The world according to yelp: 1 STAR=Eek! Methinks not. 2 STAR=Meh. I've experienced better. I'm being generous when I award this business 2 stars!!! My personal rating would be 1 star...I will not return. The waitstaff here has zero concept of customer satisfaction or accommodation, or how to promote a positive experience for their diners. The chef prepares a reasonably good quality assortment of food, which garners a food rating of 3 (4 stars tops) stars. Thus, the complete dining experience, which someone seeks when they dine, is relegated the below average of 2 stars (and as I said...I'm being generous). Another couple walked in ahead of us by 10 seconds at 5:35pm. The two couples were waiting to be attended to by the waitstaff member, who was busy making telephone calls to confirm upcoming reservations, and couldn't have the decency to welcome waiting guests. After completing a few more calls, about 5 minutes, he then turned to first address the guests. Not a welcoming intro. Though the restaurant was deserted at opening, we were seated next to the bar, where the barman was busy grinding ice. This barstaff activity persisted for 10 minutes. Normally this sort of prep work is done in advance of opening, so as not to disturb diners. We remarked to the "host/waiter" who greeted and seated us, and he replied "it'll only be another 4, 5 or 6 minutes...thanks for your understanding". We could have walked out with that attitude and what we encountered previously. A long wait before anyone came to our table to take any orders. Finally I got up and went to the barman who had brought beers out to some patio diners and asked him to take our orders. We ordered drinks and our food, and he promptly went back to his bar station and kept grinding more ice. I then got up again and asked him for our drinks. He stopped grinding the ice and only then prepared our beer and wine. The host/waiter brought our food and served up the three sauces into a tray for our table. He squirted a fair amount of the mayonnaise sauce onto the floor. Did he ever clean it up??? NO!!! I had to remark to him about it some 20 minutes later, and he then remedied his own mess. But enough about the lack of service and the inattentiveness to customers. The food.... It was good, but not anything special, or what one wouldn't expect from any decent Japanese restaurant. read more

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The Sushi pieces are really big! Was so happy to find a Japanese restaurant in town. Very nice service. My friend loved this place and went back several times. read more

Stopped in for lunch and LOVED the presentation of the lunch specials. For under $30, the specials came with a decent amount of food, and everything was just so cute! The appetizer plate came with two salads and two fried items, and for dessert the special came with a chocolate covered ice cream choux. The sushi boat was also very cute and delicately placed. I just didn't even know what anything was. The pieces were small and nothing was fishy tasting. I didn't know what to expect for the hot plate ramen. It just sounded interesting. The beef was served cold on a sizzling plate, so when I thought they were cooked medium rare, I just ended up chewing cold meat. When I left the meat on the plate to warm, then they were over cooked. The ramen broth didn't have any meat in it and it was a little too salty. Overall, Industry Zen gets an A+ on presentation, but just average rating for taste of food. read more

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Dinner was a nightmare at Industry Zen. They have changed their menu and all the wait staff did not know what or how they should be serving things. Glass breaking everywhere, apologising staff from table to table... We waited about 15 minutes for our drinks to be served only to find out they were the wrong beer. So further waits. After about 30 minutes, we were served with two dishes only - Agedashi tofu (so so) and oysters (so so). We were very very hungry. Another 20 minutes passed then came our sashimi. We weren't sure why there was lemon slices on these which left a white mark on sashimi. Maybe lemon pieces were placed on sashimi then were kept it in the refrigerator for a long time? Otherwise why should there be lemon marks? We were then served with A5 Grade Wagyu beef which consisted of 3 small pieces of wagyu and a piece of meat cut into 6 tiny pieces which were so chewy. I did not expect to get this for $38. We were in a rage when we finally received our Pork Katsu which was still pink inside. They are probably trying to make us sick, we thought. We complained this and the waitress took it back. When the dish came back, we noticed that the crumbs were soggy and meat chewy. Did they use microwave to heat them up...?!?! Probably. We asked to see the manager and told him that we weren't happy and that we were not going to eat this pork. He apologised and said that they just changed the menu yesterday. He offered to cook us a new one but we had to leave for our movie. We got out paying $140 for 4 of us and felt angry and hungry - we had to buy food and alcohol (especially to calm down) from the theatre. Tempura prawn was the only decent thing we ate. Industry Zen was one of my favourite Japanese place but yesterday was far from being a place of Zen. If you cannot cope with a menu change, DON'T CHANGE THE MENU. read more

Industry Zen - Japanese Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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Really liked this place. Wait staff was phenomenal, quick, and exceptionally polite. I had a variety of options on the menu, but really enjoyed the salmon. Whatever you do, don't leave the place without having the homemade Burrata cheese, with honey and fresh fruit. One of the best desserts I've ever had in my life. read more

Japanese restaurants that offer both raw food and hot food are rarely good at both. This is definitely the case at Industry Zen. I loved the Robata, but I really did not like their Sushi. The Robata was perfectly cooked and very tasty. The Sushi side of the house had such over the top elaborate presentation that it became clear this was to distract you from the fact the sushi portions were tiny and not otherwise remarkable. The menu arrangement was annoying. The sushi items were arranged in packages. They don't let you order what you want al carte. The Sushi Nigiri is chef's choice only. The Tuna Lovers package had dramatic presentation, but was otherwise really disappointing. The service was ok and the ambiance and decor quite good. read more

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Here for dinner on a Tuesday night. And it's packed!! 7 of us, order a $79 zen set, and many other dish to share. To be honest from other Japanese dinning experiences I didn't expect the portion to be that generous, esp with the set.... dishes keep coming ..and we literally can't eat any more. Food presentation is definitely a wow factor....I couldn't take photo of all dish...There are too many and it's too dark... taste wise I will rate it 4... Great service and seating...and they also have a drum section to announce special occasion for all tables..something different to birthday songs? And for what this place offer..it's quite reasonable priced. We paid $340 for 7 people... I will definitely be back. read more

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Tried Japanese in few different countries and cities and this is up there as one of the best I've had. Well presented meal sizes where perfect and staff where great Went here twice in a space of 4 days consistency with the food was on point A must when in Auckland read more

Industry Zen - Japanese Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Good venue for a large group, we were a table of 15 for a Xmas work lunch, easy to organize with pre-ordered set meals that they delayed so we could swap presents. Wide range of dishes but the veggie tempura that was assumed to be vegetation but was served with chicken sushi and as a side dish. Every meal was beautifully presented, almost like theater with the meal onstage. read more

Industry Zen - Choya plum wine - Japanese Near Me - Auckland, AUK

A nice, intimate place for dinner with friends and family. Even better: take a date here. It's the kind of place that if push comes to shove, the food will keep you talking. You can't go wrong with the menu here. We ordered a number of dishes, and each one came out beautifully presented and full of flavor. Keep in mind, though, that the portions are small and the price is higher. It's easy to order three dishes per person and forget where the tab stands. read more

Industry Zen - Interior dining area - Japanese Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Industry Zen is Japanese with a difference. With most Japanese restaurants in Auckland, they all bring similar menus, with a range from sashimi, tapas and bento meals etc. Alike is Industry Zen, but they present their food in such innovative ways. From what we received looks pretty standard but as we were dining, we think the lunch combos we saw, are served in replicas of the traditional Japanese huts, or with Japanese bridges. Japanese is one of the best cuisines to share with others. I almost always order soft shell crab, whether it is its own dish or comes in the form of sushi, its just that something else you don't get from other cuisine's. This one really stacks up, whilst being served on mustard sauce - sounds weird but it really works and just enhanced the flavours of the dish. Takoyaki was hot and fresh, but there was less octopus than I would have liked. These yum yum prawns really were yum yum - sorry thats cheesy. But delivered on this hot sizzling plate and probably not the most healthiest dish with all the sauce it was coated it, but omg, good. The service is efficient and friendly but the atmosphere was a let down. Although its well themed inside, there was an annoying loud noise from the air conditioning unit on the roof I think and the inside is a bit dated. Its a shame because the food is almost top notch! Just a few hiccups but overall a decent meal. Rating Food: 8.5/10 Service: 8/10 Value for Money: Good 104D Customs Street W, Auckland Central Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 12pm-3pm, 530pm-11pm read more

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Following previous reviews that said this is a must-visit place I have to concur. The secluded seating was great and romantic. The service very quick. Everything we ordered came out at the same time and tasted amazing. The only problem we had was trying to decide what to get and the descriptions on the menu don't really do the food justice. Definitely coming back next time I'm in Auckland! read more

Industry Zen - The udon is absolutely perfect - Japanese Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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I'd recommend this place wholy on food presentation alone , which has a total WOW factor . The decor has a lot a authentic Japanese items with beautifully drawn Samurai pictures and wood paneling . There is a lunchtime special that is really reasonably priced and you can choose from sushi and tempura , sushi and sashimi also menchi and tempura and others from about $21-23 . Extensive drinks list and Asahi on tap . I went for the menchi and tempura , menchi is like a beef patty, but a whole lot nicer . It came out on a large bento box set with its own mini teppan yaki grill , cool ! Luckily the tables are big and you can fit a lot on . Service is speedy and to finish they give you this salted chocolate profiterole . Which is a nice touch . If your looking a cool Japanese place then this is it . read more

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Industry Zen is a fabulous restaurant to go for Japanese. Located near the Viaduct in Auckland's CBD (next to the Tepid Baths) it's quite centrally placed. Not only is the food sensational here, the atmosphere is fantastic. The staff are all incredibly accommodating and truly make it a wonderful dining experience. What I love about Industry Zen is that they like to include and appreciate their customers. Every night around 8:30pm they show their appreciation to their customers, to those who have come to dine for a special occasion (birthday, moving overseas etc), and to the chefs who prepare the beautifully presented meals, by getting the restaurants attention through banging a drum. The entire experience is enjoyable, the food is very reasonably priced and you're guaranteed to have a meal worth remembering. read more

Industry Zen - The amazing food to expect at Industry Zen. My favourite dessert is the fondue, great for sharing. - Japanese Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Industry Zen is amazing, this is our go to Japanese Restaurant when we want something special. The service is always cheerful and smiley, and the staff are happy to help. The last time we were here it was on the old menu but I understand that they had a menu change recently and I was impressed with the new things they did. Presentation is always good here and it didn't disappoint with the new menu. Great dinner, great restaurant! read more

Omg. The plates they use to serve me my food are out of this world. The nigiri plate is the length of the table. Haha. The food does not disappoint. Every thing is as fresh as it can be. The only little fault was that the tuna in the sashimi platter isn't as good as the more expensive toro cuts. But then again, you get what you pay for. :-) read more

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Totally agree with other reviewers that the presentation of dishes is above and beyond here. The effort and artistry is impressive and appreciated. The staff is also pleasant, attentive and accommodating. Unfortunately, the quality of the food leaves much to be desired. The rolls were giant, all rice and hard to manage. The rice and avo in the rolls tasted stale. The salmon on top of the roll (not in) was fantastic so I ended up eating just the salmon. The oysters were just ok. The seaweed salad was actually quite good. Wish the rest of the meal was that great. I didn't try the cooked/hot items so maybe they do better there. read more

If you love Japanese but are a wee bit tired of the same old fare, this is the place for you. As the name suggests, the decor is industrial chic. With dark lighting, awesome Japanese art and mood lighting it's very different from the majority of other Japanese places. Though not known to everyone, this place certainly has a following, which is why it's really important to pre-book for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. But don't let that put you off - being here when it's busy makes you almost feel like you're in some trendy part of New York. The usual suspects on a Japanese restaurants menus are given a twist. For instance, one of my faves - Beef Tataki, comes served in four different ways on a long stone plate. And Teriyaki Chicken comes on a huge skewer and you choose from pink or white salt to be grated on top. The decor, food and service make for a very enjoyable, very authentic experience. Add in a glass of Plum Wine and you;re away laughing. Yum yum yum. read more

So so disappointed! I used to live in auckland, so have been here many times a few years ago and was excited to bring my boyfriend along to experience it. We both got the zen set menu, a bottle of wine, and some sake. The service was very average, the wine was warm and when i asked for an ice bucket, she splashed at least a glass on the floor when moving the wine (ice bucket was sideways) and didnt apologise or anything. The food was terrible...not just average but really prettty bad! Super small portion sizes, I was extra hungry afterwards (I'm sure i used to be super fill after going here). The boyfriend even wanted a cheese burger he was so hungry! To top it all off I'm sure the salmon sashimi was off (tasted that way anyway). For 2 people and $260 ill never be back :-( read more

A good restaurant for larger groups. Reservations needed as this place gets booked quickly for dinners. Food is above average. Their food presentations are probably the highlight. Go for the sets for better value. Price is mid to high for the quality and portions. Staff were friendly but could be overwhelmed during peak hours. read more

Industry Zen - Salmon and sashimi set - Japanese Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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Presentation was unlike any I've ever seen before and the food more than lived up to the same. Attention to detail was second to none. And service was incredibly attentive. A definite must for all foodies. read more

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Are you kidding me? This place was awesome. Food was great. Atmosphere off the scale. Want Japanese food and a Japanese experience, this is it. This coming from someone who lived in Japan for 18 years. read more

Just signed up Yelp to write this feedback. Just came out from here. Ordered about 5dishes with sake and beers. Firstly water took 15minutes to get served. We were the first table for tonight service had one dish by one dish took an hour to finish. Pork was pink. Katsu was soggy and used microwave. Chef came to apolozised. Deducted. Katsu price only. Gave us wrong beer. Dropped chopstick,lid and broke glasses while serving. They saying its due to new menu and system. If u cant corp with it why did u change the menu. Felt like takeaway store. Had subway on the way back. Thanks for ruining my dinner. If u wanna try here try one or two month later when they get used to new menu. Very boring new menu. Updated feedback will be appreciated if u wanna risk your dinner. Cheers P.S ordered raw sashimi got cured sashimi. read more

Had the assorted nigiri selection for dinner last night. Taste and presentation were exquisite. I think the best sushi I've ever eaten, including in Japan. read more

Wow...absolutely amazing! The food taste and are presented in a unique Japanese fashion. Must have been my best meal in NZ

Shocked this place has good reviews. Aside of presentation they deserve zero stars for flavor and service. To start we had a table with eight people and the waitress only took five of the orders. We had to flag her down to get her to take the orders for the rest of the table. If this was not her first night working she should be ashamed. The portions of the food are small and the flavors lacking. We had two people at the table order the same thing and they played it on one plate. This was not explained when the food was put down so one person was left without dinner. In addition they brought us an incorrect bottle of wine from what was ordered and never checked on us throughout the meal. If all you're looking for is the show go to the theater not this restaurant for dinner read more

Date night dinner here made a for a great night out. The food was served in a mini house with layers of yumminess. Awesome decor too, we loved it. Also, service was attentive and friendly. We paid a mini fortune but that was cos' we were pigs! The only reason we have four stars, not five is because the food, although mostly great, also seemed a bit heavy on the fried side. Will be back! read more

This place is great, we like to take visitors here as it's a bit different! The food is really good, kind of like Japanese tapas. It's always busy so you will need to book. They also do a ceremony at night time introducing the chefs which is a bit special! It's not too pricey either which is always good for the viaduct. They also do some pretty funky food presentation! read more

Great "piping hot buns". Pork belly buns were to die for. Worth going for them alone. Piping hot on gas not spice

We did not get some of the food we asked for, wait staff had no idea. At one stage we were served food on a wobbly contraption, as we took some food from this the red hot thin brick, along with the rest of the food fell onto the table. We told one of the staff that it could burn the table and to please remove it. The brick was removed (but the food, which no body wanted to eat as it was on the table surface) remained on the table while staff walked back and forth not noticing,( for a good ten minutes) until I had to point out the problem and asked for the food to be removed. I love sushimi, but did not tonight, it was served in thin slices, barely enough for a table of four adults to enjoy. We used to love coming here, we will not return. read more

Our Industry Zen dining experience was well-worth the hefty bill we paid at the end of the night after dining here. Booked a table at the last moment and as a result was seated outside in the covered patio. This was at first a bit off-putting but from the noise and clamour being heard from inside the main restaurant, we soon came to realize it was likely a good thing as it gave us a chance to converse without too much of a struggle. With a gas heater and blankets (which the waitress draped over our knees on arrival) we were comfortably warm the whole evening. No doubt helped along by three bottles of wine shared between four of us. We had a tapas-styled dinner, ordering plenty of dishes to share amongst the table. In fact the hefty bill was due to our limitless enthusiasm which led us to significantly over-order, something that was pointed out to us by the waitress. Nevertheless, we ignored her polite concern and went ahead and ordered our tudor-styled banquet anyway. The tapas came out one after another artfully displayed on some of the most creative dishes you are likely to encounter. For example, the sashimi came out displayed in what easily could of passed as a dolls house. This creative display including a warm ambience and excellent customer service made it well worth it. read more

Ordered the sushi/sashimi bento box. Presentation was amazing! The quality of fish was decent. And there were some really tasty pieces. Not mind blowing though. read more

Fish was so fresh and the gyoza was soooo good! Cute and quiet on the inside. Service was wonderful.

Great food with incredible presentation! Each item was served in its own unique dish and hot dishes came with their own built-in burner. Overall good food quality and service. Highly recommended. read more

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