Impression Restaurant is a Chinese restaurant at 395 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden, Auckland, voted by customers as having the best Peking Duck in Auckland. Established over a decade ago in Dunedin, the restaurant expanded to Auckland more recently, bringing its founders' Dunedin roots and genuine hospitality to Mt Eden's dining scene.
The restaurant celebrates the diversity of regional Chinese cuisine, from bold, spicy Sichuan dishes to hearty Northern specialties and classic favourites, alongside a dedicated Chinese tapas menu of Sichuan-style bites, dumplings and spring rolls, designed for sharing. The signature Peking Duck is seasoned and dried for 24 hours before slow-roasting, served in two courses with fresh pancakes, hoisin sauce and crisp vegetables.
Impression offers functions, a full bar, takeaway, a private room, and BYO, and holds an "Excellent" rating based on more than 250 reviews.
On Mount Eden Road, Impression Restaurant has built a reputation as one of Auckland's best Chinese restaurants, with customers voting its Peking Duck the best in the city. The restaurant's roots go back over a decade in Dunedin, where genuine hospitality and exquisite dishes made it a local treasure, before the team expanded to Auckland to bring their food to Mt Eden.
Impression's Peking Duck is the restaurant's calling card. Crafting it is a meticulous process — the duck is seasoned and dried for 24 hours to ensure the skin reaches its signature crispiness during roasting. It's served in two courses, with fresh pancakes, hoisin sauce and crisp vegetables, along with spring onions and home-made duck sauce, giving diners the full traditional Peking Duck experience.
Rather than focusing on a single style, Impression celebrates the diversity of Chinese regional cuisine — bold, spicy dishes from Sichuan, hearty specialties from the north, and well-loved classics, all brought to the table by the restaurant's chefs using quality, fresh ingredients. Among the standout dishes are the Onsen Prawn Dumplings and Salted Spicy Prawns, both featured highlights on the menu.
For those wanting variety without committing to large dishes, Impression runs a dedicated Chinese tapas menu, built for sharing. It spans fiery Sichuan-style bites, delicate dumplings and crispy spring rolls, each made with the same care and finesse as the rest of the menu.
Beyond the food, Impression offers a full bar with a sommelier-curated wine list designed to pair with the menu, alongside a cocktail programme blending traditional flavours with modern touches. The restaurant is set up for a range of occasions, from a romantic dinner for two to celebrations with friends or more formal gatherings, with functions, a private room, takeaway and BYO all available.
Impression Restaurant is open daily, with lunch from 11am to 3pm and dinner from 5pm to 10pm, at 395 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden. The restaurant holds an Excellent rating based on more than 250 reviews, and tables can be booked directly through the website.