I’m discovering in Auckland that there are two standards for food here – good but expensive or not good and still not cheap. Seldom do you find a happy middle ground unlike Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia.
Perhaps that scene will change in time but for the moment, I am grateful when I make new discoveries of the good and in reasonable in-betweens. As I slowly grow roots here, I have also been growing an eat-list so that I know where to take visitors or meet friends when you want that social meal-out and one of the best little discoveries that I have made to start the year is this little place in Onehunga known humbly as the Ajimi Sashimi Bar.
I was having a hair cut at a salon in Sylvia Park Mall and happily chatting with my Japanese hair stylist when the topic of where do the local Japanese go for a good meal came up. She recommended this place sharing that her Japanese friends frequent this place as it is authentic, reasonably priced and the seafood is fresh. That sold me. As experience has taught me that when a local palette recommends it and it is from the country that they originate from, it is the real deal. In this case, Ajimi did not disappoint.
What I liked about it:
1. The food menu was varied with not just sashimi but a good selection of sushi, robatayaki (skewers), izakaya (ala carte dishes).
2. The drinks menu also had a good selection of alcohol (wine, beer, sake) and imported Japanese liqueurs and various soft drinks like Ramune (Japanese lemonade) etc. Drinks were reasonably priced as was the food menu.
3. The place was buzzing with alot of Japanese customers and the serving staff were Japanese (could not see into the kitchen to take a peek at the chef) which lent an authenticity to the place.
4. Loved the way they had a NZ$39 special which comprised of a mini kaiseki offering – a bit of everything recommended by the chef. The NZ$39 special menu is featured in our main photo.
5. Casual ambience that almost made you feel like you were in a back alley in Tokyo in one of their little bars having a quick meal before catching the Shinkansen somewhere.
Definitely a new go-to for me.
Find our review also here: https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/ShowUserReviews-g2305613-d14772149-r654413016-Japanese_Sashimi_Bar_Ajimi-Onehunga_North_Island.html#
Simply Fabulicious 