One of the joys of being part of Chow Luck Club is discovering new spots and sharing these gems with fellow food lovers. This week, our community of ChowLuckies uncovered everything from artful patisserie creations in Ponsonby to nostalgic offal dishes on Dominion Road. Here are some of the highlights:
T_art Patisserie, Ponsonby
295 Ponsonby Road, opposite BNZ Bank Business Hours: Tue–Sun 8am–5pm
Yenny stumbled across this brand-new artistic patisserie and was delighted to be the first customer of the day. Owner Zino Kim explained that the underscore in T_art represents both tart and art, symbolising tradition, technique, and beauty. Think elegant tarts that are lighter on the sugar but heavy on craftsmanship . Pastries that truly look (and taste) like works of art.
Taier Sichuan Cuisine (太二酸菜鱼), Auckland CBD
Shop A/33 Lorne Street, Auckland Central
The legendary Taier Sichuan Cuisine has finally landed in New Zealand, bringing its signature Sauerkraut Fish (Suan Cai Yu) to Auckland. With over 600 branches worldwide, Taier is famous for its fiery Sichuan flavours and long queues. Carlos warns: get there before 6:30pm or risk missing out!
Fushun Food, Northcote
Upstairs, Food City food court, 6 Kilham Avenue Business Hours: Tue–Sun 11:30am–7:30pm; Closed on Mondays
Lincoln found what may be the best value meal in Auckland: braised chicken rice for just $6.99, complete with free soup and pickles. Other classics like roast chicken or braised pork tripe bowls hover around $9–$10. Fu Shun proves cheap eats can still deliver serious satisfaction.
Mr. Bo Restaurant, Dominion Road
971 Dominion Road, Mount Roskill Business Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 11am–3pm & 5–9:30pm; Thu, Sat, Sun 11am–9:30pm; Closed on Tuesdays
Charles and Janet dined on roasted pork chin with salted fish and: roasted pig intestines. While not for everyone, ChowLuckies who enjoy offal will find Mr. Bo a rare gem. Properly cooked intestines - crispy outside, tender inside are a delicacy worth braving for the adventurous palate.
Hei’s Kitchen Studio, Panmure
145 Queens Road, Panmure Business Hours: Tue–Wed 12–6pm; Thu–Fri 11am–6pm; Sat 11am–5pm; Closed on Sundays & Mondays
Ngok discovered this small Filipino spot serving cakes by the slice. The pandan crème brûlée and ube cakes were standouts - not too sweet, light, and full of flavour. While the brûlée lacked its signature crunch (blame the takeaway), the flavours still hit the spot. With pies and more cakes on offer, Hei’s Kitchen is one for ChowLuckies with a sweet tooth.
