Sneaky Snacky (Auckland CBD, New Zealand)

In the age where MSG is stigmatised, where most restaurants place a label outside their premises that says “We don’t use MSG“, there is one place here in Auckland that is adverting this boldly on their menu board, these are the brave guys in Sneaky Snaky. For me I don’t have issues with MSG, we grew up with this in Asia and use them like how people use salt on their food, I believe like many studies out there that there are no adverse effects on consuming them, in fact it is everywhere on many foods that we eat on a daily basis. Items like potato chips, seasoning blends, fast food items, processed meats and instant noodles to name some have this substance, it’s also naturally occurring in cheese, mushrooms, seafood and tomatoes, so if you eat either of them, then you had already intaked a good amount of this delicious umami inducing condiment.

Back to our restaurant today, while they have interesting menu items, what brought me here was their MSG fries, yes freaking MSG fries, that sounds exciting, for me at least. We came here for lunch, with my team at work, while most of them agreed to give it a go, some of them opted out, and since the place is located at Lim Chhour’s Food court, the ones that opted out has plenty of options but for the one that chose Sneaky Snacky then options like Donut Burger (Hot Chicken, Cheetos Beef, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Beef with Bone Marrow Sauce, Bulgogi, Smoked Kahawai), Japanese Sando, Chicken Wings, Donut Ice Cream, Ice Cream & Fries with Fish Sauce Caramel and off course the MSG Fries are some of what they can choose.

It’s an eye-catching menu to say the least, and they all look delicious, the combination of flavours was out of this world. In my excitement I ordered Hot Chicken Donut (NZ$13.00) Medium Spice Level, it is prepared with Nashville hot chicken thigh, dill mayo, cucumber and American cheese but instead of me choosing the glazed donut the plain ones were given to me since I did not requested for it, that is their default bun. Alongside that burger was off course the MSG Fries (NZ$4.50).

So how was it? Honestly speaking, it was really good, not surprising specially that I know they use MSG, that thing is a flavour booster. Pictures might not do justice, but the size of those burgers are huge, it’s quite hard to finish it all. The chicken was so tasty and juicy, it was hot but not extreme, it would have been good with a glazed donut but that was my fault. Eating them was quite messy, hence they give you plastic gloves to eat with otherwise the oil from that chicken will slowly creep into the creases of your finger. As for the fries, it was out of this world, it does not look like it was laden with MSG, like salt, that was my expectation but instead this MSG flavour clings to the fries like melted cheese stuck on your toast.

It was totally worth a visit to say the least, it was one hell of a lunch and I love it, the only downside is that I was full the whole afternoon and quite thirsty, I think I drank a gallon of water when we got back to the office. So there you go, if you are not afraid of MSG then give these guys a try, trust be you will love it.

Update: April 29, 2021
I told you I will be back, this time I tried it with glazed donuts and all I can say is that, this is the best way to experience this dish.

Sneaky Snacky
Address: 184 Karangahape Road, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone: +6422 304 0012
Website: https://www.instagram.com/sneaky_snacky_nz