When you've got a craving for your fave Pacific Island dishes but don't have time to make it or don't know how to make it - don't worry - we've got you!

We did the hard job of driving out to some of Auckland’s most popular Island food stores to try out their dishes and let you know where to get what.

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SOUTH AUCKLAND

Evelina's Polynesian Food in Clendon & Otara

Evalina's had a wide range of delicious island food to chose from. They had everything from chop suey and baked taro, to whole cooked fish and fa'alifu fa'i (banana with coconut cream).

We orderded a baked taro, palusami, fai'ai ēleni, and a pineapple pie. The pie was definitely the group favourite - perfect flavour and the ratio of crust to custard was on point.

As well as cooked food they also offered Samoan music CD's, DVDs, lavalavas and jandals. Oka is sold only on Sundays.

Clendon location - The back strip of shops behind 'The Warehouse' in Clendon Park shopping Centre.

Otara location - 1st or 2nd shop on the strip of shops facing East Tamaki Road at the Otara Shopping Centre

LEVEL 3 TEMP MENU:

Evelina's will be taking orders ready for delivery or pick up from WEDNESDAY 29th APRIL 2020.

Operating Hours will be 9am to 6pm. WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY Orders will be taken by way of FB Messenger with confirmation of Payment via Pay Now with POLi (please click on link below)

Food will be made Fresh upon order as we are unable to accept Customers in our Shops during Level 3 Lockdown Period. Team Evelina's have Set your Level 3 Menu so we are sure that this will satisfy your Cravings and Please your Tastebuds. TEAM EVELINAS 🌺 https://transact.polipay.co.nz/paynow/luv21062155iob

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Lee Heng (Parker's Polynesian Food) in Mangere

We ordered a tray filled with sapasui, bean stir fry, potatoe curry, fa'alifu taro (boiled taro in coconut cream) and for something sweet we had a pot of suafa'i. Everything was DELICIOUS 10/10 for every dish.

Location: The block of shops on the corner of Imrie & Fresian Drive in Mangere - 47 Imrie Ave.

LEVEL 3 TEMP MENU

They will partially open during alert level 3, for

contactless, prepaid online & telephone food orders only.

Available 7 days a week, Monday to Sunday

starts Tues 28th April 2020.



Available Monday to Sunday.

Need 2 days notice. Please find below Alert Level 3 menu, prices and info on how to order (Swipe for more)

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Ulutoa and Sons in Otahuhu + Avondale

All things sweet!! Ulutoa and Sons provided us with some tasty treats in the form of panikeke's, fa'ausi (sweet taro in caremalised sugar), coconut masi (coconut biscuits) and a pineapple pai fala (half moon pie) . The winner was definitely the fa'ausi - great texture and flavour.

They also sold the same hot island food that Parkers Polynesian & Evalinas sold and had a mini store inside that sold tins of ēleni, Bongo chips, vermecilli, pisupo, coconut cream, soy sauce etc ...

Otahuhu location: On Mangere Road just past the Favona lights and opposite Otahuhu High school.

Avondale location: About 3 shops down from Cain Tattoos on Great North Road.

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Island BBQ

You know us islanders all love a good BBQ and these guys do a mean BBQ - ribs, chicken, steak, lamb and more. We tried a ribs and chicken BBQ plate and the ribs were cooked perfectly - literally falling off the bone!

Their BBQ plates are all cooked to order so there is a little bit of a wait but the BBQ is well worth the wait!

Location: 269 East Tamaki Road, Otara, NZ

LEVEL 3 MENU

The new Island BBQ Breakfast Menu available from this morning (28 April 20) 7.30am-11.30am

See the full menu for Ordering, delivery and Drive up here https://www.islandbbq.co.nz/store-menu.

Open Tue 28th April 7.30am-10.30pm

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Pinati's

Of course we had to get keke pua'a and german buns. 10/10 deliciousness as usual. THANK YOU Pinati's.

Location: Queen St Otahuhu which is a block back from the main strip of Otahuhu Shops.

LEVEL 3 PICK UP MENU:

We're open for phone orders and pick up only. Opening hours from Monday - Saturday 9am-6pm.

Please contact 02108218752 to place your orders, thank you😁

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Tanz Kitchen

Three words - Cook Islands doughnuts! They have a great selection of Cook Islands favourites - hot doughnuts, banana poke, maniota uki, mayonaise (Kuki potato salad) cooked taro as well as chop suey & rice or steak on rice with mushroom sauce.

Location: 3 shops down in the block of shops on Piako Street in Otara

LEVEL 3 MENU

We are back!!

Eftpos only -

To order please call 092728201

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275 Kai

Recommended to us by a few people who had enjoyed their delicious burgers - we went to check it out and found they also do island dishes as well from Thursdays to Sundays.

Located in the Vine Street block of shops in Mangere they open from 2pm.

LEVEL 3 MENU

They've introduced an app that you can order through for non contact deliveries only from 30 April 20

Details below with full menu (swipe left for more) -

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Sanbell's Kitchen Otara

We were told the Samoan Sapasui (Chop Suey) is really good here & after trying it for ourselves we can confirm the goodness. They also sell a selection of Samoan dishes.

Location: Otara shopping Centre, facing Bairds Road.

LEVEL 3 MENU

Message from Sanbell Catering below:

We will be serving you through the footpath window. If you like, you're welcome to call us (0272069021/ 0272069023) and place an order which will be ready on your arrival. Otherwise, walk right up to our walk thru window.

We hope that you will come around to visit and purchase from us, we'd love to see you all again and to be of service to our community. OPEN TUESDAY 28 APRIL 2020

FROM 6AM TO 8PM *NB: All phone orders must be paid online prior to pickup. Delivery available at extra cost.

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** From the last time we checked out the island eating places in South Auckland we were recommended 3 Tongan owned & managed restaurants in Otahuhu. Try them out here if you're in the area **

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Eight Roses Cafe & Buffet

Location: Unit 13/ 225 Great South Road - In the block of shops, to the left just after the roundabout by the Otahuhu Police Station.

LEVEL 3 MENU

Eight Roses Takeaway will start on the 29th of April

Read and look through the images below to know the Information needed towards the takeaway.

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Polynesian Taste

Location: 285 Great South Road

FranCharLeni Diner & Cafe

Location: 242 Great South Road

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WEST AUCKLAND

My Samoa in Kelston

10 Panikeke's for $2.50. My Samoa's panikeke's take the prize for best panikeke! Warm, sweet and delicious! Highly recommended.

Location: The last shop of the block of stores on Archibald Road opposite Kelston Girls High

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* There's also an Ulutoa & Sons Ltd in Avondale - description and location in the South Auckland section *

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CENTRAL

Sweet & Me Onehunga

Fijian owned and run, located on Church Road in Onehunga, Sweet & Me specialises in cakes, sweets & island style desserts like Fijian Pineapple Pie, Koko Samoa eclairs, Cassava Cake, Lolo Buns/Pagi Popo and more ...

LEVEL 3 MENU

Week 1 orders have closed but keep an eye on their facebook page here for their Week 2 specials which will be dropping on Friday 1st May.

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Blue Rose in Sandringham

The best palce to get Koko Samoa cake and palusami pies is definitely Blue Rose! You will NOT regret it.

The owner Robbie Kainuku is Cook Island.

Location: Sandringham Road, Sandringham.

LEVEL 3 MENU

For preorders or to contact us any day, and for delivery.

Text 021376188

Email: robbiebluerose@gmail.com

Call Cafe on Tuesday 09 8461579

Or website enquiry: www.bluerosecatering.co.nz

Lots more to offer.

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LEI Cafe, Ponsonby

Owned & managed by Tongan brother & sister Natasha Finau & Saione Greer, you can get your island food fix here in the middle of Ponsonby.

Island dishes sold - Oka, Fijian curry & Coconut buns in coconut cream.

Location: The top of Williamson Ave in Ponsonby in the strip of shops next to Countdown.

LEVEL 3

Escape the 3hr drive thru queues and drop in for a hot takeaway coffee at your friendly island getaway in Ponsonby, open 7am - 1pm every day (from 8am weekends) during level 3.

You can give them a call and pre-order cheese scones etc too.

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OVERALL

The South Auckland stores seemed to have more variety, speciality dishes and more sweet options like pineapple pie and fa'ausi.

We struggled to find good Island Eats places out West Auckland. There were a couple we'd featured previously but they've either got E Grades now or have closed. West Aucklanders comment below where your best Island Eats spots are!

Special thanks to the following people who let us know where the best Island Eats spots were!!