Rip snorter night out. Pretty surprisingly good food, and provides a great atmosphere for a casual, fun night out. Japanese beer by the liter, and any sake you could desire. Don’t go for a romantic night out – go for a raucous night of sharing plates.

The best dining experience in Auckland. Great food (try rge Takoyaki and donburi) great beer, great sake and an authentic setting. Tanuki’s is my staple place for first dates and it hasn’t failed me yet, thanks guys! keep it up

Love Tanukis, my fav is scotch fillet steak, chicken, and cabbage and mayo! Get’s busy at times but that just cause its awesome!

Went with a group of four friends. Didn’t book, but still managed to get a table despite being what looked like a busy night. Food portions were average, being Japanese food we expected to get portions that were smaller than your average meal. Sushi was fresh and tasted incredibly good. Service was excellent, had a nice waitress that took care of us well. Nice cozy environment and we were able to pay separately.

I LOVE Tanukis Cave. This is probably my favourite place to go in Auckland and has been for the last 4 years – a friend and I went there every Friday for two months straight. The staff are always extremely friendly and you know what to expect every time. I find it funny that people complain about ‘no booking’ and complain when they show up with an incomplete party and expect to be seated – it’s not how it works and you pretty much have to accept it or jog on

The food – ahhhh the food! So good! Scotch Fillet, Shrimp and Bacon, Cabbage and Mayo, Tender Chicken Thigh meat, and the specials are always fantastic. I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than $30 (bar once) to eat and drink til I’m stuffed along with everyone else at the table.

We love the staff (especially Erina (I don’t know how to spell it) and Emma – who remember our friends faces regularly), we love the food and we love the setting. I love you Tanukis!!!

It has been quite sometime since I have been here but I really enjoyed the time there.
I recall there was a japanese moive playing on the tv in the back ground it helped to give it a unique charm .
You really feel like your at a japanese eatery in japan.
I have been to plenty in japan so I should know .
I would love to go again in the future well worth the time .
A must to go to in regards to food and experiance.

Tanuki’s cave really is just an over-rated over-priced hole in the ground. We had been here a few times, but over-looked the ratty service and over-priced food after a few sakes! However, our recent visit was the last due to the sheer arrogance of the staff where 2 of us (of a party of 6) arrived literally 3mins ahead of the rest. The staff refused to give us the last vacant table, with the staff stating “doze are da rules”. So our metro party of 6 went elsewhere. Auckland city has better yakitori restaurants – cheaper, and yes you can actually see what you’re eating too!

Busy restaurant, busy staff, busy kitchen. . .it’s definitely worthy of all the traffic! Wonderful place to enjoy a unique meal in Auckland. Highly recommend the cabbage with Japanese mayo – a favorite starter every time. Not the type of place you’d go for a quiet night out or a serious business meeting, but the perfect atmosphere for a casual, off-the-cuff night on the town. Anyone looking for an exciting dining experience should try Tanuki’s at least once!

My partner and I regularly enjoy great evenings at Tanuki’s Cave but the terrible service last night compelled me to write this review.

We turned up on a busy Wednesday evening, took a number from a waitress and told to wait over the far side, which we’re used to doing. We ordered a drink and joined the throng waiting for tables. In no rush, we enjoyed our drink and a spot of people watching but alarm bells started ringing when couples and groups who had come in after us began to be seated. I checked with the waitress who looked at our number, confirmed it on her list and told me we were next in the queue. No problem. Except that we clearly weren’t and more people were seated. Again we were told we were next up. Then we were told we had been given the wrong card and they thought we were part of a much larger group that had been seated ages before.

To cut a long story short, after an hour and a half, three checks and much confusion between the wait staff, we’d had enough, voted with our feet and went elsewhere.

Yes, I realise Tanuki’s is busy and a wait is to be expected but they need to get a better system going – they’ve been in the game long enough. Just a word of warning in case you start seeing people getting seated in front of you.

We adore Tanukis Cave. It can be an incredibly busy environment, which means waiting times on the side tables can be a while. So patience is recommended. However, this is fine as we usually get acquainted with their lovely sake, and plum wine selection. We’re two people who love our food so price is always a consideration, and to get our fill it takes about $50. Not too bad considering the average prices of food in Auckland City.

However we’ve had a couple of bad experiences. I was placed next to a woman with particularly long hair, who kept flipping it over her shoulder – at which point it would hit me in the face, and go all over my clothing; very uncomfortable, and disgusting. One particular waitress is very slow with delivering drinks to the waiting tables, subsequently we flagged her down but she seemed inattentive to our comments and handed our drinks off to another waiter to deal with. He acknowledged our comments, and resolved the situation quickly.

Yummy!!! Food was awesome and very generous serving sizes for great prices!!
Will definently be heading back here soon.

My favourite restuarant!!

Pity their not in the entertainment book tho!!

Try the sake – always good to warm the cockles of your heart….

Great food and service. However heat from the kitchen makes the place hot and smoky! February special, deep fried strawberries and ice cream were great!

Tanuki’s is the creme de-la-creme of Japanese cuisine…on the cheap side.

The prices work in the sense that you’re effectively getting 3 sides for the price of one main, so in that way, it works, however if you’re the type of person that focuses on your mains, scrap the Cave, and head upstairs to the main restaurant.

In the evenings (Especially Friday and Saturday) you are bound to wait 15-20 mins for your table, and possibly longer if your coming in a larger group 3-4+.

Overall though I love the food, the service is friendly, I am definitely a regular. I can tell the staff will soon be learning my name haha!

Great food, great service. this was a fun place to go out for a bite to eat in town. Casual fun atmosphere

After hearing and reading all positive reviews thought it would be worth a go… but nothing but disappointment.

The waitresses were really disorganised could not understand our questions and so could not answer our questions. Not just our table either- the girl at the next table was struggling too.

The food was ok, but quite small servings…

Then we went to pay… had to wait for a while for anyone to even come up to us. Then someone came up eventually, gave us the bill then walked off…. then another 5 mins later someone else finally decided they could help…

Absolutely shocking…

Food is awesome, service is great.

The only downside is the ridiculous price of wine and always hard to get a table (which means it’s always busy!)

But defintely worth the visit.

Awesome food, great staff, I loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone!

This restaurant never dissapoints me. The best dish I think is the Kumara balls coated in almonds! A MUST.

Just good!

love it !!!
highly Recommended

I love this place!!
Wonderful menu.
Like tapas but Japanese style.
You only need 3-4 skewers and your full.
Perfect for me as i cant ever finish a main meal.
Good prices too.
Highly recomended.
Try and book if you can, always busy

Tanuki’s Cave is very charming. The staff are very welcoming and warm. It has a lovely cosy atmosphere. The food is just divine. Perfect for a light meal with a beer or wine or a pre-show bite. At times you almost feel like you are in a hidden bustling bar in Japan.

If your wanting somewhere different with a bit of atmosphere and great casual food this is the place. We dine here regularly as it’s cheap, tasty food, great music and the staff welcome everyone when they enter the cave.