Finding the best Indian restaurants in Taupō means choosing between tandoori kitchens, curry houses and street food counters spread across the town centre and Paetiki. These Indian restaurants in Taupō cover dine-in, takeaway, delivery and function catering, with butter chicken, biryani, dal makhani and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes on most menus. Master of India on Ruapehu Street and Incredible India in the Spa Gate complex are two good places to start.
1Master of India
Master of India is a family-owned tandoori restaurant and takeaway on Ruapehu Street in central Taupō, serving home-style Indian cooking since 2008. The kitchen specialises in balti and goat dishes, and the restaurant suits everything from a quick takeaway lunch to a private party or wedding function.
Services
- Dine-in lunch and dinner, seven days
- Takeaway and delivery with online ordering
- Table reservations
- Corporate and private function catering, including weddings and birthdays
Highlights
- Established in 2008
- Specialises in balti and goat dishes
- Seats up to 80 indoors and 20 outdoors
- Fully licensed, with BYO wine also welcome except on public holidays
- Halal, gluten-free, vegan and Kathmandu-style options on the menu
Location & Contact
Name: Master of India
Address: 47 Ruapehu Street, Taupō
Phone: 07 377 0041
Website: masterofindia.co.nz
2Incredible India Restaurant & Bar
Incredible India opened in 2018 and trades as a fully licensed restaurant and bar in the Spa Gate complex on Pāora Hapi Street. The menu runs from butter chicken and dal makhani to chef’s specials such as pasanda, lamb chops and a keto madras, with craft beers at the bar. It is open all day, seven days, for dine-in, takeaway or delivery.
Services
- Dine-in restaurant and fully licensed bar
- Online ordering for takeaway
- Delivery
- Online table reservations
Highlights
- Excellence in Innovation Award, Taupō Business Awards 2021
- Chef’s specials including pasanda, lamb chops and keto madras
- Open seven days from 11:15 am
- Craft beer selection
Location & Contact
Name: Incredible India Restaurant & Bar
Address: 19 Pāora Hapi Street, Spa Gate complex, Taupō
Phone: 07 217 0199
Website: incredibleindia.co.nz
3Indian Affair Restaurant and Bar
Indian Affair sits on the corner of Ruapehu and Tuwharetoa Streets, in the middle of the Taupō town centre bar and restaurant strip. Its chefs cook both North and South Indian dishes, from kulchas, mutton korma and saag paneer to chicken biryani and coconut fish curry, in a minimalist dining room that also takes functions and group bookings.
Services
- Dine-in lunch and dinner
- Takeaway and delivery menus with online ordering
- Table reservations and group bookings
- Functions and birthday parties
- Gift cards
Highlights
- Stella Awards recognition for Excellent Customer Experience, 2018
- Over 250 wines, with many available by the glass
- Menu spans North Indian and South Indian cooking
- Open from 9:00 am, seven days
Location & Contact
Name: Indian Affair Restaurant and Bar
Address: 34 Ruapehu Street (corner of Tuwharetoa and Ruapehu Streets), Taupō
Phone: 07 378 2295
Website: indianaffair.co.nz
4Suncourt Indian
Suncourt Indian, in Suncourt Plaza on Tamamutu Street, builds its menu around the street food of India alongside northern and southern curries, lentils and tandoor dishes. Vegetarian meals are cooked separately and halal meat is available on request, which makes it a practical pick for mixed groups, and it also caters weddings, corporate events and private parties.
Services
- Takeaway and pickup with online ordering
- Food delivery
- Event catering for weddings, corporate and private functions
- School lunch specials
Highlights
- Menu inspired by Indian street food, including chaat and snacks
- Vegetarian meals cooked separately
- Keto, gluten-free, vegan and halal options
- Restaurant Guru Best Food Delivery award, 2022
- Dedicated catering contact line
Location & Contact
Name: Suncourt Indian
Address: Shop 20, Suncourt Plaza, 19 Tamamutu Street, Taupō
Phone: 07 213 2777
Website: suncourtindian.co.nz
5Taupo Indian Cuisine Restaurant & Bar
Taupo Indian Cuisine is a restaurant and bar in the Paetiki Shopping Centre on Taharepa Road, handy for diners on the Tauhara side of town. The menu covers aromatic curries, tandoori specialties, vegetarian dishes and Indo-Chinese food, and the bar pours wine, beer and cocktails. The same business also runs a second restaurant in Devonport, Auckland.
Services
- Dine-in restaurant
- Takeaway with online ordering
- Delivery
- Table reservations
- Bar with wines, beers and cocktails
Highlights
- Suburban location at Paetiki Shopping Centre, away from the town centre
- Indo-Chinese dishes alongside the Indian menu
- Specialty cocktail list
Location & Contact
Name: Taupo Indian Cuisine Restaurant & Bar
Address: Paetiki Shopping Centre, 1/230 Taharepa Road, Taupō
Phone: 07 378 0383
Website: taupoindian.co.nz
Indian Restaurants in Taupō at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Master of India | Established in 2008 |
| Incredible India Restaurant & Bar | Excellence in Innovation Award, Taupō Business Awards 2021 |
| Indian Affair Restaurant and Bar | Stella Awards recognition for Excellent Customer Experience, 2018 |
| Suncourt Indian | Menu inspired by Indian street food, including chaat and snacks |
| Taupo Indian Cuisine Restaurant & Bar | Suburban location at Paetiki Shopping Centre, away from the town centre |
How to Choose the Right Indian Restaurant in Taupō
- Dine-in or takeaway: decide whether you want a licensed dining room with a bar or a quick takeaway and delivery counter, as some kitchens focus more on one than the other.
- Regional style: North Indian menus lean on tandoori, naan and creamy curries, while South Indian and street food menus bring chaat, snacks, coconut curries and Indo-Chinese dishes.
- Dietary needs: check for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, keto or halal options, and ask whether vegetarian dishes are cooked separately.
- Group size and functions: for birthdays, work dinners or weddings, look for a restaurant that takes group bookings or offers event catering.
- Location: most Indian restaurants sit around Ruapehu Street and the town centre, with another option at Paetiki if you are staying on the eastern side of town.
Frequently Asked Questions About Taupō Indian Restaurants
Where are the Indian restaurants in Taupō?
Most are in the town centre, clustered around Ruapehu Street, Tuwharetoa Street, Tamamutu Street and the Spa Gate complex on Pāora Hapi Street, all within a short walk of the lakefront. If you are staying in Tauhara or the eastern suburbs, the Paetiki Shopping Centre on Taharepa Road is the closer option.
Do Indian restaurants in Taupō deliver?
Many do. Several Taupō Indian restaurants take online orders through their own websites for pickup or delivery, so check each restaurant’s delivery area and minimum order before you order.
Can I find vegetarian and vegan Indian food in Taupō?
Yes. Indian cooking has a long vegetarian tradition, and dishes such as dal makhani, saag paneer, chana masala and vegetable korma are common. Many Indian restaurants in Taupō also mark vegan and gluten-free dishes, and some cook vegetarian meals separately from meat dishes.
What should I do if I have a food allergy?
Tell the staff when you order. Indian dishes can contain nuts, dairy, gluten or mustard, and cream or ground cashews are often used in sauces such as korma and butter chicken. New Zealand Food Safety explains how allergens are managed and labelled on its food allergies and intolerances page.
Is there halal Indian food in Taupō?
Some Indian restaurants in Taupō offer halal meat, either across the menu or on request. It is worth confirming when you book or order, as practice varies from kitchen to kitchen.
Can I book an Indian restaurant for a group or function?
Yes. Several restaurants take group bookings, birthday parties and private functions, and some offer off-site catering for weddings and corporate events. Book ahead for weekends and school holidays, when Taupō is busy with visitors.
Can I bring my own wine?
Most Indian restaurants in Taupō are fully licensed, and a few also allow BYO wine. Policies and corkage differ, so check with the restaurant before you arrive.
What dishes should a first-timer try?
Butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, chicken tikka masala and biryani are reliable starting points, paired with garlic naan and a mango lassi. Ask for mild, medium or hot, as most kitchens adjust the spice level to order.
How We Chose the Best Indian Restaurants in Taupō
Every business in this guide was found by searching for indian restaurants in Taupō, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Taupō, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.