Comfort in a Bowl: Where to Find the Best Soups in Christchurch

This Normans Road café hums at lunchtime, with something for everyone in the neighbourhood. Famous for their cheese scones, we’d like to add soup to their list of culinary achievements. Woods offers a daily soup with Grizzly bread (yes, we have a thing for Grizzly in Christchurch), and the serving is generous and always beautifully presented. Don’t leave without a big slice of homemade baking, it’s winter, you need your strength.

On Southwark Street, Estelle fights against sad work lunches with a delicious menu of things on toast, Friday meatballs, nachos, and a cabinet of exciting salads and sweet treats made in-house. Come winter, the cafe pops a daily pot of soup on the stove, with flavours ranging from vibrant minestrone and chicken noodle to leek and potato – always served with Grizzly bread glistening in butter. There’s always an extra touch of seasoning or luxurious garnish that elevates Estelle’s bowl of goodness, ordering soup couldn’t be less boring.

As well as selling a coveted range of cosy homewares to keep you snug in the winter, Swoon’s café adds another layer of comfort with their daily homemade soup. Swoon has a few classic recipes on rotation, made with fresh ingredients and served with a good hunk of buttered Grizzly toast for dunking. Afterwards, we recommend sticking around in the warmth for a browse through the store, where you’re bound to find a treasure for your wardrobe or home.

Next time you’re walking through the buzz of the BNZ Centre, please stop, sit down, and experience the life-changing magic of BB Vietnamese’s wonton soup. Soulful, flavourful, and unbelievably generous, this soup features noodles, pork wontons, slices of pork, bok choy, and lots of herbs, all swimming in a delicious broth. You wouldn’t believe it’s only $15 a bowl. A great option for a weekday lunch or something to slurp after Sunday shopping in the city.

Whoever was the first to marry noodles and soup has our deepest thanks. People, quite rightly, go mad for ramen and Tanoshi on Oxford Terrace doesn’t disappoint. This modern Japanese joint offers a fun build-your-own ramen menu, where you can choose the base, broth, noodles, protein and toppings. It’s a favourite go-to for lunch and dinner during the cooler months, with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.

A Riccarton institution for over two decades, Riccarton Noodle House is beloved for its tasty Cambodian recipes and laid-back, welcoming vibe. Their signature chicken noodle soup is a local favourite, steaming hot, deeply nourishing and made from a rich slow-cooked broth, and the handmade wonton noodle soup is a standout too. This is a must-visit for friends and families looking to gather around a table of soul-warming feasts full of heart.

Tucked inside Riverside Market, Ramen Ria brings a taste of Tokyo to Christchurch with its slurp-worthy bowls of ramen. Their standout Pork Trio ramen featuring crispy pork belly, streaky maple bacon and soy egg in rich tonkotsu broth is a local favourite, but anything you order is sure to be deeply comforting. Quick service, bold flavours and a lively vibe make this spot a go-to for ramen lovers whether you’re dining in, grabbing a bowl to go, or chasing a late-night craving.