Think of Indian food and butter chicken is probably one of your first thoughts. Now don’t get us wrong, we love us that creamy goodness, but Indian food is so much more than that. So we've taken it upon ourselves to gorge upon the finest Indian Restaurants in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and compiled a guide to the most authentic (or close to) spots that will push your culinary boundaries and have you coming back for more.
From creamy kormas and crispy pakora to dry fire-breathing curries and fluffy biryani and in no particular order, here are Urban List's best Indian restaurants in Auckland.
Cassia At SkyCity
90 Federal Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Cassia at SkyCity | Facebook
Auckland’s culinary royalty, Sid Sahrawat has fused Indian cuisine and fine dining, and trust us, it’s nothing short of brilliant. Situated in SkyCity, Cassia has hit ‘modern Indian’ on the head via dishes such as pani puri. Cassia's version of this popular Indian snack comprises a crunchy flatbread shell stuffed with potatoes and chickpeas, which your waiter will fill tableside with a zingy, mint-laced sauce before instructing you to eat it immediately.
There are other classics such as the Goan lamb chops and the tandoori chicken lababdar to relish. Enjoy a cocktail like the Nectarine Sour with vodka, house-made nectarine jam, green chilli, egg whites and lemon, before finishing things off with a beautifully plated smash, chocolate-shell dessert filled with coffee, miso and almond, which is an absolute delight to look at and even more delightful to eat.
Desilicious
5/190 Stoddard Road, Mount Roskill, Auckland
An absolute hidden gem, this Indian eatery on Stoddard Road, Mount Roskill is a local favourite and has a cult following of its own. Known for serving up some of the most flavourful Indian meals in the area, Desilicious has quite the spread on offer.
We love the charcoal paneer, baingan bharta (spiced eggplant mash), Andra fry lamb, methi malai chicken (spinach cream chicken) and the kadai lamb. Keep an eye (and probably a fork) out for the Lahori fish fry, lamb boti tikka and the Mughlai tandoori chicken too.
They serve a variety of flatbreads but their chilli and garlic naan and paneer (cottage cheese) kulcha officially made it to our favourites. Sip on a hot cup of masala chai while you plan on your next visit, sooner rather than later we reckon.
Saravanaa Bhavan
51E Hobson Street, Auckland CBD
What if we told you that this underappreciated gem in the city is a part of one of the largest vegetarian restaurant chains in the world? Located on Hobson Street, Saravanaa Bhavan was founded in 1981 and serves some of the best Indian vegetarian and vegan dishes in the city.
Be prepared to wait, but once you’ve grabbed a table, dig into some piping hot dosas (savoury fermented crepes) with a variety of fillings, including a classic spicy potato. Dig into other favourites like the poori masala, fried fluffy whole wheat bread served with a flavourful potato masala curry or a plate of sambar vada–deep fried lentil doughnuts served with a lentil sambar (soup) and garnished with onions and coriander. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a Madras filter coffee or a strong masala chai.
Times Of India
21 Graham Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Times Of India | Urban List Anna Goh
This gorgeous restaurant is the brainchild of the owners of 1947. Times Of India boasts exquisite dishes straight from the Mughal kitchens and cocktails that will make sure you order another round. For an appetiser, opt for a classic samosa or a vada pav—a potato patty, dry red garlic coconut, tamarind chutney and green mint sauce—served in a slider bun.
Indulge in faves like dal makhani, where the lentils have been simmered for over 12 hours for a rich, complex flavour or some garlic malai (cream) chicken that's been loaded with spices and served with a refreshing mint chutney. End the meal with a sweet carrot halwa and you’ll be in a happy place.
Venky’s
535 Sandringham Road, Sandringham, Auckland
Nestled in Sandringham, this humble Indian restaurant serves up some classic South Indian delights. Unlike Sarvaana Bhavan, Venky’s is the go-to for meat lovers. Find the best chicken curry and Andhra-style egg curry made using boiled eggs and a spread of dosas and uttapams (savoury lentil crepes), along with some onion, potato or chilli fritters.
If it tickles your fancy, grab a Venky’s special combo meal that includes rice, flatbread, pappu or tomato dal, a vegetarian or chicken curry, sambar/rassam, yoghurt, pappad (also known as poppadom), Indian pickles along with lots of ghee and a sweet treat. Pro tip: there’s usually a considerable wait time, so we suggest you either skip the rush hours or call ahead.
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KOL
23 Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Image credit: KOL | Instagram
Located in the iconic two-story villa on the corner of Ponsonby Road and Hepburn Street, KOL, an Indian cocktail bar and tandoor eatery from none other than Sid and Chand Sahrawat, is an absolute dream.
Treat your taste buds to some boujee snacks such as the Amritsari prawn toast, served in a blend of aromatic spices, and the vindaloo fries, which are just devilishly moreish. For vegetarian friends, the grilled cabbage served with smoked tomato and the charred kumara drenched in a rizala sauce is equally as special.
If you’re looking for something a bit heartier, then the pork belly served with Goan chorizo will certainly hit the spot. Pair all that with a Wolof Punch, if you’re a fan of tropical flavours or the Agni- a smoky gin number served in a light bulb. Lastly, end your meal with a chocolate, mango and walnut pudding made up of brownie, chocolate mousse and a mango topping. Big yes.
Oh Calcutta
151 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland
It’s one of the snazzier Indian restaurants in town, but Parnell’s Oh Calcutta doesn’t mess around when it comes to top-notch service and next-level eats.
Oh Calcutta has been churning out mind-blowing Indian food for over 20 years in the form of prawn Malabari curry, Punjabi saag gosht and their Auckland-famous butter chicken. Their vegetarian curries are a meat-free dream and as for the naan, the chilli cheese creation is out of control.
Mumbaiwala
252 Ponsonby Road, Auckland
Image credit: Mumbaiwala | Urban List Wono Kim
This chic establishment is the perfect mix of rustic and boujee. At Mumbaiwala, start your meal with some iconic street food faves like the vada pav which is a crispy potato patty inside a hot bun with sweet and tangy chutney, or pav bhaji—a spicy vegetable gumbo served with toasted buttered pav (buns).
If you’re in the mood for more flavour, order a serving of the sev puri, which consists of flat puris (deep-fried discs) topped with diced potatoes, onions and various types of spicy seasonings and chutneys.
For the mains, we love the Parsi slow-cooked lamb curry with tomatoes, onion, jaggery and vinegar, garnished with crispy potato shreds. A vegetable Kolhapuri is a good choice if you’re vegetarian. Round off the meal with some coconut and cardamom kulfi (Indian ice cream) and roll out like a well-fed boss.
V.T. Station
73 Davis Crescent, Newmarket, Auckland
Image credit: V.T. Station | Instagram
With dishes sourced from Hyderabad, cutlery from England and handmade plates from across New Zealand, V.T. Station makes the diners’ experience a wondrous one. Find yourself enjoying the best of Indian food, right from pani puri to mutton pepper fry to lamb kebabs, meat curries, fresh flatbreads and so much more.
Our favourites are the Sikandari Shank Tawa Fish (hapuka served in a vibrant, spicy mouli sauce) and the Railway Chop (succulent cuts of slow-cooked lamb, served with the dreamy addition of curd topped with fried garlic).
Their dedicated cocktail menu continues with the travel theme (the whole restaurant is modelled on Mumbai's famous Victoria Terminus railway station after all), cleverly presented like a bunch of vintage postcards and featuring various concoctions.
Don't forget to end your meal with some gulab jamun—deep-fried dough balls doused in cardamom sugar syrup or the chef's selection of mango sorbet, to end the night on a sweet note.
Taste Of India
Karangahape Road & 407 Mount Eden Road, Auckland
This humble eatery dishes out some of the best Indian food in town. From Indo-Chinese (arguably a cuisine in its own right), delicacies from the tandoor, soups, salads and of course curries, Taste Of India does it all.
Start your meal with some vegetable fritters or a portion of the chicken malai kebab, wherein the meat is marinated in yoghurt, flavoured with herbs and spices and cooked in a tandoor. If you can handle your spice, grab yourself a plate of the chilli beef or prawns (we’d recommend a jug of water on the side too).
For the main course, lamb madras, mutton curry, chicken dahiwala (chicken cooked with yoghurt) and beef kadhai gosht are what you should have your eye on. They give free butter naan and rice with all their curries, talk about a tempting deal.
Olive
3088 Great North Road, New Lynn & 3 Red Hills Road, Massey, Auckland
Looking for some delish Indo-Nepali food to tantalise your taste buds? Olive’s got you covered. Find the best Momos AKA Nepali dumplings (also popular in Northern India), along with a variety of Indo-Chinese dishes that are guaranteed to have you coming back for more.
The crispy deep-fried chicken momos and the chilli momos are real crowd-pleasers, along with the tandoori prawns and Amritsari fish, both of which are flavoured with a mix of warm Indian spices and are next-level. If you’re feeling a curry, there's a bunch of those too. Opt for a kadhai chicken made with garam masala or a serving of some lamb rogan josh with a side of white rice, some papad and a simple salad. Hungry yet?
Satya South Indian Restaurant & Satya Chai Lounge
271 Karangahape Road, 17 Great North Road, Grey Lynn & 515 Sandringham Road, Sandringham, Auckland
With three restaurants dotted across the city, it’s no surprise that Satya is one of the best Indian restaurants in Auckland. Don’t expect a sickly sweet butter chicken here—Satya specialises in Southern Indian cuisine.
We’re absolute suckers for their Rajasthani dahi pure entrée of yoghurt, boiled potato, chickpeas and tamarind chutney followed by the Satya special chicken curry with multi-layered paratha. They’re also pros at the condiment game—mango chutney, hot pickles, cooling raita and crispy papadums. Is your mouth watering yet?
1947 Eatery
60 Federal Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: 1947 Eatery | Instagram
Fed Street stalwart 1947 Eatery brings an authentic but contemporary take on Indian cuisine. The menu boasts the most extravagant of foods such as the Wannabe Drumsticks or lollipop fried chicken served with a spicy Szechuan sauce.
We're also totally vibing with the lamb pepper fry, charcoal paneer and the Koh-e-Awad, a slow-cooked grass-fed lamb shoulder smothered in caramelised onion, cardamom and lamb stock.
Paradise
591 Sandringham Road, Sandringham, Auckland
Leading the Indian restaurant pack is Paradise, a bustling Sandringham takeaway and dine-in mecca with lines out the door—and for good reason, too. Their food has its roots in Hyderabad so expect lots of bold, vibrant flavours including a classic biryani, a super spesh chicken masala and an addictive spinach and cottage cheese dish called saag paneer.
Paradise also dabbles in Indian Chinese and their chilly chicken is sure to clear up your sinuses. Order lots of garlic or cottage cheese naan to mop it all up, along with a sweet halwa to extinguish any lingering flames.
Hyderabad Food Garage
73 Wakefield Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Hyderabad Food Garage | Facebook
This quirky, wildly colourful restaurant located in the heart of the city, is the perfect spot if you want to dine like royalty. Inspired by the Indian city of Hyderabad and its rich meat-based cuisine, Hyderabad Food Garage embodies everything you’d want it to.
Kickstart your meal with some lamb chops marinated with kasundi mustard and grilled in a tandoor and a plate of kadak seekh kebabs—lamb mince marinated with Indian spices, semi-grilled and tossed in butter.
Move onto the crowd favourite, a classic goat dum biryani—a rice dish made with succulent meat layered with fluffy rice, fragrant spices and fried onions. Pair with some rice or flatbread and wash it all down with some cumin limca— like a more astringent lemonade. Yum.
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Main image credit: Cassia at SkyCity | Facebook