Heizo Teppanyaki Restaurant

Newmarket hides one of Auckland's most genuine teppanyaki rooms behind an unassuming shopfront, where a hot iron griddle and a chef trained in some of the city's best Japanese kitchens do the talking. Expect proper theatre, not gimmicks: fillet steak, prawns and fresh fish sizzle to order, vegetables and rice layer through the courses, and a closely guarded yum yum prawn sauce keeps regulars coming back on its own merit. Flames flare, knives move fast, and the finish, warm sake beside a cooked ice-cream, seals the deal. Intimate counter seating keeps things personal and full of chatter.