Queenstown's Award Winning Japanese Restaurants
There are so many amazing restaurants in Queenstown it can be difficult to choose where to eat! So we've done the hard work and created a list of 15 Queenstown?s award winning Japanese Restaurants!
Kobe offers bold and innovative interpretations of Japanese cuisine based around seasonal ‘sharing’ menus. The menus are designed to develop flavours and heighten sensations with every bite.
Tatsumi
Originally opened in Christchurch and now based in Auckland and Queenstown, Tatsumi is a restaurant that has years of experience under its belt. Its owner Koichi and his wife Yoko put their heart into their Japanese fusion menu, which is both authentic and creative.
The restaurant is cosy and private, with an intimate vibe and a contemporary design. It also uses traditional Japanese art and silk lampshades.
This is an excellent option for a quiet dinner in Queenstown, and it has a nice variety of dishes on the menu. Try the Kappa lunch box, which includes tempura, sashimi, teriyaki chicken, rice and miso soup.
Another upscale Japanese restaurant, Tatsumi has an extensive menu. Its sushi, sashimi, tempura and ramen are all top quality. You can also opt for their eight-course degustation meal, which covers both traditional and modern Japanese cuisine.
Tanoshi
If you're looking for a delicious Japanese meal while in Queenstown, Tanoshi is one of the best restaurants around. With two locations in Cow Lane and Five Mile, this izakaya-style sake bar serves up a selection of small plates to share with friends.
The food here is incredibly fresh and very good. It's a little on the pricey side, but it's worth it for the quality of the food and service.
It's also a great place to try the okonomiyaki, which is a savoury pancake that's often eaten in Hiroshima and Kansai.
The restaurant was very busy during our visit, but the staff were friendly and attentive. The ramen noodles and bento boxes were very tasty.
Kappa
Kappa is one of the many Japanese restaurants that discerning locals love to go to. This slick restaurant offers a range of Japanese staples, from sushi to daily specials with fresh local fish and ingredients.
Discerning locals know that this award winning Japanese restaurant consistently delivers excellent food. The staff is helpful and the owner is a wonderful person, definitely worth supporting this business.
They serve a great variety of Japanese tapas and cocktails, with modern Mexican and gin drinks on offer. This place is a must stop on your next visit to Queenstown!
In the Edo era, it was customary to throw cucumbers into rivers in the hope that kappa would be appeased. This was a form of protection from the yokai; in return, they performed various tasks for humans, such as irrigating their fields or helping them with sports and games.
Hikari
Queenstown is a popular holiday destination, filled with adventure and scenic views. It also offers a wide range of Japanese restaurants to satisfy your craving for Asian cuisine.
Hikari is a Queenstown Japanese restaurant that's worth checking out if you're looking for modern Japanese cuisine with a twist. This sushi bar is open for lunch and dinner, serving pick your own sushi and other contemporary Japanese dishes.
The sushi here is impressive, with a huge selection of rolls to choose from. It's also a good choice for a quick and inexpensive meal, especially since it offers a number of premade sushi boxes and other delicious Japanese snacks to try.
This small sushi takeaway tucked away in Beach Street serves up a delicious feed of premade sushi boxes and Japanese curries and ramens to warm you up on chilly days. It's definitely one of the better Japanese restaurants in town, especially for the value.