Muse Cafe, Newmarket, Auckland

There’s nothing remotely amusing about the Muse Cafe in Newmarket. This is quintessential Honk Kong mainstreet/local with nary a WASP in sight. Serving traditional, everyday Chinese fare this is a cafe that doesn’t aspire to any airs and graces whatsoever. This is far from being a criticism, of course, as this bustling little corner eatery has somehow managed to recreate a back street HK feel to it with prices to match.
If you’re not used to such things then you need to look past the well worn decor and the fading picture menu by the entrance, order something that appeals and settle in for an educational culinary ride.
We had wanted to dine at a Taiwanese Restaurant when in Auckland for the day but, alas, couldn’t find one that was open or easily accessible at the time. Our driver, a former Hong Konger, immediately suggested Muse as he had eaten there many times and insisted to my Chinese colleague and me that genuine food could be had at cheap prices.
A chilled glass of milk tea was very welcome to begin with as the cafe was quite a few degrees warmer than outside; in fact, there were about 6 high-powered electric fans dotted about the floor – testimony to how warm it gets I suspect!
In a matter of a few minutes a well-filled plate of sliced pork with lemon grass sauce and steamed rice arrived at the table. Just enough of a lunch course to reinvigorate me for the afternoon’s meetings. Amidst the cacophony of chattering customers and what was almost a fog of intermingled, delicious oriental aromas wafting about the room I savoured each and every mouthful, fully appreciating the Chinese style of including lots of thinly sliced and diced vegetables in dishes. One feels that real value is being had. We pecked away at a side dish of cháyèdàn or Chinese Tea Eggs for final fulfilment.
If you’re wandering about Newmarket during the week and want to try something quite different to the chic cafes in the area then Muse might be good for you. Don’t let your expectations become too unrealistic though....