Love love love this place! Have been eating there for YEARS! And they never fail! Service is amazing. Cute little quaint place to sit and enjoy food with your loved ones. Definitely recommend trying this place.

I am a sushi girly a this is definitely a great spot i will have on rotation! The sushi was perfect ! Very flavor full of crispyness i just loved it. The bento box was chicken and shrimp it was good as-well but i did not enjoy the chicken in the bento box it felt like it was a Tyson frozen chicken and they just added sauces to it so i would recommend. Although i will be back to try some more rolls

After being gone for five years, I got to visit New Zealand Cafe for my birthday. As always, they did not disappoint. I love how small and personal the restaurant is. It's not loud at all and it always seems like a great place to relax and have amazing choices of sushi. I got my order to go but the wait staff was still pretty friendly. You can always expect to see a smile on their faces. Let me just say that the Crispy Begal Roll is ALWAYS my first go-to choice. There is just something about the crispy outer crust and the creme cheese that excites my taste buds. And I know that the ginger is supposed to be there to clear the mouth pallet, but it goes so well on the sushi as you dip it in the sauces. I also got the Crispy California Roll. Of course the California Roll is good in its regular form, but when it's fried it reaches a whole new level. My taste buds and my stomach were very satisfied. I definitely will be returning on my next trip.

Hidden gem. New Zealand is a small quaint restaurant with delicious sushi. It's a bit tight in the restaurant with limited seating, so get there early. I got a variety of rolls with each of them bringing a splash of flavor. The service was top notch and were easily accessible due to the size of the restaurant. I'll be flying out to New Zealand in the near future for these out of this world rolls!

This was the first time that I've had the chance to try the New Zealand Cafe and I was so excited after reading the reviews. My sister and I stopped by for dinner on a Friday night and only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table which was fantastic. The hostess and our server were both super friendly and helpful to make sure our experience went well. The inside of the restaurant is pretty small but can seat quite a bit of guests. We did not start with any appetizers but I wish we did! I ordered a side ginger salad, the red dragon roll, and the tuna roll. All of the three items were delicious and fresh. My sister ordered the hibachi chicken dinner and she said it was very good too! We had such a great experience and can't wait to add this to our list of usual spots!

Lovely lunch at New Zealand Cafe with my friends. Our favorite role was the Super Tom but we all really enjoyed our food. Moist and delicious crab and chicken spring rolls served hot from the fryer and fast and friendly service throughout the meal. Great place to order in or get take out. Never been disappointed and always have a quality meal.

In the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina, off the well-trodden path of Sardis Road, there exists a culinary enigma wrapped in nori - the illustrious New Zealand Café. As a local, having weathered the whispers and recommendations for over two years, I finally set sail to this mythical sushi haven. The opening act was none other than the Tuna Tataki, priced at a modest $8.50. Imagine, if you will, seven seared warriors of the sea, bathed in a tangy ponzu sauce, each piece dusted with a generous helping of sesame seeds and finely chopped scallions. This dish wasn't just served; it was presented with the flair of an opening number in a Broadway show. As for the main spectacle, I embarked on a duo of rolls that would make any sushi aficionado's heart flutter. First, the "Bigger Roll," a steal at $8.50, was an opulent feast of tuna, salmon, whitefish, masago, creamy avocado, and scallion, all wrapped in a delicate embrace. Each of the six pieces was a testament to the ocean's bounty, a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that sang a siren song of the sea. Not to be outdone, the "Red Dragon" roll, priced at $11.95, made its fiery entrance. This masterpiece of spicy tuna, encased in more tuna and avocado, then sprinkled with masago, was a dance of subtle heat and richness. Its eight pieces were like a choreographed ballet of flavors, gracefully balancing the line between fiery and finesse. The presentation of these marine marvels was a sight to behold - a white plate stage, adorned with a banana leaf, the piquant duo of wasabi and ginger in attendance. A side of eel sauce, though thinner and saltier than its sweeter counterparts, could not dampen the spectacle. The rice-to-fish ratio of both rolls was a masterclass in balance, a symphony in every bite. A glance at my neighbor's table revealed a fried rice so alluring, it could easily claim the title of Charlotte's hidden gem. Despite the bustling scene, with a full house inside and hopeful diners queued outside, my sushi experience was swift, thanks to the efficient ballet of sushi chefs and kitchen staff. The ambiance was a unique blend of kitchen clatter, refrigerator hums, and the ambient chatter of my fellow diners, creating an oddly comforting background score for the evening. Seated at the sushi bar, I had a front-row seat to the culinary theatrics, captivated by the deft hands of the sushi chefs. Despite its compact size, the café hummed with a vibrant energy, the noise level surprisingly manageable amidst the packed space. Cindy, my server, was the epitome of efficiency wrapped in a smile, navigating the bustling room with ease. While our interactions were brief, her dedication to her craft was evident in every swift step. In conclusion, New Zealand Café is the unassuming hero of the Charlotte sushi scene. A place where the extraordinary meets the no-frills in a delightful culinary mash-up. It's the sort of establishment you'd revisit, not for the fanfare, but for the reliable, solid sushi experience at a fair price. Its local fame, punctuated by the numerous accolades adorning the walls, is well-deserved. So, if you're ever in the neighborhood and your sushi cravings ignite, remember the New Zealand Café. Just maybe bring a penchant for thinner eel sauce.

My youngest turned 11 today and she love her some sushi so nothing but the best sushi for my girl. My wife hosted a lunch tea party for her and her friends and I took the other 2 kids to soccer and b-ball games in uptown so we stopped on the way home to pick up the NZ Cafe take out. All five of us eight from the spread, and we're quite content with plenty of leftovers. The two people I spoke to in the restaurant, very hospitable and accommodating as they prepared and provided my meal. Hands-down, the best sushi, in all the land!!! Well worth a longer drive, if necessary, to have the best sushi CLT.

Super busy place. Great sushi experience. We came on a Sat night around 7:30 and waited about 30 mins to get seated at the sushi bar (only 4 seats). The place seems a little chaotic as there are people coming non-stop to either eat there or get carry out. Very small place. No local brews or IPA's....which is an opportunity....but not surprising for an authentic sushi place. We started with edamame....and it was the most disappointing part of our food experience as it was a little mushy. I went with the Cilantro Roll (on the special list) and it was fantastic! Also ordered an Albacore Tuna and Salmon Nigiri and the sushi quality was very good. My bride ordered the Hibachi Chicken and enjoyed it. Next time I want to order the Spicy Tuna Tar Tar as I saw a few of them get prepared and it looked excellent! Service was good....again a little chaotic as we weren't sure of our exact server (guess it may be a team approach). We will be back!

Last week I tried New Zealand cafe for the first time. It's welcoming and charming, with a very casual and unpretentious atmosphere. When we arrived early, around 5pm on a weekday, we snagged some awesome seats at one of the few hightop tables. These tables offer more space and privacy, which is a bonus. If you don't score a hightop table, you'll still be sitting in face-mask appropriate proximity to other diners, but hey, we're all in this together so that might work for you. We ordered a sushi boat with three rolls of absolutely amazing sushi. Based on this experience, I'd say regardless of the rolls you select, you can't go wrong. The service was grade A. They're friendly, attentive. Overall, this place is a hidden gem for sushi lovers. The food is fantastic, the atmosphere is laid-back, the service is amaze, and the prices are so reasonable!