yong Li Noodle offers dine-in, takeaway and delivery, welcomes kids and solo diners, and keeps things relaxed with a casual atmosphere and table service. There is a free parking lot and free street parking, wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, and payment by credit card or NFC mobile payments. Doors open 10:30am to 9:30pm Tuesday through Sunday; the kitchen rests on Mondays.
On Rosedale Road, in the commercial pocket of Auckland's North Shore, Yong Li Noodle has built its reputation the old-fashioned way: by serving hearty, authentic Chinese comfort food at prices that feel like a rounding error. It is a modest place — casual, clean and tidy, with simple tables and steady table service — but a 4.4-star average across 176 guest reviews tells the story of a restaurant that delivers exactly what its neighbourhood wants, meal after meal.
Ask any regular about Yong Li and the conversation starts with the meal deal. The formula is simple and generous: you pick one carb — plain white rice, fried rice, fried noodles, corn and potatoes, or pillowy mantou — then choose a meat and two vegetable dishes. The kitchen rounds it out with a free soup, a side such as seasoned pickles or seaweed, a couple of slices of apple, and complimentary crackers for the table. A drink can be added for just a dollar.
Reviewers struggle to contain themselves. One called the deal an absolute banger; a repeat visitor praised the affordability as incredible and the variety as impressive. Another local noted that in a city where a single dish can easily cost $20, Yong Li's three-dish meal with soup has set a new standard for value and quality on the North Shore, and the restaurant has quickly become a go-to for the local Chinese community. Because what is available depends on what the kitchen has freshly produced and refilled, regulars describe ordering as an adventure — a genuinely good way to try dishes you might never have picked from a menu.
Noodles are the specialty here, and lamb is the headline act. The lamb noodles come highly recommended, bursting with juicy, robust flavour that speaks to authentic Chinese culinary tradition. The lamb shumai are another standout — super juicy and, per more than one diner, transformed by a little vinegar. The lamb soup rewards patience: follow the seasoning instructions and you get a rich, meaty depth, with plenty of meat inside, that lingers long after the last spoonful.
Beyond the lamb, the popular list runs to beef offal noodles and egg fried rice, with cold dishes like smashed cucumber salad and a seasoned raw fish starter adding brightness to the counter. Not everything lands perfectly — some find the tomato fried pork a little bland and the flatbread divides opinion — but the sheer variety keeps regulars happily rotating through the menu, and the misses read as honest cooking rather than shortcuts.
Inside, Yong Li is decently sized, with lots of tables and a warm, well-organised feel. The atmosphere is casual, the staff friendly and attentive, and small gestures — complimentary crackers, free soup and sides — underline a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction. It is popular for lunch and dinner, well suited to solo dining, and good for kids.
Come at peak and you will queue; reviewers agree the line moves much faster than you would expect, and the constant turnover has an upside — the food is fresh and piping hot. Some visitors suggest coming in a group and collecting the food when it is ready, which also helps with the other known constraint: parking, while free, can be tight when the deal crowd descends.
Yong Li Noodle opens 10:30am to 9:30pm, Tuesday through Sunday, and closes on Mondays. There is a free parking lot on site plus free street parking. Service covers dine-in, takeaway and delivery, and payment is easy by credit card or NFC mobile payment. The entrance and car park are wheelchair accessible, and there is a toilet on site.
Whether you are a North Shore local or crossing the bridge for lunch, Yong Li Noodle offers something increasingly rare: an authentic, filling Chinese meal where value and quality arrive together. Come hungry, keep an open mind about what is on the counter, and let the lamb do the talking.