My boyfriend & I went here for dinner and absolutely loved it. My new favourite little place!
I loved the atmosphere, music and the food was delicious.
We ordered pork belly skewers, steak skewers (I highly recommend this! The taste was so succulent you could taste the butter and wine) and the fried cheese skewers! Perfection 🥢
Such a sweet vibe! Totally different and novel. Staff were efficient and quick. Food came out pretty fast and it was glorious! Will def return
Great for a date night, food is good but not the best Japanese but cool atmosphere and a little bit different. Good drink selection as well. Jelly sake, steak with butter and chicken cheese balls are a must!
Went in quite late around 9.30 one weekend and it was still full. The tako salad was different but nice. We ordered pork belly, scotch beef and scallop skewers. Great to grab a few bites while drinking. Service is efficient.
Dora The Food Explorer
+4
The last time I ate at Tanuki’s cave was a crazy 8 years ago. But the quality of food and service were just as good as I remember. While we waited for a table at the Yakitori bar in the basement, we had the Spicy Tuna roll and Tiger prawn roll to start. The rice was fragrant, pillowy and well seasoned. Generous portion sizes of tuna and prawns for what you pay. Next we ordered ourselves the Tender chicken thigh skewers, Scotch fillet steak with butter and sou sauce, OMG this was my favourite. the steak was so tender and oozing with that butter steak juice goodness. We also had the Shitake mushrooms stuffed with chicken mince, they came in great big crumbed balls. In my opinion the chicken mince was on the dry side but flavour was there. After 8 years, Tanuki’s cave still satisfies.
Love this place! The atmosphere is something you wouldnt expect stepping off of Queen st.
Food is delish however was really disappointed with our salmon dish being well overcooked.
Service is always great.
Be prepared to wait for a table
We came here on a Monday night and it was still very busy, but as a group of 6, we promptly got a table. We ordered a lot of yakitori and kushiage, maybe 1/3 of the menu, and they were all delicious! The kushiage had a crispy crumbed coating and it was deep fried to a perfect level. The crumbed coating was not too thin and not too thick, or oily. The yakitori were flavorful and had a smoky aroma. My favorites were the chicken skin and chicken wings, both being very tender and juicy. The chicken heart and beef tongue were both a bit tough so they were hard to chew. Tanukis cave had a very authentic Japanese bar vibe, especially with the dimmed lighting/busy crowd. The service was very good, they took away the plates frequently so it didn't clutter up the table. The only downside was that it was a bit on the expensive side: we had ordered beers on top of the food and it came to $280. It was well worth it though!
Best place to go to before and after a show. They’re so helpful that they would ask what time the show we’d be watching is on. It gets quite busy but the staff is very accomodating no matter how many people I’ve come here with. As it is yakitori style there are a lot of skewer food to choose from. Some favourites include chicken hearts, deep fried cheese and of course good ol’ takoyaki! Warm sake is a perfect partner to these of course but there’s also umeshu (recommended for sure)~ will keep coming back especially for a Japanese food lover like me!
Absolutely love this place! The ambience was welcoming and quaint, the options on the menu was to die for. They had a decent range of skewers for vegetarians like me! The Japanese Mayo is the best I've had so far and so was the hot sake here. The customer service was very good! My evening here was beyond awesome....I definitely recommend this place, be it an evening out with your mates or a date.
I've been coming here for the past couple of years. So far I've tried something different each time. Today I got Chicken Tenderloins Vienna Sausage and Steak on skewers. The Chicken Tenderloins were something different that I tried and now I love it. I've always loved Vienna Sausage since I first tried it. The steak was also a new thing I tried and was very tender. I recommend you come here if you would like a very delicious meal.
Tanuki’s cave is located downstairs below Tanuki’s sake and sushi bar. The restaurant is dimly lit and offers yakitori style dishes and Japanese sake.
The restaurant has a very cosy vibe to it and I love coming here as you can order many varieties as each dish comes with two or three portions.
On this occasion, we had a large group so there are multiple skewers in each photo.
The service is always lovely and my favourite dish being the deep fried cheese! The price is also super reasonable 4/5
This meal really took me back to Japan. The ambience and food is so authentic. It is always packed here but serve is quick. The people are polite and attentive. A great place to sneak away for a bite. Only downside is it gets a bit pricey, to get two people full you are looking at spending $100.
One of my favourite places to visit. Food is delicious but the portions are on the smaller size. Amazing atmosphere, dim lighting and cosy bar seating. My partner and I visit most weeks.
Great food, great service! We had lots of skewers, the pork belly and scotch fillet were great, the chicken was of course fantastic, and the beef tongue was good too. Also got some oysters and the tofu salad, didn't expect the salad to be so big, otherwise we would have only ordered one. We had a great night, thank you!
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DARK CAVE DRINKING HOLE WITH GOOD JAPANESE BBQ !!
THE FOODOLOGIST RATING:-
FOOD:-5/5 (Well Cooked , Japanese BBQ , Meats Cooked With BBQ Smoky Goodness)
SERVICE:-3/5 (Casual , Too Fast, Efficient, Very Busy )
AMBIANCE:- 4.5/5 (Dark Ambiance , Hidden Restaurant Feel , Will Take a Bit Of Liking ,)
CLEANLINESS:-5/5 ( Good Hygiene Standard, Clean )
VALUE FOR MONEY :- 3.5/5 (Portion Size Small , On The Expensive side in comparison to quantity)
FOOD POCKET DAMAGE:-*/*****(Cost For 2 $80)
THE FOODOLOGIST REVIEW:-
Been Here on two occasions one a late night visit towards closing time so could not enjoy it as much .But the second outing was good . The entrance to gives you an illusion your going underground but your actually on second level height . The palce is dark and lit with dim lights with booths as well as place around the bar . Order some sake with gold leafs in and Asahi . Since it was the two of us just ordered the The pork belly two skewers which was cooked well ordered the tender chicken thigh meat which just melted in the mouth the highlight was the steeply priced Scotch fillet steak with butter and soy which was as tender as it could get the chicken tenderloin with cheese was also good Squid with soy sauce was also great . You have the option of the Kusihage which is deep fired in breadcrumbs if your are not an health conscious person. Overall a good spread and a little different they know what they are doing thats why they have been open so long . Service could improve as the servers always look busy . But a good place to go in a large group to beat the expensive price to quantity value to make the most of it they have a sushi bar upstairs need to go there next time
Erin - Gold Code For 20% Off : CATH6386
+5
16/11/18 - lovely night with a bunch of lovely people around me.. especially one of my best drinking buddy.. we ordered cold sake called killed the devil, dog from heaven and seven laugh.. also ordered steak fillet donburi and a lot of skewer food like chicken liver, mushroom with mince chicken, black tiger prawn, beef tongue, steak fillet, deep fried cheese and lot more.. best night ever
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.
Price - 4/5
Taste - 5/5
Service - 5/5
Food Ordered
- Scotch fillet steak with butter & soy sauce
- Mashed kumara coated with crispy almond chips
- Shrimp and Bacon with mayonnaise
- Vienna sausage with wholegrain mustard
- Scotch fillet steak with butter, soy sauce & spring onion on steamed rice (Donburi)
- Tender chicken thigh meat on steamed rice w/seaweed (Donburi)
Comments
- First impression walking in there: small but busy with people.
- Customer service was really good. They were polite and very friendly.
- The steak dishes were succulent and soft where it would melt in your mouth.
- The kumara had an oomph to texture where the almonds combined nicely with it.
- The sausage was cooked nicely and the mustard made it better for those wanting to add extra flavour to their meat.
- The chicken and steak donburi were both delicious but the steak was on another level in terms of overall quality.
- And lastly the shrimp and bacon. If you're a shrimp lover the bacon adds extra salt to it and creates a nice combination of meat and seafood.
Overall
It was an authentic experience and was a pleasure eating their food. The price to portion size does weigh this rating down but that doesn't stop me from going there again.
Food and beverage ordered: steak don, chicken don, yakitori sets (chickens skewers and pork skewers), mushroom skewers with chicken meat stuffing, miso soup, edaname, cabbage and lots of sake
Environment: very authenticate, similar feel to izakaya in Japan
Services: very friendly and lovely
Costs: $40 per person on average including lots of sake
Will I return: definately
Comment: awesome place for a weekend night out with mates over dinner. Extremely crowded on Friday and Saturday. Yakitori sticks are great complement for the drinks as nibbles. Food are great, but not in big portion, similar to Spanish tapas dining.
very nice people and environment however rice is very salty? ?? overall good experience and would come back here for a nice traditional japaense cuisine
Two words: plum wine! Now I have that out of the way, my Jiu Jitsu friends and I come here every time we are in Auckland together and the food is phenominal. My favourite is the Beef Tataki but it only wins by a hair as everything they serve is tasty and well presented. There is a small wait, especially when it is busy (which is almost always) but it is worth it and you can sip on some saki in the meantime. One of the top five favs in Auckland City.
Came in tonight with friends and the portions were perfect, the food was sooo tasty and the waitresses/chefs were all friendly great job guys :)
Great spot when you want to try a little bit of everything! They serve all different types of skewers.
Pricing is alright, some portions are much smaller than others but in general I’d say its worth it as the food is very tasty. The steak grilled skewer for example is small but very tasty and tender. The fried chicken tenderloin with cheese is more generous in size and also good.
I also love the peach chu hi, if you haven’t tried this Japanese original drink I highly recommend giving it a try.
Ambiance and service are absolutely great too.
Was very cool experience. .nice small dishes would be back again ! Loved the meat was al so flavoursome and tasty ! Loved the basic cabbage and mayo
Tanuki's cave has great, buzzing atmosphere underground. They have a good range of dishes although a bit overpriced, great for sharing between friends for a casual dinner out.
Tanuki’s cave is an Auckland institution. It’s perfect for dinner before a show at Q theatre but book ahead! The cabbage with mayo is surprisingly delightful, as are the pork belly skewers and stuffed mushrooms. It’s easy to spend hours here ordering dish after dish.
My favourite Izakaya ever! Awesome skewers, and I've tried all of them. Love the environment, love the food, love the sake, but think the service could be better.
Apart from that, it's an amazing experience.
Had a nice dinner at Tanuki’s last night and was surprising quiet which was great being a Monday night as it’s usually packed during the weekends . Had our usual order of beef , chicken , tongue, skewers etc and always cooked the way we like it. Been regular for years and always hit the spot, keep it up and highly recommend !
Yakitori on Queen Street. Busy with an awesome vibe to it - meals came out slowly at times but were worth the wait. I recommend the edamame beans and plate of cabbage with mayo which is raw cabbage with japanese mayo - surprisingly this simple dish is surprisingly tasty.
Alright Japanese quite authentic as they grill all the meat on skewers. But compared to Ken and the pricing it is not as good! Tanuki's Cave is good pricing and great for dinner before a night out.
I love the atmosphere in this place. It feels like you're in a different city. Food was served very quick. Not a big fan of warm sake but I enjoyed the one I had there. Will definitely visit again soon!
Great food, 7 adults sharing small plates worked out at $27 a head including drinks. Beautiful food and food service. Only issue was our gluten free friend was told anything could be made gf but another waitress then came with the gf menu
Yum yum yummy yummy yummy amazing fantastic best food ever!. Pricy but so worth it. Yummmmmmmm. Good food is worth paying for always .... I can't say how yum this place is
Experienced an after work drinks and a birthday here. Happy joyful occasions matched with cheap eats. I love the idea of the small plates, although not memorable for flavour or wow factor.. more so for the fact they came on tiny plates. I can't help but smile when I think of this place.. thanks Tanuki!
Hidden underground on upper queens, Tanukis is a good place for afterwork drinks & nibbles. It's great for sharing as they have an extensive meal to choose from. Would highly recommend the chicken cheese balls - deep fried, cheesey goodness.
Service is attentive, atmosphere can seem a bit crowded as the place is small. But overall, a nice place to catch up with friends!
We come to Tanuki's cave every now and then as part of a team outing event. Everyone enjoys this place, its nice, cosy, good food, good service, friendly staff, close parking (either behind the restaurant or at the civic)
It is very rare for me to eat at the same place twice when away. I say rare, as I like to fit in as many places as possible. On the odd occasion there will be a restaurant that lures me back a second time. Tanuki’s Cave was that rare establishment. Drawn back by the smell of cooking juices hitting hot charcoal and great sake, it was hard not to have a second helping when recently in Auckland.
Good little underground place that really does remind me of a cave where a tanuki would dwell. I crave those delicious yakitori they have whilst downing a couple of beers and having a great time with friend. Definitely a place to gather with mates and relax after a long day of work or uni.
Love this place! Very authentic food and atmosphere. Highly recommended this place to people that time lots of little bits of different food
Angela (A Style Collector)
+4
I came here with a friend for dinner and we got a few things to share. It was my first time here and I've heard great things. First of all, the place wasn't as big as I expected. We went on a busy Saturday night so we had to sit on the bar which was fine. Service was okay nothing excellent however the food came so quickly.
We shared karaage chicken and gyoza and they were quite nice. My favourite was dessert which was the Mochi ice cream. I loved the mochi so it was a great end to my meal.
I come here to get Japan atmosphere.Not many Japanese restaurant have this actual Japan atmosphere but this restaurant did it perfectly.
Yakitoris are awesome and the other dishes are okay too but not like wow,amazing. I just like this atmosphere and eating yakitoris here.
Almost couldn't find the place since it was just a door that leads into the cave beneath the sushi and sake bar.
Yakitori (BBQ) and Kushiage (Crumbed and fried) place that has quite a bit of things to choose from. A pair of skewers (BBQ or deep fried) isn't too expensive but it does add up if you get a lot of them. I went with the scotch fillet donburi as well as some skewers on the side to get a decent meal. The food was really good but preferred the yakitori over the kushiage. The best item on the menu for me was the chocolate gyoza, light wrappers filled with chocolate.
Nice service but there were time where it was hard to get the attention of the waitresses. Overall a really nice dinner experience.
Down the stairs next to their restaurant is Tanuki's cave. It's a more relaxed and casual bar and eatery. The place is bustling with people sitting around the ginormous bar/kitchen.
It's a great place for after work drinks, night snacking and shared food. You can choose a full on meal or just order small snacks off the menu.
We saw people ordering a plate of cabbage with mayo which I found strange. The mayo is so damn addictive, it is a perfect partner with the cabbage leaves.
Doburis are a decent size and the chicken Karaage is deep fried to crispy goodness. The skewers and small goods from the grill/yakitori are also grilled to perfection.
Lots of famous people dine here it's awesome. The manager and staff are friendly too!!!
Manager Dominic extremely friendly!
Highly recommended. Good food good alcohol good atmosphere.
Environment: 4/5
Food Quality: 4/5
Food Quantity: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Price: $20-$40pp
We managed to walk in right before our movie and it was amazing! Delicious food, friendly staff and lovely atmosphere. Really enjoyed trying out all the tapas and experiencing the other side of Japanese food with my husband. Made our night quite special :-)
A good Japanese eat out in Auckland.
Nice ambience, great service by the staff.
Good food and wine.
Liked pork belly, mushroom with chicken mince and sushi the most. Plum wine tastes so good.
Glad we booked as it was a very busy little place. The food was tasty, not the best I've had but more than adequate. The eggplant was delicious, and I could have eaten the whole thing by myself. The soft shell crab was a disappointment but only because I prefer bigger pieces. The atmosphere is casual and busy with a lot of staff that we're happy to keep the fishes coming. We ordered two of each small dish options and it was polished off with cold beer and laughter.. a good place to go with friends.
Great tapas place! :D kinda pricey though but if it's within your budget and feel like splurging a little, they have a great range of food selection available :) good service as well. Very accommodating. Especially when I booked for a large group
Tanukis is fab. Delicious food. Friendly staff. Really nice intimate atmosphere and just then right level of music for ambience without limiting the chat!
Great service! The food comes right on time. The servers are all friendly and smily. Food is above average. The chicken heart are really tender and surprising. Btw, the deep fried banana is definitely a good choice: not too sweet, a bit sour, crispy outside with soft inside.
Tucked away off the main road down the flight of stairs, we had ‘the cage’ booked out for the 8 of us. Surprisingly quiet for a week night it worked out well as our food was served promptly. The service was nothing above average and the friendliness was very mixed between the waitresses. As the dishes are small, we ordered several to share between us – Vienna sausage, Kyushu chicken, JFC, Cheesy twinkies, Kumara and Chicken tenderloin with cheese Kushiage’s and some skewers - pork belly, scotch fillet steak and shrimp and bacon. Star dishes were the Vienna sausage, Cheesy twinkies (a must for cheese lovers) and the Chicken and cheese balls. The good thing about this place is you can try a lot of different dishes due to their small size but still at a reasonable priced.
I came here for lunch with a colleague who is a fan of Japanese food and says this place is her favourite in the CBD. The lunch menu has less choice than the dinner menu but we agreed on a selection of the grilled yakitori skewers. The service was prompt and the small dishes are more filling than they look. Great value and it is nice to try a selection of food, will definitely choose this place over the upstairs restaurant in future.
Tucked away in a basement this casual Japanese restaurant is brilliant for cheap cheerful fun dining. The drinks me I is a little light unless you really like sake which I'm unfortunately not a fan of. The chocolate gyoza with cream for dessert was delicious!
Simply great, a good place to vent out with friends to loads of beer and snacks! I may not go if super hungry, given the relatively small proportion (2 pieces per plate normally).
The best Japanese i hv even been too.. The yatitori skewers were too delicious.. I m short of words.. The drinks are good and the donburi was light bt filling.. Tender, juicy, succulent meant and beatiful flavor of japanese sauces.. Best to visit during week days as it is not at all busy and you can spend good time trying different yakitoris
Always great food from here. The service is a bit mental but not exactly bothered. Bit worrying when people would enter the venue via the back door that takes you thru the kitchen.
Tiny space but food is good. Need to make a reservation if deciding to go on a Friday night. Freshly-made sushi tastes perfect! 👻 Should try the chicken mince balls.
We come to Tanuki's often,it's our favourite go to place in the city.. Although they don't take bookings and you can be waiting some time on a weekend.. It's worth the wait.
My go to dishes are -the cabbage with mayo,grilled chicken with cheese, beef fillet, grilled kumara, pork belly. Just to name a few..
It's a hidden little gem, that never disappoints.
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Great spot hidden in the middle of the chaos in the CBD area. Went here for a meal prior to attending a show and although we were made to wait for a while, the wait was well worth it. Hidden it the basement area of the building, which blink and you could miss it but this is definitely a great gem of a place. Also not to be mistaken with the Tanuki restaurant on the street level which bears the same name but definitely not the same atmosphere or kitchen staff.
From the April specials we had the soft shell crab, the lotus root salad and the yakitori set, the scotch fillet steaks and the chicken with cheese skewers.
It was a delight full of flavour and crispiness. The highlight being the chicken with cheese skewers which were deep fried goodness of chicken with oozy cheese in the middle.
There was also the subtle but nice touches that the wait staff did which included noting the time that we needed to leave for our show by and therefore ensuring that our meal ended in good time prior.
Overall extremely satisfied and will return when going to our next show
The cave!!
My boyfriend and I come here all the time for date night. The atmosphere is cool and relaxed with nice decor. Also excellent if you have a show on nearby as it is pretty quick.
The food is tasty and they have specials every month. Good range of vegetarian options too. Drinks wise- excellent Japanese beer and sake list. The wine list is ok.
Service is friendly. I always have a nice time here. Thanks Tanuki's!
Absolutely awesome little place, go there regularly, the food, the service.... the warm Sake (yum!).
Don't expect to get a seat straight away, but they serve you drinks at a 'lean to' until there is a seat available.
I have been wanting to try out this Japanese Restaurant for so long now. Very cool set up, however I didn't realise that the "cave" was downstairs, so we sat upstairs. But regardless, had a really fun night with some friends here last week. The set up is definitely a feast for the eyes, with a mixture of traditional Japanese ornaments/bamboo dividers, mixed with neon lights. Downstairs has really cool voyeuristic type seating arrangements, with everyone kind of facing each other.
The food itself is good quality Japanese food, with quite an extensive menu at a reasonable price. We tried the deep fried prawns with mayo which was delicious, and my Teriyaki chicken was one of the best I've had, with the most tender, well seasoned, top quality cuts of meat.
Service was efficient and wait times were quick.
Overall, definitely agree with the hype.. A really cool Japanese restaurant - cool, casual, fun with good food.
I came here for dinner with a friend on a Thursday night, around 7pm when it was super crowded but the staff was very nice and got me seated in 10mins. We ordered A LOT of food: sirloin beef skewers, tender chicken thigh skewers, mushrooms stuffed with chicken mince, shrimp and bacon skewers, fried squid, small plate of sashimi, rice and hot sake, oh and the best was the dessert: deep fried banana with ice cream, so so good! I left with a happy stomach ^^ although we did end up paying 44$ each, it was worth it! Def a great bar to hang out at, friendly wait staff and busy atmosphere. Will come back for more 💓
The best place in town for sake and Japanese beer! I usually come here with friends for after work drinks. It does tend to end up packed on Friday nights so it pays to arrive a little early. The staff are friendly and attentive and Tanuki's have one of the most extensive ranges of Japanese beer and sake in Auckland so we always go there and try something new. Zuicho premium is probably a favourite with my group, served cold it goes well with squid skewers and edamame beans but doesnt over power the senses like other sake brands do.
Been here a few times, very interesting almost cave-like restaurant with a bar in the middle of the 'cave'
Takes a while to get seated so book ahead of time.
Food tasted amazing, portions a little small and pricy but definitely something to try if you haven't already. Would highly recommend at least once!
This place is super busy! The staff are very nice and attentive, the wait fine isn't too bad.
The food was nice but kind of within expectations so nothing too amazing.
Not really my style because I don't like to dine in darkness but I can see this place being a nice place to try yummy meats and yummy Japanese alcohol for catch ups with friends!
Had dinner with a few friends here last week and had a blast. We were there reasonably early but noticed that the place filled up really fast! By the time we left, there was a 20min wait for a table. The food was all delicious and different to your normal Japanese food. It's mostly skewers however they do have a few rice dishes, salads etc as well. My favorite was dessert! We had the Mars bar dumplings, the deep fried banana and green tea ice cream. It was all amazing. Initially we though the dumplings would be a bit sickly but we're very surprised to find it wasn't, quite the opposite actually! The staff were so friendly and attentive. The place was slightly dim but that really added to the atmosphere! I would totally recommend Tanuki's if you want to try something different.
Great little place. Went there with a group of people and booked the vip room (need 8 people and spend $300+) wich is just a little separate seated area.
Food was good, bit pricey since the last time 4 years ago.
Desert was a bit of a letdown. Had the moro bar and it was poor, very small compared to the banana dish.
Overall tho this was a good experience. Food was tasty and easy to eat.
Love love love this hidden gem! Although it's been approx 2 years since my last visit, I'm delighted to share that absolutely nothing has changed!!
Walking down the stairs into Tanuki's is awesome!! It's like entering a fun and dark cave filled with chatter and laughter. (You tend to get a great whiff of the grilling meat too :p) The seating is kinda around the bar which is quite cool.
I've tried quite a few items on the menu now. Highlights being the chicken tenderloin w cheese, the sirloin steak and the Vienna sausage. They are must must must try.
Service is awesome. Quick and efficient :-) definitely coming back :-)
Tanuki's cave is located downstairs in a dark "cave-like" bar. Sites around the bar in the centre of the restaurant you get to see everything going on.
The place was buzzing when we arrived but we were quickly seated.
We ordered about 6-7 small plates + rice which managed to fill us.
Most the plates that came out were good, although the Prawn skewers and the Deep friend chicken and cheese balls were by the best, we ended up ordering seconds.
Didn't rate the tofu salad dish very high as I found it almost flavourless.
Service is good, only takes a few seconds to grab someone's attention to order your third/ forth.. plate.
Dishes are very small so you may end up spending upward of $35 to fill you up.
Loved the atmosphere, will definitely be back
Another good Japanese restaurant to dine in apart from The Don :) though a bit pricey but food is delicious. Kaarage chicken is good. Really recommend you guys to try.
This place is always busy! Has a great variety of smaller plates to shares. The flavours are spot on, the meats are fresh and tender. The ambience is buzzy so certainly not the best place for those who hate noise. Best time to go is probably after 8pm NOT on weekends.
Always love this place quick easy and yummy meal. Now have sashimi plates so had to have one of those yum with my usual favourites shiitake mushrooms and chicken mince. Thanks for prompt yummy dinner.
Amazing Japanese food. Great value on bento boxes and the best tempura prawns. Loved the complimentary Japanese tea and will be back again for sure.
Zara Alexzandra Young
+4.5
This is one of my all-time favourite Japanese places!
It's really unique- there will be a wait if you show up at peak times but it's worth it. If you just pick and choose what you order it can be a pretty decently priced meal but be prepared to go overboard because some of the options are just too tasty.
It's kind of an in-out dining place- not really somewhere to go for a relaxing dinner. The place is busy- the staff rush around everywhere but everyone does get served and I've never had an awfully long wait for my food.
I haven't been in too long- I'll have to make a trip in soon!
I'm a wee bit obsessed with the cave. Love and recommend to everyone the cabbage - the yum yum sauce makes it the best plate of fresh cabbage you will ever eat. My favs include the deep fried tofu and cheese 👌🏽
Excelente ambiente y muy buena comida. Cada plato es pequeño, pedimos 6 diferentes en total para dos personas, mas bebidas y luego postre. Sorprendente variedad y calidad. Y no es caro!
Cave is very popular in town and it's one of the long-standing places with sustained quality. I still believe it needs better ventilation. At casual times we cross fingers to have an empty table. Its usually packed up with no reservations. Tasty food, fast service, dimmed lights, high tables and same miyazaki movies. Getting old but loving them all.
Kp Food Reviewer 2000
+4.5
i love this place eh - ive heard about it lots but never dipped me toes in
you walk in and everyone who works there greets you which is mean - also theres AN IPAD as well as a menu so you can peep some pics of your food which is siiiiiiiiick az.
i ordered buttloads of food - im not gonna go into that but i can tell you it was bloody delish. perfect for sharing. perfect for not sharing and eating it all.
its intimate and everything comes out pretty quickly - also jason kerrison was sitting opposite me - bloody starstruck eh
i will be back
Came for a bite before dinner. The place has a nice atmosphere and the staff are very inviting when you walk in, everyone greets you in Japanese which is cool! But I found the service not that great, I felt a bit rushed by the waitress. Food and sake was great but is a bit overpriced.
Walked in & immediately loved the vibe! cute little underground place. Staff were very friendly, smiles from everyone including other customers. Enjoyed the 4 different skewers we ordered. Scallops, chicken, pork belly & steak. Topped it all off with a nice glass of merlot ✌🏽️ itadakimasu
Real fun place. Not much room but the food arrives quick the staff are friendly and the selection is great. My partner and I ordered a tonne of food, most of it was good, some just didn't suit my tastes. I would certainly go again.
Great atmosphere. Food is nice. Its a small establishment and it can be really busy. However, it brings a natural intimate envrioment. I found the food portions small ( i have a huge appitite) hehe but its worth dining here.
Wow i love this place, little plates of pleasure, very good value, great service and lots if tasty skewers with something to suit every taste. This will be a regular spot for me each time I'm in town
Good experience, you have to go down a flight of stairs to visit Tanuki's cave which adds to the atmosphere. Dimly lit and you sit around a bar with the menu being tapas style. Found the food ok but have to buy a bit to fill up.
Good for a group of friends but maybe not for a quick dinner if you're looking for the best bang for buck.
I adore Tanukis Cave. A perfect option for lunch or dinner, and the price is extremely affordable. This is a Yakitori Japanese restaurant, meaning that most of the dishes are skewers with succulent meat and vegetables. The cabbage with mayo is a must try!!
I have been here multiple times and will ALWAYS go back. Great food. Great atmosphere. Great service. No complaints ever. My FAVOURITE is the prawn skewer wrapped in bacon. So. Freaking. Delicious.
Found it a bit overpriced for the serving sizes especially if going for dinner it'll take a few sticks to fill you up. However the atmosphere is fun and a nice experience overall.
We were served and seated quickly on arrival. After our long time to decide and remembering everything we wanted to order we finally did and most of the food came out quite quickly! Love how different the menu is, like nothing else I've seen. The food was delicious and the staff were friendly. Rated 4/5 because they have a rule that it's one bill payment per table which was an inconvenience to us.
This underground bar is great for hanging out with friends for drinks and snacks. The atmosphere is amazing as it gets quite busy, yet you still feel as if you're in your own space--if that makes sense. Food and service is so good!
Came here after work for drinks and dessert.
I mistaken the sushi bar for the cave but I should have known haha.
I ordered chocolate gyzoas and premium plum wine.
The chocolate gyzoas were made with wonton wrappers stuffed with caramel and chocolate then deep fried and served with cream.
The premium plum wine was better after the ice watered it down.
The dessert was reaaaaally good!
TC's a great yum pl to pop in to for a quick snack before a movie or show and my fave thing on their menu's their Tori-kawa (chicken skins), sounds bad, but honestly, don't knock it 'til you've tried it. That w. a bit of warm sake and your night's made. Actually, I enjoy most things on their menu and always look forward to a visit.
Love this place, it has character and I've been coming here for years! A good place for a quick pre movie bite, but there may be a wait time for seats so be warned. Great Japanese brewed beer and sake is def worth trying!
I always get the cheese kushiage , white fish fillet with tartare and kumara with butter and salt.. Yum!
Totally worth trying- you may become a regular !
Nice atmosphere. Had the yakisoba which was pretty nice. It was a seafood variant which you don't usually see. A nice place to hang out for dinner with a few friends and drinks if you don't mind the slightly pricier stuff..
Great experience!. The restaurant actually opens from 5 as opposed to 5.30. got there nice and early on a Friday evening, at around 6.30 there were people waiting already. loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. highly recommend fried kumara balls coated with almond chips and the scotch fillet donburi! will definitely visit again. spent around 40 dollars for 2 people. good value in general!
Amazing place...great serivce and fab plate sharing food. The freshness of the salad...my niece ate eggplant for the 1st time. We both loved the chicken and cheese rice balls. Cant wait to go again.
Seth Blissworth Baguion
+4
This is an awesome underground place with a great atmosphere. I love how the food is served in little platters so you're able to try as much dishes as you can with affordable prices too. Nice place to sit in for some light drinks as well!
Probably my most favourite place to take someone out, awesome food that is so delicious with a variety of options. Just a cool place to go down in the cave, can't beat the skewers menu!!
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Tanuki's Cave is a little yakitori bar with a fairly unique concept - it's in the basement of a shop, accessible through a narrow flight of stairs. The place is kitted out quite well, decorated with little lanterns and Japanese fans and hanging lights. Very grungy atmosphere.
This is one of the more accessible yakitori bars for university students, located just a short walk down to Queen St. As a result, it is ridiculously packed on weekends during the semester. We've learnt to not even bother coming during peak times unless it's summer - the wait for a seat almost always exceeds 30 minutes.
Their yakitori is pretty good, though. The scotch fillet, my favourite, is lightly seasoned and always cooked to a perfect, tender medium. The tiger prawns are good, too, as are the chicken wings and chicken thighs. On the flip side, it's fairly expensive, with two skewers of scotch fillet being $6, and the other items not being much cheaper. Edamame is a whopping $7.20!! (Which is why I don't ever order that here) Oh, and there is a minimum charge per person - about $15, I think. We don't mind, since our bill usually comes to much more than that, but if you're planning to come with friends and order just one small drink or such, be warned in advance.
I can never seem to take decent pictures of food in this place - the place is quite dark and even night mode doesn't seem to help. :( I probably need more practice...
I have been coming here for years and I love the place!! Good food and not too pricey either. Love the vienna sausages and scotch fillet. Good stuff.
This place is an Auckland institution. Enjoy the two samurai sake and indulge in the Vienna sausage, chicken & cheese balls and the kumara & almond balls. You need to be here and fight through the crowds.
Get the steak. And the corn. And any karaage chicken special they may have! My favourite place to ditch the rice and salad and just protein-out. Such an efficient hard working team that always have time to be friendly. They always overestimate the wait - so don't be put off if they say 40mins, just grab a plum wine and soak up the vibes!
I love this cosy little eatery. Been going for years, and is consistently good. Happy, energetic staff and good prices. Spinach and bacon salad and monster prawns are winners every time. Can be a bit of a wait for a table sometimes, so if you are in a rush don't go :)
Went there with a group of six people on a Saturday night. The place was incredibly busy and it took us an hour to get a table. It was worth the wait however. The food is served in small portions but is of very high quality and beautiful taste. We all shared the food so I had a taste of several things on the menu. Everything was great. All up we spent $218 is six including beer and sake, not bad!
Would give the place five stars but there were a couple of drawbacks. First the wait. Second the place gets really hot, and I mean really hot. They give you little Japanese fans to fan yourself with but it's not enough!
Excellent place to go on a date as most of the portions are shared.
I've been going to Tanuki's Cave for nearly 20 years now. Nice food, good atmosphere and a good place to take visitors to Auckland. Plate of cabbage, white fish fillet, kushiage pumpkin and sake.
This place is one of my top places to bring my friends to when they visit Auckland. Great service (just sometimes a bit hard to get their attention when you're sitting at the tables), always excellent food. Love the salad with bacon, and cabbage with mayo (you wouldn't think this would be nice but it is!) Never had a bad meal there.
Always our favourite for a great night out. Must have been 20+ times now. Unique, interesting atmosphere, and a cosmopolitan feel. Love the little earthernware Japanese plates and its great to just "go with the flow", you never know where you will be seated. The food's excellent, and there are favourites to order as well as few specials to try each time. The wines are always excellent and the moderate prices mean you can have a variety of dishes. Love Tanuk's. Our favourite and well worth a special trip into town.
Excellent food, value for money and friendly staff! Sort of like a japanese yum cha - with all the small tasting plates. gives you plenty of variety and a chance to try lots of dishes. The waitress asked if we were going to a show (which we were) and made sure the food was ready in time so that we would not be late. The salmon croquets and scotch fillet with butter and soy were amazing! And the octopus balls are yum! Only reason why I cant give them 5 stars is because they forgot two bring two dishes that we ordered. But all in all a fab dinner, highly recommend to everyone. Cant wait to visit them again!
This is about the 10th time in the last 5 years I have had dinner at Tanukis Cave, and have to say it is consistently excellent.....The food is delicious, the service expediant and kind, and the atmosphere is delightful..........It is by far my favourite restaurant in Auckland.
I have visited Tanukis Cave several times now; birthday dinners, family dinners, and dates. Every time I visit the whole experience is wonderful. Being usually very impatient I'm happy to wait up to an hour for a space to clear up, which is made easier by the friendly staff and stand up table where you can order drinks. The cabbage and edamame beans are amazing to start off, and the menu allows you to venture into the foods such as chicken hearts, which always makes for a good conversation. I have never had a problem with the service. They even take time to check if you're not in a hurry to catch a nearby movie or play. Would recommend for all occasions.
(Review from visiting Aussie) Great restaurant in an authentic Japanese atmosphere with beautiful food. Good value, great quality and great service. Highly recommend this restaurant for a relaxed night out.
I love myself a visit to Tanukis Cave!
When im not there I often crave its delicious dishes and great atmosphere. It has many dishes to choose from, and from all the ones I have tried, I loved all of them! Although it can end up to be a little pricey if your a big eater, but you get what you pay for!
Good value drinks, delicious food (and might i add authentic HOT wasabi) and very nice atmosphere.
Great for a date night :)
Very good food, and very authentic.
Every time I have been it has been a pleasure
Loved it! The food was divine and the peach drink (special of the day) was great! Will definitely be returning!
Been here dozens of times over the years, the wait is abit annoying when its busy, but foods ok, japanese food made by actual japanese people is always a bonus ^_^
Tanuki's Cave was one of the first awesome restaurants I discovered when I moved to Auckland 7 years ago and it's still just as awesome! I only ever go early (before 7pm) though otherwise the wait is too long now (it wasn't so popular 7 years ago!) but always enjoy it. Prices are reasonable and the food is always delicious. Totally worth checking out.
Rip snorter night out. Pretty surprisingly good food, and provides a great atmosphere for a casual, fun night out. Japanese beer by the liter, and any sake you could desire. Don't go for a romantic night out - go for a raucous night of sharing plates.
The best dining experience in Auckland. Great food (try rge Takoyaki and donburi) great beer, great sake and an authentic setting. Tanuki's is my staple place for first dates and it hasn't failed me yet, thanks guys! keep it up
Love Tanukis, my fav is scotch fillet steak, chicken, and cabbage and mayo! Get's busy at times but that just because it's awesome!
Went with a group of four friends. Didn't book, but still managed to get a table despite being what looked like a busy night. Food portions were average, being Japanese food we expected to get portions that were smaller than your average meal. Sushi was fresh and tasted incredibly good. Service was excellent, had a nice waitress that took care of us well. Nice cozy environment and we were able to pay separately.
It has been quite sometime since I have been here but I really enjoyed the time there.
I recall there was a japanese moive playing on the tv in the back ground it helped to give it a unique charm .
You really feel like your at a japanese eatery in japan.
I have been to plenty in japan so I should know .
I would love to go again in the future well worth the time .
A must to go to in regards to food and experiance.
Busy restaurant, busy staff, busy kitchen. . .it's definitely worthy of all the traffic! Wonderful place to enjoy a unique meal in Auckland. Highly recommend the cabbage with Japanese mayo - a favorite starter every time. Not the type of place you'd go for a quiet night out or a serious business meeting, but the perfect atmosphere for a casual, off-the-cuff night on the town. Anyone looking for an exciting dining experience should try Tanuki's at least once!
We adore Tanukis Cave. It can be an incredibly busy environment, which means waiting times on the side tables can be a while. So patience is recommended. However, this is fine as we usually get acquainted with their lovely sake, and plum wine selection. We’re two people who love our food so price is always a consideration, and to get our fill it takes about $50. Not too bad considering the average prices of food in Auckland City.
However we’ve had a couple of bad experiences. I was placed next to a woman with particularly long hair, who kept flipping it over her shoulder – at which point it would hit me in the face, and go all over my clothing; very uncomfortable, and disgusting. One particular waitress is very slow with delivering drinks to the waiting tables, subsequently we flagged her down but she seemed inattentive to our comments and handed our drinks off to another waiter to deal with. He acknowledged our comments, and resolved the situation quickly.
Yummy!!! Food was awesome and very generous serving sizes for great prices!!
Will definently be heading back here soon.
My favourite restuarant!!
Pity their not in the entertainment book tho!!
Try the sake - always good to warm the cockles of your heart....
Great food and service. However heat from the kitchen makes the place hot and smoky! February special, deep fried strawberries and ice cream were great!
Great food, great service. this was a fun place to go out for a bite to eat in town. Casual fun atmosphere
Food is awesome, service is great.
The only downside is the ridiculous price of wine and always hard to get a table (which means it's always busy!)
But defintely worth the visit.
Awesome food, great staff, I loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone!
This restaurant never dissapoints me. The best dish I think is the Kumara balls coated in almonds! A MUST.
love it !!!
highly Recommended
I love this place!!
Wonderful menu.
Like tapas but Japanese style.
You only need 3-4 skewers and your full.
Perfect for me as i cant ever finish a main meal.
Good prices too.
Highly recomended.
Try and book if you can, always busy
Tanuki's Cave is very charming. The staff are very welcoming and warm. It has a lovely cosy atmosphere. The food is just divine. Perfect for a light meal with a beer or wine or a pre-show bite. At times you almost feel like you are in a hidden bustling bar in Japan.
If your wanting somewhere different with a bit of atmosphere and great casual food this is the place. We dine here regularly as it's cheap, tasty food, great music and the staff welcome everyone when they enter the cave.
Long time advocate of this hidden wee gem, Tanuki's Cave is the perfect way to line the stomach on a boozy night out (or before a show or movie of course). The menu caters to the omnivore not concerned with his cholesterol levels, with items like scotch fillet skewers fried in butter (and served with the butter to shoot if you are brave.. or drunk enough), deep fried chicken fillet stuffed with cheese and crumbed (my personal favourite) and chopped shrimp & bacon on a stick covered in full fat mayo. Check out the monthly specials menu for some interesting and quirky takes on yakitori and make sure you order a 3L can of Sapphoro to share with your loved ones.
There is quite often a wait for tables and there isn't a prebooking system, so if you are going to pay the Cave a visit before a show, make sure you allow yourself plenty of time.. both for the wait and to enjoy the unique experience that is Tanuki's.
Great atmosphere, food and fun. Can't believe this place is 25 years and still going. Great for couples or larger groups. They dont take bookings unfortunately so just try your luck! Service is excellent but the kitchen can slow down during super busy periods. Enjoy
It’s the best yakitori bar in NZ that you can actually experience japanese style bbq and drinks. But it’s quite pricey and busy. If you eat food there until u feel full, it will be over $50 per person bur little drink and few skewers will be $30ish so if you want to spend like an hour there it would be perfect place.
Love the ambiance of this restaurant. Always busy and staff is always polite and helpful.
My friend and I went on a Thursday night, you know it's a great restaurant if it's packed even on a weekday. It's one of the hidden gems of Auckland. We ordered quite a variety from the menu and everything was delicious. My friend did make a mistake on ordering the mushroom with minced coated with breadcrumbs instead of the yakitori mushroom with minced so it wasn't what we expected but overall good taste. Loved the dessert especially. Highly recommended and will definitely return!
Good vibes. Reasonably priced and tasty dishes. Staff are great too!
Went to dinner here in the upstairs restaurant with two others. We ordered a few different dishes - and each one was delicious. I highly recommend the karaage chicken, eggplant and the salmon sushi! Will be going back.
WOW! The food, the service, and the atmosphere; everything was amazing. The scotch fillet with butter was the best part as well as the legend 22 sake. The jelly sake was super yummy (it's basically alcoholic aloe vera drink). Highly recommend coming here but just watch how much you order as it adds up very quickly!
Visited the cave before our dinner booking at Tanuki restaurant. Place was humming, managed to get a standing side table near the wall. Great atmosphere and fantastic experience before our dinner reservation.
Opens later than most places, good food, good service 👌
A must try in Auckland.
It feels like a tucked away yakitori bar in Japan, from the entrance, the atmosphere and the food.
The skewers are great and I'm not one to like cheese stuffed foods but the chicken mince ball and others are great here. Other recommendations would be the wings, yakitori and the steak.
Best spot is to sit at the bar but there's plenty of other seats around.
The price is decent and in my opinion, worth the price per skewers. Ended up spending around $100 a head most recently.
Really love the atmosphere of this place! There are a lot of options for food and the fact that each order gives you two sticks is really great for sharing. Really enjoyed the mashed kumara with almonds on the outside, but to be honest everything was good. Would come back here again!
The food is yum! Although it take sometime to arrive. Staff are friendly but took a long time to take our order and its hard to get their attention too maybe it was a busy evening that night. If you are big eater and on a budget this place is not for you. But the pork skewers are nice! Im a bit disappointed to the prawn wrapped in bacon as I’ve tasted a better one before. Otherwise i would recommend this place and will come back too.
went for an early dinner and drinks to meet friends on a Thursday evening. Amazing service and the food was excellent. Very well priced. The atmosphere was awesome.
definitely recommend
Shared an amazing meal of small (food) plates with friends last week down in the Cave. The food was excellent, the service fantastic, and the refreshments cold as wanted. I can't wait to go back again! Go! You'll love it!
Delicious food with a cosy atmosphere, and to top it off they have excellent customer service! Love the range they offer, mashed Kumara with almond and Kumara with butter n salt is our fav.
Absolutely love! Great atmosphere, attentive and V friendly staff, as well as a wonderful array of dishes, perfect for sharing. A unique favourite which I’ll continue to recommend to friends and family. To the staff, you all should be proud of the service and quality of food you present, it’s honestly a breathe of fresh air.
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