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    Try It Out Restaurant

    3.7 (17 reviews)
    InexpensiveVietnamese, Soup
    Closed 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Try It Out Restaurant Photos

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    Arthur C.

    BEST Vietnamese I have found in Auckland City. Super authentic, and the only place I know of that currently serves Banh Mi, Vietnamese Sub. (Other places have sold it for a limited time, probably due to lack of popularity in Auckland.) Their pho (noodles) are amazing and the soup/broth is perfect. Their lemongrass chicken, pork are pretty on point too! They also serve a bunch of traditional Vietnamese drinks/desserts, I recommend the Traffic light or Grass Jelly with Coconut. Service is average and the interior decor is nothing flash. But this place has turned into a regular almost weekly eat out for me.

    Squid in garlic sauce
    Alex D.

    If I'm to be honest, I left Try It Out a little underwhelmed. Perhaps I had unrealistically high expectations, but I found the flavour, whilst pleasant, to be a bit lackluster. The punchy, vibrant, fresh flavours that we have come to associate with Vietnamese food were drowned out by excess grease and lack of finesse. We started with the deep fried spring rolls ($5 for two). They were okay but too greasy and filling was bland. Next we shared their rare beef pho ($11.50), which came with the usual bean sprouts and lime but no fresh herbs. The broth was tasty but lacked depth of flavour. The highlight was the thinly sliced beef, which as promised, was served rare.v Next was the squid in garlic sauce served big slices of vegetables (courgettes, capsicum and onion) lightly sauteed. The sauce was a little oily but still very good - slightly sweet & sour with a bit of heat. As others mentioned the décor leaves a lot to be desired, but this is to be expected in a restaurant where you pay so little for so much, and whilst the décor was minimalistic, it was clean and tidy. As for the service, the man who looked after us was delightful! Fast, friendly and efficient. He even came over to check how our meals were going - a rarity in cheap and cheerful establishments like this one. If I was in the area, I would most definitely come back but would I make a special trip south just to go....probably not.

    Tanya Q.

    So when your halfway through your Zumba class at the brand spanking new Otahuhu leisure centre and your friend says to you " Fancy going to Try it Out ?" What do you do ? Well you don't do what I did and wait patiently for the class to finish , you get there now ! And quite the busy little place it was , we were seated quickly and orders taken just as fast (although we did have to wave down the server ). The menu is extensive and if your not overly familiar with Vietnamese food you might stall a bit . We went for the fried spring rolls (2) , chicken cashew , sweet and sour prawns, a jackfruit milkshake and also a coconut milkshake. All were delicious and a good sized serving , with the Chicken cashew being my fave - crisp cooked veges and chicken in a rich gravy with lots of cashews on top . If your after cheap and cheerful then this place is most definitely your bag , if your after a dining experience then keep driving to the city . And leave this place for me !

    Pho with raw beef and bo vien (beef balls)
    C'est M.

    Food is average, but probably the best authentic Vietnamese in Auckland. NZ Vietnamese restaurants just don't compare to the ones in OZ or the US due to the small Vietnamese population. Try It Out has an in-depth menu with typical South Vietnamese offerings. Staff is nice. Restaurant always seems busy and filled with Vietnamese speaking diners. The pho and more popular rice vermicelli and broken rice dishes are consistently pleasing. The steamed pork was disappointingly bland. Atmosphere is casual -- good for eating solo, large parties, eating out with children, etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Addendum (17 Dec 2013): Cafe Viet in Grey Lynn now my top choice for authentic Vietnamese ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Addendum (5 Jan 2014): FOOD Pho: broth clean, light, and tasty. proportion of noodles to broth slightly off where noodles quickly absorbed broth and took over bowl. bean sprouts were not fresh..brownish and water logged. Rice vermicelli combo: very good Rice vermicelli lemongrass pork chops: very good SERVICE: lunchtime rush. service average. no napkins or condiments on table. easier to get utensils yourself from table in middle of dining area. not a big deal. did notice that restaurant seemed dirtier than what we remembered....carpet was filthy and flies were buzzing throughout the eating area. yuck! it was a wet and muggy day, so hope it was a one-off experience.

    Spicy Beef Vermicelli
    Daniel G.

    A solid but unexciting Vietnamese restaurant. We had two vermicelli dishes, the Spicy Beef and the Lemongrass Chicken, for $25.50. The latter was the better of the two, pretty authentic too. The beef was quite fatty. Both portions were big though. They lacked a solid vegetarian option besides fried rice. Service was polite, speed decent and relatively clean. It seemed pretty popular as well.

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    3 years ago

    Nice food , good place very happy when my family has dinner in this Restaurant my favorite restaurant in town

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    Try It Out Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Try It Out Restaurant

    Between the 3 of us we had a jackfruit milkshake, fresh lime & soda & a coconut milkshake.

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    Olaf's Artisan Bakery and Cafe - Rustic beautiful.

    Olaf's Artisan Bakery and Cafe

    3.3(24 reviews)
    9.8 kmMt Eden
    $$

    I've been contemplating giving it a 5 star review. You see, when I love the particular food I had…read morethat day I seem to ignore everything else, then a few more visits later my enthusiasm subsides and I found myself often disappointed. So for some of my past reviews I've even considered to deduct stars off. Now that is not to say I didn't enjoy my meal here, I've loved the food every single time, it's just that there are a few bits and pieces that made me reluctant to give a full 5 stars. I've always enjoyed their sandwiches. While they come in quite on the expensive side, I find them worth the price. My French toast this morning was $19.50 (or $19), probably not for the faint of heart. The raspberry/custard was gorgeous, which to me more than justifies the price, it is winter after all. Here's why there's no five stars. First off, please please please get your cutleries sorted!!! I think I can cut my French toast better if I used the handle of the knife. The first knife I got was super obviously bent at the tip, about 45 degrees bent! Service, just as others pointed out, needs some quality control. I can try to justify your price as much as I can but dining in just isn't that great, and while your food is great, everything else is, well, meh. So on the basis of "I value good food more than anything", it's a 4 stars UPDATE: Service has improved since my last visit. It was a busy lunch but we still got taken care of :)

    For a Gluten Free Gal such as myself it's a strange kind of torture as you smell the bread baking…read moreknowing you'll never have so much as a kibble. But I keep a tight rein on the will to live enjoying the homemade hot chocolate. They don't have a lot in the huge range of goodie for my tummy but the bunt cake with raspberries and the chocolate and beetroot cake are rather delightful. I here the coffee is great too. Not cheap but great quality and I know what I prefer.

    Photos
    Olaf's Artisan Bakery and Cafe - Spaghetti Carbonara & Milanese pizza

    Spaghetti Carbonara & Milanese pizza

    Olaf's Artisan Bakery and Cafe - Raspberry tart

    Raspberry tart

    Olaf's Artisan Bakery and Cafe - Cute Sourdough roll. Smells so good.

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    Cute Sourdough roll. Smells so good.

    District 5 - Banh mi

    District 5

    4.3(7 reviews)
    12.5 kmViaduct, Auckland CBD
    $

    Best Bahn Mi in town!!! One of the things I took away while travelling around Vietnam is... you…read morecannot get past a good Bahn Mi and District 5 have brought the essence of Bahn Mi to New Zealand - i cannot stop raving about this place hahaha! My favorite would have to be the lemon grass chicken Bahn Mi - it's so delicious, also add a bit of chili if you are feeling adventurous!

    FINALLLY the Vietnamese trend has hit Auckland! It's easily my favourite South-East Asian cuisine…read more(followed closely by Malaysian, in case you were wondering) because it's fresh, flavoursome and 9 times out of 10 relatively cheap. District 5 is the newest kid on the block and has opened in that strange space next to the Vero building. It was coffee shop for a while and then was unoccupied for ages, which was strange cos it's prize real estate. Anyway, they've done a great job of making the small street-side space somewhat private, with a large blue concrete wall blocking out passers-by. Inside the kitchen is in a box that resembles a building site container and there's a small courtyard with seating for those who want to eat in. Menu-wise, they've kept things simple - choose between rice paper rolls, pho or a rice noodle salad (each with different protein options). I ordered a rice noodle salad with their lemongrass chicken. The place was packed but my food was ready to go within 10 minutes. I'll admit, I had a few errands to run before I sat down and ate but the salad was still delicious. The dressing was fresh and zingy - just the right amount of chilli - and they didn't skimp on the chicken. I could've done with more fresh herbs and the carrot and lettuce was shredded rather recklessly. Still, for an on-the-go lunch options, AWESOME! Welcome to the block District 5!

    Photos
    District 5 - Lemongrass chicken noodle salad - soooooo good!!!

    Lemongrass chicken noodle salad - soooooo good!!!

    District 5 - Colourful as.

    Colourful as.

    District 5 - Mix noodles and beef pho at the back

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    Mix noodles and beef pho at the back

    Mimosa

    Mimosa

    3.8(6 reviews)
    18.0 kmTakapuna
    $$

    This is one of those spots that I walk past on a regular basis but have never ventured inside…read more Well, today I finally did and was immediately annoyed that I hadn't done so earlier. It's a gem on what is an otherwise average block. The decor is hipster cool, mismatched and full of quirky touches, like an old toy dump truck carrying a leafy shrub in it's tray or the low hanging wire caged lights. They also have a pretty cute courtyard out back, which i'm told is a recent addition. There's ample seating but best of all it's delightfully quiet - perfect for reading the morning paper. Food-wise everything is fair trade and organic and whilst I am yet to try the menu, I watched Belgium waffles smothered in creme fraiche and berry compote being delivered to a table today and they looked devine. As for their smoothies - try the organic blueberry. It's made with biofarm yoghurt, honey and organic milk. It's not overly sweet so you still feel like you are being reasonably healthy!

    Seriously impressed on every level with this cafe. Fast, super fresh whole food, and awesome…read moreservice. The almond milk coffee is the best I've tried! Raw Zoodle Pasta is to die for, and Eggs Bene was top of the list for the best around. Even the bf, who is not vegan, gf inclined or remotely interested in 'health' foods, was raving about this place. We will be back!

    Photos
    Mimosa
    Mimosa - Love these centrepieces by Chic by Chica

    Love these centrepieces by Chic by Chica

    Mimosa - Raw Zoodle Pasta

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    Raw Zoodle Pasta

    Vietnam Cafe - Really tasty foods out at Vietnam Cafe I recommend this cafe to everyone so check it out

    Vietnam Cafe

    4.5(2 reviews)
    0.1 kmOtahuhu
    $

    This restaurant has been my family's favourite for as long as I can remember. It's peculiar for a…read moreNorth Shore family to willingly travel so far for a bite to eat, but that's a reflection on how good the food is here. Heck, when I was little we saw former prime-minister David Lange eating here and my dad had a chat to him - I think that tells you everything you need to know of the awesomeness that is Vietnam Cafe. Now take everything I say with one qualifier - this place is a hole. It's in a dingy old building which looks in dire need of a clean and a paintjob. It doesn't have any discernible decor apart from a mirror on the back wall. Parking's a bit of a bitch. The toilets should be avoided at all costs. But man, all that is totally outweighed by the standard of the food which was and still is the best of any Vietnamese restaurant I've visited in Auckland. The pho is always perfectly done, the pork spare ribs are tasty, and haiananese chicken is a favourite dinner of mine. If you like good honest Vietnamese cuisine, you won't find many better than this if you can stomach the lack of decor. The presence of a Hansan in my neighbourhood as well as local night markets have meant my visits here aren't as frequent as they used to be, but when I do you know you're in for the best.

    I had just moved to Auckland from LA so this place was my first "ethnic" experience here. We did a…read moretake out of a curry, a vermicelli bun, and fresh and fried spring rolls. The food was delish, and well priced. I'm still adjusting my taste buds to Kiwi standards but I would go back to this place. Also there is a big Asian super market across the street which is a big perk.

    Photos
    Vietnam Cafe - Nice and mouth watering foods

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    Nice and mouth watering foods

    Try It Out Restaurant - vietnamese - Updated May 2026

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