Our Story

Born in Wānaka. Raised on tacos and margaritas.

Hola
Amigo!

Amigos first opened its doors in Wānaka in 1995 with a simple goal: serve great Mexican food, pour cold margaritas, and create a place people genuinely enjoy spending time in.

Today you’ll find six Amigos restaurants across the lower South Island. Each one has its own energy, but the heart of Amigos hasn’t changed. From casual dinners to big celebrations, Amigos has always been about great food, friendly spaces, and giving everyone a reason to stay just a little longer.

Our
Mission

It’s simple really. Make great Mexican food and make it properly.

At Amigos, our chefs prepare almost everything from scratch using fresh ingredients and quality local produce. It’s how we deliver bold flavour, consistent quality and meals worth coming back for.

Our menu is designed to be approachable and flexible, with options to suit different tastes, budgets and dietary needs. Because good food should be for everyone.

Amigos Sustainability

Good restaurants are built on good choices.
At Amigos, we try to make those choices every day, finding practical ways to reduce our impact and operate more sustainably across every part of the business.

You’ll see it in the details. From sourcing local ingredients wherever possible and supporting regional producers, to showcasing New Zealand craft beers and wines on our menus. It also means making thoughtful decisions behind the scenes, from using recycled and reclaimed materials in our restaurant builds, to finding better alternatives for cleaning products, and giving items like uniforms and furniture a second life by sourcing them from op shops and bringing them back into use.

We’re also continuing to expand our range of plant-based dishes. While we’ll always serve the crowd favourites people know and love, we want to give guests the chance to discover just how satisfying plant-based Mexican food can be.

Today, more than half of our menu can be made vegetarian, with a growing number of dishes fully plant based — offering more ways for everyone to enjoy their Amigos favourites.

We are all about the Amigos community!

Amigos has always been about people. From the producers we partner with to the guests who fill our restaurants, community is a big part of who we are.

For our team, we aim to create supportive workplaces with competitive pay, reward programmes, and opportunities to grow and develop. Many of our staff have built long careers with Amigos, and we’re proud to be part of that journey.

We also stay closely connected to the communities around us, supporting local organisations, events and charities whenever we can. Whether it’s local teams like Football South, organisations such as the Search and Rescue Avalanche Dogs, or contributing to local charities through food and financial donations, we’re always looking for ways to give back.

If you’re involved in a good cause and looking for sponsorship or support, we’d love to hear from you. Flick us a message at marketing@amigos.co.nz and we’ll see how we can get involved!

Meet The Team

A little about James Emanuel

James leads the overall direction of Amigos as Managing Director, working closely with the wider leadership team to guide the growth and evolution of the business. Having played a major role in shaping Amigos over the years, he remains passionate about the food, people and culture that make the restaurants what they are, while keeping an eye on where Amigos goes next. Outside of work, James enjoys long-distance walking, snowboarding and fly fishing. His favourite taco is the Hamburguesa.

A little about Adam Berry

Adam is our go-to problem solver and resident “fix-it” guy. As General Manager, he helps make sure each Amigos restaurant has what it needs to run smoothly and consistently. A genuine food lover, he spends his downtime cooking at home or checking out other restaurants for inspiration. When he’s not thinking about menus and operations, you’ll likely find him working on cars and motorbikes or keeping busy with his property management business. His favourite taco is the Falda y Queso.

A little about Viktor Barricklow

What was meant to be a ten-month trip around the world unexpectedly turned into six years before Viktor eventually found his way to Wānaka, and we’re glad he did. As Head of Marketing, he helps shape the creative direction and long-term brand strategy for Amigos, while also focusing on the small details that give each restaurant its distinctive feel. When he’s not behind a laptop or camera, you’ll usually find him in the mountains skiing, climbing, tramping, or paragliding. His favourite taco is the Louisiana.

A little about Santana Kawe

If you’ve ever enjoyed one of our margaritas or cocktails, there’s a good chance Santana had a hand in it. As Head of Beverage, he helps shape the drinks offering across Amigos, while also supporting our Southland restaurants in his role as Regional Manager. Originally from Auckland, Santana’s hospitality journey has taken him through Queenstown and eventually to Invercargill, which he now calls home. He began his bartending career in memorable fashion, winning a cocktail competition with his creative take on a Fish House Punch. Santana loves the people and creativity that come with working in hospitality, especially behind the bar. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and keeping active on the basketball court. His favourite taco is the Hamburguesa.

A little about Vishwas Shetty

Vish leads the culinary direction of Amigos as Executive Chef, working closely with the chefs across all of our restaurants to develop new dishes, evolve our menus and maintain consistently high standards across every kitchen. He helps balance creativity with the flavours and style that make Amigos what it is, while supporting our kitchen teams and continuing to develop what we put on the plate. Outside of work, Vish enjoys playing percussion instruments. His favourite taco is the Baja Fish.

A little about Kate Weatherly

Kate leads training across Amigos, helping ensure every team member feels confident, capable and ready to deliver a great guest experience. She develops the systems and learning tools that support new staff as they get up to speed, while also helping experienced team members continue to grow as the business evolves. You’ll often find her travelling between restaurants, running workshops, answering questions and keeping training fresh and engaging. Outside of work, Kate enjoys learning about sustainable living, gardening, cooking, caring for her animals and relaxing with a well-earned glass of wine. Her favourite taco is the Hamburguesa.

Become part of the Amigos crew

We’re always on the lookout for great people to join our team. Whether you’re an experienced hospitality pro or just starting out, there’s a place for you at Amigos.

If you’d like to work in a lively, supportive environment where no two days are the same, we’d love to hear from you. Send us your CV, tell us a little about yourself and what kind of role you’re interested in, and we’ll be in touch.