Amano takes top accolade in first-ever Cult Icon awards

The popular venue beat more than 120 finalists across 10 categories in the inaugural awards run by hospitality recommendations and reservation site, Dish Cult. These awards are significant as they are judged by the most important critics of all – customers.

Diners voted for their favourite places across 10 categories – ranging from Cult favourite Dish, Dessert to Die For and the Hottest new opening. The judging panel, made up of Dish Cult New Zealand editor Grace Noles and two Auckland-based food reviewers, then determined the ultimate “Cult Icon of the Year” from the 10 category winners.

The public chose Amano as the Café We Love from a shortlist of 14 places around Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Other category winners included Soul in the Viaduct for Classic Kiwi Service, Duck Island in Ponsonby for Dessert to Die For, and Best Ugly Bagel’s King Salmon Bagel was the Cult Favourite Dish.

“Amano was a unanimous winner, chosen for the quality of the food, the service and the décor,” Noles says. “It is consistently reliable, Amano has grown to be an institution in the city’s hospitality scene.”

Particularly known for its lunch and evening service, Noles noted the Britomart restaurant should be praised for the stunning mornings it creates for breakfast and brunch guests.

The category that received the most votes was Ones to Watch: Hottest New Opening – won by Lucky 8 in Ponsonby. There were accolades for city fringe haunts too. Kiss Kiss Eatery in Mt Eden was awarded the Favourite Signature Cocktail with the Go-Go Mango and Archie’s Pizzeria in Newmarket took out the Whānau Friendly award. Knowing Aucklanders love to explore the rest of the country there was also a Food Worth Travelling For category, won by Amisfield in Queenstown.

Supported by ResDiary and G.H.Mumm, the Cult Icon Awards are expected to become a go-to list of the hottest places to go for not only Aucklanders, but visitors from across the country, and for millions around the world.

Powered by ResDiary, Dish Cult is the booking partner of more than 400 of New Zealand's most popular dining venues. It launched in Auckland in November 2019, and in little more than two years has grown into a world-wide hospitality hub, expanding into 50 countries across the globe, featuring venues from more than 80 cities and locations.

The full list of Auckland’s 2022 Cult Icon winners:

Bottomless Brunch: 

Winner - The Lula Inn, Viaduct

Highly-recommended - Wu & You, Mount Eden

Cafe We Love: 

Winner - Amano, Britomart

Highly-recommended - Crave Cafe, Morningside

Classic Kiwi Service: 

Winner - Soul, Viaduct

Highly-recommended - Prego, Ponsonby

Cult Favourite Dish: 

Winner - Best Ugly Bagel, Auckland CBD - King Salmon Bagel

Highly-recommended - Sneaky Snacky, Auckland CBD - Donut Burger

Day Kickstarter – Breakfasts Worth Waking Up For: 

Winner - Odettes Eatery, Auckland CBD

Highly-recommended - Urban in East, Howick

Dessert to Die For: 

Winner - Duck Island, Ponsonby - Hand-crafted Ice Cream

Highly-recommended - The Pie Piper, Auckland CBD - Banoffee Cream Pie

Favourite Signature Cocktail: 

Winner - Kiss Kiss Eatery, Mount Eden - Go-Go Mango

Highly-recommended - Soul, Viaduct - Pornstar Martini

Food Worth Travelling For: 

Winner - Amisfield, Queenstown

Highly-recommended - Luke’s Kitchen, Coromandel

Hottest New Opening: 

Winner - Lucky 8, Ponsonby

Highly-recommended - Nanny’s Eatery, Kingsland

Whānau Friendly: 

Winner - Archie’s Pizzeria, Newmarket

Highly-recommended - Sugar at Chelsea, Birkenhead