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Japanese Premium Sushi Buffet in Auckland – EBISU OKI NO SUSHI SATURDAY Review

  • Writer: Aya
    Aya
  • Apr 13
  • 3 min read

Recently, “EBISU” has been gaining popularity among Japanese food lovers in New Zealand, and I finally got the chance to check out their OKI NO SATURDAY buffet!


Believe it or not, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat Japanese food including sashimi right here in Auckland!

A red brick sidewalk along Quay Street in Auckland. The image captures a sunny day with a clear blue sky. On the right is the classic yellow-brick building of the Northern Steamship Co.

Launched in February 2025, OKI NO SATURDAY at EBISU is a Japanese buffet that made waves when people found out it includes unlimited sashimi — so of course, I rushed to Auckland for the weekend to try it myself! 😆



Sushi Buffet in Auckland - OKI NO SUSHI SATURDAY, EBISU


EBISU is a modern Japanese restaurant located on Quay Street in Auckland.


It was my first time visiting this area, but it’s easy to find — just walk straight along the waterfront from Britomart Station, and you'll get there.


And funnily enough, the entrance to EBISU is right across from the Britomart Saturday Market — the perfect weekend food adventure combo!

A black, backlit EBISU logo sign mounted on a dark wooden wall.

The Japanese buffet is available every Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM, and it seems to have been relaunched in February 2025.


Reservations are essential, so be sure to book online in advance!


EBISU OKI NO SUSHI SATURDAY


The restaurant has a slightly dim, chic atmosphere — perfect for a relaxed dining experience.


By the windows, there are beautiful sunlit tables overlooking Auckland’s harbor and the sea, offering a stunning view while you dine.

The dining interior of EBISU. Natural light fills the room through arched windows. Cherry blossom decorations are placed between booths and tables.

There was even a gorgeous cherry blossom tree in the center of the restaurant (at least it looked like sakura), which added to the elegant and uplifting vibe.


In the middle of the space, there’s a bar counter, where the buffet is set up — with fresh sashimi, hot dishes, and more.

The bar and seating area inside EBISU. A well-stocked bar lines the left wall. The restaurant features dark wooden beams, leather booths, and a calm, elegant ambiance.

As of April 2025, here’s a glimpse of what’s on the buffet menu for OKI NO SATURDAY at EBISU:

A close-up of the full Oki No Saturdays menu at EBISU placed on a wooden table, with a champagne promotion card beside it.

They even had something called the “Golden Hour”, which I saw on their online menu beforehand.


They even had something called the “Golden Hour”, which I saw on their online menu beforehand.


from the generous sashimi selection, there were mouthwatering items like sukiyaki brisket, hot salmon, and even desserts like monaka and matcha warabi mochi — I was honestly amazed!


At $85 per person, it’s not exactly cheap, but it’s incredibly rare to find a Japanese buffet in New Zealand that includes such a wide variety of authentic dishes — especially unlimited sashimi.


Let’s take a look at the buffet lineup!


Inside the Buffet at EBISU OKI NO SUSHI SATURDAY – What’s on the Menu?


The first things that caught my eye were the Edomae-style chirashi sushi and shrimp cocktail — the chirashi looked almost too good to be true!


A cold dish section featuring a colorful bowl of Edomae-style chirashi sushi with cubed raw fish and vegetables. Beside it, a basket of boiled prawns on crushed ice and a bowl of creamy dipping sauce.

But what I really want to highlight is the shrimp cocktail. The shrimp were boiled in a light dashi broth, then served with lemon and cocktail sauce — and it was unbelievably delicious.


In the sushi section, there were familiar favorites like salmon avocado rolls (a NZ staple), and small side dishes like spinach ohitashi and Japanese pickles.


A sushi buffet lineup showing various sushi rolls. Labels include salmon avocado roll, California roll, and vegetable rolls. Behind them are bowls of Japanese pickles.

There were also tuna rolls, shrimp nigiri, and tempura prawn rolls — so many options!


More sushi rolls on display including tuna rolls and prawn tempura rolls. Each roll is carefully arranged on black trays with gold tongs.

Then came the highlight of the buffet: a platter of sashimi!Salmon, tuna, and even white fish like kingfish were beautifully arranged — and yes, it’s all-you-can-eat. Incredible.

A sashimi platter on crushed ice featuring beautifully arranged slices of tuna, salmon, and white fish, garnished with shredded daikon, shiso leaves, and bamboo trays.

On the opposite side was a salad section with about three types of salads.


The Japanese-style dressing was especially good — it tasted like a soy-onion blend.

A salad buffet table with bowls of tomato salad, red cabbage, and mixed greens. A small sign identifies the Japanese-style wafu dressing on the side.

Next to that, there was warm udon and miso soup, complete with agedama (crispy tempura bits) and green onions for toppings.

A section with sanuki udon noodles, sesame dressing, tempura crumbs, and spices ready for self-service. A large soup warmer and bowls are nearby.

 

The miso soup had a deep, umami-packed dashi flavor — so comforting.


A self-serve miso soup station with a rice cooker and soup warmer. Small bowls of toppings include tofu cubes, seaweed, and chopped green onions.

Don’t miss the hot food section, either!


There were huge pieces of chicken katsu, okonomiyaki, and grilled hot salmon.


A large wooden board displaying grilled salmon fillet at the hot food station. Surrounding dishes include braised pork belly, beef tataki, and chicken. A menu card labeled “From the Farm” lists hot dish names.

The salmon, when paired with the cocktail sauce from the shrimp dish, was an absolute winner.


The sukiyaki-style beef brisket was melt-in-your-mouth tender — it could easily be pulled apart with chopsticks.

A hot food buffet display at EBISU showcasing grilled salmon, beef tataki, braised pork belly, tofu with vegetables, and stir-fried dishes. All plates are arranged on wooden trays under warm lighting.

All of this, unlimited. I was honestly close to tears. The joy of filling your plate with whatever you want, as much as you want — buffets are the best.



After devouring sashimi, hot dishes, and udon, it was time for dessert 🍰


I loved the panna cotta-style dessert with honey coconut custard, and there were also matcha warabi mochi and sakura mochi!

A dessert buffet display at EBISU in Auckland. Glass jars of honey coconut custard are lined up in front, with matcha green tea squares and pink sakura mochi behind. A printed menu on the right lists dessert options.

They even had roll cakes, mini taiyaki, and behind them, a rich chocolate terrine that ended up being one of my favorites.

An assortment of desserts at EBISU. From left to right: chocolate brownies, taiyaki pastries shaped like fish, and yellow Japanese roll cakes. Bowls of custard with chocolate topping are arranged in the back.

And let’s not forget the monaka!

I topped mine with fruit — it was such a treat. I never imagined I’d be eating monaka in New Zealand…


（Monaka…a traditional Japanese sweet made of two crisp, wafer-like shells）

A Japanese-style dessert station with monaka wafer shells, sweet red bean paste, and a bowl of cut fruit. Guests can assemble their own desserts to their liking.

Even after all that sashimi, I somehow had room for dessert — because dessert goes in a different stomach, right? 😄


A traditional Japanese dessert setup with monaka wafers stacked in a bowl, a large bowl of sweet red bean paste, and fruit salad served on a blue patterned plate. Plates and bowls are neatly arranged for self-service.

If you’re dreaming of a sushi buffet in Auckland with authentic Japanese dishes and unlimited sashimi, EBISU OKI NO SUSHI SATURDAY is a must-visit! 🍣


OKI NO SUSHI / EBISU in Auckland

Every Saturday 11AM～4PM Adult $85/PP　Half price for Kids


EBISU OKI NO SUSHI SATURDAY

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