The Taj Indian Kitchen — Restaurant in South Island

Irrespective of its hype, the chef does not know how to cook genuine Indian food. We had ordered for veg biriyani and that came out to be pretty ordinary stuff with rice not being basmati (as claimed) and the vegetable cooked separately and then mixed together to give it the shape of biriyani ! It was a mixture of cooked rice n veggies being cooked separately n then mixed..that is their concept of biriyani !! Another irritating part is that in India, pickles and green chillies are necessary accompaniment of food and these things take care of your taste buds in case there is minor variation in the dish. When we wanted to have pickle to adjust to their version of biriyani, the guy (I guess it was their manager Saurabh Bhargava) insisted that we pay extra for the pickle. When we explained to him that we visited the restaurant only for Indian food and green chillies n pickles were necessary accompaniment, he showed us the rule book ! In any case, since the biriyani was a disaster, we left the matter at that point only, with a resolve never to visit the place again nor recommend it to anyone else ! A MUST...

We had a delightful and quick dinner at Taj Indian Restaurant. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with a gentle buzz of conversation. The friendly and attentive staff kept checking on us to ensure everything was perfect.

We opted for a shared meal, starting with the succulent lamb chops crusted in walnuts – a delightful combination of textures and flavours. The chicken curry was a true winner, boasting a rich and complex sauce with perfectly cooked chicken. The pilau rice was fluffy and flavorful, and the garlic naan was the perfect accompaniment for soaking up all that deliciousness. The mango chutney was a revelation – not overly sweet, with a wonderful tang that complemented the curry beautifully.

This restaurant is a true gem, welcoming both locals and tourists alike with its extensive menu catering to a variety of tastes. Whether you're craving European classics, flavorful curries, or something else entirely, you're sure to find something delicious a. Highly recommend for a satisfying and enjoyable dining...

Came here for my wife’s Birthday. Kudos to Rahul. What a legend. He recommended us all the dishes and cocktails, they turned out to be the best recommendations ever. So we had masala papadums, murgh tiranga and paneer tikka for starters. I mean, there was nothing I could pick out of it. Everything was made to perfection, the flavours were great.

We ordered Delhi Thandai cocktail and mango daiquiri. They absolutely hit the spot.

For mains we ordered Paneer Makhan wala (shahi paneer) and Ambala Lamb curry which was the show stopper for me. OMG! Every bite was blast of flavours, the meat was so tender and just melts in your mouth and I mean it, the gravy was right consistency not runny not to thick with ginger juliennes to finish it off.

We had them with lachha Parantha and rice.

I would have never thought I could find Indian food this good in Queenstown. Thank you Rahul for few complimentary drinks and dessert and making my wife’s birthday...