Eden Noodles Bar Ponsonby — Restaurant in Waitematā

This was, without exaggeration, the worst bar I’ve ever been to this year. As an Asian, I was drawn to this place because of its food. My initial thought was, “At worst, it’ll just be average taste maybe.” But after trying the food, I found myself wondering: How did they manage to create flavors that neither Asians nor Kiwis could enjoy? Perhaps this is their unique selling point—food so unusual and so terrible.

Let’s start with the Sweet Duck. The only thing sweet about it was the skin. There was no sauce to go with it, and the duck meat was so dry it was a workout to chew. Ironically, the best part of the dish was the pickled vegetables underneath. The braised beef and pork ribs tasted like they’d been cooked in the same pot as the duck—equally flavorless and dry, with a texture akin to Greek yogurt.

Then came the tofu pudding. As a die-hard tofu pudding lover, I couldn’t even finish it. I have no idea what secret sauce they used, but it somehow turned chili oil, pickled vegetables, and vinegar into a concoction that was borderline inedible. My friend’s noodle dish wasn’t spared either—none of us finished our plates, and we unanimously agreed that even the food at Eden Noodle restaurant would’ve been better.

To make matters worse, the cocktails were nothing short of disastrous. I’m someone who can usually tolerate even the most mediocre alcoholic drinks, but these were on another level. After just one sip, my friends and I all looked at each other with grimaces. It tasted like it had been brewed in a WWII-era sewer. We each forced ourselves to take a second sip but couldn’t go any further.

In the end, we left with barely touched food and drinks, feeling deeply disappointed. I know wasting food is wrong, and we tried our best to eat more, but the flavors were just not bearable. Nearly every dish was overly drenched in chili oil, pickled vegetables, and vinegar, completely masking any other flavors.

We came here excited and left utterly let down. Please, for the love of food, consider improving...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Eden Noodles Bar Ponsonby with a group of eight friends, a mix of Chinese, Australian, and New Zealanders, all in our mid-40s to late 60s. From the moment we arrived, we knew we were in for a treat. We started with a variety of entrées, ordering every option available, and then moved on to the mains, where we shared almost everything on the menu. The food was outstanding, made with fresh, high-quality ingredients, and presented professionally. Each dish arrived piping hot, and the flavors were simply incredible. One of the most surprising aspects was the cost. The quality of the food far exceeded the prices, making it an exceptional value. Our drinks ranged from non-alcoholic options to beer, cocktails, and quality red wine. The alcohol pricing was surprisingly low for the quality served. A highlight of our meal was the dessert. We enjoyed the Matcha Bingsu (Green Tea Shaved Ice Dessert) and a strawberry version made with ice cream. These desserts aren't listed on the online menu, but you can find them in the restaurant, and they are not to be missed. Overall, this was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had in Auckland. Eden Noodles Bar Ponsonby offers a delightful fusion of Chinese cuisine with a modern twist. The restaurant is tucked away down an alleyway, but there is good signage at the front to guide you. The staff were excellent, providing attentive and friendly service. The restaurant was bustling with a diverse crowd, including a large group of young people celebrating a birthday. It was wonderful to see a mix of ages, nationalities, and families with children enjoying their meals. Don't hesitate to visit Eden Noodles Bar Ponsonby. The food is incredible, the service is amazing, and the prices are fantastic. This hidden gem is well...

We saw this restaurant from an Instagram reel which made the place and food looked amazing. We ordered the Hong Kong curry fettuccine and the pesto pasta salad lunch set.

The Hong Kong Curry fettuccine came out with it a reasonable timeframe along with the steamed egg. But the pesto pasta salad took additional 15-20mins and we had already finished the Hong Kong curry fettuccine (shared it because we were hungry). I had to put my hand up to ask them if we were getting the second dish that we ordered and where the other side dishes were.

We waiting for so long while other people who were seated after us, got all their meals and dishes.

I had to ask if they forgot our last dish. The waiter just gave us the excuse that they are short staffed etc. if it’s short staffed then u should time it so that all the dishes out within decent timeframe.

Ironically, we were waiting for 15-20min for a cold pasta salad - doesn’t require cooking, so why did it take so long. The muscles were fishey and not cleaned properly (the beard was still attached) - 2/5 muscles were not edible as 1 had a weird crab/parasite inside and the other muscle could not be opened.

Lastly the side dishes advertised was some sichuan peanut. We got a soft tofu thing mixed with edamame, with the picked vege on the same plate, not separate.

The Hong Kong curry noodles and steamed eggs were 5/5, other food was 1/5. Service was 0/5. It’s clearly run by inexperienced waiters. It’s a shame because the Hong Kong curry noodles were...