Go Goa Eatery is a family-run café tucked into a charming off-street spot in the heart of Devonport, Auckland, serving a distinctive blend of authentic Goan and European cuisine. Opened in 2019, it is the project of Jose and Doreen, a husband-and-wife team who pour a shared love of culinary adventures and heartfelt hospitality into everything they do.
The menu showcases traditional Goan dishes refined through generations — fragrant curries like Lamb Xacutti, Pork Vindaloo and Chicken Caldine, all built on homemade spice blends — alongside European-inspired brunch plates, burgers, salads and a cabinet of from-scratch cakes and pastries crafted by a pastry chef with over 25 years of experience, formerly a leading pastry chef on a Disney cruise liner. Everything is made with fresh local produce, with vegetarian and gluten-free options flagged on the menu.
Beyond the café, the team caters events across Devonport and Auckland with more than 60 events under their belt, and the venue also hosts gatherings of its own. Whether you're after a quick savoury bite, a leisurely brunch or an intimate meal, Go Goa Eatery aims to make every visit feel like being part of the family.
Tucked down an off-street lane in Devonport, Go Goa Eatery does something you won't find anywhere else on the shore: it blends the vibrant, spice-laden flavours of Goa with the rustic charm of a European café. Since opening its doors in 2019, this small family eatery has built a following for its authentic Goan curries, generous brunch plates and a cabinet full of from-scratch cakes — all delivered with a distinctly personal touch.
Go Goa Eatery is run by Jose and Doreen, a husband-and-wife team whose shared love of culinary adventures and heartfelt hospitality shapes everything about the place. Their dream was simple: bring the tastes of Goa to New Zealand and marry them with European café tradition, using the freshest local produce. The result is a space they describe as where comfort meets elegance — cozy enough for a lazy weekend brunch, polished enough for an intimate dinner.
The café has even caught the attention of the press, with a feature in the Sunday Times exploring the couple's Goan roots and kitchen philosophy. Regulars tend to mention the same things: the warm welcome, the personalized service, and food that tastes like it comes from someone's home kitchen.
The heart of the menu is the Goan specialities section, where recipes refined through generations take centre stage. The Lamb Xacutti Curry simmers tender lamb in a unique blend of fourteen aromatic spices, including white poppy seeds and roasted onions, served with basmati rice and paratha bread. The Goan Pork Vindaloo — pork marinated in garlic, ginger and Goan spices, then slow-cooked to perfection — is a classic for good reason, while the Pork Belly Sorpotel delivers succulent slow-cooked belly in a deeply aromatic spice blend.
Seafood lovers have the Goan Prawn Curry, with prawns cooked in mild coconut Goan spices and apples — a gentle entry point for anyone new to the cuisine. Grandma's Style Beef Curry does exactly what the name promises, built on a homemade green coriander paste, and the Goan Chicken Caldine pairs marinated chicken with creamy coconut milk. A Tandoori Chicken Salad covers the lighter end of the table, and the Channa Masala & Rice — chickpeas simmered with cauliflower, onions, tomatoes, garlic and ginger — serves vegetarian and gluten-free diners beautifully.
Mornings lean continental, with free-range eggs any style, a proper Big Breakfast loaded with bacon, sausage, hash brown and sourdough, and an Egg Benedict finished with house hollandaise and a choice of bacon, sautéed mushroom or fresh salmon. Lunch brings a bacon-stuffed chicken burger and a sizzling angus beef burger, both with house-made mayo and golden fries, plus beer-battered or pan-fried fish and chips and a comforting mince on toast.
Save room, because the cake cabinet is the work of a pastry chef with over 25 years of experience — formerly a leading pastry chef on a Disney cruise liner. Everything is made from scratch with the finest ingredients, chosen so the cakes taste as good as they look.
Go Goa Eatery's kitchen travels well. The team has catered more than 60 events across Devonport and Auckland, from quick business lunches to elegant dinner parties, with both Indian and continental catering menus available. The café also hosts events on site — community groups like Devonport Rotary have gathered here — and enquiries about hosting go straight to Jose and Doreen by email or phone.
Early birds are welcome from 6:45am on weekdays, Monday to Friday, until 4:30pm; weekends run from 8am to 3:30pm. You'll find the café at 3/18 Clarence Street, Devonport, in its charming off-street setting. Whether it's a quick savoury bite, a leisurely brunch or a Goan curry that transports you straight to the Konkan coast, this husband-and-wife eatery makes every guest feel like part of the family.