Curry Heaven — Restaurant in North Island

As an Englishman, I thought I had seen it all when it came to chicken tikka masala. After all, it’s practically a national dish back home. But here in New Zealand, I’ve just had my expectations utterly shattered.

The chicken tikka masala I had tonight was nothing short of extraordinary. The moment I took my first bite, I was hit with a depth of flavor I’d never quite experienced before. The chicken was tender and juicy, cooked to perfection with a smoky char from the tandoor, while the masala sauce was rich, creamy, and wonderfully balanced—spiced just enough to give a gentle kick without overwhelming the palate. The tomatoes were fresh, and there was a subtle sweetness to the dish that perfectly complemented the heat.

The spices weren’t the usual bland powdery mix you often find in so-called “authentic” curry houses. Instead, you could taste each individual note—cumin, coriander, turmeric—without any one of them dominating. The sauce had a luxurious silkiness that clung to the chicken.

And let’s talk about the rice. It was a fragrant, fluffy basmati that had been delicately spiced, but not overly so, providing a perfect base for the masala. Add to that a pillowy naan, slightly crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, and you’ve got a meal that’s nothing short of spectacular.

What really stood out, though, was the authenticity of the flavors. New Zealand isn’t exactly known for its Indian food, but this dish rivalled anything I’ve had back in London—possibly even surpassing it. It felt like a love letter to the cuisine, made with care and passion, as if the chef was determined to create something exceptional for their customers.

I’m not one to usually rave about foreign takes on a British staple, but this chicken tikka masala has earned a place in my heart. If you ever find yourself in New Zealand, don’t dare miss it. It’s the best I’ve ever had outside of India—or England, for...

Worst food ever, They should know salted lassi is not salt with yogurt and cumin seeds,, Zero presentation ,, no uniform for the staff. The lady was really really RUDE we ordered butter chicken she said don’t order this its not nice then we asked whats thw best option She replied you order by yourself otherwise you will blame me, She shouldn’t be telling us anything anyway.

Naan bread tastes like off Chicken tikka with 0 flavour, under portion but allgood because we didn’t finish our food anyway. Chicken was not even fresh

For them I would like to say if you want to know about taste Presentation And customer service Come to any indian restaurant in HAMILTON and please be gentle with your customer I know you’re the owner lady But still you need to be polite

Please get some uniform and staff

Cleaning- 0 star Everything is below 0 if i can please

WORST EXPERIENCE EVER WASTED MY...

Worst Indian food I’ve ever had!!! 0 stars

I never write reviews but this was so bad I had to.

First - I ordered over the phone based on their website prices. Which showed a saag aloo as being $14 and onion baji as $6.90. When I go pick up the food she tells me the menu prices changed 3 months ago. Increased to $18 for saag aloo and $8.50 for onion baji. So their prices are out of date and way too expensive for what you get.

Second - the curry was watery, the rice was weird and overcooked, and the curry tasted weird and sweet. I’ve had heaps of saag aloos in my time and they have never tasted this bad. I had to coat it in salt just to make it barely edible.

DO NOT EVER BUY A CURRY FROM HERE!!!

(If you’re looking for a satisfying and cost effective curry, go to Tandoori Heritage in Kilbirnie - they do amazing curries...