KATSUBAY — Restaurant in Albert-Eden

On Saturday night, it was 7pm, their signature dish was out of order to start with after they took our orders. First, we could have one without soup, so we order one without the soup but the staff came back again n said no, both of us cannot have one. The staff wasn't aware of what happening in the kitchen. She had to go back and check for 4 times until she got our orders.... Why??

We ordered beer, and then the same one for the second. The staff has brought us a beer with a different glass so we asked whether it's the same one we ordered. She said yes. However, the other staff has brought us another beer which was ours apparently and we were confused.

We were upstairs and came down to the downstairs to pay our meal even though our time was routine by a few hickups. At the same time there was a couple of people coming in. The downstairs were pack but the upstairs were empty. The staff told these new customers that they only have a counter sets by the windows when there are 5 table empty upstairs. Why?

The way how they layout the table aren't sufficient. Those tall tables and chairs are so awkward. Also, the entrance door and cashier are too close and so people are coming in and people are queuing to pay are all in the same spot crowded at the busy time. Plus, the staff is going around the table for the menu and food brining. There are too many table and chairs at the downstairs.

Food is okay. Their Shio ramen is horrible. Because the soup is so simple their soup is showing the faulty. If you have tonkotu or champon noodle thats okay because those soups were so flavourful they can cover up the flavour faulty easily.

Their food is over priced for what they are and I feel like they are taking advantage of Kiwi who don't know what real ramen is. Its fine to eat it if they are set to lower prices.

We didn't have great time. No, not...

Japanese cuisine is usually a safe and satisfying choice—whether you're dining solo, on a date, or with a group—and Katsubay fits the bill nicely. Their menu features a range of popular mains, including ramen (noodles), katsu (crispy cutlets), and donburi (rice bowls), with something for just about everyone.

Having heard great things about their ramen, I went for the Tantan (spicy) ramen—a rich sesame and pork broth noodle soup. Others in our group opted for the chicken katsu and the teriyaki chicken don. Mains were around $24 on average, and we were all impressed with both the portion sizes and the quality of the food.

The ramen had a generous amount of noodles and broth, and while Japanese food isn’t typically known for heat, I would’ve appreciated a little extra chilli on the side to kick things up a notch. That said, it was still a comforting, homely bowl. The katsu was also a standout—with a perfectly crisp crust, and the breading stayed intact even after slicing, which speaks to good technique in the preparation and cooking process.

We also ordered drinks and shared a serving of takoyaki—so good, we probably should’ve gone for two bowls if your group enjoys octopus.

The staff were friendly and welcoming throughout. The man who served us was happy to answer our questions and checked in to make sure everything was going well, which we really appreciated.

All in all, a lovely experience and a great infusion of Japanese comfort food right in the...

Poor Food Quality & Receipt / Payment Issues

I visited this restaurant in Mt Eden expecting authentic Japanese flavors, but was very disappointed. • The “Chicken Katsu Curry Ramen” tasted nothing like real Hokkaido soup curry – just diluted Japanese curry cubes from the supermarket. • Pork gyoza was extremely burnt, something I’ve never seen served in Japan. • Miso soup was so salty it was unpleasant.

When paying, the staff first gave me a pre-receipt before payment to confirm the order – which is normal. However, there was no clear notice anywhere about a possible credit card surcharge. When I asked, the staff seemed unsure and had to check with the owner, then vaguely said there “might” be one. To avoid this, we paid in cash.

After payment, I requested a proper final receipt, but was told the pre-receipt was the official one. This is not correct – customers should always receive a proper receipt after payment.

Very disappointing in both food quality and billing transparency. I will not return.

The reply did not address the key issues: – No clear notice of credit card surcharge before payment – No proper GST tax invoice provided after payment – Food quality concerns remain unanswered A generic apology without solutions does not resolve...