FoodLovers Restaurant Guide

Reviews for Banzai Restaurant

by Stephen W.
12th May 2013

This is a family favourite, it’s well priced and something Japanese for everyone. We normally get takeaway as it is always busy. The reason it’s called Banzai is because it’s small (well that’s what I think anyway) but if they could get a bigger establishment I’m sure they would pack it out also, can’t rate this place highly enough!

by Robin D.
20th April 2013

Wow! What a place!
Consistently the best Japanese food in the city with excellent prices!
The staff are welcoming and friendly and the prices very reasonable. Parking is not so easy however there is room on the side streets and the effort to get to this restaurant is well rewarded by the quality of the food!!
It is delicious and the presentation, size of the portions and freshness and taste of the food amazing.
You need to be early or book because it is obviously very popular and the locals have let the secret out. You will not be disappointed.
Two visits have not been enough!

by Nikki S.
17th February 2013

This place is fantastic. I’ve been to Dominion Road lots of times to eat at places like Tusk Thai and Barilla Dumplings, but after reading the reviews here I decided to give this place a try. I wasn’t disappointed!

The restaurant itself is quite small with modest decor, but is comfortable and has a friendly atmosphere. My partner and I ordered a mixed sashimi rice set, unagi rice set and a salmon and avocado sushi. Although the portion sizes are smaller than some other Japanese places I’ve been to, such as Renkon, Daikoku and Mentatz, everything was fresh, affordable and delicious so I can’t complain. The meals were also unexpectedly and beautifully presented. Additionally, the customer service was excellent – the waitress was patient, friendly and prompt, and we were given a warm thank you and goodbye on leaving the restaurant. I would definitely come back here again!

by Mike I.
21st January 2013

Went to Banzai for the first time. Was blown away by the entire experience! I then realised ‘Master Chef’ Michael Meredith had featured Banzai on NZ Herald!
No wonder… Highly recommended.

by Maiko N.
8th January 2013

The best Japanese restaurant in Auckland for sure! The food is authentic and beautifully presented by chef, Kazu. The service is always lovely and at a very very affordable price! My favourite dish is yum yum prawns!! Make sure you book in advance as this place is getting very popular!

by Sonya S.
21st December 2012

We love banzai Japanese. The service is wonderful, the food is amazing & the atmosphere is lovely & unpretentious. Try the melting salmon. Yum! In fact try as much as you can. I almost regret writing this review as I’m worried that the place might get so popular that we won’t get a table! Seriously superb. We have been many times and are never disappointed.

by Hailey T.
18th December 2012

Decided to give this one a go after reading all the good feedback. Loved the food we had tonight plus the excellent service. We had mixed sashimi, Beba and Yakiudon, the serving were big enough that we got some left to take home. Will definitely be back for more. Thank you Banzai team!

by David B.
16th November 2012

Not sure why we have not been here before. The food is fantastic and well priced. By the time we left, I think we had eaten our way through the complete menu and they were all winners.

Great to go to a Japanese restaurant where you don’t eat in the half dark.

Well worth traveling to.

by Tony M.
19th October 2012

Home made restaurant quality food. It is the environment and staff that gives it the bonus stars.

Service: 5/5
Wait time: 3.5/5
Environment: 5/5
Food Quality and taste: 5/5
Price Range: $60pp

by Gatekepa
17th October 2012

After having a look at The Food Store’s menu prices, we decided to cancel our booking for tonight and look elsewhere. My wife decided she wanted Japanese, so we checked MenuMania and decided we had to try this out.

Wow, we were just blown away by Banzai. Amazing food, the staff are so friendly and welcoming, and the space is lovely and small so it feels like you’re a special customer

Between myself, my wife and my mum, we shared gyoza, edamame, and yum yum prawns. All amazing! I have no idea what they put in the yum yum sauce, but it is as advertised… “yum yum!”

Then for the mains, we basically shared everything again We had the spicy chicken miso soup with soba, the yaki soba with prawns, a tunacado roll and a samocado roll.

The miso with soba was so good that I basically took it over. The noodles themselves were just delicious, add in the miso and the chicken, the heat of the chili oil was just right… amazing.

I also took over the tuna and salmon sushi. I love sushi, and only recently have been introduced to tuna sashimi, and the tuna used in the roll just melted in your mouth. One thing I’d recommend is not trying the sauce they dot on the side as it is just mustard and ketchup.

I really enjoyed the little bit of yaki soba I was able to try as well.

Do not try parking in the little parking lot there, though. Way too small, and too hard to try to get out. Just park the next street down and take a little walk. It’s really not that far and it’s just peace of mind.

I think from now on all my restaurant experiences will be compared to this. The bar has been raised.

by john T.
6th September 2012

What a find, great food, great prices and exceptional staff
Not having been a fan Of Japanese food i am now a convert i am currently eating there 4 days per week , the only problem is you have to go early to get a seat
Great flavours and the master chef will cater to your wishes, leave it to him and he will surprise you
So no more good reviews otherwise we will never get in the door
Well done to them all

by Allison C.
2nd July 2012

My favorite restaurant by far and by the looks of the other reviews its everyone else favorite too!

Only compliant is that they don’t have a lot of parking outside….but that is not there fault!

LOVE YOU BANZAI!!!!

by Lucia G.
3rd June 2012

I love the staff here! So friendly and welcoming. I’ve known about this place for quite a while, these days it is good to book your table because it is a small space that fills up very quickly. You get great food here for really decent prices. The karage chicken is crunchy and crisp on the outside but still so juicy and tender. The fish salad is also one of my favorites, especially if you like a bit of chili heat.

by duke m.
26th May 2012

I would say this is the best Japanese restaurant in Auckland that I have been to. The food is always beautiful, and the prices are very reasonable. The garlic udon noodles and the pork katsu are personal favourites. The staff are always very polite and yell out thank you when you leave, which is very cute. The only one downside would be that the food does not come out at the same time, which can make for awkward dining sometimes. It is busy, so I would recommend bookings!

by Courtney G.
23rd May 2012

WOW!!! WHAT A GEM! Absolutely awesome food, presented BEAUTIFULLY, awesome service and fantastic value!!
There was 3 of us and we each had a entree, a main each and shared a tempura, along with 3 wines and 2 orange juices and a miso and it worked out $34 each!! We all practically rolled out haha! Cant get better than that I say and I will be going back any chance I get!!!

by Mila
22nd November 2011

What a great find!

In amongst a few disappointing dining outings this week, Banzai was a welcome relief.

Friendly service, deliciously fresh and tasty food, well-priced and extensive menu.

Perhaps not the most exciting of restaurant decors but the food more than makes up for anything else and we will certainly be back…soon!

by Sue C.
28th August 2011

Great food & service as well as inexpensive. Whats not to love? Book as it is very busy particularly toward the end of the week. Dishes are served European style with the entrees first followed by the mains, although you can certainly share plates if you wish. The Yum Yum prawns are my favourite followed by any of the teriyaki dishes. The towers of tempura sushi are also something to see, but bring a big appetite for these!

by Sean
25th June 2011

The food was simply fantastic I cant wait to go back again and try some of the other dishes.
Some of the best Japanese food I have ever eaten and that includes Japan,
I have a new favourite Japanese restaurant.

by CelesteReviews
11th June 2011

This has to be the best value Japanese in Auckland. Fantastic dishes, at great prices.

This restaurant is a hidden gem, but word is getting out, so be sure to make a booking in advance. To view a recent blog I posted on this restaurant (including photos of some of our meal) visit http://celestereviews….

by Frankie
3rd November 2010

This place rocks! The food is amazing, tastes authentic, the quantities are plentiful, the menu is extensive and everything in it is delicious (I should know, since I’ve tasted just about everything on the menu), and it is soo cheap!
I’ve been lunching and dining at Banzai for over a year now, and even though sometimes they can take ages because the kitchen is tiny and only 2 people can cook at one time, I keep coming back because the food is consistantly great and the service is super friendly.
If I had to recommend 3 dishes? The Chicken Miso Udon Soup (yum), The salmon and tuna Sashimi (really fresh), and the Beef Yakiniku (I swear that sauce is like liquid heaven!.

by Marlena
18th September 2010

I had lunch here and found it so great, I had to sign up to write a review!
Aside from great pricing and yummy food, I witnessed the most amazing service I’ve seen in a long time. The waitress ran out with 2x takeaway misos to chase down a takeout customer who’d left about 2 mins earlier – she obviously found him, as she ran back 3 – 4 mins later empty handed, and straight in to grab a pad and take an order.
I’m definitely coming back here!

by Leah
17th August 2010

If you have fussy friends who are a little bit picky and aren’t huge fans of Asian, plus one being an extreme vegan, come here.

Other than being extremely well priced, the food is great (and about as close to authentic Japanese as you can get in this city), the service is awesome and it makes your day when you leave and all the staff scream THANK YOU! Lovely. I hope to return here very soon.

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