Review Faro Korean Traditional Grill - Auckland

It is a nice and cosy Korean bbq place. Really liked the food. The short ribs and cheesy chicken. Delicious. You won't go wrong ordering any of the dishes here.

This was our first time to a Korean restaurant so it was a new experience for us. We had no idea what we were doing but the waitress was very helpful and patient. She recommended a really nice vegetarian hotpot dish and even ensured it was not spicy for me. We really loved the delicious food and dining experience.

We came here to celebrate my 30th and we LOVED it so much!!! It was our first time at a Korean Bbq place and its now my new favourite place. Im obsessed! Everything from marinaded meats, beef brisket, kimchi, and all the side dishes were delicious. We got a variety dishes and meats for the bbq.I also tried Grape Soju for the first time and I LOVE IT. Even thinking about it now, makes my mouth water and makes me wish I could relive that dinner time and time again <3 !

Full of Koreans, so you know this tastes like home, or at least similar. Not a big menu, unlike most Korean places of similar format, which is great - smaller menu means bigger focus on quality and getting what you offer just right. We had the fried dumplings, which were probably the best I’ve had in Auckland. We also got Cold Noodle Soup, amazing with extra kimchi, mustard and vinegar. The soup is simple in itself but the broth was full of flavour and refreshing and noodles delicious, although a little sticky. The lights are dim and there’s slight haze from people cooking on the gas stoves, which adds to atmosphere. Overall totally love it except the staff can be a bit more customer focused, they look like they are there to just clear dirty plates.

Delicious, authentic Korean BBQ with excellent service. Will definitely be back.

Absolutely scrumdiddlyumptious!!! Had dinner with 5 people and we were absolutely full. Their Mandu is very yummy well recommended!! 😏😏😏🤩🤩

Very shocked to their service. Never ever seen only the dish I had been ordered. Mostly get less small bowl of soup but nothings! Although, they want to makes money to orders any side dishes. Holly crab. That is more like western style. Very disappointed. Won't recommend to others.

Fabulous place! We were here with our family of 3: ambient is cozy and very typical, with each table geared up with a hood for steaming meat.they have high chair for babies. The smiling waiter was friendly and the service was fast! You can stare at the cookers doing their magic behind the wooden screen. They are awesome on meet preparation and hot pot! We had a al-Tang (spicy Todu hot pot) and a delicious Bulgogi stew hot pot with an extra tender and juicy meet! Tap water is provided for each table! Overall a wonderful and satisfying culinary experience!! Like they say in Japan: Gochisosama!!

New city adventures tonight with Wifey 🤗 . We roamed around looking for something that looks yummy and came across this Korean restaurant. I think it's known for the kbbq but we went in for their other non-bbq dishes 👌🏼 . We ordered: • Raw beef tartare - marinate raw beef strips served with sliced pear and egg yolk • Spicy Tofu stew with beef • Cold Chilli Noodle ❄️ . It comes with rice and a set of 6 side dishes. It was all really yummy, so much so that i can't pick my favorite lol. The raw beef was really good - it's been really long since I've had one this good. The tofu stew was super flavorsome too 🤤🤤 . Great random find! 😋

Tasty food and sumptuous meal. Excellent service!

great Korean food and bbq place in city and new market.i like both branches have different fit out. normally need a booking for peak hours. tofu seafood is my all the time favorite soup to order.tried bbq set,which was great and good value for four.

I've had to eat airport and plane food this business trip, so Korean for dinner was a tasty, much needed change. This place is deceptively large, it's long and stretches all the back for private eating areas that's decorated like an ye olde Korean Palace. The big bi bap was tasty with lots of different ingredients. It's just a little strange that rice comes on the side. I added it to the cast iron bowl anyway.

First time ever that i enjoyed korean food and did not leave disappointed like other Korean restaurants i've tried before, not gonnna mention any names . The staff were super friendly and helpful and even helped as grill the meat. I loved the thick slices of pork dipped in the sweet, yummy sauce, with the fried spring onion mixed with fragrant toasted sesame seeds was perfect. I only wish their complemenatry tea was hot and not lukewarm. Or, it would be great if they'd include a variety of hot tea in their menu next time as customers like me prefer tea over alcohol or over soda, and tea is much healthier too. The ambience was warm and nice and adds to the experience. I'd be visiting the place again for sure !

Authentic Korean food, favourite Korean restaurant in town - said my Korean roommate who's been in Auckland for more than 10 years. I especially liked the stonepan beef with onions, delicately sweet not overly flavoured. And proper side dishes as well. Try def come again for BBQ and rice cake!

my photos doesn't give this place justice been here 3x now I think love that they have a good number of banchan or aide dishes the restaurant is very laid out sitting wise love that it has a semi private areas charcoal grill makes it a huge difference with the flavours too might be pricier than others but you get what you pay for and this is a good place will definitely come back

The food wow it was awesome Enjoyed the night. I'd have to high five everything. Then there is a But. We had to go for an extra long walk. Because I eat so much. It was sooooo good.

Went to Newmarket branch, would give less stars if possible. Staff misunderstood our order and ordered us a set for 7 people instead of 4. We had not touched any of the food and asked for our order to be changed, they claim they could not even though everything was raw meat and was not even served to us yet. They made us pay an extra $120 even though it was their own fault.

My favorite korean restaurant in town!!! The best K you can ever have!!! The staff r friendly! Fast service! Well done. Keep it up!!!

Excellent service� had some grilled steak and pork belly, very delicious�

Was there for late lunch. Nice ambience, food was tasty. Recommended.

Superb :).... we really enjoyed the food... fantastic staff :)

Food was awesome! We really enjoyed it. Will bring some of our friends there next time :)

Nice experience, delicious and will come back for sure.

Amazing ��

Great food and great customer service :)

To the owner of FARO restaurant. Dear Madam or Sir My name is Koji , we went to your restaurant last Monday 13/07/2015 around 6-00 pm As usual we had very enjoyed your meal served by very friendly waitress,thank you very much. And next day I've got phone call from unidentifiable number And I called this number that was your restaurant. One of your female staff told me , I forgot small face towel The night we had dinner. I thought what wonderful thing , just a old face towel but she said maybe that is precious towel for your child. I should ask her name but I didn't. Next day when I picked it up ,lucky to see same lady. I chat with her and promised her we will back Faro for you next time visit to Auckland. If owner of Faro restaurant read this message please tell her thank you from our family. You are very lucky who worked have pure kind of heart from natural. So we spent very wonderful night at Faro. Thanks again. Ngaru, Rie , Koji

Great!! I like it good service..

SUCH AN AMAZING PLACE TO DINE! Also great customer service and such a warm atmosphere!!!! AND DONT FORGET THE FOOD!!! THE FOOD WAS TO DIE FOR!!! Well worth the money spent!!!! DEFINITELY VISIT AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!!! ‼️✔️✔️♨️✅✅❤️

Had dinner here recently. The service was very good. Very attentive staffs. You get to have 1 refill of the side dishes. The price to quantity of the meat i thought was bad but surprisingly good. We ordered the Ggot Sal x 3 and the Pork Loin x 1. It was amazing but definitely a city price. You can get the same level of quality outside the city for a bit cheaper.

The food was decent. We ordered a lot. The $200 set for 4 + 2x tofu stew + 1 seafood pancake + sojus etc.<br/>The service was really disappointing and non attentive. We had to wave people down every single time. No one checked up on us.<br/>Apart from that, the food was good as always.

This place is very nice. Im satisfied with every visit I went. I was sad that the workers weren’t able to cook the meat for us because the restaurant was too busy. The meat always tastes best when they cook the meat for us.

Came in after media hand in. I'm going to say this about all korean restaurants but the side dishes are always so good. I could honestly just order side dishes for my whole meal. Was disappointed that they didn't have the korean pancake as one of the side dish options but the rest were good. We ordered the aloe vera and the iced plum tea which were both quite sweet but perfect for a hot summer's day.

Love their fresh meat! But our family squeezed into a small table ans service is not satisfied

The service is excellent. You will love the food. Good and relaxing place. The manager is really nice, she make sure we are fine.

Nice service from manager and good food

Really soothed a naengmyeon cold noodles (냉면) craving for me. Was a little bit light on the pear and cucumber (I ran out waaaay too fast for the amount of noodles) but the serving size was absolutely massive and I was fully satisfied at the end.<br/><br/>6 types of banchan side dishes (반찬) with a free refill was awesome, and their kimchi was particularly tasty. Japchae (잡채) was like 97% noodles but was still good.<br/><br/>Naengmyeon (냉면): 8/10<br/>Banchan (반찬): 8/10

We got the $90 bbq set meal for two. The portions were big, and the meat was so tender and flavourful. Liked how they cooked the meat on the table for us.

We were hungry after a long day but wasn't sure what to get, then we walked by Faro and decided to give it a try. And what a nice decision! Awesome food, great ambience and friendly staff. Serving was fast and the staff was attentive. Really love the spicy seafood pot, squid salad, Kimchi tofu soup and especially the bulgogi beef wrap! Will definitely come back again

We ordered the 2 people dinner set for $100. It was good but not memorable. I feel like I have been to other Korean buffet that offered the same food (and more) for a lot cheaper. Definitely the setting is good though.

I've been here several times, there are not a lot of vegetarian options but they have a couple of vegetarian tofu soups/stews so I always go for that. It's not a cheap restaurant, but the soup options are mostly under $20 if you don't want to spend a lot. Best part of dining here are the side dishes that come with your meal. You get 6 little dishes and can refill them again for free, though I find one serving is generally enough. I like the fit out of the restaurant, it's a nice environment that's good for groups or couples, and fairly relaxed and cosy so you can stay a while. The place can get pretty smoky from the bbqs so be warned. Also one of the few places in the CBD to do BYO wine ($7 a bottle). Gotta love a BYO dinner.

First of all, the staff especially the women needs their attitude checked. Althroughout, all we could see was frowning or faces they made with our request which was not just your usual ones. We politely ask for our sides, sauce & water to be refilled and it took forever to arrive. We ordered quite a lot and our table was a bit full. Hence they transferred cooking the bbq in another table. The lady staff looked like she wasn’t happy to grill our meat. Dont get me wrong the food was good but it was pricey and with the attitude of their staff. I will avoid coming here because there are a lot more restos out there. Cheaper and more friendly atmosphere.

Went here for lunch with my Korean colleague. I had Tofu stew and she got slow-cooked beef rib stew. Both were really delicious, especially the tender beef rib so yummy but the portion was quite small tho. Their side dishes were the most delicious ones compared to other Korean restaurants. Gonna go for BBQ next time, looks really good.

This place is my regular place to have Korean bbq in city, the ox tongue and beef are my favorite.<br/>The staff is helpful most of the time, and if it’s not busy, they will help you to do the bbq. <br/>They also have the best Kimchi soup in Auckland, normally I would have two bowls of rice with that :)

Really good attentive service. We had the spicy pork belly and soy bean soup with vegetable tofu. Delicious food and good loud fun sounding vibe.

One of our go to place for Korean bbq, the price is a little bit more than the other ones but the meat quality and their variety of side dishes make it really worth it! Remember not to wear your wool coats or you will smell like bbq for ages. Our favorite is Galbi and Dak Gui if you like spicy food.

Very good service and nice food！everything is perfect 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻Will come again 👍🏻we order set A the meat is soooooo good！highly recommend for 2people ！

Love the food in this place especially their cheesy Buldak. It’s a real Korean experience. <br/>Staff is friendly and the place it’s not a fancy one but fits their image of who they are. <br/>When it’s crowded the service can be bad although people don’t go there for the service. They go for the experience and the food, as I do . <br/>The average spent for 2 is $100 ( barbecue, two choices of meat, sides, rice and another main) <br/><br/>You need a pre booking on a Friday night otherwise you might be on a long waiting list. <br/><br/>If I want Korean , it’s my favourite place to go. <br/><br/><br/>

Great food and ambiance. I liked how the girl helped us out with preparing the meat at the table. It was our first time experiencing this. Such helpful people.

Friendly service, environment was ok too, food tasty yum, ingredients are fresh .<br/>Food quality 4/5<br/>Quantity 4/5<br/>Price 3/5<br/>Environment 4/5<br/>Service 4/5<br/>

One of the staff treated us rudely, beef was too chewy, sides were unappetising, we asked for a beef stew and received seafood stew instead. Friends said they used to come a lot but now after this experience, they would not come again. Was definitely not worth the $130 we paid for the set. Could’ve gone to kbbq for essentially the same thing, better quality meat, and half the price.

Customer service was good, a lot of eye contact going on with the waitresses. Not enough options compared to other Korean places I’ve been too. Prices are a bit steep. Side dishes were lovely. Probably the only I enjoyed besides the main meal

| Bibimbap |<br/>-<br/>My first ever bibimbap, the vegetables were fresh but the star of the dish was the sweet + spicy sauce. A great touch how they gave you the whole bottle to adjust your flavours accordingly. An excellent healthy choice for after gym.

First time to faro lorne street , I couldn't be more pleased by its high quality food and attentive service. Fried fish is tender, soy soup is delicious, and side dishes are fresh and flavorful. Interior deco is comfortable. It's truly a pleasure to eat here.

In their menu it specifically says that 'You get 6 dishes per meal / individually', but in reality they only allow you to refill once per table - no matter how many of you in a table ordered meals! This is a BIG LIE to the customers! Very disappointed! l hope everyone do realize the fact that they lied to every customer!

My Ex-Korean colleague fell in love with the waitress and he makes us eat here all the time. Foods ok, beef is good. Will take more white people here

With a lovely girl whose birthday is exactly the same as my sister. She introduced this restaurant and we came before it opened.<br/><br/>Environment is good but a bit smoky when people around you are doing the BBQ. But we enjoyed the typical Korean food.<br/><br/>All payment options are available for overseas customers. Credit cards are welcomed!

The most smoky BBQ I’ve ever had!! My eyes were literally burnt to tearing by the smoke. Worst dinning experience ever! Will never come back!

I love this place. It’s busy with great ambience and way bigger than it looks from outside. The food is delicious, including the condiments / pickles that come with your meal. The staff are attentive and the food comes quickly. Great vibe, great quality and flavour. I can’t wait to come back next time I’m in Auckland.

This place has so many autographs of all the korean celebrities:) ordered the bulgogi pot and it came with rice and 6 side dishes. Bulgogi in korean restaurants are usually quite savoury but this bulgogi pot was not. I really liked the side dish that was yellow in colour. Thought it was egg at first but it was mashed potato made into cube.<br/><br/>Food: 4/5<br/>Service: 4/5<br/>Overall: 4/5

I have a thing for Korean BBQ, so this rating will come as no surprise, but Faro really does deserve it! Having been to Korea, I long for authentic Korean dishes and these guys come close, very close.<br/><br/>If you've never been to a Korean BBQ, don't be worried - these guys will prepare and cook the meat in front of you, just ask! If you know how it all works, then start practicing Mr/Ms Masterchef.<br/><br/>The service is excellent, and they keep a close eye on people like me, who are very clumsy, to make sure the cooking goes to plan.<br/><br/>Finally, the sides are included and there's free refills, though you probably won't need it considering the quantity they provide.<br/><br/>I was too preoccupied with the meats to take a photo of it, but hopefully you'll visit and see for yourself!<br/><br/>Admittedly I didn't check the prices, but my bank account didn't cry the next day and I really enjoyed it, so good enough I suppose?

Came in for dinner and the service here was horrendous bordering non existent. Pretty much ignored entirely by the staff. Got seated at a table and had to get up and ask for our own menus, had to end up going to find out own eating utensils after asking for them twice after our food came out. Ordered drinks that never came. Ended up having to order at the counter because no one came to check on us. Really poor experience and I don’t think I’d come back. Only came to this site as website said Newmarket is closed for renovations where I’ve always had a great time and experience. 0 out of 5 for service. Food was great though when it eventually made its way to the table. Had to go through the bill with the cashier to get things removed that were never delivered. Wouldn’t recommend. Disappointed.

This was my second choice of restaurant after my first choice fell through but I must say that I was not disappointed. Walked in for a table and got seated right away, the waiter that took our order was polite and patient in explaining their menus to us, we decided to order their $87 set menu. Then another waitress cooked our meat for us which was perfect and tender, even though we could have managed cooking it we most probably would have overcooked it. Their set menu came with salad, 9x side dishes, beef (plain & marinated) and spicy kimchi soup, lettuce, onion and mushroom, rice and dipping sauces. You’re allowed 1x refill for all side dishes we only asked to refill 3 as we did not want to waste it. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed dining here and fully recommend it. 👍🏽

My friend and I used to come here at least once a week last year for lunch. Their lunch sets are really tasty and well worth the price. Their bbq however is a little more expensive than other places like Red Pig, but it’s because they cook in front of you for you.

Been coming to this place and the new market branch for years! Like all order style korean bbq, the meat is fresh compare to all you can eat (mostly frozen). But the great thing about this establishment is that someone will come and grill the meat for you while you eat. But if you don’t like the company or feel awkward about something standing there while u chat and eat, you can still do it yourself. <br/>This time we tried the bossam, this is a nice slow braised pork belly in soy sauce based broth and it’s super soft and melts in your mouth! I highly recommend it! <br/><br/>Service 4/5<br/>Instagram worthy 1/5 too dark, dated seating arrangement<br/>Food 3.5/5 just grill meat

Pretty good place for date night. Ambient lighting, comfy sofas, themed decor.. I'm all about the value though and Faro will definitely hit your pocket. If you have a big appetite you're better off going to a BBQ buffet. The Galbi Jjim (beef short rib stew) was superb 👍

I LOVE KOREAN BBQ SO THIS WAS SOOOOO FREAKING GOOOD, staff were great and helped cooked our food *newbie* friend booked in and now i must go back for another round

We went to this restaurant specifically because we were eager to try a Korean BBQ. The restaurant looked nice, but the customer service was the worst. We were ignored all night with the exception of catching two servers who helped once but never came back to our table. We had no idea what to do & the server was told this, she only helped us once, but left & would not look at us every time she passed our table. We nearly left because it took forever for anyone to even take our order we had to make them. The food was interesting, but not sure I would go to this restaurant again.

Terrible management, every staff told different things , $30 for table set with 1 mushroom and 4 pieces of lettuce ,usually Korean restaurant not charging for it! go to botany junction faro, it’s way way more more better than this one! Will never come back

Faro is one of my favourite Korean restaurant in Auckland. She has a few branches. I prefer to go to Newmarket branch because the portion of food is comparatively bigger. Hotpot bibimbap and spicy Tofu soup taste good.

Always been a big fan of korean food and same for Faro! Service here was super good! FOH grilled the meat for you and many choices of side dishes!

I been to Faro Korean restaurant so many times and I love food here. It’s tasty and very yummy especially fish menu. I only eat seafood but my friends had bbq here and they like food here too.

Worst value for money but extra star for the interior. Spent over $50 for essentially steamed kimchi with few slices of pork and water with noodles. Quite the difference between menu vs reality. Won’t be back here in a rush.

Surprised I’m dining at a Faro after last years experience at the New Market branch, a little bit of coaxing was all that was needed to convince me so maybe I didn’t mind my previous experience that much. <br/><br/>Pretty pleased with my overall experience here food was nice, fresh and tasty. I was rather mundane with my meal choice opting for the basic bulgogi. In my opinion the Bulgogi was okay but it wasn’t saucy enough for me. The highlight for me was the side dishes, Faro provide plenty and the dishes were fresh, colourful and flavoursome.<br/><br/>Showstopper: Side Dishes<br/>Overall Grade: B+

I don’t know which of the 2 Faro came first. We were very pleased with the Newmarket branch and the Lorne Street one also came through well. There were 3 of us and wanted to order the table set for 2 plus another dish but was recommended to have table set for 3 instead. We did not quite understand why but were not sure how our vegan will fare as there was a lot of meat options, so we ordered 3 meals instead. I loved my deep fried makerel which came with a tasty spicy soup. My family had the bibimap and Su:t. We had a selection of 6 side dishes which were really interesting as seen in the photos. The restaurant is much bigger on the inside. It is dimly lit and ceiling hung extraction fans at each table.

This is the worst Korean restaurant I've ever been to. Staff is so rude and no respect towards customers. Me and my friend waited for 25 minutes after ordering. The food was so cold and tasted horrible. Worst food I ever tasted. Didn't enjoy at all. We complained about our experience there. Utter waste of money and time. Disappointing..!<br/>0 stars.

The spicy silken tofu soup with seafood was super tasty! Everything was really reasonably priced and the side dishes were great. Service was a bit lacking but given that it was Boxing Day, that’s totally understandable.

I would have to say this place is quite overpriced for what you get. Barely any meat and almost no prawns in my dish... The taste is nice as everything is well seasoned however not worth for what you get.

Went for a dinner buffet with my friend. We booked in advance informing that we will be there before 9 pm. <br/>When we went in they got the order and then informed us that the kitchen is about to close, which didn't make sense as the restaurant is open till 10:30 pm. Asked for extra rice, kimchi, and some galbi [Beef] they just didn't take the order and indirectly said i have to eat what is given and leave as quick as possible. <br/>And i end up paying $102.50 <br/>Worst korean restaurant i have ever visited, will never go there again nor recommend it to my friends.<br/><br/>Ambience: 2/5 <br/>Food: 3/5 <br/>Service: 4/5 - this rating is for the people who worked there, the manager/ the boss who was managing them all was so rude, unkind and unfriendly. <br/>Management: 0/5 <br/><br/><br/>

Great food, reasonable price. Friendly staff.<br/>I had Galbi (beef short rib) and Pork Belly, I am pretty sure they are the best Korean restaurant in town.<br/><br/>The only place I enjoy real Korean BBQ with healthy side dish in Auckland. Recommend 100%!!<br/><br/><br/><br/>

Good service. I ordered Bulgogi, and it is quite expensive but it is decent amount. Little bit overpriced in my view. Came with a few friends and we ordered two soju, they do not offer flavored soju, only classic and fresh.

We got Set A between 2 people, which is $87. <br/>It felt like we were paying for the sides instead of the actual meat. There was really only a small plate of meat. Did not feel like it's worth anything more than $50 at most. A bit disappointing for the price you're paying.<br/><br/>Nevertheless the sauces and sides were decent flavour-wise. If it weren't for their good and attentive service I probably would not give 3.0<br/><br/>Price: 3/10<br/>Food: 6/10<br/>Ambience: 7/10<br/>Service: 8/10

Took a friend here to introduce her to Korean food and was so embarrassed lol. Soybean soup was just water+miso+a bit of tofu. Portion sizes are quite small and food is overpriced for what you get.

When I set foot inside, I was immediately slapped with the barbecue aroma that made me drool like a 5 year old kid. It was barbecue awakening IMO. 😉<br/><br/>Banchan were aplenty and your server would be glad to assist you with everything you need and want. I loved the kimchi, pickled veggies, gojuchang, and more. Perfect side dishes to complement your beef.<br/><br/>The Galbi (beef) and Mok Sam Gyeop (pork) were excellent and fresh. The marinade had terrific flavor, juicy, sweet, and a bit spicy. Of course, taste depends on how you grill it. As much as possible, grill it short time to ensure the natural beef flavors come out and end up succulent and tender. Don't overcook your beef. It's a sin IMO.<br/><br/>It's a must that you make a reservation before going to Faro. Worth every penny.

One of my favorite korean restaurant in Auckland :) Nice staffs and food! But the Zomuluk pork that I had last night was bit smelly and oily... others were awesome!

Unfortunately this place was over hyped to me by my Korean friends to be the spot for Korean dining. The ambience and service are very much typical of an Asian restaurant which was surprising to me.<br/><br/>We came just in time for the last service (they really emphasized they were closing at 10.30, like they have to finish their work and be out by then on the dot) so we only had the Bulgogi and Garlic Se-Wu, they didn't taste particularly good. The Bulgogi just tasted generic while the Garlic Se-Wu was unpleasant to say the least. The prawns were obviously from frozen which is fine when you're running a business and they are in no way advertised as fresh but they were over cooked to the point of being mush inside the shells.<br/><br/>The food could possibly be attributed to me dining at an "inappropriate" time but is that a good reason to have no standard or pride especially when you're suppose to be maintaining/enhancing your reputation as a restaurant? I wouldn't recommend this place at all.

We had a slight mix up with the bill, but all was sorted in the end. Other than that our experience was quite nice, the food was lovely, they did warn us that they did have a function on when we were making our reservations, so they did give us a recommended time which was even more helpful for us as we did not know when to arrive, the atmosphere and the place was awesome, I had a lovely time with my partner and our friends there. Waitresses could do with a smile though.

Really busy restaurant with nice atmosphere and food is delicious. It's much bigger inside than it looks from the outside. We ordered the beef and the spicy pork stir fry. Both were big portions but is quite exy though. Love the plum wine and staff were friendly.

A few negative comments first because they really defined our visit - wait for food was very long (markedly longer than bannsang ever is), when the mains finally arrived they mixed up my partners' meat dish doing seafood instead of beef. Frustrating. They also did not fill up our tea without us specifically asking for it. Would've been preferable to have a pot to ourselves. Some of the portions very small i.e. spicy silken tofu stew with egg was in a little bowl with very little meat. Luckily the side dishes bulked it out a tiny bit and you get one free refill which is much more generous than many places in Auckland. Good impressions - tasty food - I loved the mackerel! So crispy and delcious. Served with a bowl of doenjang soup which was pretty good. The small bowl of beef silken tofu spicy soup was also delicious. I loved the sides too - yummy selection and great kimchi. Service was very friendly and nice :) apologetic for the mess up with the meat and the fact that our sides simply didn't turn up.

This place has a stylish atmosphere that belies how affordable the food is. I had a silken tofu soup with rice which was delicious and my friend had a beef stew that seemed great as well. The wait staff did forget to give us our drinks but it didn't bother us too much so we didn't chase it up. Great value for money if you want to get something cheap that isn't takeaways.

Found this cute little spot after my haircut so decided to try it. We ordered the lunch special with chicken and beef. Great flavours and it came with six small side dishes. A little salty for my liking but overall good experience. Id come back for BBQ next time!

Went for lunch here. Got some Korean pancakes and lunch set which came out Surprisingly quick. Service was great and friendly, and food was good albeit personally it was a tad bit too salty. Would come back to try the BBQ some day.

It was my first time at faro and I personally disliked the service that was given by the staff. <br/>There wasnt a typical manager in charge to talk about the issues I had at the restaurant. <br/>Ive ordered quite alot and was on a friday night. I usderstand that it was busy but the it seemed to be a lack of staff to look after the portion of the customers. <br/>The sauce plates on our table seemed not clean and the korean pancakes that are served for entre was cold so I requested a new hot plate but they reheated the same plate to us. (Very unprofessional for a 3.9 restaurant) <br/>Lastly, we asked for side dish to be refilled that didnt come until we fininshed our meal. <br/>It was a shame that my first experience at faro lorne street will now be the last :( <br/><br/>In general The food was ok but the service I have received was highly poor.

The outside look of the restaurant is not as enticing, but voila once you're inside it is a different vibe and ambiance. Love the inside decor and the layout and staff were very attentive (even there is a button that you can use if you need them) Service was prompt. So we've had beef bulgogi served in a fiery pan for $30. It was delicious and a good serving ( could be shared by 2 people). Side dishes were divine....sweet potatoes, kimchi, beans sprouts. Would try the Korean style BBQ next time....🍡🍢🍴

Group dinner after being intrigued walking by. Nice big place inside and cool set up .food reasonable options as well as pricier options . we skipped the grill as we were lazy but it looked good and staff were helping some guests. We had a few dishes all standard affare for similar Korean places . good portions and ok food the beef I had in mine was a bit odd and rubbery I had a tofu soup mix but there were tasty side dishes overall we liked it so we would go back to try the grill

Been here yesterday for dinner. Excellent food with excellent service! We had Korean grilll Galbi both innplain and marinated. So pretty much it is mini barbeque in the restaurant. The staff member helped us cooking the meat and she made it perfect (myself medium and my friend well done). You might want to ring them up first to book a table as they were busy during that time.

The restaurant itself has a very nice setting. Although it looks small from the outside, it is quite long and spacious inside. For a BBQ place, it is surprisingly very clean and the air doesn't smell of smoke much!<br/><br/>We had the grill option, and ordered the beef short ribs and chicken. The beef ribs were tough and chewy - not sure if it was because the pieces were sliced too thick which didn't allow it to cook thoroughly. The chicken was soft and delicious.<br/><br/>In general, the grill marinade is super tasty - for an enjoyable night, i will simply recommend going for less tough meats if you're not one who likes chewing on them. <br/><br/>Plus, their side dishes are also very tasty. I could easily just eat the side dishes on its own for my dinner.

Service is terrible, food alright though :) had a booking which they didn't even book, took ten minutes before they even brought wine glasses to the table :(<br/>

This would have been a good place (nice vibes, clean, good location etc) but the staff really need to be careful. The first time I went, I'd ordered chicken but they gave me pork which I didn't realise till halfway through then they gave me my actual meal. Today, I ordered a chicken bibimbap but I had gotten no further than mixing everything together then realised it was beef. I asked them about it and they said there was no more chicken. That's very problematic. So because there was no chicken, they just put something random instead?! You can't just do that without asking the customer! In the end, I ordered something completely different which was actually good. But with the mix up of meat in the two times I've been there, it's not good enough and would really make anyone with dietary requirements think 10 times before going there. A shame because the food is actually really good.

Food taste good, <br/>the ambiance of the restaurant look like a authentic decorations . <br/>HOWEVER pricing and portions are really bad. I have ask them about the size of "pan fried pork belly and Kim chi" how big is it they told me that it is about portion and a half to 2 portion, so I decided to order (which is $31) but when the food came it was only a portion, some of us thought it was not even a portion because it was so small and the kimchi was just put onto the pan. The pork taste average. For $31 I could get one decent steak or buy 2 dish which will fill me up!!!.the soup dishes were so small (what friends ordered) the side dish was not given out individually when it was printed in their menu it says you get 5-6 sides for every meal/ individually. Us all as 8 had to share 12 and only refill once.<br/><br/>There was 8 of us the food taste okay but not as good as what we expected it to be for what it is worth. I had been to many korean restuarant and I can say there are better one out there with good size portion and not expensive unlimited refill and individual side dish is serve immediately.<br/><br/>This is my opinion for the Faro restuarant.

Had great dinner with friends there last night. All meat items were very fresh and tasty. Korean staff were very friendly, they grilled all meat and seafood items for diners.

Okay. Since I have lived in Korea for 4 years, I gotta say this place is overpriced and over-rated. They cut their meat too thin. The staff are not quick enough to offer you more side dishes when they're finished.

Came here for the first time for a friends 23rd birthday. I got the beef stew and the flavour was incredible. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals which had so much flavour to compliment the ingredients. I joined this review service purely because I needed to review this restaurant. Will definitely be returning and highly recommend.

Came here for a birthday with 25 friends. I confirmed the booking with them on the day but they didn't seem to believe 25 people would be turning up, as they gave us a table for ten. No worries - they kept adding tables to each end as new people turned up until we were all seated comfortable. They also took about an hour to take our order, but we didn't mind much as we were all catching up. All the food was delicious, the sides especially were great. We all loved our meals and thought it was a great place to take a large group for a BYO.

I had a very unpleasant experience here at lunch today. Went with a few work colleagues and ordered our dishes and one was made 5 mins after the rest of the order and everybody's food arrived but they didn't bring my dish out, it happened to be the same dish as the one ordered 5mins after the rest, I had the waitress tell me it will come in 10 mins then another one comes 15 mins later and says this was not on the order you'll have to wait another 20mins.. Which then arrived 1/2hr later when the rest has finished eating.. I asked for a fork and this was not even given so I struggled to eat my food which came super late while the whole table was watching.. <br/><br/>Their customer service was horrendous, staff would walk off angry when you ask a question and just not happy to serve.. I will definitely not go there ever again!

Faro is a good place to experience Korean food and it has a nicer vibe than the other Korean restaurants. They have a good range of side dishes and the presentation is tidy and classy.<br/>I recently revisited after I hadn't been for a couple of years, and I must say it was pretty disappointing. The so-called 'hot and spicy seafood' was about 70% onions with just a few pieces of frozen squid. It was appalling how they can even call it a seafood dish and charge almost $30! It seems the quality and quantity of the ingredients have dropped considerably. The BBQ meats have real small portions too. It was pretty busy for a weeknight and the staff seemed very rushed. I remember the service used to be super friendly...<br/>I'd recommend it if you're not very familiar with Korean BBQ but I personally won't be going back anytime soon.

I ate here with my best friend for her birthday :) The food was standard yet delicious. We were approached immediately when we arrived. The staff prepared the meat for us which i was happy about :) 2nd time i've been here. Nothing standout, just good korean food :)

Came here after always hearing good things about Faro. However, I was really shocked by how bad the service is. This is why my rating for Faro is 3.0, given that I don't usually give bad reviews.<br/><br/>When we arrived at Faro, we were literally standing at the door without having anyone attending to us for 10 minutes... it was quite obvious that we are here for lunch and I just thought it's common courtesy for the staff to come and greet the customers...we weren't attended to until my friend actually pressed the bell on the table. This has never happened before and I was quite taken aback by the poor service given that Faro is well-established and the decoration, interior and food all put them on the higher end of restaurants. The service was better after we were seated but then somehow food took really LONG to arrive. We went in at around 1pm, which wasn't the busiest lunch hour, but our food didn't come until 1:30pm.<br/><br/>They have a good selection of special lunch deals (around $15), which although still on the expensive side, is quite acceptable. However, their fish roe soup definitely caught my eye and I had to order it. It was very tasty and filling, there was also a very generous portion of fish roe in my soup. I also got to try the beef bulgolgi and sweet and spicy pork. The bulgolgi was very flavourful but the pork (Lunch Su:T) was very pasty (possibly to do with the sauce) with pieces being quite bland and the pieces were very big to chew. However, I was pretty happy with my order I was super full afterwards and me and my friends barely managed to finish half of the side dishes! The side dishes had a good selection (quite a lot as well since there were 6), but nothing particular-your usual kimchi, fish cake, glass noodle etc. <br/><br/>Overall, in terms of food, Faro is a nice place to go to satisfy your Korean food cravings, however there are cheaper and equally good (if not better) counterparts such as Bannsang that offers them at a lower price and only a few steps away.<br/>Given the overall service, I probably won't come back.

😃The service in this restaurant is really good. My friends and I feel cozy and relax. Grilled meats taste great! But staffs didn't help us :( i think because of the busy weekend night. Good place be worth to visit next time.

Korean cuisine has become increasingly popular and people's growing awareness of the deliciousness of this cuisine! I've noticed alot more new Korean restaurants opening here in Auckland and thought we would give this a try! Somehow, this restaurant seemed rather appealing with its wooden interior and seating was nicely laid out, even with private rooms for big groups. Furthermore, the hospitality once you enter in was friendly and efficient.<br/><br/>That is why you must make sure you book a table! This place gets crowded on a Fri night. Luckily we did! There was even a queue of people waiting to be seated. Who can blame them for wanting to come here as it's really delicious :)<br/><br/>They firstly served us with 6 small complimentary starters that typically included kimchi (pickled spicy cabbage), cold vermicelli noodles, pickled radish, bean sprouts and potato dish.. The other dish was hard for me to distinguish what it was..something new for my taste buds :)<br/><br/>For the main I ordered the spicy silken tofu stew with egg. This is total comfort food for a cold rainy day. Yum..Full of flavour and the tofu was so soft. Soup was spicy..think it was like a kimchi soup. This was served with a bowl of rice. However tasty it was the sizes in comparison to other Korean restaurants was half the size. Prices are quite competitive and decent taking into account the location and upscale interior of the place. This place is also popular for byow. I love it as you can bring your fav wine and they only charge $7 per bottle.<br/><br/>The grilled items looked really good..will make it a point to try it next time.<br/><br/>If you have not tried Korean cuisine this place is worth checking out:)<br/>

As a Korean food aficionado and visitor I have to say the flavours are spot on! We had the Ara set which gave us a good variety of meats and bachan (side dishes). The galbi beef was particularly juicy and soft and was excellent with the ssam jang (lettuce and dipping sauce). The spicy squid salad, japchae and white jelly bachan were particular stand outs. The kimchi was OK but it wouldn't be fair to compare it to Korea! The bbq set up is authentic and fun when tied with classic Korean beers such as Cass and Hite beer. A great place to go for an interactive meal and to be temporarily transported out of Auckland! The high price definitely puts it squarely in the 'Treat' section but I would go back should an occasion arise. A very solid 3.5 for now as I can't fully judge until I try the national dish; Bulgolgi. I'll be back Faro!

We like to go Faro for lunch time, $15 set comes with rice and side dishes. Their galbi ribs is so soft and their sondubu is so heart warming. Highly recommend for lunch time, good value for money. Could get quite crowded though at peak hour, so go at midday!

The food is really nice but I was so surprised because one of girl who seems working in there for long time shouted loudly even people around eating, It was uncomfortable and I felt so rude. Please donot do like that again please. YOUR Image is not good now........even I've visited for several times....

Went to Faro to celebrate a Birthday. Had the best time ever. Faro was quite busy on Saturday. It was a little difficult to get our waitress' attention. We had the Bulgogi, Soy bean soup with beef, the Bimibab with tofu & the Spicy stir fried chicken. This came with 9 side dishes. I enjoyed the Bulgogi & the Bimibab but the highlight was the spicy chicken. It tasted divine. I' d definitely go back. Highly recommend this restaurant. Make sure you make a reservation orelse, you'll end up waiting a while.😊

I've been to faro twice so far, it's a nice place to have a casual dinner because you can cook your own proteins that they have prepared. I love everything here from their small sides to the meats, rice and soups. This is the first place I've experienced Korean cuisine because I cannot eat their spicy Kimchi. The service is better than average with friendly Korean staff. The price is worth paying. One thing I usual do notice is how the table is always full of plates! I've had two enjoyable meals here and wouldn't mind going again.

I went here with a group of friends and so far this has to be one of the best places for cheap eating (in a group) i have been in a long time! This was my first Korean grill, and I think the closest I have come to authentic Korean food in Auckland. Staff were pleasant and friendly and the food was amazing.

cozy little place on Lorne st, went there with friend for dinner, I've thought it's just a very ordinary Korea restaurant but the food is beyond my expectation. the beef salad is sensational, the bal dak is delicious, it's not cheap but has the value for money, will try to come again for the grill set.

This Korean BBQ restaurant had friendly staff and a comfortable atmosphere. The meat was pretty good quality and the side dishes were delicious. The only problem I had with this place was thatv it was pretty expensive. I came here with my boyfriend and we paid $43 for one order of marinated beef and one order of prawns! It was nice nonetheless so this place is better for special occasions.

Faro korea bbq restaurant is really good atmosphere place yo eat, I like deco inside, different from other korea restaurant. Serving with nine dishes of plates. With really good presentation. Meat was tasty well cooked.<br/>I love the place.

I don't have many good experiences with Korean restaurants but Faro is actually a great place to eat. They have a large variety of non-spicy, as well as vegetarian food. They also accommodate to those who wanted a BBQ in our group. So everyone was happy! It's a tad pricier but I didn't mind. Portions are generous enough, and so were the side dishes.... it was large selection of side dishes....<br/>The staff were accommodating but definitely book ahead of time otherwise there will be a wait.

Good typical Korean BBQ you will have here with the usual side dishes. Usually its full and hard to get a table so a booking is recommended. A very unique booth style seating arangement makes for an interesting adition to the dining experience. Nothing to make an extra journey for but a decent Korean dining experience overall.

I love all the food I eat here. #jeonpancake #ojingosalad #sundunbu (seafood stew) and #duruchigi , all are delicious, although the stew and pancake was so small for me. The taste is different from any other Korean restaurant. And the side dishes are really the best choice💕

Faro Korean cuisine is one of my favourite BBQ places in Auckland CBD. I now have been dinning here so many times for several years already and never got disappointed with their good quality meat, testy side of dishes and excellent service. Also, the interior was quite warm and inviting with both traditional and modern seating options. I highly recommended it as a cute place for a date!! and the best FISH ROE that I've ever had. #BBQLover

Kay Faro is officially my new go-to for Korean food cravings. After years of walking past this eatery on Lorne Street, I finally got the chance to try out their $15 lunch special they have on everyday with two other friends.<br/>I was instantaneously blown away by the interior of the place upon walking in as not only was it pretty massive inside, the little private wooden booths plus the darkish lighting gave it an amazing ambience. So diff from many of the other Korean restaurants haha<br/><br/>Between the three of us, we went for the Lunch SU:T special, one spicy chicken and one marinated beef fillets. The food came out in no time and was beautifully presented. Best part tho, was the amount of sides they gave ( yes these are refillable too omg).<br/><br/>Marinated Beef: Served with a little side salad, multiple sides, soup and rice, $15 was so cheap for this dish and I even went halvies with my friend and managed to be super full at the end of it. Although some of the beef pieces were chewy and full of tendons, the taste was amazing and full of flavour! I especially enjoed the little cubes of sweet potato on the side; 9/10 Defs reccomend!<br/><br/>Spicy chicken: This dish was also so goood ugh but was slightly too sweet for my liking. Similar to the beef, it came with a salad and rice + the amazing sides, definitely value for money and would reccomend for anyone who liked a little kick and a little sweetness in their dish. 8/10<br/><br/>Side dishes: 11/10  I felt like the sides needed their own paragraph as these were amazinggggg! Ive never had Kimchi like the ones they served here, so fresh!! The fish cakes were probably my favourite tho + the sweet potato cubes :P<br/><br/>Overall, my experience at Faro was superb. The service was great and ambience was definitely 10/10. Although the price is slightly higher than places such as Bannsang ( which is also really good) and Nol bu ne, you get what you pay for in Faro which is QUALITY :) I'll definitely be returning!<br/>Reccomended dish: Lunch SU:T, marinated beef

Came here for dinner one night and was surprisingly pleased about this place. Great service and friendly staff and food came out quite fast. It was great having the 7 sides that were able to be refilled as well despite not needing to. Definitely filling and reasonable prices! Would definitely come back :)

I was pleased with the food. The bibimbap i ordered was delicious and the bulgolgi my gf ordered was also delicious. The food came out at a reasonable pace. The highlight for me was the service. Easily one of the best if not the best service I have ever experienced. The waiter and waitress were really polite and attentive giving advice on what to order.

Good food, came here for one of our date nights. Interior of the restaurant is nice, dimly lit and well designed. The food was nice, your usual Korean fare. Nothing too standout, but everything we tried tasted good and impressed with the range of sides. Not our fave Korean but nothing to fault.

This is my second time going to faro, we got the ox tongue and pork belly along with the set that comes with salad and the tofu stew. Overall taste was what you would expect from a korean grill type of restaurant. What stood out was the type of side dishes they had, a couple of additions to the usual but was definitely a nice change. Overall the staff were nice and friendly.

lunch special ($15): Five meat item choices. I chose Marinated boneless short rib fillets. The amount of side dishes they provided were relatively small, if you do not order BBQ item. Have to say I like the rib fillets very much. They've been marinated well, not dry. And they made the potato smash into dices, a little bit of sweet, but i like it as well. The whole set can't definitely get you full, but about 70% full. Suitable for females.

I've already forgot the name of this menu lol TT it's quite delicious btw. Pork and kimchi are like a mix and match !!! So yummy. We ordered this with some korean soup. Perfectly!

It was a really good eating experience if you overlook the "fusion-ness" of the place. It's an understandable problem with cbd restaurants: focusing on speed, presentation, small portion and overlooking details. The staff are really attentive and offer to look after the barbecue as you eat, and are always helpful. <br/>But whyyyy? Why didn't they have normal sam-gyeop-sal and o-gyeop-sal…😕。The tofu stew is quite bland as well. Think I'll stick with less "hip" restaurants😄.

Good value and tasty food. Not the best Korean but the service and atmosphere make up for it. Cute place for a date, would visit again if in the area.

I've been eating to both Faro at the CBD and the one in Newmarket, and I must say I like the one in the CBD better. I think the food is better there, even I could tasted it from the side dishes.

One of my favorite places in Auckland. Service is good staff are always pretty and smiling. Char grilled pork is absolutely amazing. Every time I come on always clean, tidy and bright.

Service is great and food is great too. Atmosphere and employees are very nice. Best to make a reservation as this restaurant is usually quite packed. I highly recommend it.

The service is lovely!!!! Food is pretty good also, despite not having the barbeque meat. I had the bimbimbap which was nice because of the unlimited sauce. My friend had the chicken soup which was nice and hearty.

I ordered 2 marinated beef and one set of salad. The place so cozy and the food was ok but the waitress so unfriendly. The food also little bit overpriced. Will think twice to come back😐

Came here for a friends birthday on a Saturday night. The restaurant is really long!! And it was quite full. They have normal seats as well as cushions which is cute. <br/><br/>The food was better than I expected! The prawns were really good.

$40 set menu is good value and included beef pork chicken and two king prawns. Service is next to nonexistent though during lunch time on a Friday.

Just when I thought I've had good Korean food, I came here! Love the ambiance and lovely waitresses who cook the dishes for you. Also with the variety of side dishes at an affordable cost, you're in for a treat. A must visit restaurant for little and big eaters.

My favourite Korean restaurant in Auckland! Have now been a couple of times and both times I loved the charcoal grilled flavour of the marinated meats... Definitely get the table set with grill, then add on the meats. Makes for a fun meal as you watch them cook, and you can join in as well. The condiments were all tasty, and some soup made up the finale. Staff very friendly, and the interior is sumptuous, warm and spacious, so felt very relaxed. The charcoal grill adds that element of anticipation that keeps wanting to draw me back :-)

A good Korean BBQ restaurant close to Queen street. It was busy for Friday lunch time. Staff didn't really tell us how to BBQ the food but it wasn't rocket science. Loved the various side dishes ( always the best part of a Korean cuisine). <br/>Good value for money. Definitely going back !!

We had a girls dinner, and man, how amazing! <br/>I was blown away by all the condiments, that come with the meat itself, and the marinade was delicious.<br/>And the best part, I thought, is that you can have a private booth, which is cool, if you have enough people.<br/>The food is a bit pricey, especially when you consider that you cooking it yourself, but it is a good experience.

Had dinner here the other night, it was good but it was a bit pricey for what we got. We had the $80 for 2 set with the bbq. Staff were friendly and helpful. This is the only Korean bbq restaurant I have been to where they cook the food for you which some people might like it or not. I personally enjoy the experience to cook my own food but hey can't complain.

This is definitely in the high end of Korean restaurants. Nice interior. Good ambience. But I was extremely disappointed that side dishes only come with certain dishes. Food was pretty average for the price too.

We came to Faro looking for some authentic Korean and a cheapish BYO. We ordered dishes rather than BBQ - food was great and well priced. Service was friendly but not at all attentive which got a little annoying but didn't ruin the night, would go back!

Let's be brutally honest dudes:you do not expect much variety out of Korean restaurants especially in Auckland.im pretty sure that every one of them supply you with kimchi, sweet potato and other entrees/appetizer stuff when you got seated and God bless them for that.so let's leave the "variety thing "out of the equation and focus on the taste and service. When you come to restaurant to spend your hard-earned bucks you want to leave the place with the feeling of satisfaction. Don't ya? So when it comes to 23 bucks per plate for "Boneless Chicken" you would expect more than a fistful of meat which you can finish in one bite and well ...no bones as the title suggests its absense. Maybe just a bad luck for me as I got 5 bits of skinny chicken and small piece of bone attached to one of them. my partner got beef -and I have to give the credit- that was beautiful !the smokey BBQ taste and substantially bigger portion.but the rest of the impression was killed by poor service-our waitress said that she will grill the chicken for us and never did.so I was left with the tongs to cook it myself.then we were asked if we want more side dishes and we said yes however we only received them after reminding staff two times about that.in addition we ve been advised that that we won't be charged for portion of rice but the cashier/manager bill us 4$ for the small bowl of it.not fair dude!did not want to argue but don't think I will coming there again anytime soon.

I'm a huge fan of Korean cuisine and Faro does Korean right. In fact it's my favourite Korean restaurant in Auckland. The seafood stew is a must try!

Best korean food I've had in auckland ! <br/><br/><br/>The Doen-Jang is not over powering with chilli and has a sweet sour taste. which was yummy. $15 set lunch best deal ever! Loved the side dishes wish I could of had more especially the one with the pasta

Been here twice. Only came back the second time because I was obliged to given it was a family affair.<br/><br/>Having been dissapointed with the bbq the first time i thought i'd try my luck with the spicy chicken dish. God was I let down. I feel as if korean flavours are literally pasted on and for $28 I felt robbed. <br/><br/>Price to portion 5/10<br/>Taste 4/10 <br/>Service 7/10<br/><br/><br/><br/>

I visited Faro with a few work friends and absolutely loved the experience! The interior was warm and inviting and I was quite surprised at how large the restaurant was. It was very clean and the service was quick.<br/><br/>We opted for the $20 table set menu which includes some entrees, a salad, soybean soup and 9 refillable side dishes which we thought was incredibly good value. For the charcoal grill (which was brought to or table), we went with marinated beef short rib and the pork belly. <br/><br/>Although the meats were more expensive than the usual Korean BBQ buffets I've attended, they were very well done and absolutely delicious. The side dishes were great accompaniments and my favourite of the night was the steaming spicy hot soybean soup filled with tofu and a mix of seafood. Yum!

This is probably the best Korean in the city. Good quality meat, tasty side dishes and excellent service. <br/><br/>My only complaint would be that they use too much sugar/corn syrup. For example the 'buldak' fire chicken was definitely more sweet than spicy. <br/><br/>Koreans seem to labour under the impression that Kiwis prefer sweet to spicy food but that is simply not the case! Plus, despite what Koreans tell you, Korean food is not that hot, certainly not compared to Thai or even Indonesian.

Very efficient restaurant with a good selection of Korean dishes that are presented with an eye for detail. I think you generally get what you pay for and so the quality is reflected in the price.

2nd visit to this restaurant with 12 year old son in tow. <br/><br/>Son was very impressed with our meat being cooked on the charcoal bbq and the selection of wee side dishes. Great service, great food but like Tony M's review slightly on the pricey side as including 2x glasses of wine and a coke for the lad it came to $99 but in saying that great experience for him and satisfying tasty meal for me.<br/><br/>We will indeed be back.

EXTREMELY FRIENDLY MANAGER AND STAFF<br/><br/>I came here often in my early days, and always treated like an emporer.<br/><br/>The food is delicious, however bit on the pricey side.<br/><br/>However, the staff look superb and smart, and interior design similar to a Japanese sake bar.<br/><br/>Highly recommended and best Faro out of all other Faro's in Auckland<br/><br/>Service: 5/5<br/>Wait time: 4/5<br/>Environment: 4/5<br/>Food Quality: 5/5<br/>Food Quantity: 3/5<br/>Price range: $40+ pp

My partner and I had an absolutely superb meal at Faro...I can't believe some people have said this place is too expensive. It is not a cheap eats place or a fast food joint, it's a high quality restaurant. The prices are very comparable to other eateries of this standard in Auckland, and in fact you get considerably more food than equivalently priced places in Ponsonby. We eat out in Auckland a lot and considered this very good value for money, as it is excellent quality, delicious and authentic korean food.<br/><br/>The dining experience is very unique with the cool charcoal grills and stylish interior. The grill results in very tasty bbq smoked meat and the side dishes were tasty and interesting to try. On the night we visited it was very quiet and the services was excellent. Staff made sure that we were familiar with how to work the grill and checked what order we would like all the dishes to be presented in, and came back to check on us often without being intrusive. It was probably the best service I've experienced in Auckland in a while.<br/><br/>We are already planning to visit again. My partner and I lived in Japan for some time and eat out at Japanese places often. However, we're going to make Faro one of our regulars as fell in love with korean cuisine. I'm looking forward to taking others there, very impressed!!!

First time to visit and eat at Faro Restaurant.The food presentation at Faro was good. The staff very friendly , some staff limited with their English understanding.empty side dishes left on the table . Although pricey well worth visiting and experiencing western style Korean.<br/> Comparing to another Korean restaurant we usually eat at (being my first choice for Korean food ) but hubby wanted to experience a different place hence Faro Restaurant. The other Korean Restaurant they constantly replenish any empty side dishes no extra charge , had a set price per head very reasonable. Not only did they have set menu's but they also had a set price buffet displaying side dishes and different meats and sauces and spices, which you select and take back to your table and cook.Perhaps Faro could look at doing the same. Not suitable for children, more suited for large groups, and special occasions

Very nice restaurant, the atmosphere is really enjoyable. It's nice to have BBQ food cooked on your table without smelling like smoke, since the restaurant has individual extractor fans for every table. price wise, it was kind of expensive, it would be a restaurant for special occasion.

food was good, the restaurant was tidy. not the cheapest korean food but you pay more for the quality.

Been here on many occasions and this is the sort of place you would introduce people to Korean food. But from my past experiences with Korean food, I would say the food is good but not great. But overall, it's an authentic Korean restaurant.

Been here more than 5 times. Definitely one of the BEST korean food in Auckland.<br/><br/>Staffs (who serve at the table) a bit rude and have bad expression on their face while service. I've experienced more than 3 times already. <br/><br/>It's different back in 2011 when staffs were really friendly.<br/>The manager is superb !<br/><br/>Will give them one last chance.

Excellent restaurant, great food, lovely atmosphere and great service. Finally a Korean restaurant that is pitched at diner who want to eat good quality authentic Korean food. I have been to Korea and have eaten with many Korean friends in their homes and this restaurant is the best example of Korean food.

Went to this restaurant purely because my friends and I heard Big Bang (korean boy band) were dining here - and we love Korean food too. Restaurant is super classy, a bit of a mix between authentic Korean style decor and western decor. Service was OK - staff were borderline friendly though it was a busy period so that may be the underlying factor. However, food was pretty over-priced, definitely not worth what I paid for and they tried to push us out as fast as possible after we finished our meal, quite rude to be honest. <br/><br/>Wouldn't recommend this place if you're interested in dining Korean food as this place is extremely over-priced, average to poor tasting food and semi rude customer service.

Very authentic food and great decor. However a bit overpriced.

POSITIVES:<br/>- a beautiful traditional Korean environment with sunken tables and very peaceful, nice decor.<br/>- service was very attentive and super friendly. The waitresses actually sit at your table for while helping to prepare your bbq meal.<br/>- price reasonable. We had a decent meal for 4 people at $80.<br/>- unlimited side dishes as with most Korean restaurants<br/>- ENTERTAINMENT BOOK participant. 25% discount.<br/>- food was nice quality and very authentic Korean.<br/>- very clean, flash looking place<br/>- free tea, which is unlike many Chinese restaurants these days.<br/><br/>NEGATIVES:<br/>- tried hard, but I can think of anything this time.<br/><br/>OVERALL:<br/>If you cant afford or bother travelling to Korea, then come here for a short experience. This is how an ethnic restaurant should be. Will I be coming back - I think so, and would encourage anyone who likes a different experience at a reasonable price to do so.

I can tell it is the best new style of Korean restaurant in Auckland. I would recommend booking before you go. I really enjoyed all the foods (free plenty side dishes!) , atmosphere, services. So tasty! It was good experience to cook BBQ by myself. I would love to go again! Thank you FARO!

It was great experience!! One of my friends took me, we were party of 5, everyone enjoyed. So delicious, good service as well. Like it!

Faro has a wonderful interior with both traditional and modern seating options. I found this place overpriced however, and the food was disappointing especially compared to other places that do it cheaper. You get plenty of side dishes which is a plus, but was not wowed by anything. Perhaps the BBQ is the best way to go here rather than traditional dishes and entree's, but that too, is rather pricey.

The BBQ lunch set for $15 is the cheapest on the menu and is pretty good! Can be eaten by all, and people not familiar with Asian food will like it.<br/><br/>BBQ sets can get really expensive though. Appetisers are also pretty expensive.<br/><br/>The interior is very pretty and big, it makes you feel like you are in a classy Korean restaurant (which I guess it is lol).<br/> <br/>Free little side dishes of kimchi, pickles and noodles. I don't know if you're allowed to ask for more though haha

Restaurant where I recommend to my 'not korean' friends, every time they ask me where to go for their parent's birthday dinner. Beautiful interior and atmosphere. Better quality of meat compared to other korean BBQ restaurants. Top service and the food is delicious as well but its slightly pricy. Although lunch menu is only around $15 dollars and still tastes great.