Don’t let the derelict exterior fool you — this place is actually pretty average. Not the amazing underground find that you can rave to your hipster mates about(«Oh, you don’t know about Happy Garden? Yeah I’ve been going there for years. It’s pretty much the best food in Auckland, but of course you wouldn’t know about it…»), but also not the cockroach-and-ebola-fest that someone from a snobbier part of town might infer from its appearance. I’ve eaten here. Didn’t die. Also wasn’t wowed by the food but you know, it’s fine. This place must have something going for it though, because it sits directly opposite AJ’s, a(somewhat) less derelict, more appealing looking takeaways. But Happy Garden’s managed to survive here for ages, so it must be doing something to entice people away from AJ’s more solid coating of paint. Would I recommend it? No. Would I un-recommend it? No. Out of five stars it gets a shrug.