Bikaner is a 100% pure vegetarian restaurant on Jackson Street in Petone, Lower Hutt, highly recommended by Wellington locals for its authentic Indian flavours, impeccable hygiene and quality you can trust. The menu brings together the best of North Indian, South Indian and Indo-Chinese vegetarian cooking — from famous street-style chaats and crispy dosas to rich curries, fluffy naan and unique Indo-Chinese creations — with every dish prepared fresh and served with a smile.
The restaurant began with a simple dream: to bring the vibrant, authentic flavours of India's vegetarian cuisine to the heart of Petone. Inspired by family gatherings filled with the aromas of freshly ground spices, the sizzle of dosas on a hot tawa and colourful chaats shared around the table, the founders set out to prove that vegetarian food can be every bit as satisfying, bold and diverse as any cuisine in the world.
Whether you're a lifelong vegetarian, exploring plant-based dining or simply craving something delicious and different, Bikaner offers a warm, welcoming space for families, friends and foodies alike — and has proudly served thousands of happy customers since opening. Dine in for a relaxed meal, celebrate with a shared feast, or order your favourites online for takeaway.
On Jackson Street in the heart of Petone, Bikaner does one thing and does it proudly: 100% pure vegetarian Indian food. It's a restaurant Wellington locals recommend highly, renowned for authentic Indian flavours, impeccable hygiene and quality you can trust — and it has quickly become a favourite stop for food lovers seeking delicious vegetarian and vegan dining.
Bikaner began with a simple dream — to bring the vibrant, authentic flavours of India's vegetarian cuisine to the heart of Petone. The founders grew up in households where food was far more than a meal: family gatherings filled with the aromas of freshly ground spices, the sizzle of dosas on a hot tawa, and colourful arrays of chaats shared around the table. Food was how they connected, celebrated and showed love.
When they opened the restaurant, their goal was to recreate those moments for their new community — and to prove that vegetarian food can be every bit as satisfying, bold and diverse as any cuisine in the world. Every recipe on the menu is a tribute to the regions of India and beyond: the bustling street-food corners of Mumbai, the spice markets of Chennai, and the fusion flavours of Indo-Chinese cooking.
The menu roams across the subcontinent, and it's all vegetarian. Street-food fans come for the famous chaats — tangy sev puri, masala chaat and more — while dosa lovers get crispy, golden dosas griddled fresh to order; the Mysore masala dosa is a standout regulars mention by name. From the North Indian kitchen come rich curries, fluffy naan and aromatic rice dishes, plus chole bhature, the iconic combination of spiced chickpeas and pillowy fried bread.
Bikaner is also one of the few places in the area to lean properly into Indo-Chinese cooking. The triple schezwan fried rice brings serious heat, and paneer rolls make a satisfying snack with a distinctly Indian touch. Thali meals are the move for bigger appetites — a full platter built for sharing. Save room for the sweet counter, too: the restaurant keeps a good range of traditional Indian sweets, and a cup of masala tea alongside is, by regulars' accounts, the perfect finish.
Everything is prepared fresh and made from scratch with the finest ingredients. The kitchen's promise is honest food, made with care and never cut corners.
Being fully vegetarian is the point, not a limitation. Whether you're a lifelong vegetarian, exploring plant-based dining or simply craving something delicious and different, the menu delivers — with vegan-friendly options available as well. Behind the scenes, the team holds itself to the highest standards of cleanliness and premium ingredients, part of why Bikaner has earned the trust of the local community since opening its doors and serving thousands of happy customers.
The dining room is warm and welcoming — recently renovated, first-time visitors note — and set up for the way the food is best enjoyed: together. Families, friends and foodies settle in to share stories and graze across the menu, and service is a big part of the appeal. Reviewers consistently call out the team's friendly, attentive care, from staff recommending the day's special at the till to servers who look after tables from first bite to last.
One group of regulars put it simply: if you're after vegetarian Indian meals, Bikaner Petone is one of the best places in town — they ordered a bunch of dishes to share and feasted on thali meals. If you can't make it in, you can order your favourites online for takeaway through the restaurant's website and eat well at home.
Bikaner Petone is at 1/313 Jackson Street, Petone, Lower Hutt. Last dine-in orders are taken 30 minutes before closing, so arrive with time to linger. Follow the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram for bites, vibes and updates. Come hungry, bring company, and work your way from chaat to dosa to curry — the idea behind the restaurant hasn't changed since day one: quality, authenticity and great service, making every visit a celebration of India's incredible culinary heritage.