Review El Humero - Takapuna

Darryl Scowen

Went here for a small work dinner, and all of us enjoyed our meals. I had the T Bone, and it was lovely and tender. Most mains are BBQ meat, but that is what we were after. My starter was that pork belly, which was a little dry, but the skewers that one of the others had were very nice.

Falencia Naoenz

Super awesome dining experience, esp if you're sitting in front of the bar. The chefs obviously have top-notch grilling skills as our steaks (Tbone and sirloin) came out perfectly medium well. The ambiance of the place is also great, truly feels like in Colombia! Also they fill up pretty quickly so will be good to reserve beforehand.

Eldon Pascual

The beef short ribs were amazing, very tender and falling off the bone Tomahawk steak was cooked to perfection Empanada and chicharon were great entrees

Giu FCS

It was my third time here and I loved it just like the previous ones. The food was amazing, but it did have a longer wait than last time. I had the chicken and it was just perfect. It was juicy and well seasoned. The staff was friendly and polite. I would recommend calling to make a booking because he space is a bit small and it's always full

Jessica Ureste (Jess)

Thankfully my favorite Colombian food is on the cheaper end of this menu because it’s very expensive. The chicharron and yuca frita were so good! My Portuguese friend who tried it for the first time also loved it. Sadly, we got Colombian this day to support the women’s team in the World Cup but they did not move forward 😿

黄艳

That was really delicious and busy. you need to booking.mojito very authentic taste

Leitisha McMillan

It is a lovely restaurant owned by an amazing family. The food was delicious and the staff were all very friendly. Great atmosphere and location. Will definitely be coming back. Thank you, Alejandro and Tatiana!

Carlos Cavolo

The food was amazing. Excellent presentation of meals and dishes. The Humero Experience is superb and strongly recommended if going in groups.

Shaun O'Reilly

It is not very often that you come across a place that cooks a perfect steak the way these guys do. I will go back time and time again! Always order something different every time and always love it!

Meeshah Alhafidh

This restaurant has been on my list for a while , I finally got to try it & I wasn't disappointed, the short beef ribs were melting in the mouth , service was great ,staff were friendly, the only down side was the seating ,a bit uncomfortable for the back but will deffinitly go back again

Radhika Jagdip Nagori

Absolutely great experience! I have been fortunate enough to discover this hidden gem of Takapuna. This was my second time at the restaurant with my close family and friends. As soon as we entered, there was a really warm welcome by the host, he guided us to the table on the backyard from where we could pretty much see the whole restaurant and enjoy the ambience. Fairy lights, colombian music and great food with nice presentation makes this eatery a perfect place for ''cozy date'' and special occasions dinner. I am sure you will definitely be able to impress your date. One of my many highlights of the dinner was the fresh juices that they have got from Colombia - OMG Guava and Lulo fruit juices. I have never had this kind of juice that is light n tasty but also an amazing addition to the food menu. The sauces are yummiest and made fresh on site. As you can see I am highly impressed by the place, this will be one of my go to places in Takas for sure.

Benjamín Aguilera

This is a little hidden gem. Food is the closest to real South American BBQ cooked only on charcoal. Delicious food with everything you order and will not disappoint. Even though the staff do not smile much they are friendly and the atmosphere is great. If you enjoy watching how you meal is properly cooked, this is a place for you.

Rayray Chai Latte

I feel so lucky to have found this place! It's meat heaven! I tried the short ribs and the meat platter which consisted of beef knuckle, pork, chorizo and black pudding sausage! The flavours were rich and the meat was melting in my mouth! I was really surprised I loved the black pudding! So creamy and flavoursome! Will definitely go back again!

Gabriel Fernández Flores

I don't know what's wrong with this place, change a lot! I went to there 6 months ago, was so tasty but now is totally different, quality to low, take a lot time for bring your food and the price to high, even you need remember to the waiter what you choose.

Riwai Grace

We had the best time here, amazing food experience and the staff were great. I would recommend here for sure

Raquel Florez Sorensen

A taste of Colombia in Auckland. This place is fantastic! Everything is excellent. The ribs are to die for. For something different try patacon and criollas. And the black pudding is how black pudding should be... yumm!!!!!

Verna Campbell

Just love this restaurant and been many times - lunch or dinner it’s lovely. Various large cuts of marinated steak cooked on bbq. Great to watch and lovely South American staff. Happy atmosphere, great wine etc. Always very busy - give it a try

Harlem Avella

Awesome food, The steak was good quality and perfectly cooked. The Yupas, empanadas, arepas and papas criollas were delicious, I have to say you made the best empanadas that I have ever tried.

Olga Parker

Love this place!!!!! Since they opened the restaurant and till now never been disappointed with there service or quality of food! The hospitality is amazing and the atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed! Thanks guys!

Rinus Pope

Fantastic meal, friendly staff, good service, well priced. Highly recommend eating in this restaurant.

Ximena Avella

Highly recommended !! The best Colombian restaurant that I have ever been. Great meat, quality empanadas; delicious Yuca...etc The meats were great portions and prepared with traditional techniques :)

Don Campbell

A cheery atmosphere with South American music. Great steaks with steamed potatoes and salad. Always busy so book if you require a table. Otherwise you will be dining at the counter watching your steak being cooked which is entertaining in itself.

Audrey Smodrey

Love the place. Delicious food. Good service and food arrived quickly. Gotta book if you want a table (even on a Wednesday night!)

Nkz

If you want steak everyday,this is the place to be. Their steak & sides are superb. Also, their staff are very accomodating as well. You can’t go wrong dining here.

Mangi Kim

Nice atmosphere and good food. Would recommend.

Carlos Martinez

If you are looking for Colombia's cuisine you'll find it here. Finger lickin good and very warm staff

Caroline Barrett

One of me and my partners favs. I generally always order the vegetarian dish with plantain chips because its so damn delicious.

Al La Carte

Delightful service and tasty food!

Nia T

Had the pleasure of dining here with my companion last night. Was pretty packed when we walked in. We were seated outside which was fine as it's been hot a lot lately. For entree, we had the Beef empanadas and the chorizo paired with Aji casero salsa & Salsa criolla. The empanadas were meaty, had a bit of spice to it and full of flavors. The chorizo had an amazing smokey flavor and just the right amount of spice you expect in a chorizo. It was just enough amount to settle your stomach til the mains. For mains, we ordered the Pechuga Asada which is the charcoal boneless chicken accompanied with a garden salad and Arepa - corn bread cooked on the grill. The chicken was cooked beautifully. The taste of charcoal came thru with the spices they marinated the meat in. The corn bread I found was very dense, in a good way. I loved it! My partner on the hand ordered a T-bone steak cooked well done. He was raving on about how fantastically juicy his steak is and his only regret is that he should've ordered the Tomahawk lol. So that must be a sign that we will be coming back. The lady who greeted us was friendly and attentive but that also extends out to the waiters and waitresses. Overall, we both had an amazing night and will definitely come back for more!

Coupon Code ROMA1702

I would give this place 6 stars if possible. Just amazing. Service 10/10 Food 10/10 Ambience 10/10

Scott Lawson

Great colombian food. Simple and meaty. The Costilla beef ribs where tender and just fell apart. Empanadas were fantastic as well with a nice spicy sauce. Arepa flatbreads and dips were really tasty as well and not to be missed. We will be back!

Nae

Good steak good service. Love this place.

Tania Dawson

Have been here a few times already. The best steak I’ve ever tasted. They pack so much flavour in with the marinade and sauces. I ordered the Empanadas and my partner got the Tomihawk which was 950g worth of steak. It did take a while (30-40mins) because if the size of the steak. It was worth the wait

Doris Ma

Really enjoyed the vibes, food, and service. As you walk in, staff are all smiles. The open kitchen brings mouthwatering sights of juicy meats. Our T-bone steak came with a side of yuca, Colombian sour cream, and salad. The steak didn't even need a dipping sauce as it was flavored so well. Crispy edges, smoky and succulent, and a good medium rare in the Centre. The wedges were interesting - multiple layers of potato and quite dense, they were great with the sour cream which was more tangy and yogurt like compared to usual sour cream. My favourite is the longaniza with arepa and salsa. It was cured and then grilled, leaving it very juicy and aromatic. The arepas were soft, crumbly and buttery but not oily, and went perfectly with the longaniza and salsa.

Renie

Absolutely loved the food and ambience! Would definitely go again and staff were friendly :)

Sarah Knight

The most amazing beef ribs we have ever had! Always delicious and never disappoints. The cheese arepa and other sides are tasty too. Great for dining in small or large groups and always gets busy so you know they’re really good.

Tash Wild

Food was great, drinks too, would recommend the chicken or beef skewers, arepa, sangria. Service is a little slow but they were really busy.

Mufasakiller

My favorite South American restaurant in Auckland. Nice dining areas. Beautiful waiters is a bonus.

Tearoa Brendon

I don't write a review just from one time visit at least their food was fantastic. I've been here two times, because first time experiences was great. T Bone steak was juicy and tender. I loved it and I moved my eyes to my girl friends plate because that beef rib looks tempting. It was bit greasy and smelly but ok. The matter was second time visit. There was different guy who roasted meat in grill side. T Bone steak was horrible. It wasn't same beef. Smells from the bones was so disgusting. Meat was like rubber. Wine was bit oxidative fermentation because it was opened long time ago. So I put those into takeaway container to give to my dog. Sorry. But it's true.

Boty

We went with a friend for a good steak... and we found it! Great experience, a bit packed and we ended up at the bar (not very pleasant chairs) but good service. A bit expensive, but worth it.

Diana Garcia

One of my fav bbq in Auckland! The empanadas, the ribs and the sauces are amazing, super friendly staff. Considering the influx they could make some improvements on the place(make it bigger) but no biggy cause is all about the food. The only thing is that they didn’t allow 2 people at the same table to use the gold privilege(there was 4 of us at the table) while it supposed to be allowed.

Ed

Went on Saturday and really looking forward for a good meal as their ratings are so high. Made our order and after waiting for 35 minutes we were told that beef ribs that I ordered were sold out! It was only 7pm, no more ribs, and they could have told us much sooner that there is no more ribs. We ordered something else and had to wait a further 30 minutes for our meals to arrive. We only ordered a couple of meals, so if we are a bigger party, the wait time might be even longer. Based on their recommendation, I ordered the beef knuckle which came out dry, tough and barely warm. Very disappointing and unacceptable. Basically ruined our night. We got a simple 'sorry about the ribs' on our way out. Will not go back. If I could, I would give 0 star!

Julz

Yessssss!!! Definitely going again & again Ribs were the best EVER, chicken skewers were delicious & the steak was perfect! First time having plantain & yummo!! Thanks

Becky Kuang

Had a great time here. Good location, very nice food and reasonable priced. Love their beef ribs. Tasted so good. The portion is huge for $39. Entree only $13. Lots of drink choices too.

Adrian Dela Cruz

Decided to take my girlfriend for her birthday and had the most wonderful experience! I was nervous about the restaurant ambience at first (as there aren’t any photos in zomato) but it exceeded our expectations. Photos shows what we ordered and everything was just delicious! Every cut of meat we got were cooked so well and were so juicy! We were also provided with topnotch customer service making our visit a 5 star experience. 10/10 would come again.

Alicia Maree Andrews

My partner & I always love coming here for dinner. The food is cooked perfectly everytime and full of flavour. The staff are very welcoming and friendly when we go. If you’re looking for a nice night out and wanting delicious food I would recommend coming here 🤤🤤

Monique Morris

We were very disappointed with the food and thought that the price was extremely high . We ordered el humero and the beef ribs and both were tasteless and tasted very similar. My friend ordered the T bone and asked for medium rear and received a over cooked piece which was tough and not of best quality. At 46 dollars a T bone should have been of excellent quality. We lived in Colombia for few years and know how dishes should taste and ours where far from the ones we know. We came three times and will not return after being disappointed again and again with average food at over the top prices.

Rachel Wang

Favourite food place ever. Recommend T bone steak and beef knuckle this time but actually everything is fabulous. Always need to wait during dinner time. Choose Saturday or Sunday would be wise.

Asianfoodie

Just..YUM. really yum. Can't say anything more but to recommend choosing two big dishes if you want to leave being really full. Was a little surprised when we ordered chorizo sausages ,thinking there would be at least 3ish, but only one sausage was served 😂

Evilmaikel

We really liked the place as the food was quiet different. Especially the meat juicy and yummy marinated. Could be a bit cheaper in my opinion though.

João Plácido

Well thjs one just made our day!!! What an amazing barbecue experience. From the service to.the food, everything was top shelf. Definitely recommend the Costillas and the carne Empanada. We will be back for a round two for sure.

Teri Sheng Li

Was told that the gold membership can only be used when you buy 2 drinks and get 2 free ones. But when Zomato explains the 2+2 drinks, it is getting one free drink when you buy every drink. Was a bit confused but didn’t want to argue with the manager when eating there with my family. Otherwise the food is nice, and the service is good.

Leslie Tan

Went to El Humero for Friday lunch at work. Our co-worker is Columbian and we were very keen to try some of his country's cuisine. We bought the El Humero experience which was like a sharing player style course with entrees and mains. We also tried some Columbian sodas which were really great. The food was really delicious and the beef ribs and steak were so tender. Highly recommend.

Danyelle Borges Esteves

Every single time is A M A Z I N G !! I always recommend this place to people who are looking for extraordinary food and service! The beef ribs is a MUST TRY! A fried cassava as a side and the special sauces are all you need for a remarkable experience!

Yum Life

This place was just too perfect. I was waiting for my steak, but then my waiter GoGo tbagged on my steak. It was an honor to see my food tbagged then it turned into a T-bone steak. It's was so wholesome. Alexa turn despasito up

Sheldon

Tucked away down a beautifully lit hidden lane in Takapuna, this place is hidden no more. You need to book in advance as space is limited and its always full thanks to their spectacular menu and the preparations that come along with it. Meat lovers, this little paradise should not be missed.

Shez

Amazing meat! But be careful what you order, one steak cut, rump I think was tough and chewy but my slow cooked brisket was sensational! Stick to the recommendation of the house. Nice atmosphere and a smell sensation.

Bety Silva

We went for dinner. Everything was perfect! I had Picanha and it was very tender/juice. I want to say thanks for the girls. They are very friendly and working with a smile. It makes the difference! I had a delicious cake. Is my third visit in this restaurant, but today was fantastic! Tks a lot! The owner is a very nice guy!

CocoOnFire

Walk pass this shop so often, glad we finally here. Purposely book the seats right in front of the gill. Very busy restaurant. FOOD is nice and big, I can't finish my own dish, love Tajadas- deep fried banana. Friendly services.

Celani Atienza

I have been waiting to eat at this restaurant for almost half a year.. as ive seen the great reviews. We travelled almost half an hour to get here and the only positive thing i could say is that the food looked good. Other points: the guy at the reception (wearing stripes at the photo i posted in which zomato denied posting it for readers to see) did not even try giving us better seat options and just chucked us at the nearest visible option he could see. I requested that if there’s a table (and not the bar) that we could transfer after a few minutes id appreciate it, but he just straight away said there would be nothing available. From then on, i got really annoyed, as he could have just told me that when a table becomes available i would be happy to move you, but straight away i got a “no” from him, which is thumbs down buddy. So that was a major bad decision for the restaurant, your service was not good at all. Then the food came, i almost forgot about the bad service.. i was happy to see the food, as it really looked good visually, but taste was like meh. Serving size too was good, but nothing special about the taste of the meat we ordered. I only liked the paprika wedges, that was it. The pork that i ordered tasted old, even had my partner tasteD it and he said it was not as good as it looked. Their prices are steep - as compared to the taste and service i got. I have dined in several places that are of the same price range, but i can say that i am not coming back nor will recommend this restaurant to my friends/ family. When we left, no one even said, “ thank you so much for coming” or even asked us if the food was good.. nothing... that itself proves that you just wanted people to come and order, but after they order, no one cares if you really enjoyed your meal. That’s the service you get from El Humero.

Wapatino

Delicious food! We tried many assorted items from the menu and everything was good. We also recommend the natural fruit juices. The only note is that often times I have been to this restaurant they seem to always have something unavailable from their menu.

Pablo

Best place to eat charcoal BBQ hands down. Staff is amazing, place is small but very cozy. The meat is cooked to perfection (please TRY THE RIBS!!), and it comes with a side, sauce and salad so is well priced. Highly recommended, been a regular since the first time I found this place, and has never let me down.

Mary Hodgson

If you are a meat lover - this place is great. You get a chosen side and sauce to accompany your chosen meat dish. The meat that comes out is a large portion and melts in your mouth. Only giving a 4 star cause my partner got a steak and he said his was quite hard (he gets med-rare). Would definitely come back here again and recommend it

Pras Haryanto

I’ll keep it short. Was disappointed with everything; meat was bland & boring, we asked for med rare but we got med to well-done so they’re very dry and tasteless. El Sizzling Chorizo was way better!

John Fán

Been here a lot but not much in 2018. The staff are friendly and explain the menu quite well. The meat is extremely delicious and the sides are usually amazing to boot. I'm not sure that I like eating on a stool in the middle of the area though. Great food and great taste, just waaaaay too expensive. They even RAISED the prices at some point.

Jay

Meats cooked on stone grills always taste good, but this place goes further. Their service was impeccable, with a Columbian authenticity, and the combinations were delicious. Definitely coming back!

Stella

The food was Real toasty. i would like to going back one day. But not cheap and staff looks busy as they dont really come to us. They often dont come even if we called for order.

Mmmfood

We ordered the "el humero experience" (a mixed platter), and an experience it was! What beautifully chargrilled meat, tasty starters and sides! Our absolute favourite were the costillas - so full of flavour and the meat is so tender, it just falls off the bone. The service was very friendly and the atomsphere is lovely, too. This place is a must for anyone who likes grilled meat.

Brizzle

Been here a few times now and it’s great South American Columbian styles food. Meat is cooked over charcoal, so it’s delicious! Try the Punta de Anca and El Humero pork washed down with a Yellowhead IPA.

Rogue Spoon

A favourite. There’s something special about meat cooked over charcoal, and by an expert. Juicy, tender and flavoursome steaks. And great place for a carnivore.

Tan.ned

Everything I had was delicious!! The sausages were amazing. We had a platter style and tried a bit of everything. Definitely was not disappointed

Morné Van Tonder

Great friendly service and food. Dinner party for 11 of us on Saturday evening,with no one leaving disappointed. Truly tender Costillas, meat just falls off the rib, with Arepa and fresh salad. Been there a number of times and always want to go back. Final touch with chef checking in personally with you to see if we enjoyed it. Get there early, this place gets busy quickly.

Foodie

I used live in Colombia and thank god! Found this place 10minutes away from my home. I was so missed arepa empanada aji .. etc.. The food was perfect. Same or better than I tasted in Colombia! Highly recommended!

Panini T

Changing my review one year later! We decided to come back here with our good friends and ordered the large sharing experience platter and it was spectacular to say the least! The entrees came out super quick and were delicious and portions were great which made us nervous about when the main came out and it’s certainly did not disappoint! All meats were cooked to perfection and seasoned the perfect amount. It’s seems they’ve changed their menu a bit since a year ago which had made it less confusing and easy to navigate through. Will definitely be coming back here again 😍

MizC

Closes late and has a great selection, not too mention the lovely and accomodating staff! We got there late and they still let us in! Such a good try! The food had a wide selection of small meals and main meals and grilled food. I would suggest definitely going with a group or making sure you go with someone who has an appetite and doesn't mind sharing food with you, as everything you may order comes in a large sharing bowl.

Dinozabrik

This place is really cool. The coolest thing I found was probably fried bananas! The sauces are really good too. Very nice and ambient place. Would recommend.

Kelly

Dined here for dinner since I’ve been walking past this place getting to lunch haha We ordered the chicharron as entree, it’s what you’d expect as deep fried pork belly. And I forgot what the other two dishes were, it was a game of eniee meenie minie mo on the menu haha. All pork dishes, we were a little porked out after the meals. Pork was cooked well, but really needed to be complimented with the salsa and sauces to cut the fattiness. Staff were attentive, in terms of food. . It was good but I wont be in a rush to get back.

Louise

I come here at least once a month because I love it so much! The service is great and it’s amazing to see the chefs talking to the customers while they’re making an amazing meal. I was lucky enough to go during their special where they were serving Tomahawk steaks! Apparently only happens 2 times a year, and it was so worth it for the price! Also highly recommend the plantains, really delicious and crispy with a soft centre. Can’t rave about this place enough. 💕💕💕

USE HANSID FOR GOLD DISCOUNT

Partner has been wanting to visit this spot for a while so figured why not visit for dinner! Lovely staff and super cosy spot, lots of heaters on both indoors and outdoors. Outdoor eating area has a beautifully lit up wall and lots of seating. I ordered the Carne Empalada medium rare with fries. Such an amazing dish, so juicy and tender and such a big amount for the price you pay! Definitely try it out! Partner ordered the Pechuga Asada and he throughly enjoyed it, the portion is a great size and it had a lovely flavour. El Humero is definitely a hot spot for dinner in Takapuna!

Ishan Subodh Shanbhag

Excellent Staff . Very personalised ,friendly and professional service . Best thing about this place is that you can interact with chefs . Kind of you become one with the whole team at El Humero while dining. When it comes to food it’s delicious . Simple yet amazing flavours . All you can taste is love and care for the produce being cooked for you . Dining at El Humero is an experience worth try.

Deanna Gallagher

Favorite restaurant! Never had a bad meal and the food is always fresh and delicious. Service and staff are great. Worth the wait when they are full.

Piggy Cupcake

One of the best meat restaurants in Auckland. The owner is super friendly, nice seating, good service. The food tastes great, big portions and very authentic South America style cuisine. Highly recommend!

Foodslut

I used to love coming here. The plantains are beautifully golden and crunchy, the cassava is fried to perfection and fluffy on the inside the best complement to the seasoned and grilled steaks that they can be served with however the quality of service has dropped. I came here quite frequently and would recommend it to my friends however on my last visit I drove from the city centre to get to takapuna than I waited half an hour for a table which I was okay with ( even thought the waitress sounded irritated that I was happy to wait for a proper table and not the seats at the bar ) ... after that my order was taken and the wait begun, 30 minutes went by and people that had arrived before me were receiving their food I decided to wait a little bit longer .... 20 minutes later I realised we would not be getting served I went up and asked why the wait was so long and no one could explain this to me all together I waited an hour and 20 minutes for a cold glass of overpriced Sauvignon Blanc ... I was very disappointed as this was my favourite place and I spoke highly of it to my friends.

Vanisha Patel

Went here for our anniversary. Wowsers! What a fresh take on Latin American food! Delicious food done over charcoal. Flavour was amazing and so many options. Portions were awesome. Presentation was lovely and service was excellent - so friendly and the biggest smiles! The restaurant was busy so drinks took a few minutes extra but the mojitos were great. Will definitely be back for more!

Fredrickchen901

I love this place and have been here several times. Dishes here are really excellent. People here are friendly and the atmosphere here is brilliant as well.

Tihana Smiljanić

Went twice, both times for the same meal: Pechuga Asada, the chicken. It was just so good I didn't feel like experimenting! The chicken melts in your mouth. Amazing combination of herbs? spices? whatever it is they use. I had it with yuca fries, for a lighter variety of its potato counterpart. My companions ate Lomo Ancho and loved it just as much. You get a small salad and a sauce free of charge, which is nice. The service is good. The place often gets busy though so make sure you ring in advance if you don't want to risk having no place to sit.

Robert Hamilton

Terrible bland food .. and service was just appalling and never let the staff make recommendations .. we are sure we got something they couldn't sell it was so bad.

Attila The Hun

Best Latin American restaurant in town! Arepas are very good, bbq meats are soft and juicy, I love the beef ribs the most! Nice people, nice food, amazing cassava chips!

Gerard @ Bushman's Grill

Great Restaurant with a vibrant atmosphere and delicious food. The service was excellent and rhe Rib Eye succulent and very tasty. Highly recommend.

RacMac

Always loved this place because of special memories & their hottest seller, the beef ribs but running out of them at 7pm on a weekend, very disappointing, especially when you get drenched in the rain only to go there to eat them while you commemorate a special occasion.

Paul O

No better place on The Shore to get your meat fix. No rooms for vegans here: this is serious meat territory! Longaniza (cured sausage) with arepa was superb: perfect for the kids to share. Lomo ancho (aged sirloin) was spectacular. Carne empalada (beef knuckle) was quite unique - flavoursome and hearty. Pechuga asada (chicken breast) was a little overcooked but still tasty. Unfortunately we weren't served side salads with our mains and as it was our first time there and nobody checked on us during the meal, we didn't know if that was normal. When I mentioned it on payment, they lovely hostess apologized and discounted the total. All in all a good experience and we'll be back.

곰정안

4.5/5 Taste 4/5 Display 4.5/5 Quantity 4/5 Customer Service Best Meaty Restaurant in Takapuna Been here three times already. It was so good I recommended this place for functions and family meetings. For it's price you get quite a lot of meat. The wedges are really nice and soft it almost seems like Kumara. I really want to give this place 5/5 but I have to be fair.

Diana Anne Valeza

Tried this colombian restaurant in takapuna and i had no regrets! We came in a big group and they were able to cater us even with short notice (we had to wait of course, but not ridiculously long like an hour in some places in ponsonby)! The food was great! Cooked to perfection and huge portions as well.. the food came out in a timely manner too! I especially like the cassava (yucca) chips.. would come here again!

Gillian C

Great food and good service. Do ensure is having to wait for someone to leave to free up space for 4 diners. It was freezing cold outside and a really long wait.

FoodieAsh

Love this place so much. If only they have another restaurant in East Auckland. Been here many times and the Flavour always surprises me. Love this place.

Sofy

I had a great dinner last night... food was tasty overall I order morcilla was moisture inside at the point that it falls apart by itself, for main I ordered costillas and Lomo ancho both were very nice cooked and big portion i loved the sauce aji picante and really enjoyed yucas which is a very traditional southamerican flavour, size of salad quite small but ok. Drinks were refresh and presented in long glasses but our second round they run out of it staff spanish and friendly .I definitely come back Gracias ;)

I'm A Foodie

My friends and I had a perfect dinner tonight and enjoyed the full Columbia BBQ! We ordered the share meal includes all kinds of bbq. Each item is tasty, and the chef makes meat so tender. Meat didn't event get stuck in my teeth! I love it!

Campbell Gibson

I love El Humero, my partner and I have been going since it opened and have recommended it to everyone for a few reasons: 1. Great BBQ, especially the steak options 2. Good prices We go frequently and tonight was another night to go and we noticed that price for the Punta de Anca had increased from $22 - $29 a total increase in the mains for us both of $14. I still had a great meal however, I will hesitate to go and recommend yo people going forward with the massive increase in prices.

Michael Coup

Great food and great location, it was great to talk with the chefs themselves about the food and where it came from, we'll definitely be coming back again

Fatcat

Such grill, much food. Happy atmosphere, empty plates, would recommend. Try the pork belly, ribs and beef. Also a great assortment of sauces and sides (the flatbreads) on offer!

Simone

Amazing food and vibe! We have been here a few times and it never disappoints. From the steak to the short ribs, absolutely amazing and full of flavour. Abit difficult to get a seat as they never used to take reservations but that’s the only negative. Service is also great!

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Been here a few times& never disappointed. They are always busy, so best if you book first. Great bustling atmosphere & service with tasty food , massive portions - you wont leave not full!

Jeffie

They have a great score here, was in the mood for bbq so I gave this place a try. Service is a good standard. Ambience is nice and well suited to the place. We had the Pinchos - Skewers (chicken), Empanadas and Picada El Humero with the morcilla exchanged for more chorizo, aioli, fries and tajadas with a glass of sangria. They are running a special at the moment for a tomahawk steak which I really wanted but I thought we would do the tour and sharing thing this time. Was a little disappointed to find they were out of Yuca croquettes and Patacon but we did turn up towards the end of service but only because there were no other bookings available. Everything came out quite fast, my favourite being the empanadas with its spicy sauce. The rest was a bit hit and miss, the pinchos was nice, it was like a simple and tasty dish. The picada el humero was a divided story, the fries, tajadas and aioli were great but the meats, not so much. The carne empalada was pink in the middle but it was on the dry side, the chorizo didn't seem to have to any fat in it and it was completely dry, it was really hard to eat. The humero pork was its own antithesis of itself, it was falling apart, it was a pulled pork but again completely dry in taste when eating it. We tried to drown all the meats in all of the sauces to help get it down. The sangria was nice. I do like this place but I would love it if they worked on these on things and turned them around.

Bambi

I love their cassava chips! Steak cooked to perfection. Especially love their beef knuckle! You get reasonable amount of food for the price, including salad and chips as side. It was very busy when we went here for dinner, so make sure you book to avoid a long wait!

Foodie123

Great food, excellent portion sizes for price. Head chef is very friendly and food is top quality. I can understand why there is a big queue on Saturdays! Would come here again.

888bing888

Great Colombian ambience, understanding and friendly staff. We didn't have a booking but they let us sit by the bar to eat from there. We got their Costillas - short ribs and Chicharron with arepa and boy, it was one of the best tasting beef ribs I have tried. It was so tender and succulent with smoky flavour. It is truly a must try.

Kelly

Gorgeous, glorious meat. The 900g beast of a cut was succulent, smoky, tender, and so tasty! The spuds were so soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, well-seasoned and perfectly accompanied the meat. We also had empanadas, which were bursting full of meat, wrapped in a light, crispy pastry, and came with a bold, fresh salsa that definitely had a nice kick of spice. I LOVED the Tomahawk, it’s an absolute must-try, but it was only available in October. I hope they bring it back! The meat mains come with a salad, one sauce, and a side. I think the guacamole is a bit bland, but the ‘salsa de Tamarindo’ sauce is amazing - sour and spicy. As for the sides, baby potatoes are just boiled potatoes, arepa tastes a bit like cardboard, but holy goodness - YUCA! It’s wedges outta this world! Crispy on the outside but somehow soft and chewy on the inside! I wish I could have a whole box of the stuff, sit at home and eat it all day. Anyway, everybody goes on about the short ribs ... it’s Okay. It’s soft and melts away from the bones even with a fork, but to be honest, I find it not-so-amazing, flavour-wise, without the sauce (tamarind sauce). But with the sauce, I love it 😂😋👌🏻

Clara Huaman

El Humero is the best South American food I have in New Zealand ever it was my first time but it will be not my last for sure amazing food,beautiful location and great staff.

F00dL0v3r

Went to El Humero with friends several times. Foods are really delicious and we enjoy watching the staffs to prepare our foods. Friendly staffs and warm environment. Recommended to couple of my friends and it was very good feedback from all of them. Thumb up!!!

Aaah400

Went here with couple of friends and the food and the smell of the meat cooking was super pleasant. Having an open kitchen to see the chefs cook and watch them cook was amazing. Recommended to anyone and everyone. Gotta boom fast if you want a spot :)

Enilorac Rellim

Every time I come here it's always a great experience. They staff are prompt, polite and friendly, the food is always extremely delicious and fast! The ambience is warm and relaxed, even though they're full 90% of the time you never feel rushed or uncomfortable. Great place all around - keep up the great work guys!

Manshu LI

Come back for several times, just so good and friendly price. Highly recommendthe avocado and chilly sauce. If there are more snack choices will be great. I can buy the snack every work day. Lol

Angelmolgo

As a Colombian I must say that food in this place is authentic and reminds me of home. Staff is really kind and always willing to provide the best service. The picada is the best, we always have this one to share (2 people) and dessert Tres Leches is really good. Also they have traditional Colombian beverage like Pony Malta, Manzana or Colombiana :) Love this place

Jammie-Lea Wilson

I loved it here, watching my food being cooked was different. I did need to wash my hair after though. The serving sizes were just the right amount for me.

Oones Connor

Amazing atmosphere! Warm and welcoming staff. Gorgeous food. The ribs are super delicious all the meat was perfect. It is very well price. Beautiful sides and sauces. Great for small sized groups

Cat

This place is so delicious. It is on the pricey so perfect for a date night or special occasion. But definatly reccommend, beautiful smoked meat.

Yuko Saito

So far, it's the only place that serves plantenes in the the menu. Unfortunately, they had none when we went due to delay in shipment. we got the share platter so we can try a bit of everything, and filled 4 of us well.

Yrjo Luigi Partosa Galvez

My girlfriend and I got here and we were greeted by a friendly staff member. I ordered the short ribs and my girlfriend ordered the steak. The meats were both cooked to perfection! No sauce needed but I highly recommend the tamarind sauce.

Yorgen

Great food and ambience but there are several paramount aspects about the service that can be improved. Staff was not precisely welcoming instead acting a little bit annoyed at us and additionally yelling instructions to each other repeatedly from the counter to the grill/kitchen area despite of the fact that wasn't even a busy Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately we left the place with second thoughts about coming back ever again or even recommend it. Guys, it's not only about the food, attitude and kindness also matters!

Saif Nouri

First time ever goint to this place, I've always walked passed it and always noticed that's busy... so one day we decided to try it and bam... we only tried the beef ribs and there were so good, we didnt bother trying anything else the second and third time we were there. Definitely one of the top places in takapuna...

JKG

At the heart of Takapuna, El Humero serves up some really delicious meat dishes. Their food is so delicious that I went back twice in one week. On my first visit I tried the pulled pork dish with a side of the cassava wedges. The waitress recommended the Salsa De Tamarindo sauce with this dish. However, I found the Hogao to be a better accompaniment with this particular meat. The prices seem a bit steep at first, but considering the fact that you get meat, one side of your choice, a salad and a sauce to go with the meat, the prices almost seem reasonable. The staff are a little below average as they sometimes get confused with the meal, side and sauce combination you order, as well as forget to put on a smile while talking to you. Plus be prepared to wait a good 20-25 minutes for your meal to arrive. But apart from that if you are in the mood for a hearty, meatful meal, El Humero is the place to go.

Jonéll Mongie

The most amazing food! Oh my word, if you like rustic bbq style food this is the place to go. We went as a couple for my birthday and felt so special. Thank you to thr staff and hostess for making us feel so welcome. Our waiter was so patient with us and answered all our questions about the food as some of the names are very traditional. Every bite of food was like heaven. Can't wait to take all our friends there. Thanks for the birthday dessert. We can't thank you enough for the perfect ending to my birthday. A+++++++😘🖒😘🖒😘 PS. Their juices are out of this world! A must when you visit

Justene Spawforth

First time to El Humero and we will be back for more fab food, great service and atmosphere...I had the little of most plate and it was Devine

Austin Ibarra

What a fantastic place! I ordered the beef ribs, and they were amazing. The meat was tenderly cooked and fell easily off the bone. Recommended to all.

Hong C. Tang

Need to book the table or you can't get the seat. Nice steak, it's fresh grilled, incredibly cheap in town and very good customer service! Really enjoyed the ambiance!! Would recommend their beef steak and skewer, nicely grilled but alittle plain for me, so i added lots of salt, and the taste was just even better

Icyicy Guo - 25%OFF GOLD Membership Code: ICYI7584

If you love meat, then this is the place to go~~ We had a big plate to share between 2, and still wanted more so had a small plate. Very filling. Get in early or book a table, otherwise the place fill up very quickly.

Michelle

This is a popular little Colombian restaurant with vibrant decor. The meat we ordered was tender, juicy and full of flavour - chicken skewers, sirloin steak, and meat platter; and they had a good selection of wine. All of the staff were friendly and held their smiles throughout the night which makes dinner that much more pleasant. The cost for 2 of us was just under $100 with drinks - a fair price for a great night. It's popular so recommend making a reservation.

Kristina Williams

Unbelievable. One of my local fav's but I just tried to book a table 1.5 months in advance on a Saturday night for a special birthday for 16 people only to be told no sorry we would just have to come in and try a walk in.......for 16 people??????? I said I couldn't believe they were turning a table of 16 away and she said they were so busy they didn't care whether we came or not?? Where's the love and/or service??? So disappointed with you El Humero. Very sad face!!!

Mana Katsukawa Otimi

El Humero is the place to go when you want succulent, butter soft ribs ! Its the best ribs I have ever eaten in my life so meaty and full of flavour. I've been to this restaurant twice and have not been disappointed with the food ! The first time i've been here the staff was kind but very busy. The second time i've been here the restaurant was quite busy but we made a booking at 8, and there was no seats till about 8:15, the only thing disappointing was they made us wait in the pouring rain outside in the courtyard with my 2 year old son. We got inside they "wiped" the table but there was still left over food on the table, we got no water until we had to ask BUT other than that this restaurant is perfect ! Highly recommended

Eli A

Appreciate the uniqueness of this place- the service is basic, and the food is good- a bit underseasoned, but thats easily sorted. Good place to try something different :-)

Vivienne_Moo

Well executed dishes, great ambiance and tentative serveice, albeit half premise seems decored like a construction site with skyfolders above and along the wall, however it is really warm and cosy inside. We ordered median rare sirloin and chicken, I enjoyed both and can sense natural smell of charcoal intertwined with aura of the meat. Each main comes in with salad, sauce and a side. Although I paid $1.5 extra for my side, one of being those deep fried banana thing, but definitely worth it. Another side we got is wedges, best wedges I had ever, taste like genuine potato and not overly fried. Had a peek around all dishes served in decent size, some patrons have to ask for takeaway so for the money paid it is very worthwhile.

Shania Hibberd

The service was really good and so was the food. The only issue I had was that I had a booking for 7 and my partner and I had just finished our food and we were told we had to go as there was another booking at 8. I understand that there was a booking after us however I didn't realise that we were only given an hour to arrive, drink and eat. It's not a very long time

Yui Chen

Have been here 3 times and can't fault this place! Lovely atmosphere, friendly staff and the food is both delicious and very filling. You're pretty much guaranteed to come out stuffed if you get one of their mains. It comes with a salad too! Highly recommend their ribs and guacamole dip.

ChefZ

The beef ribs are to die for with their tamarind Salsa & Hogao sc. and fried sweet plantain. Arepas are too bland & starchy. Yuca is ok. Good ambience but poor service as the interaction with the waiting staff comes off as very rude.

MariaPia

OMG the best tasting and tender meat(Sirlion) i have ever eaten and cooked to my perfection. The wedges were made from a root vegetable which tasted amazingly like potatoe with a slight different texture - highly recommended. The waiter was happy to sit and listen to my palate preferences before advising his suggestions. A memorable experience - def going back. Thank you!

Bec

I've been here a couple times now and I just can't get enough of this place! How it works is you pick a cut of meat, a side and a sauce. The meat is absolutely amazing!! I always seem to go back to the short ribs and it's honestly probably some of the best meat I have ever had, especially for $26!! I struggle to try anything else on the menu because it is so good. My boyfriend got the meat platter and I tried some of his, all the meat on there was really great as well. The food portions (particularly the meat portions) are huge and an amazing value for money! This place is small, but has a real cool atmosphere. The BBQ is in the middle of the restaurant so you get to watch your meat being cooked. Since it is a small place, there is really limited seating and you can't make a booking either. So either I recommend you turn up early or late, otherwise we had a 40 min wait time for a table.

Amit Tripuraneni

Had the Meat platter for lunch and it was stunning. The beef is beyond imagination - smokey, succulent, tender - and is star of the platter. The service is friendly and open. Highly recommended.

Matt Yeahh

Food is always great. My partner is from South America so this is like home for them. The service on the other hand could do with a spruce up. I understand the staff are Colombian and it's traditional but sorry we are in New Zealand and it's pretty important to speak English and also staff need to understand the menu a bit better. But no complaints towards the food it's simply amazing

Radhika

Absolutely great experience! I have been fortunate enough to discover this hidden gem of Takapuna. This was my second time at the restaurant with my close family and friends. As soon as we entered, there was a really warm welcome by the host, he guided us to the table on the backyard from where we could pretty much see the whole restaurant and enjoy the ambience. Fairy lights, colombian music and great food with nice presentation makes this eatery a perfect place for ''cozy date'' and special occasions dinner. I am sure you will definitely be able to impress your date. One of my many highlights of the dinner was the fresh juices that they have got from Colombia - OMG Guava and Lulo fruit juices. I have never had this kind of juice that is light n tasty but also an amazing addition to the food menu. The sauces are yummiest and made fresh on site. As you can see I am highly impressed by the place, this will be one of my go to places in Takas for sure.

Titeuf

A very cute restaurant with great Colombian cuisine!! The ambience is cosy and exotic at the same time - works best for smaller groups in my opinion. The food is beautifully cooked and the staff are very nice. Will try to come back soon!!

Adrian Anunziata

Been there for my birthday with a reserved table. They forgot about the reservation and have the table to somebody else and put us in the common area. Ordered a wine which cannot be served there (due to license) so a table appeared at the restaurant and went back in. The order was made at 7:40 pm, it was 8:50 and the order didn't arrive yet. Went to check for the manager, the person named on the wall was not there, the supposed manager never appeared. A blond woman "handled" my complaint by never apologising and sending the waitress to give us messages. By the time te food arrived it was cold. While having the diner, the waitress came back again to our table to challenge our complaints "let's make some things clear" she said... not even my father said that to me. A friend of mine asked for a courtesy wine and they say "we don't do this quite often". So, no table/missed reservation, food came an hour later, food was cold, and the waitress challenging our concerns instead of the manager and of course, the actual manager never appeared. Cherry on the cake, when we were leaving the place, the very same blond woman (who will probably be he acting manager) was talking on the phone and loudly saying it was our fault, that we "started a fight" and not even saying goodbye.... I took many of my friends there, I always had the best words even when it wasn't as it was at the beginning, but it is a place I'm not going to come back for a long time. Besides being cold, the food was not as it was earlier. Every opportunity they had to make things right, they missed it... empathy is something they don't know what is. Thanks for ruining my first NZ birthday dinner.

Carlo C.

Our favourite place if we want South American Dish, loved the Ribs and the Empanada is to die for! Highly recommend and the place is homy, great food and service rolled into one. 👍😊

Briana

Came here last night for the second time and left with an Argentinian food baby. The food is in-f*#king-credible. The first time we came my partner and I both had the sharing plates, a good option for first timers, and which made us instantly sure of our choice the next time - had to be the beef short rib. The meat is possibly the most succulent, moist, fall off the bone beef I've ever tried. The cassava chips are a must, and the chilli and tomato salsa/sauce goes really nicely. $28 for a 400g portion with the chips and sauce, really worth it. All up, for two beef short ribs, a glass of wine, and a takeaway portion of cassava chips (greedy midnight snacks), it came to $70. Pretty spot on with zomatos average price. I'd recommend booking, this place packs up. The service is also really friendly, and it's quite a foodgasmic show watching the boys BBQ up the meat right in front of you. Advice - go hungry

Raspberry Beret

Really funky Columbian restaurant with an inviting interior and super friendly staff. Not a massive menu, but enough choice to tailor your meal. I had the chicken breast (not usual for me when I eat out as I cook so much chicken at home) and mu guest had the ribs. Both meals were fantastic.

Emmelyn Fuentes Rosell

The place was quaint with the usage of woodfire stove and grill. The ambiance was relaxing. Me and my friends have all ordered their sirloin steak and it was cooked to our preferrence. The restaurant can be busy really quickly, so I recommend to book in advance to be seated directly. Also, me and my friends prefer to sit at the bar rather than a table. It was really fun to watch the staff interact in their own language while watching your food cooking.

Liksya

Ambience is fair. Staff are friendly. Though the front staff (doing the cooking) only greets the people they knew on their language. However, still a good service from the wait staff. The food is exceptional. We sat infront of the bar and had the sirloin steak. We saw mouthwatering dishes like chicharon, grilled porkchop and chorizos.

Brunchalicious

We have been twice now and loved the food. The food is fresh and the meat falls of the bone. Finger licking good! The athmosphere is casual and relaxed which is great however staff could be a more attentive, it is so busy that you really have to grab the staff by their sleeves when they rush by to order something. What was great though was that they give you a take away box when they see that you were unable to eat all the food ( almost without asking) which shows that they are confident the food is great and you simply left it because you ordered too much. My favourite casual eating place at the moment.

Paul Ianovski

This was everything I expected from a Colombian restaurant, the meat was juicy and I simply have not tasted something this good for a while. Service wise it's exceptional for the price point, the staff are friendly and make jokes, real Latin American feel.

Karen

Excellent place. I went late on a Sunday night just after 8, and it was still very busy and had a positive and exciting vibe. The food was great value - all mains had a decent portion of meat along with a garden salad and side+sauce of choice. We ordered the aged sirloin steak and beef bottom (which was recommended by our waitress as our first choice of short ribs were out). We both asked for medium rare but the sirloin came just under medium rare, however we still enjoyed it very much. We had the yuca and papa salada for sides. It's the first time I've had yuca and they were quite good with the sauces (we chose hogao and salsa criolla). Keen to try all the other mains and the arepa side. I'm also very pleased with the overall cleanliness highlighted by the very polished glasses of water. Would definitely recommend and come again.

Jazmin Lee

Let me first say, the menu personally is quite limited, therefore you'll need the really good service of the waiters to guide you through what the dishes are. It's really special to see the chef grill the meat in the big grill! I've already forgotten the names of most of the food we had but that's okay! The prices are quite on edge considering the limited options but BUT THE FOOD IS WORTH IT. You choose your salad and side with your meat and it is a massive portion. For all meat lovers this is the place to be. I feel good knowing the beef is grass-fed, and not under cruel conditions. The empanadas were fried to perfection with lots of meat inside. I had the beef ribs and it was just amazing. The meat slid off the bone so easily and there was hardly any fat. The sauces they used in each dish was flavourful, and spicy which I loved!! The potatoes and fries were salty and crispy, everything was amazing. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE BEEF RIBS. Will definitely come back here for those. I can't stop thinking about them.

Corina Elama

Really nice food and great service. I had the grilled chicken and baby potatoes with salad. Nice mixture of flavours and the chargrilled chicken breast was a refreshing taste.

Deb Ross

This bustling restaurant is a meatopia, do not take a vegetarian or a pescatarian! Having said that if you like succulent slow cooked tasty cuts of meat, this is the spot. Be warned, the portions are huge. The entrees are delicious, I recommend share a couple of entrees then share a main. We shared empanadas, the black pudding - a must have and the pork belly. We then each got a main meal, big mistake! Two meals would be plenty between three. The wine list isn't extensive but has a very tasty selection. We are going to hunt out the red we had there. This is a well priced restaurant with a fun and bubbly atmosphere. There is only one downside - you could get bored with the menu if you went to often as the menu doesn't seem to change. However I'll be back! Returned recently and it's still great - try the short ribs - melt in your mouth.

Kenji

Been here twice and I was impressed both times. If you are looking for a meaty dinner that's been char grilled then this is the place for you! Last I was here we got the short ribs and meat platter. By vote of the table, the meat platter was the Winner! You get a a bit of beef, chorizo, pork and few other compliments. Personally the beef with the Suero Costeno sauce was delicious, would highly recommend getting that option. The service is really good, quick and friendly. If you're coming in as a group, there's a few long tables at the back or you can sit at the bar. You get to watch the chefs cook the meat on the grill which would be entertaining as well. Overall I would recommend this place.

Alex L

Love the charcoal cook food smell. This place was still packed at 8ish so make sure do booking. Being a charcoal chef myself, I can't fault this place nor the food. I would come here again. Service was good and friendly staff.

Anna Hinehou

I was absolutely blown away by this place. My friend and I came to Fortieth and Hurstmere for the first time and chose El Humero as my friend is a bit of a steak fiend. We both had the sirloin, which came accompanied by a sauce (I had guac, friend had salsa), a side (I had fries, friend had baby potatoes) and a salad each. The sirloin was great - mine was cooked so well, I'd go so far as to say that it was the best cooked steak I've had in a very long time. For $26, I found it to be well worth the price, and I've definitely paid more for less in other places. I really enjoyed being able to see the barbecue in front of me, and it really added to a fun atmosphere. I would absolutely return and we had a great dinner. (Excuse the Bitmoji on the photo - the only photo I had was from Snap!)

Zach Je Yon Lum

This is one of my go to places in Takapuna. Very good value for money. $25 for 400g of beef short ribs which includes a salad and a side as well. This is definitely a place to go to if you can eat heaps! There's usually a wait time between 30 to 45 minutes when it's busy so just keep that in mind if you happen to be starving. Staff are friendly and provide excellent service. Keep up the good work!

Rebecca MacDonald

It was my first time visiting fortieth & hurstmere it is such a cute spot. Nestled in the middle is El Humero. We went for dinner last night and mostly we all had the ribs, with one having the steak. My ribs were to die for! So tender they feel off the bone and lightly seasoned. With a main you can choose a side, a sauce and you get a green salad. I went classic and had fries and aioli. All up it was $25 and definitely a large meal so go hungry!!!

Nicole Rosalie Alazas

Best place ever! if you love meat, this is a go to! And ask if you can sit by the kitchen bar. Watching the chef cook is quite mesmerising. 5/5

Jihye Kang

Best Colombian food I've had so far in New Zealand. Full of authentic South American flavours, all meat and side dishes were cooked very well and tasty, portions were generous. A great venue lunch out with workmates or friends.

William Whelan

Talia Dickinson Wow.. best lunch I've had in 2016 Demolished their mixed grill... great flavours and vibe Cheers SALUT Will be back again and again

Priscilla Khang

First time trying Colombian food. Love the open plan kitchen and the overall ambience. Staff are very enthusiastic and friendly. The guava juice is a must try as it's very refreshing and balances all the flavours nicely. The chorizo sausage from the entree is nice and not salty like most chorizo sausages out there. Short ribs were nice and tender.

Abc

It's the first time I've been here and well there wasnt disappointing at all. It was wonderful, the food was on very well done and the service from the chef was engaging. The atmosphere is another story as well. Its just i have no questions and no doubt about this place. Would love to come back and try and rest of the menu!!

Nathalie

This place is very similar to the one at Ponsonby, but unfortunately for me this place was pretty average. We ordered steak, chicken and empanadas. Our steak was cooked well but chicken was slightly on dry side and no seasoning? Our empanadas looked great but when we tried it the flavours were lacking but it's good value! Ambiance however is really nice and staff were so friendly !! It's a unique resto in takapuna and something different around the area. If you are into BBQ and is a meat person then it's worth giving this place a Go!

Aroha Kay

Amazing! Came here with my friend for a catch. I booked a table online, I am glad I did! We had an entree and a main and drink for $36 each I think that was a great price considering the steak portion and cut was pretty substantial and tasty! Staff were very friendly I will definitely come back again.

Lovelea Ho Suarez

I was waiting for someone when i decided to eat but not so heavy. Ive tried El humero's entree chicharon with arepa. I was not expecting for too much but when they served it I was impressed! The crunchiness and the taste of their sauce just blend in! Would probably try their other food some other time. 👌🏻

Medium_Rare

Hola a todos! Este es un restaurante fantastico! From the nation which produced Football Icon James Rodriguez, world renowned coffee beans, and the premises of the hit Netflix show Narcos, the very best Columbian dining experience can be had at El Humero. Bustling with activity on Friday and Saturday nights, rumours of 1 hour wait times is a testament to the popularity of El Humero. Situated in the beautifully renovated passageway between Hurstmere Road and Lake Road Carparks, it's hard not to notice the big grill and oven cooking titanic volumes of meats. Apologies for the picture quality, but the food was incredible. We ordered the Chef Selection Picada El Humero which allowed us to try a bit of the beef, morcilla, chorizo, pork , cassava and salted potaetoes. We also had some grilled chicken skewers and pulled pork. What I love about El Humero is the smokey flavour their meat had: it actually tasted like the meat has been grilled without being dry and stale. One of my favourite BBQ restaurants in Auckland. Showstopper: The chef selection was awesome because you get to try a little bit of everything. Overall Grade: -A

Glenn P

We both ordered the Chicarron with Arepa, and my partner added Yuca also (a Root vegetable). Arepa is not particularly flavoursome but then it doesn't need to be as it is a carbohydrate to compliment the meat and sauce. This dish was excellent and the pork belly crispy and delicious. For mains she ordered the Punta de Anca and I the Chuleta de Cerdo Pork chops. These came with a sauce of choice (mine the Salsa Tamarindo and she the Guacamole) and a side salad that was a little disappointing but adequate. The meats were very tasty. Her steak was cooked as she wished (well done) but my chops were perhaps a little overcooked. Portion sizes were considerable and I had a doggy bag for a chop !! We can recommend the Boundary Road Lager to wash things down with. I usually avoid boutique beers but this was a pleasant surprise and my near teetotal partner drank a whole glass ! The menu is somewhat limited and it would be nice to have more variety to choose from. Service was ok but we've had better. Great atmosphere with the delicious BBQ aroma. Bookings strongly recommended. Overall a pleasant meal and we will go back despite it not being in our part of Auckland.

Neil Davis

Great meal, good price and friendly staff.

Cecilia Wu

Love these yummy meat and beautiful wine selections, great service and nice atmosphere, definitely recommend this place for a causal night out with friends 👯💃🏻🍷🍷🍾🍻☕️🍴🍽

JME

Amazing amazing! Went in for the first time to celebrate my fourth year anniversary with my boyfriend, we went in for an early dinner on a Saturday as we found out that they are always packed and does not take reservations for Friday-Sunday. We got a seated by the bar, which was an amazing experience, as you get to see first hand the quality of work they do to provide. We both ordered the sirloin steak (medium well & medium rare with chips and yucca chips), FIRST time that I had received a well cooked medium well and a medium rare steak! Staff are lovely and polite, the chef made sure that al our orders were good and up to our standard. Will definitely come back!

Greg Brown

Colombian food at its finest. The meat is superbly cooked and falls from the bone. The wood fire ovens are a delight with the manuka wood flavoring the food.

Hungry Auckland

Unfamiliar with Colombian BBQ restaurants, where better to make our first foray than New Zealand’s first? Using wood fired and charcoal grills, the restaurant is loud, bustling and full of Latin flavour. Situated just off Hurstmere Road, El Humero keeps good company sitting alongside Dante’s Pizza, Bird on a Wire and Burger Burger Fish Fish. Stepping inside on a rainy Auckland evening, we were instantly transported to South America.

Rahul Parmar

We been there for dinner it was really nice experience. Good service by staff and really yummy food i like charcoal BBQ food. Best Colombian food in Auckland.

Hungry Auckland

Unfamiliar with Colombian BBQ restaurants, where better to make our first foray than New Zealand’s first? Using wood fired and charcoal grills, the restaurant is loud, bustling and full of Latin flavour. Situated just off Hurstmere Road, El Humero keeps good company sitting alongside Dante’s Pizza, Bird on a Wire and Burger Burger Fish Fish. Stepping inside on a rainy Auckland evening, we were instantly transported to South America. Choose a seat overlooking all the action at the grill or opt for one of the tables either in or outside on the covered patio area. Come with an appetite as there is so much to choose from you’ll want to try it all! Don’t leave without ordering the Empanadas. A traditional South American snack food, the deep fried empanadas are stuffed with pulled beef and potatoes and served with a zingy salsa. Chicharron with arepa was Colombian style deep fried pork belly. One for the pork belly lovers out there, this cut had a good amount of fat and was served with arepa. Arepa is made from ground maize dough or cooked flour and is one of the most popular foods in Colombia. All mains come with a choice of side and a choice of sauce. The Punta De Anca consists of 300 grams of beef bottom round and was cooked to a perfect medium rare. We chose the Hogao sauce to accompany the steak which was based on tomato and onion. The Yuca – Cassava Wedges were crispy and a nice change from French fries. Star of the show was the El Humero Pork. This marinated pork shoulder is cooked in a wood fired oven for over 4 hours and was very moist and succulent. This was accompanied by salted baby potatoes and Salsa De Tamarindo. So if you’ve never tried Colombian BBQ, make your way over to the shore and get your fill at El Humero.

Paul Riding

Went out for dinner last night sans child so thought we would try something new. Glad we did - great find. Great atmosphere, very friendly staff and the food was excellent! I could have eaten the starters all night- it was a meat lovers dream come true - great chorizo, black pudding, steak, chicken......really enjoyed it. Will be back .

Benedict Uy

You can smell the BBQ walking towards the restaurant and you actually see it as you come in with the grill by the entrance. It was quite busy and was glad that we had booked beforehand even though it was a Wednesday evening. There were quite a few items on the menu and all sounded delicious. Between four of us we had ordered two entrees and four mains. That was more then enough to feed us all. Each main came with a side and sauce and a salad. The meats were beautifully marinated so they were really flavoursome and you could taste the smokiness in the meats. The chicken was really tasty but the ribs were just better. It was unfortunate that they didn't have any of the plantains since they are seasonal but the cassava wedges were really nice. Service was quite good and food really nice.

Angela Gray

Great ambience and great staff. We went for my birthday on a Saturday night and got a table for 6 sometime after 8pm. What really surprised us was that we had a guide dog with us, and before we had ordered our meal, they offered her a water bowl! Very kind :) As it was a Saturday night, there was some wait time for food but our waiter was lovely, and the food was.. Colombian. One of our steaks wasn't cooked right (rare and bloody when it was supposed to be medium) but mistakes happen. The food was authentically Colombian but I didn't particularly enjoy the food they offered. Although, I guess, this is Colombian cuisine. Enjoyed the friendly staff :)

Isaac Valach

Great casual authentic dinning & very tasty FOOD!! . This is a small restaurant but cozy. Options to sit at the bar & watch the chefs cook over coals & create tasty food. Staff were great from booking the table online to prompt overall service. A must try restaurant in this hidden Food lovers Alley.

Carl Sinclair

We had an awesome experience on Wednesday, we arrived about 30 minute before our booked time and they were kindly able to get us. The service provided from the team was outstanding; so friendly and welcoming.! The food was fresh and tasty. So very satisfying, looking forward to our next visit soon. Highly recommend :)

Ashlene Cheryl Cardoza

Wont say I know anything about South American food, but I liked what I got. We tried the El Humero pork and it was divine! The pork is apparently cooked for 4 hours, and it shows. It was so soft that it broke apart at touch. The meat was succulent and went very well with the side of Arepa we ordered. There always seems to be a wait here, and rightly so with such good food. I'd recommend you reserve a table before getting here. With mains between $20-$25, this place is slightly higher priced, but well worth the visit.

Tascha

This would have to be one of our favourite places to eat!! It is with much restraint that we don't come every week!! The BBQ flavours, the perfectly cooked meat, the friendly staff ... all combine to make a wonderful dining experience!

Kiwi888

Can't say I have ever had Columbian food before, suspected it might be similar to Argentinean. It was similar however definitely unique. They have an open BBQ (I guess that's what you call it) in the restaurant that is part of the experience so you get the beautiful smell of the smoky wood. Try the daily set lunch accompanied with the Columbian bread. Chunks of crispy meat with a tangy sauce and salad. Perfect. Wish I spoke Spanish!

DrH

A gorgeous little restaurant nestled away in a side alley off the main drag. Pretty much everything comes off the barbecue or the grill situated behind the bar within the main dining area. It is an absolute festival of different barbecued meats, all very delicious. Although you could order and eat your own dish, it's clearly designed so that you order several and share amongst your fellow diners. My colleague and I sat up at the bench overlooking the cooking area which was very comfortable. The meals are not massive so for the hungrier amongst us, it's safe to err on the side of ordering that extra meal to share. None of them are particularly expensive and considering the quality, all are well worth it. Sorry, but if you're vegetarian, don't bother. There might be something there for you but this place is all about the meat so you'll be missing out if you're not there for that. Staff were friendly enough whilst appearing happier leaving diners to themselves rather than overly trying to engage in conversation. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Auckland Food Tours

Make sure to book if you want to go here, its very popular and deservedly. The food is excellent, tasty grilled meats served with sides of various types of fried carbs (plantain, potato, cassava) We tried them all and they were all perfect. Juicy meats and crunchy chips. The empanadas are not to be missed, quite different from the Spanish, these are deep fried smaller pockets filled with pulled pork, delicious.

Rory Wilkinson

Great food and very friendly staff. We enjoyed the "Pechuga Asada", "Costillas" and the "Chuleta Valluna". Meal portions were very generous. A great evening. highly recommended, will be back!

Madalina Nita

We made a booking via Zomato 2 days ahead and it worked perfectly. We sat at the bar facing the chef and the barbeque, which we actually enjoyed a lot. However the waiter apologised for sitting us there and offered us a table 10-15 min later. We kept our seats though, but it was very nice of him. We had Carne Empalada and Picada El Humero which were huge portions and delicious. They each come with a sauce of your choice and a small salad for free. We had a glass of wine and a couple of beers in total, and the final bill was a bit over $80. Not bad at all! The same waiter made us a surprise and brought us a creme brulee on the house as we were celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary. The chef shook hands with my husband at our departure. Very nice service and friendly people. The place is very busy and so vibrant, don't go without making a booking. We'll definitely be back and we'll recommend the place to friends.

Peter Skipper

discovering my local takeway was closed on monday and my partner was getting take away in the complex i asked the el humero staff if they did take away which they did. i got the ribs with salad. the food was amazing and the staff where amazing to me and my infant boy. will be getting take away from here again as it was defiantly two portions worth and was only 25$.

Foodie

Good food, well cooked and great mix of flavour. The quality of the meat is good (not excellent) but fair considering the price. Best part is a personal greeting from the chef as you arrive. He will also ask how everything was as you leave. Very rare these days.

Mike

A great spot for BBQ that is cooked right in front of you, just like in El Sizzling Chorizo. Place is small and cozy inside, food was amazing both entree and pork shoulder with steak cut were just superb. Cooked just like requested and well flavoured. However, be careful with Zomato booking as I have booked through online, and received all the confirmations, though upon arriving on time, waitresses were quite surprised to see us and tried to organize a table, but we ended up sitting at the bar for 10-15 minutes, watching someone else food cooking :) Will call next time rather than trust online services.

Kat. Jordan

First time going to Fortieth and Hustmere in Taka and wow what a place! There's so many nice eating establishment's this one nicely bricked walkway that you're spoilt for choice! El Humero was our destination tonight and they had provided us a little table out if the main room for our group of six (it was most definitely squished) but there was still a good view of the kitchen and we were warm enough between the heat lamps and the provided blankets (I know!!!). Service was a little slow and communication a be awkward at times but we managed. The entrees came out within 10mins of ordering and mains about 30mins after that. The staff made us feel welcome, and even went out of their way to swap my $10 note for coins so I could pay for parking!! Although I didn't order an entree I tried one of the empanadas, and it was good! Really nice crunchy crust with a fluffy and flavoursome filling. Also they were generously portioned. My main was the chicken breast and wow! The meat was so succulent and had such a nice flame grilled flavour, plus it was a substantial amount of meat. The casava wedges were soso good, crunchy and well seasoned ahh and the salad went down a treat also. Overall it was pretty good, food top notch and for reasonable prices, nice location and decor and friendly staff! Would love to come back some day

Diogo Reck

Very surprised to discover this place by chance and to know that Colombians make the barbecue just like Argentinians and Uruguayans. I'd say that the process of grilling the meat is an advantage itself, preserving the meat juicy whole giving a smoked delicious flavour. I tried almost all the menu, except for the ribs, which are beautiful, but for my disappointment pretty cooked (they just heat it on the charcoal again as your order). It makes the service fast, but it is not the best option for having such a delicious piece of rib. My overall experience there was great. Almost everything was good, especially the chorizo and the empanadas. I also tried he aguardiente, a spirit with a anis like taste. All the staff is Colombian (so, they know what they are doing) and the service is great.

Jeanelle Isidro

Went here for my dad's birthday dinner! I loved everything about this place and sets up a pretty good vibe! Food prices are pretty descent according to the size of food you get so you won't regret it! I would suggest booking a table beforehand as it gets pretty packed! Would definately come...

Alice Bushell

We came here for dinner tonight and had such a great time! The food is absolutely delicious, I got the pork schnitzel and my partner got the mixed platter, everything tasted amazing! Really decent sized portions too and good value for money. We were sat on the bench right in front of the kitchen which was great, being able to see your food being prepared right in front of you is an amazing experience. All the staff were very friendly and this place just had an awesome atmosphere, really authentic and like nothing else I have experienced in Auckland, will absolutely be coming back!!

Ben Ch

El Humero is an amazing place to visit if you love meat. Ordered a main (short ribs), which came with Arepa with cheese as well as a side of salad. This was my first time trying Arepa and consider me a fan. On my list to bring guests back here and introduce them to the delight that is El Humero.

Louise

Have been here twice now. Both times were awesome. Staff super friendly, food delicious, decor cheerful and meal presentation was great. Highly recommend if you're a carnivore!

Bbear

Awesome location, friendly staff, yummy food. Ordered an array of entrees for myself and they were plated beautifully with delicious fresh dips and sauces. Empanadas were yummy, pork belly was more crispy than soft, little potatoes were tasty. Was too full for desert! Looking forward to going back and tasting the rest of the menu.

Good Advisor

I love this place. From the beginning they make you feel welcome and greet you with a warm latin smile! Their food is very tasty and inexpensive for what you get. Gracias!

Cool Cat

Exceptional value for money and such amazing service, food and atmosphere! Will definitely be back to explore the menu further. Staff (including the very busy chefs) were cheerful and friendly, we felt very much at home and valued. The wait for the seat was well worth it!

Eden Wood

If you're a big meat eater El Humero is the place for you. The meat is incredibly tender and falls off the bone and the portions are big so don't eat too much before you come. I would recommend the duck fat potatoes over the fries and cheesy bread for your side.. I regretted not ordering them and had major food envy as I looked across the kitchen and saw another customer order them. The dining space is small and the majority of the seating is on high stools around the kitchen. If you have a bad back like my partner I would ring and book and ask for a table. The staff are very friendly and the service was efficient, slightly pricey but worth it in my opinion.

Tiana Meintjes

Love love LOVE everything about El Humero! The staff are friendly, the food is delicious, and the restaurant is cozy. We have been there about 4 times and each time has been amazing. Thank you for this wonderful restaurant! :)

Alice Rump

went for lunch with five others, was seated in front of the grill which i highly recommend. we all got the lunch special, food was excellent. the chef was really cool and adds to the experience.

Annie Ren

This place is awesome! Warm and cost little place in fortieth & hurstmere where there are pretty lights and everywhere and courteous staff guiding you all the way the moment you step into the restaurant. They have an open kitchen which means there's a bit of entertainment during the waiting process-watching steaks getting flipped, sausages burned and buns heated. :p The food is really value for money, for between $20-$25, you get a main (meat) with a side and a green salad! That's better some other steakhouse's lunch deals! My steak was done very well and I loved the chargrilled taste complemented with their spicy tamarind sauce. I also had the Casava chips for my side, something very different to fries that I normally have! Overall it was good experience trying out Columbian cuisine and for that price I'd probably go back again!

Zoe Maclean

Happy Birthday El Humero. 1 year old today. The food is delicious and rustic. Made with love by the wonderful people who are dedicated to this wonderful place. Happy Birthday!

Manuela Ovalle Herrera

As a Colombian I am very pleased to say that the food here is a wonderful representation of the Colombian cuisine. I've been here several times with my family and this place is one of our favourites. The service is wonderful, the restaurant has a lovely atmosphere and they even have a game of ranas (toad in a hole) outside for children too.

Stu

Wow! This place is amazing. Very casual inside, the staff are really friendly and the food is great... the best in Takapuna for sure, especially if you like BBQ and so reasonably priced. ¡Quiero comer aquí todos los días!

Sarah Parsons

Oh my goodness the pork main was heavenly, this place is a total find. We went early as it filled up fast, totally recommend great place and made very welcome. Everything was just brilliant, not many vegetarian options (if any) this is Columbian bbq and wonderful. They even served my favourite cider sommerby and boundary road beers.

Lena Obushenkova

Excellent place! The food was amazing and the portions were enormous, will definitely come back as soon as possible to try the famous skewers!

Kishore Mitra

Went there on a weekend for lunch. Had a hankering for some slow barbequed meat. So ordered the barbacoa pork, meat skewers and a side of cassava fries. Loved it! Great service, decent prices and tasty food in decent quantities. The location is a bit hidden from plain sight....but this may be worth the search. I definitely recommend at least one visit.

Mary Underwood

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say reservations are a necessity if you want to get a table. We were lucky being a Sunday night early evening, where most of Auckland had escaped for the weekend. Just! Any later and we would not have got in the door. Placed down an alleyway with many tiny bistros some established, others in the throws of just starting up. The place is quite small but mostly comprising a large bar surrounding a BBQ. For this job you certainly need to have a big personality which our chef certainly had. Chef was happy to chat as he cooked while the smell of the grilled meat was tantalizing. Menu comprises starters through to entres to mains. The grilled meat skewer as a entree is very reasonable priced and the pulled beef empanadas were delicious served with a fresh home made salsa. My friend enjoyed the pork chops which she loved. I can't wait to return to try the rest of the menu. .

Emma W

My partner and I dined here on a Tuesday night before a comedy show. We ordered empanadas to start, chuleta valluna (pork schnitzel) with arepa (flat bread) and elhumero pork with yuca (cassava chips). The empanadas arrived within 10-15 minutes of us ordering them and the mains came 5-10 minutes after the starter was cleared away. Great service and the food was awesome. So nice to try something new, especially when it is well done and the staff know what they are doing. The main meals also came with a side salad which was great value, I couldn't believe how small the bill was when I paid! The only things I would note was the elhumero pork was so salty my partner couldn't finish it because the saltiness was overwhelming. The boards are slightly difficult to eat from, I was chasing my schnitzel around the board. They also appear to serve alcohol but it was not listed on the menu so that was a bit confusing. Overall it was the best dining experience we have had anywhere in Auckland in a long time. If we lived on the Shore then we would definitely be back soon but I will just recommend it to as many people as I can. Keep up the good work.

Victoria

A hidden little gem in takapuna. The food is amazing, the staff happy and always helpful and the atmosphere warm and welcoming. A must do for everyone (especially an avid meat eater). Will definitely be coming back to sample more of their amazing menu!

Sarah S

Dined here tonight with my partner, we thought being a Tuesday it might be quiet but we booked just in case. Lucky we did as the place was packed, I would recommend booking if your dining on a day where they take bookings. We were seated in the outdoor courtyard area which is lit up with fairy lights & has such a lovely ambiance. For entrees I had the empanadas & my partner had the chorizo, for mains I had the sirloin steak & my partner the short ribs. All of the food was flavoursome & well cooked, we thoroughly everything we ordered. The portion sizes are generous & the menu is great value. The service was ok, the wait time for our order to be taken & food to be served was extremely reasonable considering how busy they were. We weren't offered more drinks or asked how the food was but that wasn't a biggie. I found it a little odd that they don't provide a drinks menu, we weren't sure if the place was licensed as the only drinks on the menu were soft drinks. All in all a very enjoyable evening. I would recommend visiting, especially if you are a keen meat eater like my partner is.

WeiTing Ashley Shyu

Now this is my type of dining. It's affordable delicious food grilled to perfection. My experience at El Humero was amazing! My partner and I had a date night dinner here - we stumbled across this quirky Colombian joint on a hungry stomach. The place was packed! My partner ordered a steak and I ordered the chicken. We both loooooved our dishes! My chicken breast was cooked to perfection and it was incredibly tender. Our food arrived in a timely manner even though the line was out the door. The staff were friendly and the bill rounded up to a nice cheap figure. It was such good value for money. We left with happy tummies, discussing what meat to try on our next visit to El Humero!

Lmrliu74

It depends on who the chef is on the day. I had a mixed good and bad experience here. The beef ribs are my favorites. On one occasion, they were cooked to the best of my liking. On another occasion, it was overcooked, causing the ribs to be too chewy. The decoration of the restaurant gave me a taste of Latin America. Options in this restaurant are a bit limited. The entrees are impressive though. My recommendation is that you must take at least 4 people, so you can try different things by mixing and matching. Despite not being my top choice, I will definitely visit again from time to time. Just for something different!

Maggie Law

One word - Empanadas! I love this place and will drive 30 mins to Takapuna just for their Empanadas...One of Auckland's new gem's. Grilled meats are cooked to perfection. Must try!

Caleb Sea

The setting is beautiful, with great view of the BBQ as you await your order. However the food and service was disappointing. The meat was quite dry, it needed more sauce and flavor. The staff did what was asked but weren't friendly or inviting.

Bymint

The restaurant was recommended by friends and we were not disappointed. Three of us ordered the ribs however they only had one left. I was lucky enough to have the last dish and the meat melted in your mouth. Another customer commented it was the second time they had been to the restaurant and they had run out of ribs then also. I believe this is the signature dish. The waiter that served us was excellent. He was extremely helpful and patient with us as we did dither over the menu. We would definitely go back again.

Hannah

The food and atmosphere is always awesome here. Food is cooked to perfection and my family had such a good time and everyones tummy were happily fulled :) my favourite authentic colombian restuarant

Janine Milena Soo Thow

Will definitely come back to this place! It was my first time coming to this place. Great atmosphere and very friendly and helpful staff :D Received a warm welcome :) Had the papa salada and yuca including the sirloin steak-so delicious!!

Nicholas R. Cannon

Do you like dry and bland food? Do you like waiting 90 minutes for your order while the table that just arrived gets their's right away? Look no further as this is the place for you. El Humero has a lot of problems. The only area in which it succeeds are decor and staff friendliness. Beyond that, this place has zero appeal. The food is so unbelievably plain I find it hard to fathom how it can even be made to be so with zero addition of flavour at any step along the way, and, when you order a beer the glass is only filled halfway. So that's $20 for a teensy plate of food, the likes of which could be made by a 3 year old and $9 for about 180ml of beer.We were a table of 8 on a Saturday night. Pretty much a stress test for any restaurant, but also the only way you can see how good a restaurant actually is and see how well it's run, how well it's organised, how good the chefs are and how it stacks up to the competition. In a word: badly. Every single order of food was dry and/or luke warm. I had the chicken. It was disgusting. Flat, mangled, bland, tasteless, and a little bit above room temp. I ordered it with the yuca, which is fried cassava. This is a $5 side option. Not a bad price, but you're then paying about 80c per chip of ancient, rubbery, dessicated, cold, badly cooked, cassava chips. A serious and major disappointment and honestly, one of the easiest things in the world to prepare. The same rang true for other members of the group: the steak was overcooked, dry, and cold; the 'side portion' of potatoes is literally 2 potatoes served whole on a plate with no seasoning, sauce, or anything else; the schnitzel was worse than what you buy from Countdown or Pak N Save. Overall a tremendous disappointment and a bit of a shambolic attempt at showcasing the flair and exoticism of Colombian cuisine... so much so that the 2 Colombians we were with apologized to us and insisted that "real Colombian food would never be so bad". 2/5. If we weren't in a large group (say it was just 2 or 4 of us) we would have left about 20 minutes in when it became apparent we had been forgotten about. Despite intermittent questions to the staff asking how long the food would be, we were always told "it's coming now" and were told this for about 60 minutes.

Helen Gyde

Food was lovely, my friends had the meat platters and were impressed and i had the plantain and avocado which was divide. the restaurant was very busy and still the service was amazing, even a free dessert with a candle and a round of happy birthday by the staff. Only thing to improve would be the wine which is certainly okay but not great. Will be back

Cecilia Paredes

El Humero is a fantastic place to try authentic Columbian food - complete with an open fire grill and run by a welcoming family whose love of food is evident. Sitting at the bar you get to see your meal cooked right in front of you, and you can enjoy conversation with the chefs who have such a love for their establishment and customers. They are more than willing to explain what is on the menu and what items are their favourites. Try the empanadas in the entree menu, and ribs and pork chops from the mains menu. Definitely give the Arepa with cheese a go, it's a very different side and something I'm sure is very authentic.

R & A

The food here is great, buzzing atmosphere, very busy and for obvious reasons. We did have to wait quite a while for our mains but the taste made up for that. Reminded me of El Sizzling Chorizo and similar in regards to the overall experience. I highly recommend El Humero!

Mabel

5 star Friendly staff. The food was as expected and very nice but what lets this place down is the time from ordering to arrival of the food. I have read some reviews saying the understand the time delays. But it's was a tad too long. The only reason I could see for the delay was - kitchen too small and understaffed. Would only return if I had 3 hrs spare for dinner.

Janice Zumba

Before visiting El Humero, I had already read some of the reviews so I knew what I could expect. We were greeted by a friendly staff member and we ordered 1 entree and 2 mains. They took awhile to arrive but this is to be expected because most of the food are grilled and barbecued. I ordered the chicken breast with cassava wedges and salsa criolla(capsicum and garlic sauce). Everything was amazing in flavour and cooked to perfection and I'm not usually a meat person but I ate everything from my plate. I would come back next time and being friends to join us as well.

Moggie

Went there a couple of nights ago based on the reviews and we weren't disappointed. Managed to get a table quite easily. I had the Picada El Humero which is a selection of the meats, my wife had the Short ribs, both dishes were beautifully cooked. Service was excellent and all the staff friendly. The drinks menu although small was well thought out and if you can't get a true craft beer Boundary Rd is the next best option, a lot better than the usual bland beers offered by a lot of restaurants. We will definitely be back

Zafer Isiklar

It's my second visit after this place first opened. The restaurant is humming, packed with happy customers. We had Colombian style Chorizo with Arepa that was with right amount of spice, although we would be happier with a little bit more of it. We also had pork shoulder (El Humero pork,cooked in the wood fire oven over for 4 hours) with Hogao (tomato and onion sauce) and Arepa with cheese. Our second meal was Costillas (short ribs),that was the very tender beef ribs marinated with their special recipe and slow cooked and smoked on manuka wood, accompanied with Guacamole and Paragon (flat fried green plantain). Of course our meals matched with violet colour, plum-like flavour and smooth Argentina Malbec red wine. So I'm absolutely going to visit them very soon.

Jaffa

Be prepared for a long wait for a table so book a table! But the food is worth it... Have been twice now and the meat has been juicy and melt in your mouth! Highly recommend the beef short ribs and the pork shoulder which has been cooked slowly over 11 hours. Service could improve as it took a long time to order drinks and food... But this is also because they are so busy and popular perhaps a little understaffed! If you love a flavoursome meat meal and interesting sides like plantain and casava chips definitely give worth the wait!

Marina

Delicious slow cooked pork shoulder served on a wooden board, with your choice of sauce and side as well as salad. My friend recommended the Tamarind sauce and potatoes it was beautiful! Nice chilean carmenere wine to match. Cool vibe in there, with colombian decorations and blankets if you get cold.

Athena

A very buzzy place with delicious aromas of food! The staff are friendly and helpful. Their side salad which comes with the mains is delicious😍 the cassava wedges can get a bit tough once cold. The meat portions are filling, surrounded by fat than can be easily removed. The meat is tender and juicy and we ordered medium. The seasoning is spot on and the spicy sauce was a great companion (i just wish there was moreof it). Will definately go there again :)

Hannah Short

This place is very different but in a good way. I really enjoyed the chorizo sooo yum. The vibe is relaxed and the food is cooked to perfection. The portion sizes are very generous too I was bursting at the seams. No regrets as this place was so yum.

Lucy Storrie

Visited this place on a quite Monday night as we stumbled around trying to find somewhere new to eat. The vibe of this place instantly pulled us in despite no one being there but staff. The waiter greeted us even before we had decided to eat here, explained the menus and told us if we didn't fancy it tonight they do lunch every day. From then on the service was on point. This cute little restaurant with an open kitchen so we could watch our food being grilled as we took in all the quirky culture decor was lovely. The plating was delightful and the food itself was one to talk about, with the selection of meat, sides and sauces, it was more than we had bargained for. Everything about this place was lovely and was happy to see people coming in as we left after an early dinner. Only downside was we never got to see a drinks list to complete our night. We don't know if they assumed we were underage or just don't have one, but would of been nice to top of our evening seeing there selection of Beverages, working in a bar ourselves.

Katherinne Jaimes

Had Chuleta Valluna with cheesy arepa and guacamole; plus a side of empanadas. It was a delicious meal. Definitely recommend this restaurant.

Lemonslimesoranges

Enjoyed every moment of this. The ambience was lively but cosy. Restaurant was busy. Staff and floor manager were attentive friendly and had a nice chat about the food and culture. It was someone's bday and the cheers echoed through the restaurant with the other diners clapping and cheering along lol. Super cool and plenty of smiles at my table. The food. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I ordered the platter that had a lil bit of everything and the the plantain crisps. What a delight! Meats were well cooked. Smokey moist tasty. Steak was even cooked perfectly medium rare. Plantain chips and potatoes were well seasoned. The sauce selection is on point to. Ask the waiter for their recommendation for sauces. We were so full we didn't have room for dessert but left very happy and keen to come back again. Totally recommended!

Sean Ryan

Brilliant food, atmosphere and service. Slow cooked pork is a must. Will be back ASAP, really friendly staff and helpful - thanks!!!!!!!!!!

Omar Henriquez

Good quality food at reasonable price We are regular customers as the food is very tasty and the atmosphere great The place looks different to any other restaurant as it is decorated with Colombian styling (nice) This is not a steak house but a barbecue style restaurant You should try delicious Colombian delicacies such empanadas, patacon and Arepa with queso

Coral Stroud

This place is gr88888, my family and I went here and we didn't realise how busy it got! We got the last table as all the others were already booked out and we were going there for an early dinner at 6.30. The service was amazing, he offered us blankets as it was a little chilly and turned on the heater as we were outside, our waiter continued to be helpful throughout the night. He recommended is a nice Malbec wine and told us to let it breathe a bit which I thought was a nice helpful tip. On the actual menu it was really hard to choose what to get, I ended up being really boring and getting the chicken. It also comes with a salad and then you choose your side and a sauce for it, I went for another boring option of chips and aioli but overall everything was pretty great

Fiona

Very welcoming restaurant , great food , friendly staff , highly recommended, will definitely go back , my husband and I had the mixed grill it comes with salad and sides ,

Petra

Really enjoyed the yummy empanadas and cassava wedges. I expected more from the steak, but still pretty good. Great location and vibe at a very reasonable price, would definitely go back.

Lochbuie

It being a lovely sunny day in Auckland today we went for a long walk while our car was being washed and cleaned. We also took the opportunity of having lunch at El Humero which is located in a revitalised lane off Hurtmere Road in Takapuna. We sat outside in the terraced area which provides a good setting for a lunch. After starting with a very refreshing lager we ordered the empanadas as entree followed by the Picada el Humero ($30) platter of selected meats. The empanadas, accompanied by a vibrant and mildly spicy salsa, were absolutely delicious and whet our appetites for the main. The platter, which we shared, comprised grilled steak, pulled pork, chorizo, black pudding, salted baby potatoes, cassava wedges and a side salad. All was very tasty but the melt-in-the-mouth pork and the cassava wedges were stand-outs, especially with the tamarind sauce. The service was a little slow but very polite and gracious. Overall a very worthwhile experience sampling Columbian food.

Gastoncito

Certainly, one of the best restaurants in Auckland. The food is absolutely amazing. It blows you away; and it is extremely well priced. The service goes above and beyond any other restaurants I've seen in Auckland. The ambiance is family oriented and the staff is extremely friendly. They are constantly there for you and all staff look very happy. When you step inside the restaurant you feel that Latin-american vibe, you feel like you no longer are in New Zealand, but in Colombia. Highly recommended. Thank you all for everything, I'll certainly be back, many times!

Mariajosemvw

Really great place, good atmosphere, the attention is really good and the waiters are really nice. The food was delicious, the arepas whit cheese are really really good. We have a nice meal.

Luis Alejandro Cifuentes

Great place, got the all the flavours right. As a Colombian who really likes his food, I was not disappointed. Great atmosphere, friendly staff and well priced. The place is fairly new and it appears they'll be bringing in some authentic ingredients and good stuff like Aguradiente and "Aguila". Awesome dining experience, without being too risky on flavours for "foreign" eaters.

Sarah Jane

A great little addition to Takapuna. food was super yummy ,its casual ,perfect just to pop in . .Slow cooked pork our favourite. The guy cooking is super enthusiastic,you can see the excitement on his face as he watches you eat. We will certainly be back..

NZNICK

Really enjoined this place. Staff were very eccentric which added to the charm. Food was above parr and would definatly come again. As soon as this place gets its liquor licence approved, they are going to kill it!

FoodiePhysician

Came here with two friends. Nice Columbian meat joint, upbeat and pretty busy, I like the open kitchen with full view of the meat on the fire in the background (definitely gets the mouth watering). Friendly service; our waitress was very helpful and fun. Food: if you were on a diet which involved meat and fire (caveman diet) then you may enjoy this place. If you want a strategically placed eye fillet with jus chaotically splashed across a ridiculously large plate then this place is not for you. We had the empanadas as a starter, followed by the mains: short ribs, pulled pork, punta de anca (grilled beef) and carne empalada (onion marinated beef cooked in slow flame from manuka wood). Short ribs and de anca were the nicest; the others average. As sides we had the salad, baby potatoes, arepa with cheese and cassava wedges. Quite small portions - relieved it came free with each of the mains. As a meat lover, I can appreciate the meat being cooked in special ways eg charcoal grill, manuka wood, smoked etc, however at the end of the day it was just meat; not much more. No alcohol license yet so just had water with our meat. Cant quite make up my mind about this place; definitely worth checking it out but I wasnt completely sold. A safe 3 Yums

Kelly Stringer

This place is amazing! The food is delicious and staff are all so friendly and welcoming. My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday night and managed to get a seat right by the open bbq. I had the Lomo Ancho (sirloin steak) which was cooked to perfection, and he ordered the traditional Chuleta Valluna (pork schnitzel) and really enjoyed it. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu :)

Kat M

Lovely staff & atmosphere. Food was fresh and healthy, plus super tasty. Meat was tender and the sides were yummy. Guilt free, delicious and authentic food. Unfortunately they had run out of sauce we wanted though, and the replacement was a bit tasteless. We would definitely recommend and will be returning!

Mara Andrea Martinez

The staff are very lovely and welcoming. We ordered the meat platter and each meat was cooked perfectly, nice and tender. The empanadas were nice and crunchy, and the salsa that came with it had a nice spicy twist to it.

Helen Phillips

We had dinner here on Friday, having chatted to the staff previously when visiting another one of the eateries in Fortieth & Hurstmere. The staff are lovely, very welcoming and happy to explain things. We had a really tasty sausage with arepa as an entree, then sirloin and short ribs as a main. The food had a great smoky taste from the BBQ, and I loved the cassava chips and suace with my steak. Once the liquor license is granted, it'll be even better. Good red meat deserves good red wine. We'll be back!

Austin

The dog (Austin) and I were out for a walk in Takapuna and went past El Humero. We got talking to one of the staff and thought we would sit outside and try the food. It turned out to be a great decision. We had Lomo Ancho (sirloin) cooked over a charcoal grill to perfection, served with a salad and arepa (maize bread) and chilli and coriander sauce on the side. The staff are lively and bit eccentric which adds to the atmosphere. But there was no wine or beer but I understand that they are expecting their liquor licence any day. In a nut shell it was fantastic and it only cost $25. Give it a go with or without your dog! In case you are wondering Austin loved the steak and the arepa, he didn't try the salad and he didn't seem very keen on the chilli and coriander sauce.

Brian Inglis

Beautiful food, well priced and amazingly friendly staff. Even a complementary Birthday cake for our Mum. Highly recommend. Keep up the good work!

Tatiana Sanchez

Mi novio su amigo y yo fuimos a comer hoy en la noche y todo fue perfecto. La comida deliciosa, excelente atencion y muy buen ambiente. Senti por un momento que estaba en Colombia :) pero con un buen toque internacional. Muchas gracias por todo. Definitivamente volvere pronto :)

Candii Cao

The food was delicious and freshly cooked in front of you. Staff was extremely friendly. Good value for money, would definitely go back again.

Matt Miller

after struggling to find a healthier option that would be satisfying and fits in with junk free June we decided to try this place. Couldn't fault anything, the service and food was awesome and it was very reasonably priced. Definitely will be back

Jose Berrio

If you want to try new food, El Humero is the perfect choice. Colombian style bbq, the only one in NZ. Great meat and very kind staff. 100% recommended.