Indian Pearl Restaurant

About Indian Pearl Restaurant

Indian Pearl Restaurant in Sydenham, Christchurch, brings authentic Northern Indian cuisine to life under owner and head chef Mr. Singh, who has over 25 years of experience behind the tandoor. The restaurant is known for its charcoal-grilled meats, freshly baked naan, and signature Pearl Special Chicken.

The menu covers a full range of lamb, seafood and vegetarian dishes, most of which are gluten free, and everything can be cooked mild, medium, or hot to suit individual taste. Diners can pair their meal with a New Zealand wine or bring their own.

Alongside its regular menu, Indian Pearl offers a Lunch Time Special menu covering many of its popular mains at a smaller, lunchtime-friendly serving, plus banquet options for groups and a delivery service across several Christchurch suburbs.

Indian Pearl Restaurant: Authentic North Indian Food in Sydenham, Christchurch

Indian Pearl Restaurant, in Sydenham, Christchurch, is run by owner and head chef Mr. Singh, who brings more than 25 years of experience behind the tandoor to the kitchen. That depth of experience shows through in the restaurant's approach to North Indian cuisine, built around charcoal-grilled meats, freshly baked naan, and a menu broad enough to suit almost any craving.

From the Tandoor

The tandoor is clearly central to how Indian Pearl cooks. Starters like Chicken Tikka, Tandoori Chicken, Tandoori Prawn, Malai Tikka and Fish Tikka all come from the charcoal grill, giving them a distinct smoky char that's hard to replicate any other way. The bread menu follows the same theme, with a full range of naan and tandoori breads baked fresh, including Keema Naan, Cheese Garlic Naan, Peshawari Naan and Tandoori Roti.

A Signature Worth Trying

Among the chicken mains, Pearl Special Chicken stands out as the restaurant's own named specialty, alongside familiar favourites like Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Korma and Chicken Vindaloo. Lamb gets equally thorough treatment, from Lamb Rogan Josh and Lamb Korma through to Saag Ghost and a Pearl Special Lamb preparation. For seafood lovers, the menu includes Goa Fish, Goa Prawn, Prawn Saag and a traditional Fish Curry, while the vegetarian mains cover everything from Malai Kofta and Palak Paneer to Dal Makhni and Bhindi Masala.

Built Around Choice

One thing Indian Pearl makes clear is that its food is meant to suit the diner, not the other way around. Most dishes are gluten free, and everything can be prepared mild, medium, or hot depending on preference. Diners are also welcome to bring their own wine to pair with their meal, or choose from a New Zealand wine on offer, giving a bit more flexibility than a typical set restaurant experience.

Lunch Specials and Banquets

Beyond the regular à la carte menu, Indian Pearl runs a Lunch Time Special menu, offering many of its popular mains — along with a few dishes unique to the lunch menu, like Chole Bhature, Tadka Dal, Amritsari Chole and Dry Aloo — in a smaller, lunchtime-friendly format. For groups and special occasions, a set Banquet menu, priced per person, is also available.

Ordering and Delivery

Indian Pearl offers a delivery service covering several Christchurch suburbs, including Sydenham, Somerfield, Spreydon, Beckenham, Opawa, Waltham, Addington and St Martins. The restaurant's hours differ slightly between lunch and dinner, and between weekdays and Saturday, so it's worth checking timing before ordering or booking a table. Indian Pearl is closed on Sundays.

Visiting Indian Pearl

Indian Pearl Restaurant is located at 352 Colombo Street, Sydenham, Christchurch, and can be reached by phone at +64 3-379 1863 or by email at [email protected]. Whether it's a quick lunch special, a full à la carte dinner, or a banquet for a group, Indian Pearl's menu and more than two decades of tandoor experience behind it make it a solid choice for North Indian food in Christchurch.

Signature items

• Pearl Special Chicken
• Tandoori Chicken
• Butter Chicken
• Malai Tikka
• Lamb Rogan Josh
• Garlic Naan

Menu

Bread

• Keema Naan — Naan stuffed with minced meat.
• Onion Kulcha — Leavened bread stuffed with onion.
• Aloo Prantha — Flatbread stuffed with spiced potato.
• Tandoori Roti — Wholewheat bread cooked in the tandoor.
• Tandoori Parantha — Layered flatbread cooked in the tandoor.
• Cheese Garlic Nan — Naan stuffed with cheese and garlic.
• Pesawri Nan — Naan stuffed with nuts and dried fruit.
• Plain Nan — Classic plain naan.
• Garlic Nan — Naan topped with garlic.
• Cheese Nan — Naan stuffed with cheese.
• Chicken Nan — Naan stuffed with chicken.

Seafood

• Prawn Jalfrezi — Prawns in a jalfrezi-style sauce.
• Prawn Do Payaza — Prawns cooked with a double onion base.
• Butter Prawns — Prawns in a creamy butter sauce.
• Prawn Masala — Prawns in a spiced masala sauce.
• Goa Fish — Fish cooked Goan-style.
• Goa Prawn — Prawns cooked Goan-style.
• Prawns with Veg Stir — Prawns stir-fried with vegetables.
• Fish Curry — Fish in a traditional curry sauce.
• Prawn Saag — Prawns cooked with spinach.

Banquets

• Banquet (Per Person) — A set banquet menu priced per person, suited to groups.

Starters

• Paneer Tikka — Grilled paneer starter.
• Vegetable Samosa — Pastry parcel filled with spiced vegetables.
• Aloo Tikki — Spiced potato patty.
• Onion Bhaji — Deep-fried spiced onion fritters.
• Vegetable Pakora — Deep-fried battered vegetables.
• Malai Tikka — Creamy marinated tandoori chicken.
• Chicken Tikka — Marinated, tandoor-grilled chicken pieces.
• Tandoori Chicken — Classic tandoor-roasted chicken.
• Tandoori Prawn — Tandoor-grilled prawns.
• Vegetarian Platter for One — A selection of vegetarian starters for one.
• Mixed Platter for One — A mixed selection of starters for one.
• Fish Tikka — Marinated, tandoor-grilled fish.
• Chicken Salad — Salad with chicken.
• Sarson ke Phool — A starter dish from the Indian Pearl menu.
• Samosa Chaat — Samosa topped with chaat-style garnishes.
• Tandoori Chicken Wings — Tandoor-grilled chicken wings.

Lamb Mains

• Lamb Kadai — Lamb cooked kadai-style with capsicum and onion.
• Lamb Do Payaza — Lamb cooked with a double onion base.
• Lamb Korma — Lamb in a mild, creamy korma sauce.
• Saag Ghost — Lamb cooked with spinach.
• Kache Mirch Ka Bhunna Lamb — Lamb cooked with green chillies.
• Lamb Jalfreze — Lamb in a jalfrezi-style sauce.
• Keema Peas — Minced lamb cooked with peas.
• Lamb Vindloo — Lamb in a hot, tangy vindaloo sauce.
• Lamb Rogan Josh — Lamb in a traditional rogan josh sauce.
• Lamb Madras — Lamb in a spicy Madras-style sauce.
• Pearl Special Lamb — A signature lamb preparation.
• Meatball In Curry Sauce — Lamb meatballs in curry sauce.
• Lamb Post — Lamb cooked with poppy seed sauce.

Side Dishes

• Mango Chutney — Sweet mango condiment.
• Poppadum — Crisp lentil wafer.
• Raita — Yoghurt-based side.
• Kuchumber — Fresh chopped salad.
• Mint Chutney — Fresh mint condiment.
• Mix Pickle — Mixed Indian pickle.
• Red Onion Slice — Sliced red onion side.
• Pearl's Special Salad — The restaurant's own salad preparation.

Soft Drinks

• Mango Lassi — Yoghurt-based mango drink.
• Orange Juice — Fresh orange juice.
• Coke / Sprite / Zero Coke — Soft drink options.
• Lemon Lime & Bitters / Ginger Beer — Soft drink options.

Chicken Mains

• Butter Chicken — Chicken in a creamy tomato-based sauce.
• Mango Chicken — Chicken cooked with mango.
• Chicken Tikka Masala — Tandoori chicken in a spiced masala sauce.
• Chicken Korma — Chicken in a mild, creamy korma sauce.
• Methi Chicken — Chicken cooked with fenugreek leaves.
• Pearl Special Chicken — The restaurant's signature chicken dish.
• Chicken Vindaloo — Chicken in a hot, tangy vindaloo sauce.
• Chicken Saag — Chicken cooked with spinach.
• Chicken Do Payaza — Chicken cooked with a double onion base.
• Chicken Jalferzi — Chicken in a jalfrezi-style sauce.
• Chicken Madras — Chicken in a spicy Madras-style sauce.
• Chicken Post — Chicken cooked with poppy seed sauce.
• Chicken Handi — Chicken cooked handi-style.
• Chicken Coconut Curry — Chicken in a coconut-based curry.
• Chicken Bhuna — Chicken cooked in a thick, bhuna-style sauce.
• Chicken Achaari — Chicken cooked with pickling spices.

Rice /Biryani

• Steamed Rice — Plain steamed rice.
• Peas Pulao — Rice cooked with peas.
• Vegetable Biryani — Biryani rice with mixed vegetables.
• Chicken Biryani — Biryani rice with chicken.
• Lamb Biryani — Biryani rice with lamb.

Lunch Specials

• Tadka Dal — Tempered lentil dish, available on the Lunch Time Special menu.
• Amritsari Chole — Amritsari-style chickpea curry, available on the Lunch Time Special menu.
• Dry Aloo — Dry-spiced potato dish, available on the Lunch Time Special menu.
• Chole Bhature — Chickpea curry served with fried bread, available on the Lunch Time Special menu.

Vegetarian Mains

• Malai Kofta — Vegetable and paneer dumplings in a creamy sauce.
• Mix Vegetables — Mixed vegetable curry.
• Aloo Gobi — Potato and cauliflower curry.
• Palak Paneer — Paneer in a spiced spinach sauce.
• Kadai Paneer — Paneer cooked kadai-style with capsicum and onion.
• Dal Makhni — Slow-cooked black lentils in a creamy sauce.
• Yellow Dal — Yellow lentil curry.
• Vegetable Jalfrezee — Mixed vegetables in a jalfrezi-style sauce.
• Channa Pindi — Spiced chickpea curry.
• Paneer Butter Masala — Paneer in a creamy tomato-based sauce.
• Potatoes With Mustard Seeds — Potatoes tempered with mustard seeds.
• Bhindi Masala — Okra cooked in a spiced masala.
• Paneer Bhurjee — Scrambled, spiced paneer dish.

Indochinese Must With Gluten

• Chili Chicken — Indo-Chinese style chilli chicken.
• Chili Paneer — Indo-Chinese style chilli paneer.
• Chicken Fried Rice — Fried rice with chicken.
• Cauliflower Manchurian — Indo-Chinese style cauliflower Manchurian.

Frequently asked questions

What are Indian Pearl's opening hours?

Monday to Friday, lunch 11:30am-2pm and dinner 5pm-9pm for pickup (dinner delivery runs 5pm-8pm). Saturday lunch 12pm-2pm and dinner 5pm-9pm. Closed on Sundays.

What is Indian Pearl known for?

Charcoal-grilled meats, freshly baked naan, and its signature Pearl Special Chicken.

Are dishes available gluten free?

Most dishes are gluten free.

Can I choose how spicy my meal is?

Yes, dishes can be cooked mild, medium, or hot.

Can I bring my own wine?

Yes, diners can bring their own wine, or choose a New Zealand wine from the restaurant.

Does Indian Pearl deliver?

Yes, to Sydenham, Somerfield, Spreydon, Beckenham, Opawa, Waltham, Addington and St Martins.

Is there a set menu for groups?

Yes, a Banquet menu priced per person is available.

Tips

• {"body":"It's the restaurant's own named signature chicken dish.","title":"Try the Pearl Special Chicken"}
• {"body":"Indian Pearl allows diners to bring their own wine to pair with their meal.","title":"Bring your own wine"}
• {"body":"Lunch and dinner run at different times, and hours differ slightly on Saturday, so check before visiting.","title":"Check lunch vs dinner hours"}
• {"body":"A smaller, lunchtime-friendly menu is available, including dishes like Chole Bhature and Amritsari Chole.","title":"Ask about the Lunch Time Special menu"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Most dishes are gluten free, and spice level can be adjusted to mild, medium or hot."}