Chiwahwah brings a playful Mexican-cantina identity to the river edge of Christchurch's Terrace precinct. The dining room uses a lush, colourful modern interior, with music and cocktails contributing as much to the mood as the view across the Avon. Service runs from lunch into the late evening, so the venue can shift from a relaxed riverside meal to a more animated night out. The food follows the same energy, using familiar Mexican forms as a base for contemporary combinations rather than treating the menu as a catalogue of standards.

Tacos show that approach most clearly. Classic soft shells can hold Corona-battered market fish with tomatillo salsa, smoked beef rib with cumin onion, or pork belly braised in beer and dark honey with fire-grilled pineapple. Other choices bring garlic-marinated steak, chilli-pequin lamb or recado-rojo chicken with guacamole and peanut mole. The modern line changes the shell to crisp nori and offers combinations such as soft-shell crab with al pastor seasoning, sweet-and-sour pineapple and smoked roja salsa, pushing the cantina format well beyond a routine taco plate.

Larger specialities are built for bold flavour and, often, sharing. Mexican fried chicken can be ordered on its own or tucked into small tortas with pickled cucumber and miso crema. Chilli beef is matched with roasted sweet potato, sour cream, chamomile, honey and pepitas, while quesadillas come with steak and cheese, achiote chicken, or ajillo mushrooms. Slow-cooked pork ribs are finished over fire and glazed with sticky lime; garlic-marinated steak and lamb-and-chorizo skewers extend the grill side of the menu.

Vegetables and group plates keep the selection broad. Roasted cauliflower steak comes with herbs, garlic and romesco, alongside charred beans, agave-roasted beetroot and ajillo mushrooms. Tables ready to share can choose whole achiote chicken, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, pork hock with crackling, or the mixed Beast Board with chicken, lamb, steak, ribs, tortillas, slaw and salsas. Dark chocolate mousse, warm brownie and pineapple cheesecake give dessert the same layered treatment, while the cocktail programme completes the restaurant's lively cantina character.

Address: 136 Oxford Terrace, The Terrace, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand

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Chiwahwah Mexican Cantina Bar Menu Menu updated on 27 Oct 2026

Aperitivos / Entrantes

Hand hacked guacamole and corn chips

$16.50

Hand hacked guacamole and corn chips with pico de gallo

$19.50

Ultimo plato fresco

$33.50

guacamole, white bean salsa, pumpkin seed salsa served with raw vegetable selection, queso, seaweed and sweet potato crisps

Chiwahwah’s Mexican Monkey bread

$21

baked flat bread topped with garlic queso fundido, jalapeno, pumpkin seed salsa and fresh herbs

Warm peanut mole and jalepeño queso fundido with corn chips

$19.90

Fried tobacco squid with tomato and garlic

$21.50

Beef mogo mogo with chipotle crema

$26

Seasoned slow cooked brisket cooked in banana batter

Crispy fried potatoes, red dragon salsa, jalapeno queso fundido

$16.90

Crispy fried potatoes, peanut mole and jalapeno fundido

$16.90

Crispy fried potatoes, plain with aioli and ketchup

$12.50

Crispy fried potatoes, covered with chorizo, corn, cigar onion salsa, grilled cumin queso and sour cream

$21.90

Taco Clasico

$13.5 each (6 inch soft shell – GFO available). All tacos served with Mexican slaw and aioli.

Cumin and Corona battered market fish

each $13.50

tomatillo salsa, slaw, fried capers and coriander

Smoked beef rib

each $13.50

cumin onion, sour cream and spiced nuts

Pork belly braised in beer, dark honey, banana leaf with fire grilled pineapple

each $13.50

Fire grilled garlic marinated steak

each $13.50

ajillo mushrooms, mustard and fried capers

Chilli pequin lamb

each $13.50

sweet potato, tomatillo-mint salsa

Fire grilled recado rojo chicken

each $13.50

guacamole and peanut mole

Chickpea doughnuts

each $11

adobo cauliflower, fried capers with seasame salsa and queso

Citrus marinated duck leg

each $16.50

achiote verde, spring onions and cucumber

Taco Moderno

Toasted crispy nori (seaweed) shell filled with your choice of the following… $16 each

Roasted coconut, pumpkin seeds, garlic chilli and lime

each $16

Smoked salmon, kimchi, rice and roe

each $16

Shredded chicken, green mango salad with lime salsa

each $16

Soft shell crab, Al Pastor, sweet and sour pineapple, smoked roja salsa

each $16

Ceviche

Marinated raw market fish

$23.90

fresh lime, coconut, green chilli, avocado and pepitas

Market fresh Salmon

$23.90

fresh citrus, ginger, red chilli and radish

Lados

Pico de gallo

Guacamole

Queso fundido

$6.70

Tortillas 3

Tortillas 5

$4.50

Aioli

$3.50

Sour cream

Ketchup

$3.50

Red dragon salsa

$3.70

Chipotle crema

$3.50

Pickled jalapenos

$3.50

Corn chips

$5.90

Peanut mole

$6.50

Miso crema

$3.50

Mexican slaw

Especialidades

Mexican fried chicken torta (3)

$23.50

our famous fried chicken sandwiched with toasted bun, pickled cucumber and miso crema

Chilli beef with roasted sweet potato, sour cream, camomile, honey & ground pepitas

$24.50

Quesadilla De Bistec Y Queso

$24.50

Better known to us as ‘steak and cheese’. guacamole and sour cream

Shredded achiote chicken Quesadilla

$24.50

with BBQ guava salsa and 3 queso. with guacamole and sour cream

Ajillo mushroom, corn and onion quesadilla with queso

$24.50

guacamole and sour cream

Wagyu beef & mushroom alambres

2 $21 / 4 $39

oregano & garlic marinated fire grilled beef rump skewers, red onion, peppers with white bean truffle salsa & hot peppercorn crema

Lamb & chorizo alambres

2 $21 / 4 $39

oregano and garlic marinated fire grilled lamb leg skewers, chorizo, red onion, peppers with white bean truffle salsa

Baby pork ribs

$35.50

marinated in onion, garlic and spices, slow cooked, fire grilled, lashed with sticky lime sauce and slaw

Chiwahwah’s famous Mexican fried chicken

$22 / add guac, salsa, rocket leaves and other little delights + $13.50

Carne Asada

200g Prime fillet tenderloin $37 / 250g Pure South Sirloin $33 / add crispy potatoes and aioli + $7.50

garlic marinated fire grilled steak with pepita chimichurri and smoked cumin salt

La Ensalada/Las Verduras

Aztec super seed salad with avocado, root vegetables and fresh lime

$24.50

Roasted cauliflower steak, pomegranate, herbs, garlic and romesco salsa

$16.50

Charred green beans, crumbled queso, olives and green garlic chimichurri

$15.50

Agave roasted beets with avocado and habanero crema

$15.50

Ajillo mushrooms and manchego

$15.50

Platos

All the toppings chilli beef nacho’s

S $25 / L $39

platter of corn chips, chilli beef loaded with guacamole, cumin onions, black beans, jalapeno queso fundido, pico de gallo and sour cream

Mexico-City style whole roast achiote chicken

$61

warm tortillas, chorizo corn, cigar onions, slaw and 3 salsa’s (approximately 30 minutes)

Slow roasted chilli pequin whole lamb shoulder

$85

warm tortillas, sweet potato, roasted beets, slaw and 3 salsa’s (approximately 30 minutes)

Whole slow roasted pork hock

$55

crackling, Mojito apple salad, warm tortillas, charred green beans and 3 salsa’s (approximately 30 minutes)

Mexican Beast Board

$115

Half achiote chicken, chunk of chilli pequin lamb shoulder, garlic marinated steak, fire grilled baby pork ribs, warm tortilla’s, slaw and salsa’s (approximately 30 minutes)

Postres

Chocolate lover

$18

dark chocolate mousse, chocolate sponge with raspberry, guava confit, chocolate ice cream

Exotic pineapple cheesecake

$18

lemon mousse pineapple and rum compote with coconut crumble

Deliosa Badass chocolate brownie

$17

warmed dolce de leche and vanilla bean ice cream

Ice cream / sorbet selection (3)

$15

watermelon sorbet, chocolate ice cream and vanilla bean ice cream

Nino / Kids Menu

$9.5 each

Double cheese quesadilla

$9.50

GFO/V

Chicken taco with slaw

$9.50

GFO

Crispy fish taco with slaw

$9.50

GFO

Chiwahwah’s fried chicken

$9.50

Crispy fried potato, ketchup and aioli

$9.50

GFO/V

Beef nacho’s with queso fundido and sour cream

$9.50

GFO

Kids Postre / Dessert

Chocolate lover

$16.50

dark chocolate mousse, chocolate brownie with raspberry and guava confit

Ice cream selection (3)

$13.50

Raspberry sorbet, peanut butter and vanilla bean

Exotic pineapple cheesecake

$16.50

lemon mousse pineapple compote with coconut crumble

Kids “The Deal”

$16.5. Main – select one. Dessert – vanilla ice cream with chocolate or caramel sauce. Drink – Coke, Coke Zero, Fanta or milk.

The Deal

$16.50

Main – select one; Dessert – vanilla ice cream with chocolate or caramel sauce; Drink – Coke, Coke Zero, Fanta or milk

Snacks

Hand hacked guacamole and corn chips (GF/V)

$16.50

Hand hacked guacamole and corn chips with pico de gallo (GF/V)

$19.50

Beef mogo mogo with chipotle crema (GFO/DFO)

$26

Crispy fried potatoes, red dragon salsa, jalapeno queso fundido (V)

$16.90

Crispy fried potatoes, plain with aioli and ketchup (GF/DF)

$12.50

Chiwahwah’s famous Mexican fried chicken

$22

Quesadilla De Bistec Y Queso

$24.50

Better known to us as ‘steak and cheese’. Includes Guacamole and sour cream (GFO)

Ajillo mushroom, corn and onion quesadilla with queso

$24.50

Includes Guacamole and sour cream (GFO/V)

All the toppings chilli beef nacho’s

S $25 / L $39

platter of corn chips, chilli beef loaded with guacamole, cumin onions, black beans, jalapeno queso fundido and sour cream (GFO/VO)

Market fresh Salmon ceviche

$23.90

fresh citrus, ginger, red chilli and radish (til 10pm) (GF)

Fish Taco

$13.50

Cumin and Corona battered market fish, tomatillo salsa, slaw and coriander

Chicken Taco

$13.50

Fire grilled recado rojo chicken, guacamole and peanut mole

Snacks – Dessert

Chocolate lover

$18

dark chocolate mousse, chocolate sponge with raspberry, guava confit and chocolate icecream (GF)

Café

Café Sole (espresso)

$5.50

Cortado (macchiato)

Americano

$5.50

Café conleche (flat white)

Leche Manchada (latte)

Carajillo

$12

café solo with brandy or whiskey

Soy

$0.80

Decaf

$0.80

Syrups (Vanilla, Caramel, Hazelnut)

$0.80

Te Caliente

English Breakfast

$5.50

Earl Grey

$5.50

Peppermint

$5.50

Green Tea

$5.50

Ginger Limoncello

$4.50

Port & Vino De Postre

Charcoal Gully Late Harvest Central Otago Gewürztraminer (750ml)

750ml $78

Askerne Hawke’s Bay Late Harvest Gewürztraminer

90ml $16 / 375ml $66

St Remy VSOP Brandy (30ml)

30ml $12.30

Sandeman 10 year (60ml)

60ml $15

Sandeman 20 year (60ml)

60ml $20.50

Tequila Liqueur

Old Jenkins Cerveza

$14

1800 Coconut Tequila

$14

Xanath Crema de Vanilla

$15.50

Agavero

$15

Damiana Herbal

$16.50

Kids Drinks

Mexican ‘Jarritos’

$6.80

Cola, Mango, Mandarin, Guava, Pineapple, Grapefruit, Watermelon

Juice

Orange, Apple, Pineapple, Grapefruit

Coke, Coke Zero, Fanta, Lemonade

$4.60 / $6.80

Milk

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Read the full guide (9 restaurants)

Chiwahwah Menu

Chiwahwah Mexican Cantina Bar Menu Menu updated on 27 Oct 2026

Aperitivos / Entrantes

Taco Clasico

Taco Moderno

Ceviche

Lados

Especialidades

La Ensalada/Las Verduras

Platos

Mexican Beast Board

Postres

Nino / Kids Menu

Kids Postre / Dessert

Kids “The Deal”

Snacks

Snacks – Dessert

Café

Te Caliente

Port & Vino De Postre

Tequila Liqueur

Kids Drinks

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