Indian Zaika is an Indian restaurant in Merivale, Christchurch, located right across from Merivale Mall. "Zaika" means taste, and the restaurant is led by a head chef with more than 22 years of experience in Indian cooking, having worked in numerous 7-star hotels in India and several restaurants in New Zealand before starting Indian Zaika.
Dishes are cooked slowly using a combination of tandoor and open flame cooking, with fresh, local ingredients and aromatic spices such as turmeric, coriander, garam masala, cloves, black pepper and ginger, chosen according to season. The restaurant describes itself as a premium, ambient and quiet dining space, popular for family lunches and dinners, and also offers takeaway and online ordering.
Indian Zaika sits in the heart of Merivale, Christchurch, right across from Merivale Mall, and describes itself as a premium, ambient and quiet dining restaurant — a spot the team says is a must-visit for family lunches and dinners.
The restaurant's name is its philosophy: Zaika means taste, and that's what the team says they've put together for guests. The kitchen is led by a head chef with more than 22 years of experience in Indian cooking, having worked in numerous 7-star hotels in India as well as several restaurants in New Zealand before opening Indian Zaika in Merivale. His stated goal in starting the restaurant was simple — to give customers a welcoming, tasty treat of Indian food every time they visit.
Indian Zaika's curries and naans are cooked slowly using a combination of tandoor and open flame cooking. The kitchen builds its dishes around fresh and local ingredients, paired with aromatic spices including turmeric, coriander, garam masala, cloves, black pepper and ginger. Fresh and dried herbs are chosen according to the season, an approach the restaurant says produces "magical melt in your mouth medleys."
Among the dishes the restaurant highlights, Butter Chicken and Garlic Naan are called out specifically as mouth-watering choices worth trying — a pairing that reflects the kitchen's focus on rich curries alongside fresh-baked bread.
Beyond sit-down dining, Indian Zaika offers lunch and dinner takeaways, along with online ordering for those who'd rather enjoy the food at home. The restaurant also takes table reservations for guests who want to plan ahead for a family lunch or dinner in the dining room.
Indian Zaika serves lunch from 11:00am to 2:00pm, though the kitchen is closed for lunch on Mondays, and dinner from 5:00pm to 10:00pm, seven days a week. Located on Papanui Road in Merivale, the restaurant is easy to find opposite Merivale Mall, making it a convenient stop for a curry whether dining in, taking away, or ordering online.