Renowned Kiwi chef Robert Oliver has brought Auckland's first Pacific Island restaurant to Aotearoa. Packed with rich flavours, an abundance of colour and a whole lot of history, Kai Pasifika is certainly worth a visit.

Making its home in the heart of Mount Eden, Kai Pasifika is not your ordinary restaurant. It not only rustles up delicious grub but it also strongly focuses on identity and Pacific health. The vibrant dishes take influence from traditional Pacific Island cuisine but add an urban twist to really get those tastebuds tingling. With every plate containing fresh Pacific-sourced ingredients, you can count on an authentic cultural experience.

Looking at the menu, you'll want to order everything in sight. With dishes from all of the islands, you can tour your palate around Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cooks — you're truly spoilt for choice. If wondering where to start, I would recommend grabbing the popcorn, which is certainly a warming welcome to the Pacific cuisine. Mixed with coconut sugar, masala and virgin coconut oil, it's the perfect snack to begin your voyage. Follow this with the sweet chilli chicken wings, and you're all set to go.

Another stand out dish is the Polynesian brown sugar chicken that has been slow roasted in soy and passionfruit and who could forget the Pacific take on KFC, Kaiviti fried chicken, it's truly finger licking good.

If chicken isn't your thing, then don't worry, the stunning cuisine brings seafood to a whole new level. The Fijian raw fish will leave you drooling for more, while the generous portion of Samoan roasted whole fish will fill you to the brim. If you've possibly got any room left, then I would check out the dessert menu. Which is not only a surprise to the tastebuds but also a surprise every time you dine, with a new dessert featured every night.

Now that the days are short and the nights are cold, take a trip to Kai Pasifika, where you'll be transported to a Pacific paradise. It's a lot cheaper than a flight with prices ranging from $7-32.