Food was pretty good here but prices a little steep for what you get. We're from Hawaii, where…read moreAsian based food is the norm so our standards are high. I really enjoyed the salads/sides that came on each plate. It was nice to have some freshness with each bite. I really liked the Thai beef salad. We had been eating pretty heavy, so this was nice to have something with bright and light flavors. My Mom thought the duck had a mushy texture. Located around the corner from Giapo so good location to get dinner and dessert. Miann is also across the street but unfortunately I didn't get to try it.

Adding to the rise of Asian fusion restaurants around the Auckland CBD, Lucky Buddha adds its own…read moreflavour to the expanding Fort Street scene. With Korean owners and a Filipino chef, the Asian fusion tag is well and alive as East meets East. This makes things interesting on the menu: there's beef tatare, lamb ribs, 'halo-halo' (a Filipino dessert), sake, buns. You don't quite know what to settle for. Inside, a shared long table dominates one side but most diners prefer to be seated at separate tables. Going there at 6pm on a Friday night, we were asked whether we had reservations to be seated at one of those separate tables. I got nothing against the shared table philosophy but typically on a weeknight, I had my bag full of things collected from a week of teaching, and an end of the week desire to lean back and ooze. That night though, it was considered too busy so we didn't have a choice but to sit at the bar stools at the long communal table. The drunken chicken first caught my eye but it was nothing like what I had expected! I had imagined juicy and tender whole slices of chicken soaked in rice wine as a traditional Chinese dish. I guess this is where the fusion fact comes in. My friend did like it though, the bean sprouts and fresh coriander in the salad made it refreshing and moorish. My favourites were the beef tatare and the spicy chicken. The chicken was juicy and not soaked in oils, accompanied with rice balls lightly dusted with crispy seasoning. Even though it was listed as a shared plate, I could have easily settled on this as a main for myself. The beef tatare was one of the best I've had - it was kept light with nashi pear and crisps, a good balance of sweet and savoury flavours. There's so much on the dessert menu that I wanted to try - the durian ice cream, halo-halo...but the combination of chocolate, coconut and pandan cream was a winner. Have a bit of everything on your spoon and you'll be transported to a waffley soft chocolate heaven. Food is a bit of a hit or miss at The Lucky Buddha. From what I had, I was seduced enough to want to go back and try more - just as we were leaving I saw the dish of lamb ribs that made me want to reach over and snag one. As with most newly opened eateries, the atmosphere is young and bright with waiters attentive to every eye catch. I just wished the dishes came out all at once but I guess that's something you can add while doing the orders. The shared plates were a winner so go along with friends who like to try a bit of everything!

Delicious! I needed…read moreto bring back dinner for my brother-in-law, my husband, and me, so I asked an in the know local for their recommendation on best takeout in Takapuna. They quickly responded "Tok Tok". Their most favorite mentions from the menu were the Popping Prawns, Crispy Duck, Shaking Beef, and the Fried Rice... I ordered it all ;)! I'm so glad I did. I literally salivate when thinking about the meal. Ordering over the phone was a breeze, and a friendly. I walked into the restaurant, and was quickly shown a seat at the bar where I could wait, instead of waiting at the entry. The restaurant was packed, and it was clear to see Tok Tok is a hip and cool place to be, as well as welcoming. About ten minutes early, I decided to order a Chilli Margarita from the cocktail menu. I received my cocktail promptly. I had enough time to finish the refreshing work of art, right as my order came out.

I was visiting a friend in Auckland and she booked Tok Tok for dinner on a Monday night. The…read morerestaurant was packed and had a great vibe. We sat outdoors in a fully covered patio that had heaters for cold rainy nights and it felt cozy. The food was excellent. We ordered beef steamed buns, fish curry, miso eggplants and shaking beef. They all tasted amazing. We did family style amongst the four of us and it was the perfect amount of food. I'll definitely come back here whenever I'm in Auckland again.

Had lunch at Indochine yesterday - was quite excited because yet another Vietnamese restaurant has…read moreopened up in Auckland (yay), plus I was dying for some rice paper rolls (double yay)! Indochine is a newly opened Vietnamese tapas bar located down Fort Street (big plus for the shared space) and has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, the latter making it a perfect spot for lunch in the sun! The layout of the place is quite modern, with wooden tables, hanging lights and best of all, the most stunning mural on the wall - my friend and I couldn't stop staring at it! The menu itself is small, offering only six dishes of rice paper rolls, beef pho and bahn mi. They serve Vietnamese coffee, two types of sodas and alcoholic drinks too. From the menu, we ordered two lots of the Goi Cuon $12 (5 pork and prawn rice paper rolls with lettuce and herbs) accompained by a dipping sauce and a small chicken salad. The rolls were nice, but not the best I have had in Auckland. Also, I couldn't taste any pork and there wasn't enough dipping sauce! As for the service, well it was pretty good considering how busy they were! Our waitress was friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our food. Overall, a good first lunch, and great for those working in the CBD! Next time I will definitely be trying the bahn mi!

Indochine is casual eatery in the centre of town offering Vietnamese tapas. I have mixed reviews…read moredue to... The interior of the eatery has a cold vibe. I think its due to the tall tables and the seats are awkward to pull out. I feel like the interior and the waiting staff don't follow the same theme to the food. The uniform for the staff was odd - maybe it was because Indochine is in the city? but petit girls in backless halter tops with short shorts. You feel uncomfortable for them. I just think its maybe an outfit you would expect at a bar where you're trying to make tips if you get what I mean. The food was really great. If you want something light and healthy this is place you want to visit. Oh btw we came for dinner - their lunch menu is slightly different. The prawn rice paper rolls says you get 5, however don't be fooled - they aren't 5 normal full size rice paper rolls, although they pack a heap of flavour and were freshly made. We found the tofu rice paper rolls were disappointing because the tofu was hardly visible which meant you could hardly taste it was there. The charcoal beef steak wasn't what I expected - presented in a lettuce wrap but it was a good surprise. The mango brings a a vibrant flavour to the dish. If you want something with a bit of a punch order the squid. Probably a little spicier than it implies on the menu but if you like chilli like myself you won't be bothered. What I liked most is that the say what they actually are and thats tapas - Theres no trying to make portions or anything like some tapas restaurants. I would recommend ordering at least 4 dishes between the two of you if you want to be full. This is a place I would recommend to try, just dont take into account the odd waitresses attire. Rating Food: 8/10 Service: 8/10 Value for Money: Good 42 Fort Street, Auckland Central Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-Late

We stumbled on this place as we're walking from Mount Eden on a week day. Monday - Thursday they…read moreopen at 5pm & Friday through the weekend they open at 11 am so be aware. Right off the bat the vibes, service, & music were on point. The fried chicken & loaded fries were delicious! Unfortunately, the chicken dumplings were too heavy on the fusion for us. The dumplings were overwhelmed by the curry powder and the inside was overcooked. With so much Asian influence in the city of Auckland, I feel there are times when restaurants should just leave some dishes/flavors alone as they are amazing in their own right. Overall the experience was good.

Eric the bartender was pretty awesome. Helped kept it real with the drinks, which were all pretty…read moretasty, but also with some history of the Eden area. Very personable and made a first time to NZ felt like a local. Talent.

Absolutely a great place. Environment is very relaxing…read more Quality of the food is superb!! Especially the deep fried lamb ribs! Oh and the calamari!! Oh and.... They're just all good!! Very friendly service

THIS PLACE IS INSANELY GOOD!!! Cocktails To Tantalize The Most Judgmental Tongue! Food Made To…read moreStimulate The Senses! Infusions Of Vietnam Reign Supreme! If Your Taste Buds can only handle meat pies & Pizzas, make your way to the nearest 7-Eleven. This place isn't for you!!! Immediately, walking into the restaurant, the ambiance has your eyes feasting on all the beautiful decor. There are a couple of private tables tucked nicely away from the crowds. But, reservations are HIGHLY recommended. So, COCKTAILS!!! The Hand-Crafted Cocktails Are Impeccable! My personal favorite is the Blushing Dragon! Don't forget about the Red Bliss.. What are they, you ask...? Get over there and check it out! I promise you they won't disappoint. For the appetizers, we had the papaya salad, mango salad & the veggie wraps. The Mango Salad had an array of spices including a 'Vietnamese Mint' that has you guessing what that good unexpected flavor is... The Entrées Are Next Level Crazy-Yum!!! Must-Haves: Pork Belly, Pad See Ew Noodles, Mekong Fried Rice & The Deep-Fried Squid!

Awesome vibe at this food court. They're also open later than the neighboring mall food court on…read moreElliot Street. Variety of options, including Thai, Singaporean, Mexican, burgers, and Japanese. We got the Singaporean food and fish and chips. Both were great!

A lively, energetic food hall with tons of variety and a unique vibe that somehow manages to merge…read morethe Asian street market scene with a cozy European pub feel. Location is excellent- right in the heart of the CBD - and the food is all excellent! We loved it so much we ate here several times on our trip. The space is huge with plenty of small, intimate tables or large family style tables if you're feeling sociable. The building is one of Auckland's historic buildings dating back to 1910 and the space is decorated so nicely. Definitely a great spot to relax and hang out. The seating in the core is totally British pub style with dark wood tables, benches, and dim lighting to add to the ambiance. The seating around the outer rim is lit with skylights above and decorated like the streets of Europe. And all around the walls you'll find some really fun neon Asian street signs - such an interesting mix and makes it really fun. Our fave restaurant is Lepak. They serve up Malaysian deliciousness and our fave dish was the Nasi Lemak - coconut rice, chicken curry, nicely fried egg - fabulous!! We got this several times and it was consistently excellent. We also tried their chicken satay, Malaysian milk tea (hot), and mini curry puffs - all of it was lovely - highly recommend! Our second fave is Bao Baby Bao - their buns are soft and delicious- especially the Angry Bird Bao which is like a mix of bao buns and trendy hot chicken. We also tried the pasta carbonara from De Niro on one visit - it was just ok, a little heavy and a tad bland but otherwise ok. The Asian food genre is definitely the way to go here imo. Prices are pretty reasonable, especially by US standards - and the quality is definitely there. It gets pretty packed but we always found a seat easily. Staff were all welcoming and friendly. They have large, clean bathrooms but I'm not sure about the parking situation since we walked from our hotel in the CBD - it's a very walkable city.

This place came up in a search for restaurants who serve whitebait fritters. I didn't realize it…read morewas a restaurant I've passed by before on a prior visit to Viaduct Harbour. I arrived one lovely Thursday afternoon and was seated inside right away. It was a nice table in a chic restaurant with an amazing view of the harbour. I quickly placed an order for the whitebait fritters and a side of broccolini, plus a cider. The food looked amazing when it came out and indeed tasted as good as it looked. I was quite pleased. The server was a very pleasant young lady who took great care of me. Soul is a must visit!

In town in business. Went to the water or ad I call it restaurant row!!…read more Decided on SOUL. As they had the best menu and I was with others. Such a beautiful place. The menu is outstanding.. Everything delicious. Can't wait to comeback.

It's like I'm back in Asia! This is apparently the highest rated food court in Auckland and I would…read moreprobably agree. Lots of choices at reasonable prices. I opted for the Hainan chicken from one of the vendors and was pretty happy with my meal.

I found this food court while walking to another restaurant. There are several food vendors inside…read morethat serve many different Asian cuisines; Filipino, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, and Thai to name a few. There is also a beverage vendor in the middle of that food court that sells soda, beer, and cocktails. I bought a lemongrass chicken dish from the Vietnamese vendor and a Guinness from the drink vendor. The dish was flavorful but not spectacular. The Guinness was delicious. I gave this place four stars not because of the quality of the lemongrass chicken dish but for the variety of Asian food you can order from the different vendors.