Khane Bahar is a South Indian restaurant at 460 Maunu Road, Whangarei, holding a 4.5 Google rating and taking online orders through its website.
South Indian cooking differs from the butter-chicken-and-naan style many diners picture first: the heart of the menu is rice and lentils — dosas and idli with sambar and chutneys, coconut-enriched curries, and the crackle of mustard seeds and curry leaves hitting hot oil. Dosas are at their best straight off the griddle, staying crisp for only a few minutes, which is why regulars eat them in rather than taking them away. Spice levels vary a lot between dishes, so it's worth asking when you order if heat is a concern. Vegetarians tend to eat especially well in this cuisine, since much of its tradition is meat-free.
On Maunu Road in Whangarei, Khane Bahar is where that cooking comes to Northland.