New Zealand Herald

Reviews for New Flavour Restaurant

by Chloe H.
5th May 2013

We had heard the dumplings here were good so booked for dinner (table of 5) on a Friday night. We were not disappointed! We all shared 3 plates of steamed dumplings (from memory they were chicken & chives, pork & chives and prawn, egg & chives) plus two plates of veges (bok choy & stir fried veges). All the food was fantastic! It was more than enough for 5 girls plus we had brought a bottle of wine to share. It came to $13 per person- such a cheap dinner!
The service was probably about a 3/5 and the decor of the place leaves a lot to be desired, but for this price and for such good food you really can’t complain.
Will definitely return here for more dumplings, but I’d recommend making a booking as when we were leaving the place was packed & people were lined up outside the door.

by James T.
18th March 2013

Great dumplings and other menu dishes, open late as well which is always a plus. Not a whole lot of parking around the place but it’s Dominion Road.

by Linda
7th February 2013

I have to say I do love their dumplings. Once in a while I get dumpling cravings and I’d call my friends up and this is THE dumpling place we would visit. Being Asian ourselves, we usually joke about how we can tell if an Asian restaurant is no good by looking at its patrons – if there are heaps of Western diners it’s probably pretentiously expensive and the food not authentic and crap. This is the exception. Their dumplings are super awesome (BUT I think their prawn and pork dumplings have shrunk recently), we always get a chicken cucumber noodle salad too, and sometimes a sweet pancake if we are hungry. I really want to go sometime with a big group of friends so we can try the rest of their extensive menu. Now onto the non-food part of the review – this is the reason I only give it four stars instead of five because it is terribly decorated and has zero ambiance, unless a greasy, steamy run down Chinese restaurant is the kind of ambiance you are looking for. They are always always packed, bookings are absolutely essential. To the reviewer beneath – I’ve been here enough times to know very often people who have came in already with a booking, or have been waiting *outside* for a table for a while go back in and they get seated immediately because the waitress recognised them and already took their names. So if anyone went without a booking and think they seat people unfairly… honestly you HAVE to just book ahead next time. Back to the decor tho, knowing how busy this place always is they must make some good cash, it would be good if the owners invested some money back in the business and make it nicer to dine in. A more heavy duty extraction fan, new furniture, tableware and fresh coat of paint would do this place SO much good. Also I wonder how hard they work their waitresses… often the girls look very unenthusiastic, tired and non-smiley. Still this is an old favourite of mine and I will continue to go back whenever I crave dumplings, I just wish really hard that the owners would give the place a makeover, and teach their staff to greet customers with a smile.

by Jovita M.
21st January 2013

Worst Chinese place I’ve been to. I’ve heard glowing reviews from a lot of my Korean and Chinese friends, but I was severely dissapointed. We asked for a seat of two and the waiter who speaks english said that they are fully booked so we can only take away their food. Then 2 ppl came in and was given seats right away without being asked for their name-so they probably did not book the place. They gave us our takeaway food after half an hour- dissapointing! They said it would only take 10mins or so. While I was waiting by the counter, I could see the chefs cooking in their kitchen sneezing away onto the cooked food!! When we got our food there were a lot of free seats so I asked if we can dine in instead, they finally gave us seats but they gave us no water or sauce or dishes to eat it on. Our neighbour kindly shared their sauces as none of the waiters gave us any sauce to have with the dumplings. We had to get our own water too! Dumpling was above average but nothing special. Prawn fried rice was average and sweet sour pork was average too. I’m chinese and I’ve never seen a customer service so bad like this in a chinese restaurant! I’d not advise for eating in, definitely get a take away as they are impolite even though two of the waiters speak good english

by Regan D.
18th December 2012

Finally got into New Flavour after hearing a lot about it and queuing up several times but giving up. Have to say I was pretty disappointed. The dumplings were pretty much the same as anywhere I’d been and the other foods we ordered were pretty standard. Perhaps I built it up too much but it was not up to much and the way people rave about it seems more like hype than reasoned reality. We also found a hair in our kelp salad. You don’t go to Chinese restaurants for the customer service but a little apology might have been nice.

Over rated.

by Diana
9th September 2012

Yummiest dumplings! Just like what other reviews mentioned, the food are cheap and fresh. Both steamed and fried dumplings are amazing. We also tried their sweet and sour pork, it’s simple, crispy and amazing, we believe it’s the best sweet and sour pork we’d ever ate! Recommended for casual and bargain dining, but do go bit earlier as usual dining hours are usually packed and you have to wait…

by Daniella
3rd September 2012

Dumplings here are amazing. Everything is so cheap and so fresh. It’s so popular you sometimes have to stand to get a table so if you like personal space order to take away! Absolutely amazing delicious and affordable food. This place is heaven and we try and go every time we are in Auckland.

by Jasemine W.
1st September 2012

Dumplings are heavenly, do try the red bean pancakes for dessert, they are quietly awesome!

Oh, and they are cheap too! lol

by Lucia G.
3rd June 2012

My whole family loves New Flavour. We have introduced this place to many family friends and extended family because it is fun and very cheap. The home made dumplings are so tasty. Pork and chives is always present at our table, I prefer the fresh steamed but my brothers always demand the crispy fried ones. Both are great! Spring onion pancakes are also essential, we have been working our way through this menu from JELLYFISH salad, (which I find to have a weird texture but thrilling to brag about, my parents enjoy it!) pork, fried rice, bok choy, cumin seed chicken is delectable!! Amazing.

by harshal m.
27th February 2012

Simply the best Chinese restaurant have come across in New Zealand in many years.

Words are few to define the amazing dumplings that these guys make fresh every day.

Friends and family go there once every fortnight.

Cheers

by mozzibee
5th February 2012

Pastry items are mostly great. However ordering stir fry and others involves risks. The menu is too long.

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