Azabu Ponsonby specialises in Nikkei cooking, the meeting point between Japanese technique and the ingredients and flavours of Peru. That combination gives the menu its distinctive brightness: careful knife work and clean seafood are lifted by chilli, citrus, corn and Peruvian peppers. The dining room at the quieter end of Ponsonby Road is lively and social, and the food is designed to travel around the table, making the restaurant particularly rewarding for a group willing to share several contrasting plates.
Raw seafood provides a clear route into the menu. Diners can begin with assorted sashimi and nigiri, then move to spicy salmon tartare on crisp rice, tuna tataki with rocoto ponzu or kingfish sharpened by jalapeño and pickled daikon. Sushi rolls add more texture through tempura prawn, avocado, tobiko and spicy mayonnaise. Each format keeps the fish recognisable while using dressings, heat and crunch to push beyond a strictly traditional Japanese presentation.
Tostadas make the Peruvian connection even more explicit, carrying tuna sashimi, seared beef or tomato on crisp bases with avocado, corn, jalapeño and lively sauces. Hot plates such as vegetable tempura and beef tataki broaden the meal, while grilled salmon, pork belly and yakiniku-style beef can anchor a larger order. The menu's size invites exploration, but set and omakase options give diners a guided alternative when choosing across so many sections feels less appealing.
The drinks list is built for the same crossover. A Pisco Sour supplies a classic Peruvian note, while New Zealand and international wines and craft beers offer pairings for both delicate sashimi and richer grilled dishes. Families have a dedicated children's menu, and group formats make it possible to experience the restaurant without every guest ordering identically. Azabu's appeal lies in that balance: technically precise seafood, bold South American accents and a room that encourages a good time.
Address: 26 Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland 1011, New Zealand
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Azabu. Ponsonby Menu
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Lunch – Bento Box
Bento Box
Your choice of: Free Range Chicken Karaage Beef Fillet w/ chimichurri Teriyaki Salmon Agedashi Tofu All come with: Miso Soup Beef Tataki Salad w/ sesame wafu dressing Market Fish Ceviche w/ jalapeño & ponzu Tuna Sashimi Tostada w/ corn, wasabi tartar, cucumber, chopped jalapeño & red onion Assorted Tempura Furikake Rice
Dinner – To Start
Edamame
w/ wasabi salt
Spicy Edamame
w/ chilli garlic & seasme
Miso Soup
w/ silken tofu, wakame seaweed & spring onion
Cucumber Pickle
w/ black vinegar, sesame & Szechuan chilli oil
Dinner – Sashimi & Nigiri
OMAKASE SASHIMI
Chef’s selection of today’s best market fish
SPICY SALMON TARTAR
crispy rice, wakame, spring onion
TUNA TATAKI
rocoto ponzu, blackened avocado, spring onion & coriander
KINGFISH
w/ pickled daikon, jalapeño & ponzu dressing
Dinner – Sushi Rolls
VOLCANO SUSHI ROLL (8PCS)
w/ tiger prawn tempura, pickled daikon & huancaina mayo
RAINBOW SUSHI ROLL (8PCS)
Chef’s selection of market fish w/ avocado, tobiko & spring onion
SALMON & TEMPURA PRAWN MAKI (5PCS)
w/ cucumber, spicy mayo & teriyaki sauce
VEGETARIAN-MISO TOFU (5PCS)
w/ pickled daikon, carrot, avocado & cucumber
Dinner – Tostada
TOMATO TOSTADA
w/ avocado, pickled red onion, jalapeño, coriander
SEARED BEEF TOSTADA
w/ truffle sesame dressing, shiitake mushroom & pickled daikon
TUNA SASHIMI TOSTADA
w/ wasabi tartar, corn, jalapeño & red onion
Dinner – Small Plates
POPCORN PRAWN TEMPURA
w/ chilli yuzu mayo, lemon, wasabi pea furikake
VEGETABLE TEMPURA
Seasonal vegetable tempura w/ Azabu hatcho miso dipping sauce
BEEF TATAKI
w/ garlic, ginger & chilli ponzu, brased shiitake, radish
CHICKEN & PRAWN DUMPLINGS (6PCS)
w/ chilli vinegar soy, spring onion
BEEF & SHIITAKE MUSHROOM GYOZA (6PCS)
w/ Szechuan soy, pickled cucumber
SPICY PORK GYOZA (6PCS)
w/ aji amarillo & ponzu
FREE RANGE CHICKEN KARAAGE
w/ pickled daikon, kale crisp & aji amarillo mayo
AGEDASHI TOFU
w/ chilli kombu dashi, Szechuan pepper, spring onion, crispy shallots
Dinner – Larger Plates
CRISPY PORK BELLY
w/ ginger apple puree, soy caramel & red cabbage salad w/ lime soy
AKAROA SALMON MISO YAKI
Grilled salmon w/ saikyo miso, pickled red onion
YAKINIKU
200g beef fillet w/ Japanese chimichurri & wasabi salt
LAMB YAKI
Marinated lamb rump, pickled daikon, chilli miso
JAPANESE CROSS BREED WAGYU (180g)
w/ truffled sesame ponzu & yuzu kosho soy
Dinner – Sides
Eggplant Dengaku
w/ saikyo miso & spring onion
Japanese Coleslaw
Red & green cabbage, carrot, spring onion w/ ginger, soy, mayo dressing & crispy shallots
Nikkei Potatoes
Baby potatoes w/ garlic aji amarillo dressing, red pepper & spring onion
Hakkusai
Wongbok cabbage w/ mustard & sesame dressing, spring onion & yuzu
Green Beans
Pan fried green beans w/ crushed sesame dressing
Japanese Short Grain Rice
Desserts
Banana Cake
w/ brulee banana, miso butterscotch sauce, salted caramel ice cream & toasted almonds
Honey Coconut Custard
w/ vanilla coconut tapioca, passionfruit, lychee & mango sorbet
Basque Cheesecake
w/ strawberry sorbet, compote
Ice Cream & Sorbet Selection
Please ask your waiter for today’s flavours
$95pp Set Menu
$95 Omakase Set Menu
This set menu is designed as a shared tapas style banquet, served in different courses to sample some of the best & most popular dishes from our a la carte menu For groups of 10 or more 95pp TO START Edamame w/ wasabi salt Rainbow Sushi Roll w/ aji amarillo, chia seeds & tobiko Beef Tataki w/ garlic, ginger, chilli ponzu, brased shiitake, radish IN BETWEEN Popcorn Prawn Tempura w/ chilli yuzu mayo, lemon, wasabi pea furikake Chicken & Prawn Dumplings w/ chilli vinegar soy, spring onion MAINS Yakiniku Beef Fillet w/ Japanese chimichurri & wasabi salt Akaroa Salmon Miso Yaki w/ saikyo miso, pickled red onion Japanese Coleslaw w/ red & green cabbage, carrot, spring onion w/ ginger, soy, mayo dressing & crispy shallots Japanese Steamed Rice To Finish Ice Cream w/ sweet azuki bean, kinako
$120pp Omakase Set Menu
$120 Omakase Set Menu
For groups of 10 or more 120pp TO START Edamame w/ wasabi salt Azabu Platter – Omakase sushi roll, nigiri, assorted sashimi, tuna tataki, rocoto ponzu, blackended avocado, spring onion, coriander IN BETWEEN Free Range Chicken Karaage w/ pickled daikon, kale crisps & aji mayo Beef and Ginger Gyoza w/ Szechuan soy, pickled cucumber Popcorn Prawn Tempura w/ chilli yuzu mayo, lemon, wasabi pea MAINS Crispy Pork Belly w/ ginger apple puree, soy caramel, red cabbage, cucumber, coriander, lime soy Yakiniku – Beef fillet w/ Japanese chimichurri & wasabi salt Akaroa Salmon Miso Yaki – Grilled salmon w/ saikyo miso, pickled red onion Japanese Coleslaw w/ red & green cabbage, carrot, spring onion w/ ginger, soy, mayo dressing & crispy shallots Japanese Steamed Rice TO FINISH Ice Cream w/ sweet azuki bean, kinako
Kids – Sushi
Sushi (6pcs)
Kids – Bento Box
Kids Bento Box
Choice of main Comes with: Salmon avocado sushi Prawn dumpling Fried rice Edamame
Kids – Hot Plates
All items served with 1 scoop of complimentary vanilla ice cream w/ chocolate sauce
Chicken Karaage
w/ chips & Japanese mayo
Fried Rice
w/ egg
Fish Tempura
w/ chips
Roji Bar Cocktails – Azabu Original
Spicy Pineapple Margarita
Jalapeño Tequila, Pineapple, Orange & Yuzu
Nippon Negroni
Gin, Lillet Blanc, Umeshu
Havana Upper Class
Aged Rum, Sweet Vermouth, Amaro Montenegro, Creme de Cacao & Bitters
Wasabi Mule
Gin, Fresh Wasabi, Lime, Ginger & Ginger Beer
Rozu
Vodka, Lychee Puree, Rose Liqueur, Lime & Vanilla
Hana Gimlet
Gin, Floral Liqueur, Yuzu Cordiale
High West Sour
High West Bourbon, Amaretto, Yuzu, Simple Syrup, Foam
Tokyo Hugo Spritz
Ki No Bi Gin Yusutu, Prosecco
Padan Sake Tini
Pandan sake, Dry Gin, Umeshu
East Meets West
Vodka, Kaboshu & pandan
Roji Bar Cocktails – Azabu Traditional
Pisco Sour
Pisco, Lime, Sugar & Foam Bitters
Fuego Sour
Pisco, Fresh Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Foam & Chilli Bitters
Japanese Highball
Suntory Toki Whiskey, Fresh Lemon & Soda
Highball Crips Toki
Suntory Toki, Green apple, Lime and Yuzu soda
Roji Bar Cocktails – Azabu To Share
Azabu Flask 375ml (serves 2-3)
Shiso Sangria Flask (low abv)
Shiso Umeshu, Campari, Orange, Yuzu & Orgeat Syrup
San Sora Flask (low abv)
Yuzu Sake, Gin, Apple, Yuzu, Elderflower & Matcha
Non Alcoholic Cocktails
Barnes Margarita
Barnes & Brown Miss Agave & Lady Marmalade, Lime Juice, Agave Syrup
Lemonade No-Jito (no alcohol)
Senorita Bianco, Seasonal Fruit, Mint, Lime, Lemonade
Yuzu Fizz
Yuzu Juice, Vanilla & Elderflower Cordial & Soda
Rozu Chan
Lychee Puree, Lime Juice, Rose & Vanilla Syrup
Sake Flight
Sake Flight
Amabuki Kimoto Junkmail Daiginjo 40%, ABV 16% Choryo taruzaki Yamahai 68%, ABV 15% Sanuki Cloudy Nigorizake 70%, ABV 30%
Sake – Daiginjō Served Cold
For the special occasion, or when you want to indulge in a sake that has been made with the utmost care & precision. Generally more elegant & fragrant than any other grade of sake, with a minimum of 50% of the outer rice milled away, resulting in a stunningly refined sake (sml/lg/btl)
Kozaemon Junmai Daiginjō
Gifu Prefecture. 40% ABV 16%
Shōchikubai Shirakabegura “Muroka Genshu” Daiginjō
Hyōgo Prefecture. 50% ABV 17.5% (640ml)
Amabuki Kimoto Junmai Daiginō
Saga Prefecture. 40% ABV 16%
Ippin Junmai Daiginjō
Fukui Prefecture. 50% ABV 16%
Sake – Ginjō Served Cold
The crowd pleaser, with expressive aromas of fruit & floral notes, as well as a soft finish. Generally smooth, easy drinking, yet balanced & complex. A minimum of 40% of the outer rice is required to be milled away to be classified as a Ginjõ. (sml/lg/flask)
Masumi Junmai Ginjō
Nagano Prefecture. 55% ABV15%
Sanshimai Junmai Ginjō
Gifu Prefecture. 55% ABV15-16%
Amabuki “Ichigo” Junmai Ginjō
Saga Prefecture. 55% ABV16%
Sake – Junmai / Honjōzō / Nigori Served Cold
Complex & diverse. Junmai & Hõnjozõ generally have subdued aromas & a richer body, highlighting the flavours of the rice & koji used in the brewing process. With nigori generally subtly sweet & having a more velvety texture from the coarse filtered process, resulting in a mild sake that compliments spicy food like none other.
sml/lrg
Hakkaisan Honjōzō
Niigata Prefecture. 55% ABV15.5%
Kubota Hyakuju Honjōzō
Niigata Prefecture. 60% ABV15%
Zenkuro “Sleeping Giant” Junmai
Queenstown. 60% ABV16%
Sake – Sparkling
Mio 300ml
Sake – Sake Served Hot
Zenkuro “Sleeping Giant” Junmai
Queenstown. 60% ABV16%
Sanshimai Junmai Ginjō
Gifu Prefecture. 55% ABV15-16%
Kubota Hyakuju Honjōzō
Niigata Prefecture. 60% ABV15%
Umeshu
All Glass 60ml
Classic Umeshu
great balance of sweetness & tartness
Kokuto Umeshu
rich, sweet & slightly smoky
Shiso Umeshu
elegant candy notes with sourness of shiso
Other Sweets
All Glass 60ml
Yuzushu
refreshing yuzu aroma & flavours with richness from the Junmai sake
Kabosushu
fruity & sweet, yet refreshingly tart
Shochu
All Glass 60ml
Iichiko
Barley
Kurokirishima
Sweet Potato
Tantakatan
Shiso Perilla
Champagne & Sparkling Wine
Dandelione Prosecco, Veneto, Italy
NV Cloudy Bay Pelorus Brut, Marlborough
NV Cloudy Bay Pelorus Rosé, Marlborough
NV Marquis De Conflans, Reims, France
NV Moët & Chandon, Epernay
NV Veuve Clicquot Brut, Reims, France
NV Veuve Clicquot Brut Rosé, Reims, France
NV Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage, Epernay
Dom Pérignon Brut, Épernay, France 2015
Rosé
Terra Sancta, Central Otago 2025
Church Road 'Gwen' Hawke's Bay 2023
Chateau D'Escalans Whispering Angel, Provence, 2024
Minuty, Prestige, France 2024
Sauvignon Blanc
Idle Hands, Marlborough, 2024
Drylands, Marlborough 2025
Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2024
Craggy Range 'Te Muna' Road, Martinborough 2025
Dog Point, Marlborough 2025
Cloudy Bay, Marlborough 2024
Chardonnay
Idle Hands, Marlborough 2023
Kim Crawford Small Parcels, Hawke's Bay 2024
Kokako "Rangiwai" Hawkes Bay 2024
Kumeu River Estate Kumeu, Auckland 2024
Empirical, Hawke's Bay 2024
Robert Mondavi, Napa Valley 2021
The Prisoner, Napa Valley 2021
Cloudy Bay, Marlborough 2023
Chablis
Domaine de la Meulière Petit Chablis, Burgundy France 2023
Jean Baptiste Ponsot Rully, Burgundy France 2023
Château de Camirey, Mercurey Blanc, Burgundy France 2023
Billaud Simon 'Vaillon' Chablis 1er Cru, Burgundy France 2023
Pinot Gris
Idle Hands, Marlborough, 2024
Terra Sancta 'Lola's Block', Central Otago 2025
Wet Jacket, Central Otago 2025
Kumeu River Estate, Kumeu, Auckland 2024
Prophets Rock, Central Otago, 2024
Domaine Schlumberger, Grand Cru, Pinot Gris, Alsace France 2016
Other Whites
Kloof Street Chenin Blanc, South Africa 2022
Amisfield Dry Riesling, Central Otago 2024
Alpha Domus 'Wing Walker' Viognier, Hawke's Bay 2024
Peregrine, Central Otago, 2024
Elena Walch, Gewürztraminer, Alto Adige 2022
Milton Te Arai Chenin Blanc, Gisborne 2025
Old Vines Skerpioen, Chenin Blanc/Palomino, Swartland South Africa 2017
Pinot Noir
Idle Hands, Marlborough, 2023
Mills Reef, Malborough 2023
Mt Beautiful, North Canterbury 2020
Wet Jacket, Central Otago 2024
Empirical Pinot Noir, Central Otago, 2023
Cloudy Bay, Marlborough 2023
Terra Sancta 'Slapjack', Central Otago 2021
Other Reds
Los Padrillos, Malbec Mendoza, Argentina 2023
The Landing Boathouse "Vino Rosso", Sangiovese/Montepulciano/Cab Franc/Merlot, Bay of Islands 2024
Domaine LaFond, Côtes-du-Rhône, France 2024
Alpha Domus 'The Navigator' Merlot/Cabernet/Malbec/Petit Verdot, Hawke's Bay 2020
Kokako Ohiti Gravels Syrah, Hawke's Bay 2024
Craggy Range Syrah, Gimblett Gravel 2024
The Prisoner 'Saldo', Zinfandel Napa Valley, USA 2022
Ruffino Modus Sangiovese Blend, Toscana 2021
Ruffino, Chianti Classico, Riserva Ducale 'Oro' Chianti Italy 2021
Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2021
Robert Mondavi Estate Cabernet Saugivnon, Napa Valley 2021
Dessert Wine
All Glass 60ml
Château Villefranche Sauternes, SB/Semillion, Bordeaux, France (375ml) 2022
Beer – Tap
Asahi Super Dry, Lager, 400ml, Japan
Beer – Bottle
Asahi Zero, Alcohol Free, Lager, Japan
Sawmill Hazy IPA, Matakana, NZ 5.9%
Sawmill Nimble Pale Ale, Matakana, NZ 2.5%
Sommersby Apple Cider, 4.5%
Soft Drinks
Coke, Diet Coke, Lemonade, Soda, Tonic, Ginger Ale, Ginger Beer
Orange, Pineapple, Cranberry, Apple, Tomato
Ramune
San Pellegrino Flavour – Aranciata Rossa (Blood Orange), Pompelmo (Grapefruit)
Acqua Panna 1L
San Pellegrino 1L
Tea & Coffee
Sencha, Genmai
Peppermint, Chamomile, Jasmine, Lemon & Ginger Sencha
English Breakfast, Earl Grey
Espresso, Short Macchiato
Long Macchiato, Long Black, Flat White, Cappuccino
Latte, Mochaccino, Hot Chocolate
Liquid Dessert
Espresso Martini
Haku Vodka, Mr Black, Espresso, Vanilla Syrup
Chateau Villefranche Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Classic Umeshu
Yuzushu
Bumbu Cream
Tea – Japanese Sencha, Chamomile, Peppermint, Lemon & Ginger Sencha
Kids Drinks
Fizzy
Ramune
Juice
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Against typical prices in Auckland
- Flat white Typical in Auckland: $5.90 $7.00
- Short black Typical in Auckland: $5.00 $6.00
- Latte Typical in Auckland: $6.15 $8.00
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