The long-awaited arrival of Swedish home furnishings giant IKEA in New Zealand has finally happened, but it's the store's restaurant menu that is generating significant buzz and a friendly dig at Australia. On Thursday, hundreds of shoppers queued at the new Sylvia Park store in Auckland for its grand opening.
A Menu Designed for Kiwi Tastes
Central to the launch is a 426-seat restaurant offering a uniquely local twist. While global favourites like the iconic meatballs are present, IKEA New Zealand's food team conducted extensive research, including 500 home visits across Aotearoa, to curate exclusive dishes. According to Daniel Souza, Food Manager for IKEA New Zealand, Fish and Chips and pies were top requests from locals.
The result is a menu that proudly showcases New Zealand produce. Diners can enjoy fish and chips for $14, made with sustainably sourced local hoki. For a quick bite, the Bistro offers a hearty lamb pie for $6.50, filled with tender New Zealand lamb and vegetables including kumara.
Pavlova-Gate: A Sweet Resolution?
The most talked-about item, however, is the lingonberry pavlova, priced at $4. This dessert cleverly merges a classic Kiwi and Australian Christmas staple with IKEA's Swedish heritage, using lingonberry jam. The creation has playfully reignited the long-standing debate over which nation invented the pavlova, with some Australians on social media expressing envy.
"This is so unfair," one Aussie commented, while another asked, "Why don't we get this?" For now, it seems New Zealand has claimed a sweet victory, with IKEA offering a distinctively local version of the beloved meringue dessert.
Global Favourites and Local Fusion
Beyond the headline items, the menu features other exclusive fusion dishes reflecting local palates. These include a Poke Bowl with Salmon, inspired by New Zealand's love for fresh seafood, and salads like the Thai Beef Salad and Pumpkin Salad with Hummus, designed to highlight high-quality local produce.
Another world-first for IKEA is the Eatball Medley, allowing customers to sample all three varieties of the famous meatballs: traditional, plant-based, and vegetable, served with mash, cream sauce, and lingonberry jam.
Daniel Souza emphasised the role of food in the IKEA experience, quoting founder Ingvar Kamprad: "hungry customers buy less." The food offering is strategically designed to welcome people, extend visits, and make the store a destination for a full day out with friends and family.
With its doors now open, IKEA New Zealand is poised to become a major retail and dining destination, offering a blend of Scandinavian design and distinctly Kiwi flavours.
