The best seafood restaurants in New Plymouth make the most of fish landed on the Taranaki coast, from beer-battered snapper and blue cod to pan-fried fish of the day, scallops and freshly shucked oysters. Whether you want a sit-down dinner in the city centre or a long lunch on the waterfront, seafood restaurants in New Plymouth cover both casual and special-occasion dining. Hi-Fri Seafood Kitchen on Brougham Street and Gusto Restaurant, Cafe & Bar on the waterfront are two good places to start.
1Hi-Fri Seafood Kitchen
Hi-Fri Seafood Kitchen is a seafood restaurant in New Plymouth Central, trading from the Kings building on Brougham Street where a restaurant first opened in 1927. The evening menu pairs traditional fish and chips with plated dishes such as pan-seared scallops, paua fritters and pan-fried fish of the day, and a separate takeaway counter serves fish by the piece. It suits diners after a relaxed dinner built around locally caught fish, as well as anyone picking up fish and chips to take home.
Services
- Dine-in dinner menu with seafood starters such as pan-seared scallops, panko crumbed calamari, grilled prawns and fish tacos
- Fresh oysters served with mignonette, battered or kilpatrick
- Mains including pan-fried fish of the day with pave potatoes and hollandaise, and a fresh fish burger
- Takeaway fish and chips with blue cod, snapper and gurnard, plus scallops, prawns and mussels
- Drinks menu to accompany dinner
Highlights
- A restaurant has operated on this Brougham Street site since 1927, trading as Hi-Fri since 1956
- Locally caught fresh fish supplied by Egmont Seafoods and Ocean Pearl Fisheries
- Gluten-free options available, although fried food is cooked in a shared fryer and is not suitable for coeliacs
- Kitchen open Tuesday to Saturday evenings, with reservations taken by phone or email
Location & Contact
Name: Hi-Fri Seafood Kitchen
Address: 19 Brougham Street, New Plymouth Central, New Plymouth
Phone: 06 757 2977
Website: hifri.co.nz
2Gusto Restaurant, Cafe & Bar
Gusto Restaurant, Cafe & Bar is a waterfront restaurant in New Plymouth with indoor dining and a deck for fine days, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alongside a broader cafe and bistro menu, it carries a strong seafood section, with a Fruits of the Sea tasting platter, freshly shucked oysters, mussels and fish of the day. It suits groups, families and anyone wanting a seafood lunch or dinner with sea views, and it also hosts weddings and functions.
Services
- Fruits of the Sea tasting platter with a selection of seafood, designed to share between two
- Freshly shucked market oysters served natural, beer battered, with chardonnay mignonette or a spicy vodka dressing
- Chef’s specials of mussels by the dozen and fish of the day, plus fish and chips battered or pan fried
- Queen scallops wrapped in pancetta, spicy fried calamari and manuka smoked fish cakes
Highlights
- Open seven days for breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Seating for 120 inside and 40 outside on the waterfront deck
- Set lunch and set dinner menus for groups, plus a canapes menu and wedding package
- Menu can be adapted for gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian diners, with gluten-free bread on request
- Plenty of on-site parking and gift vouchers available
Location & Contact
Name: Gusto Restaurant, Cafe & Bar
Address: New Plymouth
Phone: 06 759 8133
Website: gustotaranaki.co.nz
How to Choose the Right Seafood Restaurant in New Plymouth
- Check where the fish comes from. Restaurants that name their local suppliers or change the fish of the day with the catch tend to serve the freshest product.
- Match the setting to the occasion: a city-centre dining room suits a quiet dinner, while a waterfront deck suits a long lunch on a fine day.
- Look at opening hours before you go. Some seafood kitchens open for dinner only on certain nights, while others serve all day.
- Ask about dietary needs early. Gluten-free batter is common, but shared fryers mean it may not be safe for coeliacs.
- For groups, functions or celebrations, look for set menus, sharing platters and enough seating to book a large table.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Plymouth Seafood Restaurants
What kind of seafood can I order in New Plymouth restaurants?
Expect locally caught fish such as snapper, blue cod and gurnard, served battered or pan fried, along with oysters, scallops, mussels, calamari and prawns. Many kitchens also run a fish of the day that changes with what the boats bring in.
Where is a seafood restaurant near the New Plymouth city centre?
Brougham Street in New Plymouth Central has a dedicated seafood restaurant within walking distance of Devon Street and the Coastal Walkway. If you would rather eat by the water, waterfront restaurants a short drive or walk along the coast offer deck seating and sea views.
Do I need to book a table at a seafood restaurant in New Plymouth?
Booking is a good idea for dinner, especially on Friday and Saturday nights and during summer. Most restaurants take reservations by phone, email or an online booking form, and larger groups should call ahead.
Can I get gluten-free fish and chips?
Many seafood restaurants offer gluten-free batter or pan-fried fish. Check whether it is cooked in a separate fryer, because shared oil means it may not be suitable for people with coeliac disease.
Are oysters and mussels served in restaurants safe to eat?
Commercially harvested shellfish sold to restaurants is covered by New Zealand Food Safety’s monitoring programmes. If you are gathering your own shellfish along the Taranaki coast, check the MPI shellfish biotoxin alerts first, because cooking does not remove the toxin.
Is there a seafood restaurant in New Plymouth that is open for lunch?
Yes. Some seafood restaurants in New Plymouth serve brunch and lunch as well as dinner, while others focus on the evening service. Check each restaurant’s hours before you head out, as kitchen hours can differ from front-of-house hours.
Can I order seafood takeaways from a restaurant?
Several New Plymouth seafood kitchens run a takeaway counter alongside the dining room, selling fish by the piece with hand-cut chips, plus scallops, prawns, mussels and oysters.