Reviews of Kika. (Restaurant) in Wānaka (Otago).

Name: Kika
Address: 2 Dunmore Street, Wānaka 9305, New Zealand, Wānaka, Otago
Telephone: +64 3 443 6536
Price range: €€
Rating: 4.7

Kika

798 Reviews

326 Comments

Restaurant

2 Dunmore Street, Wānaka 9305, New Zealand

View all the reviews

Description Map Open Hours Reviews Contact Photos

Description

Information of Kika, Restaurant in Wānaka (Otago)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of Kika

Monday

5:30–9 p.m.

Tuesday

5:30–9 p.m.

Wednesday

5:30–9 p.m.

Thursday

5:30–9 p.m.

Friday

5:30–9 p.m.

Saturday

5:30–9 p.m.

Sunday

5:30–9 p.m.

Reviews of Kika

i. m.

Amazing food and amazing service! Every time a new dish came out we couldn't believe how yummy it was. Oh and the cocktails... delicious!

M. H.

These guys are Amazing. Food was Bueatiful. Presentation was top notch. Service attentive, friendly and professional. Probably one of the best meals ever. If you get a chance to experience Kika in Wanaka it is a must. Hats off to you guys. No wonder you are one of the top 50 in the WORLD!!. Thankyou so much.

We really looked forward to have the steak tartare but got very disappointed - all we could taste (and all you can see on the photo too) was fried onion. Apart from that dish we really appreciated the combination of flavours in the other dishes we tried, the wines, atmosphere and attentive staff

Overall had a lovely experience at Kika. The feed me option was a delight with lovely fresh and interesting courses. Enjoyed a beer pairing instead of the traditional wine pairing. Thought the fennel cocktail was disappointing as any other flavour was drowned out by how sweet it was. The lava cake was also a bit dry so definitely not our favourite course. Shout out to the salmon, the burrata and the fabulous potatoes though

K. O.

This was one of the best dining experiences we have had in some time. The food was outstanding, there were so many amazing dishes that we could not choose a favourite. Highly recommend this to all food lovers. We will be back!

S. M.

Incredible meal. Corn cob elute was amazing. Lamb had crispy rendered skin, soft meat and luscious sauce. Brocollini was divine, potatoes with black garlic sauce were outrageous. Chocolate mousse cake, I still think about and my wife keeps wishing she could have it again and again. One of the best meals I have had in years. We sent a compliment back to the chef because everything was absolutely spot on and there was such an attention to detail. Genuinely feel they deserve a Michelin star.

E. P.

Booked a table about a month ago for our South Island trip and search for Kika since it came up on the top list for top restaurants in Wanaka. Decided to go for 2 ontrays, 1 main and 2 sides and came out really full and satisfied. The food was delicious with a lof of textures and flavour pairing. Really nice with a bit of asian fusion here and there. Lovely wines and especially the waiter that serves us named Tony. His service is top notch and really attentive and friendly. Would love to come back and have another dinner at Kika next time we are down south.

M. S.

10/10 great food, great service, happy cheerful staff

D. W.

Excellent food, lovely mixture of tastes and we loved the way everything is designed to mix and match and to share. Excellent service, really friendly and helpful staff. Wouldn't recommend anything specifically, because it was all good!

Y. L. O.

Getting a table on a weeknight was easy, wasn’t too sure if it lived up to the hype of top 100 NZ restaurant, but could be due to our selection choices. Serving was great tho! We didn’t order the fish of the day but it definitely looked so good! Expect 40 minutes waiting time for the lamb shoulder. It’s super crispy, tasted almost like pork crackling to Peking duck finish.

Great customer service, we choose the 'feed me' option which provided us with dishs we would never have chosen. If you want to move out of your comfort zone and question put your dinner experience to chance this is the option for you. The dishes were all a hit and miss apart from the mains which was a perfectly cooked duck. The meat was so tender I barely had to chew. I wanted to order 1 for home. The pumpkin sauce added a unique flavor to it as well.

K. B.

Friendly service and excellent chef's tasting menu. One of the best dining experiences all round I've had in New Zealand and great value. Highly recommend

S. L.

Love this place. The food was prepared meticulously, and of course delicious and delightful. The ambience is cozy and warm. Please note that the serving time takes a while, so take your time to eat and chat with your friends/relatives. The serving is meant to be shared. We had the corn cob for starter, market fish for main and the potatoes for sides. Those were simply delicious. I believed other dishes are equally or better. Alcohols are served here. Highly recommend this place and their dishes.

P. A.

Very delicious, very good value for money New Year’s meal. Five course plus wine matches for $150 was amazing value and very delicious.

C. P.

Absolutely loved this meal. Excellent service! The most delicious fish I’ve ever had. Great wines. Fresh greens. Would go back just to eat here again! Thank you Kika. Also the bread and truffle butter was so good!!

I loved this place so much that I came twice in 3 days! The produce is amazing and everything was cooked to perfection - especially the fish!I enjoyed every single bite of the tuna, swordfish and flounder, which were delicate yet full of flavour. The service was friendly and attentive too. I would absolutely visit Wanaka again just for the sake of Kika.

J. a. B. B.

Taken there for 7 yr Olds birthday where he had been before for a previous meal. Adamant he wanted to go for his birthday tea. Says it all really! The food was amazing and service was too. Will definately recommend Kika to friends & family when they visit Wanaka. Lamb & Chicken dishes were absolutely amazing. Thanks

C. S.

OMG! Delicious. We chose a sharing menu and asked the chef to surprise us. We were not disappointed. It was a lot of food.

S. R.

Nice food overall, especially the entrees (beef tartar and the corn were incredible). We ordered a gnocchi, but it looked and tasted much more like polenta and didn't taste as expected.

D. T.

This is a must try if you are in the area. This is better than many of the hatted restaurants I have eaten in Australia. Every singles dish I had was cooked and seasoned to perfection. The fish with charcoal on top is to die for... From my experience, the service was even better than the food! My friends and I were treated like royals from the moment we walked in. Kudos to our server, Ericka, whom took her time to explained the dishes, wines, and made us felt like at home throughout the meal!! They do get very busy so make sure you have a reservation to avoid the long wait.

A. T.

We came here (early Oct, so not peak season) after a recommendation and good online reviews, so was quite looking forward to it. We arrived 7.30pm and had a 45mins wait to be seated (this is a popular restaurant, so I get it). The drink we ordered whilst waiting was a little too watery. When we were seated, our part of the restaurant was a tad bit cold (I had 3 layers on). After the starters, our mains took 30mins to come (we had to chase as similar size groups seated at the same time were on dessert). The duck was too dry. At least 4 of the clams in the small-ish pot (this was 20% of the dish) didn’t open i.e. they’re not good to eat. Overall, the other food tasted good, was presented nicely and the restaurant does have a nice atmosphere. In hindsight, I’m not sure it’s worth the wait or price.

D. Y.

Phenomenal! We loved the food here. This is hands down the best restaurant in Wanaka. We tried their catch of the day and it was literally falling of the bone! You cannot go wrong with any of their food. We ordered the popcorn ice cream with date pudding for the dessert and it was great too. It is on the expensive side but definitely worth a visit. Would recommend this for anyone visiting the area.

J. G.

Kika offered great service, food, and drinks. Was surprised how easy it was to be seated at 7:30pm on a Saturday night. Our waiter was attentive and polite and explained the sharing food culture. Recommend the Brussel sprouts and seared tuna as well as the lamb shoulder and patate fritte. The Tom Selleck was the best dessert but all three were smashing. Thanks Kika!

D. W.

We have good birthday dinner here after waiting an hour. It’s really worth it. We order lamb, duck and some vegetables. We have an unforgettable meal here. Really enjoyed = )

Y. L.

This is a fantastically delicious meal - we had salt cod croquette and charred asparagus and 2 servings of kika fried chicken. We didn’t order any main dish but it’s really just nice for me and my hubby. This is definitely worth more than 1 hour of waiting time for table and 45 mins of waiting time for food. I would recommend all to reach at 530pm or even before that if you want to get the hot seat before the crowd comes in :)

J. M.

I'm not a foodie lingo fluent person. All I can say is we had the just feed me option and it was Bloody Good. Great to see the waiters having fun and working well together too.

E. H.

Absolutely brilliant, fresh food. Creative menu, with really good vegan and vegetarian options. Absolutely decadent desserts. Very highly recommend.

Best meal I have had in NZ! Recommend the ‘Just feed me option’. Everything was delicious

M. R.

Absolutely amazing! The food was exceptional and the service was wonderful. We had the New Year's Eve set menu, which included five courses picked by the chef. Each dish was surprising and delicious. The wine selection was also great and we enjoyed some creative cocktails.

T. S.

KIKA. Are you kidding me? Look. If I stayed there for 5 nights, I would go there 5 nights in a row. There's a good reason why they're so raved and why people keep coming back. The waitress don't even bat an eyelid when they ask you "have you been here before?" And you say you were there just the night before. It's so common! What's amazing is that they're extremely professional and systematic. They open at 530pm and can I just tell you unless you want to be put on wait, be there at 520pm and stand at the door. We are crazy Asians who come early and it always pays off. Every dish worth the money. Wanaka was amazing and KiKa took the cake. We had the gnocchi, Market fish, fried chicken, 40degree salmon, chocolate mousse, brocollini and a cheesecake over the course of the two days.

S. G.

Pork belly was dry and skin soft but the dessert was epic! (Ate it too quickly to take a pic). Cool spot. You can’t make reservations but Cork Bar across the carpark is a good spot to have a drink while you wait. I would recommend the Chef’s Choice. Well priced for what you get.

K. o.

A top restaurant and highly recommended. Lovely service and great food. Beef tartare and Cloudy Bay clams were highlights.

H. F.

Absolutely delicious! Great service and a wide variety of dishes. It's a great spot when you want to try one of everything! I recommend the tuna tartare.

Ordered the fish and broccoli to share. Food was fantastic and staff were friendly. Arrived early so didn’t have to queue for a table too.

T. C.

It was okay experience for me. I wait for 30 min to be seated total which is understandable as known restaurant. But the 2 waiters checked we were waiting at entrance but the one of waiter took other couple who come obviously later than us (we are 2 people too ) so we wait another 10 mins after that and was no apologies or anything. The menu was interesting and I had a beautiful avocado mousse for entre and Roman gnocchi for main. All the dishes were decorated beautifully and I enjoyed all the flavours but unfortunately the service at Kika was not great experience.

J. T.

The food was AMAZING. The sauce they used for all the dishes melded perfectly with each dish. Definitely must come if passing by Wanaka. Well worth the price!

b. j.

Got there for opening time (5.30pm) and joined a small queue. No bookings under parties of 10, so everyone gets there early so they are not disappointed. Nearly full 20 mins after opening. Easily the best food I've tried in NZ so far. The lamb was fall off the bone tender, with a hint of citrus to cut through the fattiness of the lamb. Well rendered fat and succulent tasty meat - delicious. Potatoes are the perfect side, triple cooked with smoked garlic vinegrette onion dust and rosemary. Very personable staff with a good knowledge of the menu to help you make your choices. The idea is sharing plates for a few people. Be warned - I was on my own and managed to pig the lot it was that good.

Outstanding. We are fussy. I'm GF/DF and we are a family of huge eaters. We always leave satisfied. Every mouthful is worth savoring. Our four year loves the chicken and potatoes and the colouring in!! To get a DF dessert that is coconut and chocolate! Unheard of. Absolutely winner. Don't change - we need you in our lives..

N. O.

Difficult to fault. The food speaks for itself Friendly attentive waitrons Reasonably priced Great presentation, taste and ingredients. Sophisticated flavors Filling For 2, I would get 3-4 starters and a main w a side.

E. A.

The foods are just phenomenal, not only the foods look modern and unique, the taste is just really excellent. Really recommended to try when you are in Wanaka!!

Can only recommend this place. The “Just Feed Me” is a must! Always trust the chef 😋

Although we have waited a bit long for the dishes to be served, it’s a restaurant that’s worth trying, especially the lamb shoulder. Parking is very convenient in front of the store.

P. J. F.

If you can handle the wait and cost, and it is exceptionally long (we didn't eat our mains until two hours after sitting down and waiting for a table), the food is worth both. We had the lamb, which was perfect, and two starters. The gurnard was underwhelming, so I recommend the salmon. Only other negative aspect was having to table share and sit on uncomfortable stools instead of chairs with backs at a table. Would recommend and return.

C. E.

The perfect place for gourmet food, artfully curated, and wine pairings painstakingly matched to perfection! Order the "Just feed me" menu for the chef to Wow you with their hand selected best dishes and off menu delicacies. The wine pairings were the best I've ever had finely matching region and varietal to the dish at hand.

C. M.

Small group of us for dinner here, we selected the feed me option (fixed menu go with the chefs selections) it was a superb choice. Every dish was fantastic, tried things would not have picked and we're delighted with them. Busy venue, would recommend booking a table. Service was great, excellent wine selection.

The best restaurant in Wanaka for a reason. Don’t miss out on coming when you get here!

H. L.

The food was delicious! 100% recommend trusting the chef with 'just feed me'. Everything was delicious (and they do take allergies and dislikes into account if you ask) and the surprise as each course arrived was an added bonus. The service was excellent. We never felt rushed or crowded, but when we were done with each course the plates were cleared quickly and the next course arrived very soon after. Oh and the cocktails were lovely!

K. S.

Food was excellent, love the Feed Me Menu. Enjoyed the chef's choices.

T. W.

Delicious, great service and lovely environment! The food here was absolutely delicious. if you are in Wanaka Kika is a must!! My husband and I loved everything that we had. The wonderful staff explained every meal, so you knew exactly what you were getting, no surprises. Except for the divine flavours! So tasty and great portion size. Very good value. Thank you so much it was most enjoyable!! Brilliant!

B. F.

The service was great, the wine was excellent, and the food was incredible. The lamb shank was large enough for two people and adding the grilled carrots and baked brussel sprouts were the perfect pairing!

Tuna was stringy. Artichokes overcooked and dry. Potatoes also overcooked and overpowered with balsamic reduction. Carrots had far too much going on - drowned in oil and yogurt. Disappointing experience.

R. P.

Atmosphere and service is great. We had salmon and Shiitake starters, the Salmon was delicious , but portions very small for $22. For the main we had the chicken, it was a reasonable size, but a bit dry. Beer was good.

C. C.

Great food! Bigger group is better as u can order one for each and share!!

Very nice selection of food and alcohol. Quality was excellent, as were the flavours. Acoustics were the only disappointment, as it got very loud & difficult to hear in the very full house.

S. M.

Awesome food and great service. Like the way how they introduce the food while serving.

J. R.

Always wonderful food and service at Kika. My absolute favourite place to eat

A. B.

Sensational food in an unassuming space. Best meal we’ve had on the South Island. Highly recommend.

R. K.

Would recommend the Molly Malone special cocktail... Smooth espresso, coconut milk and salted caramel whipped into the stuff of dreams. A joyous journey for the taste buds.

Brilliant food. Great staff. A must go in Wanaka

A. P.

Food is okay but the wait for the food killed the experience as the two mains took 35 minutes to arrive after the entree.

Delicious beautifuly presented food. Professional, friendly staff. Highly recommend

T. E.

Just a quick visit for deserts only. Very enjoyable and deserts were excellent. Had Pear sorbet cheesecake and apple terrine.

Fantastic tapas restaurant. The lamb is amazing and is enough meat for 4. The fish is delicious as well. Definitely worth going when in the area

A. F. M.

They had no room but fitted us in for a few quick entrees. Good food.

Had our anniversary dinner here and was very impressed. Attentive service and reasonably priced in my opinion. Recommended.

R. O.

Decided on sharing multiple small plates as this seemed the best value for just two of us to get a wide variety of flavours. Of course a dessert each and the homemade limoncello was awesome! Highly recommend the beef tartare and Jerusalem artichokes.

H. M.

Perfection. Service from James exceptional and knowledgeable. Lovely environment. Food delicious and well executed. Timing of dishes was great. Will be a must visit on any future visit to Wanaka. Many thanks Hamish

C. C.

Highly recommended. Very tasty and using fresh ingredient.

M. F.

Stunning. Nice modern setting but the star of the show is the food which is exquisite. Portions ample to huge. Flavours deep and well balanced. Nice selection of wines, great staff. Got busy quickly so get there early as I don't think they take bookings.

C. M.

It's alright. Would give it a 3.5 if that was a ratings option on google. Service is fantastic, and food was good, but far from amazing. Lamb was tasty, but a bit stringy and lacked that "fall off the bone" quality I would expect at this price point. The duck was very good, but a bit overcooked. It was a nice meal, but when factoring in cost and wait, it loses a bit compared to some of the other options in town in my opinion.

A. L. P.

Superb food, beautiful presentation and really nice staff!

M. M.

Exceptional. Delicious food! Beautiful interior. Very accomodating to my pregnancy food needs. Outstanding flounder, chicken, tomato salad, desert & service. Presentation is top notch.

P. S.

Best dinner we’ve had for a while. We ordered several small plates and one main to share amongst a couple and two kids. Every element of every dish without exception was delicious. Not many “traditional” kids options but they enjoyed the fried chicken, seared tuna, clams and pork belly confirming how delicious it was. The staff provided exceptional service and the 1 hour wait to get a table was well worth it. Can’t wait to go back.

V. N.

We did the trust the chef menu and loved all the various courses we were served - unique dishes with wonderful flavours, and beautifully presented. The seared tuna starter was a particular highlight. Unfortunately, the service of the wine pairing was careless and not to standard one would expect from an establishment of this stature. Often we were only told merely the varietal and region of the wine (once incorrectly) without any mention of which winery, or how the wine complements the dish. It was clear that our server was not adequately trained on this, and felt it detracted from the experience of the meal and does a disservice to the winemakers and the region. Overall though, a wonderful experience we had been looking forward to for a long time and would readily recommend to others. I do hope they take the above feedback on board to sharpen up the presentation of their pairings.

10 out of 10, amazing food. Great service. Can't wait to come back

C. J.

Great restaurant, we loved the beef tartar and tuna.

N. C.

Easily one of the best meals in a while. We were a table of 8 and ordered a whole load of food. Each and every one was unique, bursting with flavour and generously portioned. Really couldn't ask for more. I'd give 10 stars if I could. Thanks so much for the great meal guys. Appreciate it.

A. M. P.

This restaurant is fantastic. The service, the location, the ambiance, the food... Everything was above our expectations. We had the clams, the cheese gorgeres, the gnocchi and cauliflower. The best dinner during our stay in New Zealand!

J. P.

What an absolutely delicious meal! We had a beautiful dinner by the fire place with a group of 4 and shared everything. We ordered 9 items including dessert and they were all amazing! Service was great as well 🙂 Definitely recommend if you're in Wanaka

Best meal I’ve had in NZ

G. W.

Always amazing. The staff are super friendly and are all knowledgeable about the food and wine. Everything is cooked to perfection, and the signature dish (lamb shoulder) is perfect to share for 4 people. Arrive early to secure a table as this place is busy, and for good reason!

K. W.

Absolutely loved our meal at Kika - not sure how we’re going to top it in the rest of our trip! They don’t have resos but open at 5:30 if you want to get there early. Best Jerusalem’s artichokes I’ve ever had and the sole was out of this world. It sounds pretty normal but the lettuces salad was wonderful - freshest leaves and a really delicious dressing. All preparations were unique and interesting without being overdone. Service was excellent and what was especially nice was the staff seemed as excited about the food as we were and made some excellent recommendations:) Cocktails were good as was our bottle of wine. Only regret is we didn’t have room for dessert!

M. E.

The best meal we've had not just in our two weeks in New Zealand, but one of the best in memory. Outstanding. Recommended to us by our B&B host, it exceeded expectations.

S. G.

The food was amazing! The dishes were beautiful, the flavour blends unique and delicious. Service was attentive and friendly. Could not recommend this place more. We'll definitely be coming back!

m. l.

A superb dining experience in Wanaka. Had to get in early as you can’t book, this wasn’t a problem but it was still very packed. The central fireplace broke up the dining room in a unique way so that it didn’t seem too busy while eating your meal. The menu was slightly difficult to decipher at first, but the staff were very helpful with this. All the meals were made to share. The fried chicken was delicious, and was cooked very nicely with a delicate crunch coat that wasn’t greasy at all. The side of Broccolini was very nice with just enough to share between two people, and was accompanied by nice sauce. For the main I had the a very peculiar goats cheese pasta dish. This was phenomenal and the mushrooms that accompanied it, were a nice addition and enhanced the favours. I would come back here again, it was a relaxed dining experience with food above a relaxed level. Wine was hella pricey. However there was a good selection and the staff were very helpful when selecting. Whilst on the topic of the staff, they were all very friendly, and had sound knowledge of the dish when bringing it to the table, explaining the different parts.

P. G.

Fantastic! The food, wine & service 'par excellence'! The wait staff not only provide excellent service but they understand the concept of promoting their beautiful menu and being attentive without hovering. If I lived here, I'd be back every week!

S. K.

The staff were so nice, and the food was amazing. The Lamb shoulder was the most succulent slow cook I have had in ages. The duck fat potatoes (Patate fritte) were crunchy and golden, and the broccoli had such a nice flavour. The entries were beautiful also, Beef tartare was my favourite. They don't do bookings for less than 10, so make sure you get there early.

S. B.

Went in for a date and was impressed. We did not have an idea of what to expect and decided on the “just feed me” option of a set menu. We got a little bit of everything. Two of the items they served we both thought we wouldn’t like from the waiter’s description, but were pleasantly surprised. I never thought I would like a rhubarb cheesecake, but we’ll worth it. Our set menu option was the cheaper one with only the food, but after having done that, we both think we would go for the set menu with complimenting drink. Spectacular over all

m. d.

Best lamb ever !! Started with the corn of the cob infused with chilli oil sprinkled in popcorn, superb . Followed by the seared tuna in a ponzu sauce then by the highly rated slow cooked lamb with crispy roast potatoes and broccoli. It was just sublime, one if not the tastiest meals I have ever had , full stop . Go there and see for yourself, you will not be disappointed. My description will not do this chefs cooking justice.

Had a great experience here. The clams were exceptional and the sauce was amazing. The Mains (salmon and pork belly) were a little sub par, over cooked slightly and the skin wasnt crispy/crackle. The wine was amazing, the waitor was great and very helpful and made great recommendations

T. W.

Bit of a difficult review to write as my experience is quite mixed. I think it's best to describe Kika as a place that pretends to be a fine-dining restaurants but isn't really, or better said: isn't really yet. It has a lot of potential but there were a few too many misses that make me give it a three star rating. First of all, service was friendly, and I enjoyed a nice and well prepared and presented meal. Our table went for the "feed me" menu, which basically entails the chef preparing the best (s)he has to offer for that night. We received 3 starters, a main with 2 sides, and a dessert. We also chose to have the wine pairing menu alongside our meal. I feel that if you order a menu like this, you expect to be surprised and to get the most exclusive stuff that's on the menu (which should be the case when you look at the price you pay for that menu). The starters were nice, although one was basically a corn on the hob put on a stick. The main was pork belly with fried potatoes and a salad (some crunchy lettuce with grapefruit). I was rather disappointed by this. The taste was good, but it wasn't very creative and I felt a bit let down as to me it didn't feel like the best the chef had to offer (at least, I hope so as it was tasty but mediocre). Likewise, the wines for the wine pairing were nice but came either long before we were served the accompanying dish or when we had already started. It also didn't come with much description of what we're drinking. The aperitif was presented to us as "this is a glass of bubbly wine". I was quite disappointed by the above. It's not what you expect with a "feed me" menu and with paying that price. Perhaps you're better off ordering a la carte at this place. That said, I do think the establishment has a lot of potential. But it does not to work on a number of things to become a proper fine-dining restaurant, at least how I define it.

K. M.

All I can say is, Trust the Chef! Amazing food, so fun not knowing what is coming next and hard to believe each course could out top the last!

M. M.

100% recommend. I have quite a few dietary requirements and the staff and chef went above and beyond to make sure the 'just feed me' menu for our table was suitable for me. The waitress was amazing and the food was great!

s. a.

First class experience- excellent waitress, excellent food. Tea smoked duck, lamb shoulder in preserved lemon, and chicken with pickled turnips. Chocolate mouse cake was sinful. Choose the option of feeding us with their favourite dishes. Excellent night thank you so much.

P. R.

The atmosphere is great. The staff exceptional. And the food is so good it is hard to describe and do it justice. Only way to under stand is try it.

M. S.

A go-to when friends are in town - this is our pick of dining spots in Wanaka. Great food, amazing tapas, always delicious and a menu which sits outside the 'square'. We always order sharing plates, the menu does change but recently we've loved the "Popped Corn' the 'Tuna' dishes. The "Tom Selleck' for desert is always a winner too :). A good wine list. All staff we have ever encountered have been lovely, welcoming and friendly and have made the effort to engage, making this more than just a dining experience. Put it on your list!

G. R.

Such a wonderful dining experience. A very delicate menu with a range of classic and sophisticated entre, main and desert options. Each of our menu and drink selections were perfectly executed and balanced. Further, we received friendly and attentive service from the team, and would like to again thank the young male waiter who looked after us this evening!

L. W.

Possibly the best meal we’ve ever eaten! The pan seared tuna was so incredible, I almost cried. Staff were friendly and very efficient. Price is very reasonable for the quality of food.

W. O.

Friendly staff, great food and wonderful wines. Exclusive wines are available by the glass through Coravin. We shared 4 starters, 2 sides and a dessert, witch is perfect for tasting several dishes with 2.

N. T.

Great flavours! food was creative and excellent service. For two people we ordered the Crayfish and salmon picolo and the Lamb Grande with a side of fried potatoes and couldn't finish it all. Highly recommend Kika for a nice dinner out

C. H.

Food was superb. Market fish for the main was premium, parsnips perfect and seared tuna very unique. Service unbeatable, especially if Holly is taking care of you. Try her own cocktail inventions. Best on the menu. Dessert was also amazing, mousse was great, very rich but thar doesnt bother me. Best Dining in town

A. S.

Exceptional The service was outstanding, the food really delicious. Quality & presentation top notch. Great drinks list too. Overall a perfect evening. Thanks 😊

J. M.

This was our last meal out before lockdown happened and it didn't disappoint. We treated ourselves to the "Just Feed Me" chef's choice menu and were convinced the chef was psychic because each dish seemed to be something we loved accompanied by an amazing wine. Service was top notch. We want to go back to Our favorites from memory: - Tuna Tataki - Kika Elote Corn - Porchetta Pork Belly

H. M.

Amazing! Absolute quality all round! Super knowledgeable staff, in term of their food and wine selection matching. Good craft beers available. This has to be one of the best places we have been. ** If you go make sure you choose the lamb shoulder and duck fat potatoes! Oh My God! !

L. B.

As someone with food allergies it can be really difficult to go out to eat. Prior to going to Kika, my husband and I had been told by a mexican restaurant that it didn't matter if the chef touched cheese and then touched lettuce because no one could be "that allergic to dairy". When I told the staff at Kika of my allergies they were so attentive. The waitress went through all of the options on the menu and told me which could be made gluten free & vegan. As my husband doesn't have food allergies, they not only made my dishes vegan & gluten free but they then brought out the non vegan gluten free ingredients so that my husband could have these. On top of all of this, they also ensured that my wine was vegan too. They were amazing and I would highly recommend them to anyone visiting Wanaka, hands down the best restaurant there!

Y. B.

Very busy, but that is for a reason. Regardless of what you may hear on the phone - chances are you'll be waiting in a queue. The stuff is very helpful and friendly. We liked the concept of ordering food for share. The food is fantastic, some recipes are brave but fresh and delicious. Chef is definitely a pro as combination of certain ingredients and flavours is unexpected yet amazing. TL;DR; be aware of huge queues and high demand, otherwise a fantastic place to dine

Very nice food and friendly staff!!!!

L. Y.

The food was very good but overall I wasn't as blown away by Kika as I was expecting to be given the reputation it has in Wanaka. The starters were exceptional and the kitchen was very accommodating of one of our party who's celiac. The mains are where I think they missed the mark. The idea is for tapas style with a large main dish and several sides to share but it didn't really work. There aren't many options for sides and you just end up with distinct dishes that don't go together. Very well cooked individually but a bit disjointed for me. Some people will love it but it wasn't quite perfect.

Beautiful evening. Loved it

C. M.

Delicious food, every plate was cooked to perfection. We enjoyed the space and had great personal service from our lovely Welsh waitress.

L. M.

The restaurant was full when we had dinner there.. The food was impeccably faultless. Just delicious. However the noise level in the restaurant was unbearably loud. There is nothing to absorb the noise. No mats/carpet, acoustic ceiling etc. So it was impossible to talk. I think for that reason we won't be returning which is unfortunate because we are locals and enjoy really good food.

Delicious fried brussel sprouts and small plates. The mains seem overpriced but the small plates are pretty good value. We enjoyed ourselves but it did feel slightly overhyped and waiting for a table can be annoying because they assign you to a specific table instead of a regular queuing process.

a. h.

Staff were kind enough to talk us through the 'feed me' menu without giving away the suprise of what was to come. A selection of what must have their best dishes, pared perfectly with beer and wine. We waddled away delighted. PS Bowie, Wutang and OutKast background music 👍

The food was beautifully presented and tasted so good. The taste was so unique that I haven't had the same in other places. The salmon and caudiflower were delicious. My wee boy liked it so much that he asked for more! The lamb shoulder and chicken were also well cooked. Lastly I love the desserts chocolate cake and carrot gelato. The chocolate was so chocolate but not heavy(I love chocolate so I don't think it is heavy). The carrot gelato was special and had a mixture of salty and sweet taste which combination which I think was great! Really enjoy this experience with my family.

T. Z.

Food is undeniably good and it's easy to see why they've become so recognised. However their mains are abit lacking, especially when compared to their smaller dishes. Lamb was cooked perfectly but not exactly flavourful. Despite that this was quite an experience and I would certainly dine at Kika again

J. V.

Lovely variety of tapas, mains and deserts. Interesting and very tasty. Only 2 criticisms:you can't book and the tendency to carbonaide some of the food also means the ambience of hi temp cooking permeates the air. Well worth it's position on the top 100 kiwi restaurantd

L. B.

This restaurant was amazing - as a group of 8 with a coeliac, gluten intolerant and non pork eater we had the set menu and they adapated everything for us and made sure we knew who could eat what. Amazing service and delicious (I mean really delicious) food.

N. T.

The dishes were excellent, and the service was great. Having read that there's some buzz about the restaurant we thought we had better try it while on holidays from Australia. The food and service are a little let down by the ambience (especially paper napkins at the price).

A. K.

Wow, so good. Did the tasting menu and was very impressed with everything. Great bites, perfectly cooked steak, and killer finale. Service on point as well. 👍👍

A. R.

The 40 degree salmon and the fried chicken starters are to die for.

C. T.

Ana amazing French inspired bistro in the heart of Wanaka, NZ. Butternut squash hummus was so good! The whole fish was such a treat and away from the ordinary. These guys know what they are doing!

C. M.

My family love this place but I am always slightly disappointed given the price tag and the wealth of other options in Wanaka. The food is good and service is ok if a bit slow to replace water etc for the table. Definitely a place to share with a large group. Most tables are high tops and they don't take bookings unless you have a group of more than 10.

S. J.

Amazing from start to finish! Could not fault a thing.. highly recommend

Apart from the fact there are no bookings and wait times can be long, once seated it was certainly worth the wait. Try lots of sides and entrees as they are all awesome. Who thought brussel sprouts could be so good? Consider turning up a bit later when the crowd thins out

G. W.

Absolutely fabulous dining experience. Tartare was almost life changing. Not to be missed if you’re looking for good food in wanaka!

L. R.

Best place to eat in Wanaka by far! The beef tartar and cheesecake are my favourite but you can’t go wrong with anything! Great wine list too!

T. R.

Put this on your list! Fantastic food and service. Delish 5:5, beautifully platted dishes and perfectly out together. From the lamb shoulder, to duck fat potatoes, yum yummy!

M. C.

Absolutely Devine. Well worth it. Drinks, dinner, dessert all flawless 😍🥰

R. L.

Excellent taster menu which I shared with my wife. The wines offered complimented the courses perfectly. A thoroughly enjoyable evening

J. F.

We had the vegan 'just feed me' with matching wines and it was amazing! All of the wait staff were great too!

f. f.

Absolutely fantastic food. If you're hesitating - go there, I promise you won't regret it!

U. S.

GREAT Food, this time "Tapas Style", only smaller platters but MANY. Maude sparkling wine for my wifes birthday. Friendly staff.

L. L.

Amazing food, amazing service. The lamb shoulder was totally delicious; moist and tender on the inside, slightly crispy on the outside.

M. B.

Stunning modern twist on tapas - the menu is designed to be shared and all the dishes compliment each other brilliantly. Service is great and the setting is smart, relaxed, and cosy.

C. P.

Service is superb. Food is unique, very reasonable and 5 star. Chef's choice menu, "Just Feed Me" is out of this world. Best meal by far!

Fantastic sharing plates. Really inventive and modern. A really welcome change to the quite samey standard NZ restaurant menus. Also good value.

R. M.

Came here when visiting Wanaka and stumbled upon this gem. Honestly I am astounded by this restaurant's culinary brilliance. Tremendous. Every dish was delicious, and our group almost wanted to order seconds of every dish. Highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Wanaka. It is bigly.

Enjoyed the experience of the Fill My Face chef's choice. Amazing food and great wine pairings!

R. O.

Incredible food, one of the best restaurants we visited in all of the South Island. The tasting menu is a perfect way to taste all they have to offer!

B. T.

Excellent service and amazing food. Delicious, well priced and great presentation. Will definitely visit again and recommend to others.

Delicious!!! Go with 3 others so you can try as many dishes as possible!! You'll not be disappointed.

A. M.

Amazing restaurant. Very nice staff, and absolutely amazing food! Would love to get back again.

T. S.

Great Piccolo and Dolci, as per Chefs choice of picks. Didn't enjoy the chef's choice of Grande and Contorni as much.

A. B.

I expected a lot but my expectations were blown out the water. Delicate food but with very generous serving sizes. Service was very polite and informative without being pretentious. Will 100% go back

Outstanding. The 'just feed me' menu is amazing value. Fresh modern kiwi at its best.

Wow! Food was off the chart! Pricey but top level dining. Be brave and try some of the unusual combinations, well worth the adventure!

a. j.

The food delicious.... served by a fabulous French girl from Lyon who unfortunately is leaving in 4 days...a big loss to this restaurant as she recommended and explained the dishes so well

J. P.

Best place to eat in Wanaka. Order the 'Just feed me' menu. You want be disappointed. Also some great local craft brews to try.

High class restaurant! Dishes are rather of a degustation kind - very sophisticated in taste and presentation. Outstandingly delicious!

H. W.

Been twice - both times delicious food & great service. Great opportunities to try something a little different. Highly recommend.

Fine food with a casual feel. Laid back friendly atmosphere with exceptional food. 2nd time there and I'd go back again.

Friendly efficient staff, great ambiance, interesting and modern menu offering fresh tasty dishes. Highly recommended.

M. R.

Best service we've had all week in town. Great food. Not a big wine list but the Pinot we had was delicious

Delicious, especially the lamb shoulder. Good wine selection. Service could have been a bit faster though.

N. K.

Delicious 5 course meal - ceviche, avocado puree, roast duck, beef, and dessert. Really friendly waitstaff

Fantastic food, lovely vibe. Lucy was a stand-out of the staff, really made our evening. Definitely go back again.

Awesome place! Really friendly staff and the food is delicious. Get in early, as they get real busy.... Which is understandable.

Delicious cuisine and fabulous service

The service was great, the beer was crisp and the meals even though was all made to share it was well proportioned and the slow cooked lamb was exceptional

J. H.

A hidden gem. The share menu is a must . Great food, beautifully presented & excellent service.

Abhishek best waiter, supreme service ✊🏾

M. F.

Excellent food and service. The chef has experimented with some interesting flavours and textures.

4 demanding vegetarian and vegan diners including one coeliac diner loved the food and excellent service.

Absolutely delicious food, wine and great service thankyou

M. H.

Outstanding! Had the "Just Feed Me" set menu and it was the best dining experience I've ever had!

Very nice atmosphere, good food, verity of meat to choose or vegetables. However, the waiting for food took an hour that's why 4 stars

Fantastic food & service. Best restaurant in the region. Definitely a must do!

Amazing food, great experience...loved the shared plate experience!!

Excellent food and presentation. Great environment and service. The staff is extreme courteous and friendly and the food simply awesome.

What a delight! Super friendly, attentive and smiley service and absolutely delicious meals - plates that meant to be shared:) The duck was divine:)

One of my top 3 restaurants in my whole time in the South Island. Do not miss those duck fat potatoes.

D. Y.

Dined here this evening. The service was exceptional as was the food. I would highly recommend.

We had a beautiful dinner at Kika! Some unexpected fine dining and super friendly service. Definitely worth a visit.

Nice shared plates for food. A fine wine list and fun cocktails. Well worth the visit.

Food and service was amazing, Holly a standout behind the bar. Went the chef's selection and was mighty impressed.

R. D.

Exceptional food, lovely service, and a great atmosphere. Loved the agua fresca!

We had a family dinner there and the food and service was exceptional! I highly recommend a visit!

Great food. On the expensive end but definitely worth it. The service was fantastic and very friendly.

R. C.

Love this place, checked out the reviews which seemed great and it did not disappoint. Food and service was brilliant, will certainly be back.

M. B.

Great food. Interesting flavours. Nice to have sharing plates to taste as much as possible

First time eating at Kika and choose the just feed me menu... all of it was exceptional and Richard our waiter was on point!! Thanks KikA!!!!

Hidden secret from the outsiders, locals know this establishment well - Helping guide: book in advance.

Amazing food, great warm interior Best sticky date pudding I've ever had

Amazing food and service. Even better if you get a table by the fire in winter!

A must to visit in Wanaka. Awesome service, sensational food. We will be back.

Very interesting, eclectic menu- very high quality! One of the best experiences on the south island.

Loved the food the staff were fantastic...heaven on Earth eating the chef choices. Wish I could being it home.

Beautiful venue for a wedding reception, great food and extremely helpful and organised staff. A very memorable evening.

J. D.

Stunning food did the Just feed us menu it was great

P. M.

Great dining experience at Kika. Reservations are absolutely necessary here as it’s very popular - with good reason! Great ambiance with the large open fire. Warm and friendly service. The food was exceptional. We shared the lamb shoulder which was cooked to perfection - crispy skin and pull-apart meat. Excellent wine list too. Highly recommend when in Wānaka.

Good food and service!

Such nice food. Could not fault the place!

Great food with excellent customer service! Would recommend to friends

Delicious food no wonder it is very popular with the locals. Dishes are all designed for sharing

Excellent food and service. Recommend the roast lamb.

The most delicious food! You definitely get what you pay for! Worth every cent 😍

Outstanding food some of the best starters I've ever had....

Fabulous food and excellent service. Highly recommend.

M. W.

Great food and staff but noisy atmosphere.

Just awsome! Absolutely worth the wait! Don't be discouraged of a long wait! It will pay off!!

Superb food, shared menu and nice comfortable surrounds and centrally located with plenty of parking nearby

Excellent food and service , need to get there earlier when it's busy , which is most nights

Long wait, but worth it. Very friendly staff.

10/10 service. Superb food. Highly recommend

Good food No regrets

Fantastic food, great choice of beverages and the service was excellent

No doubt Wanaka’s best restaurant. Prior Reservation is advised .

Amazing food, really friendly staff great atmosphere.

A. M.

My favourite restaurant in wanaka. It's not just a restaurant, it's a whole experience! Highly recommend.

Best restaurant in New Zealand according to Reese Witherspoon and so I went there twice while in Wanaka.

Everything was delicious! Beef tartare was phenomenal!

Great restaurant, amazing food, best mouse chocolate cake I've ever had!

Great food exceptional staff cant wait tongo back

Best dining experience in NZ for me

Had the lamb shoulder and some delicious wines. Heavenly meal.

This restaurant should be rated as the top restaurant in Wanaka.

This meal was a culinary masterpiece. So delicious. Yum.

Absolutely brilliant.

Lamb shoulder is really delicious. Although not very kid friendly.

Beautiful unique food experience, must do in Wanaka!

K. E. (.

On of our best meals in Wanaka. Service excellent.

We went with a group of 6 and shared everything, fighting for the potatoes! Everything was amazing.

jerusalem artichokes, carrot butter fish, chocolate mousse cake, malbec, top nosh

Every dish, fish, meat or appetiser was very well cooked and seasoned

Wonderful meal, excellent service

Excellent meal and local beer

Very nice food. Recommended!

Brand new facility. Great access, parking and instore design layout.

The lamb main is very good and so are the salmon and KFc starters

Amazing lamb shoulder.

Excellent, food is a 5 star by its own

Such great food.

Was expecting higher quality after reading all the reviews, it was ok not the amazing I was expecting

Amazing food and a fantastic selection of local beverages

Good quality price, yummy food, good service!

Excellent food selections and share plates.

Excellent food. Try the “feed me” menu

Fantastic experience, the beef tartare was exceptional

Beautiful food great atmosphere and service. Not to be missed in Wanaka

It’s always a great meal, with good service.

Delicious food, amazing flavours, yummy wine

We are sooooo lucky to have this wonderful place in our small town It is Awesome 😎

Very accommodating and food was delicious.

Amazing food & brilliant service!!

I recommend the "trust the chef menu"

Excellent meal, great atmosphere

Good food and lovely staff!

Uniquely tasty food with great service.

Great food great service.

Best wedding venue 🖤. Amazing staff.

Absolutely delicious

Excellent service. Great food

Excellent meal, Lamb shoulder perfect

best restaurant in Wanaka, love it

Amazing food and great service

Ye na not bad fine food

Creative and surprising combination of well balanced flavours

We had a lovely evening. Thanks to all staff.

Fantastic! Was passing by and heard about it from word of mouth down the street.

Great food. Good staff.

Incredible food. Worth the moderate price.

Excellent food and great service..

Fantastic food top service

Stopped for beer. Good place good atmosphere

Just there for coffee and was good.

Great food and service!

Great food, wine & ambience

The best of the best in Wanaka

R. C.

Nice place, good food.

Best lamb

Top notch excellent service and food!

Incredible meal, incredible service

A nice twist to the Italian kitchen

Just Wow

Just... amazing food.

Exquisite fare at a fair price

Amazing

Amazing!

Everything was Amazing

Fantastic food!

Always brilliant.

Good meal good service

Amazing !

Wonder service with wonder food

Amazing

Soooooooooooo awesome

Wow. Duck nuts really

Very good :)

Below average food

wonderful

Excellent meal

Delicious!!!

Came here with my wife and three children, was an amazing experience.

(Translated) Super good, brilliant, that was something special! We have already been there twice. The concept with the shared plates is wonderful. So you can try out a lot more. Kiwi IPA Clos Margheritte Sauvignon Blanc and look at the plates. But the Cloudy Bay clams with grilled sourdough bread, shitake mushrooms in a divine brew, can't get any better. (Original) Super gut , genial, das war etwas Besonderes! Wir waren jetzt schon 2x dort. Das Konzept mit den shared / geteilten Tellern ist wunderbar. So kann man auch viel mehr ausprobieren. Kiwi IPA Clos Margheritte Sauvignon Blanc und schaut Euch die Teller an. Aber die Cloudy Bay clams mit gegrilltem Sauerteigbrot , shitake Pilze in einem göttlichen Sud, geht nicht besser.

(Translated) Locals recommend our restaurant and it really feels worth it! The salmon is melted in the mouth, the fried chicken is tender and juicy, the sauce is unique, and the lamb shoulder is super tender (but more people may not feel too tired) Although the price is higher, it is highly recommended! (Original) 當地人推薦我們的餐廳，也確實覺得很值得！鮭魚入口即化，炸雞香嫩多汁、醬料獨特，羊肩超級嫩（但多點人分可能心較不會太膩）雖然價錢較高，但非常推薦！

(Translated) On recommendation of our host ... We tried the restaurant Kika ... Arrived around 19:15 ... No table available ... But we expected ... Branch bar for a Pinot Noir as an aperitif. .. After 40 minutes (faster than announced 😘) we are installed ... We tried the avocado mousse ... The low temperature salmon and fish of the day ... Pleasantly surprised ... It's Seasoned properly ... The salmon is barely greasy in the mouth ... The fish is also well cooked ... Only the accompaniment of potatoes was overcooked ... After a remark to the waiter, he propose to change it ... Courteous service and endorsement ... It's not cheap by cons ... 190 nzd for two people with a good bottle of wine ... (Original) Sous recommandation de notre hôte ... Nous avons tenté le restaurant Kika ... Arrivés vers 19:15 ... Pas de table disponible ... Mais nous nous y attendions... Direction le bar pour un Pinot Noir en apéro ... Après 40 minutes (plus vite qu'annoncé 😘) nous voilà installé ... Nous avons tenté la mousse d'avocat ... Le saumon basse température et le poisson du jour ... Agréablement surpris ... C'est assaisonné comme il faut ... Le saumon a peine gras fond dans la bouche ... Le poisson est également bien cuit ... Seul l'accompagnement de pommes de terre était trop cuit ... Après une remarque au serveur, il nous propose de le changer ... Service courtois et avenant ... C'est pas bon marché par contre ... 190 nzd pour deux personnes avec une bonne bouteille de vin ...

(Translated) Incredibly delicious lamb's shoulders are tender, the salmon is melted in the mouth, and the appetizers are incredible. (Original) 不可思議的好吃😋羊肩嫩，鮭魚入口即化，各個開胃菜都不得了，紐西蘭第一不為過

(Translated) We arrived at the place relatively late, did not reserve a place for 5 people, welcomed us with open arms even though the restaurant was full. We were seated at a service table and excellent attitude, the waiter was friendly, he gave service and the ratio was amazing, the dishes were excellent and tasteless and varied, there is no doubt that the place deserves a great rating and receive an extra from me ❤❤❤❤❤ (Original) הגענו למקום יחסית מאוחר, לא הזמנו מקום ל 5 סועדים , קיבלו אותנו בזרועות פתוחות למרות שהמסעדה היתה מלאה. הושבנו בשולחן שירות ויחס מעולה, המלצר היה מסביר פנים נתן שירות ויחס מדהים, המנות היו מעולות וטעימות ומגוונות, אין ספק שלמקום מגיע דירוג מעולה ומקבלים תוספת ממני ❤❤❤❤❤

(Translated) The taste is very unique, delicious and attractive. (Original) 味道很獨特，好吃有魅力。

(Translated) I heard it is the best restaurant in wanaka, every dish is delicious (Original) 聽說是wanaka最好的餐廳，每道菜都很好吃

(Translated) It’s so delicious 😊 (Original) 實在是太好吃 😊

(Translated) The fish was delicious, and the whole flower appetizer was first seen. The fried white beans of fish are my favorite. (Original) 魚好吃，整顆花耶前菜做法第一次看到。魚的炸白豆我反而是最喜歡的。

(Translated) This is the second day, I like good food, good service, no need to book a table. Just wait 5-10 minutes before the store opened. (Original) มาร้านนี้2วันติดเลย ชอบมาก อาหารอร่อย บริการดีไม่ต้องจองโต๊ะ แค่มารอก่อนร้านเปิด5-10นาที

宗.

(Translated) Every dish is amazing, and the restaurant is also the most popular restaurant. The shoulders are very delicious. (Original) 每道菜都讓人非常驚艷，在地人也最推的餐廳，羊肩非常好吃

(Translated) Food was very good, but not suitable for single travelers, since most of the dishes on "Share" are designed. (Original) Essen sehr gut, allerdings für Alleinreisende ungeeignet, da die meisten Gerichte auf "Share" ausgelegt sind.

(Translated) This is one of the better restaurants in New Zealand; excellent cuisine and excellent and relaxed service! (Original) Dit is een van de betere restaurants in Nieuw Zeeland; excellente keuken en uitstekende en ontspannen bediening!

(Translated) Great and great treatment, The food is modern, very rich, the dishes very well decorated. Wanaka's best diary for dinner. (Original) Buenísimo y trato estupendo, La comida es moderna, muy rica, los platos muy bien decorados. El mejor diario de Wanaka para cenar.