Showcasing the beauty of traditional Samoan cuisine and heritage, Tala was opened in Auckland in 2023 by Chef Henry Onesemo and his wife Debby. The award-winning restaurant has helped pave the way for more culturally specific dining in New Zealand, earning praise across Oceania for its singular focus. Rather than choosing to represent a combination Pasifika cuisine style, Onesemo positions Samoan food not as a subset of something broader, but as a cuisine that deserves to stand on its own.
Tala was chosen to be in TIME’s The World’s Greatest Places 2026. Click through to read my short article on the restaurant.