After two months of exploring Auckland’s food scene, I reviewed my most memorable dining experiences for future visitors. Overall, I wouldn’t say the cuisine is very different from the States’. If I could visit again, I would definitely try more Māori foods, especially the hāngī, which they cook underground. Check it out if you have the chance!

Meals

Dumpling Hours

Rating: 2/5

Starting off on a negative note. I was in between a few options but decided on chicken fried rice because I wanted something I knew I would enjoy. Unfortunately, I was wrong. It was really bland. The dumplings were okay but nothing memorable. The restaurant is pretty affordable if you want to check out their other options! All dishes are 12 NZD (approximately 7.21 USD).

Kampung Malaysia

Rating: 5/5

While Hanadi and I were exploring Ponsonby, we decided to make an impromptu stop at the International Food Court. In addition to Malaysian, it features Italian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, Turkish, Thai, and Laos cuisine. I ordered the Crispy Chicken. The peanut curry was everything. It was well-flavored and nourished my soul.

Curry on Queen

Rating: 3/5

The naan was, as Hanadi describes it, very oily. The curry was fine but nothing to write home about. It did the job.

The Fish & Chip Shop

Rating: 4/5

The fish was scrumptious and well flavored. The fries were appropriately crispy, but I had to add some salt and pepper. My host mom, Deborah, said it’s one of the best Fish and Chips places. I originally rated it a 3.5, but after considering the other places I tried since, like the Bathhouse in Queenstown, I bumped it up to a 4.

Baha Betty

Rating: 3/5

The first thing that stood out to me was the portion size; the waffles would definitely be bigger in America. I found them too crunchy. On the bright side, I had a Shirley Temple for the first time, and it was great! It was a wonderful balance between tart and sweet.

RE Burger (Wannabe Cane’s)

Rating: 4/5

The fries were pretty good, but I preferred the texture of Cane’s bread more. Their bread was a little more toasted than I liked. Although the sauce looks similar, it tastes different from anything I’ve ever had before. Overall, their food tastes more “real”, like it could be prepared at home.

Chi Chop

Rating: 3.5/5

I ordered the Ninja Crispy Chicken. The chicken’s texture and sauce (I wish they put more) was a great combination. I’m not the biggest fan of coleslaw, but I think people who usually go for it would have liked the dressing.

Desserts

Koffee Bar

Rating: 3.5/5

This was the first cafe Hanadi and I tried in Auckland. I got an Apple Caramel Cake with chai. Our first impression was that the pastries were less sweet than we were used to, but I still found mine satisfying.

Grownup Donuts

Rating: 4/5

Nice and sweet, but I’m not a huge fan of a lot of filling.

Juice Up Auckland

Rating: 2.5/5

This is soft serve açaí with chocolate sauce mixed in with the topping. I give them credit for the creative concept, but I would rather either have an acai bowl or traditional ice cream. This combo didn’t work for me because the açaí was too concentrated for my liking. I prefer acai bowls because they include a lot more fruit and granola, which offsets the taste.