Park Life

Grand Park Chinese Restaurant

Alexandra Park Raceway (Gate B)

Corner Manukau Rd & Greenlane East

When I said we were back, I meant it.

2 EBs in as many days means 2 fresh posts.

D2B: When it comes to yum cha in AK Dynasty is unfuckwithable. Certain publications that rhyme with Sara Tetro rate Grand Harbor, but in my experience it is a shitter. Sure, bad service is part of the whole cultural exchange, but when I feel the need to nosh down on some dutty dim-sums, I don't want to mess about. Plus Grand Harbs is usually full of palagi, never a good sign when it comes to your oriental muck.

Nevertheless, J had been repping Grand Park as the new undercover cha tip, so we decided toforego the local. J aka 'Gary' attempted to book a table over the phone, but of course when we turned up they had no such reservation. So far, so Chinese. We took a number like you'd get at the Chippy and took a seat in the cold-arse lobby. On the verge of frostbite and/or starvation, our number was up. We rolled in past the impressive tanks full of Crays and, more strangely,Geoducks.

We sat and the cha began in earnest. Cha siu bao, pork siu mai, dumplings of chives, coriander and watercress, rice noodle rolls with pork, crispy nuclei of deep-fried taro, salty pork pastries, all the big names, really, arrived hot and in quick succession. The waitresses, who were dressed like the staff of the People's Democratic Retro Hospital, were even smiling and cracking funnies. Most unusual.

The tea was piping, refills prompt. The only slightly off-key dish was the green beans, which here are served chilled, with a sauce akin to satay. Not me or J's cup of chai, but B pronounced them to be excellent. A matter of taste, not quality.

A second round of post ice cream ball salty pork pastries was the final nail in the coffin, and we stumbled out in a serious trance.

Go here for now. It's a hit. Real talk.