I was hungry and didn’t want to pay $ 1 per piece at the other sushi places close by. Unilocal told me this had a 4 star rating based on 3 ratings so I decided to just go for it. It was way after lunch and still too early for dinner so the tables were quite empty. I picked up the combination box for around $ 8 with chicken katsu, a spring roll, dumpling, shrimp teriyaki and two chicken teriyaki sushi pieces. Damn. At first I thought it’d be too much for me but I was already impressed with the price for that much food. Started eating and I couldn’t stop because it was so good. Will definitely come by again.
Amy M.
Place rating: 4 Auckland, New Zealand
Whenever I come to food alley(which is usually with my guy mates because they don’t care about what a place looks like) I always choose Umaiya to buy my food from. Firstly it is because this is a Japanese food stall and I looooove sushi, but also because the food here is delicious, the serving sizes are big and it’s really cheap. Their bento boxes are around $ 9 and for that you get sushi, rice, miso and a meat dish and some salad I think. If I am not feeling that hungry I usually just get one of their chicken sushi packs which are around $ 6 I think so they are much cheaper than other sushi shops. If you can’t bear to eat inside the food court they provide take-away options but I don’t mind it so much, once you start eating you forget about the surroundings.
Glenn M.
Place rating: 4 Auckland, New Zealand
For a long time I avoided this food alley because, let’s be honest, it looks so crappy both from the outside and from within. But my friend dragged me in here one day for lunch so, reluctant, I went along. I decided to buy a bento box from the Japanese place in here, and then we found a seat in the extremely busy food court. Where the hell did all of these people come from, and why are they having their lunch here? But as I began eating my meal I realised that these people are all here because this place is awesome! My Japanese lunch was great and it was large and it was cheap. What more could you ask for? Perhaps a cleaner food court, but you can’t have everything in this world.
Te Rangi R.
Place rating: 4 Auckland, New Zealand
Working in the office-bound lower CBD of Auckland there are plenty of places recommend by colleges and co-workers for lunch time eats, including Food Alley on Albert St. I used to enter quite tentatively, doubtful about the noise and the choices and the dirty tables– until I found Umaiya. Chicken, beef or pork lunch boxes for fantastically good prices hidden away upstairs away from the crowds. All the owners seem to get on well with each other so grab a beer next-door or get friends to join you with their meals. They’re open late and it is usually quiet upstairs so you can secret away for an hour an relax. Guaranteed to fill your appetite.
