Samoan Cuisine Reaches New Heights With Three Hats at 2025 Cuisine Good Food Awards
Contemporary Samoan restaurant TALA has been named one of New Zealand’s top restaurants, achieving a coveted 3 Hat ranking at the 2025 Cuisine Good Food Awards, announced Monday night in Auckland. TALA was one of just six restaurants from across the country to receive 3 Hats in this year’s Awards, marking a special moment for Samoan food and hospitality.
“In short, [3 Hatted restaurants] are simply exceptional and the best of the best,” says Cuisine Editor Kelli Brett. Executive Chef/owner Henry Onesemo and co-owner wife Debby are thrilled with TALA’s elevation to such a noteworthy group of restaurants.
Three Hats has always been our dream. This is a ranking that shows a restaurant is offering something really special. To achieve this by sharing Samoa’s food, traditions and heritage as the exceptional culinary experience we know it can be is a thrill and an honour.”
Cuisine praised TALA’s rise to 3 Hats this year from 2 Hats in 2024 as a fantastic achievement, describing Executive Chef Henry Onesemo as: “… a trailblazing Pasifika chef redefining fine dining and cultural storytelling.”
The Cuisine judges also noted of TALA: “This is not just food; it’s a journey into the heart of Samoa, served with flair and a side of thoughtfulness.”
Fa’a Samoa in a new light
Created by Samoan-born chef Henry Onesemo and wife Debby, TALA blends traditional Samoan hospitality with Henry’s contemporary interpretation of Samoan flavours. For Henry and Debby, every detail is crucial to creating an exceptional dining experience, with ‘Fa’a Samoa’ (‘the Samoan way’) woven into every aspect.
Open-fire cooking and an umu (a traditional Samoan above-ground oven of hot stones) is central to the TALA dining experience, and Samoan tradition extends beyond the menu too. Guests receive an offering as they arrive in the restaurant space (as is customary in Samoa) and are invited to take part in the ‘apa fafano’ traditional handwashing ceremony at the end of their meal.
TALA’s 3 Hat ranking comes just weeks after The Australian named TALA ‘One of the World’s 12 most exciting new restaurants for 2025’ and as it prepares to mark its second birthday in November. TALA also recently welcomed new Head Chef Tommy Hope, who was previously Head Chef at Sid at The French Café.
