Double Happy (Albany, North Shore City, New Zealand)

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Double Happy Restaurant in Albany, New Zealand for a quick lunch. To my surprise, the restaurant was still open despite it being in between lunch and dinner, which is a rare find in this part of the world.

Located in the foodie haven of Corinthian Drive, Double Happy may be small in size, but it is definitely big in flavours. The self-service style of the restaurant adds to its casual vibe, allowing customers to pay, grab utensils, grab their condiments and even tea on their own.

Pricewise, I found Double Happy to be on the median side, which is reasonable given the quality of the food. Speaking of which, I had the Combination Meats Fried Udon (NZ$16.80), which was nicely done with just the right amount of meat. What impressed me the most was the fact that the dish was not overloaded with bean sprouts like many other stir-fried noodle dishes in New Zealand.

The Braised Eggplant with Beef Casserole (NZ$21.80) was also a winner, with generous portions of eggplants that were cooked perfectly and absorbed all the saucy goodness. Quite a rarity here as eggplants are quite pricy so most restaurants extend the dish with meat rather than the vegetables, not with Double Happy, you get what you ask your, a proper eggplant casserole.

One thing that sets Double Happy apart from other restaurants in the area is their commitment to using natural ingredients. The dishes we had were not overly salty or laden with MSG, which I appreciated. However, it may come across as slightly bland to some diners who are used to heavily seasoned food.

Overall, I would definitely recommend Double Happy Restaurant for those who are looking for a casual yet flavourful dining experience in Albany.

Double Happy Restaurant Albany
Address: 7A/21 – 23 Corinthian Drive, Albany, Auckland 0632, New Zealand
Phone: +649 358 1117
Website: https://www.doublehappyrestaurant.co.nz/