With so many places in Auckland to eat, it can be hard to decide where to go – but it may be a little easier now with the release of the 2024 Top 100 Iconic Eats list.
Prepare your tastebuds, as two dishes have earned the honour of being named in all four of the Top 100 lists since its inception in 2020 – the fish sliders at Depot and the lamington at Sugar at Chelsea Bay.
The Top 100 dishes on the fourth annual Iconic Auckland Eats list are nominated by the public and feature everything from cafes and food trucks to fine-dining restaurants.
The top 20 foods – which you should add to your must-try list immediately – are:
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Federal Delicatessen – Toasted Reuben
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Cassia – Pani puri
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East restaurant at Sudima – Char kwey teow noodles
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Andy’s Burgers & Bar – Tower Burger
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Broke Boy Taco- Big plate
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Sneaky Snacky– Hot chicken doughnut burger
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Gemmayze Street- Jazar
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Depot – Fish sliders
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Oyster Inn – Te Matuku oysters
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Ahi – Scampi corndogs
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Sugar at Chelsea Bay- Raspberry Lamington
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Lot Nineteen – Cinnamon buns
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Homeland – Ika Mata
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Culprit – Ugly carrot
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Gochu- Milk bun
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Eden Noodles – Dumplings in spicy sauce
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Sweet and Me – Pineapple pie
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Kingi – Kina toast with pancetta
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Captain Kai Moana- Cream paua and fried bread
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Burnt Butter Diner – Crème brûlée pie
Lebanese-inspired restaurant Gemmayze Street has now featured in three of the lists and is the only eatery with more than one dish on the 2024 edition – its handmade hummus and the Jazar, a stuffed carrot dish.
Some of the other dishes to make the cut include kina toast with pancetta from Kingi, the custard square from Daily Bread and carrot pudding (hawla) from 1947.
For a Kiwi classic fish and chips, the ones from Tipene’s Takeaways in Morningside is the place to go, or Snapper’n’Chips from The Local on Waiheke Island.
The ugly carrot (yes, that’s its name) from Culprit made the list, being described by Asher Newman who nominated it as “smoked yoghurt, salty pumpkin seed dukkah and exotic paprika oil all coming together on the one wee plate. It’s mouthwatering delish, packed with flavour and fun.”
Over the past three years, several favourites have made the top 100 more than once, including the scampi corndog at Ahi, Tiger Burger’s kimcheese burger and Sneaky Snacky’s glazed chicken donut burger.
With more than 1800 submissions, the competition ran at the end of 2023 and attracted more than double the entries from the previous year which saw 800 submissions.
Eight eateries on Karangahape Road, previously voted one of the world’s coolest streets, made it on the list this year including Apero Food and Wine’s goat’s cheese croquettes and the grilled cabbage, ajo blanco, chilli jam from Candela.
The ika mata at Homeland, owned by Peter Gordon, was nominated by Auckland resident Tracy Berno who said, after living and working in the Pacific for 30 years, it was the best she had ever had.
Tataki Auckland’s destination director Annie Dundas said the variety of cuisines on the list reflects the mix of ethnicities in Tamaki Makaurau.
“What makes the list truly unique is every dish featured is supported by an original or heart-warming story, highlighting how food can evoke culture and emotions, from happiness, a feeling of belonging, to good old nostalgia. Reading the stories is a great reminder of how special and memorable sharing a meal can be, whether they serve as a comforting taste of home or a reminder of the international food adventures on our own doorstep.”
See here for the full list to try when you’re next after a flavour hit in the City of Sails.