Great Spice Tauranga is an Indian restaurant and bar at 4/44 Bureta Rd in Otumoetai, serving authentic Indian flavours across dine-in, takeaway and catering menus. The kitchen features chef's specials alongside traditional thalis, tandoori dishes and curries, with a strong focus on genuine, home-style Indian cooking.
The restaurant runs value lunch specials between 11am and 2pm, pairing curry with naan, rice and other sides at a range of combo options — though these exclude seafood, goat and tandoori dishes. Beyond lunch, Great Spice also offers a dedicated dine-in and takeaway menu, plus catering packages for functions and events.
Great Spice is set up to be accessible and easy to visit, with free parking, free wifi, wheelchair access, and the option to BYO wine. The menu also caters to dietary needs, with dairy free, vegan and gluten free options available.
Tucked into Bureta Rd in Otumoetai, Great Spice Tauranga brings what it calls the vibrant essence of India to the local dining scene, running as both a restaurant and bar with dine-in, takeaway and catering menus.
The kitchen's chef's specials lean into traditional Indian cooking rather than fusion shortcuts. The Vegetable Thali brings together dal makhani, butter paneer and mixed vegetable with rice, papadom and a choice of plain naan, while the Non Veg Thali pairs a traditional chicken curry with rara goat, mixed vegetable, rice and papadom. The Amritsari Kulcha Thali is built around dal makhani, butter paneer, plain yoghurt, papadom and two Amritsari kulcha, giving diners a proper regional specialty rather than a standard curry-and-rice plate.
For something lighter or shareable, there's samosa chaat — fried samosa cut into pieces with onion, tomato, cucumber and chickpeas — and a tandoori chicken salad combining roast chicken tikka with julienne salad, cherry tomato and feta cheese. A chicken and egg noodle chowmin rounds out the specials with boiled egg noodles, chicken, cabbage, carrot, onion and capsicum.
Between 11am and 2pm, Great Spice runs a set of combo lunch specials pairing curry with naan, rice and other extras. Options range from a simple takeaway combo of curry and rice, up through combos that add naan, papadom, and a choice of soft drink, juice, mango lassi, wine or beer for dine-in guests. These lunch specials exclude seafood, goat and tandoori dishes, keeping the focus on the core curry menu during the midday sitting.
Great Spice is set up to make visiting straightforward. There's free parking and free wifi on site, the restaurant is wheelchair accessible, and guests are welcome to BYO wine to go with their meal. The menu also caters to dietary needs, with dairy free, vegan and gluten free options available across the range.
Alongside its regular dine-in and takeaway service, Great Spice also offers a catering menu and hosts events, making it an option for group functions as well as a regular night out. Online ordering is available for those who'd rather eat at home, and tables can be booked directly through the website for dine-in visits.
Whether it's a quick lunch combo, a full thali experience, or catering for a larger event, Great Spice Tauranga positions itself as an accessible, well-rounded option for Indian food in Otumoetai — traditional dishes, straightforward service, and a menu built to suit a range of diets and occasions.