Foodies in Tāmaki Makaurau have had their say on the best dishes the city has to offer, with Auckland’s top 100 dishes being revealed as part of the annual Iconic Eats awards.
This year’s list of the most delicious dishes have been compiled from a record-breaking 3109 nominations from the public – a 67% increase from 2024’s list.
Now in its fifth year, Iconic Auckland Eats – launched by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited – features everything from Cornish pasties and pepperoni pizzas to ‘raw ramen’ and pāua tortellini.
Any kind of dish is able to be nominated by locals or visitors to Tāmaki Makaurau, who are encouraged to share a brief story about why they love the dish.
“Food fans active on social media love to share content about dishes they love and learn about new ones to try,” said Tātaki Auckland Unlimited director destination, Annie Dundas.
“We have very passionate people in all parts of Auckland who want to share food stories from their region. It’s been really nice to see how that’s evolved in the past five years and helped to boost the success of hospitality businesses.”
Nominations are reviewed by a panel of judges who asses the dishes on a range of criteria; a dish that’s well-loved, representative of local culture and people, a timeless classic, and/or a ‘signature dish’.
This year, 77 new dishes have made an appearance in the top 100, with 39 businesses making their debut on the list.
Of the 23 dishes returning to 2025’s list, only two have been on the list since its inception – lamingtons from Sugar at Chelsea Bay and Depot’s fish sliders.
Karen Thompson-Smith, head of tourism at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, said she is thrilled with the initiative’s building momentum.
“Food and beverage services are a vital part of Auckland’s vibrancy and are a major contributor to the region’s visitor economy. We know that trying local cuisine is a must-do activity for most visitors coming to New Zealand,” she said.
In the year to March 2025, food and beverage services accounted for 17.4% of domestic and international visitor spending in Auckland, according to Infometrics.
The full list of 2025’s top 100 dishes (in alphabetical order):
*Dish previously included on an Iconic Auckland Eats Top 100 list
** Business new to the Iconic Auckland Eats Top 100 list
Agak Agak Food** – Malaysian Nasi Campur
Ahi – Tuna Hūhunu
Ailimteh Nasi Lemak Bungkus** – Nasi Lemak Bungkus
Alma – Beef Tongue, Preserved Lemon, Olive
Amano – Chitarra scampi, tomato & chilli*
Apéro – Seared Lamb Rump, Jus with Carrot Purée and Kasundi
Aryeh** – Black & White Thoughts
Ashby Pies** – Beef Cheek & Cheese Pie
Azabu – Volcano Sushi Rolls*
Bali Nights – Ikan Bakar Jimbaran*
Banh Mi Boy – Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi
Bar Magda – Noel’s charcoal steak, soy butter, scallion
Bari’s Pizza** – Deluxe Pepperoni Pizza
Beast & Butterflies** – Market Fish of the Day, scampi bisque, mussels, prawns, burnt tomatoes, fennel
Bestie Cafe – Towpath Cheese Toastie
BFC Korean Chicken** – Seasoned Cup Chicken
Boda – Eggplant Bibimbap
Bossi – Olive Fritte
Bridgehouse Warkworth** – Fresh Steamed Mussels
Broke Boy Taco – Birria Tacos
Bunga Raya – X.O. CHICKEN
Burnt Butter Diner – Chilli Fried Eggs
Candela – Lamb belly pintxo with mojo verde
Carmel Israeli Street Food – Crispy Falafel Pita*
Casita Miro – Churros Con Chocolate
Cassia – Pani Puri*
Cheese On Toast – Bacon Jam Toastie*
Cibo – West Coast whitebait omelette with ginger, soy & lime butter
Cocoro – The Sashimi Platter*
Depot – Fish Sliders*
Duo – Raw Fish on Toast
Eden Noodles – Dumplings In Spicy Sauce*
Esther – Puff bread & taramasalata
Farina – Padella Isabella
Farm House Cafe – Pimp My Cheese Scone – Benedict Pimp
Fatima’s – Lamb Chawarma
Federal Delicatessen – Chicken Salad Sandwich*
First Mates, Last Laugh** – Pan-Fried John Dory
FishSmith – Battered Westmere Butchery Pork Sausage
Forest** – Smoked purple kumara, caper brine glaze, Marmite cream, rosemary greens, paprika
Forester Bar & Grill** – Skin-on Snapper
Fort Greene** – The Reuben
Frat’s Pizza** – Hawaiian Pizza
Gemmayze Street – Babaganouj*
Gerome – Rolled Baklava, Greek Nuts, Gooseberry Compote, Metaxa Syrup, Mascarpone
Giapo – World Famous Hokey Pokey
GOAT By Sid Chopra** – GOAT Champaran
Hapunan – Adobo Del Diablo*
Hello Beasty – Prawn + Crab Toast*
Hill House Cafe – Pimp My Scone – The OG Pimp
Huami – Fruit Wood Roasted Peking Duck*
INCA – Spicy Tuna Tostada
Ipoh Malaysian Cuisine – Lorbak
Izu** – Tuna Ceviche
Jia Qi Sweets – Chow Luck Club Foodie Market** – Dragon’s Beard Candy
Khu Khu** – Kumara Spring Roll
Kingi – Hot smoked kahawai from Little Barrier with horseradish
Lebanese Grocer** – Chicken Shawarma
Leigh Eats** – Fish & Chips
Lot Nineteen – Cinnamon Rolls*
Lucky Gs – Thigh Guy
Mae Nam Khong** – Drunken Spicy Duck
Mairangi Bay Bakery** – Braised Beef Short Rib Pie
MASU by Nic Watt – Wagyu Kimchi Gyoza Black Origin Wagyu Beef & Kimchi Gyoza, Pickled Cucumber, Soy Vinegar
Mekong – Baby Braised Crispy Pork Belly, Caramelised Chilli & Soy, Asian Slaw*
Metita** – Handpicked Beef Scotch, 55 day dryaged, palusami purée, ravigote
Mint As Waiheke Island, Burgers & Shakes** – Mint As Burger
Moxie Restaurant** – Beef Wellington, potato and truffle foam, pumpkin seed and parsley pesto
Mumbaiwala** – Dahi Puri
Nanam – Lechon
Ockhee – Tofu BBQ Gui
Ohui Restaurant** – Pāua Tortellini
Onslow – Chatham Islands Crayfish Éclair, Organic Egg, Spiced Bisque, Herbs
Our Land** – East Coast Brisket
Paradise – Lamb Biryani*
Peach’s Hot Chicken – Peanut Butter Mousse Pie
Pici – Pici Cacio e Pepe*
Prego – Risotto All’Anatra
Ragtag – Duck Carnitas Tacos*
Ramen Takara** – Jade Ramen
Red Crab** – Sweet And Sour Chicken
Rhu** – Honey toast with whipped yoghurt and nectarines
Richoux Patisserie** – Steak, Jalapeño and Cheese Pie
San Ray** – Quinoa Toast with Smoked Fish and Pickled Egg
Shelley’s Kitchen** – Malaysian Spiral Curry Puffs
SkyBar – Gold Bar*
Smiths Matakana** – Chef’s Loaded Fries
Sugar at Chelsea Bay – Raspberry Lamington*
Tacoteca** – Ora King Salmon Aguachile (please note this changes with the season so fish
varies)
Tala – Raw Ramen
Tempero** – Pão de Queijo (Cheese Bread)
The ‘Ansum Pasty Company** – Proper Cornish Pasty
The Blue Breeze Inn – Steamed Bao Bun with roasted pork belly & pickled cucumber*
The Engine Room – Twice Baked Goats Cheese Souffle*
The Glass House Brick Bay – Leigh Skin-On Snapper
The Local Waiheke – Fish Taco
The Lodge – Passionfruit Drizzled Pavlova
The Sugar Dealer** – Raspberry Cheesecake Brownie
Tiger Bar & Restaurant** – Korean Fried Cauliflower, Gochujang Glaze, Sesame, Kimchi
Vietnam Cafe – Spare Ribs Rice Noodles Soup
