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Iconic Auckland Eats 2025: Top 100 dishes revealed

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. ADVERTISEMENT "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." Dumplings in Spicy Sauce from Eden Noodles, a dish returning to this year's top 100 list. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) 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. Raspberry Lamingtons from Sugar at Chelsea Bay (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) Karen Thompson-Smith, head of tourism at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, said she is thrilled with the initiative's building momentum. ADVERTISEMENT '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): Agak Agak Food's Malaysian Nasi Campur. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) *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 ADVERTISEMENT 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 ADVERTISEMENT Azabu – Volcano Sushi Rolls* Bali Nights – Ikan Bakar Jimbaran* Bali Nights' Ikan Bakar Jimbaran. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) 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 ADVERTISEMENT 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 ADVERTISEMENT 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 ADVERTISEMENT Cocoro – The Sashimi Platter* Cocoro's sashimi platter. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) Depot – Fish Sliders* Duo – Raw Fish on Toast Eden Noodles – Dumplings In Spicy Sauce* Esther – Puff bread & taramasalata Esther's Puff bread & taramasalata. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) ADVERTISEMENT Farina – Padella Isabella Farm House Cafe – Pimp My Cheese Scone - Benedict Pimp Farm House Cafe's Pimp My Cheese Scone - Benedict Pimp. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) Fatima's – Lamb Chawarma Federal Delicatessen – Chicken Salad Sandwich* First Mates, Last Laugh** – Pan-Fried John Dory FishSmith – Battered Westmere Butchery Pork Sausage ADVERTISEMENT 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 ADVERTISEMENT 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* Huami's Fruit Wood Roasted Peking Duck. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) INCA – Spicy Tuna Tostada ADVERTISEMENT Ipoh Malaysian Cuisine – Lorbak Izu** – Tuna Ceviche Jia Qi Sweets – Chow Luck Club Foodie Market** – Dragon's Beard Candy Jia Qi Sweets - Chow Luck Club Foodie Market's Dragon's Beard Candy. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) Khu Khu** – Kumara Spring Roll Kingi – Hot smoked kahawai from Little Barrier with horseradish Lebanese Grocer** – Chicken Shawarma ADVERTISEMENT 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* ADVERTISEMENT 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 Moxie Restaurant's Beef Wellington, potato and truffle foam, pumpkin seed and parsley pesto. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) Mumbaiwala** – Dahi Puri Nanam – Lechon Ockhee – Tofu BBQ Gui ADVERTISEMENT Ohui Restaurant** – Pāua Tortellini Onslow – Chatham Islands Crayfish Éclair, Organic Egg, Spiced Bisque, Herbs Our Land** – East Coast Brisket The East Brisket Burger from Our Land, a new business on this year's list. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) Paradise – Lamb Biryani* Peach's Hot Chicken – Peanut Butter Mousse Pie Pici – Pici Cacio e Pepe* ADVERTISEMENT Prego – Risotto All'Anatra Ragtag – Duck Carnitas Tacos* Ramen Takara** – Jade Ramen Ramen Takara's Jade Ramen. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) Red Crab** – Sweet And Sour Chicken Rhu** – Honey toast with whipped yoghurt and nectarines Richoux Patisserie** – Steak, Jalapeño and Cheese Pie ADVERTISEMENT Richoux Patisserie's Steak, Jalapeño and Cheese Pie. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) San Ray** – Quinoa Toast with Smoked Fish and Pickled Egg San Ray's Quinoa Toast with Smoked Fish and Pickled Egg. (Source: Babiche Martens / Iconic Auckland Eats) Shelley's Kitchen** – Malaysian Spiral Curry Puffs SkyBar – Gold Bar* SkyBar's Gold Bar. (BABICHE MARTENS) Smiths Matakana** – Chef's Loaded Fries ADVERTISEMENT 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* ADVERTISEMENT 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 Lodge's passionfruit drizzled pavlova. (BABICHE MARTENS) The Sugar Dealer** – Raspberry Cheesecake Brownie Tiger Bar & Restaurant** – Korean Fried Cauliflower, Gochujang Glaze, Sesame, Kimchi Vietnam Cafe – Spare Ribs Rice Noodles Soup