Renkon

This restaurant specializes in donburi, and was among the first to introduce the idea to New Zealand. Donburi is basically a large bowl of rice topped with a mixture of cooked as well as fresh vegetables, and meat or fish – but, again, in a surprising, and delicious, number of variations. This is hearty and healthy fare.
The crowd at Renkon prepare all of the ingredients, including any sauces, fresh, and take special care in selecting the oils used in the meals : olive oil, canola, and sesame. Donburi is also an eminently sensible idea, since it manages to combine your whole meal into one dish, and does so in both a colourful and an appetizing combination of the ingredients. Quick, cheap, unpretentious, nutritious and well-balanced. These traditional ways of sustenance are streets ahead of fancy-schmancy ideas like building your own sandwich – or burgers.
There are three Renkons : one in the city, one in Ponsonby, and one in Parnell. They each have their own character. The off-High Street one is great for the lunch-hour rush; Ponsonby for takeouts; and Parnell, for sitting back and enjoying your donburi with a glass or two) of wine, sake, or beer. Green tea is complimentary.