The opening of Che Viet, Chancery Square’s newest dining destination, offers hope for Auckland CBD amid a spate of restaurant closures.
Discover a bold take on Vietnamese cooking that this little eatery, the sister restaurant to Vie on Shortland Street, charms diners with its take on regional Vietnamese dishes using ingredients sourced from Vietnam.
“We are seeing people coming back to the central city, and a finish line for the City Rail Link is in sight, so the time is right for us to open our second CBD restaurant,” said owner Angela Nguyen.
The opening comes at a time when established restaurants like Midnight Express and Monsoon Poon have either closed or announced their closures along with many others.
“I don’t think people will come to the city just to eat another bowl of pho, but I believe they will come if what we offer is unique and our restaurant can be a dining destination,” said Nguyen, who hails from Hue in the central region of Vietnam.
Highlights on Che Viet’s menu include Banh Tom Ho Tay (Hanoi crispy prawn cakes), Chan Ga Sot Thai (chicken feet with spicy sauce), Goi Ngo Sen Tom (lotus root prawn salad), and Vietnamese crab hot pot.
One of its signature platters will be the Bánh Tráng Cuốn Thịt Heo, or pork rice paper rolls, a specialty dish of Da Nang.
Diners will also get to choose from a menu of Vietnamese desserts and sweet treats to complete the meal.
Che Viet had its soft opening, and welcomed its first paying guests on Tuesday 4 March 2025.
“I know it has been a very tough time for many businesses in the CBD, but I am confident the good times will come back,” Nguyen said.
She hopes the innovative flavours of dishes rarely found in restaurants here and traditional Vietnamese favourites will be reason enough to draw diners to Che Viet.
On Monday, popular Southeast Asian restaurant Monsoon Poon announced that it will be closing after nearly 20 years in business.
Owner Nicola Richards announced on social media that the business was closing due to the building’s sale and upcoming demolition.
“We want to express our deepest gratitude to all of our incredible staff, past and present, who have helped make this place what it is,” she said in her post.
“A huge thank you to our loyal customers, friends, and suppliers – your support has meant the world to us. We truly couldn’t have done it without you.”
The restaurant will hold its final dinner service on May 3.
“Thank you for the laughter, the conversations, the cocktails, wines, and the shared meals. We will miss you all and will forever be grateful for the experiences and friendships that have come from this place. We hope you are able to make one or two last visits to enjoy your favourite dish or cocktail.”
Monsoon Poon opened on the corner of Custom St West and Lower Hobson St in downtown Auckland in 2005 and offers dishes inspired from Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and Indonesian cuisine among others.
It is the latest in a series of bars and restaurants to announce their closures. Britomart’s Bar Non Solo and MoVida have also announced they are closing.
Last month, Turkish restaurant Midnight Express said it was closing its doors after 35 years, blaming the City Rail Link construction which began in 2016.
It posted a message on the restaurant door saying the business was “no longer viable” due to rent increases and continued roadworks.
“Another business destroyed by CRL,” the message added.
Cafe Midnight Express first opened in 1989 and specialized in Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine.
Che Viet is located at 2a Courthouse Lane (inside Chancery Square), Auckland Central.
Ph: 022 043 8089. Open Tue to Fri 3 -11pm, Sat and Sun 1- 11pm. Closed on Monday.
