Reviews of Sake Bar Nippon Epsom. (Restaurant) in Auckland (Auckland).

Name: Sake Bar Nippon Epsom
Address: 415 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland 1023, New Zealand, Auckland, Auckland
Telephone: +64 9 630 2511
Price range: €€
Rating: 4.6

Sake Bar Nippon Epsom

1052 Reviews

385 Comments

Restaurant

Japanese restaurant

Restaurant

415 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland 1023, New Zealand

View all the reviews

Description Map Open Hours Reviews Contact Photos

Description

Information of Sake Bar Nippon Epsom, Restaurant in Auckland (Auckland)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of Sake Bar Nippon Epsom

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

5:30–9 p.m.

Wednesday

5:30–9 p.m.

Thursday

5:30–9 p.m.

Friday

5:30–10 p.m.

Saturday

5:30–10 p.m.

Sunday

5:30–9 p.m.

Popular times

Tuesday

17
18
19
20

Wednesday

17
18
19
20

Thursday

17
18
19
20

Friday

17
18
19
20
21

Saturday

17
18
19
20
21

Sunday

17
18
19
20

Reviews of Sake Bar Nippon Epsom

A. H.

Amazing!!! A good variety of drinks and dishes. The food is really good and also the atmosphere of the restaurant.

A. C.

Enjoyed our dinner here tonight. Sushi platter was good value as was egg fried rice. Grilled salmon was also very good. Service was efficient and entertaining.

I love Sake Bar Nippon - it gives pretty authentic Izakaya vibes and food selection. Some of the food is really good, others are just average. Like, the Tuna today was pretty ‘watery’ I guess you could say, weird texture and lack of flavour. The prawns were also clearly frozen prawns and also lacked a little flavour. But I’ve been here many times and find that generally the food is pretty good, reasonably priced and they have a great atmosphere. I do recommend coming here for a casual dinner with a group of friends.

C. S.

Great food! Food was all very fast send tasted great

R. D. R.

Dinner as a Guest, Seafood very special traditionally beautiful. Lots of people knew about this special place. But try not to tell to many...full to the second floor. Busy but well run. Thanks so much.

Delicious food, fantastic ambiance and wonderful service! Even a little bowl of ice cream for our little girls to finish. Extra thanks for the kindness of the staff - teaching our girls how to say "yum" in Japanese! Loved every second - we will be back soon!

M. R.

Food was beautiful. Bit costly for us two full time students, but you're paying for quality! Amazing atmosphere. Took us a while to get served but in their defense, the place was packed. Popular place. Loved our time there..definitely going back.

E. S.

The most authentic Japanese I found in Auckland! Delicious food, the best atmosphere! If you want fresh food and a variety of sake, you must try it.

D. H.

Fantastic experience here - I say 'experience' because it was so much more than just the food. Food is fantastic though - everything was delicious. We couldn't decide on our favourite dish (although it might have been the steak). Service was wonderful with really friendly staff. Food came quickly, despite it being very busy on a Saturday night. Love the atmosphere, the drums and the greetings. We came here to celebrate a family event and the whole place has a really fun, celebratory vibe. We will be back! Strongly recommend to anyone.

R. L.

Unique experience with the welcome and farewell ceremony. Great food and service too. I got an idea for Christmas gift now-a Nippon gift card.

A. C.

The most Authentic japanese i have found in Auckland! great food with best atmosphere! Chefs bang the drum at arrival and departure as well as yelling in japanese some welcoming sentences, we live the vibe right away! Then the cutest waitresses serve us each time, with authentic japanese kimono, they are always super nice and welcoming too. We have a bell to ring when we are ready to order at our table, it’s fun! Highlight dish are Beef tataki, the beef steak is amazing too, tuna carpaccio is a great hit too! This is such a great place for group event or date night, just perfect cute little busy place!

Very delicious food and nicely presented. However, extremely short staff, had to wait for a while to get hold of attendants. Music were so loud, we had to yell to talk to each other.

T. W.

Sake Bar Nippon is an obvious choice for an impromptu catch up dinner with friends where food is always exceptional, service is excellent and the ambiance is fun and uplifting. I always appreciate the lively robust amicable ambiance whereby all guests are greeted by staff accompanied by Japanese drums to welcome and farewell you to the restaurant. The staff is always highly attentive and efficient with food served promptly. We adored the yum yum prawns, garlic prawns, tuna avocado salad, dragon salmon sushi, fried rice and daikon chips with banana fritter for desserts and glasses of Umeshu to wash it all down. Sake Bar Nippon never disappoints and it’s always an amazing experience dining here everytime!

P. A.

Delicious Japanese food! The sushi & sashimi options were fresh and tasty. They have many options for sharing, you can't go wrong. The place itself is small but there are two levels and big group seating options. They also have karaoke facilities, which is quite fun!

Came back again to try a few different things from the restaurant half, and everything was delicious! The steak was tender and deliciously fatty, the tuna avocado salad was incredibly tasty, and the grilled mayo mussels are my new favorite. The mussels are quite small, but they put 2x mussels per mussel shell. Chicken liver skewers also very tasty! Update on Sushi Train: Seared scallops and seared salmon prices have gone up to $5.50... And it feels like the variety has also been reduced. This used to be my favourite sushi train in Auckland but I will be looking for a replacement. $3.50 Sushi Train - "opening special" on all plates :) Love the seared scallops, seared salmon, amaebi. Came back to try the restaurant half, sat at the bar and watched the grill. Delicious and entertaining :)

B. L.

Great Japanese food at decent price, love the atmosphere and reminds me of our time in Japan. Been coming here since I was a teenager and doesn't disappoint!

M. R.

This was fun! I like this small, friendly and loud Japanese restaurant. The food is really good, they have a good sake selection and they farewell you by ringing the gong! Perfect place for dinner with friends before heading to the movie theatre next door.

One of the best japanese bars in auckland! love the atmosphere and food has always been consistently good

Meke af restaurant. Everything here is at least a 7/10

H. T.

Pretty good. We tried a couple of dishes: ie. sushi, karaage. The food were pretty authentic. The spicy avocado sushi was the only one that didn’t taste good. The green tea was a bit too watery for us. Overall, great place for japanese food. We don’t mind coming here again in the future. Costs around 30$ per person.

Amazing family run business. The atmosphere and decor feels so like Japan, having been there a few times. The staff are so enthusiastic, friendly and efficient. And the food of course is just so delicious. No dish I don't like. Can hold karaoke parties upstairs too, soo much fun. Great place!!!

J. D.

Always a great place for a fun family dinner!!!

N. W.

I celebrated my birthday there in June 2018. Awesome atmosphere, service excellent, the setting traditional along with the food awww delicious though prices. If u love Japanese food this is the place to go. I especially love the drums each time a person walks in 💜💜💜

B. M.

Best Japanese restaurant/bar experience we've ever had in Auckland. They welcome every customer with a drum and shout and upon exit also do the same to goodbye. Ive never been to Japan but I already know what it feels like lol. The food is to die for! If your craving seafood Japanese style or just want a good meal, this is highly recommended

J. G.

The atmosphere is unbeatable, enthusiastic and happy staff. With decently priced food, which is superbly crafted and delicious Japanese cuisine.

T. L.

very japanese decoration, i love it. sushi tastes not bad but lack of options compare to other sushi restaurant. prices are also higher than others.

J. C.

Yummy food, very friendly staffs! Super foodie Lover Best experience A+++

O. M.

Had a very fun night here, 5 hours of karaoke upstairs with several tables getting involved. Possibly not the norm... Aside from that the food was very good with fun and helpful waiting staff. Unique tab style payment but it worked out well

C. (.

The portions are a tad small for the price, but the vibe and the food and staff are undeniable. Such a great place, love it and having been to japan can put this against the kinda sake bars in japan. Very genuine and the food is exceptional! Just a price ting

Great Ambience, great food & very lively place. Be sure to make a reservation beforehand as they are always fully booked.

Great dinner! Authentic Japanese snacks and food served in a lively, friendly atmosphere. A fantastic place to go for a casual eat.

Couldn’t wait to get home and write this review... It was my niece’s birthday, and the staff was super welcoming and we received an amazing service. The food was excellent as always. Special thank you to that one guy, who was looking after the top floor between 7.30-till late today. Very attentive and such a nice atmosphere him and the team created. Love one of your chefs, always has a warm smile and welcomes you as soon as you enter. Would 110% recommend for food and the experience, and will be back obviously 😊

My family and I celebrated a 40th over the weekend just gone. for $50 you got Amazing food, private function area and karaoke all night. What stood out the most was the service provided. The owner of this restaurant is kind and really awesome to chat with. The lady who served us was AMAZING. Patient and lovely. Her name was Kiko. She was so good I felt obligated to tip her. We are not an easy bunch but she always had a smile. Other servers even had a bit of a dance with us whilst we sang. This was a best service I have ever experienced and I also work in hospitality. I would give this place 1000 stars if I could!

H. Z.

I came here for more than ten times and tried nearly all things here, my favorite Japanese style restaurant in Auckland.

D. O.

Looking for a night of good food and fun - Sake Bar Nippon is the place. Some of the best Japanese food in town, friendly staff, SAKI and karaoke. Fantastic combination for an awesome time.

Fantastic,friendly service from start to finish. Food was fresh and full of flavour. We will definitely come back. 5 stars

Beautiful service as usual, love it when they bang the gong 😁 always a fantastic experience and I've never been disappointed in the food! Got my partner to try sashimi for the first time and he loved it and part of that was due to the freshness of the fish! So thank you beautiful humans and keep up the amazing work x

K. H.

Just finished dinner there with the family and had to leave a review. Last time I went here was over 8 years ago and ever since then I've occasionally thought that one day I have to go back. Well after an 8 year wait I can say that the food and ambiance is still as fantastic as my last visit. The boisterous welcome by the staff as you enter drum and all immediately tells you this is a special place. The food is delicious, the beer is great and the staff are welcoming and friendly. Going to have to come back again with my friends once we go back to level 1.

L. C.

Good restaurant and they have bluff oysters now. Half dozen for 35 dollars which is a bit pricey

S. W.

Very popular Japanese restaurant. The taste is also delicious and Japanese style.

The plum wine taster is awesome and such great value. Sake is beautiful and the food is amazing and a great price . Soft shell crab was awesome as not many places serve it

R. B.

Great food, great staff and great experience. The food is reasonably priced and we had a great experience. Highly recommended!

m. m.

Is nice place to having gathering.They also have karaoke.Food is delicious and fresh.

Authentic Japanese restaurant with warm and friendly service. They've got lots of selection and the food taste great too. Only down is the portions are a bit small considering its price.

t. A.

High quality food, great restaurant makes you feel as if your in Japan.....pre booking is required but totally worth it...

P. H.

This place is amazing!!! Traditional food, Sake and staff, also they were accommodating of our group at short notice! Thanks team. I'll be back.

A little pricy but the experience and food is amazing.

Love love love the food here. Great place to eat. Last time I was there I left it to owner to choose my meal. Not disappointed. Thank you Norm

Food is generous and good value. A bit too much mayo on some dishes. Tables could be cleaner. Quite noisy but good service. They do NOT take restaurant association gift cards despite being listed as doing so.

M. B.

I had a good experience of Japanese hospitality. From the moment I arrived I was greeted with a drum roll and even when I left the shop. Though they close at 9, they let us stay for another hour to do karaoke. Food was delicious but a bit pricey for the portion. What I love the most was the superb customer service and very friendly staff. Keep up the good work, guys! Arigato!!

L. Z.

Always enjoy the food, drinks and serivce. Its one of the best Japanese sake bar in Auckland. Must try! Front manager was very friendly, will see the new renovated store soon after lev-3. Keep up the good work team!

K. L.

Food was amazing

Good authentic Japanese food. Highly recommend.

Fantastic atmosphere with the chef banging a drum and welcoming everyone who enters the restaurant. All of the dishes we tried were delicious.

M. C.

The food was great, the sushis were fresh, the yumyum prawns and the gyozas were amazing. Very friendly staff too. It was our friend's bday and they gave her a scoop of ice-cream with a candle on top, they came to our table and sang happy birthday with the drum it was so cool. We all loved it.

Have loved this place for years. They never disappoint. Thank you very much for a memorable night for our son's birthday.

G. H.

so satisfying had so many tasty Japanese cuisine at here

EXCELLENT food and service! The friendliest restaurant I've been to for a very long time now. They made my mum's birthday extra special, thank you to all the staff for making an enjoyable night for us.

Very cool place with a bubbly fun atmosphere and tasty fresh food. We went with 8 people and everyone ordered something different to share and all food was amazing. Reccomend 100%

Decent food for good price, staff are very friendly and engaging, make sure to book a table first, they are quite busy sometimes

Very cool place with a bubbly fun atmosphere and tasty fresh food. We went with 8 people and everyone ordered something different to share and all food was amazing. Reccomend 100%

S. T.

Food is generous and good value. A bit too much mayo on some dishes. Tables could be cleaner. …

Food is delicious. Atmosphere is superb. Personnel is kind and funny. I had a very nice dinner here. Will definitely come back.

Fun, casual and popular!

E. M.

The plum wine taster is awesome and such great value. Sake is beautiful and the food is amazing and a great price . Soft shell crab was awesome as not many places serve it

T. N.

Second time here and we enjoyed it more then the last time. It was our sons 20th birthday and staff were very accommodating to our needs for a medium sized group. I don't normally give 5⭐ but we were so overwhelmed by the service we recieved especially Joy who was amazing. She even set up a little surprise for our son where the whole team sang happy birthday to him (simple things like this make it quite memorable). The food was delicious. Every dish they bought out had it own unique taste, from the eggplant dish to the salmon wing, the succulent pork skewers and chicken livers. My favourite the fish crispy dumplings ohhh....yea!!! It was really busy for a Monday night with several people waiting 15-20mins for a table (it pays to book ahead) main restaurant area is ground level but has an upstairs dining area as well. Not suitable for wheelchairs as the bathrooms are up a narrow set of stairs and the walk through area isn't that wide at all. Parking: side streets with a quick walk to restaurant (depending on which side street tho). Everything else was mint. 💯👍

S. W.

My husband and I really enjoying coming here. Last night we went for a late dinner after he movies next door. We reserved at the counter as we enjoy watching them cook and interacting with others. The service was excellent, the food equally good. We both highly recommend this restaurant. Suitable for singles, couples, families and friends. I would recommend that you make reservations (online on Facebook, Website or over the phone). Many people were being turned away without them on a busy Saturday night.

OMG 👌 Transport yourself to a street stall type feel in busy Japan.....its not a meal..its an experience!! Attentive staff, quick service, awesome menu with beautifully cooked & authentic cuisine. Not for those who want a quiet, intimate, candlelit dinner....but definitely for the other 98% of the dining population..

Unique experience for Auckland. Amazing food (highly recommend the spicy tuna), incredible customer service too with friendly and humorous staff. Overall very good, easily deserves 5 stars.

Authentic, fun, hectic japanese eating/drinking hangout. Great food especially seafood and run by a family determined to show manaaki in everyway possible! A definate go to!

a. w.

Great food. Like a Japanese version of yum cha. Has the best sesame seed ice cream! The people who work there can only make you smile and if they know its ur birthday... They want everyone to know with drums and very loud singing! Such a great atmosphere!

Fab night with friends. Food is exceptional and authenticity guaranteed. Cold handles of Sapporo, superb 👌!

B. C.

Had an end of the year dinner with mates just before Xmas. Group of 8 seated upstairs. Unique seating arrangement before a round of drinks. Food served was piping hot and each dish had a different texture and flavour. It smelt as good as it tasted. Filled a table of island lads with big appetites. The host was very friendly and shouted a Japanese shot of sake for the table. Enjoyed the food and atmosphere.

My wife and I ordered Karage chicken, stir fried vegetables, Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki and went home with leftovers. All of our food was delicious, was cooked and served quickly, and watching it being made on front of us was awesome. The staff were all friendly and professional, recommend.

The food is delicious, the customer service is excellent, and it's a unique dining experience

Wow... what a great cultural experience. Great food, great staff, great vibes. Highly recommended

Decent food but a bit rough when we drop a few hundred bucks each time but they'll charge $1 for a glass of warm water instead of ice cold water and $3 for some more wasabi. Definitely unusual for Japanese, so I presume local ownership/management. Would be 4 stars otherwise as the food is authentic.

This place is always the best time. The minute you walk in the door you are greeted by boisterous shouts in Japanese and the beating of a traditional drum. They have asahi on tap which is the real japanese asahi not the locally brewed and bottled version (there's a difference!) And the house warm sake is excellent. Honestly you can't go wrong with anything you order off the menu but I highly suggest the skewers, given it's a yakitori bar. You like prawns? Get the bacon wrapped prawns with yum yum sauce. You like beef? Get the sirloin. You like scallops? They have scallops. This place is always busy so not only does it have a pumping vibing atmosphere, it's also a wise idea to either book ahead or call and check they have seating available before turning up. It is my pleasure to give this a solid 5/5 and if the rating scale was 10, it would be 10s across the board.

Japanese experience in Auckland, traditional food and atmosphere. Juicy squid, delicious lever, amazing scallops, nice sushi. I feel I was in Japan every time when I leave this place. Place has a very special way to greet and say goodbye to their guest. Go there and experience it yourself

Good service. Good food. Heaps of atmosphere.

F. B.

I live coming here because it isn't just a regular restaurant. It is a whole experience. It really feels like you are in Japan. The staff are so lively and make you feel at home. The food is delicious, and there is so much to chose from! Order a beer and watch the machine pour it... I ended up ordering more beer just to watch it be poured again

Awesome atmosphere and tried a whole variety of dishes. The pinnacle was the sushi, spicy sushi mayo !!!

Good food and amazing atmosphere 👌

Absolutely delish. Good to come in a group so you can try lots of dishes. Faves were the oysters and karaage chicken with mayo. Service was fast and food came out regularly so we weren't waiting. Very friendly atmosphere with great staff.

T. A.

Always enjoy coming here with friends and family. Warm welcome by staff. Food is quick, fresh and delicious. One of our favs and good value Japanese in Auckland for sure.

Great place to eat . Authentic and has a great atmosphere. Reasonably priced and tasty. My fav is the pork belly . Slow cooked over a charcoal barbecue yum yum !

Really great atmosphere, feels like in in Japan! Staff very kind and helpful. Great food! 😋

Thanks to Sekai, Joy, Makoto and the rest of the team at Sakebar Nippon! We've been regular customers of the Epsom branch for 3 years and we always feel welcome here. The food and drinks are amazing and the atmosphere is also very lively without being too loud. We have a great experience each and every time and the staff make an effort to make our evening special. This is our favourite place for when we want to celebrate or have a special dinner.

K. H.

Felt like I was actually in Japan! Wait staff are do wonderful and all staff actually act like they're in Japan. All staff yell welcomes and goodbyes whenever customers come and go. The food is wonderful, with a massive variety of Sake too. Thank you for making me feel I was back in Japan! どうもありがとうございます!

D. “. D.

I have been here a few times now and I keep coming back. The food, karaoke, drums and costumes all go towards making this Auckland's most fun Japanese eating experience. The menu offers pages of selections worth trying. I have yet to meet someone who does not like the food or atmosphere here. The only problem with all the noise and distraction is that you really have to make sure the staff can hear you when ordering. Three times we tried to correct our order of sake, and each time they brought more Asahi! Maybe it was our singing.

C. S.

My review is more of a 3.5 stars to be honest. The food is good, quality of food is also good. However just a few things that irked me. Firstly, it looks like a traditional Japanese sushi restaurant, but the type of sushi and kitchen food being served is quite catered to Westerners. The prices are a bit high as well. The staff are super friendly, but the way things were being operated really made service very slow. For example; they would take our order, but wouldnt clear the tables next to us (when they couldve taken the dirty plates since they were going to the kitchen). They would then come back and then take the plates afterwards. Also, if you order food from the kitchen, it may take a while. We waited at least 20-25 mins for our kitchen food to arrive (the restaurant was half full). These are things they can work on and Im sure they will get better!

The most authentic Japanese bar experience available in Auckland. The restaurant is a little too small for comfortable dining, but the delicious food and alcohol selection compensates for the seats. It is constantly loud, and therefore not the place for people who prefer quiet, romantic dining experiences. Walking into Sake Bar Nippon on Manukau Road is like walking into Japan's bar culture. ごちそうさまでした。またすぐ帰る事にします。

Japanese staff and good quality tasty food. Was my regular when I was closer to Manukau road. Has an upstairs area that I like, the building really reminds me of Japan where the eateries are small but make use of the space.

Very fun authentic Japanese restaurant. As you enter the sushi chefs call out and play the drums. This made it fun through the night. Although we didn't reserve we were quickly seated and had a push button for service. We got the mixed sashimi, salmon and kingfish were great, tuna was defrosted and had a weird texture, pork This a, yum, takoyaki, lots of big pieces of octopus but lacking flavour, spicy tuna roll, yum, and the tempura squid, meh tempura wasn't very crispy. Overall I loved the atmosphere and drinks but the food was just ok.

Sensational food. Great atmosphere and a great selection of food. Crispy tempura, succulent green veggies and the freshest sashimi possible were some of the highlights. I want to keep coming back to this fine Epsom establishment

Great service, awesome atmosphere and primo food. Had to race the kids to each dish!

G. V.

Amazing, authentic experience. Food tastes fresh and delicious. They welcome you through the door and farewell you when you leave. For all those hater moaning about delivery times; Go to Burger King down the road, if you want instant food. For anyone wanting an experience, go here. Yes,the kitchen is small and the crowds are large, but what an experience!

S. S.

The best fun and food experience you can have in Auckland. Loved the atmosphere, the noise and the divine selection of food. Would heartily recommend to a group wanting to try something new. You won't regret it.

W. S.

Great service, delicious food, lively atmosphere. I felt as if I was actually in Japan haha. Would love to come again and try more things on the menu. Was my first time trying raw beef (beef tataki) so was a little apprehensive at first but after the first bite I wanted more, so deliciously succulent.

Very good place; authentic and a high quality of food/service. A must visit for every foodie.

Authentic Japanese cuisine! I had Ginger pork on rice... Yum yum! They do special occasions such as birthdays - happy 80th mum!

Great service, great vibe. The food comes out fast and is good. Food is probably 4/5 but everything else boosts them to a 5. The spicy tuna roll was a little delighter and the Nigiri/Eel is not comically over priced like it is at most Japanese places.

This place is amazing, we where lucky enough to stumble across this place after busy weekend at Meatstock. Their hospitality is amazing, the food is even better, if you havent been, do you self a favor and go! The only thing you will regret is not going their before.

Awesome service and food. It's as if you've been transported to Japan for dinner. Highly recommend the 'umeshu' plum wine. Fantastic range of Japanese beer, sake and whiskey. Thoroughly enjoyable experience

Wow great food amazing restaurant awesome service and a cool vibe

A truly Japanese experience. 🙂 This is a fun little joint and you'll find it welcoming (they'll welcome everyone with the drums), cosy, lively, serving great food by friendly staff. Definitely a place to keep coming back to.

Happened to walk in off the street about ten minutes before it got packed - so lucky to get in and enjoy such an amazing restaurant! The atmosphere, food and staff were so great, we would recommend this place 100%

Definitely loved loved the food and the experience!! The Gyutan steak was super! We had two! And everything else was amazing al well, eg. sushi, Scollap, grilled squid, chicken, pork skewers, tofu. Will invite more friends to enjoy it for sure!

T. R.

We just love this place. From the buzzer to call the waiting staff, to the delicious and authentic Japanese food. Never fail to disappoint. Okonomiaky and sashimi boat are excellent options, and beef tataki if you're into raw food. Staff wear costumes and it gets very entertaining :)

Ambiance, food, staff are all wonderful. Very authentic. Always going for the Grilled Garlic Shrimp, Takoyaki balls, Grilled Squid and Yakisoba noodles. Delicious food! Prices do go up at times and tend to be pricey so this place is a treat.

Great Sushi train style place in Epsom

A. A.

beautiful it was my first time , and loved every bit of it, they welcome u with some drums which is beautiful, the atmosphere is amazing, have to try the steak with onions and mushrooms, u will love it, the beer was so fresh felt like they just made it lol, also try the dessert. about $40-$50 per person , but it's all worth it,

p. h.

Good food, good service, but a bit slow coming to take orders. This may be cause we're upstairs.

D. F.

Crazy infectious vibe. So popular, if you haven’t reserved a table on a Tuesday night, then the place is full. Amazing food, great service, etc etc. prices really good.

s. y.

Service and food are great. Staff are friendly and food is reasonably portioned and adequately priced. The only downside is that its very easy for the bill to really stack up! I would recommend sitting upstairs, as it is quieter and the air is much fresher.

Excellent food, excellent atmosphere, really friendly staff. Would highly recommend.

N. N.

The food was nice great portion sizes for sharing. Atmosphere is fun too! Love the drum beating to welcome you. Only criticism is they seem under staffed.

Absolutely delicious food: fresh sashimi and tasty skewers and teriyaki chicken, with crispy Renkon chips! A well-stocked sushi train is available, J-pop plays on the speakers, and the staff are extremely friendly and great with kids. Would recommend for a fantastic night out!

Love this place. Cheerful, delicious sushi rice (tender & melts in your mouth). Karaoke upstairs too! Things to be aware of: there's a colour code so you can tell what has meat in it. I stupidly ordered the spring rolls only to find they had some kind of meat in them, plus nori, which fills your nose / taste buds with a yucky fried nori flavour. They change the menu all the time so I can't say avoid, but yeah, the special Sake Bar Spring rolls are not good if they're the same as what I didn't finish eating. Okonomiyaki is quite a large serve. Not recommended if eating alone unless that's all you want to eat.

Very authentic Japanese experience and very happy about the food and the service received. I would go again and would recommend to any one if you wish to have a authentic Japanese experience. Well done team. Keep it up!

K. H.

10/10 such a cool place, great atmosphere amazing food and lovely staff!

G. W.

The most authentic-feeling Japanese sushi and sake bar that I think I've ever visited. Came for a mate's birthday and sat upstairs at the group tables where you must take off your shoes. The staff will come and kneel next to your table to take your order and serve. We ordered a ton of great food and sake with service that felt like it got quicker the longer we were there (or maybe that's thanks to the sake haha). There's also a duplicate "nippon sake bar" listing on Google maps for this same location, but trying to have it merged so it doesn't confuse others.

Awesome food... Loved the steak. Chicken karage was good too

Really enjoyable atmosphere and amazing friendly staff! One of our favourite places to visit, but more recently we ordered takeaways due to covid! Food travels well and was just as delicious as always!!

Great experience if you want fresh food and a great selection of Sake. The staff are wonderful and helpful.

As close to an original Japanese Sake bar you're going to get according to my wife who has been to Japan numerous times. Recommend "yummy scallops" and make sure you book unless before 6!!!

Great food, love the concept of having to push ur button to order. Small portions but still enough for sharing. Bookings are a must they are always busy.

Amazing fresh seafood, gyosa, squid rings. noisy fun atmosphere, kid friendly. Great service

Lively atmosphere. Good service. Quality food. Trying to give a very Japanese Izakaya image but the menu and cooking style still shows a lot of NZ influence

Great service and vibe .. tasty freshly prepared meals

The food is tasty but you can get similar or better food at a cheaper price elsewhere. Ken's yakitori or nishiki for example.

M. W.

The music was so loud, people were yelling to be heard over it. Trying for a nightclub, it ended up jest being a tolerable place with decent food. If I go back, it will be for takeaway.

Fabulous food great fun

Have been here few times and will keep coming back. The food is fresh and staff are so welcoming. So authentic. Very busy place so we always book. ❤

We were delighted by so many flavours and options. They made my birthday a real celebration and good memory. Great service and atmosphere.

Atmosphere is great, always busy. Food is tasty. However every time they serve us food we didnt order. Last night they tried to serve us 5 dishes we didnt order, the first one we accepted, which turned out to be a very expensive mistake! Very very confused service!

yum yum😋😋

C. S. H.

An authentic Japanese sushi and sake bar experience. They serve the best charred salmon sushi and grilled scallops I have ever eaten. Highly recommended!

Very good service, the food it's fantastic

Amazing experience from the moment you walk in. Succulent food that leaves you wanting more, brilliant service and all around good energy. Would reccomend for any outing.

Awesome atmosphere and great food. The place is very alive and the staff are very friendly! The food is very good. Would definitely recommend

M. G.

crazy atmosphere smiling staff great prices good food. deserts arent worth it unless for the kids. all in all excellent service. make sure to ring an book in or you probably wont get a table its so busy.

Delicious food, nice portions, efficient service. Lovely staff, friendly hosts and will definitely recommend people there. well done.

Great lively vibe, staff are so helpful and friendly. Food always delicious. Make sure you book, they get very busy.

good vibe and food. I've been there a few times. first time I tried grilled whole squid and it was awesome

Great atmosphere, high energy service from the staff. Really nice food and a good time all round.

Great atmosphere great food thank you team!

R. K.

Delicious food, excellent service. Awesome atmosphere and a very friendly welcome!

Food is tasty and okonomiyaki is as close to the real Hiroshima thing as I ever found here. Acewers were OK but nothing remarkable. Staff often seems clueless when it comes to bookings - maybe better to focus on training than silly hats?

Really good service and food. Good value for money. Authentic. You know you've had good food when you feel like you have to be airlifted out.

My favourite restaurant in the whole of Auckland. Incredible food, awesome experience. Waiting staff are great. Can't recommend this place enough. What a place!!

Fantastic food and atmosphere + reasonably priced food! Great place for groups or couples. Thanks for an awesome evening.

Great place for work function. Food, Staff and management were amazing. I'm definitely sold on this place as my new local, I also got to meet the owners and shared sake with them .

Definitely one of the most authentic Japanese restaurant experiences you could have outside of Japan. Great service with a great atmosphere

Love love love Sake Bar Nippon! The best restaurant in NZ ! Great food and great atmosphere. Kenji and Miyu are the Best! :)))))

C. M.

My favorite Japanese place, but wen I went today I was a bit disappointed. We arrived at six and got our food at 7:30 but the steak didnt come till 9. This was very inconvenient because we have a 1 year old baby who should have been asleep and was cranky

Awesome fun with friends! Delicious traditional japanese food, with friendly staff! Try to get a seat upstairs if you can!

Food is beautiful, atmosphere is great but you do have to pay the privilege, it is not a cheap place to eat out.

Great food . Excellent Atmosphere. Might go again tomorrow night.

Delicious as usual.. I love this restaurant.. just the atmosphere the food, staff and the rustic setting.. right up my alley !!

Great fresh food, very quick service. Good for families, but has very steep staircase and narrow passageways so not good for prams

Great food with a welcome rivalling a Japanese eatery I went too in the last 12months entertaining and great atmosphere

Brilliant service with good food! A must visit if u love Japanese food!! The drum beats are exciting. Gets a bit noisy when heaps of people.

D. P.

Authentic. $177 feast for three, included one small beer each and desert. Great atmosphere. Pricey.

Fantastic themed Japanese with super friendly staff, large menu and perfect for groups. Very cosy in winter & food is very good

We've been coming here for over a decade, and it is consistently excellent. The food, service and atmosphere are always on point

Fun atmosphere. Great food and service. So many food options to try, I will be back😀

They bang a drum when you leave.

I start with 5 stars but I am taking 1 star off for lack of wait staff, sometimes it took too long to call a waiter over Also taking another star off for the food being average, nothing special.

V. C.

I love this place! It is delicious and so amazingly authentic, it's like visiting Japan

R. M.

Great atmosphere. Food is good value, and comes out quickly usually.

Great atmosphere. Friendly staff. Food a wee bit expensive but not over priced! Enjoyed it very much

Superb authentic Japanese food. This is one place that anyone staying in Auckland should try. Reasonably priced, brilliant service.

Always awesome. Fantastic service and delicious food. We love Sake Bar

The food is always delicious, the hot sake is heated perfectly, and the atmosphere is amazing! Making it tradition to come here!

I felt like in Japan! This is great. Excellent food & drinks and superb service. Will b back.

Good service. Excellent foods.

Best Japanese restaurant in Auckland! Delicious food,great apostrophe ,staff are friendly, always fun time . Love there :)

Always love going here! Great food & great atmosphere! Grab a group of friends & have a night great food & karaoke!

One of the best places in Auckland City to eat..has the greatest atmosphere friendly staff and great service highly recommended 👍

Excellent spot. Food is great, service the same.

C. H.

Check out the group booking options, it comes with Karaoke. The food is good, a little bit pricey but if you are celebrating with a group there are fewer better places. There is no lift or disabled toilet. So it's not possible to go upstairs if you are in a wheelchair. I have been here many times and never disappointed if somewhat poorer and tipsy at the end of the night.

R. E.

Great food, great atmosphere and hard case wait staff. Will definitely go again.

Recommend to book its always busy, great food, friendly staff and fun setting. We went last night it was so busy yet service never faults and food again always on point.

Great place to have Asian food. Keep in mind that you have to take your shoes off so wear clean socks or wash your feet so it smells like flowers :)

R. A.

Excellent Food, Funky fun staff and friendly service. Food took a while to arrive but place was full full full. Again, EXCELLENT Food. Worthy.

Really authentic izakaya with friendly and energetic staff. Food is good, and prices aren't bad at all.

Loved the Karaoke session

F. M.

So, so good. Went here two nights in a row because of good food and great entertainment. Highly recommended.

The best Japanese restaurant in Auckland. I love the food, the fun atmosphere, decorating and everything

Good food and service, sub par venue

Great food great staff

Great food and great service

Always love this place great atmosphere and food never let's me down!

Fabulous food, great service and such a fun environment:)

Very average really. Chewy pork and expensive wine and only a choice of 2 Sauvignon Blancs, neither of which were any good. Should not be licenced. Should be BYO. Will not return.

Food was great and the atmosphere was awesome. Recommend it.

Food is always amazing. But weren't too pleased with the service staff continually ignoring us on our recent visit.

The food, atmosphere and service was amazing.

C. C.

Amazing food, terrific atmosphere, absolutely loved it.

Absolutely amazing, the staff are extremely friendly and food was delicious.

P. B.

Awesome atmosphere, food and staff. I go there often.

Amazing food quality and tasted amazing and love the welcome when you come in

Very friendly staff and good food. Would be great if they had high chairs for babies.

Fun atmosphere, friendly welcome, sit and watch your food prepared at the bar seats. Tasty. Did I mention the gong beating as you walk in!

It really makes you feel like you're in Japan. Lovely staff and same with the food!

Interesting atmosphere, nice food and good service. Truly managed by Japanese chef

V. P.

This is one of my fav Japanese places. Authentic atmosphere, super yummy food, lots of variety

The best fresh food and always cooked to perfection. With friendly efficient staff

Delish food, great staff, great atmosphere. Loved every minute

Absolutely amazing place great food and the service was unlike anywhere else I have been to

Fun, casual and popular!

Always good food excellent choices and a cool atmosphere almost street like

Love the food and environment

Nothing better than entering to the beat of a drum.great eats. Great beats. Great feats. Get it. Got it. Gone.

A favourite. Outstanding Japanese food. Ambience is excellent.

T. E.

Been an all time fav for years. Lovely family run buisness that always deliver yummy treats!

Amazing atmosphere. Beautiful service. Great food.

T. K.

Very recommend to go there as it very fresh sea food. Well manners staff .

T. V.

Delicious food, excellent service - perfect for a dinner out with friends!

Good Japanese and lots of fun at the counter if you like watching the people in the kitchen do their thing.

Our favorite Japanese food in Auckland. Amazing staff with fresh Japanese food!

Sake, sushi and kareoke evenings here are always great fun.

Lively and loud! Fun place to hangout for a beer and a few bites before catching a movie at the Lido next door

Amazing all around. Great vibe. Friendly staff. Food is a 10.

Great night awesome food, staff are very friendly

Delicious authentic Japanese cuisine and atmosphere!

Delicious fresh, quality sashimi. A little extra "cosy" however if busy

Nice please, good food and smiling people. We had a good time. Good for families even with kids

Delicious if expensive authentic Japanese Izakaya

Love the atmosphere, nice food too go along with

Best Japanese food and authentic experience in all of Auckland(I eat out a lot).

Had the best night ever food and service was exceptional!!!

Our family favourite for the last 16years .the food is to die for and the service is commendable !!!

Great fun place. Food most enjoyable and fresh is fresh.

They have the best Japanese fried chicken :) Great atmosphere too!

Was a great night good food will go back

Love this place. Great food and atmosphere. Awesome staff

Fun atmosphere. Good teppan and grilled dishes.

Always excellent service and amazing food. Love this place

Great food, great service. Don't miss out!!

Great food and service as always!

Our Favorite place !! Delicious food..Great experience.

Their oyster is the best and love the BBQ as well. Nice place.

A great place to enjoy authentic Japanese food that in a warm welcoming environment, excellent food and great atmosphere

Aways a great place to visit, great atmosphere, great food!

The food here is just ok if I’m honest.

Best restaurant around,staff, atmosphere awesome

Great food in a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. Always a treat.

Amazing place, awesome customer service food is amazing

Good and tasty food . Friendly customer service.

Fantastic food and excellent service as always!!!

Always love going to Sake Bar Nippon

Great food and atmosphere

Amazing, great atmosphere great staff

Absolutely amazing food. Fantastic vibe!!

Good fun for a group. Very happy place. Good for kids too

Yummy sushi. Love the buzz this place gives you. ...Highly recommend.

Alwys great food. Will continue to visit

Always a great night awesome atmosphere And great food

Amazing food and amazing staff

Authentic Japanese food although the sushi types are limited 😊

Excellent authentic restaurant. Really liked the drums..

We enjoyed our meal....fantastic..Will be back

Best Japanese restaurant in NZ... Hands down!

Amazing food and service. Lovely staff 😍

Awesome choice of amazing Japanese cuisine. Mmmm

Great food, great service, fun atmosphere

Always a great meal there

Authentic Japanese experience. Friendly staff and plenty of space to accommodate everyone.

Fantastic fun fast great food

Nice food. Good for a group of people.

R. H.

It was the best the food was the brilliant will be back.

Nice place, great food, super efficient service.

Excellent restaurant, reminded me of Japan. Sugoi!

The sashimi here beats Kura and Tanuki's Cave put together.

Great food and atmosphere

Great place to eat lively atmosphere and beautiful food

Awesome food and exciting atmosphere.

Great atmosphere, food and service.

Awesome food and atmosphere.

Epic as always even in Level 2 😀🇯🇵 kanpai arigatoo

Good menu. Great interior design.

Incredible food, incredible service. Cosy

Welcoming drum beats, polite service, fresh and tasty food.

Wide selection of tapas-style treats. The place exudes energy.

Amazing Japanese food serviced here.

Good food, lovely people.

Loved the food and the atmosphere!

Awesome place! Can’t wait to come back!!

Awsome place top food,staff and atmospheric

Brilliant fun & amazing food!

Great food and great service!

Great atmosphere and great food for sharing

Excellent service, delicious food!!!

Awesome food and great atmosphere

Professional Chef, smiley face staff great to watch.

Great service and yummy food.

Great food, great people

Food was great but service was slow

Great service and excellent food

Great atmosphere great food!

Authentic japanese place with friendly staff.

Good Japanese restaurant. Delicious food.

Noisy. Too Busy. Good Food.

Always amazing food and entertainment

Great night out,will be back👍

Really good food. Grate service

Best izakaya in new zealand hands down

Good food nice service

Fantastic atmosphere, great service

Great atmosphere & yummy food

Good atmosphere,friendly staff and very helpful

Great service and amazing food

Good food. Fun night

Best Japanese in Auckland

Best Japanese place in Auckland by far!

Great food & great service

Good food, sake, and fun

BBQ with sake, the best.

Love this place - authentic and delicious

Great food and atmosphere

Great environment and service

Just as good as ever - kampai!

Very enjoyable, will go again

Best down to earth in Auckland

Cool Iconic place to go!

Always an excellent meal

Great food and atmosphere

i love this place

Awesome food and service 👌

Really nice food!

awsome food!!

Quick and Japaneseay.

Good food, good service.

little bit salty, but nice

Best Japanese food in auckland

Very nice.

Fantastic service and food

Great service and sake

Very authentic and fun!

Japanease food

Top service friendly fast efficient service

Good food

Cozy, authentic, great food...

Great place good food

Sushi train is good

Best place for dinner !

Cool 👍

fun times

Best Japanese restaurant !!

Very nice meal.

Very authentic atmosphere

Whoop whoop, sake bar is the best.

Great place great atmosphere

Would.

I like it

Very good food

Super nice staff

Great dessert.

Food is great.

cheap and delicious

Soooooo good!!!!

Loved it

Good Japanese food

Great meal out

Absolutely amazing

Lots of laughs

Loved the food

Great food

My favorite place

Very nice.

Good environment

無.

Taste good

Best Japanese in town

Beautiful......

(Translated) A friendly Japanese restaurant with many guests and staff (Original) 손님 많고 직원들은 친절한 일본 음식점

(Translated) Japanese style izakaya. The employees are mostly Japanese. Prices are normal for a Japanese restaurant. The whole dish is delicious. We recommend sushi and sashimi in general. There are no yakitori. However, the whole store was noisy, and the sounds of the drums when entering and leaving the store and the calls of employees felt noisy. (Original) 日本風の居酒屋。従業員もほぼ日本人。料金はジャパニーズレストランとしては普通レベル。料理全体が美味しい。お勧めは寿司と刺し身全般。焼き鳥はない。しかし店全体は騒がしく、入店、退店時の太鼓の音や従業員のコールがうるさいと感じた。