Auckland's best Japanese in New Zealand

"I’m a big fan of Japanese and Yuzu do Japanese well. The staff is always friendly, in fact when I walked through the kitchen to the bathroom all of the chefs turned round smiled and said hi. We ordered a bridge to share which is a selection of sashimi, sushi, chicken and tempura served on a bridge like structure. Everything on the platter was tasty and we thoroughly enjoyed the plethora of flavours. I'm pretty sure I've 'loved' Yuzu before but this place definitely deserves a second round of loving!"

"Tanuki’s Cave was the first Japanese restaurant that I tried in Auckland and it’s still up there with my favourites. The wait for a table can be up to an hour but take some time to enjoy the authentic atmosphere and get started slurping on a jug of Japanese beer. When the time comes for food be prepared to share, this is not a place for lone rangers. I usually start with edamame and cabbage and then move onto the squid, beef and satay chicken. For the adventurous the chicken hearts are worth a try. Accompany the experience with mates, Japanese beer and sake and you can be assured your night will go off like a frog in a sock."

"It seems like Japanese has been my go to non-cooking option this week. I hadn’t tried Kura before but after being recommended it numerous times we decided to give it a go. The ambiance was nice, the staff efficient and the dishes tasty. The deep fried soft shell crab and slow braised pork belly are a must try! We’ll definitely be coming back!"

"When it comes to first dates I don't think you can go wrong with Japanese, and when it comes to Japanese Tanuki's is the perfect destination. The extensive menu has a wide variety of dishes that are perfect for sharing and the informal bustling atmosphere and friendly service is perfect for anyone feeling slightly nervous. There's plenty of alcoholic beverages available, I'd recommend getting a big Asahi to share and perhaps a sake if you are that way inclined. My favourite dishes that I'd recommend are the karaage chicken, the broccoli with peanut sauce, the sashimi platter, the raw beef and the deep fried cheese. Also if your date is a vegetarian there are plenty of vege options to keep them happy."

"It was our third attempt at going to Nishiki last night and we finally got a table. It was drizzling outside but the I felt like a steamed bun in the Japanese joint. The menu is massive, it’s b.y.o and the Japanese tapa style dishes are ideal for sharing. We got some skewers, their chicken teriyaki and the tako cha. All were pretty dam good. What’s not to like?"