Japanese restaurant in Auckland

“Nice, simple but delicious food. Possibly the best value Japanese meal in Auckland. The service was excellent, and the owner was friendly and welcoming. This will be our regular Japanese restaurant. The food was so good I forgot to take pics of the rest of the meal.”

“Have had the lunch deal a couple of times and find it unbeatable for value”

“Delicious food! Must try Spicy Garlic Udon stir try!!”

“I had the pleasure of dining at this exceptional Japanese restaurant in Auckland, and I can confidently say it was one of the most authentic and memorable Japanese meals I’ve had outside of Japan. From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the warm, welcoming atmosphere and the quiet elegance of the space, which set the tone for an outstanding dining experience. The quality of the food was truly top-notch – every dish was beautifully presented, expertly prepared, and rich in flavour. You could taste the care and precision in each bite, from the freshness of the sashimi to the perfectly balanced broths and delicately seasoned vegetables. It’s clear that the chefs are deeply committed to traditional techniques and high-quality ingredients. What stood out just as much as the cuisine was the service. The staff were courteous, knowledgeable, and genuinely kind – attentive without being intrusive, and always ready to explain a dish or recommend a pairing. Their hospitality added a personal, thoughtful touch to the meal, making it feel not just like a dinner, but an experience. If you’re looking for authentic Japanese cuisine in Auckland, this place is a hidden gem.”

“$7.5（M) Beef curry How can I say? Good quality, affordable price, friendly staff. Definitely come back again!”

“When I first seen the size of the dishes I said: where do we go to have a pizza or else after as I'm famished. But was I disappointed....?! Yes in a good way. The last bites from the last dish I couldn't even eat it anymore.Each bite from each and every dish was not what it seemed to be....all was bursting of flavour. Your tongue gets super excited and buzzes....it is like a culinary orgasm...so you better wait at least half a minute before you take another bite. And prepare for surprises everything will taste differently than you expect to.And every little detail from plate to arrangement is very expertly chosen.And really you have to allow 2.5hrs for the full 7 dish menu....you can't rush it or you spoil it. So even if outside looks very simple and you would not expect for such a restaurant in that place prepare for Michelin macromolecular type of cuisine to delight you. Well done to Kazuya and the whole team.”

“We had an incredible experience at HEIZO Teppanyaki. Starting with the friendly service of the owner, chef, and his wife, they provided quality products and great conversation. We were privileged to be the only ones in the restaurant, so we received personalized attention and were able to chat and learn more about the chef and the history of the restaurant. Excellent food and experience, very traditional. Recommended!”

“The spicy chicken was nice and smokey. Owners were friendly, and lots of quick sushi and Japanese cabinet snacks readily available.”

“My wife and I had a great dinner at Okome. The food was delicious with an authentic taste that reminded us of our holiday in Japan. The owners were very friendly and made us feel welcome. In summary it was a very pleasant experience.”

“The sushi was pretty good pretty average like other sushi places, but their staff members were so friendly! They had a smile on their face full time, and I was the first one in the store and when they saw me coming in they all greeted me and because I was the first one not all the sushi were on the shelf. Once I started choosing they immediately started to make more sushi to put on the shelf!”

“We really enjoyed the new lunch menu offered with obento boxes! My brother was in happy land with his lamb meal as well.”

“The service is really good and I enjoy the hot tea. Hope to visit there with friends next time”

“Such a good experience. The dishes were fresh and full of flavour, and everything came out fast. The staff were super friendly and really on to it. The atmosphere was relaxed and felt genuinely welcoming. The food was so good I caught myself saying美味しいwithout even thinking. Easy five stars ありがとうございます。”

“Had dinner here and the steak was absolutely divine. The lovely staff guided us with how to prepare it and the saké pairing was just perfect. Would definitely go back again”

“stopped in for dinner on our way home from watching the ALL BLACKS and i must say the owners are absolutely beautiful people, food was absolutely amazing and the atmosphere was so peaceful and friendly i would highly recommend the food was delicious and will definitely be back. this place is a must especially if you get into photography aswell the owners both have some awsome photography work on display on the walls and in a few published books our whanau throughly enjoyed it ❤️”

“You need to try this place if you haven't already! My partner and I highly recommend it to everyone we know. The food is excellent, the service is amazing, the price is great for what you get, and the portions are big! My partner and I usually get the teriyaki salmon and chicken katsu donburi. The ingredients are very fresh and balanced with the fresh salad. The sauces are very flavourful. We've tried other items on their menu and their sushi and they are all excellent. We'd say their sushi is some of the best we've ever had! The service is also amazing - the staff are very friendly and always have a smile on their face. It feels as though every order is very important to them. They also always remember preferences we have (e.g. not liking onions). This place is so good that even when we moved out of the blockhouse bay area to about half an hour away we still try to go regularly. We would give them more than 5 stars if we could!”

“I went with my partner, and we ordered Chicken Karaage and Chicken Nanban Don. The chicken was juicy and crispy. The portion size is generous for the price. It’s brilliant to find a place like this, as it’s quite rare in the CBD. If you’re looking for a spot with great food, this is definitely a place to visit. I’d recommend it and will certainly return. Oh, and they also include miso soup!”

“My regular go-to sushi place, always so fresh and not badly priced.”

“We had an absolutely delicious dinner. Katsu chicken is so crispy. Love the small dishes with Tempura and the presentation. The lady staff has warmest smile! Sad to see the restaurant is not busy. Maybe they can try to put some photos outside the restaurant or on the menu so the customers know what they offer.”

“Beautiful meal with fresh ingredients well price with lovely service atmosphere. Thank you”

“I'm so glad we tried Hayami. The food was excellent along with the service. The food must have arrived at the table in less than 10mins after ordering. Reasonably priced good quality wine too.. The decor inside gave a real Japanese feel, which just added to everything. It was one of the best Japanese I've had in Auckland.”

“Had the tanto sushi lunch that happens once a month for around $60+ pp. The experience was very authentic and was one of the best authentic sushi that i've had in NZ. Most of nz sushi is Americanised and sweet and although taste good I still prefer the just fish with rice. All the dish here had a lot of natural taste to it but taste very delicious. The sushi ingredients was fresh and I especially love the sweet potato tempura. The tempura reminds me of a place in Japan where they focused on the item being fried to bring out its naturalness and the batter was just a light batter that doesn't overwhelm whats inside. The sweet potato tempura was the best and had really nice texture. Overall very enjoyed the meal and experience and highly recommend for people to treat themselves and come here.”

“Gorgeous spot tucked on the top end of town. I can honestly the best sushi I’ve had in New Zealand and even rivalling tastes from my travels to Japan. Pricing was well and truly fair for the quality and the staff there were so joyful. Can’t wait to come back ❤️”

“Great value for money! Lovely service and super quick. The meat was all super tasty and the takoyaki was delicious. Definitely coming back :)”

“We love this spot! Very fresh, clean and delicious flavours. The menu is extensive and offers a bit of everything in terms of variety and price. Haven’t had a bad dish here so far. The team are very friendly and warm. The interior is full of Japanese theme with a homely feel. Yaruki for life!”

“It's been a while since I have been to this restaurant although I have had some good takeaways from it. The meal last night was of an excellent quality , with good friendly service. I continue to rate this as one of the best Japanese restaurants around. I will be back.”

“Wow, just Wow! Food was absolutely amazing. The ambiance and service was amazing too. We celebrated my daughter’s birthday and they even turned down the lights to sing happy birthday. We will definitely be back to try some of the other dishes. Thank you for a beautiful night out. Highly recommend.”

“Favourite omurice spot in the city! Yoshizawa is a quaint restaurant located on the side of a busy street. Everytime I walk in the warm smell of curry, beef, rice and chicken makes me salivate. Friendly and quiet staff, perfect if you're an introvert like me. Highly recommend getting one of their omurices, super fluffy and slurpy eggs over hot fried rice (be careful!) And wow oh wow, the curry. It is so rich and strong, well seasoned and creamy that when you pair it with the egg and rice... Absolute banger. Chef's kiss. 10/10, peak restaurant.”

“A tiny jewel hides in lovely St Heliers neighborhood. Booking is super easy - online or phone call. Parking is easy as. Quality, freshness and quantity of dishes achieved a great balance. Clean and tidy - toilet too (and not wet). Try and you will keep coming back.”

“I ordered the tantan ramen. It was so flavourful and delicious. It is easily one of the best tantan ramens I have ever eaten. I will definitely be returning to this restaurant just for this dish! The service was excellent and so was the atmosphere.”