Panda Noodle Express at 463 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, is one of those hidden gems that you might mistake for a small takeaway at first glance, but once you step inside you quickly realise why it’s always so busy. The place is constantly packed with people, which already tells you the food must be good – and it really is.
We came in on a busy evening and ordered a range of dishes. Everything we tried was full of flavour, spicy, and very authentic Sichuan style. From the noodles to the hot dishes, each plate had that bold, numbing spice and deep seasoning that Sichuan food is famous for. It felt just like eating in a proper restaurant in China.
The only downside is that the food did take about 30 minutes to arrive, but honestly, with how many people were in there, it was understandable. And once the food hit the table, it was worth the wait – fresh, piping hot, and incredibly tasty. The prices are also reasonable, especially considering the quality and portion sizes.
The restaurant itself is designed more like a casual takeaway spot, but don’t let that fool you. It’s clearly a favourite among locals, and I can see why. We enjoyed every single dish we ordered, and it left us wanting to come back and try more.
Highly recommended if you love authentic Sichuan flavours, generous portions, and don’t mind a bit of waiting during peak times. Definitely one of the best noodle places on Dominion Road!
Hao
Ordered : Mapo Tofu (vegan), Kung paw Chicken and rice ($2.5/ bowl)
Good quality and quantity for the price.
Mapo Tofu - Order max spice level. Good quantity spicy Sichuan pepper. Simple loved it with rice.
Kung paw chicken - more of peanuts than chicken but flavour taste. Loved peanuts as it had a sweet taste but no Sichuan pepper. Not too spicy as Mapo Tofu.
Brian DSouza
I have to say the authenticity of Sichuan cuisine, at least the process and the ingredients are pretty much close, and the chef and staff are speaking Sichuan dialect. I‘ll probably come to here as a daily canting
Yimo Wang
Typical Chinese fast food restaurant. Their spicy chicken noodles was delicious. The large portion was really large and could be for sharing. Otherwise, you can eat it alone and be really full. Lamb soup was also tasty. They have fine texture of noodles, which can be substituted by glass or thin noodles. Prices are affordable and very generous servings.
Gleeko Magpoc
This is the place you go to when craving for authentic Sichuan food.
Not a fancy dinner, family style, very down to earth Chinese restaurant.
I ordered this "Mao Cai" non vegetarian, which means all ingredients cooked in a oil-chilli spicy soup goes with a bowl of rice.
Good portion, value for the money, with all preferred ingredients to fulfil your hungry stomach.
They also serve plenty of rice meals, stir-fry, noodles and other typical Sichuan street food and family everyday meals.
Yummy 😋
Order Online from Panda Noodle Exp - (MountEden) Asian & Chinese Cuisine * 463 Dominion Rd Mount Eden, Auckland 1024 * Online Menu * Takeaway * Secure Online Payments *