A wonderful little hole in wall restaurant with very good sushi. Staff is solid and they know what they are talking about. If you like little restaurants that are about the food and service this is a good place. Fairly priced, very fresh, very authentic in many cases. I enjoyed it, family enjoyed it too. Its not a high end restaurant but they care about the food, the presentation and freshness speaks volumes. read more

New Zealand's Chicken (4/5): A General Tso's-style chicken that was sweet and tangy with just a hint of spice. The fried shrimp, crab rangoon, and salad were all mediocre. The garlic noodles were pretty decent. RATING SYSTEM 5 - Great (Need to get this again) 4 - Good (Would get this again) 3 - Ok (Might give this another shot) 2 - Not Good (Won't get this again) 1 - Bad (Telling people to avoid this) read more

New Zealand Cafe - New Zealand's Chicken (4/5) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

We went early due to learning the wait for a table and also sushi can be long. We arrived at about 5:00 and were seated in under 20 minutes. The menu is vast! I'm so grateful that the hostess offered her assistance with choosing options for dinner. Sushi presentation was so beautiful The restaurant has seating inside and also in the patio in front of the restaurant. We were seating just inside the front door at a large round table. I guess our only disappointment was that they didn't have any ipa's, Malbec, or any red blends available to pair with the enormous sushi options. read more

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Solid, dependable, and my go‑to--as long as you stick to their strengths. New Zealand Café has been in my rotation for years, and they're at their best when you lean into what they do well: the sushi rolls. Fresh, flavorful, and consistently satisfying, the rolls are the reason I keep coming back.They're okay across the board, but when you stick to their sweet spot, you'll walk out happy every time. It's the kind of place that becomes part of your routine without you even noticing. read more

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My friend and I checked out New Zealand Cafe on a chilly Monday evening. For a Monday, I was surprised at how busy this place was. The space is small and they offer indoor and outdoor seating. There are heat lamps outside, but since it was so chilly, we opted to wait 20 minutes for a table indoors. We were seated at the sushi bar which was really cool. We got to see all of the food being prepped! New Zealand cafe offers sushi and habachi options. I ordered a ginger salad and a couple of sushi rolls. Everything was delicious. The ginger dressing on the salad was different than the ginger dressing I am used to. It seemed to be mayo based. Overall, our food and service was great. I would definitely check this place out the next time I'm in Charlotte! read more

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Delicious! Had the Big Boss roll and it was the best sushi I've had in Charlotte so far!

Well deserved 5 star review! Headed through the state on a road trip and decided we wanted to find some good sushi and New Zealand Cafe did not disappoint! Service: we pulled up to a packed parking lot and people waiting outside! I called and asked about the wait, 45 minutes (we drove an hour to get here so i was starving and didnt want to wait afain) so we opted for take out, the young lady who answered was patient as it was my first time eating here I asked for recommendations told her a few rolls I was interested in and she guided accordingly. Which honestly was a breath of fresh air to have such excellent customer service seeing how pa ked it was. Their thai hot and sour soup was the freshest in flavor I have ever had in the states. The lemon grass really stood out and I loved that! I would have preferred it didnt have the little chicken bits in it but im sure it helps make the broth, I would order this again. Rolls: big boss, lobster, Island roll. Typically im not a cucumber roll go too kind of gal but I am glad I got it, if youre looking for something light and refreshing this is it! The other two rolls were excellent, rolled tightly, loose rolls are a huge pet peeve of mine, and perfect bite sizes. I dont think there's a roll on this menu that I wouldnt love. The intent was to nibble as we went down the road but we devoured it In about 5 minutes flat right there in the parking lot after the first bite. Only thing I would have traded was the ginger this was too light tasting for me I am more of a fan of the white ginger not the pink ginger. But I can see why restaurants choose a lighter tasting ginger. read more

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I have heard so much abt this place so decided to go on my lunch break. Apparently they are known for their sushi, but unfortunately I'm not a sushi fan so I got hibachi steak meal. I asked for my steak to be medium, it was not. Was tough and hard to chew. Food didn't come out very hot and the salad was basically sitting in a small puddle of water. Wasn't fresh and crunchy like a salad should be. And took them forever to bring me a refill of tea, but only because I had to ask for it, not because they thought of it themselves. I just wasn't impressed at all and probably won't go back. read more

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Don't let the name fool you! New Zealand Cafe is a wonderful place to get sushi and other dishes. This is a small, cozy restaurant with a laid back vibe. The inside of the restaurant has some small tables, which they can push a few together for a larger group. Or if you're dining by yourself or with one other person, you can sit right at the bar where they're making sushi. There's also a very small outdoor eating area in front of the restaurants. There's a few cooked dishes on the menu like noodles or chicken and a few appetizers that you can get including a salad. However, the main attraction here is definitely the sushi! I loved their sushi menu. The best thing I had here was the Christmas roll. It was so flavorful, yet balanced. The rolls here were really well made and not skimpy on it. Best of all, the prices were quite reasonable. I felt like I was able to get a whole boat of sushi without breaking the bank. As a side note, A fun thing I learned is that you can get a free entrée here on the day of your birthday as long as you bring other people. So, I would definitely recommend coming to New Zealand Cafe! read more

New Zealand Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Excellent and constantly high quality sushi for pick up orders, only 30 min to pick up! Loved my tray of sushi to bring over to my friend's house while we watched the new episodes of Love is Blind UK. They made sure we had plenty of sauces and dips for our rolls and very professional over the phone. Such a treat for the girls. read more

New Zealand Cafe - Five rolls with all the sauces. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This is hands down the best sushi I have had in Charlotte and I have tried MANY places. The fish was very fresh and you could tell the dressing on their ginger salad was home made- it had so much flavor. The Valentine roll was my favorite which had shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, and avocado wrapped in soy paper topped with eel sauce, spicy Mayo, and a wasabi drizzle. This is about 20 min outside of downtown but worth the short drive! read more

New Zealand Cafe - Valentine Roll, Crispy Spicy Tuna Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I was searching for the best sushi restaurant in Charlotte and found this best not-so-secret gem! I was staying in the heart of the city but the 25 minute drive was completely worth it! Don't be fooled by the name or location, New Zealand Cafe is fantastic! Because it's in the shopping center of a grocery store, there's plenty of parking. It's a fairly small restaurant with only about 9 or 10 tables inside. There are a few patio tables out front as well. I visited around 12:30 which was perfect because there were still a few tables open but it did get busier as time passed. I was immediately helped and the waiter was very friendly. I ordered a green tea, miso soup, Big Boss Roll, and the Caterpillar Roll. The food came out so quickly, I was shocked by how fast the service here was! The fish was fresh and tasted wonderful. I haven't had eel in so long because everywhere I've gone, it wasn't great quality (honestly, I thought it was my taste buds changing but no! It was quality)! I wanted to try eel here just to see but New Zealand Cafe truly had fresh eel and I was so happy to be able to enjoy it again!! I'm talking YEARS since I haven't had good eel. The rolls were a great size and I ended up taking some leftovers back with me. When I come back to Charlotte, I'm definitely coming back to New Zealand Cafe, especially because they restored my faith in quality sushi and made me love eel again! read more

New Zealand Cafe - Big Boss Roll and Caterpillar Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Food was good. It is a little crowded inside the restaurant so recommend order take out. Overall the service was good and enjoyed the food. We ordered the sushi boat and it was enough for 2 people. The sashimi was a little frozen though read more

New Zealand Cafe - Sushi Boat* - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Love the ambiance in the restaurant, it's small but cozy. We got a bunch of rolls and our fave was the Boss. The unagi nigiri was also excellent! The veggie tempura wasn't anything exciting. read more

New Zealand Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Best in the suburbs. Head and shoulders above the rest of the strip mall sushi locations. Prompt seating and service. We will continue to come here. read more

New Zealand has been a Charlotte sushi staple for me for as long as I can remember. Their food is consistently good, and the service is always great. Roll prices are also very good for how much you get. Will definitely be back to New Zealand! read more

New Zealand Cafe - H. O. T. Roll Spicy Tuna Roll Philly Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I hadn't been here in years and it's next door to my daughter's dance school so I decided to treat myself to some sushi. People say it's a hidden gem but it's not really hidden. Definitely discreet in a strip mall but top tier. It's intimate so don't be surprised if you can't get a spot. Usually fills up around 6:30. Not that the weather is nicer you can sit outside but that fills quick too. If you enjoy sushi you absolutely should make a point to try here. read more

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Really affordable and really yummy!! I def enjoyed all of the rolls. The salmon toro was also really good. I highly recommend the ichiban and spicy dragon rolls. The hamachi and smoked salmon nigiri and albacore tuna nigiri were all super mid and I wouldn't recommend and of the nigiri besides the salmon toro. I wanted to try the tuna toro but that wasn't available when I went but I've heard good things! read more

New Zealand Cafe - Ichiban roll, spicy dragon roll, 2 albacore tuna nigiri, 2 smoked salmon nigiri, 2 hamachi nigiri, 2 salmon toro nigiri and 1 uni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Favorite sushi spot! Service is quick too. Small interior but seats a lot. Ordered seaweed salad, miso soup, caterpillar roll, crab&asparagus roll, and super spicy roll. Would not order the miso soup or the super spicy roll again. The others however, AMAZING. Will be going back, especially for the caterpillar roll!! read more

New Zealand Cafe - Super spicy roll, caterpillar roll, crab & asparagus roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Delicious rolls for a reasonable price i appreciate the cozy atmosphere as well. Perfect weeknight sushi spot. read more

New Zealand Cafe - L-R: Big boss, Christmas, Spider rolls - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

a true hole-in-the-wall sushi spot! small place, but the food was fresh and tasty. we got the alaskan roll, fried oyster roll, tuna roll, scallop and salmon nigiri, fried calamari, and steak hibachi. sushi was on point--especially the alaskan roll. calamari was good but needed a bit more salt. steak hibachi was flavorful, but the doneness was inconsistent. garlic noodles were solid but didn't have much garlic flavor. overall, great food and a good time. they were understaffed, but our waiter did her best, so no complaints! read more

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Hands down best sushi for so cheap, complements to the chefs back there you guys are the best

Okay let's get the bad out of the way--we came on a cold Friday night and had to sit out on the outdoor patio on with our coats on because the wait was an hour and 45 mins long...They do not accept reservations. The good news: we were able to move to the table with the patio heater when a couple vacated and that made it bearable. Better news: the service and the food were wonderful. The waitress was prompt and attentive. We ordered a couple of appetizers to share and 3-4 sushi rolls. Everything came out freshly prepared and the flavors were spot on. Overall a great sushi spot but come early or at non peak times for easy seating. Otherwise be prepared to wait for a seat but know the serving and food will be worth it. read more

Finally got to check out New Zealand Cafe and it did not disappoint! We opted for take out, since I saw reviews about long wait times. The inside of the restaurant is on the smaller sides, which makes sense why you may have to wait for a table. On a Friday night, our take out was ready in about 30 minutes. They packed our sushi nicely in a large tin pan. We ordered maguro and salmon nigiri, Red Dragon Roll, Favorite Roll, Lobster King Roll, and Spicy Dragon Roll. They were delicious! Looking forward to returning to try more menu items! read more

New Zealand Cafe - From top to bottom: Nigiri, Red Dragon, Spicy Dragon, Lobster King - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Mom and pop sushi place which makes limited seating and longer service time to be expected. Lots of food options although the sushi pieces are a bit bigger than expected which makes eating them a bit harder. They pair each sushi roll with a sauce which I love about this place and you can see all of the rewards and recognitions hanging on their walls. read more

New Zealand Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Honestly the food is good here but there has been more then 1 time this has happen to my food. Some of the food they serve are rotten or just not the best condition. I go here 1-2 times a week to eat but this is probably my last time. read more

New Zealand Cafe - Shrimp Tempura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This was the first time that I've had the chance to try the New Zealand Cafe and I was so excited after reading the reviews. My sister and I stopped by for dinner on a Friday night and only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table which was fantastic. The hostess and our server were both super friendly and helpful to make sure our experience went well. The inside of the restaurant is pretty small but can seat quite a bit of guests. We did not start with any appetizers but I wish we did! I ordered a side ginger salad, the red dragon roll, and the tuna roll. All of the three items were delicious and fresh. My sister ordered the hibachi chicken dinner and she said it was very good too! We had such a great experience and can't wait to add this to our list of usual spots! read more

New Zealand Cafe - Hibachi chicken dinner - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The food was good, but the service was some of the worst I've received. I've been a server 8+ years and have NEVER seen such neglect for customers. First, we waited 10 minutes for a drink. Not a big deal at all. But when we started getting appetizers, we noticed nobody had checked to make sure we needed anything else or even more drinks. Throughout our meal, the same issue. Then comes the end of our meal. We waited 20 MINUTES for a check. I went and asked someone to bring it, waited an additional 5 minutes and my fiancée had to go in to ask again. The food was 100% not worth the employees. read more

Their sushi's are very fresh and have great variety to choose from. We are from New York and have them every weekend while we are visiting North Carolina. Love them. :-) read more

Absolutely wonderful service from the team and fast too. Great space and ambience for small and medium sized parties. Best sushi in the CLT area by far!!! read more

I do not want to give this place a review because I'm afraid the wait line gon get longer and It'll be harder to dine ToT... As claimed they been around for forever, their sushi quality are solid. Cozy atmosphere, amazing reasonable price, no place like It. I'll give them more stars If I can. read more

New Zealand Cafe - A combination with a lot of goodness... - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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New Zealand Cafe is the best sushi restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina. Period - the end. No competition. There's a reason this place is constantly full. There's a reason they've survived throughout the years. The menu is AMPLE, the seafood is fresh 10000% of the time and literally every single food item over the years has remained delicious. No fuss, nothing fancy, no gimmicks or tricks. Just excellent quality, delicious sushi 100% of the time. read more

This is easily one of the best sushi places in Charlotte! They are quite reasonable as well though. The service is prompt and efficient. The place is somewhat small so you should expect a wait during dinner hours especially on weekends. The wait is well worth it, however! The food here is outstanding! read more

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Nice place, good prices. I do have to take issue with the sushi. The rice wasn't good, or real, sushi rice. The eel was overcooked. The giant clam was dry and tasteless. I really wanted to like the place, but it isn't up to par with say Soma. read more

My youngest turned 11 today and she love her some sushi so nothing but the best sushi for my girl. My wife hosted a lunch tea party for her and her friends and I took the other 2 kids to soccer and b-ball games in uptown so we stopped on the way home to pick up the NZ Cafe take out. All five of us eight from the spread, and we're quite content with plenty of leftovers. The two people I spoke to in the restaurant, very hospitable and accommodating as they prepared and provided my meal. Hands-down, the best sushi, in all the land!!! Well worth a longer drive, if necessary, to have the best sushi CLT. read more

New Zealand Cafe - Karlea's 14th Brithday dinner! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I mean you constantly hear the hype about this place and people are not exaggerating. It is a tiny place and I can see why a lot of people rather do takeout but I decided to sit down at the restaurant. We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table and once we were seated, we were asked about beverages. The prices are very reasonable and the amount of food given is very reasonable as well. I got the steamed dumplings for appetizer and they were delicious! For my meal, I decided to go with the bento box to have a little bit of everything and it was perfect. When I come back into town and can eat sushi again, I want to come back and try their sushi! read more

New Zealand Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The service was really accommodating and kind. They ended up letting me switch from the bar to a table once a table opened up since I went on a Friday night. It was a busy night, and the restaurant is a bit small, but the staff handled it well. There is outdoor seating too. The Boss roll (top) was my favorite and I loooved the uni with quail egg. I was super excited to see uni on the menu and was looking for places that would have it specifically. The Christmas roll (middle) was also really good, I just really liked the Boss roll! Price was reasonable and the quality of the sushi was better than I expected (: I would definitely come again. (Tuna tataki was okay, I've had better quality at other places.) read more

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This place used to one of my go-to spots when I lived in Charlotte. I would religious get food there after checking out a matinee at the Cinemark Bistro across the street. It offered some of the best (quality, taste and value) in Charlotte. The bento boxes were first too! Service was always pleasant and some times there was wait - a worth while wait. Casual ambiance when I was last there. read more

Food is always A1 & every time we come we're always taken care of, can't beat going anywhere else but here.

This has apparently been a stable for a while in the Matthews area and after my visit I understand why. Smaller scale Hibachi Sushi Restaurant. There are approximately 12 tables for dine in. So you will definitely need to strategize when you visit if you want to sit in and eat. Some might be a bit overwhelmed but I was impressed with the variety of the menus for sushi selections as well as various entree options for Veggie/Steak/Seafood/Chicken. Our server was sweet, soft spoken, yet very helpful with suggestions from the menu. Lobster roll crispy bagel and Crispy Bagel were our choices for sushi rolls. Special Trio and the BBQ (teriyaki) Salmon were our entrees. Not sure why they don't just offer the typical Salmon Hibachi with veggies and hibachi sauce on the menu but all you have to do is ask and they are happy to accommodate. Everything was delicious, fresh, and surprisingly very reasonable in price. read more

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