SuMei

restaurant — Pukekohe · Pukekohe

About SuMei

SuMei is an Asian fusion restaurant and bar at 3B West Street in Pukekohe, blending Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese influences across a menu of dumplings, bao buns, ramen, donburi and shared plates. The kitchen also runs a rotating dessert selection and a dedicated lunch specials offering.

Alongside food, SuMei has an extensive drinks list covering cocktails, wine, sake, whisky, gin and beer on tap, making it as much a destination for drinks as for dinner. Many dishes are marked with gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan options, giving diners flexibility across the menu.

SuMei takes bookings through its website and is closed on Mondays, opening Tuesday to Thursday for lunch and dinner sittings, and running continuously from midday to 10pm Friday through Sunday.

SuMei: Asian Fusion Dining and Cocktails in Pukekohe

At 3B West Street in Pukekohe, **SuMei** brings a modern Asian fusion menu to the town, drawing on Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese influences across dumplings, bao buns, ramen, donburi and shared plates.

What They're Known For

SuMei's dumpling selection sets an inventive tone from the start, with options like duck, cherry and spinach, or lobster, prawn and kaffir lime, alongside a vegetarian and vegan shiitake, smoked tofu and cabbage version. The bao bun range covers Korean bulgogi pork, a banh mi-style pork and duck pate bao, and a crispy tofu option for plant-based diners.

The kitchen's ramen bowls are a centrepiece, with a tonkotsu broth built around chashu BBQ pork, soy egg and bamboo shoots, available in a standard or spicy version, alongside a Tokyo miso ramen. For rice bowl fans, the Modern Donburi pairs kimchi rice with bulgogi pork belly, while the Karaage Chicken Donburi leans into crispy Japanese fried chicken with a Japanese slaw.

The small shares section is where SuMei gets more adventurous, featuring dishes like tuna and salmon tartare, Cantonese wok fried pork ribs, Japanese takoyaki, and a SuMei beef cheek rendang. The SuMei crispy beef, glazed in sticky orange and ginger with a Sichuan mayo, and the lemongrass beef summer rolls are among the standout shared plates.

The Drinks List

SuMei backs up its food with an equally considered drinks programme. The cocktail list includes creations like the SuMei Yuzu Sour, a Sichuan Negroni, and a Pineapple & Chilli Margarita, while the wine list spans New Zealand and French producers, from Central Otago chardonnay to French champagne. A dedicated sake and ume shu section, plus an extensive whisky and gin selection, rounds out the bar offering, alongside beers on tap including Tiger, Tiger Crystal, Kingfisher and Monteiths Golden.

The Experience

Many dishes across the menu carry gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan options, marked clearly for diners with dietary requirements. Desserts change up the pace with a matcha green tea cheesecake, tropical fruit sorbets, and a creme brulee that changes weekly.

SuMei also runs a lunch specials offering and takes bookings directly through its website, making it easy to plan a visit. The restaurant is closed on Mondays, open for lunch and dinner sittings Tuesday to Thursday, and runs continuously from midday to 10pm across the weekend, Friday through Sunday.

Whether it's a quick lunch, a ramen fix, or a full evening of shared plates and cocktails, SuMei's Asian fusion approach and considered drinks list make it a distinctive dining option in Pukekohe.

Signature items

  • SuMei Tonkotsu Ramen
  • SuMei Crispy Beef
  • Karaage Chicken Donburi
  • SuMei Lemongrass Beef Summer Rolls
  • Modern Donburi
  • Matcha Green Tea Cheesecake

Menu

Sides

  • Steamed Rice — Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan.
  • Roti Paratha — Vegetarian, with vegan option.
  • Kimchi — Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan.
  • Steamed Asian Greens — With nori butter and sesame.
  • Edamame — With shichimi and sea salt.

Bao Buns

  • Spicy Korean Bao — Bulgogi pork and kimchi with gochujang mayo, spring onions and sesame.
  • Banh Mi Bao — Roasted pork, duck pate, pickled vegetables and nam jam.
  • Crispy Tofu Bao — Crispy tofu with cos and kimchi slaw, spring onions and gochujang mayo, vegetarian and vegan option.
  • Crispy Prawn Bao — Crispy prawn with pickled cucumber and yuzu mayo.

Desserts

  • Matcha Green Tea Cheesecake — With green tea cream and raspberry textures.
  • Tropical Fruit Sorbets — Served with cocoa tapioca crisps.
  • Creme Brulee — Flavour changes weekly, server will advise.
  • Coconut Panna Cotta — Coconut tofu with floral blossom syrup and cherry.

Cocktails

  • SuMei Yuzu Sour — Roku gin, chilli, lychee, yuzu, pineapple, cucumber and egg white.
  • Ginger Mojito — White rum, ginger, mint and lime.
  • Lychee Martini — Haku vodka, lychee and rosewater.
  • Sichuan Negroni — Roku gin, Szechuan, Campari and vermouth.
  • Pineapple & Chilli Margarita — Tequila, pineapple, chilli and lime.

Dumplings

  • Duck, Cherry, Spinach — Dumplings with duck, cherry and spinach, gluten-free option.
  • Cumin, Beef and Celery — Dumplings with cumin-spiced beef and celery, gluten-free option.
  • Prawn & Pork Belly, Chinese Garlic Chives — Dumplings with prawn, pork belly and garlic chives, gluten-free option.
  • Lobster, Prawn, Kaffir Lime — Dumplings with lobster, prawn and kaffir lime, gluten-free option.
  • Shiitake, Smoked Tofu, Cabbage — Vegetarian and vegan dumplings with shiitake, smoked tofu and cabbage.

Beer On Tap

  • Tiger — 5% lager, available by glass, jug or 3ltr tower.
  • Tiger Crystal — 4.2% lager, available by glass, jug or 3ltr tower.
  • Kingfisher — 4.8% lager, available by glass or jug.
  • Monteiths Golden — 4.5% lager, available by glass or jug.

Large Bowls

  • SuMei Tonkotsu Ramen — Tonkotsu broth, chashu BBQ pork, bamboo shoots, spring onion, soy egg and bean sprouts.
  • SuMei Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen — Spicy tonkotsu broth with chashu BBQ pork, bamboo shoots and soy egg.
  • Tokyo Miso Ramen — Chashu BBQ pork, spring onion, corn, bamboo, mushrooms and soy egg.
  • Modern Donburi — Kimchi rice, bulgogi pork belly, spring onions, pickled vegetables and soy egg.
  • Karaage Chicken Donburi — Crispy Japanese fried chicken with rice, Japanese slaw and shichimi mayo.

Small Shares

  • Tuna & Salmon Tartare — With crispy prawn cracker, yukari mayo and Sichuan flavours.
  • Japanese Agedashi Tofu — Fried tofu in dashi broth, vegetarian and vegan option.
  • Chicken Karaage — Crispy Japanese fried chicken with shichimi mayo, lemon and slaw.
  • Cantonese Wok Fried Pork Ribs — Pork ribs with spicy tamarind glaze and red curry mayo.
  • SuMei Lemongrass Beef Summer Rolls — Lemongrass sirloin, carrot, pickled cucumber and nam jam dressing.
  • SuMei Crispy Beef — Sticky orange and ginger glaze with Sichuan mayo and pickled daikon.
  • Spicy Sichuan Fried Chicken — Chilli marinated chicken with fried chillies and roasted peanuts.
  • Japanese Takoyaki — Crispy octopus balls with takoyaki sauce, yuzu mayo, nori and tuna flakes.
  • SuMei Beef Cheek Rendang — Beef cheek in rendang sauce with herb salad.
  • Crispy Master Stock Pork Hock — Pork hock with tamarind and chilli caramel sauce and herb salad.
  • Wok Fried Hoisin Beef Noodles — Noodles with garlic chives, bean sprouts and cashews.
  • SuMei Mac Spring Rolls — Wagyu, cheese, red onion and herb pickle salad with mac sauce.
  • Lamb Hawker Roll — Braised lamb, orange hoisin, nam jam, herb salad and roti.

Frequently asked questions

What type of food does SuMei serve?
SuMei serves Asian fusion food drawing on Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese influences, including dumplings, ramen, donburi and shared plates.
What are SuMei's opening hours?
SuMei is closed Mondays, open Tuesday to Thursday 12pm-3pm and 5pm-10pm, and Friday to Sunday 12pm-10pm.
Does SuMei have vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options?
Yes, many dishes are marked with gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan options.
Can I book a table at SuMei?
Yes, bookings can be made through the SuMei website.
Does SuMei have lunch specials?
Yes, SuMei has a dedicated lunch specials menu.
Does SuMei serve cocktails?
Yes, SuMei has a cocktail menu including options like the SuMei Yuzu Sour and Sichuan Negroni.
Is SuMei open on Mondays?
No, SuMei is closed on Mondays.

Tips

  • {"body":"Reservations can be made through SuMei's website.","title":"Book ahead"}
  • {"body":"SuMei runs a dedicated lunch specials menu.","title":"Try the lunch specials"}
  • {"body":"Many dishes have gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan variations.","title":"Ask about dietary options"}
  • {"body":"SuMei is closed on Mondays, so plan visits Tuesday to Sunday.","title":"Plan around Monday closures"}

Good to know

  • {"dietary":"Many dishes offer gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options (marked gfo, vg, vgo)."}