Hi friends! How are you? I hope you’re all well. In Auckland, the weather is getting colder, and it rains almost every day. It’s mid-June, the start of winter. The atmosphere feels calm, serene, and a little melancholic. But, in this article, I won’t talk about winter in Auckland right now (somehow, that sentence sounds like a novel title, doesn’t it?), but rather comfort food, as warm as a hometown hug. Let’s visit It’s Java with me, a halal Indonesian restaurant in Auckland Central.
It’s Java: Restaurant with Halal Indonesian Food in Auckland
Last weekend, one of my flatmates was craving sweet martabak, a traditional Indonesian snack. While in Indonesia, this food is easy to find, but in Auckland, it’s not. So far, we know of only one place that sells sweet martabak in Auckland: It’s Java Restaurant (note: if you know of any other areas that also sell sweet martabak, please share).
It’s Java is located on Karangahape Road (K Road), known for its multicultural atmosphere. K Road offers a variety of restaurants serving international cuisine, including Indonesian. From my apartment, I walk about 15–20 minutes to the restaurant. It’s Java is a small restaurant that immediately reminded me of the atmosphere of a warteg (a street food stall) in Indonesia. The place is clean and warmly lit. There are several tables and chairs, complete with cutlery, drinking water, glasses, and tissues. The food is served in a display case—much like in Padang restaurants or warteg in Indonesia.
What touched me was that the restaurant owner was Indonesian and spoke to us in Indonesian. It was the first time I’d ordered food in Auckland in Bahasa Indonesia. It felt like I was back home, ordering food for my family at a Padang restaurant.
Food: Tastes Like Home
At It’s Java, you can choose from a single menu or a value package for NZ$10. I ordered the value package: a plate of rice, a Padang omelette (a typical dish found at warteg or Padang restaurants), stir-fried vegetables, and balado potatoes. I also ordered beef rendang. My total cost was NZ$17.50 (please don’t convert to rupiah for my mental health 😅).
The taste? Delicious! Similar to authentic Indonesian flavours. The rice is soft, and the rendang meat is tender and not too spicy—just the way I like it. The portions are pretty large, even larger than those found in Indonesian restaurants back home. But that’s the norm in Auckland—almost all the portions here are huge.
Menu Options and Prices
It’s Java offers a variety of Indonesian specialities: nasi rames (mixed rice), nasi kuning (yellow rice), and snacks like martabak (cake), risoles, bakso (meatballs), corn fritters, and other fritters. Main dishes range from NZ$5–10 each, while snacks range from NZ$2–5. Value packages are also available, ranging from NZ$10 to NZ$30, depending on the filling and portion size. For more information or to see the menu, you can visit the restaurant in person or check out their website here.
Important Note: Halal
For our Muslim friends, It’s Java is a halal restaurant. The ingredients and cooking methods comply with halal requirements. In Auckland, finding halal restaurants isn’t difficult—many establishments display the halal logo or can be directly verified. Still, finding a halal Indonesian restaurant feels like a special bonus, especially when you’re craving Indonesian food.
Final Words
Overall, It’s Java offers authentic and satisfying Indonesian cuisine. The prices are also quite reasonable, especially considering that spices and halal meat are pretty expensive in Auckland. For me, it was a pleasant lunch, complemented by a relaxing stroll through the city. If you have any recommendations for places to eat, cafes, or street food that are a must-try in Auckland (and halal, of course), please leave a comment or send me a DM on Instagram. Looking for halal Indonesian food in Auckland? Rendang? Sweet martabak? Check out our full review of It’s Java Restaurant on K Road.
Nicel. Well written
We used to call it in Indonesia as touchscreen restaurant.. 😆
thank you
hahaha that's cool name