Shanghai Kitchen

About Shanghai Kitchen

Since 2002, Shanghai Kitchen has been bringing the authentic flavours of Shanghai to 85 Jackson Street in Petone, Wellington. It is a family-run restaurant built on classic Shanghainese cooking - aromatic, subtly sweet dishes made with premium soy sauces and black rice vinegar, drawing on the traditions of neighbouring Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.

The kitchen is led by Chef Jimmy, who brings 40 years of experience, including time spent cooking at the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand. His signature dishes include xiaolongbao (steamed juicy pork dumplings), braised duck and braised pork hock, alongside house-made dumplings, crispy prawn rolls, fish fillet prepared two ways, and Shanghai classics like si xi kao fu and slow-cooked pork belly rice.

Shanghai Kitchen is a licensed restaurant, pouring a selection of wines and beers - or you can bring your own wine for a small corkage fee. Beyond the dining room, the restaurant makes frozen dim sums to take home and cook, and runs rotating seasonal specials such as steamed rice cake with red bean paste and osmanthus.

Regulars describe it as 'a little gem', with some customers returning for years without a disappointing meal. Lunch brings bento box specials and dim sum; dinner stretches into the fuller menu; set menus cover groups large and small. Bookings can be made through the website or by phone.

Shanghai Kitchen, Petone: Authentic Shanghainese Cuisine on Jackson Street Since 2002

On Jackson Street in Petone, just across the water from Wellington, Shanghai Kitchen has been quietly serving the flavours of Shanghai since 2002. It is the kind of restaurant regulars call 'a little gem' - one customer has been eating there for four years and reports never being disappointed in the food or the service.

The kitchen is led by Chef Jimmy, who brings four decades of experience to the pass, including time cooking at the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand. That pedigree shows in a menu that stays true to Shanghainese tradition: dishes built on aromatic, subtly sweet flavours, premium soy sauces and black rice vinegar, with inspiration drawn from the neighbouring provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu.

What to Order

Start, as many do, with the xiaolongbao - Shanghai's famous steamed juicy pork dumplings, made here with the thin skin they demand. The pan-fried pork dumplings are house-made and top rated, and shaomai round out the steamer. For mains, the Shanghai duck - braised in the chef's special sauce - is described by the restaurant as one and the only in Petone, while the braised pork hock arrives with fresh vegetables in that same signature sauce.

Other plates worth knowing about: house-made crispy prawn rolls, fish fillet served stir-fried or 'drunken' style with fresh vegetables, lemon chicken with a battered chicken steak and lemon dipping sauce, and Shanghainese classics like si xi kao fu and green soya beans with pickled cabbage. Rice and noodle dishes cover the table too, from Shanghai thick fried noodles to egg fried rice and a shrimp version with plenty of wok character.

Lunch is its own occasion. The bento boxes come with seaweed and egg soup and stir-fried fresh vegetables, and the lunch speciality is slow-cooked pork belly over rice - a dish the restaurant flags as its signature. The lunch menu also includes gluten-free and vegetarian options.

Take Home, and What's Seasonal

Shanghai Kitchen doesn't stop at the dining room. The team makes frozen dim sums to take away and cook at home, including shaomai and pan-fried dumplings - a handy stash for a weeknight. Seasonal specials rotate through the year; a recent one was a steamed rice cake with red bean paste and osmanthus. For something sweet at the table, the house-made Shanghai-style steamed 8 treasure rice pudding is the classic finish, and the set menus end with options like basque cheesecake.

Licensed, BYO and Group-Friendly

The restaurant is licensed, pouring a selection of wines - riesling, pinot gris, chardonnay, rosé, and reds including pinot noir, cabernet merlot and syrah - alongside beers such as Tsingtao, Sapporo, Corona and Steinlager. Prefer your own bottle? BYO wine is welcome for a small corkage fee. Non-drinkers are covered with tea, coffee, juices and sparkling juice.

For gatherings, set menus offer two or three courses of appetizers, mains and dessert, with wine or soft drinks and rice included - featuring dim sums, duck, beef, prawn rolls, sweet and sour pork and more. Groups over 12 people should call ahead for further options.

Planning Your Visit

Shanghai Kitchen runs two services from Wednesday to Saturday - lunch from 11:30am to 1:30pm and dinner from 5:30pm to 8:30pm - with Sunday dinner from 5:30pm to 8pm. The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday. Bookings can be made through the website's reservation page or by phoning the restaurant directly, and for larger groups a quick call sorts everything out.

More than two decades in, Shanghai Kitchen remains what it set out to be: a family restaurant dedicated to an exceptional dining experience rooted in rich culinary heritage, showcasing the true taste of Shanghai to Wellington.

Signature items

• Xiao Long Bao
• Shanghai Duck
• Braised Pork Hock
• Pan Fried Pork Dumplings
• Slow Cooked Pork Belly Rice
• 8 Treasure Rice Pudding

Menu

Mains

• Shanghai Duck (上海酱鸭) — Braised duck in chef's special sauce - one and the only in Petone.
• Braised Pork Hock (红烧蹄髈) — Slow-braised pork hock with fresh vegetables in chef's special sauce.
• Crispy Prawn Rolls (脆皮虾卷) — House-made crispy prawn rolls.
• Stir Fried or Drunken Fish Fillet (糟溜鱼片/清炒鱼片) — Tender fish fillet with fresh vegetables, two ways.
• Lemon Chicken — Fried battered chicken steak with lemon dipping sauce.
• Sweet & Sour Pork — Featured on the group set menu.
• Gongbao Chicken — Sichuan-style chicken, part of the set menu line-up.
• Salt & Pepper Chicken — Crisp seasoned chicken from the set menu.
• Black Pepper Beef — Beef tossed with black pepper, on the set menu.

Drinks

• Riesling — White wine from the drink list.
• Pinot Gris — Aromatic white wine.
• Chardonnay — Classic white wine pour.
• Rosé — Light rosé option.
• Oyster Bay Pinot Noir — New Zealand pinot noir on the wine list.
• Babich Cabernet Merlot — Red blend from the wine list.
• Church Road Syrah — Syrah on the wine list.
• Tsingtao — Chinese lager beer.
• Sapporo — Japanese lager beer.
• Corona — Mexican lager beer.
• Steinlager — Kiwi classic lager.
• Apple Cider — Cider option from the drink list.
• Tea — Hot tea service.
• Coffee — Coffee available.
• Juice — Fruit juice.
• Sparkling Juice — Non-alcoholic sparkling option.

Desserts

• Steamed 8 Treasure Rice Pudding (上海八宝饭) — House-made Shanghai-style steamed sweet rice pudding.
• Osmanthus Steamed Rice Cake (桂花糕) — Seasonal special with red bean paste and osmanthus.
• Basque Cheesecake — Featured dessert on the set menu.

Set Menus

• Set Menu - 2 or 3 Courses — Appetizers, mains and dessert with wine or soft drinks and rice; dim sums, duck, beef, prawn rolls and more. Groups over 12 call for options.

Lunch Specials

• Slow Cooked Pork Belly Rice (招牌卤肉饭) — Lunch speciality - braised pork belly served over rice.
• Lunch Bento Box (午市套餐) — Comes with seaweed and egg soup plus stir-fried fresh vegetables.

Rice & Noodles

• Shanghai Fried Noodles (上海粗炒面) — Traditional Shanghai-style thick fried noodles.
• Egg Fried Rice (香葱蛋炒饭) — Fried rice with egg and spring onion.
• Shrimp, Egg & Spring Onion Fried Rice (鲜虾蛋炒饭) — Generous wok-fried rice with shrimp and egg.

Dim Sum & Dumplings

• Xiao Long Bao (上海小笼包) — Shanghai's must-try steamed juicy pork dumplings with thin, delicate skin.
• Pan Fried Pork Dumplings (鲜肉锅贴) — House-made potstickers, top rated by customers.
• Shaomai (烧麦) — Classic open-topped steamed dumplings, also available frozen for takeaway.
• Takeaway Frozen Dim Sums — House-made frozen dim sums to take home and cook.

Vegetables & Cold Plates

• Si Xi Kao Fu (四喜烤麸) — Traditional Shanghainese braised gluten classic.
• Green Soya Bean with Pickled Cabbage (雪菜毛豆) — A popular stir-fry of soya beans with pickled cabbage.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Shanghai Kitchen located?

85 Jackson Street, Petone, Lower Hutt 5012, Wellington.

What are the opening hours?

Wednesday to Saturday: lunch 11:30am-1:30pm and dinner 5:30pm-8:30pm. Sunday dinner 5:30pm-8pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Can I bring my own wine?

Yes. The restaurant is licensed with wines and beers, and BYO wine is welcome for a small corkage fee.

Are there vegetarian or gluten-free options?

Yes - the lunch menu includes gluten-free and vegetarian options.

Can I buy dim sum to cook at home?

Yes. House-made frozen dim sums, including shaomai and pan-fried dumplings, are available for takeaway.

Do you cater for groups?

Set menus of two or three courses cover appetizers, mains and dessert. For groups over 12 people, call 04 939 6450 for more options.

Who cooks at Shanghai Kitchen?

The kitchen is led by Chef Jimmy, who has 40 years of experience, including work at the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand.

Tips

• {"body":"The kitchen runs lunch 11:30am-1:30pm and dinner 5:30pm-8:30pm Wednesday to Saturday, dinner only on Sunday from 5:30pm, and closes Monday and Tuesday.","title":"Plan around two services"}
• {"body":"Bring your own wine for a small corkage fee, or order from the wine and beer list - Tsingtao, Sapporo, Corona and Steinlager are on hand.","title":"BYO for flexibility"}
• {"body":"Pick up house-made frozen dim sums like shaomai and pan-fried dumplings to steam at home.","title":"Stock the freezer"}
• {"body":"Set menus of two or three courses work well for gatherings; parties over 12 should phone 04 939 6450 for extra options.","title":"Groups, call ahead"}
• {"body":"Rotating specials such as steamed osmanthus rice cake with red bean paste appear through the year - ask when you visit.","title":"Watch for seasonal specials"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Long-running family restaurant; set menus suit group gatherings.","dietary":"Gluten-free and vegetarian options available on the lunch menu."}