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Nami Japanese Restaurant  I recently dined at Nami with my two children. The staff were friendly but when I explained that we are vegetarian this seemed to confuse the waitress. We had some avocado sushi ($12, a good number of slices), 3 vegetable only tempura ($13 EACH!!! same price as with prawns and scallops, which put the cost of each piece of tempura vegetable at about $2!) a green salad ($12, nice flavours! OK value??), edamame beans ($4), miso ($3), 4 VERY SMALL bowels of rice ($3 each!!!), a small sake ($8), an orange juice ($5) and one bottle of Schwepps lemon, lime and bitters for a WHOPPING $6 (has to be way more expensive than any other restaurant in town). Our dinner, while nicely prepared was $101 - NOT GOOD VALUE AT ALL. We had to ask repeatedly for a couple things (forks for the kids, more rice) and the restaurant was NOT busy at all (3 tables?). When I complained at the price of the Schwepps and the tempura (let alone $3 for a VERY SMALL serving of rice), the gentleman handled it in a friendly manner, but explained that we could have had a coke instead at $3.50, that they offer kids menus (but we were not offered), that the tempura oil is expensive and that is why 6-7 pieces of tempura cost $13 (but note that you get a similar size serving at Cullen's for about $7). So while the food was nice, the service (including lack of advice and knowledge) and the cost put a real damper on this meal. Can't say I will go back - simply not good value compared to other dinners that my children and I have had around town recently. 
Review by Anon, 23 June 2010.
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Other Reviews for Nami Japanese Restaurant
| Grace, 27 June 2010 (5 stars). On Jun 24, I saw four All Blacks in Nami. It was awesome. Lovely..Dan Carter & Richie McCaw.....it was very excellent. When I had a dinner, the restaurant was very busy. Even with that, the service and food were fantastic. Of course all staff were very kind, friendly and considerate. This is a lovely place to spend some time and have some wonderful food and wine. Thank you to all Nami staff. | | Yuki, 3 March 2010 (5 stars). I like this Japanese restaurant. I ate dinner with my kiwi friend to introduce Japanese food last month. Especially you must try to order set course. There are many different foods and can enjoy dinning easily. Anyway thanks for staff and see you again. | | Tina, 7 February 2010 (4.5 stars). We have enjoyed lunch and dinner at Nami for 11 years. Nice food and service. | | Jo, 12 October 2009 (1 stars). My partner and I went to Nami Japanese Restaurant on Saturday 10/10/09 and I have to say it was the worst Japanese food I have ever tasted. We ordered a main meal each which was over $30 and was the size of an entree, no water offered or finger bowls to fish out the prawns with shells on amongst the sauce which could have been peeled in a dish like that. Knowing there are 3 Japanese Restaurants in Hamilton and trying the others would not ever go back to this one. | | Nee, 4 July 2009 (5 stars). I love dining at Nami. It's my favourite restaurant and the chef is very kind. The waiting staff are very attentive. I get a huge sashimi every time I go there. I would recommend Nami Japanese Restaurant to everybody. You can drink sake there and then go straight to the pub just crossing the road. Thank you so much Nami. Domo Arigatou Gozaimatsu. | Anonymous, 3 July 2009 (1 stars). My partner and I ate at Nami in early July 2009, the oyster entree was good, my Teppanyaki Eye Fillet main was not eye fillet, it was thick grained sirloin-like steak. During our dinner the waitress cleaned adjoining tables spraying us with orange cleaner fumes!!, after our mains we waited 25 minutes to have our table cleared, and for the dessert menu which did not arrive! The street sign says Sake Bar, they have only hot or cold sake on menu, I asked the waitress what brands do they have? she replied 'Japanese Brand'? Also charged $7 corkage, which is not mentioned on menu, or on any signs.
Over all Nami is very disappointing.
| | Anonymous, 11 May 2009 (2.5 stars). We were disappointed in Nami Restaurant. We booked a table at the Teppanyaki Grill. At other Japanese restaurants we have been to that have Teppanyaki Grill we were "entertained" by the Teppanyaki chef's skills - at Nami the chef didn't interact with us nor did he add any excitement to our Teppanyaki experience. My husband's comment was " I could've done the same thing on the BBQ at home". The food was OK, but we went home still hungry and the service could've been better. We asked for water at the start which did not arrive at the table until we were well through our meal. Our plates were not cleared AT ALL (they were still sitting there when we left) and although we waited 15 minutes after our main meal for staff to offer us dessert, this never happened so we decided to have our dessert elsewhere. We will not be returning. | | cafe-surfer, 12 October 2004 (2 stars). The food at this restaurant was OK but compared to other Japanese restaurants in Hamilton was so-so. I agree with the main reviewer in that the service was not consistent. Also price wise you dont get the same value for money as you do with the other Japanese restaurants. | | Carrie, 11 November 2003 (5 stars). We have been regulars at Nami for the past few years and can say that we have never been disappointed with the service we have received from them. The food and service are both fabulous and we never hesitate to take family and friends there for dinner. | Bridget, 23 August 2002 (3 stars). Surfing the Nami
We went to Nami Japanese restaurant for dinner on a Saturday night. Recognisable instantly on Hood St as the place “with the fake food in the window”, it also used to be revered (and actively sought out) by our cheap student mates for its no-corkage philosophy. This still hasn’t changed, much to our delight, but we did go to Hamilton Wine Company instead of the supermarket. We’ve come so far…
Clutching our well recommended Eskdale Riesling we crossed the road again to take up a seat in the window. The menu is a mixture of Japanese main dishes as well as a sushi menu. There are a number of things cooked at the table on hot plates; teppanyaki, sukiyaki, yikiniku, as well as seafood, chicken and pork curries, shabu shabu (cooked at the table in stock), teriyaki and tempura, sushi, sashimi and miso options and mixtures. Prices of main dishes range from $12 to $20.
We started with gyoza (mixed paste of pork and vegetables grilled in dough -$7) and sashimi ($12). The gyoza were delicious parcels served with chili sauce. Very good value. The sashimi was salmon only, and although tasty with wasabi, ginger and soy sauce, rather stingy for its price. The mains arrived rather precipitously. Maverick’s sizzling beef and chicken teppanyaki ($20) sent tantalizing aromas across the table, while I suspect my chicken curry ($15) had been reheated in its bowl. We pushed the entrée plates aside and started mixing our mains with the rice. I had chosen the curry in order to try something different, but ended up wishing I’d gone for my favourite teriyaki chicken instead. The curry was a thick, sweet, simple gravy with veges and chicken. Rather uninspiring. Maverick’s dish on the other hand was excellent. With tender marinated spicy chicken and beef it was a lovely meal, served with a piquante soy-based sauce.
The service on the whole, while friendly, was a bit flaky. Water we asked for at the beginning was delivered after we got our mains. The mains were served before the entrees were finished and the plates for both were not cleared until we were leaving. We were never asked about dessert or tea, but this was no problem as we were happy to enjoy the final mouthfuls of our Riesling.
So, although our meal choices on the whole were promptly served, well presented and tasty, I was disappointed in my main, which was subtle in flavour and bland in appearance. Almost certainly my fault for ordering curry in a Japanese restaurant. The service was having a bit of an off night as well. Nami though, is well situated in the hub of Hood St for those looking for non-European options, and with free corkage BYO and Hamilton Wine Company across the road, it makes a good dinner choice.
Overall: A nice place for a quiet, relatively inexpensive Japanese meal. Stick to the traditional dishes.
| | Anonymous, 8 November 2001 (3.5 stars). Nice food, great prices. Lunchtime deals. Nice Miso soup. |
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Nami Japanese Restaurant
20 Hood St, Hamilton Fully licensed
Cuisine Type: Japanese
Lunch, Dinner
Tel: 07 838-9397
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