Look, I tried so hard to behave – believe me, I really did. I even walked past Courtenay Place without stopping for butter chicken (mind you, I walked twice!). 

But then came the butter chicken, the naan, the lamb rogan josh. Let’s just say, I’m back to day one of my diet! 

You think you’ve had the perfect Indian food to break your diet for good but hear me out – I don’t think you’ve seen these gems yet. They’re all seriously good and worth the visit, and yes, they’re worth every cheat meal – at least once in a while!

1. Spice Paradise

This family-run establishment won us over with their consistently good food. We tried eating here both for lunch and dinner multiple times, and the flavours, portions, and quality ingredients remained the same.

Our favourite meal to grab here is their chicken tikka masala. It was perfectly aromatic and well-spiced – the yoghurt, garlic, and ginger really shone through.

For lighter meals, we’re obsessed with their garlic and cheese naan. Not many Indian places get it so perfectly as they do – soft, flavourful, and gooey.

Dishes are also available with adjustable spice levels, which we really appreciate. 

The service at the restaurant is fast and straightforward. Each of our visits here was during busy dinner hours and our meals still arrived within 10 minutes. But even if there were slight delays, it’s still an enjoyable experience, thanks to the Bollywood music.

The downside is that it doesn’t have the kind of ambience that will elevate your meal. The interior is plain and modest (though not run down). 

It doesn’t affect the service or food at all, but we know how the atmosphere can be a break or make for many foodies.

Top place for Indian food

“Top place to have Indian food. Really nice and good balance mix of spices. I think this restaurant is underrated in town.”

Harsha Thilakarathna | Google Reviews

Authentically spiced food

“Excellent authentically spiced Indian food. The madras and vindaloo dishes we ordered were clearly individually flavoured (not always the case in some retaurants) and very tasty. The garlic naan was good too.”

C Sutton | Google Reviews

2. Baar Baar

Service at Baar Baar is personalised, with staff often going above and beyond with requests. The service is fast too, though compared to other eateries, their turnaround is longer (considering they’re more on the higher end).

For those who love chicken, we think you’ll appreciate their Royal Trio – a presentation of 3 different chicken marinades served over charcoal in a clay pot. They’re all grilled to perfection, giving that balanced juiciness and smokiness.

If you want to sample various dishes though, you may want to get their platter of entrees. The shareable platter features lamb, prawns, fish, and chili chicken. Everything is delicious and well-cooked.

They also have plenty of vegetarian options on their menu, like the aubergine curry, which has a beautiful combination of spices. The cocktail and mocktail options are also enough to match any main meal. 

At a time when content is king though, we’re sad to note that their lighting makes it impossible to take nice photos of food. Other dishes are too expensive for our taste too, considering the servings aren’t that big.

Fine-tasting food 

“Writing this after having the most amazing food in Wellington. The place itself is cozy and the interior is really nice. Food is a fusion of flavours that is exquisitely fine in taste. I really love that dessert Paan Kulfi with Meetha Paan, sweet to minty absolutely a real treat. Will definitely comeback again to have a taste of their other dishes.”

Hani | Google Reviews

Tasty dishes

“One of my new favourite Indian restaurants in Wellington. Very tasty dishes, huge servings and quick and friendly service. I will be back.”

Cath Jacobs | Google Reviews

3. Great India Restaurant

Great India Restaurant has all the basics you’re looking for when it comes to a good restaurant. The service is fast and friendly, the prices are just right, and the ambience inside has that nice, homey feel.

The restaurant’s location on Courtenay Place puts it right in the heart of the city’s entertainment district. For many diners, this means convenience, accessibility, and a chance to tour the area after a meal.

The menu here is vast – guests can choose from over 60 Indian dishes, including British-Indian classics like butter chicken and lamb korma. There are also regional options such as Goan pork curry and samba masala made with venison.

To complete the experience, we love the little touches of this place. They have a nice hot towel service at the end of a meal, and the staff check in from time to time without being obtrusive.

Prices are affordable at $20 to $30. However, rice is not included in the main curries and comes at an extra cost. It may also be difficult to find parking nearby during busy hours, so coming early is advised.

Attentive staff 

“Absolutely wonderful experience . From welcoming staff who were attentive without being overbearing. Delicious food and a hot towel to finish. Made for a great meal and I’ll definitely be back.”

F Fitchett | Google Reviews

Fantastic service and excellent food

“Stopped in today for lunch. What a pleasant surprise.  Was greeted by the owner. Very welcoming.  The service was fantastic.  I had a Lamb korma with a roti and coconut rice. The food was excellent. The whole experience was great, right down to the hot towel hand out at the end of my meal.”

Mick | Google Reviews

4. Flavours Of Rajasthan

Overlooking the harbour, Flavours Of Rajasthan is ideal for that serene dining experience with a relaxing backdrop. Its tasteful decor really elevated the experience, making it ideal for families and couples alike.

What we appreciated the most was that they cater extensively to vegans and vegetarians. Although no dishes are explicitly labelled, most vegetarian items can be made vegan by omitting ghee, especially naan and curries.

By the way, they’re moving towards an entirely vegetarian menu, which is nice to keep in mind.

We love the authentic flavours in all of their meals, including favourites like dal bati churma, gatte ki sabji, and laal maas. Classics like the butter chicken and chicken biryani had perfect portions and spices too. 

Lunch specials range from $10 to $20 per person, so it’s definitely on the more affordable side. Plus, there’s ample free parking nearby, so it’s easy to secure a spot.

One thing we didn’t like, though, is the dining area. It can be uncomfortably warm on busy nights, as the ventilation struggles when full. We recommend arriving in less busy hours, usually in the afternoons, to avoid this.

Insane lunch specials 

“Insane lunch specials in an amazing location. The restaurant was a bit hot, but the food was solid and a complete steal. Naan were nicely toasted and brushed with ghee.”

Keith Van | Google Reviews

Rich and authentic flavours

“Had a wonderful lunch at this Indian restaurant! The flavors were rich and authentic, with just the right amount of spice. Every dish was cooked to perfection — especially the Rajasthani laal maans and daal bhaati. The service was warm and welcoming, and the atmosphere felt cozy and inviting. A perfect spot for anyone craving real Indian food. Highly recommend!”

Kapil Gulati | Google Reviews

5. Curry Pot Indian Restaurant

Curry Pot is best known in the area for its authentic and rich Indian cuisine. They specialise in South Indian dishes, so we have a lot of trust in the place when it comes to original Indian food preparation. 

We liked that they carry many signature dishes, including the butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, and chicken tikka masala. Each meal has a nice blend of spices, with heart portions that are enough to keep you full the whole day.

They have vegetarian options available too, including vegetarian curries and sides. It’s not as extensive, though you can make requests as you order to customise your meal.

Prices are fair and affordable too, with the average person spending only $10 to $20 per meal here. Plus, there are takeaway and delivery options in case you want to try the food but skip the dining experience altogether.

As we compiled our team’s experiences across visits though, we noticed some inconsistencies when it came to the food quality and taste. There are more good experiences than bad ones, but we still love to see more improvements.

Rich and perfectly spiced dishes

“Absolutely loved our dinner at Curry Pot! The flavors were authentic, rich, and perfectly spiced. We ordered the butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, and garlic naan — every bite was heavenly. The staff was super friendly and attentive, and the ambiance was warm and inviting. It’s now our go-to Indian restaurant in town!”

Manish Tyagi | Google Reviews

Delicious food and great portions

“Best Indian restaurant in Wellington, always recommend to family and friends. Delicious food and great portions! Great value, awesome service and nice ambiance! Would highly recommend 😊”

Vibhor Bhandari | Google Reviews

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