Japanese restaurants in New Zealand

“This place is a gem. We ordered share plates (edamame, chicken katsu, tempura veges and okinomiyaki) followed by Japanese ice cream. All were prepared very nicely and were delicious. Service was efficient and friendly even though the hard working staff were quite busy. The whole place reminded us of small restaurants in Japan. We wish there was somewhere similar near where we live.”

“Food is amazing here, had the salmon sushi roll, popcorn chicken, and soy garlic fried chicken. All delicious, best sushi I’ve had so far in Auckland! Just wish they did fried chicken combos. Staff are incredibly friendly.”

“Great taste and fresh. Main aunty is pretty angry and likes to yell at her workers in Japanese but that adds to the vibe of the place”

“Was at a birthday party and they ordered Bian sushi! The rice was really really nice. Really enjoyed it! We finished it like it was nothing! Yum nom nom”

“Today I recommend this shop to everyone. It is a treasure shop with conveyor belt sushi. The ingredients are fresh and the service attitude is super good. It is recommended to call in advance to make a reservation on weekends, otherwise you will have to wait a little longer. It is so delicious. I will come again next time.”

“This place is really great, and I have had an awesome experience and will probably be coming back soon. The atmosphere is cozy and pretty, and the service is friendly and helpful. I had vegetarian dishes like the vegetarian giozas and the tofu salad and found them very delicious, and the people I ate with had foods that contained meat such as the pork belly and the tiger prawns, and they enjoyed them a lot as well. We also had the Hiuse Sundae, and we loved it. It contained a new and interesting type of food which we had never tried before like the matcha ice cream, the black sesame ice cream and the yukimi daifuku, and it was so different than any dessert I've ever had, it was so great. My personal favourite dessert was the sweet, hot banana and chocolate spring roll. In short, this place is fantastic, it was a great experience and I warmly recommend it.”

“Very good sushi. Don't worry about the 1 star ratings they don't know what they are talking about.”

“Bloody tasty bowl of ramen! The pork was melt-in-your-mouth good and the broth had heaps of flavour. Would happily come back for another”

“Good food, w ehad set menu dinner. Fresh sashimi, sushi, beef tataki so good. Chicken teriyaki had good flavor and wings were crispy”

“Depending on who you get if you get the grumpy ol Chinese lady she throws off attitude but I think that's just her as for the food it always taste delicious and is freshly cooked all the workers apart from the above are nice and always offer me a rewards card they have tables to sit and it can be accessible via sliding doors if you are wheelchair bound.”

“Professional sushi food ~I pretty love this restaurant sushi ~and staff are warmth ~ best of the Auckland ~I will be come back again !”

“All round great experience! The staff are kind and check in just enough. The chef was so funny! We had a great time thank you very much. Highly recommend lunch deal, it's a decent portion and doesn't feel heavy afterwards.”

“I just discovered this little place and I will definitely be back! I have eaten Teriyaki Chicken Donburi more times than I can count but yesterday I had possibly the best ever here. Lots of perfectly cooked, succulent and delicious chicken, loaded with also perfectly cooked veggies, over plenty of rice that had just the right amount of sauce. I was asked if I wanted spicy and was advised, if I could tolerate a little spice (I can), it was the tastier choice. Great advice! There was a slight bite to the dish which improved the overall flavour without being so spicy you couldn’t taste anything else. The place is tiny and mostly set up for takeout. There are a few tables along one side but with very uncomfortable furniture. When I’m in the area I prefer to eat in during a break from shopping so more comfortable seating would have been nice. But that’s my only negative. And I like that they have longer hours than the other Japanese place in the area. Loved this little spot, can’t wait to go back!”

“Good food, good ambience and the service was 10/10. Would definitely come back again. Parking is easy and it’s nice and close to the beach + main area where you can grab dessert or other things!”

“Authentic Japanese ramen although I’ve never been but imagined this is what it would be like. As soon as we stepped in greeted by all staff including the chef’s. Service was attentive and food services quick. Food was really delicious and couldn’t fault the entire experience.”

“I'm so sad about almost people order only chicken. Noodles was so great and perfect. Smoky flavor in soup and meat was so yum. In addition, they were so kind.”

“Always, always high quality, been going for years and have never once had an issue. Love the sushi and every staff member is always so helpful and welcoming! Love this store. Will always try to go here above others!!”

“This is quality sushi. The dishes are fresh and the price reasonable. The train itself goes very quickly so you have to be a little nimble to grab your dish without making a mess. Good variety and made-to-order items available too.”

“My first of, no doubt, many meals from here. I had a Curry Chicken Don and it was just delicious. Full of flavour and good value too. There's a great range on the menu to look forward to.”

“I try vegan ramen everywhere I go, and The Ramen Shop in Wellington goes above and beyond! From two vegan ramen broth options (mushroom shoyu or spicy miso), to vegan Kimchi, tofu bao, and a Mapo Tofu rice bowl, everything from the clean food to the ambiance and excellent service, keep coming back!”

“I went here for lunch yesterday not expecting anything too crazy good, but I was blown away!! The ramen I ordered was the yuzu miso ramen and I added kimchi. It was so delicious! The portion size was perfect and all the flavours melted together beautifully! The broth was really flavourful and the yuzu flavour got stronger towards the end. The kimchi was yummy and crunchy and slightly sweet. The pork slices were thick and charred and tender. The staff were very friendly and food came out relatively quickly. Definitely the best ramen I’ve had in Welly so far.”

“Pretty good range of choices for lunch, good rate quality&quantity/price. I often end up buying my lunch here. The staff is welcoming and really efficient. If you like sushi, this is your place where to stop by for lunch. Recommend”

“Wonderful meal and an excellent service! Have never tried this in the past, but after being introduced by my colleague, it became a favourite. This one lady wearing glasses was very friendly and nice also! Everyone of them are. Thank you, Ichiban! You’ve scored yourself a regular :)”

“I recently visited Ramen Ria and had a great experience. The wontons were perfectly cooked and full of flavor, the pork ramen was rich and comforting with a deep, savory broth, and the chicken karaage was crispy on the outside and juicy inside. Everything felt well prepared and satisfying. Definitely a spot I’d be happy to visit again.”

St Pierre's Sushi + Bento Bowl delivers a Japanese‑leaning line‑up that’s straight to the point. Meat‑free options are woven into the menu. Service stays present without fuss. Sushi and hot dishes come out clean‑flavoured and precise.

“Great meal! Awesome service. Always great sushi here. Know exactly what you're getting.”

“Friendly staff, Great sushi. Nice crispy chicken and fresh spring roll there. Love to visit again.”

Arirang Hibachi Steakhouse and Sushi Bar offers a memorable dining experience where dishes are expertly prepared right at your table. Specialising in high-quality steak, chicken, and seafood, the restaurant provides an entertaining and engaging meal for all ages. Guests can also enjoy a wide variety of tropical-flavoured drinks, alongside fresh sushi and sashimi from the exclusive sushi bar. The restaurant is known for its family-friendly promotions, including 'Kids Eat Free' days and special themed events like Halloween celebrations.

“Clean comfortable and warming the Donburi was amazing and sushi selection was lovely”

Sushi Gallery runs with a Japanese‑leaning menu and an easy pace. The room sits relaxed with an easy buzz. The team keeps things friendly and organised. Broths and noodles keep good heat and snap. Val...