Amelia WilliamsFor vibrant, diverse food options, I always turn to the restaurants in Birkenhead, Auckland. The area offers outstanding places to eat.
While searching for the best food spots, I enjoyed the variety the area has to offer.
Its dining scene provides depth and variety. You can find sophisticated date nights inside a beautifully restored villa or opt for home-style cuisine during a casual outing.
I’ve curated a list of the best places so you can easily choose where you and your family or friends should go next. Get ready to discover your new favourite restaurant right here in Birkenhead!
How much does dining cost in Birkenhead?
Dining out in Birkenhead offers excellent value for the quality of food. For a quick and satisfying dinner, such as a generous burrito or a hearty Malaysian main, I usually budget around $20 to $35 per person. For a more upscale experience or a signature dish, a meal is typically $50 to $70 per person, excluding drinks.
If I go with a group and we share a few dishes, the cost per person is often reasonable for the quality and satisfying portions.
1. Moxie Restaurant
Website: https://www.moxierestaurant.co.nz/
Address: 82 Hinemoa Street, Birkenhead Point, Auckland
Contact: 09-419-9082
Hours:
- Wednesday: 5:00 PM–10:00 PM
- Thursday–Saturday: 5:00 PM–11:00 PM
Must-Try: Beef Wellington
Moxie Restaurant delivers an upscale, contemporary dining experience.
This restaurant is set inside a beautifully restored villa, which immediately sets it apart.
The distinguished setting makes it an ideal choice when planning a special date night or celebrating a significant occasion.
Their kitchen creates high-end dishes, and its signature Beef Wellington was even recognised by the Iconic Auckland Eats list in 2025.
I finally got to try this dish myself, and I can tell you that the meat was perfectly cooked, resulting in a tender, juicy flavour. This definitely confirmed everything I had heard about their signature meal.
The servers were friendly and knowledgeable, offering expert insight on the menu.
If you plan to dine at Moxie, it’s best to book a table or pre-order early as seats and the availability of ingredients go fast.
Customer Reviews
Great place for dinner! The atmosphere for this place is just right with the lighting going well with everything. The servers were friendly being knowledgeable with the dishes. The Beef Wellington tasted great, the meat itself was cooked perfectly with it melting in my mouth. The oven-baked cauliflower was just amazing. The flavours definitely go well together, having it inspired by Indian spices probably. The price was pretty respectable for the quality of the food, service and place.
- Shi Hyde | Google Review
It was almost full house! Waiting long time to have the mains delivered to our table. It was worthwhile for the long waiting as the foods are so good. The Beef Wellington was their signature meal and tasted so tender and tasty. The crumbed lamb cutlets was another must-try. The service was excellent and friendly. They always apologised for the delays due to a big group of customers. The foods are exceptionally delicious and good value.
- Patricia Au | Google Review
2. Mulan Malaysian Restaurant
Website: https://mulan.co.nz/
Address: 243 Hinemoa Street, Birkenhead, Auckland
Contact: 09-480-2806
Hours:
- Sunday, Tuesday–Thursday: 5:00 PM–9:00 PM
- Friday–Saturday: 5:00 PM–10:00 PM
Must-Try: Penang Curry Kapitan
Mulan Malaysian Restaurant is the premier choice for authentic, home-style Malaysian cuisine.
I love that they offer a wide range of dishes, providing catering to different group sizes, making it a reliable choice for family dinners.
The dine-in, takeaway, and full catering options also make Mulan convenient for any occasion.
I visited this restaurant recently and was thoroughly impressed. The servers were attentive and friendly, but thankfully not overly so or awkward.
The entire atmosphere felt welcoming, which made the experience even better. The food was fresh and flavourful, ranking it among the best I’ve had.
Mulan operates just one store in Auckland. While this centralised setup guarantees consistent flavour, it may not be that accessible for patrons outside that area.
Customer Reviews
I went to this restaurant today for the first time and was really impressed. The food was fresh, full of flavour, and honestly, some of the best I’ve had in a while. The service was spot on too, friendly, attentive, but not over the top. The atmosphere was welcoming and made the whole experience even better. Everything just came together nicely, and I left feeling really happy with the visit. I’d definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a great meal, and I’ll for sure be coming back again.
- Jammie Paul | Google Review
We went there quite early as we didn’t make a reservation. First time visiting this place. The spicy level was just right for me. Dishes were rich in flavours and not salty. The place was getting busy when we were about to finish.
- Lo Kerry | Google Review
3. BBC Tasting Studio by Birkenhead Brewing Co.
Website: https://www.bbc.kiwi/
Address: 17 Birkenhead Avenue, Birkenhead, Auckland
Contact: 09-320-5055
Hours:
- Monday–Tuesday: 3:00 PM–10:00 PM
- Wednesday and Sunday: 12:00 PM–10:00 PM
- Thursday: 12:00 PM–11:00 PM
- Friday–Saturday: 12:00 PM–12:00 AM
Must-Try: Juicy Baby Ribs
The BBC Tasting Studio serves as the perfect casual spot for a relaxing drink.
This venue functions as a curated centre for the broader craft beverage scene, extending far beyond the role of a standard brewery taproom.
You can often find specialised options here, including low-alcohol, non-alcoholic, and even gluten-free options. They serve both Birkenhead Brewing Co.’s own brews and alongside other brands.
This wide selection, while impressive, runs the risk of overshadowing the restaurant’s signature drinks.
But the best part here is that their food menu is great for pairing with your drink.
I went here alone recently on a Friday evening, and it was the perfect casual neighbourhood outing. The staff are exceptionally friendly and welcoming.
I ordered the Juicy Baby Ribs. They were incredibly tender and juicy, which is quite a surprising quality for “pub food.”
Customer Reviews
Just what you need on a Friday evening, nice beers, good food (I had the best fish and chips here! Fresh fish, good batter which was not too thick or soaked), and the staff are super friendly. Will happily return here again any day of the week to be honest 😅
- Marielle Veraa | Google Review
Superb beer, nice place and friendly staff. Expecting pub food we were very positively surprised. Ribs were tender and juicy and so was the veggie burger. Would come back anytime for beer or bite(s). Beerwise, I very much recommend the bunker apa and the beautiful trouble ipa, in this order.
- Jan-Michael Mewes | Google Review
4. Burrito House
Website: https://burritohouse.co.nz/
Address: 17 Mokoia Road, Birkenhead, Auckland
Contact: 027-445-7444
Typical Hours: Monday–Sunday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM
Must-Try: Veg Burrito
If you’re hunting for a casual, family-friendly Mexican spot with excellent value and big portions, you need to check out Burrito House.
Authentic Mexican flavours are central to their cooking. The evidence of their dedication to freshness is clear, especially with their signature guacamole, which is made to order right in front of you.
This is my reliable go-to when I want something fresh and tasty in the neighbourhood.
My friend and I ordered the beef nachos and the veg burrito, which was surprisingly a very satisfying, healthier option.
The food was flavoursome and hit all the right spots! The portion sizes are even a plus because they’re honestly huge!
The restaurant may be able to cater to your allergies or dietary restrictions. However, you are required to call them before placing an online order, which can be inconvenient when you’re looking for a quick snack.
Customer Reviews
Great experience for our first time here. Customer service was excellent and the food even better. We got the beef nachos and chicken burrito and we were very satisfied. The food was very flavoursome and hit all the right spots. Flavoursome, generous amount of meat and cheese. Great portions, so great that we couldn’t finish the nachos and that’s coming from 2 Samoans (lol)
- MACLIPAPATAU | Google Review
My husband and I had a great experience. It’s a small, cozy spot with a welcoming atmosphere. Even though the kitchen seemed busy, our food came out surprisingly fast. The portions were generous, and everything we tried was full of flavor. The standout for us was definitely the enchilada, absolutely delicious! Staff was friendly and service was great. We’ll definitely be coming back.
- Rafa Serra | Google Review
5. Osteria Uno
Website: https://www.osteriauno.co.nz/
Address: 140 Hinemoa Street, Birkenhead, Auckland
Contact: 027-421-6401
Hours:
- Tuesday–Thursday: 4:00 PM–8:30 PM
- Friday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM
- Saturday: 12:00 PM–9:00 PM
Must-Try: Steak Tartare
Osteria Uno is renowned for its high-quality, daily-made, handmade pasta. This is their claim to fame and makes them stand out from other Italian places in the area.
The restaurant typically operates only during dinner hours, which is a drawback if you’re craving their pasta for brunch. However, they compensate with extended operating hours on Saturdays.
We dined here on a Saturday recently, and the whole experience was great.
Their service was quick and efficient despite the crowd. Plus, the staff are genuinely friendly and very accommodating, which is particularly important for groups and families.
Every single dish was prepared perfectly. For instance, the beef was tender, and the seafood was fresh and well-seasoned.
The consistent quality of their food shows their dedication to using the best ingredients.
I also trust them with customer needs, especially since they’re known for being great at accommodating allergies.
Customer Reviews
Service was quick and good. Every single dish was prepared perfectly! Beef was tender, seafood was fresh and well seasoned! So good that i was too focused on eating, i didn’t get to take a picture of everything we ordered! Will be back to try their desserts next time 🙂
- Naomi Chia | Google Review
I dined at Osteria Uno last Friday with some friends. A short wait to get our table and the vibes were immaculate! The wait staff were amazing, and my dairy allergy was taken seriously by the waitress and chefs. Everything I ordered was totally dairy free and safe for me to eat, which anyone with allergies will know is a big relief. I got the lamb pappardelle (minus the cheese), and the carrots. It was absolutely delicious, I will definitely be back, worth every penny. Thank you!
- Olivia Romaine | Google Review
