WOW WOW WOW. The food at Jambalaya is well worth the money. Rich in flavor and very filling. Staff member on hand was very nice, knowledge of the menu was great. Very satisfying. Though the place could do with a fresh look.
Just had a great meal here. Gumbo excellent same for the pulled pork burger and fried chicken. Only slight down side was the kids mac and cheese a little tasteless other than excellent and great service
Had come here before but went for takeaway this time. It took about an hour to get home so the food wasn't piping hot. For the most part most of the food was still quite nice, particularly the ribs and the buffalo wings. The fried chicken on the other hand wasn't as nice.The jambalaya was also still good but they it was put on the bottom of the bag so most of the sauce leaked out.
Quite nice food and the service was alright.
Went here for my wife's brith day, it was really good, the food tasted amazing, especially the scallops. The corn bread was not my cup of tea and tasted more like cake. The service was superb and the cocktails well made. Highly recommended!
Excellent. great service, convivial atmosphere, food was very tasty and nicely presented. I had the New Orleans shrimp & scallops. So yummy. Will definitely be going back to Jambayla.
After coming here for dinner my thoughts of jambalaya have definitely changed! We had breakfast here which was really small and a little over priced once. The dinner however is delicious, specifically we the fried chicken! And the cornbread and the ribs! The takeaway pizzas are really good as well, we got the steak one and the fried chicken. Don't recommend the steak one as it gets a bit soggy and is probably not as we expected but the fried chicken pizza is honestly amazing!!
Jambalaya has recently changed hands and the decor has a new cleaner look. They are currently advertising a new menu coming soon, so I look forward to trying it.
Previous Review
We have been here a few times. Today We had their signature dish, fried chicken and a kids mac'n fries. They were excellent, as were all the other dishes we have tried. The staff are always friendly, especially to our two children and they have chalk boards to keep them entertained.
Suggested by a friend me,my wife and the whole family of seven went to Jambalaya to celebrate our Anniversary. Had quite a few drinks to start and some cocktails. Bartender did a great job. Ordered Chicken taster and crab cakes with some nachos with dips to start and shrimp and scallops, BBQ Ribs ,fried chicken and fried chicken Pizza as mains followed by keylime pie and pecan pie to share to finish off. Everything was above expectations but I would say the Ribs were amazing. Compliments to the chef and the whole team for such an awesome efforts to make our evening special. Looking forward to go back. Highly recommended.
What a lovely experience ! We had the fried chicken, seafood gumbo, tortilla chips w jalapeño cheese sauce and ended it with the peanut butter pie. A standout was the peanut butter pie - if you love reese's buttercup, you'd love this ! We enjoyed the tortilla chips too - light and crunchy as .. yummo!
We're no pro food critics, just everyday folks, but we really enjoyed our southern fried chicken and corn bread. We arrived early Saturday evening without a reservation and were warmly greeted and seated. A good not too overloaded menu supported by cheery staff. Whilst we settled on the not so healthy fried option it was carefully and tastefully cooked without lashings of cooking oil and complimented with green vegetables, mashed pots and kumara's sprightly cooked. A pleasant dining ambience in deep southern American lore and licence plates make for a pleasant meal.we will be visiting again.
Very good food. LOVE THE RIBS 😍 and very pleasant staff. It's an easy 5. Been here 5 times and has met the standards every time. All the food on the menu is great. Lovely atmosphere and a great looking restaurant. I will certainly be coming back for the Thursday night all you can eat ribs.
😀👍
Food was great! best ribs and wings my girlfriend and i have had in a long time.
Wait time for food was very quick and was even provided with a hot cloth to clean our hands after demolishing our starters (ribs and wings).
The mains were no let down either! The burger was great, full of flavor and just the right size.
The fried chicken main was excellent served with fresh veges.
again it didn't take long for us to scoff these down!
staff were very polite, happy to help with our requests and seemed to enjoy being there.
We will definitely be returning and recommending to others!
My two teenagers and I went to Jambalaya on a Saturday night looking for some food to eat, and it never disappoints. Our waitress was very friendly and often checked up on how we were going. The food was delicious as well, with quite a lot to choose from. The only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because the service was kind of slow. Plus, we were told that the main bartender was sick and so no cocktails could be made tonight because 'she's the only one who knows them off by heart'.
However, overall this restaurant is great and I would definitely go back; it gives a great taste of southern American food!
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A little Southern gem.
The restaurant limits itself predominantly by its location, and on my first visit, the longest wait time I had ever experienced at an eatery (in our case, a little over 2 hours for our mains). Although, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, as there are only a couple of chefs and we had walked in to a table of twenty who had just placed their orders.
The food on both occasions was good and portions are quite decent. The prices are in-line with other Auckland eateries, and the décor and lighting match the cozy and homely atmosphere you expect from a Southern restaurant. We were afraid that we were going to be in for a long wait time again when we walked in to another full table of guests celebrating a party, but the starters arrived promptly and mains followed not long after. The waitresses, although young and possibly on a holiday job, were very friendly, attentive and efficient.
So although it isn't the best Southern restaurant in Auckland in terms of their food, the food is still very good. It's the hour-and-a-half travel time (in total) due to their fairly isolated location that is what makes you reconsider how often you choose to return here over similar quality eateries more centralized to the heart of the Coast.
Not an expert in southern cuisine but their wings, fried chicken and gumbo were delicious, fresh seafood in the gumbo too. Nice cosy atmosphere. Definitely thinking of going back again.
Authentically Southern Food at its best. If you are craving fried chicken, rack of ribs and cornbread look no further. Run by a wonderful Southern Couple, all the way from the United States of America - you may feel like you've left NZ and walked into the home of what they call true southern food. My pick is the Bonnie fried chicken served with a side of mash, steamed veges - and lashings of warm gravy - this will have you warming the cockles of your heart on these wintery cold nights. The ribs are also finger licking good - this will satisfy any meat lover. The decor is very Americanised and appropriately matched to the food. Also available to purchase is their very own home made hot sauce. This place is a must try.
Came here for my birthday a couple of weeks back. The cocktails are really tasty and my partner loved the American beers. The starters were quite large and would recommend sharing. After 2 starter and 3 mains between 3 of us we were incredibly full. 2 orders were the seafood gumbo, which they told me was good, although mum didn't like the cornbread as she said it was too sweet. The staff were friendly.
Really enjoyed my jambalaya. Don't have it often but don't remember it being that tasty. Night was pretty busy. Our table was ready on time, service was good and food came out at an acceptable pace. Would come back to try the ribs next time..
Loved the food. I had the scallops and my husband had the ribs, both very nice. Highlight for me was the Peanut Butter Pie for dessert..... YUM! We will definitely be going back.
Have been to dinner here many times as food is amazing! Tried the Dixieland Bennie for brunch this morning and I will be back again for brunch now too! Flavours are spectacular!
If your looking for a cool southern American joint, then this place if your you. The service is great as well as their food. Personly I like the pulled pork pizzas and burgers.
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The setting's not the most amiable or even comfortable (my chair felt a bit wonky and the table wobbled), but the food was smashing: everything was timely, hot, and flavourful, and the portions were generous without being overwhelming. We tried: the half rack of ribs, gumbo, and chicken fried steak (this was described differently in the menu) and swapped plates partway through our lunch. We are no experts in New Orleans cuisine, but it all tasted good. The meat and seafood (in the gumbo) were all beautifully cooked with the ribs just about falling off the bone; the prawns and scallops juicy; and the chicken breast moist; and everything was tasty. As for the sides, the chips were hot and crispy, the mashed potato was creamy and buttery, the rice was fluffy and the right side of al dente. The only (very slight) disappointment was the coleslaw that came with the ribs -- the cabbage could have been shredded a bit more finely because the chunky bits tended to overwhelm the dressing.
Service was friendly (we came quite late for lunch but they were happy to have us) and prompt and the waitress put a jug of water on the table and glasses shortly after we ordered -- much appreciated on such a hot day. Iced tea (free refills) came in a trendy mason jar with a handle but was properly cold and iced; for fans of Dr. Pepper - they have them here!
Sit outside if the dated indoor decor is going to bother you, and step carefully when you go to the ladies because it was very dark in there.
p.s. We were quite full after all that but manfully struggled to fit in dessert, though my husband and our daughter shared the pecan pie (the lightweights): the pecan pie was delicious but the pastry was a bit, erm, firm (flying pastry was a risk when we tried tackling it with forks, so we picked it up with our hands in the end). The peanut butter pie, oh my...I'm glad I didn't have to share. It came with spray cream, which was a bit of a letdown, but the pie more than made up for it.
Where do I start. Food, drinks and service were all top notch. Portion sizes are huge. Cocktails are yum. Was a pitty I ate too much and didn't get to try the desserts. Will definitely be coming back
Great little pleasant cafe. Don't be put off by the 90's style interior. Food is definitely worth a visit.
Started with the tortilla's with a choice of dips. We chose the jalepeno melted cheese dip. Delicious. Creamy with a hint of fire.
I chose the mama bonnies chicken tasters. Partner opted for the new orleans scallops with prawns.
Loved the little touches. The fried carrot was a pleasant suprise.
Service was awesome. Very friendly and attentive. Looking forward to returning and trying other food items.
This restaurant is amazing! I have been many times now and each time the food is perfect! Always quick and such friendly staff. Would recommend to anyone anytime, I will definitely be back again soon!
After chosen a wrong place to eat last week, we finally chose a good place today. Friendly lady served us, we ordered steak from dinner menu and burger steak from brunch menu. The only thing is the timing, it was quite slow but the quality of both are good. So no complaint about that. We actually wanna try some other foods from the menu but we were too full so might be later we will be back, probably with family.
Update: I love the country fried steak! And my wife loves the ribs.
Jambalaya is one of the most consistent restaurants I have ever visited.
The staff are always friendly and not constantly checking if everything is OK (a pet hate of mine). The food is excellent, the ribs are some of the best ribs I have eaten anywhere in the world (and I've had ribs in a lot of countries). The shrimp and scallop New Orleans and pulled pork enchiladas are also superb.
The desert menu is small but everything on that is again also fantastically tasty. They also do some great cocktails and allow BYO wine.
All of that mixed with the simple laid back feel and understated Americana adorning the walls make this place a true gem.
We are spoiled for choice in our area, but we keep going back to Jambalaya. Why? The Southern American theme is more than just decor. The music matches and the hosts are relaxed but on to it.
The food is very reasonably priced and it is very good. I love the ribs, but can only manage a 1/2 rack! The whole menu is just great.
So give it a go!
Went there with 5 others for a birthday celebration. Food was really great and the menu selection inspiring reflecting the southern USA region. I went for the jambayla which was tasty and plentiful. We started with tortilla chips and dips. The chips were tasty but could have used a few more to finish the two yummy dips. Drinks were more than adequate with cocktails (I had a really good lime Marguerita), buckets of beers and wine.
The staff were helpful and friendly without being in your face the whole time. Keen to go back again.
Love this place. Good, wholesome food, friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere. All the dishes are delicious and generous portions. So great to have a local restaurant with consistently good food and service.
Absolutely delicious, perfection every visit. Ribs are juicy, wings are spicy, buffalo burger is tender the list could go on about every item the menu..... But it all has to start with a jug of pink lemonade and a con queso
Although this is no 5 star restaurant (deco). The food is amazing. Meals are a decent size. Been there several times and everything I have ever tried from starters, mains and desserts are all authentic and delicious. Highly recommended.
My wife is canadian and she is a fussy foody. The canadians know how to eat and she could never find good american to satisfiy her home sickness. But after finding jambalaya she said it was just like home. We have been going to jambalaya since it opened and there have been many changes to the menu, but we have always loved the food. Happy wife = happy man. Thanks jambalaya!
P.s. Bring back fresh cut fries...to die for!
Having been to Jambalaya over a dozen times I thought it time to write a review.
Fantastic food and service. The owner of the restaurant Joey is so very nice and is more than willing to have a chat about upcoming week day specials and ideas.
$$ cost of a meal including starter, main and a beer averages at about $35-$40pp. My fave dish is the ribs and their Key-lime pie is Divine!
This restaurant is so good my brother drove all the way from Mt Roskill just to have the all you can eat ribs on a Thursday night.
I am a real foodie expat, and it's been a challenge to find good, unique restaurants here. It's even harder to find good American-themed or TexMex restaurants! Luckily, I live close to Jambalaya. We and friends went for their Tuesday night TexMex night, and had a really good Tex Mex meal. Started off with the $2 still warm home-made chips and tangy salsa. I had the chicken burrito for dinner. The portion was really nicely sized and had a delicious filling of pulled chicken, rice, beans and cheese. I finished it all, and my only regret was not having room left for the key lime pie (which I've had before and is delish.) We're planning our next visit for this weekend already. Thanks for giving us a local foodie (southwestern US themed, no less) spot Joey! Amazing food.
Awesome Food and Great People! Love the smokey flavours they create in their meals, especially the meatballs and ribs, YUMMM!
Our family were looking for a restaurant out of town for a change and found Jambalaya to be the best restaurant in the Rodney District so we gave it a go. Reserved a table. Walked into a busy restaurant which was a good sign. Food was great, kids enjoyed the meal and we enjoyed the price. Thanks Joe, well done. See you again one day. Janice.
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Having eaten in the States, I was worried before going through the door. Well Silly me. The only thing that didn't quite hit the spot, the biscuits were a little too 'scone' like.
Ribs,were to die for and the seasoning just leaves you wanting more, I only had the small portion and was so full, highly recommend them.
We arrived and were immediately greeted and seated, water, menus and wine menus brought to the table which was clean and well set.
Our waitress was able to answer 99.9% of our questions, only having to refer to the kitchen once, that was impressive. Food came out quickly, we actually had to ask if we could have a delay before the mains as we were enjoying ourselves so much.
Thank you to all the Staff at Jambalaya for making the evening so special, especially as it was also a Birthday dinner (we didn't tell you that on arrival), and Thank You to the owner for taking the time to tell us about the ingredients and methods, much appreciated. We will be back, good luck for the future.
Best restaurant on the Coast!
Have been to Jambalaya 5 times now, and are yet to find a dish we don't like. The prices are great for the amount and quality of the food. Found the smoked ribs absolutely amazing, with an array of delicious sides to choose from.
The owners are friendly and excited to discuss their food. Great service, homely atmosphere, and we will definitely be returning soon!
As a first time diner at this fine restaurant I can say I was seriously impressed. The service was excellent and the food was amazing. So Tasty. I dined upon King Crab Legs for an entree, and as a Massive Crab fan I can say it was everything I would expect from such a high profile ingredient. For Main had the secret recipe Pork Ribs (southern style), primo as, great portions and Fantastic taste. I thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere as I cannot stand pretentiousness. Look forward to trying the rest of the menu. 5 stars really? For sure, I'm no professional critic so I only write reviews when it hits 5 stars. Job Done.
Amazing food, great service and the Keylime pie is to die for. The meals are a large size and well worth the price. The owners of this establishment should be very proud, its clean, vibrant and fun.
Absolutely the BEST fish tacos. Fish cakes were yum. Wish I could have had room for the pecan pie...next time! Service was fast & thoughtful. Excellent!
My partner and I went to Jambalaya last week and we had a wonderful meal, started with Calamari Starter, great flavour that just made us want more!! My boyfriend had the Burrito and he was amazed, he said it was the best burrito he has ever had, he couldn't get over the amount of chicken that was in there, it was overflowing! I am very big fan of ribs, and I am big critic to how the are prepared. I had the ribs, and they were perfection on a plate, great portion sizes, I even had them for dinner the next night, after a great tip on how to reheat from the staff. The service there was exceptional. Great friendly atmosphere! Would definitely go again! Very Highly recommended!
Thanks Again all the staff of Jambalaya for making a date night a really pleasant evening, and bringing some great taste to the Coast!
:)
We went to Jambalaya recently for my fathers birthday and we couldn't have asked for a better experience.
The food was fantastic, the atmosphere was great and the service was exceptional! The menu was clear and a good size. The restaurant was very clean and tidy. The waiters were very knowledgable and helpful. The food arrived quickly, was well presented and very tasty. I had the steak and have to say it was probably the best steak I have EVER eaten. The ribs were really tasty and was a very generous serving. The burrito was delicious and one of the best burrito's I have tried! I would recommend Jambalaya to anyone without hestitation and will definitely be returning. It is a great asset to the Manly community.
Couldn't have asked for a better meal. The food was great, and obviously very good quality ingredients. The staff were very friendly and attentive. We were there when two large groups were booked in, but we still got our food in a decent time and were well looked after.
The place was completely packed, but they tried to accommodate for the walk in's by getting extra tables from the restaurant next door. How many restaurants can you say will do that for you?
Will definitely be back there for more, even though it is 1 hour and 20 minutes away from our house!!!!
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The short version: Sunday Brunch. A rather long wait and OK coffee but food was delicious. Good value, generous servings. Friendly owner and staff. Highly recommended.
We booked in for a Sunday Brunch as a party of four. When we arrived at 10:25am the restaurant was empty, the proprietor explained they had only just started doing brunch and people hadn't caught on yet. Drink orders were taken and delivered promptly. My soy flat white was good texture wise and enjoyable although the "soy" taste was rather strong, whilst my wife complained that her soy latte was a little thin and also had a strong soy taste. I wonder whether they are using the cafe soy (which tends to steam more consistently and has a milder taste when heated), we also suspect from the colour and taste they had used single rather than the more usual double shot of espresso; be sure to ask if you prefer strong coffee. The others ordered the pink lemonade, which comes in cute mason jar mugs, is bottomless, and was delicious.
It was a while longer before food orders were taken, and we waited a good while for our meals once ordered. We were later informed the ribs take some time to cook which was the reason for the delay - if you're in a hurry don't order these. In the meantime we had a good chat with the very friendly owner, and some other guests started to arrive. All told it was around 55 minutes into our visit by the time our food arrived.
I had ordered Ribs and Wings, which consisted of a (very) generous helping of pork ribs with 4 buffalo wings, served with a small bowl of ranch dressing, chunky fries and a basic (but fresh) coleslaw. The ribs had been cooked in a jerk rub which gave them a lovely dark colour and a slightly firm texture, then slathered in a spicy (but not sweet) barbecue sauce. The meat readily fell off the bone and they were delicious. The buffalo wings were perfectly cooked and whilst enjoyable enough, I felt the sauce could have used a little more kick. I struggled to finish everything on the plate, and I'm rather a rib fan, so if you've a big appetite this dish represents excellent value.
My wife enjoyed her Big as Texas Breakfast which she ordered with scrambled eggs; they came with bacon, a homemade hash brown, cheese grits, a biscuit (like a scone - you can substitute toast) and some spicy sausage (although this was not on the menu). Our friend had the Eggs Bendedict with a side of mushrooms, which she also enjoyed. The 7 year old in our party (and by far the fussiest) had one Waffle with Bacon (there is also a kids menu) which he now claims he didn't like, but smothered with maple syrup and ate 3/4 of nonetheless. My wife tried the waffle and declared it "yummy".
All in all we enjoyed our brunch and it was worth the drive and the wait. The other items looked delicious on the menu and we will surely return to try them another time.
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Southern American food is in high demand in auckland city at the moment, but before it all was this little gem found a quick 30min drive from Auckland's CBD up in the beautiful Whangaparaoa Peninsula.
Run by a couple from Atlanta Georgia you can see the love these two have for soul food from the Deep South.
We have been several times, the fruity margaritas and warm cheese dip with home made corn chips are worth the drive alone- the menu has all the classics like seafood gumbo and mommas fried chicken and of course the restaurant namesake a tasty heart warming jambalaya. Portions are big, personalities are bigger and the homemade hot sauce is one of the best around.
There is nothing overly trendy or show-offy about this place, it's warm friendly and has a lot of heart. If Mr Lid would move out of the city to be closer to this place is be one happy Mrs Pot! If the thought of a drive does put you off book a night at Whangaparaoa lodge and make a real night of it, they have even started a weekend brunch which is a twist on old favourites and $10 for a big plate of bacon and eggs- doesn't get much better?
Used to come here all the time and was told that it was under new ownership and was not as good. Decide to try it for ourselves and glad we did. The corn chips and fried chicken were better than we expected. However, the pizza sauce was a bit average. Great service as well with a nice live band every Saturday.
Surprisingly reasonable prices! The food was amazing, portions were generous. The ribs were beautiful, meat just fell off the bone. We will be going back for sure. We were there for a birthday and after dinner they came out with a birthday 'cake' using a brownie from the dessert menu.
We are 3 families making a party of 9 from Takapuna and Albany. We were very happy with the food and service at Jambalaya last night (3 Sept). 6 of us have never been there. We were in Manly because one family bought a property nearly. Must say we all like food and eat out a lot together. We ranked your ribs above our favourite place in Browns Bay and that was of very high standard. The Southern Chicken, Gumbo, pecan pie, peanut butter pie were all delicious. I thought the Key Lime pie was a bit sharp and intense but the others like it. My 12 year old said she liked everything when asked to vote her favourite of the buffalo wings, ribs and Southern fried chicken she tasted. The waitress was there whenever we needed her - thanks! 5 out of 5!
Jambalaya were so accommodating at short notice for a large party. After taking our orders they promptly let us know that there was a slight shortage of a certain dish and we're able to rectify quickly. Very attentive service - everyone at the table was so happy with their meals. Beautiful food! To top it off they brought out a chocolate brownie with a candle on it for my aunty as a surprise for her birthday. Such a fantastic dining experience. Couldn't recommend them enough!
Jambalaya Southern Kitchen is AMAZING !!!!. The restaurant delivers authentic Southern American food that is quite simply exquisite. The restaurant is owned and operated by individuals who are very friendly and passionate about providing a good product to their customers. The ribs and chicken wings are the best I have tried. Unfortunately they are so good that it limits me from trying their other dishes, which I have no doubt are amazing.
Thank you so much guys, much appreciated.
I will be back
I have been to Jambalaya a few times now and have had a great experience every time. From the owners and staff who are really friendly and down to earth, to the cool music, to the food which I love, I really recommend it. My one tip is to try the Wings. I cant get enough of them. I have now moved to live in Sydney, and still miss the taste of those Wings...
We have been regulars at Jumbalaya for years and it has NEVER failed to disappoint. Their food is INCREDIBLE, service amazing and the atmosphere is really cool. We live on the peninsula and often think that we will go to dinner in the city or something fancy, but always end up back at Jumbalaya. The service is so great that the waitresses their know what we order each time we go in! The food is truly delicious and the restaurant so friendly, we cannot recommend it enough, for both locals and those with relatives visiting the coast.
Awesome spot!! Incredibly good soul food! The chef is extremely seasoned and knows exactly how to tickle your taste buds. Hats off to these guys. Even in peak dinner time hours service was quick and efficient. Serving sizes were generous and everything was delicious!! Going back very soon with friends. Thanks guys!
Popular place on the coast. Good service and special shout out to the jalapeno cheese dip. My companions all polished off the ribs. Good craft beer selection too.
Went here a year or so ago and although we enjoyed the food the service was lacking. Went back tonight and my opinions totally changed, food was still amazing and now there was service to match, friendly and smiling wonderful staff. A+
Thursday all you can eat ribs = AMAZING!!! Customer service was really good too everyone was really helpful and very polite. Going back this Thursday for more ribs :D
This is the only restaurant I've seen, where the food is better than the advertised picture.
The best food on the Coast by some distance.
If you're a foodie make Jambalaya your first and last stop.
Had the entre of squid rings and the mains cajun fillet chicken. Mains exceeded my expectations, was very delicious! Service was prompt and friendly.
Great food and service. Live music violinist was a little loud for waitress to hear what we were ordering as she was walking though the restaurant.
Very good food. The $15 lunch menu had plenty of variety and all the items looked very good
Clean and tidy with great service.
Menu has a strange but accessible range of food types. From pizza to jambalaya
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