Korean food has officially taken over Auckland—and we're not mad about it. Whether you're in it for fiery Korean fried chicken, bubbling bowls of stew, or sizzling hot BBQ, this is your go-to guide to the best Korean restaurants in Auckland.
From quick bites in the CBD to late-night eats and bingsu worth the brain freeze, here's where to get your K-fix in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
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Jump to:
- Best Korean BBQ Restaurants In Auckland
- Authentic Traditional Korean Restaurants
- Budget-Friendly Korean Eateries
- Quick Korean Lunch In Auckland CBD
- Where To Go For Korean Fried Chicken
- Late Night Korean Eateries And Bars
- Korean Dessert Cafes
Best Korean BBQ Restaurants In Auckland
Mukbang Korean BBQ & Soup Buffet
480 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Mukbang Korean BBQ & Soup Buffet | Instagram
All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ in the heart of the CBD for under $40? Say less. Mukbang Korean BBQ & Soup Buffet brings the heat—and the value—with unlimited meaty goodness, hot dishes, soup to share, and even bottomless soft drinks for just $38. With over 30 years of experience dished up by the kitchen crew, this spot knows its way around a grill. One of the best Korean restaurants in Auckland CBD? We’d stake our soup spoon on it.
Korea Top BBQ
Unit 2/295 Ti Rakau Drive, Burswood, Auckland
Image credit: Korea Top BBQ | Facebook
East Aucklanders, your Korean BBQ dreams have been answered. Korea Top BBQ is serving a sizzling upgrade to your dinner plans with their all-you-can-eat buffet. They offer a selection of both plain and marinated meats, but the real star of the show is their braised beef short rib dish. The tender meat simply melts off the bone and is drenched in a sweet and salty broth. Just don’t get too comfy—there’s a 90-minute time cap, so it’s a meat sprint, not a marathon.
Steamboat & Korean BBQ Takapuna
7 Como Street, Takapuna, Auckland
Image credit: Steamboat & Korean BBQ Takapuna | Instagram
Torn between hot pot or BBQ? Get the best of both worlds at Steamboat & Korean BBQ Takapuna for $54.90. Enjoy classic Korean BBQ cuts and additional seafood options such as prawn, crabs and squid. Call it surf, turf, and a whole lot of sizzle—this place brings the feast. This eatery is spacious, perfect for larger groups and families.
Wellbeing BBQ
3D Henry Rose Place, Albany, Auckland
Image credit: Wellbeing BBQ | Instagram
If a variety of Korean BBQ meats is your thing, Wellbeing BBQ has got you covered. They offer a banging selection of quality cuts; all thanks to the owner’s two decades of butchery skills. And as a bonus, each table gets a premium meat board. Alongside the main fare, Wellbeing BBQ offers a DIY dessert bar. Spoiler: the red bean and shaved ice is dangerously addictive—you’ve been warned.
Authentic Traditional Korean Restaurants
WATDA
8 Brown Street, Ponsonby, Auckland
Image credit: WATDA | Instagram
A feast for both your eyes and stomach, WATDA is where traditional Korean fare meets modern Ponsonby charm. For a delightfully colourful way to get your veggies in, check out the dolsot bimbimbap—stir-fried seasonal vegetables, a bed of rice topped with a fried egg and seaweed. If rich and hearty is more your thing, then spicy seafood soondubu soup with prawns, calamari and tofu will be right up your alley.
BannSang
47 High Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: BannSang | Facebook
Be whisked away with BannSang’s authentic fare served in true Korean style—think fast-paced tables stacked with sizzling hot plates of grilled meats, side dishes and massive soul-warming sharing pots. Savour popular Korean dishes like bulgogi marinated beef; japchae, a savoury-sweet dish of stir-fried vermicelli noodles and vegetables; and kimchi pancakes. For those with adventurous palates, we recommend mul naengmyun—chewy buckwheat noodles served in an icy cold broth with spicy radish, cucumber, egg, sliced beef and pear. A blend of sweet and tart, you’ll find it the perfect dish to slurp down on a hot summer’s day. If you’re hunting for authentic Korean restaurants in Auckland CBD, BannSang should be high on your hit list.
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Papakura Kukbab
44 Broadway, Papakura, Auckland
Image credit: @nzfoodproject | Instagram
An unassuming spot in South Auckland is dishing out soup so good it might cure your hangover—and your homesickness. Warm your cockles at Papakura Kukbab, which serves just under a dozen different delicious and heart-warming soups and stews. From the hot and spicy (spicy beef soup) to recovering from a big night out (beef bone hangover soup), there’s a soup to suit every flavour palette and occasion. Don’t forget to grab some kimchi dumplings—these tasty morsels are a flavour explosion in your mouth.
K.Soup
476 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Hankering for a soul-warming K-fix in the city? Look no further than K.Soup—this Korean restaurant in Auckland CBD ladles up some of the best pork bone soup in town. The rich and savoury broth contains soybean paste, sesame leaves and slow-cooked pork that melts off the bone. As for drinks, K.Soup has a delightful selection of Korean sodas and soju. Cheers to that!
Gganbu Korean Restaurant
38 Jervois Road, Ponsonby, Auckland
Image credit: Gganbu | Instagram
Gganbu translates to ‘close friend’, and it is absolutely a requirement to take a few of yours here for a mean feed—the portions are huge, and you’ll be struggling to take your pick from the massive array of authentic Korean dishes on the menu. A must-try is the budae soup, aka army stew. Originating from the Korean War, this dish contains surplus American-style processed food like spam, sausages and sliced cheese. Trust us: one slurp of this spicy, cheesy chaos stew and you’ll be a budae believer.
Totoya
7 Triton Drive, Rosedale, Auckland
At Totoya, the main dish is only the beginning. Order a traditional Korean seafood medley or hearty stew, and brace yourself for a parade of nearly ten complimentary side dishes—aka banchan—that’ll totally level up your meal. From crunchy pickled veg to savoury bites you didn’t even know you needed, each one adds texture, flavour and fun to every spoonful. Pro tip: asking for refills is totally normal (and free), so go ahead and live your best side-dish life.
Budget-Friendly Korean Eateries
Seoul Roastery 1946
27 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna, Auckland
Image credit: Seoul Roastery 1946 | Instagram
A Korean cafe that serves tacos, tea-laced lattes, and stays open past sunset? Sign us up. Seoul Roastery 1946 ticks all the boxes for affordable Korean restaurants in Auckland with a side of caffeinated flair. Try the Seoul taco: a crispy rice paper shell filled with lettuce, mashed avocado, cheese, sour cream and your choice of bulgogi or K-style chicken. And if you’re after your next caffeine fix, fear not—enjoy delightfully unique takes on coffee such as Troller, a light, aerated iced americano; an oat latte with an earl grey twist aka Dirty Troll; and Bricks, a bold espresso over sweet peach iced tea. Bonus: this cafe doesn’t close when the sun goes down—get your daily dose of Seoul until 10pm daily. Yowza.
Ssam Jang
26 Lorne Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Ssam Jang | Instagram
Take a trip to an underground retro Korean bar for less than the price of a few Kate Sheppards. For just $23, you’ll score Ssam’s signature lettuce wrap set—think marinated meat (or deep-fried tofu) with all the fixings. Mixing and matching more your thing? Pick your faves from options such as tteokbokki with a spicy kick, silky steamed egg pudding, grilled corn cheese and salty-sweet K-snow chicken.
No. 1 Pancake
Unit 6/18 Airborne Road, Rosedale, Auckland & 33/45 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland
Image credit: No. 1 Pancake | Instagram
Street food is a huge thing in Korea, and we’ve been blessed with a pancake house that’s got serious street food clout. No. 1 Pancake’s cult status has earned it a cameo on South Korean food TV, and for good reason. These aren’t your average pancakes—they’re crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside Korean pancakes with surprise fillings. The cinnamon sugar pancake is the OG, but don’t be afraid to branch out to savoury options like beef and cheese. For a taste of Korean street food Auckland-style, this pancake house delivers sweet, savoury, and everything in between.
Quick Korean Lunch In Auckland CBD
Dosirock
39 Chancery Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Dosirock | Instagram
Rushed out the door without your lunch? Dosirock’s got your back with a Korean-packed lunch box that puts your sad leftovers to shame. From lunch trays featuring rice, side dishes and your choice of protein (kimchi pork belly, anyone?), bulgogi-stuffed triangle seaweed wraps and roasted eel rice bowls for an extra special lunchtime treat; this is bound to be your go-to lunchtime eatery for those “oops I forgot my lunch at home” days.
Cyber Toast 2086
8 Commerce Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Cyber Toast 2086 | Instagram
Forget your soggy sammy—Cyber Toast 2086 is serving a fresh spin on street toasts with K-pop-level personality. This retro-futuristic takeaway store sells nearly a dozen flavours of Korean toasties with a twist. The star of the show shares the store’s name; Cyber Toast is a classic Korean toastie featuring ham, Korean vegetable omelette, cheese and cabbage. Don’t be surprised by the colour of the cyber sauce—this vibrant pink lends a fruity, tart punch and also makes it totally worthy of being featured on your ‘Gram.
OBar Snack Bar
7 Bacons Lane, Unit 114B, 15 Chancery Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: OBar Snack Bar | Instagram
OBar Snack Bar (sibling of popular Korean spot, OBar) draws inspo from the bustling lunch bars of Seoul. It’s all about quick, fuss-free feeds—choose from customisable combos and place your order via pen and paper. The combos each come with gimbap, a kind of Korean sushi, paired with your choice of noodles, tteokbokki (chewy rice cakes with spicy sauce), or fried chicken and dumplings. Max out your lunch with an extra side of gimbap, some fried goodies, and the smug satisfaction of discovering a real-deal Seoul-style snack stop.
Where To Go For Korean Fried Chicken
KooKoo
245 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
Image credit: KooKoo | Instagram
KooKoo’s fried chicken might ruin you for life—and that’s before you meet their 24-hour marinated roast. This Korean bistro serves two different styles of im-peck-able chicken: your classic K-fry and a sexy roast number. This ain’t your typical Sunday roast—this bad boy is marinated for a full day, butterflied and served whole on a plate of crispy sticky rice. You’ll be going koo koo crazy over this chicken, and with a bunch of flavours, you’ll be coming back to try them all!
KS Chicken
33B Triton Drive, Rosedale, Auckland
Image credit: KS Chicken | Instagram
Nothing beats good Korean fried chicken. And those in-the-know head to KS Chicken to get their fix of crispy, saucy Korean fried perfection. Tucked away in Albany, these guys don’t fool around with their chicken. They stay true to the time-honoured formula: sticky, sweet, slightly spicy and a whole lotta crunch.
Pocha
50 Kitchener Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Pocha | Instagram
If variety is your love language, Pocha delivers with ten takes on Korean fried chicken. Whether you’re craving sweet, salty, spicy, extra crunchy or all of the above; you’ll find something that fits the bill. Their best-seller is the Almond Krunch—this nutty little number is battered in cornflakes and almonds, packing serious crunch in every bite.
My Fried Chicken
Auckland CBD, Mission Bay, Newmarket, Ponsonby & Takapuna
Image credit: My Fried Chicken | Instagram
With five eateries across Tāmaki Makaurau, My Fried Chicken do their namesake really cluckin’ well. Pull up a perch in the funky, neon surrounds and watch as their crew cook your chicken to poultry perfection in one of eight flavours. Pair your chook with an $11 cocktail and you’ve got yourself a whole damn meal. It’s fried chicken with flair, booze with bite, and prices that won’t make your wallet cry—what’s not to love?
Little & Kitchen
18 Mayfair Place, Glen Innes, Auckland
Image credit: Little & Kitchen | Facebook
Glen Innes, you’ve won the fried chicken lotto—Little & Kitchen serve burgers that slap harder than a K-drama twist. One such fried chicken creation is the dakgangjeong burger: spicy crispy chicken, torched Swiss cheese, pickled daikon, housemade cranberry mayo and honey mustard. Hot damn, this bad boy packs a flavour punch.
Late Night Korean Eateries And Bars
Hazy Tiger
22 Durham Street West, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Hazy Tiger | Instagram
It’s impossible to miss the giant neon-lit tiger bathing as you wander up Durham Street West. The glowing cat signals a departure from your daily—cross the threshold and you’ll find yourself in Hazy Tiger, a trippy wonderland of Korean eats and sip-worthy libations. The menu ranges from matcha-infused cocktails and elderflower martinis to fried chicken skin, oil tteokbokki, and a dessert duo to end all desserts. Come for the cocktails, stay for the fever dream—Hazy Tiger’s where late-night cravings and grunge neon aesthetic collide.
Gaja
4 Brown Street, Ponsonby, Auckland
Image credit: @jocurrie | Instagram
Sleek, bold and unapologetically tasty—Gaja’s bringing fresh Korean bites and soju-soaked delights to Ponsonby. Your must order dishes? The menbosha and crispy eggplant. The former, a crunchy prawn toast packed with a flavoursome spicy-sour punch; the latter, a soft yet crispy textural delight with spicy, salty and zesty notes coming from the ganjeong glaze and lemon yoghurt drizzle. Quench your thirst with one of Gaja’s refreshing soju cocktails. Translating to ‘let’s go’, Gaja will have you dragging your mates here to make it your go-to haunt.
Gochu
Commercial Bay Level 2/1 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Gochu | Instagram
Take your taste buds to bold places at this modern Korean eatery. Gochu takes local, seasonal ingredients and magically transforms it into something else with Korean flair. Think fried chicken slider with spicy gochu mayo, crispy tofu with spicy umami shiitake sauce, and tender galbi pork belly with tomato kimchi. Save room for dessert—those matcha cream donuts with yuzu curd hit harder than a new K-pop boy band album drop.
OCKHEE
171 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland
Image credit: OCKHEE | Facebook
Seoul Night
Shop 1/16-20 Fort Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Seoul Night | Instagram
We wouldn’t blame you if you walked past Seoul Night on Fort Street without giving it a second glance. Step through the sneakily disguised vending machine and be transported to a dark bar reminiscent of Korean nightlife. From yum yum cauliflower to cheese fondue with spicy chicken, rice cake and kumara, this cosy bar is designed with sharing food with friends in mind. For tipples, Seoul Night slings a mean cocktail, as well as a delicious soju sangria. Geonbae!
Aigo
Temporary closed for relocation
Image credit: Aigo | Instagram
David Lee’s Aigo takes your average noodle bar to the next level. Serving Korean flavours with Italian flair, you’ll be hard-pressed to find food this flavourful yet indulgent anywhere else in the city. The crispy eggplant will leave you delighted; the eggplant is crunchy on the outside with a silken centre and the cashew nut butter balances out the heat of the Sichuan chilli. But the crispy rice with spicy tuna tartare takes the (rice) cake—light and fried rice bases with roe-spiked tuna tartare that just melts in your mouth. Aigo might be on pause, but when it returns, trust us—you’ll be saying ‘oh my’ with every single bite.
Korean Dessert Cafes
Small Mercies
7 Mount Eden Road, Grafton, Auckland
Image credit: Small Mercies | Instagram
If eating with your eyes is just as important as eating with your stomach, then you’re in the right place at Small Mercies. This colourful and whimsical cafe serves up just as dopamine through its interior design as it does sweet treats. Take your pick from the tasty kkwabaegi (traditional Korean twisted doughnut) on offer—from OG cinnamon sugar, to the weekly rotating flavours. Toppings in the line-up include brownie, jam and cream; tiramisu; salted caramel and injeolmi cheesecake, to name a few. Pair your doughnut with a cloud of iced matcha and vanilla cream, and you've basically manifested your dream aesthetic brunch.
Bricks Roastery
11 Auburn Street, Takapuna, Auckland
Image credit: Bricks Roastery | Instagram
Beach strolls are best paired with pastries and coffee, and Bricks Roastery is our new North Shore carb stop. This sweet brick-shaped cafe is serving mighty fine coffee with carefully sourced beans roasted in house and a tasty selection of pastries in cabinet. A particular stand-out is the melon bun—a soft bread topped with a sweet crumb in a shade of green not unlike the namesake fruit.
KUMI Desserts
1 Courthouse Lane, Auckland CBD
Image credit: @boobooeats_ | Instagram
From the same folks who brought us the Rosedale dessert cafe Kori, comes this new iteration in Auckland’s CBD. KUMI Desserts is a late-night dessert cafe perfect for all those craving a sweet treat in the evenings. Fancy a cold treat that’s unlike anything you’ve ever tried before? Then order the probiotic bingsu, a sweet shaved ice topped with popping boba and served in an adorable bowl reminiscent of Yakult. Or if you’ve always wanted breakfast for dessert, there’s showstopping jiggly souffle pancakes in flavours such as strawberry cream and mochi, blueberry and lemon curd, and biscoff. KUMI is open late on Fridays and Saturdays, perfect for late-night snacking. How’s that for squashing midnight cravings?
Keen to take your tastebuds on more culinary adventures? Check out:
- Top Japanese Places In Tāmaki Makaurau
- Auckland's Best Restaurants
- Tastiest Late Night Dessert Spots
Main image credit: Gaja | Instagram
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