There's something incredibly satisfying about smashing back a feed that doesn't cost the earth, and now more than ever given the very awesome cost-of-living crisis we find ourselves in (hoping that sarcasm translates). It's like, I wanna eat out, but not at the expense of having to sell a kidney, right?
Fortunately, Auckland has heard my cries for help and come to the party with a smorgasbord of cheap and cheerful eats, from healthy salad bowls and sandos right on through to dirty burgers and tacos, no organ removal required. A win-win, I think.
Jokes aside, here are my picks for the best cheap eats in Auckland, for $20 or less. Happy eating.
Auckland's Best Cheap Eats At A Glance:
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Best Cheap Eat Overall: Broke Boy Taco
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Best Savoury Cheap Eat: Pie Rolla's
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Best Sweet Cheap Eat: Folds Patisserie
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Best Healthy Cheap Eat: Bowler
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Best Cheap Eat For Different Diets: Bowler
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Best Cheap Eat Worth Travelling For: Hapunan
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Best Cheap Eat That'll Actually Make You Feel Like A Million Bucks: Pici
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The Best Cheap Eats In Auckland CBD
Fitzroy Deli
19 Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Image credit: Fitzroy Deli | Instagram
Stacked and swoon-worthy are the sammies at new kid on the Shortland Street block, Fitzroy Deli. These guys will put your homemade ham and cheese to shame with their iterations of the classic sandwich including the one that really makes my mouth water—the mortadella. All sandos come in under the $20 mark (hooray!), however, if you grab one of their cute and equally delicious egg and cheese rolls from $7, you'll also have change for a coffee or matcha. Bam.
Hazy Tiger
22 Durham Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland
It’s impossible to miss the giant neon-lit tiger bathing as you wander up Durham Street West. The glowing cat signals a departure from your daily—cross the threshold and you’ll find yourself in Hazy Tiger, a trippy wonderland of Korean eats and sip-worthy libations. The menu has three sections—$8, $11, and $16 tapas-style dishes—all of which you’ll want to embrace fully (and not just because they’re easy on the wallet). Despite the small price tag, the portions are generous, and you can easily have a solid feed here without the bill skyrocketing.
Poké House
206 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland (Also: 110 Grafton Road, Auckland | Commercial Bay | Westfield Newmarket | Sylvia Park
When you're craving a vitamin-packed hit of freshness, Poké House (from the same people who brought us Itameshi) is a reliable go-to and with most of their bowls clocking in under twenty bucks, it more than qualifies for one of the best cheap eats in Auckland. As a bonus, bowls are prepped quickly so there's no risk of running late to your next meeting. We love that all their sauces are made in-house so if you've got any dietaries, it's super easy to navigate. Our fave: the teriyaki tofu hot bowl on brown rice.
The Federal Delicatessen
86 Federal Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Image credit: The Federal Delicatessen | Facebook
Ahhh poutine, that hot, gooey, cheesy hug in fried form. Luckily for us, the good people at The Fed do a killer one. At $12 for a small, $18 for a large and an extra $6 to add pastrami, you might even be able to justify indulging in one of their heavenly slices of pie to finish. Alternatively, order up the legendary NYC-style street dog pictured above, which at just $15 is sure to deal with your hunger AND leave change in your pocket.
Sumthin Dumplin
18-26 Wellesley Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland (Also: 12 O'Connell Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland | Shop F3, 500 Ti Rakau Drive, Botany Downs, Auckland | 6 Patteson Avenue, Mission Bay, Auckland | 170 Wairau Road, Wairau Valley, Auckland)
The gold standard for dumplings in Auckland, it never ceases to surprise me that such deliciousness comes so cheap (read: everything is $20 or under). Personally, I'm rather partial to Sumthin Dumplin's premium beef offering (basically cheeseburgers in dumpling form)—$14.80 for 6, $17.80 for 8, or $19.80 for 10.
Eden Noodles Cafe
Shop 3/18-26 Wellesley Street East, Auckland CBD, Auckland (Also: Commercial Bay, Level 2/7 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland | 105 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland | 424 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Auckland)
Eden Noodles Cafe is the go-to cheap eats hub when it comes to spicy dumplings (from $7) and dan dan noodles (about $15). Limited capacity increases the odds of you having to wait in line to get your Sichuan fix but patience is key, my friend—these bowls of slurpy goodness has earned a reputation for being the best noodles in Auckland. A word of warning: Eden Noodles spice scale packs a punch—you’ve got to be able to handle the heat.
Mighty Hotdog
47 Chancery Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland (Also: 705 Manukau Road, Royal Oak, Auckland | 131 Pepler Street, Pakuranga, Auckland | Sylvia Park | Botany Town Centre | Ormiston Town Centre)
Image credit: Mighty Hotdog | Urban List Wono Kim
When your wallet’s near empty and hunger pangs strike, your salvation awaits sporting aviators and a superhero cape. Of course, we’re referring to none other than Mighty Hotdog. Snag an original chicken banger for $7, a spicy ramen crust on half and half for $9.30, or giant dog for $8. Quite possibly the best bang for your buck in Auckland.
BannSang
1C/47 High Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
If you love Korean food (you do), look no further than BannSang. Serving some of the best Korean eats in Auckland, a fantastic range of dishes can be yours for just $20. Think: spicy kimchi soup with tofu and pork belly; cold noodles with spicy radish, cucumber, egg and sliced beef; and stir-fried glass noodles in homemade soy sauce with your choice of protein. Alternatively, if you're appetite's a little smaller, you could knock back a serve of tteokbokki spicy rice cake and fish sausage ($16) or a plate of fried or steamed mandu dumplings ($16).
Revive
24 Wyndham Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Cheap doesn’t have to mean fried for the gods. Plant-based feed, Revive, is brimming with a super tasty and nutritious ever-changing menu that doesn’t cost a leg (or, you know, your arteries). $19.90 will score you two of their game-changing salads and their dahl or hotpot of the day or with rice, or you can scoop up a salad box for as little as $14.90. They also do stellar end-of-day discounts too for when you want to be extra thrifty.
Mr Taco
75C Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Image credit: Mr Taco | Facebook
Find what is arguably the city's tastiest Mexican at Mr Taco. Their tacos come in a range of drool-worthy flavours like chipotle chicken, al pastor and birria beef that are literally bursting at the soft-shell seams, and best of all? You can nab three for just $16. As you’d expect, they also do quesadillas ($15-18), nachos ($18), and burritos ($15-18) and the all-important churros ($8).
The Best Cheap Eats In Downtown Auckland
Gloria's
Commercial Bay Ground Floor/7 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Image credit: Gloria's | Instagram
If you're in need of a feed between the hours of 9.30am and 3pm, Gloria's does unreal foccacia sandos, like, you-won't-believe-how-stuffed-these-are level unreal. Scoop a sando loaded with butternut, burratta, and green sauce with radicchio and radish for $18 or, from 11am, swap $13 for a spicy vodka pizza slice decked out in mozzarella, parmesan and basil. I'll have you know it's worth shelling out the extra $2 for a dipping sauce—treat that crust.
Saigonz
105/40 Beach Road, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Everything on the menu at Saigonz is around $17 or less (mostly less)—that’s hella reasonable given it’s all traditional fare bursting with flavour. With banh xeo (rice flour pancake), lemongrass chicken or tofu on rice, spring rolls on vermicelli, the iconic pho soup and crunchy bahn mi, summer rolls, a game-changing vegetarian salad and more, choosing what to have will be the hardest thing you do all day.
Kai Eatery
Commercial Bay, Level 2, 7 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland (Also: 1 Rutland Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland | Millennium Centre, 604 Great South Road, Ellerslie, Auckland | Smales Farm, Q4 Building, 74 Taharoto Road, Takapuna, Auckland | 7 Mercari Way, Albany, Auckland)
Fried chicken the size of my face? That's definitely something I'm happy to part cash with. And I/you can do so for as little as $17 at Kai Eatery, where XL Taiwanese-style fried chicken is the name of the game. Channeling the steamy, humming atmosphere of a Taiwanese night market, in fried chicken form, this is value-for-money incarnate.
Good Dog Bad Dog
Commercial Bay, Harbour Eats, 7/21 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland (Also: Suite 4/1179 Great North Road, Point Chevalier, Auckland | 178-182 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland | 240 Ormiston Road, Flat Bush, Auckland)
Image credit: Good Dog Bad Dog | Instagram
With four locations across Auckland and an affordable menu to boot, Good Dog Bad Dog was a shoo-in for this list. Starting from $9, their next-level hotties are an absolute steal. Grab a classic dog and something on the side (I'm thinking mac 'n' cheese or tater tots, $9 and $10 respectively). Deep-fried Oreos are also on the menu at a mere $9.
Deli Di Bossi
1/10 Commerce Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Three fat cannoli definitely constitute a meal in my book, and you can get just that from Deli Di Bossi, who you may know as the little sister to Auckland's best Italian restaurant, BOSSI. Sink your teeth into a trio of fried pastry shells filled with flavours like limoncello cream and lemon curd for the very affordable sum of $18, or if you wanna go the savoury route, snatch up one of their under $20 sandos, available in both toasted and fresh options. The cheese-stuffed Formaggio ($17) is not to be missed.
The Best Cheap Eats On Auckland Waterfront
Bowler
G03 85 Daldy Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland (Also: 186 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland)
Image credit: Bowler | Instagram
You'll be bowled over by how cheap a feed is at this newbie. Expect monster salads where nutrition is key, made by the same hands that built beloved cafe, Williams Eatery. Choose from organic vegan bowls with all the goods (think avo, kale, pickles, shallots, red cabbage, dukkah, hummus and herb dressing ), or those packing protein in the form of. beef brisket and free-range chicken. Coming in for the most part ar $17.90 each, they're incredible value for money. P.S. Alternate with an acai bowl ($15), rice box ($14.90) or my own self-made combo of sorts: a bone broth hot chocolate ($9) with a tahini choc chip cookie ($6.90) on the side.
Fat Puku's Smashed Burgers
Shop 1/12 Jellicoe Street, Auckland Central, Auckland (Also: 1/492 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland)
Smashing their way to low prices is burger fave, Fat Puku's. Fun fact: their restaurant is named after a cat. You can pick up their signature Fat Puku burg'—a juicy smashed beef number topped with cheddar cheese, homemade pickles and other goodies, served on a soft potato bun—for $16.90.
Toasty
Shop 10, Level 4, 188 Quay Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Image credit: Toasty / Kathryn Steane
Slices of thick white toast stuffed with bacon, a cloud of scrambled eggs and a duo of flavour-packed sauces aka the Benny can be yours for just $14.90 from this tasty little kiosk at the bottom of town. In fact, their entire menu falls under the $20 mark and if you opt for their classic Eggy number ($11.90), you'll also be able to throw back a filter coffee or a cold brew. They also do a killer cream cheese and scallion scone for $6.50—grab two and call it a meal.
The Best Cheap Eats In Auckland Central
Burgernaut
597 New North Road, Morningside, Auckland
Image credit: Burgernaut | Instagram
Fact: a visit to Urbanaut's dedicated burger kitchen, Burgernaut, is money well spent. The burgers here are some of Auckland's best—made in the American smash style—and most will set you back for under $20 (that's almost burger chain territory). Spend wisely, and you can even get a side to go with. As for the sweet view—a working brewery—that's for free.
Pici
Shop 22, St Kevin's Arcade, Karanagahape Road, Auckland
One of the jewels in the crown of the Karangahape Road foodie scene, you can score Pici's legendary cacio e pepe for $18. Alternatively, if you're in the mood for something sweet you could dig into a plate of their famous olive oil-drizzled cheesecake ($12), perhaps even with a side of orange sorbet ($8). Delish.
Katsu Bay
405 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
When it comes to cheap eats, Katsu Bay (formerly Zool Zool), well, eats. This re-branded Mount Eden fave is slinging bowls of steaming hot ramen on the cheap, so empty your pockets and fill your belly. Their chicken paitan noods, vegetable sesame broth, and tonkotsu bowl all come in at $20 or below, with loads of yummy snacky 'tings for even less.
Folds Patisserie
297 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
Image credit: Folds Patisserie | supplied
You can eat actual art for less than $20. Yep, Folds Patisserie is a treasure trove of pretty, colorful cakes and savouries spotlighting South East Asian flavours you might never have heard of but it'll be love-at-first-bite, we assure you. Grab a coffee, matcha or ube and taro latte, plus a Swiss roll, cheesecake or other sweet treat for less than $18 and, thanks to generous portion sizes and a whole lot of beautiful coconut, you'll likely be full for the rest of the day. Did we mention they've got stacks of gluten-free cakes? Have at it.
Broke Boy Taco
964 New North Road, Mount Albert, Auckland (Also Coming Soon To Birkenhead)
There are tacos and then there are Tacos, if you catch my drift. And Broke Boy Taco is the latter. Fortunately though, housing a trio of these freakin' fantastic tortillas won't make you broke. Single tacos are $7 a pop, which means you could get a pair plus a can of cola for about $17 or opt for a plate of three plus consomme for $20.
Carmel Israeli Street Food
67B France Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland
For legit Israeli street food that's as kind on your wallet as it is on your tastebuds, check out Carmel Israeli Street Food. This ex-food truck is your one-stop shop for what we swear are the best damn pitas around (soft, fluffy and so full of ingredients, they look as stuffed as we feel after eating them; $18-19), along with some seriously good rugelach. Your visit may or may not involve waiting in a queue, but that's just confirmation of how good this grub really is.
Sneaky Snacky
184 Karangahape Road, Auckland
Image credit: Sneaky Snacky | Facebook
Sorry, not sorry for adding another burger joint to this list. We're talking about Sneaky Snacky, which you'll find in all its aorta-clogging glory on Karangahape Road. These aren't just any burgers, mind you—they're served on doughnuts instead of buns (yes, you read that correctly) and are so magnificently messy you'll be given disposable gloves to wear while you eat 'em (again, you read that correctly). You can't put a price on food this good (though really, their burgers start from around $16).
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Wang Wang Spring Pancake
704 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
Hidden along the foodie highway that is Dominion Road, Wang Wang Spring Pancake is the epitome of cheap and cheerful. These guys are slinging delicious, delightfully-thin Chinese pancakes that you can fill with whatever meat, vegetables and other goodies your heart desires, while their dumplings also come highly recommended.
Uncle Man's
277 Karangahape Road, Auckland (Also: 215 Kepa Road, Mission Bay, Auckland; 100 Halsey Street, Auckland; 652 Great South Road, Manukau City Centre, Auckland)
Malaysia is known for having incredible food and the dishes from Uncle Man's are absolutely on point, and with almost everything on the menu mostly clocking in at $20 or less, it's a haven for cheap eats. A steaming hot bowl of egg noodle soup ($19.50) always hits the spot, or opt for one of their filled roti (grab some with a side of dhal from $11.50).
Pie Rolla's
469 Karangahape Road, Auckland | 610 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
Image credit: Pie Rolla's / Instagram
If you haven't heard of Pie Rolla's, you need to get acquainted. Only home to some of the best pies in Tamaki (their recent collab with Huffer should not be taken lightly), the team haven't let their popularity go to their heads with exuberant pricing. In fact, you can get a combo featuring one of their stacked as pies (I'm here for the jalapeno mac 'n cheese), a mashed spud and gravy side (served on top of your pie if you prefer), and a cold drink for an incredible $19.50. This is defo my kinda cheap eat.
Selera
487 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Selera's laksa is world famous in Auckland, and not just because it tastes incredible... it also comes in hot at $20 (the plain laksa, that is). However, this Malaysian fave also has a host of other well-priced dishes for you to get amongst, from wonton soup ($18) and chicken satay skewers ($16 for 4) to curry puffs ($9 for 3) and fish curry ($10). Yum.
FishSmith
200 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland
FishSmith has put a Herne Bay stamp on fish and chips and made them just that li'l bit fancy—but still without the expensive price tag. My go-to is their locally caught fish of the day ($9) with a couple of potato fritters on the side ($2.50 each) or if I'm feeling especially fancy, a battered scallop or two ($4.50 each). Love your work, FishSmith.
Chinoiserie
4 Owairaka Avenue, Mount Albert, Auckland
Image credit: Chinoiserie | Facebook
We don’t think we’ll see a day when gua bao go out of fashion and while we’re spoilt for choice with great eateries serving bao-tastic renditions, Chinoiserie’s still one of the best—both in quality and price. Their satay-sauced tofu, at $14, is the bomb dot com. Seriously—it’s so tasty you won’t even care I just used a super cringe reference.
Mr Zhou's Dumplings
839 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden, Auckland (Also: 3130 Great North Road, New Lynn, Auckland)
The only thing we love more than dumplings is dumplings at an incredible price. Enter Mr Zhou's, only one of Auckland's best dumpling establishments which is bringing us handcrafted parcels of deliciousness in a long line of flavours including the hugely popular pork, chives and prawn, at $12.90 for 10.
Hambagu
483 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland
Your body is a temple, we get it. And that's lucky because the Japanese-style burgs at Hambagu make for a rather transcendental offering for the stomach. Plus, they're cheaper (but far more delicious) than some of the more mainstream burger brands and do dietaries very well indeed. Almost the entire menu comes in under $20 a pop. Slam grilled steak strips, caramelised onions, and fresh lettuce between nori-topped rice 'buns' and your wallet will be a mere $18 lighter. Tack on a side of nori fries if you hit gold (i.e. discover some coins down the side of the couch).
Ramen Takara
272 Ponsonby Road, Auckland (Also: 4 Anzac Road, Browns Bay, Auckland)
Image credit: Ramen Takara | Supplied
So, you like ramen? Of course you do. How 'bout ramen for bargain-basement prices? Hello, is that even a question? Best head along to Ramen Takara then, where their authentic Japanese noodles will cost you $14 at its best, and $23 at its most. And if you DON'T rate ramen, fear not—they have gyoza, karaage chicken, harumaki and countless other delights for under $20.
Mithaiwala
265 Karangahape Road, Auckland | 685 Sandringham Road, Sandringham, Auckland (Also:159 Great South Road, Manurewa, Auckland)
Thali is an Indian and Nepalese platter-style dish made up of a bunch of small (and delicious) bowls. Opt for the Rajasthani Banquet at Mithaiwala and feast on three curries, three naans, rice, sweet gulab jamun, pickle, lassi and papad for less than $20.
Spicy Potato Noodles
251 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
Drop into Spicy Potato Noodles for a hot bowl of soup packed with seaweed, tofu slices or meat, pakchoi and quail eggs. This iconic Chinese street food dish features a whopping portion of delightfully chewy potato noodles and will set you back around about $15 although this is likely to feed you twice (serving leftover realness, yo) or be happily split between two hungry bellies.
Belly Worship
547 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
Lychee pork has been a staple of Fujian, the southeastern coastal province of China, for over 300 years and Belly Worship serves one of the best versions of this beloved dish ($20). Better yet, they do a vegan version too (also for $20), or you could go for their lemon vegan chicken in a Chinese burrito pancake for just $18.
The Best Cheaps Eats In North Auckland
Iiko Sando
30 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland
Image credit: iiko Sando / Instagram
Move over marmite and cheese, there's a new sandwich in town and she's plump with fried chicken, salad, and kimchi mayo. Even better, she comes with a cute side of lotus chips and edamame, and costs just $14.50 (you heard me right). Scoot on over to iiko Sando in Takapuna to grab this deal for yourself, or get amongst one of their other fluffy white-bread creations. Spend wisely, and you might just be able to tack on a coffee/matcha/hot choccy. Nom.
Dulcie
33 King Edward Parade, Devonport, Auckland
If your hanger happens to be the shape of a scone (or four) make a beeline for Dulcie and order any number of classic scones ($6 a pop) served with lashings of vanilla cream and house-made jam or ricotta and raw honeycomb. Dreamy. Or, if you’re in more of a savoury mood, get your mitts on a couple of smoked cheddar scones ($6.50 each) slathered with whipped butter.
No1 Pancake
Unit 6, 18 Airbone Road, Rosedale, Auckland | 33-45 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland
No1 Pancake is an Auckland icon, serving up mouthwatering Korean pancakes, or hotteok, from their bustling kitchens in Albany or Takapuna (where they relocated to after spending more than 15 years in the CBD). Packed with tasty fillings and cooked 'til crisp, we dare you to find a more hearty meal this cheap (everything on the menu is under $12). Their potato and cheese pancake is legendary, and mere pocket money at $11.
The Best Cheap Eats In West Auckland
Hapunan
316 Main Road, Huapai, Auckland
Image credit: Hapunan | Instagram
Like so many incredible eateries these days, Hapunan started life as a food truck. Now you can get your fix of drool-worthy Filipino on the reg thanks to their brick-and-mortar eatery in Huapai. From their 'lumpia' pork sausage-stuffed spring rolls ($13) and 'dinakdakan' fried chicken bao buns ($14) to the belly-filling adobo del diablo (creamy coconut chicken on slaw and rice, $18), this is as thrifty as it gets.
The Best Cheap Eats In South Auckland
Satay Noodle House
183 Great South Road, Papakura, Auckland
Image credit: Satay Noodle House | Supplied
When I discovered that almost everything on the menu at cult South Auckland eatery, Satay Noodle House was under $20, it was like all my Christmases had come at once. Choose from a long list of fried rice, noodle soup and stir-fried noodle dishes and of course, their signature satays. Spend your money right, and you could also nab some of their famous homemade wontons while keeping under the $20 mark.
Big J's Takeaways
4/1 Melton Road, Mount Wellington, Auckland
Despite their name, Big J's prices are really rather small. In fact, we consider it ridiculous that we can get some of the city's best-tasting burgers—with fries and a bottle of pop, even—for under 20 bucks. This includes options like their crispy chicken (golden crumbed chicken breast with smashed avo, shaved red onion and house relish), classic cheese (a prime beef pattie decked out with sauteed onions, house relish and cheddar cheese), or morning dory (battered dory with shaved red onion, homemade tartare sauce, a soft-fried egg and house relish)—or load up on grilled cheese sandos from $4.50 a square.
WoodSpirit Turkish Pide
Broadway Food Company, 20 Broadway, Papakura, Auckland
Image credit: WoodSpirit Turkish Pide | Supplied
All of WoodSpirit’s Turkish pides are $20 or less and most of them are actually in the $18 range. Yep, you can feast on their lahmacun spicy lamb mince and pomegranate molasses flatbread, mince and cheese pide, cheeky bacon and egg number or vegetarian or vegan iteration and still get change from a crisp green bill. And if you’re just in it for the cheese, nab their mozzarella offering and chase it with house-made Turkish baklava.
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Main Image credit: Hazy Tiger | Supplied.
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