IMPORTANT: This article was published in 2014. Details may have changed.
I love dining out, but it can be hard to make healthy choices when dining out so I often view dining out as a chance to indulge in rich foods. It doesn’t have to be this way! Luckily, there are a few places in Auckland who are making huge effort to offer delicious healthy options. What I also love about these places is they can be great inspiration for cooking at home too. Most of these offerings are easy to recreate at home using fresh ingredients. I’m not a health nut, but with my health issues this year, I’ve been looking at what I eat more and focusing on clean eating and whole foods.
I am not on any special diet, but in my round up, I’ve included options for diets such as paleo, vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. There are also options for raw, whole foods, refined sugar free, free rangers. Some have healthy options such as low carb, skinless (chicken), brown rice, wholemeal pasta and probiotics.
I spend most 90% of my time in the city fringe areas of Mt Eden, Kingsland, Eden Terrace, CBD, Grey Lynn and Ponsonby so this list reflects my own stomping grounds. Fee free to make suggestions further afield!
10 clean eats in Auckland:
(In alpha order)
Beetroot couscous with pomegranate, spring onion and orange vinaigrette with added pulled chicken. Image credit: Bird On A Wire
1. Bird On A Wire
234 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby and 12 Commerce Street, Auckland CBD
www.birdonawire.co.nz
Offering: free range / gluten free / dairy free / whole foods
In the form of:
- Beetroot couscous with pomegranate, spring onion and orange vinaigrette with added pulled chicken
- Rotisserie Chicken with Korean BBQ baste
- Buckwheat noodle salad with mung beans, coriander, peanuts and sesame dressing
- Beetroot, carrot, cos, mung beans, seeds, nuts, za’atar & is served with a tahini yoghurt dressing
- Winter slaw with kale, dates, nuts and fresh ginger dressing
Hot bird salad, black lentils, kumara, feta, peanuts, citrus & sultanas. Image credit: Boy & Bird
2. Boy & Bird
222 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby
www.boyandbird.co.nz
Offering: free range / gluten free / skinless chicken / whole foods
In the form of:
- Hot bird salad, black lentils, kumara, feta, peanuts, citrus & sultanas
- Sauteed kale, fennel, quinoa, apple, halloumi with smoked almonds
- Citrus brined, spice rubbed rotisserie chicken (skinless)
- Charred broccoli tart served with a walnut pesto
The Moroccan – chickpea pattie served with free range organic poached egg, shaved fennel, orang, herbs and dukkah, topped with tahini and and garlic yogurt. Image credit: Kokako
3. Kokako Cafe
537 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
www.kokako.co.nz/our-grey-lynn-cafe
Offering: fair trade / organic / vegetarian / vegan / gluten free / nut free / dairy free
In the form of:
- The Moroccan – chickpea pattie served with free range organic poached egg, shaved fennel, orange, herbs and dukkah, topped with tahini and garlic yoghurt
- Scrambled tofu, spring onion, chilli, ginger, beansprouts, sesame seeds, coriander, lime
- Mexican beans tortilla, scrambled egg, salsa, nuts and seeds, avocado, tomato, coriander
- Sweet brown rice porridge, rhubarb, orange almond milk, coconut sugar
Chickspin Wrap. Image credit: Food Truck Garage
4. Food Truck Garage
90 Wellesley Street West, Auckland CBD
www.thefoodtruck.co.nz
Offering: low fat options / free range / gluten free / dairy free / vegan / vegetarian / probiotics
In the form of:
- Chickspin Wrap — SPCA accredited free-range chicken, spinach and herb pattie, cos, tomato, red onion, rocket sauce & avocado salsa
- Redergize Salad — Grated beetroot, carrot, red quinoa, bulgur, red chard, currants, flax seeds, almonds and miso dressing
- Veefroot – A vegetarian take on our most popular Beefroot burger. Kumara, kale, beetroot and carrot pattie, cos, tomato, gherkin and awesome sauce on a gluten free bun
- Creator — Probiotic vanilla fro-yo with Banana, date, fig and hazelnuts
Smoked “lox” raw bagel with cucumber capers, sprouts and cashew cream cheese. Image credit: Little Bird Organics
5. Little Bird Organics
1a Summer Street, Ponsonby and 385 New North Road, Kingsland
www.littlebirdorganics.co.nz
Offering: raw / organic / gluten free / refined sugar free / dairy free / vegan / vegetarian
In the form of:
- Smoked ‘Lox’ raw Bagel with cucumber, capers, sprouts & cashew cream cheese
- Kumara Gnocchi with oyster mushrooms, tarragon cream and pine nut parmesan
- Acai Bowl – fresh acai berries, organic berries and banana topped with grawnola and coconut yoghurt.
- Raw cheesecakes, brownies and sweet treats from their cabinet
Vegan roasted pumpkin and brown rice stack served with green salad and zesty cashew aioli. Image credit: Mondays
6. Mondays
503B New North Road, Kingsland
www.mondayswholefoods.com
Offering: whole foods / gluten free / refined sugar free / dairy free / vegan / vegetarian / raw
In the form of:
- Vegan roasted pumpkin and brown rice stack served with green salad and zesty cashew aioli
- Mushroom frittatas with feta and baby spinach, topped with caramelised red onion & fig jam
- Green juice — kale, parsley, fennel, celery, lemon and apple
- Chocolate zucchini cake with mascarpone and toasted hazelnuts
7. Revive
24 Wyndham Street and 33 Lorne Street, Auckland CBD
www.revive.co.nz
Offering: vegan / vegetarian / brown rice / wholemeal pasta / gluten free / raw / refined sugar free / dairy free /
In the form of:
- Indian black eyed peas and peanuts with broccoli
- Revive Raw Salad with beetroot
- Cashew and cranberry nut roast with home made tomato sauce
- Indian tofu vindaloo on brown rice
Salads and Dukkah dusted lamb meatballs. Image credit: Ripe Deli
8. Ripe Deli
172 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
www.ripedeli.co.nz
Offering: gluten free / raw / vegetarian / vegan / dairy free
In the form of:
- Dukkah dusted lamb meatballs with feat yoghurt dipping sauce
- Ripe red quinoa salad
- Marinated baked salmon
- Raw energy salad
Pan fried Tarakihi with cauliflower puree, sauteed chorizo and kale. Image credit: Welcome Eatery
9. Welcome Eatery
Orion Building, 181 Grafton Road, Grafton
http://welcomeeatery.tumblr.com
Offering: free range eggs and free range meat / gluten free / vegetarian
In the form of:
- Pan fried Tarakihi with a cauliflower purée, sautéed chorizo and kale
- Griddled Polenta with butter bean ragout, fresh herbs and whipped goats cheese
- Cauliflower soup with feta and toasted almonds
- Kiwi Green Smoothie — Kiwi fruit, banana, kale, pressed apple juice, and coconut yoghurt
Wilder & Hunt: Lamb Shank, parsnip sweed mash and juniper jus. Image credit: Wilder & Hunt
10. Wilder & Hunt
15 Maskell Street, St Heliers and 65 Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby, Auckland
www.wilderandhunt.co.nz
Offering: paleo / gluten free / grain free / refined sugar free / dairy free / free range / low carb / raw
In the form of:
- Lamb shank, parsnip swede mash and juniper jus
- Roast pork belly with coconut confit parsnip, charred broccoli, and apricot jus
- Sweet and sour chicken with zucchini noodles
- Steak and vege pie wrapped in bacon, topped with beetroot mash
Al’s Deli lunch box (gluten free/paleo): Manuka hot smoked salmon, chargrilled asparagus, broccoli, kale, almonds, egg, quinoa, and sherry vinegar dressing. Image credit: Al’s Deli
Special mention:
- Al’s Deli Diner also serving paleo and gluten free lunch boxes.
- Wok ‘n Noodle Asian food with paleo, gluten free, brown rice, low carb, and vegetarian options. All meals are refined sugar free.
- Ortolana Bistro serving farm fresh whole foods.
Bunny Eats Design 
Nice post, thanks for sharing. I’m not much of an organics guy but there is the Wise Cicada cafe and foodstore in Newmarket. Check out their website on: http://www.wisecicada.co.nz/.
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They sound like some great places – wish I lived there 🙂 Most of those dishes look so exotic and far more inventive than anything I’ve seen on restaurant menus here in England. Really inspiring – it makes me want to whip up a brown rice porridge straightaway, and the beetroot couscous looks amazing!
I don’t dine out a lot so when I go out I absolutely eat whatever I want because it’s not a daily thing for me. My absolute favourite here is the Vegan roasted pumpkin and brown rice stack served with green salad and zesty cashew aioli. That looks totally awesome. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful weekend!
Liz
Now you’re making me hungry! And I just had smoked salmon for lunch (om nom nom)…
This would have been handy for my weekend in Auckland!
I think you did just fine as it was Kat!
Great photography! Little by little I’m falling in love with your blog.
You have said that Kokako Cafe is nut free. I read their ingredients statement and it is not the case.
So you know of other restaurants that are nut free?
My little daughter is allergic and desperately wants to eat out. Thanks.
Hi Steve, sorry I mean they have nut free options, not that their whole eatery is nut free. As with all the business listed, there are dietary options. It’s always best to check with the kitchen if you have specific needs. I know nut-free is a hard one for vegan and vegetarian eateries because they use nuts as a dairy substitute. Is your daughter vegetarian or vegan?
Thank your so much, I’m starting a healthy lifestyle and O was looking for a good place to eat in Auckland CBD. You saved my day 😊