This is our local favourite. Friendly service and great food.
Delicious food, cool atmosphere, super fast service. Vege curry is the best one I’ve ever had
Ordered Gao Fried Chicken, Pad Thai, Fried Egg Noodles and Pork Belly, along with an Oreo Cheesecake for dessert
Friendly service, good food.
Absolutely amazing food! Service was fantastic.
Will definitely be back
I had a nice meal with friends just before Christmas! The foods are tasty and good-looking. This place has good and friendly services. We will definitely come back!
Wow I went to Gao with my family on Sunday night and we were all very impressed with their delicious dishes and generous portion. We all agreed Gao is the best restaurant we have ever been through Zomato. Only thing we'd like to comment is their lack of staff as it took us little bit of time to find the staff to order some more. Other than that, our experience at Gao was superb and will definitely be back!!:)
Gao is the best. The red curry is absolutely delicious, and the spicy pork noodles is so good. Wow i just want to come back, its soooo worth it.
Food was amazing! The portions sizes were very large, well worth the money. Only thing was the customer service was a little slow, our dishes didn’t all come out together but apart from that was a great experience!
Went with a group - loved it. Fantastic food and great atmosphere. Taking another group there tonight. Two visits in first week of finding this place.
Pork Ribs and shell crab are absolutely must go menu! Large portion and very delicious. Prawn is a little bit overcooked. Sashimi and eggplant is good too. If there is some kids plate will be better…
Had the most delicious dinner here previewing their summer menu. Started off with a range of dumplings and Peking duck taco (my favourite 😍) Their deep fried eggplant was a surprising crowd pleaser for us too!
As we grazed through the starters we each had a summery cocktail to sip on. I had the lychee and mint which went down a refreshing treat!
As if we weren’t already spoilt by food and drinks we moved on to the mains, a selection of fried chicken, ribs, curry and noodles. Honestly a great variety of flavour to share with the table.
Would 10/10 be back to try out the other dishes and drinks. Great place to catch up with friends or a family dinner!
Service and flavour was 10/10 - loved the pecking duck pancakes!! And the dumplings! Also my favourite dish was a chicken thigh and egg plant curry 😍😍😍😍
Straight off the bat this restaurant is absolutely amazing! The first thing you’ll notice once you walk in is the art work painted all over the walls. The idea of this was to bring graffiti indoors as it’s usually always seen outdoors. Thinking outside the box is always a good idea. We were looked after so well by the staff and manager that night, everything went down a treat.
To kick start the evening we were served a range of delicious dumplings, all handmade and by Gao’s special dumpling chef who is a master specialists in her craft.
Another stunner was the pecking duck wrapped in roti. Seriously, this dish was a banger because the duck was juicy, tender and cooked perfectly and the roti was so crisp and flaky.
GAO is also on Zomatogold so I highly recommend coming to check this place out. Great for summer with their new summer menu coming out and their open courtyard gives off a more vibrant and open space - You won’t be disappointed!
Excellent summer menu! The duck tacos are to die for, and the dumplings are simply perfection. Very nice place to hang out with friends and share some good food and cocktails in summer!
GAOls at Gao in Albany 🥳 We tried their new summer menu, tasted some of the classics from the current menu and had our fair share of their amazing cocktails 🍸!
For entrees, we kicked off with different style dumplings 🥟 , fried calamari with really interesting dips and a super creative Cantonese roast duck bao (made from roti bread)! The tempura with sweet fish sauce was also a favourite.
The mains were absolutely delightful too. We had a spread of Asian fusion food and it was super exciting to eat! I loved the beef massaman curry 🍛, papaya salad 🥗 and the pork ribs!
Finally, all these delicious food were run down with some fantastic cocktails which are all very reasonably priced too (around $16 each)! My favourite was the pink gin 🍹 and aperol spritz (of course), the virgin mojito was also very refreshing.
Dining @gao.akl is such a mood! The moment you step in, you can't help but say WOW at all the wall and ceiling art! The 4 ladies mural reminded me of the artwork in Mamasan restaurant in Bali 😍
GAO took care of us so well by treating us to the best asian fusion dishes on their menu.
Some highlights were Pecking duck pancakes made with crispy roti, Crispy pork ribs with Japanese style sticky sauce, Massaman beef cheek curry and Crispy tempura battered eggplant with sweet fish sauce. 👍👍👍👍👍/5
All their dumplings are handmade and hand dyed using vegetable juices by a master dumpling maker from China 👏
It's not your typical Asian food. Their flavour combinations are quite creative and unexpected! It's definitely worth making a trip out to Albany for! 👌
I'll give a 5* rating to the staff, loved how welcoming all of them were. Food was great, pork and prawn dumplings were the best.
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Their soft shell crab is to die for! It was so full of flavour, sweet/salty/sour/a bit of spice too - a very well balanced dish that was far above expectations! It had a lot of lemongrass and fresh herby tones with sweetness that was infused into the dish with mangoes - plenty of this beautiful sauce to coat the delicate and crunchy crab... truly delicious and almost genius 🤤 I will definitely be back to have this dish again. Although the soft shell crab was a very generous serving, I feel like the papaya salad and duck dish were let downs.
Although the papaya salad was pungent (the pleasant type of fish-saucey pungency) and full of flavour, I feel like it could’ve been better? Gao’s flavour profiles are similar to other places like TokTok, but I feel that I’ve had better papaya salad in these other places. Definitely not bad though, and great value at $12 in comparison to $16+ at other places.
I’ve left the worst ‘til last...
The duck was quite unpleasant- it was super chewy, the fat wasn’t rendered down enough, and the amount of duck was quite small and I would’ve been upset had I paid $32 for this dish. However, with Zomato gold, we were not offended, but the duck was not palatable at all. I love love loved the carrots - they had a smokey flavour and were soft with a little bit of bite left, and the broccolini and piece of fig were a nice touch, but nothing spectacular in comparison to the crab dish. I hope they can change this duck dish because duck is one of my favourite proteins and it could be a really popular addition to their menu, if done better.
Great service - all the ladies who served us were super pleasant, bubbly, attentive and smiley. Also, very comfortable yet unique and beautiful decor with fairy lights among vines on the ceiling and gorgeously painted walls.
Very pleasant experience overall! I’m so happy there is a place in Auckland that does soft shell crab as well as this, as it’s my partner’s absolute favourite type of protein 👌
Service 5/5
Atmosphere 5/5
Cleanliness 4/5
Food 4/5
Value 5/5 with Zomato gold, 3.5/5 without
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Have been trying to come here for the past 2 months. We finally got to try today. We were craving for both crab and duck, so we ordered the soft shell crab, smoked duck plus a papaya salad. The papaya salad came first and I have got to say that it was extremely delicious. The sauce mixture that they used to make it was very appetising. This salad alone I would give a 4.5/5. The soft shell crab was not outdone by the salad at all. The sauce and the crab combination was very tasty and every bite was not boring and tiring at all. This was at least a 4.5/5 also. The final dish which was the smoked duck, the carrot and broccolini on the side was well cooked and char nicely. However the main duck component was unfortunately well below par. It was chewy, hard and did not taste like duck at all. It was very sad, because the other dish and even the vegetables were very good. I would have rated this restaurant a 5/5 if it wasn't for the duck. I feel the pricing for the duck is extremely high, $32 for around 5 to 6 pieces of duck, which I could have bought almost a whole duck from a Chinese place which would have tasted a lot better and was more value. This dish was a 2/5 for me. Overall I really enjoyed my meal, I would definitely be back to try their other dishes. I suggest the restaurant to either remove the duck from the menu or learn how to make it properly. Taste - 4/5 Ambiance - 4/5 Value - 3/5
surprisingly, their dumplings probably is the best in town. And soft shell crab which my partner is obessed to.
Friendly staff looked after us , went there for dinner , delicious meal , music was too loud but it was okay. Definitely go back there again
Absolutely delicious meals and wonderful service with friendly staff. Had krispy chicken and chicken skewers. Cooked to perfection and yummy satay sauce. Will definitely be back
Such a dining place with a nice taste of art. I fell in love with this place the moment I stepped in. All the drawings on the wall and ceiling really bring a whole new atmosphere to this restaurant. About the food, to be honest, there wasn't something which really stands out among all the food that we order tonight. My 2 favorite might be the pork ribs & soft shell crabs. The smoked duck seems to be a little bit chewy for me and my friends. Even though the food lacks a bit of the wow factor, this place is somewhere you should consider for a Saturday night out with friends or your romance date :)
Delious food! Excellent service! Friendly staffs!
The restaurant is very unique n attractive decoration, Beautiful n delicious meals, very responsive n friendly waiters n good customer service.. definitely would come again next time
The atmosphere, service and the food was LOVELY👌🏼. Definitely was worth coming here for dinner!
The best aspect of this restaurant is definitely the atmosphere. The wall art is amazing and even the bathroom is nicely designed! The soft shell crab here is not bad. Although, the market fish curry did lack some creaminess.
“Dailee” 25% Off Zomato Gold
+4
Had dinner with family of 5 adults, spent about $170. Price Abit on higher side, about $30s/main. We ordered fried chicken, soft shell crabs, beef curry, fish curry and red chicken curry. Side of three rice and two rotis. Rice not that special or fragrant as I would like for $3/small bowl. Roti it's again quite small and does not seem to be made in-house. Fried chicken and crabs were our highlight, generous size and taste really crunchy. Beef Curry taste quite nice but beef cheek should be softer, quite tough. Fish under-whelming, taste a bit fishy for my liking and watery curry. Chicken curry on the other hand is very mild, it's on the sweet side, stir fry with beans, eggplants and odd choice of dried whole apricots. My in law came here before and ordered the duck and pork ribs, those mains however were quite small in size. Overall great place to hang out with big groups. Service is attentive. Fusion good with good taste. Keep in mind it can get quite loud when it's packed so arrive early if you want more peaceful dining experience.
Great food and service. 👌🏽
Tasteful Seconds By Kyrsta Lynn
+4
We used "grab one" for a 50% off voucher at GAO so our $50 meal only cost $25. I believe this was the best way to get the food here as do I believe it is a bit overpriced. We had the chili dumplings, beef dumplings, and beef skewers. Overall, a bit disappointed with the service as when they brought out our food they first brought out the dumplings and did not address that they would be bringing out our beef skewers later on. I assumed they would be but we had completely finished our dumplings and waited another ten minutes or so before receiving our beef skewers. However, as we were leaving the man at the counter was very friendly and since it was our first time there invited us back with a dessert coupon. The dumplings were very delicious and if I go back I think I will mainly focus on the dumplings and not so much on the larger meal. Would recommend going on a Thursday as it is Ladies Night.
I absolutely loved Gao. It's so nice to have a place that feels super modem finally in Albany!! Food was gorgeous, service was great. It was a little hard to hear however. Regardless, my highlight was the paintings on the walls!
Food: 4
Value : 3.5
Service : 4
Atmosphere : 4.5
Always drive past this place which has a huge wall painting of a white woman wearing Hanbok.. and thought I’ll never come here.
But then a special occasion happened and a group of 6 people had dinner here. It was quite amazing ! The interior was so well done with lightings and ceiling plants. Again, huge wall paintings of Asian women was a little cringe, but I guess it compliments the whole ‘fusion’ and ‘exotic’ theme. (oh I could write a whole thesis on this but someone please hold me back)
I thought meals were on the pricey side, even more so because I know it what goes in, but hae. Food tasted good and service was good so that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
If you don’t particularly like the taste of mint, then definitely do not recommend because they load their dishes with mint leaves like there’s no tomorrow 😂
Thank you Gao!
Price was high class while the food was not. But food still tastes good, I like the dumplings yummy. Main dishes just soso. Service is excellent. I may not come back again but can recommend people to try once.
We heard about this place in instagram and came to check it out on a Tuesday night with a grabone deal.
Food/Portion:
👍 Crispy eggplant = MUST!!
The flavour and texture and the sauce marries well together and portion is generous too.
✌ Gao fried chicken = Average
I was expecting more, a bland for my liking but it was okey. Portion was decent, enough for 2 people.
Ambience: Interesting and unique with wall and ceiling paintings and different textures inside. A perfect place for dinner out with workmates after work.
Customer Service: 5/5 Got seated in immediately, staff were all friendly & waitress managed to keep refilling my glass with water when it gets empty, which I always appreciate.
✔ Flavourbomb approved!
Recommend this place. I will come back for their ladies night on Thursday and try their other menu like curry as well.
Gao was recommended to us by a family friend and we were not disappointed. The service was great and the food was very Moorish. We will definitely be going again
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Came into Gao for dinner and the vibe and atmosphere inside was so nice. We started off with the 'lychee mojitos' and they were SO YUM, I could have 10 of them oh my. I then had the 'teriyaki chicken steamed bun' which I wasn't a fan of as I didn't really like the chicken and the reddichio was so bitter and the sauce was spread over the plate and then had the bun on top which made it hard to eat, cause you would get sauce all over your hands. We also had the 'pork & prawn dumplings' and 'peking duck pancakes' for the table and my parents really liked them. We then got the 'Gao fried chicken' which was so yum and my parents had the 'pork ribs' which they thought were yum. Then for sides we got the 'coconut jasmine rice' which was just normal rice that had coconut flakes on top and it was so good. We also had the 'bok choy' which was tasty and it wasn't overpowered by oyster sauce as it sometimes is in other restaurants. Then for dessert we had a 'chocolate mousse' which I wasn't really a fan off as it wasn't really a mousse and I didn't like the berry chutney around it so I wouldn't get that again. The bathrooms are so nice as-well and have a light up counter which looks so cool. Definitely recommend to try this place out and I'll probably be back :))
A nice asian fusion restaurant, environment nice and clean with modern decor. Service polite and friendly. Foods are all taste delicious, i love the prawn best. Didn't try drink yet, will come back to try others soon.
I'm a big fan of Asian fusion, this one has so much to offer. The dumplings were scrumptious, loved the colour it somehow makes them taste yummier. Crispy eggplant, what a great way of cooking it they were delicious. I think the lamb rump was our least favourite instead of fusion it was instead CONfusion 😁. Then there was the desserts Pomegranate and Macadamia praline was a crowd favourite.
The place was nicely done, a complete change from GPK, the murals are stunning. Service was outstanding, we were looked after very well. There's still so much on their menu that I would like to try. I'm definitely coming back 😊
Came on opening night and was wowed from
The moment I stepped in the door. The funky decor, lights and industrial brickwork gets you ready for a mouth explosion that matches the garish artwork. Chef ben’s menu hits every mark. We had a selection of snacks - dumplings, beef tataki, steamed bun, and duck pancakes. Let the photos speak for themselves but the levels of flavour and garnish that are all there for a reason speak for themselves. Just go. Thank you
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An absolutely gorgeous Asian Fusion restaurant located on Dairy Flat Highway that’s pretty hard to miss! Like most Asian fusion restaurants the meals were quite pricey - the appetisers were small but the size of the mains definitely made up for it 😊 We ordered two sashimi dishes, the beef curry, chicken curry and fried chicken 🍗 Both sashimi appetisers were delicious and fresh, though I found the sashimi king fish to be much more flavourful than the sashimi carpaccio 😅 while both were tasty, the portion sizes were TINY for a hefty $19 each 😬 if I’m being honest I’d probably skip on the appetisers next time or go for something other than sashimi! My fave was the chicken curry - decent portion size and PACKED with flavour, there was tender chicken, eggplant, apricots, and green beans that worked so well together 🤤 The beef curry was also delicious, and the meat fell apart with the touch of the fork which was all I could have asked for! The fried chicken was MASSIVE (yay) and was served Korean style under a bed of chips 😋 Absolutely delicious fried chicken if you’re into that style of cooking - but if you tend to avoid sweeter dishes then probably not for you 🤷🏻♀️ overall a great experience and I’m looking forward to trying some of the other dishes on their menu!
We had read rave reviews of the Gao restaurant in Albany and tried it ourselves a couple of Fridays ago. The place was pretty full, but spacious, with vibrant music, great murals on the walls, and a positive vibe. We ordered the Peking Duck pancakes and Fried Beef dumplings for entrees, and the Lamb Rump and Pork Belly for mains to share, and a side of roti. The quantity and quality of the food is excellent - this place really lives up to the reviews and is very very good. My particular favourite was the duck pancakes, which were 3 flaky roti generously filled with slices of succulent duck breast, but both the pork belly and the lamb were large servings and remarkably tender - yum !! In fact every dish we ate was a balance of complex flavours that were amazing on the palate, full of taste, texture and...fantastic! We had planned to have the banana spring rolls for dessert, but we were too full so will try them next time.
All I can say is... WOW! Finally Albany has a restaurant to rave about! The exterior of this place is deceiving, but as soon as you walk in you will be blown away. It has a Melbourne city hip bar vibe, from the the street art wall murals, to the ceilings and the music is spot on. But the main star is the food. UNBELIEVABLE! Thank you Gao! I have found my new local hangout!
Tried some dumplings, the beef entree, 2x buns, the massaman curry and the red curry. all of the dishes were amazing. the atmosphere is so funky and cool. will be going back.
From the moment you walk into Gao you know you are in for an experience. A welcome smile and hello is really noticed and appreciated (something that continually seems to be forgotten elsewhere).
They have done great things with the decoration and the ambience is on the mark.
Service was outstanding for a local restaurant. Food was Devine. Couldn’t ask for anything more. Expansive enough menu gives you enough reasons to keep coming back. The pork belly is outstanding and you can’t miss the soft crab.
We will certainly be back here.
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This place was outstanding!!! The menu looked extreme and it was nothing short of that. I saw a lot of reviews earlier about portion sizes so they must have taken that on board because the portions were huge. A main meal and a small dish is definitely enough food to share between two. The price really reflects the quantity. Across our table (8 people) we ordered a lot of the dishes on offer. Here is what I ordered:
Duck pancakes (8/10). Delicious!! So much filling and so tender and tasty. I never think any places do enough sauce though so that could just be me, and the meal wasn’t 100% warm but minor details.
Pork belly main (10/10) the best pork belly sauce I’ve ever had. The meat was super tender! I love a crispy pork belly but I enjoyed this one just as much.
Squid (8/10) super well cooked! And delicious side sauces, some kind of spicy mayo & a pesto. Sauces elevated the taste for sure.
Pork and prawn dumplings (10/10) outstanding dipping sauce they came with and 10 dumplings for $14 from a fancy restaurant is something you just can’t look past.
The butterscotch espresso martini was top notch too!
We also had a few allergies and dietary requirements at the table which they were SUPER happy to cater to.
Will be back!
I've been to Gao twice with my girlfriend and this place is really great. We've tried a number of items on the menu from the dumplings, eggplant, bok choy, and pork belly. The food is delicious and the restaurant decor is really nice too. Highly recommend.
The food is very expensive and there is only a little amount. I am very disappointed at the amount but the quality is the best I've ever seen it is very yum and the plate layout is so perfect, it is almost like a art!
Loved the duck pancakes. Chicken red curry. Beef Check. Pad Thai. Everthing we ordered was fantastic. Will be back. Great restaurant
Yummy food
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Tried out the new fusion eatery out in Albany. The service, ambience and food were amazing. Perfect as sharing dishes so you can try all their amazing food.
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🦐 Grilled prawns 9/10
They were cooked to perfection with beautiful smokey flavours. They kept the shells on to maintain the moisture and flavours. The prawns were slightly hard to de- she'll but worth it.
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🥟Dumplings 10/10
Super thin wrappers with lots of filling, but the star was the chilli sauce. I have to say this gives Eden Noodles a run for their money. A must try when coming here.
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🦀Soft shell crab 6/10
Soft shell crab used to always be my go to dish to order. The crabs were crispy but unfortunately have bits of raw flour lumps in the fried batter. The radicchio (leaf) that came with it was really edible as it was very bitter.
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🥗 Papaya Salad 9/10
A great compliment to the other dishes. Super refreshing and tangy. I could eat a whole entire plate of this.
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🍛Vege green curry 8/10
The curry sauce was HEAVENLY! The rich coconut flavours, I could be happy with just that sauce and a bowl of rice. We order roti with it too, and that was light, buttery and flavorful. Only downfall was the raw bokchoy, carrots and cauliflower. It just needed to be on the pan for 5mins longer.
Best restaurant in Albany that’s for sure! Smoked duck was something special and the pork belly was on another level.
Cocktails were interesting and super good too! Stoked to have this place near by.
Design of restaurant is very artistic 4/5
Service 4/5
Wine list 5/5
Food menu 4/5
Taste of food
Peking duck wrap, nice twist with the roti bread 4/5
Lamb is bit too sweet for me but still nice 4/5
Pah Thai is too too sweet for my taste. Cant eat anymore after one scope 2/5
Prawn is average 3/5
Overall drink menu is nicer than food.
I’m always down for a dirty dumpling and I’d usually go to glenfield night markets, but I decided not to spend the rest of the night with a stomach ache and have GAO a go. New and fresh in Albany with loads of competition, GAO is a great place for a sit down fusion dinner, really good table service and food presentation. The variety of dishes was really mice so there was something for everyone! One thing I didn’t like was the deep fried eggplant, is the menus specified it was deep friend I wouldn’t have chosen it, an eggplant dish could have been amazing if it was pan fried with a miso sauce in my opinion but overall a good experience:)
We went to there for dinner last month. Everything we ate was delicious. Service was pleasant too. The only downside is a little bit pricey.
Such an awesome place! Love the vibes with the artwork & lights on the roof. Food was amazing. Service was a bit average as it took a while to get our order taken & we ended up leaving before dessert as we didn’t want to wait so long to get served again. Would come back!
Incredible new place. A hidden gem and absolute delight. Murals are so in right now and a lot of places are really taking their game to next level but it will be hard to beat this one. Every wall including the ceiling tells a story.
When we asked the waiting staff what did Gao mean- he said it means 'next level' in Korean. With that we can see the vision of the owner.
Ideal place to come for arvo session with friends and family, incredible cocktails - don't miss the lychee one.
Starters are bomb special mention to dumpling soup and fried eggplant. Asian fusion done right I say.
Main course was pretty good too, we had range of dishes from the beef curry, crackling pork, buns and duck. The duck was average and could be given a miss.
Staff is prompt in service and quite friendly.
Definitely coming back very soon just for the vibe of this place. Can't wait to see what's coming next on the menu.
Seeing the murals made me smile. One bite of the prawn and pork dumplings made me do a happy dance. My partner's beef dumplings were also awesome, the sauce was just exquisite! We also shared a bao with spicy pork and loved it. We shared a main because our bellies were already happy with dumplings. The massaman beef curry was sublime. The flavours were well balanced and exciting. I am Asian with very high standards and my partner is the fussiest man ever. We were so impressed with food and the service. This will be our regular place now.
Went there with friends last night, it was an absolutely amazing experience. Great food and sweet service. If you're looking for Asian fusion food, just go for it. Highly recommended.
This place just made my day. Its asian fusion kitchen with an interesting twist. Very good servis. Great interior decor with option outdoor sittings. Food is delish presentation is very good. Good quolity ingridients in all dishes. I loved kind fish sashimi and obergine dishes my favourite. Dumplings were handmade and super tasty. Good place for special ocasion they will definitely look after you. I would pay double price for food like this in Parnell. Make a reservation as they are very busy. Easy parking just outside the restaurant. Definitely coming back to try theirs curry.
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We had not planned to come here to eat, but on passing thought we'd give it a try. It's not long open , the owner told me six weeks, but i have still managed to hear something about it. Of course it has to establish a good footing in the restaurant scene in this area. Give it time . Anyway, about our experience. We're not usually into the Asian Fusion cuisine, but then fusion dining overall we seldom if ever venture to. Part reason is the cost is high and i dislike eating a meal where the food only takes up half the plate. Makes me feel a bit like i am not getting my moneys worth. But in saying that the food was delicious! Our order consisted of the Market fish of the day yellow curry (the fish being monkfish) with rotti , scallop salad & crispy eggplant washed down with a Brothers brewery lager. The order came out pretty quickly too. And like i said disregarding the portion size etc it was very delicious!. Top marks to the chef. About the service , it was top notch too from entry to exit. Faultless. Of note too is the decor, i really like the paintings on the walls and ceiling and the atmosphere within too. So overall i would recommend as long as you are willing to pay a few extra dollars and despite my tendency and reasons not to eat fusion cuisine i think it does definitely deserve 5 stars.
Stumbled across this place on Zomato when looking for a new restaurant on the shore.
The atmospheric decor at GAO coupled with the flavourful food made this a winning combo in an unassuming part of Albany. Coming here was reminiscent of dining at any decent Asian fusion restaurant at Ponsonby road, only no need to drive over the bridge if you live on the shore! Had the smoked duck, soft shell crab and the pork bun, all delicious washed down with a glass of vino. Bliss. Will be back!!!!!
Awesome to see another fantastic Asian fusion restaurant on the shore. The decor in this place is so funky and the staff were really attentive and helpful. We had the Pork and Prawn dumplings (super flavoursome) , Peking Duck pancakes (in a yummy mini Roti), Beef Cheek Massaman Curry (melt in your mouth beef) and Soft Shell crab (could do with a sauce or something to cut through the rich crab). Everything was delicious and there is still so much on the menu we will be coming back to try. I hope this place does really well.
Had to check this amazing funky bistro out... Fantastic! We booked almost late into the night and they welcomed us with a smile.... Food was just as exquisite as the decor. Breath taking funky art...Without a doubt one of the best bistros in Dairy Flat Village/Albany. From the Espresso Martini to the yummy dumplings and awesome selection in the Menu, sensational! Being locals we are very lucky we don't have to travel afar to enjoy a great night of fine dine with attentive great service. Thank you, Gao Team. We will definitely be visiting again and again and passing on to all our family and friends to share with all theirs to visit Gao Asian Fusion 😊
Amazing food and great service! We had the chicken curry and soft shell crab with a side of rice. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the soft shell crab is a must try! Will definitely be coming back for more.
Such a good little place to eat! Dumplings and spring onion pancakes are awesome as was the sashimi carpaccio. We also had the smoked duck which was good. Will definitely be back here soon!
This place is exactly what Auckland needed. The food is just too good! Can't wait to try everything on the menu - I had the smoked duck which was unreal.. I really enjoyed the cocktails too.
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The newest Asian Fusion kid on the block, Gao was bustling with live and vibrancy even on a Sunday evening. It's giant murals and neon luminescent red sign glows 'Gao' that catches your eye from a distance.
Stepping foot indoors, it is the recurring motif of murals of delicately painted beautiful females that pops out at you. When they say 'fusion', they really do mean fusion because even their interior marries the down-to-earth tones of Asia and fuses with the urbane rustic brick of Western décor.
Gao offers a genuinely broad selection of delicacies from their menu; with the likes of dumplings and xiaolongbao from China, Sashimi from Japan, Curries from South East Asia, and Lamb Rump and Market Fish that embraces the Western roots. Some dishes almost touch on Pacific ingredients too. Gao inevitably showcases a range of culinary techniques and cultures.
So, we couldn't decide what to get and ultimately settled for: XiaoLongBao, Sashimi King Fish, Scallop Salad, Lamb Rump, Smoked Duck, Master Stock Pork Belly with a side of Bok Choy.
- Xiao Long Bao (8/10) was everything a Xiao Long Bao should be, but the garlic blend in the dipping sauce was an intelligent touch I haven't encountered before - and it added so much more flavour to the pork filling! However, I still feel like there's something missing - perhaps a bit of black pepper in the filling would add more to the dish!
- Sashimi King Fish (10/10) beautifully presented, these delicately wrapped slices of king fish are little capsules of joy that pops in the mouth. The king fish is wrapped around ponzu sauce and kojuchang sauce, and the citrusy burst from the pickled radish made it an insanely refreshing delight to eat. The cucumber further added to the crunch and crispness of each roll. My friend and I found ourselves a winner here.
- Scallop Salad (9/10) think 'tender', 'juicy', 'melts-in-the-mouth' with this one because the scallops were cooked to absolute perfection. These little gems are nestled amongst the lettuce and water cress that is dressed with a blend of green nahmjim, pomelo and pork chutney. Lastly, it is topped with a tiny sprinkle of fresh chilli to add the wow-factor.
- Lamb Rump (10/10) perfectly seared tender lamb with a smokiness to its crispy skin. The lamb sits on a bed of a GENIUS blend of Barley grains, black current and kumara cubes; marinated in coconut cream. The pesto on the side was absolutely divine and a mouthful of every element together sends you to heaven. I could honestly have this dish all day. The ice berg on the side was citrusy to freshen up your taste buds. A faultless dish.
- Smoked Duck (10/10) I am a sucker for duck but also have high standards and Gao delivers a perfect duck dish. The sweet tamarind sauce is a thing of its own and is the perfect accompaniment to the beautifully smoked duck breast. I covered each piece of duck with the tamarind sauce, I couldn't get enough of it. The slices almonds added another dimension of crunch and earthy flavour to this dish. The broccoli was cooked to perfection - soaked of flavour at just the right hardness. Another flawless dish here.
- Master Stock Pork Belly (9/10) wowww I have tried enough pork bellies around Auckland and this is definitely up there in the pork belly game. Two giant blocks of pork belly that is perfectly cooked that just falls away when you bring your knife to it. Incredibly soft, and the skin was packed with flavour and was both chewy (in a good way) and crispy. Personally it was perhaps a bit too fatty under the skin. However, the sweet and sourness from the plum sauce rendered that down; and the pineapple was the 'cherry on top' and tied all the flavours and textures together.
'Gao' in Chinese means 'high' and 'tall', and I certainly think Gao delivers to their name. You can feel the attention to detail that was put into each and every element on every dish; every element complements another. Food arrived insanely fast despite how busy they are, and they are definitely well-staffed to service that. Credit definitely goes towards the experience manager, Jonathan who knows exactly what to do under any situation. Service was amazing from all of the waitresses/waiters we encountered, and also got to meet one of the owners, Brian, a passionate foodie mastermind behind Gao.
This is a champion addition to Albany and is definitely another tough competition in the Asian Fusion foodie game in Auckland. All I can say is, WATCH THIS SPACE.
Food: 10/10
Service: 10/10
Ambience: 10/10
Hidden gem on the shore. Food was fantastic. From delicious dumplings to desserts. Oysters are shucked to orders, sashimi were the freshest I have tasted in a long time. Drinks menu is insane! Top quality spirits, craft beers, wines and cocktails. Friendly and detailed service, staff with good knowledge and guided us through the experience. Can't be better! Well done Gao team! We will be back!
Best modern Asian food in Albany. would recommend to try their dumpling and curry menu to get the best out of the best meals from the menu. Make sure you get booked here to avoid the queue as the place is buzzing. Staff is friendly and their service is excellent.
Albany finally has a wealthy place to hang out! We tried xiao long bao and some spicy dumplings they were so yum. Suprised.And massamam curry was very rich. Loved pad thai.Dishes amount were quite large to share with your friend.careful customer service.I and my partner enjoyed our date night at gao Thanks team.
I have lived locally for nearly 1.5 years and this is the very first time I have dined in at Gao.
What an amazing experience here! What a delicious food. I love all the dishes. I went with my friends on last Sunday and I can't help to go back on the next Tuesday.
Definitely I will be back .
Well done 👏
Group of 16 islanders. Originally booked for 90min bottomless lunch menu and drinks.
$45 for bottomless lunch and non alcoholic drinks. $65 for bottomless lunch and alcoholic drinks.
The venue decor is impressive. Great atmosphere for lunch. We were there with other groups but didn't feel crowded.
Food is exceptional. We had the bottomless lunch - every few minutes new dishes would arrive. An array of Asian cuisines. Amazing staff, patient, friendly and extremely helpful.
Slightly lagging with the drink orders but doesn't impact on any future returns.
Parking can be challenging.
Highly recommend. Love this little business and hope they continue to grow.
I was lucky to get a dinner reservation last minute for 5.30pm on a Saturday. As soon as we walked in, the ambiance draws in all of your senses. We were greeted & seated at our table straight away, menu's in hand, we salivated our way down the menu.
Our drinks were a purple haze & a coke. Cocktail was delicious! I wanted several more!
Our food arrived presented beautifully, e ordered the Kung pa orange chicken, Gao friend squid, Korean fried cauliflower, pork & prawn dumplings & chilli dumplings.
Every single thing was full of flavour and made with love! You will not be disappointed. Run don't walk. 🙌 The staff were very attentive, the ambiance was amazing with a few heaters pumping. Will definitely go back to try more off the menu. Thank you. 😊
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Incredible! Best bottomless brunch that my girls and I have attended and they’ve really set the standards high for other bottomless brunches around Akl! Every single dish was amazing (the spring rolls was a fav and literally tasted like deep fried mini Big Macs. Unsure what it was called) and the mi goreng, dumplings, bao buns, fried chicken, desserts - just everything is cooked to perfection and is served fresh and piping hot.
The drinks was also delicious (and a bonus that you’re able to try them all/switch the next round) but the tequila sunrises hit the spot.
Aside from the delicious food and drinks - the service itself was impeccable and they continuously serve throughout your entire stay (we’ve noticed at other establishment they‘re often slow or low on staff while packed out). You will not leave this establishment hungry or thirsty!
On top of all of that - the comms was fast, efficient and accomodating. Very happy with the email exchange upon booking and they made sure everything was an easy process when we had to change dates and number of people attending. We will surely be back again!
I’d say IF there was a downfall then it would only be the food wastage. We regrettably left with two full tables of food which seems quite wasteful. In the future, we’ll decline any extra plates or top ups to avoid this. Otherwise a limited take away option would have been even better (currently no take away option so beware of overindulging or eating with your eyes to avoid too much leftovers).
One of the best place I’ve been by far (over the shore)
Great food. Great service and great ambiance! Keep up the good work 😊
Loved this place. Came here on a Friday night but the only booking available was 5:00, so we were the only ones in here. But despite that it was amazing. The service was perfect and everyone was so incredibly kind. Then we get to the food and it couldn't of been better, the cheeseburger spring rolls, tuna, duck pancakes, and just everything was perfect. I've been to many asian fusion restaurants before but this one takes the cake, the atmosphere, service, and food were all top tier. Will definitely be returning soon.
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We decided to try this place for dinner. The place wasn't too hard to find. There are a few parking spots around the building but they did get full quite quickly but there were more spots further down the area.
The place is quite interesting with a fairly large mural on the Albany Highway side of the building. The interior is similar with a variety of murals along the many surfaces of the restaurant. The bar is by the entrance and there is a fireplace which is in the middle of the dining area.
Both the food and drink menu has interesting items on it. We grabbed a few items to share. The pad thai here is quite flavourful. As was the stir fried greens. The roti and coconut rice here is also nice. The desserts were also interesting. The panna cotta had a nice texture with the fruits and other things around it. The banana spring roll was almost like a banana fritter. The coconut rockstar was a bit different, almost like a deep fried ice cream. It was an interesting way to end the meal.
The food and cocktails here were interesting and tasty.
We went there last saturday for bottomless brunch! Awesome service and fantastic food! Fresh and great flavour! Highly recommended for weekend brunch.
Everything about this place is amazing, from the service when you walk in the door, to the amazing authentic Asian fusion (Phillipines,Thai,chinese) flavors. The staff know what they're talking about, so take their advice when ordering!! 100% a vibe!
Dinner for 2 tonight.
Great ambiance
Overall, this was a wonderful experience with friendly, helpful, and approachable staff, all very professional.
Every dish we ordered was tasty and delicious.
Gao certainly delivers the goods and more.
We are looking forward to visiting this excellent Restaurant again soon.
We had the Gao Fried Chicken, Drunken Fish, Crispy Eggplant, Kung Pa-Orange chicken, Sichuan Spicy Noodles & Papaya Salad.
The Goa Fried Chicken was great. Nice & crispy, but it just needed a hot/sweet/spicy dipping sauce. The Drunken Fish was average, it lacked taste. The Crispy Eggplant was a highlight. Delish!
The Kung Pa-Orange chicken was average, it lacked depth and flavor. The Sichuan Spicy Noodles ….average. The Papaya Salad was another highlight. We’ve eaten twice here now and it seems consistent. There are some great dishes. Enjoy!
Went for their bottomless brunch and food - and it was a GREAT experience. The staff were so lovely - especially Jeanette and Albert. The food kept on coming too - which was great. I loved the prawn crackers, edamame, fried chicken and the desserts - they were all delicious AND bottomless! I just wish the drinks arrived a bit faster.
I would definitely still come back with my friends here though! I would recommend booking because they do get busy.
My family and I celebrated a birthday here the other night and LOVED it!!! We all can't stop talking about it! Gao has the tastiest food, great service and delicious cocktails. My brother whose birthday we were celebrating was gifted dessert and they brought it over lit with a candle. They went above and beyond to cater to us. We can not wait to come back! Thanks again for having us!!!
This place is awesome! Went for the first time after seeing the reviews and did not disappoint. From our first bite we were amazed, so tasty! It's a bit more pricey than what we would normally do, not expensive but not a regular thing either. But I'd definitely like to go back for our next special occasion or with family/friends. Great food, service and vibe!
Amazing gem of a place. Such a happening vibe about it.... love love love your music!!! Friendly staff and AMAZING food. Thanks for a great meal
Dark with minimal lighting. Has candles on the tables but weren't lit up at yet at 7pm so we had to tilt the menus to the doors to even see anything.
Service was fine and the food was great when it came out.
More of a bar vibe than a restaurant so it can get loud.
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