Best japanese restaurants in Auckland: find options near you

This restaurant lived up to its reputation. It was fantastic. The sushi, sashimi, and other dishes were all delicious, with the dressings and sauces standing out in particular.

I went with my wife for a romantic dinner, and the course menu met our expectations.

Despite the dim lighting and busy atmosphere, we had a wonderful time. This place met my expectations. Highly recommended!

Hard to spot if you’re not looking for it.
Lots of seating options and areas.
Lovely decor although some seating is looking a bit worse for wear with rips in leather seating.
Wonderful service from start to finish, with our glasses constantly being topped up.
Food was served after a small wait, entrees first then mains.
Food was lovely, not omg amazing, but still tasty. Good portions at expected pricing for Ponsonby. Some authentic japanese flavours, some fusion style flavours.
Lovely place to dine!

To eat, we started with deliciously fresh Omakase Sashimi and a Grilled Beef tostada, followed by Tempura veggies, amazing lamb yaki, and juicy rare Yakiniku. We finished strong with strawberry sorbet and creamy Basque cheesecake.

I loved the pairing sauces that accompanied every dish; they added extra dimensions.

We paired it with a glass of the French rose and the Asahi 0% beer.

The service was quick but with no hurry on our part. The food was served with the perfect settling time in between, and we could hear the people around us having a great time, too.

The food at Azabu is delicious. The fusion between Japanese and Peruvian cuisine is what makes this restaurant stand out. I particularly enjoyed the Volcano Sushi and the Artichoke Dumplings. The drinks are also amazing.

Best experience. Ambience , customer service and food were really amazing.
Will visit again soon

We (2 ppl) spent over $400 on a dinner here that we didn’t not enjoy.
The food was a big letdown, waitress was lovely though.

Loved the whole dining experience here. We booked a table online and requested for a quieter spot and they did deliver.

Everything we ordered was amazing. We especially loved the Beef Tostada and the Beef Sirloin, they are absolutely unforgettable.

The wait staff are all attentive and are friendly. Loved our whole dining experience here.

I love the atmosphere!! Salmon sashimi is fresh & tuna don is yummy. Although katzu don is a bit salty.

For the service, you can do better because most of the staff are already doing great only some are not. I expect 100% good service for this price.

Perfect spicy tuna sushi roll, great Alaskan king crab leg and the eggplant, ginger miso, sesame dish was delicious. I had to have the baby wagyu slider, which was the perfect bite size! You can’t go to Masu and not order the glacier 51 toothfish, chilli and citrus miso, pickled apple. It is incredible and easily one of my favourite fish dishes in Auckland. They make a wonderful cocktail and their house sake is great. Great service as always. Thanks Masu!

This restaurant is a must go to when you’re in Auckland! I have a food allergy and the server was amazing checking with the chef which dishes would be suitable for me, and which could be altered to cater to my food allergy.

The food was delicious- fresh and tasty, and the presentation was fabulous.

Watching some of the meals being prepared while seated at the robata counter was a great experience.

Highly recommend.

Beautiful Japanese fusion restaurant in Federal street – by Nic Watt. We loved this restaurant so much, since they opened years ago , we go once or twice a month. It’s worth every penny . Food is well prepared. Black cod stands out , sashimi , sushi , skewers, and drinks- oh warm sake, beer for my man and Ikebana ( special cocktail) omg so good and so well presented – I loved it !!!Highly recommended this stunning restaurant!

Really great, a number if the dishes were too sweet for my liking, but beautifully presented and mostly worked well. Staff are very attentive and friendly. The toro nigiri and the miso marinated toothfish were the highlights for me.

Went for the Golden Hour set menu. Best way to get a taste and vibe of the place and food. Definitely would go back to try some more things on the menu. Excellent service and timing of delivery for each course.

4th time at Masu went for the big greatest hits set menu. Everything was good. Make sure you sit at the robata grill so you can watch the prep work 10/10

We were doing un underground / secret theme that night across a few places, and this was our starting spot.
It was super popular – with a queue forming about 10 minutes before opening, but they fit us all in.
The atmosphere felt legit, as other reviewers have said. It was nice to see into the kitchen.
As it was our first stop, we just ordered some steak yakitori, cheese bites and some sake based drinks. All were fantastic. Would definitely return for more!

This place was HOPPIN on a Monday night. I came here solo and was lucky otherwise it would have been a 30 min wait at 6pm. The yakitori was amazing – hard to get a waitress’s attention to order but once it was in, it was quick to deliver. Drinks had a lot of variety – I tried a jelly sake and it was fun to drink. I got chicken, pork belly, steak, and mushroom yakitori – all were incredible. Will return!

very easy to locate even with the contruction out front. i visited on a Wednesday night around 8:45p at the place was pretty packed, but there was a couple empty seats at the bar. the bar wraps around the place so its fits a large number of people. This is a Japanese tapas style restaurant. There were a few items that they had ran out of (the salmon and beef croquettes) but i was able to try a few things like the miso soup, chicken, deep fried steak, shrimp, and cheese sticks, as well as had an apple cider.. all of which came to 47 dollars. parking would probably be a hassle but it was directly across from the Four Points Sheraton hotel and next door to multiple theaters.

Came here for dinner last night and it was amazing as usual. Have been here a number of times and the food is always so good, along with the atmosphere. Highly recommend 🙂

This underground yakitori bar was fantastic. I visited with an old friend after work on Friday. The doors open at 5 PM, and we arrived around 5:15 PM – just in time, as it got crowded quickly. Within 30 minutes, every table was fully occupied. It’s safe to say this spot is a real hotspot.

We ordered quite a feast for two: chicken thighs, livers (both fried and non-fried), hearts, pork belly, fried black tiger prawns, beef tongues, and chicken mince balls. Each yakitori dish came with two skewers, and the livers, in particular, were unforgettable – so tender and deeply flavored. Honestly, every dish was top-notch.

To balance all the meat, we added a tofu salad, which was refreshing and paired perfectly with the yakitori. We also tried two grilled rice balls, and they were absolutely delicious.

The bar offered two types of tap beer – Asahi Dry and Orion – both excellent choices. The friendly staff and lively underground atmosphere made the experience even better.

I absolutely loved this place and can’t wait to visit again!

맛있는 간단한 음식들과
적당히 울려 퍼지는 음악
적극적이며 친절한 진원들
간단히 먹고 마시며 분위기 내기 좋아요❤️

It was a super great chance to come over here. Food was so~~~good.
The staff were working hard, very friendly.
I will definitely come back.

Booked in for the Oki No Saturday buffet. We were seated near the windows which was quite warm with the sun shining in. There was a great range of food and it was top quality. They’re a bit slow with replenishing some of the hot food such as the fish. I found the dessert selection very delicious especially the glutinous rice ball and matcha tiramisu.

A great place for a cozy dinner – the atmosphere is dark and dimly light which is nice.

We ordered quite a bit with the duck breast being the favourite of the night followed by the ebi mayo roll. Service was great and the food came out quickly. It was more on the expensive side but for my first time, thought it was a good dinner spot!

Completely average experience and I expected more from Savor group. We went on a Monday night and while it wasn’t packed there was still a good several tables there. It was super loud and hard to have a conversation without near on shouting. We did ask to move tables but got denied, even though there were several tables free, and by the time we left, the same tables remained available. The highlight of this meal was the season greens. This was stir fried broccolini and beans so this should tell you enough about the rest of the meal. Karaage chicken was lacking flavour and the salmon was extremely basic, right down to its presentation. We weren’t checked on once which was disappointing. I’d give Ebisu’s cold atmosphere, uninterested staff, and average food a miss. Play it safe with Amano down the road or Azabu in Ponsonby/Mission Bay.

We had lunch at Ebisu two days ago, and the food was absolutely delicious. The tempura prawn, rainbow roll, and ebi mayo roll, bento box were all delicious. The Angus beef scotch was okay.

However, my only concern is that the steak was served already sliced, whereas the photo on Instagram shows it as a whole piece. I would recommend ensuring that the presentation in your social media posts matches what is actually served to customers.

Had lunch here for the Oki No Sushi Saturdays buffet, which I had been looking forward to for days—maybe I set my expectations a bit too high though. That said, the sushi and sashimi were fresh, fatty, and varied, with plenty of options. The desserts were fantastic, and loved the miso soup and udon as well.

The one letdown for me was the From the Farm section, particularly the beef brisket—it was quite tough, and the knife provided wasn’t enough to cut through it. I managed to eat half a slice before giving up.

Service was great, and I appreciate how busy they were. At $85 per person, it’s on the pricier side, so hopefully, they can refine a few aspects to enhance the experience. I’ve tried their tasting menu before and found it much better

The seafood tasted very fresh and we truly enjoyed how the buffet is presented. We loved the options available, and choosing food wasn’t overwhelming because there weren’t excessive options. I would love to have an opportunity to come back again…

EDIT – We returned to Ebisu on 21 February 2025. This is my second time in Ebisu, and I apologize for saying this, but the buffet felt underwhelming. I brought my sister with me because I had such an amazing first experience. It was such a big difference even though I went only 4 months ago or so. The Sashimi and prawns were still bomb, but the salads on offer were not as exciting. The Braised Beef was so tough, which I informed the crew and manager of at least 3 times. I believe that if an item on the buffet could not be eaten with chopsticks (which is the basic “cutlery” provided) it might not be appropriate for the buffet. While I did feel that the Manager listened to my concerns, I think it was unfair to receive a response where they said “It might have just been the pieces you got”. I took 4 pieces from 4 different parts of the beef, all of which I returned because it was very tough for “braised” beef. They did inform me that they will be checking the food that comes out that day before serving. Unfortunately because of this experience, I will no longer be returning.

We recently went to Ebisu for a date night, and it was a great choice. The restaurant is beautiful, with comfortable seatings and a nice cozy vibe. The service was attentive, friendly and professional, and the food was absolutely delicious.

All the dishes we had had nice flavours, and were beautifully presented. I would highly recommend for you to try Ebi Mayo Roll and Rainbow Roll, these two were our top dishes of the night. A bit pricy, but worth it.

This barbecue restaurant is excellent! I especially love their chicken liver and beef tataki, which pair perfectly with Japanese wine. It’s a great place to hang out with friends. Highly recommended!

An Auckland 5/5 but an Osaka 3.5/5.

Grilled by Ken himself, the Shishamo Fish with Roe was grilled perfect, but the yakitori lacked texture from too much sauce. The deep fried squid tentacles were too much batter and the cut size too large.

The alcohol selection was good with a lot of imports, but only Orion on draft.

The service was excellent but the atmosphere was a bit odd with the music, the entrance having a fenced barrier, and the door being left open with a breeze coming in. I did not get that much of an izakaya vibe other than the decor.

The cabbage being free but charging for sauce was also strange.

Nonetheless there’s few restaurants that can hit this caliber, especially in Auckland.

My favorite yakitori restaurant in Auckland—the flavors take me back to Japan. Umeshu is also my favorite!

Ken’s is still the best in Auckland. Lines out the door at 6 when they open! Udon amazing when’s it’s cold out and chicken heart and beef tongue unrivaled. Go Kens!

Edited review: My second visit to the place. I was a bit disappointed, sorry Ken! Firstly, if you are a single diner, either you get a place which is inclined at the entrance passage or somewhere at the back in a place which looks like a saw mill museum, I eventually landed up there. The crew was prompt to take my order and deliver my drinks. But the food was forgotten, I had to remind them to bring it. I had ordered Gyoza, Pork belly Yakitori done two ways plain and with Okra, and Prawn with Pork. All the pork belly was quite tough and not melting in the mouth, I could see there was no flaw with the BBQ, but it was the quality of the meat itself. I was not happy at all. And for two pieces of skewer, the charge is fairly steep. I usually eat usually 5 times the amount I had ordered, in Japan, and I pay less. The only thing I actually liked was the Gyoza and that was from the kitchen. NZ has fantastic food, loads of better options, but for people who never eaten Yakitori before, it’s fine. Can’t fool me!

Used to really like this place but not as much anymore. The portions are small for the price, the service a bit cold and not that welcoming. If I lived in Tokyo again, I wouldn’t be going to this shop. As it stands, I won’t go to this shop again in New Zealand either. It’s tasty but not big enough and not made up for by great service or anything else. Better around. Anyone who’s been to Japan wouldn’t come back.

Came here late night snacks with a friend. Feels like a very authentic Japanese yakitori restaurant. The fried chicken is amazing and deep fried chicken skin is very interesting. I will definitely come back again and would recommend it to everyone.

Tucked away in a basement spot in the Auckland CBD, The Don is one of those hidden gems you’d probably miss if you didn’t know it was there. Luckily, a friend recommended it to us.. so glad we checked it out!

Loved the Japan-like ambiance – cozy, authentic, and low-key in the best way.

We ordered the Bluefin Tuna Fatty Belly Toro sashimi for starters – super fresh and tasty. Would’ve liked it to be a bit more fatty, but still really good.

We also had the Chicken Egg Katsu Don and Pork Curry Don. Both came in bowls bigger than our heads Generous servings for just $19 each, and they even came with miso soup, which was a great bonus.

The chicken was perfectly cooked, the eggs were such a good match, and the sauce tied everything together nicely. Service was quick too

Highly recommend this spot if you’re after hearty, tasty Japanese comfort food. Will definitely be back!

在地下室的寶藏餐廳
很好吃
份量超大
氛圍也很好 好像有在日本用餐的感覺
日式炒麵跟蛋炸豬排丼都很好吃
謝謝the don 成為我們紐西蘭旅行最棒的收尾

Delicious food every time. always consistently good, and the weekend lunch specials are excellent.
Good Japanese beers are available, and the ambiance and service are top-notch. always love coming here for a meal.

This is an amazing place to get Japanese food in Auckland. The atmosphere is great with the interior decorations adding to the dining experience. The staff is attentive and nice during the entire visit. The food is very good and is priced very well. I recommend the spicy tuna roll and the BBQ Beef Don

always the best go to option for quick meal meal victoria st-queen st area… ambience is
food is amazing…

I had a pleasant experience at this Japanese restaurant. The food was enjoyable, and the ambiance provided an authentic Japanese vibe, which I appreciated. The restaurant appeared to be more spacious than it seemed from the outside, which was a pleasant surprise. The staff members were friendly and accommodating.

I opted for the grilled squids, which were deliciously smoky and well-cooked. However, I noticed a slight sweetness in the dish, and I couldn’t determine its source. Nonetheless, the accompanying side sauce complemented the flavors well and balanced out the sweetness. The only minor setback was that the salad portion seemed a bit small, leaving me wanting more.

Overall, it was a satisfying visit, and I would recommend this Japanese restaurant to others seeking a delightful dining experience with authentic vibes and friendly service.

Wagyu Beef Don is soooo good! Love the dining environment and beautiful customer service

Me and my girlfriend went here tonight for date night and were so glad we did. The food was amazing, the service was spot on and the atmosphere was perfect. I would also like to applaud Bruno for his service, he is such a kind and friendly guy he made our night. Bruno suggested that we try warm sake with our meal, as it is traditionally how it is drank, and I am so glad we did. I have never tried sake before but I am a big fan after tonight as it added such a delicious flavor to our meal. I would also suggest trying warm sake with green tea ice cream, you can thank me later for that one, it tastes amazing.

Japanese cuisine is usually a safe and satisfying choice—whether you’re dining solo, on a date, or with a group—and Katsubay fits the bill nicely. Their menu features a range of popular mains, including ramen (noodles), katsu (crispy cutlets), and donburi (rice bowls), with something for just about everyone.

Having heard great things about their ramen, I went for the Tantan (spicy) ramen—a rich sesame and pork broth noodle soup. Others in our group opted for the chicken katsu and the teriyaki chicken don. Mains were around $24 on average, and we were all impressed with both the portion sizes and the quality of the food.

The ramen had a generous amount of noodles and broth, and while Japanese food isn’t typically known for heat, I would’ve appreciated a little extra chilli on the side to kick things up a notch. That said, it was still a comforting, homely bowl. The katsu was also a standout—with a perfectly crisp crust, and the breading stayed intact even after slicing, which speaks to good technique in the preparation and cooking process.

We also ordered drinks and shared a serving of takoyaki—so good, we probably should’ve gone for two bowls if your group enjoys octopus.

The staff were friendly and welcoming throughout. The man who served us was happy to answer our questions and checked in to make sure everything was going well, which we really appreciated.

All in all, a lovely experience and a great infusion of Japanese comfort food right in the heart of Mt Ede

Both the soup and the noodles in the ramen were excellent. The owner and staff were friendly. Would love to back again to taste more.

2024年12月5日にZool ZoolからリニューアルオープンしたKatsu-Bay。トンカツが豊富にラインナップされたメニュー構成ですが今まで通りのラーメンメニューもあります。トンカツは少し薄めで大判な感じにキャベツの千切りにのって出てきました。ソース類も豊富でトンカツソース、甘味噌ダレ、和がらし、コチュジャン、レモンとお好きな物を付けて食べられます。

Meal was so yum and huge portion! Will definitely be back- you have to try this place!

Had the Katsu chicken curry ramen.. chicken was so crispy and curry was insane

I’ve been a longtime fan of Zool Zool, so when I heard they had rebranded into Katsubay, we had to give it a try. Loved the crème caramel and the chicken katsu. They were delicious! The pork loin katsu was still tasty, but the batter wasn’t quite as crisp as expected. The staff were incredibly friendly and provided excellent service. Excited to come back and try more!

昨天去My Eden，路过时进入拉面店吃了晚餐，猪骨汤拉面不错，汤是熬出来的，很不错。蔬菜天妇罗不是很油腻，很喜欢，价格也很赞，下次会继续光顾。

I recently visited this Japanese restaurant with my family for lunch, and we had a wonderful experience. The restaurant had a calm and quiet atmosphere, with just a few tables occupied, which made it perfect for a relaxed meal. We were warmly greeted upon arrival, and both the wait staff and the chef behind the counter were incredibly pleasant and friendly, making us feel welcome right away.

The food was the real highlight. We started with their Nilgiri sushi, which was absolutely delicious—the fish was fresh and full of flavor. One of my family members ordered the sashimi, and it was beautifully prepared and presented, with a great balance of texture and taste. We also tried the karaage chicken, which was crispy, juicy, and seasoned perfectly. It paired really well with the freshly made miso soup, which had a rich, comforting flavor.

The ambiance was cozy and thoughtfully decorated, with touches that reflected traditional Japanese style. It added to the overall dining experience and made the place feel authentic without being overly formal.

Overall, it was a great lunch outing. The service, food, and atmosphere all came together to create a memorable experience. We’ll definitely be coming back again soon.

Bruh this place honestly slapped. Blown away by the size of the food, very very generous with the portions which is hard to come by when eating out at a restaurant. This will be our go to Japanese spot now. Highly recommend

I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience at Taiko Kingsland was so terrible that I feel compelled to warn others. I dined there on the 26th of January and ordered a variety of dishes as pictured.

The next day, I was hit with the worst food poisoning of my life. I spent three days violently ill with vomiting, diarrhoea and fever and had to be given IV fluids.

I’ve read media reports about food poisoning cases at Taiko Ponsonby, but I dined at the Kingsland location during the same period and ended up with the same symptoms. I believe it was the same virus, and it’s alarming that both locations seem to have been affected. The numerous people that have gotten sick is no coincidence, and it’s clear that the food safety standards at these restaurants are poor and need serious improvement.

I’ve also seen reviews claiming the restaurant is unapologetic and unwilling to take responsibility for what’s happened, and instead offering restaurant vouchers to the affected customers. After this experience, I have no intention of returning and strongly advise others to consider the risks before dining here.

My family of four went here for dinner. It was delicious. The staff was very friendly, the food was delicious and everything was nicely presented. If I want to eat Japanese food, I’ll come here again. Thank you!

I had lunch at Taiko Kingsland and I must say, I was absolutely blown away by the food. I ordered the Eel Lovers, Deluxe Sushi Sashimi Tower, and two main Zen dishes. The serving sizes were massive, perfect for a family of four. The staff were so welcoming, the restaurant was clean, however finding parking was a challenge. Despite that, the prices were reasonable and I can’t wait to return for another delicious meal.

Incredible food – fresh and beautifully presented. The staff were friendly and the service was top tier. We were blown away – thank you for the wonderful dining experience.

All the dishes were fantastic and highly recommended if you love Japanese food. Special mention to the outstanding and exceptional service—kudos to all the staff. You guys are amazing!

Fantastic place! Even there are so many good restaurants around dominion, I am happy that I chose this place today and will definitely come back.

Their noodles are hand made, and you can taste it and love the fresh texture so much. I picked less salty for the shoyo ramen and it tastes perfect. The soup bases are so nice and mixed perfectly with with the noodle and everything in the bowl. Highly recommended!

The service and the atmosphere are excellent. Extremely friendly staff and chef! We ordered the Tonkotsu Charsyu Ramen and Tonkotsu Shoyu Charsyu Ramen. Very generous with the sliced pork belly while other places will get a lesser portion. The pork has been marinated but is not quite tender. Tonkotsu Shoyu Charsyu Ramen was a bit of a let down for me, it was extremely salty, and all I could taste was soy sauce. The other ramen is fine. Overall it was an okay experience.

Excellent experience!!!
This ramen restaurant stands out for the high quality of its ingredients and its unmatched flavor. Every dish is carefully prepared, and you can feel the dedication in every detail. Moreover, the staff’s service is impeccable, always friendly and attentive to any needs.

The location is very convenient, and the atmosphere is simply delightful: peaceful, cozy, and very welcoming, perfect for a relaxed meal on your own or for sharing with friends or family. Definitely a place to return again and again. Highly recommended!!!

The food here is amazing!! Hand made noodles, perfectly balanced broth, generous servings and amount of meat. Takoyaki balls were also awesome, as good as anywhere in Tokyo. We just found this place, and it’s happily going to be our new regular

If you looking for Ramen in Auckland, please come to try this shop. The homemade noodles is super delicious. Food was great. Shop was clean and busy in evening. the prices was not bad. However, I think the service quite slow. But staffs were good.

Drive past many times finally came in. To be honest the teriyaki beef ramen was the worst ramen that I ever had. The tonkotsu ramen was very nice but I couldn’t order 3 of these the same. The recommendation was all about tonkotsu. Price wise very friendly, service was great. I only recommend tonkotsu to you all.

Wonderful food and the most amazing server. They were wearing a purple bandana and my god were they a delight

Made the whole experience so easy. They even made sure my meal was gluten free and went out of their way to take care of my and my friend

Food was so good and was made all the more delicious by the friendly atmosphere and staff

Will definitely be coming back

The sweetest place. Such tasty food – good selection, and such kind staff! The staff even noticed we were dining for a birthday and went out of their way to create a dessert plate. Highly recommend!

Quite sad.. We use to go here every couple months and happy spending hundreds due to the portion size and pricing. It was delicious, filling and worth the money. Back in 2023, the sushi slices were thick and juicy. With the aburi platter.. It use to $54 and had x3 of each selection. I think there were x16/17 pieces for $54. I use to have to take two bites per sushi cause of the size. We’ve recommended so many people and have taken so many people here before.

Started noticing the quality in 2024.. Thought perhaps it’s just a one off.

Today. Prices have gone up. Understand inflation. Happy to pay for more if the quality was the same. Portion sizes have been cut in half. Sashimi medium platter $46.. Thin slices. Aburi sushi now only 12 pieces for $60. Tempera.. Veges were cut so thin and small.
On a good note, service was great. Very quick.
Food was fresh.
Wishing this business all the best!

A best kept secret, don’t be fooled by the simplistic first impressions of the menu.
We have been here a few times and never been disappointed.
The food is delicious, well priced for the portion sizes. Always fresh and beautifully presented.
Cater for GF with GF dedicated menu and GF Soy Sauce made ordering very easy, lots to pick from.
10/10 for Japanese food
Atmosphere is pretty authentic not refined but comfortable

Second time I went there.Freshest sashimi, nice sushi, great spicy chicken wings.Perfect service.Highly recommend.

Absolutely incredible. The sashimi was insanely fresh, the Zen roll with truffle aioli was next-level, and the miso black cod just melted in my mouth. Cool vibe, great service—this place is a hidden gem. Will 100% be back.

Look past the front window and step inside, you won’t be disappointed. The food is delicious, fresh and we enjoyed our dining experience here. Staff were super friendly.

The food at your restaurant is exceptional—each dish showcases the artistry and authenticity of Japanese cuisine. The flavors are incredible, and the atmosphere is so inviting. Thank you for such a wonderful dining experience!”