PANDA Desserts is a late-night dessert cafe at 11A Nuffield Street, Newmarket, Auckland, rated 4.6 from 170 Google reviews. Its website describes a small menu of fluffy Japanese soufflé pancakes, shaved milk ice such as Salted Egg Yolk & Taro Bingsu, milk puddings, bubble tea and traditional Cantonese sweet soups, all made fresh, with free parking on Nuffield Street after 6pm. Reviewers mention soufflé pancakes, boba soufflé pancake, milk pudding and strawberry soufflé, and praise the light, not-too-sweet flavours and warm, fluffy pancakes.
A good dessert shop makes a few things well and serves them at the right temperature, whether warm and airy or ice-cold. Soufflé pancakes are best eaten as soon as they arrive, because they sink as they cool, and they take longer to cook, so order them first. Shared plates suit a group, so order a pancake, a shaved ice and a sweet soup to compare textures. Desserts here are meant for lingering, so evenings and weekends can be busy, and a later visit after dinner is a good time for a quieter table. Ask staff which items are lighter if you prefer less sweetness.
For Newmarket locals and shoppers after dinner or a movie, it is a late-night spot f