With the chilly winter days upon us, there’s nothing more comforting than a hearty lunch to warm you up from the inside out. When salads and a sandwich don’t quite cut it, a warming soup or noodle dish is just what our heart desires. We’ve picked out some of Newmarket’s exceptional must-try food dishes that are worth heading out of the house or office for.

10-12 Teed Street | @nonna.nz

Image: @somefoodguide

Mutual Friends – Roasted Pumpkin Soup

You can’t go past a deliciously creamy soup on a cold day paired with fresh bread and salty butter. A combination sure to brighten even the dreariest of lunchtimes! Mutual Friends have a variety of fresh homemade soups on offer that change week to week. Our favourite has to be their Roasted Pumpkin Soup. This variation of the classic dish adds a bit more kick and body with roasted pumpkin and is a vegan alternative that still delivers that classic creamy soup everyone loves.

2 Morgan Street | @mutualfriendsespresso

Selera – Laksa and Roti

If the lines out the door are something to go by, Selera is good. And we mean really good. This Newmarket establishment has been serving up delicious Malaysian cuisine to hungry customers day and night for years. Selera’s giant bowl of Laksa is unrivalled, hot and spicy, packed with flavour and perfectly chewy noodles to soak it all up. We recommend coming here for your next lunch break or for a cheap and cheerful Friday night with friends. Don’t forget to order a side of the buttery roti.

487 Khyber Pass Road

image via @grr.eats

Best Ugly Bagels – White Rabbit

Best Ugly Bagels is quick, easy and always delicious. The team making the bagels are sure to provide a smile and a burst of energy that you need to get through the after-lunch slump. Our go-to bagel is the White Rabbit - lashings of cream cheese, vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh basil and Best enjoyed in the courtyard on Kent Street, complete with an outdoor fireplace to keep you toasty during the chilly winter mornings, particularly when you need a fresh air escape from the office.

3A York Street | @bestuglybagels

image via @rubys_plate

Hello Mister – Baby and Mama Pho

One of Auckland’s most popular lunch spots opened their doors in Newmarket recently and it is safe to say the line out the door from 12pm every day is the sign of how good Hello Mister really is. Their quick and healthy Vietnamese inspired street food is the perfect option for lunch on the go. As much as we LOVE (we mean it) their fresh rice paper rolls, there is no going past a steaming bowl of the Baby or Mama Pho during the Winter months. We recommend an added sprinkling of fresh chilli to warm you up.

123 Carlton Gore Road | @hellomisternz

Image: @clo_eats

Daily Bread - Ham & Cheese Croissant

This bakery can do no wrong, with a cabinet bursting with the freshest, tastiest breads, pasteries, sandwhiches, pies and more. Our favourite snack to grab on the go with a coffee is the famous ham and cheese croissant. Make sure you get it toasted!

8-10 Morrow Street | @dailybreadnz

Image: @fattab

Tian Fu Noodles – DanDan Noodles

Tucked away on Khyber Pass road is an eclectic array of different cuisines, from soups to dumplings, noodles and more, Tian Fu Noodles is a regular haunt for some and to most a hidden treasure. The meals are hearty, the flavours are full and the price point is hard to beat. Offering a range of noodle dishes both hot and cold, with their most popular dish being the shaved noodles. Their spicy DanDan Noodle Soup is not to be missed and we suggest adding it to your lunch-time line up this week. Did we mention it’s only $10?!

477 Khyber Pass Road

&Sushi - Yakisoba

Sushi is a tried and true lunch-time staple and we’re used to seeing the art like sushi grace our Instagram feeds.  However, when the hunger pains are at their worst sometimes sushi doesn’t quite cut it. If you haven’t tried &Sushi’s Yakisoba Noodle dish, then you need to. A smoky combination of stir-fried fresh noodles with broccoli, edamame beans, carrots, mushrooms, Chinese cabbage, bean sprouts, pickled ginger and fish flakes. This is the ideal meal if you’re on the go or just want to change up the lunch-time routine.

10-12 Teed Street | @andsushinz