Review Masa Japanese Restaurant Bar - Kohimarama

Very nice experience, the service was great, I made booking in advance and staff texted me one day before to check if I’m ok to share with other group people. We had a private room n both celebrate birthday so that’s fine. We had set menu and the food was amazing, fresh sashimi n authentic Japanese taste. We would go again!

What a great little japanese restaurant. We walked in off the street before we went to the book fair and they asked if we would like to sit at the bar overlooking the chef preparing sushi etc... Best seat in the house! Food was lovely and seafood was fresh. Staff were so polite and helpful. Very enjoyable dinner. 😁

Small authentic restaurant with one chef, one waiter. We ordered an array of dishes which were all exceptional: steamed diamond clams, beef tongues, seafood soup tea, nabeyaki udon, fried tofu, sushi roll. The dishes arrive one by one and it was a delight at each bite. If I lived in Auckland, this would be my go to place

Outstandingly good, authentic Japanese food in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. The staff are excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed both our visits during a recent stay in Auckland. Thank you.

Beautiful sashimi! Tuna was my favourite, as well as, Tuna & avocado sushi 🍣 The best takoyaki I’ve ever had 🥢 beautifully presented and delicious!

Masa is the Japanese restaurant that i have been looking for in Auckland for many years. The food is very nice and also the services, very relax and cozy atmosphere. if you had a tough day, go to Masa and have a drink.

The food is really fresh and 🤤 yummy ❤️ it

Honesty impressed this tiny japs place have hard workers sushi chef also charming waitress and friendly ppl here like a family. Food was so good as the quality.

In some way,i have been eaten this sashimi of Masa restaurant about 4 nights.however,i can not help recollecting this sashimi's flavour! Its so delicious and fresh. It is beyond double that Masa is one of the best Japanese restaurant in Auckland

By far the best sushi that I've had in a long time. Courteous and immensely helpful staff. Wonderful atmosphere. Thank you for such a magical meal.

WOW. One of the best sushi restaurants I have ever been to. Truly a hidden gem. I was very impressed with how fresh everything was and the excellent service. I was unsure what to select and our server made some excellent recommendations for my wife and I. This is what sushi should be like.

Proper traditional Japanese cuisine with authentic flavours and alluring plating. Peace and serenity enveloped the place, cozy and comfortable. The Omakase course was always been a delight, with each and every course being much more pleasantly surprising than the last.

Best Japanese food, quite expensive but worthwhile for special occasions

The service was amazing, they were respectful and knew Japanese! (I’m learning) the food was really good and arrived quickly, you could see them make some of it in front of you! The atmosphere was amazing, highly recommended if you want authentic japanese food

My family and I randomly stopped to try out this restaurant and OMG we were soooo happy we did. BEAUTIFUL FRESH FOOD . The presentation was immaculate, the Nigiri platter was amaaazing and delicious. The salmon & avo roll, salmon ochasuke (hope I spelt it right) and the chicken egg udon was to die for. We left satisfied and super keen to keep going back ♥️ 1000000% amazing !

I have been to many Japanese restaurants in Auckland before, but Masa is one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in Auckland/NZ. My parents also love the place as well. Great sushis and other meals. Highly recommended.

If I could give more stars I would. Everything was just outstanding! The waiting staff were so genuinely friendly and so warm. It was nice to see this was a real family place as well! The food. Omg. The eggplant with cheese - so good!! The toro nigiri was beyond. But then the A5 wagyu came (we had it sukiyaki style): it was hard to know where the sauce ended and beef began. After having Kobe beef in Kobe I thought I’d have to go back to Japan to experience it again but I’m so glad we have a place right here!! Finished off with the prawn tempura which again was just so delicious and so beautifully presented!Thank you so much for a memorable night!

Set dinner is worth to try, between $40-$50. Grill squid and fry small fish very yummy. Homemade brownie is unexpected tasty, special recipe and not very sweet, with heaps of nuts make it smell so yumm. Strongly recommended

Sashimi is fresh! The presentation is great. The small dishes with octopus in the dinner set tasted surprisingly nice. They give us a slice of matcha red bean roll cake for free, which also taste really nice! 🍣

i personally think the food was okay, a bit expensive. i personally like the design and the plating, but the cost is a bit too high considering other sushi shop

First time eating at Masa today, never again. Everything were overpriced which was expected, we knew this before coming. The waiter questioned if we were sure that we wanted the $88 crab, by asking us "is the price okay?" It was clearly written in black marker!!!!! The crab was a waste of money, it was real bland, like they just chucked it into hot water and put on a plate, literally. Maybe that's what he meant? That the price was NOT okay!! We didn't even get a napkin to protect our clothes from the oil splatters from cooking the wagyu. There was also hair in the ginger that came with our sushi and they forgot to bring us our $5 coke that came in a small glass. $300 is better spent at Masu, not Masa.

Got the eel, sashimi platter and fried tofu. Sashimi platter looked great and with a very generous amount. Eel was a tad a tad strangely sour. Tofu wasn’t that great with a different fried coating. Authentic Japanese food.

A tad expensive eg corkage for 1 glass $10 and other meals more expensive than nearby Japanese but beautifully served by a lovely waitress who had no problem explaining the menu and what we were going to have when we ordered. A bi annual visit here because of the price.

Finally, a Japanese restaurant I can say is close to traditional authenticity and is an ENJOYABLE place to have a sit down dinner.<br/><br/>Masa is kind of out of the way, it's not in any of the eatery hubs, but once you find it, and step inside, it does deliver a really enjoyable experience.<br/><br/>We have been here twice so far, and three things really jump out at you 1) it's quiet, not head banging loud like most Japanese restaurants are these days (except fine dining) 2) presentation of the food is BEAUTIFUL 3) they all taste really really good. See photos.<br/><br/>Trifecta for me really, aside from all the things I've mentioned above, the taste here is quite genuine. Especially the traditional Japanese dishes like the tako, nigiri, unagi and yes, even the salad.<br/><br/>I strongly suggest you take some time to come here, order a Japanese beer, sit down at the bar, and order some sushi, watch the chef prepare it for you and hand them over you directly when they are done. All the while you sit there enjoying your cold beer (or sake) and just take in the fines and skill they put into making sushi, it is beautiful.<br/><br/>I will back again, it is a bit expensive, but I think worth the visit for a special occasion.

Vegetarian chef special $80. Masa has been under new management since Apr 2018. I haven't been to the restaurant before this, but I can say I feel like I had a real Japanese experience here. The Japanese owner was extremely polite and accommodating of our daughter's request for her favourite udon noodle soup.<br/><br/>Each of our dishes (missed the photo for salad dish #1) tasted really delicious and balanced. Dish #2 trio of crispy wontons, capsicum and eggplant were so tender and paired with the perfect tasting sauces. Dish #3 was king oyster mushrooms, dish #4 deep fried tofu reminiscent of takoyaki? Dish #5 tofu steak with garlic, dish #6 assortment of sushi (yes for each person) wow, that's capsicum not nigiri, tasted so soft. A dessert platter to finish off the meal, I thought I was full but when that dessert came out, I grew a second stomach. We had Japanese cheesecake (uncle tetsu? This beats it hands down), brownies, swiss roll with strawberries and cream, strawberries, papaya, grapes... gosh, gluttony anyone? It was absolutely a pleasant dining experience. The only thing that could've made it better was a dimmer ambience, but that's my personal opinion.<br/><br/>I came here expecting your usual standard agedashi tofu, tempura vegetarian options, what I got was an interpretation of meat dishes with clever use of vegetables. It's very cool!<br/><br/>The chefs are definitely very creative and good at what they do, paired with Japanese hospitality... I reckon this place should be ranked way higher than what it is.

Went back yesterday to try their Special Lunch Menu for Summer.  I ordered cold ramen ($13) and my husband ordered Teriyaki chicken don ($10).  The food is good and taste is great.  We definitely will go back again.

I had three courses with Japanese shochu. Sashimi, seafood teapot soup and wagyu hobayaki. Sashimi was fresh and the dry ice on the surface was amazing. Soup was so delicious, it has strong meaty flavor in clarified liquid. As for wagyu hobayaki, this is the best wagyu I have ever in Auckland.

that's the most disappointing restaurant that i have ever been. they didn't mark the price clearly for some expensive dishes. the prices show on the menu are only for those less than $50. It was crazy that we spent over $1000 for five people. it was not an honest way of doing business I think because waiter didn't even mention about the prices when we ordered 4 hot pots total coded $640 already! We had ordered many other dishes and it didn't seem to be necessary to order 4 such expensive dishes! Not recommended to anyone！

Will definitely not coming to this restaurant again! Lunch bar quality with 5-star pricing. I had my first bill-shock tonight. No alcohol but total costed 1085! You should read my friends review too. shared this horrible experience on my other social media app then received simlar reviews. Gosh! Wished we've never known this restaurant.

Amazing food and great friendly and attentive staff. We were very blessed to have the owner order special dishes for us! Will definitely be going back asap!

Went to go here with the family. Clearly they do not like kids, restaurant was empty and they said they were fully booked. Thinking this was strange as there was only 1 table in the whole restaurant we rung through to be able to book a table but asked if we had children. This is discrimination and out right rude.

Nice old school type of Jap foods.<br/>But lots dishes seems only design and serve to chinese. The menu n service hav been changed since the former owner left couple years ago. Could see the same Jep chef is still working hard but the restaurant has lost the soul.<br/>Unprofessional customer service, very poor!<br/>Sorry, we miss the guy with beard.

Very professional Japanese fine dinning. Also ridiculously good spirit. <br/>We had a set menu for 100 dollars, with sushimi ,seafood hot pot, wagyu , and so much more. When finish we are all full.<br/><br/>Finish the deal with a fabulous Sakura crystal ball.

Amazing and great quality food.<br/><br/>Lovely restaurant to dine in whether you're alone or with friends. The sashimi was the freshest I've had the pleasure of eating and the udon was everything I could have wished for. It is very rare to come across Japanese restaurants with such fresh ingredients!<br/><br/>Would definitely recommend if you want an authentic Japanese experience.

The BEST Japanese Restaurant in Auckland! This is the most Authentic Japanese food I've tried in Auckland, relax and cosy dinning area, great service. In different season/weather, owner features different style of food. Wagyu beef is a must try dish.

Had dinner there tonight, very disappointed experience overall. <br/><br/>I Ve dined at hundreds of Japanese restaurants, this might be the worst!<br/><br/>The service is way below average, extremely understaffed, owners obviously a Japanese couple, actually an elder Japanese man and a Taiwanese lady, they hire one inexperienced young Asian girl running around with the help of the older wife for the front of house, sits around 30 ppl, the wife constantly has to running to kitchen to help, leaving one waitress, you can't expect any immediate attentions, you need to wait 5-10 mins for a refill of drink or a paper napkin...<br/><br/>The food is very average quality, sushis made fast enough by the guy there, I d give it poor quality, his hands are always wet, watery pieces of fish, hygiene is very concerned, I had a light diarrhea tonight, we were sitting at the bench right next to him watching him making all the sashimi and sushi, he touches lots of things and wipe hands on set wet towels... sushi are cut in huge pieces, presentation is mediocre at the best<br/><br/>Other hot food are poor quality, tampuras battering is the worst I be ever had, katsu are so thin you know they cut the chicken fillet in half batterings thicker than meat, the quality is around a average quality small Japanese takeaway and portion is half of what you normally get, but they charge you a fine dinning price, don't order any yakitori skewers, they are not charcoal grilled, but probably microwaved and put down at a celemander, all of those taste like rubber on sticks...<br/><br/>Unorganised operation, cheap set Up, poor quality of food, menus so messy, not authentic, and it's a complete rip off! You rather go to really fine Japanese restaurants to this kind of price!<br/><br/>Stay away from it!

Awesome, this is traditional Japanese at it's best. An art for selecting the best fish, not as easy as you think especially in Auckland. The toro was superb, incredibly flavourful but not for the faint hearted. If Tuna and Salmon is your lot it's not for you.

Nice atmosphere though food not so authentic. Front of house and chef are Chinese though can speak great Japanese. Sushi chef looked like the real deal. Can't say that they weren't friendly but just kind of had the "not happy here/don'tike you" vibe. <br/>Food wasn't bad but as said not authentic. Sashimi and Nigiri platter was served in cute dishes though wasn't as fresh as it should be and the rice was warm for the Nigiri which wasn't very pleasant. Tempura wasn't very crunchy, batter was rather soft, but tasted OK. Overall very mediocre food, may not return.

Excellent!  Their Wagyu beef is amazing.  Also, sake (The Kiss of Fire) is great.  Not cheap for the sake- The Kiss of Fire but worth a trial if you are a sake lover.  can't find it in other Japanese restaurant. Great!

I kept my expectations in check, harbouring no delusions of confusing this 'Masa' with the similarly named elite NY joint where just food per person climbs upward of $500. Arriving one evening just after 6 pm, I was accommodated with a counter-side seat where I could watch the tie-wearing white coat-sporting chef in late middle age assiduously make batch after batch after platters after presentations some billowing cold smoke, of sushi and sashimi - this theater is the best attraction of this little joint. The worst one probably is the sullen lady at the reception (likely the owner as no person in their right mind would put such a inhospitable person at the reception) who thankfully behaved decently with me. She probably thinks any person will drop dead if that person smiles. Other user reviews have mentioned the same. The waiter was a young Japanese chap who looked frazzled , and who had little idea of what were the specific fish in the fish set meal. Priced at $34 I went for this option as what else could better represent a Japanese restaurant.  <br/><br/>There were 5 courses, which were excellent value for money. Pickled vegetables (nicely sweet melon cubes and passable broccoli) with pickled salmon (intense fermented taste but very soft) commenced the set which then went on to neatly fried fish - trevally and terakihi. The flavour of the fish might not blow you away but the sauces were certainly interesting the best of which was a pink topping that was a blast of gently complex umami. Sushi was mediocre and a tuna salad was refreshing but the tuna per se had phantom flavour. A fish soup was very filling but also very dreary with a dull miso broth and chunks of fish which did little to flavour the broth. A cool grapefruit custard was moderately refreshing. <br/><br/>A second visit was less planned and I turned up at 8-15pm but was rather stunned to see a 'sorry we are closed!' sign, with some patrons still inside with at least 1 table and many counter side seats free. Through the glass walls, a waitress confirmed the disappointment in response to my gestures. Sure they may have run out of ingredients , or probably the staff had launched a mid-service mutiny against the sullen owner - all these are understandable reasons but I could not help feeling that this place was more interested in shutting shop and going home 45 minutes before their closing time on a Saturday night. Who cares about pleasing customers when the restaurant has awesome timetables to adhere to? It's a drive halfway across town when I'm not in the vicinity for business , and there is no shortage of more inviting Japanese restaurants in town, so I hope I will not be swayed in the future by crazy concerns of further exploring the menu here.

One day I went here when it was raining. The rain gave the restaurant very nice acoustics. The aroma of the wood was on point. I could not express the full immersive experience I had here! The black curtains were a great addition to the restaurant. 10/10 had black curtains.

We need more Japanese restaurants like this in Auckland! Although the proprietors may not be Japanese, the chefs definitely are and take pride in their creations - yes, I say creations, because they come up with their own interpretation of Japanese classics. Their sashimi (with dry ice) and beef are must-haves. The food comes promptly, albeit at somewhat random intervals. The place can feel a bit disorganised at times, possibly due to not being accustomed with a recent increase in customers. We are grateful we discovered this place - will not need to drive too far for good Japanese food from now on!

We become big fans of this place 2 years ago. We love Japanese food and have tried various places around Auckland. We can say it's the best Japanese restaurant in Auckland! Very local and warm. Sashimi, toro, Wagyu beef, teapot soup are must try. The owners are very friendly and nice. You can feel that they run this little restaurant with passion and heart. Definitely go back again and again.

Our experience has left us with a wonder of the authenticity of this place. Food is below average. The tempura batter was soggy. Some dishes served were more Chinese than Japanese. There wasn’t much service. The waitress demonstrated a great business by taking the customers’ cash with one hand and rushing in and out of the kitchen serving dishes with the other hand. Our dishes were literally dumped at the edge of one side of the table. The whole place was as mad as a hatter

What a lovely place. Stopped here because I couldn't drive any further. Thunder and lightening. Heavy rain. Impassable road. Empty stomach. So glad I did. I've lived around these parts for 10 years or more. Never been here before. Lovely warm caring people. Real family feel to the place. Delicious well presented food. I took photos. That's right folks. I've stooped to that level. You'll be glad I did though. I had the sashimi. Yummy. Fish was fresh and soft. Didn't have the taste or smell that other branded chain sushi places have. Fantastically presented too. With a "flaming cup" of dry ice on the platter. Chicken karaage was really good. Could have benefited from letting it cool down before I tried to inhale it. And finally the tempura prawns. They we big. Not just long with lots of batter. Big long fat juicy ones. I'm happy. I'll be back. You should go.

Utterly superb cooking! It really takes you to another realm. At par with world class restaurants overseas. They serve kaiseki dishes - which takes years for Japanese chefs to perfect. The head chef is Japanese and has decades of experience and this place is truly authentic. Each dish is made with care and is a perfect balance of flavours. The ingredients are very fresh - you must order the toro sashimi! The seafood steamed egg is gorgeous as well! The manager is very friendly! If you want to truly experience it you need to order the kaiseki dishes! Ask the manager for recommendations!

I love the salmon and avocado rolls and their fried dumplings. My husband and i always get our Japanese fix at Masa and we like the fact that the sushi is made fresh behind the counter. <br/><br/>One negative thing about masa is that the lady who serves us food seems to have an issue with us. We observed that she's more eager and friendly when shes serving other people. This is observed after several visits to the place. We were not rude, neither did we demand for anything so i don't know if she really has an issue with us or she just doesn't like our presence. We'll still go back for the food though!

First time visitor: Fabulous meal and delightful experience. I ordered the Chicken Katsu meal. Each course was beautifully presented and delicious and delivered in a timely manner. I loved my dinner at Masa and I look forward to returning. I will be telling my friends to visit too!

Special chef & professional Japanese especially Sashimi. I couldn't take a pic all of my meal , Lunch n dinner also both goooood . Recommend counter seat in front of chef !

Stumbled upon this place while on the way to Sylvia Park. So glad we stopped to have dinner. Really clean interior - we sat at the bar and watched the sushi chef work while we ate. Generous portions - tempura was amazing. The whole squid was good, but just a little tough - needed a little less cooking. Sushi freshly made and I think the prices were reasonable. Will return.

Masa is Kohimarama's little secret tucked away amongst shops.BYO which is fabulous.Fantastic sashimi. The large is more than enough for two people if having as a main.Lots of little dishes which makes eating fun and adventurous.

A great meal cooked by genuine Japanese and frequented by Japanese the night we went. The neighbours ordered a sashimi boat  which was amazing. I  had the fish soup in a teapot, the salmon salad and beef skewers. My husband had the set meal for $30 which he pronounced as one of the best meals he has had anywhere. Service was great- how the sever coped I dont know but we all got our meals in a timely fashion. very reasonably priced as well. BYO an advantage.You can watch your meal cooked in front of you mostly.  The test of  great restaurant is would you return...and yes we would with our friends asap! Well done.

Good LITLE Japanese restaurant, friendly and fresh produce, my local restaurant, recommended to anyone. Have been there many times and never been disappointing.

Having been closed for renovations for a long time, I couldn't wait to try Masa when it opened again recently.<br/><br/>The Chef is often seen walking in and out to greet and farewell customers, making you feel welcome from the get go.<br/><br/>The salmon salad is a highlight, mainly because of the dressing and fresh salmon in generous portions.

My husband and I had dinner there and we enjoyed the large platter of sashimi.  Presentation was great, because they served it on a wooden boat with large cut of fresh sashimi, and very generous.  We also ordered tempura and the taste was fantastic.  The only thing we're not happy about is the rice, because they didn't use japanese rice and it was soggy.  Staff were so attentive and polite, they greeted us as soon as we stepped in and even bowed their heads when we were about to leave.  They played old japanese music, and you can feel like the ambiance was different.  We enjoyed dinning there, and definitely be coming back.

We both had a Worst food poisoning after fridays dinner.<br/><br/>California rolls was as bad as from petrol station.<br/><br/>Would never ever go there and recommend.

It's very near to my home but we never visited it before - and it's definitely a hidden gem in this city! <br/>The restaurant should be owned and operated by Japanese (always think the Japanese restaurant owned by the Japanese is the best!) , and the customers inside are all Japanese as well (that's a good sign to us :D)<br/>We ordered the lunch set which is definitely value for money,  it's $10 cheaper than the same set for dinner.  We just can't finished the meal since the portion is really large (should say, the portion is good but too many dishes for a meal...)<br/>Enjoy the environment, enjoy the meal and enjoy the service.  <br/>No reason for not coming again especially it's so near my place =)

Very Good Japanese. Sashimi was excellent. King fish particularly fresh. The bbq pork belly and beef excellent also. Clean and very relaxed but Japanese flare. Definitely worth the visit.

This is indeed a hidden gem. I have spent many months in Japan over several years and this restaurant would qualify as truly Japanese, even in Japan. The food is genuine, high quality, and well presented as you might expect by a very experienced and capable Japanese chef.  It is not pretentious and prices are quite reasonable for the level of quality.  Japanese restaurants in Auckland are too often an excuse just for high priced kiwi style sushi or teppanyaki and not very Japanese at all  I guess that is OK if that is what you like. If you appreciate real Japanese then Masa is worth a visit.

Possibly one of the best and most authentic Japanese restaurant while being down to earth. The chef is extremely knowledgeable and professionally trained. What is unique is the Omakase system which means that the chef can design a menu for you on the day based on your budget and what is the best ingredient of the time. The chef will prepare the entire meal right in front you if you sit at the counter seats. It is an experience not to be missed.

Giving five starts because there is no six. Superb sushi with a wide range of other Japanese delicacies. Chef worked at the top restaurants in Japan, and their loss is our gain. Could transplant Masa to Tokyo and triple the prices and it would still be authentic and highly regarded. Best value is the 9-piece sushi plate, but for an incredible experience tell them you'll let the chef decide on your dinner, a range of sushi, sashimi and many fine foods prepared to perfection. Service is excellent. The real deal.

This hidden gem of a neighborhood restaurant is basic. But it does first rate Japanese food. Sit at the bar and watch the old school sushi chef do his thing. Don't go here because it's hip and cool ( it isn't) but go because you appreciate delicious and authentic Japanese dishes expertly cooked and presented. Happens to be great value too. Family friendly especially just after evening opening.

One of the hidden gems for eating japanese in auckland<br/>ask for there takeaway Unami in a bamboo basket<br/>great food

The service was amazing, food was exceptional and very well priced. Great place for low key dinner.

This little Japanese joint in Kohimarama is a hidden gem. They have authentic Japanese food with a variety of housemade sauces by the head chef and all with a reasonable price. They have since added a number of dishes to their menu after their opening about a year or so ago, if you want to try something different order off Freddy's Recommendation to sample the variety of dishes Japanese cuisine has to offer.<br/>Today I came for lunch with my family and we went for a mixture of seafood dishes. We started with a trio of appetizer, the spicy salmon salad and trio of fish katsu. The fish katsu are each topped with a different, my favourite was the red roe flavoured one. Next we got the sashimi platter that came on a boat! Not sure what all the fishes were there, I think there was cuttlefish, salmon, tuna, yellowtail and maybe tarakihi and snapper. After that it's my favourite nigiri ever - the flamed salmon. It's flamed on the top only with a torch (and topped with a mystery sauce, maybe a mirin glaze?), and it creates a melt in your mouth and a sweetly caramelized taste. After that we shared a seafood hotpot which had all kind of goodies in there like shrimp, salmon, scallop, tofu, tarakihi. They are also happy for us to take it away as we were pretty stuffed by then. The hotpot broth is also perfect to make zosui (Japanese rice soup) by adding cooked rice, scrambled egg and chopped spring onion. Lastly we finished with a light dessert - green tea jelly topped with red bean and cream. <br/>We sat at the counter today to see the chef do his work. Otherwise there's 3-4 tables in the main area and a couple more table in a more enclosed area on the other side of the entrance. They get pretty busy on Fri and Sat night so booking is recommended. The service is friendly but sometimes you don't know what you are eating because it's not explained in the menu. The English menu is a very simple translation, I had to ask my brother who lived in Japan for 3 years eg what the difference is between sushi on rice (chirashizushi) and sashimi don which I am familiar with. <br/>Didn't sample their drink menu today, as we just went for the green tea. But I noticed they have 3 types of plum wine (umeshu) which is unusual for restaurants in NZ, but common in Japan because each region produces their own variety of plum wine (much like sake).