Johnny's is Wānaka's dedicated seafood truck, specialising in Kiwi kai moana from its spot at 54 Ardmore Street. Behind it is Johnny, who has called Upper Clutha home for more than 25 years and runs Sea2You, a trusted local seafood supplier that sends New Zealand catch to Australia. With Johnny's, he brings that same supply direct to the public — the majority of his products come straight off the fishing boats off the Otago coast. The menu showcases the finest locally sourced seafood, from classics like blue cod with hand-cut chips to gourmet options such as salmon, chowder and scallops. Expect a true South Island delicacy in the blue cod — firm, moist white flesh with delicate sweetness — alongside gurnard, a premium reef fish with flaky fillets, plus a rotating fresh catch of the day and a grilled, no-gluten-added option. Gourmet picks include the famous West Coast whitebait sandwich, a rich seafood chowder with a warm roll, salt and lemon pepper calamari, and a well-loved blue cod burger. You can also buy fresh fish and seafood directly from the truck to cook at home, or order through Sea2You. Locals have made it their Friday ritual, and reviewers consistently praise the freshness, the hand-cut chips and the friendly service.
Johnny's has a simple pitch: serving Upper Clutha's best locally sourced seafood. The food truck sits at 54 Ardmore Street in Wānaka, and everything about it revolves around Kiwi kai moana — fresh fish and shellfish from New Zealand's southern waters, cooked simply and served with hand-cut chips.
Johnny isn't new to seafood. He has called Upper Clutha home for over 25 years, and in that time he has built Sea2You into a trusted seafood supplier for New Zealand and Australia, with the majority of his products coming directly from the fishing boats off the Otago coast. With Johnny's, he has brought that expertise to the streets of Wānaka and cut out the middleman: the same locally sourced fillets he supplies to others now go straight into his own batter.
That sourcing shows on the menu, which showcases the finest local kai moana. There are the classics — blue cod with hand-cut chips — alongside gourmet options like salmon, chowder and scallops. Because the seafood is locally sourced, what's in the cabinet reflects what the boats are bringing in, including a fresh catch of the day.
The heart of the menu is fish and chips, available on its own or with chips. Blue cod is the house favourite — a true South Island delicacy prized for its firm, moist white flesh and delicate sweetness. Gurnard is the other pick: a premium local reef fish with firm, flaky white fillets and a mild, sweet flavour. If you can't decide, ask for the fresh catch of the day, and note that a grilled option is available for anyone avoiding gluten.
Upgrading to the gourmet side of the menu is well worth it. Johnny's Famous West Coast Whitebait Sandwich comes with your choice of single or double pattie; the seafood chowder is rich and creamy, loaded with locally sourced seafood and served with a warm dinner roll; and the salt and lemon pepper calamari arrives with garlic aioli. The blue cod burger — stacked with lettuce, beetroot, slaw and tartare — has earned its fans among regulars. Everything pairs well with the crispy Agria fries, and a side of gravy is never a bad call. Kids are catered for too, with kids' fish or six chicken nuggets, both served with chips and a drink.
Johnny's takes gluten seriously. One reviewer calls the team "very coeliac aware" and the fish "amazing & fresh". At the same time, the menu carries an honest disclaimer: because everything is prepared in a shared kitchen and cooked in fryers that may have contacted gluten, the team can no longer guarantee a coeliac-safe meal. They continue to offer a "No Gluten Added" grilled fish option and encourage anyone with concerns to have a chat with the team before ordering — a refreshingly upfront approach.
Johnny's doubles as a fresh fish shop: you can buy fresh fish and seafood directly from the truck to cook at home, or order through Sea2You, which supplies fresh and frozen seafood to both retail and wholesale customers, with most products coming straight off Otago's fishing boats.
The reviews tell the story. Julie Allen sums it up: "Fresh fish, hand cut chips, side of coleslaw and a good chat. What's not to like?" Steve Pleskun and his family go for their fish and chips on Fridays and have "pretty much tried the whole menu", loving the scallops and finding the blue cod burger "tasty as".
Practicalities are easy. The truck is at 54 Ardmore Street in Wānaka, open Monday from 3pm and from noon Tuesday through Sunday, closing at 7pm. You can order online ahead of time if you're in a hurry, follow along on Instagram or Facebook for updates, and if it happens to be Friday — you now know where the locals will be.