Nishiki Kitchen — Restaurant in Howick

Lovely cafe atmosphere, with iPad ordering system, that is more commonly seen in Asia. Who says a Japanese restaurant must be presented in a traditional way? Love it. Will definitely return to try other items on the menu!

Has nice patio furniture :) there are heaters for winter. Layout is considerate for wheelchair access and baby prams :) Bathroom is compact but very clean.

Food wait time was reasonable, not too long maybe 10-30minutes? They didn't all come at the same time, we started eating anyway so it didn't feel it took long :) Food item standards varied but overall good quality.

Prices can very but it's around $-$$. Pricing is competitive to other local established restaurants. (It is of course more expensive than a bakery or takeaway shop...If you are happy to pay $5.50 for coffee, $18 for pancakes and Maybe $6 fries for the side at some other regular cafes, you can afford to eat here lol...)

I would suggest perhaps installing ceiling/wall fans for summer. And when welcoming guests, to please explain the electronic ordering system if it is their first time dining at...

Went there on my lunch break on a Friday. Was surprised to see all tables with empty seats, at the same time excited to sit by the semi-outdoor tables to enjoy a quiet, private dining experience. The takoyaki came to the table first as an entree, which the smell had also brought over an annoying fly. Fried for too long or the frying oil was too hot which made them too crispy on the outside. Tasted alright so I wasn't too bothered by it then.

Soon came to worst when the katsu don was filled with frozen/pre-cooked pork cutlet. Extreme dense and thick, it was too hard to chew on. The fry batter comes off so easily due to the moisture that had been trapped when refridgerated or stored for too long. No crisp or chop texture on the first bite which is expected in a katsu. Stomach felt sick after awhile and decided it was best to leave the meal as in the picture.

Utter disappointment. Had expected much more from a Japanese restaurant...

They have just recently opened and managed to notice them while driving past. The place is quite small but they do have a covered outdoor area which also has a few tables. The first thing I noticed was the electronic menu. Once we sat down we just looked through the menu and ordered. This was quite bad since everything looked good so we probably ordered more than we should've. The food was quite nice. Good flavour and made well. A few to note are the yukke (beef tartare) and the Egg over rice with gravy. Good food and the service was good. Not as much options as the other shop in Ti Rakau but there are also some items here that I don't remember seeing there.

Edit: Menu has changed. They have...