Daikoku

Teppanyaki is the best, and Daikoku is one of the best at doing it. You can’t beat Japanese style cuisine cooked on a massive hot plate right at your table. Especially not when the food here is so delicious, and especially not when the trained chef does all these awesome tricks with it. Spinning the utensils, flicking the food around, it’s pretty awesome to watch.
This Daikoku in Botany is particularly good because it has an early bird dinner special, which offers three different set meals to choose from at a discounted price. There’s a lunch special as well which is also really good value. The meal portions always seem to be more than enough, and although I’m usually about to explode by the end, I try my best to finish it all anyway because it’s just so damn tasty!

Despite coming here on the awkward premise of my friend trying to set me up with someone, this place did not disappoint. I only found out when I met my friend there, but thankfully the food was so nice I could push away the awkwardness of having a row of guys in front of me almost immediately.
The environment had a traditional feel to it, especially with the distinctly Japanese staff. Everyone was so well-​mannered and friendly, so I’ve always meant to go back here, but haven’t quite made it. Hopefully soon, so I can eradicate the awkward memories and be served new, adventurous ones tucking into an eel dish perhaps? Sounds like the bad memories may just swim away with that sucker.

If you love teppanyaki, then you have to check this place out as part of your tour of Auckland Japanese restaurants. Not as busy as the other Daikoku’s and is quite spacious.
The food is as expected from daikoku teppanyaki. This place has much better quality food than is offered around Botany (eg all the takeaways), so it’s definitely worth a visit when you want something decent.
It’s tucked away above the shopping centre so follow the signs.

My family loves Daikoku and we’ve been coming here for years. The Botany branch is much close to home which is instantly an advantage, and I love coming here for a nice dinner treat. Watching your food being cooked in front of you is a great novelty and I don’t think I’d get sick of it. All of the teppan-​yaki chefs I’ve encountered are always so well-​mannered and, of course, very good at their jobs.
The yum yum sauce with prawns at Daikoku are one of my many food-​related weaknesses– there isn’t a lot out there that tastes better than that combination! And my medium rare steak is always cooked perfectly– an advantage of watching some cook your meal for you.
They’ve usually got some awesome specials on during their quieter days (Sunday through Thursday) that include you appetisers, rice, mains and dessert for about $ 35– a great price at any restaurant!