The best BYO restaurants in Auckland for the 2022 silly season

You can’t call yourself a BYO veteran, or even an Aucklander, if you haven’t been to New Flavour. The infamous dumpling house has hosted countless birthdays, celebrations, boozy dinners and Friday night pre’s. Get your fill of 20 pan-fried dumplings in a variety of flavours like pork and chive, lamb and fennel, egg and chives and beef and celery. 

Picture this: you, a cheap bottle of wine, a Spanish-inspired courtyard, and tasty tapas for the table. Tasca transports you to the warm shores of Spain with delectable bites like calamari, Spanish meatballs, seared tuna and spicy prawns. Tasca’s sprawling dining area makes for the perfect location for bigger groups. 

Set out on a tasty journey that explores bold and beautiful Asian flavours; Big Fish Eatery puts a modern twist on traditional Pan Asian cuisine. We recommend bringing a bottle of white wine to compliment popular dishes like the sambal prawns, fresh dumplings, karaage chicken and pad Thai. 

Kingsland is home to many stand-out restaurants, but there is one eatery that needs no introduction; Canton Café. The Auckland icon opened its doors almost a decade ago and quickly became a beloved spot. The Cantonese cuisine and cheap corkage makes for an exceptional evening out. Explore traditional flavours in dishes like peking duck, egg fried rice, deep-fried wontons and honey BBQ pork.

Take a trip to the tropics with a visit to Bali Nights; the restaurant specialises in authentic Indonesian street-food with a Balinese twist that keeps us coming back for more. The menu showcases sensational dishes like grilled butterflied prawns, chicken skewers, beef rendang and warm Balinese salad. After sampling the sambal, you will need a cold bev to fight the heat, Bali Nights BYO allows both beer and wine.

Quite frankly, it is impossible to write a Best BYO list without including Sri Pinang. Known to all foodies and BYO enthusiasts, this eatery is a K-road favourite and the cuisine is simply unforgettable. Packed with flavour, herbs and spices; the Malaysian fare is a knockout. Get your hands on beautiful dishes like roti curry, beef rendang and Hainanese chicken rice.

Cheap wine and Korean BBQ? Yes, please. When we visit Faro, it is not only for the cheap corkage but the incredible cuisine. The meat is insanely tender and flavourful, try an array of cuts like scotch fillet, beef ribs, lamb rack, tiger prawns and boneless chicken legs. For those with an adventurous palate, opt for the ox tongue. 

With a handful of locations around Auckland, you can visit Nishiki wherever and whenever you like. The Japanese restaurant has an abundance of small sharing plates that make dining with a group a tasty and well-rounded experience. Dine upon snapper sashimi, pork dumplings, teriyaki chicken and salmon wings.

There is nothing like a heart-felt feed at Satya; the rich and authentic Indian cuisine is perfection on a plate. Our happy place is sitting at a cosy table with a big glass of wine in hand and a steaming bowl of beautifully spiced butter chicken curry before us. 

Try it Out creates rich, homely and flavourful Vietnamese cuisine. Load up on noodle goodness, crispy wontons, lemongrass chicken, and hot and sour soup. The menu is huge, meaning there is an endless supply of delicious treats to work your way through. 

Crowned winner of the 2022 Best BYO Awards; El Greco is the crossover we never knew we needed. The Greek and Italian cuisine come together in a flavourful explosion. The hidden gem can be found nestled near the water of Campbells Bay Beach. Grab a group of your besties, a bottle of wine and spend the evening feasting upon Mediterranean platters and mouth-watering pastas.

Pan-fried, steamed, pork and chive, spicy beef, lamb and onion; you name it, Tianze Dumpling House can make it. BYO and dumplings are a match made in heaven; the iconic duo never lets us down. Throw in a side of egg fried rice, a spring onion pancake and deep-fried oysters.