The centrepiece of Auckland’s food events is officially back on the radar. Restaurant Month taking place for the entire month of August—a month we’ve never been so grateful to for having 31 whole days.
Clear your calendars and get booking. Here are the best deals at $30, $45 and $55, plus the best deals for vegans and vegetarians, that you need to devour in Auckland’s Restaurant Month this year.
The Best Restaurant Month $30 Menus
Seoul Night
16 Fort Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Seoul Night | Facebook
This Restaurant Month menu has extra bang for its buck because to find it you’ve got to locate and walk through a vending machine (yes, you read correctly). Crush that mission and you’ll find yourself in the whimsical wonderland of Seoul Night where you can take your tastebuds on a trip to Korea, one bite at a time. For just thirty bucks you can wrap your mouth around two flavour-packed courses—hot tip: don’t skip the culinary revelation that is rose tteokbokki aka rice cakes, sausage, seasonal vege in tomato and coconut sauce—washed down with a Roku gin cocktail.
Kingi
The Hotel Britomart, 29 Galway Street, Britomart, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Kingi | Facebook
It’s rare to walk out of Kingi having only thrown down thirty bucks but during Restaurant Month, you can. Be tempted by squid ink tagliatelle, wagyu bavette steak, raw tuna Caesar salad (pictured), or Waipiti venison moussaka, with a wine match. Exquisite.
Palmer Bar
1 Albert Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Palmer Bar | Facebook
A three course dinner for $30, in this economy? Outrageous-ly good, that is. At Palmer Bar you’ll start with a seasonal vege tart followed by a main of triple-cooked pork belly with butternut pumpkin and gochujang. Finish up with a sweet kiss of ginger caramel amaretto bonbon. Pair with Prosecco for a little extra if that’s a bit of you.
The Best Restaurant Month $45 Menus
Biang Biang
Unit 203, 246 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Heart of the City | website
China’s Shaanxi province has a particular penchant for food so if you’re in the mood for noods, Xian Biang Biang is the spot to hit. One of Restaurant Month 2024’s best menus, you’ll score a delightfully crispy Rougamo flatbread or vege salad followed by a steaming plate of hand-pulled BiangBiang noodles topped with your choice of chilli, beef, or lamb in special sauce, plus a soft drink for $45 (for two people).
Wander
2 Madden Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Wander | Facebook
Wander to… Wander (we had to) this Restaurant Month and you can live it up at lunchtime swapping forty-five bucks for a European-inspired entree + main or a main + dessert, both which include a Winter Roku G&T. Our pick? A wholesome soulful Buddha bowl followed by a crème brulee, you know, for balance.
Kome Sake Bar
One Queen Dining, Commercial Bay, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Kome Sake Bar | Facebook
If you’re keen to just kick back with mates, catching up over a cold one (and some fried chicken wings, Tokyo-style), you’ll want to hightail it to Kome Sake Bar where you can sip on a glass of Chardonnay and graze on a sharing style Japanese dinner for two including edamame, salmon aburi sushi, beef aburi sushi, renkon chips, and—of course—chicken wings. Again, this is $45 for two people. Score.
The Best Restaurant Month $55 Menus
Ghost Street
Basement Floor, 27 Galway Street, Britomart, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Ghost Street | Facebook
This subterranean restaurant serves punchy flavors in unrivaled atmospheric surrounds. If you’re looking for a next level feed, this is it. At $55 per person it isn’t cheap, but it’s certainly worth it. For Restaurant Month 2024 Ghost Street’s pulling out all the stops with a limited edition menu showcasing food from Chengdu and Xi’an. From fried wonton skins and sesame noodles with ‘strange flavour’ sauce (love it), to mapo tofu in chilli oil and Mātangi brisket, this is a two course sharing style dinner you won’t be forgetting anytime soon (unless, of course, you go all-out on the Sichuan negronis—no judgment here).
Advieh
Intercontinental Auckland, 1 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Heart of the City | Facebook
Look, nobody goes to Advieh expecting to not shell out a bit of cash but it’s worth it. If you like your meals fancy and full of flavour you’ve got to sink your teeth into Advieh’s Restaurant Month menu while it’s here. $55 will secure you a three course lunch or throw down $85 and you’ll get a sharing style dinner worthy of royalty with the likes of chicken liver parfait, lamb neck shawarma, half dry aged duck, rhubarb mille feuille and rose custard katifi pastry. Prepare for plated art.
Cassia at SkyCity
90 Federal Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Cassia at SkyCity | Facebook
This one’s for when you’re feeling baller but if we’re going to throw our hard-earned dollars at anyone, we’re hell-bent on it being Sid Sarawat’s crew. Book into Cassia at SkyCity and for $95 per person you’ll enjoy top-tier Indian fare and while you’ll likely recognise some of the names—tandoori chicken, garlic naan—the reality’s unlike anything you’ve tasted before.
The Best Restaurant Month Menus For Vegans And Vegetarians
Ghost Donkey
Commercial Bay, 7/21 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Heart of the City | website
Got a hankering for Mexican? Make a beeline for Ghost Donkey. The neon red-lit tequila cave is always a good time and this Restaurant Month it’s even better. A sly thirty dollars will snag you a quesadilla verde stuffed with roasted capsicum, spinach, corn, charred spring onion, and gooey mozzarella, and a frozen marg spiked with Sauza gold tequila for good measure. Cheers to that.
East
Sudima Hotel, 63-67 Nelson Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Heart of the City | website
If you haven’t hit the totally plant-based East yet (or even if you have), Restaurant Month’s the perfect time to do so, especially if you want to curry favour with a plant-based date. For just $45 you’ll snag a two course lunch or dinner plus a glass of Two Rivers Juliet Riesling. You’ll start with crispy pineapple cups and black shiso salted edamame followed by your choice of Pad Thai, Massaman curry, or mung bean noodle salad. And if you’re still hungry there are cheeky little extras and some very enticing-looking desserts you can opt to tack on for just a little bit more.
Cafe Hanoi
Tuawhiti Lane, 27 Galway Street, Britomart, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Cafe Hanoi | Facebook
We’ve always got time for Cafe Hanoi. Fresh, vibrant Vietnamese fare in airy surrounds and don’t get us started on those globe lampshades. While not normally a plant-based restaurant (although always brimming with plenty of options for diners who are), the team’s whipped up a two course vegan sharing lunch or dinner menu which you can summon to you and a mate’s plate for $55. The delectable lineup includes rice paper rolls, a crispy turmeric rice pancake, lemongrass-doused spiced tofu and grilled eggplant, and Hanoi style grilled ‘pork’. Dress it up with any extras or drinks your hearts’ desire. Their spicy marg is a joy, just sayin’.
Want more of the good stuff? Check out Restaurant Month's full list of menus here.
Main image credit: Advieh via Heart of the City | Facebook.