Review Renkon - Auckland Central

Caroline Toledo

I loved this restaurant location, it’s at a little street going uphill in the CBD. I ordered the Udon noodles with chicken Karaage. You can order rice instead of noodles though. It was $16 dollars. The dish was good, but just average. I like that they have free hot tea, so you can drink as much as you want.

Eric Chou奧克蘭寶哥

A small Japanese flavour eating venue, few seats inside plus outdoor arrangements. Very warm hospitality, cheering vocal in Japanese bringing you to the theme immediately. Reasonable price for a quick and easy lunch time. Of course you don't compare it with what you can have in Japan, in my view, it's considered good enough. I ordered the spicy fried chicken rice bowl, with mayonnaise and cabbage salad, not bad

He Xu

This is my second here and I still love it lots! 💕 very flavourful and value for money. Located in the city center and quite easy to find it. Many veggie options! You won’t regret it.

Jackson Ramland

Love the food options here. You can either have eat in or take out and the food is amazing either way. The town option is only accessible by walking down the alley way but worth the trip. Head in order what you want find a seat and then wait to enjoy the meal. Always comes hot and tastes amazing.

mj mj

Before leaving NZ I had been a regular since university days and throughout my working life in the CBD. Unbelievably their prices only went up like 50c in the whole decade plus. My fav is the chicken katsu don with extra mayo! The trick to getting through the long lunchtime queues is to place a phone order. The service was always prompt and efficient.

Sylvia M

Prices fine, food alright. I like the complimentary tea and water.

Tracy X

Great place for some casual eats in the CBD, my favourite being the chilli beef on rice/udon.

Chris Glover

Absolutely delicious katsu curry, and the chicken is so good. You can ask them to bring your food next door to My Bar too. Great place

Hasan Khan

Tiny little takeaway in the alleyway of high street perfect for rainy day udon 🍜 noodles!! Would have given a 5 star ⭐️ if the staff gave me udon instead of rice by mistake 😂

Michael Davidson

Pretty good quick meal. Atmosphere is nice and the prices are pretty good.

Maarten Heinsius

good quality, simple donburi. Delicious but nothing fancy. Friendly staff, prepared quickly, free green tea.

John Z

Yummy lunch spot, price is what it is as everything's going up. Need to go easy on the seasoning - had the Teriyaki Salmon Don today, and the rice was swimming in Teriyaki/soy sauce. Had to throw most of the dish away as it was way too salty. Otherwise no complaint and a reliable lunch option.

Regan Doyle

Good, honest Japanese curry and katsu shop. Very good serving sizes and the karaage was excellent. Not such a fan of finely sliced celery on top of the curry as I'd probably prefer some Japanese pickles.

Khun Watt.

Finally find an authentic Japanese restaurant. Reasonable price ($12.5) good food. NICE!

Brodie Davis

Nice quick service. Inexpensive and good value. The donburi are all pretty good but the Misokatsu is great. Offers variations to cover most diets but not sure anything is vegan as they use mayo on most dishes. They will happily not include it when asked though.

A A

Very tasteful Japanese food. The takeaway packaging is even Japanese box style! For $11.50 you can get a decent serving which will fill you for a decent amount of time, but would like to see a little more meat in the meals (a tiny bit stingy!). Quick and friendly service. However peak hours can get a little busy.

Erin - Gold Code For 20% Off : CATH6386

The place is quite hidden in the middle of Auckland CBD but if you found it would be worth the effort. Nice food here. I love their prawn tempura udon. Yummy

Angie

A coworker turned me on to Renkon and I will always be eternally grateful. Always fresh, perfectly cooked, delicious and fast! Best lunch in the CBD.

Chary1235

This place is great! Apart from the limited seating inside and outside, the food is great and the staff are really friendly. I ordered the miso katsu salmon and the portions are great for the price and it comes with a generous amount of cabbage salad and rice. Would definitely recommend for a quick and delicious lunch in the city, just be aware that the food takes a little while to be made.

KN89

Renkon is one of my go to lunch places. It’s a little Japanese place with polite & friendly staffs. They mainly sell donburis (rice bowl dishes). Hefty portions, good price, fresh & nice. I usually go here for takeaway, and I love how they have mini donburis for smaller appetites like mine (not all their donburis have mini versions though). Recommend their Karaage & Sauce Katsu Donburi.

Yuha

Easy eats at affordable prices. Teriyaki is the first item on their menu & it is personally the better flavour! Chilli garlic was a little bland actually, and I love chilli garlic flavours! Choice between noodle or rice, so it depends on what you prefer! Everything on the main menu costs the same which makes it nice and easy.

Patrick Oei

Very good service and the staff we friendly the food was good quality for its price and quick which is good for when I’m at uni. I recommend this place for a quick good quality meal

Food2belly

Dinner at Renkon is always satisfying, large portions and low prices. The Karage Salmon (9.5/10, $12.50) was beautifully cooked, soft and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. They were super accommodating and swapped the rice for more salad at no extra cost. The Karage chicken (9/10, $12.50) came with lots of chicken and was tender and juicy. Definitely a place I will come often.

곰정안

4.5/5 Taste 4/5 Display 4/5 Quantity 4.5/5 Customer Service Best Japanese Donburi Restaurant in Auckland Great food, great service! This place has never failed me and the ingredients always taste really fresh. Perfect for quick lunch or dinner.

SpoonMe

Loved the donburi from here. It’s cheap, fast and filling! They’re also generous with their toppings and I really liked the cooked veges which it comes with:)

João Plácido

My colleagues told me they had the best noodles so I decided to have a taste. I ordered the sauce katsu with noodles and I found it pretty ordinary. No much flavour in the noodles although I have to say the chicken was pretty yummy. It isn't too bad but I know of a few much better.

Shannon

I had the teriyaki salmon donburi, really good for $12.50, the portion of salmon is huge. Plenty of sauce too, I often find when ordering donburi at other places that I get down to the rice and it ends up being too dry as there’s not enough sauce for the whole dish. This place had the sauce to rice ratio spot on. My only criticism is that they could do with a few more veges in the dish, perhaps have it as an optional add on. Love that they have outdoor seating in the lane, it’s a really nice vibe siting outside on a weekday evening.

Joe Chong

They have changed the menu. No more hot stir fry cabbages with teriyaki sauce and the dish is cold Disappointed. Bring back the old menu and chef!!

Joshua Foley

This place used to be a godsend living in Auckland City - I’d come here three nights a week - sometimes even more! Now it’s more like once every 2 weeks. Their chef retired and they now only offer deep fried meat, cold shredded cabbage and rice. They do have salmon, but that’s often all gone. So no chicken and no hot, nice vegetables. Just deep fried meat, cold cabbage, rice and sauce - meh. Who would’ve thought it would be that hard to find another chef? And that a business wouldn’t realise how much it would affect their income (the place is currently empty, except for me).

ㅇㅇ

Like how there are tables outside where we can sit and eat. Tried their Sauce Pork Katsu-don. The pork katsu was really crispy and tender. Would love to visit again :)

RunningForCake

Went to grab a quick lunch and was told they have changed their menu when I asked if they have anything that is not deep fried and there wasn’t any! I was starving so I ordered chicken katsu. It will be my last time getting food from here bow that everything is deep fried. So disappointing.

Bear Noms

My boyfriend loves the teriyaki and karaage chicken.... Comes with a generous portion of meat and tasty gravy on the rice. Satisfies on all levels, best value for money!

Hongjun Wang

Price is normal($12.5), but you can get cheaper donburi in AKL city. Taste is good, salmon donburi is tasty. Plating is like a art. Unsatisfy: sanitary condition. If you want to dine in, better arrive before 12pm.

Pratik Bhatt

Fantastic teriyaki tofu on rice. Well worth the wait when its bz here during lunch time.. must visit this place... japanes food on another level... especially if u r vegetarian

Misscocolitten

Terrible service, the place was so hot inside. Flies everywhere with dirty dishes uncleared on the table. Horrible experience, won’t go back.

G

Haven't been here in over 5 years and the food were still as good. Got the teriyaki chicken which was good but never time, I really want to try the chicken katsu! Very reasonably priced and conveniently located. Very fast service too.

S2Psycho

A great cheap japanese restaurant. very simple and easy! service is amazing!! was so happy with their service! Food is really good for the price thats given. its a 3.5 cause the food isnt like woah amazing. also quick service aswel.

Paul O

Reckon has been around for years for one simple reason: what they do, they do well. It's not the most exciting food, nor the tastiest but it is consistent not only across the menu but across branches too. Avoid this branch during rush lunch hour if you are claustrophobic!

Mun Clair

I have been twice now and both times I have been impressed with the quality of food! I have tried the chicken miso katsu and the karaage chicken donburi. My favourite has to be the karaage! So crispy and flavourful! I love how the menu caters for a big and small eaters. In the photo you can see there's a smaller bowl and a larger one. Seating is bit of a problem as it's really small inside so I would recommend trying to get a seat outside! I will definitely be back!

Carina Chang

A good Japanese place for pocket saving. I ordered teriyaki salmon rice which only cost me $12 or $12.5(sorry Can't remember the number). And u get enough stir fried veggie, 3 thick pieces of salmon, and sauced rice. Fair enough and also tasty. It's really a good place in downtown when u want to have some salmon.

Charmaine

Easy and quick lunch. Lots of seating between inside the small store, outside the store, and also at the bar next door. The menu is pretty standard like other renkons. I like that they are really generous with the vegetables, without scrimping on the meat and rice. Renkon always delivers whether its flavour or portion.

Frank

Finally they are serving salmon here :-) For ages it annoyed me I couldn't satisfy my pescatarian urges at this Renkon when the one in Parnell was perfectly happy to do so.... anyway this Renkon is great. Nice little location on one of the nicest alleyways in the CBD. Indoor and outdoor seating, super quick service and always tasty meals that are well price. Amateur diners delight. Try the salmon karaage.

Ffionachua

Renkons karaage chicken is normally one of my favourites from Renkon! The branch in the CBD serves up a pretty tasty karaage chicken - unfortunately the chicken was a little dry inside. I didn't really enjoy the teriyaki chicken dish - there was too much gravy/ a lot of liquid whereas I was expecting a thicker /more viscous/ caramelised teriyaki sauce. Also tried their agedashi tofu but it wasn't my favourite. Il just stick to their karaage next time and hope that the meat is not too dry!

Rachel Shen

tiny place，great for a sunny afternoon. Teriyaki chicken is soft n tasty. I would like to try salmon but they run out of it. Pity. The dish size is just perfect for some who doesn't have a huge stomach haha. Delicious

AA

Had pork egg katsu here for lunch. Average value quality. For the price, Portion could do with a slightly bigger serving. The free flow japanese tea is a plus though. Good place for catch up with friends.

Amy

😭😭😭😭😭 went here Fri night with friends. We all ended up deeply regretting coming here when we wanted good value Japanese 😫 the Tempera Prawn Udon Noodle was not the normal Japanese tempura but a thickly battered super oily thing...and I ordered udon because I had a craving for it but THE UDON NOODLES WAS NOT UDON 😵 it was just cheap noodles you can buy from an Asian supermarket. We are all still hurting from the food 😔 sniff

Marggie Pascua

I used to love this place. Prices has gone waaaaay up and you can only order huge portions now. I used to just order the small one since I can't finish it. And also the taste has changed as well. Not very impressed with Renkon anymore. Definitely love it more before. I hardly come here now because of it. Update: today i ordered takeaway since I wanted karate chicken, they took waaaaay longer than i wanted. I could've ordered somewhere else and got it faster. and the food wasn't that good either. the salad doesn't taste fresh, it had this weird taste to it. i hate that the rice is mixed with this red chilli sauce, they used to not to this. I just want my rice to be plain. But now that i've had another bad experience, i am never coming back here

Raymond Tiong

I've been here a few times and had mixed experiences. Tonight, my takeaway miso-dare donburi was drowning in sauce. But I remember dining in a few years ago and being impressed with the food – maybe because I ordered a karaage or miso katsu don instead? Have a few concerns about hygiene with this branch (found a strand of hair towards the bottom of my food, and my friend found what may have been a spider leg in his meal?!). Not sure I'd risk the disappointment again. Would prefer to stick to Mentatz or The Don.

John He

Great food at an affordable price. We always buy the teriyaki tofu donburi on rice and the quality often varies, however, the lower bound of the flavour is generally very tasty and on some days the teriyaki sauce is especially outstanding! Compared to the other renkon's, this is definitely our favourite.

Diogo Reck

Great and simple Japanese food. And, of course, with amazing sauce. If you like Japanese food that goes beyond sushi, you should try this people. Simple, good, tasty and cheap. Had my teriyaki salmon with us on, and I just couldn't stop eating eat. All flavours balanced and the meet cooked very nicely. Definitely I'm coming back for more.

Medium_Rare

One word that is ubiquitous amongst reviewers of Renkon is 'consistent'. They serve consistently good Japanese food for a great price whilst providing a portion that will keep most CBD workers full till close of business. We ordered a variety of dishes and I really liked my curry with pork katsu on rice. My meal was warm, tasty and came out in under 10 minutes which was great considering how busy they were. Renkon can get a little packed, especially during lunch times but I guess that's just a testament to their consistently good meals. Showstopper: Price for portion is excellent. Overall Grade: B+, excellent lunch spot for CBD workers.

Danny

At Renkon, you can get delicious Japanese cheap – most mains are priced around $12. And each dish is served with Japanese speed and politeness. Take care, as there is usually limited seating at the Durham Street branch. Also, they tend to close early (around 8:30pm). The Teriyaki and Misodare are the most popular items here – pick one depending on whether you prefer a sweet soy sauce or a slightly spicy miso sauce. The Yakiniku is also just as good. For vegetarians, the vegetable tempura is delicious. However, since it’s deep fried, it might not be the healthiest item on the menu!

SS

One of the most easy, consistent, cheap and delicious meals in CBD. I've been coming here a lot over the years and i've never been disappointed! Stars definitely include the karaage chicken don and the teriyaki chicken don. Classics... I know, but they do them sooooo much justice. Decor at this branch is a little dated and seatings both limited and cramped, but food 100% makes up for it! Highly recommend! All my friends i've taken here have become regulars ;-)

Misool Kim

I ate Sauce Katsu Pork tonight and the meat was so hard and chewy.! I couldn't finish my bowl and my jaw is still painful 😭 and it's expensive for the quality

Emma W

I started to get takeaway lunches from this place but it is so hit and miss. The first time I came here they clearly missed my order and I was left waiting for approx. 30 minutes. The next two times it was similarly busy but the food was ready in 10 to 15 minutes. My small size miso katsu or sauce katsu filled the small container to the top and proved to be a great economical lunch. My last visit was the most disappointing to date. Rice filled only about 1/3 of the container, with a bit of coleslaw on top and four pieces of meat, about half the amount I usually receive and meant the top 1/3 of the container was empty. The portion I received last time barely touched the sides and that is in comparison to being completely full even after the long wait the first time I visited. Will be looking for other lunch options.

Mh Myoee H

Dirty spoons . We asked for new ones but japanese waitress was very rude to us .people who worked there sat on the table smoking so much . We couldnt enjoy our meals.miso dare chicken was totally different from other renkon and not very good.total experience here was very bad

Linh 💛

This little place is packed with flavours ❤️ I come here quite often, mainly for takeaway because the place is usually very crowded. That doesn't mean you will have to wait long for food. The service here is quite fast, and their staff is friendly and attentive to customers. My favourite dish has got to be the Katsu curry chicken, very tasty and the density of the curry sauce is just right for me 👍🏼 Also, I love their Egg katsu chicken don, along with a bowl of miso soup 😊 hot and delicious ❤️ Because the store is quite limited in space they share the outside seating with a bar next door, I prefer to dine in store rather than outdoors because I can't stand smokers while I'm eating. Overall, Renkon is still a great little Japanese restaurant, very affordable and fulfilling, even with takeaway, the portion is still big and flavoursome. Next time you're feeling hungry, try it out 😊

Vivi S

Affordable work lunch place options continue. I've been to Renkon regularly since my first year in Auckland, and while it's not always on my mind, it's definitely a place I enjoy going to fairly often. . Depending on how hungry I am, I appreciate the fact that Renkon has smaller sizes, and classic sides for extra variety. There are a few places dotted around Auckland city, but my preferred one is without a doubt the cosy nook downtown with tiny chairs along the bar on one wall and tables along the other clustered closely together. In the summer evenings it's agreeable to sit on one of the picnic tables under scaffoldings and its fairy lights for a pretty city date dinner.

Fiona M

We came here for lunch on Friday and despite the slightly rainy weather, this place was still packed. We both got the chicken katsu sauce in a small. The food came out quickly, was fresh & tasty and still a big enough serving. I will definitely go back! It's a great, cheap lunch option.

ANKIT

Busy Japanese restaurant .i went there after reading good reviews from ZOMATO.the place is good.i order Teriyaki chicken .get my food before 15 min.i find this teriyaki chicken OK not tasty or delicious. Chicken :15% Salads:20% Rice :65% Quality of food 3/5 Customer service :3/5 I don't find this place super good like RAKUTEN

Greace Revilloud

Para los chicos de Nueva Zelanda, les comento que este lugar es bastante bueno. Comienzo contando de que es bastante difícil encontrar un lugar "barato" dentro de Auckland, pero este lugar es perfecto para el bajón. El sabor es bastante intenso pero muy rico, cualquier Ramen que elijan queda a la altura de cualquier buen restorant que tenga más o menos un 4,5 o 5 de calificación en Chile. Lejos el mejor lugar céntrico para comer Ramen, la atención es bastante difícil de calificar, ya que no hay, pero si vas al bar que está al lado te pueden llevar la comida allí.

Jam Taylor

My local lunch spot Renkon offer a small, but fantastic range of Japanese meals with your choice of rice or noodles. I play it safe and always go for the karage chicken. I have had both the rice and noodle options but think the karage chicken goes best with rice. They are very generous on the karage chicken but also a little over generous in the cabbage (salad) All the meals are $10-12 so are very affordable for a quick and easy lunch. They offer both inside and outside seating so was nice to sit outside in the sun/ shade. Definitely added to the whole experience. Staff are also super friendly! All up, Renkon serve great food and have a decent drink range. Will be there every Thursday for lunch :)

Charlotte

Renkon is always very busy due to it just being very good value for money. The staff are friendly and fast, and the menu is simple but the food is delicious. I like the option of a smaller sized donburi :D Don't let the small interior worry you. They have outdoor seating plus if it gets too full, you can sit in the adjacent restaurant. It's a great place to go with a friend but a large group wouldn't be recommended

Natalia NatNat

Great place! Katsu chicken is my favourite. Food comes fast, service is simple and quick. A good place to fill your stomach with tasty food at a reasonable price 😎

Josh Law

If you feel like a simple, tasty rice based meal then this is the place to go. This place does cater for noodle lovers too but Daikoku Ramen might be better suited for that. As for rice, you're in the right place. The restaurant is small, fitting maybe 20 people seated at a push. The waitress staff are incredibly friendly and are always smiling. Whenever you enter the place,they go out of their way to greet you. Awesome. $12 will get you a katsu rice bowl which is a pretty usual-good size (although big eaters beware). The meals are delicious. The prices aren't jacked up for dinner which is a good thing too. No getting ripped off for eating a little later in the day. This place for a cheap eats is just all around fantastic.

Aimee Young

I eat here for lunch a LOT! Love the miso katsu chicken most. Only real downside is the wait but that is to be expected at somewhere so popular I guess & it's not the cheapest lunch option at $12, wish there was more seatind also. Always very fresh vegetables and just delicious in general!

HJ

Love this place! Hidden away from the main street this place is pretty small, but there is outdoor seating and also the joint bar next door. The dishes we ordered were filling, hearty and just what you need on a cooler day! Good value and great food!

Foodie Feels

Great place ! Always cooked perfectly and cheap too! Great customer service, they are always friendly & have a smile on their face. The portions are also very generous. Definitely recommend to anyone who goes into the city for a shopping day or a night out with friends, you're welcome to sit in the bar next door and they will bring the food through to you if you wanted a couple drinks with friends at the same time.

Shirley Yu

Before I went there to grab a food, I viewed the reviews on Zomato and most of them said it was fantastic. However, my journey to Renkon was really disappointing. Both of my friends and my food was awful and we did not even know what the ingredients inside. Honestly it was my worst taste of Japanese food.

Claudia Serra

Food is always delicious, doesn't take long to be served with your order and they are very accommodating to specific requests :) Sometimes a little too busy! Can't always get a seat. One time my chicken was undercooked and pink, but that was a one off and i have been many times, so I wasn't too concerned.

Benjamin Founes

Chicken and egg donburi not recommended. Lacked flavor and felt rushed. The chicken was soggy instead of crispy. Rice was average. Karageean chicken was surprisingly good, that one is recommended.

Richard Xu

Came in for lunch and was greeted by very friendly staff and seated promptly even though the small restaurant was quite full. Food was really nice and the price extremely affordable. Had both indoor and outdoor seating but outdoor was really packed and indoor was pretty hot, especially on a summer day.

Sylvielle

I've been here last Friday at lunchtime when there was a long line and busy as usual. While seated and on the phone waiting for my food, the serving guy literally quietly snuck behind me and being startled by this I ended up dunking my elbow in the dish he was holding, which luckily in this case happened to be mine. He did not apologize, nor tried to bring me a serviette and instead he just left to serve other customers so I had to take care of the mess on my own. I ordered Pork Sauce Katsu ($12) and maybe I hadn't realized until the very end because it was drenched in sauce, but felt something was very wrong when I took a bite out of the last strip of meat left in my bowl. It was undercooked - it was pretty much raw as all I could see was the red flesh of meat. This took me by the absolute horror as I am 26 weeks pregnant and being shocked and upset, I had to get myself out of the place. I regret not telling this to the manager nor having a thought of taking a photo. I am definitely not going to dine again at Renkon (which seems like never at this point) when they are busy. Their food is usually good but they really need to get their staff and chef to be more professional since they are dealing with people and food!

Neeraj Kumar

My go to lunch place for a nice and fresh Katsu! The menu is extensive and everything is promptly prepared to order. The staff are friendly and green tea is complementary. The place can become too crowded though.

James Broadhurst

Renkon is always a great place for cheap'n'cheerfull Japanese - food is well priced - good quantities and friendly staff. The one in town has a lot of outdoor seating - great for summer.

Georgie @ Georgieats

Renkon serves delicious, cheap and fast Japanese food, right in the heart of the city. It is a neat little place situated down Durham Lane, between High Street and Queen Street. I recommend going here for dinner after work or for a tasty and affordable lunch on a Saturday. My sister and I went to Renkon for dinner one Wednesday night. We first ordered Takoyaki to share - to be honest it is not great, the balls were soggy and needed to be cooked a little bit longer. Next, we ordered our Donburi. I chose Teriyaki Chicken Don ($12) and my sister chose the Vegetarian Don - Tofu (also $12). Both were delicious and very filling! The best thing about Renkon is that you can order your meal, sit outside on one of the picnic tables (perfect in the summer, but nice in the winter too because of the outdoor heaters) and also order a drink from the bar next door (My Bar) - they have a joint policy so you can enjoy both outside. Renkon is also one of the few places in Auckland CBD where you can enjoy a delicious meal and a glass of whatever you fancy outside.

S Moon

I used to go here quite often as the place used to offer great food at low price. My favourite used to be misodare chicken udon. But I stopped going there after they replaced the udon noodles to some cheap thick noodles that doesn't have the texture or the taste of udon noodle. I had pork katsu don at one occasion and the katsu and egg coating were overcooked, soggy and the meat was too chewy. Sad to see the quality of the food getting worse and worse.

RandP

Dined in and our order was 2 * Donburi Pros: Buzzing atmosphere with patrons coming in non-stop, great look. The location is central and quite cute. Staff came across courteous and friendly Cons: Food itself was a let down, totally disappointed. Nothing authentic. Staff seemed very busy but was not keeping the atmosphere tidy. Almost all the tables were dirty and needed a clean. Good for a cheap eat at lunchtime, but will spend that money someplace else next time.

Domniic Feuchs

It's been a while since I've been to Renkon Ponsonby, certainly since the Ponsonby Central explosion. While some have risen to the challenge of more competition, Renkon has gone backwards at a rate of knots. Mine was absolutely tasteless, no small feat when dealing with a simple teriyaki. Totally awful and to be avoided at all cost.

Lena Kodaira

I come here at least once a week and yeah, it's that good. This place is full even on weekdays at like 4pm which is pretty indicative of its popularity. In my previous carnivorous years my usual order would be the teriyaki chicken don but as I have turned pescatarian my order is now either the excellent vege ten-don or the teriyaki tofu don. The service manages to be both highly efficient and friendly - even during the lunch hour rush the girls at the counter take the time to tell us that the vege ten-don sauce is made from fish stock thus not completely vegetarian in case we do not eat any animal products. Even though pure vegetarian options are marked on the menu we appreciate this each time, the Japanese are really leaders in service. I always wished that the Durham Street branch would start serving side dishes like at the Ponsonby and Parnell restaurants and I visited about a week ago and now they do! Time to start coming even more often.

Lt

Love this little place, I've also been to the one in Parnell and the one on Pitt St off K Rd, they are quite similar but this is the one I've been to the most hence the review is on this branch. Love their donburi, they are consistently good, I've had the chicken oyakodon and the salmon, both were very nicely done. I also like how they are friends with My Bar next door so you can order a donburi from here and a drink from next door and just sit outside and have both at the same time! Very cool place, one I need to go to more often.

Sara V

My favourite Japanese fast food in Auckland. The food is always fresh, the right size portions and quick. Sauce katsu is my personal favourite but everything on that menu is pretty delicious too.

Aidan M

Good service, tasty authentic food and with good atmosphere. Good value for money. Definitely recommend chicken miso katsu don.

The Guppy

Very friendly. Good value. Nice outdoor seating if it's good weather. Free tea :) And the food is great.

Michael

Renkon at Durham St East is my favourite place to eat. It is the only Renkon i have found that does the miso udon chicken dish which is amazing. The meals come out extremely fast and the staff are delightful.

Earl Vasquez

This is probably my favorite place to eat in the CBD. Sometimes it's hard to get in, but it's worth the wait. The food is always great, no matter what you order. Try the teriyaki chicken udon as a cure for a nasty cold.

Jordan Lee

I agree with all the previous reviews. I love the food at Renkon. The meats are cooked to perfect juicy tenderness. They also have a vegetarian menu - which I have not yet tried. My personal favorite is the Miso Katsu Chicken.

Marie Viot

This is only the second time I have Japanese food (I know!!) and after the lunch I just had there I will definitely go back!The Katsu Chicken Curry was just delicious! And am a bit of a princess when it comes to food..!Great value for money!

Sarah

I love this place. Awesome Teriyaki and Katsu dishes. They put the sauce right to the bottom of the bowl. Great prices for $11 a main. Also love their Karage-like popcorn chicken and the edamame beans. Highly reccommend.

Simone

I love this place! it is the best food ever! I think I might even go as far as to say it is my favourite eat out place.

Olivia Wilson

I eat here regularly (like, once a fortnight for a couple of years) and it is fantastic! Fresh, authentic, food combined with friendly service makes for a great lunch-time option.

Daniel

Great for a quick authentic Japanese meal! Good choice on the menu. I would recommend as I have been back loads of times.

Cherrie

They got us a table right away and the service was great! The menu is simple, but what you get is definitely worth it. The quality of their udon and miso are exceptional. Highly recommended! :)

Kartik Rao

This is a chic place set in the middle of Auckland CBD for a bite to eat, a few drinks, and a feel-good catchup. As with most Japanese restaurants, there is complimentary tea and water & you have the option of either sitting outside or finding a cosy seat near the counters where you pretty much get to watch the chefs do their thing - which sorta reminds you of the narrow counter-based Japanese restaurants you see in the movies! The food here is made relatively quickly but that does not take away anything from its taste! My personal favourite has been the Karaage chicken (both as the entrée & mains), which is usually given to you in a rice bowl with mayo, salads and other spices. Likewise, the shrimp tempura is nicely battered, fried, and served. My one deduction/recommendation would probably be to go a little easy on the mayo and other sauces there as I always feel that they are a tad bit too sweet. But hey, each to their own! The price is pretty average with one main being around $12 - which can leave you quite satisfied. Reasonably priced, great location and delicious food what more could you ask for?

Vivien @ KJAS Blog

Amazingly delicious (and fresh!) Japanese cuisine at an affordable price. Like wow. There's complimentary water or tea, and a variety of seating options either outside at the tables where you can people watch to the cosy darker inside benches. I had the teriyaki tofu donburi which was basically fragrant rice (the tender and cooked to the core kind) in teriyaki sauce with bits of cabbage, julienned carrot, spring onion and other vegetables with a few chunks of teriyaki tofu. The teriyaki tofu was so delicious! Even slightly unfresh tofu ruins the taste completely, and I'm glad to say that it was very fresh and silky with a skin that was just right. In fact, I think the highlight of Renkon is the flavoursome freshness of everything, from the vegetables to the rice. There was also plenty of sauce to ensure the rice at the bottom was soaked and tasty, but not too much so you felt like the donburi was swimming in a weird thick mini soup, so if you intensely dislike soggy rice you need not fear. I also got a side dish of karaage chicken and it was flavoursome and crispy too. Really well executed and fresh karaage chicken, and probably the best I've had in a while. It's so close to Queen Street and so affordable, you definitely have to visit sometime for a delicious under $20 lunch.

NYNB

Random little Japanese reastaurant tucked away into one of the streets just off Queen street. Seating is limited inside as the place is fairly small but it shares the big bench tables outside with the bar next door - not ideal now especially as the weather gets colder but great during the warmer months. There's self service for green tea and cold water, cutlery (spoons, forks, chopsticks) and napkins at each table. Menus are available/visible on the door, at the counter and on the wall next to the counter. Food came out fairly quickly except for my Yakinuki beef - only about 10~15minute wait for our entire meal to arrive. Food is okay, fairly average in my opinion as I do have a preference for the way my food should taste. Curry was a bit too sweet but the chicken for the curry, sauce donburi and side was cooked perfectly. Unimpressed with the serving size of the takoyaki but they tasted amazing, fresh and piping hot! My yakinuki beef didn't taste that great but this one was made with a leaner beef (not as fatty as the Genzui one I'm use to). Service was great, staff are friendly. Price point is cheap - good for people who want a filling meal (would not recommend the small bowls as they are actually quite small, so paying the extra 6.50$ is worth it).

Madicattt

There are a lot of Donburi restaurants in the CBD but my pick of the bunch would have to be Renkon. Cheap, consistently delicious and fast Renkon is a great spot for when you need to grab a bite to eat. The menu is divided into dishes with rice or with udon noodles and of the bunch I think it would be safe to say that Misodare Chicken is my favourite. Pro tip - ask for extra Japanese Mayo to make it truly delectable (read - evil). Having been to all of their stores, I find them to be pretty consistent.

Two Honest Truths

Renkon is an easy go-to spot for a quick Japanese fix that doesn't hurt the wallet - something hard to find in Auckland. Service is always quick and friendly even though most of the time the restaurant is brimming with people both dining in and taking away. The store is small with overflow to the MyBar tables next door too. My favourite items on the menu would be the Kaarage Chicken Rice and Miso Pork Katsu Rice, though sometimes I find the pork slightly dry. The Chicken Katsu Udon is also delicious. We always ask for the udon to be served separately to make sure the chicken doesn't end up soggy. Have also tried their stores in Ponsonby, and Parnell and I think Parnell is the better one of the three. For more food reviews visit: www.twohonesttruths.com

Dog Eats World

Cute little Japanese restaurant tucked away down a alley off queen street. The staff are extremely friendly and the food is always yum. You can also take your food over to the bar next door and enjoy a few beers with your meal. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to satisfy their Japanese cravings.

Danny

At Renkon, you can get delicious Japanese food for under $15. And each dish is served with Japanese speed and politeness. Be careful, as there is usually limited seating at the Durham Street branch. I would recommend the teriyaki and misodare chicken, depending on whether you prefer a sweet soy sauce or a slightly spicy miso sauce. The chicken karaage (available as a side or main) is also excellent here. aucklandonmyplate.co.nz