Cinnamon, Indian Eatery & Bar

indian restaurant — Karaka · Karaka

About Cinnamon, Indian Eatery & Bar

Cinnamon Indian Eatery & Bar brings the authentic flavours of India to Hingaia Road in Karaka. For its owners, the venture is about more than serving food — it is about creating an experience built on warmth, tradition and heartfelt hospitality, where every guest feels like part of the Cinnamon family and every interaction feels personal and sincere.

The kitchen leans on traditional Indian cooking techniques and carefully blended spices, with a tandoor oven at the heart of the menu turning out butter chicken, paneer tikka, tandoori chicken, seekh kebabs and lamb chops. Around it sits one of the area's more extensive curry lists — from korma, madras, saagwala and vindaloo to goat curry, keema mutton and slow-cooked lamb shank nalli nihari — plus an Indo-Chinese streak of chilli chicken, chicken Manchurian and Hakka noodles, and a long list of vegetarian mains led by dal makhani and paneer dishes. Tandoor breads, from garlic naan to keema-stuffed naan, round things out.

As the name suggests, this is an eatery and bar as well, with a drinks menu of refreshing blends and cocktails that early diners have already praised. The team holds consistency as the key to hospitality and also hosts events — birthdays, anniversaries, corporate gatherings and other celebrations — while online ordering and delivery through Uber Eats make it easy to enjoy the food at home.

Cinnamon Indian Eatery & Bar: Authentic Indian Flavours and Tandoor Classics in Karaka, Auckland

Karaka has a new destination for Indian food. Cinnamon Indian Eatery & Bar has opened on Hingaia Road with a mission its owners state plainly: to bring the authentic flavours of India to the Karaka community — and to make it about more than what lands on the plate. Their journey, they say, is about creating an experience that resonates with warmth, tradition and heartfelt hospitality, where every guest feels like part of the Cinnamon family.

From the Tandoor

If one piece of equipment defines the menu here, it is the tandoor oven. Chicken tikka, malai tikka, paneer tikka, pahadi kebab, lamb seekh kebab and lamb chops all come out of it, as do half or full portions of tandoori chicken served with salad. Butter chicken — tandoor-roasted chicken cubes finished in a tomato-blended butter sauce — is the kind of dish this kitchen is built around, and paneer tikka gives vegetarians an equally serious tandoor option.

The entree list has range beyond the tandoor too: veg samosas, onion bhaji and aloo tikki to start, Amritsari fish lightly battered and seasoned with Indian spices, and an Indo-Chinese run of chilli paneer, chicken 65, chicken lollipop and chicken Manchurian.

Curries for Every Mood

The mains list is unusually extensive. Vegetarians get dal makhani, yellow dal tadka, malai kofta, vegetable korma and a full panel of paneer dishes — palak, kadhai, shahi, methi malai, do pyaaza and makhani among them — while Bombay aloo is flagged as a vegan curry. Meat eaters can work through mango chicken, mughlai chicken, bone-in Punjabi chicken curry and slow-cooked dam ka chicken, plus a goat and lamb section with goat curry, keema mutton, rogan josh and lamb shank nalli nihari. A dedicated chicken/lamb list covers the curry-house standards — korma, madras, vindaloo, saagwala, jalfrezi, rara and more — and the seafood picks include butter prawn, prawn masala and fish malabari cooked in coconut cream.

Hakka noodles in veg, chicken or prawn versions nod to the menu's Indo-Chinese side, and the breads section is its own event: butter, garlic, cheese and peshawari naan, roomali roti, lachha paratha, onion kulcha and even chicken or lamb keema naan.

The Experience

The owners hold consistency as the key to hospitality — from the moment you step through the doors to the time you leave, they want the standard of service, care and attention to detail to never slip. Early diners seem to agree. Reviews highlight friendly staff and authentic flavour, name-checking lamb cutlets, onion bhaji, chicken Manchurian, Amritsari fish and chicken biryani; another curry lover calls the place amazing and praises the cocktails; a third cheers the Hakka noodles, goat curry and mango fulfil, with the kids happily settled by brownies and ice cream.

And because this is an eatery and bar, the drinks matter too. The team pours refreshing blends with exotic flavours — the kind of thing they suggest you sip, savour and cherish.

Gatherings, Takeaway and Planning Your Visit

Cinnamon also opens its doors for occasions, hosting birthdays, anniversaries, corporate gatherings and other celebrations. If you would rather eat at home, there is online ordering through their website's order link, and diners report that the food holds up well via Uber Eats as well.

You will find them at B4/75 Hingaia Road in Karaka. Doors open at noon every day, running until 9:30pm Sunday through Wednesday and a little later — until 10pm — Thursday to Saturday. Whether you come for a butter chicken and garlic naan standby or work through the goat curry and Hakka noodles, the promise is the same: more than a meal, it is an experience.

Signature items

  • Butter Chicken
  • Lamb Chops (5 Pcs)
  • Amritsari Fish
  • Paneer Tikka
  • Goat Curry
  • Chicken Manchurian

Menu

Veg Mains

  • Dal Makhani — Lentils cooked in smooth creamy tomato gravy and Indian spices
  • Yellow Dal Tadka — Yellow lentils tempered with spices and herbs, packed with protein
  • Bombay Aloo — Vegan curry made with potatoes, cumin and Indian spices
  • Malai Kofta — Potato and cottage cheese balls, fried and cooked in a rich spicy gravy
  • Soya Chaap Masala — Soy chunks cooked with onion, tomato, capsicum and Indian spices
  • Paneer Tikka Masala — Cottage cheese cooked with onion, tomato, capsicum and spices
  • Palak Paneer — Spinach prepared in spices with cottage cheese
  • Kadhai Paneer — Cottage cheese cooked in a perfection of spices
  • Paneer Do Pyaaza — Cottage cheese with garlic and onions in an onion-based gravy
  • Methi Malai Paneer — Cottage cheese with fenugreek in a cream-based gravy
  • Methi Matar Mushroom — Peas and mushroom cooked with fenugreek in a cream-flavoured onion gravy
  • Vegetable Korma — Mixed vegetables in a mild cashew nut gravy with selected spices
  • Aloo Gobhi — Potato and cauliflower in ginger, onion and tomato gravy with spices
  • Mushroom Masala — Mushroom cooked with onion, tomatoes, capsicum and Indian spices
  • Vegetable Kadhai — Mixed vegetables cooked in a perfection of spices
  • Shahi Paneer — Cottage cheese with Indian spices in an onion and tomato gravy
  • Paneer Makhani — Cottage cheese in smooth creamy tomato gravy and Indian spices

Veg Entrees

  • Veg Samosa (2 Pcs) — Pastry filled with potatoes and peas with spices
  • Onion Bhaji — Deep fried sliced onions in chickpea flour batter
  • Aloo Tikki — Boiled potatoes and peas with various Indian spices
  • Clear Soup (Veg) — Chopped veggies in a clear broth with chilies, pepper and garlic
  • Crispy Honey Cauliflower — Crispy fried cauliflower coated with sweet and savory sauce
  • Paneer 65 — Battered paneer tossed with soy sauce and ketchup
  • Chilli Paneer — Deep fried battered paneer cooked with capsicum, garnished with spring onion
  • Paneer Tikka — Paneer cubes marinated in yogurt, ginger, garlic and spices, cooked in a tandoor
  • Veg Manchurian — Vegetables with ginger and garlic cooked in a schezwan sauce

Chicken Mains

  • Butter Chicken — Tandoor-roasted chicken in a tomato-blended butter sauce with herbs and spices
  • Chicken Tikka Masala — Chicken in a thick tomato and onion sauce with Indian spices
  • Methi Malai Chicken — Boneless chicken with fenugreek in a cream-based gravy
  • Mango Chicken — Chicken in a creamy, lightly spiced mango sauce
  • Mughlai Chicken — Marinated chicken in a creamy onion-based gravy with egg
  • Punjabi Chicken Curry (Bone-in) — Home-style bone-in curry with ginger and garlic, Punjabi style
  • Murgh Makhani (Bone-in) — Tender bone-in chicken in a rich tomato gravy with Indian spices
  • Dam Ka Chicken — Chicken slow-cooked with bhuna masala, fried onions and cashew nuts
  • Balti Garlic Chicken — Boneless chicken cooked with Balti sauce, Indian spices and herbs

Hakka Noodles

  • Veg Hakka Noodles — Hakka noodles, vegetarian style
  • Chicken Hakka Noodles — Hakka noodles with chicken
  • Prawn Hakka Noodles — Hakka noodles with prawn

Seafood Mains

  • Butter Prawn — Prawns in a delicate butter and tomato gravy
  • Prawn Masala — Prawn cutlets simmered in tomato and onion sauce with aromatic spices
  • Fish Malabari — Fish fillets with sliced capsicum in coconut cream and onion gravy

Non-Veg Entrees

  • Amritsari Fish — Lightly battered fish fry seasoned with Indian spices
  • Chicken Tikka — Boneless chicken wrapped in Indian herbs and spices, cooked in a tandoor
  • Malai Tikka — Mildly spiced chicken cubes marinated in yogurt, cooked in a tandoor
  • Tandoori Chicken Half — Tender yogurt-and-spice marinated chicken from the tandoor, with salad
  • Tandoori Chicken Full — Full portion of tandoori chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, with salad
  • Pahadi Kebab — Chicken in yoghurt marination with homemade spices, tandoor-cooked
  • Lamb Seekh Kebab — Minced lamb skewers, lightly spiced and cooked in a tandoor
  • Fish Tikka — Boneless seasonal fish in Indian herbs and spices from the tandoor
  • Chicken Lollipop (6 Pcs) — Battered chicken with garlic salt in schezwan sauce, garnished with spring onion
  • Keema Pav (2 Pav Pcs) — Spicy minced lamb with aromatic spices, served with buttered toasted pav buns
  • Chilli Chicken — Deep fried battered chicken cooked with capsicum, garnished with spring onion
  • Chicken Manchurian — Chicken with ginger and garlic tossed in a schezwan sauce
  • Chicken 65 — Battered chicken tossed with soy sauce and ketchup
  • Lamb Chops (5 Pcs) — Juicy lamb chops lightly marinaded in Indian spices, tandoor-cooked
  • Clear Soup (Chicken) — Veggies and shredded chicken in a clear broth with chilies, pepper and garlic

Tandoori Breads

  • Tandoori Roti — Whole wheat flatbread cooked in the tandoor
  • Plain Naan — Classic leavened naan from the tandoor
  • Butter Naan — Naan brushed with butter
  • Garlic Naan — Naan topped with garlic
  • Cheese Naan — Naan stuffed with cheese
  • Cheese & Garlic Naan — Naan stuffed with cheese and garlic
  • Peshawari Naan — Naan in the traditional stuffed Peshawari style
  • Roomali Roti — Thin, soft handkerchief-style roti
  • Lachha Paratha — Multi-layered flaky paratha
  • Chicken Keema Naan — Naan stuffed with spiced chicken mince
  • Lamb Keema Naan — Naan stuffed with spiced lamb mince
  • Onion Kulcha — Leavened flatbread stuffed with onion
  • Tandoori Paratha (Aloo/Gobhi/Mixed) — Stuffed paratha — choose aloo, gobhi or mixed

Goat & Lamb Mains

  • Goat Curry — Tender goat pieces cooked in a thin tomato and onion gravy
  • Goat Masala — Tender goat in tomato and onion gravy with capsicum and onion slices
  • Keema Mutton — Mutton mince with peas, onion, tomato, cloves and cinnamon
  • Lamb Shank (Nalli Nihari) — Slowly cooked lamb shank in a rich gravy of onion paste and spices
  • Rogan Josh (Lamb/Goat) — Boneless meat in tomato and onion gravy with Indian spices and herbs

Chicken & Lamb Classics

  • Kadhai (Chicken/Lamb) — Traditionally cooked boneless meat with a perfection of spices
  • Pepper (Chicken/Lamb) — Cooked with black pepper, cloves, chilli and fennel seeds
  • Rara (Chicken/Lamb) — Cooked in a spicy, scrumptious mince gravy
  • Saagwala (Chicken/Lamb) — Boneless meat cooked in spinach gravy and spices
  • Vindaloo (Chicken/Lamb) — Goa specialty prepared with vindaloo paste and selected spices
  • Do Pyaaza (Chicken/Lamb) — Sautéed with garlic and onions in an onion-based gravy
  • Jalfrezi (Chicken/Lamb) — Choice of meat cooked with vegetables and Indian spices
  • Korma (Chicken/Lamb) — Mild curry in a creamy cashew paste sauce with aromatic spices
  • Curry (Chicken/Lamb) — Boneless meat in tomato and onion gravy with spices and herbs
  • Madras (Chicken/Lamb) — Choice of meat prepared in coconut and mustard seeds

Frequently asked questions

Where is Cinnamon Indian Eatery & Bar located?
At Unit B4/75 Hingaia Road, Karaka, Auckland 2113, New Zealand.
What are the opening hours?
Sunday to Wednesday from 12:00pm to 9:30pm, and Thursday to Saturday from 12:00pm to 10:00pm.
Can I order takeaway or delivery?
Yes — there is an online ordering link on the website, and diners also report ordering through Uber Eats with consistently good results.
Are there vegetarian and vegan options?
Yes. The menu has a large range of vegetarian entrees and mains, and Bombay Aloo is listed as a vegan curry.
Does Cinnamon have a bar?
Yes, it is an eatery and bar with a drinks menu featuring refreshing blends and cocktails that reviewers have praised.
Can I host an event there?
Yes — the restaurant hosts birthdays, anniversaries, corporate gatherings and other special occasions.
Is it suitable for families?
Diners' reviews mention children enjoying the visit, including desserts like brownies with ice cream.

Tips

  • {"body":"The kitchen runs to 9:30pm Sunday through Wednesday, but stays open until 10pm Thursday to Saturday — handy for a later dinner.","title":"Mind the closing times"}
  • {"body":"Takeaway is available via the online ordering link on their site, and reviewers say the food travels just as well through Uber Eats.","title":"Order ahead"}
  • {"body":"The bread list goes well beyond plain naan — garlic, cheese, peshawari, keema-stuffed naan and lachha paratha are all made for scooping up the curries.","title":"Pair your curry with the tandoor breads"}
  • {"body":"Beyond the curries, the kitchen does Hakka noodles, chilli chicken, chicken Manchurian and chicken 65 — a fun second dish to share.","title":"Explore the Indo-Chinese side"}
  • {"body":"Cinnamon hosts birthdays, anniversaries and corporate gatherings — reach out to them via the contact page or phone to arrange it.","title":"Planning a group event?"}

Good to know

  • {"family":"Reviews note kids enjoyed desserts like brownies with ice cream","dietary":"Extensive vegetarian menu; Bombay Aloo is listed as a vegan curry"}