The best of
Wellington. Ranked.

1. #1

   Editor's Pick
   

   Baar Baar

   Modern Indian gastro bar in Hannahs Laneway — regional dishes paired with handcrafted cocktails, in the Eva Street site that was Shepherd until 2023.

   Local tip: The cocktail list is built to go with the food rather than sit beside it — order them together.

   1/5 Eva Street, Te Aro· See website

   Modern IndianCocktailsEditor's pick
   Maps ReviewsWebsite
2. #2
   

   Great India Restaurant

   $$

   Manners Street veteran — north Indian classics, generous portions and one of the more consistent kitchens in the CBD.

   Local tip: Order the lamb vindaloo with garlic naan.

   141 Manners Street, CBD· Doors open 11:45am

   North IndianCBDClassic
   Maps ReviewsWebsite
3. #3
   

   Masala Indian Restaurant

   $

   Long-running Te Aro curry house with a proper tandoor and a lunch trade that fills the room on weekdays.

   Local tip: Weekday lunch specials start at $13.99 — one of the better value plates in the CBD.

   12 Allen Street, Te Aro· Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30am–2:30pm

   TandoorLunch specialsTe Aro
   Maps ReviewsWebsite
4. #4
   

   Chaat Street

   North Indian street food on Willis Street — chaat, snacks and the sort of small plates the CBD was missing.

   Local tip: Lunch service is only Wednesday to Sunday, 12–2pm — a narrow window worth planning around.

   171 Willis Street, Te Aro· Lunch Wed–Sun 12–2pm

   Street foodChaatWillis St
   Maps ReviewsWebsite
5. #5
   

   Tulsi

   Cuba Street Indian restaurant with a long menu and a loyal following — the reliable Cuba Street curry option.

   Local tip: The butter chicken and the Tulsi Balti are the two dishes people order on repeat.

   135 Cuba Street, Te Aro· Lunch from 11:30am

   Cuba StButter chickenBalti
   Maps Reviews
6. #6
   

   Spice Valley

   $$

   Jackson Street curry house in Petone — biryani, korma and a menu that rewards ordering beyond the obvious.

   Local tip: Order the biryani or the fish korma. It opens later on Tuesdays — 5pm rather than 11:30am.

   205 Jackson Street, Petone, Lower Hutt· From 11:30am (Tuesdays from 5pm)

   PetoneBiryaniHutt Valley
   Maps ReviewsWebsite
7. #7
   

   Indian Alley

   Wakefield Street restaurant running a casual buffet alongside the à la carte menu — whole-spice meat curries are the strength.

   Local tip: The buffet is the cheap way in, but the whole-spice curries off the main menu are the better food.

   3/290 Wakefield Street, Te Aro· See website

   BuffetTe AroCurries
   Maps ReviewsWebsite
8. #8
   

   Kitchen Manthra

   South Indian kitchen in Avalon — the Hyderabadi end of the menu is what sets it apart from the city's north-Indian default.

   Local tip: Order the Hyderabadi dum chicken curry or the sheekh kebabs.

   1/935 High Street, Avalon, Lower Hutt· See website

   South IndianHyderabadiHutt Valley
   Maps ReviewsWebsite
9. #9
   

   Flavours of Rajasthan

   Herd Street restaurant cooking from Rajasthani royal-kitchen recipes — a regional menu you will not find elsewhere in the city.

   Local tip: Closed Tuesdays. The regional dishes are the point — the standard curries are beside it.

   3/22 Herd Street, Te Aro· Closed Tuesdays

   RajasthaniRegionalTe Aro
   Maps ReviewsWebsite
10. #10
    

    Riti Roti

    Karori Road Indian kitchen doing lunch and dinner for the western suburbs — roti, curries and a short, well-run menu.

    Local tip: Lunch only runs Wednesday to Friday; dinner starts at 4:30pm, earlier than most.

    92 Karori Road, Karori· Lunch Wed–Fri 11am–2pm; dinner from 4:30pm

    KaroriRotiLocal
    Maps ReviewsWebsite
11. #11
    

    Fiji Walla Khana

    Family-run halal kitchen on Adelaide Road — roti, puri and meat curries made fresh each day.

    Local tip: The roti and puri are made fresh daily — go at a meal time rather than the tail of the day.

    75 Adelaide Road, Mount Cook· See socials

    HalalFamily-runMount Cook
    Maps Reviews

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