Tanoshi Cow Lane channels the close quarters and sociable energy of an Osaka backstreet into an intimate Queenstown dining room. Hidden within Skyline Arcade, it combines a sake bar with Japanese tapas and teppan cooking, so the experience feels more like a lively sequence of shared plates than a conventional starter-and-main meal. The compact setting keeps diners near the action and suits couples, small groups and anyone happy to let several contrasting dishes accumulate across the table over lunch or dinner.

The food moves between clean raw preparations and the deeper flavour of the grill. Mixed sashimi and aburi salmon keep attention on the fish, while grilled scallops add heat and a richer finish. Gyoza, tofu and crisp chicken wings bring different textures into the order, and okonomiyaki supplies the savoury satisfaction of a Japanese pancake. Because plates are designed to travel around the table, a meal can balance delicate seafood with bolder fried or teppan-cooked dishes rather than committing everyone to the same style.

That sharing format is especially useful in a small room. Diners can begin with sashimi, add dumplings or vegetables, then bring in one or two grilled plates as the meal develops. Sitting close to the teppan reinforces the sense that cooking is part of the evening's rhythm, while the separate lunch and dinner menus let the kitchen adjust the scale of the experience through the day. The result is recognisably Japanese without being rigid: traditional forms are presented in a relaxed, contemporary Queenstown setting.

The drinks list extends the izakaya character with Japanese sake, whisky and lager, making it easy to match a pour to several dishes rather than one fixed course. Groups can arrange a chef's set menu built around the venue's share-style favourites. Winter dinner has its own practical ritual: the restaurant runs a managed waitlist, keeps some tables for walk-ins and offers an adjoining room with a full bar while guests wait. It is a thoughtful response to a popular, compact space and allows the atmosphere to begin before a table is ready.

Address: Skyline Arcade, Cow Lane, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand

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Tanoshi Cow Lane Menu Menu updated on 18 Sep 2026

Lunch Menu – Don Buri

Traditional rice bowls served with miso. Keto your rice bowl: swap your rice for salad – $4.

katsudon

$24

pork cutlet and egg cooked in a sweet and savoury sauce

salmon don (^o)

$24

diced fresh ora king salmon with ginger, soy, lemon and sriracha mayo

tori ten don

$22

garlic soy marinated chicken tempura

Lunch Menu – Ramen Noodles

shoyu ramen

$25

slow simmered pork belly and soy noodle soup served with an egg and nori sheets

spicy prawn ramen

$25

crispy prawns served on a spicy broth with an egg and nori sheets

spicy veggie ramen (vgn)

$25

spicy vegetable broth served with mung beans, bamboo shoots, fried shallots, nori sheets & an egg

Lunch Menu – Ramen Extras

pork belly

$4.50

crispy prawn

$4.50

shredded chicken

$4.50

nori

$3.50

egg

$3.50

bamboo shoots

nori sheets

spice up your ramen

fresh chilli

Lunch Menu – Tapas and Teppan

Add rice and miso – $6.

sashimi mori (^o)

$26

ora king salmon, tuna, scallop mixed sashimi. Extra serving of each – $9.

gyu tataki (^o)

$24

seared sirloin served rare with roasted garlic flakes

salmon aburi (^o)

$24

flame seared ora king salmon with buttered citrus soy

banbanji (^)

$22

shredded chicken with mung beans and sesame dressing

pork gyoza

$22

our famous hand-rolled pork dumplings osaka style

veggie gyoza (vgn)

$20

with tanoshi’s gyoza sauce

tonkatsu

$22

crispy fried pork with house made miso sauce

yasai-ten (vgn)

$19

vegetable tempura (baby corn, okra, lotus root)

Lunch Menu – Bento Boxes

All bento boxes are served with miso.

tanoshii bento

$26

chicken tempura, veggie dumpling, crispy prawn, veggie croquette, salad, rice & miso

tofu bento (vgn ^o)

$24

teriyaki tofu, veggie croquette, green salad, wakame salad and rice

keto bento

$26

(low carb – no rice) (^o) beef tataki, tuna sashimi, banbanji (shredded chicken, mung beans, sesame), mixed salad, edamame

Lunch Menu – Sides and Salads

seasonal sarada (vgn ^o)

$14

mixed leaves, edamame, cherry tomato, fried shallots

crispy gobo chips (vgn)

$12

served with wasabi mayo and japanese seven spices

wakame sarada (vgn)

seaweed salad

edamame (vgn ^)

green soy beans

pirikara kyu-ri (veo ^o)

$11

chilli cucumber served with miso mayo

otsumami kyabetsu (vgn ^)

cabbage salad

gohan (vgn ^)

steamed rice

misoshiru (^o)

miso soup

Lunch Menu – Extras

$2 each.

pickled ginger (vgn)

wasabi mayo

sriracha mayo (vgn ^o)

japanese mayo

Dinner Menu – Japanese Tapas

salmon aburi (^o)

$24

flame seared salmon with buttered citrus soy sauce

sashimi-mori (^o)

$26

ora king salmon, tuna, scallop mixed sashimi. Extra serving of sash – $9.

gyu tataki (^o)

$24

seared sirloin stayed rare with roasted garlic flakes

banbanji (^)

$22

shredded chicken with mung beans & sesame dressing

tonkatsu

$22

crispy fried pork with smoked sauce

takoyaki

$16

4 octopus balls served with salad, okonomiyaki sauce, mayo, spring onion and bonito flakes

tebasaki (^)

$20

pepper fried chicken wings with a sweet sauce

tori ten

$20

garlic soy marinated chicken tempura

yasai-ten (vgn)

$19

vegetable tempura (baby corn, okra, lotus root)

Dinner Menu – Extras

$2 each.

pickled ginger (vgn)

wasabi mayo

sriracha mayo (vgn)

japanese mayo

Dinner Menu – Teppan Grill

pork gyoza

$22

our famous hand-rolled pork dumplings

veggie gyoza (vgn)

$20

with tanoshi’s gyoza sauce

okonomiyaki (Osaka style!)

$19

japanese pancake. Add: egg, prawns, pork or cheese – $3.50.

ebi-kushiyaki (^o)

$22

prawn skewers with spicy bean sauce. Extra skewer – $7.

gyu-kushiyaki (^o)

$24

beef skewers with smokey yakiniku sauce. Extra skewer – $7.50.

hotate bata-yaki (^o)

$34

grilled hokkaido scallops with wasabi mayo

ebi garlic bata yaki (^o)

$20

panfried prawns served with garlic butter and wasabi mayo. Extra price – $4.50.

poteto chiizu (veg)

$19

grilled potato cheese crepe with a touch of chilli

yaki soba (vgno)

$19

stir fried savory pork soba noodles

atsuage-tofu (vgn)

$19

ginger soy crispy tofu. Served with bonito fish flakes unless vgn.

Dinner Menu – Trust the Chef

A selection of tanoshi classics and our most popular dishes. Full table must dine – min two people. Add a sake tasting – $26 pp.

trust the chef

PP $59

a selection of tanoshi classics and our most popular dishes

pescatarian

PP $65

vegetarian

PP $49

Dinner Menu – Sides and Salads

tanoshii sarada (vgn ^)

$14

mixed leaves, edamame, cherry tomato, fried shallots

edamame (vgn ^)

green soy beans

crispy gobo chips (veg)

$12

served with wasabi mayo and japanese seven spices

pirikara kyu-ri (veg ^o)

$11

chilli cucumber served with miso mayo

wakame sarada (vgn)

seaweed salad

otsumami kyabetsu (vgn ^)

cabbage salad

gohan (vgn ^)

steamed rice

misoshiru (^)

miso soup

Dinner Menu – Sake Tasting

We have an extensive range of authentic japanese and locally made sakes. You can experience the best selection of our japanese and locally made sakes that will be paired perfectly with your tanoshi dishes.

sake tasting

PP $29

we have an extensive range of authentic japanese and locally made sakes. You can experience the best selection of our japanese and locally made sakes that will be paired perfectly with your tanoshi dishes

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