Cookai Japanese - Governors Bay

Was really looking forward to having dinner here last night only to turn up at 730pm and told we would have to be out by 8pm!! It’s crazy to me that you can close during the time most people are wanting to enjoy dinner.

Expensive dishes. Sushi/Sashimi quality very poor. Sushi rolls loose and fall apart, Nigiri rice on the other hand too solid. Sashimi cut irregularly and breaking up. The train is a great gimic, but it won't save the restaurants poor quality. If you want great Sushi, go to St Pierres.

I used to love Cookai so was pretty excited to check out the new spot in the crossing! Unfortunately Cookai just isn’t the same anymore. The first thing we noticed were the lights were suuuuuuper bright (not a big deal but some ambience is a bit nice when you’re having dinner). The food wasn’t great, the staff were hard to engage with, and it was very expensive for what we got. We were actually shocked at how much it was when we went to pay. Definitely wouldn’t go back. Bring back the OG Cookai!!!!

Wow! Cookai has moved to the Crossing and boasts a huge sushi train! Returning to the city to continue it's legacy in Christchurch. Full bar, amazing cocktails. Fresh hand made sushi by esteemed chefs.

If you relocating to new address you should update your detail and phone number. Called this number to booked a table for my partner's mum birthday, they did not inform us they are no longer Cookai. They still take the booking. Turn up to a Restaurant call Takumi, same address, even still have the sign of Cookai on the street view. Then they told us Cookai is moving to town and we can't use our entertainment voucher here. Menu changed, smaller portion. We got 4 small pieces of soft shell crab with mash potato and some kind of salsa sauce (worst and weird combination ever) absolutely no flavour. This used to be the dish that make me go to Cookai all the time. I know it is a bit unfair to comment on Cookai website but the new restaurant doesn't have fb or anything. So i thought i should put it on here to warn people who are thinking to go to the Cookai on Nelson street, Riccarton. THEY ARE TAKUMI NOW. Will visit new Cookai when it open in town, fingers crossed that i can have my favourite dishes again.