Paradise Takeaway — Restaurant in Albert-Eden

First time ordering and eating from Paradise Takeaway, and will be my last because of the customer service I received. If I could give a 0 or even a negative score for customer service, I would!

I ordered online at 5pm, received an email immediately after confirming my order with a pick up time of 5:25pm. Thought “wow, that’s quick” so drove right to the store. As I was parking at 5:15pm, I received a text noting a change of time on my order, that it in fact will not be ready at 5:25, but instead be ready 6:15pm. I called the store, explained I received an email saying my order was ready, but then received the text. The lady on the other line rudely interrupted me and said the store would never send an email with the incorrect pick up time.. I said I’d happily forward the email to her as proof but she was extremely rude, kept talking down to me and interrupting me. I eventually said “I’m outside the store, can my food be ready for pick up in 15 mins? I’m not waiting an hour because of this mistake, otherwise just cancel my order please”. The lady said no, my order will be made in an hour and she won’t cancel my order “because we don’t do refunds”. I told her I don’t care about the refund, but want to cancel the order so you don’t waste food. The lady said no, you don’t do cancellations. I even explained I wouldn’t need a refund and she spoke down to me and said they will still make my food for me to pick up in an hour. I asked what would happen if I didn’t pick it up? And she blamed me for wasting food….. even when I asked for it not to be made. After all this back and forth, the lady said my order is ready anyway so no need to cancel anymore ………….. at 5:30pm. I said so the initial email I received was as the correct pick up time and she ended the call abruptly. Rude service, front of house staff have no idea what they are doing!!

The food overall was okay. The portion sizes were decent, food was priced fairly for a central restaurant. However, my mild dishes were extremely spicy to the point we couldn’t enjoy them or finish the meals. My friend who can handle and enjoys spicy foods tasted our mild dishes and said straight away they were far from mild, so that needs...

I went to Paradise Biryani Takeaways in Sandringham to grab some dinner, mainly because I’d heard good things about their biryani. And to be fair, the menu is impressive — heaps of options, from chicken and mutton biryani to curries and veggie dishes. The portions are pretty decent too, so no complaints there when it comes to variety or serving size.

But honestly, the experience left a lot to be desired. First off, the customer service was pretty bad. The staff barely made eye contact, seemed rushed and impatient, and didn’t even bother to acknowledge people properly. It felt like they just wanted to get through the orders without actually dealing with customers. Not a great vibe, especially when you’re spending good money.

Then there’s the parking — an absolute nightmare. There’s barely any space, and with the number of people that go there, it’s a constant mess. I had to circle around multiple times before I found a spot, and even that felt like a gamble.

And here’s the kicker — they didn’t even offer a bag for the food. you have to pay extra thats a SHAME….For a busy takeaway place, you’d think they’d be better prepared. It just came off as stingy and felt cheated.

The food itself was okay, but definitely on the oily side. I also noticed a strong artificial taste, and after doing some digging online, turns out a lot of people have complained about them using too much MSG and food colouring. It kind of took away from the whole experience, knowing that what you’re eating might not be as fresh or clean as you’d expect.

So yeah, while the biryani was decent and the portions were filling, everything else — from the service to the parking and the way they handle customers — made the whole trip way less enjoyable than it should’ve been. I probably wouldn’t go back unless they seriously sort out...

(Disclaimer: Personal experiences and feelings may vary for each individual. This is purely a sharing.)

📍 Paradise Takeaway

🍛 Handi Chicken curry Deliciousness 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 🏮 Review 🏮: Priced at $17.5, the portion is generous enough for three people. The slightly spicy flavor is appetizing, and the chicken pieces are plentiful, although a bit dry in texture. Rice is not included, so you can order Naans separately as the main dish.

🫓 Naans Deliciousness 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 🏮 Review 🏮: Nothing much to say, three for $8 is very affordable, and they go perfectly with the curry!

🍗 Fried chicken Deliciousness 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 🏮 Review 🏮: Only $6! It has a slightly spicy and flavorful seasoning that leaves you wanting more. The marinade is finger-licking good! 😋

Hygiene 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗 Service Attitude 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗 Will Visit Again 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

Overall, it offers great value for money! Even those with small appetites can have leftovers for another meal. I work in an area with many Indian people, so I asked an Indian colleague if there are any good Indian restaurants in Auckland. He recommended this place to us. While I saw online that they have dine-in options, I couldn't find the seating area. However, it didn't affect the taste at all when I took the food to go! The grilled chicken leg was still delicious even after cooling down. The storefront is clean and tidy, and the staff are patient in explaining the menu. There's a wide selection of dishes, including various curries and desserts, and many people are queuing up! You should definitely...