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Budget Friendly & Delicious!

Blogger Ruby has been busy checking out some of Hawke's Bay's dining establishments, here are her top picks of budget friendly eateries that deliver on quality, delicious food.

While Hawke's Bay is usually known for it’s high end winery restaurants and fine dining, the Bay also boasts a selection of eateries which provide incredible atmospheres and delicious food while also being budget friendly. Read on for a selection of the top cheap eats currently gracing the Hawke’s Bay food scene.

Mamacita
Right in the heart of Havelock North is this bright and bustling Mexican restaurant. Mamacita is well known in Hawke's Bay for providing mouth watering Mexican style food and delicious magaritas. The menu consists mainly of sharing dishes as well as their signature tacos which are single serve. While the menu is generally budget friendly, it becomes even more so on Taco Tuesdays, where tacos are on a two for one deal and ‘Queso Thursday’ where quesadillas are discounted to $10 each. Be sure to try the ‘Mamacita Fried Chicken’ and the ‘De Puerco’ pulled pork taco when you visit!
*vegetarian options available. Mamacita now has a second establishment based in Napier.

Carr’s Kitchen
Attached to the highly acclaimed Brave Brewing is the equally fantastic Carr’s Kitchen. Carr’s boasts a menu filled with delicious burgers, hot dogs, tatter tots and other tasty snacks. The atmosphere is super relaxed and is the perfect place to catch up with friends for a bite and a beer following a busy day at work or a cruisey day at the beach. While the whole menu looks incredible, I can highly recommend the ‘Fried Chicken Burger’ for $15 which comes in a fresh brioche bun with a side of fresh corn salsa. If you’re not too full after your dinner than definitely opt for one of their $4 Rush Munroe’s ice cream sandwiches which are the perfect post dinner treat.
*vegetarian options available

Pipi Café
Pipi Café is a much loved part of Havelock North and for good reason. This bright pink building on the edge of the Havelock North Village, makes what many would say, is the best wood fired pizza in New Zealand. Pipi’s has a warm and inviting atmosphere, and is the ideal place to enjoy a meal with family. Pizza flavours include the classics, such as the ‘Margherita’ and the ‘Aloha’, which is a spin on the traditional Hawaiian flavour. As well as classics, Pipi’s also creates some originals such as ‘Wilted Greens’, which is a personal favourite of mine and features a plain pizza base, topped with caramelised onion, wilted spinach, walnuts, garlic butter and parmesan. Large pizzas range in price from $25 - $27 and are the perfect size for sharing between three or four.
*vegetarian options available

FunBuns
It would be true to say that Fun Buns has taken Hastings by storm. This Asian street food style restaurant becomes a bustling hive of activity as soon as the doors open each evening and people are continually streaming in all evening. Fun Buns specialty is definitely their Gua Bao (steamed buns) which they serve 6 different ways. My personal favourite has got to be the ‘Classic Pork Bao’ which features their five spice pork shoulder, pickled cucumber, coriander, hoisin ketchup and peanuts - it tastes incredible!  As well as the delicious buns, this groovy eatery also sells a variety of tasty sides for sharing. The ‘Fun Guy Fries’ and the spicy ‘KFC’ (Korean Fried Chicken) are two dishes that cannot be missed when dining here. The buns and sides are priced at around $12 each, making Fun Buns a very affordable place to enjoy your evening meal.
*vegetarian options available

Haumoana Burger
Settled about 20 minutes from Hastings and Havelock North is the small coastal town of Haumoana. Up until now Haumoana hasn’t been much of a foodie destination,  but when Haumoana Burger opened their doors last year this idea disappeared completely. Like the name suggests, Haumoana Burger sells a selection of gourmet burgers as well as variety of unique sides,  including dishes such as gravy fries or deep fried pickles. The gourmet burgers take on a more traditional stand point with flavours such as ‘Beef, Bacon & Cheese’ & the ‘Fish Burger’ which features local fish, fresh lime, avocado and mayo. Burgers cost just less than $15 each and will leave you feeling full and satisfied.  Grab your burgers takeaway style and wander down the road beach for the true Haumoana experience.
*vegetarian & vegan options available