Very busy on this Thursday night! We were asked if we had a reservation (no) but were seated…read more Shortly after we sat, 6 additional tables came in (several with reservations). Several times, even though there were a few tables open, arriving patrons, turned around and left (not sure what they were told). Anyway, with so many tables arriving at once we figured get comfy and be patient! After 20 minutes or so the waitress came over and took our orders - It was very loud & she had to ask/ repeat several times but very nice etc. The food started to arrive about 25 minutes after ordering, one dish at a time. By the time the last dish arrived the 1st person who had received their food first was close to being done (& eating slowly due to waiting). There were other tables that arrived after us that food was delivered (looked like partial orders at first as well) so obviously either shorthanded or inexperienced in the kitchen or maybe short supplies/food etc. So.. the great news is the food was/is delicious!! Really good actually. Our group had ordered 3 Pad Thai...all three delicious but by the time the 3rd arrived, no side veggies etc. Regardless, still delicious... just obviously in the weeds and trying to get through the night!

We made our first trip to PokPok, a newish Thai restaurant on K Rd on a rainy Friday night after…read morework. We'd heard good things. Despite being fairly empty when we arrived we were asked if we had a reservation. We didn't but we got the last table it seems as they were actually booked out for later as a steady stream of people following us sadly found out. The staff were very friendly and attentive and drinks were ordered from the well priced wine list. Eight bucks for a piccolo of Lindauer Brut ain't bad! Yes I drink Lindauer Brut - it's won awards. We chose from the quaintly mis-spelled selections on a fairly brief but impressive looking menu. To start was a tasty chicken satay and deep fried tender pork belly. Both were great. I don't ever recall seeing slow cooked brisket in a curry before so we ordered it and it was superb! In fact it was a go back for. The brisket was meltingly tender and served in a fragrant light green curry. Ryan had sides of rice and roti but being Paleo I happily tucked in to the dish as it was, the curry sauce serving as a welcome soup in my bowl. We complimented the dish with wok fried Asian greens; tasty and perfectly cooked. As we were finishing the place was filling up. Lots of groups and booked in and it's easy to see why. We'll be back with our own group... best we book it seems.

Pretty much just like the other xi'an food bar in the city both good quality and price wise. But I…read moregot to admit that I thought the chinese burger here tastes better than the one I had in city. Also we had the gluten salad and xian style lamb soup with vermicelli. Both up to good standard.

Exactly the same menu as the one in town - which is not a bad thing Spicy, oily, porky goodness.read more

This place has one of the very best hot food sections that I have ever come across at sushi shops…read more They have warm rice balls and spring rolls and my most favourite, battered fish on a stick covered with a sweet Japanese sauce...yum! This place is a like a candy shop for me, all the different types of sushi all displayed exquisitely. You really shouldn't come here if you are looking for atmosphere however because it is part of a food court. If you want delicious sushi that is consistently good however you really can't go past Umiya. Price wise it is very similar to other pick your own sushi places, around $1 each for the plain sushi and it can get up to $3 for the exotic items i.e. the hot food. This has got to be one of Royal Oaks best kept secrets if you aren't a local, and it is absolutely the only reason I would ever go in to that awful awful mall.

I love the selection of hot food they have available however there sushi isn't as good.read more

I drive past this place a couple of times a day so thought I should check it out. I just got sushi…read moreto takeaway, so can't comment on the meals, but was underwhelmed by the sushi. It didn't taste hugely fresh, was a bit bland, and (my pet hate) came pre-boxed so you couldn't control how many pieces you wanted, or the types. Definitely wouldn't go back for sushi, but would perhaps check it out for a main meal. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if you want sushi in Henderson, go to the sushi place in the mall foodcourt.

I love this place! I get sushi here at least once a week and have also eaten in and had the meals…read moretoo. Really good value in the lunch boxes. Always fresh and tasty food and lot's to choose from. Best sushi in Henderson!

Apart from a few go-to restaurants which have been here since I moved to Auckland 20 years ago, the…read moreBirkenhead dining scene really doesn't have much to boast about. Prices aren't extravagant, but neither is the food. Walking along Birkenhead Avenue, Mulan stood out as something that would otherwise have belonged in the hip and upcoming Mt Albert scene with Chinoiserie, Kiss Kiss and L'Oeuf. Casually embellished with thick knotted ropes around the entrance and on the ceiling of the dining area, the setting is thoughtfully simple. Without calling on famous interior designers, it was enough to elevate the dining experience up a step. I came for a late long lunch with a particular craving for Thai food. Thai and Vietnamese cuisine are always high on my favourites. Maybe not so much for coriander haters (who apparently blame it on genetics for this inexcusable pickiness). As a first step to tame the insatiable hunger, we had the Mama's special of steamed buns with sticky pork. Two really weren't enough between two people! The bun was thinner than I wanted but it was bouncy and the flavours were saturated into the meat. As recommended by another foodie I ordered Golden Shield - sweet and spicy squid, flash fried with chili jam and kaffir lime. If you love strong flavours, it is a must order! The combination of sweet, spicy and sour was punchy and appetising. Along with the chicken jungle curry, we easily demolished two bowls of coconut rice with the spicy kick. If you are a spice wimp like me, I recommend staying firm on ordering "mild". As a local, I'd love to go back. It's my type of hangout: casual with tasty food. Thumbs up!

This place is superb! I highly recommend the steamed buns and the signature dish, Penang Curry…read moreKapitan. It's also BYO so we carried in our own wine. Good times - will definitely go back.

I haven't had Northern Chinese food in so long! Xi'an Food Bar looked legit; I didn't realize they…read morehave 6 locations around Auckland so we checked out the closest one to us in Panmure. We dropped in on a holiday Monday evening (around 7:30pm). This place is a hole in the wall. The ladies working here only speak Mandarin (very minimal English) which just makes it that much more authentic. The menu is split into Chinese burgers, noodle soup, dry noodle, Sinkiang style stretch noodle, salad (more like appetizer/cold meats), dumplings/wontons and other. The lady even brought us their iPad that had photos of all their food items. I wanted their cold noodles (#10) but it was all sold out. - Cumin lamb burger (#8) ($5.00 NZD) - probably one of the best Chinese burgers I've had. Fresh, hot, crispy and the lamb was perfectly seasoned. - Hand-pulled noodles with Xi'an style braised pork (#38) ($12.50 NZD large) - this is one of their most popular dishes. The noodles were fantastically toothsome. So addictively good. Braised pork was tender but a bit salty at the end/bottom of the bowl. It also came with some cabbage and cilantro. - Hand-pulled noodles with pickled tuber mustard and pork (#30) ($11.50 NZD large) - this came in a soup format. The pickled mustard was a nice contrast to the other dishes. Broth was healthy and tasted clean if that makes sense. - Pork and chive dumpling in sour soup (#103) ($11.50 NZD for 20 pieces) - the dumplings were delicious. Generous filling. Soup had just the right amount of sweet and sour. Excellent first dinner in Auckland! Hope they don't run out of cold noodles next time.

An unassuming hole in the wall that serves fantastic hand pulled noodles. The beef was tender and…read morefatty, the noodles were freshly made and had the perfect chew, and the broth was savory and spicy. I will definitely be coming back for repeat visits.

Umi Sushi In Takapuna has to be the best one stop sushi takeaway store. There choices of sushi are…read moreirresistible you wont know where to stop once you hold the tongs. Neat presentation, amazingly clean store, great beverage choices, kind and pleasing service, its all really well done. The usual sushi faves such as Teriyakki Chicken, Salmon and Avocado, and Katsu style sushi's are excellent. Make sure you try a few of the deep fried seafood tempura's. Delicious!

For the buzzing metropolis that Takapuna claims to be, it took them awhile to get a really quality…read moresushi place. There has been one in the mall for a long time but it is pre-packaged stuff and I prefer to pick my own. Umi Sushi, therefore, was a pretty exciting addition. I had had Umi sushi in town and always loved it, this Takapuna store is no different. There is plenty of choice. From nigiri to the classics, to some unique flavours. There is also I hot section, with deep fried morsels, spring rolls and much more. One thing I love about Umi are the cute little descriptions they have all over the place, even on the tongs. Very Japanese, very cool. Service is always super cheerful and no matter how busy it is, the queue moves swiftly and they constantly restock. Yum

This is a really good Sichuan restaurant, I love that you have the option of ordering individual…read moremeals or ordering to share, and the food is really good. Sichuan cuisine but not too spicy to eat! This restaurant also has a very comfortable family atmosphere and was welcoming and accessible to my pākehā family as the menu is also written in English and all the staff speak English well. Very nice. I will be back.