Reviews of Yamato Japanese Restaurant. (Restaurant) in Rotorua (Bay of Plenty).

Yamato Japanese Restaurant

570 Reviews

268 Comments

Restaurant

Japanese restaurant

1123 Pukuatua Street, Hillcrest, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand

Description

Information of Yamato Japanese Restaurant, Restaurant in Rotorua (Bay of Plenty)

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 Yamato Japanese Restaurant

Popular times

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Reviews of Yamato Japanese Restaurant

M.

One of the best Japanese Restaurants I've ever tried😋 The sushi rolls are the best and they are all freshly made in front of you. The price is reasonable as the ingredients are very fresh and the portion is great:) We felt so satisfied after the meal and we even preordered a take-away for next day's lunch😆

H.

I used to live in Japan some years ago. This is definitely one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in NZ. Real taste of Japan with reasonable price. We spent $71 for our family of 4 and we couldn’t finish it all and not to mention the food was so delicious. I hope we can find the same quality of Japanese cuisine in Auckland as well. Will definitely go back for more whenever we are in Rotorua. Highly recommend!

K.

We stumbled upon this place a few months ago and thought they were good. Today we went back in to celebrate our anniversary and we’re so pleasantly surprised with the food. Everything was tasty, fresh and so authentic. My favorite was the chirashi.

J.

Beautiful and authentic Japanese food. We are from out of town and have returns to this place every time we are in Rotorua. Food is so tasty and good value. Hard working staff, ample parking at the front and is within Ealing distance if you are in CBD. You have to book to avoid disappointment, the place is ALWAYS packed even during weekday lunch hours. Super super yummy food, highly recommend others to try when you are in Rotorua. A must visit eatery for you to visit. Owner operator and very good and friendly . services. Orders can take a bit longer to prepare if the place is packed and you don't get your orders in quickly. But great food and it's worth the wait.

김.

Last time when we visit Rotorua we couldn’t have food because of long holiday with restaurant. So we really wanted to come again when we have chance to visit. And finally we had it. I love here. It was so yummy and price was good and even atmosphere. If i have to come Rotorua I’ll visit again and try other yummy dishes. 😉

G.

For starters we had the chicken dumplings, very tasty 7 out of 10. I had the Katsu Don, the pork was excellent, 8 out of 10. My wife had the salmon avocado sushi roll, this was 10 out of 10 due to it being the best we ever tasted. The service also 10 out of 10, very friendly and efficient. I will definitely be back.

K.

Love this place, feels like I am back in Japan (been many times in the last few years). Tofu salad is very silky and extremely generous. The cream cheese croquettes were an explosion of flavour. The recommended dry sake was a great accompaniment to the amazing deluxe chirashi sushi set (18 pieces). Generous serves of fatty fish and wide selection of seafood make this dish a winner. Prices are very fair too. Love Yamoto Japanese restaurant.

K.

Best Japanese restaurant in Rotorua and I always visit Yamato on my every visit to the town. Everything made fresh in front of you and tastes soo good. Highly recommended spicy tuna rolls, salmon rolls and takoyaki balls. Amazing staff.. Highly recommended

R.

You must be doing something right if you have been here for 20 years! Their food were very good, authentic and high quality, made by Japanese and hosted by Japanese. The sashimi on the Chirashi was beautifully presented and very fresh. We enjoyed our lunch here very much.

N.

One of the best Japanese food. Great sashimi, very generous portions and fantastic quality. Better to make booking in advance.

S.

Hands down the best sushi in New Zealand, coming from myself who is from Japan I love my sushi. Such a shame I can’t get this down in Wellington. If i was a little closer I would be a regular.

S.

Had the unagi (eel) for lunch, and it was really delicous so we went back for dinner and had sashimi. As someone who has lived in Japan this was the real deal. Recommended but best to book as it is popular.

S.

This was like going back to Japan to us, what a unique dining experience in New Zealand, but typically found in Japan. It was great. I would recommend sitting at the counter so you can watch the chefs prepare your food, and when they aren't busy they are very willing to engage in conversation and extremely friendly. The sashimi was melt in your mouth, and the sake smooth. Highly recommend a visit to this great wee place. We hope to make it back there before we leave Rotorua.

S.

Can get busy but still only 20 min wait on food. Go here every fortnite. Staff work hard and the atmosphere at the bar area is great

K.

Fresh food rear Japanese people running business good time 👏

J.

The best Japanese restaurant I had in nz. Very authentic where fresh ingredients are prepared in front of you by the chef. The nigiri sushi are made with room temperature rice and super fresh fish. Soooooo good!

J.

Amazing food at a very reasonable price. Won't be able to eat such quality food at this price in Auckland I must say! Sashimi and sushi done in front of you, with a back kitchen. Authentic Japanese cuisine, cooked and served by Japanese people. It's not a big restaurant, so ideally you'd need to book a table in order to get a seating. The only downside of this restaurant is actually one, they don't use nice chopsticks but takeaway ones - and two, they don't make ramen but only udon.

E.

Did not expect much when we entered but was surprised by the quality of the food and fast service. The Saba was particularly delicious and the sashimi platter was fresh and well prepared as it should be. Prices were also very reasonable. We have a lot of good casual Japanese restaurants back at home and this one compares to the best of them. If I'm ever in Rotorua in the future, I will definitely remember to visit this gem again.

S.

Really lovely staff! Food was good and moderately priced. An enjoyable experience overall. I only gave it 3 stars because several ingredients were not fresh including the salmon in the chan chan yaki, which was a bit disappointing. My husband though his meal was only ok as his chicken Karage was slightly undercooked and was not crispy, as it should be. He also thought the miso was quite bland. Seems as though the sashimi is the star of the show according to most reviews.

F.

Visited on a Tuesday night (closed on Mondays), restaurant was quite busy so the service wasn’t as good as it could have been. Whilst sitting at the counter noticed frozen scallops and prepackaged ginger being used so not the freshest ingredients there but the sashimi was great. Decent if you happen to be craving Japanese cuisine.

T.

Sashimi was really fresh. Didn't expect this before our visiting. We also had nigirin platter, Miso soup, tempura, salmon rolls, fried squid (or octopus) and takoyaki. Everything was good. Will recommend this place for sure.

C.

We were craving for some Asian food when we spotted Yamato. The lunch set on offer was value-for-money, as we could order 4 dishes from the various categories, and the set is served with a bowl of miso soup. Temperature of the food was inadequate. The udon noodles and miso soup was served luke warm, instead of piping hot as I expected, based on my experience from the many authentic Japanese restaurants I have patronised. The fried fish cake could have been better, and chicken karage was very different from what I have had before. The sashimi was excellent though, as well as the egg salad. The hot sake was excellent, and perfect for warming us up in the cold weather. Service was impeccable as we can expect from the Japanese. I would definitely give this place another try, but perhaps ordering more of the raw food, sushi, and other dishes.

R.

I was having the tempura udon and it was the best!! They took a while to prepare the food, but that's all for your tongue. They're really friendly towards us, the music and the lighting is good.

L.

Overall really nice dining experience, very good service and food came very quickly. The food was very nice and we come here often. Highly reccommend!

S.

Great service with great authentic Japanese ambiance Variety of food available Lunch menu is great source. Good customer service Must visit spot if you like Japanese food

A.

Sushi and meals here are very authentic. The salmon sashimi is so fresh and it’s just melting in your mouth! Will come back to try other dishes.

P.

Exceptionally presented tasty food served with a smile 👌🏼

J.

Authentic Japanese food with real Japanese chefs preparing the meals. Small and no frills shop with counter seating. Good variety of foods.

J.

Really good Japanese food. Everything was super fresh and delicious. Very busy when we went, so service was a little slow, but all the staff were working hard to keep up and it was worth the wait.

s.

Best sushi in NZ I believe. The sushi master is making it in front of you with the most beautiful cuts of salmon and chicken. Tune menu is what you'd expect but the simplicity is great! I ordered the bento lunch box and it was filling enough but we added on a sushi plate to share - recommend!

R.

Awesome Japanese restaurant with a fantastic quality-to-price ratio! Food is really good, amazing atmosphere and service as well. Sashimi is just magic, I highly recommend it. The matcha tea ice-cream was very good by the way.

D.

Foods are good and very good environment and setting. Japanese owned and staff are friendly. They are quite popular in rotorua and busy.

C.

The steam salmon fish is yummy 😋

M.

Nice Japanese restaurant. I’ve been here few times now and this place never dissatisfy. They had good numbers of raw fresh fish. Price point is can be between 35-$55 per person including a drink. Best thing about this place is that their Japanese beers are actually imported from Japan. You can easily tell the difference in taste.

M.

Hands down the best sushi I have ever eaten (and I love sushi). I've been coming here for 16 years, sometimes several times a week. The fish is always fresh, the staff always lovely and it has a very authentic feel, including the music playing in the background. The takeaway menu is great as well, the Chirashi sushi is addictive and the Umeshu is absolutely delicious! Plenty of work lunches and birthday dinners have been held here. Thank you to the lovely staff at Yamato. You've made a lasting impression!

S.

Very tasty Japanese food in Rotorua. Booking is essential. Because it is very full.

T.

Really nice food Quick service and very reasonably priced Would visit again definitely Maybe time for a decor update though

K.

Oh loved my meal here as always. Was fully booked out for dinner but still found some space for me and enjoyed our food.

T.

I am having a different opinion to the most reviewers, although the sashimi themselves are definitely fresh, the sauce used in the donburi doesn't taste as typical as what you would find in Japanese streets. I guess something has to change to adapt to the local culture here in NZ.

J.

Great place for beautiful authentic Japanese food Book so you won't be disappointed

l.

Lovely friendly staff. Delicious bento box - you create your own. Great value for money

L.

First time we have been there and really enjoyed the meal.

R.

A great find for my wife and I. Yamato hit the spot perfectly and would rival any top Japanese restaurant in NZ. An abundance of fresh fish with plenty of species on the sashimi menu and a good offering of vegetarian dishes. We ordered all our dishes together expecting to come out at separate times as per the norm with quite a few Japanese restaurants and was impressed that all 5 dished came out almost at the same time. Will be back with the fams next time we’re on holidays. Thank you!!

H.

Great experience overall. The food and service was beyond amazing and the vibes were excellent and calming

G.

Friendly staff. Great food. Not many vegetarian options. I ordered salad roll. It was very good.

C.

One of the best Japanese restaurant in Rotorua. Nice staff and beautiful food.

A.

Food was amazing..really good will so be going back

A.

The place offers fresh Japanese food at really affordable price and big portion sizes, especially the sushi rolls are probably 2 portions of what you get at other places. The place is always packed so recommend to best make reservations. We always go there when it first starts at 6pm, and by the time we left at 7pm, almost all the tables have already changed to the next sets of guests! The only downside I think is that since they are too busy, you don't tend to get service with a smile. E.g. the waitress had to take another takeaway order call when I was paying. Then the counter was left unattended so I just paid and took my own receipt and left, which felt a bit weird and was a pity. Would still go back though whenever we want fresh Japanese food at Rotorua.

A.

Best food I've had in the town I've lived in for most of my life loved it

S.

Authentic Japanese food! We got the lunch special and enjoyed it. Thank you!

J.

Enjoyable dining experience. The staff are friendly and the food is fresh, delicious, and great value. Will definitely be back there again.

J.

Incredibly good, delicious, authentic, freshly-prepared Japanese food. Nice ambience and excellent service, you can sit at the sushi bar or grab a table. We enjoyed a delicious shared casual dinner for four - a tasty little miso soup, gyoza, luscious crispy vege and prawn tempura, takoyaki balls, chicken nanban and freshly made prawn sushi roll (the prawn was still warm and crispy!). So, so glad we found this place. Sadly we demolished all that goodness before taking photos :(

A.

I tried many Japanese restaurants in New Zealand and I have to say that Yamato is the most authentic one. The ambient and the taste of the dishes will make you feel like if you are actually in Japan. It is really affordable with many dishes to choose from. If you are looking for a great Japanese food, this restaurant is a must go on Rotorua.

S.

15 of us went to Yamato for our Christmas staff party. The food was absolutely fantastic and the staff were very accommodating. Best Saki we've ever tried too! Thanks for a great evening.

C.

One of the best Japanese restaurants in New Zealand, just like in japan.

K.

I always enjoy the cuisine at Yamato, I always order the lunchbox where you can choose 4 dishes from a selection of options for a reasonal price under $23. The trevally shashimi at $8 was on point, & fresh👌 so much so that I ordered another serve.

L.

Food was excellent . Made fresh , chicken was very tender. Awesome customer service. Even the water tasted good! I can’t have sushi anywhere else now a part from this place. Thank you!

M.

If you’re looking for a great japanese Izakaya in Rotorua, that’s the place! The food is fresh and yummy and the team is super friendly!

C.

Long wait and dishes came over a long period. They were packed out and the dishes were very good and beautifully presented. I will go again without hesitation. The lunch specials were excellent. The dishes was very fresh and generous. Staff were running the whole time.

T.

One of my favourite places to eat in Rotorua. Staff are super super amazing, very hospitable. Food is also very fresh! It's like being back in Japan! 👍👍😍😍

P.

Amazing place, very popular and understably so considering high quality food that is served here.

P.

Very lovley atmosphere staff was amazing and great food!

J.

Lovely food, beautifully presented and the sashimi was very, very fresh. Staff were extremely helpful & friendly. We sat up at the preparation counter and watched the chefs create sushi rolls. A pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.

P.

Always just the BEST. ABSOLUTELY LUV IT. FAVOURITE place to dine in Rotorua

F.

Amazing restaurant. We ordered what felt like every thing off the menu, and nothing disappointed. Delish food.We decided to catch up one weekend and wanted to go somewhere a bit different. We choose Yamato Japanese Restaurant. It was a excellent choice. When we arrived (at 7.00 pm) the restaurant was very busy.

B.

This place HAD always been my favourite and I would have recommend it in a heartbeat. The sushi chef left a while ago and I think they’re on to their 2nd or 3rd sushi chef and I have really noticed a decline in the quality. It used to be consistently perfect every time. I order salmon sushi with extra salmon. For a while now it’s been a surprise if it’s good! In the past it would’ve shocked me if it was not great! On Friday I had a generous amount of salmon, thank you! However, the rice was terrible. It was dry and had absolutely no seasoning. It was not pleasant to eat. The service when we would eat in was sometimes slow but the quality of the food convinced us that the wait was worth it. I’m not giving up on this place but, we won’t return for an eat in meal until the quality of the food returns. Hopefully soon!

A.

Very nice food cooked perfectly and the fish was fresh

박.

Nice place to eat lunch and dinner. All the people are hard working. So satisfied with the service and food. Will visit the next trip

D.

taste so nice! staff all friendly

I.

Food was great, made me feel like I was back in Japan. Wait times were a little longer than I'd like, but they were full house and post COVID so I can't really blame them. My service was still great. Will definitely return

T.

I don’t normally rate restaurants, but I really don’t understand some of the negative reviews so feel like I need to say something. Having lived in Australia for 4 years and as a longtime Japanese restaurants visitor, this is the best inexpensive Japanese restaurant I have ever been to in the Southern Hemisphere. I was only a tourist at Rotorua and only had it once, so I can’t say for all experiences. But for the one I had, the food was great (for its price)! The chicken was really tender, and the sauce was just right. Service was good, and they really give you an authentic Japanese atmosphere in the room. Love it.

M.

Friendly and efficient staffs, authentic Japanese cuisine, reasonable cost. What else you can ask for? 😉

N.

Great taste but expensive than food quality

K.

Food was OK to good, price was reasonable. Service was on the poor side, waitress found it difficult to split into 3 orders for 1 big group. For some reason she was quite insistent on taking the menu even though we were still using it. Had to repeat 3 times. She might have been frustrated over something, it was quite a busy night. People are usually OK to wait if it's busy as long as the staff are friendly.

S.

I’m reviewing this restaurant as we are finishing up our meal because it is that awesome. The fish was super fresh and the sashimi was one of the best I’ve ever had. The staff are lovely and I really loved sitting at the bar top watching the chef prepare the fish!!! Will be back!

P.

Everything with joyful taste. I tasted the best tuna maki here. Service polite and helpful.

R.

The taste of the food was good. The fish and salmon (sashimi) were very fresh and good. But if you came on the dinner time, it takes quite long until the food come. They always full. Originally Japanese

P.

We are Rotorua locals who used to occasionally dine at Yamato but hadn't dined there for a long time due to my favourite item on the menu, the giant prawns in warmed mayo sauce, being discontinued. I was very surprised by a few negative reviews on this webpage and felt compelled to write. After a very underwhelming and extremely costly dining experience in one of the so called best restaurants in the main restaurant area of 'Eat Street', my wife and I decided to go back to Yamato. As soon as we walked in the owner immediately welcomed me and my family to his restaurant and showed me from the menu a new version of mayo prawns. And we hadn't been there in ages! The new mayo prawns were absolutely incredible and I can't wait to go back and order more of them! The Nigiri Sushi tasted just as good as the sushi at a family restaurant in Tokyo, although the rice was slightly loose which made it a little difficult to eat. However, the tuna and salmon pieces on the Nigiri were cut to perfection, (which really 'wowed' me), making the balance between the amount of rice and fish perfect. We also had breadcrumbed squid, chicken karage on rice, rolled sushi, edamame, avocado tuna salad and more. And they were all delicious!! I don't remember being underwhelmed by a single dish that was served. Their menu has a fantastic range of authentic Japanese cuisine and the quality is as good as a family restaurant in Japan. (Disclaimer: you can wine and dine in Japan a thousand levels higher than a family restaurant but you pay for it!!) The food was delivered within 10 minutes but the waiting staff were a little hard to get service from because they were so busy. Overall I rate Yamato as one of the best value for money restaurants in Rotorua in taste and experience and especially cost. We all came away buzzing, my daughter asking why we hadn't been there more often!! While sitting in the restaurant we felt we were back in Tokyo! A great experience! Thank-you Yamato!! Looking forward to our next meal there...

p.

The best Japanese in town - and authentic! For people like me, who frown on mayo drizzle on shushi and too sweet teriyaki, Yamato is heavenly. Tried lunch bento this time - sushi, sashimi, Saba and fish salad - wonderful, as always.

K.

Great authentic Japanese food. Plenty of menu options, including drinks. Reasonably priced and delicious. Child friendly options and high chairs available. Not very wheelchair friendly, getting in can be slightly difficult but not impossible. Quite a small venue and sometimes popular menu items are not available. Take out available. Bookings are essential.

M.

Polite friendly staff. Menu always consistently delicious.

M.

Very good quality authentic japanese food and atmosphere, could use a good clean around sushi bar area looked a little cluttered and frozen scallops and other things thawing in water on bench. prob not the best look but was very tasty food. Friendly service even though was very busy.

A.

Absolutely love this place! I probably go there once every one to two weeks with my partner as we love the staff and food there. Always a positive vibe and loving environment. If you love sushi, I would definitely recommend you go to Yamato.

S.

Overall an average experience. The food we ordered is sashimi, eel and fried chicken. I don't think it taste bad but I wasn't awed. However, the service was, I had to say, to be the most un-professional one I have seen in NZ. The staff took way too long to bring us the menu. She also can't keep her recording very well as we had to remind her again that we want fried chicken. And at the end when we ready to pay and leave, we had to wait at the counter for more than 10 minutes just to waiting for one of their staff to finish the call before we can swipe our eftpos card....what was she doing before that? She ignored us standing there and walked pass us at least twice without asking what we want to do (basic manner?). Overall the dining experience is not all pleasant and I won't go back again, even if I got plenty of time to waste.

C.

yes, one of the Best Japanese restaurant

E.

I absolutely love this place. I go all the time. I was so pleased to find out that they had Beef takaki available normally they have sold of it. Everything was delicious and perfect as always. Thank you

A.

Really good service mainly by the main chef! He was doing the sushi looking down but still realised I dropped my chopstick and send someone to give me a new one without even raising my sight. Amazing sushi as well authentic flavour. Really nice.

j.

Great restaurant, affordable pricing although it was very busy and packed with people. Service may be slower as such but the food is well worth the wait. The special of the day ‘beef stew’ was amazing with melt in the mouth beef. Sashimi was also fresh and tasty.

M.

Excellent Japanese food, as always! Service a little slow on sushi items, but it was very busy and they did warn us. Have been before, will return again, often!

C.

An unexpected gem. Great quality, we had a feast.

D.

One of two of my favourite traditional Japanese restaurants in New Zealand, think 'Midnight Diner'. Drove 5 hours for it. Think about that.. not too long, then come here for a delightful feast. 食べ物をありがとう

K.

A nice restaurant that was quite popular at dinner time. Grab a seat at the sushi bar yo watch the chef. Teriyaki bowl was just alright but the such rolls are great here. Big, fresh, and tasty!

P.

Very very good, great service and food

T.

I would give 4 stars for their food but their customer service let it down. After being seated for less 3 minutes, the girl wanted to get our order and I told her to give us more time because it's our first visit, she then came back to check on us every minute! Dining in there made me feel like they just want us to finish our meal and leave. 🙁 Plus... The pork belly we ordered was like cold/luke warm... Had to tell them to heat it up

I.

Good example of a restaurant that puts food ahead of decor. Always busy, this is the best and most original Japanese cuisine in New Zealand. This is genuine Japanese food. You have to have the sashimi. A combination of the best fish in the world from NZ and prepared in the best Japanese tradition.

M.

Really enjoyed our time here, the food was great and well presented, it is obvious that this is a popular place so it would pay to book ahead.

M.

Extremely good selection of sushi and sashimi. Impeccable and friendly service. Highly recommend.

D.

The fish and seafood are all very fresh. However we found the rice bowls lacked Japanese rice like authentic Japanese food. Overall fresh food but lacks authenticity.

P.

We had a fantastic dinner at Yamato! The quality of the food was very good and the price was very reasonable. The deluxe sashimi plate was amazing! Definitely would love to come back again!

N.

Lunch here is very decent. Authentic food. Delicious. Try it out. Found everything very fresh 😁

H.

Sushi was so good, remind me of being back in Japan! Other dishes on the menu were very good too. Highly recommended!

G.

Slow service, forgotten order, no super clean sushi area. However, lovely staff and decent prices. Not sure why they are rated better than the other Japanese in town. No comparison.

M.

The food was great and the staff were helpful and friendly! Some of the best Sashimi I've eaten! The pork and deep fried squid were exquisite! Great drink selection! Highly recommend!

G.

Wonderful experience. Amazing food, lovely service, fantastic atmosphere. We will travel to Rotorua again purely to go to this restaurant!

j.

Great food!!! Love the katsu don! XD

A.

Great japanese kitchen, nice friendly athmosphere. Quick service. Genius sushi chef at the bar. Special orders are no problem. Very good quality! Been there twice on a two day stay. Immediately full 30 min after opening in the evening on a friday. Lots of japanese guests. Reservations are possible. Perhaps best japanese restaurant in NZ!

L.

I tasted the best sashimi here. The fish pieces really melt in your mouth. We also enjoyed the chicken teriyaki. It's very tasty and the serving is good for 2 people.

N.

Delicious and fresh food. Love it very much.

b.

Very good service, Very tasty food. We were lucky to get a table without a booking. Good prices fo very fresh food. Favourite dishes included Shashimi, teriyaki pork.

R.

Been eating here for over 12 years and have never found another Japanese restaurant that compares. Even Auckland's Queen Street sushi restaurants pale in comparison. Have always loved eating here and always will.

M.

Good, authentic, Japanese fare at very reasonable prices

김.

Seriously... tasty... Sashimi is so freah sushi also great.. but... when we add other menu.. they missed... because they were so busy... I really wanted eat more... but have to gave up.... But really good place... I

A.

We dodged into Yamato for lunch with thirty minutes to spare and Yamato exceeded expectation within an ambience that was calm and dignified. We were advised to select from the sushi menu and the service we received was authentically Japanese – serene, prompt and courteous. Yamato’s sushi is prepared on the spot, with effortless efficiency. Our lunch arrived in the time it took for our water, plates and utensils to be placed, and tasted very fresh. The meat was sumptuous and delicate. The salad, crisp and clean on the palate. Between us, we ordered miso soup and raw salmon sushi roll, teriyaki chicken roll (half serve), and a salad hand roll, which is sushi ingredients – rice and salad – rolled into a cone shape that you hold in your hand, presumably for the reluctant convenience of eating on-the-run. We left feeling replete, and having paid only $23.50 in total. Sure to return - and soon - with a good hour up-our-sleeve for sublime tasting leisure.

A.

My wife and I came here on Sunday, 5.8.18 for dinner. Im giving it 4/5 for the following reasons:- 1. Food was impressive. We had the tempura udon, chicken teppanyaki, grilled squid, some sushi and salmon skin. 2. There was a very authentic Japanese feel to the place with the waitresses wearing kimonos and the decorations having traditional Japanese art. 3. The only drawback would be that service was rather slow. I'm not entirely sure why but the place was quite packed and maybe they dont have many chefs. Would recommend you going someplace else if you didnt have lunch or are extremely hungry. We had a couple who came way after us but got their food earlier. Maybe it's because what they ordered was quick to prepare (it wasn't sushi though). However, the optics didn't look good and we were quite disgruntled with this.

J.

Lovely place, staff great, bbq whole squid amazing, really nicely made and presented food. Gets busy , so have to book during school holidays.

S.

Authentic and tasty. Friendly service. Very nice Temaki with reasonable price.

W.

Firm favourite. Awesome tasty Japanese food with impeccable service. Always busy.

K.

Service was lovely, the food wasn't overly amazing. Prices were good though 👍🏼

W.

Excellent. Very Japanese...authentic. Friendly. Reasonably priced. In a tourist trap like Rotorua this place is a gem. You may have to eat at the bar...also very Japanese. The owners should be proud of themselves.

y.

Wonderful dining here. Good food with nice staff here. Great atmosphere. Must try the sashimi-don and Salmon-avocado roll!! Def come again!!

K.

Pretty good food, rather authentic. Service can be a little faster.

N.

Eat here almost every week. Delicious food, great value for money!

J.

Reasonable price , awesome food and friendly service

C.

Consistently good. Yummy food. Japanese Asahi. Friendly staff

M.

Aww... great choice for sashimi, sushi or anything Japanese!! Loved it!!

L.

Sushi takes time but hot food is fast. Ok to come in at 20:30 and eat. Sushi is great. I like eating at the bar so I can watch the sushi chef.

B.

We had a wonderful lunch here today. Beautiful sashimi, our highlight being the Trevally. :)

T.

Yamato has become the #1 resteraunt that my family and I visit whenever we feel like eating out. It has become so regular that whenever we go, we don't need to look atvghe menu, we already know what we want and they never fail to provide. The staff are also very nice and welcoming. This resteraunt will always be our number one ..

C.

Fantastic food and service. Very busy some nights so patience is often a virtue.

D.

Went here with my friend who is a Japanese Exchange student, Was very cool listening to my friend and the waitress talking in japanese. The waitress was dressed in an authentic japanese dress which was cool and she was very friendly, probably some of the best food I've ever had.

T.

Just the best! Authentic real Japanese food at last. I just wish that they moved to Christchurch!

G.

Been coming here for years. Never had a bad meal and service is always friendly. We take all of our visitors to Yamoto. Great food at a reasonable price.

O.

Food 4 of 5 Service 4 of 5 Cleaning 3.8

A.

Definitely a favorite of ours. Always great food and awesome service.

A.

My favourite restaurant in nz. Every time I visit Rotorua I am never disappointed. Good portion size, fresh, good value , very tasty. I especially recommend thick rolls

W.

Sashimi was good. The tempura udon was cooked perfectly. But friends commented the steak-Don was bland and the beef overcooked.

J.

We love this little restaurant and eat here whenever we're in Rotorua. Beautiful fresh food and delicious flavors.

R.

really crowded, was waiting for 1 hour to get my order. Meal’s good but not a surprising taste. Try if you with patience, go there to drink and talk and waiting for your meal.

W.

Good food. Nice little restaurant

F.

very very good quality of sushi and at a fair price. Friendly service. Only the ambience could be pimped up a little bit ;)

G.

Delicious food. We went here 2 nights in a row because it was so good :) would highly recommend!

G.

Love it. Fresh and delicious selections coupled with great service and meeting all my expectations. Yep - of course I am going back.

J.

Very nice food with good prices, lots of different options (I like the spicy tuna the best). I've gone there almost every birthday.

E.

The food was served fast and was nice and hot. Everything tasted amazing, and the service was lovely too

M.

Delicious food in an authentic atmosphere that will transport you back in time. Bento lovers must visit!

L.

Fresh sashimi, delicious BBQ squids, and sushi is very nice. Had a good time in Rotorua with delicious Japanese food.

M.

The sashimi sizes were very generous. Everything looked and tasted great. Highly recommend it.

M.

Try the thick salmon sushi rolls. Best I’ve ever had. Great value. Sashimi is very fresh and tasty.

C.

Very nice atmosphere, food delivered very quickly and was very tasty, thanks

c.

Best Japanese food here easily. Very nice staff. I wish I had a place like this where I live.

M.

Great place for fresh sashimi and nigiri! Really nice atmosphere especially if seated by the bar.

F.

Salmon sashimi was the highlight. Better than some sashimi places in Sydney. Definately better than what you get from sydney fish markets. would go again if i spent more time in Rotorua.

T.

Enjoyed the meal very delicious and authentic tastes, reasonably priced.

L.

I love coming here whenever I'm in Rotorua! Absolutely yum food, lovely service and clean/tidy. They are popular as there are always plenty of customers when I go :)

V.

Very fresh delicious sushi! Get chefs choice so you can try a few different types of fish. Loved it

A.

Best experience and sushi ever. I wish there was one of these in Auckland. Thank you a lovely evening <3

C.

Very busy restaurant but we managed to get our seats at the bar counter. Loved the sushi and sashimi very much.

A.

Absolutely beautiful food, the standard is always high

S.

Busy restaurant in a small town. Food is ok. Nothing special. I would give 3 star if it’s in a metro city.

F.

Beautiful freshly prepared Japanese food. Gets very busy but well worth the wait.

o.

Amazing food, poor service, staff didn’t come to check on us and some food takes ages to come out, and sometimes they forget it too. Would definitely come back here for the food.

B.

Very good Japanese in Vegas. I was surprised. Also very popular with just a single sushi chef so there might be a wait

J.

Relaxed and unpretentious with great food and service. The food is fresh, light and delicious. We will definitely be dining here next time we visit Rotorua.

Y.

very good Japanese restaurant we ordered chicken udon and sashimi chicken is tender and the soup is also good sashimi is fresh and the chef is professional very recommended

J.

Very good Japanese restaurant to visit. Food portion is good and the fish quality is great.

K.

Food was superb .I thought I was in Japan again , it brought back some great memories

A.

Food was fantastic, authentic Japanese and staff were extremely helpful. Would definitely come back

J.

this might be the best place for sashimi on this planet! yes, here in Rotorua. very friendly staff and atmosphere. highly recommended!

D.

Best sushi in Rotorua!

L.

Nice food and service. Felt the place needed a goos clean

M.

Great food and friendly staff and you can watch them make the sushi and other dishes it sReeves.

G.

Absolutely authentic, wonderful presentation.

v.

I love this place we travel over from taupo, it is a place you go to, and order great fresh food, have a drink, relax and have a conversation with your partner and enjoy the atmosphere, to many people are in a hurry, it is busy for a reason, great food :)

d.

Have been goimg here for 15 years & have always enjoyed the wonderful food. Thank you Zenji.

Y.

Excellent Japanese food, probably best in NZ , truly showcasing the freshness of NZ seafood and produce, in an authentic Japanese style.

M.

Best sushi I've found in Rotorua - was packed when I was there. Also recommend the whole squid teriyaki!

R.

Perfect, authentic Japanese cuisine! Try the green tea and well-made sushi!

T.

Yamoto wonderful place to eat. Food always fresh & service is the best. Love Yamoto 🤩👍

S.

Amazing! The best sashimi I have ever tasted! Thank you for bringing Japan to us!

M.

Very fresh seafood and great crispy chicken

M.

Great restaurant and very welcoming !

T.

Good atmosphere, good food, great authenticity!!

S.

Very nice Japanese restaurant

Y.

Really fresh sushi and good japanese food! Friendly staff.

L.

This place is great. Price is reasonable, the food is great and I visit once a month with friends

W.

Have some special menu that not easy to found in other Japanese restaurant in NZ. Nice environment.

A.

Great service and delicious food. 2 years on.... quality and service is still fantastic.

A.

Authentic Japanese food, and service. And very well priced!

J.

The absolute freshest sushi in Rotorua, hands down👍

L.

One of the best Japanese restaurants I've been to. Highly recommended.

T.

Excellent service along with impressive food. Will definitely be going back.

A.

Always a great place to go x Also has a corkage of $2 at the time we were there.

J.

Teriyaki salmon is the best! Always come here when I come to Rotorua!

G.

The food is good but the time of waiting for the dishes was taking too long.

D.

Good food but one dish came very late overall good experience staff were helpful

m.

when in town I do like to come here for the food. Awesome service and just a great time

A.

A family favorite, set apart from other Japanese restaurants. The green tea gelato is out of this world.

B.

Great value lunches and excellent dinner fare. Make sure you get a booking as this place is always 'chokka'!

i.

Gorgeous fresh food.. great service and friendly Staff... Great value

r.

My personal favorite restaurant in rotorua. Great food great price and very consistent!

G.

Great food and atmosphere. Good prices. Friendly staff.

J.

Great food and reasonably priced. Friendly staff to top it off. Highly recommended.

T.

Fantastic service and food as always, the spicy tuna rolls are to die for!

B.

Great food and very nice staff. We ended up eating there for all three nights we stayed in Rotorua.

H.

Fantastic food, really enjoyed it. Highly recommended

A.

Amazing Sushi! Highly recommended. Don't hesitate to eat at Yamato.

a.

Best sushi in Rotorua, real Japanese experience!

徐.

nice food and very friendly staff

N.

best restaurant in Rotorua~ really delicious and not so expensive. staff is friendly and kindly.

a.

Best restaurant in rotorua I love it all ways fresh & delicious

H.

Food great as usual but the place could do with a professional clean

G.

Food is usually very good. Sometimes it can be really busy so it's a good idea to book.

Z.

Great food for a good price! Nice service

R.

Beautiful place. Beautiful people as well. Food is amazing and so worth the cost.

H.

Food was fresh, Awesome customer service

E.

Absolutely love the food here and service is awesome too!

S.

Always great food spot on everytime couldnt reccomend this place more highly

J.

Best Sushi in town. Highly recommend this place

V.

Okay sushi + long wait. Prices very reasonable however

H.

Delicious, well priced, authentic Japanese food. Yum!

A.

Best Sushi in Rotorua 👍👍

C.

Delicious food great prices

T.

Gorjuss sushi friendly helpful.

A.

Good, they have Asahi zero

M.

Best Japanese restaurant

S.

Always the best food, beautiful and fresh, presentation is second to none.

F.

Excellent food

H.

Excellent service, top quality food. A hidden treasure

s.

Good Japanese restaurant. Good service.

m.

Amazing authentic Japanaese food!

L.

Fresh food. Not expensive. Great staff.

J.

Best spicy tuna roll I have ever eaten.

P.

Good, real Japanese food. Unagi was amazing.

k.

Just Fantastic nice to B welcome and GR8 meal A must in Rotorua!!!

R.

Great food and service

G.

Fish is so fresh, excellent value for money, consistent, hard to beat

T.

Nice Japanese food. Good wait time

M.

Best restaurant in Rotorua! Friendly, interactive staff, and the food is to die for!

k.

Awesome food 😋

D.

Top Japanese restaurant in Rotorua. Try the Tina sashimi.

T.

Very popular, pay to book, food and service great.

T.

Very good food and service;)

n.

Yummy sashimi. Clean and tidy restaurant.

B.

Authentic japanese kai. Sushi and sashimi were sot on.

t.

The single best Japanese experience in Rotorua

J.

Average food with reasonable price.

K.

Generous serving of fish and decent quality of food.

D.

Nice Japanese place in Rotorua for lunch.

J.

Have been there 3 times in two months we travel from omokoroa just to eat there

J.

Always great, good team, true Japanese experience.

Z.

Affordable and good food

A.

Yamato is amazing, never lets us down!

A.

Delicious meal!

A.

Great food, lovely staff

D.

Pretty good food

K.

Good quality delicious food!

J.

Nice food friendly service

J.

1 of my favorite places to eat

J.

1 of my favorite places to eat

G.

Excellent We really enjoyed this

S.

Was a great night and very good service

S.

Always the best food, beautiful and fresh, presentation is second to none.

N.

Good food with reasonable price

C.

The agedashi tofu is phenomenal.

K.

Generous serving of fish and decent quality of food.

S.

Great food, great service!

M.

Best restaurant in Rotorua! Friendly, interactive staff, and the food is to die for!

M.

Very reasonable, great meal

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