I'll admit I used to be a bit afraid of Tai Ping. Mainly because the carpark is a terrifying place…read moreand you could lose your life. Really, the driving here is shocking. The shop itself though has just got better and better over the last few years and now is a really great general supermarket that has bargain prices and exotic products. There's more noodles than anyone could ever want to eat and rice, dried beans and condiments galore. The flavour pastes and fresh produce are my favourites here and there's also a smattering of foodstalls on one side that make Asian snacks; my favourite being the pancakes. I'm also partial to a bit of Plum Wine and this place has it, along with Asian beers etc. And I still just can't help but marvel over all the crazy dried funghi, fish innards and the like that are so foreign to me - I got to say it, these days Auckland has pretty much every curious food ingredient available which can only be a good thing.

Amazing variety of well, everything. Super cheap veggies & fruits, I got avocados for $0.69…read moreyesterday! The shop is massive and super tidy, you might struggle to get a park but it's definitely worth a small effort. Love it!

The day I discovered Khyber Spice Invader was the day I decided to never buy packet spices again. I…read morewas so completely astounded at how cheap spices are when you buy in bulk that I was sent into a blind rage. What the hell, Gregg's? Why do you charge $3-5 for a small box of spices when Khyber Spice Invader can sell me the same amount for 10 or 20 cents? Here's a tip - head out to your local $2 shop, buy up a huge number of tiny sealable containers and a packet of stickers, then go and stock up on every single spice you've ever used or wanted. I guarantee you won't spend more than $10 doing so at Khyber Spice Invader. While you're there you can also choose from a range of Indian vegetables, curry bases and sauces, all cheap as well. Worth the trip out to the suburbs, every time!

The CBD location of the Royal Save Mart family is a great Korean supermarket for inner city…read moredwellers without a car. Unlike the small colony of Korean supermarkets on the North Shore, this Royal Save Mart packs a punch for the size of store and location. They have a very respectable selection of Korean (and some Japanese) imported dry goods, snacks, drinks and frozen foods. They offer a range of frozen Korean style meat cuts from a butcher on the Shore and also carry a range of Kimchi both imported from Korea as well as some locally made stuff. Now you may be thinking that the local stuff is fresher and should taste better. However, as Kimchi is fermented cabbage this is a bit irrelevant and the more important factor is the use of Korean chiles and fish sauce (which most NZ made Kimchi does not contain). Royal Save Mart's Kimchi selection is very reasonably priced especially when you buy the larger pack sizes. Above all the Royal Save Mart has a little food corner that is open until about 5 or 6pm. I haven't been able to sample the food myself as I never visit this store when it is open (I don't work in the city). However, the women that run the food corner also have a whole fridge of fresh made Korean side dishes (panchan) that are so reasonably priced and so damn delicious that I would imagine the mains are just as delectable. These women are from the deep south of Korea which is known to have the tastiest recipes in all of the land. Compared to the 3 other Auckland Korean supermarkets I've been to, this one has the best and varied selection of side dishes. If you want to impress your friends by cooking Korean food, you can buy the side dishes from these ladies and make 'cheats bibimibop' (pic uploaded). Only downside is a real lack of parking, but its in the CBD so get over it and enjoy!

Finding a good fish shop in Auckland can sometimes feel akin to the hunt for the Holy Grail. We are…read morean island nation and it should not be so hard to find somewhere that sells fresh affordable fish. But it is. Luckily I found this place when I worked nearby and would often pop in to grab fillets for dinner. Now I make a special trip because like I said, this kind of place is RARE AS, as my son would say. The owners are absolutely lovely and you get that warm community feel of a proper local fishmonger who greets you with a smile on arrival and wishes you a good day when you leave. They also often tuck in a lemon for me and it's those little things that make all the difference. The fish is fresh as can be and not priced at the rip-off rates of some other places I could mention. It's really important to support these small but perfectly formed businesses so give it a go next time you are going to treat yourself (because let's face it, fish is never going to be the cheap staple it should be) to a fish dinner, come here.

Mr Lim's is a Glen Innes institution with the locals. There is a huge number of people who go…read morethrough here to buy fresh fruit and veges, so the turn over is high and the produce is always fresh. It is also pretty much cheapest price around that area - much cheaper and fresher than supermarket down the road. They also have a range of different Asian greens and specialty Asian grocery items which you don't really find that much in the surrounding area. The meat they stock is well priced, fresh and 'nice' according to my mother (as a vegetarian I don't really have an opinion on the taste of it, but I'm sure its great). The girls at the counter are delightful, who remember your face and are always super friendly. Parking is easy and they are part of the AA petrol discount scheme, which is even more incentive to visit. Don't expect to find anything organic or free-range here, but if price is the bottom line for you then Lim's is the place to go.

This place might not look like much from the outside and you may have driven past it, if you live…read morein the area, and wondered what it is. Well if you want spices, nuts, flour, herbal stuff, organic stuff, naan bread, roti, legumes, and all at really good prices, then this is the place for you. They have nearly every nut you can think of, almonds, cashews, hazelnut, coconut, brazil nut, pistachio, small bags, medium bags, large bags, whole, blanched, ground, sliced. Looking for flour but not any ordinary flour, come here, they have gluten free - rice, potatoe, amaranth, buckwheat, Urid, soy, spelt, corn - I'm pretty sure if you are looking for it they will have it. I really could go on and on with a massive list of everything they stock here, but you really need to go and see for yourself. I would personally travel to go and stock up here. Also check out their website for recipes and information on benefits of spices in your diet.

Our school is beyond grateful for the very generous donation of fruit that has been collected today…read morefrom the store, for a fundraising event that is being held at Kōwhai Intermediate School. It is amazing to see a local businesses giving back to the community (especially during tough covid times) and ensuring quality fruits are donated. Could not recommend this store enough! Thankyou very much Glennis, appreciate your very kind gesture!

KC Loos is a bit of an institution in Mt Eden. A family owned fruit and vege store that has been up…read moreand running for generations, my mum moved to Auckland almost 30 years ago and remembers KC Loos being there! It's pretty rare that an independent family owned business would last so long in such a central Auckland location, and that's one of the best things about shopping at KC Loos - you're supporting a good cause and helping maintain a community oriented company. Situated on the corner of Stokes Road and Mt Eden Road, KC Loos is constantly packed with local customers, and I actually know people who used to drive into Mt Eden from out West just to get their groceries from KC Loo - it is that well known for having quality produce! Also very reasonably priced, you can find everything from fresh big broccoli heads to juicy watermelons, mangoes and papaya at KC Loos. Tip: Over summer KC Loos often stock mixed packs of fruits like watermelon, pineapple, mango, and rockmelon which are really cheap and are perfect for picnics and potluck dinners!

We came here because we wanted to try traditional Maori food and it was a really good first…read moreexperience. Since we are new to this, I cannot speak to the authenticity of the food. Flavor and cooking wise, it was excellent. The lady suggested that we go with Lamb and Chicken Hangi since it was our first time. My friends took the chicken Hangi. Every Hangi is a plate of meat, cabbage, pumpkin, sweet potato (kumara) and boiled potato, with stuffing that resembles Indian khichdi or thanksgiving stuffing. Even though previous reviews had mentioned that the chicken was dry, I didn't think the chicken was dry at all! Both the chicken and lamb were tender and easy to take off the bone. They were mildly spiced. The stuffing was delicious. I'm not a big fan of sweet potato but my friends thought it was the star of their plate. The pumpkin and the cabbage were delicious too. Everything came together as a full and filling meal. I'm glad that we got to experience this and I recommend coming here if you want to experience traditional Maori food. Just remember that you are coming for the food...the ambiance is not much to look at...just a no-nonsense restaurant. They cater. Lots of parking around the shop.

Really nice people running this place!! Food was very traditional and tasty!!! Loved visiting here,…read morewent back twice!

I've been to Kyoto a few times now and have always been pretty impressed with the service. I've…read moreonly ever gone during dinner time and its' never too busy. They have ample seating for diners so they can accommodate a lot of people and groups would enjoy the spacious layout here. Its located right next to the Amersham Way entrance to Westfield Manukau so there's tonnes of free parking if you're stopping by for a meal before a spot of shopping- nice and convenient! Their miso soup is delicious. I've become accustomed to miso over the past couple of years and Kyoto does one of my favourites. I've tried their katsu and it tastes great; its perfect for someone like me who's not quite ready to go all the way with ramen or anything too out of my element. They also have a good range of entrees, and I'm a little obsessed with their snow peas. Prices at Kyoto are pretty reasonable and you can get a dinner for two with drinks for about $50-$60.

Hmmm. Soft shell crab - burnt & not the freshest…read more Dumplings - delicious. Endame - hot & salty just like they should be. Prawn shumai - unexpectedly fried, but tasty. Sashimi - never arrived so can't comment. Service - friendly but oh so slow and in a restaurant that was far from full. Overall very disappointing and not crying out for a repeat visit but as always I'll give it at least one more try just to be sure.