Tanuki Sushi and Sake Bar is an Izakaya style restaurant where the Japanese chefs prepare the food in front of you. Towards the back of the restaurant there is a Zashiki area where you can take your shoes off and have a small private party.

Do not be disappointed if you can not get a seat in Tanuki's Cave, the food upstairs is superb and is made to be shared. Let us not forget that sake is a good lubricator and with over 20 to choose from you will have the conversion flowing in no time.

Overview

Price Range Lavish
Accepts credit cards Yes
Licence This venue is licenced

Products and specialities

Sushi
Sashimi
Tempura
Domburi and their signature dish: the Tanuki Steak, NZ scotch fillet in a ponzu sauce.

Hours

  • MonClosed
  • Tues -
  • Wed -
  • Thurs -
  • Fri -
  • Sat -
  • Sun -
  • HolidaysClosed
Reviews

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Tanuki's Cave is a hidden gem. An awesome place to taste some tapas style Japanese foods. Heaps of sake's to choose from and a perfect place to meet up with friends to unwind

"Izakaya", or Japanese pub/sake bar style dining, where after a long day of work, you come here to wind down for the night. Welcome and be prepared to be transported to downtown Tokyo (or any big Japanese city) sake bar when you step inside Tanuki. The ambience here is simply amazing, warm decour with liberal use of wooden furniture. The open plan kitchen and bar area lets you see your food being prepared and made fresh, and it never seizes to amaze me the speed and precision sushi chefs churn out nigiri and rolls, with immaculate presentation. We arrived early to catch dinner here before a show, and even on a Tuesday night, already packed (it's close to impossibe to get a table on Thursday till Saturday without a booking). A short wait later and food started to arrive. One of the rules of Izakaya dining is that your order arrives as they're made, with no particular order and best enjoyed once served - i.e. don't wait for a "course" and just dig in. Mixed assorted Japanese appetizer platter with: seared tuna tataki, fish "Namban" (tempura fish pieces with onions, paprika and ponzu marinade), thinly sliced raw prawns with cucumbers, teriyaki chicken skewer, tempura round beans, california roll sushi and a green salad. Accompanying the platter is a tempura prawn roll. Everything tastes so fresh, so vibrant, so simple and so delicious. Not long after the plates were cleared, the 2nd round of food arrived. We shared a Tanuki teriyaki chicken donburi plate, which came with sushi & sashimi (salmon, tuna and travelly), a green salad with raw prawn slices, the chicken teriyaki steak on a bed of rice and miso soup, presented beautifully and so flavourful. I don't come here often as it's a tad pricey even for a monthly treat (doesn't help that I always over order everytime... just want to sample everything on offer). But when I do, it never disappoints and I am always satisfied with the ambience, the warm friendly service, and most important of all, the food.

Comment by Mark A.
That's an awesome review - thanks for taking the time :)

This was the first time we had been here, and we went with a 25% discount.  We were very pleasantly surprised!  The food was amazing, and wonderfully fresh.  We enjoyed watching the Sushi Chef make our food up at the counter.  The Sake was very nice, and the waitress we had was quite helpful and knowledgeable in recommending one we might like.   I ordered the Sushi and Sashimi platter, and my partner ordered two sets of Sushi Rolls, Salmon Avocado, and Teriyaki chicken.  Everything was great, and came out in a timely manner as well. I was thrilled with the platter, it was a very nice portion of fish, and some of the freshest I have had.  It was a little bit pricey I felt for the sushi, but to be honest it was worth every penny.  We left very very happy, and would come again!

Love dining here always a culinary and culture experience! Service, atmosphere and price is all fantastic. The closest eatery Auckland has to offer to the real Japanese thing! Great saki available as well……

Great food and great service, food arrived quickly and was delicious! Service was fast and friendly.

Such amazing food and Michael is a great waiter. Love this place!

Love this place

Love this place

for dinner I think the cave is better, but if you can't get a seat there try the Sake bar. The food is great!

Tanuki's Cave has the atmosphere but for lunch you can't beat Tanuki's Sake Bar. I note that they've traded in the lunch boxes for lunch plates - which somehow makes things slightly less experential - but the food is as good as ever. I enjoy the routine of green tea, miso and fresh flavours that leave you feeling comfortable but not full. There is quite a large table on offer for groups too.