Satya Chai Lounge & South Indian Restaurant

restaurant — Sandringham · Auckland

About Satya Chai Lounge & South Indian Restaurant

Satya Chai Lounge & South Indian Restaurant sits at 515 Sandringham Road, combining two sides of the Satya Group under one roof: a South Indian restaurant serving South and North Indian curries, and a Chai Lounge serving bar snacks, street food and craft beer. Satya began as simple, homely Indian food started by Swamy and Padmaja Akuthota in 1999, with Southern Indian delicacies including dosas and idlis served alongside traditional curries.

The restaurant side serves dishes like butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, kormas, biryani, dosa and idli, alongside street food and chaat such as dahi puri and pani puri. The Chai Lounge side serves bar snacks including kurryage, chicken 65, paneer 555 and masala chai, along with craft beers.

On weekends, Satya Sandringham runs an unlimited vegetarian buffet from 9am, covering a wide spread of South Indian dishes. Satya is a multi-award-winning, operating for over 21 years, and caters for large group birthday celebrations, catering, dine-in, takeaways, delivery and wedding services, with a 100% Halal guarantee on meat served across the group. This location does not offer BYO.

Satya Chai Lounge & South Indian Restaurant: Sandringham's Two-in-One Indian Dining

Satya Chai Lounge & South Indian Restaurant occupies 515 Sandringham Road, combining two distinct sides of the Satya Group's hospitality business in one location - a South Indian restaurant and a Chai Lounge.

A Story Going Back to 1999

Satya began as simple, homely Indian food, started by Swamy and Padmaja Akuthota. Southern Indian delicacies including dosas and idlis were served alongside traditional curries, and that founding approach still underpins the group's menu today, over 21 years later.

Two Menus, One Address

On the restaurant side, Satya Sandringham serves South and North Indian curries like butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, kormas and biryani, alongside South Indian staples like dosa and idli, and street food chaat such as dahi puri and pani puri. The Chai Lounge side of the venue runs a different menu built around bar snacks - kurryage, chicken 65 and paneer 555 - alongside masala chai and craft beers, styled as New Zealand's original street food dhaba concept across the wider Satya Group.

Weekend Buffet

On Saturdays and Sundays from 9am, Satya Sandringham runs an unlimited vegetarian buffet. The spread covers dosa, uthapam, idli, dahi vada, sambar, coconut and ginger chutney, gun powder, aloo paratha, rice and lemon rice, fresh vegetable curry, curd rice, papadam, curd chilli, ice cream and ghee - a genuinely broad South Indian vegetarian spread in one sitting.

Halal and Group Dining

Across the Satya Group, all meat served is covered by a 100% Halal guarantee. The Sandringham location, combining the restaurant and Chai Lounge, offers a combined seating capacity of around 140 guests across both spaces, making it a genuine option for larger group bookings, birthday celebrations and catering, alongside dine-in, takeaway, delivery and wedding services. This location does not offer BYO.

Part of a Wider Group

Satya operates several venues across Auckland - South Indian restaurants in Ponsonby, Sandringham and Mt Eden, Chai Lounges on K Road and in Sandringham, and the GG bar on K Road for cocktails, mocktails and rare wines. The group has been recognised with multiple awards over its more than two decades in Auckland hospitality.

Hours and Booking

Satya Sandringham and its Chai Lounge are open Monday from 9am to 10pm, Tuesday from 12pm to 10pm, and Wednesday through Sunday from 9am to 10pm. Tables can be booked online for either the restaurant or the Chai Lounge, and the weekend buffet has its own booking link.

Finding Satya Sandringham

Satya Chai Lounge & South Indian Restaurant is at 515 Sandringham Road, Sandringham, Auckland. For a mix of South Indian curry classics, street food chaat, Chai Lounge bar snacks and a weekend vegetarian buffet, this Sandringham location covers both sides of what Satya does under one address.

Signature items

  • Butter Chicken
  • Lamb Rogan Josh
  • Biryani
  • Dosa
  • Chicken 65
  • Masala Chai

Menu

Drinks

  • Craft Beers — Available at the Chai Lounge

Street Food & Chaat

  • Dahi Puri — Street food chaat
  • Pani Puri — Street food chaat

Chai Lounge Bar Snacks

  • Kurryage — Bar snack
  • Chicken 65 — Bar snack
  • Paneer 555 — Bar snack
  • Masala Chai — Spiced tea

South & North Indian Curries

  • Butter Chicken — North Indian curry
  • Lamb Rogan Josh — North Indian curry
  • Kormas — North Indian curry
  • Biryani — Rice dish
  • Dosa — South Indian classic
  • Idli — South Indian classic

Weekend Unlimited Vegetarian Buffet (Sat & Sun From 9am)

  • Dosa — Buffet item
  • Uthapam — Buffet item
  • Idli — Buffet item
  • Dahi Vada — Buffet item
  • Sambar — Buffet item
  • Coconut Chutney — Buffet item
  • Ginger Chutney — Buffet item
  • Gun Powder — Buffet item
  • Aloo Paratha — Buffet item
  • Rice — Buffet item
  • Lemon Rice — Buffet item
  • Fresh Vegetable Curry — Buffet item
  • Curd Rice — Buffet item
  • Papadam — Buffet item
  • Curd Chilli — Buffet item
  • Ice Cream — Buffet item
  • Ghee — Buffet item

Frequently asked questions

What are the opening hours?
Monday 9am-10pm, Tuesday 12pm-10pm, Wednesday to Sunday 9am-10pm.
Is there a weekend buffet?
Yes, an unlimited vegetarian buffet runs Saturday and Sunday from 9am, covering dosa, idli, curries, rice dishes and more.
Is BYO allowed?
No, this location does not offer BYO.
Is the food halal?
Yes, the Satya Group provides a 100% Halal guarantee on all meat served.
What's the difference between the restaurant and Chai Lounge here?
The restaurant serves South and North Indian curries and South Indian classics; the Chai Lounge serves bar snacks like chicken 65, masala chai and craft beers.
Can I book for a large group?
Yes, the combined Sandringham venue has capacity for around 140 guests, suited to catering and group celebrations.
How do I contact Satya Sandringham?
By phone on 09 845 8451.

Tips

  • {"body":"Unlimited vegetarian buffet runs Saturday and Sunday from 9am.","title":"Try the weekend buffet"}
  • {"body":"Bring cash or card for drinks rather than your own alcohol.","title":"No BYO at this location"}
  • {"body":"The restaurant and Chai Lounge sides have different menus at the same address.","title":"Explore both menus"}
  • {"body":"Combined seating capacity is around 140 guests, good for celebrations and catering.","title":"Book ahead for groups"}

Good to know

  • {"dietary":"100% Halal guarantee on all meat served across the Satya Group"}