Places to find good food in New Zealand - more on www.travelswithsun.com

This is a list of some of the best places to find good food in New Zealand. We got a chance to try these during our working holiday in New Zealand.

Ready, go!

Note: The places are not ranked in order of how delicious the food is.

 

Places with good food in the North Island, New Zealand

#1 La Cigale French Market, Auckland

Note: There are two locations. The newest one is in Britomart and that one is only open on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. The one we went to was in Parnell.

La Cigale French Market in Auckland - more places with good food in New Zealand listed on www.travelswithsun.com
La Cigale French Market in Auckland

We’ve gone here a couple times and we really insist that the carrot cake by the Turkish lady (near the wine shelves) is worth trying. It’s chock full of nuts and seeds and topped with a perfect cream cheese icing.

The seafood paella sold outside is not bad too. Would not recommend the crepe unless you like them soggy.

It’s too easy to spend $20-50 dollars here when you’re surrounded by freshly prepared food and crispy pastries. Hold on to your wallet!

Pastries bought at the La Cigale French Market in Auckland - more places with good food in New Zealand listed on www.travelswithsun.com
Pastries bought at the La Cigale French Market in Auckland

Want more things to do in Auckland?

La Cigale French Market, Auckland

Opening times: Saturday from 8am to 1.30pm and Sunday from 9am to 1.30pm

Official site (menu): http://www.lacigale.co.nz/french-market/

Nearby attractions: Auckland Domain Park and Auckland War Memorial Museum (7 min drive), central Auckland (11 min drive), Wynyard Quarter (15 min drive)

 

#2 Burger Burger, Auckland

Pricing is around $20 per person for a burger with kumara chips on the side. Decent portions for the price. Good ambiance too.

There are a few branches in Auckland:

Burger Burger Newmarket, 3B York St, Newmarket, Auckland 1023

Burger Burger Ponsonby, 4 Brown St, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011

Burger Burger, 40 Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna, Auckland 0622

Note: Ponsonby is the one in the city center

Burger Burger, Auckland

Opening times: Everyday from 11.30am to 9pm (Extra 30 minutes for Fridays and Saturdays)

Menu favorites: bunless vegan wrap, beef and cheese burger, kumara chips, Old Smokey burger, lamb burger

Official site (menu): https://burgerburger.co.nz/

Nearby attractions (for the central branch):  Sky Tower (8 min drive), Auckland Domain Park (8 min drive), Wynyard Quarter (9 min drive), Mount Eden (9 min drive)

 

#3 Sal’s pizza, Auckland (and Christchurch, South island of New Zealand)

We like the Manhattan pizza – half a pizza (it is very large still) cost us $19. The pizza in item #1 is better but Sal’s pizza is a chain store and you can find it pretty much everywhere in Auckland. Wanna try more flavors? They have a half and half deal which it what it sounds like. You get to select two different flavors of pizza.

Sal's pizza in Auckland - more places with good food in New Zealand listed on www.travelswithsun.com
Sal’s pizza in Auckland

There are many branches around Auckland.

Official site (and menu): https://www.sals.co.nz/

Menu favorites: garlic knots, pepperoni, half and half

More on things to do in Auckland

 

#4 Thai Flavour, Auckland

This small takeaway store in Te Atatu peninsula (Auckland) is run by a friendly Thai couple. They serve large portions of tasty (MSG-free) Thai stir-fry dishes with rice.  We usually share 1 dish between two of us (typically less than $15)

Opening hours: Not stated but they were open in the evenings whenever we passed by

Official site (menu): No website

Note: 18 minutes drive from Auckland central

 

We kind of made a detour just to try the pizza here:

#5 Lukes Kitchen, Kuaotunu (Coromandel Peninsula)

And besides the hot water beach, I’d count this as a highlight in our Coromandel trip.

The pizza is excellent. Just make sure you come before the lunch crowd does ?. Paid a total of $48.5 for two large wood fired pizzas. There is outdoor and indoor seating in this beach-shack themed cafe. Ask for their special of the day if you want to try unusual flavors.

Pizza from Lukes Kitchen in Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula - more places with good food in New Zealand on www.travelswithsun.com
Pizza from Lukes Kitchen in Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula

Lukes Kitchen

Opening times: Varies each month; Check the website link. Usually open from 11am until late at night.

Menu favorites: Garlic pizza, fish and chips, mussels, chips, etc

Official site (menu): http://www.lukeskitchen.co.nz/

Nearby attractions: Kuaotunu Beach (2 min drive), Otama beach (6 min drive), New Chum beach* (20 min drive)

*for New Chum beach, you need low tide to access the best part. Allow around two hours to explore it.

 

#6 Ti Tree Café, Waihi (Coromandel Peninsula)

Also in the Coromandel Peninsula region:

This was our gold in Waihi town (pun definitely intended). We randomly walked into this café for brunch seeing that its many occupants were all local residents.

We had the big breakfast set but it was the cheese and pesto scones (that we ordered separately) that stood out. With coffee, that came round to $32.5 for both of us.

Brunch - Big Breakfast, cheese and pesto scone at the Ti Tree Cafe, Waihi town in Coromandel Peninsula - more places with good food in New Zealand on www.travelswithsun.com
Brunch – Big Breakfast, cheese and pesto scone at the Ti Tree Cafe, Waihi town in Coromandel Peninsula
Ti Tree Cafe, Waihi town in Coromandel Peninsula - more places with good food in New Zealand listed on www.travelswithsun.com
Ti Tree Cafe, Waihi town in Coromandel Peninsula

Ti Tree Cafe, Waihi (Coromandel Peninsula)

Opening times: No website but I’m pretty sure it’s open for breakfast and lunch time

Menu favorites: scones, eggs benedict, seafood chowder, coffee, muffins, salad

Official site (menu): No website

Nearby attractions: Martha Mine (1 min drive), Waihi Beach (12 min drive), Karangahake gorge (12 min drive)

 

#7 By the Lights, Hastings

For the tasty and affordable fish and chips. It’s a takeaway shop but they have a few tables for sitting at.

By the Lights cafe in Hastings, North Island New Zealand - more places with good food in New Zealand on www.travelswithsun.com
By the Lights cafe in Hastings, North Island New Zealand
Large serving size of fish and chips (set B) at By the Light in Hastings - more places with good food in New Zealand on www.travelswithsun.com
Large serving size of fish and chips (set B) at By the Light in Hastings

Warning: If you get the $15 set, be prepared for the enormous serving size. I think 3-4 people could share it happily.

By the Lights, Hastings

Opening times: Not stated

Official site (menu): No official website

Nearby attractions: Hastings Art Gallery (3 min drive), Arataki Honey (12min drive), Te Mata Peak (19 min drive)

 

#8 The Local, Waiheke Island

Also for the crispy fish and chips, this small café serves burgers too. The beef burger with the sweet onion relish and beetroot slices is rather delicious.

The weird thing is:

You have to pay extra if you want tartare sauce to go with your fish and chips.

Fish and chips and beef burger at The Local at Waiheke Island, New Zealand - more places with good food in New Zealand on www.travelswithsun.com
Fish and chips and beef burger at The Local at Waiheke Island, New Zealand

Cost us $24 for a burger and fish with chips.

Ambiance is good. It overlooks the beach. Limited seating though.

The Local at Waiheke Island, New Zealand - more places with good food in New Zealand listed on www.travelswithsun.com
The Local at Waiheke Island, New Zealand

The Local, Waiheke Island

Opening times: Monday is from 11am to 4pm; other days are usually from 11am to 8pm (1 hour extra at night on Friday and Saturday)

Menu favorites: fish n chips, burger, salad, snapper, $20 beer and fish n chips deal

Official site (menu): http://thelocalwaiheke.co.nz/

Nearby attractions: 8 min walk to Oneroa Beach

More on things to do in Auckland

#9 Chocolate Fish Café, Wellington

We read some reviews on TripAdvisor for this one and everyone seemed to recommend the fried squid or the seafood chowder.

And true enough, the chowder is delicious:

The portion is large and you get slices of crisp bread to go with it. The salmon and cheese bagel is good too but the portion is very small, even for my standards.

For the chowder, 1 cup of coffee and the bagel, we paid $37.

Seafood chowder and salmon bagel at the Chocolate Fish Cafe in Shelley Bay, Wellington - more places with good food in New Zealand on www.travelswithsun.com
Seafood chowder and salmon bagel at the Chocolate Fish Cafe in Shelley Bay, Wellington

Chocolate Fish, Wellington

Opening times: Everyday from 8am to 5pm

Menu favorites: black pudding, seafood chowder, whitebait fritters, chocolate milk shakes, cake

Official site (menu): https://www.chocolatefishcafe.co.nz/

Nearby attractions: Weta workshop (9 min drive), Mount Victoria Lookout (16 min drive), Cuba Street (17 min drive), Wellington waterfront (19 min drive), Lambton Quay (21 min drive), Wellington (21 min drive)

More on What to do while in Wellington, New Zealand

 

 

Places with good food in the South Island, New Zealand

#10 Columbus Coffee, Frankton (Central Otago)

There are a few branches of this affordable café all around New Zealand. They are usually situated inside the garden center of a Mitre10 (pronounced mighter not meter). We like the particular branch in Frankton (near Queenstown) for the spinach and feta rolls. The macaroni is not bad, either.

Lunch at Columbus Coffee in Frankton - more places with good food in New Zealand on www.travelswithsun.com
Lunch at Columbus Coffee in Frankton

Paid $31.2 for a large cappuccino, 1 spinach and fetta roll, 1 sausage roll and 1 large macaroni.

Note: Not all Mitre10s will have this cafe branch

Columbus Coffee, Frankton branch

Opening times: Everyday from 7am to 4pm. On holidays, it opens from 8am to 4pm.

Menu favorites: Coffee, eggs benedict, cheese scones, pork and fennel sausage roll

Official site (menu): https://www.columbuscoffee.co.nz/cafe/columbus-mitre-10-mega-queenstown

Nearby attractions: Lake Hayes (10 min drive), Queenstown (12 min drive), Queenstown hill hike (13 min drive), The Remarkables Ski Area (32 min drive)

 

#11 The Kitchen, Cromwell (Central Otago)

Another good spot for breakfast, this café sits across the big fruit sculpture in Cromwell. Our favorite bite here was the sausage roll served with tomato relish. The bacon and egg roll (or Tuscany-something) is not bad either.

Cost us $20.5 for both including a cup of coffee.

The Kitchen, Cromwell

Opening times: Everyday until 2.30pm (they don’t state the opening time)

Menu favorites: carrot cake, eggs benedict, coffee, salad

Official site (menu): n/a

Nearby attractions: Cromwell Heritage Precinct (4 min drive), Cromwell Lookout (5 min drive), Goldfields Mining Center (8 min drive), Roaring Meg Lookout (13 min drive), Clyde Dam power station (19 min drive), Queenstown (53 min drive)

 

#12 Glenorchy Café, Glenorchy

This cafe is at a very strategic spot. It’s walking distance from the picturesque old wharf and lagoon walk in Glenorchy. At high season, it might be tricky to get a seat.

In winter, we didn’t have a problem finding a table:

You can sit outside in the garden with the scenic backdrop, birds and sandflies. Or inside in the cozy interior.

What we ordered:

The soup of the day that we got was potato and leek soup. And it was amazing. They garnish it with herbs and pumpkin seeds. The bread is made in-house and compliments the soup perfectly. The BLT is pretty good too.

$31 for the soup, coffee and the BLT.

Soup of the day and BLT at Glenorchy Cafe, Glenorchy - more places with good food in New Zealand on www.travelswithsun.com
Soup of the day and BLT at Glenorchy Cafe, Glenorchy

Glenorchy Cafe or The GYC, Glenorchy

Opening times: Not stated

Menu favorites: berry crumble, sandwich, soup, savory scones, cake, salmon, pizza, coffee, wedges, ham

Official site (menu): No official website

Nearby attractions : Glenorchy Old Wharf (1 min drive), Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway (1 min drive), Glenorchy-Paradise road (9 min drive), Mount Alfred walking track (12 min drive), Queenstown (47 min drive)

 

#13 The Portsider, Port Chalmers

We stopped in Port Chalmers for this restaurant. My partner was disappointed but I thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

We had the vegetarian risotto and the beef burger. Both lean towards the bland side but that is how I prefer my food.

Vegetarian risotto served at the Portsider in Port Chalmers - more places with good food in New Zealand listed on www.travelswithsun.com
Vegetarian risotto served at the Portsider in Port Chalmers

The risotto is creamy with tender stalks of asparagus and cheese flakes on top.

Beef burger served at the Portsider in Port Chalmers - more places with good food in New Zealand on www.travelswithsun.com
Beef burger served at the Portsider in Port Chalmers

The beef burger (with onion relish) is rather small but they use ciabatta instead of ordinary buns. The burger is accompanied by crisp chips and a yummy salad with vinegar dressing.

The meal cost us $40.50 for the two mains.

The Portsider, Port Chalmers

Opening times: Open everyday until 10pm

Menu favorites: steak, risotto, fish n chips, salad, fish of the day, selection of beers

Official site (menu): https://www.portsider.co.nz/

Nearby attractions: Mount Cargill walk track (12 min drive), Dunedin (16 min drive)

 

#14 The Rocks, Invercargill (Southland)

They have a “Fish of the Day” deal daily. When we went, it was blue cod on top of potatoes and baby spinach with a creamy cheese sauce, served with salad on the side. You can choose either starter size or main size.

Fish of the day served in The Rocks, Invercargill - more places with good food in New Zealand on www.travelswithsun.com
Fish of the day served in The Rocks, Invercargill

Besides this, we got the seafood chowder too.

Chowder served in The Rocks, Invercargill - more places with good food in New Zealand on www.travelswithsun.com
Chowder served in The Rocks, Invercargill

Unless you like your chowder really rich, we actually would recommend the one in item #9 Chocolate Fish Café, Wellington of this list, instead.

Cost us $41.5 for the chowder (large) and fish (starter). No drinks.

This restaurant is rather popular with locals during dinner time though so make sure you get an early seat. It can be a long wait for the food (around 20-30 minutes). Romantic ambiance – Think, candlelit dinner.

The Rocks, Invercargill

Opening times: Closed on Mondays and Sundays. Open on Tuesdays to Fridays from 10am to 2pm and again at 5 to 9pm. On Saturdays, they open 1 hour later.

Menu favorites: garlic prawns, venison, bluff oysters, chowder, banoffee pie, fish

Official site (menu): https://shop5rocks.com/

Nearby attractions :  Southland Museum (108 Gala Street, 5 min drive) Demolition World (8 min drive), Bill Richardson Transport World (8 min drive), Queens Park (9 min drive), Bluff (26 min drive)

 

Conclusion

Eventually, you’ll get tired of camp cooking (to save money) in New Zealand. So when you do decide to splurge on the local eats, make sure you do your research first. We’ve done the work for you in this post. These are the all places in North and South Island New Zealand that we have noted for their delicious food. =)

What do you wanna try (with regards to food) most in New Zealand? Leave a comment below.

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Where to find good food in New Zealand and more on www.travelswithsun.com
Where to find good food in New Zealand and more on www.travelswithsun.com

Till then, here are some other articles you might find interesting:

1 month self drive itinerary from the north to south island of New Zealand

Starting van life in New Zealand – what you need to know

Taking the Interislander ferry service to cross from North to South New Zealand

 

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