Online food delivery service Menulog has revealed New Zealand’s most popular local restaurants in its annual Winter Restaurant Awards series. Tuk Tuk Thai in West Auckland has come out on top, taking home the National Menulog Winter Restaurant Award while another Thai eatery, Pla Thong Thai, in Mt Eden was voted for by hundreds of Kiwis in the first-ever People’s Choice Award.
Both restaurants are long-standing Menulog partners and are known within the local community for providing fresh, authentic and delicious thai cuisine.
Tuk Tuk Thai took out the title of National Winner, meaning they scored the highest of all 900 Menulog restaurants serving customers across New Zealand over the past six months.
Menulog’s Commercial Director, Rory Murphy said, “The awards are designed to recognise and reward the hard work of our restaurant partners, particularly those that have delivered an exceptional customer experience.
“To take out the National Award, from a large network of fantastic restaurant partners, is a huge achievement for Tuk Tuk Thai.”
This season Kiwis were also invited to vote for their favourite local restaurants with close to 100 eateries in line for the People’s Choice Award. Pla Thong Thai received hundreds of votes from its loyal customers to ultimately be crowned champion.
Owner Thanet Singcharoenchai says the restaurant serves its customers tasty Thai that combines both new and old styles of the cuisine.
“We love being able to share our passion for Thai food with our local community. Our team’s aim is to craft Thai meals with fresh, fascinating ingredients that set our customers taste buds alight.
“We feel very proud to have won the Menulog award. Being on the food delivery platform has exposed us to more customers in our area, meaning we get to cook yummy food for more people.”
Both restaurants will receive a $5,000 cash prize from Menulog. Additionally, the People’s Choice Runner Up, Khana – Indian For Food – Restaurant in St Heliers will receive $2,500.
As part of the awards series, Menulog recognises restaurants in four categories. In addition to the National Winner and People’s Choice Winner and Runner Up, Menulog awards cuisine category winners as well as local winners.
The winners in the best cuisine categories for this season are:
- Best Indian – Own Masala Restaurant and Takeaway, Tauranga. Popular for their Tikka Masala, Lamb Curry and Goat Curry
- Best Burger – Freddy’s Burger and Pizza, Henderson. Popular for fan fave, Freddy’s King burger with a double beef patty
- Best Chinese – Bamboo Kitchen, Mount Eden. Popular for their Special Fried Rice
- Best Thai – Chill Out Thai Restaurant and Delivery, Mount Albert. Popular for their Pad Thai
- Best Pizza – Beach Pizza, Beachlands. Popular for their Meatlovers Pizza and Chicken Cranberry Pizza
For the full list of winners, including all local wins, visit restaurantawards.menulog.co.nz
