If you’re in Te Moana ā Toi/Bay of Plenty, these are the bars, restaurants, bakeries, markets and more you’ll want on your hit list, as selected by chefs Kārena and Kasey Bird.
The story of the Bay of Plenty’s kai scene, according to chefs Kārena and Kasey Bird (Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāpuhi), is one that includes Detroit-style pizza, kina, bánh mì, chicken tikka masala, steamed pipi, cupcakes, sourdough, Māori-Japanese fusion ramen, dim sum and so much more.
The sisters, who won Masterchef New Zealand in 2014, were born and raised in the small Bay of Plenty town of Maketū – and still live there. Since their TV win, they’ve published multiple cookbooks, hosted food-based television shows and forged careers communicating through kai. “We’ve spent our careers telling stories through food from this region and beyond,” they say. That work has recently taken them to Sri Lanka and Hawaii, where they’ve shared kai Māori stories with the world. As an aside, if you’d like to experience their cooking-meets-storytelling firsthand, the pair host regular pop ups and events around Aotearoa (which can be found on their Instagram page).
The following collection of edible delights compiled by Kārena and Kasey, which traverses towns, cuisines and price points, places Te Moana ā Toi among the very best and most interesting places to eat in the country.
Three words that sum up the food in Te Moana ā Toi/ Bay of Plenty: Coastal, simple, growing.
My most controversial food opinion about Te Moana ā Toi/ Bay of Plenty: Everything closes very early.
Everyone has a dining out pet peeve. Mine is: People who are rude to the staff.
The local dish I crave most: Maketū horse mussels. These are a delicacy to me and, if I’m honest, I’d choose them over oysters every time. Growing up, I remember asking Mum if supermarkets were allowed to sell undersized mussels because the only ones I knew were the giant horse mussels we’d gather and eat at home. Although you can’t find them on your regular restaurant menu, if you book in with Deon for a fishing charter from Muirs Tours he puts on a great kai and will often have these local mussels as part of the hākari at his whare in Maketū at the end of your fishing trip.
The most underrated local gem is: The Trading Post, Paengaroa. A small local place not far from Maketū. Set in a small cottage, it is a family-owned Italian osteria. You can order a fresh bowl of homemade pasta or seasonal baking and pastries from the cabinet. The last ones I tried were delicious feijoa danishes.
A place I’ve been dying to try is: The Grocer, just opened by our chef friend Ian Harrison. We haven’t had a chance to stop by yet but he’s got some interesting items on the menu that we’re keen to try, like the surf ‘n’ turf with scallop and nduja risotto, and the “Not a Pig’s Head” with pulled jowl, rolled cheeks, crispy ears and apple.
Celebrating with a group? Book a table at: Picknicka in Tauranga. They cook a lot of their meat and seafood over a wood-fired grill, which gives everything a beautiful smokiness. The menu changes often but always feels considered, and it’s one of those places that works equally well for a birthday dinner or a long lunch with friends.
Pub or bar of choice: Palace. This tavern in Mount Maunganui has delicious smash burgers but is also a good place to stop for a casual drink.
The BYO I keep going back to: Thai Thani Pāpāmoa, this has been our family’s go-to Thai spot for over a decade. All the classics done well. We like to order a spicy tom yum gong, red curry duck, green curry chicken and a chicken phad thai.
For a late-night food fix you’ll find me at: Rita’s – a pizza bar in Mt Maunganui that’s open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays (more about that further down).
Got visitors from out of town? I’m taking them… A little bit further afield but if we have any international visitors we love to take them to a hāngi and concert in Rotorua. There are so many great options, whether you want a casual buffet or something more curated and multi-course. You can definitely find something that suits you depending on your budget.
Mītai Māori Village does a great classic hāngī buffet, Te Puia has a beautiful modern restaurant with traditional and fusion dishes on the menu and Te Pā Tū does an excellent multi-course feast served to your table. Along with the excellent kai, the performances are amazing and feature so many of the area’s well known kapa haka components and up and coming rangatahi.
An ideal date spot would be: Alpino. This is a reliable Italian spot in Mt Maunganui and great for share plates or if you just want to order your own plate of pasta or pizza. They also do a great seasonal crudo and the flavours change depending on the season. Not quite a date, but they also have a great kids menu if they have to tag along as well.
Make sure to order: The Crudo and any of the carbs on offer.
Te Moana ā Toi/ Bay of Plenty’s best…
Breakfast: We seldom eat breakfast but if we must, we are stopping in at Blondie’s for their breakfast burrito.
Coffee: Baby Afro Coffee Bar. A little coffee window in Pāpāmoa east. They do a great coffee and have some fun creative hot drinks on the menu too. When I am keen for a treat I love the Nutty Afro, which is hazelnut with some salted caramel.
Sandwich: Lloyd’s Deli. Lloyd’s makes the kind of sandwiches that remind you how good a sandwich can be. Fresh focaccia baked in-house, quality ingredients and generous fillings mean they’re worth planning your day around. The chicken parm sandwich is deadly, but I’ve never ordered anything I didn’t enjoy. The last chocolate chip cookie I had there was also perfect with a decent dose of sea salt sprinkled on top.
Noodles: 88 Chinese Restaurant. Excellent Chinese food, our go-to for a whānau lunch. They also serve the best yum cha in the Bay with fresh and generous portions.
Comfort meal: Saltwater. I like to order a mixture of small plates from Saltwater – I really like the fried calamari and often add on one of the raw/fresh seafood dishes. Best of both worlds and anything with resh kaimoana is our kind of comfort meal.
Fish and chips: Bobby’s Fresh Fish Market, Tauranga. They do great fish and chips and you can choose your fish from the cabinet if you like. We like to add on a few pottles of fresh kaimoana too.
And the best place to unwrap and eat them is: The good thing about Bobby’s is you don’t need to go far to enjoy them. Located right on the waterfront, there’s no need to move. Just sit and enjoy the view over Tauranga harbour. There is also a huge playground right next door if you have little ones in tow who need a run around.
Bowl of soup: Ramen at Izakai. This ramen has been on the menu since Izakai opened, which probably tells you everything you need to know. Rich broth, noodles, smoky pork belly and watercress, somewhere between a bowl of ramen and a boil up. Izakai’s menu is based on Māori-Japanese fusion, so there are some familiar Aotearoa flavours presented in interesting ways.
Bread: Breadhead. I don’t get there often enough, but if I’m nearby I’ll usually stop in for a pastry and a coffee. Their sourdough has a loyal following for good reason, and they have a really good online ordering system for their baked goods so you can get them nice and fresh.
For a serious sweet tooth, head to: Spongedrop. Danny has been the queen of sweet treats in the Bay for over a decade – known for her delicious moist cupcakes, but she also bakes a killer cheese scone.
If you’re after spice, make a beeline for: Smart India Te Puke, this is our go-to for Indian and what our dad requests for dinner on his birthday – the chicken tikka masala is our standard order with a serving of their garlic naan bread.
The place to go if you want to feel virtuous/ healthy: Hello Banh Mi in Mt Maunganui. They do great phở and fresh rice paper rolls if you’re looking for something on the lighter side. Although I’d be lying if I said that’s what I usually order. More often than not, we are there for the roasted pork bánh mì, made with house-made pâté and baguettes baked fresh in-store.
A splurge that’s worth it: Fife Lane, for a piece of wagyu cooked on the grill. Fife Lane has been recognised with numerous accolades, including being included on the World’s Best Steak Restaurants list in 2025. If you are going there, always order a steak. Fun fact: the food is so good Kasey hosted her wedding reception there.
A little local treat that always cheers me up: My favourite local treat to this day is the sweet and salty pipi you can get in the estuary in Maketū at low tide. My favourite way to eat them is to put them in a pot and pour over boiling water until the shells just pop open. To take it up a notch I like to thickly butter a piece of fresh white bread and sandwich the pipi meat in between.
My favourite grocery shop: New World Te Puke. It has all the bases covered and is our closest supermarket to Maketū.
For the best produce, I stop in at: Tauranga Farmers Market. It has all the seasonal goods with many vendors who have been there for years. But to be honest, our community also has an abundance of fresh produce circulating from māra kai and lots of fresh kaimoana dropped off by local divers and whānau.
A perfect place to linger over a drink: Rita’s. In a region where most places seem to call it a night pretty early, Rita’s is somewhere you can actually settle in for a while. Good drinks, Detroit-style pizza, and the sort of place that works equally well for a quick catch-up or an unplanned long evening.
For outstanding people watching, go to: The Island Pāpāmoa. All the people watching is happening in the restaurant but it is a huge space which attracts a really diverse crowd from young people catching up after work, multi-generational families, parents with young children going wild on the play area to ladies having a cocktail catch up with the gals. They have some interesting pours on tap and they have a solid menu which has items that keep everyone happy. We love the woodfired pizzas and the tacos.
The place I go to avoid bumping into anyone I know: I don’t think that place exists for us. Between our aunties, uncles, cousins, hospo folks and friends, we seldom find a place where we don’t run into someone. Even at home there is always someone knocking on the door to stop in for a catch-up.
The place I return to again and again: Sachi. We’re huge fans of kaimoana, so good Japanese food always scratches the itch. Sachi is one of Tauranga’s newer additions and we’ve found ourselves returning regularly for the quality of the seafood alone. The sashimi is always beautifully fresh, and they do some of the best value kina (uni) gunkan we’ve come across. All the Japanese classics are there, done really well and with excellent produce.
Why I love eating in Te Moana ā Toi/ Bay of Plenty: It is simple and it is home. There is a really casual atmosphere around dining in the Bay of Plenty which I love but it also makes me appreciate some of the spaces a bit further afield that are more formal. I like that there isn’t much pressure when it comes to dining out here and lots of the places have been around for many years so you never get the feeling that you are trying to catch up on the next hot spot.
