Christchurch guide
The best takeaways in Christchurch
Christchurch does a serious takeaway. Not just the Friday-night fish & chips by the beach, but proper kebabs, fried chicken worth crossing town for, banh mi, and the kind of hole-in-the-wall spots that build a queue on reputation alone.
29 of the best across the city, ranked by the ratings locals give them — strongest through Riccarton and the inner suburbs, with the classic chippies out at New Brighton and the eastern beaches, and standouts dotted through Woolston, Sydenham and Sumner.
Takeaway hours are their own thing — a lot run dinner-only or shut an extra day midweek, and the busy ones cash up early when they sell out. Worth a quick check before a special trip.
The picks
- 01Kebab bites · Takeaway · Riccarton
A Riccarton kebab joint built for the student belt — doner, HSPs and the late-night staples, piled high and easy on the wallet.
- 02Crispy Chicken · Takeaway · Riccarton
Korean-style fried chicken on Riccarton Road — light, crisp and tossed in flavours from cheesy 'Prinkle' to fiery Buldak.
- 03Bird in the Hand · Takeaway · Sydenham
Rotisserie chicken done cheap and well from a container kitchen in Sydenham — birds brined and cured for 72 hours, then slow-cooked over flame.
- 04Bruce’s Banh mi · Takeaway · Riccarton
A Riccarton banh mi spot — proper baguettes packed with the works, made fresh and fast.
- 05Hopkins Street Takeaway · Takeaway · Woolston
A classic Kiwi corner takeaway in Woolston — fish and chips, burgers and the deep-fried staples, cheap and quick.
- 06Burger Stop Sumner · Takeaway · Sumner
A Sumner burger joint doing classic Kiwi burgers and the takeaway staples, fresh off the grill.
- 07Maru Kitchen · Takeaway · Sumner
Home-style Japanese in Sumner — chirashi sushi, fresh spring rolls and seasonal bites, with mochi and choux for dessert.
- 08San San · Takeaway · Beckenham
Southeast Asian street food to take away in Beckenham — Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Singaporean wok dishes, soups and curries, with veg and gluten-free…
- 09Kebab & Grill Corner PAPANUI · Takeaway · Papanui
A family-owned Turkish kebab and grill in Papanui — doner, grilled meats and the rest, with locally sourced produce.
- 10The Burrito Guyz Mexican Eats (Barrington) · Takeaway · Addington
Burritos and Mexican eats out Barrington way — loaded, fast and made to order, the grab-and-go end of Mexican.
+ 19 more on the map below ↓
Keep exploring
Common questions
- What are the best takeaways in Christchurch?
- The top-rated right now are Kebab bites, Crispy Chicken, Bird in the Hand, Bruce’s Banh mi, Hopkins Street Takeaway. It's a real spread — fish & chips, kebabs, fried chicken, banh mi and a few hole-in-the-wall gems — pulled from across the city rather than one strip.
- How is this list ranked?
- By the ratings Christchurch actually gives them — weighted so a long track record of reviews counts for more than a handful of five-stars. No editor's thumb on the scale and no pay-to-play; it's the spots locals keep going back to, and it updates as the ratings move.
- Where's the best fish and chips in Christchurch?
- The seaside suburbs punch above their weight — New Brighton and the eastern beaches have the classic chippies — but some of the highest-rated fish & chips are tucked into Riccarton and the inner suburbs. The map sorts them by where you are.