FuDog

Sometimes you want all the flavour of a fine-dining restaurant, without the fancy palaver that comes along with it. That’s why we’re in love with FuDog in Wānaka, where dinner is a fuss-free, fun and freakin’ delicious affair.

Wander down the unassuming alleyway, passing other laneway faves Fedeli and Federal Diner, and meet the canine guardian statues (a.k.a. FuDogs) beckoning you through the doors of their home. Like most of the best businesses in Wānaka, FuDog takes advantage of its beautiful setting — stunning views of the lake are best enjoyed from the outdoor patio or by a window in the downstairs or upstairs dining rooms. 

The eatery’s chef and co-owner, John, creates memorable dishes inspired by his lifetime joy of eating Asian cuisine and a year spent tasting the best of Japan. You may have also come across him cooking up a storm in the kitchens of Kika and Federal Diner. John’s vision is to bring white tablecloth establishments' cooking techniques and styles into a casual and super accessible setting.

FuDog is a destination for both low-key drinks and those in for some serious eating. Things change often here, depending on the season and the chefs’ latest food epiphanies, but a history of shared plates like Mongolian beef, whole steamed fish, house-made dumplings and fried cauliflower promise only more deliciousness to come. You’ll find a nice balance of vegetarian and meaty dishes to suit all.

Let’s backtrack to the drinking part because this is very worthy of a proper mention. Asian-inspired cocktails are blended with exciting ingredients like lychee, yuzu and Szechuan peppercorn, sake comes from the neighbouring Queenstown brewery Zenkuro, beer taps flow with a rotating selection of Ground Up craft brews, and wine comes straight from local vineyards. This is reimagined Asian fusion eating and drinking — happy days.