Oct 9, 2014 Cheap Eats
Sri Pinang
LITTLE SHEEP HOTPOT
27 Cross St, Newton
Never mind that it’s copied a famous chain: the hotpot here is the business. Choose the half-half — chicken stock on one side, chilli stock on the other; it comes on a gas cooker and you boil it up. Order offal: the bone marrow is superb.
Chinese
PEACH PIT
352 Karangahape Rd, Newton
They call it Mission Chinese, which means it’s Chinese by way of San Francisco hipster joints: think of it as spicy pub food. Whatever, it’s very good, and the surroundings are brilliant — big booths, white walls, timber tables, great service.
Mission Chinese
POK POK THAI STREET FOOD AND BAR
261 Karangahape Rd, Newton
One of the best Thai spots in town, but don’t expect the standard pad Thai/curry selections. Think more caramelised pork belly, soft shell crab and green papaya salad, all bursting with Thai street flavours of lime, fresh herbs and chilli.
Thai TOP 10
SATYA SOUTH INDIAN RESTAURANT
17 Great North Rd, Newton (also in Sandringham, Eden Terrace and K’ Rd)
They’ve put dahi puri, those chickpea, tamarind and yoghurt crisp starters, on Auckland’s culinary map , and not many people can get through a trip to Satya without them. One of the best BYO spots, this South Indian stalwart remains one of our favourite cheap eats.
South Indian
SRI PINANG
356 Karangahape Rd, Newton
More than two decades since it opened and it still has the goods — and the $1 corkage. The rendang may be the best in the city, as may the sambal eggplant and tamarind prawns. Great for groups, especially given the huge noodle servings.
Malaysian TOP 10
TOP CAFE
7/30 Upper Queen St, Newton
They take their time here, though the wait is worth it: freshly made dumplings, steamed or fried or boiled, 20 at a time for ridiculously low prices. Slowness aside, service can also be brusque: somehow it’s part of the charm.
Chinese
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