Ruchi Indian Cuisine is an Indian restaurant and takeaway on Jackson Street in Petone, Lower Hutt. It was founded in 2020 by Sherry, who left a stable IT job to pursue the venture, a considerable risk given the timing during the pandemic. The restaurant started with a team of three and has since grown to a team of six.
Ruchi serves authentic Indian curries alongside a range of well-loved menu items, and is also known for dishes made off the standard menu. Within a year and a half of opening, the restaurant was awarded the certificate of No.1 recommended restaurant in Hutt Valley by Restaurant Guru, and carries a Restaurant Guru 2021 Recommended badge.
The restaurant is fully licensed and offers BYO for wine only, and provides a dedicated vegan menu alongside its main menu. Ruchi offers takeaway and home delivery ordering online, as well as in-restaurant dining and reservations.
On Jackson Street in Petone, Ruchi Indian Cuisine has built a following since opening its doors in 2020 — a year defined by a global pandemic, and the year its founder Sherry chose to leave a stable IT job to pursue his passion for food. It was, by any measure, a considerable risk.
Ruchi started small, with three people on board bringing the restaurant to life. Since then, the team has grown to six, built around what the restaurant describes as excellent people skills paired with authentic curries that make guests feel like family. That combination, the restaurant says, is where the magic happens — and it's clearly resonated with the local Hutt Valley dining scene.
Within a year and a half of opening, Ruchi was awarded the certificate of No.1 recommended restaurant in Hutt Valley by Restaurant Guru — a notable achievement for a restaurant still finding its feet during a difficult period for hospitality. The restaurant continues to carry a Restaurant Guru 2021 Recommended badge, a marker of that early recognition.
Ruchi offers a wide range of menu items, with its crowd-favourite Authentic Indian style Butter Chicken and special Nawabi dish singled out as particular draws. Beyond the printed menu, the restaurant has also built a reputation for its off-the-menu dishes, giving regulars something extra to look for beyond the standard offerings. A dedicated vegan menu is available alongside the main menu, giving plant-based diners a proper selection rather than an afterthought.
For those wanting to eat at Ruchi, the restaurant is fully licensed and also allows BYO for wine only, giving diners some flexibility on how they enjoy a meal out. Reservations can be made directly through the restaurant, and gift cards are also available for those looking to share the experience with others.
For those who'd rather eat at home, Ruchi offers takeaway and home delivery through online ordering, with the ability to order via app as well as through its website. It's a setup that covers both the sit-down dining experience the restaurant promotes — described as achieving "that elusive, cuisine-defining balance of sweet, salty, and sour — even dessert" — and the convenience of a meal delivered to your door.
Ruchi Indian Cuisine is located at 91 Jackson Street, Petone, Lower Hutt. The restaurant is closed on Mondays, and open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30am to 2:30pm and again from 5:00pm to 9:30pm, with Sunday hours running from 5:00pm to 9:30pm for dinner service only.
For anyone in Petone or the wider Lower Hutt area looking for authentic Indian food — whether that's a sit-down meal with BYO wine, a vegan-friendly option, or a butter chicken takeaway delivered to the door — Ruchi's growth from a three-person team during a pandemic to a recognised local favourite speaks to a restaurant that has built real loyalty in a short space of time.