Auckland Diner's Diary: April 2018

City Eats

• Chamate - Asian fusion eatery in Swanson Street, with noodles made from scratch
• Manna Kitchen - Filipino food at Food Alley, and temporary closure of their Te Atatu store
• Hunger Burger - new burger shop on K'Road

Fringe Feeds - Ponsonby and Parnell

• Teddy's - refined bistro fare in Ponsonby where Moo Chow Chow used to be, from Oliver Scutts (NZ Rose Co, Annabel’s Wine Bar) and Rob Hill (1885)
• La Trattoria - puffier Roman-style pizzas as served in Argentina and Uruguay, from young Uruguayan Santiago de los Reyes, in Ponsonby where Il Buco used to be
• Cali Press - the second branch of the wholefood cafe from Sydney has opened in Parnell, with a revamped menu, including new toast toppings and smoothies
• Deadshot - Ponsonby bar from the people who opened Caretaker in Britomart, Heather Garland and Alistair Walker (opened 4 May)

Fringe Feeds - Mount Eden and Kingsland

• Love Exposure - Celeste Thornley and brothers Jasper and Ludo Maignot (Kiss Kiss, Happy Boy) bring their signature style to a new Vietnamese eatery in Mount Eden, with a simple menu from head chef Yeong Seon Choi (Cafe Hanoi, Saan and White & Wongs) and executive chef Hiroki Iwai (opened 1 May)
• Black Frog Cafe - "Kiwi kitchen with French accent" in Kingsland
• Bluebell's Cakery Kingsland - Carla Goodwin's cake business has a new flagship store in a bigger space in Kingsland, though this means the Eden Terrace and Takapuna branches have closed

Fringe Feeds - Eden Terrace and Newmarket

• Mentatz Fine - a higher end version of the ramen joint has opened in Newmarket
• Sushi Samurai - sushi bar in Eden Terrace
• Elemento Espresso - Kokako coffee, Hero sandwiches, Good Buzz kombucha and more in Newmarket
• 萬福源 - Harbin food in Newmarket

New Up North

• Common Ground - inventive cafe fare and good coffee in Browns Bay, including coffee alternatives such as matcha and activated charcoal lattes
• 21 Days - restaurant in Browns Bay

Further for Food

• Woolfy's - cafe in Highbrook from the owner of Scout
• Ambler - cafe and bistro in Point Chevalier
• Yolanda & Wolfe - coffee caravan in Hobsonville from baker and barista couple Amy and Chris Guy, serving Kokako organic coffee alongside glazed cinnamon rolls, doughnuts and sweet treats
• The Farmer's Daughter - Matakana/Omaha eatery from owner Kate Rose, with Josh Kucharik (Odette's, Hugo's Bistro) heading the kitchen
• Melt Burgers & Ribs - burgers and ribs in Beachlands

Coming

• Prans Soul Food - vegan food on K'Rd (opening 5 May)
• Xoong Kitchen - Chinese-Japanese fusion restaurant in Mount Eden where Molten used to be, from owners David Dau and Minh Lu, and executive chef Cameron Knox (opening 10 May)
• Egg & Spoon - cafe specialising in eggs and coffee at St Kevin's Arcade
• &Sushi - third branch of the cult sushi kitchen will be in the foyer of Britomart's Rabo building
• Toshi Royal Oak - Japanese restaurant in Royal Oak

Closing

• Angie's Kitchen will close by the end of May

Other

• Britomart bar Seven is offering pan-Asian high tea on Saturdays
• Auckland Night Markets is starting a new Wednesday night market in Remuera from 9 May
• Everybody Eats is crowdfunding for a permanent home for their "pay as you feel" restaurant using food which would otherwise be thrown out
• The winners of the Metro Peugeot Restaurant of the Year 2018 have been announced
• Organic and boutique dairy producers such as Happy Cow are struggling

Events

• Swiss Market Day (Saturday 5 May) - celebration of Swiss food and culture, including yodeling and St Bernard dogs, in Penrose
• Aoraki Pop-Up (Sunday 6 May) - showcase from a collective of chefs who appreciate local produce, in an initial 5-course menu at Hugo's Bistro
• La Cigale Night Market (Thursday 10 May) - European food trucks under fairy lights and heaters in Parnell
• [Added 27 May 2018: Amy's Secret Kitchen (21 May - 3 June) - pop-up with cupcakes and doggy treats at Ponsonby Central]
• Etta Pop-Up @ Culprit. (29 - 30 May) SOLD OUT event with food from Kiwi chef Hayden McMillan
• Bacon & Cheese (Thursday 7 June) - pop-up for bacon-lovers at the Fresh Factory, organised by Dominic van den Broek of Bacon & Dreams
• Winetopia (22 - 23 June) - exploration of New Zealand wines, talks, entertainment, and food pairings at Shed 10

Auckland Diner's Diary: March 2018

City Eats - Cafe Classics

• Williams Eatery - Wynyard Quarter eatery from brothers Charles and Patrick Williams (Ceremony), with contemporary classics with hints of Japanese and Nordic influence from executive chef Reginaldo Richard (Odettes)
• Super - corner cafe in Britomart where Oaken used to be, from the Britomart Hospitality Group, with head chef Oliver Fitton (The Chamberlain, Beirut) and coffee from former Oaken barista Sai Okesene
• Brunch Cafe- Sale Street cafe from Annalise Poorter (Dizengoff), with classic brunch fare from head chef Kobi Hall

City Eats - International Flavours

• Poké House - salad bowls and burritos by Victoria Park
• Cinta Malaysian - third branch of the Malaysian eatery has opened at Shortland Street
• Zorro Bar & Gourmet Burgers - beer and burgers on K'Rd
• Royal Tea 皇茶 - Taiwanese tea franchise has opened a store in the Chancery, one of many in Auckland selling the latest trend of cheese tea
• Hulucat - more bubble tea, with a new branch on Queen Street where Swig Cafe used to be

Fringe Openings - Ponsonby, Eden Terrace and Newmarket

• Go Go Daddy - "Thai canteen" inspired by the streets of Bangkok and the night markets of Northern Thailand, in Ponsonby Central where Honeybear used to be, a quick turn around by acclaimed hospitality duo Mark Wallbank and Che Barrington
• Eat Mi - Vietnamese street food in Newmarket
• The Hideout Espresso Bar - cafe in Eden Terrace [added 7 April 2018: from Anderson Mar, with cabinet sandwiches, a short menu from chef Chloe Buksh, and sweet treats from Hayley Namgung of The Three Words patisserie]
• Coffee House Organic - certified organic coffee meets design, art, music, food, and Japanese hospitality in Ponsonby

Fringe Openings - Mount Eden & Kingsland

• Wu & You - head chef Cairan Flaherty (TriBeCa) brings inventive creations to the neon-lit Asian fusion eatery in Mount Eden, brought to us by Jonathan Rickard, the owner of Circus Circus and The Garden Shed
• Umu Pizza - handstretched sourdough pizza in Kingsland, perfected by owner Simon Murphy, made with 200-year-old starter and a 36-48 hour fermentation cycle, baked in a three-tonne white-tiled oven built by a third-generation Naples-born oven maker
• Garage Project Cellar Door - the Wellington-based craft brewery has "reimagined a bottle shop" in Kingsland, with beer on tap for flagon fills and tasting, a small food offering, as well as a "crowler", a contraption which fills one litre cans from the taps and seals them on the spot
• Miss Hotpot 壹小锅 - spicy Chinese hotpot in Mount Eden

New in the North

• Karavan Deli - eatery offering seasonal, local food with a Middle Eastern twist has opened in Devonport
• Snowman Cafe Albany - second branch of the Korean snow ice dessert shop has opened in Albany
• Holy Shot - coffee and vegan donuts from Doornuts in Takapuna

Further Food

• Tipene's Takeaways - burgers, fish & chips, and Classic English sides in Morningside
• Brother Nine Hot Pot 九哥串串 - spicy hotpot in Mount Roskill
• Stone Pot Fish Cuisine 巴乡石锅鱼
• Coffee Station has opened a stall at Panmure Train Station
• [Added 3 May 2018: Hinge & Co - restaurant in Clevedon]

Coming

• Love Exposure - garish Asian fusion(?) place in Mount Eden (opening 1 May)
• Teddy's - restaurant in Ponsonby where Moo Chow Chow used to be
• Proper Pizza - "Italian style pizza with German precision", from a Kosovar brand, on O'Connell Street where Al's Brewhouse used to be
• Tsujiri 辻利茶鋪 - 155-year-old Japanese traditional tea brand is coming soon to Lorne Street
• Hunger Burger - burger joint on K'Rd
• Panda Restaurant 熊猫小馆 - Sichuan cuisine in Browns Bay
• MorningCidery -  dedicated cider bar in Morningside, from the people behind the not-for-profit cafe Crave
• A bunch of restaurants will be opening at Queen's Rise

• Lowbrow. - fried chicken, smoked brisket, sandwiches and more from Jordan Macdonald and Kyle Street
• Ottoman Mezze Lounge - Ottoman cuisine from the Nazar Group
• Dantes Pizzeria & Casa Pasta - authentic wood fired Neapolitan pizza and fresh pasta
• Nourish Pod - super food bar from the Hamilton acai bowl business
• Jar Story - salad bar
• Tokyo Loco Bowl - Japanese donburi business from Australia
• Poké Bar - Californian poké bar
• Potato & Me - breakfast bar, potato joint and watering hole
• Grace
• Dolly Bird
• Panda

Closed

• [Added 3 April 2018: Il Buco has turned off its ovens for the last time after selling over 750,000 slices of pizza]

Other

• Ponsonby Central is expanding to include a three-storey basement carpark, one level of retail and hospitality space, one level of commercial offices, and a top-level residential penthouse
• Food trucks, seating and a 35m-long table will be appearing in the Viaduct
• Taste of Auckland will have a waterfront location this year

Events

• Crosstown Burger Spot (Friday 6 April) - The Bearded Clam pops up again at Goodness Gracious Parnell with their beers, burgers and chilli fries
• Auckland International Cultural Festival (Sunday 8 April) - food from more than 50 different cultures at the Mount Roskill War Memorial Park
• [Added 7 April 2018: Plant Magic x Satya: A South Indian Breakfast Pop-Up (Saturday 21 April) - second instalment of Satellites' breakfast series featuring two courses of South Indian favourites from Gemma Walsh of Plant Magic and Satya Chai Lounge's Samrudh Akuthota]
• [Added 3 April 2018: Plant Culture Pop Up Restaurant (22 - 25 April) - four-course vegan and gluten-free menu made with hemp seed]
• The Orphans Kitchen x Gatherings (25 - 28 April) - five-course vegan and vegetarian set menu as part of Roots-to-Petal week
• [Added 7 April 2018: The Josh Emmett Breakfast (28 - 29 April) - four-course Josh Emett X Nespresso degustation brunch at Ostro]

Auckland Diner's Diary: February 2018

Food Trucks & Pop-Ups

• The Bahn Van - food truck selling bahn mi at Smales Farm
• Brooklyn by Night - classic American East Coast fare is on the menu at The Botanist at the City Works Depot for at least three months
• Good for Now - pop-up garden bar at Smales Farm in Takapuna, serving fish and chips and salmon poke bowls, with a roster of food trucks nearby

Poké Power

• Ika Bowl - Polynesian-inspired poké bar at Snickel Lane from three school friends Navi Lavulavu, Hutu Harris, and Rakai Heka-Beazley
• Yeah Bowl Britomart - second branch of Phil Cui's poké bar has opened at Britomart Train Station
• Ha! Poke - new branches opened in Mission Bay and Ponsonby

City Openings - Asian Flavours

• Chongqing Noodles 八十八度 重庆小面 - another branch of the spicy noodle shop has opened on Wellesley Street, where Madang used to be
• Barilla Dumplings 百味饺子 - third branch of the Chinese dumpling store has opened at The Quad at The University of Auckland
• My Kitchen 我家厨房 - new branch of the Taiwanese eatery has opened on Customs Street East
• ChengDu Taste 成都味道 - Chengdu cuisine on Mayoral Drive, where Beijing Cuisine used to be

City Openings - Tea and Cakes

• Coral Tea 一杯茶 - fried chicken and bubble tea where Mayoral Drive meets Queen Street
• Eighteight Cups - second and third outlets of the coffee shop have opened Queen Street, with owner Josh Love planning to open a fourth cafe on Albert Street
• Magic Cup - new branch of the bubble tea shop on Wakefield Street
• The Donut Kitchen - European donuts at Atrium on Elliott

Fringe Feeds

• Gyoza Bar - Japanese dumplings in Ponsonby, as well as izakaya-style dishes like kaarage chicken, fried lotus root and beef tataki made using grade A5 wagyu from Hida, Japan (opened 7 March)
• New Flavour 新源品味家 - popular Dominion Road eatery has opened a new branch in Parnell
• [Added 2 May 2018: Richmond & Domain - Grey Lynn cafe from Steve Wen of Domain Ayr, where Jafa Cafe used to be, with collaborations with local nutritionist Abbie O'Rourke from Feel Fresh Nutrition designing juices and smoothies, and a signature tea blend in the works with Waiheke Island's Timmy Smith]

Further Food

• Bernadette's - Filipino fusion menu inside the Movenpick store in Mount Wellington
• Sarap has relaunched as a Filipino buffet restaurant in New Lynn
• Little Lamb 小尾羊 - Mongolian hotpot restaurant in Ellerslie
• Hamlin Eatery - cafe in Mount Wellington
• Pheast - Asian takeaway noodle bar in Epsom
• [Added 18 March 2018: Mr Feng's 馮師傅 - homemade noodles and Chinese dumplings in Henderson, with the same branding as Yong's Hand Pulled Noodles]
• [Added 1 April 2018: Little 'Lato - gelateria from Hannah Wood in Morningside alongside Crave Cafe]
• [Added 2 April 2018: Husk Cafe - "honest food, honest coffee" in Epsom]

Going for Donuts

• Epiphany Cafe - new locations for the NZ donut cafe franchise serving Zealong tea are open at Botany Town Centre (24 February) and Northwest Mall (8 March), after recent openings at Westfield Manukau (9 December) and Glenfield Mall (28 October)
• Krispy Kreme - American doughnut brand has opened their first NZ store in Manukau, with the drive-thru open 24/7

New Up North

• Vic Road Kitchen - Mediterranean restaurant in Devonport from local sister duo Harriet and Lucy Byrnes, and British imports Ian Shields (Head Chef) and Craig Wright (Bar Manager) (opened 2 March)
• Nam Nam - Vietnamese street food in Takapuna (opened 8 March) [Added 1 April 2018: from the owners of Mt Eden Vietnamese restaurant Sen]

Coming

• Xoong Kitchen - Asian eatery in Mount Eden Village, where Molten used to be
• Umu Pizza - handcrafted sourdough pizza and local brews in Kingsland (late March)
• Garage Project Kingsland - "reimagined bottle store" in Kingsland with the Wellington brewery's beer on tap and merchandise for takeaway, as well as tastings and finger food (open to the public 22 March)
• Low Brow. - new venue at Queen's Rise from Kyle Street and Jordan Macdonald of Culprit.
• Sushi Samurai - sushi place on Upper Symonds Street where Banzai used to be
• 壹小锅 Miss Hotpot - Chinese hotpot where A'meza used to be
• Goodside at The Arbour - hospitality precinct at Smales Farm featuring the likes of Ripe Deli (June)
• Botany Town Centre is being upgraded, with expanded dining options (May 2019)
• Rooftop dining and gourmet market for the Westfield Newmarket development (end of 2019)

Closing

• True Food and Yoga is in liquidation owing more than $2.4m
• Moo Chow Chow is gone, but something exciting is coming in its place
• [Added 2 April 2018: Beirut has closed its doors to move on to new challenges]

Other

• Clooney has a new head chef, Nobu Lee, and is not closing after all
• The Grove also has a new head chef, Scott Denning, taking over from Ben Bayly
• Farro Fresh is opening its sixth store in Mount Eden after buying The Grocer's Market from its receiver

Events

• Oyster Festival (March) - Nourish Group is hosting a bunch of oyster-themed events till the end of the month
• Des x Culprit. (Thursday 15 March) - trolley takeover from Des Harris at Culprit.
• Cocktail Testing in the Dark (Thursday 22 March) - blind tasting experience of three cocktails in the dark at Rydges hotel
• Cocoro Collaboration Dinner (Tuesday 27 March) - two talented chefs from Tokyo join Makoto at Cocoro for an 8-course degustation with crayfish, scampi, paua, wagyu beef, 100% farm raised bluefin tuna
• Pasifika (24 - 25 March) - annual cultural celebration of Pacific culture at Western Springs, with a gourmet selection at 11 island villages

Auckland Diner's Diary: January 2018

Market Stalls

• Illuminatea - layered bubble tea and snacks at the Auckland Night Markets
• [Added 12 March 2018: Bagel Burgers - food truck selling burgers made with bagels]

City Eats

• Spice Alley - "hawker-style cuisine" at SKYCITY from head chef Panthep ‘Pan’ Sae Sue
• Health Nut Kitchen - vegetarian eatery on Chancery Street from owners Brogan and Luke
• Sophia - Korean food on O'Connell Street, where Touquet used to be
• Hon Izakaya - Japanese food including oden on Courthouse Lane
• Bao Baby Bao - Asian fusion at Elliott Stables
• Mad Samurai - Japanese shared plates and NZ farmed wagyu beef dishes in Snickel Lane
• Hatchburger - burgers and salads at Wynyard Quarter
• [Added 2 April 2018: Bahay Kubo - Filipino takeaway on Mayoral Drive]
• [Added 5 May 2018: Le Petit Chef - French bistro where Il Buco used to be in Vulcan Lane, opposite Le Chef ]

Food on the Fringe

• Monzu - Neapolitan restaurant from Gaetano Spinosa (O'Sarracino, Spacca), in Mount Eden where Meredith's used to be
• Bacio - Herne Bay cafe from Logan Harris and Dee Grant, where Burger Lab used to be
• The Butcher's Son - vegan eatery in Herne Bay, with meat-centric dishes sans meat from Head Chef Angus McLean and Senior Sous Chef Amy Lynn
• The Candy Shop - Newmarket all-day eatery in Osbourne Lane from David Lee (Major Sprout), Woo Hyung Lee (Camper Coffee) and Tom Hong (Geeks on Sainsbury)
• Rocket Kitchen - Mount Eden store has opened with seating and a fresh new look after closing their Ponsonby store
• KIIN - "Thai Underground Kitchen" in Mount Eden
• The Grid 笼格 上海小笼面馆 - Shanghainese food in Mount Eden
• Magic Cup - bubble tea shop in Newmarket

Suburban Openings - Western

• Daily Bread - bakery, deli and cafe in Point Chevalier inside a refurbished old bank, with cow's milk on tap and beehives on the roof, from 22nd generation German baker and 2017 NZ best baker Patrick Welzenbach as well as Tom Hishon and Josh Helm of Orphans Kitchen
• Missmoo's Kitchen - cafe in Saint Heliers with homestyle baking
• La Fogata - Latin American food, dance lessons and snooker in Royal Oak in the renewed Snooker World

Suburban Openings - Asian

• Taste in Memory 弄堂记忋 - Chinese restaurant in Mount Albert reminiscent of the hutongs of Shanghai with xiao long bao in demand
• Shanghai Restaurant 小南國 - more Shanghai food in Balmoral
• Chi Chi Kitchen - Vietnamese restaurant in Onehunga, where ViKi Cafe used to be
• Food Inn - Indian restaurant in Sandringham has opened another part of the business a couple of doors down
• Jango Mumbai Street Food - new branches of the Indian snack seller are now at Sylvia Park and Lynn Mall
• Garlic Onion - Indian cuisine on Mt Albert Road

New Up North 

• Major Tom - completely solar-powered cafe in Albany from Francesca Mazza and Aaron Carson (formerly of Epsom’s Hello Friends and Allies, Little Sister in Henderson and owners of popular Parnell cafe Winona Forever) which continues the 90s icon references
• Centro - Takapuna cafe with fried chicken waffle and colourful drinks [added 22 February 2018: with wood recycled from Korean temples]
• Bernie's Bar & Eatery - community-centric cafe in Birkdale from locals Liz Gray and Dominic Hare

Coming

Local Love

• Williams Eatery from Charles and Patrick Williams (Ceremony) will have a sustainability focus and is now scheduled to open at Wynyard Quarter in March

City Poké

• Ika Bowl - Polynesian poké bar at Snickel Lane
• Yeah Bowl - new branch of the poké shop coming soon to Britomart station
• Poke House - more raw fish salads coming to Victoria Park

Cakes & Donuts

• Yuan Taste 淡水古早味蛋糕 - "Taiwanese traditional cake" at Mid City
• Krispy Kreme - NZ's first branch is opening in Manukau (28 February)
• The Donut Kitchen - stall in Atrium on Elliott selling fresh donuts inspired by a 150-year-old European recipe

Asian Eats

• Wu & You - Asian fusion restaurant/cocktail bar in Mount Eden
• The Lucky Chinese Food 好福记中餐厅 - Chinese eatery in Mount Eden
• Meet 宴遇 - "creative Chinese restaurant" in Mount Eden

Future Plans

• Park Central Foodcourt and Gastro Square by St Patrick's Square
• cafe/delis in Sale Street and Three Kings, and at the Chelsea Sugar refinery

Closed

• Mount Eden Filipino fusion restaurant A'meza has "closed its doors with hopes to open new ones"
• Kingsland Vietnamese eatery MS Coffee has apparently closed due to personal reasons

Other

• Urban Street Fest has set up the Auckland Food Truck Collective to help you stay on top of street food events 
• Lewis Road Creamery has launched a new product in the shape of breakfast drinks
• Mooi Honey has a kickstarter campaign to sell manuka honey at an affordable price 
• Soul Bar has been sold to Nourish Group
• Grocer's Market seems to be running into trouble like Nosh before it
• Huckleberry has closed its Esplanade Road and Belmont stores, with a promise of better things to come
• [Added 4 February 2108: GoodFor Wholefoods Refillery has opened a second store in Parnell where their distribution centre is]

Events

Other than the events in my previous post (such as Japan Day):

• Chinese Food Street for Chinese New Year 2018 (Friday nights in February and 2 March) - 20 Chinese food stalls at SKYCITY
• Buko in Wonderland (Wednesday 14 February) - Valentine's Day dessert degustation at Alberton from Filipino chef William Mordido
• One Night in Moscow (Thursday 15 February) - three-course dinner at the Vodka Room including caviar, smoked salmon and Uzbek spiced lamb
• Lantern Festival (1 - 4 March) - New Zealand's largest cultural festival to welcome in the Year of the Dog in the Auckland Domain
• Auckland Better Food Fair (Saturday 7 April) - market style event at the ASB Showgrounds selling Organics, Paleo, Vegan, Gluten Free, Raw & similar
• Le Renault French Festival (8 - 10 June) - three days of champagne, cheese and croissants at Shed 10 and The Cloud, including 70 stalls at Le French Village

Auckland Diner's Diary: December 2017

Trucking Along

• Kuya - food truck serving up traditional Filipino recipes in street food style at various markets
• Paddee ผัดดี - market stall selling wok-fried Thai noodles
• Zoet - flavoured nuts and popcorn from a cart at Sylvia Park
• [Added 2 February 2018: Blitzd - smoothie bowls at markets (temporarily at Ponsonby Central)]
• [Added 3 February 2018: Crate Kitchen - food truck with items such as lamb rolls, fried chicken and beef cheek sammies]
• [Added 3 February 2018: Let's Brezel - Claudia and Gala sell brezels from their caravan called Friedel]
• [Added 3 February 2018: Vege Bang Bang - vegetarian and vegan food at various markets]
• [Added 30 March 2018: Murray - food truck situated in the "burnt out shell" of the once-famous Piha takeaway shop, open Fridays to Sundays with fresh and healthy food, backed up by treats like ice creams, homemade cookies and refreshing drinks]

Central Openings - Hungry Time

• Hello Restaurant - European flavours at Snickel Lane
• Obar 오빠 - Korean drinking spot formerly on Lorne Street is has now opened at the Chancery
• Grind on Chancery - latest cafe with the same brand as Grind on High (Grind on Ellerslie has been replaced by Little Luscious and Grind on Takapuna has rebranded to The Garage)
• Yummy House 好吃館 - Chongqing noodles as well as other Chinese dishes on Wellesley Street East
• Nahm - Thai with a twist on Elliott Street, with an initial restaurant in Nelson
• [Added 21 January 2018: FizzzOden 关东煮 - Chancery eatery next to Pocha, serving oden and noodles]
• [Added 12 March 2018: Sajiao Chilli Restaurant 撒椒川串坊 - Sichuanese hotpot on Upper Queen Street]

Central Openings - Food on the Go

• K-Road Bufia - takeaway on K'Rd selling shawarma, fried chicken and dum biryani
• Mad Mex - newest branch of the Mexican chain has opened in Wynyard Quarter
• Go Veggie - Dosa Plaza has rebranded its IMAX store to highlight its vegan options 

Central/Fringe Openings - Tea Time

• Panda Cheese Tart 潘达芝士挞 - panda cheese tarts amongst pink furniture on Queen Street
• HiTEA - Chinese milk tea shop on Wellesley Street, using Zealong, Anchor and Whittaker's products
• [Added 11 January 2018: Utopia Coffee - coffee cart on Hobson Street]
• [Added 1 February 2018: T-Hut - bubble tea shop in the Chancery]
• [Added 11 March 2018: Tearaffe 茶森林 - cheese tea and milk tea in Newmarket]

Fringe Eats

• Hot Hot Asian Eatery - Asian fusion food in Kingsland [Added 31 January 2018: from Panawat Chotamungsa (also known as Erk), former head chef of Kiss Kiss and Chinoiserie]
• Thrive Kitchen - cafe in Ponsonby, where Cafe Byzantium used to be
• Reuben Cafe - cafe in Eden Terrace, where Arcadia used to be
• Jun's Grill Fish 君記烤魚 - Chinese eatery in Mount Eden, with pork, chicken and lamb as well as fish dishes
• Walt's Real Fruit Ice Cream - real fruit ice cream and dairy-free options from a kiosk halfway up Mount Eden
• [Added 18 March 2018: Dining @ Nanking 食在六朝 - Jinling gastronomy in Ponsonby]

Northern Nourishment

• Vondel - eatery in Devonport, where Bette's used to be
• [Added 5 January 2018: DM Chicken 分米鸡 - Korean fried chicken in copious quantities in Albany]

Further for Food

• Birdie's - all day bar and NYC style deli at Sylvia Park
• The Little District - newest opening at Sylvia Park is made up of The Parklane Dispensary, Market Square Kitchen, and The Municipal Coffee Company
• Tides Kitchen Bucklands Beach - Indian and European food, as well as Movenpick ice cream by the beach
• [Added 11 January 2018: Tasty Dumpling 香饺園 - dumpling shop in the Lim Supermarket Centre in Mount Albert, which used to be Chinese Dumpling King 東北餃子王餐廳, which had a picture of Helen Clark with owner Chura Jhao]
• [Added 11 March 2018: Ormiston Cafe - cafe in Flat Bush with brunch food and freakshakes]

Coming

• Daily Bread - bakery/deli in Point Chevalier from the duo behind Orphan's Kitchen as well as new business partner Patrick Welzenbach (ex-Bread and Butter Bakery), using only organic wheat and produce, with A2 milk on tap (opening 10 January)
• Rocket Kitchen has closed its Ponsonby store on 23 December, and will be opening in Mount Eden with a new look, eco-friendly and biodegradable packaging, some seating and easier parking (opening mid-January)
• The Butcher's Son - plant-based eatery opening soon on Jervois Road
• Magic Cup - dessert shop in Newmarket
• Mad Samurai - Japanese tapas in Snickel Lane
• Sunny Town 阳阳 - Chinese cuisine on Lorne Street

Closed

• Tuihana Cafe in Mount Eden had its final day on 15 December
• Marllie's cafe in Mount Eden on the corner of Dominion Road and Onslow Road has also closed
• Bolaven (also in Mount Eden) has been bought out by Rocket Kitchen
• French bistro Touquet on O'Connell Street had its last dinner on 16 December

Other

• Auckland Night Markets has started a weekly Friday night market in the CBD at Shortland St
• Eastern Fresh 万福超市 - new Chinese supermarket in Pakuranga has opened amid congratulations from business friends

Events

• Brazilian Day Festival 2018 (Saturday 27 January) - annual celebration of Brazilian culture, food, music and dance at Rocket Park in Mount Albert
• Dinner in the Sky (1 - 18 February) - for the first time in New Zealand, you can enjoy fine dining from local chefs while suspended 50m above the ground at Queens Wharf, experiencing the Dinner in the Sky concept which first launched in Belgium 11 years ago
• Takapuna Food, Wine and Music Festival (Saturday 10 February) - inaugural R20 festival at Smales Farm with capacity for up to 5000 people, with a bunch of food vendors as well as music
• Japan Day 2018 (24 - 25 February) - annual Japanese cultural festival at Queens Wharf
• Meatstock Auckland 2018 (24 - 25 February) - music and barbecue festival at the ASB Showgrounds
• [Added 4 January 2018: Burning Lamb (Saturday 10 March) - celebrity chef Al Brown is creating a Burning Man-inspired food festival at a secret location 45 minutes west of Auckland, with 24 lambs on crucifixes and salmon on manuka over fire]
• Pasifika 2018 (24 - 25 March) - family-friendly event celebrating Pacific food and heritage at 11 villages set up for the weekend in Western Springs

Auckland Diner's Diary: November 2017

Markets & Pop-Ups

• Wen &Yen - ice cream sandwiches at various night markets
• Thai By Night - Thai specialties from chef Ryan Pearce at The Botanist in the City Works Depot until Christmas
• Smooth Strawberry - chocolate coated strawberries to order
• [Added 27 December 2017: Peach's Hot Chicken - Nashville style hot chicken using a traditional southern recipe]

City Eats - Health Craze

• The Raw Kitchen - new branch of the raw food business has opened in Strand Arcade, and caters for those on plant-based and ketogenic diets
• Cali Press - Auckland flagship store with Sydney roots offers cold-pressed juices and toast on Graham Street

City Eats - Other Food and Drink

• Parasol & Swing - two-level rooftop Viaduct bar from Jason Rosen and Adam Neal of Mea Culpa,with a "USA meets Asian fusion" menu
• Spize - Indian and Indian fusion cuisine at Wynyard Quarter
• [Added 28 December 2017: First Ade - tea, "ade" and coffee from a hole-in-the-wall on Lorne Street]

Fringe Feeds - French & Fine

• Lillius - named after the Latin word for purity, this "casual fine-diner" from Fraser McCarthy and Shannon Vandy offers only three or five-course menu options, favouring whole beasts and underused species, and using plants from root to tip, in Eden Terrace where Khyber Tandoori used to be
• Le Bistro des Gourmets - French bistro in Parnell, with an upcoming Loire valley dinner 

Fringe Feeds - Asian & Ace

• Chicka - fried chicken and beer with an 80s party vibe in Kingsland, from Paul Anakakul, the owner of Ponsonby's Po' Brothers and Kingsland's Bangkok (despite what The Denizen says, they are definitely not the first people to bring the chimaek concept to Auckland!!!)
• Ichiban - second branch of the ramen joint has opened in Newmarket
• Fryday 炸翻天 - Taiwanese fried chicken and bao in Mount Eden, from Rounny Lin and her friends
• [Added 27 December 2017: Da Long Yi Hotpot 大龙燚火锅 - first overseas restaurant of the Chengdu hotpot chain has opened in Grafton]

Fringe Feeds - Cafe Cravings

• [Added 14 January 2018: Munchery - Mount Eden cafe located inside The Grocer's Market]

New in the North

• Xiaolongkan 小龙坎 - Albany branch of the Chengdu hotpot (or "Chinese fondue") business, where you can cook raw meat in a spicy broth
• Din Din Eatery 叮叮記 - Asian fusion food (including oysters?) in Rosedale
• Eden Noodles 四川担担面 - Sichuan eatery famous for their dan dan noodles has opened a second branch with an upmarket fitout in Albany
• El Greco - Greek Italian restaurant in Campbell's Bay
• [Added 30 December 2017: Tides Kitchen Torbay - food, coffee and Movenpick ice creams by the beach in Torbay]
• [Added 2 February 2018: The Place 소문난 그집: Korean cuisine in Takapuna]

Suburban Openings

• Greenwoods Cafe & Eatery - "boundary-pushing" Epsom cafe from Charles Belcher and Raph Pepin (Corner Burger, Onehunga Cafe)
• Ōrākei Bay Bistro - Brothers Beer has transformed The Barnacle into a modern bistro to shake off the seafood restaurant misconception
• Hawker & Roll - Malaysian street eats with a custom Garage Project brew at Sylvia Park, from Chef Josh Emett and restaurateur Fleur Caulton (opened 5 December) 
• [Added 12 December 2017: Leña Urban Eatery - family business in Mount Roskill, named after the Spanish word for firewood, with cafe food on the daytime menu, including house-cured salmon bagel and ricotta pancakes]
• [Added 30 December 2017: Hong Kong Tea Hall 香港茶餐廳 - Hong Kong style cha chaan teng in Mount Albert, now also houses Cafe Rice Noodle 砂锅米线 which used to be on Dominion Road]
• [Added 11 March 2018: Guan Cafe Botany - vegetarian food in Botany]

Coming

• OBar and Grind on Chancery look set to open soon in Chancery Square
• The Candy Shop - Newmarket eatery from David Lee (Major Sprout), Woo Hyung Lee (Camper Coffee) and Tom Hong (Geeks on Sainsbury), with a sneak peek of their potential dinner menu at Major Sprout
• The Grove dining precinct at Sylvia Park will have more tenants including:
• The Little District micro-precinct containing
• The Municipal Coffee Company - cafe with craft beverages, such as kombucha and their signature Espresso Martini, on tap
• Parklane Bar and Dispensary - changing range of local and imported craft tap beer, as well as boutique wines from New Zealand’s leading wineries and a range of seasonal signature cocktails
• The Market Square Kitchen - relaxed wood fired eatery offering gourmet pizza, antipasta, salads and shared plates
• Birdie's - bar and New York style deli
• Cleaver & Co - another branch of the barbecue restaurant
• Hot Hot Asian Eatery - hot addition to Kingsland
• Reuben Cafe - cafe on Upper Symonds Street where Arcadia used to be, which looks like the one which used to be in the old New Gallery on Lorne Street/Wellesley Street
• Jun's Grill Fish 君記烤魚 - Chinese grilled fish eatery in Mount Eden
• Mentatz - popular ramen eatery has a new branch opening on Anzac Ave
• HITEA - possibly a bubble tea shop on Wellesley Street
• Bunnys - stall in the Royal Oak food court
• Krispy Kreme - first New Zealand store of the global brand is set to open in Manukau, with a processing plant averaging 2400 doughnuts an hour (mid-2018)
• Commercial Bay will have restaurants from Mimi Gilmour, Al Brown and Josh Emett (2019)

Closing/Selling

• Tuihana Cafe - Mount Eden cafe is closing on 15 December as Nate has been unable to negotiate a new lease with the landlord
• Tatsumi - Newmarket modern Japanese restaurant from Yoko and Koichi Kigami is closing its doors on 16 December, as they plan to open in Queenstown
• Angie's Kitchen - Mount Street Malaysian eatery looking to sell due to ill health
• Soul Bar & Bistro - the iconic Viaduct Harbour eatery is on the market

Other

• Pirie's Butchery - Mount Eden butchery from competitive butcher Phill Pirie, with cuts you never knew you needed, farm to fork traceability, treats for dogs, organic chicken liver pate, and flowers out the front
• Eat My Lunch is making their meals available in store at New World Victoria Park, so you can feed a hungry kid without ordering in advance
• The Science Kitchen Cookbook has reached its Kickstarter funding target
• The Kitchen Project is a new food business incubator from Panuku, starting with a pilot in Henderson
• The Metro Top 50 Cheap Eats in Auckland 2018 has been announced
• FICO Eataly World, "the Disneyland of pasta" has opened in Bologna, Italy, with 24 acres of farms, factories, classrooms, restaurants, and markets

Events

• Night Noodle Markets (1 - 10 December) - ten days of food stalls in Victoria Park, including famous gelato company from across the ditch, Gelato Messina
• [Added 9 Dececmber 2015: Carlsberg Pie Pop-Up (12 - 15 December) - Heaven Scent pies at Imperial Lane, with beer stock in the filling, malted barley in the pastry and yeast extract under the cheese topping]
• Ormiston Family Market (Saturday 16 December) - little market in Ormiston Primary School in Flat Bush
• Tamale Tuesday and Friends (Wednesday 20 December) - vegan eats from Las Masitas and others at The Midnight Baker