GunPowder Indian Restaurant & Bar sits in the Prestons Shopping Centre on Prestons Road in Marshland, Christchurch, serving Indian food where age-old recipes meet a modern, distinctly Kiwi dining room. The name pays homage to the founders' past and to the explosive flavours they bring to the table — a promise kept by dishes like the spicy Gunpowder chicken and a slow-cooked butter chicken that locals can't stop talking about.
The restaurant was founded by Gautam, Sajal and Kay, whose story is rooted in the culinary traditions of Old Delhi, where recipes were treasured heirlooms passed down through generations. Gautam brings more than 14 years of cooking experience; Kay, from the Pacific Islands, spent 16 years in the military; and Sajal adds a fresh, new-generation perspective. It was a military connection that brought the three together, and that discipline still shows in the food. Within six months of opening, GunPowder had become a beloved fixture for locals and visitors alike.
In the kitchen, spices are roasted in-house and dishes are built on traditional techniques: curries from creamy butter chicken to fiery lamb vindaloo, tandoor classics like paneer tikka and seekh kebabs, fragrant biryani served with raita, and vegetarian and vegan options — including vegetable korma and chana masala — prepared separately so the flavours stay pure. Traditional desserts like gulab jamun and kulfi round things off.
There's a full bar with a cocktails list, modern interiors with subtle Indian elements, and warm, attentive hospitality. Group bookings and functions are welcomed with customised menus, gift cards are available, and takeaway and delivery make it easy to enjoy GunPowder at home.
Walking into GunPowder Indian Restaurant & Bar in the Prestons Shopping Centre, you get the sense that every dish really does have a story. This Marshland restaurant takes the culinary traditions of Old Delhi and gives them a thoroughly modern Christchurch setting — a contemporary dining room with subtle Indian touches, a lively bar, and a kitchen that roasts its spices in-house.
The name is no accident. Gunpowder pays homage to the founders' past and to the explosive flavours they bring to the table — a promise the menu keeps, from the fiery Gunpowder chicken to a butter chicken that locals can't stop talking about.
GunPowder's story begins decades ago in Old Delhi, where recipes were treasured heirlooms passed down through generations, each dish carrying the flavours of history and the warmth of home. Founders Gautam, Sajal and Kay carried those traditions to Christchurch. Gautam, with more than 14 years of cooking experience, is the culinary force behind the menu. Kay, from the Pacific Islands and a 16-year military veteran, brings the life experience and warmth that shapes the dining room. Sajal, newest to the journey, adds a fresh, new-generation flair.
It was a military connection that first brought the three together, and that background still shows — in the discipline, the camaraderie, and the commitment to delivering the best traditional food. Word travelled quickly: within six months of opening, GunPowder had become a beloved fixture for locals and visitors alike.
Everything starts with the spices, roasted in-house, and with fresh ingredients treated the traditional way. The signature butter chicken is slow-cooked to perfection: tender, marinated chicken simmered in a rich, creamy tomato gravy infused with bold Indian spices. It's the dish that has made GunPowder a takeaway favourite across Christchurch, and it pairs beautifully with fresh naan or rice.
Heat-seekers should head for the namesake Gunpowder chicken or the fiery lamb vindaloo. If you'd rather go gently, the lamb rogan josh — slow-cooked, tender and full of earthy spice — is a comforting middle ground. The tandoor adds its own theatre, turning out smoky paneer tikka, char-grilled chicken tikka and seekh kebabs, with sizzling platters made for sharing. Biryani arrives fragrant and layered, with cooling raita alongside.
Vegetarian and vegan diners are genuinely catered for here, not as an afterthought: vegetable korma, chana masala and other plant-based curries, with the chefs preparing these dishes separately so the flavours stay authentic and pure. And save room for dessert — gulab jamun or kulfi is the traditional way to finish.
GunPowder is as much about hospitality as it is about food. Reviews regularly mention the depth of flavour in every dish, the generous portion sizes, the friendliness of the staff and the clean, inviting space — and the team is happy to recommend dishes if you're torn. The modern interiors with subtle Indian elements work just as well for a quick weeknight curry as they do for date night, with the bar adding cocktails and even a flame-lit flourish to the evening.
It's also a natural place to gather. Group bookings are a specialty — birthdays, anniversaries and corporate events can all be arranged with customised menus, and the team will happily talk through dietary specifics and little extras to make the occasion memorable. Gift cards are available if you'd rather let someone else choose.
You'll find GunPowder at 11/436 Prestons Road in the Prestons Shopping Centre, Marshland — an easy stop after shopping or work. Hours run in two sessions: lunch from 11:30 am to 2 pm, then dinner from 4:30 pm, closing at 9 pm Sunday to Thursday and 9:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Two weekly rituals are worth planning around: all curries are 20% off every Wednesday, and a Family Feast lands every Sunday. If you'd rather eat at home, takeaway and delivery are both available, with online ordering through the restaurant's website.
Whether you're a Marshland local after a new favourite or a visitor working through Christchurch's dining scene, GunPowder delivers the essence of India one dish at a time — and, by all accounts, it's an experience worth repeating.