Here’s Where To Get The Freshest Sashimi In Auckland

The luxurious feeling of the fresh sashimi melting in our mouths keeps us craving more.

While raw fish may have you slightly undecided, sashimi uses only fresh, high grade fish to serve up raw. When properly cleaned and prepared, it will open up your perception of raw produce and have you counting down the days until your next sashimi hit.

We’ve taken the time to test and try sashimi all across Auckland, and we think we’ve come up with decidedly the best spots to enjoy the Japanese delicacy. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Aucklanders will be very familiar with this famed Japanese restaurant for its unique combination of elements, all resulting in mind-blowing dishes, as well as the impeccable service and atmosphere Ebisu offers. So, it’s no surprise it has landed on our list. The Sashimi at Ebisu comes in the form of their Signature Mixed Sashimi platter, with the Chef’s daily selection of the best market fish sashimi, scallops, tobiko w/ cucumber, ginger garlic soy and wasabi tartare.

Available for lunch and dinner sessions, it’d be a mistake to skip over this one on the menu.

Cocoro’s Fresh Sashimi platter is easily one of the most impressive dishes we’ve seen come out of a kitchen, and simply one of our top Japanese restaurants in Auckland. Cocoro have an entire sushi and sashimi course on their menu, consisting of multiple sushi and sashimi dishes, hand selected by the Chef on the day. You can expect up to 15 different types of market sashimi (sometimes including octopus sashimi ceviche, Ora King salmon, Leigh snapper), arriving with South Island Fresh wasabi and ‘Tsukuri’ flavored soy sauce.

Opt for the Sake + Wine pairing to elevate your experience even more. Otherwise, book in for an A La Carte lunch and pick your favourite pieces of the day, as well as getting to try Cocoro’s Japanese Tapas lunch menu. The waitlist can be quite extensive, so we highly suggest booking in advance for a special occasion or a simple treat-yourself moment.

Discover Kushi, right in the heart of the city. The modern Asian restaurant plays with low-lighting and relaxed seating to create a classy, comfortable setting amongst the hustle and bustle of the CBD. On the menu, you’ll find a range of contemporary and traditional Japanese dishes, and most importantly – a whole section dedicated to sashimi. There are three options: sashimi small, sashimi medium, and sashimi large. Ask your waiter for any help choosing which one will suit your table, and then prepare for some of the best sashimi you’ll find in Auckland – arriving fresh, bright, and deliciously tender.

The rest of Kushi’s menu is perfect for a table-sharing experience, with varieties of hot and cold dishes to keep everyone happy, and a side of Sake of course.

Finally, we have Nishiki – a popular Japanese eatery with a few locations across the city, but our favourite for sashimi is their Botany Downs branch. The restaurant itself is light and airy, with wooden furniture, an open kitchen, and a variety of condiments dotting each table top. The sashimi at Nishiki is fresh daily, with the option to select an assorted platter of white and red fish, or go by which fish is your favourite. Their selections include salmon, tuna, snapper, and Japanese yellowtail – all equally delicious in our books, but feel free to discuss with your waitstaff about picking the best option for you.

Nishiki offers a slightly more casual sashimi experience, with plenty of your other favourite Japanese dishes to enjoy too.