MooChowChow
20 reviews
Cuisine: Thai
23 Ponsonby Rd
Ponsonby
Auckland City 09-360 6262
Ponsonby
Auckland City 09-360 6262
MooChowChow is in the 2012 Metro Top 50 Restaurants
The Metro/Audi Restaurant of the Year Top 50…
Announced 1 year agoMore »
Hours:
- Mon 4:30pm – 1am
- Tue – Fri 12noon -3pm, 4:30pm-1am
- Sat 4:30pm – 1am
-
Facilities/Features:
- Private Dining Room
- Price Range: Moderate, $15 - $25
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Moo Chow Chow has been included in The Metro/Audi Restaurant of the Year Top 50 Restaurants in Auckland for 2012.
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20 Reviews for MooChowChow
2
I meant to write this a while ago but didn’t get around to it. I took a group of 5 to MooChowChow for the first time a few weeks ago and we had great service. When we asked for food recommendations we were given sound advice. We had a bit of a laugh, and an entertaining time with our waiters.
The food was absolutely delicious! We didn’t order 1 bad dish. The slow cooked beef rib was everyone’s favourite and I loved the duck.
I will definitely go again and take friends.
The food was absolutely delicious! We didn’t order 1 bad dish. The slow cooked beef rib was everyone’s favourite and I loved the duck.
I will definitely go again and take friends.
1
Food is fantastic, however the staff that work in this place are arrogant and up themselves! It really spoilt my experience by having staff that think that they are better than anyone in the restaurant. You serve food, lets not take it too seriously. Again, great food. Bad management and bad staff!
Love love love this place. Not sure why others have found it to be unfriendly, booked ahead for 2 then called in the afternoon to change it to 4 – no problem. Greeted warmly and our waitress was really friendly and very helpful recommending dish’s for us. Really loved the food crispy pork rolls are Devinne. Another standout was the 5 spice duck. Good value for money also.
I do notice that majority of the negative reviews are first time reviews which makes me think they only review to have a whinge
I do notice that majority of the negative reviews are first time reviews which makes me think they only review to have a whinge
1
Saw this bar on Masterchef, so I decided to go, even though I was a heck of a lot of negative comments, when I went in the server didn’t even say hi to us, the server just pointed where to sit, I ordered my food, and waited at least for 25 minutes, I asked the person why taking so slow, they replied “how am I supposed to know?, I’m not the chef!!!”. The food I think was average and a bit overrated.
Not going again.
Not going again.
1
Despite reading all the negative comments, especially about the service. Me and my friends still decided to give this place a try.
The waitress were really nice and friendly, food is good.
However, the bill was not clear, I didn’t know how they charged us on rice. After I questioned one of the staffs, his attitude really pissed me off. You could explain to customer with good manner, but his manner was really terrible. Although the dining experience was not bad, I will not go to this place again.
The waitress were really nice and friendly, food is good.
However, the bill was not clear, I didn’t know how they charged us on rice. After I questioned one of the staffs, his attitude really pissed me off. You could explain to customer with good manner, but his manner was really terrible. Although the dining experience was not bad, I will not go to this place again.
1
I arranged for some clients and colleagues to eat at MooChowChow. They had limited time to eat so we ordered ahead of the group arriving. It was very difficult to get the menu as the menu online was out of date. The person I spoke to was very short with me on the phone and only provided problems, not solutions. Then when my group arrived the kitchen hadn’t started to prepare the food. My group were thus delayed. The ‘manager’ then rang me and complained about my group. Completely unacceptable service and never again. I would recommend avoiding MooChowChow.
Dined here on Saturday night. We were greeted on entry and our table was just being cleared so we had a drink in the bar before being seated. Had three dishes, the duck spring rolls, soft shell crab and pork hock. All three were delicious – although we only ordered the small pork hock I could have easily eaten the large! The three dishes were enough for three women to eat, though a hearty appetite may have wanted more.
Service was great from start to finish with a friendly waiter who filled water and drinks without being intrusive.
It was busy and every table was full, but that just added to the atmosphere. Certainly not a place for a quiet romantic dinner though.
Can’t wait to return.
Service was great from start to finish with a friendly waiter who filled water and drinks without being intrusive.
It was busy and every table was full, but that just added to the atmosphere. Certainly not a place for a quiet romantic dinner though.
Can’t wait to return.
5
Funky little cool place, reasonably priced stuff and all a completely different take on Thai cuisine.
Good food, great atmosphere, recommended.
Good food, great atmosphere, recommended.
6
Friends had raved about Moo chow chow and eventually we got around to visiting last Friday. The place was buzzing and full to the brim. Entry service was a bit lacking at first and could be improved with no one manning the desk but they were super busy. After a short wait at the bar (that allowed us a great view of the excellent cocktails) we were taken to our shared table. I found it really hard to order as EVERYTHING on the menu appealed. Our waitress turned out to be charming and ever present, drinks arrived snappily and extra orders weren’t
a problem. Our meals were all delicious and hard to fault although the soft shell crab was a standout as was the pork hock but you can be confident that everything will be delicious ! We’ll be recommending this restaurant to all we meet and it’s pretty clear that others have already !
a problem. Our meals were all delicious and hard to fault although the soft shell crab was a standout as was the pork hock but you can be confident that everything will be delicious ! We’ll be recommending this restaurant to all we meet and it’s pretty clear that others have already !
44
We had dinner there last night – just the two of us, and were shown to a shared table which had four others already dining – two lots of two as well. We very much enjoyed chatting with our table mates and swapping food and opinions with them. The service from all staff was extremely welcoming and friendly – I can honestly say not in any way coming off as being “too cool” – first rate. We had a variety of dishes some really hot, some quite mild – all very tasty. It’s not your standard neighbourhood Thai – everything is more Asian-fusion and upbeat and definitely not the “cheap eats” style but not top dollar either. I can totally recommend the coffee and vanilla icecream with tapioca pearls – divine!! The ambience is great – warm pink walls gives a cavern like warmth with palms and quirky light fittings and a steeply winding staircase to the loos, open style kitchen is fast paced and hides nothing. The place was at almost full capacity but we were served quickly and never had to wait for more than a few minutes for water top ups, or plates to be cleared etc. Possibly not the place to go for an intimate dinner for two as it is fairly humming with noise and bustle and tables (even if you do get one for 2) are very close but if you want a fun, outside the box start to your night – choose Moochowchow.
1
Wow, wow, WOW!
I am just constantly impressed with this place. It’s nice to know that there’s an awesome restaurant in Auckland which you can go to time and time again and be left totally content by the experience.
And by experience I mean total completeness, all senses succulently satisfied, taste buds singing with excitement (beware, some dishes are hot but ask nicely and the charming waiters will keep you cool) and after the third Slushy your feeling fantastic!
Whether I’ve been solo for a quick bite or in for the long haul with friends the atmosphere has always been electric, buzzy and loud, the music eclectic and fun – no boring melodies here.
Consistency goes a long way in my book and the food here is just that, consistently fabulous, what more can I say, fresh produce cooked superbly at incredibly good value for money, it’s the best Thai I have experienced. The cocktails are daringly delicious and the wine list extensive and the knowledgeable staff are always unobtrusively at hand with a smile and another drink.
I love this place, give it a shot cause I’m sure you’ll love it too.
Now, I’m not one to rain on ones parade or rant, for that matter but this time I thought it appropriate. Hard not to take a sneaky peek at comments left by others and I have to say that dinning etiquette would suggest that if you were to be late or have extra guests for dinner, one would definitely call ahead, it’s simple courtesy and no one is that important not too.
More significantly I doubt very much that in any busy restaurant at peak times would any waiter have the time or be bothered to selectively eyeball an unhinged Pre-Madonna and yell overtly at them across the room. Let alone in a restaurant as popular and as professional as MooChowChow. I’m sorry, I just don’t believe you.
Now go on in and enjoy!
I am just constantly impressed with this place. It’s nice to know that there’s an awesome restaurant in Auckland which you can go to time and time again and be left totally content by the experience.
And by experience I mean total completeness, all senses succulently satisfied, taste buds singing with excitement (beware, some dishes are hot but ask nicely and the charming waiters will keep you cool) and after the third Slushy your feeling fantastic!
Whether I’ve been solo for a quick bite or in for the long haul with friends the atmosphere has always been electric, buzzy and loud, the music eclectic and fun – no boring melodies here.
Consistency goes a long way in my book and the food here is just that, consistently fabulous, what more can I say, fresh produce cooked superbly at incredibly good value for money, it’s the best Thai I have experienced. The cocktails are daringly delicious and the wine list extensive and the knowledgeable staff are always unobtrusively at hand with a smile and another drink.
I love this place, give it a shot cause I’m sure you’ll love it too.
Now, I’m not one to rain on ones parade or rant, for that matter but this time I thought it appropriate. Hard not to take a sneaky peek at comments left by others and I have to say that dinning etiquette would suggest that if you were to be late or have extra guests for dinner, one would definitely call ahead, it’s simple courtesy and no one is that important not too.
More significantly I doubt very much that in any busy restaurant at peak times would any waiter have the time or be bothered to selectively eyeball an unhinged Pre-Madonna and yell overtly at them across the room. Let alone in a restaurant as popular and as professional as MooChowChow. I’m sorry, I just don’t believe you.
Now go on in and enjoy!
27
Great place – go with a group and share everything. Excellent cocktail list and the waiter we had was downright excellent – wasn’t all fluffy and yes sir no sir – just said it how it was, pleasant and knew his stuff
Food was great and before we knew it 3 hours had gone by
The only thing to be wary off are the toilets – steep narrow staircase – be warned if you’ve had a couple
Food was great and before we knew it 3 hours had gone by
The only thing to be wary off are the toilets – steep narrow staircase – be warned if you’ve had a couple
1
INFURIATED by the service—principally the doing of one incredibly rude waiter
Made a booking for 3 at 6pm
Upon an already unwelcoming arrival (No signature greeting/ smile) said our apologies to waiters at reception (For late appearance) and let them know we had an addition to our booking—now 4 people.
-Waiter: “You would think you’d call to let us know”
Taken aback by the comment, in shock and disbelief of the reply, we apologised and were taken to a seat at the bar.
Noticed it was pretty bare at this stage, only 1 other table, what was the fuss all about?
Would have taken off like the wind if it wasn’t for my friend whose been crooning to try Moochowchow.
Throughout the rest of the night, due to the combination of a lovely waitress, good company and pleasant food, we had forgotten about the initial encounter.
Sadly at the end of the night this experience was forever ruined.
We went to pay the bill and stood at the counter for a good 5 minutes or so. The aforementioned waiter stared at us as he walked past to have a chat with the bar staff. As we left, we were eyeballed once again then we heard him say “ Good to get rid of those “expletive””
No idea or reason at all as to why we were treated with such hostility, quite unfortunate as there’s much more enjoyment to be had here, though I think it’s quite evident why we will never come back.
Made a booking for 3 at 6pm
Upon an already unwelcoming arrival (No signature greeting/ smile) said our apologies to waiters at reception (For late appearance) and let them know we had an addition to our booking—now 4 people.
-Waiter: “You would think you’d call to let us know”
Taken aback by the comment, in shock and disbelief of the reply, we apologised and were taken to a seat at the bar.
Noticed it was pretty bare at this stage, only 1 other table, what was the fuss all about?
Would have taken off like the wind if it wasn’t for my friend whose been crooning to try Moochowchow.
Throughout the rest of the night, due to the combination of a lovely waitress, good company and pleasant food, we had forgotten about the initial encounter.
Sadly at the end of the night this experience was forever ruined.
We went to pay the bill and stood at the counter for a good 5 minutes or so. The aforementioned waiter stared at us as he walked past to have a chat with the bar staff. As we left, we were eyeballed once again then we heard him say “ Good to get rid of those “expletive””
No idea or reason at all as to why we were treated with such hostility, quite unfortunate as there’s much more enjoyment to be had here, though I think it’s quite evident why we will never come back.
8
Went with a group of 5. Service was a tad pretentious for my liking – a bit of the ‘I’m cooler than you’ attitude – maybe they were
I love spicy food and Thai is my all time favourite however I won’t be going back. Too many conflicting flavours, some that just didn’t work well together. Most dishes were just completely overpowered by one or two spices, balance was missing in every meal but one. The only thing I really enjoyed was the Pork hock, that was delicious.
I love spicy food and Thai is my all time favourite however I won’t be going back. Too many conflicting flavours, some that just didn’t work well together. Most dishes were just completely overpowered by one or two spices, balance was missing in every meal but one. The only thing I really enjoyed was the Pork hock, that was delicious.
Very happy with the delicious tasting food and attentive service. We had Stuart island oysters, buffalo wings, beef short rib & the signature goat curry. They were all great choices. They also kept the place open for us as we were late diners. Cant wait to go back.
3
Went with 4 friends and we shared a number of dishes, in hindsight too many and they were more than happy to organise doggy bags. Lovely waitress, fantastic food and some imaginitive drinks, teas and desserts. Only drawback is that it is noisy, but that didn’t really detract from the evening. Will definately return.
19
Boyfriend and I went on a Tuesday night without a booking, expecting it to be quiet, but that didn’t end up being the case so luckily we arrived just before 7pm and were able to get a table! The service remained friendly and attentive throughout the evening. We were asked if we’d been here before, and since we hadn’t, explained that the menu is designed around sharing plates. The wine list is excellent and though many are by the bottle only, wine by the glass is priced either side of $10. Our waiter had check with us which wine we’d ordered but was apologetic and remembered it later when we ordered more, so that’s fine. He also remembered our food order first time despite not writing it down (a lot of restaurants don’t write down orders now!). Probably because it wasn’t busy yet the order arrived quickly, and everything was bursting with fresh and fragrant flavours! The pork neck was succulent and served with a delicious sauce – I’d be keen to try the pork hock next time. The salad greens were a tasty array of textures, a surprising variation on the usual side of greens. The only disappointment was the duck. The meat was shredded which I hadn’t expected and I found it a bit dry, though teamed with the rest of the dish, and the greens, it was more than edible. We shared a jasmine panna cotta for dessert and this was a real highlight of the meal. I don’t like a lot of ginger so was a bit hesitant about the ginger and lemongrass caramel sauce, but it was amazing – so sweet and the perfect balance for the creamy panna cotta.
I agree with an earlier comment that this space is very noisy; we were sat in the rear alcove where some of the tables are very close together and felt conspicuous talking until the place filled up and the noise level rose (it was also hard for patrons and wait staff to access the tables).
It was fun to try ‘modern’ Thai food in a ‘trendy’ restaurant – it makes a changMoree from conventional décor and dishes you find at traditional Thai restaurants. It’s not cheap compared to the latter, especially as most of those are BYO, but actually it’s not really fair to compare because they’re in quite different realms. Here you’re paying for the cool experience and environment as much as the twist on Thai flavours and presentation, and it does offer value for money in both regards. I’d like to return in future with a group and try other menu items, including cocktails.
I agree with an earlier comment that this space is very noisy; we were sat in the rear alcove where some of the tables are very close together and felt conspicuous talking until the place filled up and the noise level rose (it was also hard for patrons and wait staff to access the tables).
It was fun to try ‘modern’ Thai food in a ‘trendy’ restaurant – it makes a changMoree from conventional décor and dishes you find at traditional Thai restaurants. It’s not cheap compared to the latter, especially as most of those are BYO, but actually it’s not really fair to compare because they’re in quite different realms. Here you’re paying for the cool experience and environment as much as the twist on Thai flavours and presentation, and it does offer value for money in both regards. I’d like to return in future with a group and try other menu items, including cocktails.
1
I was really looking forward to trying Moochowchow as have long been a fan of modern SE Asian food.
The menu reads well and it was hard to decide just what to choose from the good selection.
Our waiter was great and the service slick.
Unfortunately I was underwhelmed with the food. The flavours failed to “sing” as good Thai should. Yes there was spice but the food fell flat rather than having a great balance of sweet, sour, salt and spice. It could be so much better if they spent some more time tasting the food.
Moochowchow also continues to have the problem that Rocco had of noise – compounded by us sitting under the speaker and also a noisy table next door.
I will try Moochowchow again in a while but hope they work on their flavours in the meantime.
The menu reads well and it was hard to decide just what to choose from the good selection.
Our waiter was great and the service slick.
Unfortunately I was underwhelmed with the food. The flavours failed to “sing” as good Thai should. Yes there was spice but the food fell flat rather than having a great balance of sweet, sour, salt and spice. It could be so much better if they spent some more time tasting the food.
Moochowchow also continues to have the problem that Rocco had of noise – compounded by us sitting under the speaker and also a noisy table next door.
I will try Moochowchow again in a while but hope they work on their flavours in the meantime.
4
I booked a week in advance. Arrived there and we were given the bar table. Was not impressed as people were walking past us and it was so dark – cant really see what i was eating.
The food is ok. I like the hock and the spicy carrot salad but the chicken we tried was average. Certainly nothing ground breaking.
Halfway through the meal, i got split beer all over me as the waitress slipped. Was not impressed again. They did apologized and offer to dryclean my coat, which is OK i guess.
Went back a week later to get my refund and had to wait and they didnt seem too friendly. Just gave me my money and did not even apologize.
I dont think i will go back again.
The food is ok. I like the hock and the spicy carrot salad but the chicken we tried was average. Certainly nothing ground breaking.
Halfway through the meal, i got split beer all over me as the waitress slipped. Was not impressed again. They did apologized and offer to dryclean my coat, which is OK i guess.
Went back a week later to get my refund and had to wait and they didnt seem too friendly. Just gave me my money and did not even apologize.
I dont think i will go back again.
Friday night dinner, what a great place,
the food is fantastic, Asian flavours galore (watch the small chilly,s).
The place is buzzing with the in crowd.
Certainly recommend this restaurant.
We where looked after by Xabi, who knows his job, what a great host he is, and knowledgeable about wines.
Can,t wait to go back
the food is fantastic, Asian flavours galore (watch the small chilly,s).
The place is buzzing with the in crowd.
Certainly recommend this restaurant.
We where looked after by Xabi, who knows his job, what a great host he is, and knowledgeable about wines.
Can,t wait to go back
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