Kaikōura Seafood BBQ vs The Whaler:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, The Whaler had more branded searches than Kaikōura Seafood BBQ among Kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand. The Whaler had about 600 branded searches, while Kaikōura Seafood BBQ had 390. The Whaler made up 7.5% of all Kaikōura restaurant searches we track, and Kaikōura Seafood BBQ accounted for 4.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about Kaikōura restaurants, Kaikōura Seafood BBQ appeared in three of the four answers and The Whaler in none.
Who do people search for more?
The Whaler, about 54% more searches than Kaikōura Seafood BBQ
Who does AI mention more?
Kaikōura Seafood BBQ, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, The Whaler in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Kaikōura Seafood BBQ, the only one of the two named
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Top Kaikōura restaurants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Kaikōura Seafood BBQ was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. The Whaler did not appear in any of the four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Zephyr Restaurant4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
The Pier Hotel3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- Kaikōura Seafood BBQ3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Black Rabbit Pizza2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- The Whaler0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Hiku0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about Kaikōura restaurants
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which restaurant should I go to in Kaikōura, New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best restaurants in Kaikōura, New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best restaurant in Kaikōura, New Zealand for a seafood meal?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“kaikoura restaurants”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“kaikoura dinner”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Kaikōura Seafood BBQ or The Whaler more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Kaikōura Seafood BBQ and The Whaler by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six Kaikōura restaurants we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for The Whaler, Kaikōura Seafood BBQ. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | The Pier Hotel | Black Rabbit Pizza | The Whaler | Hiku | Kaikōura Seafood BBQ | Zephyr Restaurant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 55% | 26.8% | 6.2% | 3.9% | 4.4% | 3.6% |
| Nov 2025 | 56.6% | 26.6% | 5.4% | 3.1% | 5.3% | 2.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 53.1% | 30.4% | 5.5% | 3.3% | 5% | 2.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 55.9% | 26.2% | 5.8% | 4% | 5.2% | 2.9% |
| Feb 2026 | 60.1% | 25.5% | 4.2% | 2.5% | 4.2% | 3.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 56.3% | 26.6% | 5.3% | 3.9% | 4.4% | 3.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 56.2% | 24.6% | 6.5% | 4.4% | 5% | 3.3% |
| May 2026 | 51.9% | 25.2% | 7.4% | 6% | 5.2% | 4.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 52.5% | 20% | 10.6% | 7.4% | 5.2% | 4.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 55% | 20.1% | 8.4% | 7.8% | 4.8% | 3.9% |
| Aug 2026 | 57.1% | 18.6% | 8.7% | 7.6% | 4.8% | 3.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 58.7% | 20% | 7.5% | 5.7% | 4.9% | 3.2% |
How has the Kaikōura Seafood BBQ and The Whaler comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The Whaler was ahead of Kaikōura Seafood BBQ in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kaikōura Seafood BBQ’s share of searches among Kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand moved from 4.4% to 4.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 480 to 390.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Whaler’s share of searches among Kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand moved from 6.2% to 7.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 670 to 600.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand Kaikōura restaurants in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, The Whaler lost share of searches among Kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand, from 8.7% to 7.5%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Kaikōura Seafood BBQ in New Zealand fell 18.8% over 12 measured months, from 480 to 390 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kaikōura Seafood BBQ’s and The Whaler’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Kaikōura Seafood BBQ
1 branded search term
- kaikoura seafood bbq
The Whaler
3 branded search terms
- the whaler
- the whaler kaikoura
- whaler kaikoura
Other head-to-heads among Kaikōura restaurants
- The Pier Hotel vs Black Rabbit Pizza: compare popularity
- The Pier Hotel vs The Whaler: compare popularity
- The Pier Hotel vs Hiku: compare popularity
- The Pier Hotel vs Kaikōura Seafood BBQ: compare popularity
- Black Rabbit Pizza vs The Whaler: compare popularity
- Black Rabbit Pizza vs Hiku: compare popularity
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