Lovely little japanese restaurant smack in the middle of Onehunga!The atmosphere was great, very cosy and friendly staff. Loved the salmon sashimi, very fresh - just wished the wasabi was stronger haha. We also got the agedashi tofu, beef tongue, deep fried oysters, and the ajimi sushi. All very nice, but felt the beef tongue was slightly overcooked, as it was still cooking on the hot plate when it came out.Overall great place and would love to visit again!
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Best little discovery this year. I was having a hair cut at a salon in Sylvia Park Mall and chatting with my Japanese hair stylist who recommended this place. She shares that the local Japanese go to this place as its authentic, reasonably priced and the seafood is fresh. That sold us as when a local to that cuisine, recommends it - it usually turns out to be the real deal. In this case, Ajimi did not disappoint.
What I liked about it:
1.The food menu was varied with not just sashimi but a good selection of sushi, robatayaki (skewers), izakaya (ala carte dishes) like the ox tongue.
2.The drinks menu had a good selection of alcohol (wine, beer, sake) and Japanese liqueurs and various soft drinks like Ramune (Japanese lemonade) etc. Drinks were reasonably priced as was the food menu.
3.The place was buzzing with alot of Japanese customers and the serving staff were Japanese (could not see into the kitchen to take a peek at the chef) which lent an authenticity to the place.
4.Loved the way they had a $39 special which comprised of a mini kaiseki offering - a bit of everything recommended by the chef
5. Casual ambience that almost made you feel like you were in a back alley in Tokyo in one of their little bars having a quick meal before catching the Shinkansen somewhere.
Definitely a new go-to for me.
Absolutely incredible little gem hidden in Onehunga. Amazing value for money with fantastic service. The large sashimi platter was stunning the unagi don was unbeatable. The large sashimi platter i believe varies according to season and there were 10 types of them in a well presented platter, and needless to say, extremely fresh.We were a couple of 2 and we ordered the large sashimi platter, crab croquette, yakisoba, unagi don, sparkling alcoholic peach drink, large sake, edamame, unagi don, fried octopus - everything was perfect. Will never bother going anywhere else for these type of food really..
Delicious little spot in Onehunga
Beautiful platters, but quite small portioning! Great for sharing, very fresh produce. Very authentic Japanese good and staff. Great service
I love the squid we ordered and the mochi with red bean. It’s also my first try of Sapporo and glad to know there’s a non-alcoholic variant for a breastfeeding mom like me 😁
Not toddler friendly though as there’s no enough space (maybe that’s why there’s no high chair for bub?). I suggest making a reservation esp for peak hours, we waited about 15mins before we got seated. Overall it’s a good experience giving an izakaya feel
Kushi and deep fried heaven. Addicted to the kushi sauce which comes with the skewer set. Tasty karaage chicken and deep fried mackarel which is off menu. Sushi set was tasty - unagi was the our favourite out of the sushi. Was craving ramen on the day but it was average as expected. Price is reasonable compared some of the other joints. Definitely one of my favourite Japanese go-to places. Good decor and service.
I miss Japan like hell and this place is the closest thing I've had to a Japan experience anywhere in Auckland (in photo, large sashimi platter and range of kushikatsu)
It's small, it's cosy, there is nama beer on tap (Sapporo), and it has every izakaya on menu from kushikatsu to a hot bowl of Ramen. I'd say the price is very reasonable and the food quality is pretty top notch.
Don't expect premium level of service or ingredients because the point of izakaya bars are to fill your tummy and your soul with nibbles and beer, though that's not to say the food here tastes bad, quite the opposite in fact.
Really worth a visit for anyone who hasn't been or experienced izakaya dining, it is really worth the experience, and for the price you pay, you'll be pretty happy to have had some of the most amazing Japanese food you'll find in this town.
Very busy, so many people, feeling cosy , food is delicious and reasonable price , was here almost a year ago but still keeping the as good as it used to be, recommended.
Came here with my wife last year for the first time and had been wanting to go since it opened. It did not disappoint. The place was packed as it is only a small restaurant, but the staff were efficient and friendly.
The food was very delicious. We tried the signature sashimi platter and the fish was all very fresh. Also had okonomiyaki and sushi which were tasty. For drinks, we had a pineapple highball.
This place is a great izakaya and one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants we have been to in Auckland.
Busy, busy little restaurant especially on a Thursday/Friday evening. Don’t expect a table if you are in a big group without a booking. If it’s just the two of you, then that’s still fine - you could sit at the bar area.
Many guys enjoy their 500ml Sapporo Draft at $9.50 (April 2019), which goes well with a variety of food offered.
Their sashimi and unagi (eel) are recommended. Fried chicken, not so.
Other than that, good vibe, friendly and efficient staff and a nice place to grab a meal with a date or a small group.
PICTURESQUE. I mean look at this. Not only is the food delicately presented at Ajimi, but the blend of flavours and marination has received just as much care. There is a sense of respect when it comes to sushi and you can fully appreciate it here where the fish is so fresh and pure, without the disturbing compliments of excessive condiments like mayonnaise, or worse, cream cheese.
However when they do marinate their fish in only a few of their dishes, it is seemingly perfect – not too overpowering, and not underwhelming. It’s just how it’s meant to be.
The staff here are so bright and respectful that it really helped make it feel like I was back in Japan, especially with the traditional wooden décor. I wish I had taken photos of the restaurant itself - but hey, search them up and check them out! They are almost always full every time I go so make sure to take advantage of them allowing for reservations!
We saw this place and just had to try it out! Its not everyday you stumble upon an authentic looking Japanese street food restaurant! We ordered almost half of the menu and the food was brought out alot faster than we expected! The meals were delicious and the waitress was so friendly too!
Just had to try this with my partner as ive seen the good ratings and reviews.. i mean food is ok.. wanted to try their most expensive sushi range but im afraid it would not fill my belly.. so just ordered some variety. The chicken was nice and liked the watermelon (which tasted like rock melon) soda.
Thought i’d rate the place a 3.75.. but just rounded if off to 4stars.
Great service and food, it’s great to have a Japanese place in Onehunga. It does get busy so you either go early or make a booking. We will definitely return 😊
Everything we’ve tried here have been good! Ribs were tender, the takoyaki and gyoza were so flavourful! Dons are so affordable for the quality and taste! Hands down one of our favourite hangout spots!
Super friendly staff, reasonable pricing and portion sizes, super fast service and yummy food. Sashimi was so good I’m impressed! Will be back soon.
Food 9/10 Service 10/10 Ambience 9/10
Sashimi 10/10
Great variety of sashimi which are fresh and tasty. You can taste the sweetness in it, really surprised me as it was only $39!
Agedashi Tofu 8/10
Grilled Mushroom 8/10
Ramen 7/10
Great place in Onehunga. The staff were very friendly and the Sashimi was presented in a fun way. Will definitely be back to try other things on the menu.
The sashimi platter has a variety of seafood, all very fresh! I love the unagi don here! The size of the eel is decent and it's delicious, not to mention that it's only $15!
This place is worth every penny.
Nice and cheap Japanese sashimi bar located at onehuanga. There's not many Japanese cuisine and this one should be the best in this area. deco quite good and sashimi plate's Presentation looks bext level.
Arigato 🙏 beautiful busy little Venue
Very inviting but best to book for large groups and if your hoping to walk in make sure to get there early if your lucky as this place is popular
Expect to sit with other patrons as seating is long tables and Benches
There is sitting areas for 2 or single shared bar type table but it’s very tight
Staff & Service is great very friendly and very polite
Service with a smile
Affordable shared plates and meals
Everything plated beautifully and portion sizes perfect as you’d expect at any traditional Japanese Rst.
Great selection of beverages and Sakes
Definitely a venue we will visit regularly as great Japanese cuisine without breaking the bank
5/5
Arigato 👍🏼
Love this place, food is 🔥
We got the ramen, beef curry, and shrimp dumplings and they did not disappoint 👌🏼
Cant wait to visit again and try out all the other dishes.
A true Japanese izakaya bar in Auckland. Reminded me of the ones in the alley ways of Ueno in Tokyo. Small but good menu of options, some items you don’t see too often in Westernised parts. Authentic atmosphere, decor and staff made for a good dinner out, we will be back for sure.
Love this place. Great food, great service and great vibe to this cozy restaurant. The food was beautifully presented and tasted great. A good selection of Japanese beer and sake which matched well with the sharing plates.
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One of the few Japanese places where not only are the kitchen staff Japanese but the actual patrons that come are Japanese as well. Visited on a Thursday evening and was surprised at how busy the restaurant was.
For two we ordered the large sashimi plate, prawn dumplings, okonomiyaki, grilled fish (can’t remember exactly which fish it was!) and grilled an eel on rice. With your meal, you get a complimentary plate of edamame beans which is awesome. For people who love raw sea food the large plate would be a good choice, in terms of pricing it certainly better than some of the restaurants in the CBD and you don’t really lose out on quality.
The okonomiyaki was superb, it was crispy on the outside and slightly chewy inside. Awesome, I’ve been too many places where the okonomiyaki is just doughy and have no texture. The star was the grilled fish though, it was incredible soft and juicy while smelling amazing. The charred outer texture with sweetness combined with the smoky flesh to give a steak flavor. Steak flavor? What the hell? Is that even possible? Try it and let me know.
A lively atmosphere and with plenty of fresh air due to how many open windows and doors the restraint has.
Showstopper: Smoked grilled fish, tasted like steak and smelled divine.
Overall Grade: A-
Atmosphere is good, service is great and is not overly busy.
Food was quite fast service and all the meals are tasty and well cooked.
Beef tataki is slightly disappointed due to the size , portion is too small.
Overall returning for the next call
Delighted to have a Japanese restaurant in Onehunga. The interior design was really cool and suits the restaurant well. The service was excellent, the menu has a good range of options.
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This place is a treasure!
Sure, it doesn't have some of the fancier Japanese dishes that you'd want, but 99% is there! And for a fraction of the price of everywhere else!
Had the ajimi sashimi salad, the chicken kaarage, the okonomiyaki, and the yakisoba for 2 people. We ended up ordering one too many dishes, so you can definitely get full by sharing plates for 15pp or under, depending on the size of the group.
The ajimi sashimi salad really convinced me I need to come back and have more sashimi. It was the best dish we ordered.
The chicken kaarage was beautifully crumbed and perfectly moist.
The okonomiyaki did not have as much seafood as I would have liked, but the potato, seasonings, spring onion, sauces, and mix of crispy/soft was perfect.
The yakisoba was, unfortunately, quite average. Can't complain too much though, as it was literally the only dish we saw in the hour that we were there that was short of amazing.
The atmosphere, interior, and service was truly what made the experience though. Really felt authentic! They just need to treat and age the wood, and it would feel just like something out of the old neighbourhoods of Osaka.
Highly recommend booking, as not a seat was free on a drizzly Thursday night.
Once upon a time, only Sake Bar Nippon could be called a genuine izakaya in Auckland. Now there is Ajimi. Frequented by both Japanese and gaijin, the food, drink, decor and atmosphere at Ajimi is A1 genuine and you’ll be a loyal patron after just one visit.
I really like my Japanese food and was absolutely delighted another one popped up close to home! They have a good selection of dishes from sushi, sashimi to sizzling yum yum sauce prawns and scallops.
The flavours are on point and the large sashimi platter (pictured) is just so beautiful! Great local restaurant with great food.
4/5 Taste
5/5 Display
4/5 Quantity
4.5/5 Customer Service
Superb Japanese Sake Bar in Onehunga
First of all the atmosphere of this place is amazing. He place was well decorated, dishes were served in beautifully, staff members had traditional uniforms on.
Second, price for food was quite amazing too.
Normally sake bars like this place wouldn’t serve any low-med cost food which were filling. They had decent sized Ramen and donburis in case these sode dishes were not enough. Their large sized sashimi platter was beautiful and cheap almost every table had ordered one.
I have visited this place four times and was able to eat there two times, this place is usually so full they dont have any seats left around 7pm.
Luckily they take reservation.
This is one of my favourite Japanese restaurants. Good portions and quality food. I think this is one of the only Japanese restaurants I’ve been to that serves quality food at a low price.
The first time I went, my boyfriend and I ordered the huge sashimi platter (first photo) - visually stunning and great variety of sashimi for tasting. Didn’t realise how huge it was going to be and couldn’t eat anything else after that.
The only complaint I have is that service is a bit slow and it can get a bit cramped. From the times I have visited it seems they’re short-staffed. Other than that I have zero complaints.
This is a real Japanese restaurant in Auckland. My friends and I ordered Ajimi Special (large portion sashimi), Fried dumplimg, whole squid ( very tender), spicy soft shell crab salad, beef tataki, ramen and eel don. Sashimi is so fresh and a little bit sweet. The service is great and the surrounding is cheerful. I will definitelly come again!
If you are a fan of the Sake Bar you will fit right at home here. It's a relatively new addition to the main drag of Onehunga and one that adds a touch vibrance and variety. Finally a decent Japanese restaurant in our neighbourhood. Staff are friendly and the food is sensational, we tried quite a few dishes and loved them all. Seating is cozy, true to Japanese style, but this adds to the experience of sharing food. Given how busy it looked, recommend a reservation if you have more than a couple of people dining in. We will be back again soon for a second round.
I give Ajimi a 4.82 out of 5 ☺ Fantastic!!! Down to earth relaxed casual vibe with food worthy of a fine dining establishment. Lovely service, very pleasant atmosphere and fresh food. Highlights for me was the Shrimp Sou Mai and the whole Squid. Can't wait to go back. Congratulations Ajimi team you do Onehunga proud!
I found this place from top foodie reviews. We go to tried food here and we found our new regular Japanese restaurant now. Food really fresh and price very reasonable. I really happy that Auckland have nice Japanese restaurant here.
It’s hard to find a seat if you want to go as a group or any more than 3 or 4. But it always packed! Nice vibes and good service. Quite authentic and well priced I thought. Especially sashimi!!
We had alcoholic drinks each and ate way too much, and still only came to 35pp.
They even give you some free edamame to nibble when you order beer too which was nice.
The dessert is average but everything else is good!
Must try new Japanese restaurant in Onehunga. Plenty of authentic dishes to choose from.
Highly recommend having one of their sashimi dishes, fresh and tasty. They even have bluefin tuna, which is not a common find in other Japanese restaurants.
Service was excellent and food arrives quickly (we had all our dishes within 20 mins).
Small restaurant with limited seating so highly recommend booking to avoid disappointment.
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Environment: 5/5
What a hidden gem. Went to this restaurant on Sunday evening without much expectation. And we were quite impressed with Sashimi Bar Ajimi. Interesting relax atmosphere. Price was affordable with good quality. Food served was extremely fast. Probably one of the fastest restaurant I have ever been. We didnt order any of alcholic drinks but they have extensive menu with good price too! Look around other tables, people definitely order at least one drink.
For food, we ordered ramen, assorted sashimi large, garden salad, and green tea puff for dessert. Highlight was definitely the assorted sashimi, we were given 10+ different type of seafood and they were good, definitely worth every $. Least favourite for Yon was the ramen and me was the dessert. I think I blame myself for high expectation of green tea puff, I was imagining a soft in the middle crunchy skin puff with silky smooth green tea custard.
We will be back for sashimi craving. Thank you
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Mouthwatering... Heavenly... Flavoursome...
Onehunga has really upped it's game with food over the last year. This place looks great with its strong Japanese vibes AND the service here is great.
Food was fantastic. Beautifully presented and cooked to perfection.
We ordered the kaarage chicken x2, teriyaki chicken x2, okonamiyaki, grilled squid, dumplings x2, salmon and avo sushi, spare ribs, saki steamed oysters, soft shell crab salad and of course the ajima special (sashimi large platter). This fed 5 of us and came to $188.00 all up.
The food could not be faulted. The kaarage chicken was crispy and tender. The teriyaki chicken...juicy and morish. The okonamiyaki was just fantastic. Soft and gooey and with all the right flavours and textures. Now the ajima special... This was just a masterpiece to see. It included a variety of sashimi such as an oyster, scallop, salmon, tuna, snapper, squid, and prawn. Each piece was delicious and fresh.
This place is definitely a must try place. Stunningly good looking food that actually tastes good too!
Ate there for the first time tonight very friendly hosts, service was super fast and the food was so delicious, we ordered beef tataki, soft crab salad, teriyaki chicken, dumplings, prawns with yum yum sauce, siu mai, shrimp dumpling, chicken caraage, chicken katsu, 3x bowls of rice which was all delivered to our table under 20 mins! Priced extremely reasonable, all our food plus 2 apple juices under $100
Came here for the first time tonight and it was such an awesome and hospitable experience, All of the wait staff were very friendly and welcoming. The whole entire restaurant oozed a very cozy and authentic ambiance. We ordered the ajimi special (L), okonomiyaki, fried squid tentacles and whole grilled squid. All of the food was delicious especially relative to their prices, but the standouts were the okonomiyaki (best I’ve ever had) and the assortment of sashimi from the ajimi special. The only constructive criticism would be the addition to add some ginger to the sashimi so it can bring out the best flavors after each piece. Make sure to visit earlier in the night as the restaurant tends to fill up very easily! Looking forward to coming again :)
Friendly amazing staff, food is superb! Would definitely recommend the pork ribs, sashimi, sushi & pork belly. Huge variety on the menu and everything we have tried is delicious. Such a cute restaurant & vibe they often play hip hop music. Have been twice on a Tuesday night and it was very busy, that obviously says something 😊
Best Japanese Bar in Auckland!
I can’t believe we have this in New Zealand, amazing Japanese food that doesn’t hurt the bank.
Reasonably priced and great selection. Friendly staff and great drink selection too.
No complaints, maybe just more seats so I don’t need to book in advance :P
Service: 4.5/5
Food Quality: 5/5
Food Quantity: 5/5
Presentation: 5/5
Environment: 4.5/5
Price per person: $40-$60
Can't recommend this place enough. Excellent food, atmosphere, service and price. Highly recommend the large Ajimi Special sashimi platter and soft shell crab salad. Have been twice and will definitely be back!
Wow so delicious! We all got a medium sized portion main dish each, and two grilled squids to share. All were amazing!
Sashimi was fresh, great variety and came with a great portion of rice. Ramen was SO yum! Spicy hotpot was affordable and wasn’t extremely spicy but was delicious! Our favourite was the grilled squid - came with sauce which was so tasty as well!
We were seated outside as we didn’t make a booking in advanced, but was a nice spring evening so wasn’t cold. Despite that, it was still comfortable.
Food came reasonably quickly, and service was great!! Would definitely come back, I recommend this place ☺️
Had a dinner with hubby in this gem at Onehunga. Love how they decorate the wall. Exquisite chairs. Quality service and delicious food. Highly recommended 👍 even their toilet is decorated
Came back for a brunch with the whole
Family including four grandchildren. They had a fantastic child friendly chair, very sturdy. We really enjoyed our meal. Good job guys 👏
This could be the most affordable sashimi you can have in Auckland, and of course comes with the freshness. Me and my partner enjoyed our early dinner very much, not sure about the service because we did not pay attention much. The interior design pretty cool, I like it personally. We will be back when we have time 🥰🥰🥰
This place is so yum and the restaurant has a very cool vibe. We had a late lunch here after shopping at dressmart and the food is amazing! we got the lunch sets at $19 each which is say is pretty worth it! the salmon bowl and the katsu chicken bowl was very tasty and i would definitely recommend.
It was my 1st proper Japanese experience. Very cool decor as such. They are very welcoming. Try to reserve if you are planning to go on a weekend. We went for lunch and only the counter seats were available. We ordered beef scotch steak, dumplings,tuna sushi, ramen, mango soda and matcha ice-cream. I really loved the ice cream. As initially we asked for the matcha roll which was not available the lady was kind enough to give us extra toppings for the ice cream. The beef scotch stake was so good that my husband ordered it twice. It was a great experience.
This is my second time here. The food is amazing so fresh and tasty. I would highly recommend this place as one of the best authentic Japanese restaurants in Auckland. Reasonable priced. We had fresh tuna and salmon and beef don. The grill steak was yum and the octopus balls and seafood okonomiyaki was delicious. A++ service.
Have been here a lot of times!
Fresh food, friendly staff and quick serving.
We had beef tataki, large sashimi combo, and 4pc tuna sushi roll. I would give 9/10 to all three of them! Highly recommended when you shop at Dressmart mall.
Food- 9/10 Really fresh!
Environment - 7/10
Hygiene - 7/10 tables a little bit old now.
Service- 9/10 very friendly staff.
Recommendation 10/10
Dined in last night with friends and service was good. A small, cozy spot if you are craving for Japanese food. We ordered three from the menu. Their serving proportions were just right for us but if you're a big eater, you have to try other offerings as well. It was a rainy night and we were hungry for ramen. Not much options though, hoping they add more.
Stumbled across this place by chance for a late lunch and it was amazing! We couldn't decide since everything sounded wonderful. We decided on the Sashimi platter and the agedashi tofu. Both were delicious and the price was right. The place feels very authentic even though I'm not one who can judge if it is.
Great Izakaya feel. Traditional looking with a great focal kitchen.
Sit down and takeaway menus available.
A bit pricey for some things but delicious flavors. Beautiful fresh food.
Tonkatsu ramen is delicious with beautifully done eggs. Karaage chicken were so moist and tasty!!
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