I believe that being a Backyard Traveller doesn't just involve loading the car full of kids, gear and hitting the road. It can also be being a tourist in your own town. Remaining curious with our city and nothing like the climate now to really turn this on. Our local cafes, restaurants, eateries and bakeries all need our support. In Auckland we are blessed with a huge amount of amazing eateries and what my family and I are obsessed with are the fabulous Asian food stops that are scattered across the city. They prove time and time again to be delicious, generous and very cost effective when out as a family.

We have brought our kids up chasing down our favourite spots, so they are adept at choosing something on the menu they are happy to tuck into. And I guarantee that even the most picky eater will find something (even plain rice)! We have also been lucky enough to live in Thailand for a couple years so of course the kids have been exposed to all manner of food and smells, this does not stop them being picky!

So... into it. The eateries I have picked are our own personal favourites and where we return to time and time again, and were some of the first stops post lockdown! Hence they are heavily Auckland Central / West, i.e. not too far from home. In terms of cost, we can usually feed the family for under $50, depends on how many dishes you order (and how hungry the kids are)! We're usually heading to these places after a ramble or scramble up one of our favourite Auckland volcanic cones...

Jolin Shanghai Restaurant
248 Dominion Road, Mt Eden

We discovered this unassuming place a couple of years ago, likely when we were in the neighbourhood after a scramble up Mt Eden. It very quickly became a favourite with it's friendly staff (who now recognise us and know our order), and most importantly delicious . With the most delicious simple stated Fried Pork Buns - let's just say they are pillowy, fluffy breaded pork buns, but the glory is the fried sesame on the bottom, the crisp and crunch is the perfect counter-action to the buns themselves. We've often had to fight our corner with our son for a share of the eight that arrive. To round out our order the kids have taken to the Braised Pork Rib on Dry Noodle and a couple of gloriously steamed Steamed Xiao-Long Crab & Pork Dumplings which our daughter has taken to with enthusiasm, the soup is delicate and mourish. I'd like to say we change our order and explore the menu but we have landed with these dishes and here we stay.

Shaolin Kung Fu Noodle
636 Dominion Rd, Balmoral (also 3 other locations in Auckland)

Again, this is a relatively new find. Across the road from a long standing favourite Barilla Dumplings we were looking for something a little different and with a few more options than dumplings. When we first visited Shaolin the tables were delightfully covered in bright and crazy cartoon table covers. They added a joy and energy to the restaurant that was welcoming and friendly. Unfortunately on our latest visit (immediately after lockdown) they'd taken all of this out and replaced with a fairly generic brown and beige decor... mores the shame! In any case the food was just as delicious (maybe more so after 2 months without it?). Here we have our favourites again, but they do vary by family member. I adore the braised beef spicy cleaver cut noodle soup, our daughter loves the dumplings, and hubby the spicy lamb burgers and lamb kebabs. Our son rounds it out with the not spicy beef burger and the spring pancake. We were very excited to be back to this delicious space and the kids exclaimed with joy on their food. The menu is enormous and with an open mind you are likely to find your favourite also.

Barilla Dumplings
571 Dominion Road, Balmoral & 305 Dominion Road, Mt Eden

Barilla Dumplings has been on our radar for at least a decade. We came here before it was cool, and before we had kids. It was a great stop, and somehow we got through 40 dumplings just the two of us!! We had to order two as we wanted more than one flavour! Firm favourites for us are the Pork and Fennel and the Beef and Cumin, as we had the kids we quickly introduced them, even as little fellas they could get into the dumplings, at least the casing if nothing else. Just mind where you keep the chilli oil, as our son had his first chilli experience one lunch time at the tender age of 18 months! We have brought friends and family to Barilla over the years. And the 571 Dominion Road branch is as expected, busy, a little rude and if you aren't ready for being slightly ignored or rushed then you really need to go elsewhere. This is a quick fire, eat your food and out destination, not a linger and hang out. But has always been worth it. We recently discovered a second branch on Dominion Road, slightly further down the road. It's a lot smaller, and also a lot quieter. The dumplings are just as delicious and the service slightly better, so shhhh don't say anything. We enjoy our dumplings without the crazy, cool crowd!

K L Cafe - Malaysian
7/4550 Great North Road, Kelston

Sadly our favourite local Malaysian Noodle House in New Lynn changed hands and whilst still Malaysian was not as awesome as it once was. So, we very quickly started the search for another reliable option. And luckily, just down the road in a very uninspiring strip mall on Great North Road, between a dairy and bakery is K L Cafe. It’s a small place with a handful of tables which are always jammed with happy Malaysian families with dishes galore. We took this as a good sign. It can be slow to get a table or your meals if you hit a busy time. But it is well worth the wait!

The Hainanese Chicken Rice is generous and super yum. I like it with a side of sambal to pep up the rice. The chicken is served warm (usually it is served cold), and is moist and tasty. The broth light and savoury and rice just savoury enough.

Hubby has taken to the Char kway teow or fried noodles. And this dish has quickly become his go to. We took a group along and the laksa looked (and smelt amazing). And there are surely some amazing dishes in amongst the slightly un-inspiringly named menu. We’ll just have to keep coming back and try some more (and take inspiration from the Malaysian families tables).

Tasty Noodle Restaurant
919 Dominion Road, Mount Roskill

This cosy little restaurant is a comfort food treasure. Next to a Chinese bubble tea shop and at the front of the very busy Tai Ping Supermarket it again doesn't look like much from the outside. Inside isn't fancy, but the booths are comfy for a family. Hubby and I are commited to the hand cut noodles. I love the Spicy Pork and Vegetables and hubby the Cumin lamb. We have learnt that we don't need the large portion, a medium is perfect for lunch, although it's so yum I'd love some more! Kids are more than happy to smash a (huge) plate of Fried Chicken Noodles and the Pork and Prawn Dumplings. Never a long time, but definitely worth the stop on our way home.

Worthy Mentions

Of course there are many, many more places we love and visit on rotation. And it's always worth checking out the Metro Chinese Cheap Eats list for those places near you, it's often been our starting point. And below are a few more places if you feel like exploring further, do remember these are our personal faves:

Ramen Station - New Lynn Bus Station
Great ramen in a simple and unusual location.
Grand Harbour - Auckland CBD
Busy, bustly and so Hong Kong Yum Char. Be prepared to eat great food and be actively ignored.
Elegance Chinese Restaurant - New Lynn
Simple, bustly dim sum and much bigger than it looks.
Mr Zhou's Dumplings - New Lynn
Great dumplings, our faves are the pork & fennel and the beef & coriander.
Xi'an Food Bar - Balmoral
Some of the spiciest and most delicious hand cut noodles around. Great red interior, check out the 'grand' ceiling.
Wang Wang Spring Pancake - Balmoral
Wrap it in a pancake and the kids will eat it! Order stir fry dishes, wrap them up and go for it. Teeny tiny restaurant, come early.
BBQ Duck Cafe - 350 Queen St (and many more locations)
Come for the peking duck... and keep coming back!

Enjoy,

Jess x