Japanese restaurants in New Zealand

“Very good dining atmosphere. Had The sushi train experience. Wish there could be more sashimi variety that will be amazing.”

Yamato Japanese Restaurant keeps things classic fish‑and‑chips and focused on flavour. Outdoors works when the weather plays along. Pricing lines up with the offer. Fish lands crisp with light batter and chips stay tidy.

Jarks Restaurant Hastings favours a grill-focused line-up with clear, tidy flavours. Grill work shows a clean sear and rested meats. Pricing lines up with the offer. Service stays present without fuss...

Esplanade Restaurant favours a simple, bistro-style line-up with clear, tidy flavours. Views add a quiet lift to the visit. Team members keep things friendly and on task. Wait times are contained even when busy.

“The waiters in this restaurant are very polite and made me feel very comfortable when dining in the store. They will ask you carefully if you need more water? Still need some service? It's been a long time since I've tasted such delicious Japanese food. The vegetable tempura is not greasy and the ingredients are chosen just right, so it tastes delicious. The most surprising thing is that I didn’t expect the portion size of KIWI DINNER to be so big, so I think the portion size for two people is just right. A Japanese restaurant that is worth visiting again.”

“Went there early evening so no need to book a table. Food was good but the eel bento box was little disappointed with the amount of eel served. Other food was good !”

“Finding this little gem so close to dressmart is indeed a wonderful surprise. A truly authentic dining experience. My family arrived for lunch and having travel extensively overseas we feel this restaurant provides a very credible atmosphere and dining experience. We thank the staff for such a wonderful experience. We will return whenever we are in the area. Again, thank you.”

“We will definitely be back! Cold beer and delicious food. The food was so good - Chicken Teriyaki, Chicken Katsu, Fish Katsu, Vegetable Tempura. Loved that the mains came with Miso. Very reasonably priced plus BYO (which is so rare these days). The only negative was the restrooms could do with a bit of a refresh, but you go for the food, not the loos!”

“What an amazing gem with excellent service and amazing food. The food was authentic and fresh and very well prepared and presented. There is street parking and even thought the restaurant is compact it can cater for heaps. You don’t need to book and can just walk in. Take away is also available but Its nice to sit down and soak in the vibe.”

“Decided to have a late lunch at 9bowls after a bloody hot day at work. I've ordered the Korean Fried Chicken set and it was delicious! The staffs was very attentive and caring, making sure I am well sorted. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very cozy and breathes good vibes. Would definitely recommend people to come try 9bowls out.”

“Some of the best udon noodles we've ever had. The place was spotlessly clean with a pleasant, cosy, and budget-friendly interior design. We also really enjoyed the sushi and sashimi.”

Manila Grill Filipino -Japanese Restaurant Christchurch favours a simple, bistro‑style mix with clear flavours. Plates offer plenty without weighing things down. Service stays present without fuss. Orders move at a steady pace.

“First visit in this Japanese restaurant in the lunch time. We arrived early and few customers were already inside. This is one of the few authentic Japanese cuisine restaurants in town. As you enter, it seems like you are in Japan, great decorations, long bar featuring traditional customs. Food came quickly, we ordered some chicken karage for our chidren, my wife ordered salmon with salad and me lamen. All tasted fantastically nice, soft rice and well seasoned. Owners are Japanese, that explains much of the quality and precision. Looking for another good experience in the future.”

Namaskar Indian Restaurant runs with a Thai-inspired menu and a relaxed feel. Views add a quiet lift to the visit. Noodles arrive glossy and well seasoned. Tandoor notes appear clean and steady. Team...

On the plate at Restaurant, the idea is simple, bistro-style and well executed. A coastal backdrop rounds out the stop. A sensible spend for the quality. Cakes and scoops finish things neatly. Plates...

“Cute small japanese restaurant. The restaurant is clean and has a comfortable athmosphere. The staff is very nice and helpful. They seem to like working there and do a lot for the positive vibe. What I've ordered so far: Takoyaki - new favourite dish at Coo's, I just had it today and it was so creamy and delicious! Gyoza - absolutely amazing, especially with some soy sauce. Can 100% recommend this as a starter or to have with a drink. Katsu don (Pork) - was amazing, it could do with some extra tonkatsu sauce for the rice but was still very (!) good. Ikageso - delish little calamaries. Nothing more, nothing less. Karaage don - the karaage was nice and juicy. I am not yet sure how it compares to the chicken katsu don but can recommend. Eel don - beautifully presented and I loved it, but I like eel in general, so if you are not big on fish, I would not recommend this. Umeshu - nicely presented and tasty, reminded me of some dried plums I've had back in europe”

“Absolutely delicious food.A great selection of vegetarian options.”

“This spicy seafood noodle soup is great to have a rainy day. Not too spicy, no artificial taste and fresh ingredients. Love to try other menu.”

“It is our favourite restaurant but we have always ordered via Uber Eats. We are due to visit them in person, but their food is phenomenal! When they had to close for a bit we were so sad!”

“Great selection, build your own pack in 3 suggested sizes. Good pricing; on par with more commercial sushi such as St.Pierres Newmarket. Love it here. Absolutely lovely service”

“What a delightful little find, rung the mobile number to order pick up since it’s always faster (and cheaper) than Uber eats. We got the vege udon noodles, Katsu chicken yaki soba and sweet and spicy karaage chicken and everything was toasty hot and delicious. The udon noodles took me straight back to Japan! We ordered on a Friday night and the woman on the phone accurately set expectations of a 20 minute wait. All in all a great experience and we will def be returning!”

“This seafood fried noodle was the best I had in ages, so much fresh seafoods with tons of vegetables as well. And apparently it comes in chicken, pork, and beef I would highly recommend to everyone ☺️ Oh and free miso soup comes with it! The customer service was very good as well :)”

“Good service, the waiter let us sit on a table for 4 after ai asked even though there were only my friend and I. The food was very tasty, my friend is a chef and he tried the salmon and said it was fresh caught. Nice and quiet environment, probably also because we got there after 3PM. Anyway, very nice eating experience.”

“Good service, lunch specials are of good values. Nice ambience and good seating spaces. Plenty on street parking. Popular with locals.”

“Such an unexpected gem! Very impressed from our first visit. The beef sukiyaki nabe was amazing and flavourful - haven't eaten a proper sukiyaki in a long time! The kaarage chicken was also fantastic, with two amazing sauces. Overall an amazing Japanese kitchen with great menu variety. Will be coming back for sure.”

“Chef is skillful and nice. Staff and manager are great and have such a service mind. Both sushi and sashimi are fresh and tasty. For someone who wanna try sweet sake, I would recommend a second one from the top (sorry I forgot its name) It was strong but well balanced, pairing with fish is the best. Also homemade dessert is wonderful”

“A favourite restaurant we like to return to. Lovely service and delicious food. The steak melted in the mouth, highly recommend. Wagyu tataki is a must. They also had yummy Halloween themed cocktails.”

“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!"”

“Learned about this hidden gem from family and friends, and dropped by for lunch after picking up groceries. The chicken and squid karaage had the perfect balance of crunch and tenderness, while the egg and potato salad was a particularly inspired compliment. Loved the calm, cosy vibes of the premises, too - mix of indoor, shaded and outdoor seating available.”

“I had a pleasant experience at this restaurant today. The beef and sushi was excellent, very flavourful and pleasant to the mouth. The service by Sophia and Lucas was excellent and commendable as they were extremely friendly. If you’re in the area i would highly recommend.”