Gloriously popular, Hello Beasty on Auckland’s waterfront is a cornucopia of pan-Asian tastes and textures. Every dish that comes from owner/chef Stuart Rogan’s kitchen is packed with flavour that leaves you trawling through the menu for more, more, more. It’s a casual place, no airs and graces, attracting a cosmopolitan crowd many of whom have returned repeatedly since Stuart and Emma Rogan opened the doors in 2018. Service is exemplary and so authentically in tune with the genuinely friendly atmosphere of the place. Start with a Bloody Kimchi cocktail, then tuck into firm favourites such as crumbed katsu sando, wild-caught Australian prawns and the dazzling charred corn, tofu, and spinach dumplings. This may be food for sharing, but odds are you’ll be reluctant to pass around the plate of the crispy soft-shell crab or the Korean-spiced BBQ chicken – let them order their own! We’re in awe of the calm and relaxed Beasty vibe on offer and the team’s delivery on its commitment to making casual cool. No wonder Hello Beasty earned our tick as the Cuisine Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year for 2023/2024.