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    Kohan Japanese Restaurant

    3.9 (25 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Kohan Japanese Restaurant Photos

    KOHAN JAPANESE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Kohan Japanese Restaurant

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    Salmon Donburi
    Glen P.

    Me and my friends did some traveling around the south island and when we came to Tekapo they said this was the spot to go while here. The city is super small though, and there weren't very many restaurants so I thought maybe it's good because it's kinda all they got here lol.. But I was wrong! This place was amazing! My entire friend group was Asian so I was definitely trusting their judgement here haha The menu has a good amount of items but the popular item to get and what I would recommend is the Salmon Donburi. It comes with a little soup to go with it which was needed since it was like -5 degrees Celsius outside! California did not adequately prepare me for the cold New Zealand winter nights lol. So how was the meal? Incredible! First bite was so fresh and clean, the salmon was soft and kinda buttery like and with the fish roe it gave a perfect bite. Heaven! I swear I wish there was a restaurant where I could order only fish roe in bowl, is that weird? You can get regular sushi rolls as well as Sashimi and another popular item is their bento boxes. But I would still say get the salmon don. The price currently is $26nzd($17usd) which is totally fair for the quality you get. And you're definitely gonna want to make a reservation before you go even if you're not in a big group like I was. They get really crowded all day long and you be glad you did when you walk right past the line. This was a top 5 meal for me and I spent 1 year+ in NZ, so you know it must be good. If I ever visit the country again this will surely be on my to do list. 5 stars!

    Agedashi tofu
    Josy A.

    The salmon donburi (and the tekapo sushi) we had a Kohan was one of the best things I ate in New Zealand. Seriously. That salmon was so good that we even considered going out of our way to come back here for lunch. I heard a lot of Japanese while we stayed at lake Tekapo. I guess that explains why there is such a decent Japanese restaurant in the middle of nowhere!? The staff are friendly and helpful and the views are amazing. Seriously, just come here and order that salmon! **The reason I am only giving 4 stars is we didn't order the salmon and sushi first. We also tried salmon sashimi, agedashi tofu and tempura. These were not quite as impressive so I am really glad we ordered those last two dishes! The fried dishes were not on the same level as the sushi and donburi.**

    Lunch Bento Box
    Simon G.

    Make sure you stop by Kohan for a meal, but especially their lunch box bentos which are absolutely value for money. All their food are great, but in particular, this region has the freshest salmon ever. By fresh, I mean that you needt o eat it raw! If you can't handle that, then the teraki salmon dish is great too! The bento box is the most popular. People from Christchurch drive 3 hours here to enjoy the lake and Kohan. I was one of those who that day regularly!!! A heads up, Japanese usually have very very nice presentations. Kohan's meals are more basic, not ugly, just simple and natural, like NZ. So don't let the looks fool you!

    This was just ok. I'd skip it because the chicken was over battered. Get the sushi. It's what they're known for.
    Diana J.

    This place is amazing. How on earth it landed across the way from Lake Tekkapo all the way in New Zealand boggles my mind. The sushi plate was one of the best I've had - fatty and fresh. Of course their fish swims in glacier water. No wonder it has a taste like no other. Better than what I've had in Tokyo & at a much affordable price. We walked in without a reservation and had to wait about 20 mins on a Wednesday night. They have a queue on the side that moves along for those who forgot/couldn't get a reservation. Also plenty of parking. What a gem. Can't recommend it enough.

    Salmon sashimi and Tekapo roll
    Esther S.

    SALMON DONBURI! :) My Asian stomach was so happy. After a week or so in NZ, this was perfect. Fresh fish, yummy omelette. It's not a beautiful Japanese restaurant by any means, but it's good!

    A dessert worth a photograph. Tempura bananas with green tea ice cream and candy floss.

    Hadn't been here for about eight years and was thrilled to find the welcoming service and good food still available. Kohan is Extremely busy catering for a large number of tourists each night so would recommend you book. Loved the local Salmon served in a number of different delicious ways.

    Environment :)
    Angel D.

    Once you walked in, you almost feel you are in Japan. Most settings are quite like Japan, especially the chairs. A lot of choice for lunch, bento box and lunch set. Strongly recommend is the sashimi set, since it is so close to the Salmon Farm. You wouldn't regret.

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    3 years ago

    Authentic ramen noodles. Quite a selection to choose from. Also loved the dessert mochi and green tea ice cream....good eats!

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Big place, good for groups. The JFC (Japanese Fried Chicken) and the salmon options are really good. View is also good as was service.

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    Review Highlights - Kohan Japanese Restaurant

    Pricing is also very competitive for Tekapo; you won't find a better value to quality ratio.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Kohan Japanese Restaurant - japanese - Updated May 2026

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