El Sizzling Chorizo
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Recommended Reviews - El Sizzling Chorizo
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What I love about El Sizzling Chorizo is there is no other place in Auckland like it. It was a great to experience a real Argentinian meal - BBQ style! I had never tried food like this, so was really looking forward to it. My older sister and I had a late lunch here one Sunday afternoon. There was only one other small group in the restaurant - I think we had just missed the lunch rush! We shared the Empanadas ($12) with mesclun and the Chorizo sausages ($12) also served with mesclun. These two dishes are both starters; however they were nice satisfying small meals. The Empanadas had the most delicious fillings inside (juicy beef and onions) and the pastry was cooked well. However, the Chorizo sausages were the stand out dish. Perfectly cooked and served with homemade bread straight out of the oven - yummy! For drinks, they have a small wine and beer list and non-alcoholic drinks too - Antipodes water and Phoenix drinks. We love the ginger beer flavour from the Phoenix drinks range! I love that the restaurant is quite compact - if you are sitting inside, you can watch the chefs preparing the Argentinian BBQ right in front of you. It is an exciting experience and I recommend coming here! Next time, I will definitely try a main meal, possibly the 'Short Ribs' ($20) or the 'Orejano Platter' ($35) looks delicious too! If you are ever in Ponsonby Central, make sure you walk past El Sizzling Chorizo. Even if you do not go in, the smell and sights are heavenly!
Move over Bahn Mie , I feel a new quest coming on and that is for the best empanadas Auckland has to offer ! These morsels of delight are soo good chock filled with a spiced beef filling , with spices I couldn't quite figure out . And a slightly flakey pastry delicately turned at the edges to keep all that mind blowing filling inside . My dear Argentinians what is your secret ? A side of fries , a glass of rośe and what a better time to pass an afternoon . El Sizzling Chorizo is what I think is a well kept secret , grab a booth style table and your set . Nice service and what I thought is not too expensive . I think I'll be going back to eat a steak I saw at my neighbours table .
I'm new to the world of Argentinian BBQ and this was my first visit to El Sizzling Chorizo but I'm a big appreciator of meat so I felt like I was ready for what was to come. I went with a large group of Argentinians who all swore that El Sizzling Chorizo was the real deal when it came to Argentinian BBQ. We arrived at 8pm on a Tuesday but they were full. I hear they are always full, so be prepared to wait. It's definitely worth it though. We popped down to Bedford Soda for a drink while we waited, about 45 minutes. There wasn't much variety in the ordering as most of got the Parrillada which is a mix of the different meats, to share between two. The smells coming out of the kitchen were fantastic and it was interesting to watch the meat cooking over the coals. Parrillada is served on a wooden board with a side salad and chimichurri. There was two types of pork belly, chicken thighs, sirloin and short ribs. I was warned in the car ride that Argentinians cook meat well-done, not medium-rare as is standard in New Zealand however the meat was cooked to perfection. While it was well done, it wasn't tough or chewy at all. For $30 it was a lot of meat, too much for my partner and I to finish so we took the rest home. I will definitely be going back to El Sizzling Chorizo, it was well worth the wait. Apologies for the poor quality of the photo, I was too excited to taste it.
I'm a "no frills" eater, if I'm going to shove meat in my face, I like it straight up! I feel as though meat that is GOOD is juicy all by itself, creating it's own sauce if you will.......... Ah ha ha ha! But seriously, it's the truth. Well El Sizzling Chorizo is quite confident that their meats do just that and I have to say, I agree! I got the juicy chicken thighs and I could have sat there sucking on those bones for hours! It's too bad this place doesn't have a "branch" in the states..... And I'm sure you all know why?
Wow, this was amazing food, if you have ever been to Wildfire or another Brazilian Barbecue then this is the place to go. I warn you in advance, on weekend nights there is a high wait time (1.5 hours or more) Service wasn't great, but possibly understandable given how busy it was. the location is cramped but the food makes up for it.
We had an mixed platter with pork belly, beef, chicken and lamb which was only $30! I don't usually like lamb but this was pretty nice. Beef was a bit too chewy, pork was average. Chicken was nice though, the char-grilled taste came through which was amazing. We ordered an extra bread but it looked like it was baked sometime ago - wasn't soft or chewy, just a but solid... I liked how they present all these on a wooden tray instead of a dish. It looked fancy and interesting. However there were a bit much oil on the wooden dish which I tried to avoid by using just a corner of my tray... I guess I like to have meats at a fine dining rather than place like this but my friend really enjoyed here.
There's something very primal about a visit to El Sizzling Chorizo. The sight of an enormous amount of meat being cooked on a custom-built grill is one thing, but the smell of all of that deliciousness is another, and something that can't be truly captured in text. A lot of people stop and stare at this place - it's really quite fascinating to see the food being stoked, flipped and cooked to perfection in front of you. What makes this Argentinian street food stall stand out from the other street-style restaurants inside Ponsonby Central is that this one does it with fire! This place is often packed, so if you're starving, don't expect to be served right away. The mains at El Sizzling Chorizo aren't cheap - you can expect to pay anywhere in the realm of $15-30 to eat - but the food you're eating is of amazing quality and cooked just right. So if you're in the mood to get your caveman on tonight, tuck into some El Sizzling Chorizo.
Okay, firstly, do not ever bring a vegetarian to El Sizzling Chorizo. The basis to most of the food is meat. Huge amounts of meat. I am a full carnivore so this was completely fine to me. I shared a tasting platter with Tom, although there wasn't much sharing going on because he ate the majority of it. What I did have was good though. There wasn't much in the way of a side salad or sauces, but the meat was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. There always seems to be a crowd around this place, my dad raved about it recently and he doesn't usually rave, so that says something.
Omg, the best things were not the meat - our potatoes and empanadas provided a welcome relief from the dry, overcooked and in-seasoned meats, some of which were so chewy that they had to be spit out or choked down. May have been a bad night? But not a good one for us. 2 stars for ambiance and decent service.
I'm so sorry to give this place only 3 stars, but the server totally forgot about our wine with our main entree .... Food and amount of food it's good... We had a beer before our meal and everything was okay, we ordered empanadas along with some beers , and our entree was supposed to be steak with a glass of wine because we ordered like that !! we eat the whole meal almost and nobody seemed to be around with our wine , so then we stopped this employee and asked him to take off the wine .... Because it was pointless for us to have wine without our meals ..... And he just asked us what did we wanted to do ? Pay or not drink it ??? I said politely, just take it off the bill because we didn't drink it .... And he was like lost or something but just took our wines off with we didn't drink.... Coming back? No !
I'm a big fan of empanadas, so this was bookmarked immediately prior to coming to NZ. The layout of the restaurant is really awesome! They have about 15 bar stools around the cooking area and a few tables surrounding and outside. I sat down at a barstool in the corner and was helped almost immediately. I must stick out like a sore thumb because the waitress asked if I was Latina and started speaking in Spanish to me. Very friendly service! The food...oh the food my mouth is watering now!!! I ordered the empanadas and chorizo starters. Please note it's not like in America where the starters are small. One order is large enough for a meal. The chorizo can with 2 pieces, a salad and bread with dipping sauce. The chorizo was very good, not too much spice. The salad was lightly dressed with lemon, olive oil, almonds and salt/pepper, simple yet satisfyingly delicious! The bread is freshly made on the grill in front of you so it's warm and fluffy when given to you. Dip it in the sauce, I can drink that stuff! The empanadas come 2 to an order and a salad. Yes I ate the salad on the second plate too. The empanadas are extremely delicious, the best I've ever had! The meat filling is tasty and you can taste the quality. I dipped it in the sauce from the chorizo plate and it kicked it up a notch. Definitely recommend getting a side of that! Highly recommend this place!
Argentinians know their meat. From great steaks to lamb, chicken, chorizo and even pork belly, El Sizzling Chorizo in the heart of Ponsonby Central proves its authenticity with its menu. The smoky interior masks the hardworking, sweaty kitchen staff and a weathered barbecue grill from which prime cuts are tossed onto a sideboard and sprayed with salt water or lemon juice before being served. Their empanadas are crisp pastry shells filled with succulent minced meat and onion. Their platters, such as the Orejana combo ($37, worth it) save you having to choose between the range of grilled cuts. Sides of mustard aioli fries and vinegretted salad offer light relief from the carnivorous paradise. Should you be unlucky enough to be vegetarian, they do have one or two non-meat options, but this probably isn't the place for you. Buen Appetito!
DELICIOUS STEAKS!!! Remarkable and Memorable Food: -Scotch Fillet (Ribeye-medium) comes with a side salad and chimichurri all is Mouthwatering & Delicious! 5/5 -Parrillada (Lamb, Pork Belly & Flank Steak) very good choice. This also comes with The Scotch Fillet was the star of night! Seasoned and cooked perfectly Service: Very Friendly and Helpful! Atmosphere: it's inside a food hall and has a nice sleek interior, cozy feeling! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! Worth going if you're in the mood for Argentine food! Easy 5/5 read more
They do things properly over charcoal and they've got a great indoor/outdoor space, plus they're quite quick with the good. Yet I have middling feelings, mostly because while I enjoyed my parradilla, I wasn't amazed by it either. The beef was an okay cut, but had to be cut very small less it be too chewy. Pork was probably the best part of the meal and a massive portion, while the lamb was... I really wanted to like it, but it didn't have the wonderful seasoning and flavor I was hoping for. Seemed almost more like it could have been pulled lamb than the lamb chop I was hoping, so maybe it's just my expectations being off? Wine list is solid and the service is pretty good. 3.5 stars seems right. read more
EL SIZZLING "HELL YEAH" CHORIZO!!!! Bring a date or eat alone, but EAT HERE!!! You won't be disappointed. Once you grab a seat, you'll stop, look around, and probably imagine Anthony Bourdain cruising through Ponsonby Central and dining here with a glass of wine. Being an optimist, I expected him to walk by, but he never showed up. Oh well! Anyways, back to El Sizzling and why I love this place... ~ Dining: Well, indoors, you can sit around the grill as there are bar stools all around the bar. They've got a couple of tables by the windows, that's really made for only two people. And there's a patio that seems to be shared with the other restaurants, but enough room for a small party. ~ Service: No issue. We met the manager, Gustavo, who was welcoming. He explained a bit about the menu, and made some good suggestions. Told us a little bit about how he was exposed to various cuisines when he was younger, and how this little grill was born. ~ Now for the MEAT, I mean FOOD, mmm!!! Sorry my fellow vegan yelp friends, but you can stop reading here :) Although they do offer grilled veggies. But that's not why I'm here. So, I had to try the two most expensive items. I don't know why, I just had to. But believe me, both meat plates were SO WORTH IT!!! We shared the Orejano Platter ($38) and the Parrillada ($34.50). Here's what they're all about: ~~~~ Spring mix salad with a simple salad dressing consisting of olive oil, lemon, some rock-salt and pepper taste. Very stimulating... But let's get down to business! ~~~~ Flank steak - Topped with their home made chutney dressing. Smokey and not really seasoned. Just it's natural tasting goodness. Grilled just right with some bloodiness in the center. And damn, this was steak that just melted with that wine. Wow, what a bunch of lovely detailed run-on sentences. ~~~~ Lamb steak - Marinated to perfection! Loved the tenderness too, and didn't have that lingering lamb smell. Both steaks paired up well with the recommended Septima Obra 2013 Malbec. Bite after bite and sip after sip, my comfort level went from relaxing to soothing in my seat. ~~~~ Pork belly - Just a long thick cut of pork belly. It basically seemed like a fat cut of bacon. All salted up, and went well with their house chili sauce. ~~~~ Chicken thigh - Now this had a nice smokiness to it that I really didn't expect. T'was an excellent thigh. ~~~~ Chorizo sausage - Spicy good, and it better be if you're gonna have "chorizo" in your name. I'm pretty sure I saved my last sip of wine with that last piece of chorizo. Unforgettable! ~~~~ Empanada - That lamb meat was so juicy good. Also bigger than average piece of empanada too. Can't go wrong ordering the Empanadas entree. ~~~~ Freshly made bread too. Kind of like a naan, but I'm not sure if they call theirs naan. But still, you can't hate fresh bread! Add some butter or chutney and you're golden. BUT to top it all off... Presentation presentation presentation!!! All this meat sits on top of a cutting board. It's all about those little unique touches that confirms that fifth star! read more
12 years ago
What I love about El Sizzling Chorizo is there is no other place in Auckland like it. It was a great to experience a real Argentinian meal - BBQ style! I had never tried food like this, so was really looking forward to it. My older sister and I had a late lunch here one Sunday afternoon. There was only one other small group in the restaurant - I think we had just missed the lunch rush! We shared the Empanadas ($12) with mesclun and the Chorizo sausages ($12) also served with mesclun. These two dishes are both starters; however they were nice satisfying small meals. The Empanadas had the most delicious fillings inside (juicy beef and onions) and the pastry was cooked well. However, the Chorizo sausages were the stand out dish. Perfectly cooked and served with homemade bread straight out of the oven - yummy! For drinks, they have a small wine and beer list and non-alcoholic drinks too - Antipodes water and Phoenix drinks. We love the ginger beer flavour from the Phoenix drinks range! I love that the restaurant is quite compact - if you are sitting inside, you can watch the chefs preparing the Argentinian BBQ right in front of you. It is an exciting experience and I recommend coming here! Next time, I will definitely try a main meal, possibly the 'Short Ribs' ($20) or the 'Orejano Platter' ($35) looks delicious too! If you are ever in Ponsonby Central, make sure you walk past El Sizzling Chorizo. Even if you do not go in, the smell and sights are heavenly! read more
Move over Bahn Mie , I feel a new quest coming on and that is for the best empanadas Auckland has to offer ! These morsels of delight are soo good chock filled with a spiced beef filling , with spices I couldn't quite figure out . And a slightly flakey pastry delicately turned at the edges to keep all that mind blowing filling inside . My dear Argentinians what is your secret ? A side of fries , a glass of rośe and what a better time to pass an afternoon . El Sizzling Chorizo is what I think is a well kept secret , grab a booth style table and your set . Nice service and what I thought is not too expensive . I think I'll be going back to eat a steak I saw at my neighbours table . read more
12 years ago
I'm new to the world of Argentinian BBQ and this was my first visit to El Sizzling Chorizo but I'm a big appreciator of meat so I felt like I was ready for what was to come. I went with a large group of Argentinians who all swore that El Sizzling Chorizo was the real deal when it came to Argentinian BBQ. We arrived at 8pm on a Tuesday but they were full. I hear they are always full, so be prepared to wait. It's definitely worth it though. We popped down to Bedford Soda for a drink while we waited, about 45 minutes. There wasn't much variety in the ordering as most of got the Parrillada which is a mix of the different meats, to share between two. The smells coming out of the kitchen were fantastic and it was interesting to watch the meat cooking over the coals. Parrillada is served on a wooden board with a side salad and chimichurri. There was two types of pork belly, chicken thighs, sirloin and short ribs. I was warned in the car ride that Argentinians cook meat well-done, not medium-rare as is standard in New Zealand however the meat was cooked to perfection. While it was well done, it wasn't tough or chewy at all. For $30 it was a lot of meat, too much for my partner and I to finish so we took the rest home. I will definitely be going back to El Sizzling Chorizo, it was well worth the wait. Apologies for the poor quality of the photo, I was too excited to taste it. read more
I'm a "no frills" eater, if I'm going to shove meat in my face, I like it straight up! I feel as though meat that is GOOD is juicy all by itself, creating it's own sauce if you will.......... Ah ha ha ha! But seriously, it's the truth. Well El Sizzling Chorizo is quite confident that their meats do just that and I have to say, I agree! I got the juicy chicken thighs and I could have sat there sucking on those bones for hours! It's too bad this place doesn't have a "branch" in the states..... And I'm sure you all know why? read more
Wow, this was amazing food, if you have ever been to Wildfire or another Brazilian Barbecue then this is the place to go. I warn you in advance, on weekend nights there is a high wait time (1.5 hours or more) Service wasn't great, but possibly understandable given how busy it was. the location is cramped but the food makes up for it. read more
We had an mixed platter with pork belly, beef, chicken and lamb which was only $30! I don't usually like lamb but this was pretty nice. Beef was a bit too chewy, pork was average. Chicken was nice though, the char-grilled taste came through which was amazing. We ordered an extra bread but it looked like it was baked sometime ago - wasn't soft or chewy, just a but solid... I liked how they present all these on a wooden tray instead of a dish. It looked fancy and interesting. However there were a bit much oil on the wooden dish which I tried to avoid by using just a corner of my tray... I guess I like to have meats at a fine dining rather than place like this but my friend really enjoyed here. read more
13 years ago
There's something very primal about a visit to El Sizzling Chorizo. The sight of an enormous amount of meat being cooked on a custom-built grill is one thing, but the smell of all of that deliciousness is another, and something that can't be truly captured in text. A lot of people stop and stare at this place - it's really quite fascinating to see the food being stoked, flipped and cooked to perfection in front of you. What makes this Argentinian street food stall stand out from the other street-style restaurants inside Ponsonby Central is that this one does it with fire! This place is often packed, so if you're starving, don't expect to be served right away. The mains at El Sizzling Chorizo aren't cheap - you can expect to pay anywhere in the realm of $15-30 to eat - but the food you're eating is of amazing quality and cooked just right. So if you're in the mood to get your caveman on tonight, tuck into some El Sizzling Chorizo. read more
6 years ago
13 years ago
Okay, firstly, do not ever bring a vegetarian to El Sizzling Chorizo. The basis to most of the food is meat. Huge amounts of meat. I am a full carnivore so this was completely fine to me. I shared a tasting platter with Tom, although there wasn't much sharing going on because he ate the majority of it. What I did have was good though. There wasn't much in the way of a side salad or sauces, but the meat was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. There always seems to be a crowd around this place, my dad raved about it recently and he doesn't usually rave, so that says something. read more
11 years ago
Omg, the best things were not the meat - our potatoes and empanadas provided a welcome relief from the dry, overcooked and in-seasoned meats, some of which were so chewy that they had to be spit out or choked down. May have been a bad night? But not a good one for us. 2 stars for ambiance and decent service. read more
10 years ago
I'm so sorry to give this place only 3 stars, but the server totally forgot about our wine with our main entree .... Food and amount of food it's good... We had a beer before our meal and everything was okay, we ordered empanadas along with some beers , and our entree was supposed to be steak with a glass of wine because we ordered like that !! we eat the whole meal almost and nobody seemed to be around with our wine , so then we stopped this employee and asked him to take off the wine .... Because it was pointless for us to have wine without our meals ..... And he just asked us what did we wanted to do ? Pay or not drink it ??? I said politely, just take it off the bill because we didn't drink it .... And he was like lost or something but just took our wines off with we didn't drink.... Coming back? No ! read more
9 years ago
Great location and perfect meals. The meats very perfectly cooked with a perfect blend of charcoal flavour. The only regret I have is not going there with an emptier tummy :). Friendly staff as well read more
I'm a big fan of empanadas, so this was bookmarked immediately prior to coming to NZ. The layout of the restaurant is really awesome! They have about 15 bar stools around the cooking area and a few tables surrounding and outside. I sat down at a barstool in the corner and was helped almost immediately. I must stick out like a sore thumb because the waitress asked if I was Latina and started speaking in Spanish to me. Very friendly service! The food...oh the food my mouth is watering now!!! I ordered the empanadas and chorizo starters. Please note it's not like in America where the starters are small. One order is large enough for a meal. The chorizo can with 2 pieces, a salad and bread with dipping sauce. The chorizo was very good, not too much spice. The salad was lightly dressed with lemon, olive oil, almonds and salt/pepper, simple yet satisfyingly delicious! The bread is freshly made on the grill in front of you so it's warm and fluffy when given to you. Dip it in the sauce, I can drink that stuff! The empanadas come 2 to an order and a salad. Yes I ate the salad on the second plate too. The empanadas are extremely delicious, the best I've ever had! The meat filling is tasty and you can taste the quality. I dipped it in the sauce from the chorizo plate and it kicked it up a notch. Definitely recommend getting a side of that! Highly recommend this place! read more
Argentinians know their meat. From great steaks to lamb, chicken, chorizo and even pork belly, El Sizzling Chorizo in the heart of Ponsonby Central proves its authenticity with its menu. The smoky interior masks the hardworking, sweaty kitchen staff and a weathered barbecue grill from which prime cuts are tossed onto a sideboard and sprayed with salt water or lemon juice before being served. Their empanadas are crisp pastry shells filled with succulent minced meat and onion. Their platters, such as the Orejana combo ($37, worth it) save you having to choose between the range of grilled cuts. Sides of mustard aioli fries and vinegretted salad offer light relief from the carnivorous paradise. Should you be unlucky enough to be vegetarian, they do have one or two non-meat options, but this probably isn't the place for you. Buen Appetito! read more
7 years ago
Amazing. Found this place on yelp and am glad to say it was worth the effort to come here. Great quality and value. Fresh, nicely cooked. Fast service. I'm a big guy with a big appetite, but I honestly think I could have shared this with someone. Totally worth it! read more
11 years ago
I think it is quite nice place for eating steak! But the place is a bit small and they don't take reservations, we had to share table with other guests, but the taste is good and price is reasonable! read more
This. Place. Is. BANGING. Can't fault it. Took my dad here for lunch. Great service, amazing food. Quality over quantity but still decent portions. We had the platter to share. Every element was great. The pastry of the empanadas was amazing. The pork belly was moist and crackling was tasty. Steak was awesome and lamb saussie was nom nom. Potatoes yum! Pesto, yum! Bread, mmmm yum! Meat sweats on. They have a simple menu but they do it exceptionally well. Good selection of beverages too. Highly recommend this place. Will be back again before I leave the country ! read more
10 years ago
In one word, this place is HOT... Especially if you sit on front of the BBQ, the heat is fierce! Vegetarians head elsewhere, chances are you won't be able to eat the vegetarian meal surrounded by all this meat. Big slabs of beef and lamb are being tossed around the BBQ and huge pieces of pork belly are sliced to order. It's a good idea to get a selection, there's also spicy chorizo and chicken, plus some really good empanadas. Weirdly, the standout for me was the potatoes, all crunchy on the outside and smothered in this mustardy sauce, delish! read more
13 years ago
11 years ago
A real meat extravaganza and really good. We had the mixed plate between us and it was plenty. The meat was well cooked and I particularly enjoyed the sirloin and the empanadas. The sirloin was cooked to perfection and the empanadas are some of the best I've tasted. The potatoes in mustard sauce are also a must. This is a small place and shortly after we arrived there was a queue to get a table. Really enjoyed the food and will be back. read more
10 years ago
Great place to have a steak and a little taste of Argentinian cuisine. The menu is small but all the dishes are excellent. It is a small place but it does get pretty busy for dinner, so go early or late for dinner. The steaks are tasty and have great flavor. The staff is great and makes your experience more enjoyable. read more
10 years ago
12 years ago
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9 years ago
Meat, meat and more sizzling meat. Add some salad and sides. You won't get disappointed by the experience. The taste of chargrilled meat is flavorful, salads and sides are good quantity and delicately prepared. Chefs were busy but had short conversations with us. Seating is limited but worth the wait if you into Brazilian BBQ. read more
11 years ago
13 years ago
More info about El Sizzling Chorizo
4 Brown Street
Ponsonby Central
Auckland 1011
New Zealand
Ponsonby
Directions
09 378 0119
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Review Highlights - El Sizzling Chorizo
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2 reviews that are not currently recommended
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13 years ago
13 years ago
El Sizzling Chorizo - argentine - Updated June 2026
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