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What is on Ikea’s NZ menu? Meatballs, sure, but also a few surprises

Tuesday, 11 November 2025

Ikea sells millions of meatballs worldwide each year, and over 13.8 million meatballs per year in Australia.
Ikea sells millions of meatballs worldwide each year, and over 13.8 million meatballs per year in Australia.

In less than one month Ikea will open the doors to its first New Zealand store, and serve up its famous meatballs, along with a handful of Kiwi-inspired dishes that can only be found in this market.

The Swedish furniture giant’s 34,000m² Sylvia Park store in Auckland will open on December 4.

When it does, its 400-seat in-store restaurant and bistro will serve up a wide selection of meals and snacks for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The retailer is expecting to sell 3500 hot dogs per week.

The menu items only available in the New Zealand Ikea store will include battered hoki fish and chips ($14), a pavlova with whipped cream and lingonberry jam ($4), a lamb and kūmara pie ($6.50), a salmon poke bowl, Thai beef salad, and a hummus and pumpkin salad for vegetarians.

Ikea has created a lingonberry pavlova for dessert on the Sylvia Park store menu.
Ikea has created a lingonberry pavlova for dessert on the Sylvia Park store menu.

This is in addition to staple menu items found at its other stores globally, including chicken schnitzel and chips, salmon fillet and mash, and its meatballs dishes with mash, peas, cream gravy sauce and lingonberry jam, with the choice of pork and beef, vegetarian or plant-based meatballs.

The items selected for the New Zealand store menu were based on ingredients that reflected the company’s Swedish heritage, such as the salmon and lingonberry, and also what was relevant and popular for Kiwis.

The fish served in its restaurant will be sourced from New Zealand and its other meat from a supplier in Australia.

Ikea New Zealand food manager Daniel Souza said the menu for the Auckland store was decided after asking New Zealanders what food they thought represented the country.

“Food is central to the Ikea experience and a huge part of our success in New Zealand. As our founder Ingvar Kamprad said, ‘hungry customers buy less,’ so our food offering is designed to welcome people, extend their visit and make the store a place to gather for a great day out with friends and family,” Souza said.

“We can’t wait for New Zealanders to get their teeth into the menu, taste our global favourites and try the exclusive Kiwi dishes we’ve created just for them.”

The restaurants and food sales in Ikea stores are a significant part of business for the furniture retailer, making up a significant portion of total store sales, popular for being affordable and having a wide selection to choose from.

In Australia, Ikea sells more than 13.8 million meatballs per year.

Souza said Ikea had been working on it New Zealand menu for more than two years.

'Around the world, people get surprised about how big the food business actually is. When people think of IKEA, they always think about furniture, but they forget that food is such a big business,' said Souza.

'I'm really excited to see how many people can try and eat the meatballs. I don't know if we can compete with that number [in Australia] just yet.”

Kiwi favourite fish and chips is on the menu at Ikea Sylvia Park.
Kiwi favourite fish and chips is on the menu at Ikea Sylvia Park.

Cinnamon buns, fresh salmon dishes and hot dogs would also be available in the restaurant and bistro.

Ikea Sylvia Park will also offer New Zealand shoppers the option to order its “Eatball Medley“ dish with all three varieties of Ikea meatballs, alongside its famous mash, cream sauce gravy and lingonberry jam.

Ham and cheese and tomato and cheese croissants, egg mayo and chicken mayo sandwiches, wraps with various proteins, and a wide selection of salads and soups will also be on the menu.

A selection of some food sold in Ikea such as its meatballs and cinnamon buns will also be sold in frozen form at its grocery section, Food Market, for shoppers to take home.

On the dessert menu, shoppers can expect to find banoffee pie, apple cake, tiramisu, chocolate mousse, a selection of cheesecakes, gooey chocolate cake, Portugese tart with cream, jelly, raspberry slice, brownie and soft serve ice cream.

Souza said Ikea had not yet finalised the prices for all of its meals and food items, but promised they would be competitive compared to what was available elsewhere in the market.

'We've pushed ourselves to make it as affordable for our customers as possible, while also ensuring a healthy profitability, but definitely gone as far as we can to make it as accessible and affordable as possible.

Ikea Sylvia Park will sell lamb and kumara pie for $6.50.
Ikea Sylvia Park will sell lamb and kumara pie for $6.50.

“I think customers will be pleasantly surprised with how affordable it is compared to its quality.”

Auckland‐based Bidfood is Ikea New Zealand’s local distribution partner for the restaurant and bistro.

Ikea has also partnered with The Roastery at Twenty Three to bring Bruno Rossi espresso blends to Sylvia Park, in a nod to coffee being a key part of New Zealand culture.

Ikea New Zealand’s full menu:

Lunch and Dinner

Hot Snacks

Cold Dishes

Sandwiches

Salads and soups

Breakfast

Desserts and Cakes

Biscuits and Pastries