ExploFood · Oceania
What to eat in New Zealand
Five dishes to try in New Zealand, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in New Zealand
Hāngī
Māori feast of meat, kūmara and vegetables cooked in an earth oven.
How to have it: Book a hāngī dinner with a cultural evening in Rotorua, or look for one at a marae event.
Meat pie
Individual pastry pie, classically mince and cheese or steak and gravy.
How to have it: Sold hot at every bakery and petrol station; mince and cheese is the Kiwi favourite.
Fish and chips
Battered fish such as snapper or tarakihi with thick-cut chips.
How to have it: Takeaways wrap it in paper; eat it on the beach and add a paua or mussel fritter.
Pavlova
Crisp-shelled meringue with a soft centre, topped with cream and fruit.
How to have it: A Christmas and summer barbecue staple, usually topped with kiwifruit and strawberries.
Flat white
Espresso with a thin layer of velvety steamed milk.
How to have it: New Zealand's everyday coffee order; independent cafés take it seriously.
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Questions
What food is New Zealand famous for?
Hāngī (māori feast of meat, kūmara and vegetables cooked in an earth oven) comes first on our list, followed by Meat pie, Fish and chips, Pavlova and Flat white.
What is the national dish of New Zealand?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for New Zealand is Hāngī: māori feast of meat, kūmara and vegetables cooked in an earth oven. Book a hāngī dinner with a cultural evening in Rotorua, or look for one at a marae event.
Which dishes in New Zealand are vegetarian?
Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Pavlova and Flat white. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in New Zealand?
Fish and chips (battered fish such as snapper or tarakihi with thick-cut chips).
What do people drink in New Zealand?
Flat white: espresso with a thin layer of velvety steamed milk.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.