Wah Fay: The return to big plate satisfaction
Have we all become obsessed by small plate dining in Auckland? Well, if you yearn for a return to quality cuisine in generous portions, then welcome to Wah Fay Restaurant in Mt Eden!
Wah Fay recently opened in premises at 839 Mt Eden Rd, replacing a Vietnamese restaurant. Chef Mr Da Wah has been turning out classical Chinese dishes in Auckland for 25 years. Hong Kongtrained, he relies on fresh, healthy, natural ingredients and aromatic marinades and sauces; no MSG or other unhealthy additives for Mr Wah.
‘‘Good taste and good for the body,’’ is his motto.
The menu is mostly Cantonese, along with some notable North China and Sichuan dishes. What appeals most, large portions aside, is the freshness, crispness and flavour of everything. You can tell immediately the cashews and peanuts are home-roasted on the premises; the same goes for the sauces – their home-made chilli sauce is terrific!
Including deep fried wontons and spring rolls on the menu may come as no surprise, but their crisp freshness will. Another traditional dish, Yang Chou Fried Rice is described by many diners as simply the best in town. The smoky bacon and fresh ginger flavours that
European diners are hard to shift from their traditional favourites, such as sweet and sour pork and sizzling beef with ginger and spring onion – and you can’t really blame them as anyone seeing the sensational sizzling beef platter go by will immediately wish they had ordered it.
But helpful waiters do encourage diners to try something new, such as steamed blue cod or one of the many generous prawn dishes including shell on and shell off options: prawns with home-roasted cashew nuts, spicy Sichuan style prawns, salt and pepper prawns, steamed garlic prawns, all sensational. There is also a good range of vegetable and tofu dishes, such as braised Chinese mushrooms with veges.
Wah Fay is fully licensed, and as they are gradually building up their wine cellar they allow BYO wine with no corkage charge. The word is out among locals that Wah Fay Restaurant serves seriously good and generous food. It’s open 7 days for lunch and dinner, at 839 Mt Eden Rd. Reservations and takeaway orders 09 638 3268.