Azabu Ponsonby — Restaurant in Waitematā

Japanese-Peruvian!

I've been waiting to write this review until I visited Azabu a second time. Azabu was officially my first meal in Auckland a week ago and it's officially now my favorite restaurant in the South Pacific.

From the outside one might miss this stealthy restaurant as it virtually has no signage - reminiscent of all the best places in NYC. But this place requires zero gimmicks to attract its legions of devout patrons every night. Let the food and ambience do the talking!

Dimly lit inside with simple chic decor, this is THE PLACE for a night out with your foodie friends as the concept here is to share plates. Heck you can even invite your drunk friends as it houses a bar in the far back. Dancey, uptempo music pipes through the speakers which sets the tone for your dining experience. Good-looking servers methodically intertwin with runners as they graciously bring out each plate and interpret the masterpiece that's sitting in front of you - the presentation alone gets 5-stars, it's seriously a work of art.

May I talk about the food now!?!

I've tried the follwing items and believe me when I say this, each one is a masterfully crafted experience for your palette. It's a mind-blowing sensation of sorts as so many combinations of ingredients mesh seamlessly together.

Grilled Octopus - I've NEVER had octopus like this before! Perfectly TENDER octopus with yuzu pepper soy, aji amarillo (Peruivan mild yellow chile) mash potatoes, shichimi tatar and chives

Tuna Sashimi Tostada - Don't get me started on the quality of fish here! The Tuna was definitely a Grade 1 (highest quality ranking). Served with corn, wasabi tartar, picked daikon, chopped jalapeño and coriander (cilantro for my Cali friends haha)

Snapper Ceviche - I've had a lot of fish ceviche in my day but not like these big chunks. Snapper marinated in lime soy dressing, plum dressing, aji amarillo and topped off with tobiko (cavier).. this is a must try!

Salmon Tiradito - 10 pieces of the creamiest, firmest, richest salmon you'll ever have! The salmon is marinated in leche de tigre (citrus based marinade) with a passion fruit and coconut cream sauce that eloquently surrounds the plate and topped with crispy spaghetti squash. You'll literally want to lick the plate to get every last bit of that sauce!

Rainbow Sushi Roll - Yes yes yessss! I know what you're thinking - that sounds like a typical sushi roll. It's faaaaar from typical here at Azabu! I watched the Raw Bar chef lovingly assemble this pièce de résistance and was blown away by his technique and attention to detail. Salmon Avocado inside Tuna, Salmon and Hamachi Kingfish outside.

Eggplant Tempura - veggie lovers dream! Lightly breaded and deep fried eggplant stacked with hatcho miso and spring onions.

Braised Pork Cheek Bun - Azabu's twist on the classic bao! A soft milky bun stuffed with delicious slow cooked pork drizzled with a sweet, tangy tamarind sauce. I wouldn't share this...

I have been to this place many times but this time it was very disappointing. In fact the whole experience was awful. I booked a table for 11 as I am hosting a birthday dinner for my friend. I booked via email and it was confirmed by replied an email. My booking was at 6pm and I turned up 5 mins before that. Then I was told they couldn't find my booking, but the guy there said he would find me a table and I was asked to stand by the bar. I waited until 6:30pm then a table was available. The service level I received that day was very bad. I don't want to mention the details of the waitress as I think this is reflecting the whole management from the restaurant. She was always in a rush, took my plate away as soon as I put my fork into the last piece. I wondered why she was in such a big rush??? At the end I realised she wanted to kick me out as soon as possible, as another group of people were waiting. The whole ordeal was they forgot to put my booking down, so they needed to sequeeze my booking in, so they wanted me to finish in lightning speed! Now it comes to the climax. We finished our dinner and I asked the lady to bring the birthday cake out which I handed over the the man in the front when I arrived. The lady brought the cake out with some plates (she only gave us 4 plates but we have 11 people!? -- ALL because she wanted us to leave!) The time was 8:25pm. She told us another group was waiting and their booking was at 8:30pm. She said, "you have to leave in 2 mins" She wanted us to finish the cake and celebration in 2 mins! I guess there was a better way to do this. She should told us at the start that she need to have the table back by 8:30pm. That would make the whole experience alot more better and easier for the patrons to accept. Give patrons 2 mins to finish dessert with no prior warning isn't acceptable, especially from an upclass restaurant like Azabu! When it comes to payment, that lady was SUPER efficient! Azabu ALWAYS charge surcharge for credit which the whole Auckland know but not everyone agreed. She got my card, pushed all the buttons, including the "ACCEPTED Surcharge question!" I only got the chance to put my pin in, WITHOUT knowing how much I am paying even! Azabu Service!! I got to give 5 star for this, very speedy, but I don't think this is legal. I really think that choice should be given to the patrons, and all patrons should be adviced of the credit...

🍣✨ Azabu Ponsonby – Stylish Fusion with Flavour Fireworks 🥢🔥 📍26 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland

Azabu Ponsonby is where Japanese izakaya vibes meet Peruvian flair, and the menu is full of shareable, flavour-packed gems that feel refined but never too serious. The service is slick, the cocktails are inventive, and the atmosphere is always buzzing.

🧡 What We Tried & Loved:

🍣 Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice ($25) – The signature must-order. Crispy rice base with spicy tuna, jalapeño and creamy sauce. Texture heaven.

🐟 Kingfish Tiradito ($27) – Thinly sliced and dressed with jalapeño coconut and yuzu soy. Light, zesty, and perfect to kick off the meal.

🌮 Hawke’s Bay Wagyu Tostada ($24) – Smoky, crunchy, and rich all at once. Served on a crisp base with jalapeño, onion & chimichurri. Unique and indulgent.

🥟 Spicy Pork Gyoza ($26) – Juicy inside, golden outside, with Sichuan pepper and aji amarillo giving it a proper kick.

🦐 Popcorn Shrimp Tempura ($27) – Addictive little bites with a creamy rocoto mayo. Crunchy, creamy, spicy = yes.

🍗 Free Range Chicken ($38) – Served with gochujang glaze, pickled daikon and furikake slaw. This one’s a bigger plate, but super sharable and totally worth it.

🥬 Sides – Try the Grilled Broccoli with miso almond ($14) or Charred Corn Salad ($14) to lighten things up.

🍸 Drinks: The cocktail list is curated to match the bold flavors. Ask for something with yuzu or wasabi if you’re feeling adventurous.

🎌 Ambience: Modern, moody, and perfect for a Friday night out. Whether you’re seated at the bar or tucked into a booth, the energy is lively without being chaotic.

💸 Price: Medium-high. Most small plates are in the $20–30 range, mains around $35–45. Great for sharing with 2–4 people.

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⭐ Verdict: Azabu Ponsonby nails it with bold fusion flavours, Insta-worthy plating, and a menu where you want to try everything. A must-visit for foodies in Auckland.

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