NZ Herald Headlines | Thursday December 4, 2025.
Video / NZ Herald
New Zealand has gone curry crazy this year, with one dish proving more popular than any other.
Uber Eats has published its “Cravings Report”, revealing the country’s top orders from the past year and some of the more unusual requests it has received.
Butter chicken with garlic naan wasthe most popular combination, with more than 30,000 orders in 2025, while zero-sugar drinks and acai bowls have surged in popularity.
Matcha might be more than just a trend, with orders tripling since 2023.
When it comes to coffee, the flat white reigns supreme across both islands, with Uber Eats saying this cements “New Zealand’s reputation for coffee excellence.”
Kiwis were partial to some unique orders as well, with one person ordering 51 bananas and nothing else in a single order and another placing 25 orders in one day, costing nearly $2100 in total.
Butter chicken with garlic naan was New Zealand's favourite pairing, according to Uber Eats. Photo / Patricia Niven
One customer has made more than 1200 orders in the year – more than three a day – and assorted cookie pies were at the top of their repeat dishes.
Kiwis were keen to enhance their meals with salt. It was the most popular add-on to orders, followed closely by cheeseburgers and pickles.
There were slight differences between the North and South Islands, with the North Island’s busiest day coming on June 27, when cold weather hit Auckland, and the South Island’s on October 5, the end of the school holidays.
Customers in the North Island were slightly more generous, tipping an average of $2.50 compared to the South Island’s $2.41.
Kiwis were active eaters during major sporting events, with fried chicken becoming the nation’s most popular meal during the Super Bowl.
Andy Bowie, general manager of Uber Eats New Zealand, said the app helped to generate about $120 million in extra revenue for local merchants, and 70% of users said the platform helped them discover new restaurants.
