If you aren’t familiar with takoyaki, it is a Japanese food that is also known in English as “octopus balls”. It’s a very popular street food in Japan and it makes a delicious snack or appetizer before lunch or dinner.
The dish is typically prepared with minced octopus that is rolled into a ball and coated in a flour-based batter before being fried. It can also sometimes include other seafood in the mix. It may be seasoned with pickled ginger, green onion, or dashi and is usually served with takoyaki sauce or mayo. Most places have their own special recipe, so be sure to visit as many as possible to try out this delicious snack!
These restaurants offer some of the best takoyaki in Auckland. They are all Japanese restaurants that specialize in different aspects of Japanese cuisine. You can enjoy a bowl of ramen, snack on chicken skewers, or have a bar night with friends depending on where you end up.
The Don
The Don is a Japanese restaurant and sake bar located in Auckland CBD that is best known for being both tasty and affordable! They serve a wide variety of Japanese cuisine, most notably donburi (rice bowls). They also have a variety of vegan and vegetarian options, so they are a great place to visit no matter what your food preferences are. The takoyaki is one of their menu highlights. According to customers, the food portions are generous and everything is reasonably priced.
Menu
In addition to takoyaki, The Don offers an extensive menu with a wide variety of dishes. Customer favorites include:
- pork katsu
- sushi and sashimi
- tempura udon
- tofu teriyaki
- good selection of sake
Contact
Phone: 9 379 2834
Address: 47 High Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday 11am-10pm, Saturday 11:30am-9pm
Renkon City
Renkon City serves “Japanese food with soul”. Their goal is to serve high-quality food that is affordable, fresh, and kind to the earth. They first opened in 2002 and have been a well-known eating spot ever since! They use traditional Japanese ingredients and prepare their food in a way that showcases Japanese culture while also appealing to the tastebuds of a New Zealand crowd. Everything is made to order and they operate their restaurants in an eco-friendly manner. Their main restaurant is in Auckland CBD and they also have locations in Takapuna and Parnell. The menus can vary between locations, but they all serve delicious takoyaki and some of the best bowls of rice in town!
Menu
Renkon City is mainly a donburi shop, so rice bowls are their specialty. Other customer favorites include:
- prawn gyoza
- egg katsu
- miso soup
- renkon chips
- tofu salad
- teriyaki chicken, salmon, or tofu
Contact
Website: https://renkon.nz/
Phone: 09 377 5131
Address: 10 Durham Street East, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 11:30am-3pm and 4:30-8:30pm
The Yakitori House
The Yakitori House is a basement-level restaurant that serves Japanese dishes and meat skewers. They are open for dinner and late-night eating. Their menu is designed for sharing with the group, so go with friends and try as many dishes as you want! They also serve a variety of sake, wine, and beer, and offer happy hour before 7pm each day. Customers love the cozy ambiance of the restaurant, the friendly staff, and of course the delicious food!
Menu
The Yakitori House serves a variety of skewers, appetizers, sharable dishes, fresh sashimi, and even dessert! Some menu highlights include:
- deep-fried gyoza
- chicken and spring onion skewers
- teriyaki fish balls
- tiger prawns wrapped in bacon
- Japanese poutine
- sashimi donburi
- house-made matcha ice cream
Contact
Website: https://www.theyakitorihouse.com/
Phone: 022-0280672
Address: 2b/18 Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 5pm-late
Mentatz Ramen
Mentatz Ramen serves some of the best ramen in Auckland, as well as donburi and delicious appetizers such as takoyaki! They are part of the FPCNZ restaurant group, which is a group of Japanese restaurants in New Zealand. They are open for lunch and dinner each day, as well as late-night eating. In addition to their food menu, they also serve sake, wine, and beer. Customers love the sauce on their takoyaki, so be sure to give it a try!
Menu
Mentatz specializes in Japanese ramen and donburi. They also offer a variety of appetizers and small plates. Some highlights from Mentatz’s menu include:
- Pork-broth ramen
- Dry ramen with teriyaki chicken
- Prawn tempura egg don
- Deep-fried gyoza
- Garlic mussels
- Teriyaki chicken salad
Contact
Website: https://www.fpcnz.co.nz/our-restaurants/
Phone: 9 357 0960
Address: 28 Lorne Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 11:30am-3pm and 5:30-10pm, Saturday 11:30am-10pm, Sunday 11:30am-9pm
Tanuki’s Cave
Tanuki’s Cave is a yakitori restaurant and bar that is open for dinner and late-night eating seven nights a week. They have been serving Japanese cuisine on Queen Street for over 25 years. They are considered one of Auckland’s hidden gems, as their restaurant can be hard to find at first. It is definitely worth the effort, though! Customers love the friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere, and of course the food! This is a great place to dine with friends or enjoy a meal after a hard day at work.
Menu
Tanuki’s cave specializes in yakitori, which is Japanese skewered chicken. They also serve a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetarian dishes on skewers. All these dishes are grilled on skewers and basted in their special in-house sauce. They also serve kushiage, which is deep-friend skewers. Their takoyaki balls are served with one of their house-made sauces, so they are a tasty treat!
Customer favorites include:
- steak donburi
- mushroom and leek yakitori
- chicken wing yakitori
- pumpkin kushiage
- pork belly yakitori
Contact
Website: https://tanukiscave.co.nz/menus/
Phone: 9 379 5151
Address: 319 B Queen Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 5pm-late
