The neon blue glow drew me in once again, as the truck was parked on the corner of Queen and Quay…read more Since I've frequented the Roaming Dive, I decided to make a request of Pete. "Can I just have a cup of chicken?" He didn't even flinch. He even added, "I was thinking you might like something like that", since my previous review mentioned that I don't eat bread. He asked if I would like something like a salad with the two types of chicken of the day: sweet spicy chicken (which I had previously) and his buffalo chicken. I immediately accepted and took a seat, waiting patiently for the goodness. Annnd it was exactly what I wanted. I hadn't had buffalo chicken since I left the States, so this was a welcome dinner. Pairing this chicken with his crispy fries were spot on. Making sure the sweet spicy chicken didn't feel neglected, I had to pace myself and alternate between the two cups of chicken. So delicious, it was everything I wanted on that dreary night.

I find it hard to turn down a slider and at The Roaming Dive you can get two for 9 bucks…read more Since there were two options it seemed only right to sample one of each! First up, spicy chicken w shredded 'berg. The chicken was epic. I'm not sure what marinate they use but it was dark, sticky and damn delicious. For me, green cabbage would've been better than iceberg though. The heat of the truck and then the chicken in the bun had made the 'berg limp. Next we tried the fried haloumi. It was mighty tasty, crunchy on the outside squeaky on the inside. Seriously, how good is haloumi? Red cabbage slaw added a bit of crunch and cut through the salt. The guys working in the truck were lovely. They seemed a bit stressed but I would be too if I was churning out food in such a confined space! Looking forward to seeing where these guys turn up over summer!

The first thing you notice when you walk in the door is the smell of wood smoke. If you're after…read moreBBQ like we were you know instantly you're in the right place. Miss Moonshine's drinks menu fits on one page but still a manages to be extensive. Whether you're looking for a cocktail, mojito, craft or light beer, wine, cider or non alcoholic it's there. I chose a nice prosecco and Ryan had the Fizzy Rascal which I got to taste. Nice but not my thing. His next choice however, the Jammy B*stard I could get to like! The menu is a meat lovers dream and has all the trimmings of a trip to southern America. Shrimp, buttermilk, corn, avocado, rice and beans are words you'll find among the tasty viddles (Yes Granny Clampett would be a might happy here) among the starters and sides. The main dish is always meat. Of course it is and lots of it. Ryan had the pulled pork which was sensational but small - but that was clear on the menu as the weight of each cut is marked. My pork hock was more substantial so I shared some with the poor boy. The hock was both moist inside and crispy outside. Our side dish was a refreshing apple slaw. Desert options were Orleans Donuts, Chocolate Chilli Mousse or Lemon Meringue Pie. Ryan chose the pie much to my delight and I cheated the Paleo diet to try a spoonful. Or two. We went on their first night and there wasn't a sign of any teething trouble. Professional from day one... Nice. Miss Moonshine. Welcome to the 'hood!

Miss Moonshine's brings back memories of my Southern States road trip. Meaty, smokey, delicious…read morememories. As soon as you walk in the wood smoke hits and you know this is real deal. We went all in and ordered the pit boss ($45pp), which includes family style entrees, mains and dessert. The set menu changes daily but our entrées were cornbread (crunchy, soft, buttery goodness - a must order), fried chicken with guacamole (a strange combination in my mind but delicious nonetheless) and their magic mushrooms w chickpeas & blue cheese (take it or leave it). Then came the mains... a smorgasboard of slow-cooked, tender-as-it-gets barbecued meat. I'm talking brisket, pulled pork, beef short rib....heaven! Especially when combined with a killer slaw, cauliflower cheese w a truffle crumb and their very own smoked bone sauce. Dessert was a beautiful platter with lemon meringue pie, chilli chocolate mousse and beignets (doughnuts) with salted caramel sauce. Sharing dessert was a little more awkward but I'm not a sweet tooth so I loved that I was able to try all three without having to have a whole dessert. My only criticism? The salted caramel was suuuuuuuuuper salty. A couple of comments were made around the table about the size of the portions but I think $45 for three courses is unreal value considering the quality of the food! It's also a brilliant option for bigger groups, which Miss Moonshines caters for really well. I think this may just be the most excited I've been about a restaurant all year - partly because I LOVE the Southern States but mostly because these guys have nailed it, from the red lipstick wearing waitresses to the moonshine served paper bags. I'm looking forward to my next visit already...

Oi my gosh, this was exactly what I needed today! I have had Lucky Taco's tacos many times, but…read moretoday was the first time I tried the De Sesos (lamb brains) and Lucky Lengua (beef tongue) tacos! One thing I have always appreciated was that fact that their tacos have an amazing balance of citrus, creamy (I think it's the avo cream/sour cream), spice, and savoury. And if it's not hot enough the jalapeño hot sauce will do the trick if it's not spicy enough! The beef was divine - whatever they marinated it in was amazing. Literally hit the nail on the head. It was juicy, tender, and slightly spicy. Honestly I didn't now what to expect anyway as I can't remember what beef tongue tastes like. If it were a blind tasting I probably wouldn't have guessed tongue! The brains were... Interesting. It was kind of yellowish-greenish in colour. It was swimming in all sorts of greenery and cabbage though so colour palette-wise it actually complimented well! However it had sort of a weird consistency (what do you expect it's brains!) and did not have as much flavour as the tongue. Love the Lucky Taco, love what they are doing. I'd go back for the tongue and Horchata (it's a must and dials down the spice), but I wouldn't run back for the brains. It's novel though, so I'd recommend trying it.

Last year, I discovered The Lucky Taco at The Auckland Food Show and it is definitely one of my…read morefavourite foodie experiences to date! Delicious authentic tacos in either a corn or flour tortilla plus an agua de horchata (sweetened, iced rice milk infused with cinnamon) and you're all set for the day! The owners (Sarah and Otis Frizzell) are so lovely, that you will definitely want to go back! The second time I encountered The Lucky Taco was at The Auckland Food Show this year. They had a great set up at the show and their tacos were just as delicious as the year before. I was also really excited to see Sarah and Otis again and even more excited to try their Pulled Pork Taco. It is absolutely delicious, a bit spicy, but oh so good! They also have a great little set up along Ponsonby Road which I have taken a long time to visit, however, three weeks ago I did! It was the most beautiful sunny day and I just happened to be walking in the area. I tried the 'Breakfast Taco' - spicy chorizo sausage plus an egg (ohmygawd delicious!) and a Pulled Pork Taco, which has a great kick! It will forever be my favourite taco! Sarah and Otis were as friendly as ever and there were many people queuing up for their tacos - you will definitely find out why once you try one! (Or two or three in my case!)

Mama's got herself a new set of wheels. Traveling around the city in her brick red truck, she joins…read morethe fleet of food trucks gracing Ponsonby's convivial Street Food Collective from time to time. Wisely adhering to the successful food trucks' motto of "do a few things but do then well", Mama Tahnia brings a middle eastern flavour to lunchtime fare. Currently there are 3 options: the aromatic Arabian chook rice bowl, succulent porkalicious flat bread (pulled pork in hand made roti type bread) and the herb-laden and handmade lamb kofta in ciabatta bread. All are delicious and are available in gluten free versions. Honest flavours and subtle fusion of middle eastern and kiwi culture make this a good truck worth traveling to find.

Marc and his team catered our wedding on the 19th November 2016. Right from the get go Marc was…read morefantastic to deal with. He kept in contact up until the wedding (what every bride needs!) and with the last minute charges we had to the day (due to the weather, adding additional meals, start time etc) he was more than happy to accommodate our needs. I can not recommend Mama Tahina enough!! Marc made my day carefree when it came to our catering and everyone raved about how good the food was! HUGE thank you to Marc and the team at Mama Tahina, you guys are simply amazing!!

We opted to drop by Hahei in search of food after relaxing at the nearby Hot Water Beach. Some…read morebusiness that advertised gourmet eats was locking up for the night and we were thinking we might be going to bed hungry. A nice chap rolled down the car window and told us to drive down the street in Hahei to the Hahei Holiday Resort (camp ground). We followed his advice and discovered the Serial Griller who was taking orders for delicious burgers. I found the Mickey to my liking while my wife ordered the Mallory (because it contained maple bacon jam). If this business was sitting anywhere on the beach you would have to stand in line for an hour to place your order. I am not sure why they are hidden away in a campground but it is the best kept secret in Hahei.

The rolling pin is a nice find in Winnard quarter. We had a nice condo there and needed some lunch…read more It was just a few blocks away and I short order we had a good set of dumplings. It's not a traditional Chinese place and it's been updated with fusion sensibilities. For instance one dish has veggies on top of the dumplings. Never seen it before but it was good. It's got a few seats and is mainly for take out. Overall a nice choice in Wynard .

So popular and hot, your timing will determine your wait. The beef dumplings sounded more delicious…read morethan they were, but the toppings made the fantastic. The dumplings come topped with a spicy crunch, fresh, salad that could make cardboard delectable! Worthy lunch

Tony's Takeaways is your classic Chinese takeaway store. I went there for the first time last week…read moreand, as always, decided to test them by purchasing a spring roll. Spring rolls are the ultimate way to determine if a takeaway store is worth returning to, so naturally I had to get one at Tony's. And I admit, I was a little disappointed. Much to my surprise, the spring roll tasted like cinnamon. I couldn't really figure it out. It wasn't terrible as such, just unexpected.... That being said, the fried rice was brilliant. It wasn't oily and didn't make you feel guilty for eating most of the container - which I did. The portions were good and prices were what you'd expect - about $10 for fried rice. Tony's chips were also pretty good - crisp and crunchy; just the way I like them, and with a good amount of salt too. There's nothing worse than not enough salt on your hot chips, so while their spring rolls were a bit strange, you can rely on Tony's to supply good fried rice, sausages and chips. Bonus: Tony himself is pretty cool. He was very smiley and chatty and made the wait for the food fly by

My favourite takeaway place yet, can't recommend it enough…read more The wontons are definitely my favourite thing on the menu.