Jeepney Filipino Restaurant City brings the heart and soul of Filipino cuisine to Auckland's city fringe, on the first level of Upper Queen Street. The name is a tribute to the Philippines' most iconic form of transport: just as jeepneys are known for their colour, creativity and sense of togetherness, the restaurant channels that same spirit into every plate. Each dish tells a story of family gatherings, street food culture and the Philippines' rich culinary heritage.
The kitchen covers the full sweep of Filipino home-style cooking. Start with steamed siomai dumplings, lumpiang Shanghai spring rolls or crunchy chicharon, move on to Jeepney noodles like pancit canton, bihon guisado and seafood-topped palabok, then dig into inihaw — Filipino-style grilled pork belly, chicken inasal and BBQ pork skewers served with java rice. Chef's specials like the crispy pata and a celebrated halo-halo sit alongside the famous sizzling pork sisig from Pampanga.
Beyond the food, Jeepney has become a gathering place — for Filipinos longing for a taste of home and for anyone curious about the warmth and bold flavours of Filipino hospitality. Guests love the detail that table names are based on different districts of the Philippines, and the team happily hosts family lunches, dinners and boodle fight feasts by reservation.
The restaurant is open every day from 12:00 PM to 8:30 PM, welcomes walk-ins and online bookings, and offers delivery through OrderMeal, Uber Eats and DoorDash. A sister branch operates in Manukau for those further south.
Step off Upper Queen Street, head up to the first level, and you'll find one of Auckland's most characterful Filipino dining rooms. Jeepney Filipino Restaurant City — the Queen Street branch of a small two-location family that also runs a Manukau restaurant — greets guests with a line that sums the place up perfectly: "Where every meal is a Jeepney journey."
The name pays tribute to the Philippines' most iconic form of transportation. Just as jeepneys are famous for their colour, creativity and sense of togetherness, the restaurant embodies that same spirit. Every dish served tells a story — of family gatherings, street food culture and the rich culinary heritage of the Philippines.
Since opening, Jeepney has become more than just a restaurant. It's a gathering place for Filipinos longing for a taste of home, and an open invitation for everyone else to discover the warmth, hospitality and bold flavours that make Filipino food special. Guests regularly remark that the food "hits close to home," and love the detail that the tables are named after different districts of the Philippines.
The menu runs from street-food-style starters to hearty grilled mains. Begin with steamed siomai — Filipino-style pork and shrimp dumplings with chilli oil and soy lemon sauce — or the ever-popular lumpiang Shanghai, crispy pork spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce. Adventurous eaters go for the chicharon bulaklak with spiced vinegar, while lighter options include sizzling tofu and battered quail eggs known as kwek kwek.
The noodle and pasta section is a highlight: pancit canton and bihon guisado stir-fried with pork, shrimp and fishballs, seafood-sauce palabok crowned with pork crackling and boiled egg, and the unmistakable Filipino sweet-style spaghetti with garlic bread.
From the grill, or inihaw, come marinated pork belly, chicken inasal marinated in sugar cane vinegar, annatto and lemongrass, and BBQ pork skewers — all served with java rice. Don't leave without trying the chef's specials: the crispy pata and a halo-halo the team proudly calls the best around. The pork sisig deserves special mention — a famous delicacy from Pampanga, made from finely chopped pig's head and chicken liver, seasoned and cooked until sizzling. Regulars also swear by the laing, crispy Bicol express, pork adobo and bulalo.
Whether you're there for a business lunch or a long family dinner, the vibe is welcoming and unpretentious. The team's philosophy is warm hospitality that makes every guest feel like family, backed by authenticity, community and the vibrant creativity of Filipino culture.
For something truly memorable, book a boodle fight — a communal Filipino feast style offered by reservation, and a favourite for groups and celebrations.
Jeepney Filipino Restaurant City is open every day from 12:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Reservations can be made online, and if you'd rather feast at home, delivery is available through OrderMeal, Uber Eats and DoorDash. If you're south of the city, the sister branch in Manukau serves the same Filipino favourites on Great South Road.
Come hungry, bring company, and let every meal be a Jeepney journey.