Master Pig Pork Rice CBD 痞哥卤肉饭 — Restaurant in Waitematā

Master Pig's location on Lorne Street strives to achieve that signature comforting taste one would associate with Asian cuisine by providing a fast-casual style of service for their rice bowls. Their offer that focuses on pork, as their name suggests, contains various cuts of pork served over rice, steamed broccoli, and half a hard-boiled egg. Most of the bowls are conveniently priced at around $18, making it easier to give in to the deal of unlimited soft-serve ice cream and drinks for an additional $2 each. Simultaneously, this concept is attractive because my experience fell short of the expectations which is why I gave a low rating.

Even though Lorne Street attempts to serve food with a comforting and relaxed appeal, they do not provide as many options as the Dominion Road branch. I was longing for richly flavored offal thus I chose the Braised Pig's Intestines on rice. The rice was reasonable, the bowl was appealing, but the side of broccoli and hard-boiled egg were cold which is an indication that they had been sitting for too long.

Sadly, the star of the dish is the only thing I'm shorter on words for. While the smell braising had potential, the unfavorable smell inherent in intestines hadn't been properly handled. Given that I’ve enjoyed this delicacy in other cuisines, it’s reasonable to expect that this aroma could be dealt with. Being subjected to it here is a lot more than a minor irritant. It pulls the whole dish down by a notch or two on all levels.

In addition to the above, the restaurant did not meet the necessary standards of cleanliness. It was infernally hot inside which compelled me to sit near the sidewalk. This was not the ideal setting for a meal. The table along with many others was dirty.

The final straw came from a staff member who decided to smoke in front of the place. Their single person smoking directly in view of everyone put me in a horrific mood. Trying to enjoy eating while being bombarded by second-hand smoke is something I would wish on no one. The slow. lukewarm sides followed by poorly fried intestines along with sizzling cig smoke will indeed be the epitome of regret.

At the twenty dollar mark, with the drink add on included, you can find a much cheaper and cleaner place to eat in Auckland. I think Master Pig on Lorne Street should rethink their cleanliness, food handling, and employee behavior if they want customers to consider visiting. I do wish for them to fix these problems...

BRAISED PORK on rice - best topping recommendation.

This was a place that was really busy, but not a cuisine that I had tried before. But after trying it I am glad I did.

Well balanced dishes with meat, rice and vegetables. Along with a self-serve side dish bar. The side dishes make this place stand out. I particularly loved the spicy green chilli potato salad! Has a lovely kick to the flavour and goes well with the rest of the dish.

$2 unlimited refill soda machine is also worth it! Not too common these days.

Easy self serve kiosk to order, friendly staff at pickup of the food at the counter, clean bright environment to dine in.

Recommend for an affordable, filling, well balanced meal...

Authentic and Affordable Pork Feet Rice – A Must-Try in New Zealand

As an American tourist exploring New Zealand, I stumbled upon this hidden gem while wandering through a bustling food street. This spot specializes in deep soy sauce-marinated pork feet (or pork leg), served chopped or on the bone. The dish is incredibly well-balanced—offering a satisfying mix of protein, fat, and vegetables in every bowl.

The flavor is rich but not overpowering. It’s not a fiery, spicy Chinese dish but rather leans into a warm, herbal, and almost medicinal depth of taste, reminiscent of traditional slow-cooked broths. The light soup complements the tender meat perfectly, making it both hearty and nourishing. And at just $14 NZD (~$8.50 USD), the value is unbeatable—this level of quality and affordability is almost unheard of in the U.S.

An unexpected highlight? Their $2 NZD soft serve ice cream, which is unlimited and tastes remarkably like White Rabbit milk candy—a creamy, nostalgic treat that’s difficult to find elsewhere.

I’d recommend this spot to anyone, especially if you’re earning above $50,000 NZD per year, as it’s an affordable yet high-quality meal in a convenient downtown location—just a 10-minute walk from the busiest area. The herbal taste might not be for everyone, but it’s definitely worth trying at least once. If you’re in the area, don’t miss out!

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正宗又实惠的卤猪脚饭——新西兰必试美食

作为一名在新西兰旅行的美国游客，我在热闹的美食街上偶然发现了这家宝藏餐厅。这里专门制作 深色酱油卤制的猪脚（或猪腿），可以选择切块或带骨的版本。每一碗都包含了蛋白质、脂肪和蔬菜，营养均衡，令人满足。

味道醇厚但不过重，不是那种辛辣刺激的中式菜肴，而是带有温和的药膳风味，类似于传统慢炖汤的滋补口感。清淡的汤底恰到好处地衬托出软嫩的猪脚，让整道菜既丰盛又滋补。而且价格仅$14 纽币（约 $8.50 美元），性价比极高——在美国几乎不可能找到这样物超所值的美食。

一个意想不到的惊喜？他们的$2 纽币的自助软冰淇淋，不限量供应，味道居然和大白兔奶糖非常相似——奶香浓郁，带着一丝怀旧的甜美，在别的地方很难找到。

我会推荐这家餐厅给任何人，尤其是年收入$50,000 纽币以上的人，这里价格合理，品质出色，位置便利，距离最繁华的市中心仅 10...