My husband and I ate here 2 nights in a row while visiting Auckland last fall. The food is great, good quality and quickly prepared. Staff and service were good. We found it to be a great deal for the quality of the sushi. Too bad it’s so small and below ground level. Would be nice to have more light in their little restaurant, but still it has a nice«hidden gem» kind of feel since it’s slightly tucked away, and was nearly at capacity both times we went. Definitely recommend it!
Sean S.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Auckland, New Zealand
Have been visiting Moto for many years as I’m a local to the area. Moto is pretty small and is located in the basement level of the building it is located in just down a short flight of brick steps. Moto only has about 6 tables so on Friday and Saturday night it can get filled up. They will take a reservation if you are coming in soon, so I often call and see if they are busy and ask them to hold me table if I’m headed there within a short time. The food at Moto has been very consistent over the years. It is simple no-frills Japanese food and sushi. If you are visiting from America you will probably find the selection of fish somewhat limited, however, that is the case with most sushi bars/restaurants in New Zealand so Moto is par-for-the-course in this regard. What I truly love about Moto and why they get my business over and over again is that the prices are very reasonable and the food is served quickly. My personal favourite is the Sashimi box – Miso, Rice, Tempura, Salad, Sashimi and Sushi – for $ 17. It is just the right amount of food and that is a very hard price to beat. If you are looking for simple, well-prepared, no-frills and quick Japanese in Parnell, you can’t beat Moto.
Amy M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Auckland, New Zealand
One of my favourite places to come for a cheap dinner with a girlfriend! They offer a delicious Japanese menu with all the favourites including edamame, miso, sashimi and sushi rolls. I always order their sushi roll but I get my half/half for example I get half california roll and half chicken and avocado. I love that you can do this because you get variety but all for the same price as one roll, which is only around $ 11, so cheap for dinner! Their spring rolls as a starter are also really delicious as well as their teriyaki chicken on rice for those who are less adventurous. My favourite place to sit is on their only outdoor table(if you can get it) which sits at the top of the stairs that lead down to the main restaurant, if you can’t get the outdoor table however, inside is just as lovely! Great service here, so polite which I always respect. Moto will always be my go to Japanese in the evenings.
James W.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Auckland, New Zealand
Another former favourite that seems to have fallen by the wayside, Moto was a regular spot for after an after uni snack. The chicken crunch sushi, which I don’t think is listed on the menu, was a favourite, which consisted of chicken sushi with little crunchy pieces also in the roll. Additionally I would get the tuna sashimi which seemed particularly good value for money, comparable to other raw fish prices around the city. The bento boxes are also a valid option, although the meat can sometimes be a tad overcooked and artificial. The service was always extremely friendly, with the staff often remembering our orders, although they had limited English.
Tracey C.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Auckland, New Zealand
Moto is a tiny little Japanese restaurant just off Parnell Road located almost below ground level, you walk down stairs with outdoor tables either side balanced almost precariously either side. Moto is super small and the staff are lovely. I come here with a friend who works in Parnell once a week or so and the sushi is just too much for me. You get 8 pieces and there is a lot of rice, I guess I am picky so I usually just have the edamame beans. I am always amazed at how quickly the sushi is made. Five minutes and it is on the table, it is like they have it sitting out the back ready made(I’m sure they don’t) they’re just super fast. There are a couple of other sushi places in Parnell and this is one of the better ones. I find the music choice amusing, they play pop music, often Maroon 5, I’d give them an extra half star for that if I could.
Alana J.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Auckland, New Zealand
I LOVEMOTO! Located in the heart of Parnell, this small restaurant is down stairs next the coffee club. Moto is worth coming to for either lunch or dinner. Here they make the best chicken sushi rolls! The best miso! I also absolutely love their bento boxes! At Moto they are incredibly accommodating. For example, I’m only really a fan of tuna sashimi. In the bento boxes they usually give you a mixed variety of sashimi even if you get the chicken option. They are incredibly good at swapping the sashimi for more chicken sushi, or a particular kind that you would prefer rather than having the mixed option. As they like to cater to their customer’s needs, this certainly gives them brownie points in my book. There is no store parking, but there is plenty of street parking available in the area. I have only ever had great experiences here at Moto, and I would totally recommend this place to ANYONE wanting fantastic sushi. It’s quite a small restaurant, so if you’re wanting to come with a larger group I would certainly recommend booking. Otherwise it isn’t necessary(unless it’s a special occasion and you don’t want to risk missing out).
Anitra N.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Auckland, New Zealand
What a cute little sushi bar located in the fancy suburb of Parnell! Came here for dinner, there was about 10 of us in total and it is imperative you book as this place is always quite busy. My friend who planned this dinner had been talking about this place for a while so I was keen to see what the buzz was about. You walk down some stone stairs into the restaurant which is quite small and quaint — very cute. Would be great to go on a date here! I got a platter of teriyaki sushi which was great however I wish I had branched out a bit more in my food decision as everyone elses plates looked amazing. They had gotten bento boxes dishes much more creative than my safe zone teriyaki chicken but that’s alright as there is always a next time!