Virginia Lake Cafe

cafe — Springvale · Whanganui

About Virginia Lake Cafe

Virginia Lake Cafe sits on Great North Road in Whanganui, close to the water that gives it its name, serving a menu that blends café classics with Asian-inspired dishes. It is built for both brunch and a relaxed meal: breakfast croissants and toasted hash brown bagels in the morning, karaage and katsu salads and burgers through the day, and a stone-grilled Angus scotch fillet when the appetite runs big.

The kitchen's most talked-about plates are the Karaage Chicken Salad and the Chicken Katsu Salad, both praised for their fresh, crispy textures, alongside the karaage chicken burger that stands out among the mains. Burgers come served with chips, loaded sweet chilli fries satisfy the whole table, and a dedicated kids menu — Kids Bennie, Little Platter, Hash Stack and more — makes family visits easy.

Coffee gets real attention too: flat whites, lattes and long blacks, with optional caramel, vanilla or chai shots, plus iced mocha and iced chocolate for warm days. Add friendly staff, a vibrant atmosphere and a lakeside setting, and you have a popular stop for locals and visitors in Whanganui.

Virginia Lake Cafe, Whanganui: Lakeside Brunch with an Asian-Inspired Twist

Great North Road runs through Whanganui's St Johns Hill, and partway along it, beside the water at Virginia Lake, you'll find a cafe that refuses to choose between two cuisines. Virginia Lake Cafe serves the flat whites and breakfast plates you'd expect from any good New Zealand cafe, but its kitchen is just as comfortable frying karaage chicken or glazing salmon in teriyaki — and that combination has made it a popular stop for locals and visitors alike.

A Menu That Crosses the Bridge

The kitchen's two most talked-about plates are the Karaage Chicken Salad and the Chicken Katsu Salad, both praised for their fresh, crispy textures. Japanese-style fried or crumbed chicken over crisp salad greens is a formula that works, and the cafe extends it across the menu: the same trio of karaage, katsu and teriyaki salmon also comes in bowl form for anyone who wants those flavours in a heartier package.

Burger lovers are looked after too. The Karaage Burger and Chicken Katsu Burger bring those crunchy proteins to a bun, while the Pork Teriyaki Burger, BLT Burger and the house Bombastic Burger round out the lineup — all served with chips. For the table to share, the Loaded Sweet Chilli Fries pile toppings onto hot chips, and generous sides of hot chips and fresh salads are described as supporting acts to any meal.

From Little Breakfasts to the Stone Grill

Mornings here lean comforting. The kitchen turns out breakfast croissants and toasted hash brown bagels — wholesome starts to the day that pair naturally with the coffee list. Younger guests have their own section entirely: the Kids Come First menu covers a Kids Bennie, Kids Brekkie, Eggs and Toast, a Little Platter, a Hash Stack and Chicken Nuggets and Chips, so families can order once and keep everyone happy.

At the other end of the appetite scale sits the Angus Beef Scotch Fillet, cooked on the stone grill. It is one of the dishes the cafe itself highlights, delivering satisfying portions and rich flavours, and it shows this kitchen is about more than quick cafe plates. A row of house sauces backs everything up: home-made teriyaki, satay sauce and Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise, giving the Asian-inspired dishes their punch.

Coffee With Extras, and Cold Comforts

Coffee is treated seriously. The hot drinks list runs from flat white, latte and cappuccino to mochaccino and long black, plus a proper hot chocolate. What sets it apart is the customisation: caramel, vanilla and chai shots can be added to any cup. Tea drinkers get Earl Grey, English Breakfast and Japanese green tea.

When the Whanganui sun is out, the cold list steps up: iced coffee, iced mocha and iced chocolate for a refreshing twist, tropical and mixed berry smoothies, and a shelf of organic juices spanning apple, orange, guava, feijoa and mango combinations. The dessert cabinet keeps things simple — a cheesecake flavour that rotates weekly alongside chocolate cake and carrot cake.

The Experience

What ties it together is the setting and the welcome. The lakeside location near Virginia Lake gives the cafe a destination feel, and visitors consistently point to a vibrant atmosphere and friendly staff — the ingredients of a place where brunch stretches long and nobody rushes you. Whether you come for a quick flat white, a family breakfast, a katsu salad lunch or a stone-grilled steak, the format is relaxed and the portions generous.

One practical note: menus and prices do change over time. If you are planning a visit or have your heart set on a particular dish, a quick call to the cafe on +64 6 345 0231 will get you current prices and availability before you arrive.

Signature items

  • Karaage Chicken Salad
  • Chicken Katsu Salad
  • Karaage Burger
  • Angus Beef Scotch Fillet
  • Iced Mocha
  • Flat White

Menu

Bowl

  • Karaage Chicken Bowl — Crispy karaage chicken in a hearty bowl format.
  • Chicken Katsu Bowl — Katsu chicken served bowl-style with the works.
  • Salmon Teriyaki Bowl — Teriyaki salmon in a satisfying, savoury bowl.

Juice

  • Apple Orange & Mango Organic Juice — Organic apple, orange and mango blend.
  • Apple & Guava Organic Juice — Organic apple and guava blend.
  • Apple & Feijoa Organic Juice — Organic apple and feijoa blend, a Kiwi favourite.
  • Orange Juice — Classic orange juice.
  • Apple Juice — Classic apple juice.

Salad

  • Karaage Chicken Salad — Crispy Japanese-style fried chicken over fresh salad greens.
  • Chicken Katsu Salad — Golden crumbed katsu chicken with fresh, crisp salad.
  • Salmon Teriyaki Salad — Teriyaki-glazed salmon served on fresh salad greens.
  • Plain Salad — A simple, fresh garden salad on its own.

Hot Tea

  • Earl Grey — Fragrant classic black tea.
  • English Breakfast — Full-bodied everyday black tea.
  • Japanese Green Tea — Clean, grassy green tea.

Smoothies

  • Tropical — Blended tropical fruit smoothie.
  • Mixed Berry — Blended mixed berry smoothie.

Hot Drinks

  • Flat White — Smooth Kiwi coffee classic.
  • Latte — Milk-forward espresso favourite.
  • Cappuccino — Espresso topped with velvety foam.
  • Mochaccino — Espresso meets chocolate in a mug.
  • Long Black — Espresso over hot water, black and bold.
  • Hot Chocolate — Rich chocolate stirred into steamed milk.

Cold Drinks

  • Iced Chocolate — Chocolate and milk over ice, a warm-day hit.
  • Iced Coffee — Chilled coffee, refreshing on hot days.
  • Iced Mocha — Coffee and chocolate poured over ice.

Extra Shots

  • Caramel — Sweet caramel shot to add to any coffee.
  • Vanilla — Vanilla shot to add to any coffee.
  • Chai — Chai shot to add to any coffee.

Dessert Menu

  • This Week's Cheesecake — A rotating cheesecake flavour baked for the week.
  • Chocolate Cake — A classic slice of rich chocolate cake.
  • Carrot Cake — Moist, spiced carrot cake from the cabinet.

Loaded Fries

  • Loaded Sweet Chilli Fries — Hot chips loaded with sweet chilli toppings.

Sides & Extras

  • Angus Beef Scotch Fillet — Stone-grilled Angus scotch fillet steak, hearty and rich.
  • Tomato Sauce — Classic tomato sauce on the side.
  • Home Made Teriyaki Sauce — House-made teriyaki for extra flavour.
  • Satay Sauce — House satay sauce on the side.
  • Japanese Kewpie Mayonnaise — Creamy Japanese Kewpie mayo, extra on the side.

Burgers & Chips

  • Karaage Burger — Crispy karaage chicken burger served with chips.
  • Bombastic Burger — The house's own stacked burger, big on flavour.
  • Blt Burger — Bacon, lettuce and tomato burger with chips.
  • Pork Teriyaki Burger — Teriyaki-glazed pork burger served with chips.
  • Chicken Katsu Burger — Crumbed katsu chicken burger served with chips.

Kids Come First

  • Kids Bennie — A kid-sized take on eggs benedict.
  • Eggs And Toast — Simply done eggs with toast.
  • Kids Brekkie — A small cooked breakfast made for little ones.
  • Little Platter — A tasting-style platter sized for kids.
  • Hash Stack — Golden hash browns, stacked.
  • Chicken Nuggets And Chips — Nuggets and hot chips, a kid favourite.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Virginia Lake Cafe located?
At 110 Great North Road, St Johns Hill, Whanganui 4500, New Zealand, by Virginia Lake.
What is Virginia Lake Cafe known for?
Its blend of café classics and Asian-inspired dishes — especially the Karaage Chicken Salad, Chicken Katsu Salad, karaage burger and stone-grilled Angus scotch fillet.
Is there a kids menu?
Yes. The Kids Come First menu includes Kids Bennie, Eggs and Toast, Kids Brekkie, a Little Platter, Hash Stack and Chicken Nuggets and Chips.
Can I customise my coffee?
Yes — caramel, vanilla or chai shots can be added to your coffee.
What drinks are available besides hot coffee?
Hot teas including Japanese green tea, iced coffee, iced mocha and iced chocolate, tropical and mixed berry smoothies, and organic juices.
Does the menu have lighter options?
Yes — fresh salads are a highlight, including a Plain Salad, alongside the larger bowls, burgers and steak.
How do I confirm current prices or menu items?
Call the cafe on +64 6 345 0231, as menus and prices can change.

Tips

  • {"body":"The karaage and katsu salads are the cafe's most praised plates, loved for their fresh, crispy textures — and the same flavours come in burger and bowl form.","title":"Order the karaage"}
  • {"body":"Ask for a caramel, vanilla or chai shot to customise your flat white or latte.","title":"Level up your coffee"}
  • {"body":"On warm days the iced mocha and iced chocolate are a refreshing twist, best enjoyed near the lake.","title":"Beat the heat"}
  • {"body":"The Kids Come First menu covers everything from a Kids Bennie to a Hash Stack, making family brunches simple.","title":"Bring the kids"}
  • {"body":"Menu items and prices can change — call +64 6 345 0231 ahead if you have your heart set on a dish.","title":"Check before you go"}

Good to know

  • {"family":"Dedicated Kids Come First menu with smaller breakfasts, a platter and nuggets and chips.","dietary":"Fresh salad options available, including a plain garden salad."}