Lone Star Papanui

About Lone Star Papanui

Lone Star Papanui is the Northlands Mall outpost of Lone Star Bar & Cafe, dishing up classic Kiwi food and zesty Lone Star originals every night of the week, every week of the year. Found at Shop 116 in Langdons Quarter, it's a big, buzzy spot where the crew serves generous plates of ribs, steaks, seafood and burgers alongside a full bar — the kind of place to kick back with your loved ones.

The kitchen's calling card is its Legendary Ribs: pork ribs blanched in honey and spices, fire-blasted, then smothered in the famous hoisin, orange and sesame seed sauce, served with buffalo chips. Around them sits a wide-ranging menu — from share plates like San Quentin Squid and Midnight Nachos to prime-cut steaks, market-fresh seafood, loaded burgers and a dessert list with a proper sense of humour.

Dietary needs are well flagged, with gluten-free, dairy-friendly and vegetarian options marked throughout, and the crew will happily swap sides on the house. A dedicated kids' menu makes it an easy family pick.

Out the back, the renowned courtyard is a versatile, fully enclosed and heated space seating up to 100 guests, complete with a big screen TV, two fireplaces and the option to plug in your own music or host a live band — a popular setting for weddings, birthdays, corporate events and prize-givings.

Lone Star Papanui: Legendary Ribs, Kiwi Classics and Mall-Side Hospitality at Northlands

Walk into Lone Star Papanui and you'll find what the crew bills as the most popular restaurant in Papanui — a big, easygoing spot in the heart of Northlands Mall, serving classic Kiwi food and zesty Lone Star originals every night of the week, every week of the year. There's a full bar for kicking back with your loved ones, a kids' menu for the smaller cowpokes, and a menu built around generous plates and bold, punchy flavour.

The ribs that made them famous

Start with the Legendary Ribs, because that's the story here. The pork ribs are blanched in honey and spices, fire-blasted, then smothered in the famous hoisin, orange and sesame seed sauce, and they arrive with a pile of buffalo chips. You choose your serve: Redneck Ribs are the full-length spare ribs that made the brand famous, BB King Ribs are St Louis rib fingers — tender, meaty and packed with flavour — and The Cross Roads gives you half of each. If you're sampling, the Trail Serve works as a starter; the Maverick Serve is the classic main, and the Outlaw Serve is the platter built for two.

Steaks, seafood and everything in between

The grill keeps roaring beyond the ribs. The steak list runs from the 220g Wrangler Sirloin up to the 300g Stir Crazy Sirloin and Rockin' Ribeye, each with onion purée, buffalo chips, Lone Star coleslaw and your pick of complimentary steak sauce — plus the option to add mushrooms and a free range egg. If you fancy surf with your turf, five Prawn Star prawns can land on any steak, and From the Ranch offers a chef-selected premium cut that changes daily.

Seafood holds its own too: Blue Pacific fish 'n chips in a Steinlager beer batter, Rock the Boat's herb-and-parmesan grilled market fish, Prawn Star's garlic, chilli and coriander butter prawns, and Mussel Mania — a full 500g of New Zealand green-lipped mussels steamed in lemon, white wine and garlic cream.

Chicken lovers get Cajun Chicken with chilli rice, the creamy Dixie Chicken and the stuffed Jonny Stash; there's slow-roasted New Porker pork belly with crackling; and burgers like the Gerhard beef and the Glen Campbell chicken, both stacked in sourdough buns. Bring a crowd and order for the table: Cowboy Bean Dip, San Quentin Squid, Dixie Chips and Midnight Nachos are made for sharing.

Save room for dessert — the list runs from the Kiwi Pavlova to the Kahlua and Moro Bar Longhorn Cheesecake and a self-saucing Jack Daniel's Chocolate Fudge Pudding. As the menu puts it, leaving hungry's a crime.

The experience

The vibe is relaxed and family-friendly, with a dedicated kids' menu and a crew happy to make things work for you — sides can be swapped on the house, and vegetarians can trade any burger's protein for a vegetable pattie at no extra cost. Gluten-free, dairy-friendly and vegetarian options are clearly flagged across the menu.

The Papanui branch also has a genuine event space up its sleeve. The renowned courtyard is fully enclosed and heated, seats up to 100 guests between tall leaners and tables, and comes wired with a big screen TV, two fireplaces and the ability to play your own music or host a live band. Weddings, birthdays, corporate events, prize-givings and ceremonies are all on the cards.

Finding your way there

You'll find Lone Star at Shop 116, Langdons Quarter, Northlands Mall, in Papanui, Christchurch — open from 11am until late, seven days a week. Book a table online or call 03 352 6653; functions can be booked through the functions page. If you'd rather eat at home, online ordering is available, loyal regulars can join the Loyal app, and gift cards are on offer for the Lone Star fans in your life. Whether it's a big rib night, a family dinner after shopping, or a hundred-person party in the courtyard, the Papanui crew has you covered.

Signature items

• Redneck Ribs
• The Cross Roads
• Dixie Chicken
• Rockin' Ribeye
• Midnight Nachos
• Longhorn Cheesecake

Menu

Pork

• New Porker — Slow-roasted pork belly with crispy crackling and cider jus, mash and seasonal greens.

Salad

• Comanche Salad — Grilled chicken, poached egg, cos, streaky bacon, anchovies, parmesan and croutons, caesar-style.

Sides

• Buffalo Chips — Lone Star's thick-cut house chips.
• Straight-Cut Chips — Classic skinny fries.
• Kumara Wedges — Roasted sweet potato wedges.
• Buttered Mash — Creamy mashed potato.
• Crispy Cauliflower — Golden roasted cauliflower.
• Chilli Rice — Rice with a chilli kick.
• Sautéed Seasonal Veges — Whatever's fresh and in season.
• Lone Star Coleslaw — The house slaw.
• Green Salad — Fresh greens on the side.

Steaks

• Wrangler Sirloin — 220g sirloin with onion purée, buffalo chips, coleslaw and a complimentary steak sauce.
• Stir Crazy Sirloin — 300g sirloin with onion purée, buffalo chips, coleslaw and your pick of steak sauce.
• Rockin' Ribeye — 300g ribeye with onion purée, buffalo chips, coleslaw and a choice of steak sauce.
• From the Ranch — A signature cut of premium meat, selected by the chef — ask for today's local meat special.
• Prawn Star Steak Upgrade — Add five Prawn Star prawns to any steak.

Burgers

• Glen Campbell Chicken Burger — Grilled free range chicken, Swiss cheese, bacon, gherkins and aioli in a sourdough bun.
• Gerhard Burger — Beef pattie, Swiss cheese, bacon, gherkins, lettuce, tomato and aioli in a sourdough bun.
• Vegetarian Option — Swap the protein for a vegetable pattie on any burger at no extra cost.

Chicken

• Cajun Chicken — Pan-seared breast in secret Cajun spices with spicy sauce, sour cream, coleslaw and chilli rice.
• Dixie Chicken — Chicken breast in creamy garlic and white wine sauce with buffalo chips and coleslaw.
• Jonny Stash — Herb-crusted breast stuffed with mushroom, spinach, cheese and sundried tomatoes, mushroom sauce.

Dessert

• Saddle Up Sundae — Two scoops of ice cream, Chantilly cream, choc sauces, wafers and roasted almonds.
• Kiwi Pavlova — Mini pavs with Chantilly cream, vanilla bean ice cream, fresh fruit and berry coulis.
• Crème Brûlée — The classic with a Lone Star twist — ask about flavours.
• For A Few Doughnuts More — Italian-style oven-baked doughnuts with berry coulis and Chantilly cream.
• Cowboy Crumble — Warm apple, berry and plum crumble with toasted coconut oat topping and ice cream.
• Banoffee Pie — Sweet pastry layered with caramel, banana, coffee cream and chocolate.
• Longhorn Cheesecake — Legendary Kahlua and Moro Bar cheesecake with chocolate sauce and Chantilly cream.
• Jack Daniel's Chocolate Fudge Pudding — Rich self-saucing chocolate fudge pudding laced with Jack Daniel's, with ice cream.
• The MILKYBAR Pud — Hot white chocolate and buttermilk pudding with butterscotch and white choc sauces.

Seafood

• Blue Pacific — Fish 'n Chips — Market fish fillets in Steinlager beer batter with straight-cut chips, tartare and salad.
• Rock the Boat — Market fish dusted in seasoned flour, grilled with herbs and parmesan, with mash and salad.
• Prawn Star — Tiger prawn cutlets sautéed in garlic, chilli and coriander butter, with rice and salad.

To Share

• Cowboy Bean Dip — Blended and served hot with sour cream and oven-baked flour tortilla chips.
• Baked Garlic Loaf — Oven baked with a lashing of Lone Star garlic butter.
• Outlaw's Loaded Melt — Garlic loaf half topped with melted cheese, guacamole, garlic butter and bacon.
• Dixie Chips — Loaded buffalo chips smothered in Dixie sauce and bacon, topped with a cheese melt.
• "Chief" Chicken Nibbles — Blanched in soy, honey and spices with the famous hoisin, orange and sesame sauce.
• San Quentin Squid — Crispy salt and pepper calamari served with a citrus aioli.
• Prawn Star (Starter) — Tiger prawn cutlets sautéed in garlic, chilli and coriander butter, with rice.
• Midnight Nachos — Corn chips piled with spicy beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream and jalapeños, with chicken, beef or roasted vegetables.
• Southern Fried Chicken — Nibbles and breast entree dusted in seasoned flour, fried crisp, with mustard pickle dip.
• Quesadilla — Two flour tortillas with spicy chicken, beef or roasted vegetables, guacamole and jalapeños.
• Mussel Mania — 500g of NZ green-lipped mussels steamed in lemon, white wine and garlic cream, with ciabatta.

Legendary Ribs

• Redneck Ribs — The ribs that made them famous — full length spare ribs in the signature glaze, with buffalo chips.
• BB King Ribs — St Louis rib fingers — tender, meaty and packed full of flavour.
• The Cross Roads — Half Redneck Ribs, half BB King Ribs — where two legends meet.
• Trail Serve — A perfect starter-size serve of the legendary ribs.
• Maverick Serve — The classic main-size serve of ribs with buffalo chips.
• Outlaw Serve — The big serve for two.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Lone Star Papanui located?

Shop 116, Langdons Quarter, Northlands Mall, Papanui, Christchurch — inside the mall's Langdons Quarter.

What are the opening hours?

Lone Star Papanui is open 11am until late, seven days a week, every week of the year.

Can I book a table or order online?

Yes — you can book a table online or call 03 352 6653, and online ordering is available for delivery.

Can I hire a space for a function or event?

Yes. The fully enclosed, heated courtyard holds up to 100 guests and includes a big screen TV and two fireplaces, with the option to play your own music or host a live band. It suits weddings, birthdays, corporate events, prize-givings and ceremonies.

Are there vegetarian options?

Yes. Vegetarian share plates include the Cowboy Bean Dip, Midnight Nachos and Quesadilla, and you can swap the protein on any burger for a vegetable pattie at no extra cost.

Do you cater for gluten-free and dairy-free diets?

Yes — many menu items are flagged gluten free or dairy friendly, including several ribs, steaks, seafood dishes and desserts. Just ask the crew.

Is there a kids' menu?

Yes, Lone Star Papanui has a dedicated kids' menu, making it an easy choice for family dinners.

Tips

• {"body":"The Legendary Ribs are what Lone Star is famous for. Torn between the two? The Cross Roads gives you half Redneck Ribs and half BB King rib fingers, and the Outlaw Serve is built for two.","title":"Go straight for the ribs"}
• {"body":"Sides aren't set in stone — just let your server know what you'd prefer and the swap is on the house.","title":"Swap your sides for free"}
• {"body":"The crew bills this as the most popular restaurant in Papanui and opens 11am till late daily. Lock in a table online or call 03 352 6653.","title":"Book ahead, especially for dinner"}
• {"body":"The heated, fully enclosed courtyard fits up to 100 guests, has two fireplaces, a big screen TV and can handle your own playlist or a live band.","title":"Planning a celebration?"}
• {"body":"Lots of the menu is flagged gluten free — from San Quentin Squid and the steaks to the Kiwi Pavlova — so coeliacs and the gluten-averse have real choices.","title":"Eat well without the gluten"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Dedicated kids' menu; relaxed, family-friendly dining.","dietary":"Gluten-free, dairy-friendly and vegetarian options flagged across the menu; free veggie pattie swap on burgers.","functions":"Enclosed heated courtyard for up to 100 guests with big screen TV, two fireplaces and live-band capability."}