Overview
Where else can you find a smorgasbord of flavours and cuisines right at your fingertips? Perfect for a casual lunch or dinner, food courts offer choice, ease and affordability without any fuss. On our list we've included some cheap and cheerful choices from around the city, as well as some upmarket options that deliver delicious cuisines from a hub of eateries. You'll find places that are ideal for a quick lunch out, for when you're ravenous and have a few mates in tow, or for a takeaway treat.
OTAHUHU FOOD CITY, OTAHUHU
Otahuhu Food City is your one-stop shop for delicious eats. At this top spot you'll find dishes from Singapore, India, China, Thailand and more. If you feel like something closer to home, Kiwiana Korner delivers the goods with its selection of classic fish and chip meals, pavlova and cinnamon doughnuts. Highlights from the array of Asian food outlets include Traditional Thai Sizzlers, Hungry Corner, and Chandu's Corner for Fiji-style curries and Island dishes.
PONSONBY INTERNATIONAL FOOD COURT, PONSONBY
Another relaxed eatery serving up flavours from around the globe is Ponsonby International Food Court. At this city-fringe location you'll find a variety of options, including Malaysian, Indian, Turkish, Japanese and Vietnamese. Noodles, bento boxes, curry and kebabs with spice for days — this is the kind of food that will fill you up for under $20. Kampung Malaysia and Mekong Vietnamese are hot picks, but with 11 places on-site you're sure to find something that satisfies.
ELLIOT STABLES, AUCKLAND CBD
The Elliott Stables dining village is often bustling with activity and it's not difficult to see why. Under dim lighting and spread across wooden tables you'll find diners enjoying everything from Asian delights to cuisine by way of Mexico, France and UK, plus a juice bar and seafood kitchen. A favourite for lunch is the sushi and sashimi from Samurai or the selection of fresh tacos from Besos Latinos. A rare find in the food court world, you can also make a booking for larger groups here.
WESTFIELD NEWMARKET, NEWMARKET
Newmarket's new $790 million shopping mall opened last year, tripling the floorspace of Two Double Seven. Shoppers are certainly spoiled for choice when it comes to grabbing a bite. Rooftop on Broadway is home to smart casual Peruvian-style eatery Inca, Asian fusion restaurant White + Wong's, German-style bier hall The Bavarian, legendary ramen chain Ippudo, plus Bodrum Market, Corner Burger and Island Gelato. Still hungry? Further eateries in the level 3 foodcourt include Malaysian restaurant Selera, Mad Mex, Daruma Ramen, Zeta Greek, Tank Juice, Poke House, among several others.
FOOD ALLEY, AUCKLAND CBD
In its 28 years of existence, Albert Street's Asian food hall has gained a reputation for serving up cheap, cheerful and downright delicious food. Described as 'a nod to street food' at this inner city local you'll find a number of vendors who know how to make food quick and tasty. There are 12 kitchens to choose from, including Malaysian, Indonesian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian and Vietnamese, and a bar in the middle serving up affordable drops. Tandoori, tom yum, barbecue pork, dandan noodles, tikka masala, mie goreng, strawberry bubble tea — the only issue here is indecisiveness. Unfortunately the time is nigh and Food Alley is set to shut up shop on Friday, 1 May, 2020. Get there while you can.
LIM CHOUR FOOD COURT, NEWTON
Located in the heart of Karangahape Road, Lim Chhour Food Hall brings some mouthwatering delights to the colourful strip. There's Korean fast food joint Sneaky Snacky known for its doughnut burgers, a sushi bar, and Chaiyo for all of your Malaysian favourites. During the day, Coffix fills all of your coffee needs for a fraction of the price of regular coffee. At the back of this food court is a well-stocked Asian supermarket so you can grab a few ingredients to try your hand at whipping up a dish inspired by your meal at Lim Chhour.
ATRIUM ON ELLIOT, AUCKLAND CBD
Close to Elliott Stables is another food court tucked away underneath the shopping centre Atrium on Elliott. Here you'll find a range of eateries offering food by way of Indonesia, Japan, Korea and more. A popular spot for lunch, it's quick, affordable and tasty. Hand-pulled noodles, choose your own sushi, ramen, barbecue, takeaway yum cha, dumplings, banh mi and more available to eat in or takeaway — what more do you need? There's also a cafe and juice bar for an energy hit to get you through the afternoon.
AUCKLAND FISH MARKET, WYNYARD QUARTER
After a major facelift, Auckland Fish Market is a top choice for a long lunch or dinner. The venue features a hub of eateries with a particular focus on fresh seafood. Among the eateries are Billypot, known for its mussels, Ika Bowl for Polynesian poke bowls, the Mar and Tierra Latin grill, the second outpost of Peruvian-Japanese restaurant Azabu, and a shack dedicated to New England lobster rolls. For those looking to dive deeper into the world of seafood, there is a cooking school located at the Market.
FOOD CITY, NORTHCOTE
Northcote's Food City spans two levels and contains around 18 current vendors, from Thai eateries serving classic entrees and spicy noodles to Asian-style roast meals, Malaysian Halal food and Kiwi big breakfasts. The number one reason to visit Food City is Nanita's Tamales, a cosy spot where you can find traditional and homely Mexican dishes. Open for dinner only, though sometimes not at all, it is super affordable and you can feed two for less than $30. Tacos are just one highlight, but of course, you can't beat owner Nanita's namesake tamales.
KARANGAHAPE FOOD WORKSHOP, NEWTON
We might be cheating a bit with this one, as the K' Road Food Workshop is more of a small collection of restaurants than your traditional food court. However, it gets an honourable mention for its handful of mouthwatering choices. You've got El Sizzling Lomito with its Argentinian grilled sandwiches and steak, Lovebucket for cocktails on tap, milk and cookie bar Moustache, and Poke Poke — where you can build your own fresh poke bowl.
Top image: K' Road Food Workshop.