Ken Yakitori

Went here tonight for some after work relaxation, and it was perfect! Great food, quick service, and a cold beer (or two). I highly recommend. The atmosphere is very relaxed and casual, and the staff were very friendly and attentive. I am definitely coming back for more!

I cannot find anything really to fault this establishment over so I just had to give it 5 stars. From the moment we entered all the staff are welcoming and the service top notch. Usually when we come past here is pretty busy, but that night it was quiet when we went in, got a couple of stools near the window, but then it gradually got busier. We ordered a Sangaria, a drink which is like beer but non alcoholic and tastes like Apple cider (that’s what we were told). For the food we ordered a variety of mushroom, chicken and pork skewers along with some kind of camembert croquet. All were so delicious and I would have had more, but had to restrain myself. And all at not too bad a price The cabbage with either miso flavour sauce or mayo was tasty to nibble on. We had a position where we could watch the chef at work, something I always enjoy. All in all turns out it will be another place that we will venture to again and I will without doubt recommend.

I used to go to the K Rd branch but always struggled to find parking up there. It was a blessing when this joint was open, still get to enjoy all the traditional Japanese atmosphere and friendly staff.
Food was great just like the K Rd branch. Make sure you try the chicken mince balls and prawns with yum yum sauce.

It was just one of those nights where nothing went right. First off we weren’t given menus and was asked to order (which was pretty funny at the time). And it went down hill from there the best thing we had was probably the edamame beans and the asahi I guzzled down waiting over half an hour for our food. To top it off and this is not the restaurants fault we ended up sitting next to a very strange group of people. So all in all it was just one of those nights.

If you’re around the central Auckland and are craving some authentic japanese, come here for some awesome yakitori! We got bar seats in front of the grill and the food is great! For the amount of food that we ate, we thought the bill was going to be pretty high but it actually wasn’t. We were pretty surprised. I would definitely recommend this place.

Kens Yakitori Bar looks like any of the number of little yakitori bars on the corner of any given street in Asia. It’s authentic man.
Bamboo and dark woody tones, an intimate little hideaway on Anzac Ave, you should definately track this place down.
I’m always keen for anything on a stick, my fave from the yakitori menu would have to be the little sweet corn and the deep fried Camembert from the kitchen menu. These little bites are all super cheap and oh so tasty. The corn only set me back $ 4.00, did I hear you say bargain?
It’s one of the bonuses to be able to eat at the bar right in front of where the chefs are doing their thing, and watch. The staff are all super friendly, even the chefs will call out a greeting to you when you walk in off the street.
I like Kens style.

I love that they have something free on the menu. And that next to «Free Cabbage» The price is exclaimed Free!
Although I do not eat cabbage myself, it is supposedly a tasty treat with some mayonnaise, which you can pick up for a tidy $ 3 on the side.
I do, however, like all the little tasty things they cook up on sticks. Well maybe not all, I have never tried «chicken trim cartiledge», «chicken gizzards» or similar, but all the normal sounding meats on sticks are very yum.
Also brocoli with mayo is delish and about the only vege dish they serve that is without cabbage, for all fellow cabbage-​haters.

Ken Yakitori is a semi-​regular spot for me. The place is open late which can be a godsend in times of 11:00pm hunger. There’s yakitori (things on skewers) and a bunch of other great things on the menu — the broccoli salad sounds weird but is very good. It’s basically a pile of broccoli with some sesame sauce and mayo on top. You can get a small salmon donburi which is also good. Basically I get those two things and the prawn wrapped with pork skewers. If I’m branching out, I’ll also give the prawn tempura a go, sometimes the karaage chicken. If I’m eating with non-​judgemental people I’ll order the fried chicken skins (literally deep fried chicken skins. They kind of taste like crisps). Sarah likes the deep fried cheese, Maddy always gets a tofu dish.
Drivers: Parking can be horrific in that area at peak dining times. Anticipate a walk.
Drinkers: Plum wine is good — super sweet and almost kind of sickly, but if you’re into sugar you will love it.
Observation: The décor is pretty weird, it’s generally pretty Japanese but then there are these huge old chainsaws hanging from the roof in some places.

This Yakitori Bar rocks! So intimate and cute, your face to face sitting next to your own personal Yakitori chef expert if you choose to sit on the bar seats.
As you walk through the doors at Ken’s on Anzac Ave the entire staff of the super busy and popular Japanese restaurant yell out a welcome, very exciting for new comers I’m sure. The music is always energetic dance tunes –which significantly vibe with the atmosphere of the room perfectly.
I love the cabbage leaves and soy sauce to snack on, wets your appetite for the delicious smörgåsbord of food available on the menu.
Once you have ordered your drink with the efficient friendly waitress or waiter, you can sit and mull over the menu, of delicious skewers of meats, seafood, and vegetable.
Why not devour a plate of sashimi, and then have a couple skewers, then dessert.
Such a neat stop for a after work drink and nibbles, or a intimate meal for two.

Ken Yakitori on Anzac Ave is such a small and intimate little place. As I walk by the restaurant, the wonderful smells of various skewers of meat cooking to perfection on the grill always makes me forget where I’m actually going, and as my mouth waters I begin to wonder why I’m not going in there.
Ken is a traditional Japanese yakitori restaurant which cooks meat and vegetables on a skewer right in front of your face as you sit at the bar/​kitchen. You just order a few at a time, and stop when you feel you are full. This can get quite expensive though because it’s often hard to stop once you get started. The restaurant has a few tables too, if you’d rather sit facing your friends. Highly recommend Ken Yakitori, even if it’s just once for the experience.