This is truly an authentic Japanese restaurant!!! Not only the dishes, but also the atmosphere and customer service are great and they really bring me back home! I’d love to go there soon again.
We just love the place. Most of the time when we go out for a concert or similar we kind of start the evening here. Like to sit on the bar, watching the yakitori grill and enjoy the mixed feeling of being in a bar with tab beer and a restaurant at the same time.
We weren’t sure what to expect when I chose this restaurant but we both were so happy we tried it. The food was all fresh and delicious and flavours were authentic wherever possible. I’d certainly go back again.
Always good. No, it's not pretentious and "upmarket", and doesn't do "Cuisine", but it serves the essential food groups needed by humans (beer and grilled meat) perfectly, and in style!
Oh my gosh, what a meal. Everything was so tender and well made, karaage chicken was to die for and I've never tasted better yum yum prawns! The sake was great too, and all of the staff were lovely. I never wanted to leave. Can't wait to go back again
Just a pit stop before a night out, my mate really recommends Anzac Ave branch though but we were closer to here. Nice warm welcome coming through the door. Fast service and the ambience is cosy & charming.
We had Beef Tongue, Cheese Sausage, Chicken Things with Spring Onion, Chicken Trim Cartilage, Chicken Hearts, Pork Belly with Onion, Beef Sirloin and Spicy Korean Chicken yakitori.
We sat right in front of the BBQ, watching the master at work. So everything was right under our noses and delicious.
Really great place but just a little short of perfect for me but close enough.
i like this Ken the best out of the 3 locations. Been coming here since 2008. Favorite is prawn and pork skewer and non-alcoholic Asahi dry japanese beer. If you havent tried japanese charcoal bbq give it a go. The cooking technique makes a big difference in flavor.
A real funky place to go to, really buzzy and the place was pumping. Friendly service. Great skewers. Great place to go try a new style of Japanese. Slighty over priced though eg; $5 for a can of coke. But definitely would go again!
Very busy downstairs so sat upstairs and it was quite breezy up there which was not great during winter. Good service but some of the waitresses cannot understand English that well and had to have things repeated a couple times. They didn't have any udon noodle soup left so we had to change one meal. The soft shell crap and chicken karaage were our favourites. The prawn and pork skewer was the best skewer out of all the ones we had.
My husband and I love Kens and has been a family favourite for years! The food is amazing, and the service is always great. We recommend the chicken/cheese skewers, the deep fried Camembert and the karage chicken!
Superb ambiance and staff. It took quite a while for our vegetable tempura to be served but other than that, everything was perfect. The dishes that we ordered were delicious. I'll definitely comeback!
Japanese style delicate flavours the skewers are absolutely yummy deep fry Camembert with a side pineapple jam broccoli with sesame sauce are my favourites but anything you could find in this menus will satisfy your taste bud the only bad in this restaurant is the charcoal burnt smell will be like a second parfumerie in your clothes but it worth!!
I am always keen to try new yaki tori bars anywhere I go. This one was a pleasant experience, ordered three types of yaki tori and the one I mostly enjoyed was shrimp wrapped with bacon, awesome combo. The onigiri was also very good, loved the sauce the chef ducked in. I sat by the bar, so time flies when you see things being make at your sight. Lovely place!
It's like stepping into a little pocket of Japan. I really enjoy the slower pace of this place. And ordering a few things at a time. They have a top 5 recommended skewers list, and I'd have to second it. The only other thing I'd add is the beef tongue and the grilled rice balls. The latter has such an interesting texture when grilled. The karaage is also a classic must have, as well as the beef tataki. I've also tried the gingko nuts and it's quite the interesting flavour and texture - worth trying once. Though Google tells me I shouldn't eat more than 7 of these nuts in a day... Great sake and classic Japanese beer options. And a very cosy ambience. If you're not a big group, would recommend sitting by the kitchen. Always fun to watch them grill.
Good food. The tataki was slightly spicy making it better than usual. Would recommend for a chilled night out
I liked the table that sits down on the floor designed for a group of about 8-10.
Music playing in the background was very diverse from pop to cultural. Would be nice to stick to one thing. Food was good. I would come back here but it wouldn’t be my first pick but still worth checking out
Amazing food here, great spot for a large group, but if it is a large group it is one bill per table. Menu is amazing, especially I rate then beef tataki, prawns with bacon skewers, edamame and karaage chicken
DJ Christonite Boginikua
+5
The Best an most authentic Yakitori Bar I have found in a while! The Staff are Japanese, super friendly, and the Sapporo & Asahi on tap is highly recommended with your Yakitori! Arigatou!!
Good Food and friendly staff, came to Auckland a week ago went to 2 times, very enjoyed my holiday.
Do not make my mistake Yakitori on back page :-) huge selection. House sale very nice hot. Have Asahi on tap. Prices great, food was so good forgot to take pictures. Small and cozy, great for a group of 4/6 people.
Make a reservation
Order online
Find the best restaurant in Auckland Central
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes