The Orient Cafe is a Chinese grill at 453 Great South Rd in Penrose, Auckland, rated 4.1 from 202 Google reviews, with customers singling out the barbecue skewers above all. Regulars say the skewers, lamb ones in particular, outshine the dumplings, and both the guobaorou (sweet and sour pork) and a sesame-paste cold noodle dish win praise too.
Chinese barbecue, or shaokao, lives on the grill: small skewers of lamb, chicken and vegetables seasoned with cumin and chilli, cooked to order and best treated as a shared spread rather than one plate each. The craft is in getting a proper char without drying the meat out. Ordering in rounds is the habit — a first tray while you decide, more as plates empty — and asking for less oil or salt is normal practice, since every kitchen seasons differently.
For Penrose locals and workers along Great South Road, this is the spot when a skewer craving strikes.