Review Chinoiserie - Auckland Central

Allena

My new fave dinner spot. Delicious food, Asian fusion. Current obsession is the bao, satay tofu loaded fries and prawns. $7 bao on Wednesdays and 2x cocktails for $30. My go to is the lady boy.

Hannah

An absolute gem. Really loved everything we got. Food came out quickly and was well presented. Does close kinda early? We went on a Friday night which said it was open “till late” but last call for food was at 8:30pm. So make sure you don’t go too late. My only complaint is the napkins they have are really thin and flimsy which make eating juicy bao buns and sticky ribs a bit more of a challenge.

Emma Watt

A big fan of the pork bao - I got chicken this time which was still good but had some food envy seeing the pork one. Nice fries but no more Wasabi mayo which I loved. Eggplant was too sweet for me.

Thomas S

Chinoiserie is a true gastronomic gem in Auckland. With bao buns that are second to none, an extraordinary crispy cauliflower dish cooked to perfection, attentive staff, and a captivating ambience, this Asian fusion establishment is a must-visit for food enthusiasts and explorers of culinary delights. Prepare to embark on a flavor-packed journey that will leave you craving more.

DereknMaree Kahi

First visit to Chinoiserie and very impressed. South-east Asian street food styles. We ordered a selection of share plates all of which were very tasty. My fave was the popcorn chicken, crispy tofu and OG noodles. Topped it off with a yum sticky rice dessert which was delish. Lovely attentive staff and atmosphere was great. Highly recommend 👍🏻

Luka Cosic

Katie F was kind, thoughtful, and went above and beyond to make my ordering experience a joy. To top it off she noticed I went outside to my car while I was waiting, and came to bring me my food when it was done. The food here is incredible, and I'll definitely be coming back! 10/10

Odyssey L

Haven't been in Owairaka in ages but this is an absolute gem for this area! The prices were well within reach for casual eating and dining. The waitress who served us was fantastic as it was fairly busy night and we were just outside. We had a group of 8 so it was a matter of waiting. But we weren't left in the dark as she kept following up on us. The food was top grade with all the asian flavors we all crave. The snapper wings specifically was a gold special and the rest of the crew was happy with this place. Will definitely be back! Please have more specials! Keen to try out everything.

Sterling Arnet

Top spot. And dog friendly! Had a good dinner with my partner she loves the ribs to bits. Pilsner on tap and got the og noodles and eggplant and that was enough to satisfy my hunger. Will be back and don’t forget the happy hour before 6 Sterling Arnet Kakapo Business Sales

mjn205

Love the atmosphere here. Food is awesome. I recommend to try their fries with their sauce and the bao. On street parking.

Nay X

Very friendly and helpful staff! They were rushing but keeping it warm and friendly! Braised pork belly bao is to die for - crispy skin with tender and fatty meat! Pork ribs could do with less salt in my opinion. Perfect for hanging out with mates and friends...yeah and the mulled wine! Just found it at this least expected place!

Steve M

The best pork bao I've ever had - and it was only 10 bucks!!! Also the cauliflower was max delicious too. Oh and the staff are soooo bloody nice and knowledgeable about the food. If this was in London, I'd be there every week!

Celia Chan

Very cool vibe, came in on a busy time around 8 on a Saturday night. Staff sat us down at the bar table and waited about 20min for a table. Very attentative staff. Food was very delish and enjoyable, particularly loved the popcorn chicken!

Fred O

Another night out looking for dinner. Wife had been here before. My first time. I had the pork belly bao. Wife had chicken bao. Also had fries popcorn chick prawn bites book choy. Food was really good and I'd go back here no problem. We ordered way to much food it was a push to get thru what we ordered. Was a very busy place nothing flash inside service was ok but if you like this type of food then this is a must try

Aurelien Tors

this restaurant located in Mont Albert, is a rather welcoming place offering very good bao as well as innovative cocktails. Prices are not very high. Do not hesitate to go see the dragon with your own eyes !

Amynot - Spotify: 不想往前

Neat restaurant in an area with no neat restaurants! Tasty noodles. My kids chowed on these like no tomorrow. Most dishes are deep fried so just be aware if you are looking for something light instead. Calamari was yummy too. The fish and ribs are a bit salty and a bit too much sauce for my taste. Few annoying flies, maybe get a aircon installed might fix the problem so can shut the door. Service: 5/5 Presentation: 4/5 Environment: 2/5 Food Quality: 4/5 Food Quantity: 5/5 Price per person: $15-$30

NZ Jo

Stunning place. Stunning food. Fabulous prices. Fabulous portions. Our favourite place we've found this year.

Rea Roxas

Bought takeaway from this cafe and when I got home I am very shocked to see a tiny serving of the kimchi side which I paid for $4. You can see from the photo how small it is. The chicken popcorn is really good. Highly recommended. The pork ribs are a bit dry and but soft.

Honest Foodie

Service = 5/5; Taste = 5/5; Value for money = 5/5; Menu options = 4/5; Vibe = 4/5; Hubby = 4/5 Chinoiserie is one of my TOP restaurants in Auckland. You can’t beat the delicious Asian fusion food, the neon vibe, and on top of that the cheap prices. Chinoiserie’s random location (in residential Mt. Albert next to a gas station), makes it for a hidden gem. To read my full review go to honestfoodiereview.com and follow @honest_foodie_nz

Ison Teddy

Excellent! My husband and I took his parents there tonight to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary.

Jess Ramage

Amazing food and service always a great night dining here. Keep up the amazing work and showing us what food options we can enjoy

SonjaB

Was great - tasty fresh food. Highly recommended Love the squid Bao and the beans. Cucumber salad could have been a little bit bigger

Debra McIntyre

We dine at Chinoiserie last night, what a great experience,the restaurant was 95% full. We were welcomed inside by a waitress and decided to take the last outside table,our server Jason talked me 😊into their special cocktail for Valentines day a Chilled Kahlua /Bailey's & Chocolate drink it was delicious with a marshmallow on top. Takeaway orders were rolling out. We ordered a chicken bao and a coconut squid bao also the spicy pork noodles all very tasty ( no need for S & P) and freshly made, ncie to add a few drops of the large bottle of hot sauce which was on all the tables. We also experience service from 3 other waitpersons ,all I found to be friendly and professional.🤗 makinga it a welcoming evening,as soon as the sun went down ,on came the heaters and out came a stack of blankets. On leaving I found out Jason was the Manager,( you run a smooth operation) Ive been in hospitality for 35years and Jason would be an asset to any business .😀🤗🤗🤗

Sang Ook Cho

Pork baos here are amazing! Good atmosphere

Ancella Gonsalves

Really chic and an amazing vibe when you go in. We got the balls, pork belly bao and gonggong noodles to takeaway...which were all "melt in your mouth" meals! 😍 Soft and crispy savory balls rolled in a tangy sauce, juicy pork belly and tasty noodles with tossed crispy salad in tangy sauce. Omg. Just drooling having written that description. Definitely going back for seconds!

StEvo THe BEAvo

Had the Chick bao, the ribs and the alternative wheat noodle option described as a pasta fusion type deal.. it was basically bolognese with some coriander in it. Everything else was alright but that pasta really left a bad taste in my mouth. Will stick to the bao options for next time.

Will Hodge

I ordered the pork bao bun, it was dry and had no flavour, not even sauce with no flavour, no sauce, no flavour. I don't know if the chef forgot to put it on or what but it was an unpleasant meal, would not recommend.

Chan Can Eat

Love the baos here. I mean, that’s what the people come here for right?!?! We had a selection and shared as we couldn’t decide on just the one. Would highly recommend if you love a bao - great selection here

Fiona Yao

Its similar like other asian street food restaurants. Staff were very friendly, food were served fast. We ordered Pork Belly Bun, pork spare ribs and gong gong noodle. The bun and noodle were very tasty, nice while I felt the spare ribs were lack of meat and taste so so. Would come again try different ones.

Queenie LaCroix

Foods are amazing as usual and staffs are just as good as usual :) Keep it up guys !!! i would like to say a huge Thank you for the Fortune cookies from Chinoiserie when you guys heard my friend said Happy Birthday to me. It wasn’t a great birthday for me this year but The act of kindness from you guys warmed my heart. Thank you soooo sooo much!

Isaac Van Weerd

Love this place! Has the best fried chicken in Auckland! The chicken bao and popcorn chicken are so yum!!!

Sarah Tran

We order heaps of food to share among 4 people, they looked quite small portions but then we couldn’t finish them all. We love all the food that we ordered. It would be amazing to have some rice to pair down the savoury ribs. Small restaurant with Asian street food style. Nice place to catch up with just few friends ;)

Lydia McEvoy

Lovely decor and great service, affordable & filling. The baos are huge and very tasty and filling, also enjoyed the ribs and squid and bought some of their incredible gong sauce. Can’t wait to go back

Janita Fuller

This place has the best bao buns in Auckland, probably the whole of New Zealand 😍 we also always get their fries aswell which come with wasabi mayo which is such a great combination. 10/10 on everything, food, atmosphere and service

Tez

Though it was quite busy and it took a while for our food to come. The place has a cool atmosphere, affordable and with good portions. Ordered the ribs, pork belly bao and the squid. Definitely will come back to try some more. However, we sat a table away from the toilet and saw the sink everytime the door opened. It would be nice if there was like a barrier or divider around there to block that view.

Gourmet Vegetarians

This funky little Chinese-fusion restaurant in Mt Albert has long been on my list, especially now they’ve made the menu a lot more vegetarian-friendly. The draw of 2+2 drinks with @zomatogold also helped as an incentive to check this place out. They’ve also opened up another restaurant in Manakau for those located out that way!⁣ ⁣ 𝐓𝐨𝐟𝐮 𝐁𝐚𝐨- This place is known for its baos so I was curious to see how the tofu one would compare to my fav at @happyboyeatery. The bao contained pressed tofu in a satay sauce, as well as slaw, cucumber for freshness and lots of crispy shallots for crunch. The tofu had a decent flavour but wasn’t anything special. The satay sauce was flavourful but there wasn’t enough of it, which made the bao feel a bit dry. It was enjoyable but nothing outstanding. 7.5/10⁣ ⁣ 𝐆𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬- The bao may not have been outstanding but the gong gong noodles were the star of the night. The noodles were topped generously with pickled cabbage, green beans, peanuts and coriander, and instead of pork mince the vegetarian version came with tofu. It’s moment like this I question being vegetarian as the tofu was super bland and I know the pork mince would have made this dish next level. Either way, the seasame sauce that the noodles were drenched in was absolutely scrumptious. I also loved the crunch of the peanuts on top, but could have done without the green beans. Either way the flavours were amazing and it made me realize I really need to order noodles more often 9/10

Tony Shi

Chinoiserie is a great place for a quick bite to eat and when I say quick I mean QUICK. We ordered the pork bao, karaage bao, squid rings, popcorn chicken and gong gong noodles and all the dishes came without 5-10 mins. Karaage bao - the karaage was crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside but the 'karaage' flavours were hardly noticeable. Condiments paired well with the chicken Pork bao - pork was delicious. Rich and full of flavour. The fatty parts exploded with flavour. Squid rings - little bit cold but still crunchy. Sauce was fantastic. Popcorn chicken - a must try! Full of flavour and cooked to perfection. Great balance of salty, sweet and sour. Gong gong noodles - nice but nothing really special about it. Noodles cooked well, soft but still chewy. Great texture to the dish with the peanuts and beans. Service was fine and they have a range of cocktails which would be interesting to try.

Sophie Wright

Staff were friendly and welcoming! I was excited to have the baos, but ended up being very bland and tasteless for me so wouldn’t try them again. Other menu items could be different.

Hungry Teddy (20% Zomato Gold, Use : HUNG2716)

Had a couple of Bao in here and they were delicious. The karaage chicken and pork belly were great. Popcorn chicken was also yummy too. Service was okay.

Rebecca Ly

This is my partners favourite place to eat. Unfortunately I don’t have any photos because I guess it’s not a novelty for us to eat here! Everything on the menu is a hit. My favourites are the gong gong noodles, ribs, and the squid. Such good value, great service and tasty food!

Martin Camacho

First time I came here I wasn't expecting much as I was just hungry but boy did this place deliver. The ambience of the place and the good vibes from all the people there was so refreshing to see. The food came by quick, was cheap and was so amazing. I've pretty much had every item in the menu and could not fault one dish. The one nitpick comment is that one time the ribs I had were not as tender as before but that was just the one time. Absolutely a gem of a restaurant and highly recommend this to anyone!

Vicki And John Davidson

Yum! Well its not posh but it doesn't have to be. Retro old school setting, dragon overhead, low light, great honest food with flare and a very nice cocktail to follow. I had the calamari bao OMG! Hubby had the chicken and we shared the fries and pork spare ribs and waddled out the door feeling very full and happy and this was all before they became Zomato Gold.

Michele C

Garlic fish bites are awesome ! Crisp & tasty in sweet chillie assam flavour - just yum! Kaarage Chicken Bao is very good too. The menu doesn’t have a wide variety of dishes though. 4 varieties of Guo Bao (Chinese Buns) are the Main dishes on the Menu with several side dishes available.

Yinya Shi

Cute little asian fusion spot just off Mt Albert Road. Pretty central location but parking was a wee bit difficult! Food was great! Definitely recommend the Karaage Chicken, nice and crispy but still tender inside. the sauce is also super tasty along with the aioli! Gong gong noodles were nice, but got too sweet after a while, adding Sriracha was a good touch.

Linh 💛

One of the best meals i had in a long time 💗 Love Chinoiserie! Ambience: Not a big fan of the lighting but i guess that makes it different from other dining place. The floral table was also a bold choice. Overall very crowded as well Service: Friendly but not very fast, understandable because the place was packed. Food: Amazing! We had Gong Gong noodles, squid rings, pork belly bao and karaage chicken bao. My favorite has the Gong Gong noodles, super tasty. The karaage chicken bao was delicious as well. But the squid rings was extremely for the price. I wouldn’t order it again. Highly recommend the noodles though, and for that I’ll be back.

EATINGUPAKL On Instagram

Cute little restaurant and good food. Used zomato gold for the first time & it was such a simple experience, ended up saving $15. Loved the bao, I got the beef and others got the pork belly. Full of flavour and the bao bun was soft and fluffy. Popcorn chicken was probably my favourite dish of them all.

Alex Lenton

Really enjoy Chinosserie every time we go! Small but tasty menu and the ribs are insane! Really good value for money too!! Love the decor and the staff are always friendly!

SM

Chinoiserie bun’s menu constantly change which is great to try different taste buns. There’s happy hour on tap beer for $5 😊. Recommended to make bookings as the place is always packed. The 2+2 on drinks was great Join Zomato Gold and get 1+1 on food or 2+2 on drinks. Also get a 20% OFF using my referral code SUMA8564P

Alan Cao

The ribs and the bao was a bit too salty. It's was an unfortunate that this Zomato gold member can only be use before you order. Friendly reminder to all: USE the gold member code before you order food! ! ! ! Or else you will not be able to use it. (Tip from a newbies)

P Chen

Neat restaurant with cool decor. Friendly staff with great service. Reasonable price. We didn’t have to wait too long for our food. Mostly deep fried food :)

LuNa The TuNa

Pretty cool asian style deco. A huge dragon all other Chinese style embellishments. Food was good but some of them taste a bit salty for me. Food 4/5 Quantity 5/5 Price 5/5 Service 4/5 Pest control 3/5 Too much flies

Tony Ma

Neat restaurant in an area with no neat restaurants! Tasty noodles. My kids chowed on these like no tomorrow. Most dishes are deep fried so just be aware if you are looking for something light instead. Calamari was yummy too. The fish and ribs are a bit salty and a bit too much sauce for my taste. We used Zomato gold so was really worth it. Few annoying flies, maybe get a aircon installed might fix the problem so can shut the door. Service: 5/5 Presentation: 4/5 Environment: 2/5 Food Quality: 4/5 Food Quantity: 5/5 Price per person: $15-$30

CHIFAN.EATS

Yum! Cheap! Fast! What more can you ask for? All flavours are well balanced and portion size is good as well. Best Bao place I’ve been to in Auckland so far! Food 9/10 Service 8/10 Ambience 9/10 Beef Bao 9/10 So good! The rendeng flavour was not too strong yet not too weak. Just on point. Squid Bao 9/10 Had a bite of my boyfriend’s. loved it! Popcorn Chicken 8/10 Crunchy and juicy. The sauce was nice. Some pieces are over fried tho, too hard to chew and a bit dry on the inside. Gong Gong Noodle 10/10 Highlight of the meal!! I didn’t expect much as this is not a noodle place and only a few fusion places do good noodles. But this dish is so good! The sauce , the spicy peanuts, the flavourful beef mince and Vegas go so well together!

The Scarfoodie

Gathering from all the reviews I was so worried that this was gonna be a dim dark and blue seating but was pleasantly surprised with the lightly lit interior, beautiful decor and funky music! Loved the dragon which wrapped around the kitchen. Waited to be seated but was served at once. Given water and pedant service. Ordered the pork bun, ribs and coconut pudding. Pork bun For some reason I wasn’t wowed by the display but was still impressed by the size of the pork. The nap itself was very soft and pleasant to the bite, pork was flavorful, more stringy than I would have liked but tasty. A little crisp and fatty which was the best part. Best paired with their available sauces; siracha and their special gong sauce which was delish! 7/10 Ribs First to be served and the aroma was enticing wow. BUT first bite and ugh dry and the least amount of sauce served ribs ever. Some parts were crispy around the bone and that wasn’t too bad but overall not impressed. 6/10 Rice pudding Extremely creamy and the coconut toasted to the perfect amount of crispyness. Not extremely sweet, a hint of sweetness and was really yummy. Infused with coconut jelly bits within the rice, a lovely blend!! 8/10 Overall 3 stars since the mains just didn’t quite live up to expectations. The dessert definitely saved the mood though, and thank goodness for their gong sauce!

Vanessa Gao

Upon entrance you’ll be welcomed with gorgeous lighting and good vibe music. The well decorated environment sets the mood for the restaurant to be one of flair and fun. There is a wide mixture of east meets west dishes with big flavours. The portions are large with big Bao’s stuffed with filling. One of my friends ordered their curry chicken noodle and I swear it is one of the largest chicken portions we’ve ever see . Their chicken wings are also to die for. If you’re looking for a fun night filled with good food and vibes then this is the place to be.

Cheapeatobsession

Tasty and different food, can go mid week for a quick and well sized dinner. Affordable and yummy for people on a low budget. Great variety of choices of meats and sides. Ambiance is funky and bubbly with a asian fusion vibe! One of my favourite places for a quick, cheap, and easy meal! 100% recommend pork belly bun.

Ch66

This place is always full of quality customers and has a good vibe. I personally prefer a restaurant with a small menu. Would definitely go back again.

Sydney

Always busy here and for a reason... great food and service and spacious dining! Had the pork bao and chicken karage + edamame. Am obsessed with their pork baos, idk about you but the coriander goes so well with it, sometimes I ask for extra 🙊 the great taste of the food makes the price worth it, definitely a must!

Amy Ching

Amazing pork ribs and popcorn chicken. Iced tea so refreshing!!! Cozy place, and actually service is really fast as well. Also love it that pork belly melts in your mouth!!

Cheryl 🍒

Omg yum yum yum 😋 tried the matcha bao and I believe this is one of the best Asian fusion restaurants I have ever tried in Auckland 😍 would definitely recommend this to my friends.

Grace Huang

I finally tried the famous baos from Chinoiserie. Service: 7/10 When we arrived, there were only outdoor and bar seats available and since it was raining, we opted for the bar. The staff was considerate and moved us as soon as a table was available though. They were quite helpful and serviced us whenever we needed anything. The food was made super quickly and everything was served within 10 minutes. Food: 4/10 We ordered the pork bao, chicken bao, beef bao, squid rings and deep fried milk bao with sesame ice cream for dessert. The pork bao was huge, way bigger than ones from other places. The meat was a little tough but the fat was super juicy, and burst with flavour resembling Chinese roast pork belly. The bao was a little hard in the middle. The chicken bao was soaking wet on the bottom. The chicken was crispy and juicy, perfect with the crunchy slaw and sweet picked ginger. The beef bao was also wet on the bottom, it literally soaked the paper. The beef patty was a little raw in the middle and quite peppery. I loved the crunchy fried shallots. It is quite similar to a beef burger, nothing special. The squid rings were lightly battered so that they were crispy but not oily. They were a little bland so we had to drench them in sauce. The milk bao was so yum. The crunchy fried bread and wafers contrasted the creamy ice cream. The ice cream had a deep and fragrant sesame flavour. Ambiance: 6/10 The decorations were quite peculiar, I have never seen anything like it. It feels like you’re entering a new realm filled with vibrant colours. There is a large dragon that goes along the entire restaurant. The lights are upside-down umbrellas hanging off the ceiling. The lighting isn’t ideal for photography so if you want some good food pictures, you might want to sit outside. There isn’t a lot of seating considering how they don’t allow bookings. There are three options for seating: the bar, indoor tables and outdoor tables. The tables also have unique drawings and colours that are definitely eye catching. They provide a great setting for a late night meal with friends, definitely not a formal occasion. To be honest, the baos weren’t as great as I expected. They were super hyped up so I guess I expected something mind-blowing. I have been hearing that they have been going downhill though. Either way, I probably won’t be back unless it’s for the dessert.

Tet

Fancy little place, we had pork belly and chicken kaarage- the baos had an amazing mix of flavours especially the pork. Garlic fish bites had a crispy coat and tamarind sauce at the base really complemented the fish. They have wonderful staff, nice environment and really good choices of beer! It would probably be best to book as the place gets packed 6pm onwards .

Boty

It’s always a good idea to go to Chinoiserie! You have to try all the buns. The ribs are not as good as in Kiss Kiss, but the battered squid is a must.

Vivian C

We ordered the Pork Belly Bao, Karaage Chicken Bao, and the Pork Spare Ribs. The two baos were delicious and succulent, with all the right flavours and were filled to the brim with ingredients. The ribs however, were a huge letdown as they were extremely dry and difficult to chew due to the dryness. The environment and decor was really beautiful and vibrant, and staff were also very friendly and welcoming.

The Poor Foodie

Loved the vibe of this restaurant :) when I walked in and saw those interesting decorations like dragons and wall art, I was already excited to try some Asian fusion cuisine. My friend and i ordered wagyu beef bao and deep fried squid bao. I kinda wanted the gong gong noodles also but my friend doesn’t eat pork so we decided to order some sweet stuff instead so sticky rice with coconut cream. Squid bao was really tasty:)) the bao itself was really soft, contrasting with the crispy texture of the deep fried squid. The squid was nicely fried to the point that it was crispy outside and soft inside:) chilli mayo went really well with the squid and the bao was in a decent size. Definitely recommend this to everyone! Sticky rice was nice and warm and not too sweet but my friend and I just wanted a bit more coconut cream. When we ate the rice in the middle, they were quite dry without being moist by coconut cream. Remember to share this dish with friends! Me and my friend couldn’t even finish the thing because we were super full🙈 Food: 4.8/5 Service: 4.5/5 Overall: 4.8/5

Chico

My first visit of Chinoiserie was pretty good. Enjoyed my pork bao so much, soft and sweet bao bun and crispy and juicy pork with refreshing veggies. We also had calamari that was so fresh and tasty 😋 Funky atmosphere and friendly service. I definitely go back to try other dishes.

Laura Bartch

Such a cute little place kinda in the middle of nowhere, but if you’re a fan of bao and good ass ribs, worth the trip. The bao buns are pretty darn mint, super soft and thick and great generous fillings, the karaage chicken bao was great, but I feel like it’s missing a spicy or tangy sauce just to add something zingy as it’s super mellow currently, but if that’s what you’re after it’s great - super strong on the miso sesame taste. The ribs are the star here as they’re somehow so crispy and amazing and the portion is so generous, the sauce can get a bit overpowering after you eat a whole plate but I just smooshed the excess off with my finger and continued eating them, the meat and crispyness gets a full 11/10 and the sauce a 9/10 just because it gets a bit sweet after a while but still amazing. The blue dragon mocktail is also mint I’ll mention and not stupidly expensive like most mocktails, I rate highly. The fish bites were great texture and the breading or batter was also delish, they’re quite strongly fishy tasting so you have to quite like fish (I personally don’t so it’s my own fault but if I appreciated fish more I’m sure I’d be loving them) and they come with a really nice spicy oil sauce at the bottom of the bowl - something I don’t rate is the coconut dipping sauce, that is just not it - would be better replaced with a mayo of some sort, but the bites would be good enough by themselves or with the spicy oil that it’s not much of a loss. To add to it’s weird placement the interior is also super whimsicle with fun coloured lights, a big paper dragon running through the whole place and quirky interior adds to the experience and is somewhere worth trying atleast once.

SpoonMe

Come here all the time and has never let me down! Food is quick, cheap, good portions and amazing service! The portions are quite big so what I usually get for two people are two Bao’s and something to share and that’s a good amount. If I’m feeling extra hungry then I’ll get another dish to share. Recommend the Gong Gong Noodle, Chicken Bao and Pork Bao.

Persian Foodie

So we ordered the spare ribs with black bean sauce, pork belly bao buns, fries with aioli, chicken bites and a blue dragon mocktail. It seemed like everything was cooked in the same sweet sauce. I couldn't even really differentiate the pork belly filling to the spare ribs because it was super sweet! The pork belly and chicken bites were quite dry also. It's unfortunate because I was looking forward to the tasting due to the high reviews. I wouldn't go back. Fast service and nice customer service however. Ambience was lovely and hip too.

Jim Lin

Hands down one of the best baos you can get in Auckland, although not the most authentic, it is to be expected. Quick service, reasonably priced and always packed and busy. Would definitely recommend for those who have never tried.

Happie

This is one of our favourite go-to place. FOOD: Everything is delicious and reasonably priced. Our default orders are: pork belly bao (yummy and tender), chicken popcorn (I love this!), spare ribs (huge serving and the sauce is not overwhelming) and shoestring fries with yummy aioli-wasabi dip. It was my first time to try their black rice and sago for dessert — the sweet tooth me is looking for more sweetness though. And before I forget, they don’t have softdrinks in their menu. SERVICE: friendly and attentive staff. The place is packed most of the time, but the turnover is quite fast. AMBIENCE: fusion of modern and hip with traditional touches here and there. Over-all, I love this place. I’ve been frequenting the place around 2-3x a month.

Pfer464

Great little place to come after work for a light dinner and a drink. I got the chicken bao which was tasty but nothing too extraordinary. The garlic fish bites were to die for, a really great combination of flavours ! This place is great for a first date and will definitely be coming here again!

Jonnel Mamauag

Amazing food and atmosphere that I cannot get enough! Comfy, casual and the menu range is just right. Highly recommended for a casual night out or pre night out snacks!

Jenny Da

This restaurant was so cold. Absolutely freezing inside, I get that it’s winter but can you please turn on the heater. Cute rickshaw theme to the restaurant, with a simple menu that includes bao, sides and a selection of drinks. The restaurant was so cold, my fried chicken bao was served a bit cold - also slightly burnt. I really wanted to like this place, but it just didn’t live up to the other reviews. Staff were wonderful however, they let us know kitchen was closing and attentively brought us water.

Chloe-Mae

Came here for a date night on a Friday, ordered the pork mince noodles, chicken and beef Bao. Also had beer sawmill pale ale. Food was great, pricing was very good will be back. Cute little gem to the area.

Calvin

You know you have arrived at chinoiserie when all the neons and ambient lighting hit you. This place is really nicely decorated! But the food we got was somewhat bland, it tasted aight but i had no motivation to put another mouthful of food back in as I ate. We even resorted to experimenting with the sauces and sriracha to boost flavours damn. Food-7/10 Service-8.5/10 Aesthetics-8.5/10

Elza Tanevesi

We dined here 2 weeks ago with my sisters and the food was so delicious service was great didn't wait long for our food to come recommend and will be dining here again

Sarahappleton10844

Always a great go to restaurant that provides great food and great value. Pork milk buns are devine. They would be a 5, but service was a little confused last time we went. Definitely worth visiting if you have not been before.

Ashleigh Hea

This place is so good! Great vibe, great food. This is another Asian 'fusion' place with steamed baos and I'm so glad my friend introduced me to this spot. It was really busy for a Tuesday night, and food came out fast. I got the chicken karaage bao and we got some garlic fish and Gong Gong noodles to share. All or them were so nice and flavourful! The fish came.with this week coconut cream dressing, which sounded weird at first , but was actually really good. The noodles had a kick to it and was pretty filling. The chicken in the bao was a little dry, but it still tastes good (there was a bottle of sriracha on the table, so naturally, I doused my bao in that sause!) I would definitely come back again and try their other menu items!

Love.Life.Daley

I am telling everyone I know in Auckland about this delicious food. What a fantastic recommendation for dinner! It was packed by 7pm and they don’t take bookings, so we got ourselves a drink and settled in for a 15 minute wait. It was totally worth it! The menu is small but the combinations of ingredients for the steamed buns is varied. Really generous portions of food that will leave you wanting to return. Pork bun could have been crispier but the meat was tender and I really enjoyed it. The fried chicken bun is inspired - seriously worth trying! There are a few options for other dishes if you're not a steamed bun fan.. Calamari portion was big enough to share between 2 for a starter. And the best part of the whole evening is that for a starter, 2 mains and dessert we paid $39. It's not a fancy night out but if you are looking for delicious and affordable food then this is definitely worth a visit!

Dxlche

We came here for lunch after hearing lots of great things about this place. We ordered two gua bao: Karaage chicken and pork belly. The bao itself was perfectly steamed. The Karaage chicken was juicy and crunchy. The pork belly too. We ordered the gong gong noodles and fries with wasabi mayo. The gong gong noodles was a burst of flavour and definitely a filling dish. Fries were perfectly fried and the wasabi mayo definitely had a kick to it. Overall the food was great and the service was good too. The atmosphere felt a bit cold. But apart from that not much to fault.

Hangrygirl

Small place so you usually have to wait outside or at the bar for a table. And it’s not a good idea to go in a big group because you can’t make a booking and they have only a few large tables which are always taken so you have to wait for people to leave. The parking is so hard as well. Especially on a Friday or Saturday. I usually have to park far down the dark side street and walk there. The last time I went the ribs were so tough and dry and the last two times we went the pork belly in the Bao was cold and dry and chewy as well. I love the vibe though, good casual spot not dressy at all. Staff are always friendly. Service is quick too!

Hope

Such an awesome lay out and ambience. Food was good especially the prawn bao!! YUMMMM - had the pork Bao which was s little bit dry. Other wise thumbs up to the service and the prawn bao!!!

Nicola O'Malley

This place is extremely delicious and has a great atmosphere. Food was cooked to perfection and was a generous size. My partner and I will defiantly be back!

Victoria Consuelo De Guzman

I was brought here by my friend. It was such a nice place and great food. I order the vegetarian satay tofu and I love it. I love the wasabi mayo fries too! You should get it and the food is such a crowd pleaser so whenever I wanna bring someone to eat out, I will definitely choose this place

FranziLuisa13

Great place for a casual dinner and hang out. My boyfriend and I tried Chinoiserie for the first time today and it was really good! We had two Bao Burgers- one with Squid and one with Pork Belly, both really flavorful and yummy, they could have been a bit hotter to my taste though. The friendly, young staff served our food quickly. Definitely will be back .

Vegesaur

Great veggie bun, there is even a vegan one if you wish! I got the bun & shared edamame and chips with my bf. Holy heck you get a lot of edamame beans for the price! Cocktails are nice too! Good price, good food, good atmosphere. Cracking little place!

Bridgette.clarke

Oh my goodness this food is to die for! I’ve never dined in so I cannot comment on the experience but if the food is anything to go by it would just be old whole bunch of people ooooohing and ahhhhing about the delish food! A must go eat place rate!!!

Christopher Pearce

Been fortunate enough to go here twice, and both times were absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere is amazing with good attentive staff - and the food is to die for. Both times we ordered the popcorn chicken with soy reduction, fries and bao buns. The first bao bun I had was the pork, the chicken for the second. Both times the food were outstanding and we talked about it all the way home. Would absolutely come again!!!

Happy Eater

This place has an awesome vibe. Little dark but bustling with staff and other diners. It get very busy, you are unable to book tables but worth the wait. (This is where the point comes off) I would have preferred to give 4.5 but zomato doesn’t seem to allow this anymore. The bao are delicious my personal favourite is the pork. The flavours of the food are intense but spot on! Heads up: if you don’t like coriander (like my partner) perhaps talk to your waiter/waitress as it is in everything! Myself however, I love coriander!!! Don’t be fooled by the “side dishes” these portions are decent almost like a main. The ribs and squid are mouth watering and what keeps me coming back! The menu is deceiving in that a couple of bao and a couple of side dishes will be plenty to fill up a table of two! However, If like myself you struggle to order appropriately you’ll have leftovers which is always a bonus! Will keep returning here and have recommended to many already! Definitely worth it!

Lizzie

One of my favourite restaurants in Auckland! The food is so delicious!! Especially the pork belly bao and the coconut-crusted calamari! I also loved the glass noodles that are no longer on the menu so if they bought that back I would be so happy! The prices are so reasonable and I get so excited when I know I’m getting chinoiserie for dinner!

Harley.aish

Very well presented food, prompt service, creative dishes. All round a great experience. Some old favorites recreated, e.g. Slaw. Popcorn chicken was awesome

Jessia

Super lovely wait staff, cool atmosphere and delicious vegan food! It all came out so fast and was not overpriced. I would recommend the vegan bao bun 🌱🌱🌱 Will definitely be coming back. Thanks

Kimberly Westerlund

Came here to catch up with friends over some good food and we sure did. We were the last ones to leave. Great service, atmosphere and food. Their homemade lemonade is super refreshing.

Auckland Foodie

Really enjoyed this place! It was super busy when we turned up and staff told us it was a 40 minute wait to get a table - after only 15 minutes there was a free table for us already! The food was delicious!

Krystyna

New fave place to eat! 😍 Lovely staff, atmosphere and the food is amaaaazing! We had the pork belly and chicken bao, squid, ribs and edamame. Everything was very tasty and came in massive portions. Definitely visiting again soon! Totally worth the 5-10 min wait to get a table as they’re usually quite busy 👌🏽

Praneal Badal

Viby place with good solid offerings.Space is an issue and you may need to book a table. Even vegetarian flock can eat here. Drinks are served and those ribs are the things you want to eat before you leave this world for the afterlife. Service is attempted with sincerity..top marks there..and there's beer and cider. Yummy ribs..yaaaaameeeee....

Sarah Shepherd

The squid bao tastes really delicious. Their fries and the slaw are also good. Would give a 5/5 if they switched to using free range meat but for now it is a 4.

Linlin

Finally had the excuse to come here after seeing so many photos and hearing good things about this place. Food came out super quick! Great service and mouth watering food. Loved the soft bao buns, pork ribs, squid rings, dessert baos and sticky coconut rice (pretty much everything). Highly recommend!!

Victoria Birch

Always super tasty and food comes out fast! Very affordable too, especially for those on a student budget! The ribs are consistently amazing, as is all the buns/baos

Hasiba Zareh

Came here with some friends around 5.30 on a Thursday just before it began to pick up. There’s definitely a vibe to it, lots of colour. It’s not really a place for a big group of friends as it’s 3 to a table inside, or you have to sit outside if there’s 4 or more. Conveniently there was only 3 of us We got 2 chicken bao, one pork bao, popcorn chicken & fries My friend who got the Pork bun found the pork kind of bland but said the nuts were really good at complimenting the pork and more restaurant should offer it because it was just crunchy and delicious ! The fries were kind of stale and not crunchy at all. A bit disappointing. My friends chicken bao had hardly any mayo and most of the bun was a bit poorly assembled, all the filling was in the front, and after a few bites it was just plain bun However mine was well done and had a lot of mayo compared to my friends, I also asked for no pickled ginger because the ginger is way to over powering. Chinoiserie is 100% my fave buns but none of my friends agree lol I’d say definitely a must try!

Nahush Khandagale

Beautiful. Food ! Compliments to the chef ! Ambience is really good maintained! Welcome staff ! Pricing is just right ! Had a lovely experience dining with the place

Steph Coulton

A great spot in Mt Albert. The best ribs you’ll find far and wide. I’d highly recommend the popcorn chicken too, it comes with amazing reduced cream mayo. Very few tables, but super quick food and ample staff for the size.

Dale Spencer

Bao Bao! Great vibe in and outside, feels like it’s not trying to be as cool as it is. Menu is very simple with a few things done incredibly well, tasty and occasionally exotic...but there are chips for the less brave souls. Get a group together and try everything!

To Be Honest

Went around 5:30 and the food came within 5 minutes. Super Fast and delicious. Great flavours and service. My must-have are the ribs and the gong gong Noodles. Very well priced for the quality of food. We had 6 adults and 2 kids and spent $128 (approx $20 pp). If ever in auckland I would highly recommend chionerie.

Jemma Oxenham

BEST POPCORN CHICKEN EVER AND BEST PORK RIBS EVER AND YUMMY FRIES AND BEST ORANGE JUICE AND SERVICE WOW THE FOOD COMES SO QUICK I LOVE IT GIVE IT A WHIRL

Amy

Finger-licking food at really good prices with super funky decor and ambience - I be loving this joint!! All the food (we ordered 8-10 dishes) came after 5 minutes or ordering which is a MASSIVE bonus in my books. All the food was fantastic, highlight for me was the gong gong noodles... so delishhhh

Manoj Patel

Get here early, cause this place packs up fast. Don't be fooled by the prices as the portions of food are quite big. I had the Beef Bao and that was great, the Ribs were also great. Fast service, good places, cheap food and good staff.

Brent Sause

The Ribs here are to die for! Some of the best ribs made in Auckland in my opinion. I usually grab ribs here and they never disappoint! Highly recommended, great service, big portion sizes and a value price. A+

Vanessa

Food was amazing! We ordered the squid bao and gong gong noodles. The squid was perfect and tender with just the right amount of seasoning and crunch. The noodles were surprisingly flavourful and was quite filling. The interior decor was pretty hip and very Asian! But the music wasn't overbearingly loud so you can still have a semi decent conversation... except when it fills up with a crowd. Definitely worth checking out!!

BretG

Great service, the let down was the pork we had on the buns and the ribs was not very tender which was disappointing and the wine was overpriced. $83 for two a bit high we felt.

Diogo Reck

Good place to have some snacks with a cocktail or a beer after work. Surely one of the best, if not the best, options in Mount Albert. The pork buns are great.

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Love their ribs~ Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, falling off the bone goodness~ Not alot of choices on the menu though... The place get packed very quickly even on weekdays.

Sarah Faulkner

Great service, delicious food and a fun vibe! Reasonable prices, and the food is very easy to share. The Bao are delicious and highly recommended. We will be back to try some more very soon.

Faye Stubbs

Very impressed with this place. Cozy indoors and out. No bookings but no one seemed to wait long while I was there. Take away available too. We tried lots but my favourites were the popcorn chicken and spare ribs. Duck and chicken bao went down well. Will be back to try the rest of the menu and some cocktails.

JKG

This place has the best pork ribs in the whole of Auckland. Why I love their pork ribs so much - they taste delicious, the portion is a good size, and the dish is definitely worth the price. If you are a first time visitor, don't be put off my the food portion to price ratio. Make sure you know how to order and I can guarantee you will not only find the food delicious but also completely worth the price. If you are ordering for two people, I usually order 1-2 sides to share and a bao each. This should be more than sufficient. My top recommended menu items would be the pork ribs and all their baos, except the squid bao. The squid is nice as a side, but tends to be a bit dry as bao filling. Overall, my experience at Chinoiserie has been great. Though, beware, this place only opens in the evenings and has long wait times.

Samantha Richardson

Amazing, can't get enough. Just sad you don't have more chinoiseries. Pork bun is super tasty and the popcorn chicken is scrumptious love love

Dannielle Andrews

Never every disappoints! Even when it is busy, its worth waiting to get a seat. We always get a bao bun (highly recommend the duck), the ribs, and the chicken. It is all amazing!

Michelle M

Consistently great every time we've been here. It's so easy to over eat here between the bao choices and the yummy sides. The slaw is awesome - tonight was a karage chicken bao and a tofu one which were as nice as the last time. This place is great for a quick eat - sometimes you may have to wait a bit for a table specially with larger groups, but once seated service is super quick and efficient.

Grace Nesbitt

Soooo annoying that they don't take bookings as I really enjoy this place but it puts me off coming here if I have to wait for a table. Would be fine if they had a nice bar next door so i could have a drink while I wait. Tofu bun is delicious and so are all the small plates I tried. Will not disappoint.

FoodMakesMeHappy

Definitely recommend and I have taken lot of my friends to this restaurant. I have been to over 5 different places for bao and this place does the best! Buns are always so fresh, fluffy and moist. I tried the tofu noodle salad but this one is a bit blend so I added sriracha sauce on mine.

Jasmine

The Pork Belly Bao's are to die for! For $8 only it's soooo worth it. Ribs are also so cheap for $15! Only downfall is you can't make bookings so if you're wanting to book for a large group it's near impossible unless you go and just sit and wait for enough tables to be available. Yummiest cheap eat in Auckland!

I_like_pickles

This is currently my friend's favourite eatery so she suggested we come here for a catch up. Love the artwork across the walls and in the toilet. The chairs remind me of old school primary school chairs. Hard, wooden and uncomfortable if you don't have a decent butt. The dining space is small but they have been very smart with it. The bar bench area allows them to seat more people. The service is speedy and efficient. The food is just as quick! Within 5-10minutes of ordering we received our food. The gua baos were nicely presented and the sides of coconut crusted squid was plentiful. The only downside I have to say is the sauce accompanying the squid. It would have been nicer to have a type of mayo instead.

I'm A Foodie

I pass by this restaurant everyday I see it's always crowded. So I'm wondering what kind of restaurant it is. Today I finally have a chance to try it out. Oh it sells a kind of Taiwan street food named Gua bao. We ordered duck, Tofu, chicken and pork. I like duck most which is a little sweet. The chicken and pork skin is a little hard. The tofu one is curry flavour.

Kellie Ngaire

I always love coming to Chinoiserie - the baos are my favourite in Auckland. The atmosphere is kitsch and a bit hipster, but it's down to earth and non pretentious. The wine isn't too expensive and the staff are friendly :)

Waiata Tucker

Intimate and stylish, very well priced food and you will be lucky to grab a seat!! An oriental twist on the classic burger :) Popularity is the only downfall

Brenda Phu

Chinoiserie is a small place. The interior looks like the bedroom of the black sheep of an Asian family. Kind of a weird mish-mash. The place has very little seating inside and it gets quite busy during meal times. They have choices of bao and salads/sides and a couple of sweets. The menu was average with the meals set a decent prices. But the portions were small. I ordered the Pressed Tofu Bao. My bao was slightly undercooked at the bottom but my biggest issue was with the tofu. The tofu was bland. With the bao the dish needed more salt and flavour to counteract all the carb. The bao had no taste or texture. The concept of the slaw was nice with the freshness but it would have been better suited contrasted with a more flavoursome and saucy tofu protein. The staff are nice. But you could tell that they were stressed and just waiting to clear your table. I was disappointed with my meal. It's was nice to try Chinoiserie, I had heard so many good things but I wouldn't come back.

Sukumar Goswami

Went there first time with family on a special occasion. Ordered Bao's with different fillings, Pork, Squid,Chicken and Duck. Outstanding, great taste, good flavours. Ordered sides Pork ribs, Karage Chicken, Pop corn chicken and chips. Service was quick, good portions, reasonably priced. Very friendly staff There is a wait although on a weekday. Recommend visiting early for Dinner or go late Highly recommended

Vanessa Rehm

After hearing nothing but amazing things about this restaurant for at least a year, I was excited to finally try it myself on Monday night. What a disappointment! Everything about this experience was terrible. The service was shocking. The food was completely bland and it was almost as though the staff knew it was bad because not once did they check on us or ask whether we had enjoyed our meal when it came time to pay. Very lacklustre bao - the chicken AND the pork were super average. The slaw was totally lacking in flavour and the Taiwanese Donut was actually disgusting. We didn't eat it because it was a total waste of calories. Boring. Dry and lacking sweetness and either cream or icecream. SO disappointed. And will not be recommending, nor returning.

Abbey Lissaman

Grab a blanket and sit under the heaters outside, order a drink and a steamed bun and something to share. Awesome! My top choices for Chinoiserie: Chicken popcorn, pork gua bao, tofu gua bao, edamame beans. Wonderful, super quick and super tasty food. In and out in a flash, and very full! Only disappointments were the ribs which had far too much sauce, and the beef gua bao which had a strange and too strong aniseed flavour for our tastes.

Adeline

A hidden gem in the suburbia of West Auckland indeedy. The food is fresh, quick, tasty and (unbelievably) reasonably priced - the sort of dishes you'd order at some fusion place in Ponsonby but expect to party a shit load of money. Fortunately, Chinoiserie has all of Ponsonby's eateries' trimmings, but at (nearly) half the price #win. I only wished we were super hungry (to the point of being able to gobble up a horse) when we got there but hey - that still did not stop us ordering with our eyes. We ordered the pork ribs, duck and beef bao, crispy squid and slaw. All the dishes were tasty except for the squid - it was lacking some zing. But hey - the delicious soft warm bao made up for everything (and we packed up the ribs as takeaway ). We only had beer, as nothing else on the drinks menu inspired me to try them. If they are thinking of expanding their range of cocktails , that would get a vote from me. Apart from that, kudos on the interior deco. I absolutely loved it - look out for the dragon trailing the wall. Very very impressive. My only advice is that you arrive super early or after the peak dinner period as it gets really super busy and you may end up waiting quite a bit for a proper seat (sitting at the bar eating isn't exactly comfortable). Oh having said that - if you could fix bag/coat hooks underneath the bar counters - that would be splendid.

Kaydeen Manukia

Absolutely loved the pork Guo bao. So delicious! The pork belly was cooked so perfectly. Also tried the chicken one and it was yummy too. Just wish there was more room to dine in. Bit squashy! I want to try the mulled wine ;)

Ashleigh Michelle

Absolutely love the Asian fusion that is Chinoiserie! Every dish I try here is so tasty, fresh and full of flavour. My highlights are the coconut squid, glass noodle salad and Taiwanese donuts. The food here is something you won't forget in a long time.

J.T547

I love this little gem hidden away in Mt Albert. Great decor and vibes. This is a great place to pop in for some absolutely delicious Bao and treats! Everything is super fresh and super quick. I would 150% recommend the pork spare ribs, just melting off the bone, yum.

Kieran

I'd been reading in the Herald that the owners of Kiss Kiss also ran Chinoiserie in Mt. Albert, I knew it was a matter of days not weeks before my curiosity would get the better of me, I swear I used to have more self control .... Chinoiserie is a smaller layout than Kiss Kiss, They specialise in Taiwanese street food with a real focus on Gau Bao (steamed buns). We ordered the Snapper Bao and Duck Bao which was one of the specials of the night. The snapper was crispy to the bite, the overall Bao was bland though, it needed a kick, a fire cracker of some sort. The Duck Bao made up for it, dark, rich and delicious flavours. A bowl of Karaage Chicken was next. Sweet, acidic, a hint of heat, a smattering of roast sesame seeds covering fried chicken. It's fried chicken so really what's more to be said? The noodle salad was a refreshing change of temperature and texture that balanced out the richness of other dishes. The ribs, slap my ass the ribs are good. I think I'd still take Kiss Kiss's plate of ribs over these ones, but it's a pretty close contest. A winning formula. Big kudos to the service tonight. My partner clumsily toppled her full glass of red wine across the table, luckily it didn't get into any of the food. A waitress was onto it like lightning to clean up and replaced the glass of wine free of charge, we were both impressed. If I wasn't currently on a strict budget trying to save enough money to get into this ridiculous Auckland housing market I would have probably have been back to Chinoiserie a couple of times by now. Bloody good cheap eats! Chinoiserie is choice!

Donhavaclue

Best Bao we've ever had! It has raised the bar so high. I loved the quirkiness, everything felt right. The staff are amazing, I was blown away by the speed, efficiency, and quality of the service staff. First port of call next time I'm in Auckland.

T.B.F

Pork Bun just got a whole new look! And it looks 🔥🔥🔥 . Where do I begin with this little diamond... ❤❤❤ the art on the wall is a delicousy, the staff are amazing and the food sits on a little cloud of heaven! Every bite I took made me feel like I was not in Auckland anymore but on a tropical island, especially with those authentic flavours added to the mix. If you enjoy good soul and old skool music, this is your go to place. The menu is clean and simple, and the pork buns are the best I've ever had. No more south side pork buns for me 😉😉😉. Parking is best off streets if you plan on visiting this golden gem, and plenty of it. The best thing about this place is the prices! So affordable for anyone who's on a budget, or just wants to have a cool afternoon after work.

Fooddude

Yum. Chinoiserie is a great place for a catch up with mates, it has a relaxed cool vibe and is always packed. Whilst I think the baos could be a little bit more flavoursome, the buns are super soft and I was pleased to get a good amount of pickled ginger. My favourite thing to order here is the pork ribs in a black bean sauce - lots of sauce plus soft meat and a huge portion size = happiness. You definitely should check chinoiserie out

Sophie-fern Wright

One of my favourite "quick eats"! It's not some where you go for a long sit down dinner but if you want something quick the food is deeeelish!

Chantal Hoeft

This place is so good! Cheap, friendly, fast and delicious - what more could you want. Awesome value for money. Always love coming here and you never disappoint!

Fuudie

Disappointing food experience. First of all, the Baos aren't made inhouse but rather imported in bulk. We tried all the Bao flavours and found the buns were oversteamed and much too sticky. The flavours were either much too intense for a sober driver who isn't downing each mouthful with beer; or tasted like the dish hadn't made up its mind on what it wants to be, not in time for us anyway. I get that the Bao scene isn't as diverse before, but with up and coming options popping up all around Auckland, I'd like to see Chinoiserie up its game a bit more. Potential is there Chinoiserie.

Hello Rosie

True to its name, Chinoiserie is a classic kiwi interpretation of the famous and well loved Bao (steamed bun). This eatery tucked in the suburban heart of Mount Albert packs some major vibes and great music. Walking into the open kitchen sets the mood and smells divine. The restaurant itself is small in size and filled like a sardine can with customers, in saying this the staff do an amazing job at keeping on top of things and ensuring patrons are constantly tended to. If anything a slight increase in communication between staff could save them the trouble of repeatedly checking on different customers for the same thing. We were asked by almost every member of staff if we needed a drink whilst we were waiting for a table. I love the fact that they have such a compact menu, I am a big believer of doing a few things really well as opposed to a choice of many average dishes. In saying that, there is definitely a small amount of room for improvement food wise. The flavours are there, they work well together but there was a lack of seasoning on the majority of dishes we tried. I really enjoyed the pickled ginger in the Chicken Bao, the chicken was slightly overcooked, a little chewy and lacked flavour. The portion sizes were incredibly generous. What was lacking in taste was made up in service and atmosphere. With a bit of tweaking this place is undoubtably set to steal the hearts of Aucklanders and those from further afar.

Breadzania

The food here is good. Ive been dying to come and try. Service is fast and quick. We ordered fish, pork ,beef and chicken bun. The ribs and spicy chicken. I love the ribs flavour. Its perfectly cooked and falls off the bone. The chicken is quite tasty but not spicy. The buns r soft n fluffy but the fillings are average The pork belly fat layer is a bit too much and the skin is too tough to chew. The beef and kimchi is too overpowering (too much kimchi). The chicken with ginger was so so. Im not a ginger fan and found the ginger overpowering. Definitelty worth visiting but rooms for improvement.

Syd Sills

Literally one of my fav places to go! Always busy, good service and they never disappoint. Highly recommend to anyone looking for good food for a good price, Bao bun, fries and a mountain of calamari ❤️

Lisa Reynolds

What a busy little place on a weeknight. The wait list system was efficient and we were seated within twenty minutes. The design of the whole place was great. The chicken bao was deeeeelish. Squid rings on point, and the wasabi mayo with the fries was a hit.

Peter Lee

The best local bar hands down. The bonus is the awesome food. Awesome staff and wouldn't go any where else. Thanks again guys for the awesome nights time and time again.

Samantha

My partner and I came here over the weekend. We were one of the first people to arrive as they open at 4. They food came out super quick (probably because there was no one there) We ordered: 1x pork belly bao 1x fish bao Calamari Pork ribs Chicken strips Over all the food was pretty good but it almost started to taste the same after a while. Portion sizes are HUGE! We didn't even get halfway. We really enjoyed the bao's.. although I have had better ones elsewhere. I also found the calamari to have no seasoning on it, I did really enjoy it but I thought it would have been way better with it. Pork ribs were really tasty and the meat was melt in your mouth. The chicken was also really tasty 👌🏼 They have takeaway containers you can grab which is really good so you don't have to ask for them. We took all the left overs home and re heated it when we were hungry again later on in the night. The food still tasted really good and fresh. Atmosphere was pretty nice. There was only one problem. There was heaps of fruit flys buzzing around us. We were constantly shooing them away which got pretty annoying. We will deff be back. Food is great quality and the amount you get for your money is amazing! Would definitely recommend 👍🏼

Maia

Service was really good, we got seated straight away. The food was amazing. I will be back as soon as I have the chance! Good size meals as well, we all left full and happy 🤗🤗🤗

Victoria Jenner

Small menu but all that means is they can concentrate on making those few things great. Side snacks are larger than we expected. We ordered way to much food for our tummies, but took it all with us. Pork bao = Great.

Joseph Brian P. Lee

Went here last Friday with some friends for an early catch up dinner! (Good thing though because as the night deepens the queue was getting longer!) The ambiance is pretty simple but it isn't ugly nor cheap looking. Though personally some things were very literally/obviously chinese like the dragon paintings on the walls and waving golden cats on the table. But the servers were very hospitable and was graceful under pressure. Haha. And lastly the star of the night, THE BAOs! I had the pork belly and the chicken one. Both were very sumptuous but the pork belly is for the win no doubt! And the price was fairly reasonable! Would definitely recommend this place! Go ahead and try it! Have some pork belly in your tummy! #yummy #cheapeats #kaBAO #aucklandeats

Laurie540

For a quick, cheap meal chinoiserie is very tasty. The menu is limited but you already know what you're here for - the milk buns. We had beef and pork, both very nice, quite sizeable, warm and not soggy which is the common problem. The noodle side is nice, a cold dish with a little spiciness. The squid is average; better to get the ribs. FYI they don't do bookings.

Sinfully Delicious

I finally tried chinoiserie after rave reviews from others on their baos and to be honest they were ok. Not the best baos ive had in auckland but they were still tasty and really good price of $8. Menu is very basic and limited however service is really good and staff are friendly.

Vinmanrules

Absolutely unique dishes. Food always tastes fresh. The service is great too. All round awesome place to go and try something new. The French/Asian fusion dishes are very interesting.

Alix

This restaurant has only baos as their mains but they have plenty of sides to offer which doesn't feel like a "side" at all because servings were generous and they're also very yummy :) It was very busy when we came here but service is superb. We never had to wait for long. The place has a very unique theme - very colorful and artistically Asian :D

Seamus M.

Came here on a Wednesday night, it was packed. But we were lucky to get a seat on the counter. The place is spunky!! With cool Asian deco. Service was good, our waitress was helpful and friendly. The food was spectacular, got three bao's pork chicken and beef. Had to say the Pork was outstanding also the chicken, beef wasn't that great it was too sloppy, didn't have an authentic taste like the others. Our sides were delicious too especially the ribs! The red wine was a Spanish wine that went well with our food. Would definitely come back and recommend to try it out 😁

Rui Xing Chen

Yum! Went in with my friend just before the Saturday night rush. Perfect timing. Food came very quickly. Cocktails were refreshing and the ribs and pork belly baos were our favs. Also grab yourself a fortune cookie on the way out!

Kimiora Borthwick

Incredibly tasty food at very reasonable prices, the drinks are great to. Only let down was the timing on the glass noodle salad as it came out about 5 minutes after everything else. As we were using it to balance out the squid it was a bit of a let down, however the salad itself was very nice. The staff were exceptional and the overall experience was really enjoyable and we'll will be back again.

Kimberley

Yum best steamed buns in Auckland. I drive 30 minutes just for these buns, well worth the trip as they never disappoint! I highly recommend this new hip joint!

Rafael Fonseca

Went there for an early Saturday dinner (6pm-ish) with a group of 6. Getting there early proved worthwhile, as the place was packed shortly after. Although the menu was small, pretty much everything we ordered (7 baos and 3 sides to share) was great. Prawn crackers were a good starter (great with beers, as they're extra salty). Outside tables get the afternoon sun, so be prepared with sunscreen if visiting during the summer. Easy pick: Karaage chicken or spicy pulled beef baos. EDIT: An earlier version of this review stated that the prawn crackers were advertised as real fried prawns. I've been informed that we we're correctly told about them being "just like chips". I stand corrected. :)

KP

Usually great food, so I am thinking this time was probably a result of the fact that they were very busy on Valentines. Ordered takeaways, a couple pork baos and they were almost inedible. No flavour, tough, unrendered! Snapper bao was nice as were the ribs. Regardless, busy or not, I would expect better.

Tamsin Dehar

Absolutely love this place! The tofu gua bao with satay sauce was always my go to gua bao. Although the new tofu gua bao is still tasty, please bring back the tofu satay one it was so much better!

Miura Elikana

Since this place opened its brought more people to Owairaka. It's fantastic. If you're looking for something light that's full of flavour then I recommend the pork belly braised gua bao. There isn't many seats available but they are quick with their service so you don't wait long.

Hunty

Buns were very nice, the Pork Belly especially. Coleslaw was bland and unimaginative; a huge pile of chopped cabbage. Chips also uninspiring, we were tempted by mention of wasabi mayo which didn't live up to expectation. The ribs were tasty, very saucy, and came in a generous portion. Would get again. Overall, not as good as expected. However we would return for some better informed ordering.

Gabby

Love this place! Always such good food and such good prices! Love the chicken and tofu Bao in particular! It is always busy but they have a quick turnaround.

Alana Emerson

We were seated in the small area near the front window. Waiter forgot to ask us for drinks. The pork belly bao was undercooked and bland however a good serving of fried squid hit the spot. We had to wait a long time to pay, as they were very busy. Could do with more staff on a busy night.

Donutsam

The term chinoiserie refers to European interpretation and imitation of Chinese and East Asian artistic traditions, so the restaurant is completely upfront in that respect. At Chinoiserie, once you’ve navigated the challenge of a table, you can enjoy well presented, mostly flavourful dishes that are real crowd pleasers. Christina and Kristina joined me for our catch up dinner and there’s some solid eating but there’s also some hiccups and dishes that need to transition from mimicry to masterful. Menu is narrow. No doubt it’s a fantastic addition to Mt Albert and I do hope to see it grow from here.

Siow Fong Chen

This place has quite an unique decoration and is one of the few places which is well known for their baos. We had the chicken and fish baos and a vermicelli side dish to share. I think the fish bao is not as flavoursome as the chicken but still acceptable. The house made tea is also good. The prices for all the dishes are fairly reasonable in my opinion especially if you want a small meal at an affordable price. All in all I would go back again when I crave for some baos.

Lia Yosaatmadja

After hearing all the hype about chinoiserie's bao, I finally got to to try it. I must admit it was pretty darn good! We went there for an early dinner, i was hoping like hell the place was not too busy. But lucky for us, we still managed to get a table! Woot! We were seated promptly and the orders came fairly quickly as well considering how busy they were. We ordered 2 baos and 3 sides. I did not expect that they would be that generous with the sides... so we ordered the karage child bao, the pork bao, some of the vermicelli salads (they were very accomodating about me not wanting cucumber) the squid rings and some fries! And we totally didn't finish our food. Let me start with the baos.. they were so soft and fluffy, they felt like little pillows! I like the fact that they were a little sweet. I the pork bao was definitely the star of the show. The pork belly was crispy on the outside, but juicy and it totally melt in your mouth! The karage chicken was pretty good, the chicken was crispy and tender, but I didn't think the chicken was as well seasoned compared with pork. The noodle salad was ok... I probably will go for the slaw next time. I liked the squids! Although the dipping sauce needs an extra kick.... more fish sauce i'd say. Speaking of dipping sauce I must say that I really like that wasabi mayo! It had the right balance... and it made everything better! Keen to come back for their sticky ribs! I had total food envy when I saw someone ordered that tonight.

Shannon Boyce

This is my favourite restaurant in Auckland. I always recommend the Chinoiserie to friends and family. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant and the food is outstanding! I highly recommend the sticky ribs, the squid rings, chips with wasabi mayo and the pork and chicken bao buns. Their homemade ice tea is also refreshingly delicious. They are always busy so I suggest going earlier for dinner or don't be afraid to sit at the bar, it's fun to watch the chefs make magic!

Blackpearl

We've finally tried this place after hearing and reading about the great reviews. My husband and I ordered the chicken and pork guabao, coconut crusted squid rings and fries with wasabi mayo. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his pork belly guabao, but I was okay with the chicken. It just tastes like normal karaage chicken on a steamed bun but they're still good to eat. The squid rings are alright too, we do love the fries though and they're not holding back on the salt. The staffs are really friendly and the interior is really unique, they have good music too. Overall it's a great experience.

Roana Bilia

One of those places youd be lucky to get a table at, Chinoiserie meets the standard of its sister restaurants L'oeuf and Kiss Kiss. If youre into soft bao buns, pork belly, crispy chicken, deef fried squid, black bean pork spare ribs or basically anything delicious on this planet Chinoiserie is where you wanna be. The evening vibe is chill enough to sit back and enjoy some time out with tasty, reasonably priced food and house made ice teas. Get a bao each and a bunch of sides for the table or go just for the massive portion of $16 ribs with a side of fries for yourself. Another top quality asian fusion spot.

Sulin Wang

Be warned by the portion sizes! Don't be fooled by the very well priced dishes, these are some of the biggest baos Iv had! I was STARVING after gym so I said to my friend that I could do two easy, with half a side of squid, thinking a $12 plate of squid is a few bites each between two. Our waiter took our orders and was totally awesome and accommodated my friends peanut allergy with many alternative solutions and genuinely seemed to care! So on comes the food, the pork bao's meat stuffing was practically a mini pork steak, and the karage chicken was equally filled to the brim with veges, pickles, sauces and toppings; both were absolutely divine! The squid could have been a little less and possibly chopped a bit thicker, it was a bit hard to finish between two people, there was just so much to it! I only JUST managed to finish my two baos and half the squid. Definitely coming back here! If I lived in the area, this would be my local. Also loved the decor (similar to kiss kiss) tasteful but relaxed and cosy!

HJ

Loved the vibe to this place and the funky decor. Pink walls with hand paintings and hanging dragons added character and worked well with the space they had. Second impressions was this place is a bit chilly. As it's mainly concrete, it holds the chill (especially on a cold night like tonight). I think it was actually warmer to sit outside as they have the heaters cranking. We ordered the tofu Bao, chicken kaarage Bao and the coconut crumbed squid between the two of us. This was perfect for a light dinner to share. The chicken Karaage was thick and crispy. Although it looked like a lot, the fermented ginger complimented it well. The satay sauce in the tofu Bao was really good! I would've liked the tofu to be slightly more crispy though. The Bao's were really fresh and fluffy with good texture. My least favourite dish was the squid, although it was nice the crumb didn't have any wow factor to it. Overall a great addition to the area with plenty of seating for groups and couples. The staff are friendly and attentive and they food arrives quick. Reasonably priced too so you can afford to get lots of dishes to share.

Grace Sifa

yummy gaoooo baooooo!!! finally got to try this place on sunday at 8pm.. busy but we got seated straight away and the wait staff were great.. deco inside is cool and was nice and warm inside with a strong smell of spices.. we had the pork belly bao.. hot milk bun with nice and fatty belly and stuffed to the max with nuts chicken bao had strong japanese flavours but tasted great too crispy squid was delish with some hot sauce and wasabi fries was yummy.. quite big portions on the sides so that was great will def be back for my bao and squid cravings :)

Vivi S

After the dinner at Lucky Buddha, I grew an immense liking for baos. Through the vines I’d heard of Chinoiserie in Mt Albert, so of course I went to try them out. Normally I’d have asked A to accompany me there but he wasn’t able to – I forget why. No matter. I was at J’s for a visit when we both got very hungry after hours of catching up. Just a short drive away at Chinoiserie, we ordered every single bao on the menu – pork, chicken, calamari… I must say, not all of them were fantastic, some were pretty dry. But so filling. Chinoiserie is also a pretty cool place to hang out, with its eclectic colourful deco. A long dragon dances above the diners, who consist of both groups of the youthful and families. The owners of Chinoiserie also opened another place called Kiss Kiss, which I hear has awesome breakfasts, though there has been a more divided amount of opinions on their dinner fares. Apparently Asian fusion dishes aren’t for everyone, so perhaps give it a miss if you are after authenticity.Chinoiserie4 Owairaka Avenue, Mt Albert, Auckland

Aleana Fernando

Went here during lunch and it wasn't too busy. The interior design was suitable for the Asian theme the restaurant was going for and had a comfortable feeling. The waitress was very kind and always had a smile which made the experience so much better. We ordered all the Gua Bao's except for the Tofu/Vegetarian one. Chicken: Definitely my favorite Bao of the bunch. Being a chicken lover I was worried that it would be dry but it definatley was not. it was crunchy on the outside and succulent on the inside. The chicken was not overpowered by the other flavours it came with Pork: my 2nd favorite one.. It didn't have too much of the chewy unpleasant fat which I personally don't enjoy when eating pork belly. Very flavoursome and tender. Squid: This bao was alright. If it was served as just plain calamari it probably would have been better. I would recommend eating it with some Siracha to enhance the flavours. Beef: The beef one was okay for me. For those who are familiar with south east asian food, Beef rendang to be specific, it probably wouldn't taste too special to you unless you really like that flavour. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. We also ordered the sticky chicken nibbles which could have had a bit more flavour but overall really good. The Bao's are fairly priced for its size and filling. If you are wanting to have a full meal I would recommend getting at least 2 Bao's and not just one. But overall, I would definitely come back here for more Bao's and maybe try different side dishes or their desserts next time.

Ethan Liaw

Interesting deco for this little Taiwanese fusion place! Always packed during dinner time. I suggest coming during 330-4ish as it would be quite and sunny outside. Love the new take on these gua bao, I have tried 3 out of the 5 flavours that was there. The chicken is my fav! The freshly fried karage and the fermented ginger just does it for my taste buds. Unlike the traditional pork one we have in Taiwan I especially loved how they actually fried the pork belly after its been cooked to make it crunchy compare to the traditional one where they just slow cooked in stew. Vegetarian one I find a bit blend, even the huge amount of eye watering deep fried shallot that's stack on top of the tofu. The deep fried squid is prob my fav side dish, crunchy and good with a generous serving of chilly shreds. Fries are always crunchy and comes with wasabi mayo which is yummy. I did try the ribs and the chicken on previous visits, but I am not a fan of sweet sauced savoury food. Hence I am not gonna comment on those.

Anna Fern

We visited this place on a Sunday late afternoon and we were all delighted!!! There's enough table to accommodate us and the service was super fast! I love their gua bao especially the pork one. We tried all flavours except the vegetarian one and I can say we will definitely come back! We also ordered the sticky chicken nibbles, this one needs more seasoning for my liking. I recommend you visit this place if you're after food like this :)

Fare Henry

Service: Staff were friendly and attentive which was great! Food: Absolutely delish! My partner and I had the spare ribs, chicken karaage bao and the beef cheeks bao and it was all so good! we will be revisiting more than often. The value is great and I would say a very well deserved top 10 metro eats! It is a must try 😁 each dish was great the ribs was my partners fave and surprisingly enough I've never been a fan of ginger but the karaage chicken bao has changed my mind 😁😁 Experience: Very urban and the decor is lovely. My partner and i choose back seats but with it being winter at the moment it was very cold.. and there doesn't seem to be any heaters at all.. In saying that, the food being as outstanding as it was both taste and value we walked out super impressed keeping in mind our new favorite local!

Elsie

Soft and smooth textured milk buns with awesome fillings! Perfect for nights when you felt like eating light but still get the kick of satisfaction. Service was great, the ambiance was good and we left feeling happy. No wonder the waiting list goes on and on.... Keep it up!

Big Cheese

Brilliant brilliant brilliant ! , one of the best Asian eateries in NZ ! I rave about this place to everyone who will listen . Can't fault the staff or the menu if you tried. Seriously go there! Now!

Jessica Callistus

I have been here multiple times and I am never disappointed! I have ordered the same karage chicken bun 3-4 times now and it has tasted the same everytime and its great! All the steam buns are great. Packed with flavour, filling and sauce (Sriracha goes really well the chicken one). All the sides are also great! we've tried nearly all of them and we can happily say the squid is definitely our fave. It's so crispy, the serving is generous, the coconut flavour is good and the squid is perfectly cooked. Customer service is fantastic as well! All round, one our favourite places to dine and a place we always recommend to friends!

Harry

First time here this afternoon and what an experience. Great customer service as soon as you walk in, Love the vibe in there, Food was excellent loved everything i ordered (2 pork bao's for me and 1 chicken for my partner sides was 1 bowl of squid rings and ice tea which i loved) would definitely be coming here more often!! :)

Ghost Reviewer

A popular local, I had been meaning to try this place for a while and when the offer came up to go there for dinner I was so excited! I don’t think there’s ever a day where it isn’t busy as it’s a cool place, I ordered the pork bao with a side of fries and wasabi mayo. I loved the skinny fries with the wasabi mayo, if you like spicy I recommend this if not then definitely stay clear as it is quite hot. Loved the texture! For $8 I think it’s a pretty decent price for one bao and the tastes are sensational right down the carefully crafted Gong sauce. I’m not a pork person but try to be adventurous with food and I can honestly say I loved it! The ambiance is awesome this place is always pumping and the decor is beautiful. It felt like I was dinning in some back street food alley, perfect customer service as well!

Charles H.

Been here a few times and been underwhelmed. The bao are oddly large it very difficult to share, with too much emphasis on the bun and not enough on the filling. A side order of greens was also near-impossible to eat, as the large stems were left whole. Not easy to eat and not a good look. The atmosphere was good and the staff friendly but the food has failed to impress.

Jay

So it was time to hunt for a new Asian fusion place. Found this on metro top 50. This cute little place was overflowing with hungry people wanting to sink their teeth into the lovely Baos and pork ribs. The wait was long....3 minutes😜 but felt like 3 hrs cause the food on the other diners tables looked soo good. The Staff is amazing. The short menu meant The food was served quickly as well. Oh and the mulled wine is pretty decent. Not sure if Auckland needs mulled wine cause it ain't that cold here. We got the pork belly and karage chicken Baos. The pork ribs and squid rings. All the dishes were fantastic. The ribs were tender and juicy and fell off the bones. The Baos were tasty and squid was crunchy n fresh. Such a good experience and food for a tiny little place. Gotto go back to try the rest of the dishes. Missed the 5 stars cause they ran out of glass noddles and Choy sum really wanted to try the noodles cause that looked very popular choice

❤️Irene

Just love the food and service here! We visited on Saturday night, it is really busy,but all the staff are kind and helpful. We ordered chicken bun, beef bun, pork belly bun and tofu bun, as well as spare ribs as share plate and house made ice tea as drink. We pretty enjoy the food and having nice time at Chinoiserie.

Nathalie

Nice little gem in mt Albert! Very hipster and great vibe! Food was really quick and generous portions, staff were friendly and attentive! Price wise very affordable! We ordered 3 Gao bao (chicken, Rendang, pork) all was very good but flavours were a little subtle for us for our palate we also ordered glass noodle and squid rings very generous portions and beautifully cooked! But again flavour too subtle. For those meals for me and my husband we paid $50 and walked out super hAppy and full! Overall great place and will be back!!

Imogen Trupinic

Came here a couple of times now. Buzzing atmosphere and sweet hipster decor! Food is delicious and they even do mulled wine in winter which is gorgeous. Try the ribs - so good they melt in your mouth. I reckon if they open up L'Oeuf for seating, they'd get more customers.

Shanzay

Came here on a Sunday night, wasn't too busy but had to wait about 10mins for a seat! Came just for the steam buns! Had the pork belly bun and the homemade ice tea! Enjoyed the food and the service was fast and efficient.

David C

Great price great tastes and great wait staff. The calamari and the pork ribs delish. I will be back to try the rest of the menu. They so takeaway too!

Celani Atienza

I cant believe it took me a long time to try this restaurant but finally had the time to experience their food and service! Food was delicious and service was amazing' Tried the pork and chicken buns❤️ would love to come back!

ShelDiamond

This place really does live up to its' rumoured great prices. The Gua Bao are fresh tasting and of high quality. The chips and wasabi Mayo was so addictive as they were so good and perfectly salted. Pork Spare Ribs seemed to be the highest costed item on the menu at only $15, and came with a very generous amount of sauce drowning the ribs. My only con is the soy-rich flavour in the sauce though came across as a little overpowering. The connivence of allowing to take away your left over food is good. All-in-all a great eat.

David Stubbs

Crazy delicious place. So good i had to write a review. We ordered a little too much because we thought the servings would be small due to the price. The people working were really nice and helpful. Great atmosphere. My tip would be to have starters first and then order the bun because everything is served at once. Cheers.

Tee Pene

Absolutely love this place , it's unique style gives it a great atmosphere whether you're sitting inside or outside . Staff is always attentive and friendly . The food is amazing , their selections of Gua Bao are to die for especially the chicken, the ribs are also great. I love the funky vibe here and always love coming back

Mira Sri

The Guo Bao were delicious. We've tried different filling and they're all so flavorsome and on point. Wasabi fries were crispy. The black sticky rice was fragrant and not to sweet. Definitely will come back again. Highly recommended!!

Georgia Vossen

Firstly, the prices here are amazing!! I came here one Thursday night originally as I'd heard about the steamed buns they make here and wanted to try it out. The place was absolutely packed with lines out the door waiting though so went somewhere else. Came back on a Monday night at a later date around 6oclock, so an earlish time for dinner and there were only a couple seats left. Managed to get a seat and then order some food which came nice and fast especially considering how busy they were. The house made iced tea is only $5 and really good, cutely presented and incredibly tasty. I was really interested in how the steamed, milk buns would be as I was wondering about the taste and texture etc. When I got my bun was a bit weirded out by the play dough like textured bread but mixed with the flavours of the filling is actually really quite delicious. The bread is quite tasteless but is really interesting to try out, I really liked it. The buns are only $8 each, although in all honestly I could easily eat two of them for lunch/dinner. Had a couple sides also, a cos slaw and some fries with wasiabi Mayo sauce. Both where really good, really big sized portions too which was great! Definitely will come back, just a bit annoying how full the place gets.

Daniel Kinnoch

Oh my goodness, the bao here is amazing. We ordered two of them to share, and if they weren't so deceivingly filling (considering they look small), we easily could have had a dozen more. I didn't take any photos of them because we probably just ate them a little too quickly. The glass noodle was a refreshing dish, and the calamari was on point. We also left very satisfied with the price of our dinner, only being around $40 for two. Great artwork on the walls inside the shop, we had a table up against the wall, close enough for admiration. When I rang and got told they don't do bookings, they said if you get there at around 6pm you should be alright as a walk-in. When we arrived, they were almost filled up - so make sure you arrive reasonably early or quite late so that you avoid any disappointment!

FoodLoco

Ordered Pork Bao and chips with wasabi sauce. The Bao was soo tasty and full of flavour Quality/Quantity - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Taste - 5/5 Will I visit again - Yes, I am keen to try out all the other bao's

Arthur Gillies

Been here a couple of times. Service was great and got sat quickly on a busy night. Food was quick and delicious - the buns and ribs were sooo good. Cool vibes. Highly recommend this place!

Adam Kerr

Amazing. Had the pork Belly and chicken bao. The coconut squid rings are different but super tasty, and a decent portion. We also tried the ribs which were very tasty. Will definitely return again!

Ķč Wong

Have been there twice so far. The first time we went was a weekday night and the place was packed out nevertheless. Had tofu and squid gua bao, glass noodles and slaw. They were excellent in terms of taste. We loved the glass noodles so much that we ordered it again the second time we went in a weekend early evening to avoid crowd. However it was disappointingly insipid this time. Why is the inconsistency flavor? Anyway, very friendly service and will return to try others in the menu.

Kat

Been here a few times now, it's a sure simple menu but definitely one of my fave restaurants for Asian fusion. The Baos are always a great choice and I especially love the glass noodle salad. The only option I have been able to fault was the calamari which need more seasoning and sauce! The staff...

Sian

Having been here a few times I've worked my way through a bit of the menu. For good reason, they're usually quite busy but the service is efficient so you won't wait too long. The bao's are definitely the highlight- the buns are light & fluffy but sturdy enough to manage the ample fillings. The tofu is my favourite (closely followed by the pork). The glass noodles and ribs are good too. In the winter they do a mulled wine which is a nice touch. The calamari is cooked well but lacks something - maybe a bit of salt & pepper? - which the small portion of sauce doesn't make up for. Overall, a really wonderful addition to Mt Albert.

Bryce Felton

Great food, great vibe. Would highly recommend! There was a long wait for a table then about a 25-30 minutes wait for the food, which was a bit of a hassle, but when the food came, it was obvious why this place is so popular. We done Chinoiserie!

Trixibelle Swan

This place is Ah may zing. A friend and I were looking for a cafe in the area and were sorely disappointed that these guys didn't open til 4 cause she had heard so many good things. So we came back at 4 for a snack. She got the tofu bun and I got the braised pork and can I just say it is obvious why these two are best sellers. So flavoursome and juicy and melt in the mouth. The j terror is also sick - there's a massive dragon lantern thing that goes above the entire kitchen from the back of the restaurant to the front. It makes awesome. Go here.

Benedict Uy

It looks like the main thing they specialise in here is the steamed buns which they stuff with a wide variety of different ingredients. Went with the calamari bun and shared the glass noodle with a friend. Was quite full at the end especially with the doughnut to finish the meal. Everything was just delicious particularly the glass noodles. It had the right amount of spiciness along with the right textures. Would want to come back to try the other items on the not very extensive menu. Staff were friendly and helpful particularly since it was busy and had to wait for tables. They were able to seat everyone according to order of arrival with minimal disruptions for those already stuffing their faces.

Edmond Young

This place is a gem! It's close by and the food is just taste without feeling too guilty. We had the pork belly bao, glass noodles and chicken wings. Definitely recommended.

Sheena

Perfect setting for a lazy Sunday catch up. There was a good range of Asian beers and the food was simple, cheap and delicious. I got the coconut crusted squid and chicken gua bao. The ratio of everything in the bun was a bit out as one minute I had a mouthful of pickle and then another minute just fried chicken and bun. It was a new dish to me but perhaps I'll try the beef next time. Would definitely go back for the squid!

Honor Lock

I really love this place! Cheap, cheerful and always delicious. My favourite is the chicken bun - perfect combination of flavours. Also the wasabi Mayo that comes with the fries is amazing.

Hungusmcfatty

Nice casual place for a tasty feed with quick and friendly service. The seasoning on the dishes was subtle -not too salty, sweet, spicy, or sour- but heavy on the herbs like coriander.

Hannah Gear

My friend and I decided to try this place out and we were not disappointed. We ordered the port belly and squid bun, squid rings, glass noodle salad and the doughnuts. The buns were fluffy and light and they were complimented so perfectly with the condiments and meats. The glass noodle salad was incredible for how simple it was and the squid rings were cooked so perfectly. The doughnuts were great as well and not too sweet. The waitresses were lovely and the food comes out so quickly.

Tessa Hall

Pork belly buns are amazing!! Not huge so you probably need a side or get two of them. Really reasonably priced too. We ordered the slaw which was nice. Would like to try the glass noodle salad next time.

Vin Elliott

Exceptional service, incredible food, awesome atmosphere, comfortable seating outdoor and inside, funky little bar. Pork ribs are to die for, this has become our regular. Love it

Manic Diner

You know a place is good when you arrive shortly after it opens and it is already packed with diners. Today was the first time I dined at Chinoiserie and it didn't disappoint - great food within a chill, hip setting. They were even playing my jam. My friend ordered the tofu and pork gua bao while I tried the chicken gua bao and ordered the fries with wasabi mayo and the Taiwanese donut to share. I've tried a lot of gua bao but never like the one I had here. Their steamed milk buns were exceptional..soft, fluffy and warm and the flavours within were just on point. Now my friend is just a little thing but she wolfed down her tofu and pork belly gua bao with relish. She loved them both but definitely preferred the pork belly which I will try next time. My chicken gua bao was on point -loved the layers of pickled ginger and white cabbage which went perfectly with the karaage chicken..it was so delicious I couldn't put it down until it was done! The fries were generous and that wasabi mayo was delicious. The Taiwanese donut was the perfect ending to a great meal. Will definitely be back!

Blossoms Lapitan Cruz

love this local joint! friendly staff, unique ambience, and oh-so-yummy yet affordable steamed buns (gua bao) -- the pork belly & the beef are my favourites :)

Suzie Bundock

This place was such a treat. It's literally 5 minutes from my house in mount albert and I never knew it existed. This is like a cheaper version of blue breeze inn. I felt like I was embraced in Asian culture with the most delicious Asian fusion menu. Full of good vibes this place is a defo must visit and easy on the coin. I ordered pork belly bun and spicy chicken wings while my partner had blackbean spare ribs and coconut coated squid rings washed down with a cold Asian Beer. This might just be my new place to eat.

Taylor Compain

As confusing as it is to have an Asian fusion eatery with a French name, there's no confusion in my mind whether I'll be coming back here to eat. With a simple yet effective menu, the chinoiserie's Chicken Karage 'pork bun' is something that I will always be craving. Add a side of perfectly salted edamame beans and you're good to go! Well priced for the portions and a cool atmosphere you definitely need to try this place! The only thing that keeps them from getting a top rating is that they are only open from 4pm , which sucks for a luncher like me. This would be the perfect spot for lunch time get togethers - hopefully this happens in the near future !

Tania Ostick

Very tasty food! The chicken bun was delicious! Also loved the ribs very tasty! The glass noodle salad lacked a little flavour I thought but still good. Worth the wait on a table. Good service also.

Squigglebee

The pork/tofu bun is absolutely delicious and are super affordable too. The squid is lovely; I would recommend getting a dish to share as well as your own however as the portions are on the smaller side. Staff are cool and it has a really relaxed smooth vibe

Charlene Weaver

I came here for the first time tonight after hearing great reviews and loved it! Chinoiserie has a funky, hipster vibe and a simple yet interesting menu. We ordered the pork belly and chicken buns, taiwanese donuts, glass noodles and edamame beans. The pork belly was my favourite! So gooood!! The portion was bigger than I expected and quite filling. The taiwanese donuts were amazing too, very moreish. Not a huge fan of the glass noodles, I personally thought they were lacking in flavour, but overall quite light and refreshing to eat. Great food, cant wait to return!

I Am Hungry

First time ever we had Bao buns.and they were great ...food was really nice and fresh, decor is awesome as well and service was great too..only negatives, the drinks were overpriced at $15 for a small glass

Elese

Very, very good bao in a relaxed and comfortable setting. Staff were friendly although a little rushed because they were hectic but they did a fantastic job with the number of people they had in the restaurant. Chicken bao was incredible, edamame was good, squid rings were my favorite thing of the night. Peach iced tea was also delicious and the different sauces they had going on really made the meal. I will be back for sure.

Jihye Kang

* Amazing deco and vibe in the house. * Me and my friend ordered a Bao each, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. * We also ordered a large dish each, and found them to be a little bland, and devoid of Asian flavors. I would return here if I was hanging out with a group of friends and wanted a Bao each and some cocktails. But not so sure for a proper dinner out.

Sam Jones

I'll put this simply. This is the better cheaper version of blue breeze inn, not as many options but that's what makes the place handy and a must for every lover of Asian cuisine.

Alienbabe

We went on a weeknight with some friends from Sydney and shared some of the lovely Lotus buns with chicken, squid, roasted pork, and some other dishes to share. Everything we had was just delicious and tasty,. Our friends were very impressed. The cafe got really busy and we had to chase our wines, but a good time was had by all. I This was a very nice cafe, casual place and the foods flavorful and fresh. Recommend a visit as is worth battling through the traffic to get there.

Marina Samountry

I was really craving some good bao and this was the closest I could find. For $8 the quality and portion is well worth it. The pork is so tender and the classic coriander/peanut/cucumber flavours work so perfectly. This was just a quick snack stop but I am definitely coming back for another and some sides!

Ian Beaumont

Awesome! Great food and great service. Would come back again any time. Loved to pork buns and awesome beer selection. Cool atmosphere also.

Food 24/7

Have been here once before it first opened, it was nice but not memorable. Had a sudden craving for pork belly so decided to give this place another go . We ordered Pork belly, Beef, chicken Qua Bao and coconut crusted squid rings . The Qua Bao seemed bigger with more fillings than last time. My pork belly was deliciously tender, sweet and crispy . The same goes to the beef, slow cooked with a little kick of chilly. Not a big squid person usually but my partner loves Squid. However, the squid rings were surprisingly light, crispy and not chewy ! Overall it was a very delicious meal , the only slight negative was the waitressing . Told us we can't sit at certain tables even tho there were no other people in the restaurant the entire time we were there ... Ps no photo of the chicken QuaBao as my partner swallowed it before I could take a photo lol

Praveena

Went there yesterday with my hubby and 22 month old daughter. Service was excellent. We were seated right away and they had a highchair for my daughter. Our food came within 10 minutes of ordering which is great especially when dining with a toddler. We ordered the chicken, beef, pork and squid baos and the glass noodle salad. Everything tasted great except for the beef rendang Bao which was nice but not great. The reason I say that is that I know what rendang is supposed to taste like and this missed the mark a little. A nice dining experience and I will definitely be back for more.

Manuela Ovalle Herrera

Wow! This place is seriously Wow. The service was really great and super fast! The food was amazing. The price is also really affordable. This will certainly be on our regular restaurant list.

Claire Farquhar

This place is just amazing. My boyfriend and I go here every few weeks or so on a Saturday night - rammed but it's never an issue :) Everything is absolutely mouthwatering. The ribs are so dericious it hurts to talk about them. I think they sprinkle crack on them before bringing them out, that's how addictive they are. I wish they came with a bowl of water/wet wipes to clean up with though it can be a bit messy. All of the buns are great too. They just changed their menu up and its still as good! Perfect for 2 - 4 people - you can't book but once you get a table and order the food comes out within minutes. Staff are cool, friendly and efficient - it's quite hipster-ish. Only thing I didn't like was the fries with wasabi mayo - just because I think wasabi mayo is weird with chips.

ShoRt

First impression - amazing decor, funky, bright, unique, great outdoor area. Food wise, delicious steamed buns with filling (known as Gua bao) which was much needed in Auckland! They were soft and delicious. They also do good side dishes which are good to share. Try the sticky ribs and nibbles. Really good! Best part is to ask for plain buns to soak up the rib sauce. Delicious. They do drinks - Thai beer, jap beer, NZ beer etc. yum! Would definitely come back here to try more of their buns.

Amit Tripuraneni

Pork belly Bao get in my tummy. So delicious and filling. If you are super hungry then order another bao or order a side dish. The chicken wings are nice and spicy. Cool setting and chilled out staff - good visit.

Rohan Geo

If you're after a delicious modern take on Chinese food, this is the place. In my opinion, ahead of it's time! This fusion restaurant pays tribute to its roots with hits of traditional flavours and a contemporary twist. A causal catch up with punchy cocktails and noms or if you're keen to try something different. Be sure to try some 'gong' sauce with your buns! Great outdoor seating with the option of keeping warm with novel Kimono's and multicolored fortune cookies to finish a great dining experience!

Libby Jane

Tried this place on Saturday night, super cool vibe and friendly staff. The food was simple yet amazing beyond my expectations :) will definitely be back- yum!!

James

+Excellent fresh food. +Welcoming servers. + tremendous clothing options for outdoor dining. +Brilliant service. +Imaginative menu. +delicious cocktails -Draughty indoor dining.

Helen Mach

Had visited early evening 6pm so food came out quickly and there was no wait for a table. Restaurant filled up quickly. We had the chicken and pork belly buns, edamame and pork ribs. All were amazing especially the ribs! Would definitely go back. Service was great too.

Lisa Whyte

Went here for the first time and LOVED it! Simple menu done very well! I only managed to get pictures of the pork bun and doughnuts. But between a group of 4 we tried the pork, chicken and tofu buns as well as the slaw (if your sharing 1 slaw does 4 people). I would highly recommend going here! Lovely staff too

Anishta

I absolutely loved the feel of the place, really nice decor. Food was quite nice too. I had the chicken and squid baos, which were both tasty, a little sweet for my liking, but I guess that's what the big bottle of sriracha sauce at the table was for. Chips and the famed wasabi mayo were pretty lacklustre but a great experience overall.

NCC1701

The food here is nice but a tad over priced. The squid gua bao is delcious however the others are nice but nothing special. I found the pork to be the most disappointing actually. Erks sticky chicken nibbles were again nice but definitely nothing special and it states spicy on the menu but isn't actually spicy. The reason I haven't rated this place lower is because of 3 items they do amazingly well- the taiwanese donut for dessert is absolutely scrummy. The fries are delicious and crisp and the wasabi aioli as tasty as hell. My new obsession is definitely the schezuan peanuts- they are deelish!

Colin Campbell

Well this is an over priced eatery with little going for it. Once people realise that the food is over priced for what you get then sense will prevail. The food is edible, but even a pigeon would leave hungry.

Sam Lin

First time here was great, delicious food and great atmosphere. Slightly pricey for what you get but was well worth the experience! Would definitely visit again.

Miss Kiki

Dined here with some friends tonight. Have never tried these buns before but have been meaning to try them for a while. I had the pork belly one. It was very flavoursome, the pork belly was nice and tender although I couldn't taste any peanuts at all, I don't think they were on there. I think the buns are reasonably priced. I would like to come back and try the other flavoured buns. We also shared squid fries and cold Korean noodles. I wasn't wowed by any of these dishes, they were all tasty though. Next time maybe I will try the ribs or wings.

Cheap Cheap Foodie

Time and date: dinner Food and beverages ordered: most of the gua bao, asian slaw, chicken wings, pork ribs, fried squid and most of the beers Environment: funky and interesting Service: extremely friendly and lovely Costs: $30 per person Will I return: definately. Comment: a very good substitute for other eateries such as burger joints with mates over beer. The gua baos flavors are innovative and with hint of traditional flavors (notably the pork belly gua bao). The sides, especially the fried squid are a must. An extremely great place to hang out with friend over light dinner and drinks. ****** My apologies, the latest four photos are submitted by mistake, will be removed as soon as I know how to *******

Russel Dias

Funky eatery in Central Auckland which makes arguably some of the best baos! We tried a few of the baos, the ribs and the calamari. The ribs were a bit too sweet for my liking but my friend enjoyed it. The squid was slightly average. Limited menu, but I guess it allows them to perfect the choices they do have on offer. The staff are awesome, prices were awesome and decor is awesome too. Really looking forward to returning!

James

Very good Asian food , delicious . Have been there on many occasions now - and have always enjoyed the variety of different combination of flavors that their menu offers. If you are looking for a traditional Asian cuisine experience - this will not be the place for you - but this is perfect for those wanting a modern spin on traditional flavors as chinoiserie really offers a fusion of many Asian cuisines with a focus on the Bao format . The menu is forward thinking, food has good balance of flavors and are executed well using many Asian classics from various parts of the continent (e.g. Satay, hoisin sauce, Kimchi with Beef Bao, Sriracha sauce, Szechuan peppers etc). Have tried most of menu now and thus far everything I've had there were very delicious . Every one of the Bao is unique and I would recommend trying all of them - only downside is that the sauces and the contents of the Bao can be a little messy to eat at times. I also love the slaw , full of flavour but the dressing is not too overpowering The sticky rice dessert is also fantastic with flowers on top and coco flakes, and I'm in love with the coco.

Gemma

Went here last night, to start we got mulled wines which were described as hot and spicy, they were hot but also really pulpy toward the end. For food, off the gua bao menu we ordered the pork and the tofu. Generous portion of pork but a little low on the bok choi and I think there was cucumber in it which wasn't on the menu? I don't usually order pork so idk if this was normal but it was kind of gelatinous towards the end.. quite salty but the bun was soft and delicious. The tofu was also tasty but again could have had more salad/slaw. We also ordered the erk's sticky chicken nibbles which was so good, small but juicy w heaps of flavour. If you're going to get dessert, try the Taiwanese donut but maybe 1 between 2 as neither of us could finish. Really tasty fried donut in bite sized pieces w chocolate sauce and coconut. The service could have been a little quicker in offering s more drinks and clearing away stuff. Also it was as a really cold night but inside it wasn't much warmer! Lucky for mulled wine.

Amy Hola

Delicious Gua baos : Pork Tofu Chicken Best baos I've ever eaten Chinese donuts -avg Indoor seating Great service.

Dmitry Konovalov

Popular local eatery is also famous among foodies and students. Very simple eclectic design and friendly atmosphere. Their menu is very simple but delicious. A choice of beers and cocktails is simple as well but good with food they serve. Love to come back!

Vitale Eti

Nice early dinner for us and the best pick. C's hip and funky w.out any pretentiousness and the food is tasty and spicy and we were definitely left wanting more. My wife ordered a chicken Bao and Lemmy lemonade and I opted for the squid Bao and some Erk's sticky chicken nibbles along w. a bottle of Kirin. My beer went perfectly w. my meal and if we weren't so time challenged this eve, would have ordered some more food for sure. The music's loud, but it's good, funky sounds, the staff are awesome, prices really reasonable and the decor is done really well. Even the golden Maneki Neko's (lucky cats) on each table are a fantastic touch. Really looking forward to returning w. a group.

Bri DiMattina

Chinoiserie was the 'date spot' with Brunchclubs' first evening get together #Cocktail Club - with a prearranged cocktail on arrival - a sprinkle of red rose petals set the tone - we were bundled up outside with large warm heaters at each end of the table - an Apres Ski feeling especially when we all started ordering the warmed mulled wine as the selected tastes came out.... Crisp fresh Asian Slaw, Calamari, Spicy chicken wings, and a Bao with several choices - satay tofu, pork belly, Szechuan chicken - The pork belly caught my attention (it generally always does!!) and it was fluffy and light with crisp cucumbers and rich saucy pork - just perfect. Amongst the condiments on the table is their own 'Gong' Sauce - I now have a bottle in my 'kit' at home as a result!!

Pinny

Came for the hype, stayed for the gua bao. Best steamed buns we've ever had. Friendly staff. Small menu done well. The drinks menu was bigger than the food menu. I'm not a liar.

Genie @ BunnyEatsDesign

Came here last week for a group meet up. Very cute decor and the kimonos outside were a nice touch. Wasn’t fond of the bench seating, quite hard to get in and out of. They have a short menu which I personally love in a restaurant. Better to do a few things really well than to stretch your kitchen over too many options. Cocktail was delicious with lovely presentation. I had the pork belly gua bao which was delicious, though I found the boo chou to be an unusual addition. Good portion for the price. The steamed bun had an amazing pillowy texture. They really nailed it. The asian slaw was tasty. Fries were good, especially the wasabi mayo that comes with it. The chicken nibbles were standard. I found the squid rings were a bit bland, but better with the wasabi mayo. Maybe I just like wasabi mayo too much. Service was friendly. Couldn’t fault it. Chinoiserie is a great spot if you’re looking for something a little unusual for cocktails and a nibble.

Andi Jandal

Chinoiserie used to be a Chinese takeaway, but it seems to do much better in it's current incarnation, so I guess change can be good. I came here not long after it first opened, but wasn't that impressed. My pork bao wasn't to my liking & while the calamari was tasty, it was a bit chewy. However, went again last night for takeaways & ordered the beef bao, pork bao, sticky spare ribs & sticky black rice and was pleasantly surprised. The place was packed inside & out as usual, but we didn't have to wait too long for our order. The smell that came out of that brown bag on the way home was really something. I couldn't wait to get home & tuck in. I also had my suspicions confirmed that the reason I wasn't fond of the 'pork bao' the first time I tried it was because it wasn't a pork bao! Not sure if my dining companion switched them, or we were brought the wrong bao, but at least I finally got to try it. I've tried a few different places that make bao & the one thing I'd change is the thickness of the bao, or perhaps the bao:filling ratio. The beef bao was delicious, kimchi, daikon & beef cheek - loved the filling, but just not a huge fan of thick fairly tasteless bao buns. Judge Bao definitely make tastier, lighter, fluffier bao, but I prefer the Chinoiserie fillings (the pork at least - I haven't tried any others at Judge Bao). The pork bao was good, but I preferred the delicious fillings of the beef bao. The standout for me though was the ribs. I loved the sauce - so delicious. The only thing was some of the meat was a bit chewy. If it wasn't for that chewiness the ribs would have been perfect, but I still recommend you try them, because they're damn good! The black sticky rice was much nicer than others I've tried, but ultimately I just don't think I'm a fan. Each to their own. I would definitely return for the beef bao & ribs.

MelissaLosesItBlog

I visited Chinoiserie with a bunch of other bloggers for a bloggers cocktail night. We were served cocktails on arrival and I have no idea what they were but they were great. The presentation was amazing and they were topped with rose petals. The we had a selection of starters brought out of which I had a few chicken wings. The were in a really good sauce which made them nice and the perfect consistency and texture for me to be able to eat. Then we picked our Bao for the main course and I had chicken again. The Bao was beautifully presented and while too big for my tiny tummy the amount of chicken with the salad inside was the perfect amount for me. It was really yummy and I enjoyed it. The service was great and the outdoor heaters much needed. I recommend this place and it's suitable for Bariatric people!

Gem

Visited Chinoiserie for the first time tonight. Ordered the beef cheek, pork belly and chicken thigh steam buns, had them take away to share at home with friends. So glad I went here, everyone really enjoyed them. Good prices really good, and a nice atmosphere. The best steam buns I've ever had. The chicken one was my favourite. Will definitely be back. Good work guys!!

SS

Absolutely loved my experience at Chinoiserie last night. From the kimonos outside to keep diners warm to the massive bottles of 'gong' in the condiment section on the table ahhhh. Menu is small, but don't let that bother you. They don't do much, but they do it well. We decided on ordering a couple of dishes to share. We got the pork belly steamed bao, the Szechuan chicken bao, the black bean sauce and chilli pork ribs, and the coconut crusted calamari. The actual bun itself was soft and was literally perfection wrapping more perfection. Both the chicken and the pork were absolutely delicious. I'm definitely going back to try the rest. The calamari surprisingly wasn't spectacular. Tasted very very standard. Spare ribs were good. They were extremely sweet despite being advertised as marinated in chilli. Kudos to the chefs and wait staff last night. Faultless service ☺️

Miss Charlotte Cake

Loved the Kimonos out the front! Thought they were an awesome idea to help keep warm. I came along last night as part of #CocktailClub - I tried a fabulous cocktail... can't remember the name but it had rose petals and a mini parasol in it. Tasted like a delicately alcoholic fruit punch. I also tried little bits of the sesame salad which was definitely one of the highlights for me. I also tried the calamari, chicken nibbles (really tasty) and the chips in a light wasabi dip. I have never tried wasabi dip before but it was SO GOOD! For my main 'Bao' I ordered the satay Tofu one. I haven't really seen the open steamed buns much in Auckland but this was so unbelievably tasty. The bun was so soft and fresh and the tofu was cooked to perfection. I loved it and it was surprisingly easy to eat for a girl who always has red lipstick on. I took a bunch of photos but the light was so dark they didn't turn out very clear. I will definitely be going back to try the Chicken Bao and to eat that Sesame salad again.

Georgia Bulloch

We went here on a week night and was surprisingly busy. We were seated at the bar while we waited for a table. We ordered mulled wine which was delicious. Once seated at a table, service was only OK but the food was amazing! Really cool atmosphere and vibe - would definitely return.

Mat Randomplay

Can't wait to get back here! Have only been once but it had lots of variety, amazing flavours and came out at a reasonable price and we were nicely full. Pork buns were a highlight, pillowy bun and rich sticky pork.

Lena Duffin

I came here on Saturday night with a group of friends and it was really great. There were around ten of us, so we took our time with ordering, having drinks first - I am told the cocktails were nice but I stuck to wine. We all shared a bunch of the sides, which were all delicious. My favourite was the cold noodle salad, followed by the chicken nibbles which were perfectly spicy. I also had 2 baos, a chicken and a pork, and both were really tasty. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from them but I was a bit brave and glad that I was. For 2 baos, my share of some sides, and a glass of wine it came to $33. All of the food came out really quickly, which meant you could just order one thing at a time and decide if you wanted more without a big wait. We were seated outside, and it was hard to balance having the gas heater on wihtout being too hot, or without the heater and being too cold, since it was right between the two tables we were sitting at. I have to say, I don't think the plastic walls and gas heater thing really cuts in Auckland during winter, although it is seeming to become more common - I'd rather not eat dinner wearing a coat. It was fun since it was a big group and we were having a good time but if I was just there with a partner or something it'd be indoors or nothing for me. Another thing I'm not into that is common, is cutlery being in a communal thing on the table - I've seen kids (elsewhere) touching them and it just grosses me out to eat with cutlery that's been sitting there for possibly a while. These are minor grumbles really, but just a reflection on things that are seemingly popular in the Auckland restaurant scene.I'm not sure when I'll next be back as the location isn't really my neck of the woods but I think it'd be worth the trip!

Food Adventures With AnnaJ

Came here for dinner with three friends and we ordered a few sides and a pork bun each. Service was prompt and we had our food in less than ten minutes. The pork bun was my stand out fave. the pork itself was so deliciously flavoured and cooked, and the bun was melt in your mouth soft. I personally disliked the sauce on the ribs (which was disappointing as they are usually a favourite of mine) and about half of them were very fatty. I liked the chicken, had a nice little kick and the asian slaw was yummy. The squid rings were a bit chewy and lacked flavour and the fries were not at all seasoned. It was absolutely freezing in the restuarant!! we were sitting half way down the room and still icy cold from the air coming through the front door. My friend got up to shut it twice, but staff and other diners left it open whilst coming and going. As we were finishing our meal, the most horrendous smell was drifting out of the bathroom and it lingered until we left about 45 minutes later. the staff told us that it was coming from the pipes but it was terrible especially when you were eating. So the food was ok, service was good but the temperature and smell was such a let down, we ended up leaving early because of these two things and I wont be returning.

Ellie F

This place is definitely top fave. Chill atmosphere, suuuper quick service, rad music and omg DEM BUNS SO SOFT👌🏼 will be back here on the regular

Madicattt

While it may have taken me a while to finally get there, Chinoiserie was love at first sight. Greenery, school chairs and kimonos for when it’s cold, it has a relaxed aesthetic that is right up my alley. On my first visit we were greeted by (who I presume is the manager), Sharita Kali. We grabbed a table out the front and Sharita took us through the menu. With eyes larger than saucers we ordered as many sides as possible and a bao each. You have to go up to the bar to order but it’s not really a hassle, I quite like getting the payment out of the way up front. In what felt like a blink of the eye we were being served and believe me, this wasn’t a one off thing. Every single time I’ve gone back, the waiting time for food has been ridiculously short. We wolfed it down. That’s not an exaggeration either. I actually made myself feel ill, but with so many flavours on offer. I couldn’t help myself. Now that I've chilled out and actually tasted what they have on offer (as opposed to inhaled) I think my favourite menu items are the Chicken Gua Bao and the Asian Slaw. Also gong. GONG ALL DAY EVERY DAY AND AT HOME TOO (because you can buy it for home). Chinoiserie for me is a sum of my favourite parts, quick, friendly, delicious. And they do take away! If you're interested, Chinoiserie is one of my favourite places for good service in Auckland. To see my other faves, check out my blog (or my Zomato reviews!)

Kacie Stetson

A great vibe and very on it and attractive staff at this little joint in Mt Albert. My wife and I had the pork baos and were blown away. The creaminess of the bun contrasts well with the umami of the pork and the snap of the herbs and spices. We regret that we didn't order a side of the slaw but will be back soon. One thing that wasn't bang on was the squid rings. Pretty tough, dry and chewy the night we were there. Overall, a very down to earth and funky vibe that reminded me of my hometown (San Francisco), great prices and great food.

Sandy Nguyen

The buns are so DELICIOUS!! It's so soft and everything about it was so good. I had the pork bun but also tried the tofu and beef one too. The sides were a little pricey for what was on the plate but was very tasty. I would recommend getting 2 buns to fill you up

Panda Eyes

Great place to linger with friends or grab a quick bite to eat on the way home. Coconut squid rings are superb and the pork gua boa highly recommended! Fantastic service too. Would like to spend more time trying l the delicious sounding cocktails too..... Close the door in winter as, inside has no heaters & perhaps rethink your price on beer. It is Owairaka after all.

Hazel Gibson

This place has some of my favorite things: a short menu, delicious bao, and mulled wine. Highlights were the pork belly bao, glass noodle salad and spicy chicken nibbles. A couple of gripes: the front door is weirdly made so doesn't close properly, making the tables at the front very drafty. Also, the fluoro lights over the kitchen I suppose are supposed to invoke the 'street food' aesthetic of this place, but it makes it seem a tad too bright and sterile feeling. PS, Bao buns are house steamed but don't appear to be house made. We saw them frozen, in a big plastic bag.

Ryan Subritzky

Having walked in at 8pm on a Tuesday night with some friends, and to be honest I was expecting this place to be somewhat empty, due to its unexpected location away from the main Mt Albert shops and from what I saw was that corner of Mt Albert Road and Owairaka Ave is being brought back to life with hip new eateries. So we walked in and the place was packed which is only a good sign since the place is quite new and so many people have embraced it and rave about it. I will admit I heard about this place a while ago but never went and I am so glad I did finally get there! The menu at Chinoiserie looks simple with little on offer, but those few items are delivered so well with some pretty amazing flavours, I think its much better to do few items amazingly well then offer several half way there dishes. I think its fair to say I could tell before I even ordered what the most popular things would be and given they were the things that looked the best to me in my ravenous mood. We all ordered Chicken Gua Bao and a Pork Gua Bao each with a side of Coconut Squid rings to share and a bowl of fries (everyone loves fries!) The buns were perfect, warm and soft and hint of sweetness fill with a generous amount of sticky flavourful meat and fresh crunch veggies like cucumber, bok choi and you can't forget the fresh coriander and the peanuts on the pork one finishes the whole thing nicely. I can't fault the squid at all, well cooked, not chewy at all, hot and very crisp, I could have downed a bucket of it though... Surprisingly I was fairly full by the end of it, so for some it might be good to just order as you eat rather than order all at once, you will be stunned by how quick they get food on your table, I had barely said a few words to my friends before we had all this beautiful fresh hot food on the table. The place is kind of a bar style atmosphere, not too noisy though and you order at the front which kind of is awesome if you're in a large group and were planning to split the bill you just go up and order the things you want and pay. The place is a little small which the only reason that is because the place is so damn popular — and all the staff greeted my friends and myself with warm smiles and were friendly and chatty and very accommodating. I totally recommend this place and I know I'll certainly be returning soon. A great restaurant tucked away in an unexpected location, you defiantly feel like you're in on a secret with this one, try it out!

Neil Cording

The Chinoiserie has done really well to serve their style of food consistently. The menu doesn't change which is okay, and it won't disappoint. The menu is based on steamed buns with their fillings including my favourite, pulled pork. I thought the tofu filling was a little odd but might just be me. Added to this are some excellent sides including coleslaw, string fries and some beautifully cooked chicken wings. If you go make sure you know that it will be messy finger food. A great selection of beers available and desserts to die for. I won't ruin the surprise!

Nicky

Have been here twice and really love it! My husband is Taiwanese and he also loved the food - not exactly authentic but definitely close enough. We especially liked the chicken and pork bao, they were the best. The calamari/squid rings are yummy too. Great selection of alcoholic drinks. A fun, relaxing environment with friendly staff. Will definitely be going back :)

Jayne Oates

Highly recommend this place for dinner, the food was amazing, really tasty and the service was excellent. Great atmosphere and really friendly staff who ensured our evening was great. In terms of cost, it was $65 for 2 people which is very good as we left full and probably ordered one too many dishes. A++++

Eating Party

The staff were very friendly. Went on a Saturday evening, they don't take bookings but although they were full, the wait was only a few minutes. The bao were amazing. Between the 4 of us we tried the entire range, I had the squid and the tofu both were fantastic but I've been thinking about the tofu bao all week, can't wait for another one!! Well priced great g and t too. Good night out for a reasonable price, will be back.

Sungsam7

We love this place coz it's not pretentious. The staff make you feel you've arrived home for an evening of chilling. It's one of the funkiest down to earth environments one could eat at. The black sticky rice is really delicate and delicious. Reasonable prices too.

Bettina Tran

Went here with a group of friends. We tried almost all the sides apart from edaname and peanuts. The sides were tasty especially the Korean noodles. Had the chicken and pork baos. The baos were quite pricey for what it is but was flavoursome. The decor was pretty unique and it felt like a cool place to just hang out. Though as we're moving into autumn/winter there doesn't seem to be any heating as the doors were open. Staff were helpful but could have been a bit friendlier.

Anna Bentley

Had the best dinner here. Was very reasonably priced, and all the food tasted so fresh. Would definitely recommend the chicken milk bun. Chicken wings are a bit over priced but still yummy!

Stuart Harris

just thought we would pop in on way to movies and were very happy very good pork belly buns and our chicken nibbles were delish very friendly staff who make a great cocktail topped it off

Mrspotandmrlid

Wow. Just wow. The quality of food, packed with that much flavour...for such a reasonable price- dare I say it cheap even! A tiny yet tasty menu of the lightest steamed buns jam packed with fresh ingredients, delish slaw light and not too creamy, a small yet tasty drinks menu I wish we had a place like this near my house- I would be proud to call it my local.

KH Dang

Amazing food matched with a really good price. Highly recommended. Atmosphere is amazing and the staff are really nice :) On the plus side, there's always a carpark - definitely going back here.

David Boshier

Super busy on a Friday night but we did not mind a few beers at the bar while we waited for a table. As the menu was limited we ordered the lot and shared as a group. It is hard to go past a good pork bun and a fresh tasty Asian slaw. We will be heading back.

Sukriti Bhatnagar

I went here recently to try their Baos as I've read many reviews. I had ordered the tofu bao whilst my meat eater mate had ordered the pork one. The tofu bao had a delicious satay sauce that really went well together, could have done with more slaw. I was told the pork bao could have done with more kick and seasoning. For the price we both felt the size should be larger and they were just barely warm.

Paul Spain

Great to have such a unique and funky local bar and restaurant in the Mt Albert/Owairaka area. The milk buns were super tasty. I wasn't so keen on the beans. Definitely worth dropping in if you're passing through or near Mt Albert.

Rebecca MacDonald

My friend recently suggested checking out this place when we were making plans for dinner. Mt Albert is not somewhere I go very often, but its not actually that far from where I live so it was nice to check it out. I like the idea of more hidden gems in different areas of Auckland so every time you want to have a meal or a drink you don't necessarily have to head into the city. So the menu offers Tawianese fusion food and their main speciality are milky buns with either, pork, chicken or tofu. In addition to the buns they have side such as asian slaw, fries, fried squid and chicken nibbles. We each ordered the pork bun (the chicken one was tempting but I find it hard to go past port belly) and then the asian slaw and fries to share. The food was all amazing, and cheap as well. We had to try the Tawianese donuts for dessert (didn't disappoint) and by the time we were done we were well stuffed. If you are super hungry you may consider two buns, but with the sides and dessert one was definitely enough for me!

UltimateOmNoms

I’ve had some gua baos from other Auckland eateries that serve fusion food. The reality is that they stuff the open-styled Chinese buns with something made in the kitchen and call it a gua bao. No. The trick to the tasty authentic guao bao is that fatty pork must be used – the pork belly type where you can count the layers. Juiced up with a beautiful sweet sauce and a touch of peanuts, it is literally heaven in the mouth. This is where the gua bao at Chinoiserie wins. The bun was surprisingly soft and fluffy, both to have there and takeaway. This is interesting because this type of bun usually dries and hardens when it cools. Think of the buns you have at yumcha when no one wants to eat it, and the peer pressured one is then faced with a cold hard white Chinese bun. The first time I tried Chinoiserie, I embarrassingly made friends take it away because I was stuck in glorious Auckland traffic. Them coming all the way from Christchurch to taste this, I was lucky the taste wasn’t compromised! The second time I went with friends who had the authentic gua baos in Taiwan, and it was a unanimous thumbs up. The only difference is that the ones there are usually made with pickled veggies instead of the colourful Western slaw. Unless you have a reason to: - don’t order the tofu gua bao. The taste really paled in comparison to others. EAT SOME MEAT! - opt out for the fries. They are really just fries with a wasabi dip. Plus they were the skinny kind and I like the manly chunky ones. - opt out for the coconut crusted squid rings. They were a bit bland and there was no sign of coconut taste. - go somewhere else for dessert. The black sticky rice dessert seemed to be just a sliced assortment of ingredients scattered. Instead - order the pork gua bao. I normally don’t even like pork but they are traditionally made with pork and once you taste it you’ll know why. - in fact order 2. Because if you have a normal appetite, one gua bao won’t totally fill you up. You’ll need sides. - try Erk’s Sticky Chicken Nibbles. A touch of spicyness – so good. - get the fresh coconut. You’ll also get a spoon to scrap the sides for coconut flesh! I can happily say Owairaka Ave is turning into quite a trendy place to eat out thanks to Chinoiserie and L’oeuf. The menu is simple and you order at the till. No table service or waiters there to pick up white serviettes that drop when you stand up. Just satisfyingly tasty food.

Courtney @ A Food Awakening

Chinoiserie is the new kid on the block in Mt Albert, bringing Taiwanese fusion with a trendy and modern outfitting. I would call this place a quick bite because the menu is limited to gua baos aka the Taiwanese burger and a few sides.I thought this would be a great place. Since the menu is simple, there is no place to hide and what they provide should be done really well. However to be honest I was pretty disappointed. Firstly theres no table service, which I think for the size of the area and amount of tables I feel its needed. Also when we asked to order one of each bun, the girl taking the order was like "there is no squid bun", and we were like "its on the menu". We had to point to her to the menu continuously, it was very odd. Maybe some training is needed for the staff. Another recommendation is to change or update the wine list, as no one recognises where the wine comes from and knowledge is key. The buns themselves were good. At least there was plenty of filling. A few downsides were that they don't actually make the bun themselves which I think is a shame. If thats the main menu item, there isn't a lot of labour that goes into the bun for them to sell at $8 a pop. Also nothing comes out hot. It was only just luke warm and they came out extremely quick after ordering - too quick, which makes you question your order. However I know thats an issue that doesn't bother all diners. Some positives were the house made satay sauce found in the tofu bao, and the pork belly was cooked well and oozed plenty of flavour. Also a note, I wouldn't bother ordering the Asian Slaw as a side if you order the boas, because its the same filling as whats in the baos. I think theres future potential because the atmosphere and fit out is great, I think the food needs to lift its game especially now with all the competition in the Auckland area. Rating Food: 5/10 Service: 5/10 Value for Money: Ok 4 Owairaka Ave, Mt Albert Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 4pm-Late

Monica

Asian inspired fusion eateries are spreading like wildfire these days. On trend, recently opened Chinoiserie showcases the Taiwanese-Chinese influence. The coconut crusted squid rings were the winner for me this night; crisp, well flavored and tasted like real squid without the overpowering seafood aura - try it with the wasabi mayo. The edamame and erk's sticky chicken nibbles were also a fantastic decision. We sampled the tofu and pork gua baos. I was a tad disappointed; don't get me wrong they were definitely good. However I wanted to be blown away seeing as they're the main feature of the menu and they looked so damn appealing. The house steamed milk buns were the right texture but tasteless and a bit soggy so when you got to the part without filling it was pretty boring, otherwise pretty good. Eating these baos can get pretty messy so maybs don't bring your hot date here. Service is fast and friendly with fine pricing, this fulfilling meal accounted to $45 between 2. I love the dragon painted wall expansing the horizon. For more reviews around Auckland: follow @adl_taste_akl on Instagram!

Audric Kam

Depending on your intentions, a visit to Chinoiserie could go either way. The atmosphere is nice and so is the food. However, if you're planning to satisfy a large appetite, especially cost-efficiently, then this place would not be appropriate at all. Overall: As it states on this page, Chinoiserie is definitely suitable for "casual dining".

Dawn

Went to this restaurant recently and not at all impressed. Expensive for what was on offer and had to get dinner elsewhere after. Very limited menu and I suggest you have some drinks before you go as they are over the top as well.Wont be back.

Angela Trigg

Went here last night. Good food but wonder how many times one could go back due to the limited menu. Maybe a few more options would be a good idea. Lovely staff. Reasonably priced.

Lou Green

love this place. food great, nicely priced, pork and tofu burger to die for. decor lovely , everything considered. Great atmosphere. Fantastic for mt albert.

Varsha Paul

Small menu. Lovely idea but the food just didn't deliver for me. The sauce in the pork belly buns was far too overpowering and I would like more options for fillings for the steamed buns. Otherwise neat interior and cold beer was welcome the night I visited