New Zealand Herald

Reviews for Hana Mizu Ki Japanese Restaurant

by Andrea
18th January 2013

We frequent this restaurant as often as we can (kid free and the $ to do so) and love it, especially the sixty nine dollar banquet.
Never had a bad time at all. Well worth the price, but still will cost you a bit, but then what doesn’t!

by Danielle C.
17th January 2013

Tasty food, but if you want an authentic experience, head over to Yatai. The service is good, and the atmosphere is very relaxing. However, it is quite pricey, and there are not many vegetarian options.

by Audrey W.
28th September 2012

After a disastrous “meal” here we headed over to Yatai which I’ve just awarded 5 stars. My impression from the menu is that the food here, other than tempura and sushi, is very different from authentic Japanese. I heard afterwards that the owners are Chinese. Certainly the attitude of the chef towards my gluten-free-ness was not what I’ve found in other Japanese restaurants. After 30 minutes of sending the poor waitress back and forth to the kitchen to see what was gluten-free, I ordered a meal suggested by the chef. It was served with miso soup. I asked the waitress twice to confirm with the chef that the soup was gluten free (I’ve never seen a miso soup which wasn’t, but it pays to be careful). After I ate some I found out their miso soup has tempura batter added (weird!). I decided to leave without eating my meal as I was angry and soon to be ill, but they still wanted the person I was with to pay for his entree. He did. Worst eating experience I’ve had in Palmerston North, possibly worst of my life. I felt sorry for the waitresses who were trying to accomodate me, they did their best. I got the feeling that the chef made their work difficult.

After writing this review I got this response from the owner:
Patrick H. sent you a message on MenuMania:

Subject: From your Best Japanese Restaurant HANA MIZU KI

“I would of like to say few thing about your behaviour but to be diplomatic about it , We did offer to make you a meal off the menu ( gluten-free ) remember, that will take my time off other things I am doing and give you some thing special OFF THE MENU and gluten free , you chosen to have a salmon sushi and that do come with a miso and we did told you that do have soya sauce in it and is not gluten free , for your record is KARA-AGE ,CHICKEN KATSU, PORK KATSU , TAKOYAKI , SASHIMI ,AGE-TOFU ,TATAKI,UDON , SALMON TERIYAKI, TEMPURA MORI, SUKIYAKI, UNAGI , Japanese Curry,are those not JAPANESE enough for you ?
We have won the 1st runner up award for the best ethnic restaurant of the year and 1st runner up for the best ethnic Chef of the year .
You must be a races women who do not like Chinese and for the record I am From MAURITIUS and i do like Chinese not like you , by the way you need to growup I do not go out of my way to say some thing bad about you .”

This was my response:
Interesting how we have such a different impression. By your response it should be clear to everyone that customer service is not your strong point. It is upsetting to me that you have not recognized your part in any of this incident. No one told me the miso soup had soy sauce (the chinese type that has wheat in it) or tempura batter in it. If they had, I wouldn’t have eaten it! Plus, you recommended the dish I ordered, which is why I ordered it. Certainly authentic sushi and miso soup never has gluten in it, but I did ask to twice just to make sure. You mention that you offered to make me something, this was a steak with wine and mushroom sauce, but I didn’t want a Kiwi meal. I didn’t say there was anything wrong with being Chinese! Just that the food is meant to be Japanese, and perhaps the owners ethnicity might explain why things were not authentic. Yes the names of the dishes on your menu are Japanese, but the way they were made are often not.

by TLee W.
9th July 2012

One of my favourite restaurants in Palmerston North. My partner and I frequently visit. The food is consistently great. Service and price great also.

Love the sizzling prawns!

by Lilwonder
24th February 2012

We frequent this restaurant regularly and absolutely adore it, especially the sixty nine dollar banquet. Extremely good value for the money and a great chance to sample a variety of their food. Wait staff a very friendly and efficient. Owner Patrick is always friendly and always very welcoming. Keep up the good work would advise anybody who likes Japanese food to give it a try.

by Siobhan F.
5th September 2011

The food is very tasty but a little overpriced. We were seated at the table near the kitchen and the toilet which was disappointing

by Bob H.
28th May 2011

Hana Mizu Ki Is a fantastic restaurant always strives for constant food I have returned there allot and Its always a favourite for celebrations

4/5 stunning!

by L
22nd October 2010

Great place, friendly staff, and tasty food. Prawns were divine.

by Steve
28th September 2010

An excellent place to eat. The food is always of a consistently high standard. We have been dining there regularly for four years now and never had a dish that we could say was substandard. the staff are always friendly and attentive,and the atmosphere is great. We recommend it to anyone who asks as to a good restaurant to dine at.For a place to try that has delicious wholesome food, this is the one.

by M
16th September 2010

Average food. Pleasant service.

by Halie C.
4th September 2010

I had dinner there on Wednesday. We had an 8.30 reservation, so it was quite late, and when we got there, the waiter informed us the food may arrive a bit slower than usual due to the lateness. I didn’t mind that. We ordered and we waited, but it wasn’t crazy long. The food was lovely and the waiter very pleasant. My family then went there the next night (without me) and had some problems with pricing (different pricing on the menu and at the bar) and then the restaurant tried to charge them 15% GST a month early, which is illegal. My father sorted them out, but this makes me wonder if they charged me 15% as well. This makes me cringe a little – its all about principle.

I think this restaurant is up and down all the time in its standards, as I’ve eaten here many times, sometimes its been great, and other times its just really bad. I guess its up to you if you want to take the risk.

Also, the owner gets upset over like $1 or $2 disputes, even when he’s in the wrong. Not good business!

by Linda
25th June 2010

Beautiful food, love the prawns, look forward to going whenever we go to Palmerston North, which isn’t often enough!!!!

by Amy
26th May 2010

This is a fabulous place to go and eat!!!! The food is amazing, the wait staff super friendly and the restaurant atmosphere relaxed and welcoming.
We are booking soon for our 3rd meal there.
Highly recommended!!!

by McIvor
8th May 2010

The food was pretty good but what spoiled the evening for us was the amount of time it took for the food to get to us. I understand it being a Saturday night but, a good restaurant would have been prepared for the crowd.
Ordered entree/sushi at 7 p.m. Asked the waitress if we should order our mains at the same time. She suggested later. The entree /sushi came at 7.50 p.m. By then, we kinda realized why she suggested we should order the mains later – the kitchen couldn’t cope. Ordered mains at about 8 p.m, it came 50 minutes later. We had our dinner at almost 9 p.m. What helped eased the unpleasant evening was the nice hard-working waiter who served us. He was very apologetic tho’ it wasn’t his fault. Verdict: Will never patronise this restaurant again.

by C Shearman-York
19th June 2009

Hana Mizu Ki is a fantastic Japanese Restaurant. My favourite is vegetable tempura and tempura udon! Delicious!

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