Eightgrains

Nestled within the flurry of Christchurch’s Little High Eatery, Eightgrains offers a range of delicious dishes inspired by the flavours of Taiwan, Sichuan and Shanghai. Opened in 2017 by Mia and Andy as a family business, their hospitality empire has grown rapidly since then, but they will always be proud of what they have created with Eightgrains. 

Dumplings, bao buns and noodle dishes are the heroes of the menu, with authentic techniques and ingredients used to showcase the cuisines they draw inspiration from. The energy of Eightgrains is built around a nostalgic, “sharing is caring” concept, which is how Chinese food is meant to be eaten. Being located in Little High, with plenty of shared tables, this connects to this way of dining, plus it’s very lively and social.

The flavours are all very distinct: a strong hit of chive in the ever-popular Pork and Chive, or of the Edamame in the Vegan Dumpling. The Red Wine Beef Brisket Dumplings are a perfect fusion of East and West, with the red wine jus remaining on top of the dumpling to give you a tease of what is to come.

However, try not to ruin your appetite on dumplings, as you should also save room for the moreish bao. Once you see the Braised Pork Bao, a classic Taiwanese street food dish encompassing pork belly braised for three hours served in a steamed bao bun and topped with peanuts and coriander, you’ll be happy you saved the room. Or for those who want a spicy challenge, the Sichuan dish, Spicy Dan Dan Noodles, is a perfect choice.

As the day turns to night, be sure to try Eightgrains' range of unique cocktails, such as the Dragon Teapot or Blackberry Sour.  Sake, soju, plum wine and Japanese beers are also available. They also run a daily happy hour, so take advantage of that when planning the time of your dinner date or catch-up.

From a small bite to eat during the day or as a casual spot to have a cocktail and dumplings in the evening, Eightgrains provides masterful and unique fusion cuisine that will not leave you wanting.