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    BannSang

    4.4 (58 reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Asian Fusion
    Closed 11:30 am - 8:30 pm

    BannSang Photos

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    Spicy Pork and Squid
    Tyler T.

    I had the spicy pork and squid and it was great! I was a little afraid the Korean food in New Zealand was going to be a bit off but was really craving Korean food so decided to give it a shot anyways! I'm so glad I did because this place ended up hitting that craving really well. The spicy pork was well seasoned and had a great taste. The squid was also excellent. The side dishes were a bit passable and not really worth mentioning, but the main dish is what really counts and that was good!

    Beef Bulgogi
    Sarah T.

    We wandered in here, jet lagged and just wanting something good to eat. We walked in right as they opened and it quickly filled up! It's hidden in a back corner so I feel like unless you know it's there, you'll miss this gem. The menu has tons of items to choose from and it seemed they have kept all of the menu items as true to real Korean. Definitely not like the "Americanized" stuff we find in the states. The portions were also huge and I loved the side items that came with every meal. The only thing I wish was that I could've seen on the menu somewhere what those side items were. I sort of determined what each of the four were, but I couldn't be sure. The waitress was very nice and the man we paid at the counter even gave us a few tips of things to do and see while visiting NZ.

    #1 beef bulgogi. Comes with rice and 4 sides.
    Alison L.

    Solid choice for Korean in the CBD. I got the #1 beef bulgogi and it was perfectly warm and comforting after a long day of walking. The beef was flavorful, the rice was moist, and the sides were all delish. My only complaint was that they serve water in these tinyyyy teacups which just won't cut it if you're serving me kimchi.

    Tofu jelly soup!
    Sarah H.

    Finally. Finally. Finalllllly: Me inside BannSang. Being the curious human I am, I looked up what 'BannSang' actually means. Wikipedia tells me it translates to "side dish" to comprise a meal which generally consists of bap (cooked rice), guk (soup), gochujang (chile condiment), jjigae (stew), and kimchi. And the more 'bansang' in the table setting, the more important / wealthy you are (the Korean royal family enjoys a modest 12 bansang). Anyway, my meal (the tofu jelly soup aka Sundubu Jjigae - $13) was served bubbling hot along with rice and four side dishes of broccoli, kimchi, seaweed and some honey glazed kumara-like veggie. Deliciousssss (Thank you Neera J. for the rec!). We also got a Kimchi-jeon (korean-style kimchi pancake - $15) to share. It was GIANT and very tasty. The meal was washed down with an Asahi (yum). They had a few other beers too, including Korean Hite. I was tempted but after learning it was similar to Budweiser, I chose to steer clear. Sorryyyy USA. A couple caveats to those looking to scope out BannSang: 1) If you're a Korean food n00b like myself, either do some research beforehand or ask a friend for a dish recommendation. The menu's pretty overwhelming, so if you don't know about Korean cuisine, it wouldn't be difficult to make a wrong move. 2) Not a 'lounge over a glass of wine' type of spot. The service's quick, efficient and to the point - within a span of 5 minutes of being seated, we were probably approached 4 times? to order. Yeah, they turn tables here. But that also means even with a crowd of people outside, you won't be waiting long. :)

    Cold Korean soup. I forget it's proper name but it's number 36.
    Alex D.

    Other than the odd bibimbap from a food truck when I live in San Fran, I'd never tried Korean before. I'd certainly never been to a fully-fledged Korean restaurant so this was a first. Bann Sang is tucked down an alley of High St, right next to Gloria Jeans. It's small and popular so if you're coming with a group book first or prepare to wait. We waited probably just over 30mins. It actually went really fast and the waiter even offered to take our order from outside so that it'd be ready when we sat down. The menu was intimidating at first but thankfully we Korean expert, Rebekah M was in our dining party. On her recommendation I dove right in and ordered a cold broth, served with slices of roast beef, half a boiled egg and paper thin noodles. It also came with scissors to cut your noodles - such fun! The broth was served with ice in it and was really flavoursome, slight sour. The beef was overcooked and dry but I think that is how it's intended to be served. The whole dish was very refreshing, especially on a hot summers night. We also ordered a leek Korean pancake to share. This is an absolute must! Crispy, choccas full of leek and spring onion and served with a punchy dipping sauce. I, like Neera, cannot believe I waited so long to try Korean! No doubt, I'll be back soon....got to make up for lost time.

    Jelly tofu soup!!!
    Crystal C.

    I am a regular at this Korean restaurant as it is authentic. The restaurant is tucked inside an ally way away from High Street. Take a bit of time to actually find it. Each meal generally come with the main dish, four little side dishes and a bowl of rice. The side dishes include kimchi, sweet potato, broccoli and sprout. You can always ask for top up of the side dishes. My fav there is tofu jelly soup and is very yummy if you love spicy and that kick of chili. A great place for dinner!

    Food.
    Zoa V.

    Queensday 4pm and we are decided to try one of the asian restaurants on High or Lorne Street. Big mistake. Most of them open at 5 or 5:30 or might be closed because is Monday. Since Bann Sang seems to be the only one opened this day at 4pm, the choice is made for us. We enter the restaurant and decide to give it a try. Only two occupied tables, but again, it is 4pm. We sit down and instantly get a bottle of water with a photo of Psy (from Ganggam Style) on the side. Funny way to start. We ordered two different stews: one pork ribs for me and the chicken for my partner (I am sorry, but I wouldn't remember the Korean names in a million years). I love the flavor of mine. I love the ribs, so tasty and cooked to the point the bone melts away; I love the little thingies you get on the side. No idea what they are, but I like them as well. The green one is the best (seaweed?). I love the bowls, that keep my food warm for a looooooong time...I love the price. I am falling in love with this place while eating. While the time passes and the clock gets nearer to 5pm, suddenly the tables around us get full and I start to watch those plates of food (and then I think to myself, I would like to try them all!) We will be definitely coming back soon for a new round of yummy warm Korean food.

    Kimchi jjigae ordered as a full set. Banchan left to right: pickled radish, seaweed salad, sweet potato?, macaroni salad
    Anne S.

    A little hard to find but go all the way through Canterbury arcade until you hit the smaller street opposite of Queen St. then make a hard right and you'll see it! Super authentic Korean food in the middle of Auckland, you know it's a good sign when the old couple next to you only speaks Korean. Ordered the kimchi jjigae as a full set with banchan and it was on par with what you'd want. The bbq plates looked phenomenal too. You definitely can't go wrong here!

    Clacla W.

    If you like Korean food, this is the place to be to have your soup, bulgogi and bibimbap. Everything was delicious ! Cannot be in AKL without having a meal there !

    Dolsot bibimbap
    Chantee F.

    This is an excellent place for Korean food. It combines the best of all worlds - modern decor, hip music, ample seating along with fast service, authentic dishes and loads of customers to prove it. Food quality was on point and my bibimbap was delicious. All the right toppings in a piping hot bowl. The only reason they are shy of 5 stars is that there was no kimchee to be found in any of my side dishes. They were all tasty but missing that was kind of a big deal to me. I would assume that was something you didn't have to order. Still this place ranks highly and would be frequented if I only lived closer. Truly worth a stop in and prepare to wait as there was a queue at 5pm.

    A great dinne, for a great price!
    John J.

    Tasty meal for an even tastier price, 10/10. The traditional beef was sweet and tender, the spicy pork was definitely spicy, but not overbearing, and the ambiance was friendly and cozy. A great place for a casual meal.

    Bulgogi meal #1 with 4 sides & rice $14
    Magda G.

    It's a small place with most being around $15 and they come with 4 sides and white rice. I had the bulgogi beef which was good and also tofu soup that was brought to us boiling hot. I still don't know how they do it. The meal was very good for the price.

    Pork belly & kimchi

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    8 years ago

    Food was excellent and the service was just as good. Very close to the hotel that I was staying at right downtown.

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    9 years ago

    Average Korean food. A bit disappointing given all the strong reviews. Small tables and a bit crowded. Nice service.

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    11 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Great deal. Good food, good price, quick service. Had the Dolsot bibimbap. Quite good.

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    12 years ago

    You should go to Bann Song if you want : Good rice! Good service! Good food! Reasonable prices!

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    Page 2 of 2

    Review Highlights - BannSang

    5 years and have hated eating Korean in AKL b/c it was always such a let down.

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    Red Pig

    Red Pig

    4.0(7 reviews)
    0.3 kmAuckland CBD
    $$

    Anyone who knows me, knows how deep my love for Korean food runs. I am perpetually asked where the…read morebest Korean bbq in Auckland is, and regrettably up until this point I've only been able to shrug my shoulders in frustration. People have suggested other places and they are OK but nothing has really fully lived up to the standards that I am used after having the real deal back in Korea for so long. Well I am ecstatic to report that Red Pig, end to end is the real deal not only in Auckland but perhaps in all of NZ (yes I know what a bold claim that must be!). The meat selection is what you would expect but the quality of the meat is quite high. The price is reasonable but if you are expecting the same level of gluttony from a bbq buffet you will be disappointed. I would recommend one serving of meat per per person for 4 people and under. For over 4 people you could probably order a bit less that 1 serving per person. The meat is only 1 part of the experience, they have both stonegrill (for porkbelly), and charcoal options (for most of the other cuts). MOST importantly the side dishes and accompaniments to the cut of meat is different and they have paired them genuinely. The staff are super friendly and helpful and genuinely interested in catering to the non-korean crowd which is a BIG PLUS. For most first-timers or novices, Korean bbq can be a bit intimidating but certainly this is not the case at Red Pig. Another plus is that they have a decent menu of other Korean mains as well, so for those who are not keen on bbq or vegetarian they will have options to enjoy as well. I stridently recommend their seafood pancake! I was very impressed by their extensive Korean alcohol selection and even was able to try a peach soju which is waaaay too drinkable. As if the experience couldn't be more genuine, there's even a Karaoke bar next door! Let's just say this is the closest I've felt to Korea in an incredibly long time! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

    Yay this place is a gem!…read more Thanks to the lovely Rebekah M. for recommending this place and walking us Korean newbies thru the memu. With the happy hour special dinner and drinks came to $25 per person which is a steal considering how much we ate. Staff where friendly, on hand to help with the charcoal BBQ in the middle of the table and explaining the drinks menu (you have to try Soju a kinda flavored rice wine). Funky pop music set the scene and a handy spot to store your bags under your seat so they don't get in the way. It was the side dishes that came with the BBQ meat that really made the meal sing from flavor packed Kimchi, fresh salads, pickles and lettuce leaf to make a kinda taco with the BBQ meat everything was fresh and tasty.

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    Red Pig
    Red Pig
    Red Pig

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    Daebak BBQ - Dining

    Daebak BBQ

    3.3(3 reviews)
    0.3 kmAuckland CBD
    $$

    Oh boy, what did I get into? This place seems to be a popular place amongst the locals, but to me…read more It wasn't all that in my opinion. I tried to like it, but I just didn't. Starving, my co-worker and I walked in for dinner without reservations. Luckily, no issues as we were greeted and chose our table. We didn't really look at any menu, and just decided on the bbq. I recall it only being about $20 (NZD), so really not bad at all. At first I was anxious to pick up the meats, cook it, and grub. But soon after, I slowly just started to dislike the little things I was noticing. ~ The tables all had a small burner with a pan on top. In other words, it's not a tabletop with a built-in grill. The burner just took up a lot of table space. ~ Then I noticed, as with all the other tables. It seems like you must use tin foil on the pan to cook your items. I just knew it would be pretty bothersome if meat gets stuck to the foil, it's pretty much over. Yeah, you can use some oil, but damn it was annoying. ~ The raw food choices sitting next to some of the utensils and lettuce leafs. Damn, wish I took a pic of it. ~ Plates on the bottom shelf seemed bothersome, I don't know why. ~ When it was a good 45 minutes before closing, they were already running out of the pre-cooked items under the heaters. And when other patrons were asking if they were going to bring out more, they were told NO. So, you've got a restaurant with fifty plus people in it, with 45 minutes before closing, and you're gonna tell them "No more cooked items" will be served. Well, that just blows. Man, what a waste of a review, I've got more Auckland reviews I've got catch up on. So, spare yourself! Get on a bus and go to Ponsonby instead!

    I had the all you can eat buffet lunch for 30 NZD. Really good selection of meats and sides for…read morethe price. Not much in terms of ambiance but good tasting food. Would return.

    Photos
    Daebak BBQ
    Daebak BBQ - More dining

    More dining

    Daebak BBQ

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    Pocha Restaurant & Bar

    Pocha Restaurant & Bar

    4.4(7 reviews)
    0.1 kmAuckland CBD

    The server was nice and accommodating. When I told her that we didn't like spicy foods, she noted…read moreour preferences. The interior is spacious also. Great place for Korean food.

    4/5! I enjoyed my time here with my friends - didn't order the food, but loved all the fried…read morechicken and most of the other dishes that we got! Beware that it's a loud environment - but I didn't quite mind that since this is the kind of Korean drama late night happy eating/chatting with friends (and get some drinks haha!). I loved these dishes: - Dak Gang Jung (Fried boneless chicken with spicy & sweet sauce served with rice cakes): really tasty!!! - Almond Chicken (Fried boneless chicken with almond coating served with sweet chili & mayo dip): nice and crunchy! - Garlic Butter Chicken (Fried boneless chicken coated in honey garlic butter sauce): always love a good fried chicken that's sweet, crunchy, and buttery! - Cheese Dduk Bok Gi (Rice cake in spicy sauce topped with melted cheese): I just really like cheese fondue or just cheese in general! Not so memorable: - Kimchi Jeon (kimchi pancake): it wasn't horrible but I don't remember much of it... - Bu Dae Jji Gae (Korean Spicy "army soup" with ham, veggies, sausage mix & noodles): it's probably good, but I'm not a bu dae jji gae connoisseur... haha There's also a good selection of soju here as you may have guessed :) Overall, its a nice place to chill, chat, have a few drinks and noms with friends! Recommend!

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    Pocha Restaurant & Bar
    Pocha Restaurant & Bar
    Pocha Restaurant & Bar

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    Red Pepper - Hambak Steak.....delicious!!

    Red Pepper

    5.0(1 review)
    0.0 kmAuckland CBD
    $

    It would be so easy to walk past this place if you did not know it was there as it is tucked away…read morein Shop 4 at 50 High St, down a short passage way . Visible from the road , but not highly. It is next to a few other restaurants just off Victoria St on High St. It has got some of the menu displayed just as you enter and also lets you know it makes the traditional Korean pancake of three varieties - kimchi, seafood and pork. Also this place uses no MSG,and in the pancakes no flour or sugar. You go in past an open kitchen into a fairly decent dining space of which around the walls has several blackboards . Some do let you know specials , monthly and daily ...but a lot of the blackboard space is taken up by random writings / scriblings from customers of whatever. Unfortunately is all in Korean...so I have absolutely no idea what it all says. But you can somehow assume it is all random stuff. Anyway more importantly about the food. They welcome you and attend to you quickly showing you a table if need be, bring water and menu. When the waiter did come to take the order he knelt / crouched down so he was on the same level as us to talk. We liked this as sometimes I hate being spoken down to by waiting staff. To me makes the service more friendly. We ordered the Seafood Ramen and a Hambak Steak which both came out pretty quickly. I noticed in the other tables the level of service and speed was just the same. Our meals were delicious and cannot fault. I can see a return visit at some point to sample some more of thier options and fantastic service!!!

    Photos
    Red Pepper - Inside

    Inside

    Red Pepper - Open kitchen.

    Open kitchen.

    Red Pepper - Kitchen

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    Kitchen

    Fang - Interior

    Fang

    4.8(4 reviews)
    1.3 kmParnell

    Best of the best! I can't say enough good things about this place after just one lunch visit. The…read morelettuce cups, an ornate chicken salad, explodes with flavor, texture and shear beauty. I followed the bang bang with the most meaty seafood shu mai ever. There is no question that the seafood shu mai are seafood, the shrimp are large, delicious and plentiful in the filling. The dishes of dipping oil and soy were also seasoned and not just poured from a bottle. Service was friendly and the decor beautiful and comfortable. A must visit place in Auckland !

    We went here for dinner for the evening of Sat 22 June…read more Fang is tucked away in the middle of a newish building at 100 Parnell Road. Parking is pretty good that part of Parnell and so once we walked all the way into the depths of the building on the ground floor all was well. We were seated quickly, and had our waitress come with water and to answer any additional questions promptly. She recommended a number of sharing plates, which was fine by us as we thought that would probably be a good way to go anyway. We started off with some of the lotus chips which were awesome. We then received a selection of dishes including lamb short ribs, crispy pork ribs (a winner), supposedly very spicy bang bang chicken in lettuce cups (it wasn't that spicy but had a bit of kick and was delicious too), Crispy squid tentacles were also a popular choice. The kung pao soft shell crab was tasty but a bit small serving wise, and the dumplings all tasty too. The pork belly was average, nothing wrong with it but not a standout. My wife especially liked the slow cooked beef shin. Service was excellent, food was tasty and interesting, restaurant a little dimly lit but very cool nevertheless (perhaps better for dates than family dining but I'm being picky here). My only quibble is value, it's not bad value for money but it wasn't great value either. If it were slightly cheaper I wouldn't hesitate to score it 5/5. However, that is not a deterrent to me wanting to try the restaurant again, as the Rest of the package was all of a very high standard. We will be back for sure.

    Photos
    Fang - 10 Hours Braised Pork Belly - yummmm!

    10 Hours Braised Pork Belly - yummmm!

    Fang - Reception

    Reception

    Fang - Sticky Soy Garlic Pork Ribs

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    Sticky Soy Garlic Pork Ribs

    BannSang - korean - Updated August 2026

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