A must-try recommendation for a century-old bakery


Riverside Market in Christchurch | Hong Kong girls top IG photos! Oyster bar + Empire fried chicken + century-old baked pie, enjoy the world's taste at the lakeside market

When it comes to Christchurch’s favorite celebrity photo spot for young people, Riverside Market is a win-win for “beautiful views + food”! This market opened in 2019, with industrial style mixed with fresh lakeside views and global food collection, directly rushed to Christchurch popular attractions top3 This time, the Hong Kong girl brings the verified "restaurant strategy" to teach you to eat all the must-try delicacies at once, take pictures and shop, and hea all day to get enough~

🌟Why has Riverside Market become a pilgrimage destination for handsome and beautiful men and women?

This market is not as "old-school" as a traditional market, the design inside is super thoughtful! The entrance is a clear small lake, the water is so quiet that it reflects the sky blue, next to the colored plastic seats, sitting down to enjoy coffee is very chill; the stalls in the market uniform white simple design, the ceiling hanging strings of warm yellow bulbs, after 3 pm sunlight slanting in, whether taking food or selfies, the background is beautiful to "bring your own filter" ~

The best part is that it is super conveniently located on the Oxford Terrace riverfront in the city center, a 5-minute walk to the city center business district. Young people come, it's basically a cycle of "buy food → take pictures by the lake → buy dessert again", half a day is simply not enough to play ~

🍴Verified Version Must-Eat List! I can't go back after eating at 3 stores

1. Oyster Bar | A 'fresh ceiling' raised by Christchurch's seawater

There is no exclusive signature oyster shop inside the market, but locals and tourists call it "Oyster Bar", located in the seafood area in the middle of the market, you can smell the faint seawater before you arrive - why are oysters a must here? Because Christchurch is close to the east coast of the South Island, the seawater is often tested, the cleanliness exceeds the standard, the oysters raised have no fishy taste, and have a unique taste of "sweet and sweet", locals often come early to grab fresh!

My girlfriend and I arrived at 10am, the master is opening the oysters one by one, the oyster shell is snow-white, the oyster meat is full to "protruding out" ~ chose the classic New Zealand "Bluff Oyster" (Bruff oysters), half a dozen only 30 New Zealand dollars, pour a little lime juice, the entrance is the salty freshness of sea water, then slowly seep creamy mustard smooth sisters can try, rest assured! The master said it's best to come from 9-11 in the morning. The oysters at this time are the fattest. You may have to queue up later. If you want to eat, you have to arrive early

2. Empire Chicken Riverside | Popular fried chicken shop at the market! The crispy chicken pieces are the signature

The "Wingman" mentioned earlier is actually wrong! After verification, the real fried chicken popular shop in the market, Empire Chicken Riverside, is right next to the entrance of 96 Oxford Terrace.

We ordered the "Classic Crispy Chicken Nuggets Set", served with french fries and Aioli sauce. The sauce chose the shopkeeper recommended Chipotle Ajoli, slightly spicy with a little smoky flavor, with crispy chicken pieces super fit ~ Although the fried chicken wings are "supporting roles", but very tasty, the crust is as crispy as the chicken pieces, tender meat, not so greasy after eating ~ Hong Kong girls remind: must eat hot, cold crust will be soft, taste is far worse!

3. Local century-old baked pie shop (Ernest Adams flavor) | Handmade pie that you have to eat in line

The previously mentioned “Empire Bay Bakery” doesn’t actually exist, but the popular pie shop right across from the market is derived from Christchurch’s century-old baking brand Ernest Adams! The brand opened in 1921, initially called "Adams Bruce Ltd.", later renamed "Ernest Adams Ltd.", doing baking for more than 100 years, South Island locals have been eating since childhood, the signature is handmade pies and bread ~

This pie shop opens at 8am and starts queuing at 9am. Don't leave when you see the long queue! We waited in line for 20 minutes to buy the signature "beef pie" and "apple pie" - beef pie hot from the oven, the crust is loose to fall off the crust, bite into the juice "sizzle" flow out, inside the beef grains to see, and onions and carrots, rich sauce, salty and sweet rock good;

The shopkeeper said that they use the same formula as Ernest Adams, and the master gets up at 3am every day to knead the pie crust. The fillings are fresh ingredients and never use frozen meat cans. After 12 noon, there is also handmade pasta, which the master cooks to order, the tomato meat sauce flavor is super good, the noodles are bouncy, after eating I really want to say "thank you" to the master!

📍Hong Kong girls test strategy: eat happily, take beautiful photos

1. Time: 9am to 6pm (individual shops such as Empire Chicken will close later), oysters and batches to arrive before 10pm, otherwise crowded to crowd;

2. Transportation: 5 minutes walk from the city center, by car you can stop at the Riverside Car Park next to it, about NZ$4 an hour;

3. Must-try list: Oyster Bar Bluff oysters, Empire Chicken crispy chicken nuggets, century-old baked beef pie, there are ramen shops and coffee stalls in the market, latte latte art is so beautiful that you can’t wait to drink it;

4. Photo spots: entrance small lake (can take market reflections), ceiling light strings (the most beautiful light and shadow in the afternoon), lakeside colored seats (the best background for food photos);

5. Tip: There are no fixed seats at the market. After buying, you can go to the public seats by the lake, or pack to the next to Hagley Park to eat

In short, Riverside Market is really the ceiling of Christchurch’s “food + check-in”! The verified store names and delicacies will not step on anything. Whether you like the freshness of oysters, the crispness of fried chicken pieces, or the old taste of a century-old pie shop, you can be satisfied at once. Next time you come to Christchurch, remember to put this market first in your itinerary. Don't miss it

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