Surprisingly good. First time trying Filipino food and it's impressive. Ordered two tapas curry and…read moreeggplant, each tastes unique and refreshing, ordered rice to go with the curry, a special aroma in the rice so I finished everything couldn't any bits in the plate. Have no space for dessert will try next time as it sounds interesting from the menu. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to try the unique Asian taste and fusion. Added as one of my favourite spot.

I wanted to try Nanam with my Filipino friend so I could experience "real" Filipino food outside of…read morehis kitchen. In the past, he had only been able to name places NOT to try when I asked for Filipino restaurants. In the state of my delusional hunger, I found myself amused at the red "baos" that looked like fat cartoon tongues. These were the tacopao that you can fill with their sticky pulled pork, pickles, peanuts and the beautiful pork chicarron - crunchy fried pork rinds. I found out later that they're red because of the beetroot. These were part of the AYO (assemble your own) dishes and definitely a stand out dish. The pulled pork was saturated with sauce and the baos were soft and bouncy. And the pork chicarron- ohh the pork chicarron - can I please take home a jar of these to scatter on top of my less than average meals? I could easily polish off three of these tacopaos on my own. Another AYO dish is the spiced chicken hearts or Sisig. Don't wrinkle your nose yet. I've been tricked into eating chicken hearts before and while I was enraged, I have to say, just get over it - be opened-minded and try new things! Mixed with egg, liver pate and garnished with more of the pork chicarron, it's a rich offering but it was beautifully balanced with the chestnut and spring onion salsa, and fresh lettuce leaves. Another highlight was the beef bistek which was skirt steak which was served with salsa verde, charred shallots, and sorrel butter. It was so heart-warming and cooked to medium rare by default. I found that every dish was generous with the sauce and the meat was beautiful and moist. Now onto the dessert - we had a pleasure of ordering "everything on the menu" which were Halo halo, Turon (crispy caramelised banana parfait) and sweetcorn ice cream. Honestly, order everything - it does not break the bank and every dessert is unique and moreish. The vibe of Nanam is casual, somewhere to have fun with your friends. With paint splattered distressed walls, it's a real turnaround from what used to be the fine-dining restaurant, Coco. Nanam is much more neighbourhood friendly, being just opposite from Ollie's the ice cream parlour and not just exclusive to Royal Oak $$$ house owners. I'd recommend going with a group so you can order more shared plates to try. They don't take bookings for less than 6 though so you'd really have to try your luck if you're going on a Friday or Saturday night. We found it surprisingly affordable, given the huge spread of plates and drinks we had over the whole night - it only amounted to around $30pp. I would gladly go back, and given the consistent standard of food we had that night - I wouldn't hesitate to try other dishes on the menu too.

Before our trip to Auckland, I had wondered if there was a Filipino restaurant near our hotel. So…read moreas usual, I looked up "Ube" and found that Boracay Garden was less than a 10-min walk from our hotel. But most importantly, they had my favorite eggplant omelette, tortang talong (eggplant). We had decided that we would brunch there on our first leisurely/discover day. Because the restaurant opened at 11 am, we were finally able to sleep in and took our time getting ready. However. The weather was looking pretty wretched out there, not much people walking around for the time of day. Luckily, we had our raincoats and finally putting it to good use. First, make sure you have good shoes with good grip as mine had poor grip and so it took us a bit longer to get to the restaurant. When we walked in, we notice the size of the restaurant. Large seating area up front an even more tables in the back. We were the first and only patrons that morning. Because there was no one at the hostess podium, we walked up to the register that was across the kitchen where the cook, probably the owner, called out to his hostess that we were here. Sweet girl that sat us and found out later that she's from the same province as my parents. When we ordered, the very item we came for, the eggplant omelette, was out of stock. However, the delivery man came in about 5-mins later and let us know the eggplants were available and we ordered the large omelette. Although our breakfast was really good, which you really can't go wrong with tocino and fish, the eggplant omelette did not disappoint. For me this is comfort food and so much needed on a rainy day. The eggplant was grilled and perfectly charred and crispy on the edges just like how mom made it. And why is this important, because not many restaurants cook it like this. Honestly, I didn't expect it but Boracay Garden exceeded my expectations. If ever I get a chance to return to Auckland, this will be a must on my list.

Filipino food and service are great. Location is perfect, right at the port of Auckland. Prices on…read morethe menu are fair. Arrived at Auckland January 26, unfortunately Boracay Garden was closed on that day. We went the next for dinner after our tour of Hobbiton and Waitomo cave. Thank you.

*American reviewer* there's a pinoy spot in Hamilton! the ambiance is quite familiar to walk into:…read moreABS-CBN on the big screen TV, turo turo in the corner, a table of assorted condiments on the side, and familiar sizzle of oil-upon-protein beckoning an order of fried deliciousness from the patronage. I ordered the lumpiang shanghai and sinigang na baboy (pork). the lumpia was crisp and fresh, served with just the right amount of sweet chili sauce. the sinigang was not as sour as I am used to; perhaps cooked for the kiwi palate, but leaving this filipino american desiring more pucker. it was chock full of tender meat and crisp veg, which made up for the more mild acidity. no credit, being cash.

This place was unbelievably good. I wish they were in Los Angeles we would eat there all the time…read more The food was phenomenal, the service was attentive and friendly, and the desserts were beautiful and delicious. 10/10 favorite place we ate in all of New Zealand.

It took 2 years to finally get here after hearing rave reports about it. I went for the ribs which…read morewere deliciously done. And lots of them. Desert was presented in a prepared glass cup. Novel and you can see what your getting. Which btw where wolfed down. Food is great, service was really good as well. Smiley attentive staff. I did walk away from the restaurant feeling like a wider wine selection is needed. I rolled away feeling very satisfied. Recommended.

Food was pretty good here but prices a little steep for what you get. We're from Hawaii, where…read moreAsian based food is the norm so our standards are high. I really enjoyed the salads/sides that came on each plate. It was nice to have some freshness with each bite. I really liked the Thai beef salad. We had been eating pretty heavy, so this was nice to have something with bright and light flavors. My Mom thought the duck had a mushy texture. Located around the corner from Giapo so good location to get dinner and dessert. Miann is also across the street but unfortunately I didn't get to try it.

Since its opening in 2015, Lucky Buddha still remains one of my favourite eateries in Auckland. It…read moreis situated on Fort Street, which is fast becoming a foodie mecca, with the likes of Ima Cuisine, Miann and Beirut and around the corner, my favourite ice creamery, Giapo. The first time I dined at Lucky Buddha, I didn't quite know what to expect, but after learning that the owners are Korean, the head chef is Filipino and that they are serving Asian fusion cuisine (namely Japanese, Korean, Thai and Filipino), I was really excited. I have since dined at Lucky Buddha four times, and each time has been a very memorable foodie experience. The food is fresh and flavourful, and the cocktail list and service is excellent. Below, I list my favourite dishes and drinks at Lucky Buddha. For food, I recommend the following: * Sriracha Pork Steamed Buns filled with tender pulled pork, fresh herbs and a cracker spicy peanut sauce. This is my favourite entree on the menu as it has that melt in your mouth wow factor. The bao comes in a pair, so I recommend sharing it with another dining companion, so you can share a few other entrees! * Wakame Salad with Cured Salmon served with creamy avocado, crispy nori, foam and puffed rice. This dish incorporates two of my favourite foods - salmon and avocado, so I knew it would be a winner. The puffed rice and crispy nori gives the dish great texture. * Soba Noodle Salad with Avocado and Teriyaki Chicken - this is the perfect lunch dish! It is another great combination (soba noodles, avocado and teriyaki chicken), is extremely filing (carb + protein x2) and will keep you going for the rest of the afternoon. My favourite part of this dish is the fried crunchy soba noodles on top! * Bibimbap with Korean mixed rice, seasonal vegetables, soy beef and gochujang. Bibimbap is a classic Korean dish and also one of my favourite meals, so I was super excited to try Lucky Buddha's version. I tried this dish only a few weeks' ago, and it is now my new favourite! I loved the presentation, with the brightly coloured veg, flavoursome beef and semi-raw egg. The fun part of Bibimbap is that you get to mix all the ingredients together! Just one sad note - no kimchi. For drinks, I highly recommend trying one of their cocktails. Their cocktail list changes frequently, some of which are only on the menu according to the season. I have so far enjoyed the Dark Stormy Asian cocktail with Mount Gay XO rum, ginger, herb bitters and citrus (a highlight the first time I dined at Lucky Buddha) and the Heavens Surprise cocktail with Herradura Plata tequila, watermelon, mint and elderflower - I just HAD to order this cocktail as it incorporated my favourite food and my favourite spirit! It was refreshing and delicious. Lucky Buddha also has a small wine and sake list and a range of Asian beers on offer, including a beer of the same name. For a non-alcoholic option, try one of their iced teas or house made sodas. If the above is not enough to tempt you, then another reason why you should dine at Lucky Buddha is because of their excellent service. Each time I have visited, staff are friendly and efficient, water glasses are always topped up and you don't have to wait long for your food. Overall, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lucky Buddha. Thinking about it now, it definitely makes my top five list in Auckland, for its Asian Fusion menu (featuring Japanese, Thai, Filipino and Korean classics), refreshing cocktails and consistently good service. I highly recommend dining at Lucky Buddha the next time you're out!

My friends and I were craving Filipino food while visiting Auckland & found nanam- a family owned…read morebusiness! It was my friends bday and he found this place for us- we didn't know what to expect, however we left with such a beautiful experience. The food, service & ambience were all a 10/10! We ordered the sharing feast which is about $75 per person. It was just the three of us so they were able to customize the menu to our needs. We were able to swap the fish for chicken. My favorite dishes were the wagyu sausage "longganisa" , lamb "adobo" croquettes, crispy pork hock "pata" and krispy kumara (not pictured).

Visiting from the states and this was by far our favorite place. The staff was quick and courteous…read moreand the setting is beautiful. We enjoyed a little bit of everything with the pre-show tapas and kraut salad.

We visited Birkenhead to eat somewhere different and found the sign for 3 Kings and the menu…read moreoffered much choice. The wait staff are the Filipino owners and very friendly and welcoming. We ordered drinks, entrees and mains, and food was timely and accurate. Entrees we had the shanghai spring rolls which were obviously hand made and very tasty, although expensive at $15. We also had the pork belly and tofu in vinegar entree which was well flavoursome and balanced. We chose two vegetarian mains and both were unique, tasty, and although fairly small dishes they were enjoyable. The entrees and mains are more like Asian style sharing plates. Would suggest getting 3 per person for a hungry dinner guests.