Amelia WilliamsFinding food that loves you back, especially both tasty and healthy, isn’t always easy. It’s even harder when you’re craving flavour and variety over plain steamed veggies.
The healthy restaurants in Auckland have really elevated their offerings recently.
The city is packed with healthy options for dedicated vegans, keto warriors, health enthusiasts, or anyone trying to offset a weekend of indulgence.
I’ve spent plenty of lunch breaks and weekend brunches hunting down spots that serve nutritious meals without sacrificing taste.
Here is my guide to the best healthy restaurants that Auckland has to offer for your next guilt-free meal.
How much does it cost to dine in healthy restaurants in Auckland?
The price you pay for healthy dining in Auckland varies depending on whether you want a quick grab-and-go or a full sit-down experience. For a fast, nutritious lunch at counter-service spots, you can expect to spend between $10 and $20 per person. If you are looking for a nice, mid-range dinner or a specialised brunch at a place, prepare to spend at least $20 to $30 per person. For a more elevated experience or scratch-made organic feasts, costs can range from $20 up to $40 per person, on average, depending on how many courses you order.
1. Little Bird Kitchen
Website: https://littlebirdorganics.co.nz/blogs/little-bird-kitchen/little-bird-kitchen
Address: 1A Summer St (Rear Tenancy down Summer St), Ponsonby, Auckland
Contact: 027-648-4757
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Must-Try: Kimchi Pancakes
Little Bird Kitchen sets the gold standard in Ponsoby for raw and organic food.
The whole menu is plant-based, with options that are free from gluten, dairy, refined cane sugar, and soy. However, they still use nuts and seeds in some dishes, so always check if you have specific allergies
I recall stopping by Little Bird Kitchen, desperate for something that felt good but still filling. The Kimchi Pancake absolutely hit the spot!
The pancake was savoury and crispy, and it didn’t make me feel too full or heavy afterwards. This was the perfect, guilt-free dish for my health-conscious needs.
This place shows that eating healthy food doesn’t have to be boring, as they use bold flavours in everything they make from scratch.
However, quality ingredients like these do come at a premium. The food can be a little expensive than a normal cafe because they use such good ingredients, but it’s worth it for how healthy and nutritious it is.
Customer Reviews
What can I say? It’s not always easy to find healthy plant-based spots, but this one truly has it all. Along with the friendly staff and quick preparation, I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone. If you’re looking to treat yourself and your body to something good after a workout, Little Bird Kitchen is always a winner. Every time I’m in Auckland, I make sure to stop by and take a little break from everyday life! 🥰
- Tijana Wekker | Google Review
We recently went to this lovely place for my husband’s bday lunch! We both are on lifestyle change and wanted to experience healthy food. We loved the Summer Dosa, Kimchi Pancakes and desserts. Everything was organic, portions were ideal and the taste was awesome. It was a great treat for us and we will be soon visiting again.
- Namrata Mattoo | Google Review
2. Revive Vegan Cafe
Website: https://www.revive.co.nz/
Address: 24 Wyndham Street, Auckland Central, Auckland
Contact: 09-303-0420
Hours: Monday to Friday: 10:30 AM–4:00 PM
Must-Try: Creamy Chickpea Stroganoff
Revive is a great place for busy grown-ups who need a nutritious lunch without the wait. They serve hot, plant-based meals and fresh salads that are perfect for health-conscious individuals.
This restaurant stands out because its menu changes every day. As a result, you’ll never get bored with repetitive meals and will find yourself constantly looking forward to tomorrow’s offers.
I often go there when I only have 30 minutes for lunch because their service is super fast. I recently tried their creamy chickpea stroganoff, and it didn’t disappoint!
I wasn’t a big fan of chickpeas, but this dish was enough to convert me. It was creamy, as the name suggests, and bursting with flavours.
The only real downside is that they are closed on weekends. You’ll have to get your healthy fix elsewhere on weekends, which is unfortunate if you want to hang out with friends and still maintain a healthy diet.
Customer Reviews
This was surprisingly very yummy and healthy. I had the quinoa and brocolli balls with cashew sauce (super silky and yummy). This is the best innovative way to eat healthy. Also had the satay and brown rice. Which was good too. The salads were great! Got the food right away.
- Prasanna Pilla | Google Review
Incredible Vegan healthy foods! They always have a wide selection of meals that fufill my taste buds and my health! There online store is also worth visiting with amazing products! Love the nut butters, wopples and mystery meals! Such good value for money. Thanks so much 😊🙏🌿
- Ben Wells | Google Review
3. Gorilla Kitchen
Website: https://www.gorillakitchen.nz/
Address: 159 Symonds Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland
Contact: 09-392-9190
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Must-Try: Phush N Chups
Gorilla Kitchen brings a bit of an edge to the scene by functioning as a plant-based eatery and “brewtique” in Eden Terrace.
They blend healthy, raw foods with flavorful meals that taste like your favourite comfort food.
It is rare to find a spot that does fermentation and sprouting so well while still serving dishes that feel like a treat. Furthermore, a bonus is the witty names of their dishes!
I took a non-vegan friend here once, and we shared Phush N Chups. Even they were impressed by how satisfying the flavours were despite there being no actual fish in the dish.
Be aware, though, because the menu is very niche. If you or your group aren’t into raw food textures or superfoods, the options might be limited compared to a standard restaurant.
Customer Reviews
We had a celebratory dinner here with a large party so we booked ahead. Gorilla kitchen did not disappoint. Everyone was able to find something they liked and even my non-vegan friends complimented their meals. Had a great time here and will be back again.
- sawmillguy | Google Review
Great range of food and drink, tastes amazing, brilliant and friendly service. Have been quite a few times now and they’re consistently fantastic. The pancakes are always a huge hit. Really nice to go to a restarant where everything is plant based! Super good for any allergies too.
- Helena Spurdle | Google Review
4. Goodlife Super Food Co.
Website: https://goodlifesuperfood.co.nz/
Address: 47 Fort Street, Auckland Central, Auckland
Contact: 09-366-4663
Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM–3:30 PM
Must-Try: Thai Tofu Salad Bowl
Goodlife Super Food Co. is redefining fast food in the CBD by swapping greasy food for superfoods and scratch-made ingredients.
Their mason jar salads are the undisputed standout feature. They keep the greens extra fresh and crunchy by minimising oxidation.
The way the ingredients are stacked inside these jars makes the salads look more appetising.
I grabbed one of the broccoli pesto mason jar salads on a particularly chaotic workday. I noticed the freshness, especially compared to standard plastic-container salads.
However, if you’re dining in, you should definitely try out their salad bowls, such as the Thai Tofu one.
Goodlife also makes its own almond butter and dressings in-house, which adds a lovely homemade touch to a quick takeaway.
Plan your trip to the restaurant accordingly, though. The lunch rush here gets intense.
Customer Reviews
We came here and got the açaí bowls. They were delicious! The toppings were fresh and the açaí was smooth. Note: you can’t get them during the lunch rush (11-130 I believe). Come here at another time to get them though. It’s worth it and they are reasonably priced!
- Kassandra Solsrud | Google Review
The salads are really nice (this is coming from someone who doesn’t particularly like eating salads) and it’s a great alternative to the usual fast food outlets you’ve otherwise find in the area. I’d highly recommend checking this place out. I’m yet to try the smoothies but they look great!
- Manish Patel | Google Review
5. Forest
Website: https://www.forestrestaurant.co.nz/
Address: 243 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
Contact: 0210-901-3352
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 5:00 PM–10:00 PM
Must-Try: Beer-Glazed Purple Kumara
Forest offers a dining experience that is miles apart from your typical health food cafe.
They make creative, low-waste vegetarian cuisine, focusing on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
The restaurant elevates “clean eating” to an experimental level.
For instance, I was first sceptical about the concept of old wine butter (butter made from unsold wine), but the flavours were mind-blowing and paired well with the sourdough rolls.
Eating at Forest feels like a special evening out, not just a quick healthy meal. Their food changes regularly, so you’ll always have a reason to look forward to new food items on the menu.
But if you’re lucky, do try out their Beer-Glazed Purple Kumara, which is quite the crowd favourite.
Although the constantly changing menu keeps things exciting, it can also be frustrating if you fall in love with a specific dish only to find it gone the next week.
Customer Reviews
Each dish was literally a work of art. The way that the dishes effortlessly played with contrast between flavours and textures left me savoring every bite. Practically every dish on the menu was either already vegan or could easily be made vegan with a suitable substitute (not just removing food like some places do). If you are in Auckland and don’t eat at the forest, you messed up.
- George Milouchev | Google Review
Booked to come here for a birthday dinner with friends and we were absolutely blown away. Been wanting to come here for a long time and glad we were finally able to. The team went above and beyond for us when they had to cancel our original booking giving us a discount when we rebooked. Even put a candle in our dessert! Felt like family. Highly recommend. The food was to die for. All vegetarian, perfection.
- Krysana Hanley | Google Review
