Anyone who’s walked past the modest storefront at 128 Vivian Street might not guess that inside, a pair of former fine-dining chefs are turning out handmade noodles that have earned a devoted following. Since opening in 2017, Taste of Home Wellington has built a reputation for authentic Chinese street food at wallet-friendly prices – holding a 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor.

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Address: 128 Vivian Street, Wellington 6011 ·
TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5 / 5 ·
Price Range: NZD $10 – $20 per dish ·
Operating Hours: Tue–Sat 11:30 am–2:30 pm, 5 pm–8 pm ·
Delivery Platforms: Uber Eats, DoorDash

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Six key details, one snapshot:

Detail Value
Address 128 Vivian Street, Wellington
Phone 04-260 2601
Website tasteofhome.co.nz
Rating (TripAdvisor) 4.5 / 5
Price Range NZD $10 – $20
Cuisine Chinese, Fast Food, Asian

What is the taste of home website?

The official website at tasteofhome.co.nz (Taste of Home’s online home) serves as the central hub for menu browsing, takeaway orders, and contact info. It lists the full range of dishes, including Chinese dumplings, noodles, and rice bowls.

What menu items are available?

  • Dan Dan Noodles – NZ$27.90 (Uber Eats menu listing)
  • Yo Po Mian Hot Oil Noodles – NZ$22.00 (Uber Eats menu listing)
  • Hand Pulled Noodles in Chicken Broth – NZ$25.00 (Uber Eats menu listing)
  • Vegetable Dan Dan and Rou Jiang Mi Xian options (Uber Eats menu listing)

How to order online?

Orders can be placed directly through the website’s delivery page or via third-party platforms. Uber Eats and DoorDash both list Taste of Home with slightly different menus and prices (Uber Eats store page). The restaurant also accepts dine-in and takeaway orders during operating hours.

The upshot

For Wellingtonians after authentic hand-pulled noodles without a trip to a fine-dining restaurant, Taste of Home’s online ordering makes it easy to get street-food quality delivered in under 30 minutes – but menu availability varies midday vs. evening.

The implication: online ordering provides a practical gateway, but timing matters.

What is the meaning of taste of home?

The name reflects the owners’ mission: bring the comforting, home-cooked Chinese flavours they grew up with to Wellington’s streets. As the Instagram bio puts it, “We used to cook in fancy restaurants, now we cook what we fancy” (Neat Places profile).

Why is the restaurant named Taste of Home?

Owners Tina Hu and Steve D’Souza transitioned from fine-dining kitchens to their own small takeaway. The idea was to strip away fussy presentations and focus on the flavours they grew up with – dishes their own families would eat. The name “Taste of Home” embodies that shift.

The catch

“Home” here means Chinese street food from the owners’ personal repertoire, not a generic “homestyle” menu – so diners expecting Western-style takeaways may find the flavours more intense and less adapted.

The pattern: the name signals authenticity, not familiarity.

Who owns Taste of Home?

Taste of Home is owned by the chef duo Tina Hu and Steve D’Souza, both of whom previously worked in upscale Wellington restaurants (Neat Places profile). They opened their own place in 2017.

What is the story behind the owners?

Hu and D’Souza built a cult following through word-of-mouth. Their tiny kitchen at 128 Vivian Street produces house-made noodles from scratch daily – a labour-intensive process that sets them apart from typical Chinese takeaways. Neat Places notes that the space seats only five, so takeaway and delivery are the main channels.

Where to eat on Wellington Waterfront?

Waterfront restaurants often lean towards seafood and beer, but diners seeking affordable Chinese street food are better served by a short walk to Vivian Street. Taste of Home is just a five-minute stroll from the waterfront.

Why choose Taste of Home over waterfront restaurants?

Price is the clearest advantage. While waterfront mains hit NZ$30–$40, Taste of Home’s dishes range $10–$20. Reviews on TripAdvisor and Google praise the speed and authenticity – the restaurant holds a 4.3 Google rating based on dozens of reviews (TripAdvisor summary).

What are the reviews for Taste of Home?

“The dumplings are some of the best I’ve had in New Zealand – fresh, perfectly spiced, and served quickly.”

– TripAdvisor reviewer

“We used to cook in fancy restaurants, now we cook what we fancy.”

– Taste of Home Instagram bio

How much is an average dinner in New Zealand?

According to general cost-of-living data, an average dinner out in New Zealand costs between NZ$30 and $40 per person for a main course with a drink. Taste of Home undercuts that significantly, with most dishes falling between $10 and $20 (HappyCow pricing notes).

What is the cost of food at Taste of Home?

  • Dan Dan Noodles – NZ$27.90 (Uber Eats menu listing)
  • Yo Po Mian Hot Oil Noodles – NZ$22.00 (Uber Eats menu listing)
  • Hand Pulled Noodles in Chicken Broth – NZ$25.00 (Uber Eats menu listing)
  • Spam Noodle Soup – NZ$29.90 (Uber Eats menu listing)

How does Taste of Home compare to average dinner costs?

The difference is stark: a meal at Taste of Home costs roughly half the Wellington average. For budget-conscious diners, especially students and young professionals, this makes it a go-to for substantial, flavourful noodles without the wallet hit.

Bottom line: Taste of Home Wellington is exactly what it claims – authentic Chinese street food from chefs who traded fine dining for real flavours. For those seeking handmade noodles under $30, it’s a clear winner. For those expecting a full-service sit-down dinner, the cramped bench seating and limited hours may disappoint. The trade-off is worth it for the quality.

The pattern: Taste of Home consistently undercuts dining averages, making it a strategic choice for budget-conscious eaters.

Seven specifications that define the Taste of Home experience:

Specification Details
Cuisine type Chinese, Fast Food, Asian
Location 128 Vivian Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Opening hours Tue–Sat 11:30 am–2:30 pm, 5:00 pm–8:00 pm
Closed Sunday, Monday
Dine-in capacity 5 bench seats (very limited)
Takeaway Yes
Delivery partners Uber Eats, DoorDash

Upsides

  • House-made noodles with authentic Chinese street food flavour
  • Affordable pricing – most dishes under $28
  • Quick service and reliable delivery options
  • Strong ratings on TripAdvisor (4.5) and Google (4.3)
  • Unique menu items like Yo Po Mian not easily found elsewhere in Wellington

Downsides

  • Very limited dine-in space (only 5 seats)
  • Closed on Sundays and Mondays
  • Short lunch window (11:30 am–2:30 pm)
  • Prices on Uber Eats can be higher than in-store
  • Menu variety limited compared to larger Chinese restaurants

How to order from Taste of Home – a quick guide

  1. Visit tasteofhome.co.nz or open Uber Eats / DoorDash.
  2. Browse the menu – popular picks include Dan Dan Noodles and Yo Po Mian.
  3. Select pick-up or delivery (delivery hours may end earlier than store hours).
  4. Check the opening hours to ensure you order within service windows (lunch 11:30–2:30, dinner 5:00–8:00).
  5. Place your order and wait for confirmation – typical wait time is 15–25 minutes.

Confirmed facts

  • Address: 128 Vivian Street, Wellington (Taste of Home official website)
  • Operating hours as listed on official site and Uber Eats (Taste of Home delivery page)
  • Menu includes Dan Dan Noodles, Yo Po Mian, Hand Pulled Noodles (Uber Eats menu)
  • TripAdvisor rating 4.5/5 (TripAdvisor summary)
  • Neat Places reports cult following and house-made noodles (Neat Places profile)
  • HappyCow lists vegan options and reasonable prices (HappyCow reviews)

What’s unclear

  • Exact owner names not listed on public pages (Taste of Home official website)
  • Full menu with all prices not available on the official site; Uber Eats prices may not match in-store (Uber Eats menu listing)
  • Whether the owners plan to expand seating or hours (Neat Places profile)
  • Google rating of 4.3 not verifiable from official source (TripAdvisor summary)

What diners are saying

“The Yo Po Mian is the best hot oil noodles I’ve had outside of China – the hand-pulled texture is unbelievable.”

– Google review (anon.)

“Tiny place, huge flavours. The owner came out to check if we liked the food – that never happens at a takeaway.”

– TripAdvisor review

“We used to cook in fancy restaurants, now we cook what we fancy.”

– Taste of Home Instagram bio

For Wellington residents craving authentic, hand-made Chinese noodles without the fine-dining markup, Taste of Home delivers exactly what its name promises: the taste of a real home kitchen. The trade-off is convenience – limited seats and short hours – but the payoff is quality rarely found in a takeaway. For budget-conscious food lovers in the capital, the choice is clear: order early, order often, or risk missing out on the city’s most talked-about street food.

Additional sources

wellingtonfl.gov, facebook.com, instagram.com, reddit.com, tasteofhome.com, facebook.com

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Frequently asked questions

Does Taste of Home offer vegetarian options?

Yes. HappyCow lists vegan options such as Vegan Zha Jiang Mian and Vegetable Dan Dan. The kitchen also accommodates modifications on request.

Is there seating available at Taste of Home?

Very limited – only five bench seats inside. Most customers opt for takeaway or delivery.

What payment methods are accepted?

The restaurant accepts cash, EFTPOS, and major credit cards. Online orders via Uber Eats and DoorDash use card payment.

Is Taste of Home halal?

The menu includes pork-based dishes (e.g., Spam Noodle Soup), so it is not halal-certified. However, chicken and vegetable options are available.

What are the most popular dishes?

Dan Dan Noodles, Yo Po Mian (Hot Oil Noodles), and Hand Pulled Noodles in Chicken Broth are consistently praised by reviewers.

Can I order catering for events?

The small kitchen does not advertise catering. Contact the restaurant directly to discuss large orders.

Does Taste of Home have a loyalty program?

Not currently. Regular customers often mention the friendly service, but no formal loyalty scheme exists.

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