The Gulf - Indian Bistro | Gulf Harbour

About The Gulf - Indian Bistro | Gulf Harbour

The Gulf Indian Bistro is a welcoming neighbourhood restaurant located on Gulf Harbour Drive, serving the Whangaparāoa community with authentic, freshly prepared Indian cuisine alongside crowd-pleasing Kiwi family favourites. Crafted with aromatic spices and fresh ingredients, the kitchen offers everything from traditional tandoori dishes, slow-cooked curries, and fragrant biryanis to pizzas, pastas, and burgers.

Whether dropping by for dinner with the family, catching the breeze on the outdoor seating area during a sunny afternoon, or ordering takeaway online, guests are treated to generous portions and friendly hospitality. With a fully licensed bar, dedicated kids' selections, and a broad range of vegetarian and meat specialties, it provides a relaxed and satisfying dining destination for locals and visitors alike.

The Gulf Indian Bistro: Waterfront Comfort Dining in Gulf Harbour

Located on Gulf Harbour Drive along the scenic Whangaparāoa Peninsula, The Gulf Indian Bistro has established itself as an essential dining retreat for locals and visitors alike. Taking pride in delivering genuine hospitality and authentic flavours, the bistro brings together the fragrant culinary heritage of North India alongside a broad menu of family-friendly Kiwi bistro classics. It is a warm, unpretentious spot where community gatherings, relaxed family dinners, and mid-week takeaways fit comfortably under one roof.

From the moment you step through the doors, the atmosphere carries the welcoming aroma of charcoal and freshly toasted whole spices. The kitchen places strong emphasis on freshness and traditional cooking techniques, anchoring the menu around tandoor-roasted meats, long-simmered sauces, and hot breads pulled fresh from the clay oven.

Tandoori Flavours and Classic Curries

The heart of the kitchen lies in its extensive curry and tandoori repertoire. Diners seeking authentic subcontinental depth will find staples like creamy Butter Chicken, spicy Roganjosh, and rich Korma, each slow-cooked with balanced spice profiles that let individual ingredients shine. Those who appreciate homestyle regional specialties can dive into the Chef's Special selection, featuring tender Goat Curry on the bone and hearty Dal Ghosh simmered slowly with lentils, fresh ginger, and coriander.

Vegetarians are equally well catered to, with North Indian classics such as Palak Paneer, slow-simmered Dal Makhni, and handmade Malai Kofta dumplings swimming in a delicate cashew nut gravy. To accompany the mains, the tandoor turns out an impressive roster of flatbreads, ranging from flaky Laccha Paratha to Garlic, Chilli, and Cheese Naans that arrive blistered, crisp, and pillowy soft.

Global Comfort and Kiwi Family Favourites

Recognising that dining out with the entire family often means catering to different palates, The Gulf Indian Bistro expands beyond traditional curries. The menu features an enticing Indo-Chinese selection featuring Hakka Noodles and fiery Chilli Chicken, as well as an eclectic list of pizzas, gourmet burgers, and pasta dishes. Inventions like the Butter Chicken Pizza and Butter Sauce Loaded Fries offer a playful, satisfying crossover that has earned a devoted local following.

Children have their own dedicated meal options, including kid-friendly butter chicken with baby naan, chicken nuggets, and mini cheese pizzas, making the restaurant a hassle-free destination for parents. Whether you pull up a chair outside to catch the summer sea breeze or settle in for an evening with a cold beverage from the fully licensed bar, the team ensures a warm and attentive neighbourhood experience.

Signature items

• Butter Chicken Boneless
• Goat Curry with Bone
• Garlic & Cheese Naan
• Butter Sauce Loaded Fries
• Chicken Biryani
• Butter Chicken Pizza

Menu

Pasta

• Arrabbiata (White Sauce) — Pasta tossed in a creamy, mildly spiced white sauce.
• Spaghetti (Red Sauce) — Classic spaghetti pasta served in a rich, seasoned tomato sauce.

Pizza

• Margherita Pizza — Classic tomato sauce base topped with cheese and fresh basil.
• Chicken Tikka Pizza — Tandoori chicken tikka pieces, onions, capsicum, and cheese.
• Indian Style Pizza — Pizza topped with chef's specialty spiced vegetables or spiced meat.
• Butter Chicken Pizza — Creamy butter chicken sauce, tender chicken pieces, and mozzarella cheese.
• Chicken Cranberry Pizza — Grilled chicken pieces paired with sweet cranberries and melted cheese.
• Meat Fest Pizza — A hearty, spicy mix of chicken tikka, seasoned beef, and lamb.
• Seafood Pizza — Topped with a flavorful medley of seafood and cheese.
• Vegetarian Pizza — Loaded with fresh seasonal vegetables and melted cheese.
• Funghi Pizza — Topped with mushrooms, rich truffle oil, and cheese.
• Polo Pizza — Topped with cheese, chicken, sundried tomatoes, capsicum, and spinach.

Sides

• Raita — Cooling spiced yogurt condiment with cucumber and herbs.
• Jeera & Peas Rice — Aromatic basmati rice cooked with cumin seeds and green peas.
• Mushroom Rice — Fragrant basmati rice tossed with sauteed mushrooms.
• Mango Chutney — Sweet and tangy preserve made from mangoes and spices.
• Mixed Pickle — Traditional zesty and spicy Indian vegetable pickle.

Entree

• Papadom — Crispy, seasoned lentil wafers.
• Samosa — Spiced potato-filled pastry.
• Samosa Chaat — Spiced potato-filled pastry topped with chutneys and yogurt.
• Onion Bhaji — Crispy, spiced onion fritters.
• Shami Kebab — Lamb or beef cooked with chickpea flour, onion, ginger, garlic, green chilli, and spices.
• Malai Chicken Tikka — Boneless chicken pieces cooked with ginger, garlic, green chilli, cream cheese, coriander stems, and cardamom.
• Garlic Chicken — Boneless chicken cooked with black pepper, garlic, oyster sauce, soy sauce, onion, spices, and herbs.
• Garlic Prawn — Prawns cooked with black pepper, garlic, oyster sauce, soy sauce, onion, spices, and herbs.
• Chicken Tikka — Boneless chicken pieces marinated with white pepper, ginger, garlic paste, spices, herbs, and yogurt.
• Hariyali Chicken — Boneless chicken pieces coated in a green sauce made with coriander and mint, cooked with ginger, garlic, and spices.
• Tandoori Chicken — Bone-in chicken marinated with white pepper, ginger, garlic paste, spices, herbs, and yogurt, roasted in the charcoal tandoor.

Salads

• Chicken Caesar Salad — Tender chicken, crisp lettuce, parmesan cheese, crunchy croutons, and Caesar dressing.
• Chicken Tikka Salad — Spiced tandoori chicken tikka served on a bed of fresh mixed greens.
• Fresh Garden Salad — A crisp mix of fresh seasonal vegetables and leafy garden greens.

Dessert

• Chocolate Fudge Cake — Rich and indulgent chocolate fudge cake.
• Gulab Jamun with Ice Cream — Warm, sweet milk-solid dumplings served alongside cool ice cream.
• Ice Cream — Choice of vanilla, chocolate, or pistachio ice cream scoops.
• Carrot Halwa — Traditional warm dessert made from grated carrots, milk, nuts, and cardamom.

Kids Menu

• Chicken Nuggets and Fries — Golden chicken nuggets served with crunchy fries.
• Fish Nuggets and Fries — Crisp fish nuggets served with golden fries.
• Kids Butter Chicken / Mango Chicken — Mild butter chicken or mango chicken served with rice and baby naan.
• Kids Chicken Burger — Kid-sized chicken burger served with fries.
• Kids Cheese Pizza — Simple baked pizza topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese.

Indo-Chinese

• Chilli Chicken — Boneless chicken pieces with onions, bell peppers, garlic, chilli sauce, soy sauce, and vinegar.
• Chicken Chopsuey — Boneless stir-fry chicken with onions, carrot, cabbage, celery, bok choy, oyster sauce, and sesame oil.
• Chicken 65 — Boneless chicken marinated with spices, yogurt, egg, coriander, and curry leaves.
• Chicken Manchurian — Boneless chicken pieces cooked with garlic, ginger, tomato sauce, soy sauce, and spring onion.
• Fried Rice — Stir-fried rice cooked with garlic, ginger, chilli, and soy sauce, available with chicken, vegetables, paneer, prawn, or egg.
• Hakka Noodles — Stir-fried noodles with cabbage, carrot, capsicum, celery, spring onion, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce, available with chicken, vegetables, paneer, or prawns.

Biryani Bites

• Chicken Biryani — Fragrant spiced basmati rice layered with seasoned chicken.
• Lamb Biryani — Fragrant basmati rice cooked with tender spiced lamb.
• Beef Biryani — Aromatic basmati rice layered with flavourful beef.
• Vegetable Biryani — Basmati rice infused with aromatic spices and mixed seasonal vegetables.

Naan And Roti

• Tandoori Roti — Traditional unleavened wholemeal flatbread baked in the tandoor.
• Laccha Paratha — Layered, flaky flatbread baked in the clay oven.
• Aloo Kulcha — Tandoori flatbread stuffed with spiced mashed potatoes.
• Cheese Naan — Fluffy tandoori naan stuffed with melted cheese.
• Peshawari Naan — Sweet naan stuffed with a blend of dried fruits and nuts.
• Coriander & Chilli Naan — Naan topped with fresh green coriander and spicy chilli.
• Plain Naan — Classic soft and fluffy leavened Indian flatbread.
• Butter Naan — Soft leavened tandoor bread layered with butter.
• Garlic Naan — Crisp and fluffy flatbread topped with minced garlic and herbs.
• Keema Naan — Tandoori flatbread stuffed with seasoned minced meat.
• Garlic & Cheese Naan — Flatbread stuffed with cheese and topped with minced garlic.
• Garlic Chilli & Cheese Naan — Stuffed with cheese and topped with aromatic garlic and spicy green chillies.

Burgers & Wraps

• Beef Burger — Juicy beef patty served with fresh toppings, fries, and a Coke.
• Chicken Burger — Crispy or grilled chicken breast with lettuce, tomato, and mayo, served with fries and a Coke.
• Vege Burger — Vegetarian patty served with fresh salad, choice of sauce, fries, and a Coke.
• Vegetable Wrap — Mixed seasonal vegetables, crisp greens, and tangy sauce, served with fries and a Coke.
• Chicken Tikka Wrap — Spiced chicken tikka pieces, crisp lettuce, and creamy dressing, served with fries and a Coke.

Mains With Rice

• Butter Chicken Boneless — Delicacy of barbecued chicken cooked in a creamy tomato sauce.
• Tikka Masala — Marinated chicken cooked in charcoal tandoor and prepared in a secret recipe of yogurt, spices, and cream.
• Fenugreek — Cooked with onion, tomato, Indian spices, and fenugreek.
• Kadhai — Cooked in tomato and onion sauce, flavoured with fresh capsicum.
• Mango — Prepared with mild spices and finished in a creamy mango sauce.
• Korma — Cooked in a delicate, creamy cashew nut sauce.
• Do Pyaza — Cooked with onions, tomato, ginger, and garlic, finished with fried onions.
• Jalfrezi — Cooked with seasonal vegetables and fresh coriander.
• Madras — Simmered in gravy with coconut cream and dry coconut.
• Saag — Cooked with the chef’s secret spice blend and creamy spinach sauce.
• Vindaloo — Cooked with a fiery hot curry sauce originating from Goa.
• Roganjosh — Prepared with an exotic blend of spices, a classic specialty of Kashmir.
• Bhuna — Slow-cooked tender meat with a generous blend of spices.
• Malabari — Cooked with coconut cream, capsicum, and onion, finished with coconut powder.

Gulf Chef'S Special

• Dal Ghosh — Succulent pieces of tender meat cooked with lentils, ginger, onion, and fresh coriander.
• Goat Curry with Bone — Slow-cooked bone-in goat full of vibrant, robust flavour with onion and tomato spices.
• Indian Express with Bone — Chicken or goat prepared with chopped fried onions, mint, coriander leaves, lemon juice, black pepper, yogurt, coconut cream, and charcoal smoke.
• Tikka Masala with Bone — Bone-in marinated chicken cooked with ground spices, onions, tomatoes, cream, and herbs.
• Butter Chicken with Bone — Delicacy of barbecued bone-in chicken simmered in a creamy tomato sauce.

Vegetarian With Rice

• Dal Makhni — Black lentils cooked in ginger, garlic, and tomato with cream and coriander.
• Dal Tadka — Yellow lentils tempered with ginger, garlic, onion, and tomato with aromatic spices.
• Palak Paneer — North Indian specialty prepared using spinach and fresh cottage cheese.
• Aloo Gobi — Cauliflower and potato tossed with tomato, onion, and coriander.
• Butter Paneer — Cottage cheese simmered in a subtle, creamy tomato and butter gravy.
• Sabzi Bhaji — Mixed seasonal vegetables cooked in special Indian spices.
• Chana Masala — Chickpeas and diced potato cooked with tomatoes, herbs, and spices.
• Malai Kofta — Homemade cottage cheese and potato croquettes served in a creamy cashew nut sauce.
• Aloo Saag — Potato cubes seasoned with home-ground spices and simmered in rich spinach gravy.
• Kadhai Paneer — Paneer cooked in tomato and onion sauce flavoured with spices and capsicum.
• Paneer Tikka Masala — Pieces of paneer cooked with garlic, creamy tomato, fresh capsicum, and onion sauce.
• Vegetable Korma — Seasonal vegetables cooked gently in a creamy cashew nut sauce.

Fried Chicken & Quick Bites

• Thai Chicken — Tender chicken marinated in aromatic spices and served with chips.
• Drum Chicken — Juicy seasoned chicken drumsticks, crispy outside and tender inside, served with chips.
• Chicken Wings — Four pieces of classic chicken wings fried until golden, served with chips.
• Chicken Nibbles — Crunchy bite-sized chicken pieces served with chips.
• Chicken Popcorn Boneless — Crispy boneless chicken bites served with chips.
• Fries — Golden, crunchy potato fries.
• Butter Sauce Loaded Fries — Crispy golden fries topped with creamy butter chicken sauce.
• Fish & Chips — Crispy battered fish fillets served with golden fries and sauce.

Frequently asked questions

Where is The Gulf Indian Bistro located?

The restaurant is situated at 69H Gulf Harbour Drive, Gulf Harbour, Auckland 0930, on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula.

Do they offer takeaway and online ordering?

Yes, customers can place takeaway orders directly online via Order Meal or by phone.

What kind of food does The Gulf Indian Bistro serve?

The bistro serves authentic North Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine alongside Kiwi family favourites including burgers, pizzas, pastas, and loaded fries.

Is there a children's menu available?

Yes, there is a dedicated kids' menu offering items like mild butter chicken with baby naan, nuggets and fries, burgers, and cheese pizza.

Is the restaurant fully licensed?

Yes, The Gulf Indian Bistro is fully licensed, offering drinks alongside dine-in meals.

Can the kitchen cater to special dietary requirements or allergies?

Yes, the menu includes numerous vegetarian dishes and asks guests with allergies or dietary needs to inform staff when ordering.

Can I reserve a table in advance?

Yes, table reservations can be made online through their website or by calling the restaurant directly.

Tips

• {"body":"If visiting on a warm sunny afternoon, grab a table outside to enjoy the coastal harbour breeze with your meal.","title":"Enjoy the Outdoor Breeze"}
• {"body":"For a tasty appetiser, order the loaded fries drizzled with the kitchen's signature creamy butter chicken sauce.","title":"Try the Fusion Butter Sauce Loaded Fries"}
• {"body":"The restaurant offers family-sized packs for their chicken, lamb, beef, and vegetable biryanis, ideal for sharing.","title":"Feeding a Group? Go for Biryani Family Packs"}
• {"body":"The garlic, chilli, and cheese naan is freshly baked in the tandoor and pairs perfectly with both rich curries and tandoori mains.","title":"Pair Your Curry with Stuffed Naan"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Dedicated kids' menu with child-friendly portions, pizzas, burgers, and mild curries.","dietary":"Extensive vegetarian selection; guests are encouraged to advise staff of any allergies or dietary requirements.","payments":"Accepts standard electronic payments via online ordering and at the venue."}