Iconic Auckland Eats

The finalists have been named for 2025's Iconic Auckland Eats, the annual list of the top 100 dishes in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland!

Now in its fifth year, the awards have food-loving Aucklanders nominate a favourite dish only available in Tāmaki Makaurau, each accompanied by a personal story about why the dish is special. We've pulled together the 25 dishes from the heart of the city centre that have been named in this popular award, so it's easy to check out all of the city centre's most iconic eats. Browse below for inspo for your next meal out!

2025 city centre winners:

Tuna Hāhunu | Ahi | $16

BBQ’d long-finned eel, celeriac mousse, pickled daikon, Granny Smith & Wagyu tendon.

Beef Tongue | alma | $40

Beef tongue, preserved lemon & olive.

Chitarra, Tomato, & Chilli | Amano | $46

Auckland Islands scampi & square strands of egg dough pasta.

Market Fish of the Day | Beast & Butterflies | $43

Market Fish of the day, scampi bisque, mussels, prawns, burnt tomatoes & fennel.

Eggplant Bibimbap | BODA | $33

65° Egg, Korean seasonal Namul & rice.

Olive Fritte | Bossi | $15 

Fried olives stuffed with ricotta. 

Seasoned Cup Chicken | BFC Fried Chicken | $9

Seasoned crispy fried chicken in a cup.

Pani Puri | Cassia | $5

Pani puri, potato, chickpea, mint (option of ghost chilli).

Fish Sliders | Depot | $24

Fish sliders with pickled lemon mayo & watercress.

Dumplings in Spicy Sauce | Eden Noodles | $7

Dumplings served in spicy sauce.

Puff Bread & Taramasalata | Esther | $23

Puff bread, taramasalata, lemon zest & extra virgin olive oil.

Lamb Chawarma | Fatimas | $19.90

Spiced lamb, lettuce, tomato relish and garlic sauce.

 

Chicken Salad Sandwich | Federal Delicatessen | $19

Chicken salad sandwich with chicken skin crackling & berg.

World Famous Hokey Pokey | Giapo

Hokey Pokey ice-cream, prices vary depending on your choice of cone or cup.

GOAT Champaran | Goat | $39

Slow cooked goat meat marinated in aromatic spices, mustard oil, garlic & green chilies.

 

Prawn and Crab Toast | Hello Beasty | $32

Seared grain-fed eye fillet, sweet & sour sauce, Japanese mayo and green onion.

Fruit Wood Roasted Peking Duck | Huami 

Roasted Peking duck with crispy duck skin roll, pancake & condiment ($98 for a whole duck, $55 for half a duck).

Kumara Spring Roll | Khu Khu | $16.90

Sweet purple kumara glass noodle spring rolls & sweet carrot sauce.

 

Hot Smoked Kahawai | kingi | $28

Hot smoked kahawai & horseradish (from Little Barrier).

Wagyu Kimchi Gyoza | MASU | $20.00

Black origin wagyu beef and kimchi gyoza, pickled cucumber & soy vinegar.

Handpicked Beef Scotch | Metita

55 day dry-aged, palusami purée, ravigote ($70 for 300g, $130 for 600g).

 

Gold bar | SkyBar | $18 

Coconut mousse, coconut chocolate streusel, carrot brownie, carrot chocolate ganache, thin golden chocolate shell.

Chatham Islands Crayfish Éclair | Onslow | $22

Organic egg, spiced bisque & herbs.

Ora King Salmon Aguachile | Tacoteca | $23

NZ King salmon, lime & coriander salsa, avocado crema, pickled onion, cucumber & tostada (please note this changes with the season so fish varies).

Passionfruit Drizzled Pavlova | The Lodge | $15

Passionfruit pavlova, passionfruit curd & whipped cream.

See the full list of Iconic Auckland Eats, here