Chikos Restaurant and Cafe
Where? Chikos Restaurant and Cafe (Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand) Map Menu
When? Thursday January 23, 2025
Who? Dad
Food Style? Pacific Rim Cuisine
Chiko's has been running for close to twelve years now, and the couple in charge are still going strong at their place out in West Auckland. With wife Chiko's Japanese background and husband Roberto's Filipino heritage and French training, the restaurant showcases a fusion of Pacific flavours with elegant, refined techniques. They’ve won several awards for their food, and I've been here many times with my parents to enjoy their seasonal menus.
It's a fine summer day and to start the meal off, I’ve ordered a lychee rose mocktail. It's slightly effervescent, but sweet and pleasant to drink, without the flavours being too overpowering.
Mains #1
Prime beef scotch fillet steak: mustard hollandaise, crayfish wonton, herb vegetable, crispy potato chips, beef jus
I've chosen the steak for mains. Though I asked for medium rare, it is a little on the undercooked side, with the fat needing to be more rendered. The presentation is fantastic though, with a myriad of colours and textures that blend really well together. The lobster wonton is super tasty, without losing the sweetness of the protein inside the deep-fried wrapper. I love the puree and jus, they're rich and delectable, and the fries help to bulk out the meal. There’s always a risk that fusion causes confusion with the flavours becoming muddled or being too jarring but here they complement each other really well. Though the plate might seem a bit small, the ingredients skew rich, so it does fill you up - but I do have room for dessert, naturally.
Mains #2
Chikos style kare kare: tender braised angus beef shin, rich annatto garlic peanut gravy, selected vegetables, chili coconut bagoong, fragrant jasmine rice
Dad is a little disappointed with his meal though. It's a bit dry and his flavours didn't harmonise as well as mine. A pity, because we know the calibre of the chef and the restaurant, and they've definitely done better in the past.
Dessert
Mango pudding
We request dessert and the dessert tray is brought to the table. The samples look so good that the neighbouring table starts ogling even though they have yet to receive any of their food. I’ve ordered a mango pudding because I can't get enough of that summer vibe, and it’s a wonderfully hot day, which makes me super happy to be here in Auckland and not Toronto. The pudding is creamy and well balanced with some great crunchy textures mixed in. I love the passionfruit custard. At $18, I do think it's quite overpriced, but it was a nice, sweet way to end the meal.
Overall, it feels like the standard has dropped over the years, but it's tough for the hospitality industry at the moment, and we're trying to support local as best as we can. The cost of living has gone up, especially fresh produce, so it's no surprise that it's harder for restaurants to survive and make profit in this kind of economy.
Posted by Jeremy at 5:05pm on Thursday October 23, 2025 :: 0 comments :: 
Chikos
Where? Chikos Restaurant and Cafe (Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand) Map Menu
When? Saturday September 12, 2015
Who? My family
Food Style? Pacific Rim Cuisine
Chikos is one of my favourite West Auckland eateries. They are relatively new to the scene, opening up in 2013, but have made a big impact to the cuisine on Lincoln Road, attracting foodies from all over the city. The owners, Roberto and Chiko, after whom the restaurant is named, actually used to hire suits from my parents' shop on Albert Street when Roberto worked at Sky City. We have been here several times in the past and have always enjoyed ourselves, and on this day, we are here for Khim's [redacted]th birthday.
The cuisine here is unlike many I have seen across the country. Chikos presents Pacific Rim cuisine - namely Filipino, with Japanese and French influence - with beautiful, fresh New Zealand produce on a plate. The presentation is always top-notch and the food is delicious to match - Chikos chefs have taken out the Chef of the Year award in both 2014 and 2015. The menu is ever-changing to match the seasons, and I can't stress how amazing this is. I love restaurants that take advantage of the awesome produce we have here and it shows how innovative and creative the chefs are.
I've opted for the Chef's Tasting Set Menu, which is a three course dinner.
Entree
Triology of Ora King Salmon: turmeric cured, cane sugar soy teriyaki, pickle walnut tartare, black garlic aioli, kinako cream & chili toast
Fantastic presentation, as usual. This dish is actually a competition entry, and there's no doubt as to why - there's a wonderful set of flavours on the plate, showcasing the many different aspects of salmon. There's plenty of freshness, fruits, herbs, sauces that all work together to celebrate the main protein. All the elements have been skillfully selected and purposefully put on the plate, and you can see the care and finesse and skill evident in front of you. What a lovely way to start the meal.
Mains
Lamb Shank Pochero: creme celeriac, yellow millet, bacon banana, confit brussel sprouts & garlic, apple yoghurt, pinot noir reduction
The meat is falling off the bone, as it should be, and beautifully pink. Plenty of rich flavours that the wine has brought out, the meat is succulent and juicy, and the lamb skin with potato inside is absolutely divine. I really appreciate the simple elements that help balance the dish, like the fruit, brussel sprouts and yoghurt, but wouldn't have minded a bit more of this to mellow out the jus. Another masterfully executed dish.
Dessert
Hazelnut bavaroise, salted caramel bavaroise, Sri Lankan cinnamon brulee
Very classic French desserts with wonderful creamy and chocolate flavours. The salted caramel is my favourite of the three, and the perfect balance of salty and sweet. I'm not sure what is particularly Sri Lankan about the brulee, but to me it tasted very much like an ordinary - but still very good - apple crumble.
All in all, this three course meal and complimentary sparkling wine came to $60, which is a bargain for how amazing everything was. It wouldn't be a stretch to think this was a fine dining establishment, based on the calibre of the food, but the atmosphere is so casual and warm, and the prices are very reasonable, which is very West Auckland. Highly recommended, and always such an enjoyable experience here.
Posted by Jeremy at 9:02am on Monday September 26, 2016 :: 0 comments ::