Shokeen's Indian Takeaway is a small Indian kitchen tucked away at 32B Maadi Road in Onekawa, on the working side of Napier. The shop's own story is a simple one: bringing the authentic flavours of India to the heart of the city, one order at a time. It has grown into a beloved local stop for Indian food in Hawke's Bay, with a reputation built on familiar, satisfying cooking rather than fanfare.
The menu follows the classic shape of an Indian meal. An entree section covers the smaller plates you order to begin, while the main section holds the heartier centrepiece dishes that Indian takeaway is loved for. The full dish-by-dish menu is published on the shop's online ordering page, where customers can browse the current line-up and place pickup orders — either on the web or through the Order Meal app.
Service runs in two windows: lunch from 11:30am to 2:30pm and dinner from 4:00pm, Tuesday to Sunday, with Monday open for dinner service only. Phone orders are taken on 06 843 9883, and it pays to ring ahead if you are collecting close to closing time.
Tucked away at 32B Maadi Road in Onekawa, Shokeen's Indian Takeaway brings the authentic flavours of India to the heart of Napier. From the street it looks like a neighbourhood takeaway — and that is exactly its charm. Behind the counter, the kitchen works through a menu of Indian entrees and mains that has earned the shop a stellar reputation and a loyal following across Hawke's Bay.
Indian food has long been one of New Zealand's favourite cuisines, and takeaway shops like Shokeen's are where much of that love affair plays out day to day. There is no fuss and no ceremony — just the promise of a proper meal, cooked to order and ready when you are. The shop's own words set the tone: "Experience the vibrant tapestry of Indian cuisine, where each bite is a delightful fusion of tradition, innovation, and unforgettable taste."
Shokeen's organises its food the way a traditional Indian meal unfolds. The entree section covers the smaller plates — the things you order to snack on while the mains are still being decided. The main section is where the heart of the menu lives: richer, more substantial dishes, the kind that pair naturally with rice and bread and are built to travel well to your table.
The complete menu, dish by dish, is published on the shop's online ordering page, so you can browse the full list and place an order for pickup without picking up the phone. Orders can also be placed through the Order Meal app, available for both Google Play and the App Store. Because the menu is maintained on the live ordering page, it is always worth checking there first for the current line-up of entrees and mains.
Shokeen's runs a split service that suits Onekawa's working rhythm. From Tuesday to Sunday the kitchen opens for lunch between 11:30am and 2:30pm, closes for the afternoon, then fires up again for dinner service from 4:00pm. Mondays are dinner only, from 4:00pm. Closing time is listed as 9:00pm in the site's main hours, although the footer shows 8:30pm — if you are planning a late pickup, a quick call to 06 843 9883 will settle it.
That afternoon gap matters more than you might think. Arrive between 2:30pm and 4:00pm and the lights will be off; time your visit for the lunch window or the evening run and you will find the kitchen in full swing. For workers in Onekawa's industrial stretch, the lunch service makes an Indian lunch an easy habit; for everyone else, dinner is when the shop does its busiest trade.
Everything about Shokeen's is geared to straightforward service. Order online through the shop's ordering page and your food is prepared for collection; ring ahead on 06 843 9883 if you prefer to talk to a person; or walk in during opening hours and order at the counter. For a suburb where many customers are grabbing dinner on the way home, that flexibility is part of the appeal.
The team behind Shokeen's describe the shop as a way of bringing the authentic flavours of India to Napier, and the response from locals suggests the message has landed. In a city better known for its Art Deco streetscape and wineries, a dependable Indian takeaway in Onekawa fills its own niche — the kind of place a household tries once out of curiosity and returns to out of habit.
Shokeen's Indian Takeaway sits at 32B Maadi Road, Onekawa, Napier 4110, with phone orders taken on 06 843 9883. Whether it is a midweek dinner, a weekend lunch or a late-evening curry run, check the hours, order ahead if you are in a hurry, and give the kitchen a ring if you are cutting it close to closing time.