Momo Tea Albany (Albany, North Shore City, New Zealand)

Momo Tea in Albany: A Trip Down Memory Lane with Mixed Reviews. Momo Tea in Albany holds a special place in the hearts of many, being one of the pioneers of bubble tea shops in Auckland, New Zealand. However, as time has passed and new competitors have emerged, the once vibrant and bustling establishment has faced its fair share of challenges. In this review, we revisit Momo Tea to see how it fares amidst the growing competition and address some concerns about its overall condition.

Momo Tea opened its doors in Auckland in 2001, becoming the go-to spot for bubble tea enthusiasts. In its early days, it was the sole provider of this trendy beverage. The popularity of Momo Tea was evident, and it quickly expanded, establishing multiple chain stores across New Zealand.

Over the years, Momo Tea has experienced both highs and lows. It was the place to be for bubble tea aficionados until other bubble tea shops arrived in the scene. In 2019, the Albany branch faced negative publicity due to poor control and cleaning processes, resulting in a low grade from food inspectors. Despite this setback, Momo Tea remained resilient and continues to operate to this day.

Upon revisiting Momo Tea in Albany, it became apparent that the place had lost some of its former charm. The overall ambiance felt outdated and run down, with worn-out PU leather seats covered by towels to hide the torn parts. The tables showed signs of wear and tear, and the once bustling atmosphere had dwindled.

We decided to sample some of Momo Tea’s offerings to gauge how they stood against the competition. Our order included the Taro Milk Tea (NZ$8.00), Mapo Tofu on Rice (NZ$16.90) , and Malaysia Style Fried Rice Noodle (NZ$18.90). While the Taro Milk Tea tasted artificial compared to other milk tea shops that use real ingredients like Gong Cha.

The Mapo Tofu on Rice surprised us with its unique savory and slightly sweet flavour profile, unlike any other Mapo tofu I tried in my life, no spice and numbing sensation at all but it was good. Meat was not minced as well but rather served with thin strips of pork.

The Malaysia Style Fried Rice Noodle also impressed with its well-cooked noodles and generous portions of meat. I am not sure why they did not call this Kuey Teow as it is one, the good thing with this as well is that in other places they drown it in bean sprouts, here they don’t.

One notable aspect of Momo Tea is its affordability and generous portions compared to similar establishments. The service was commendable, with attentive and prompt waitstaff. However, cleanliness remains a concern, with dirty and sticky floors and occasional lapses in utensil availability. Nonetheless, the flavoursome food leaves hope that the kitchen maintains high standards of cleanliness.

Momo Tea in Albany may have lost some of its lustre over the years, but it still holds nostalgic memories for many customers. While aspects like the ambiance and cleanliness need improvement, the affordable prices, generous portions, and tasty dishes make it a viable option for those seeking a familiar taste. Whether Momo Tea can regain its former glory or adapt to meet the demands of a changing market remains to be seen.

Momo Tea Albany
Address: 1&2/329 Albany Highway, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand
Menu: https://www.momotea.co.nz/
Phone: +649 950 6468