Review Blue Kanu - Queenstown

Spent my birthday here last year and they were very nice and accommodating. They even gave me a free glass of wine upon arrival and greeted me happy birthday. I did not wait for too long and they did not put me in the corner either just because I was dining alone. Staff came and checked if everything was okay on and off but not to the point of annoying me. 😄 Their food was really tasty. I couldn't fault it. I am going there in July and I would definitely go back there again. Thank you, guys for making my birthday special.

Amazing food flavour and the staff was so lovely! We were seated outside (as we didn’t book) but in the Sun it was such a perfect place to sit and relax with view of the water. Loved it here and hope to visit again! Their dishes are definitely mid-to high priced so worth the experience and loved the Polynesian fusion

Ordered the pork belly, Fijian market fish and prawn/scallop toast. The prawn and scallop on toast is tiny and not worth ordering again. The other 2 dishes were great, which is something I rarely use to describe Asian fusion.

Went for dinner with my husband when we were visiting Queenstown, we ordered the dumplings and the lamb curry to share! Both were good and flavourful, although the curry is quite heavy so it can get a bit overwhelming towards the end, as it did for both of us. Service was great and we would have loved to try more things on the menu if we had a larger group.

Food quality was definitely good. Favourite was the Korean fried chicken side. Beef cheeks were extremely tender. Ribs were tender but slightly under in flavour. Overall food was good, service was excellent as well, will recommend trying if you're in queenstown

Everything is right about Blu Kanu! So Delicious, and atmospheric. The staff were wonderful- love your mahi! I will surely be back again to taste the joy and wash it down with another coconut caipiringa!

First time with family in Queenstown. This restaurant serves great unique fusion cuisines with spices that explode in our mouths. The German waitress was so friendly n genuinely helpful. Will come back again hopefully soon.

Absolutely beautiful kai! This place was fully booked but thought I'd try my luck and was thankfully given a 90minute window before the table was reserved which we only needed half the time. The food came out very fast. The salmon was the best! The flavour with the crispy bits OMG we should have gotten 2 of these plates as my partner ate it too and he doesn't even eat salmon. The ribs and prawn and scallop toast was delicious as well. The Korean chicken was nice also. Favourite restaurant and food since being here for 5 days. Will definitely be back here when we're on holiday next to try more dishes. Beautiful vibe in here too.

Was recommended to go here as part of my Queenstown trip. It was a really nice Fijian Asian fusion restaurant, great service, food and atmosphere. The portions were nice for sharing too, and pricing not bad. Definitely recommend for the visiting traveller that likes seafood

Delicious Pacific and Asian inspired food, super fresh and light flavours. We only ordered the small plates to share, can definitely recommend the Kokoda, the Oysters and the Korean Fried Chicken. Lively atmosphere and friendly service.

We were recommended this place by our tour guide and people at our accommodation. This place truly deserves the high praise it receives. They combine familiar Asian flavours with unique local ingredients and the result is brilliant! We had the salmon, pork ribs and lamb curry and I honestly cannot rank which was better coz they were all excellent! Their cocktails, service and ambience were also really good. It is not expensive, good value for money. Would highly highly recommend!

Amazing, our new favourite place to dine! The vibes and ambience of this restaurant is perfect for any type of gathering. The service was excellent. Waiters were knowledgeable and quick. The food was the best we've had in a very long time and the cocktails definitely pack a punch which I love. They don't taste watered down at all (like some other places). Serving sizes of the main dishes are shareable. I recommend getting different dishes and sharing it amongst each other so you get to taste everything. The salmon entree was especially fresh and tasty & the fried chicken entree dish had good crunch, tender meat and good sauce choices (there were more pieces than pictured). The laksa had a good amount of big juicy prawns & tender fish pieces. The braised pork belly was a big favourite amongst the group as well. Also, the Koko Samoa cheesecake was rich and creamy. We shared our dishes and still couldn't finish - our waiter was great and packed the leftovers for us. All main dishes come with large spoons for sharing and I recommend adding a few bowls of Jasmine rice to have with the saucy dishes. The decor, music and staff uniforms added to the awesome experience. Highly recommend, especially if you're wanting something different & worth your coin. We'll definitely be back again.

What a beautiful concept. The combination of flavours and ingredients was absolutely delicious. The ambience paired with great music was perfect and the staff were super friendly.

Our dinner at Blue Kanu was even better than we expected! All of the food and cocktails were super tasty and the staff were lovely and welcoming. The winning dish for us was the market fish kokoda which was recommended by someone we met at bar before dinner. Something we wouldn't usually have ordered but it was so creamy and full of flavour I was tempted to order a second. Special mentions also go to the prawn toast 🤤 My husband is gluten intolerant and there was so much on the menu he could eat. Added bonus was the great music they had playing! Will definitely be back here again in the future! *As per most hospitality venues at the moment they do require proof of 💉

Absolutely amazing! We did not make a reservation but showed up and waited for seating on their patio, which is first come first serve. We waited about 20-30 mins and got a table on a Weds night. Ordered 2 glasses of wine, 2 small plates and a main to share, which was the perfect amount. Our waiter was good humored and clearly busy but happy to help and make recommendations. We loved everything we ordered! The torched salmon and pork/shrimp dumpling small plates were expertly prepared and presented and every bit as good as they looked. Salmon was sushi grade / sashimi style and simple but delicious. The dumplings had an amazing fresh cilantro flavor. The pork belly mani was outstanding and topped with bean sprouts - the perfect balance of umami and sweet / salty. Highly recommend this little spot - they clearly are a top restaurant for a reason!

Sooo glad we came in early and were able to eat here before our departure from Queenstown! This place is POPULAR!!! With a little advice from our fabulous server, we ended up choosing the Fijian kokoda, steamed dumplings, tempura prawns, and the lamb curry with coconut rice. Each dish was so flavorful, and the service throughout excellent! 10/10 recommend!

Well the positive reviews don't lie. Outstanding service, drinks and menu choices. We opted for the small Sharing is Caring menu and we loved every dish. Fresh and perfectly presented. Would certainly recommend.

Amazing place that offered fresh kai moana and love, compliments to the chef and the kitchen team. Went there on a busy Friday evening. The service staff were very friendly and the cocktails were well crafted! Bravo!

Definitely Blue Kanu is one of a kind! I highly recommend their "feed me" option. Every dish we had was beautiful, well-presented, generous portion and delicious. Flawless dining experience. Well done Blue Kanu! 🎉

Came here on 10 June. Really great service but done in a relaxed Kiwi fashion. Felt really looked after. Food was amazing. We were happy with every dish. We ordered the salmon poke, crispy shrimp and mussels. Yum! �

The mussels and golden prawns were exquisite and the pork belly was amazing and a very generous portion. Service was attentive and not overbearing. All round a fantastic meal in beautiful Queenstown <3

We enjoyed a dim sum style meal with 6 of us choosing different foods and sharing. The manager was from the US and knew exactly where we were from in Missouri. The chef was attentive to food allergies and spice preferences. The atmosphere was fun and inviting. The entire staff gave excellent service and paid attention to our needs. Be sure to make a booking if you want to dine at 7 or after.

Visited this place with a group of friends - 6 in total. Awesome ambience , friendly staff , well priced and delicious food - finger licking good and generous portions . Def will visit again. Great service as well.

I am currently sitting in the restaurant not even having had my dessert but wanted to make sure I wrote this review. I am yet to experience a bad meal in New Zealand but Blue Kanu takes everything up a notch. The service is impeccable as was the food. A special shoutout to Nicolas from Argentina. If I could give it 6 stars I would.

Noisy and a bit expensive, but the best staff and incredible food... the bartender made a wicked espresso martini �

We sort the advise of Leon and Francie on where to go for a meal a special meal, a celebration for my darling partner birthday. This really cool tucker box Blue Kanoe was primo, from the phone call reservation to the very pretty lady an super host Teo welcome on our arrival. The venue is very very relaxing with colours and lighting that shower you with romance, artworks that perfectly give you the feeling in are in NZ in summer, Hawaii furnishing an decor, Veitnam sense with bamboo than the staff are polite and courteous.....great bar selection wines and spirits After being seated in front of pre ordered starter the kumara bread and horopito seasoning spread and half a dozen oysters which was both very delicious. Paula and smoked eel, beef check and seasoned salad etc followed by a dessert that really tasted sensational and filled that last corner space. Recommendation: when you order request Teo the master host to describe the chefs hidden secret dishes to you so that you can make wise an perfect choice of your main meal, he will even recommend appropriate wine to compliment your taste buds and slake your thirst. We even meet a great couple who sat next to us that we're also recommended the Blue Kanoe and best of all they came from the Waikato too. Loved it .......I will be back!!!!!!!!

Not a single thing I would change! The whole experience was amazing and the food is to die for!! Don’t forget about those cocktails either.. ��

Sensational food, cocktails & customer service! One of the best meals we had in Queenstown, a must visit! Thanks guys we loved it �

The food was delicious and the service was second to none. I’d highly recommend a visit.

A truly exceptional meal. Fabulous flavours and presentation . The exterior with the blue light made the place look cold and unwelcoming but inside was very cosy . After three days of constant eating and sampling food this place is outstanding

Nancy and I loved the service, food had amazing flavour and we would highly recommend to anyone visiting Queenstown

Service, staff, ambiance, cocktails and the shaker maker but above all the Chefs in the background need to be complimented on the menu, presentation and the wonderful flavours. Fabulous evening and the best dinner in Queenstown hands down. Well done �

Amazing food, fabulous service and fantastic atmosphere! I would highly recommend this restaurant. Love it

A must to go for food lovers.. friendly staff and super yummmy food flavours with an excellent presentation! Lòoking forward to go there again�

As usual the service and food at Blue Kanu was amazing! Last night was my second time visiting Blue Kanu and I will definitely be back.<br/><br/>We were welcomed as soon as we arrived from a gentleman behind the bar who I only assume is the owner. Super friendly and lovely.<br/><br/>Our waiter was fantastic and very helpful. All three dishes we had were amazing but the Duck Nachos were by far the stand out. Incredible!<br/>

First time eating Pacific food and it was amazing. The fish was fresh. And the food was scrumptious. Definitely worth adding to your Queenstown experience. Also the staff is friendly and accommodating.

We visited Blue Kanu after our hotel highly recommended it and were not at all disappointed.<br/><br/>We had the goat rendang steamed bun, tahitian prawn curry and black sesame ice cream. The food was exceptional and full of flavour. We would definitely dine here on our next visit to Queenstown.<br/><br/>This restaurant is a must go to in Queenstown !!!!

If you like Asian fusion food, you don't have to go further than Blue Kanu 😅 I don't believe anything on the menu is traditional to any Asian culture haha but it was definitely an interesting experiencing.<br/><br/>Because we couldn't quite decided what we wanted, we went with the Feed Me menu for 5 people<br/><br/>LOVE:<br/>🔸The variety we got within the 4 courses (4 courses doesn't necessarily mean only 4 dishes)<br/>🔸Really fresh seafood, really enjoyed the kokoda, don't think I've ever tried it before<br/>🔸A lot of freshness in the dishes as most of them has a fresh fruit salad/salsa along with it like mango or pineapple<br/>🔸The Kung Pao duck nachos were one of my favourite dishes of the evening, it was definitely a little bit different with duck and mango jam and whipped goat cheese, and despite me not being a fan of goat cheese usually, loved the flavour combination<br/>🔸Each dish was sizeable for each person try a good amount<br/><br/>LIKE:<br/>🔸Enjoyed that there was 3 mains, including a vegetable dish too so we weren't just bombarded with meat but I wish not every dish was spicy<br/>🔸The Lava Flow cocktail was a tasty strawberry pina colada<br/><br/>FEEDBACK:<br/>🔹Liked that we got to try a few different types of dessert however nothing really stood out, they were mostly enjoyable though

We have been in Queenstown 5 nights and eaten here twice. Enough said. Delicious, creative and fun food. Fabulously fabulous staff who are friendly, attentive and fun. Great dishes for sharing - our 2nd visit saw us reordering our favourite things...the goat rendang steamed bun and the Fijian(?) fish in the starters. So good! Also a high recommendation for the bread, salmon poke, duck nachos and the pineapple upside down cake (although the macadamia cookie was too hard to eat with the rest of the dessert!). Enjoyed the flavour and the prawn toast that came with the mussels, but decided I’m not a fan of green lipped mussels! The massaman curry was also a hit. And the lychee martini...!! <br/>In short...go here to enjoy a great night and delicious food!!

Exceptional service from staff, atmosphere was great, kiwi rnb music playing 😍 as for the food, phenomenal. Couldn’t fault the food.<br/><br/>Ordered the Rewana bread, shrimp starter, braised beef cheek and the Tahitian pork belly for two. More than enough food and had to get a doggy bag.<br/><br/>Will definitely return when I’m back in town!

Decided to visit here on our last stay in Queenstown as this place had amazing reviews on TripAdvisor and Zomato! It definitely did no disappoint. <br/><br/>We arrived early to our reservation, but we were seated immediately and the staff were amazing, attentive and helpful! <br/><br/>The food was also exceptional, and the atomosphere was also incredible! We were so pleased we visited this place as it was a great way to end the trip!! <br/><br/>Highly recommend this place!!!

We celebrated my birthday here last week and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The ambience is unique and the staff are friendly. The portions are generous. We got the pork ribs, duck nacho, lamb curry, and pineapple cake which were all delicious. The shrimp was alright. Overall we had a great time!

I was excited to dine here after noticing this restaurant trumped others in TripAdvisor.<br/> <br/>Came here without a booking and was seated immediately, so depending on your group size you can get away without a booking. <br/><br/>The menu is designed for sharing, the dishes were decent sizes! Really enjoyed the venison tartare that was highly recommended by the waitress, well balanced and the kimchi is a nice pairing. <br/> Another recommendation was the jungle style lamb, this dish didn’t come with rice so I would highly recommend getting rice with this dish. It’s a delicious curry dish but got a little too rich, some rice would have balanced this out very well. <br/><br/> Staff are attentive and very accommodating. I appreciate the recommendation provided. Considering the portion sizes and quality of food, it is on the pricey side but it’s justified. <br/> Next time I’m in Queenstown, I will consider coming back and sampling more from the menu. <br/>Very intrigued by “trust the chef” option, which will be my next option to try!

Delicious evening eatery with really lovely pacific Asian fusion! The menu is very exciting and we took a long time to decide. We ordered the golden shrimp a tasty number with togashi season, the sticky pork ribs that had us licking our fingers clean and the tender goat rendang bun. I would have liked the rendang to be more saucier but the bun was made very well to compliment. We added the venison tartare, light and had an interesting Korean kick, as well as the wok fried greens that were perhaps a bit less overwhelming than the rest. Ended the night with upside down pineapple cake, yummy moist cake and coconut pannacotta which was too sweet for me but my boyfriend liked it a lot! Overall amazing experience, lovely waitress and exceptional service. Can not wait to visit again!

Very nice ambiance! We came here to celebrate my friends birthday. We ordered the dishes reccomended by our waitress and all of them were very delicious and had unusual tastes. The staff is very friendly and caring. We did not like the desert we ordered and they said they were sorry to hear that and deleted it from our bill. If they improve the deserts, they are worth 5 stars definetely!

Probably tied first with our most favourite place in Queenstown. You do need to make sure you book as most likely they are ALWAYS packed. But not surprising when the service is amazing, staff always have a smile on their face and can throw a joke or two. Can’t fault the food at all, the chicken is a must have for sure!! We always bring our friends here when they come down to visit, it’s a must visit for sure!

This place was a refreshing change from the ‘usual’ rut of steaks, lamb shanks and venison. It served original pacific recipes at a reasonable price. I ordered a dish that was primarily lamb rump in a potpourri of flavours and kumara (the pacific name for sweet potatoes) chips. <br/><br/>The curry had a distinct taste and was pretty different from the Indian curries that i’m so used to. <br/><br/>My father had a whitebait (A fish predominantly found on the west coast of the south island in New Zealand; it’s a kiwi delicacy!) preparation that was cooked and marinated very well. My father’s a discerning food critic and if he liked something then the thing’s pretty good 😝. <br/><br/>My mother’s choice was a tofu dish that was soaked in a cashew nut curry. Again, very different from our Indian cashew nut curries. <br/><br/>The service was warm and prompt. <br/><br/>Finally, the place’s well located in Queenstown Central and is easy to spot. <br/><br/>Food- 5*<br/>Service- 5*<br/>Location- 5*<br/>Ambience- 5*<br/>Je ne sais quoi factor - 5*! <br/><br/>Go for it!

Had a wonderful cocktail here after dinner.<br/><br/>Pleasant atmosphere and really really friendly staff!<br/><br/>Would recommend for dinner and a drink at the bar. These guys have awesome cocktails<br/>

Went for date night during our one week stay in Queenstown. Blue Kanu had a wonderful ambiance, felt like I was in a French Polynesian country. The staff were really helpful and knowledgeable about the vegan options. Unfortunately, I wasn't organised enought to book 48 hours in advance and therefore missed out on the vegan 'wok' option however, the food was scrumptious. Can highly recommend this place.

Blue Kanu was highly recommended by a friend so we went on their recommendation and we are thrilled that we did.<br/><br/>We arrived early so getting a table wasn't a challenge but it was certainly filling up well once we left.<br/><br/>Staff are exceptionally well trained, friendly, professional, attentive and best of all they really make you feel welcome.<br/><br/>Being our last night in Queenstown we both ordered a cocktail, and they were amazing!<br/><br/>Dinner we chose to go with the ever popular sharing plates: we got 4 which was plenty for the 2 of us but there are a good variety so order as many you need.<br/><br/>Golden Shrimp, Salmon Poke, Pork Ribs and Korean Fried Chicken (KFC). All were amazing, presentation, flavour, texture the whole package, just amazing bites of food.<br/><br/>Thank you to the entire team, keep doing what you are doing!<br/><br/>Food: 92%<br/>Ambience: 86%<br/>Service: 90%<br/>Coffee: N/A

We ordered a few things to try on our first visit to Blue Kanu.<br/><br/>The agreed favorites were the pork ribs (appetizer - not pictured) and the duck (main). <br/><br/>The gin cocktail and the coconut caipirinha were excellent!<br/><br/>Other appetizers: spicy fried chicken and the pork slider. The chicken was not crispy but the taste was good. For the slider I was expecting a shredded pork type of presentation but it was more of like a pork nugget which I didn’t enjoy. We also ordered a side of wok veggies which were tasty but a bit spicy. <br/><br/>Overall great experience, good service, ambiance and food.

Visited Blue Kanu as a party of six picky Aussies last night. We were a walk in group that were quickly seated in a nice friendly,warm environment and knowledgeably walked through an appealing menu complemented by an adequate drinks list<br/>Offerings include small, large and share plates with enough options for this type of dining. most of our group opted for the share plate dining. For the Missus and I, our choice was the Shrimp, Ribs and then some Dumplings,all first rate<br/>Like all good dining experiences the time flew past and everyone in our party agreed that the Blue Kanu would well be worth another visit

Unique Pacific Asian fusion restaurant. Dishes merged Maori/Island style cooking with various Asian styles and it mostly works. Highlights were the duck, cooked sous vide and charred, had rich depth of flavors. he small plates/entrees were OK - the golden prawns were very oily tasting and the 'hot' friend chicken lacked flavor and was soggy<br/><br/> Service was great. Ambiance was mixed - the style of the restaurant was great - but  it was so dark I could barely see what I was eating (did not even know one of the dishes had a sauce on the plate!)

I went on a Monday in April and the place was nicely humming … not too busy, not quiet. Staff were cheerful, professional and clearly know and enjoy their menu. <br/>We ordered Trust the Wok: $59 for four courses chosen by the chef, and varied from day to day. The starter and entree were two smaller plates each, so we really got six items: and every dish was as good as the last. Tempura oysters, jungle curry with the most tender lamb, and the peanut butter steamed bun dessert were highlights. Everything has an Asian/Polynesian influence, as does the restaurant itself. Brilliant. Loved it and can’t wait to go back!

Rang up late to make a booking to find they were fully booked, but the staff managed to find a way to squeeze my partner and I in. Staff were all great, very helpful with the menu and kept us smiling and laughing. I had the vegan options on the menu. 10/10 for taste, no complaints at all. Partner had the ribs and the side of greens, which she also said was a 10/10. Strongly recommend Blue Kanu to everyone! :)

Had a great birthday dinner here! The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. One dish arrived with a key ingredient missing, but to their credit they brought it back with a bigger portion to apologise. For the full review, check out stormechaser.com

Blue Kanu is a Pacific Island themed restaurant nested in the heart of Queenstown by Lake Wakatipu. Upon entry into the restaurant it's deep cultural root can be sensed immediately from these wooden carved Maori masks on the wall as well as the distinctive graffiti. The soft blue lighting and the smooth background music also sets a lively and relaxing mood. The food is inspired by both Pacifica and Asian flavours.

Mixing both Pacific and Asian style, together with blending the two cultures creates a style and feel that they call “Polynasia". Very welcoming staff and great looking and tasting food...

Lovely food, we had the ribs, white prawn and pork belly which we shared. The prawns were quite salty, ribs were yummy and the pork was also good. The service was amazing! One lady who served us tonight was extremely helpful and very friendly. Overall a great night!

Very cool place! Great atmosphere!very friendly service! The food is very interesting. A bit of Korean a bit of Japanese and bit of Chinese. It's like all Asian cuisines in one! The chicken crispy claws is the highlight of the night! We enjoyed very much and had great night with friends!

Beautifully interiorly designed in a Polynesia style. They catered incredibly well for my vegan diet and deliciously too. My partner, who isn't vegan said his was amazing also. Lovely staff, great atmosphere, tasty food. Highly recommend!

Absolutely great atmosphere, friendly and entertaining wait staff with authentically scrumptious food! Loved our dining experience at Blue Kanu 💙

Fabulous restaurant! Stunning setting, excellent service and really good food. Had the tuna tataki, pork and prawn dumplings and duck pancakes. Highly recommend this place. $3 parking across the road.

A tropical oasis in the heart of the southern climes of Queenstown. Here you can escape the winter freeze and feel like you are in Hawaii :-) The Polynesian themes, blue lighting, decorations and interior are all beautifully done and I was wondering whether that was going to be the highlight, but the food shone with sublime presentation and creativity. Wasn't a fan of the duck dish, but everything else I couldn't stop eating, and I liked the over friendly manner of the wait team who even sat down at a chair at our table to take our order :-) Definite place to visit while in town.

Completely and utterly funky. The staff, the food ... Very vibrant place, amazing decor and some of the best food I've ever tasted. Service is so friendly. One of the best meals I have had in my life. Excellent

LOVE this place! beautiful deco and pacific maori vibe. I love how each plate has its own butterfly piece. Blue kanu has a very interesting fusion menu and we absolutely loved the kokoda codfish creviche with chilli jam sorbet and rice crackers - MUST TRY DISH !! the flavors , textures and temperatures simply blew us away! We also had eel & pork dumpling, traditional Maori potato bread with avocado oil and for dessert we had the cardamom vanilla panna cotta with coconut marshmellow and lychee sorbet - again it was spectacular! highly recommended! :D

Of all the places to go in QT, go here! The ambience, food, drink and service were outstanding! Great for sharing with friends, family or dates as relatively affordable, tasty and not pretentious. If you are not into seafood, or trying something out of the box, maybe try somewhere else - but dont be scared off! Embrace the diversity. I promise everything is delicious!

Delicious. I have experienced the blue breeze inn many times in Auckland and this is certainly up there alongside it. The blue Kanu was cosy, exciting and the staff were superior. Highly recommend.

Friday night dinner here last week. We decided to trust the chef and boy was that a good idea. Every dish was a party in my mouth. The biggest surprise was the Maori bread. Epic flavor. Highly recommended. Couldn't take pics of the food cause of my not so good phone night cam.

This place is absolutely outstanding. A must dine. The smoked pork belly and the lamb curry is to die for. When I'm back in Queenstown I'll be sure to come back!

Purely and simply this is the best restaurant I have ever been to. The foods fantastic, service was excellent and the location is perfect. I can't big this place up enough. A must visit in Queenstown.