House of Spice Bethlehem

About House of Spice Bethlehem

House of Spice Bethlehem is a neighbourhood Indian restaurant on Bethlehem Road in Tauranga, part of the House of Spice family, which has been serving the people of Tauranga superb traditional Indian cuisine for over a decade. The kitchen's focus is home-style cooking: chefs with many years of experience turning out rich, familiar curries, tandoor-cooked kebabs and fresh clay-oven breads.

The dining room is relaxed and friendly, with the kind of attentive, unhurried service the team takes great pride in. The menu covers the classics — butter chicken, tikka masala, korma, rogan josh, vindaloo — alongside a deep vegetarian selection of paneer dishes, dals and vegetable curries, biryanis served with raita, and seafood specials. Mains are cooked mild, medium or hot to suit every table.

Lunch runs Tuesday to Sunday, dinner every evening, and takeaway is easy through online ordering, including lunch and dinner specials that pair any main with rice and naan. A kids' menu and table bookings make it a straightforward choice for families and groups alike.

House of Spice Bethlehem: Home-Style Indian Dining and Takeaway in Tauranga

House of Spice Bethlehem sits on Bethlehem Road in one of Tauranga's most popular neighbourhood centres, and it belongs to a restaurant family that has been serving the people of Tauranga for more than a decade. The idea behind it is simple: superb traditional Indian cuisine, cooked home style by chefs with many years of experience, in a relaxed and friendly setting where the service is as considered as the food.

That combination of home-style cooking, a warm atmosphere and genuine hospitality is what the team takes the greatest pride in, and it shapes the whole experience — from a casual midweek curry to a long dinner with the family. Dine in, book a table, or order takeaway online; the kitchen caters comfortably to all three.

Curries for every palate and heat level

The menu is a wide tour of the classics. Butter chicken leads the chicken list — boneless morsels roasted in the tandoor, then finished in a mild, creamy tomato sauce — with an Indian-style version alongside it. From there: chicken tikka masala, korma built on cashew nuts and home-made cream, madras tempered with mustard and curry leaves, chicken saag, methi chicken and a Punjabi recipe made with citrus juices.

Lamb and beef are equally well represented, from rogan josh — a low-fat, dairy-free option cooked in fine onion gravy — to do piaza, saagwala, vindaloo for chilli-lovers, anarkali with mint and pomegranate seeds, and a goat curry on the bone in a special homemade gravy. Seafood runs from butter prawn and prawn malabari to a Goan fish curry and a tawa special of tiger prawn, fish and mussels. Every main is cooked mild, medium or hot, which makes sharing across a table easy.

A vegetarian list with real depth

Vegetarians are well looked after. Paneer appears more than a dozen ways — butter masala, tikka masala, palak, shahi in butter and nut gravy, methi malai with fenugreek and cream — while dal makhani, daal majedar, chana masala, saag aloo, aloo matar and malai kofta round out a list long enough to build an entire meal without touching the meat section. House-made mint and tamarind sauces, raita and papadum finish the table.

Straight from the clay oven

The tandoor anchors both the starter list and the bread basket. Vegetarian openers include onion bhaji, samosa, vegetable pakora, paneer tikka and tandoori chaap, while the non-vegetarian side offers chicken tikka, seekh kebab, tandoori chicken, murgh malai tikka and achari tikka, plus sharing platters. Naans come plain, buttered, garlicky or stuffed with cheese, keema, onion, potato or paneer, alongside layered lacha and pudina parathas.

Biryani, served with raita, comes in a vegetable version and a full run of lamb, beef, chicken, prawn and goat, and the rice list runs from simple basmati and jeera to Kashmiri pulao with nuts.

Lunch, dinner and easy takeaway

Bethlehem keeps split hours: lunch Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 2pm, dinner nightly from 4pm to 10pm, with Monday opening at 4:30pm for dinner only. Takeaway is a big part of the operation, with online ordering for pickup and dedicated lunch and dinner specials pairing any main with rice and naan. Families are covered too, with a kids' list of butter chicken with naan, chicken nuggets and chips, and vegetable spring rolls.

You'll find House of Spice Bethlehem at 9 Bethlehem Rd, Tauranga — call 07 579 3680 or book a table through the House of Spice website. Whether it's a quick lunch special or a full spread of curries, biryanis and hot naan, it's a dependable, welcoming stop for Indian food on Tauranga's north side.

Signature items

• Butter Chicken
• Garlic Naan
• Chicken Tikka Masala
• Lamb or Beef Rogan Josh
• Vegetable Biryani
• Goat Curry

Menu

Biryani

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

Rice Dishes

• Basmati Rice — Plain basmati 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-style sauces.
• Vegetable Fried Rice — Vegetables cooked with rice and Chinese-style sauces.

Side Dishes

• Papadum — Crisp lentil wafers, four pieces per serve.
• Raita — Cooling yoghurt condiment.
• Mix Pickle — Traditional Indian mixed pickle.
• Mint or Tamarind Sauce — House dipping sauces.
• Green Salad — Fresh garden salad.
• Onion Salad — Simple sliced onion salad.

Chicken Mains

• Butter Chicken — Tandoor-roasted boneless chicken in a mild, creamy tomato flavoured sauce.
• Butter Chicken Indian Style — The house classic finished Indian style in a creamy tomato gravy.
• Chicken Korma — Cooked with cashew nuts, gravy and home-made cream; traditionally prepared.
• Chicken Tikka Masala — Succulent tandoor-roasted chicken in spicy gravy with capsicum, onions and herbs.
• Mango Chicken — Tender boneless chicken in a subtle mango sauce.
• Chicken Madras — South Indian curry tempered with mustard and curry leaves.
• Chicken Saag — Chicken cooked with fresh spinach in aromatic spices.
• Punjabi Chicken — Melt-in-your-mouth chicken made with citrus juices and classic Indian spices.
• Methi Chicken — Fenugreek leaves and cashew paste cooked with onion tomato gravy and fresh cream.
• Chicken Mushroom Masala — Tender chicken and mushroom in garlic, tomato and onion gravy.
• Chicken Dhansak — Boneless chicken cooked with lentils in an onion and cashew gravy.
• Special Garlic Butter Chicken — A chef's special chicken preparation in garlic butter.
• Chicken, Lamb or Beef Bhuna Ghost — Boneless meat cooked with onion, ginger, garlic and cashew gravy.
• Chicken, Lamb or Beef Jalfrezi — Marinated meat cooked with seasonal vegetables in a lightly spiced masala.
• Chicken, Lamb or Beef Balti — Boneless meat with onion, mixed vegetables and selected spices, garnished with coriander.
• Kadai Chicken, Lamb or Beef — Chicken fillets cooked with onion, capsicum, cream and crushed tomato.

Kids Specials

• Butter Chicken with Naan — A child-friendly serve of the house classic with naan bread.
• Chicken Nuggets & Chips — Also available as chips only or fish and chips.
• Vegetable Spring Rolls — Eight pieces of crispy vegetable spring rolls.

Naan & Breads

• Tandoori Roti — Hand-rolled bread made from wholemeal and white flour.
• Butter Naan — Plain flour bread cooked in the tandoor oven, 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 — Naan stuffed with a spiced minced meat mixture.
• Cheese and Chicken Naan — Naan stuffed with cheese and chopped chicken.
• Cheese and Garlic Naan — Naan stuffed with cheese and garlic.
• Paneer Kulcha — Naan stuffed with chopped paneer and herbs.
• Lacha Paratha — Layered unleavened wholemeal flour bread.
• Pudina Paratha — A multi-layered paratha made with mint and cooked in the clay oven.

Seafood Mains

• Prawn or Fish Masala — Prepared in thick onion gravy finished with capsicum and onion.
• Prawn Malabari — Prawn cooked with grated coconut and tamarind sauce.
• Butter Prawn — Prawn cooked in a mild, creamy tomato flavoured sauce.
• Prawn Spinach — Prawn cooked with fresh spinach in aromatic spices.
• Goan Fish Curry — Fish fillet cooked in fine tomato paste and coconut gravy.
• Kadai Fish or Prawn — Cooked with tomato, onion, cream, fresh coriander and chef's special gravy.
• Prawn or Fish Vindaloo — Cooked with spices and onion gravy in vindaloo sauce.
• Bengali Fish — An east Indian dish with garlic, onion, ginger, tomato and freshly ground spices.
• Golden Fried Prawn — Prawns fried with a mixture of spices in fine flour and corn flour.
• Seafood Tawa — Tiger prawn, fish and mussels cooked with butter and brown sauce.

Vegetable Mains

• Vegetable Korma — Fresh vegetables with cashew nuts, cream, coconut and mild herbs and spices.
• Butter Vegetables — Fresh vegetables in a smooth tomato and creamy sauce.
• Seasonal Vegetables — Fresh vegetables cooked in traditional style with aromatic herbs.
• Butter Paneer — Homemade cottage cheese in a creamy tomato flavoured sauce.
• Chana Masala — Chickpeas cooked in onion and tomato gravy, garnished with herbs.
• Saag Aloo — Potatoes cooked with a puree of fresh leafy spinach and a blend of spices.
• Palak Paneer — Cottage cheese cooked with a puree of fresh leafy spinach and blended spices.
• Dal Makhani — Slow-simmered beans delicately flavoured with onion, tomato, shredded ginger and coriander.
• Aloo Matar — Peas and potatoes in a very smooth onion and tomato based curry.
• Daal Majedar — Lentils cooked with cumin, ginger, coriander, onion and tomato puree.
• Malai Kofta — Deep-fried potato and cottage cheese balls in a rich, spicy gravy.
• Paneer Butter Masala — Fresh cottage cheese in the chef's onion tomato sauce.
• Mushroom Masala — Fresh mushrooms cooked with herbs, capsicum and onion gravy.
• Matar Mushroom Masala — Mushrooms and green peas cooked with herbs, capsicum and onion gravy.
• Paneer Methi Malai — A blend of cottage cheese, dried fenugreek leaves, cream and spices.
• Paneer Tikka Masala — Paneer roasted in the tandoor then cooked in spicy gravy with capsicum, onions and herbs.
• 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.
• Egg Curry — Boiled eggs cooked in onion, tomato and the chef's special gravy.

Lamb & Beef Mains

• Lamb or Beef Rogan Josh — Diced lamb in fine onion gravy with fresh spices; low fat and dairy free.
• Lamb or Beef Korma — Cooked with cashew nuts, gravy and home-made cream; traditionally prepared.
• Lamb or Beef Do Piaza — Boneless lamb with fried sliced onions and dry roasted spices, garnished with green herbs.
• Lamb or Beef Saagwala — Lamb cooked with fresh spinach in aromatic spices.
• Lamb or Beef Vindaloo — Lamb in hot vindaloo sauce with onion gravy and spring onions.
• Lamb or Beef Curry — Diced beef cooked with potatoes in traditional Indian style.
• Lamb or Beef Anarkali — Diced lamb cooked with herbs, mint, pomegranate seeds and tomato.
• Lamb or Beef Mushroom Masala — Diced lamb and mushroom in garlic, tomato and onion gravy.
• Lamb or Beef Dhansak — Diced lamb cooked with lentils in a delicious medium-spicy onion gravy.
• Lamb or Beef Tikka Masala — Tandoor-roasted diced lamb in spicy gravy with capsicums, onions and herbs.
• Goat Curry — Goat on the bone cooked in a special homemade gravy, garnished with coriander.

Takeaway Specials

• Takeaway Lunch Special — Any main with rice and plain naan; excludes seafood and tandoori.
• Takeaway Dinner Special — Any main with rice, naan bread and a glass of house wine, beer or juice; excludes seafood and tandoori.
• Family Package — Four curries including seafood and vegetarian picks, naan breads, three rice and a 1.5L drink.

Vegetarian Starters

• Onion Bhaji — Deep-fried onion fritters in mild spiced batter, served with home tamarind sauce.
• Samosa — Triangular parcels of water-thin pastry filled with seasoned vegetables.
• Vegetable Pakora — Seasonal vegetables dipped in spiced chickpea flour and deep fried.
• Vegetable Manchurian — Vegetable balls cooked with finely chopped vegetables in soy sauce.
• Cheese Chilli — Cubed cottage cheese dipped in gram flour, finished with capsicum and onions.
• Paneer Tikka — Homemade cottage cheese marinated in yoghurt with capsicum and onion, roasted in the tandoor.
• Tandoori Chaap — Soya bean chaap marinated in spiced yoghurt and cooked in the clay oven.
• Malai Chaap — Tender chaap mixed with cashew nuts and onion gravy.
• Veg Platter — A mixed platter of vegetable 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 — Chicken cubes marinated in herbs and 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 serve.
• Tandoori Prawns — Prawns cooked with herbs and yoghurt in tandoori masala; half or full serve.
• Murgh Malai Tikka — Chicken marinated in yoghurt, cream and pepper, tandoor-roasted, served with salad and mint chutney.
• Achari Tikka — Chicken marinated in yoghurt, mustard and fenugreek, tandoor-roasted with salad and mint chutney.
• Mix Platter — A selection of vegetable pakora, chicken tikka and seekh kebab.
• Tandoori Platter — A combination of chicken tikka, seekh kebab and malai chicken.

Frequently asked questions

Where is House of Spice Bethlehem located?

At 9 Bethlehem Rd, Bethlehem, Tauranga 3110. The branch can be reached on 07 579 3680.

What are the opening hours?

Monday 4:30pm-10:00pm. Tuesday to Sunday 11:00am-2:00pm and 4:00pm-10:00pm.

Is Bethlehem open for lunch on Mondays?

No — Monday is dinner service only, from 4:30pm. Lunch runs Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 2pm.

Can I order takeaway?

Yes — online takeaway ordering is available, and the menu includes lunch and dinner specials pairing any main with rice and naan (seafood and tandoori dishes excluded).

Are there vegetarian options?

Yes — an extensive vegetarian section covers paneer dishes, dals, chana masala, saag aloo, malai kofta and more, plus vegetarian starters and biryani.

How spicy is the food?

Mains can be cooked mild, medium or hot — just ask. Lamb or beef vindaloo is the hot standout, while butter chicken and kormas are milder.

Can I book a table?

Yes — reservations can be made through the House of Spice website, and a kids' menu is available for families.

Tips

• {"body":"Monday is dinner only from 4:30pm. If you want lunch, come Tuesday to Sunday between 11am and 2pm.","title":"Mind the Monday hours"}
• {"body":"Takeaway lunch and dinner specials pair any main with rice and naan — the dinner version adds a glass of house wine, beer or juice. Seafood and tandoori dishes are excluded.","title":"Grab the takeaway specials"}
• {"body":"Online takeaway ordering is available, handy for skipping the wait during the popular 4pm-10pm dinner service.","title":"Order ahead for dinner"}
• {"body":"Every main can be made mild, medium or hot, so mixed groups can order vindaloo and korma side by side.","title":"Choose your heat"}
• {"body":"The kids' specials list butter chicken with naan, chicken nuggets and chips, and vegetable spring rolls, making family dinners easy.","title":"Bring the kids"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Kids' menu with butter chicken and naan, chicken nuggets and chips (or fish and chips), and vegetable spring rolls.","dietary":"Extensive vegetarian menu; mains cooked mild, medium or hot; lamb or beef rogan josh is low fat and dairy free."}