Skip to content

Category Archives: Cheap and Cheerful

LAKSA HOUSE

Thursday, May 16, 2013

[Photographs: David Straight] There are times – a rainy Tuesday, say, or maybe Friday – when nothing but Malaysian hawker food will do. And when that happens, we head straight to Laksa House in the Newmarket Plaza Food Court. The environs are nothing special: it’s in a narrow covered street under the Rialto carpark affectionately known [...]

Also filed in Malaysian, Newmarket | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

TOP CAFE

Friday, February 22, 2013

[Photographs: David Straight] A couple of years ago, we reviewed what was then known as the Ti Xiang Dumpling House, in a tiny storefront on a blustery stretch of Upper Queen Street. Then, it closed for a year – much to our dismay. Now, it’s re-opened, only it calls itself Top Cafe. Nothing has changed, [...]

Also filed in Chinese | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

JIMMY THE FISH

Thursday, January 31, 2013

[Photographs: David Straight] Finally, Auckland has a seafood joint that matches the quality of our fish. But that comes as no surprise: owner Jimmy “The Fish” Gerard is something of an Auckland seafood legend. Until recently he was one of the owners of Harbourside, he buys fish for a bunch of restaurants around Auckland, and [...]

Also filed in Bistro, FIsh, Inner West | Tagged , | Comments (5)

JIALE BUN SHOP

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

[Photographs: David Straight] Sometimes, the Jiale Bun Shop is so busy there isn’t time to clear the tables. The door opens and closes constantly, and there is almost always a couple of people in front of you ordering. It is shady, and it has a steamy smell. Sometimes, there is intense discussion in Chinese. For [...]

Also filed in Chinese, North Shore | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

CAFE ABYSSINIA

Thursday, November 1, 2012

[Photographs: David Straight] At last. Mount Roskill might have become an enclave for Ethiopians in recent years, but – possibly because many arrived here as refugees – until now there’s never been a restaurant. Believe me: I’ve looked. Then, the other day, a hopeful Google search threw up Cafe Abyssinia, and I got very excited [...]

Also filed in Mt Roskill | Tagged , , , , | Comments (14)