Nice Japanese is so hard to find in Auckland, Ebisu is right on the money. So easy to catch the train from Kingsland down to britomart and wander up to Ebisu. The Sake was amazing, along with the Wakanui blue scotch fillet with 3 Japanese sauces...

I like this place. good food. thought interior could be a little cooler but i had a great night at Ebisu and would go back.

Ebisu cannot be faulted for their presentation and preparation of food. They certainly prepare their food well.

However, the menu failed to impress me the way I was expecting it to. Perhaps it was the way the flavours came about. It all tasted like something I could have had at another place. Not much "new" or "twist" about the foods. After a few dishes, the food started tasting similar.

My picks:
- Scallops - 'Hotate to Shiitake'. Well cooked, juicy, plump scallops are always a winner.

- Yuzu brulee - The yuzu gives a refreshing twist to the brulee. Was not 'egg-y' at all, where some places you can still taste the egg in the custard. Texture was like really thick custard that would stay on your spoon, but it did not hold together like how creme caramel would. Depending on your preference, you might / might not like it this way.

- Shoga to Ringo no Doughnut - Thin crisp layer coating a well cooked apple. Again, not something unusual but well made.

Other items consumed:
- Pork belly, 'Buta no Kakuni', was cooked well and was very tender
- 'soft shell crab no karaage'
- Agedashi tofu
- Aburi no nigiri (salmon)
- Spider maki
- Osashimi no salad
- Chocolate to Maccha Truffle (not worth it)
- Edamame

Recommend you try the sake-tini. You'll have to like sweet stuff to enjoy this cocktail though.

One thing that was weird to me was.... where was the sake? The only sake available on the drinks menu was the sake-tini.

Damage to the wallet $235, all the above including 3 cocktails.

Attended Ebisu after a few drinks in the afternoon. Ebisu allowed us to ring through to be put on waiting list, with a return call when the table was ready (45min). They were right on time, which allowed for a drink at next door Tyler st garage.
Service was prompt, friendly and very informative, - with quantity meal recommendations and choices. (5 small dishes and 4 mains for 6) all to share.
Meals were faultless and desert too! If you have hungry men then you need to order a bit more. But our party of six were completely satisfied.
Next test- mother in law!
Great Ebisu, you deserve the top 50 metro rating, and we will be back!

Dined at Ebisu last Thursday with a friend up from Wellington. We are both lovers of Japanese so were excited to try something new. Great interior, including the bar area where several people were waiting having a pre-dinner drink. The Maitre'D was fantastic.. personable, very welcoming and helpful.Waiting staff were great and knowledgeable, though service was a little slow. We chose several of the small plates, including the sashimi which was mixed. The snapper and salmon were fantastic only to be let down by the Tuna which had the consistency of an overripe tomato. My friend thought it tasted as though it had been frozen. The prawn tempura was delicious, though the batter could have been slightly lighter. And the mushrooms, were amazing. Fantastic flavours! Lastly the beef tataki was good, but not great. All in all, Ebisu was a pleasurable dining experience, though for your money i think there are other places you get better value. Staff get a big tick tho, that smile goes a long way.

fantastic evening at Ebisu - terrific Japanese restaurant in Britomart and now my new favourite Auckland venue.
I tried various things but my favourite was the Tai no maruyaki - a whole snapper with delicious sauce. As a main it's pretty pricy (over $40) but the flavours are so delicate that you wont regret it.
Ebisu is sophisticated but there's also a nice, relaxed vibe to it. recommended

Just got home after having had dinner at Ebisu in Britomart - pronounced Ebis.... with silent u, our waitress explained to us. The best food I have had in a long time!! We got there at about 20.00 and the place was buzzing. Got greeted by a fantastic host who informed us that there was a wait for a table of 5 of about 35 min, she took our phone number and we went of to have a drink at the neighboring Tyler street garage. After 10 min we received a call that there was a table ready and waiting for us. The host - blonde lady, forgotten her name - was beyond help full with explaining the menu and drinks menu. It was nice to find a host without the snobbish attitude most of them can have, very refreshing. Our waitress, I think she was South-African who was also very helpful. Great recommendations on the food and sake. The high light of our dinner was the New Style Sashimi, AWESOME!!!! We had a great night and would recommend Ebisu to everyone!!! Marvelous food, outstanding service, nice vibe and fairly priced!

try the pork belly at Ebisu - it's mouth watering. I took some clients to Ebisu yesterday and all three of us thoroughly enjoyed the dining experience. I'm a big fan of Soto but I think the service, food and setting are as good - even slightly better. Ebisu is a chilled out spot and quite fitting for the whole vibe going on at Britomart at the moment. Memorable mention also for the sushi roll entree at Ebisu which is also top notch.