Indian Chimney

About Indian Chimney

Indian Chimney is an Indian restaurant on Alexandra Street in Hamilton Central, serving authentic Indian food with a menu built around the traditional clay-oven cooking of the tandoor. The kitchen describes itself as an ideal place for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, and the menu makes genuine room for each: tandoori chicken, chicken tikka and lamb seekh kebabs on the grill side; paneer tikka, hara bhara kebab and malai chaap for plant-based diners; and sharing platters for two that bring the assortment together.

Beyond the tandoor, the menu runs deep through North Indian classics such as butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, korma and rogan josh, with South Indian madras curries, coconut-based Malabari seafood, chicken, lamb and vegetable biryani, an Indo-Chinese selection of noodles and fried rice, fresh breads from the tandoor and traditional desserts like gulab jamun and kulfi.

The room is described as warm and inviting with a touch of Indian decor, staffed by a friendly, knowledgeable team, and suits both casual dining and special occasions. Indian Chimney serves lunch and dinner Tuesday to Friday and dinner on Saturday and Sunday, with online ordering and table bookings available through its website.

Indian Chimney: Tandoor-Fired Indian Food in Hamilton Central

On Alexandra Street in the middle of Hamilton Central, Indian Chimney serves the food its name promises: cooking built around the tandoor, the traditional clay oven that gives so much Indian food its smoke and char. The restaurant keeps its pitch simple - authentic Indian food, and an ideal table for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike - then backs it up with a menu that stretches from street-food snacks to slow-cooked goat curry.

Straight from the Tandoor

Start with the grill and you understand the name. Tandoori Chicken comes as a whole leg marinated in yogurt and spices and roasted in the clay oven; Chicken Tikka and its creamier Malai cousin are skewered and grilled to a smoky finish; Lamb Seekh Kebabs mix minced lamb with herbs and pick up a charcoal aroma on the fire. The grill has a full vegetarian mirror: Paneer Tikka, Bharwa Mushroom Tikka, Malai Chaap - soya chaap in a creamy yogurt marinade - and Hara Bhara Kebab, spinach, peas and potatoes spiced and pan-seared crisp. Can't decide? The platters for two - tandoori, mixed or vegetarian - line up an assortment on one board with chutneys alongside.

A Menu That Crosses the Country

Beyond the tandoor, the kitchen covers real ground. North Indian classics anchor the mains: Murg Makhani (butter chicken) in its rich tomato-and-butter sauce, Chicken Tikka Masala, Kadhai Chicken and creamy Chicken Korma. South Indian and coastal flavours appear in Chicken Madras and the Dive into the Sea section, where fish and prawns land in onion-tomato masala or a coconut-laced Malabari curry with curry leaves and mustard. Lamb and goat get their own chapter - Rogan Josh, Vindaloo, Bhuna Gosht and a Punjabi goat curry simmered village-style on the bone - while biryani comes in chicken, lamb and vegetable versions, all built on fragrant basmati. If the table splits down the middle, the Indo-Chinese list of chilli chicken, veg Manchurian, honey cauliflower, noodles and fried rice covers the wok side of the subcontinent.

A Real Vegetarian Table

Indian Chimney makes a point of welcoming vegetarians rather than merely accommodating them. The veg mains run from dal makhani and dal tarka to paneer in nearly every style - shahi, kadhai, palak, lababdar, methi malai - plus malai kofta, channa masala and Bombay aloo. The starters go well beyond a good samosa: paani puri, palak patt chaat and smoosa chaat bring street-food tradition indoors, and the vegetarian platter for two proves the grill isn't just for meat eaters. Breads - garlic naan, lamb keema naan, a sweet Kashmiri naan stuffed with dried fruit, nuts and coconut - are made for the curries, and desserts like gulab jamun with ice cream or pista and mango kulfi close the meal.

The Room and the Run

Inside, expect warm, inviting interiors with a touch of Indian decor and, per the restaurant's own description, friendly and knowledgeable staff - a room pitched as much at a casual weeknight curry as at special occasions. Service splits across lunch and dinner: Tuesday to Friday runs lunch from 11:30am to 2pm and dinner from 5pm to 9:30pm; Saturday and Sunday are dinner only, from 5pm to 10pm, and the kitchen rests on Mondays. If you'd rather eat at home, online ordering runs through the website, and tables can be booked there too.

Come for the butter chicken, the biryani or a board of anything tandoori - the formula is the one Indian kitchens do best: breads for tearing, curries for sharing, and a clay oven working hard in the back.

Signature items

• Murg Makhani (Butter Chicken)
• Tandoori Chicken
• Tandoori Platter for 2
• Chicken Biryani
• Paneer Tikka
• Hara Bhara Kebab

Menu

Breads

• Tandoori Roti — Whole wheat flatbread baked in the tandoor.
• Plain Naan / Butter Naan — Classic naan, plain or brushed with butter.
• Garlic Naan — Naan topped with garlic.
• Chilli Naan — Naan with a chilli kick.
• Cheese Naan / Cheese & Garlic Naan — Naan stuffed with melted cheese, optionally with garlic.
• Missi Roti — Spiced gram flour flatbread.
• Lamb Keema Naan — Naan stuffed with spiced minced lamb.
• Onion / Paneer Kulcha — Kulcha stuffed with onion or paneer.
• Kashmiri Naan — Sweet naan filled with dried fruits, nuts and coconut.
• Aloo Parantha — Whole wheat flatbread stuffed with spiced potato, pan-fried.
• Laccha Paratha — Layered whole wheat flatbread, flaky and crispy.

Biryani

• Chicken Biryani — Fragrant basmati rice cooked with tender chicken and aromatic spices.
• Lamb Biryani — Succulent lamb and basmati rice with traditional spices.
• Veg Biryani — Basmati rice layered with vegetables and fragrant spices, slow-cooked.

Desserts

• Gulab Jamun with Ice Cream — Warm syrup-soaked dumplings served with ice cream.
• Gulab Jamun — Warm milk dumplings in fragrant syrup.
• Brownie with Ice Cream — Chocolate brownie served with ice cream.
• Pista Kulfi — Traditional Indian frozen treat with pistachio.
• Mango Kulfi — Traditional Indian frozen treat with mango.
• Vanilla Ice Cream — A scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Veg Mains

• Dal Makhani — Slow-cooked black lentils in a creamy, buttery sauce.
• Dal Tarka — Yellow lentils tempered with cumin, garlic and ghee.
• Bhindi Masala — Sautéed okra with spiced onions and tomatoes.
• Malai Kofta — Paneer and vegetable dumplings in a rich, creamy curry.
• Aloo Gobhi Masala — Cauliflower and potato tossed with cumin, turmeric and masala.
• Mix Veg — Mixed vegetables stir-fried in a spicy tomato gravy.
• Paneer Methi Malai — Cottage cheese with fenugreek leaves in a rich cashew gravy.
• Matar Mushroom / Matar Paneer — Green peas cooked with mushrooms or paneer in onion-tomato gravy.
• Shahi Paneer — Paneer in a rich, creamy, royal-style cashew sauce.
• Kadhai Paneer — Cottage cheese with bell peppers in kadhai masala.
• Palak Paneer — Cottage cheese cooked with spinach in a rich gravy.
• Paneer Tikka Masala — Paneer tikka simmered in a creamy tomato-based curry.
• Paneer Lababdar — Rich North Indian style paneer curry with exotic spices.
• Paneer Dhania Adraki — Cottage cheese with coriander and ginger in a spicy gravy.
• Bombay Aloo — Potato cubes sautéed in tomato, turmeric and mustard seeds.
• Channa Masala — Chickpeas cooked in tangy onion-tomato masala.
• Paneer Bhurji — Shredded paneer scrambled with onions, tomato and spices.

Indo Chinese

• Honey Cauliflower (Veg) — Crispy cauliflower florets tossed in a sweet and spicy honey-garlic sauce.
• Veg Manchurian — Deep-fried vegetable balls in a spicy, tangy Manchurian sauce.
• Paneer 65 / Chicken 65 — Spicy deep-fried paneer or chicken bites with South Indian spices.
• Chilli Chicken / Paneer / Mushroom — Wok-tossed with bell peppers, onions and spicy chilli sauce.
• Veg / Chicken Noodles — Stir-fried noodles with vegetables or chicken in Indo-Chinese spices.
• Veg / Chicken Fried Rice — Wok-fried rice with vegetables or chicken, soy sauce and spices.

Chicken Mains

• Murg Makhani (Butter Chicken) — Tandoor-roasted chicken with fenugreek in a rich tomato and butter sauce.
• Kadhai Chicken — Chicken stir-fried with capsicum, onions and crushed spices in a thick masala.
• Chicken Curry — Home-style chicken curry in traditional onion tomato gravy.
• Chicken Tikka Masala — Tandoori grilled chicken in a rich, creamy tomato sauce.
• Chicken Saagwala — Chicken in a spinach-based gravy with mild spices.
• Chicken Madras — South Indian style chicken curry with coconut and fiery spices.
• Chicken Korma — Tender chicken cooked in a creamy cashew sauce.
• Bhuna Chicken — Slow-cooked chicken curry with aromatic caramelised spices.
• Achaari Chicken — Chicken infused with tangy pickling spices in a thick masala.
• Chicken Methi Malai — Chicken cooked in fenugreek and cream.
• Ra-Ra Chicken — Chicken cooked with lamb mince, bones and roasted spices.

Chef'S Special

• Masala Soya Chaap — Tandoori soya chunks tossed in a spicy masala.
• Delhi Style Butter Chicken — Authentic North Indian style creamy butter chicken.
• Lamb Pasanda — Creamy almond curry with shredded lamb cuts.
• Kosa Lamb Goat — Spicy bhurjee style slow-cooked lamb in a rich, oniony masala.

Non Veg Starters

• Achaari Chicken Tikka (4pc) — Tandoori grilled chicken infused with pickling spices.
• Tandoori Chicken — Classic whole chicken leg marinated in yogurt and roasted in the tandoor.
• Malai Chicken Tikka (4pc) — Creamy, mildly spiced chicken tikka - soft and tender.
• Fish Tikka (6pc) — Spiced boneless fish grilled with smoky tandoori flavours.
• Lamb Seekh Kebab / Chicken (4pc) — Minced lamb or chicken mixed with herbs and grilled on skewers.
• Amritsari Fried Fish — Punjabi-style battered fish, deep-fried and seasoned with spices and garlic.
• Tandoori Prawns (6pc) — King prawns marinated in tandoori masala and grilled.
• Chicken Tikka (4pc) — Tender chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, grilled in a clay oven.

Special Platters

• Tandoori Platter for 2 — Mixed tandoori grilled meats and vegetables, perfect for sharing.
• Mixed Platter for 2 — An assortment of popular Indian appetizers across various flavours.
• Vegetarian Platter for 2 — A combination of vegetarian specialties for a plant-based tasting.

Dive Into The Sea

• Fish Masala — Diced fish cooked in a special onion tomato gravy.
• Prawn Masala — Prawns cooked in a special onion tomato gravy.
• Malabari Fish Curry — Coconut-flavoured fish curry with curry leaves and mustard.
• Fish / Prawn Madras — South Indian style seafood curry with red chilli and coconut undertones.

Lamb & Goat Mains

• Punjabi Goat Curry — Bone-in goat simmered in traditional village-style masala.
• Kadhai Goat — Goat stir-fried with capsicum, onion, tomato and gravy.
• Bhuna Gosht — Slow-cooked lamb with rich roasted spices and thick gravy.
• Lamb Vindaloo — Goan style lamb curry with a vinegar and chilli kick.
• Lamb Rogan Josh — Tender lamb in a deep red aromatic curry.
• Lamb Korma — Lamb slowly cooked with cashews.
• Kadhai Lamb — Lamb with capsicum and tomato in tomato masala.
• Lamb Saagwala — Lamb in a smooth spinach sauce.
• Lamb Jalfrezi — Lamb in a spicy onion gravy with capsicum.
• Lamb Pasanda — Creamy almond-based curry with tender lamb strips.
• Lamb Dhansak — Lamb cooked with lentils in sweet, sour and spicy notes.

Vegetarian Starters

• Hara Bhara Kebab (6pc) — Spinach, peas and potatoes spiced and pan-seared into delicious kebabs.
• Malai Chaap / Tandoori Chaap — Soya chaap marinated in creamy or spicy tandoori masala, cooked in the tandoor.
• Bharwa Mushroom Tikka (5pc) — Stuffed mushrooms marinated and grilled in the tandoor.
• Vegetable Samosa — Crispy pastry with spiced potatoes and peas.
• Onion Bhaji — Golden fried onion fritters with spiced onions and gram flour.
• Paneer Aloo Tikki (6pc) — Patties of mashed potato, cottage cheese, coriander and spices, pan-fried.
• Paneer Tikka (5pc) — Cubes of cottage cheese marinated in spices and grilled in a clay oven.
• Paneer Pakoras — Paneer fried in a spiced chickpea flour batter.
• Palak Patta Chaat (6pc) — Crispy spinach leaves with chickpeas, yogurt and chaat masala.
• Paani Puri — Puffed crispy shells with tangy water, potatoes and chutney.
• Masala Papadum — Crispy fried lentil crackers topped with tomatoes, onions and spices.
• Smoosa Chaat — Deconstructed samosa with yogurt, chutneys and spices.
• Mix Veg Pakora — Seasonal vegetables in spiced gram flour batter, deep-fried and served with chutney.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Indian Chimney located?

At 4 Alexandra Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand.

What are the opening hours?

Tuesday to Friday: lunch from 11:30am to 2pm and dinner from 5pm to 9:30pm. Saturday and Sunday: dinner from 5pm to 10pm. Closed Monday.

Are there good vegetarian options?

Yes - the restaurant calls itself an ideal place for vegetarians, with vegetarian starters and chaat, a full veg mains list, veg biryani and a Vegetarian Platter for 2.

Can I order online?

Yes, online ordering is available through the Indian Chimney website for pickup.

Can I book a table?

Yes, table bookings can be made via the Book Table page on the website.

Does the menu go beyond Indian curries?

Yes - there is an Indo-Chinese section with chilli chicken, veg Manchurian, honey cauliflower, noodles and fried rice, plus seafood, biryani, breads and desserts.

Is Indian Chimney suitable for groups or special occasions?

The restaurant describes itself as suitable for both casual dining and special occasions, and the platters for two are a group-friendly way to sample the menu.

Tips

• {"body":"Lunch runs 11:30am-2pm Tuesday to Friday only; dinner starts at 5pm (until 9:30pm Tue-Fri, 10pm Sat-Sun). Mondays are closed.","title":"Mind the lunch window"}
• {"body":"The Tandoori, Mixed or Vegetarian Platters for Two sample several starters on one board - an easy way to try the grill.","title":"Start with a platter"}
• {"body":"Online ordering for pickup and table bookings are both available through the website.","title":"Order ahead or book"}
• {"body":"Naans from garlic to the sweet, nut-filled Kashmiri naan are made for scooping up the curries.","title":"Don't skip the bread"}
• {"body":"The veg list spans starters to mains to biryani - paneer tikka, dal makhani and veg biryani make a full meal on their own.","title":"Vegetarians, go deep"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Described as suitable for both casual dining and special occasions.","dietary":"Extensive vegetarian menu alongside chicken, lamb, goat and seafood dishes."}