I had dinner at The Zoo Keeper’s Son while I was in Auckland for a bit of work. There were 10 of us, and it also happened to be the night the All Blacks were playing, so it was a busy evening.

I wasn’t particularly looking forward to it at first. After checking out the menu beforehand, I noticed it was part of the Star Group, and I haven’t had too many great experiences with their venues over the years. That said, I wasn’t paying for dinner, so I decided to go in with an open mind.

We arrived about 45 minutes early, having finished everything we needed to do for the day and not wanting to head back to our accommodation. The staff at The Zoo Keeper’s Son were more than happy to seat us early, and we were able to order a few drinks and some pub snacks while we waited for the rest of the group.

To start, we ordered the fried chicken, fries, and onion rings. The fries were crisp, well-seasoned, and cooked nicely. A nice touch was that they provided squeeze bottles of tomato sauce and aioli rather than the usual small ramekins, which made sharing much easier.

The onion rings were another highlight. They were well-seasoned with a light, crunchy batter that tasted freshly made.

The standout, though, was the fried chicken with the Korean gochujang sauce. The heat level was spot-on and unapologetic—it didn’t feel like it had been toned down for the typical Kiwi palate, and it stayed true to its Korean inspiration. Interestingly, the menu describes it as a honey sriracha sauce, but it tasted much closer to a gochujang-based glaze. I also liked the ranch sauce underneath, and the house pickles served on top, which added a nice contrast to the richness of the chicken.

For my main, I had no idea what to order and was a bit hesitant to commit to anything. I ended up asking the server for a recommendation, and they suggested either the Chicken Chorizo Pizza, the carbonara, or the pork. I wasn’t in the mood for anything too creamy or too meat-heavy, so I decided on the pizza.

The Chicken Chorizo Pizza came topped with red onion, fire-roasted peppers, and jalapeños, and it looked fantastic when it arrived. What I wasn’t prepared for was the amount of mozzarella on it. Every slice came away with long, satisfying strings of melted cheese, which made it even more enjoyable. The pizza itself was delicious, with plenty of jalapeños adding a nice kick. I also thought the balance of toppings was excellent, with no single ingredient overpowering the others.

Overall, I came away impressed. It wasn’t the best meal I’ve ever had, but I’d happily eat there again. The service was excellent, especially considering how busy the restaurant was with both our large group and the All Blacks game. Our meals all arrived together, and the waiting staff were attentive, organised, and handled the evening really well. Everyone in our group had a great night, and if I was invited back, I’d happily return.

Website: The Zoo Keeper’s Son

Address: 715 Mount Albert Road, Royal Oak, Auckland 1023