Got a dish you’d happily detour for, even on a busy day?

Nominations are now open for Iconic Auckland Eats 2026, and Hibiscus Coast locals can put forward the Auckland dish that means the most to them, from a go-to fish and chips order to an ice cream or gelato stop you keep coming back to.

Entries are open until Sunday, February 22, 2026, and anyone in New Zealand can submit a story online at https://www.aucklandnz.com/iconic-eats, sharing why the dish is iconic and the moment, memory or meaning behind it.

Now in its sixth year, the programme celebrates a Top 100 of dishes that can only be experienced in Auckland, across neighbourhood favourites, family-run eateries, destination restaurants, markets, food trucks and late-night dining spots, with a bigger focus this year on the stories behind the food.

Iconic Auckland Eats is run by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited on behalf of Auckland Council, in partnership with Restaurant Hub, and Head of Tourism Karen Thompson-Smith says “a great dish becomes iconic because of the story that sits behind it.”

The five best storytellers will each win $NZD 500 to spend at their top five Iconic Auckland Eats, judged by Mark Gregory (co-owner of Restaurant Hub) and Connie Clarkson (Manager of Auckland Council’s The Kitchen Project), with a guest judge still to be announced.

The programme also lands as it was recently announced the MICHELIN Guide will launch in New Zealand next year.

Last year, the public submitted 3109 nominations, up 67 per cent from 1857 in 2024.

Fish sliders from Depot and lamingtons from Sugar at Chelsea Bay make the Top 100 every year since 2020, so locals might see this become an easy go-to for a midweek hit or a weekend catch-up.

Got a Hibiscus Coast favourite worth a shout, what’s the dish and where is it from?

Seen something local we should cover?

Let us know at [email protected]