azabu

came here for my friends birthday dinner with no idea what sort ofplaceit was. from outside it looks like nothing but as soon and you step in you’re transported into an epic japanese fusion environment. the staff were super lovely, and the host was very kind. we were showed to a table and sat down with some drinks menus whilst waiting for the rest of our group to arrive. i ordered a glass of riesling and my friend got the rosé. both were $12 a glass and a generous pouring- really great selection of other drinks too. i got the vegetable bao bun, the eggplant tempura and a bowl of edamame and honestly i was blown away. i never knew tempura could taste so good (and i’ve been to tokyo). highly impressed. amazing service, great atmosphere and even better food.

stopped by for a fairly late dinner and was able to get a table without booking. theplacewas still quite full but it wasn't very loud so having a conversation on the table was easy.

there was three of us so we ordered a few items from each section, 5 small plates, 3 larger plates and a side.

the tostada was really nice. really good flavour and there were so many textures in one bite. the other items we got were also quite nice like the mushroom special, prawn tempura and pork dumplings. of the mains the lamb chops were the best, tasty, juicy and delicious. the pork belly was a bit dry and lacking the layer of fat i enjoy with pork belly. the duck special would have been nice if the skin was crispy.

overall niceplacefor food.

the service was really good. they explained the specials and also told us they could add extra items with most dishes (with a minimum of 4) like the dumplings, lamb chops and tempura.

it was quite pricey, coming to almost $90 per person with the food (9 items) to share and a sparkling jelly sake each.

more of a 4.5 for me given the reverence thisplaceholds amongst the dining community.

beef tostada was excellent and i really liked our ceviche. karaage is a bit on the salty side but my dining partner and i love salt. the lamb main was a hard pass for me. not terrible by any means but i've definitely had better at cassia and the now-closed cuban restaurant down the road. best to try another main.

we went here for our work christmas lunch. the set menu is a great way to taste multiple dishes and the quantity is just right! we added the karaage chicken on top as we had heard good things, and it didn't disappoint! would recommend thisplacefor groups!

rating 4.5 the food were really amazingly delicious. stopped by for lunch on the weekend. theplacewas pretty quiet was seated up the front which made it hard to get service as the waitress was juggling the tables at the back as well, she was also not the most helpful. anyway none of that matter when the food eventually arrived. the seared beef tostada was perfectly sauced, sesame sauce just gel everything together. the tempura eggplant taco was just as good. sweet sticky soy on the melt in your mouth eggplant tempura. so good.

this fusion japanese restaurant is situated on ponsonby road. one of my top 3 favorites for japanese.

the dim lighting and classy interior makes this a greatplacefor intimate dinning. they offer a decent range of smaller sized plates, so you can try a bit of everything.

the restaurant is consistently busy so i recommend booking in advance if you don’t want to be seated at the bar.

the food is excellent. well combined japanese food with european techniques. we ordered the kingfish ceviche, beef tostada, seared scallop roll, tiger prawn dumplings and grilled octopus. everything was fresh, well flavored and cooked to the perfect condition.

the service is average, waiters can be a little slow and inattentive.

taste: 10/10

presentation: 9/10

service: 7/10

ambience: 9.5/10

value for money: 9/10

price $50 per person (excl alcohol)

visit my blog for my latest set menu dining experience at azabu.

finally got to go here recently after hearing very positive things about the place. it's a hidden little gem that you could very easily walk past, but definitely don't do that!

firstly the aesthetic of theplaceis very modern and more japanese inspired than peruvian. it's very dark inside but it creates a luxury atmosphere that definitely delivers a finer dining experience. the restaurant is layed out very nicely and the seating arrangements offer everything you need for various group sizes. overall it's a contemporaryplacewith a touch of class.

the staff here were also brilliant and there are no faults in this department. we were served in good time and the food came out in good time also whilst being very professional.

the food here left me wanting a little. there were some dishes that were absolutely delicious, but others that didnt quite fulfill my excitement. for example the ceviche was good but definitely not the best, i personally wasn't the biggest fan of the smokiness, but that also comes down to personal preference. however, the dumplings were brilliant and if you do come here definently try them. the octopus was another dish that didnt meet my expectations, unfortunately some pieces were a little rubbery. however, the menu has heaps of options and there is definitely more i need to try next time as it all sounds so good!

overall this is an excellentplacewith little left wanting. unfortunately some of the dishes were underwhelming but it is still an excellentplaceand i would reccomend to anyone. definitely try thisplaceas there aren't many peruvian places around i auckland.

we had the set menu, crowd favourite was the beef tostadas (which we ordered more of), chicken dumpling, lamb and pork belly! ive never had squid that wasn’t chewy but azabu prepares it in such a unique way. all the dishes were super flavoursome and really fresh. portions are bit small but by the end of the set menu we were surprisingly all full 😂

service was really fast, our waiter was really attentive and kind too. theplaceis a bit cramped and deceiving from the front. although it’s on the pricey side it is definitely worth trying out! also definitely book in advanced!

really great experience here. staff were very friendly and food was delicious. food definitely on the pricier end so wouldn’t be a regularplaceto eat but food is definitely of high quality. thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered. service was a bit slow. had to wait a while before we were given a menu and water. but not to the point of worry!! highly recommend.

attended with a group of 5 including a guest who came over from dubai.

started off being seated, served promptly with a good drink selection. i was slightly disappointed they did not have any japanese whiskies being a japanese/ peruvian fusion restaurant. nonetheless a great selection of wines, sakes, and ok selection of beers.

we has the set menu ( price on zomato picture is incorrect it is actually 70 per head) and sashimi large platter which had all the items as shown in the photo. started with the edamame with lime salt goes great with any drink! then the sashimi which was beautifully prepared. so difficult to choose a favourite.... 3 dishes deserve mention though: coconut passionfruit salmon sashimi well executed with an excellent combination of sour from passionfruit, sweetness from coconut mixed with the flavour of salmon that had some crispy bits on top to add to the texture.....vs. beef tostada, was essentially very tender beef tataki with a very flavoursome truffle, daikon topping served on a crispy corn chip..... vs the lamb cutlet which being a carnivore was amazing as although simple was a perfectly cooked piece of lamb. perfectly seasoned with a nice coriander and aubergine puree on the side.

have been to the azuba in the fish market which is great. but this really is next level.
would strongly recommend thisplaceto any one who loves good food. 4.75/5

wow!!!!!!
had dinner here for my birthday
service was 10/10
food 10/10
our waiter was awesome!!!
what a great experience
love everything about thisplace
we will definitely be back to try more of the menu
thanks

what a great dining experience!  it pays to reserve a table here particularly for the busy friday and saturday nights.  japanese/peruvian...who would have thought!  but the nikkei cuisine that has been created by these two cultures will bring us back many times.  add to it excellent service; a great restaurant design with three different areas and a great drinks menu.  our waiter suggested a number of dishes and he wasn"t wrong.  we have to go back to try more...but it won't be super soon as theplaceisn't cheap so this won't be an every weekplacefor us.  but it is certainly worth the price.  our food faves?  the big glory bay king salmon tiradito. what a flavoursome dish!  then there is a grilled octopus ...on potato mash. such comfort food!    and those lamb chuleta cutlets...i'm still dreaming about them.  these come as a dish of four and there were three of us so the ever helpful waiter suggested we might have six.  a restaurant with flexible portions!  perfect.

we found nearby street parking but apparently they do have their own parking.  yay!

this is a greatplaceto go for a special occasion! the food was delicious and presentation was on point. we ordered the tiger prawn dumplings, nikkei steak and wagyu short ribs.

the tiger prawns were delicious! the prawns were juicy and despite the thin skin of the dumpling it didnt break open. the tangy sauce brought the flavour to the next level.
the short ribs were also great, it was so tender and flavorful that it melts in your mouth.
the only (slight) let down was the steak. we asked for medium rare and the steak was definitely well cooked, making it too chewy. but the suave and flavour of the steak wasnt too bad.

for dessert, we ordered the charcoal meringue and the tapioca with coconut meringue. very interesting combinations of different flavours but definitely worth a try since it's delicious.i would say the dessert portions are relatively large so next time i would share one with someone instead.

tldr: everything was good. order the tiger prawn dumplings and the wagyu short ribs.

amazing food, brilliant service - i loved the interior of theplaceas well as the vibe. a highlight dish for me will always be the pork belly for sure! a must for anyone in the area.

not a commonplacefor your budget but would be top option if you need somewhere to date or celebrate things. i took my husband here for his birthday and as a sashimi fan he totally loved it. very creative combination and decoration. every dish is just so photogenic and even though it may not be everyone cup of tea but be honest, you can't resist trying. recommend grilled octopus and kingfish ceviche.