At first glance Jeff Café looks like a restaurant in an apartment block lobby; at second glance, this first observation turns out to be true. Don’t let the lobby decor or Asians peasant frequenters put you off as the quality of food and service is extraordinary.
I have danced my way around the entire menu, even the pork fried rice, with all being bursts of the orient at the finest.

The owner, Jeff, greets all customers with a friendly smile and a pleasant hello. Jeff speaks in a mild mannered tone which is soothing to the ears and sole. If eating in, Jeff always direct you to the finest available set and make you comfortable by providing water and clean cutlery. Jeff does encourage the whiter of his patrons to some standard dishes, such as chicken fried rice; however, after insisting that you can handle spicy foods, Jeff will wink and accept you as a fellow friend.

This has to be the top Asian restaurant on the Terrace, and possibly the lower North Island.

Nice bold Szechuan style Chinese food. The price is very cheap and the portion sizes large. Approx $8 – $15 for meals, most either $10 or $12.

I have had a few dishes there now. I have loved them all but the orange beef. Found this a little greasy and flavourless.

Loved the coriander pork, the dumplings and the hot and spicy soup. Wasn’t such a huge fan of the Kung Pao chicken.

A lot of native Chinese people eat here. If you are white the owner will often suggest that you will not like a particular dish and try and talk you out of anything but orange beef and lemon chicken! But I have found that exploring the more varied things on the menu has been very rewarding.

We haven’t dined in, but we’ve had takeaway there a few times now…
Great food – good portion sizes, plenty and variety of veges, decent meat, yummy flavours.
Good fast service. Totally recommended.