Tatsushi Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in North Island

I was so looking forward to have my post birthday dinner here, that I booked before came to Wellington. After walking for a whole day, also google map was acting a bit weird that It took us longer than advised. We decided to go there a bit early so we wouldn’t miss the booking time which was 5:30pm.

We ended up arriving at 5:20pm. It said open from 5:30pm on the door. So we just waited in front of the door. Then a food delivery guy came with some food, he did not ware any uniform, we didn’t realize that he was not the staff of the restaurant. He opened the door and told us to get in first. We thanked him and went in while he holds the door for us.

As soon as we walked in, the owner yelled at us, “we are not open, please go out”. The door was blocked by the delivery guy, we couldn’t leave straight away, I tried to explain why we came in. But he wasn’t listening at all. He came to my face and repeatedly yelled “we are not open until 5:30, please leave!” I then explained to him calmly that we only came in because the guy told us so. He then yelled “he is not working for us, we are not open. You need to leave.”

The delivery guy apologized to the owner for bringing troubles, that he “didn’t know that customers were not allowed to come in early.” I mean, excuse me? We were the one got yelled at. I had a 10 years old daughter and my 65 years old mum together. We certainly did not look like bad people. We certainly did not deserve to be treated like that.

We walked out with shock and disbelief. The ally looked so dark, I felt stupid to walk all the way from Tepapa to here.

We ended up leaving for good, my daughter said she was scared of the man yelled at us. We were throwing out like pieces of junk. I have never experienced anything like this in NZ. My mum asked me if the owner were really Japanese, because all the Japanese people she knew were super friendly and helpful.

To the owner: next time before you threw customers out on a rainy night just because they were 10 mins before your opening, either keep the door locked, or communicate with all your suppliers that they were not allowed to bringing customers in earlier because they are not “working for you”, or just put up a huge sign on the door, “Be Aware, you will be kicked out if you came in before the...

⚠️❗🚫 BEWARE BEFORE DINING HERE 🚫❗⚠️

From what I’ve heard, this restaurant is beloved in Wellington, but after my experience, I’m left stunned and questioning why. I have a lot to say.

The waitress, who was Japanese, displayed blatantly racist behavior. She took table orders with a smile for customers of European descent, but when it came to Asian customers—including me and my partner, who are Japanese—she made us go to the counter to order and pay upfront. At first, I thought it was just directed at us, but I then saw her do the exact same thing to three other Asian families during our visit. Meanwhile, she greeted and served non-Asian customers with warmth and enthusiasm, her face lighting up in stark contrast to the coldness she showed toward Asians.

It didn’t stop there. When we asked for a simple adjustment to our meal, she flatly told us it was “impossible.” Yet not long after, a European family asked for the exact same change (swapping fish for chicken), and she eagerly ran to the kitchen to accommodate them without issue. The hypocrisy was blatant and offensive.

As for the food, it was no better. The udon was bland and under-seasoned, while the sashimi was so far from fresh that it had a strong, unpleasant smell and taste. For a restaurant claiming authenticity, this was unacceptable.

It’s deeply upsetting that a Japanese waitress would treat her fellow Asians so poorly while showing obvious favoritism to non-Asians. I’ve never left a review before, but this experience was so appalling that I felt a responsibility to warn others. If you’re considering dining here—especially if you’re Asian—prepare to be treated as second-class. The service was discriminatory, and the food was mediocre at best. Save your...

In the hallowed realm of gastronomic endeavours, the Tatsushi Japanese Restaurant emerges as a sacred dojo for the discerning palate, a culinary bastion where the artistry of Chef Tatsushi attains a zenith that rivals the poetic swordplay of Miyamoto Musashi himself. Stepping into this epicurean haven is akin to entering the sanctum of a master swordsman, where the ambiance seamlessly fuses tradition with modernity, invoking a sense of tranquility befitting a meditative warrior.

Chef Tatsushi, a culinary maestro, stands as an indomitable force in the realm of Japanese cuisine within the Kiwi lands. His prowess is legendary, a virtuoso who wields culinary implements with the precision of a seasoned warrior. Each dish is a meticulously crafted stroke, a testament to the chef's unparalleled skill and dedication to the culinary arts.

The restaurant's inviting aura serves as a silent call to gastronomic pilgrimage, drawing connoisseurs and novices alike into its gastronomic dojo. The symphony of flavours that emanate from Chef Tatsushi's creations resonates with an intensity that transcends the mundane, catapulting patrons into a realm where each bite is a poetic stanza in the epic saga of Japanese gastronomy.

In the realm of New Zealand's culinary landscape, Tatsushi stands as a culinary sensei, and his restaurant, a dojo where the essence of Japanese cuisine is not merely served but elevated to an art form worthy of the legendary...