King Tide Eatery

About King Tide Eatery

King Tide Eatery & Bar is an authentic, locally owned restaurant and bar that has been proudly serving the Kaikōura area and beyond since the 1990s, when it was known as The Sonic. The mission has stayed the same: high-quality food with great refreshments in a casual ocean setting, with some of the best views and brews in town.

The menu runs from chowder to fillet steak, with a strong lineup of burgers, seafood, salads and share plates, alongside a dedicated kids menu and a full dessert list. Walk-ins are welcome with no booking required, and there's a daily 'Happy Hour and a Half' from 4:30pm to 6pm.

King Tide caters to young and old alike, with a kids combo that includes a meal, a drink and an ice cream sundae, and an alfresco setting that's a perfect spot for casual dining and drinks by the sea.

King Tide Eatery & Bar: Fresh Fare by the Sea in Kaikōura

King Tide Eatery & Bar is an authentic, locally owned restaurant and bar that has proudly served the Kaikōura area and beyond since the 1990s, when it operated as The Sonic. The mission has remained consistent throughout: high-quality food and great refreshments in a casual ocean setting, with some of the best views and brews in the town centre.

Fresh fare by the sea

The menu spans everything from chowder to fillet steak. Standouts include the Middlehurst Lamb Shank, made with citrus rosemary braised lamb from Middlehurst Station, and the Market Fish, pan-fried and finished with a lemon hollandaise sauce. Fish and chip lovers are well looked after too, with beer-battered snapper and chips available all day. Locals point to The King Burger — an Angus beef patty loaded with bacon, cheese and onion rings — as one of the best burgers in town, best enjoyed alongside a refreshing draught beer or cider.

Starters, salads and share plates

Beyond the mains, the menu covers a wide range of starters and shared plates, from Marlborough steamed greenlip mussels and salt and pepper squid to halloumi fries and toasted flatbreads. A Sharing Platter brings several of these together for the table. Lighter options include a Teriyaki Chicken Poké Bowl, a Halloumi Salad, and a Tahini Salad, both available with added chicken or Middlehurst lamb.

A spot for everyone

King Tide caters to young and old alike. The kids menu covers fish and chips, grilled chicken and chips, and a margherita pizza, with a Kids Combo bundling a meal, a drink and an ice cream sundae to keep the children happy. For dessert, adults can choose from a chocolate fondant, sticky date pudding, crème brûlée, or a dessert cocktail like the Toblerone or Triple Espresso.

Drinks, happy hour and the setting

King Tide offers a great selection of drinks, mixed or on tap, and runs a daily 'Happy Hour and a Half' from 4:30pm to 6pm. The alfresco dining area by the bar is a great spot to catch up with mates, with casual dining and refreshments right by the sea.

Visiting King Tide

King Tide is open every day from 12 noon for lunch and dinner, dine in or take away, with walk-ins welcome and no booking required. It's located on the Esplanade in Kaikōura, and can be reached by phone, text or email for enquiries.

Signature items

• The King Burger
• Middlehurst Lamb Shank
• Market Fish
• Fish & Chips
• Seafood Chowder
• Sharing Platter

Menu

Mains

• Canterbury Beef Eye Fillet — 200g prime beef fillet with a choice of potato gratin and seasonal vegetables or fries and salad, beetroot chutney, garlic butter and jus reduction.
• Market Fish — Pan-fried orange roughy with a choice of potato gratin, seasonal vegetables or fries and salad, beetroot chutney and lemon hollandaise sauce.
• Middlehurst Lamb Shank — Citrus rosemary Middlehurst Farm braised lamb shank with seasonal vegetables and homemade mashed potato with lamb gravy.
• Fish & Chips — Deep-fried snapper fillet in beer batter, served with chips, salad and tartare sauce.

Sides

• Potato Wedges — Served with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce.
• Loaded Wedges — Potato wedges with ham and melted cheese, served with sour cream and sweet chilli.
• Kumara Fries — Served with aioli.
• Shoestring Fries — Served with tomato sauce and aioli.
• Garden Salad — Fresh lettuce tossed in homemade balsamic dressing.
• Homemade Mash Potato — Mashed potato served with a jus reduction.

Burgers

• The King Burger — Angus beef patty, bacon, cheese, onion rings and lettuce on a brioche bun with homemade spicy BBQ sauce and original burger sauce, served with fries.
• The Tide Burger — Beer-battered snapper with tomato, red onion and lettuce on a brioche bun with tartare sauce and beetroot chutney, served with fries; gluten-free bun available.
• Chicken Burger — Lightly floured fried chicken tenderloins and crispy bacon on a brioche bun with original burger sauce, served with fries; gluten-free bun available.
• Grilled Haloumi Burger — Grilled halloumi, lettuce, tomato, hummus and beetroot chutney on a brioche bun, served with fries; gluten-free bun available.

Desserts

• Chocolate Fondant — Chocolate fondant cake, berry coulis and vanilla ice cream.
• Cheesecake — Cheesecake of the day served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• Sticky Date Pudding — Sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce, served with vanilla ice cream.
• Crème Brûlée — Crème custard with a crispy caramelised sugar top, served with vanilla ice cream.
• Ice Cream Sundae — Vanilla ice cream with a choice of chocolate, strawberry or caramel sauce, topped with wafers, mallows and hundreds & thousands.
• Kids Sundae — Chocolate, strawberry or caramel.
• Affogato — Choice of liqueur served with vanilla ice cream and a shot of espresso.

Kids Menu

• Fish and Chips — Lightly battered fish, served with shoestring fries and tomato sauce.
• Grilled Chicken and Chips — Grilled chicken tenderloins, served with shoestring fries and tomato sauce.
• Margherita Pizza — Small pizza with tomato sauce and mozzarella, ham optional.
• Kids Combo — One of the kids meals plus a choice of drink and an ice cream sundae.

Salads & Bowls

• Teriyaki Chicken Poké Bowl — Chicken tenderloins in homemade teriyaki sauce, served with rice, cucumber, carrot, beetroot and pickled ginger.
• Halloumi Salad — Fresh lettuce, diced beetroot, red onion, pomegranate or dried cranberries, orange and grilled halloumi cheese; protein can be added.
• Tahini Salad — Fresh lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion and chickpeas with a creamy tahini maple dressing; protein can be added.

Dessert Cocktails

• Toblerone — Bailey's, Frangelico, Kahlua and cream.
• Triple Espresso — Malibu, Amaretto, vodka and espresso.

Starters & Share Plates

• Bread and Dips — Toasted sourdough bread served with hummus, basil pesto and sundried tomato dips, with stuffed olives.
• Chicken Tenders — Lightly coated chicken tenderloins served with a petite salad and homemade aioli.
• Marlborough Steamed Greenlip Mussels — Fresh mussels steamed in homemade coriander sweet chilli sauce with cream, served with toasted sourdough.
• Salt and Pepper Squid — Pineapple-cut salt and pepper squid, served with tartare sauce (and shoestring fries and salad as a main).
• Flatbread — Warm toasted pita bread topped with garlic & herb, garlic butter & cheese, basil pesto & cheese, or sundried tomato & cheese.
• Seafood Chowder — Creamy seafood soup with shrimp, mussels, fish and squid, served with toasted sourdough.
• Country Style Pork Ribs — Roasted pork ribs with homemade BBQ sauce, served with salad (and fries as a main).
• Halloumi Fries — Halloumi cheese fries with a homemade spiced flour coating, served with homemade beetroot chutney.
• Beer Battered Onion Rings — Served with homemade spicy BBQ sauce.
• Sharing Platter — Marlborough greenlip mussels, chicken tenders, salt & pepper squid, fish bites and a choice of shoestring fries or garlic & herb flatbread.

Frequently asked questions

What are King Tide's opening hours?

Every day from 12 noon for lunch and dinner. No booking required, walk-ins welcome.

Is there a happy hour?

Yes, a daily 'Happy Hour and a Half' from 4:30pm to 6pm.

Does King Tide have a kids menu?

Yes, including a Kids Combo with a meal, a drink and an ice cream sundae.

Are there gluten-free options?

Yes, a gluten-free bun is available on the burgers for an extra charge.

What is King Tide known for?

The King Burger, the Middlehurst lamb shank, and fish and chips available all day.

Do I need a booking?

No, walk-ins are welcome and no booking is required.

Where is King Tide located?

On the Esplanade in Kaikōura, by the sea.

Tips

• {"body":"A local favourite, best with a draught beer or cider.","title":"Try The King Burger"}
• {"body":"Runs daily from 4:30pm to 6pm.","title":"Visit during Happy Hour and a Half"}
• {"body":"Available all day, not just at dinner.","title":"Order fish and chips any time"}
• {"body":"Before ordering, especially for the kids menu.","title":"Ask staff about allergens"}

Good to know

• {"family":"A kids menu and Kids Combo are available.","dietary":"Gluten-free buns available on burgers for an extra charge; please ask staff about allergens."}