Taste of India, at 19 Cambridge Terrace in the heart of Te Aro, is a vibrant and authentic Indian restaurant bringing the rich flavours of the Indian subcontinent to Wellington's capital. Specialising in both traditional and contemporary Indian cuisine, the menu ranges from creamy butter chicken and flavourful lamb rogan josh to aromatic biryanis and naan breads baked fresh in the tandoor. Every dish is crafted with high-quality ingredients and a blend of spices designed to strike a balance of taste and heat.
The kitchen is geared towards convenient, delicious takeaway, so you can enjoy your favourite meals wherever you choose — a cosy night in, a casual dinner, or a quick bite on the go. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available across the menu, making it a welcoming choice for all dietary preferences.
Regulars are emphatic in their praise, calling it the best curry in Wellington and shouting out the tandoor master working in view of diners, whose naan comes out fluffy and crispy at the same time. With evening service Tuesday through Sunday and a deep menu spanning entrees, curries, biryanis, breads and quick curry-on-rice meals, Taste of India delivers the cultural heritage of Indian cooking straight to your table.
Taste of India brings the flavours of the Indian subcontinent to 19 Cambridge Terrace, in the middle of Wellington's bustling Te Aro neighbourhood. It is a vibrant, authentic Indian restaurant specialising in both traditional and contemporary dishes — creamy butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, aromatic biryanis and naan breads baked fresh in the tandoor. Every dish is built on high-quality ingredients and a careful blend of spices designed to balance taste and heat, so diners get the true essence of Indian cuisine without it ever becoming one-note.
Curries are the heart of the menu, and they are organised so you can navigate by mood as much as by protein. Chicken lovers can choose from seven preparations: butter chicken in a cream, tomato and honey sauce; chicken masala and balti chicken built on tandoori chicken; a cashew-sauced korma; saagwala with spinach; a fiery vindaloo; and mango chicken in a spiced, creamy mango pulp sauce. The lamb section covers the classics — rogan josh, saagwala, korma and vindaloo — while the vegetarian list is one of the deepest around, with eight paneer, potato, lentil and vegetable curries including paneer makhani, dal makhani and malai kofta.
Biryani gets its own section, with chicken, lamb and vegetable versions of the spiced rice dish, plus plain basmati on the side. If you are in a hurry, the Quick Meal list does exactly what it says: chicken, lamb or vegetable curry served on rice, ready to go.
The breads here earn their reputation. Baked to order, the naan range runs from buttered or plain to garlic, cheese-filled and a cheese-and-garlic combination, alongside onion kulcha, flaky wholemeal paratha and simple roti. One Wellington reviewer gave a special shout-out to the tandoor master working in the front of the restaurant, describing naan that was fluffy and crispy at the same time — evidence of the oven working in plain sight. The same tandoor turns out entrees like seekh kebab, chicken tikka and marinated chicken wings, while the entree list also covers crispy onion bhaji and vegetable samosas served with tangy tamarind chutney.
Taste of India keeps evening hours, opening at 5:30pm Tuesday through Sunday and closing at 11pm; it is closed on Mondays. That makes it a natural fit for after-work dinners, casual weekend meals and late cravings alike. The operation is geared towards convenient, delicious takeaway — you can order online for pickup and enjoy the food wherever you like, whether that is a cosy night at home or a quick bite on the go.
Dietary needs are well catered for, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available across the menu. Sides are simple and traditional: vegetable raita, poppadoms and mint sauce. To drink, there is mango lassi, made with yogurt, sugar and mango pulp.
Diners are emphatic. One calls it the best Indian in Wellington; another declares it the best curry in Wellington, hands down, even comparing it favourably to Auckland's much-loved Sandringham strip. A third names it the most authentic Indian in Wellington and recommends the cheese naan, noting they have worked through both the vegetarian and meat dishes and keep coming back. Friendly, eager-to-please staff come up again and again alongside the food.
You will find Taste of India at 19 Cambridge Terrace, Te Aro, Wellington 6011. Phone 04 382 8884 with questions, or use the online ordering link on the website to place a takeaway order. Whether you are after a butter chicken and cheese naan comfort run, a vindaloo that lives up to its hot fiery billing, or a vegetarian spread of dal makhani and palak paneer, this Cambridge Terrace kitchen delivers the rich cultural heritage of India straight to your table.