Looking for the best Indian restaurants in Tauranga? This guide covers dine-in restaurants and takeaways serving tandoori, butter chicken, biryani, Indo-Chinese dishes and plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free curries. You will find Indian food in Tauranga spread across Cameron Road, Otumoetai, Greerton and Pyes Pa, with Own Masala and Talk of India among the long-standing names.
1Own Masala
Own Masala is an Indian restaurant, bar and takeaway on Eleventh Avenue, founded in 2007 and run by chefs who use 20 to 30 spices sent from India in their dishes. It suits everyone from lunchtime takeaway customers to families booking a group table or a birthday function, with BYO wine welcome alongside the in-house list.
Services
- Dine-in lunch and dinner
- Takeaway with online ordering
- Home delivery within about 8 km of the restaurant
- Catering packages and catering menu
- Birthday parties, group bookings and functions
Highlights
- Founded in 2007
- Chefs with more than 23 years of experience
- Most curries are gluten-free, with dairy-free on request
- BYO wine alongside a licensed bar
Location & Contact
Name: Own Masala
Address: 175 11th Ave, Tauranga 3110
Phone: 07 571 8502
Website: ownmasala.co.nz
2Talk of India
Talk of India is an Indian restaurant at 356 Cameron Road in central Tauranga, serving tandoori dishes, curries such as rogan josh and chicken tikka masala, and fresh naan from the tandoor. It works well for a sit-down dinner, a quick weekday lunch or a takeaway, and the restaurant also hosts birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations.
Services
- Dine-in lunch and dinner with table reservations
- Takeaway with online ordering
- Indo-Chinese dishes alongside the Indian menu
- Rice and biryani dishes
- Birthday, anniversary and celebration bookings
Highlights
- Separate lunch, dinner, takeaway and drinks menus
- BYO wine
- Free parking and free wifi
- Wheelchair accessible
- Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options
Location & Contact
Name: Talk of India
Address: 356 Cameron Road, Tauranga 3110
Phone: 07 578 7360
Website: talkofindia.co.nz
3Great Spice Tandoori Indian Restaurant & Bar
Great Spice opened on Bureta Road in Otumoetai in 2015 and is a fully licensed Indian restaurant and bar run by chef Khem Aryal and his family. The menu runs from thalis, Amritsari kulcha and goat curry to tandoori prawns and a tandoori chicken salad, and the team also caters weddings, corporate events and birthday parties.
Services
- Dine-in and takeaway, with online ordering
- Lunch combos and thali plates
- Catering menu and catering packages
- Function hosting for weddings, birthdays and corporate events
Highlights
- Open on Bureta Road since 2015
- Fully licensed, with BYO wine also available
- Free parking outside the door
- Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options
Location & Contact
Name: Great Spice Tauranga
Address: 4/44 Bureta Road, Otumoetai, Tauranga 3110
Phone: 07 570 2244
Website: greatspicetauranga.co.nz
4Castle 91 Indian Restaurant
Castle 91 is an Indian restaurant and takeaway on Cameron Road in Greerton, cooking made-to-order dishes for dine-in and takeaway customers. It is fully licensed and BYO, with wines, bottled beers, cocktails and mocktails on offer, and it also handles outdoor catering for events.
Services
- Dine-in lunch and dinner
- Takeaway
- Online table bookings
- Outdoor catering in Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland
Highlights
- Fully licensed and BYO
- Cocktails and mocktails alongside wine and beer
- Open seven days for lunch and dinner
Location & Contact
Name: Castle 91 Indian Restaurant
Address: 1339 Cameron Road, Greerton, Tauranga
Phone: 07 543 3191
Website: castle91.co.nz
5Grace of India
Grace of India is an Indian restaurant, bar and takeaway in Pyes Pa, with a second branch in Tauriko. Its menu takes in South Indian food, Indo-Chinese dishes, biryanis and both vegetarian and meat entrées, and it delivers to nearby suburbs including Greerton, Ohauiti and Welcome Bay.
Services
- Dine-in, takeaway and online ordering
- Delivery to Pyes Pa, Greerton, Ohauiti, Bayfair, Welcome Bay and The Lakes
- South Indian and Indo-Chinese dishes
- Catering for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and corporate events
Highlights
- Branches in Pyes Pa and Tauriko
- Fully licensed, with BYO available
- Wheelchair accessible, with free parking
- Open seven days from 11am
- Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options
Location & Contact
Name: Grace of India
Address: 4/83 Pyes Pa Road, Pyes Pa, Tauranga 3112
Phone: 07 925 0400
Website: graceofindia.co.nz
Indian Restaurants in Tauranga at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Own Masala | Founded in 2007 |
| Talk of India | Separate lunch, dinner, takeaway and drinks menus |
| Great Spice Tandoori Indian Restaurant & Bar | Open on Bureta Road since 2015 |
| Castle 91 Indian Restaurant | Fully licensed and BYO |
| Grace of India | Branches in Pyes Pa and Tauriko |
How to Choose the Right Indian Restaurant in Tauranga
- Dine-in or takeaway: some kitchens focus on sit-down dining with a bar, others on quick lunch combos and delivery. Check whether you can order online or book a table.
- Dietary needs: many Indian dishes are naturally gluten-free, but ask how the kitchen handles dairy-free, vegan and allergy requests before you order.
- Regional style: North Indian tandoori and curry menus are the norm, while some restaurants add South Indian dishes, thalis or Indo-Chinese options.
- Drinks and BYO: check whether the restaurant is licensed, BYO or both, and what corkage applies.
- Location and delivery range: pick a restaurant close to your part of the city, or one that delivers to your suburb.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tauranga Indian Restaurants
Can I get Indian takeaway delivered in Tauranga?
Yes. Many Indian restaurants in Tauranga take online orders for pickup, and several run their own delivery within a set distance of the restaurant, usually with a minimum order and a small delivery fee. Check the restaurant’s own site for the suburbs it covers.
Where can I find an Indian restaurant near me in Tauranga?
Cameron Road is the main strip, running from the city centre through Gate Pa to Greerton. There are also Indian restaurants in Otumoetai on Bureta Road and in Pyes Pa and Tauriko on the south-western side of the city, so most suburbs are within a short drive of an Indian restaurant.
Are Indian restaurants good for gluten-free diners?
Often, yes. Many curries are thickened without flour, though naan and some entrées contain gluten. Always tell staff about an allergy when ordering. New Zealand Food Safety explains how food businesses should handle allergen information.
Do Tauranga Indian restaurants offer vegetarian and vegan food?
Indian cooking has a deep vegetarian tradition, so dishes such as dal makhani, paneer curries, vegetable korma and samosas are standard on most menus. Vegan versions are often available on request, since many curries can be made without cream or ghee.
Can I bring my own wine to an Indian restaurant?
Many Indian restaurants in Tauranga are BYO, and some are also fully licensed with a bar. Expect a per-bottle corkage charge, and check the restaurant’s site or call ahead before you bring a bottle.
Do Indian restaurants cater for weddings and events?
Yes. Catering is common, with set packages for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and corporate functions, and some restaurants will host a group booking in-house. Book early for large events and ask about dietary options for your guests.
What should I order at an Indian restaurant for the first time?
Butter chicken or a korma is a mild starting point, with garlic naan and basmati rice on the side. For something with more heat, try a rogan josh, vindaloo or a tandoori mixed platter, and ask the kitchen to adjust the spice level to suit you.
How We Chose the Best Indian Restaurants in Tauranga
Every business in this guide was found by searching for indian restaurants in Tauranga, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Tauranga, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.