House of Spice

About House of Spice

House of Spice in Lynmore is the Rotorua branch of an Indian restaurant group that has been serving Rotorua and Tauranga for more than a decade. Set on Te Ngae Road, it pairs a relaxed, friendly dining room with the kind of service the team takes visible pride in, and a kitchen run by chefs with many years of experience in home-style Indian cooking.

The menu is broad: tandoor-cooked starters and platters, chicken, lamb, beef, seafood and goat curries in mild, medium or hot, a deep vegetarian and paneer section, biryanis served with raita, and naan breads baked to order in the clay oven. Butter chicken leads the classics, with house specials like garlic butter chicken, goat curry and seafood tawa alongside.

You can dine in seven days a week from midday until 10pm, order takeaway online, or arrange delivery (conditions apply). Takeaway-only lunch and dinner specials, a kids' menu and a Family Package of four curries with breads, rice and a 1.5 litre drink make it an easy fit for everything from quick lunches to full family tables.

House of Spice Rotorua: Home-Style Indian Curries and Tandoor Classics in Lynmore

House of Spice has been part of the Rotorua and Tauranga dining scene for more than a decade, and the Lynmore branch on Te Ngae Road is where the group's take on fine Indian dining lands in Rotorua. The room is relaxed and friendly — something the team takes visible pride in — and the cooking leans firmly home-style. The chefs have many years of experience in home-style Indian cooking, and it shows in gravies that taste built from scratch rather than assembled from a base. That home-style thread runs through all four House of Spice branches — Rotorua, Bethlehem, Fraser Cove and Omokoroa — but this is the group's Rotorua home.

The menu is one of the broader Indian offerings in the city, running from street-food-style starters to tandoor platters, and from mild, creamy classics to genuinely hot vindaloo. Starters cover the classics — onion bhaji, samosa and vegetable pakora with tamarind sauce, plus channa chat, vegetable Manchurian and cheese chilli — while the tandoor turns out paneer tikka and tandoori chaap for vegetarians, and chicken tikka, seekh kebab, tandoori chicken, tandoori prawns, murgh malai tikka and achari tikka for everyone else, with mix and tandoori platters for the undecided.

What the kitchen is known for

Butter chicken anchors the list — boneless chicken roasted in the tandoor, then finished in a mild, creamy tomato sauce — with an Indian-style version alongside it for those who like the classic with a more traditional edge. Around it sits a full chicken section cooked mild, medium or hot: korma with cashews and homemade cream, tikka masala, mango chicken, Madras tempered with mustard and curry leaves, chicken saag, and methi chicken with fenugreek and cream.

The lamb and beef list covers rogan josh — flagged on the menu as low-fat and dairy-free — plus do piaza, saagwala, vindaloo, dhansak and Anarkali with mint and pomegranate seeds. Seafood runs from butter prawn and prawn malabari to Goan fish curry and Bengali fish, while the house specials add goat curry on the bone, egg curry, seafood tawa, and bhuna ghost, jalfrezi, balti and kadai across chicken, lamb or beef.

Vegetarian diners are treated as a core audience here rather than an afterthought. Paneer appears in half a dozen preparations — butter paneer, shahi paneer in butter and nut gravy, palak paneer, paneer methi malai — alongside dal makhani, daal majedar, chana masala, saag aloo, aloo matar, malai kofta and vegetable korma with cashew, cream, coconut and cardamom.

Breads, rice and the shared table

Naan is baked to order in the clay oven: butter, garlic, cheese, keema, peshawari with dry fruits, plus stuffed kulchas and layered parathas. Biryani — vegetable, or chicken, lamb, beef, prawn or goat — is served with raita, and fried rice options cover the Chinese-leaning palates at the table.

For groups, the Family Package does the planning: four curries (two non-vegetarian, one seafood, one vegetable) with garlic naan, plain naan, three rice and a 1.5 litre drink. Takeaway-only lunch and dinner specials pair any main with rice and naan, the dinner version adding a glass of house wine, beer or juice. Kids get their own short list — butter chicken with naan, chicken nuggets and chips or fish and chips, and vegetable spring rolls.

The Rotorua branch serves dine-in guests seven days a week from midday until 10pm, with online ordering for pickup and delivery available subject to conditions. Whether it's a quick weeknight curry collected on the way home or a long family table in the dining room, House of Spice Lynmore keeps the formula simple: traditional home-style Indian cooking, generous choice across meat and vegetarian, and the kind of easy, friendly service that keeps locals coming back.

Signature items

• Butter Chicken
• Garlic Naan
• Goat Curry
• Lamb/Beef Rogan Josh
• Biryani
• Family Package

Menu

Sides

• Papadum — Four crisp pieces per serve.
• Raita — Cooling yoghurt accompaniment.
• Mix Pickle — Tangy Indian mixed pickle.
• Mint / Tamarind Sauce — House dipping sauces.
• Green Salad — Fresh green salad.
• Onion Salad — Simple sliced onion salad.

Kids Menu

• Butter Chicken with Naan — A kid-sized serve of the house classic with naan bread.
• Chicken Nuggets & Chips / Chips / Fish & Chips — Kid favourites — nuggets and chips, chips on their own, or fish and chips.
• Vegetable Spring Roll (8 pcs) — Eight vegetable spring rolls per serve.

Naan Breads

• Tandoori Roti — Hand-rolled bread of wholemeal and white flour.
• Butter Naan — Plain flour naan cooked in the tandoor, garnished with butter.
• Garlic Naan — Naan topped with garlic butter.
• Cheese Naan — Naan stuffed with grated cheese.
• Onion Kulcha — Naan stuffed with chopped onion and herbs.
• Peshawari Naan — Naan stuffed with dry fruits.
• Potato Paratha — Stuffed with grated potato and herbs.
• Keema Naan — Stuffed with a spiced minced meat mixture.
• Cheese and Chicken Naan — Stuffed with cheese and chopped chicken.
• Cheese and Garlic Naan — Stuffed with cheese and garlic.
• Paneer Kulcha — Naan stuffed with chopped paneer and herbs.
• Lacha Paratha — Layered unleavened wholemeal flour bread.
• Pudina Paratha — Multi-layered paratha made with mint, cooked in the clay oven.

Rice Dishes

• Basmati Rice — Plain rice steamed to perfection; small or large serve.
• Pea Pulao — Lightly spiced basmati rice with peas.
• Jeera Rice — Basmati rice flavoured with cumin.
• Kashmiri Pulao — Basmati rice cooked with nuts.
• Chicken Fried Rice — Chicken chunks and vegetables cooked with rice and Chinese sauces.
• Vegetable Fried Rice — Vegetables cooked with rice and Chinese sauces.

Chicken Mains

• Butter Chicken — Tandoor-roasted boneless chicken finished in a mild, creamy tomato-flavoured sauce.
• Butter Chicken Indian Style — The house classic done Indian style, with the creamy tomato gravy.
• Chicken Korma — Traditionally cooked in cashew nuts, gravy and homemade cream.
• Chicken Tikka Masala — Tandoor-roasted chicken in spicy gravy with capsicum, onion and fresh herbs.
• Mango Chicken — Tender boneless chicken in a subtle mango sauce.
• Chicken Madras — South Indian curry tempered with mustard seeds and curry leaves.
• Chicken Saag — Chicken cooked with fresh spinach in aromatic spices.
• Punjabi Chicken — Melt-in-the-mouth chicken made with citrus juices and classic Indian spices.
• Methi Chicken — Fenugreek leaves and cream cooked with cashew paste and onion-tomato gravy.
• Chicken Mushroom Masala — Chicken and mushroom cooked with garlic, tomato and onion gravy.
• Chicken Dhansak — Boneless chicken cooked with lentils in an onion and cashew gravy.

Seafood Mains

• Prawn/Fish Masala — Cooked in a thick onion gravy finished with capsicum and onion.
• Prawn Malabari — Prawns cooked with grated coconut and tamarind sauce.
• Butter Prawn — Prawns in a mild, creamy tomato-flavoured sauce.
• Prawn Spinach — Prawns cooked with fresh spinach in aromatic spices.
• Goan Fish Curry — Fish fillet cooked in tomato paste and coconut gravy.
• Kadai Fish/Prawn — Prawns or fish with tomato, onion, cream, fresh coriander and chef's special gravy.
• Prawn/Fish Vindaloo — Prawns or fish in a spicy vindaloo sauce with onion gravy.
• Bengali Fish — Popular east Indian fish dish with garlic, onion, ginger, tomato and ground spices.
• Golden Fried Prawn — Prawns fried in a spiced fine flour and corn flour mix.

House Specials

• Special Garlic Butter Chicken — The chef's garlic butter chicken — a house signature.
• Chef Special Chicken/Lamb/Beef — Cooked to the chef's secret recipe.
• Chicken/Lamb/Beef Bhuna Ghost — Boneless meat in onion, ginger, garlic and cashew gravy.
• Chicken/Lamb/Beef Jalfrezi — Marinated meat cooked with seasonal vegetables in a lightly spiced masala sauce.
• Chicken/Lamb/Beef Balti — Boneless meat with onion, mixed vegetables and a selection of spices.
• Kadai Chicken/Lamb/Beef — Fillets cooked with onion, capsicum, cream and crushed tomato.
• Goat Curry — Goat on the bone in a special homemade gravy, garnished with coriander.
• Egg Curry — Boiled eggs cooked in onion, tomato and chef's special gravy.
• Seafood Tawa — Tiger prawn, fish and mussels cooked with butter and brown sauce.

Takeaway Combos

• Lunch Special — Any mains with rice and plain naan (excludes seafood and tandoori). Takeaway only.
• Dinner Special — Any mains with rice and naan bread plus a glass of house wine, beer or juice (excludes seafood and tandoori). Takeaway only.
• Family Package — Four curries (2 non-veg, 1 seafood, 1 veg) with 2 garlic naan, 1 naan, 3 rice and a 1.5L drink.

Vegetarian Mains

• Butter Paneer — Homemade cottage cheese in a creamy tomato-flavoured sauce.
• Paneer Butter Masala — Fresh cottage cheese in onion-tomato sauce with chef's special masala.
• Shahi Paneer — Homemade cottage cheese cooked in a butter and nut gravy.
• Matar Paneer — Cottage cheese and green peas in onion-tomato gravy, garnished with coriander.
• Palak Paneer — Cottage cheese cooked with a puree of fresh leafy spinach.
• Paneer Methi Malai — Cottage cheese with dried fenugreek leaves, cream and spices.
• Paneer Tikka Masala — Tandoor-roasted paneer in spicy gravy with capsicum, onion and fresh herbs.
• Malai Kofta — Deep-fried potato and cottage cheese balls in a rich, spicy gravy.
• Chana Masala — Chickpeas cooked in onion and tomato gravy, garnished with herbs.
• Dal Makhani — Slow-simmered beans with onion, tomato, shredded ginger and coriander.
• Daal Majedar — Lentils cooked with cumin, ginger, coriander, onion and tomato puree.
• Aloo Matar — Peas and potatoes in a smooth onion and tomato-based curry.
• Saag Aloo — Potatoes cooked with fresh spinach puree and a blend of spices.
• Bombay Aloo — Potato with cumin seeds, onion, tomato and fresh coriander.
• Mushroom Masala — Fresh mushrooms cooked with herbs, capsicum and onion gravy.
• Matar Mushroom Masala — Mushrooms and green peas with herbs, capsicum and onion gravy.
• Vegetable Korma — Vegetables with cashew, cream, coconut, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom.
• Butter Vegetables — Fresh vegetables in a smooth tomato and cream sauce.
• Seasonal Vegetables — Fresh vegetables cooked in traditional style with aromatic herbs.

Lamb & Beef Mains

• Lamb/Beef Rogan Josh — Diced lamb in fine onion gravy; menu notes it as low-fat and dairy-free.
• Lamb/Beef Korma — Cooked in cashew nuts, gravy and homemade cream, the traditional way.
• Lamb/Beef Do Piaza — Boneless lamb with fried sliced onions and dry-roasted spices.
• Lamb/Beef Saagwala — Lamb cooked with fresh spinach in aromatic spices.
• Lamb/Beef Vindaloo — Hot vindaloo sauce with spices, onion gravy and spring onions.
• Lamb/Beef Curry — Diced beef cooked with potatoes in traditional Indian style.
• Lamb/Beef Anarkali — Lamb cooked with herbs, mint, pomegranate seeds and tomatoes.
• Lamb/Beef Mushroom Masala — Mushroom and diced lamb in garlic, tomato and onion gravy.
• Lamb/Beef Dhansak — Lamb cooked with lentils in an onion gravy; a medium-spicy dish.
• Lamb/Beef Tikka Masala — Tandoor-roasted lamb in spicy gravy with capsicum, onion and fresh herbs.

Vegetarian Starters

• Onion Bhaji — Deep-fried onion fritters in mild spiced batter, served with house tamarind sauce.
• Samosa — Triangular pastry parcels filled with seasoned vegetables.
• Vegetable Pakora — Seasonal vegetables in spiced chickpea flour, deep fried.
• Vegetable Manchurian — Vegetable balls cooked with finely chopped vegetables in soya sauce.
• Cheese Chilli — Cottage cheese cubes in gram flour and butter, finished with capsicum and onion.
• Paneer Tikka — Homemade cottage cheese marinated in yoghurt, tomato, capsicum and onion, roasted in the tandoor.
• Tandoori Chaap — Soya bean chaap marinated in yoghurt spices and cooked in the clay oven.
• Malai Chaap — Tender chaap tossed with cashew nuts and onion gravy.
• Veg Platter — A mix of veg pakora, onion bhaji and samosa.
• Channa Chat — Chickpeas with onion, tomato, cucumber, herbs and spices.

Non-Vegetarian Starters

• Chilli Chicken — Battered fried boneless chicken tossed in the wok with diced onions.
• Chicken Tikka — Herb-marinated chicken cubes barbecued in the tandoor; half or full serve.
• Seekh Kebab — Spiced minced meat skewered and cooked in the tandoor; half or full serve.
• Tandoori Chicken — Chicken on the bone marinated in spices and cooked in the tandoor; half or full.
• Tandoori Prawns — Prawns cooked with herbs and yoghurt in tandoori masala sauce; half or full.
• Murgh Malai Tikka — Chicken in yoghurt, cream and pepper, tandoor-roasted; served with salad and mint chutney.
• Achari Tikka — Chicken marinated in yoghurt, mustard and fenugreek, roasted in the tandoor; served with salad and mint chutney.
• Mix Platter — Vegetable pakora, chicken tikka and seekh kebab on one platter.
• Tandoori Platter — Chicken tikka, seekh kebab and malai chicken together.

Biryani (Served With Raita)

• Vegetable Biryani — Rice cooked with fresh vegetables in herbs and spices.
• Chicken/Lamb/Beef/Prawn/Goat Biryani — Your choice of meat cooked with rice in herbs and spices.

Frequently asked questions

Where is House of Spice Rotorua located?

352D Te Ngae Rd, Lynmore, Rotorua 3010 — the Rotorua branch of the House of Spice group, phone 07 262 6680.

What are the opening hours?

The website lists the Rotorua branch as open 12:00pm to 10:00pm, Monday to Sunday.

Can I order takeaway or delivery?

Yes — takeaway can be ordered online through the House of Spice Rotorua page, and delivery is available (conditions apply; the takeaway menu lists a minimum order for delivery).

Is there a good vegetarian selection?

Very much so — a full vegetarian and paneer section, vegetable starters, vegetarian biryani and vegetable mains sit alongside the chicken, lamb, beef, seafood and goat dishes.

How spicy is the food?

Curries are cooked mild, medium or hot — tell staff your preferred heat level when ordering.

Can I book a table?

Yes — reservations can be made through the reservation page on the House of Spice website, or by phoning the branch on 07 262 6680.

Is there anything for children?

The kids' menu covers butter chicken with naan, chicken nuggets and chips (or fish and chips) and vegetable spring rolls.

Tips

• {"body":"Takeaway-only specials pair any mains with rice and naan — the dinner version adds a glass of house wine, beer or juice (seafood and tandoori excluded).","title":"Use the lunch and dinner deals"}
• {"body":"The Family Package bundles four curries (two non-veg, one seafood, one veg) with garlic naan, plain naan, three rice and a 1.5L drink.","title":"Feeding a crowd"}
• {"body":"Delivery is available — the takeaway menu notes a minimum order applies, so check before you order.","title":"Delivery runs with conditions"}
• {"body":"Chicken mains come mild, medium or hot, so ask for the spice level that suits your table.","title":"Pick your heat"}
• {"body":"Skip the wait by ordering online through the House of Spice Rotorua page for pickup.","title":"Order ahead"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Kids' menu plus a Family Package of four curries with naan, rice and a 1.5L drink.","dietary":"Extensive vegetarian and paneer menu; the menu flags Lamb/Beef Rogan Josh as low-fat and dairy-free."}