Can't go wrong coming here, except for getting a table if you haven't pre-booked. Make sure you do…read morebook , else you may never get a table or be " left out in the cold " for a while. This particular night we came we could not get a booking until at least an hour or so later, so we popped in when passing by to see if maybe they could maybe squeeze us in somehow. Luckily, yes, they could give us a table as long as we were finished in an hour. Thank you! We gratefully took it. The service is pretty quick here so did not have to wait long for the orders to be taken. I had the Pork Katsuni with rice ( it can be ordered without rice ) , and my other half had the Pork Miso Katsu. My order came out in the little pot still cooking above a flame and a timer placed next to it for 10 minutes. When it beeps at 10 minutes then it is fully cooked. Worth the ten minutes wait as is pretty good .. Of all the Pork Katsuni i've had this rates up amongst the best. Pork well cooked and all. So overall, service is great, food too, ambience very good, it's clean...and i really like how the split long tables into seperate seatings for 2, 4 or however many. And the price is as expected..not too bad. Well worthy of 5 stars!

Despite the lack of reviews - yes, yelpers, I'm talking to you;) - this place is gaining a quick…read morefollowing. Even on weeknights the place is packed (and they told us we would be fine on a Thurs evening with a large group, but not a seat left in the house as the night wore on). The food is tasty but expect small portions, so eat before hand, or after if need be! I even got to cook my own fish dish at the table with bunsen burner and timer. Tasted pretty good chef. Service was ok, but seemed a bit unsure of themselves at times, could have been new staff perhaps? Well worth trying out if you are in the area or a local. Hefty price tag but worth the occasional splurge. Enjoy!

Wide range of Japanese food including traditional, fresh and clean with great service. This is the…read morekind of Japanese we were looking for and finally found. Highly recommend :)

This sushi is among the best I've had in Auckland, which may surprise some, based on its location:…read morein the middle of a decidedly average mall. However, the sushi's great - always fresh and tastes as though it's just been made, as opposed to that stuff that's been sitting around so long it's gone hard. They are hugely popular and there can be a bit of a line at lunch, but it's worth queuing for. They also do a range of menu items that you can order, but I haven't tried them, as the sushi is so good!

The sushi is artfully presented and sublimely fresh and tasty at Yaruki…read more The last time we ate at Yaruki was with a large group and yet another fantastic meal was had in an ambient setting. I suggest you order a Japanese set meal like Tensin platter for two which gives you a good variety of items off the menu including sushi, sashimi, chicken teri, and gyoza, tempura and daily special. The dinner box meal has additions of tonkatsu and choice of beef, chicken or fish teriyaki. Many of the customers are locals and will tell you that, hands down, this is THE best Japanese in town. Not just me but every member in our large party agreed.

As always the food at Yaruki is astounding! Nice to have a…read moremenu that isn't the traditional "NZ Japanese fare" This is one of those restaurants frequented by locals so can be difficult to get into. however on our most recent visit it was no problem, Interestingly I felt the experience on my last visit last week was not up to the previous standard hence the 4/5 rating, but this restaurant is always worth every cent you pay and more! The seafood here is always top notch, you are unlikely to go away disappointed in the Sashimi or prawns! Most definitely a recommended restaurant!

Great place for Japanese food. Very nice and cosy, love the cute little details. Everything was…read morewell thought out. Plus, I love that they are so kid-friendly. They gave my 3-year-old her own set of cute utensils and Hello Kitty plastic cup which she really loved. The food is really good and affordable. I always order tonkatsu from Japanese restaurants and this one did not fail to delivery the authentic taste and crunch you'd find in a really well done dish. My husband had the steak donburi while my mom had the salmon with avocado donburi, both excellent dishes. They have a menu of just $10 donburi, which is really money well spent. This place is worth revisiting when you're in Birkenhead.

Absolutely perfect experience! Everything that we ordered was timely, homemade, fresh and layers of…read moreasian flavours!!! Staff friendly and quick. You get a strong feel of the locals filling up the dining room for dinner.

Friends of ours recommended Narita as a restaurant worth trying. So my wife and I decided to enjoy…read morean evening out, and enjoy is the key word here. What a little gem, the staff members are all dressed up in traditional gear, and the general atmosphere is positive. With sake bottles used as decoration and dodgy old Japanese drifting videos playing in the background, it all adds to the experience. But it is the platters of food that will make this your regular hang out, good food and inexpensive to boot. Add a shot of sake or two, some Japanese beer and you've got a good night out. They hand out soya beans to nibble on, and the more you eat the better they get. Narita is a definite must do for all diners on the North Shore.

3.5 Stars. My family…read morelove this place and have been visiting regularly for years. Personally, I think it's just okay. Six of us went recently for dinner, ordering various things. The menu is quite large and varied so there is something for everyone. I ordered the vegetarian set meal which was actually really large with many dishes. The teriyaki tofu was close to perfect - probably the best I've had. The rest of the dishes were a little greasy though and I didn't feel very authentic. They have a fairly big selection of Japanese beers - including on tap which is nice, as well as other Japanese alcohol.

I was often walking past the Don without even noticing it was there... and yet one day their black…read moreboard sign outside of the restaurant caught my attention with a $10 lunch deal that changes every day. I have only had take away so far at the Don but the teriyaki chicken is delicious! I really like the fact that for $10 one gets a full meal including miso soup. And I only had to wait a few minutes for my food, perfect for those short lunch breaks when I have to go back and eat a my desk. I cannot wait to try more items of their menu.

The ambiance is fun, feels like Japan and I appreciate the all Japanese staff, but best to stick to…read morecooked food here. As a former sushi chef apprentice I was frankly offended by the sushi and sashimi. We ordered a 6 piece hamachi sashimi and it came with 5 decent pieces, but the 6th was a pile of chopped "lesser quality" fish. We also ordered two rolls, a spider and a rainbow. The centers were sparse at best and there was SO much rice around the roll it was like kindergarten sushi. The fish on the outside of the rainbow roll was weak in multiple ways. Our salmon misodare and chicken karage bowls were a bit better. If you want good sushi, look elsewhere, sorry.

Incredible! We stopped in for dinner around 7pm after a long rainy walk. The owner was the sweetest…read moreman, discussed the menu with us, and made great recommendations. We ordered from the east to see photo descriptions on the menu. We ordered the Spicy Udon Noodle Stir Fry with Chicken, and the Ramen with Pork/Chive Dumplings! Both were so delicious, hot, and fresh. The Udon came with rice balls rolled in sesame and nori, and the chicken was perfect and tasty. The Ramen was piping hot, perfectly spicy, and had egg in the broth. The dumplings were very delicious with great scallion flavor. Small fridge of beverages, L&P, sodas, water, and more fruit drinks! They also had made to order sushi for takeaway, and a nice little counter with stools if you prefer to eat in. Would eat here over and over! Go eat here. The owner also told us many great spots to check out in Auckland and marked them on our map for us. What a delight! Thanks so much. 5 Stars doesn't do it justice.

This place was unbelievably good. I wish they were in Los Angeles we would eat there all the time…read more The food was phenomenal, the service was attentive and friendly, and the desserts were beautiful and delicious. 10/10 favorite place we ate in all of New Zealand.

It took 2 years to finally get here after hearing rave reports about it. I went for the ribs which…read morewere deliciously done. And lots of them. Desert was presented in a prepared glass cup. Novel and you can see what your getting. Which btw where wolfed down. Food is great, service was really good as well. Smiley attentive staff. I did walk away from the restaurant feeling like a wider wine selection is needed. I rolled away feeling very satisfied. Recommended.

I love yakitori and this place did it well. A nice stroll in the CBD and we popped in. Luckily…read more there was no theatre so it was pleasant and quiet, with a great early 2000s playlist. Staring at the sidewalk sign pointing us downstairs. Big rectangular room with maybe 40 or 50 stools? Generous menu, great and attentive service. We are everything so fast I forgot to take pictures. The best skewer was the chicken and leek, with the steak sirloin and pork belly close behind. A warm welcoming room.

Truly an experience! I felt like I was back in Tokyo. The lighting, decor, and the 80's music made…read morefor a good vibe. The food was great for drinking beer! We had the snapper salad, salmon, pork belly, grilled veggies, chicken thighs, everything was great. Definitely worth checking this place out if you're hanging out in AKL.