Taste of India Restaurant — Restaurant in Efate

Taking over the site of a former day spa, Taste of India began their soft launch three weeks ago. Word of decent Indian food in Port Vila has spread through the expat. community like wildfire. We were told by a charming pair during our meal at Coco de Mer. With fairy lights outside and an opulent gold and white interior, Taste of India makes a good attempt at transporting you from everyday Vanuatu.

Fluffy butter naan (300VT) and garlic naan (350VT) cooked in the tandoor are must-orders. The chicken tikka (1200VT) was over-cooked and dry, so opt for the on-the-bone version—tandoori chook (850VT/half)—as your entree instead. The kitchen hasn’t quite got the entree then main progression sorted (it’s early days) so it arrived after our tandoori whole fish (3000VT). The small but fleshy golden pomfret came out so fast it was a little cold in the centre, but a quick word to the owner ensured we got it back a few minutes later piping hot. It ate best with all three chutneys—tamarind, mint, and tomato and onion—spooned over the top.

The meal’s spicy star was the duck curry (3000VT) where a well-rendered, bone-in half duck (sourced from Australia or New Zealand) was presented in a rich, well-integrated onion, coriander seed and tomato-based curry. While the sauce was on the thin side, it ate well over a gentle, generously proportioned pot of pea and coriander pulao (500VT). And this is one restaurant where if you ask for hot, you actually receive it: you’re going to need a Tusker OP (500VT). With more bells and whistles planned for the (already impressive) interior, and the kitchen solidifying processes, Taste of India will be an asset to Port Vila’s...

Delicious & Generous Portions!

We ordered takeaway from Taste of India twice during our stay at Portvila and we were consistently impressed! The portion sizes are very generous, and the flavors are always fresh and satisfying. The chicken curry on the bone was delicious. The garlic naan is huge! So good, and perfect for soaking up all that curry.

On our second order, we also tried the tandoori chicken, and it was perfectly cooked and they didn’t add the red food colour but the taste was good. The food definitely hit the spot if you’re craving Indian flavors.

We placed our first order over the phone. Unfortunately they don’t have a WhatsApp number. It would be good to have one for foreign travellers. They delivered the food through Kakai Koko (a local food delivery service), but be aware there’s a small charge for delivery. Since they don’t deliver on weekends, we went to the restaurant to pick up our food. They had a lot of orders, but we didn’t mind waiting as we were treated to complimentary pappadums and dips while we had a drink. Such a nice touch, and the staff were friendly and attentive.

Taste of India is also conveniently located near a bus stop, which makes it easy to get to. If you’re coming from your accommodation, a bus ride only costs around 150 Vatu depending on your accommodation. Ours was less than 10 minutes by car. A quick tip: the buses in Vanuatu are actually vans, which we didn’t realise at first, so don’t be confused when locals mention the bus! The vans have a B in front of the rego so you know it’s a Bus and if it has T then it’s a taxi and if it’s a H...

Delighted to find good Indian food is available in Port Vila again. The restaurant is on it's own lot with ample parking. The inside and the balcony are roomy spaces and it has a welcoming atmosphere. We tried the Chicken Tikka Marsala, Lamb Saag, (which wasn't on the menu, but the chef was able to whip it up for us) and dahl. All dishes were delicious and well presented. The naans were good and the sauces were spot on. Value wise, it is rather pricey for the amount served. The restaurant had only been open 3 weeks when we dined, so it is a work in progress, with both the menu and outdoor seating area expected to be expanded. The host, Mitesh, Sofia and staff were attentive and friendly. Had second visit recently and found the food was not quite as tasty as on the first visit. The tandoori chicken in particular was strangely done without the usual red colour or...