Review Kinji Japanese Restaurant - Christchurch

Service was exceptional, there’s nothing I love more than service that is joyful pleasant to be around, made you laugh and enjoy being there. The food is top quality, I wish I got more sashimi and would love more nigiri variety however that’s because I enjoyed the food so much. I live locally and travel a lot for work but I tried 3 years to get a booking by calling, turns out you can just book online on their website. I will be there again, but I would try a different method of getting a bunch of entres to share and then pile up with the sides. See you again thank you for the 5 star service

Booked for my husband’s birthday. We had fried chicken, sashimi platter, Ocean beef hotpot, and some sushi, green tea ice cream to have our sugar of the day fixed. The food was yummy and the waitress were friendly. The restaurant is always busy, so booking is essential, make a booking on their website. It can be a bit of noisy when it is a full house since the place is not spacious. The food quality is very stable, we enjoy their sashimi every time.

Used to live in Christchurch and had love the food here since then. Now that having moved to Auckland, will still patronize the place whenever in town because you can't really find comparable quality and fresh Japanese food in Auckland, especially the Sashimi. The salmon sashimi at Kinji taste far more superior than those in Auckland, they literally melt in your mouth. A must visit place if in Christchurch and craving for authentic Japanese food.

The food was delicious, service was great. We had a wonderful time dining out to this place.😋

I came here on my own during my Christchurch trip, ordered 3x salmon nigiris, special red prawn sashimi, and beef sukiyaki. The salmon nigiri melted in my mouth!!!! They used the belly part of the salmon which is the best part. The prawn was so fresh and after I ate them, the chef deep fried the prawn heads and they tasted amazing!!! Beef sukiyaki was also so yum!!! I had to buy 6x nigiris and some yellow tail king fish sashimi to take home with me to Auckland so I can share with my family, and the staff was super helpful - packed my takeaways with an ice pack!! My family loved the sashimi and nigiris all the way from chch. Thank you. I’ll come back :).

Best japanese in town! The big red prawns sashimi on special menu definitely worth trying! After finishing the sashimi, they will deep fried the prawn head for you which is very very crispy and tasty. Tempura combination also nice that it is well fried. Staffs and services are very nice, would love to visit again.

What an incredible experience. This was my first Japanese food experience, for the most part. MAKE A BOOKING!! It is probably the only way you'll get in here because it has very limited seating. We arrived 5 minutes before our booking and unfortunately we had to wait for our table to leave. However they were on it and the patrons were gracious enough to leave. Once seated we reviewed the menu and a server came to take out our drink order. We ordered Ozeki Soju, Sweet Umeshu (plum wine) and water for the rest. We ordered some seared salmon Nigiri, a tempura shrimp sushi roll, a miso soup and order of Gyoza. All were amazing and flavorful. We all agreed made fresh. For our mains we ordered Teriyaki Salmon, Beef Tendon, Tataki Beef and Chicken Teriyaki Sizzle. All were again hot, flavorful and delicious. Overall it was an excellent experience. Our server knew English and we were never without water. Our son who studies Japanese even got to thank the chef in his native Japanese which topped off a great evening. So looking for some Asian cuisine and are needing a place with great food? Make a booking here, you will not be disappointed.

Best Japanese restaurant in Christchurch and possibly NZ. The sashimi was so fresh and delicious. The blue fin tuna was outstanding! We also had the grilled yellowtail which was cooked to perfection. We love trying different sakes when we are here and also we tried some Japanese whiskey as well- all very good. Service is always great. Miyu is always so attentive and friendly. We will miss it here when it changes hands later in the year. Hopefully the new owners will maintain the Kinji magic.

Super friendly Delicious well done food plated perfectly 🥰 just so good 100% if you have not been here It is worth it !!!

The Japanese restaurant we love the most in Christchurch. Super fresh and yummy food. Very friendly staff and reasonable price. Remember to book first if you want to go 😜

Dinner for 4 two weeks ago. Wow, the food is really good. Service too. Needless to say more. If you like Japanese cuisine, you must eat here at least once. Well advised to book in advance. We did that for the first dinner but being tourists, we could not be certain with our next visit, so we weren't able to get a table when we tried on the day we returned to Christchurch.

Today we got kaarage and teriaki chicken which was super good and they offered us free fish head meat! The service was fantastic and they gave us candy. 5 stars!

The restaurant is located on the outskirts of the Central Business District. Had sashimi and sushi, fresh and delicious-the food is cheap by international standards. The service is prompt and very welcoming. The food is great, this is a must if you are in Christchurch. You won't regret it.

Fantastic authentic Japanese cuisine ,friendly staff and excellent food

Having traveled around the South Island so many times and tried so many Japanese food around here, Kinji is definitely a restaurant that will resonate with the Japs. We ordered the Lotus Roots Chips, Sesame Seaweed Salad, Assorted Nigiri Sushi, K.F.C, Deep Fried Crumbed Pork, and the Beef Sukiyaki Hot Pot. Lotus Roots Chips and Salad were alright, nothing really to shout home about. I kinda expected the Lotus Roots Chips to have more flavouring but it was just literal fried lotus roots with salt. The salad was pretty decent. K.F.C and the fried pork were extremely good though! If I had to choose one I'd take K.F.C over the pork any day. The sushi were good, although the tamago wasn't very fresh. Unagi and salmon were okay. Beef sukiyaki was the best, but we all wished the beef slices were a little thicker. The staff here were the star of the show. They were all extremely polite and accommodating. We didn't know this place would be needing a booking, but they tried to accommodate us and we were very thankful for that! Good going guys! If you ever want to visit, call to book ahead!

Wonderful place for a great japanese meal. Best quality japanese meal in Christchurch, and the service is amazing. But remember to make a booking before you come.

Definitely will go back again - the staff were very polite and friendly and the food presentation/taste was amazing! (I had the Tamari Soy Teriyaki Ora King Marlborough Salmon) とてもおいしかったです!!! :)

Authentic Japanese restaurant with very high reviews on Google. Called up the restaurant early in the afternoon for reservation in the evening. Arrived slightly early and glad the table is ready for us. The food menu is moderate, not many selections for choices. Had beef tataki as main. The beef was fresh. Overall a decent meal in a cozy small restaurant. The decoration is a bit dated though. Very few tables available which contributes to the cozy ambience.

Great lunchtime favourite. If you can't see what you feel like just ask the friendly staff and they usually accommodate your request. Good food and reasonably priced. Sushi, dumpling, karage chicken and bento to name a few.

You know you are on to a good thing if you walk in on a rainy Monday night and the place is packed. The sashimi is fresh and rather good. Served on a bed of micro herbs and salads, I couldn’t help but demolished it in 10 minutes. The stand out were the red prawns, exactly how I imagined them to be. The beef tataki was rather good too... the little flakes of crispy garlic, paper thin slices of Parmesan, the dressing spot on. Again thinly sliced onion and salad nicely complemented the dish. <br/>Definitely give it a go, you won’t be disappointed.

Awesome really authentic Japanese restaurant!!<br/>Delicious sashimi, scampi sashimi ,oysters, grouper head and beef takaki!<br/>Best Japanese restaurant in NZ !

This is my favourite Japanese in Christchurch. There isn’t much ambience in this tiny eatery but the food and polite staff more then make up for it. I tend to go for the dinner bento which is delicious and filling. <br/><br/>The salmon sashimi is very fresh and the tempura batter is light and crispy. The chicken teriyaki is well marinated and juicy. I also had the takoyaki to start which was probably the weaker dish due to the tougher texture of the batter used. <br/><br/>Overall I found the service to be good and fast for a busy Thursday evening!

Did not enjoy my experience eating at Kinji's. Food portions were tiny and was left unsatisfied. Pricing was expensive and service was slow. Will not return.

Favourite place to go in Christchurch! So affordable and such amazing quality Japanese! In love! The staff are great and the food is quick! Also try the octopus balls and sizzling plate

Been in Christchurch tow months. Been there three times. <br/>Excellent environment. <br/>Excellent staff <br/>Excellent service. <br/>Great fresh seafood. <br/>Price slightly high. First time I went couldn't get full with $50dollars. But is expected with most Japanese cuisines.. <br/>Definitely recommend.

Had heard from a few people about Kinji and how great it was, so I was very keen to try.  The fact that it is one of a few small shops in a block added to my eagerness as it was not the setting I had imagined.   Very attentive staff who meet and greet and make you feel welcommed.  In some ways very traditional in their mannerisms which is lovely.  With the dimmly lit room and a few asian diners, you could almost imagine you were in Japan tucked away down a side alley.  I found it quite the experience.  Loved the fabric lined box to keep your handbag off the floor, the little details are wonderful.  The food did not dissapoint, we chose a selection of unusual things as my husband has been to Japan many times and knows his way around the cuisine.  He was most impressed with the venison tataki and the octopus wasabi dish.  I am now a little annoyed I didn't quickly check the reviews beforehand as we didn't order dessert and by all accounts, sounds amazing.  Thank you for the experience, simple but beautiful.

I found the service attentive not intrusive, the food exquisite a perfect balance of flavors, textures and quantity, the Brule was a beautiful way to end a memorable meal, I will be back

A very enjoyable dinner experience. Service was very attentive and the food was very modern and good use of seasonal local produce. Also enjoyed their sake trial set of 3 different grades of sake from the same distiller.

Tucked away in a row of shops along Greers Rd, Kinji is probably one of chch's not only best but most authentic Japanese Restaurants. The interior was dimly lit and a little cramped yet had a nice romantic atmosphere. K.F.C main dish - perfectly marinated, juicy&hot chicken with a crispy skin served with a side of fresh salad and dipping sauce. Their tempura is also worth praising as not many can do it right, usually making it too dry by over frying or tastes like vegetables straight out of a frozen packet, Kinji's have done it well with a batter crispy while keeping the vegetables juicy. The lamb tataki was also on point - very tender and seared just right (also served with a side of fresh greens). The Osaka styled 8 piece salmon and avo sushi is probably one of the best I've had in NZ, the rice is just the right stickiness and the fresh salmon eggs mixed with the rice was a very nice touch. Their dessert presentation is what some would call "instagram-material", the green tea tiramisu is must try or if you prefer ice-cream the matcha affogato is also a nice way to end your meal. The staff and service was great, very polite - got welcomed by all front of house staff on entry and thanked 5 times on our way out. They also prepare baskets for handbags so it wouldn't be directly put on the ground which I thought was very cute. Some very minor faults (in my opinion) I could think of is perhaps 1. the ventilation of the bathrooms 2. The dim lighting 3. Can get a little noisy with a certain amount of customers

The ambiance can be described as dark and a little crammed, this did not bother me one bit, creating a more "intimate" ambiance. I've been here four times in total, and I have always left satisfied. The sushi and mains will not disappoint, and are good, but not amazing. The desserts are what truly makes this restaurant great, being a person that usually dislikes desserts in general, I found all 3 of the desserts to be simply blissful. Topped off with very friendly service, Kinji can be relied on to please all diners.

Highly recommended for people who want to have delicious Japanese food in Christchurch. Every dishes we had tonight are good. All of us who attended the dinner love it. My personal favorite is takoyaki, KFC and scallops. Also the tiramisu dessert completed the night. Thank you for good food and good services in good price. We will definitely come back again.

This was my second time to dine here, both experiences were good. Their Takoyaki(octopus ball) and K.F.C(Kinji Fried Chicken) are my must have everytime I go(so many other good dishes too but I can't be bothered) :D This time I also really enjoyed their desserts, Matcha (green tea) Tiramisu. It served with yummy rose tea ice-cream and it was made from scratch too❣ It's a fancy dining restaurant, so I can only come again when I have an excuse to treat myself a decent meal next time. Oh and I forgot to mention that the service was very friendly as always~ :)

Fairly good Japanese in NZ. What really sealed the deal were the dessert offerings and the octopus carpaccio.<br/><br/>Let's begin with the octopus carpaccio. This was one of the Japanese Tapas offered by Kinji and for good reason too. Delicate, yet highly flavoursome bite-size slices of octopus got my appetite going and my mouth watering. I thought that 8-9 pieces was a bit too much, so the waitress offered to half the portion size (and price) as if it was a natural reflex. Amazing customer service!<br/><br/>Following up from the octopus was a small platter of 3 types of sashimi. This consisted of salmon, tuna and kingfish. 12 pieces priced at $20- a little pricey considering the sashimi wasn't as fresh as I thought it would be. It was OK at best. Not sure if I liked the fact that they slightly seared the tops of the salmon sashimi either.<br/><br/>Finishing off the meal was the green tea tiramisu paired with a crushed acidic pear/apple. This was quite tasty. I'm not usually a fan of cream, but the amount of matcha powder that was sprinkled atop this cake was enough to mask the cream flavour. A must order for those in search of unique matcha dessert offerings!<br/><br/>Overall, as it is outside of the city centre and the meals may be pricey for some, this is a destination for those who are avid Japanese food lovers and are looking for a fairly genuine Japanese food dining experience.

Went to Kinji tonight for the first time after having heard about it for years. Very cozy atmosphere. Interesting menu that offers a wide range of dishes, it was impossible for us to make a 100% satisfying choice so we just decided to order a whole lot of stuff. Everything was nice, nothing too spectacular in my opinion. But then came the green tea tiramisu and it was absolutely divine! I was very tempted to order a second one. Everything on the menu is quite reasonably priced as well. Staffs were as expected at a Japanese owned restaurant, very nice, friendly and very respectful. Will be back to try more things on the menu.

Everything about Kinji is fantastic - from the service to the sake. <br/><br/>This is the best and most authentic Japanese restaurant in Christchurch by a mile.

Very friendly staff and good customer service. My choice in Christchurch when I am looking for Japanese food. They have a great menu and variety options of sake. Food is tasty and well presented. I would recommend you to book before going. ?

Went to last night and received a very poor service. Actually it was one of the poorest services I've ever gotten in a very long time. All dishes came out at separate and random orders; everyone's main came out at different times, appetizers came after mains etc. And when I talked to the manager about it, I was told "You should've mentioned you want all dishes at once" as if it was my fault. Of course I didn't mention it nor I wasn't asked how I wanted dishes came out because it's a common sense that appetizers come before main (that's why they are appetizers, for God's sake) and mains come together so everyone can enjoy their meal all together like a normal dinner. Instead I was told to mention it before I order *IF* there will be next time. (I don't think there will be). And on the top of everything, my brother, who's also been a regular customer of the restaurant and who usually spends a good mount of money there, never got his main because first of all, the chef forgot the order and second of all, because "the dish takes a lot of time to be cooked". Isn't it the chef's one of the responsibilities putting the cooking time into consideration also so all mains can come along at the same time? Or at least let us know it would take longer? The chef or any staff did neither of it so my brother had to wait for an hour and half and ended up getting nothing but a glass of Sprite on the house. Let me tell you all, we went to Kinji expecting a good service and food hence a good evening with all family together. Instead, we did get a totally ruined evening with a very expensive bill so I can recommend all of you to take someone, you really hate and want to kill but you can't because it's illegal, to Kinji so you can give the person a very horrible experience.

I really liked Kinji and thought it was very good. I'm very fussy about the Japanese I eat and I was really impressed with the food here. The sashimi was the stand out and probably the best I've had in NZ. Very fresh, good variety and well presented. The chicken kara age was also top drawer and very tasty but I've come to expect this as it's a Japanese staple. The mussels were good too and the Japanese sake list very good. <br/><br/>I guess the reason I wouldn't give it five stars is that there was a slight problem with our order and I felt that the decor and lay out was a bit too much like a diner for my liking. I am being pretty tough though.<br/><br/>The restaurant was very busy and the service was attentive and fast. <br/><br/>Really well done and would highly recommend it to others.

Fabulous food and service. Highly recommend the wasabi octopus, scallops entree, delicate as ..<br/>Pork belly was melt in your mouth divine, and beef carpaccio beautifully presented and tender.<br/>The Creme brûlée crunchy on the top and so light and creamy.<br/> Would put this restaurant in my top 5 in Christchurch. Thank you Kinji for a memorable night, and it is BYO. Very good value as well

Great menu especially the specials menu - offering a great selection. Very fresh seafood! Food comes out promptly.

Amazing!<br/>Service was top notch! Food was equally as good! <br/>The cajun fish starter is devine!<br/>The pork belly is amazing too!<br/>These guys a quick too, your not left sitting waiting!<br/>10/10 highly recommend!

Stunning is the only words to describe the food that kinji offer.<br/><br/>Its fill of flavour and served just right. . We had a group booking of 18 friday and had a ball. You must like sea food if you go for the set menu. But I tried so much and enjoyed it. This is a causal place that would be good for children its also byo.