Musashi and I go a long way back, when it was called Eiji and a man named Eiji used to be all over…read morethe place checking on customers. Back then it was only one restaurant, and we had to book a table a week in advance. Today they have two more branches in Milford and Grey Lynn and waiting times are better but I still recommend booking especially over the weekend and for groups. I have caught myself few times now talking about this Musashi (not the greatest Japanese warrior of all times) while eating Japanese in other parts or the world. To me this is the place where Japan manifests its presence on a humble plate. It is easy to dimiss it as mediocre initially due to the lack of Japanese diners, but this couldn't be farthest from the truth. Everything on the menu is honestly worth a try. Sharing here is the best way to get to enjoy the food. Their Volcano tuna sushi is my all time favourite. Don't even think about not trying it! I also happen to be a little Takoyaki tyrant, and this tastes exactly like it does in Tokyo. The seafood nabe is a selection of seafood that cooks infront of you in delicious broth, so fresh and light. If you are super hungry though watching your food cook maybe slightly painful. There are few vegetarian options and they also use signs to indicate if a meal is avaliable wheat free, which is great. Not a big fan of their desserts, they definitly taste good but I won't go to a Japanese restaurant for cheese cake or brownies. I wish their desserts were as authentic as their food.

Awesome place. A neighbourhood gem. Good food. Good value!…read more The place- Bit of a squeeze, not a lot of room but they managed to fit in a lot of seats. Mixture of indoor and outdoor seating. They can accomodate children as well. A very popular weekend spot for the locals. The placed was packed within 15minutes of opening. Make sure you make a reservation in advance!! The food- great value food. Fresh, high quality seafoods and meats. The lunch specials are as good as they come. The set menu encompass the usual miso soup, rice, and salads. Depending on what you choose, the mains are mostly served on a toban plate. They also have seasonal specials worth checking out! I really like the eye-fillet, was so tender and fresh, can be eaten raw. The drinks- complementary green tea. The drinks menu has the usual Japanese beer as well as some local wines. The service- great service. very attentive. The waitstaff frequently checked on us to make sure everything is going well. Definitely will come back and try out a few other items on the menu!

Some of the best sushi in the Eastern Suburbs is made right here…read more Cecil can cater for large groups and events, or just provide you with your lunch for the day. They have an array of fresh sushi, constantly being made - which you'll witness when you walk in. There is a great selection of iced teas in the fridge, and a fantastic variety of all types of sushi. I regularly end up with no two pieces of sushi the same from here, as I am always eager to sample all the different kinds on offer - with deep-fried pieces, your classic, raw tuna, salmon and avocado options, as well as the more glamorous pieces with roe and crab. There is a small heating oven offering a battered selection including spring rolls and prawn katsu also, a regular in my box.

Genki is a quaint little Japanese restaurant amongst a block of a few other shops in Kohimarama…read more It's more suited as a takeaway option, and doesn't seem like the best place to dine in, unless you just want a quick snack and gap. This restaurant has a good range of traditional Japanese dishes, and pretty reasonably priced. However, one of the dishes that I had here was not so great. I ordered the pork katsudon and it was really tough and rubbery. I spent most of the evening trying to chew the strips of pork. The dish tasted pretty good though. It would be unfair to let one dish turn me away from this place, as there are many other things to choose from on the menu, so it's worth giving it another try.

Low key homey restaurant hidden in the Remuera Village with surprising good food!…read more The place- typical Japanese decor. quite dim atmosphere. 2-4 seaters and a few bar stools. Well maintained. Clean. Some street parkings limited to 30 min during the day. The food- menu is smaller than many other westernized Japanese restaurants but they do bring out good daily specials. Amazing quality seafood. If you are lucky, you may get the highest quality part of tuna (otoro) the menu. Has a rich creamy taste to it. Also recommend the tuna wings. Lightly flavored, juicy and tender. Of course the lunch box options are of good quality and value. The service- as expected from a Japanese restaurant. Helpful and knowledgable. Will definitely visit this place again. Look forward to trying out their next special.

I love to support local businesses, especially when you can have decent chats with the owner. It…read moremakes it feel so much friendlier and that there's a connection there. We've come here heaps of times for lunch and dinner and have always been impressed. The meals are not just your usual Japanese - its fancier! Everything is presented so carefully and beautifully. Check the board for the specials - it will be totally worth trying. And the fresh grated wasabi is really quite something else!

The first time I ever had Japanese food was at Midori and ever since that day I have never looked…read moreback. I have become a Japanese food lover from the Teriyaki chicken to the sashimi,Midori helped me fall in love. The restaurant is very cosy and welcoming with soft background music in the background. This creates a nice, relaxed and calm atmosphere perfect for a date, a catch up or even dinner for one. I had the teriyaki chicken with rice and a glass of their rice wine. The food was fresh and tasty, no bumpy or chewy bits in my rice! The chicken was succulent and well flavoured. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and my only issue was the dessert menu, Midori could do with more dessert options.

I really enjoy the food at Midori and they're always consistent, from their food to their service…read more It's a very small restaurant so be sure to get in quick, especially on weekends as they fill up fast. There's a great view of the bay from the restaurant, making it a nice place to people watch or the perfect backdrop for a dinner date. My partner really enjoys the udon here and I usually go for the katsu or the one of the hot boxes- the hot boxes in particular are really good. Midori's sushi is pretty popular aswell, which you can order when you're dining in, or take to go- their California rolls are so tasty! I'd suggest trying out one of their entrees too, they've got a good selection at good prices and the portions aren't too big, so you'll still have room for your main meal. Next time you're in Mission Bay I'd try out Midori for a great-tasting meal and great service.

Whackado but worth a shot. I have eaten there three times…read more The staff can put out a weird vibe and nothing would surprise me when I eat there owned by the peeps who run Showa cafe which I also find a bit of a challenge. All the menu items have a Japanese twist! I am interested to read other reviews

Brilliant food, brilliant staff, brilliant atmosphere. I was pleasantly surprised to discover this…read morehidden gem shortly after moving into the area. I have eaten here many times and always bring friends and family. The staff are extremely lovely, you are guaranteed to leave with a smile on your face and a belly full of yummy food. I have often found that Japanese restaurants in New Zealand tend to dumb down their menus and often up-size the meals. But this was a refreshing change, offering an extremely traditional experience from the moment you walk in the door. This is one place you cannot miss!

The food served doesn't always seem like authentic Japanese food. (I'm not an expert, it's just a…read morefeeling) Presentation and atmosphere is done well and it's a good place for a few friends to get together but I wouldn't make it regular visits

The enormous bamboo and hibiscus table decoration drew us in to Gouemon, which from the outside is…read morean unassuming kind of place. Soon after we were seated we had that happy, relieved feeling that this was a Japanese restaurant that actually had Japanese waitresses and chefs, which is a great find these days. Gouemon has the cosy, traditional interior that's so inviting about authentic Japanese restaurants. The food is slightly more expensive that other similar places, but it was absolutely delicious. I recommend the sizzling prawns in golden cream sauce ($19.80), and the banana tempura with ice cream. Forget your waistline, enjoy, and take advantage of the BYO to save a little money!

I think I may have found the best sushi place, at least the best sushi place in East Auckland. It…read moresuch a small building that you run the risk of missing it as you drive by, but if you punch the address into your navman then there's no excuses. The sushi is cheap and the sushi is yum. $1 will get you a piece of regular sushi, and there's quite a nice selection of these ones. Or the more gourmet pieces are like $1.50, which is pretty cheap for a nice slice of salmon nigiri. And the fish tastes pretty fresh too, unlike some places where it is so cold that it's almost still frozen. So basically for less than $10 (well depending on how hungry and how much sushi you can stuff down your throat) you can get a decent feed of good tasting sushi. So glad I found this utopia.

Hands down thee best sushi ever made in Auckland city !!!! Love love. Would highly recommend to…read moresushi lovers

Had a veritable feast at this place, I think our group literally ate the menu…read more Raw oysters, takowasabi (raw octopus), beef tataki and sashimi were all fresh and delicious. Since it's a sushi place I'm going to lead with that. The quality of the seafood was excellent. Would recommend if you like raw bar. The rest felt standard to me, not super impressive but not bad. Fried foods were good. The yakitorj was a little too dry. The stir fries were okay. Sushi had huge amounts of rice, but I've noticed this as a New Zealand thing rather than specific to this restaurant. Only weird part was that the sliding door seemed broken or maybe turned off on purpose. Had to be manually operated and many people getting confused going in and out. Hope the fix the door.

Wow! What a night we had! -- We went out to Hokkaido for my husband's birthday. We were absolutely…read morefloored by the food, service & ambiance! It takes quite a bit to make my top 10 restaurants and this one shot to the top. AMAZING Food, I had the sukiyaki pot and my husband had the chan chan yaki and we split the tempura & veg appetizer. I couldn't believe how reasonable it was! We DEFINITELY will be back soon! Do yourself a favor GO VISIT HOKKAIDO ASAP your taste buds will thank you!