10 Restaurants Proving Auckland’s Best Food Right Now Is All About Cultural Influence

Ben Bayly’s Commercial Bay restaurant has long cemented itself as a champion of New Zealand ingredients. With its own kitchen garden located in South Auckland, and a menu that details the exact distance each ingredient has travelled, Ahi proves that homegrown kai is fit for the world stage. Each ingredient is lovingly and creatively presented with nods to Aotearoa’s food culture – like Blackfoot pāua from the Marlborough Sounds delivered as a tasty fritter and oysters harvested across the harbour in Waiheke Island, elevated with fine-dining finesse in a Marlborough méthode sea foam.

When chef Gareth Stewart was given the opportunity to open the flagship restaurant of the glamorous InterContinental hotel, he chose to showcase a cuisine equally as vibrant. Bold spices and more-ish textures of the Middle East and Mediterranean are delivered with plenty of flair at Advieh as the chefs carve juicy wagyu tableside. At $95pp, the ‘Taste of Advieh’ set menu is a fantastic way to sample the best of the menu.

Have you ever heard someone complain about Auckland not having great Mexican food? Send them to Tacoteca. This vibey Mexican joint located in City Works Depot is one of a number of fantastic Mexican food spots in the city. Authenticity is key here: the team craft their corn tortillas from scratch every day (you can even buy them to take home), and draw on Mexico’s rich and diverse food traditions. Think big flavours, lively atmosphere and, of course, delicious margaritas.

We all know New Zealand punches above its weight when it comes to our wines, and Somm Wine Bar & Bistro is all about celebrating our world-class wine culture, alongside exceptional food pairings. With prime waterfront views overlooking Princes Wharf, it’s the perfect place to get to know some of the country’s best wineries with their impressive wine list. Choose to go super local with wines from Waiheke Island or go a little further afield with some classic Marlborough sauvignon blancs and Central Otago pinot noirs. The wine list is perfectly balanced with Somm’s bistro-style bites.

The Sofitel’s La Maree proves you don’t need to fly to France to find excellent French cuisine. Here you’ll find an elegant marriage between New Zealand produce and refined French cooking techniques – think comforting bouillabaisse made with a medley of blue shell pāua and Cloudy Bay clams.

Chef Sid Chopra’s love letter to regional Indian cuisine, GOAT is a celebration of the country’s incredible culinary diversity. While relatively new to Auckland’s dining scene, the restaurant is already generating plenty of buzz, having just been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand in its first year. Chef Sid invites guests to taste beyond the familiar and discover the variety of flavours throughout India, from bold bites inspired by the streets of Delhi to lesser-known Kerala seafood curries and the regal delicacies of Kashmir.

With a food culture centred on conviviality, comfort and bold, fresh flavours, it’s no wonder diners are embracing more Korean cuisine as it moves further into the mainstream. Ongi is a standout player in Auckland’s Korean food scene, serving up flavour-packed shared plates with a unique Korean-Japanese fusion twist.

It’s impossible to talk about New Zealand’s food culture without mentioning Pacific cuisine. Our island neighbours have brought so many incredible flavours and cooking techniques to our shores. An ode to chef Michael Meredith’s Samoan heritage, Metita celebrates Pacific cuisine with a modern, seafood-forward menu, with local ingredients like green-lipped mussels and smoked eel beautifully paired with fresh Pacific flavours like coconut, lime and chilli.

The city’s many Asian food cultures are brought together under one roof at EAST. Offering a completely vegetarian menu, this modern Asian eatery proves that healthy, sustainable eating need not sacrifice flavour. Even the most die-hard carnivores will be swayed by EAST’s eclectic plant-based menu, showcasing flavours and techniques from Japan, China, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka.

Coco’s Cantina has made a name for itself as a Karangahape Road institution and, with good reason – simple, delicious Italian fare and a welcoming atmosphere that’s reminiscent of an Italian family kitchen. Head along for an early bite and make the most of the happy-hour pasta, pizza and antipasti.