Tomi Japanese Restaurant

One of the small hidden treasures of the Christchurch culinary scene is the Japanese restaurant Tomi, situated within Edgeware Village. Opened in 2012 by Joe Chan (a chef for nearly twenty years), and his wife Mayuko Tomita, plus Mayuko’s father Matsuo Tomita (40 years experience in Japanese cuisine), the restaurant has a relaxed environment with traditional pale timber panelling and a cosy intimate feel.

Tomi has a strong return customer base with sashimi (fresh raw fish) being a standout favourite and speciality. The fish is sourced from the local fish market, and there’s also fresh tuna when it’s in season. Other menu highlights include sushi, tender pork kakuni (slow cooked pork belly) and Tomi's unique homemade Japanese flavoured ice-cream, with flavours like black sesame, orange and cardamon and peanut butter and sea salt. There’s a comprehensive sake list too, plus a real emphasis on wines for food matching (a real passion of Joe’s). In Japanese food culture, preparation and presentation is a crucial part of the process and it’s no different at Tomi’s - there’s a huge variety of plates to showcase each dish and a real attention to detail in presentation.

With excellent fresh and tasty food, reasonable prices and polite staff, Tomi is a must next try for an authentic Japanese experience.