Explore not-to-be-missed Thai curries, quiche and sundaes with Cream Eatery owner-operator Chrissy Houghton’s guide to Hamilton East.
The food charms of Kirikiriroa are becoming harder to keep secret. And increasingly, attention is turning to those of buzzy central suburb Hamilton East.
For those already well-aquainted with the neighbourhood, this comes as little surprise. Chrissy Houghton is one of those people. Houghton is the owner-operator (alongside her husband Luke) and lead baker at Cream Eatery in Central Hamilton – a perennially popular terrazzo tiled cafe where you’ll find an ever-changing daytime menu and a most drool-worthy cabinet selection (including a blondie slice that may be the best this writer has ever eaten).
Houghton calls herself a “forever Ham East fan.” Before Cream Eatery, she was part of the trio that opened Hamilton East restaurant Winner Winner in 2017. These days, she is usually in the kitchen at Cream, but whenever she can, she makes time to sample her way around the city – with a particular fondness for Hamilton East.
Her Hamilton East favourites include delectable bowls of noodles, comfortable pubs, eight-seat set menus and beloved ice-cream parlours. In Houghton’s estimation, there is something good to eat around almost every corner, but here’s where she’d begin.
Three words that sum up the food in Hamilton East: Something for everyone.
The local dish I crave most: The beef masaman curry with coconut rice from Jasmines Thai.
The best restaurant in Hamilton East is: The Green.
Why I love The Green: It’s an eight-seat chef’s table restaurant. Karl (the chef) is so passionate about local producers and I love hearing him talk about each dish, where everything has come from and why he’s chosen to serve it. This isn’t just limited to the food but also the ceramics, the cutlery and the fit out. I love watching people do things they care about deeply.
My go-to order is: It’s an eight-course degustation that changes with the seasons, but I’ve been asking him to bring back the bacon and egg pie since the very first time he served it.
When I’m craving something cheap and cheerful I head to: Mezze in Made for a chicken souvlaki.
A place I’ve been dying to try is: Waikato Udon is always heaving and it’s been on my must try list for a while now.
Celebrating with a group? Book a table at: Reggie’s. Get the crumbed olives and a chilled red. Even better if you get a table on the terrace on a summer evening.
Pub or bar of choice: The Cook, which is a classic Kiwi pub serving Good George drinks and the best loaded wedges. We used to be regulars at the Monday quiz night and every week we say we need to go back. Quiztinas 4ever.
Got visitors from out of town? I’m taking them to: Hayes Common for brunch and a walk by the river with the dog. And then to Duck Island so I can talk about Hamilton being the home of everyone’s favourite ice cream.
Hamilton East’s best…
Breakfast: A bacon and egg bagel from Mr Twist. Or, porridge from Oat Bros. Specifically the rhubarb oats they’ve had on the menu recently.
Coffee: A tiramisu cold brew from Grey Roasting Co if you’re feeling fancy. Otherwise, whatever your regular coffee order is.
Sandwich: The cheese toastie from Volare. Sadly they only make it in winter so we spend most of summer in mourning and waiting for it to reappear.
Pie: It’s not a pie but it comes from the pie warmer at Volare. They have this spinach and feta quiche at the moment and it’s all my Sunday morning coffee group chat talks about.
Comfort meal: The beef phở from Rice Rice Baby. If I feel even a hint of sickness entering my body, it’s my perfect excuse to order immediately.
Baked treat: Any of the specials at Butter Boom. I had a Sally Lunn croissant from there last year that I still think about frequently. I just love when a classic baked good, like a Sally Lunn, is reimagined in a new way. I love when baking is nostalgic in some way.
For a serious sweet tooth, head to: Duck Island (the OG home of Duck Island) for a sundae. Or, their peanut butter chocolate ice cream pop which is an ice cream made from Fix and Fogg peanut butter with a caramel centre, all dunked in Whittakers milk chocolate. I daydream about them all the time.
The place to go if you want to feel virtuous/ healthy: Soul Boul for an avo toast and an iced hazelnut latte. The hazelnut latte isn’t made with hazelnut syrup, they use hazelnut butter and coconut sugar instead – it’s unreal.
A splurge that’s worth it: The Green with the wine match by Drew their sommelier.
A little local treat that always cheers me up: An espresso tonic from Grey Roasting Co.
A perfect place to linger over a drink: Neat in Made for some expertly made cocktails and then to choose a bottle of wine to take home.
My favourite local hospo personality: Keiran at Amphora, which has sadly just closed. I loved stopping by to have a chat with him whenever I was passing through. I’ll miss it!
For outstanding people watching, go to: The Sheds at Made on the weekend.
The place I’m most likely to bump into someone I know: Made.
The place I go to avoid bumping into anyone I know: That’s basically impossible in Hamilton East.
A local spot I wish we could bring back from the dead is: Is it weird to say Winner Winner? As one of the original founders I wouldn’t want to do that part again, but I’d really like to be a customer. I miss a lettuce wrapped chicken sandwich (maximum crunch from the iceberg) and the red capsicum and vegan mayo loaded fries. And the fried mushrooms too.
A restaurant I would love to relocate to Hamilton East: Ragtag in Auckland so I could eat there whenever I felt like without the hour and a half-ish drive.
The place I return to again and again: Everywhere I’ve mentioned is seeing me on the regular.
Why I love eating in Hamilton East: There’s so much variety in both cuisine and price point. I love the proximity to the river too – there’s no better place to walk in Hamilton on a sunny day. And everything here is so close together too. You can pick up a coffee on Grey Street and walk along the river to the Gardens, then turn around and hit Hayes Common for lunch, then continue your walk and grab Duck Island for a well-deserved afternoon treat.
