![5]( "Recensione")
I had an incredible dining experience at XO Mangal last night which was a pop-up restaurant, located in Auckland's K-Road area. It offered a unique fusion of Indian and Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine running out of Satya Chai Lounge.
My partner and I were thrilled with our choices from the menu. The Hot & Numbing Buttermilk Fried Chicken was my favourite dish - every bite was packed with flavour, and I devoured it down to the last bone. The Crispy Eggplant with Szechuan Pepper and Black Vinegar was also a standout - it was delicious and incredibly flavourful. The Masala Fries were another highlight and a must-try; the kebab spice mix, harissa, and garlic yogurt were a delightful combination.
The Corn Ribs with Curry Leaf, Coconut, and Masala Rub were cleverly cut into quarters to resemble ribs and were full of flavor. I also appreciated the spice in the Lamb Kofta. The Pork Belly Vindaloo - it was so spicy, but I loved it.
To balance the spices, we enjoyed the Watermelon Chaat Masala, which was refreshing and tangy. The Basmati Rice was an excellent side that complemented the main dishes perfectly.
To end the meal, we indulged in the Smashed Baklava Sundae made with Baklava, Candied Nuts, and Salted Caramel. It was the perfect sweet treat to cap off a fantastic meal.
The service at XO Mangal was exceptional - our servers were quick, attentive, and friendly.
The only constructive feedback I have is that the dishes came out too quickly, leaving us little time to savour each course. However, this could be because we arrived earlier, and the kitchen had the capacity to get the dishes out quickly.
Overall, I highly recommend XO Mangal to anyone looking for quality and tasty food in an easy and moody atmosphere. Their pop-up menu changes weekly, so it's worth returning to try new dishes. Don't miss out on this limited-time dining experience!
Great ambiance and great food ! Recommend coming here with friends to chill and yarn, order appetizers with friends and share instead of coming here for a meal. The only thing I was not a fan was the small tight tables, hence recommend coming here for snack food / lounge experience over an actual meal.
Didn't book but luckily got a table after a short wait! 100% recommend booking before hand as the restaurant is small. The decorum and the food match really well! The staff members didn't really dress/look like staff which was the only confusing thing; they were all in streetwear.
Ordered 6 course feed. Efficient and friendly service! What a taste palate adventure, nothing was under seasoned and everything was cooked so well. Couldn't even choose a favourite (it was that good).
The Masala Chai is not something you want to pass up. Served in a ceramic cup, as were all the dishes, the intensity of the Chai flavour was just spot on.
Made the mistake of not making a booking as it was our first time coming in the evening. My partner and I had a share of the platter for 2 and everything was so delicious.
The tables are a bit small so be careful when ordering a lot of dishes, but don’t let that get in the way of trying as much as you can in this restaurant. For non-alcoholic drinks I would highly recommend their high quality masala chai and I find that it pairs nicely with the spicing that’s on the food.
I would definitely come back to try more of what to offer and have no regrets waiting for a table that evening. Yum 😋
I loved the this place and the music. We had chicken in Sichuan sauce, egg fried rice, tampura prawns, chicken 65, onion baji, chicken fried rice and every thing was delicious, authentic Indian street food, haven't found anything quite like this in Auckland and the masala chai in earthen cups was just heavenly.
One of my favorite places in Auckland! Wonderful cosy and chill venue, extremely delicious little bites. The vegetables dumplings are like tasty little balls of umami, deep fried and tangy and savoury. Also highly recommend Mushroom Magic, you could eat it all day it's so delicious!
Awesome place for dates :)
Only came here for a drink before dinner. I have been wanting to go for ages as I've been to their other restaurant on Great North Rd and the food was amazing!!! Beer menu is extensive so I stayed away from it as I wouldn't have been able to decide! Wanted a wine but the wine menu was pretty terrible. I guess the emphasis is on the beer. Got the spiced negroni which wa great! Can't wait to go back here to eat as it is so cute inside! Highly underrated!
Absolutely amazing small plates. Mushroom magic and cabbage 65 are all-time favourites.
The drinks are a little hit and miss. The cocktail menu - especially espresso martini - is pretty good, but isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Great place to get yourself familiar with fusion Indian cuisine (and not spend a bomb)
Food is so delicious, to be shared, watch out for the spicy dishes (if you can’t handle it)
Deco with re-used coffee bean bags, pallets and more.
Awesome cocktails, Wine list offers plenty of great options. Large offer of Garage projects beers !
The menu is hilarious (« extra charge for hipster allergies »)
Just visited with 3 friends......the new menu seems a blast, prawn bhel puri was yum, achaari brussel sprouts just reminded me of pickle what my grandma use to make and the pork ribs were the star of the show ...
Must visit place on K'road.
Specially with a new and compact menu ..
The masala chai accompanied by the middle eastern baklava mixed with an indian street food twist is greatly recommended.. great vibes, friendly staff and clean food. Can’t wait to visit again.
Robbie Cancian Photographer
+5
Weren't quite sure what was inside, our curiosity got the better of us, so glad we went in! Lovely beer and great service. Will have to come back for dinner!
Wow! The chicken wings were insane!! Hot, spicy and very addictive. All of the food we got at the XO Mangal was incredible and same with the drinks. Great music, friendly staff and cozy place. Highly recommend!
Came across this bar while waiting for booking at Uncle Man Malaysian restaurant! You likely would not spot this bar while driving and you could easily miss it while walking by. However, inside it has a great atmosphere if you're looking to catch up with friends shortly or get drinks before dinner. Can’t say much about the food because we ate at Uncle Mans!
Delish food! Great atmosphere! Friendly staff! Highly recommend if your looking for a relaxed dinner with friends 🍤
The XO Mangal pop up is seriously good. Everything on the menu is full of flavour, cooked perfectly, great service, excellent spicy margaritas. Epic
Wow wow wow. Not much more to say, went in there with 2 others for a drink and some snacks as we were on a time limit. They were BUSY but everything came out in a perfect time one by one, all of the dishes were hits with no misses. Special shout-out to the dumplings. Lovely staff too and we will be back!
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