Pocha CBD — Restaurant in Waitematā

Pocha (an abbreviation of Korean words that translates to ‘Korean street food wagon’) has been around Chancery for years & it’s known to be a specialist fried chicken and beer🍻 joint where dinner meets party❗️Expect huge shared plates, big groups and loud laughter... We made a last-minute reservation for7️⃣people on a Friday evening and were super pleased that they were able to accommodate us at a cosy spot right under a heater.

Almond Chicken is the must try I was told – piping hot, almond crusted, fried and bite-sized boneless chicken thigh - it was crunchy on the outside and super moist and juicy on the inside😋. Despite all the goodness, I was looking for the saltiness – a pinch of salt would have made this dish perfect👌🏼- the sweet chilli sauce & mayo dip helped but I wish there was more...

We also ordered the Steamed Eggs, think light and fluffy eggs with a mild and savoury taste and soft texture. Someone would say it is a Korean style seasoned egg soufflé. I was very looking forward to it, however it was a little overcooked🤨. The best I have tried so far is at Twelve Restaurant, also in Chancery.

Unexpectedly, the highlight of the evening was the Honey Butter chips – they are amazeballs❣️The glaze🍯has taken the traditional chips to another level – it unrestrainedly plays on our most basic cravings for salt, sugar and fat. The combination strikes that wonderful sweet-salty note so many of us shamelessly love😍. It’s…so…good🎉.

Yuk Hwe – Korean style raw beef tartare is also recommended. The freshness of the dish and balance of the flavours is spot on. Don’t forget to try their flavoured Cocktail Soju🍹-delicious.

Dine at Pocha before heading for Face...

I had an excellent experience at this Pocha-style Korean restaurant last night. For anyone unfamiliar, a "Pocha" (short for Pojangmacha) aims to recreate the vibe of those cozy, tented Korean street food stalls, and this place nailed the atmosphere. It was lively, bustling, and perfect for a fun night out with friends.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show: the Grilled Pork Belly (Samgyeopsal). It was absolutely incredible! The slices were thick-cut and had the perfect ratio of meat to fat, which meant they grilled up beautifully—crispy on the outside and incredibly juicy and tender on the inside. Wrapping a piece in a fresh lettuce leaf with a bit of ssamjang (the savory Korean dipping paste), some grilled garlic, and a kimchi slice was pure heaven. It's honestly some of the best pork belly I've had outside of Korea.

We also ordered a few other classic pub-style dishes, like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and a hearty Army Stew (Budae Jjigae), which were both very satisfying and packed with flavor, complementing the rich pork belly perfectly.

The service was prompt and friendly, and the soju was nice and cold, just the way it should be.

Overall, it was a fantastic meal that left me completely satisfied. I will definitely be thinking about that pork belly for a while. I will 100% be back again soon to work my way through the rest of the menu!

Highly recommended for a casual, delicious, and authentic...

I was really excited to try this place because of the stories I've been told. It's located on the first floor in Chancery Square, so head up the stairs from Mamak and it should be on your right. It's easy to find If you come from Kitchener Street, just keep an eye out for their sign and menu. Although they had space inside we were seated outside, which was actually quite nice. Fairly decent menu so quite a lot of things that looked interesting, particularly their different fried chickens. Also, keep an eye out for their combos which can save some costs including the $43 for two sets of fried chicken. We ordered a range of food and they were all delicious. I preferred the almond chicken to the garlic one but both delicious anyway. The cheesy ddok bok gi (spicy rice cakes) were also really nice since it also had noodles hidden in the spicy sauce. Another reason to love this place is the large variety of soju that they have. A good place to try the different flavours with friends, just be wary that they sometimes don't have all the flavours available. My favourite is the yoghurt soju. If you like yakult then this is something to go for. A really nice place to grab really tasty food. I personally found the portions a bit small for the price but it is really delicious. It came to about $40pp for food and drinks.

Edit: Tried the Honey Garlic chicken and it was really tasty. It reminded me of...