Tanoshi is a group of authentic Japanese restaurants across the South Island of New Zealand, spanning Queenstown, Frankton, Wanaka and Christchurch. Under the Tanoshi and Ramen Ramen banners, the group offers a fun, back-alley, Osaka-style dining experience built on traditional Japanese cuisine.
Tanoshi venues serve tapas-style Japanese teppan, bento and donburi for lunch, moving into sharing plates, sake and whiskey after dark. Tanoshi Cow Lane, tucked into Queenstown's iconic Cow Lane, is an intimate sake bar and Izakaya specialising in Japanese tapas and traditional teppan-grilled dishes. Tanoshi Five Mile brings the same signature flair to Frankton in a spacious, family-friendly setting, with ramen bowls, bento boxes and donburi bowls. Tanoshi Christchurch, near the Riverside Market, features bento boxes, teppan-grilled dishes, a build-your-own ramen concept, a strong sake selection and its signature okonomiyaki.
Under the Ramen Ramen name, the group also runs dedicated ramen bars in Queenstown's CBD and on the Wanaka lakefront, focused on the art of the perfect broth, including rich tonkotsu and spicy miso ramen, alongside build-your-own bowls, sides and salads. All Tanoshi and Ramen Ramen restaurants are open for lunch and dinner, and offer online ordering for Japanese takeaway. Tanoshi means 'fun' in Japanese, and the group's restaurants are built around that spirit.
Tanoshi means 'fun' in Japanese, and it's a fitting name for a group of restaurants built around the fun, back-alley energy of Osaka-style dining. Across Queenstown, Frankton, Wanaka and Christchurch, Tanoshi and its sister brand Ramen Ramen bring authentic, traditional Japanese cuisine to the South Island in settings that range from intimate sake bars to casual ramen counters.
Tucked away in the iconic Cow Lane in central Queenstown, Tanoshi Cow Lane is widely regarded as one of the best places in town for an authentic Izakaya experience. This intimate sake bar and restaurant specialises in Japanese tapas and traditional teppan-grilled dishes, making it a favourite hidden gem for date night in the Queenstown CBD. The energy here leans into the vibrant, sociable spirit of Japanese dining, with chefs bringing real passion to every plate.
Over in Frankton, Tanoshi Five Mile brings the group's signature Japanese flair to a spacious, welcoming space that suits family dining as easily as a solo lunch stop. The menu leans on the group's famous ramen bowls, fresh bento boxes and donburi bowls, making it an easy option whether you're grabbing a quick bite after shopping or before a flight, or settling in for a more relaxed dinner.
In the Garden City, Tanoshi Christchurch sits near the vibrant Riverside Market and brings a friendly take on traditional Izakaya culture to the central city. The menu features bento boxes, teppan-grilled dishes and a build-your-own ramen concept, alongside what's considered one of the best sake selections in Christchurch. The restaurant's signature okonomiyaki, a traditional Japanese savoury pancake, is a particular drawcard here.
For those chasing ramen specifically, Ramen Ramen operates dedicated bars in Queenstown's bustling CBD and on the Wanaka lakefront. Both are focused squarely on the art of the perfect broth, from rich tonkotsu to spicy miso, with noodles made to be slurped. The build-your-own ramen format, alongside sides and salads, means bowls can be tailored to taste, and the Wanaka location in particular is a favourite spot to warm up after a day on the lake or the mountains.
Across all five venues, the throughline is the same: authentic, traditional Japanese cooking served with genuine energy, whether that's sharing plates, sake and whiskey after dark at a Tanoshi venue, or a made-to-order bowl of ramen at Ramen Ramen. All locations are open for lunch and dinner, and each offers online ordering for those who'd rather enjoy the Tanoshi or Ramen Ramen experience as takeaway.
Whether you're after an intimate Izakaya night out in Queenstown, a family-friendly ramen lunch in Frankton, a sake-forward evening in Christchurch, or a warming bowl of tonkotsu in Wanaka, the Tanoshi group brings a consistent thread of authentic Japanese dining across the South Island.