Truly an experience! I felt like I was back in Tokyo. The lighting, decor, and the 80's music made for 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. read more

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This is an amazing find! The door is kind of hidden and you go down and you see a nice bar room. All the food we ordered was amazing. Their yuzu plum drink was great. This was a great dinner. The place is a little loud. The staff were very sweet and quick to serve. We walked here from our hotel so not sure on the parking. :( read more

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I love yakitori and this place did it well. A nice stroll in the CBD and we popped in. Luckily. 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. read more

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When I was wandering the streets of Auckland, I stumbled down the stairs into this delightful watering (sake) hole. Dim lighting but bright voices enlighten the scene. Savory yakitori, which sadly the big town I am from sorely lacks (San Antonio ( and its only two options when asked for.)), assaults' the senses into blissful anticipation. The staff is courteous and conscience when it seems your are running a little low on "water". When I rotate back to side of the world, I will definitely fall back down the Tanuki's Cave. read more

Very cool experience! Definitely recommend for a unique dinner. Was impressed by the food quality and the very reasonable prices. My partner and I came around 7pm and were seated immediately by the bar. The waitress asked if we needed to be out by a certain time (which we did), and they got our food out with plenty of time. I'd pass on the cabbage (it's just raw and comes with a mayo-like sauce to dip. Not for me). At a minimum, go for the edamame, the fried onion, the chicken wings, and the steak kebabs. Yum! read more

Tanuki's Cave - Bar area - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Atmosphere tick! Tanuki's cave is buzzing with energy. The food is delicious. We ordered off the yakitori menu for 2 people. Sitting bar side, I was happy to sip on saki with a cold beer and didn't even notice how long it took for our food to arrive. The cabbage salad with mayo is simple and a refreshing side to the umami loaded plates. The restaurant was full when we arrived and full when we left.. as were we! read more

Tanuki's Cave reminds me of the kind of place that a tough as nails Tokyo cop would go to make some godless salaryman squeal in some 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano movie. It's just that great. You basically have any food you could possibly desire and you get it on a stick. I'm big into the tofu and the cheese. Isn't that the best thing ever? You just get your food fried up and jacked onto a stick for east of consumption. Throw in some really nice Japanese beer and this strange, almost unsettlingly good, atmosphere and Tanuki's Cave becomes a guaranteed good time. Especially if you're a Nipponiphile like I am. read more

Tanuki's Cave - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Just next door to Tanuki Sushi and and Sake Bar, Tanuki's Cave is the perfect hideaway bar to head to after dinner at Tanuki's, or whenever you want a bar with a intimate, warm atmosphere. A tanuki is actually a super-cute kind of raccoon dog from Japan (look out for the statues around the bar), and it also appears widely in Japanese mythology. In fact you could just about picture something a little supernatural happening down in this Cave, especially after tasting some of the excellent range of sake... Not to be missed, the Japanese yakitori-style bar snacks (mostly little things on skewers) are mid-range in price and high-end in deliciousness. Tanuki's Cave is a wonderful place to burrow down and escape reality for a night. read more

Tanuki's Cave - Tanuki's Cave - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

It's a great pre-show stop. They know exactly why you're there, and they ask up front what time your show is, and tell you when your last order needs to be in to get you out on time. the setting is cool, very cavelike. There's a lot going on generally, so it's not a particularly relaxing place. Even shortly after opening it was just about at capacity, although there was seating available at around 6pm. The miso soup was standard, nothing special but good. The miso chicken yakitori special was decent, the chicken quality wasn't great, but the sauce was good. It's not a ton of food, so I figured I couldn't go too wrong with it. The onion kashiage skewer was good, it's a lot of onion to eat, so I'd probably prefer to share that one. The tofu yakitori skewer was very tasty. The non-alcoholic spritzer was refreshing. read more

A night at the Ballet provided the perfect opportunity to finally try this Auckland institution. As far as pre-theatre options go, Tanuki's is a good option. The location is ideal, the food comes out quickly (for the most part) and best of all, when you arrive they ask what time you need to leave. The food at Tanuki's cave is Yakitori style (skewers) - ideal for sharing. In general each order has two skewers but make sure you specify exactly how many skewers you want. I went with a party of four and asked for two orders of everything but they thought we meant two skewers, one order (silly really, since there were four of us!). What was even more frustrating was that when we realised the mistake and tried to fix it they said it would take another 25mins and we wouldn't have time. Lesson learned for next time! Easily our favourite dish of the evening was their fried tofu special - big pieces of tofu lightly battered and fried served in a delicious sauce with fried onions. The cabbage with Japanese mayo and lemon juice is also a goodie - simple but delicious and the servings was huge. Next time we'd definitely skip the prawns, which come in their shells (admin) and were criminally overcooked, and the edamame beans, which just don't justify their $8.90 price tag. Tanuki's has a fun atmosphere, is good for groups (you can book if you party is bigger than 6pax) and reasonably inexpensive. I'll be back.... read more

Tanuki's Cave - I can't help but order edamame errytime - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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My favourite place in Auckland. I get emotional and anxious when too long passes between visits. AND I get the same thing every single time Cabbage and Mayo - it's literally just a plate of raw cabbage with a slap of mayo on it. I could easily make this at home but never do. Why? Cos Tanuki can Edamame beans - everyone knows but they do them warm and salty and buttery and better Yakitori Steak which is amazing rare steak grilled in butter on a stick Kushiage Chicken & Cheese which is a ball of chicken breast with hot cheese in the middle and crumbed in crunchy perfection Also, this sounds weird but if you like coke - order a coke. For some reason it tastes better here than anywhere else in the world. My friends and I try to find out the secret but alas, you just have to go to Tanuki's Cave to understand read more

I love Tanuki's. It's one of those places I would definitely take out of town visitors in order to impress. It is very Japanese. The wooden floors and tables, long thick tables, low seats and open kitchen all add to the environment. The staff is lovely and friendly, and welcomes you as you walk in. You can book big tables for groups, or just bunker down in a table for two. the service does not waver between the two. The food is some of the best Japanese I have ever had and it's great to order lots of little dishes for the group and share. If you get there early, head down to the cave and have a drink while you wait. It's a super cool experience right in the centre of Auckland. read more

We love Tanuki's Cave. It has a welcoming intimacy being in a compact basement area, and when it's really busy in the evenings, testament to its popularity is the queue on the stairs reaching up to Queen Street. The layout of the restaurant doesn't lend itself to large groups. It is intimate because it is small. We have taken our kids there with no problem although this is not strictly a family-friendly sort of place. If children are civilised and can sit still they'll be fine! The food is Yakitori-style with a good selection of the usual fare and we have never struck any bad food here, it is well cooked and flavoursome. The service is efficient, albeit that it can be slow when the place is packed. Some of the serving staff can be a bit surly at times but I can forgive that - if I was working there amid the throng of sweaty bods on a busy night I'd probably forget to smile occasionally too. If you're in the city and wanting a tasty bite this place is worth a visit - go early to ensure a seat without having to queue on the stairway. read more

For starters, it's bloody underground. How cool is that? And when I say underground, it actually isn't under the ground but you have to travel down a decent staircase to get to it. That is unless you're coming in through the 'I'm a regular and I'm cool so I can do this' back entrance which would require you walking up some rickety outside stairs and through the Tanuki's Cave kitchen. It's yakitori. Translation: Japanese and things on sticks. It is very good. You'll be able to tell by the gazillion people waiting for a table that you can't book for (unless you've got a party of 6 or more). I order the same things pretty much every time give or take a few dishes: the scotch fillet steak with butter and soy sauce. Incredible, and also comes in donburi form which is cheap and filling and very, very buttery. The shrimp and bacon with mayonnaise. The tofu salad (without tomato or onion pleeeeaaase). A miso soup (best I've ever had, for real). A green tea. My ex (do I talk about my exes a lot?) loves the mashed kumara balls with almond chips. Just talking about this place makes me so happy. I want to put a happy face emoticon here but I will refrain. FYI: Parking behind the building is $6 all night after 6:00pm. read more

Situated at the upper middle of Queen Street's buzz centre, Tanuki's cave is easily the best Japanese joint in Auckland. If it didn't cause me to weep at the sight of my bank account, I'd be at Tanuki's Cave weekly. But to be fair, that's only because I'd get too excited and order every. single. thing. Not to be confused with Tanuki's (the ground level establishment), Tanuki's Cave is like the cooler and more moody younger sibling of the two, and Cave doesn't take bookings except for large parties. I made this mistake, thinking I had booked for two at Cave. This turned out to be a table right by the door at Tanuki, which we politely declined. The wait for Tanuki's Cave wasn't too long though, and this was at 7pm on a Friday. They even have standing tables, where you can wait for an open spot and order drinks in the meantime. Much appreciated. The ups: Yakitori dining (think Japanese tapas/small plates), a diverse but succinct menu, relatively cheap, awesome decor, and those massive cans of Asahi beer. The downs: No bookings, and claustrophobes may not enjoy the cozy underground setting. I can't remember the specifics of what we ordered, but everything was fantastic. I'll be back, hopefully many times. read more

I went here with high expectation so I think it kind of ruined it for me because this place is okaaaaaaay. Very oily and salty but that's what grilled skewers are like. Also you have the option of cooking with sauce or salt, just tell them beforehand. We fully forgot haha so our fault Lol I'm Asian so we ordered really "weird" things like chicken giblets, beef tongue, chicken skin etc. was yum just oily. Beef sirloin was soooo tender. Pork belly was super juicy. I read the recommendations to order mashed kumara balls with almond chips coating. And it smelt like fried chicken hahaha which I found hilarious. Taste is bland in the middle. Can definitely taste the almonds. I personally wouldn't order it again. Grilled rice ball was really tough and a little burnt and also not much flavour. Good thing we still had some kewpie sauce (aka yum yum sauce/mayo hahaha) because that stuff makes everything delicious. Quail eggs were good! The yolk was still creamy AND it was wrapped in bacon AND slathered in kewpie sauce. Salty but nice. I don't know... I don't think I would come back here? One time for me is enough haha read more

Tanuki's Cave is my hands-down favourite Japanese restaurant. Whilst living overseas, it was one of the few establishments in Auckland that I couldn't wait to revisit upon my return to the motherland. You can't book, but even if there is a queue it tends to move pretty quickly. The style is yakitori so think small platters of skewered meats and vegetables, either grilled or deep fried. The kumara balls coated in almond slices are one of my faves, along with the vienna sausage and the scotch fillet steak kushiage. DELICIOUS. read more

Great place. One of my favourite restaurants in Auckland. The real deal. Not pretentious. Good value. read more

Tanuki's Cave - hiroshi honda at work - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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We come here every time my friends from Wellington are in town. The food is good, although there is not a huge range, what is there is well presented and tasty. The edamame is the best in town. Their plum wine though... Mmm, dangerous! If you are eating in the cave downstairs, don't wear anything too warm as it is really hot down there. Upstairs is cooler but the seats aren't as comfy and the ambiance is just not the same. I will be back for the drinks menu, and probably the Tuna Tataki. read more

Take the first door after the strange creature with the giant testicles, take the stairs down a floor and you're there. Not to be confused with the upstairs restaurant - Tanuki Sushi and Sake Bar - Tanuki's Cave is an intimate place where you can hide from the real world and munch away on some truly delicious Japanese delights. It's a great place for a date and a great place to take people from out of town or overseas. It's also close to the city's theatres, so consider it for your next "dinner and a show" date. But don't forget that the cave doesn't take reservations! Some of my favourite cave chow is the yakatori, which you can buy in a meat or vegetarian set for just $17; it's a big feed and really tasty. Also try the Kushiage, deep-fried veges and meat dipped in breadcrumbs - divine! read more

I must have been to Tanuki's Cave at least 100 times. No exaggeration. It's the perfect mid-town casual dinner spot. You don't need to make a reservation; actually you can't make a reservation, so be prepared to wait on a busy night. Next to Q Theatre, the Town Hall, the Silo Theatre, the Classic, Civic and Aotea Centre, and Event Cinemas, the Cave is an ideal spot for a pre or post show dinner. The staff know this and so always ask you if you are going to an event and what time you need to leave by, which is super-convenient. The Cave also boasts excellent food (set menu is a winner), service and atmosphere, making it a top Auckland dining experience. read more

Ahh, the Cave. An institution in Auckland, and a long time favorite of mine. It can be very hard to get a seat here, and when your food arrives it's easy to see why. They serve a wide range of Japanese food - from pmall plates of delicious snacks up to a larger Yakitori set. Since it's a Japanese restaurant having Sake is a must , and theres nothing like finishing off a bottle of warm Sake and realising that small amount of deliciousness actually got a bit of a buzz going. If you head out to the Civic, the Town Hall, Q Theatre - make going to Tanukis a mandatory stop off. read more

Tanuki's is an Auckland institution that everyone raves about. Somehow, I've been a Tanuki's virgin until very recently. I wasn't disappointed. It has the most effortlessly cool and authentic Japanese vibe - it helps being underground down dimly lit stairs - the lighting is nice and moody-dim, and the atmosphere is at once intimate, cosy and comfortable - effortlessly social. The food is all Yakatori-style dishes, so plenty of meat and skewers. I got the $17 Yakatori set which turned out to be pretty sweet value, which along with the Sapporo and copious amounts of peach-flavoured Sake made for a gloriously fun evening with my other half. Highly recommended. read more

Tanuki's Cave - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Meh. If you are a Yakitori lover and well versed. Well this ain't it. Being in Queen St everything is a bit higher priced than you'd think and you are reminded of this at every step. First timers... let this be your 1st sexual experience... ya like mine...It gets better elsewhere read more

I left the restaurant in a very good mood and satisfied with the experience, but at the door I realized why I didn't find sushi on the menu. I visited the cave instead of the 'brother' sushi bar on the ground floor. Dinner for two: 7 small plates, sort-of-Spanish tapas, very well prepared, originals and balanced. Tuna sashimi (the closest to my craving), grilled rice cakes, mushrooms stuffed with minced chicken, chicken balls, and the best of all: a deep fried sweet potato ball coated with crunchy sliced almonds. A very cool place, ideal for dates. read more

Tanuki's Cave - Delicious - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

One of NZ's best casual Japanese restaurant aka sake bar. Their rolls are really good, salmon and avo being my fav. Good choice of Japanese pub food. Staff are very accommodating and service is good even when the place get real busy on theatre nights. Reservations are recommended but I usually like to sit at the bar upstairs. Good choice of sake and beverages as well. Price is fair for the portions which is a plus point. read more

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Great location, just up from Aotea Square. There's a choice of upstairs or downstairs, the latter looking like the best option. Seating's a bit uncomfortable upstairs and the food choices not that exciting. Some of the food we ordered was a bit of a surprise, spring rolls were actually fresh and what we thought were crispy spring rolls were in fact cheese sticks. Watching sumo wrestling on the tv was probably the highlight. read more

Fabulous little find tucked away next to the Town Hall. We came before Pop Up Globe, and were lucky enough to get seats at the bar. It was quite amazing watching the chefs create stunning food right infront of us - especially dishes using the blowtorch! We shared several dishes between 3 and all were outstanding. For example, deep fried tofu, Karage chicken (my favorite! So tender and juicy), japanese steak (yummmm), pork belly, soft shell crab & broccoli with a super tasty almost nutty sauce. The jelly sake in berry or peach is also worth a try. Hopefully will come back to try another dish selection soon! read more

Unreal experience. Order the double salmon roll and you won't be disappointed. Shit literally melts in your mouth. Will return. Recommend visiting the sushi bar first, makes the food even more orgasmic. read more

It is the best Japanese restaurant so far. The service is good. Super yummy food. But the price is not cheap. It is worth the value though.

Not bad. The food was good but better Japanese around. The atmosphere was good but found the service a bit pushy. Not the typical Japanese sophistication. Slightly expensive but the beer in happy hour was a good price. There were no Japanese customers here but this place is more a Japanese theme joint while on the way to a show. read more

This used to be one of Auckland's best little hidden secrets. Now it's so popular it can be near impossible to get a table and for good reason too! I would recommend this place if you've never been as it's a total experience. Although a lot of the look and name of this place would lead you to think it's Japanese it's actually a fusion of a few cultures/foods. They mix Korean and Japanese dishes mainly. It's quite an interesting little place as it's located right at the bottom of some stairs off queen street. You've probably walked past this place a thousand times as it's just that easy to miss. Food and drinks can be a little expensive but not that much different to any where else in Auckland for that matter. Great easy going staff and relaxed environment. A total must for Auckland dining. read more

Food isn't as good as the locals would try and convince you it is. But the location and atmosphere are cool. For about $150 my girlfriend and I tried about 75% of the different meats with a couple beers a piece so the value is good. read more

A Japanese and Korean restaurant near civic square, this place is usually packed to the rafters with hungry punters before and after theatre shows. The food is tasty but nothing out of the ordinary. The service is friendly but a bit haphazard at times. read more

Cute place but very slow and boy, do they have an attitude! We ordered a few dishes to start with a couple of beers. The small dishes (1-2 bites each for me and hubby) came one by one with a good 15-20 mins in between each one, possibly longer if it's yakitori skewers which is what they're known for. So an hour after ordering we got our 4th dish and unfortunately it was not what we ordered, we told them straight away and they somewhat reluctantly took it back and reordered what we asked for in the first place. 15-20 mins later we're still waiting, asked the manager on duty and he advised that because we put in the order just over 15 mins mins mins ago it'll take at least another 5-10 minutes. We explained while we understand order mistakes happen we didn't just put an order in, it was to replace a wrong order and it's getting close to 90 mins since we ordered, over half an hour since our last bite of food and we're getting pretty hungry. Then came the attitude...he apparently doesn't understand what our problem was since he took back the wrong order without charging us (yes, that's how consumer law works) and put in a new order for us. With our patience wearing thin already, the attitude we got from the manager fellow was the last straw so we took our business elsewhere. The kitchen clearly cannot cater to the number of patrons, the place was starting to get busy but not quite at full capacity. I get the attraction of a little place like this but the food is not extraordinary and since Auckland seems to have more Izakayas than you can poke a stick at (there's another one just 2 stores down), I'd recommend going elsewhere unless these guys sort themselves out. read more

The Cave!!!! What I wouldn't give to go back in time and eat it all again. Very cool vibe, excellent quality of food - try the spider roll. This place has been a go to for a while now and always consistently delivers. Would highly recommend coming here. Get some sake and soak up the atmosphere. read more

Eat before you come here otherwise you'll leave hungry! Nice atmosphere but food is a complete rip off. $7 - $8 for microscopic servings. Its just for snacks, not a proper meal. Come for drinks only. read more

I love the. Vibe and the staff are so warming and welcoming. Have been going here for years and won't stop. Great service would totally recommend this place. My husband and I are very customers read more