The food comes hot and quickly, it’s fast food of the right kind, and you can tell it’s a winning formula by the number of people grabbing something good to go. The nearby businesses along Ti Rakau Drive are clearly relishing having a few more lunchtime options. And you’ll see plenty of local Chinese people there.
– and not intimidating if you want to bolt a bento box alone. If you want something more formal, Paragon, at the end of the hall, is a sit-down dining room with an excellent range of all things wonderful and Chinese. The Five Blessing cold platter is among the more intriguing options, while the steamed chestnut duck and range of Chinese soups ensure they have the popular bases covered. Chinatown • 262 Ti Rakau Drive, East Tamaki 09 273 8877
Ambience-wise, it’s nothing fancy. The focus here is the food, rather than the surroundings, although the Chinese pop music adds colour to the occasion, and a sprinkling of Chinese ornaments do the same to the surrounds.
Tuck in
SuPEr CATEgOry SPrEAdS TEmPlATE Editorial
tradesmen devouring a Thai curry in record time before heading back on the road, or students enjoying some tempura vegetables. Stir-fried, pan-fried or slowly infused with flavour, the styles of cooking mean you can sample lots of flavours in one sitting.
As well as an incredible selection of specialist Chinese food outlets, there is also Malaysian, Taiwanese, Thai and Japanese. The Chinese outlets themselves provide a huge variety of flavours, aromas and textures, with Chinese-style BBQ offerings, a noodle specialist, a small space devoted to spicy soup, chicken, fish, meat, tofu and beef. No style, taste or texture remains unturned. Virtually every possible Asian food preference is catered for. When there’s everything from green jelly soup to pad Thai, dumplings, and sushi, you’re likely to find something you’ll like, and it encourages return visits. No matter what you choose this time, there’ll be a dozen other dishes tempting you to return. Overall, this is a well-priced option that covers a range of offerings, whether you’re stopping for a snack, needing a full-on lunch or you’re after a leisurely tasting. It’s great for groups on a budget – most dishes are under $10 and nothing much over $15
Nicole Lee of KL Kitchen 55