Kia Ora! If you love food & you love to travel, then you definitely need to put New Zealand on your vacation bucket list.

The only thing better than the endless eye candy New Zealand’s scenery has to offer is the incredible array of delicious dishes. I thoroughly researched New Zealand eateries prior to our trip & put together my own New Zealand food guide. Then I set out to try as many as I could possibly fit in to our stay. I’m pretty sure we set a record for most meals eaten in a two-week span. We only had one day in Wellington & we maximized every eating opportunity (somehow we squeezed 11 different food spots in those precious 24 hours).

It was incredible.

New Zealanders take their food seriously. It is quite the melting pot & as a result, you can find top notch eateries in every food category. You can find pretty much all of the world’s most delectable dishes in this one little country. My personal favorite New Zealand restaurants were the adorable bakeries & cafes brandishing fresh baked pastries (do not skip the chocolate croissants) that lined every street.

If you are heading to New Zealand, or just really like the idea of food, then be sure to keep this ultimate New Zealand food guide handy. You will not regret it.

The Ultimate New Zealand Food Guide

Auckland

No. 1 Pancakes

Little Bird Unbakery

Orleans

I’ve never been a chicken & waffles kind-of-girl but this dish had me coming back for seconds!

Joy Ice Cream

Custom ice cream sandwiches, yes please!

Dogmatic

Cereal Killah

As is these milkshakes weren’t enough to have you booking a flight right this second, their food is just as delicious.

Chocolate Boutique

Better Burger

Big Fish Eatery

McDonald’s

I know what you’re thinking. But trust me on this one. New Zealand McDonald’s are nothing like its counterpart in the USA. The use authentic New Zealand beef & local ingredients & the burgers rival some of the more reputable restaurants. Plus, their meat pies were one of my favorite grab & go breakfasts.

Rotorua

Burger Fuel

This is more-or-less the New Zealand equivalent of In-N-Out. Except they use the famous New Zealand beef & they have a menu chalk-full of delicious add-ons so you can customize any burger just to your liking.

Ciabatta Cafe & Bakery: Hands down our favorite bakery in New Zealand. And that’s saying a lot.

Picnic Cafe

Fat Dog Cafe & Bar

This place may not look like much but the food is surprisingly tasty, notably the lamb. The desserts are equally as impressive.

Be Rude Not To Cafe

Pantry D’Or Boutique Bakery

Tamaki Maori Village

If you are looking for a good hangi (a traditional Maori meal), and you really should,  then this is the spot for you. I thought nothing could beat their lamb, & then I tasted their pavlova.

Taupo

Cafe Ninety-Nine

Spoon & Paddle

McDonald’s

I know what you’re thinking; McDonald’s again? But this one really can’t be missed. I mean, the restaurant is in a real-life airplane. It’s every kid, & adult’s, dream.

Wellington

The Mt. Vic Chipery

Pizza Pomodoro

The Little Waffle Shop

Clearly, these waffles are worth any wait.

Sweet Mother’s Kitchen

Pravda Cafe

Tommy Millions

House of Dumplings

My husband visited South Korea just last year & couldn’t stop raving about their dumplings. He said these were pretty close to the real deal.

Fidel’s Cafe

Phoenician Cuisine

A falafel is the perfect grab & go meal when you are touring a new town. And these falafel’s can’t be beat.

Wellington Chocolate Factory

This is a real life Chocolatier. Guys, it’s every chocolate lover’s dream. You pick out your chocolate & any add-ins & they make your own personalized chocolate bar right then & there. Bucket list, check!

Christchurch

North Road Fish & Chips

Mexicano’s

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Mexican food thousands of miles away from the motherland but this place was mui delicioso.

Tequila Mockingbird

Boo Radley’s Food & Liquor

Formaggio’s

Hello Sunday Cafe

Franz Joseph

The Landing

Choices are limited near Franz Joseph but this was popular with locals & tourists alike & for good reason.

Picnic’s Bakery

Queenstown

Erik’s Fish & Chips

Growing up in the Bay Area I’m a bit of a fish snob. But these were some of the best fish & chips I’ve ever had & definitely our favorite in New Zealand.

Madam Woo

I wasn’t really feeling like Asian food when my husband begged that we eat here. One bite instantly changed my mind. Everything was so good we ended up ordering a second round.

Taco Medic

Pedro’s House of Lamb

Fat Badger’s Pizza Bar

Winnie’s

Fergburger

The famous Fergburger is not to be missed. Weather you stick with the classic or try a specialty burger you will not be disappointed.

Cookie Time

There’s a reason why these cookies are a New Zealand classic. The packaged cookies are definitely good but nothing can compare to fresh out of the oven!

Fergbaker

I wasn’t sure if these guys would live up to their burger counterpart but they definitely do. You can’t go wrong with anything from either Ferg.

Vudu Cafe

Another cafe favorite. Their breakfast is a sure hit. I could have had their egg & bacon breakfast muffin every morning.

Wanaka

Kai Whakapai Cafe & Bar

We weren’t expecting much from this tiny town but this little cafe was quite the surprise. It was one of our favorite breakfasts of the whole trip. Definitely, not a spot to be missed.

Patagonia Chocolates

Cinema Paradiso Bar & Cafe

This is such a fun place to spend an evening. Dinner & a show is always a hit!

Kiko

While you are in New Zealand be sure to try pavlova, anything lamb, a meat pie (or 10), Whitaker’s peanut slab, hokey pokey everything, & every fresh baked pastry you can get your hands on. Just trust me on this. As always, I wish you happy (& tasty) travels!

Looking for even more travel inspiration? Check out these fabulous tips for your travels:

Thailand – 13 Reason it Should be at the Top of Your Bucket List

MAUI – 40 Must See Spots from a Maui Resident