Review Mulan Malaysian Restaurant - Birkenhead

Loved the ambiance and food here! I am very happy to see they’ve a seperate vegan menu! We took cauliflower bites, seasonal veg curry and vegan salad 🥗 all of these were simply superb! Loved the vibes and the birthday celebration, we all sang happy birthday to one of the customer! Happy vibes and tasty food with good customer service. Carol is a lovely host 💕

We dined here for a double birthday celebration and the whole experience was superb! The staff were very attentive and I think it was the owner who we met she was lovely and helpful. You can tell that they take pride of the place and the food they served. We’ve been to Malaysia and the food is very similar and authentic. Our fave dishes would be their curries and the roti top notch - not too thick and oily and it was very light and yum! They even sang happy birthday to us and gave the kids free ice cream. Overall fantastic experience and will definitely be back!

Amazing night I have with my partner. The food was delicious, and the staffs were meticulous, always moving around and checking every table and customer. The portion was right. We ordered plenty and ended up taking it home. If you like spicy, the sambal babi is a must-try. The fried noodles could have some more taste though.

BEST vegan options in the area, they have a separate vegan menu with 5 starters, 6 main and 4 deserts. The restaurant is nicely decorated and the staff is very friendly. The food is tasty and the portions are generous for the price. They have very good cocktails too. Ate there 3 times and loved it every time !

Authentic Malaysian food with flavours that will make your taste buds tingle. Some of the dishes really have a bit of a spicy kick. Order mains and entrées to share, so you can try many different dishes. Best to book a table, as it can be busy. Plenty of parking on main road. Excellent service

Food was awesome and portions were big for the price. We had a starter and 2 mains. Cocktails were normally priced in a restaurant or a bar and were delicious, especially the special martini. Service was relatively fast considering it was pretty busy. Would definitely recommend 💯

This is definitely one of the Best Restaurant in Auckland. I stayed in the city but when I came across this restaurant I just had to go and give it a try. It was a 15 minutes car ride or a 20 minutes bus drive from the central city to Mulan Restaurant. The food was amazing that I revisit again the next day to have a taste of the Laksa which I loved and their cocktails are amazing. Also do not forget to try their dessert, my favourite would be their white chocolate brownies. It was beyond everything and I would say it was the perfect dessert to end off the night. If someone who’s far away from home just on a vacation or is living in Auckland you should visit their restaurant as they have one of the best Malaysian food. The restaurant owner’s hospitality would be a 5 star, because that’s was how good they were My most favourite would be the “ Char kway Teow “ but nevertheless without a doubt i guess all their food would taste amazing

We are a group of 9 (originally 10). Ordered their shared set menu. The food was very delicious and yum. Big portion too (I have my week of lunch sorted thanks!) But what impressed me most is that the owner and their staff checked with us at multiple times for our dietary requirements. It turned out that one of us can’t eat beef. With shared menu, there are plenty of other dishes he can eat and he was not bothered. When the main is served, the waiter also brought one special dish just for my guest. Wow. Just amazing. Thank you Mulan. All of us had an amazing night. You deserved a 10 star from all of us

Had a nice dinner at Mulan Malaysian Restaurant Birkenhead. Owned by Malaysian Indian Chef and the lady boss is very friendly and approachable. Can taste from the curry that it is cooked from scratch and not from commercial packaging. Lady boss said they only use coconut milk in their cooking, no diary. Laksa not very spicy, little missy had a lot of the laksa noodle by herself.. the Penang Curry also not super spicy, kids friendly too.

Amazing food , my new favourite restaurant , you can chill out in a peaceful environment with amazing food and with a glass of wine.

We had a wonderful dinner at Mulan last night, the service excellent and attentive, the food was so delicious, in fact the best restaurant we've been to for a long time. Well worth crossing the bridge for! Can recommend the chilli squid, beef massaman and the pork ribs. We will definitely be back!

Delicious food. We had the chicken satay skewers, prawn papaya salad and the beef massaman curry. All were incredible. Very reasonable pricing for what you get. Great selection of craft beer and wine as well. Despite the restaurant being packed, the staff were very attentive. <br/>We will definitely be back to try more of the menu!

Quite surprised by quality of food and service.<br/>Me and my friends were satisfied with all the food we ordered.<br/>One of best restaurants in town! <br/>Must-try

As usual... one of the hardest things to find in a restaurant is consistency time and time again. Every dish is tasty as the last. Starting with pork bao buns, fiery chicken wings and any third appetizers - yum! Plan is to eat through the entire menu as it's simple and tasty, and obviously they've only put on dishes that can be delivered tasty time and time again! 1/2 the menu done, now working through the 2nd half. With 98% tasty to date for the 1st half - with the lamb being the only dish, where by the time we came to smash it; we were full! Come the next days lunch, that lamb was demolished!

Our 2nd time back here, we brought our siblings along with us. The food is AMAZING!! You must try the ribs, the pork buns, and the fury wings! They are to die for. The service is fantastic everyone is super nice and welcoming, and all the food is so affordable and great portions, Would give it 10 stars if I could, great place! We will definitely become regulars here.

I had my wedding celebration here. No regret. Helpful staff, lovely food, friendly service. Guest are happy . They allow me to decorate the venue too . If you looking for up to standard food and casual no hassle event place , I highly recommended here. 50 happy guest 👍 PORK BELLY - melt in your moth CURRY - 👌🏻

Came here for Father's day dinner and had an amazing time. Food tasted amazing and atmosphere is very modern with an Asian flare. Portions can be slightly larger but left very satisfied.

Visited again last night and took another 2 friends with us.<br/>The food is as good as it is whenever we visit and James really is a very<br/>good host. We will be back but sadly cannot make the first Monday buffet night.<br/>If you haven't been, go.

After an 11 hour day at work, we came here because it was my colleague’s birthday (she recommended it multiple times) and I loved it! For dinner I ordered the steamed vege buns, vegan curry with coconut rice and banana fritters with chocolate-coconut ice cream. The food was delicious - the sauce used on the buns was delectable, the curry was hot and the veges weren’t over cooked and I cannot begin how delectable the fritters were; they literally melted in my mouth. The staff also overheard our conversation about how it was her birthday and ended up singing Happy Birthday to her (3 staff) and bringing her a slice of chocolate cake with ice cream, which I’ve included in my photos, for free!!! Overall, I had the most lovely evening after the longest day. I definitely recommend this place for a warm, filling meal and friendly, attentive service.

This little place is simply amazing, food is just amazing a lot of vibrant flavours. Friendly as staff, food is paced nicely, and you can have a proper conversation without having to shout and you wont need to bring a lamp to be able to read the menu. Been here a few times and I always recommend this joint, if your into a bit of S.E.A. food.

The food is so good! Everything we had was yummy but we especially enjoyed the buns. Really enjoyed the vegan options. The staff are so lovely. Would definitely go back :)

We had an awesome dinner at Mulan for my 93yr old grandmother’s birthday. Everything we ordered was delicious! We were especially fond of all the vegan options which were full of flavour and large portions. Along with the food the ambience was great! Loved listening to 60/70’s music while eating!

Great service! Mulan was very busy tonight with Christmas cheer, despite being busy our meal was delivered quickly and it was as usual just delicious! Recommend sticky pork buns and my favourite prawn and papaya salad. Totally recommend for a fresh delicious casual meal.

Had been planning on visiting Mulan for quite a while before we went in for a family dinner, the squid was the definite highlight!!! Sticky and maple syrupy, and spicy. Love a massaman curry but this one was a bit strange, no veges or anything in it, just meat and sauce. Great roti to go along with it though. Staff were really nice and happy to have us there.

Would’ve given it 5 if the ambience and service were a bit more better but food wise, definitely worth every penny spent for food that’s really tasty and filling. <br/>The prawn & pickled papaya salad was nice but ruined by the type of prawn used but I’d still order it again as the flavors were amazing. Maybe bigger sized prawns head & tail on, just peeled, deveined & charred would take the dish next level. <br/>The sauce on the Chinese cabbage side was too runny, not coating the veg otherwise a nice dish too. Mums chicken curry, definitely a favorite. The mains are absolutely delightful & im keen on trying more again.

It is fairly large restaurant with lots of tables. Fairly nice decor with plants, trinkets and umbrellas scattered around the room and roof.<br/><br/>There was a fair selection of items from the menus. I went with the Satay chicken and the Penang Curry Kapitan. I quite enjoyed the satay chicken even though it wasn't proper. The chicken was cooked nicely and I really liked the coconut peanut satay sauce, which was almost like a curry. The first thing I smelt when I got the mains was the coconut rice. It was just so fragrant. The curry itself was alright but thought it could have used a bit of a flavour punch. It wasn't bland but more subtle flavouring. <br/><br/>Nice dishes and service.

We have been more than once and each time the food has been beautiful. Staff are friendly and helpful. A great dining option if you are in Birkenhead. There is also a kids menu with a few options our kids were happy with and now BYO wine 😁

The food is so delicious, very fresh and full of flavour. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. What more could you ask for. Will definitely be back again.

Amazing! Some of the best food on the shore.<br/>If you like authentic south East Asian food, this place is a must. <br/>Great starters and equally as impressive mains. Good size portions and friendly staff.<br/>Will be back soon <br/>

Amazing fresh food with lots of options for vegetarians. Enjoyed the buns, vegan salad and pad thai with great hospitality. Must visit for South east Asian food lovers.

Amazing food! Everything was so delicious, we ate so much. Lovely atmosphere and friendly staff :) Will definitely be returning. Especially now it is BYO!

For the food itself, I'll give a rating of 4.<br/><br/>The beef massaman was great, but the portion was small. Not a place for dinner if you have a average budget.

We went last night for their Vegan Wednesday meal deal as a group of four. The atmosphere was lovely and the staff members were awesome - they were super friendly. There is a really lovely vibe in the restaurant and it made it such a lovely night. <br/>The Vegan meal deal on a Wednesday is a bargain and it was really delicious. In the group we had 2 Vegans, A Vegetarian and 1 guy who eats everything. So he ordered the ribs - which were delicious (apparently).<br/>We will be going back really soon.

Service was a bit slow, but with only one waitress working, it’s to be expected. <br/>Really cool that they have a vegan menu on a Wednesday - great value at $25 for 3 courses plus a juice. Would go back.

Staff was really kind and friendly, great service. However, the food disappointed me. I ordered the Penang curry and the pad Thai. They both tasted pretty good but the portion of the curry was too little for $25! It only had like 4 pieces of chicken in it and they weren’t that big either.

Been to this place twice and each time it was amazing. All the dishes we tried were flavorful and delicious. Highly recommend the pork belly and the golden shield. Will be back for a third time

<br/>Been there twice during our 10 day stay, and both times they did not disappoint. Food is awesome as well as cocktails. We really enjoyed it there.

love this place!!!!!!!Will b back soon to have curry capitan  pad thai.........!THANKS TO WHOLE TEAM FOR SUCH DELICIOUS FOOD.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Food was pretty good, just above average. Restaurant and staff were absolutely lovely. Great setting, nice and quiet, however I just wish the food was a little better for the value

Dine at Mulan last night and had chilly squid,ribs and curry kapitan the best ever full of flavour.Thank you to the team we will b back.😀😀😁😁😁😁🤗#Mulan#squid#ribs#.

Had been here with friends last weekend and I must say it is a lovely place to enjoy Asian food. Everything we ordered stood up to our expectations (some exceeded) and we couldn’t have asked for more. The staff here is super friendly and warm. For starters we had fury wings and spring rolls and they both were nice. We had mumma’s chicken curry and market fish curry which were nice but it was the beef massaman that stole the show! Definitely worth trying. We also tried the pork ribs which were cooked real nice but the bbq sauce took over and gave it too much of a tangy sweet taste. And yes, prawns papaya salad... fresh and lovely. All in all this is a great place !

We had the pleasure of dining at Mulan this evening. The restaurant was busy with very happy diners, all enjoying the fabulous dishes on the menu. We ordered a selection of entrees, small plates and curries which were absolutely delicious, full of flavour and the perfect amount of spice! Probably the best curries we've ever had! The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. Dimetrious, one of the chefs, cooked for us tonight and showed off his amazing talent! Thank you for a delicious meal and a very nice evening.

Yum curry Capitan was so good. I have never had dish like that before so good. My friend had a beef massaman and he really enjoyed it. customer service was good so will be definately back.

YUM!! This food was so delicious, best Asian food I’ve had in Auckland for a long time. <br/>The dishes were jam packed full of flavour and everything tasted so fresh and made with love. <br/>The staff were friendly, but we had to wait a long time, maybe 30 minutes for our entree (not pictured - chicken baos which were amazing. <br/>Would totally recommend if you’re out this way and I’ll be back for sure!

About a year ago I was a regular at Mulan. Most fridays it would be my girlfriend and my favourite place to eat but sadly since we've started going back i can confidently say that the quality of the restaurant has seriously dropped. 10 months ago my girlfriend and i moved to Australia and recently arrived back very excited to revisit our old favourite eatery. unfortunately are visit was horrible. A whole new staff has been hired and they are all incredibly rude and bored looking. i understand that its a job but i do enjoy arriving to a restaurant and being greeting with a friendly smile and conversation. this was not the case when we visited. Once we did get seated we were ready to order for about 15 minutes before we were given any attention by the wait staff... even though the place was completely empty. The food sadly was not their saving grace. I ordered the beef curry and my god was that thing oily. I wondered if the beef was even cooked, perhaps the 'chef' just placed some meat in a bowl with oil and sent it out. When a member of staff came over to check on how our meal was going i aired my concerns. they gave me some loud mouthed spiel about how the oils separates in the pot. Unfortunately this doesn't cut it. The meal was disgusting. the service was crap. I've given mulan a 1 star rating for good reason. sorry fellas but pick up your game.

Shabby decor, horrible empty baked bean cans as utensil holders (very tacky) sticky <br/>floor and tables, front windows filthy, need a good clean.<br/>Pork steamed buns nice, calamari soggy and greasy, beef massaman curry was the worst I have ever seen and tasted. Way over priced and not very friendly staff. Will not be going back there ever again.

This place has really bad service and incompetent staff that answers the phone for bookings. My partner made bookings for Valentine’s Day a couple days in advance which was accepted. However, when we showed up they couldn’t offer us a table. Clearly they had not written down our booking and didn’t have the decency to tell the truth!!! We had to drive a long way after work to show up and that was the outcome we got!!! They ruined our night and made us eat takeout as other places was fully booked!!!

First time I’ve been out for Asian food in a very long time and Mulan did not disappoint! Staff were super friendly and accomodating, the menu had many dishes to pick from with a variety of flavours to cater to your liking. I went for the Pork bum and Beef Massaman curry. The bun was soft and the filling was meaty, sweet and savoury. The beef Massaman curry was tender and had a lovely little kick. I loved how the beef fell apart, it was delightful. Overall when in Birkenhead and wanting Thai food, Mulan is the place to go!

Really great food and value for money. Loved the pork ribs and yummy squid in Asian spices. Have already recommended to a number of friends and locals.<br/>GnT's also very good for a summer evening.

I would highly recommend the Golden Shield and the Beef Massaman Curry. The squid was delicious along with the chilli jam. I chose Mulan as it was busy and inviting on a weeknight. Service was quick and friendly. The chef was very kind to ask how we were enjoying our meals. I have already recommended this restaurant to my friends and family. I will certainly be back soon.

Stunning! Thoroughly recommend - the squid was the best we have had in years. We always try squid to see if it beats our experience 20+ years ago in Turkey; Mulan didn't disappoint. Steamed pork buns are the best in Auckland and market fish dish presented in an amazing source. Where do you go now days where no dish disappointed! Well done team - the food is to die for!

What can I say but delicious. Pork buns and squid was the highlight for me. Service was so friendly as well. This place is being added to our favourites list

Really good service, the vegan options were genuinely delicious. I would recommend the temple curry and vegan steamed buns, they were really good.

Interesting, tasty, authentic food. Very helpful wait staff. We loved the squid, the prawn and papaya salad (could be improved by addition of a couple more prawns!) The wombok with tamarind was a great flavour combination. Our second visit, and we'll be back soon.

The chef is quite brilliant really when you think about what he's created. Down to earth, friendly chef. Ambience was really nice, you forget you're in Auckland for a minute. Food tastes fresh, authentic and just really good.

Went to Mulan for the first time on a very busy Friday night. I ordered the chicken buns, which gave you two small bao for $10. Quite nice, but have had better ( buns a bit dense for my liking). For main I ordered the vegetarian curry. This was amazing. My friends ordered the calamari dish and this was also sensational. Will be recommending to others, but might pass on the baos next time.

Went here on a Friday night. Had the squid and Steamed Buns as a starter, both of which were very good. For mains we had the Pork Belly and Vege Delight, both were okay. I like my Pork Belly crispy and this was served in a soup, like bowl.

A relatively new restaurant boasting Asian Fusion cuisine, with fresh and exciting tastes to enlighten the taste buds. Each dish has been lovingly created and prepared under the management of one of Madam Woo's previous lead chefs. Rest assured the portions are generous, the flavours and aromas will not disappoint. The decor, atmosphere and furnishings are clean and pleasant however are a work in progress; if you are a lover of traditional Asian cuisine and want to try something new, then Mulan is for you.

The staff are very friendly but my vegetarian curry was a bit on the bland side. My boyfriends meat dish wasn't amazing either. It wasn't bad but it wasn't good either. Wouldn't rush back here.

Food was poor quality and not worth of food prices. Chicken was too much oil. Will not remmoned to return back again. Not good food tonight.

Great local restaurant. The ribs and the fury wings are really delicious. The service was friendly and efficient. Will definitely come back again.

Dined at mulan on a sat night , place was packed surprised they could take us as we walked in off the street, definitely recommend booking a table , <br/>We ordered spring rolls, the vege delight and the temple vegetarian curry, spring rolls - were nice but the dipping sauce is super spicy , the vege delight was amazing ! The tofu was delicious - really enjoyed the flavour combo and the dish was not spicy at all. I will definitely<br/>Be back for this dish! <br/>The curry was also very good - we both enjoyed it ,<br/><br/>Downsides -<br/>Paying at the end was a bit disorganised as the lady rifled through tickets to find everything we had ordered, only one small bowl of rice between 2 people , tbh we would usually eat probably one each - <br/><br/>Upsides -<br/>The vege delight <br/>Restaurant / bathroom cleanliness was good ! <br/>Lots of vegetarian/vegan options <br/>Price - $76 . Including 2 wines and a soda

Quiet midweek dinner. Delicious food and attentive staff. We will be back - great new local.

Food: incredible. Most amazing asian food I have had, and for the price was so worth it. Moderate pricing but above average quality definitely. Presentation was beautiful, and the flavours were incredible. Went with a group of 5, we had <br/>Starters: Mama's Special Pork Buns, Chicken Satay Skewers (this satay sauce was the tastiest I have had anywhere), Vege Spring Rolls. <br/>Mains: Golden Shield, Duck Mee Jawa, Beef Massaman, Penang Curry Kapitan. <br/>Dessert: Mango & Ginger Sorbet. <br/>And I would recommend all of it! <br/><br/>Service: very good service, all waiters/waitresses were lovely with smiley & helpful attitude. <br/><br/>Ambience: nice set up too. Nothing out of the ordinary but suited the cuisine well. The only thing I would change would be the playlist - modern music (which I listen too!) but would be nice to have something more authentic to add to the experience. <br/><br/>Overall would 100% recommend this place to anyone and I am definitely going back when I have the chance. Well done guys!

I have tried many malaysian restauranrs before and this is by far the best in Auckland. They have recsntly returned from Malaysia with many new recipes ans flavours. Lovely family owned restaurant with 5 star service.

Friendly people but seemed a bit flustered.<br/><br/>The food was OK, I enjoyed the Fury wings but the chicken buns not so much. The chicken tasted odd, like it had been reheated or something, but the bun was good. May try the pork ones if I go back. <br/><br/>The Massaman curry was good, beef was really yummy but felt it was missing something - I quite like potato/onion in Massaman curries but this was just meat and sauce.<br/><br/>Golden Shield had way, way too much sweet chilli style sauce on it - which is a shame as the Squid was perfectly cooked. A touch of sauce to keep the squid crispy would have been great but this was literally drowning in sauce and the batter had gone squidgy and soggy. <br/><br/><br/>

It was a really great dinner on Mulan. Great atmosphere great food and outstanding hospitality. Love the squid and beef massaman. Will come back again.

Delicious well presented food with plenty of flavour. Desserts were yummy to. The staff, chefs all made my birthday special and put in a top effort. Relaxing atmosphere with staff all very friendly and genuinely happy to look after you.<br/>Highly recommended. A must visit.

The dishes I ordered were all freshly prepared with notably fresh ingredients and cooked beautifully. It has a nice open and breezy feel to it and is perfect if you are wanting a special meal in a relaxed environment. I have been there twice and would definitely go back again.

Food here is amazing! Great options with so much flavour. Would highly recommend checking this place out! The staff were a little slow on service but it was a busy evening.

The place was nice and have traditional Asian decors and cozy. The staff were nice and accommodating. The food were also good. Their pad thai is one of the best.

FOOD is GREAT and AMAZING! I will recommend the Fury Wings and my most favourite Mama's Special steamed buns! yum! For the mains, i would recommend the Beef Massaman, Golden Shield and Pad Thai. now im hungry, going to Mulan right now again!

I really wanted to like Mulan, and I did like it, I just didn't really like it.<br/><br/>The interior is eclectic, but not in a completely positive way. It's a lovely open space, airy with parasols attached to celing. But it all feels a bit half-committed. The tables on the sides are stylish dark wood but the tables in the middle (the majority) are a bit horrid: the kind of thing you'd see in a Travelodge conference room - truly awful. I imagine that the space would work a lot better with some professional design. <br/><br/>The food was good. Spring rolls were delicious and fresh. Chicken satay skewers were fantastic, really delicious. Prawn and Papaya Salad was crunchy and fresh but poorly balanced - far too sweet, and a sign of a chef who isn't tasting what's leaving the kitchen. Flash fried squid was tasty but again, VERY sweet. <br/><br/>Temple vegetarian curry was flavorsome and satisfying but the sambal chicken was quite mediocre, not the sauce - that was fantastic but the chicken was a bit overcooked. Again it was served with overly sweet pickeled cucumber - too sweet. <br/><br/>Service was very keen to please but sometime things went wrong. When ordering a bottle of wine in a restaurant, I don't think it is too much to expect the waitress to pour it, at least initially after opening it, but apparently that isn't what happens at Milan. Saying that, what she suggested: the Big Bunch Chardonnay was delicious: a great match. <br/><br/>Back to the space, the toilets were not great to be honest, a bit dirty and in keeping with the restaurant as a whole, need a professional touch. <br/><br/>The food at Milan is good, but not great, the interior is not good, but just OK, the service was OK but not really OK. <br/><br/>The place was pretty much deserted on a Thursday night, which is a bit sad. I hope they sort some things out because Birkenhead could do with another good restaurant offering. <br/>

Delicious. kid friendly, we came with 14 mth old and were looked after very well. attentive staff. pork buns and squid are sensational. will definitely come again.

After coming here with my friend when Mulan had just opened, I had a somewhat interesting experience with the owner when I had voiced my opinion about the portions of the chicken skewers I had.<br/><br/>Don't get me wrong there was no problem with the food, just the size of the portions, after taking on my constructive feedback. I thought I would give them a go a 2nd time. I am a huge food lover and always follow Metros top 50 eats and also Urbanlist where Mulan was featured for having some of the best pork bao buns. To my reluctant amusement I couldn't help but give Mulan a second shot, pork buns are my favourite food! I have tried many from around Auckland with Blue Breeze coming in Number1.<br/><br/>I ordered over the phone and when I arrived they explained they had not recieved my order, they apologised and gave me 10% off which I thought was very nice, I gladly appreciated that.<br/><br/>Now for the food I ordered a serving of Bao pork buns and also a serving of spring rolls with their homemade sweet n sour chilli sauce. What can I say it was DELICIOUS! Mulan has definitely got some tasty food a great atmosphere and helpful staff.<br/><br/>The flavours are are amazing and although the pork buns dont beat Blue Breeze Inns bao buns, they certainly made my list of great eats in Auckland.<br/><br/>Thanks Mulan I will be back!!!

Fresh, flavourful food with very friendly and efficient service. Ordered Chicken Satay (tasty, but lacking in sauce). The Penang Curry and wok seared beef were tasty with fresh ingredients. Good Gluten Free options clearly labeled on the menu.

In terms of South East Asian cuisine, there’s a new kid on the block. Nestled in the heart of Birkenhead on the North Shore, Mulan delivers Malaysian food from the homeland of chef James Balakrishnan. Simply and authentically decorated, the menu is split into ‘Bites,’ ‘Picks,”Home,’ ‘Sweets’ and ‘Sides.’ Highlighted in each section is the ‘Chef’s Selection,’ and trust us you won’t leave this place hungry. Designed to share, portions are very generous and filling.

Went there for dinner,ordered kids meal satay chicken with rice ,eye fillet with mushroom and pickled chili and mama's steam bun with pork and 2 rice noodles with tiger prawns. Their staff was really friendly but dishes were a bit disappointing. The source in kids meal was spicy they explained to us that the chef mixed all sauces with chili so they didn't have any mild ones. It was replaced with soy sauce but my kid didn't like it. The rice in kids meal was obviously been microwaved, not fresh. We requested chili free beef dish but it was still spicy and too salty for us. Rice noodles were a bit too sweet as well. Overall would not recommend this restaurant.

In terms of South East Asian cuisine, there’s a new kid on the block. Nestled in the heart of Birkenhead on the North Shore, Mulan delivers Malyasian food from the homeland of chef James Balakrishnan.<br/><br/>Simply and authentically decorated, the menu is split into ‘Bites,’ ‘Picks,”Home,’ ‘Sweets’ and ‘Sides.’ Highlighted in each section is the ‘Chef’s Selection,’ and trust us you won’t leave this place hungry. Designed to share, portions are very generous and filling.<br/><br/>We began with Mama’s Special from the Bites section of the menu. Freshly steamed buns with sticky pork and Thai chicken. Pillowy, soft buns encased succulent, slow cooked meat with a hint of chilli at the end. These definitely rate amongst the best pork buns we have had in Auckland.<br/><br/>Next from the Bites section we ordered the Chicken Satay which is marinated with lemongrass and fresh turmeric and served with a peanut sauce. The chicken was soft and perfectly cooked and the sauce wasn’t too heavy and cloying.<br/><br/>The Chicken Salad, which was a mixture of spiced chicken, cabbage, cucumber and fresh Asian herbs was light, zingy and refreshing. A perfect entree if you want to save some room for the main courses.<br/><br/>The star dish of the whole night were the Pork Sticky Ribs in a smokey BBQ sauce. The meat was so tender, it literally fell from the bone and the chili sprinkled on top gave them a satisfying kick.<br/><br/>The Beef Eye Fillet consisted of soft, silky wok seared eye fillet, mushrooms, ginger, pickled chili and crispy kale. The crispy kale was a great addition, giving a salty burst and a nice contrast in texture.<br/><br/>The Beef Massaman Curry was another of our favourite dishes of the night. Prime beef rump cooked in blended spices, coconut cream and sprinkled with roasted peanuts proved a flavour sensation. The sauce was thick and creamy but not too heavy and the beef was fall apart tender. The roasted peanuts on top provided a nice crunch in contrast to the silky smoothness of the sauce.<br/><br/>Our other main course was the Chicken Jungle Curry which consisted of boneless chicken thigh, pumpkin, parsnip, baby peppercorn, chili and a blend of Asian herbs and spices. A colourful medley in a bowl that looked vibrant and very enticing. And the flavours didn’t disappoint!<br/><br/>All main courses come with rice and we were very grateful to receive a couple of complementary dishes from the chef. One of the perks of being a food blogger!<br/><br/>Green Beans with Roasted Garlic were crunchy and perfectly flavoured.<br/><br/>But the second vegetable dish was our favourite. The sauce was just so flavoursome on the Fried Wombok with Soy and Shallots.<br/><br/>After all this food we were just too full for dessert but we certainly have our eye on the Chocolate Mud Cake for next time!<br/><br/>We urge you to head over to Birkenhead and Mulan. You won’t find tastier Malaysian food on the Shore!

Went with a group and shared the following: Chicken Satay, Vege Spring Rolls, Market Fish, Beef Massamam, Penang Curry Kapitan, Jungle Chicken Curry, Pork Belly and Northern Thai Pad. The food was good, but I was expecting more after reading the reviews and I would have to say I was a bit disappointed - I think I was expecting more wet curry types like Thai food, but the Market Fish, Beef and Jungle Curry had thick sauces. The Pork Belly  - I like mine crispy but this was a casserole type version, it was nice and flavoursome but to me soft pork fat is not as appealing as crispy . Vege Spring Rolls were OK, have had better and the chicken on the satay was a very small amount - I know it's an entrée ...but ....and the sauce wasn't very "saucy" like, definitely had better. The sauce smothered over the Market Fish was too much and the fish was a bit dry. The  Penang Curry Kapitan was good as was the Beef Massamam, although again with a really thick sauce.  I really wanted to love this place but I won't be going again as I don't think the food is that spectacular.

Apart from a few go-to restaurants which have been here since I moved to Auckland 20 years ago, the Birkenhead dining scene really doesn’t have much to boast about. Prices aren’t extravagant, but neither is the food. Walking along Birkenhead Avenue, Mulan stood out as something that would otherwise have belonged in the hip and upcoming Mt Albert scene with Chinoiserie, Kiss Kiss and L’Oeuf. Inside, it was casually embellished with thick knotted ropes around the entrance and on the ceiling of the dining area, the setting is thoughtfully simple. Without calling on famous interior designers, it was enough to elevate the dining experience up a step.

Went to have a dinner with my family last weekend to this great place.  Thanks for the whole team of Mulan, the experience that we had was super excellent, we really enjoyed the food as they all were very uniquely flavored. The service was very attentive, polite and helpful from the waitress to the Manager. Highly recommending this place to everyone who love to have dining experience in a Southeast Asian cuisine.   <br/>We'll definitely coming back to have the yummy meals. <br/>Cheers!

Lovely restrauant, great service and food was delicious. Have been meaning to try this place for ages as my friends have raved avout it, so pleased we did. <br/>Recommend the pork buns, wings and also the squid...Yum. Will definitely go back.

We came to Mulan at 7:00 on a Thursday. It was pretty busy and we had made a booking. We arrived at the same time as another couple who hadn't made a booking and got seated right away while we awkwardly sat in the unattended waiting area for some time until I asked if we could go to our table. My partner had the pork buns which were pretty good and we had a bottle of Spy Valley Pinot Gris which was ok. For main we had lamb curry and pad Thai. The curry was delicious but the pad Thai was too sweet. The decor was..interesting. It looked half finished and had no real theme, minus a few random decorative ropes. Because the restaurant is kind of like a hall it echoes a lot and is quite loud. The wait staff were very friendly, the maitre d was a tad too familiar but nice. Overall our experience was good but I don't think I would come back with the choice of restaurants available in Auckland

My partner and I came here for dinner on Wednesday night and WOW we were impressed. Everything we ordered was amazing: the pork buns were delicious, the squid has so much flavour and the pork belly was divine. <br/>The staff were also super friendly and very attentive. <br/><br/>I had been recommending this place to all the friends and can't wait to go back again!<br/>Keep up the good work!

The food is really yum,portions are abit small sometimes but it makes up for it with its good punch of flavour. But service isn't the best I came with a group and waitress would came take our orders for drinks and ignore at least 2-3 people each time. When I ordered a gin a tonic I got in a short glass and half full which felt like a rip off for $9 . Wasn't told sparkling water would be extra ( many places don't charge) and when it came to settle the bill they wouldn't split the bill which was a big hassle and very off putting, shame because the food spot on. Wouldnt recommend for group dinners. We offered beef massam, beef and chicken satay, fury wings, steamed buns, chicken panang, pork fillet and pad Thai.

Steamed pork buns were great. Fury chicken was very nice. Beef masaman was bland and beef was tough not recommend. Great friendly staff. Very noisy

This weekend evening we visited Mulan, it was full and we had to returned the second day afternoon, we happened to meet the owner, James and he is from Malaysia and he has a team of Thailand and Vietnamese chef to back him up in his kitchen. He is a very friendly and nice man.<br/><br/>We ordered kid's satay set which came with 3 skewers of grilled marinated chicken or beef, a bowl of rice and some cucumber slices.<br/>We also order "O Tao You Bak" soya sauce pork served with rice and some green leaves.<br/><br/>We ordered a portion of O Tao You Bak (Hokkien name of soya sauce pork), a curry kapitan chicken (dried curry chicken) and a portion of satay consist of 4 skewers to share.<br/>The owner was so kind to treat us a plate of fried bean and a plate of spring rolls. Thank you James!<br/><br/>The food taste so good especially the satay and the O Tao You Bak.<br/>Oh dear they were so close to what I could get from hometown!<br/><br/>A not to miss restaurant but assure that you make a reservation for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday.

Just enjoyed an amazing dinner tonight to celebrate my mother in law's birthday. Pad Thai, Penang curry, fish & squid were all bursting with flavour. On a cold dreary Tues night the atmosphere was warm & inviting (the whole restaurant sang Happy Birthday). Great food at reasonable prices & staff were very attentive.  First time but will be back for more.

Deliciousness. Went on a busy Friday night, lucky we booked ahead. Ordered a few starters vege spring rolls, squid and chicken satay. Squid was to die for, tasty tender yum. Then ordered banana prawns which too were just as good. Got two mains a vegetarian one and chicken. Both mains were tasty and bang on flavour and seasoning. We also had plenty left over for lunch the next day. Food was delicious and great value for money definitely be back

The food is excellent. Everythung is freshly cooked to order and they've even modified a few things for us as my husband isn't a fan of coconut cream (although nothing is too heavy on that anyway). The pork buns are divine, so is the squid. And definately try the beans with garlic.<br/>If anything lets this gem down it's that it can be difficult to find great staff in suberbia. The staff we've experienced have been charming, if not hugely confident. The owner makes up for it though - he's everywhere making sure everyone is satisfied. Very happy to happy Mulan in the neighbourhood.

My partner in crime couldn't be bothered making dinner last night so she suggested we try Mulan as the guy who owns it used to be a chief at Madam Woo.<br/><br/>The place is basic, not much energy for a venue but it was packed for a Monday night, boy the food was the best I've had in Birkenhead Iin ages! Food had spice and flavour to each dish and the service was outstanding! Defiantly going back - Malaysian Street Food

Quite disappointed here, we expected more from what people had said. The food was bland and lacked the genuine flavor of the east it dies not represent value for money. We will try again but not soon

Such a great easy dinner . Food is always great , service is friendly and it's great to actually talk to the chef. Really good and reasonably priced food - mamma special is a must

Consistently fantastic food -- Mama's Special (pork buns) and Golden Shield (chili squid) are must-try dishes. Service, while initially a bit awkward on opening, has quickly improved. Highly recommended for a tasty dinner out.

Very warm greeting upon arrival. Table service was waaaaay above average. Half our group were vegetarian which was well catered for here. Note on some of the plates: Penang Curry Kapitan was EXCEPTIONAL, absolutely loved this dish. Vege Pad Thai also outstanding. Special mention to the green beans & garlic side dish which was delicious. Everything (right down to the spring rolls) was fresh and tasty. Excellent craft beer range. Love the decor, table service top notch. Couldn't be happy we now have a place like this in Birkenhead that;s got it together so well.

We family and friends went for dinner. Received a warm welcome by there host. Restaurant at 8:30 pm was still bustling with good vibe. I felt like a busy and well controlled restaurant. <br/>Food was exquisite and service was seamless by a girl and maitre de. Checked on our drinks, meals and topped up water all the time. I think birkenhead has got what they needed in terms of hospitality to treat ourself and be comfortable in our own way. <br/>Drink selection is great with top notch wines and few craft beers which went well with food. <br/>Lastly, Chef introduced himself as James and check on us too. I felt valued and was treated so well. After long time I went to restaurant and I want to go back again and again. Big Hi Fi to Mulan team and Brand. If you are on the shore make a point to drop in some time.. Thank you Mulan..  :)

An absolute pleasure to dine at Mulan in Birkenhead. Each dish exceeding our expectations with delightful bursts of intense flavours. Our friends who joined us said this was the best meal they had experienced in a long time! Service was 10 out of 10. Great friendly atmosphere. Will definitely be back!

Entree: Mama's Special. Steamed buns filled with shredded porkMains: Penang Curry & Massaman CurryThe buns were a little hard and dry for something that was steamed. The flavour of the pork, fresh coriander and chilli was really nice. Could have provided some kind of sauce or "jus" from the meat for dipping, just to help the dryness of the dough along. <br/>Massaman curry was a little heavy on a cinnamon-like spice? Not what I expected, but you get used to it after a few bites. Maybe more coconut could have balanced the flavour out. Penang curry was absolutely perfect. I didn't have to compromise between tasty chicken and having bones in the curry; the meat comes boneless and it didn't result in dryness at all. The tender potatoes were delicious and added a nice texture to the dish. There was a generous amount of creamy sauce to go with the coconut rice. The whole dish was really good. <br/>Some comments regarding service would be that there are no designated waiters to one table, so they all end up asking repeats of the same question to you. Cons: you have to repeat yourself. Pros: they at least check that you've been served and double check to see what you're waiting on. Our steamed buns took a while, which the waiter admitted but I'm quite grateful that after the starter, he noticed us looking around and checked with us which dishes we were waiting on. Yes, he could have checked with the kitchen, but you could tell it was important to him that we weren't left sitting there for ages. Thumbs up for this proactive staff member. Overall, spend ends up being quite high. The style of service is one main per person, rather than ordering a few shared plates with rice for a group. I liked that the flavours are well balanced. Also, the furnishings and atmosphere is nice. The modern music gratifies the style of service which is aimed for western audiences and I suppose this is the main advantage or point of difference from places like Chef Rasa Sayang. Not bad, wouldn't mind going back for special occasions!

Heard the buzz about this new place so although we thought about going to Madam Woo we went local. Don't go here for a quiet conversation the place was pretty well full on Saturday night and very noisy. Staff were over attentive and didn't appear to have their own tables as we were asked about orders and drinks by everyone that went past our table which although they were polite became rather annoying. The food was pretty average and the chicken curry was not very nice at all  - the best thing was the squid which was yum. Staff asked if everything was good - one asked if it was perfect and when we said no they wandered off without any interest - if you ask for feedback then learn from it - don't ask for the sake of it. Even at the till we were ignored while staff chatted and again didn't want to know that we were not all happy. Basics are good but there is a lot of room for improvement. Sorry we won't be in a hurry to go back.

While this place has an interesting looking menu and an owner who seems (he was around the restaurant) to care about the experience, it has little atmoshere (very loud music that does not work with the overall offer and space) and, the food is very disappointing.  We had the prawns, 'larb', steamed buns and massaman.  The prawns were ok but the larb tasted nothing like a larb (thai wise), the steamed buns were a doughy and a bit dry in the content and the massaman was tasteless (think a bad food court).  The concept is good here but the execution needs a lot of work.

Chelscy Luna and I had a fantastic lunch here today.<br/>A wonderful range of dishes and everything was great!<br/>Chef James and his team are fantastic and all the flavours of the food reminded me of being back home in Singapore, Malaysia and Southeast Asia!<br/><br/>We will all be back for sure!

The best Asian food I've had in Auckland bar none. My parents lived in Malaysia for 12 years and said the rendang, rivaled the best that they've ever had. Friendly staff good beer on the menu and the head chef, James even came out and had a chat to us to ask about the food. If you haven't tried Mulan already, then make a booking and go; it's amazing!

What a little gem! Had a late night meal here and well worth the journey from central Auckland. Clearly a chef who puts a lot of love in his food

We live locally and we're excited to hear a restaurant like this was opening in the area. We got used to regularly going to Takapuna for the eating places but we love that there are more options in our local community. The mamas special pork and the squid were stand outs, all the food had delicious fresh flavours. The service was great and the chef even came over and introduced himself to us.

Tried the place just recently after the opening and I can only speak for the vegetarian dish "Vegetarian Rendang" which was disappointing. Besides too much chili it was lacking any taste, no spices, no flavour, just a thick, buttery, curry sauce without any flavour and with heaps of chili. Totally overpriced for this simple dish, which was not different to any random Indian place around the corner.

I've been here twice now and both times have been fantastic. The food is amazing and the chef comes out and has a chat and gets some feedback about your experienced. For a place that has just opened they are doing very well and its exactly what the area needs. Great family business

The food was very good and full of flavours. a very nice touch that chef comes to ask how things were. <br/><br/>Staff were all friendly and efficient. Very knowledgeable about all menu items. <br/><br/>Nice and relaxing overall and would recommend. <br/>

At last proper food as it should be when you are paying for it. All made from scratch, delicious, fresh just so good . Like being back on the food scene in London. The chef even comes out to meet people like at decent restaurants!! We had the squid and a curry, the squid was just the right texture in a delicious well balanced spicy sauce. The curry was bursting with all the flavours and lovely fragrant  Thai undertones. The other food coming out looked great... Banana prawns are for me next time. Try this gem it's not the usual its special and delicious.<br/>  I have never given a restaurant in NZ a 5 star but this deserves it!!