Punjabi Rasoi Newlands — Restaurant in North Island

In the vibrant city of Amritsar, where tradition meets spice, the iconic Amritsari Chole Kulche holds a special place in Punjabi cuisine and culture. Unlike regular naan or paratha, the kulcha is made with fermented refined flour dough and stuffed with a spiced mix of potatoes, onions, and herbs. Cooked in a tandoor until perfectly crisp and blistered, it's topped generously with butter and a sprinkle of dry spices like roasted coriander seeds and kasuri methi. Its signature smokiness and flaky texture make it a street food favorite that’s both indulgent and comforting.

Paired with it is the rich, spicy Amritsari chole, made using slow-cooked chickpeas simmered in black tea water and infused with a tangy masala blend of anardana, amchur, and traditional spices. The gravy is dark, deep, and packed with layers of flavor that perfectly complement the buttery kulcha. Often accompanied by a refreshing raita and pickles, the meal strikes a perfect balance of heat, tang, and coolness — a full-bodied thali experience that reflects the robust spirit of Punjab.

Though kulcha traces its origins back to Persian cuisine, it found its most iconic transformation in Amritsar, evolving into a bold, spicy dish that locals made their own. Since the 1940s, Amritsari chole kulche has been a staple at weddings, dhabas, and street stalls — a beloved combination that travels beyond borders yet remains deeply rooted in its heritage. The dish you’ve captured in your photo, with its buttery kulchas and aromatic chole, is more than just food — it’s a plateful of history, tradition, and the soul of Punjab. Thank you Punjabi Rasoi (Newlands) for giving me such a wonderful experience with the taste...

Decided to give Punjabi Rasoi a go tonight and was pleasantly surprised with the food. The waitresses had great customer service and were attentive to our needs.

What we ordered: Onion Bhaji - lacked salt however was nice and crispy and tasty when eaten with the tamarind sauce. Would’ve liked to have it come out a little fresher (as it wasn’t hot) but not bad (3/5)

Panipuri - absolute treat! I’ve never tried it before so can’t compare to anything however, it was delicious and fun to put together. Sweet, savoury and spicy. Yum!! (5/5)

Punjabi Rasoi Goat Curry - The meat was super tender, and slightly smoky and the gravy was rich and well balanced. We went for medium spice which was perfect as it didn’t overpower the flavour, but brought some good heat. Can definitely understand why it’s a “must try” - would have again! (5/5)

Bhuna Chicken - again, the meat was super tender and very flavourful. The gravy was thicker so coated the chicken nicely. The flavour was rich and different to any other chicken curry I’ve tried. It was a pretty generous portion too. Would have again! (5/5)

Garlic Naan - was relatively thin and didn’t have the same pillowy/fluffiness which other places do however, it was packed with delicious garlic butter and had nice crispy, slightly charred edges. I was a fan, but others may not like it as much. (4/5)

Overall, we really enjoyed our dinner. Price is on the more expensive side but is still affordable compared to other Indian restaurants around Wellington. We will definitely be back!

Thank you Punjabi...

Worst dining experience of my life. It suffers from the same problems it did when it was Chilli's. Prioritising take away orders over dine in customers. We arrived at 6:30pm and quickly ordered a round of drinks, poppadoms and onion bahji, drinks took 15mins, then after 30mins I went to enquire about the starters. They hadn't even started them. The poppadoms arrived cold, though we were warned they were very hot. Also oily and they forgot the bahji's. Eventually the bahji arrived and they took our orders for mains. Meanwhile a load of takeaway customers came and went. The people next to us had been waiting over an hour for their mains. We waited for ages, the waitress asked the chef when our meals would be ready and we were told 5mins more, and at the two hour mark we decided to just pay for what we'd had and leave. Even that proved difficult as there was a father and daughter trying to pay in front of us who'd found brass swarf from a goldilocks pan scour in their sauce. They too had a rediculous wait for their meals. We paid $69 for a round of drinks, poppadoms and bahj's. It's such a shame as Newlands needs a good restaurant and we were hoping the new owners had improved it. We will never be back, nor will the...