We love Japanese food an awful lot here at Urban List. From sashimi and ramen to a bento box fix for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Japanese cuisine delivers deliciousness on all levels. Lucky for us Wellingtonians, we can find a slice of this culture on our doorstep at Wellingtons’s many fabulous Japanese joints. From authentic experiences to high tea Japanese patisserie, we’ve scoped out the very best Japanese restaurants in Wellington, so in no particular order, here are the best Japanese joints in town.
Top tip: before eating a Japanese meal it's customary to say "itadakimasu" (to humbly receive) to show gratitude.
Here are Wellington's best Japanese restaurants.
Tatsushi
19 Edward Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Tatsushi | Wellingnoms
Chef-owner Tatsushi Mikuni handpicks the fish from the markets every morning to ensure fresh sashimi is on his menu every day. Since 2012, this spot has been Tatsushi’s kodawari (obsession with cooking and food) with the freshest sushi and sashimi in the city, homemade kumiage tofu (served warm or cold) and seasonal dishes like fried mushroom hotpot, shingiku leaf tempura, and chawanmushi (dreamy savoury egg custard, best eaten with a side of rice). Go for lunch or pop in for a late night dinner—try their range of Japanese sake, plum wine and craft gins while you’re there.
Yoshi Sushi Wellington
110 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central | Press Hall, 80 Willis Street, Wellington Central
Yoshi and Helen Kono met in Japan and in 2010, started Yoshi Sushi in Wellington. Both stores are located conveniently in the city for the lunchtime office pick-me-up, or dine in at their slick Willis Street site, ideally with a glass of sparkling yuzu jelly sake in hand. Alongside their sushi, bento and poke bowl offerings, they also have udon and ramen in tonkotsu and shoyu flavours. Don’t forget a side of karaage chicken (vital), or their highly recommended okonomiyaki savoury pancake.
Kazaguruma
272 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Kazaguruma | Facebook
For your very own omakase experience in Wellington, look no further than Kazaguruma. Showcasing kaimoana from Aotearoa including Ora King salmon, NZ Southern rock lobster and NZ Bluefin tuna (alongside A5 wagyu from Kagoshima), this is a real treat for Japanese cuisine lovers. Add the sake pairing to match each dish—they have a dedicated sake menu with food recommendations for the ultimate dinner experience.
The IKI Sushi Burrito
94 Tirangi Road, Rongotai
This sunshine yellow truck has been serving Wellingtonians the iconic Japanese curry pan (fried bread) since ages ago and is probably one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Chances are, you’ve seen it around Lyall Bay and at various events too (including at Garage Project’s Beer Garden as part of Japan Festival). With their rotating dish of the month alongside their sushi burritos (yes, you heard that correctly), JFC (Japanese Fried Chicken) bowls and burgers, this spot is open 7 days a week for your lunch date out beachside.
Miyabi Japanese Restaurant
3/148 Willis Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Miyabi | Instagram
Established in 1997, Miyabi have been quietly doing their thing in this little corner of Willis Street for years. Having recently changed hands a year and a half ago, the new owners are honouring the traditions from their predecessors with a few new additions to the menu. Alongside teriyaki, udon, soba the tempura dishes, they are changing it up with some exciting set menus. Their sell-out unagi (grilled eel) set menu for two from the Japan Week pop-up in September is now making a permanent feature, including two starters and miso soup. Choose from takoyaki to tako wasabi (raw octopus with spicy wasabi) to start, before you dig into a deliciousy glazed and grilled unagi.
Sushi Bi
2 Woodward Street, Wellington Central | 2 Bunny Street, Pipitea | Sky Stadium (open during events), 105 Waterloo Quay, Pipitea
Sushi Bi has a special place in the hearts of university students and corporate office workers alike, since setting up their spots in the capital in 2007. Their torched Aburi Salmon Nigiri is iconic, with the seared sticky exterior on top of a comforting bite of seasoned rice a popular choice (especially after 4pm, with up to 33% off). They’ve since opened up shop inside Sky Stadium during events (sushi at a gig, yes please), run free sushi making events and sponsor local volunteer groups with their delicious offerings. Keep an eye out on their socials for the next sushi-catered gig.
Origami
158 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Image credit: Origami | Instagram
For modern Japanese fusion and patisserie, check out Origami for your post-dinner sweet treat (or weekend high tea). Not only do they have multiple locations in Napier and Rolleston, but they also offer sushi and ramen on their menus too (I guess we’re staying for lunch and dinner). They’ve just released their daily Spring deals with sushi, ramen and Japanese curry deals every week, and a limited edition Yuzu Blossom dessert in time for September’s Japan Week in Wellington. While you’re there, stay for a Japanese-inspired cocktail or two.
The Ramen Shop
191 Riddiford Street, Newtown| 139 Karori Road, Karori | 109 Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville
Starting off as a pop-up in 2013, The Ramen Shop popped up in venues across the city before finally making a home in the Newtown location. Since then, they’ve expanded to the suburbs to bring Wellingtonians far and wide that bouncy homemade ramen noodle fix. Weekly ramen specials include their Spicy Tonkotsu, Dan Dan Chicken and a kids meal deal on the weekends for a slurp-worthy family night out.
The Bento Bar
Taste HQ, 386 Broadway, Miramar
Image credit: The Bento Bar | supplied
Not a restaurant as such but deserving of an honourable mention is The Bento Bar, delivering healthy lunch alternatives to local schools in Wellington. Available for takeaway lunch on Bento Fridays at their Taste HQ homebase (a shared kitchen space with Taco Addicts, who also released limited edition Japanese-inspired taco flavours for the Japan Festival), they offer a rotating range of onigiri flavours like Spicy Superfood Salmon, Suki Beef and Candied Kumara. Add a fresh daikon salad or creamy broccoli slaw, with a cup of miso soup to feel nourished for the rest of the day.
Brush up on your sake-drinking skills with our guide on how to drink sake like a pro, Kanpai!
Main image credit: Yoshi Sushi | Vicki Young.