Curry To Go is a family-owned Indian takeaway in Petone, Lower Hutt, run by owner Dhurba Thapa. The business describes itself as having served the Petone community for over 20 years, building a loyal local following through fresh, made-to-order dishes, friendly service and consistent quality, while operating under the Curry To Go name and website since 2020.
The kitchen focuses on authentic Indian cuisine made with traditional recipes and fresh ingredients, spanning entrees, tandoori-cooked meats, chicken, lamb, beef, fish and prawn curries, a full vegetarian menu, rice dishes, freshly baked breads, accompaniments, kids meals and drinks — more than 70 menu items in total. Most curry dishes come with free rice and naan included, and many of the lamb, beef, fish, prawn and vegetarian dishes are gluten free.
Customers regularly single out the butter chicken as a standout, with several reviewers describing it as the best they've had in the Hutt Valley or even across New Zealand. Despite a humble, no-frills shopfront, the business has built a reputation locally for generous portions, consistent quality and good value.
Curry To Go is open seven days for dinner, with an additional Friday lunch service. Orders can be placed by phone for pickup or delivery, or through Uber Eats and DoorDash, with delivery covering Lower Hutt, Western Hills, Korokoro to Kelson, Eastbourne and Avalon.
Curry To Go is a family-owned Indian takeaway on Jackson Street in Petone, Lower Hutt, run by owner Dhurba Thapa. According to the business, it has been serving the Petone community for over 20 years, building a loyal local following through fresh, made-to-order dishes and friendly, consistent service — while operating under the Curry To Go name and website since 2020.
The business describes itself as "the passion project" of Dhurba Thapa, who has run the Petone takeaway with dedication for more than two decades. Every dish is made fresh to order, and the business credits its loyal following to a focus on exceptional food rather than flashy presentation. As the business puts it, the humble shopfront shouldn't be mistaken for the quality inside — Curry To Go has built a reputation for generous portions, consistent quality, and some of the best value Indian food in the Wellington region.
With more than 70 menu items, Curry To Go covers a wide spread of Indian cuisine: entrees served with mint sauce and salad, tandoori-cooked meats, and a full range of chicken, lamb, beef, fish, prawn and vegetarian curries — most served with free rice and naan included. Many of the lamb, beef, fish, prawn and vegetarian dishes are gluten free, and several chicken dishes, including the Chicken Vindaloo and Chicken Jhal Freji, are dairy free.
The kitchen's best-known dish is the Butter Chicken, marketed on the site as "A Kiwi Favourite" — boneless chicken marinated overnight, roasted in the tandoor, and finished in a creamy tomato sauce. Other standouts include Tandoori Chicken (a whole chicken marinated overnight and smoke roasted), Chicken Tikka Masala, Garlic Chicken Tikka, and the Seekh Kebab, minced lamb roasted on skewers in the tandoor. For something lighter, the Samosa — a pastry shell stuffed with peas, potatoes and spices — is a popular vegetarian starter.
Beyond curries, the menu also includes fragrant basmati rice dishes, a range of freshly baked breads straight from the tandoor, accompaniments, kids meals, and drinks. A dedicated lunch menu, available Friday from 11:30am to 2:30pm, comes with free naan and rice included.
Customer reviews consistently single out the butter chicken. One reviewer called it "the best butter chicken in the Hutt," while another described it as "hands down the best tasting butter chicken I've ever had," and a third noted it as "really good kiwi style butter chicken with smooth flavour." One long-time customer described Curry To Go as "one of the best Indian food I've ever had throughout New Zealand," having been a regular for years, while another reviewer specifically noted that the shop's modest exterior shouldn't put people off, calling the takeaways "some of the best around."
Curry To Go is open for dinner seven days a week from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, with an additional Friday lunch service from 11:00am to 2:30pm. Orders can be placed directly by phone for pickup or delivery, or through Uber Eats and DoorDash. Delivery covers Lower Hutt, Western Hills, Korokoro to Kelson, Eastbourne and Avalon, with a $25 minimum order and delivery charges starting from $5.00. Payment is accepted by Visa, MasterCard, cash, or Eftpos (Eftpos available in-shop only). First-time customers get 15% off their first order.
Curry To Go is located at 328 Jackson Street, Petone, and can be reached by phone at (04) 569 8980 or 027 362 8434, or by email at [email protected].