First place I hit up after landing in Auckland! Comforting Thai dishes with a super helpful staff…read more I got the Buddha bowl with some fried tofu! Those fresh veggies hit the spot after eating airplane food all day. Highly recommended! I'm def going to come back to try their sweets and mock duck!

Lovely food and staff. Amazing for vegans. My favourite is the peanut sauce and crispy vegan…read morechicken on rice. Of course the classic Thai curries are amazing also.

Oh the good old green croc aye. I have lived in Auckland all my life and only found out about this…read moreplace last year. If you don't know about it, I suggest a visit. It doesn;t look like anything special from the outset but boy is it special. The Green Crocodile is basically a sandwich bar, but they also do salads and wraps. Pop in there and the lovely old lady will ask you what you'd like. You pick you bread and then fill the sammy with a mountainload of ingredients. Then you can either get it toasted or leave fresh. Yes, it seems like 'just a sandwich bar' but it;s so much more than that. Ther service is so great, and after one visit you'll be treated like a regular, and the amount you get for what you pay is like something from a bygone era. There are no processed ingredients in site and you can really taste the home made freshness. I think that's why it's so good - every sandwich is like the best ever sandwich you could make at home, but canlt be bothered doing. The place is popular, but if there is a wee queue outside, stick it out, it's worth it.

Green Crocodile seems to be one of those "secret" places that not many people know about. It's just…read morea sandwich bar; but nothing's pre-made, and everything made just for you how you like it. It's a little bespoke lunch without the usual bespoke price tag. A cheese toasted sandwich is sometimes all that you need, and these are pretty good: the cheese oozes out, and it's all delivered to you hot and tasty. They don't take eft-pos here, so come with cash, although you won't need much; most sandwiches are less than $5. There's also only two tables, so be prepared to takeaway; you can always sit outside on the recently flashed-up Derby Street.

I will start by saying I've only ever ordered delivery from Little India Anzac Ave. They're a chain…read moreand their Tauranga branch is my favourite Indian restaurant in the Bay of Plenty...although the competition is admittedly scarce. They range on the pricier side (curries are $16-$19ish), and their menu is pretty standard but consistently delicious. You won't find anything experimental or (for those purists out there) non-Westernised, but sometimes you just want a good old chicken sagwaala and the ability to choose your spice level on a scale of 0 to 20. That's an exaggeration. But also not really. Suffice to say they know 'Kiwi hot' from 'Indian hot' and you can have it any which way you like. It was pay day today and I got rained on on my way home, which equals takeout for dinner (obviously). I ordered the Achaari chicken ($17; medium-spicy) and upsized my rice for chicken pulao ($6). Not because I am giant, but because leftover Indian is amazing for breakfast. And there is always leftovers. Their website is very easy to navigate - you can pay online via credit card or by cash on delivery - and as soon as your order is placed they phone you to say they've received it and the ETA. For the record, I ordered at about 5:30 this evening and it was here before 6. That's very acceptable in my book. Delivery is $4, which is reasonable when compared with other places delivering to the CBD (on average I usually pay $5+). The delivery guy today did call and ask if I could meet him at the Civic (at least a block from my actual address) which was a bother (and which I did not do). However this is not untypical of delivery guys in the city and my address is weird. (BUT I have to say, Delivery Services of Auckland, if you ask for delivery instructions and I type out delivery instructions then I expect you to read the delivery instructions! Sorry Little India, this isn't about you. We're cool.) Phew. Where were we? Dinner was delicious! I like these guys, and you should order from these guys. :D

They range on the pricier side (curries are $16-$19ish), and their menu is pretty standard , we…read moredidn't find anything that stood out (as we ate a lot of Indian food while in NZ). I wanted the Tikka Banaras they offered in the chicken dish section and asked if they could make it with lamb. They said this was easy to do, but when eating my dish I'm pretty sure they just gave me a standard lamb Butter Curry because the sauce tasted nothing like the ingredients listed. The dish did have a lot of meat pieces within it though, both large chunky pieces and mini pulled pieces floating around. My husband got a dish listed as a "special Rogan Josh" that we didn't recognize from the other Indian places, but same thing it tasted just like the general Tikki Marsala Curry we've had before. So I feel like they really tried to specialize themselves but they were pretty standard. In addition, they don't throw in naan or cucumber sauce. So I wish we could have gone back to a previous Indian place (check out my other reviews)

It took me a while to pluck up the courage to try one of the traditional Indian sweets that Rasoi…read moredisplays in its window. People come from all over Auckland to pick up these colourful little treats, so I thought I'd better see what all the fuss was about. Indian sweets definitely have very different flavours and textures than their Western counterparts, but I'm sure you'll find something to your taste. My favourite is the pistachio flavoured one. But there's plenty to more to Rasoi than the sweets, and don't let the simple interior put you off. The Gujarat-style southern Indian food offers a huge range for vegetarians on a budget, and a number of dishes are also vegan. Gluten-free eaters do well here too. I actually think all the dishes here are delicious, but standouts have to be the dal, the dosas, and the masala chai.

amazing food first time in my life we been there and so amazing it feels like totally home food…read moresure we will recommend to every one ek number wow

The Hare Krishna eatery on K'Road has stood proudly for years, feeding poor students and curry…read moreaficionados alike, and completely on the cheap. On the day before payday, I am one of those people standing in line waiting for a $2 samosa or $2 onion bhaji. For just $5 you can also get a huge platter of food that will fill you up good and proper. If you're looking for something a little different, give their lasagna a go - non-meat eaters will love being able to eat something like this again, even if it is a little on the wet side.

Govinda's is a K Road hot-spot for students, backpackers and, I presume, collection-can-rattling…read morehomeless people. This "restaurant" has the typical miasma and funk anyone from outside of Auckland would expect from the dirty and infamous road. Wobbly, unclean tables and prison food served in divided tin plates. I have nothing against vegetarians or vegans and have a lot of respect with some of the delicious dishes they can conjure up, but the food here tastes of coloured water with rice and chick peas for substance. Curry with no garlic or onions? Untitled lumpy custard dish made me feel like I was in a very old, very poor school cafeteria, gagging on the religious peace and love and feel-good that should kill any appetite I have left. Maybe if they put some of the natural herbs they're smoking into the dishes we could laugh this off and paint each other's toenails in a log cabin in the woods and name all the stars this place will never get.

I absolutely love having breakfast/lunch at Raw Power. It is about a 30 second walk from my work,…read morewhich makes it an amazing location! They serve a range of delicious vegetarian meals and salads. Their breakfasts are out of this world! I usually order the Lemon Pancakes ($13.90) which comes with grilled banana, mixed berries, maple syrup and creme fraiche or the French Toast ($14.50) with the exact same accompaniments. Both are very filing and delicious and will keep you full till lunchtime! For lunch, I either order the Curry Vegetable Soup ($8.50) which consists of pumpkin, carrot and onion and is served with focaccia bread or I really enjoy the Toasted Feta Sandwich ($10.20) - both are equally delicious. But the real deal is definitely their salad bar. You can choose from a bowl or plate size and fill it up with as many salads as you like. Some of the salads include: roasted mixed vegetables, salad greens with avocado and cucumber, soba noodles, pumpkin, beetroot, chickpeas, kidney/broad beans and cauliflower/broccoli. Then when you've finished piling it mountain high, you can add as many olives, nuts, gherkins, jalapenos and cottage cheese to your salad as you wish. So amazing! They also make hot drinks, smoothies and juices. I have ordered a Mocha twice and both times, it was delicious and extra extra hot (just how I like it!). I recommend this cafe to all. I'm not a complete vegetarian but I do enjoy vegetarian food a lot. The food is great, the service is quick and friendly and the portion sizes are perfect. Absolutely delicious every time!

Located on the second floor, this Restuarant serves vegetarian food choices. Two of us ate…read morebreakfast here. Cappuccino made just right & served in a big cup. Off to a good start! We ate scrambled eggs, crunchy toast, greens with some type of green sauce that decorated the plate. The food was healthy, simple and scrumptious. I am going back later today!

This place is amazing! If you are a true foodie or spent time in Thailand this place will be a…read morewelcome find. It one of the two best Thai restaurants in Auckland. I eat out a lot and know most of them, this is the best.

We had grilled chicken and grilled pork noodle salads, both ample and delicious. Staff very…read morefriendly. Decor is basic and clean.

A good thai restaurant in the Auckland CBD. They have an extensive menu, the quality of the food is…read morehigh and the service is friendly and attentive. I was here with a party of 11 and they did a wonderful job hosting our group.

The menu in the glass case out front did not list Pad Thai - which I was craving - but I was sold…read moreonce we peeked inside and asked if they had it and we're told yes. It didn't hurt that he place was packed. That was a good sign and we were off to a good start. The inside was very lovely and we were fine with eating at the bar, but they were able to squeeze us into a 2-top in the dining room. We shared the pad thai and got some sides to split. Man! When they say "sticky rice", they mean it! Not that that's a bad thing. I smothered it in peanut sauce and wa a happy camper. The cocktails are a little on the spendy side, but then, they are spendy anywhere compared to back in the USA. We got very good service and would return over and over again - if we lived there. Alas, the locals get to enjoy this gem and we just get to have found memories from 6,889 miles away.

I had a delicious meal at the Clevedon Blue Elephant. Friendly staff and definitely the best Thai…read morefood in Auckland

Had unique appetizers of spinach wraps with duck and peanuts and a Thai sausage with pickled…read morevegetables. Never had either at a Thai restaurant before and enjoyed both very much. For dinner I tried the Lamb Massaman and the meat was cooked perfectly and melted in my mouth and the flavors of the massaman were perfect. Lovely meal and very attentive service.

I had the opportunity to eat dinner here twice while staying at the Hilton, and both were…read morephenomenal experiences. First of all, the ambiance is spectacular, with gorgeous views of the harbor. My first night, dozens of sailboats were out, singly and in groups. The staff was welcoming - a sense of formality, but not pretentiously so. The first night, I had the Signature West Coast Whitebait Fritter, Kūmara Fries, and Mango and Mānuka Honey Cheesecake. The second night, I had the Signature Mediterranean Crab Cakes and the Herb Crusted Mt Cook Alpine Salmon. All were wonderful. The small plates were the Whitebait Fritter and the Crab Cakes. New Zealand Whitebait is a real delicacy, and they were perfectly cooked in what would better be described as a thin omelette rather than a fritter, topped with a deliciously rich buerre blanc and fried capers. Stunning! The Crab Cakes were served with a crayfish lemon mayonnaise and balsamic vinegar. Quite tasty with a nice crunch - use the lemon, it really helps bring out the flavor. Of the two, I would recommend the Whitebait Fritter hands down. It's something I will remember. I got the Kūmara Fries (New Zealand's sweet potato) as a side, and they are delicious. Coated with some parmesan cheese and served with black garlic mayo! So good. And it's a large serving - from looking around, all of their sides are designed for more than one person. That said, I did a pretty good job with the fries by myself. The Herb Crusted Mt Cook Alpine Salmon is another New Zealand-centric dish. The dish is exquisite and overwhelming. The salmon itself was perfection - perfectly cooked and rich in flavor. Then add the delicious pickled fennel, the red capsicum marmalade, the horseradish cream, herb oil, and the saltiness of fish roe? Explosions in your mouth. The Mango and Manuka Honey Cheesecake was rich and delicious with a nice crust. They also had a nice selection of New Zealand beers, wines, and liquors.

Oh my. Not the best first impression of Auckland. We checked into the Hilton and, tired from a…read morelong journey, decided just to have dinner at Fish, right in the hotel. If it was the only place we had eaten, during our visit, we would have thought that dining in New Zealand was awful. The room is very nice, with wonderful views of the Bay and cruise ship port, although a little less formal than I would expect for the price range. The problem began with the staff who, while trying very hard and being very polite, did not seem to understand a word we said. They were very good with the phrase "Thank you, sir," though, and I realize language barriers must be accommodated while traveling. This IS an English speaking country, though. Anyway, everything seemed to go wrong. Ordering wine was an ordeal, and it arrived halfway through our meal. The food presentation was mediocre, and everything needed some spice or seasoning. It felt like a meal served at a retirement village where everyone has diet restrictions. The kicker, though, was the steak. We ordered medium rare. It arrived burned to a crisp. For the first time in years, we actually sent something back. The next attempt came back nearly raw. It was inedible and almost felt like chef was being a jerk. We just left it pretty much untouched and later, noticed the staff huddled in the corner pointing over at our table. To the restaurant's credit, our steaks were removed from the bill, without our even asking, but that is a bit beyond the point. There are many fine dining options within walking distance of Fish. We wish we had known.