Yamato Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in North Island

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...

Visited Yamato, Rotrua Saturday evening at around 7.30 pm. Floor manager was good n accommodating to give our family (2 adults n kids)a table. Initial service from taking order to serving drinks to us was fine, n then downfall started. Asked for green tea along with alcohol, which didn't turn up, had to request wait staff for order-- she asked how many??.. even after taking order. Green tea cane after 5 mins n 1 sashimi plate came in after 10 mins. Food was ordered at 7.35 pm, n first item came at 7.50pm... which was ok, then we waited for 30 mins. Asked same wait staff when can we get our remaining food. We were asked what's left, and we said everything ( except 1 item). Again we awaited fir 10 mins, had to ask other waitstaff, he asked the same question..what r you guys waiting for.. after lots of frustration, had to go and talk to original waitstaff...she asked me sane question..what are you waiting for... I SAID ..WE ARE WAITING FOR ALL REQUESTED FOOD.

This the worst service ever encountered. Ppl who came after us were already leaving, and we didn't get even as simple as edamame. Wait staff gad no courtesy to even come n apologise.... after talking to managet she was able to sort out and rest of find came afert 1 hour of order.

Food was ok, wait staff Service was pathetic. Only good thing about Yamato restaurant was the manager, who tried to rectify the issue, but was too late.

Will NOT...

Yamato Japanese Restaurant in Rotorua is an absolute gem for anyone seeking an authentic and delightful Japanese dining experience. I was in town for work and decided to check it out as a solo diner after hearing great things on Trip Advisor—and I was not disappointed.

The moment I walked in, I was welcomed by Deborah, the host, whose warm and hospitable demeanor instantly made me feel at home. The cozy, family-friendly atmosphere, paired with traditional Japanese decor, set the tone for an exceptional dining experience.

The menu offers a fantastic variety of dishes, and I decided to try the takoyaki and aburi salmon sushi. Both were absolutely perfect—the takoyaki was flavorful with a crisp exterior and creamy center, while the aburi salmon sushi was beautifully presented and melted in my mouth. It's clear that the chefs take great pride in their craft, using high-quality ingredients and meticulous attention to detail.

The service was top-notch, with attentive and friendly staff ensuring a comfortable experience. Yamato is an ideal spot for solo diners, casual lunches, intimate dinners, or special celebrations.

Whether you're a local or just visiting Rotorua, this restaurant is a must-visit for anyone who loves authentic Japanese cuisine. Highly...