Huia Beach Store & Cafe

Oh, I really wanted to like this place more! I had heard so many great things about Huia Beach Store and Café. It is nestled in the bush, and a hop, skip and jump away from the water, so the location is indeed worthy of 5 stars, along with the ample timber décor, spacious seating and small inclusive bookshop.
My hubby and I ate here for the first time yesterday, both got the eggs bene with salmon. The salmon carried such a strong smell and taste that I couldn’t eat it. The aioli was so runny, along with the very soft poached eggs, it made a soup at the bottom of my plate. Along with our coffees, we paid just under $ 50.00 for breakfast.
The cabinet food looked very enticing, but felt inclined to pass on takeaway treats after not being so happy with our meals, I didn’t want to risk the disappointment, just in case.

The Huia Beach Store and Café is a great stop for our hiking group after a cold wet day out at Whatipu.
There slices are from rocket kitchen and really are a generous size. The brownie was very moist, warm and decadent. The chips were the best I’ve ever had (twice cooked I think) and seasoned with salt and pepper and came with a nice mustard dip.
The hot chocolate on the other hand was not so hot, I could drink it in one go. And it was more water and milk than chocolate. Not to mention that everyone got marshmallows except me. Friends said the coffee was good and in Summer one of my friends won’t pass by without stopping in for one of their great milkshakes.
Apparently they do a great pie on a Friday night too.

I’m a fan! Here’s why…
1) Big lolly jars lines the shelves with remind me of the good ol’ days when you use to pick you own dollar mix.
2) The staff wear t shirts that say ‘Huia, just like Hawaii only cooler.‘
3) The make an epic caramel slice that’s 50% caramel (at least) on a thick brownie base. My advice? Take an extra one for the road.
I haven’t tried the cabinet food but it looks pretty nice — lots of fresh salads, quiche. that sort of thing. And they have butter chicken pies!

I’ve only been to the Huia Foodstore since it’s makeover but from what I’ve seen in past pictures it’s current state is a real upgrade. The first time we breezed through was after a massive walk in the Waitakeres and treated ourselves to a cornish pasty, scones and coffee. All of it was so tasty that today after a beach session with our pooch we headed over to the Foodstore to treat ourselves to Sunday brunch. The long black I had was pretty good (but teetering on burnt) and served with a dainty teaspoon. We had the eggs bene and meaty big breakfast w/​poached eggs. The hollandaise was that delicate blend of velvety and acidic bite. The focaccia served with both were crusty on the outside and spongy on the inside just as I like. Beware that the big breakfast is quite colossal and may send you into a meat coma. The only real gripe we had was that the food verged on taking just a smidgen too long and all four of our poached eggs were overdone. Other than that it’s a great little spot and has a super big outdoor seating area to be dog friendly.

Certainly not the Huia Road store of the past, this once iconic west takeaways has certainly taken a more restaurant/​café bent with trendy food and prices you would expect more in Ponsonby or Grey Lynn.
If you’re looking for an onion and cheese toasty this isn’t the place for you.
However both me and one of the people I were with ordered there burgers and fries, and they were delicious! The home made tomato sauce and aioli was delicious, and my bacon and egg burger was HUGE! I certainly did not need the side of chips, which were chunky and well seasoned.
So if you’re looking for cheap and kiwi classic takeaways while visiting Huia beach, don’t bother, but if you want to stop for something a bit more substantial for a bit more cost, then pop in and take a look what’s on offer.

Disappointing. $ 7 for a bowl of fries… really? No just straight fish and chips served in paper anymore… Holumi Salad? really? just over priced food that would be better suited in Ponsnobby not in a place like Huia in West Auckland.
Place smelt like burnt coffee. No rolly ice creams, no milkshakes and no fish and chip menu. Just some burgers and «fish and chip» meals.

After a long hot summer day trip out to the Waitaks, we came across this little gem on the way home. Part convenience store, part café, this is a cute little place sits on the beachfront in Huia — a quiet, sleepy little village with character.
This was the perfect place to get ice cream; which is the only reason we stopped by (it was an incredibly HOT day), or even lunch (saw a tofu burger on the menu which I have vowed to go back and try, as well as several delectable looking salads and foccacia-​type things). Even though it was empty when we went (in the evening on a weekday), you could tell that it was a popular place for the locals to come and enjoy a beachfront feed. The waitresses seemed to know the locals by name and were very friendly and inviting.
Notably, there are a pair of red wooden chairs outside the café, that you can sit on and pretend you’re living in 1980’s rural NZ (or perhaps on the set of Boy).