Take a seat @ Tony's
A resilient Christchurch icon has been serving up hospitality for 26 years.
In a city that’s seen its fair share of upheaval, few places have stood the test of time quite like @Tony’s Teppanyaki. With a flagship restaurant on Riccarton Road and a second location in Ferrymead, this beloved Japanese institution has quietly built a loyal following over its 26-year history. Over this tenure, @Tony’s has weathered it all. From the Christchurch earthquakes and mosque attacks to fire, economic downturns, and a global pandemic. Each time, it has emerged stronger.
At the heart of it all is Bernard. In 1999, Bernard Wong had the vision for a teppanyaki restaurant that would bring an affordable, authentic Japanese dining and live cooking theatre to Christchurch. To make it happen, Bernard persuaded the celebrated chef Tony to join him. He named the restaurant after Tony in recognition of his reputation. Tony has since retired, but Bernard’s concept, leadership, and passion march on.
The restaurant was hit hard in 2012, first closed by CERA post-quake, then gutted by a break-in and fire. But instead of scrubbing the scars, Bernard turned them into a story. The charred concrete wall that once divided the restaurant, has since been shaped into four panels that now anchor the restaurant as a striking feature wall on arrival. A reminder that beauty truly can grow from the hardest moments, and that sometimes what’s broken can still be a foundation to learn and improve from.
Bernard is a man with four great loves: his family, his faith, his staff, and a glass of good red wine. BYO is welcome, unless you’d rather leave it to Bernard, who will happily offer the perfect pairing from his curated wine, single malt, and sake lists.
Ask any of the regulars and they’ll tell you the @Tony’s menu hasn’t changed much in its 26 years. And that’s a good thing. Though it has evolved very gently over time, the classics remain, for comfort, for nostalgia, for “The regular, thanks Bernard,” said by one grinning gentleman who arrived at his usual table for lunch while we were finishing up.
Freshness is key at @Tony’s. They like to keep their produce local. It’s not just about flavour; it’s about supporting the neighbourhood, sustaining relationships, and keeping the kai close to home.
The teppanyaki offering remains a crowd favourite, especially the all-you-can-eat option. Up to 30 guests can be seated around the grill to enjoy the fire and flair. For something more intimate, there’s a private dining room that seats up to 20, making it perfect for work functions, celebrations, or even just a family night out with a little extra sizzle.
There are whispers of exciting changes to come, but for now, @Tony’s remains a place for new and loyal diners, cosy weekday lunches, and teppanyaki fire shows.
In a city that’s rebuilt itself time and time again, it’s comforting to know some things stay deliciously the same.