Zen E Private Kitchen

by - April 21, 2017


Zen E Private Kitchen is an authentic restaurant serving classic and sophisticated Chinese cuisine. We couldn't find anything similar in Sydney and were surprised to find such a place in Auckland. The live seafood tanks and Chinese wooden decor immediately sets the mood.

What's most impressive was that the food not only looked artistic but also delivered on the taste. 
JiaoDong Crispy Pork Shoulder NZ$36
The tender pork shoulder, which was coated with a light crispy batter, melts in your mouth. It was accompanied with steamed buns and hoisin sauce. The portion was generous, something we found with all the dishes.  


Braised Pork with (Preserved) Vegetable NZ$38
Definitely a dish that demands skill and experience. Each slice of pork was to the same thickness to achieve consistency in texture and flavour. The preserved vegetable (hidden inside the pyramid) added complexity to the pork and vice versa. This was the winner of the night!
Boiled Fish Fillets in Hot Chili Oil NZ$58
Another massive dish... the fish was tender and had absorbed the numbingness and spiciness from the soup. The bean sprouts helped to balance some of the greasiness. 
Pan Fried Mini Pork Buns NZ$20 
These cute mini pork buns were served in a pan, which kept the skin on the bottom crispy until the last minute. The meat was juicy and aromatic, especially with the touch of black sesame on top


Braised Chinese Cabbage with Chestnut NZ$28
A dish that warms the heart, the Chinese cabbage had soaked up all the flavours of the soup, which was smooth and silky, almost like a creamy vegetable soup.
Steamed Twisted Roll NZ$10
This twisted roll was humongous ðŸ˜² it was almost as big as my face!!! The texture was soft and spongy. Sharing the steamy roll brought back memories from when I was a kid. I loved the simplicity of it. 

Food: 9/10
Service: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7.5/10

Highlight:
  • Braised pork
Lowlight:
  • We couldn't finish all the dishes - something we would have wished to do only if our bellies weren't about to burst

Websitehttp://www.zene.co.nz/
Address56 Broadway, Newmarket, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
Hours: Mon-Sun 
            Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm
            Dinner 5pm-10pm
Phone: +64 9520 7887
Zen E Private Kitchen Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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