Best Indian Restaurants in Gisborne: 3 Trusted Curry Houses
Gisborne’s Indian restaurant scene is small but strong – three well-established operators, all on Gladstone Road, each with a loyal following and hundreds of reviews between them. This shortlist covers the top three, starting with Bollywood Indian Restaurant Gisborne, an authentic Tandoori restaurant part of a small NZ chain, and known citywide for reliable curries, generous portions, and BYO dining.
1Bollywood Indian Restaurant Gisborne
Bollywood Indian Restaurant Gisborne (also called Bollywood Stars) is an established Tandoori Indian restaurant on Gladstone Road, part of a small NZ chain also operating in Hastings and Napier. The Gisborne location is popular for authentic curries, tandoori specialties, and a warm dining room. With over 870 Google reviews averaging 4.3 stars, it’s the most-reviewed Indian restaurant in the region. Dine-in, takeaway, and delivery all available, with BYO wine an option for the dining room.
Services
- Authentic Tandoori Indian cuisine – Butter Chicken, Beef Vindaloo, curry range
- Dine-in restaurant on Gladstone Road
- Takeaway and delivery available
- Vegetarian and vegan options
- BYO wine dining
Highlights
- Established Tandoori Indian restaurant chain (Hastings and Napier siblings)
- Over 870 Google reviews (4.3 rating)
- Central Gladstone Road location
- Online reservations and takeaway ordering
- Group and catering bookings
Customer Feedback
Location & Contact
Name: Bollywood Indian Restaurant Gisborne
Address: 355 Gladstone Road, Gisborne 4010
Phone: 06 863 2954
Website: bollywood.co.nz/locations/gisborne
Contact Bollywood Indian Restaurant Gisborne via Email
2Tamarind of Gisborne
Tamarind of Gisborne is a family-owned Indian restaurant on Gladstone Road in Te Hapara, established by Pooja and CJ Singh in 2012. Known for high-quality authentic Indian food across a broad menu, with a strong local following built over more than a decade of trading. Restaurant and bar, dine-in and takeaway, with regular repeat customers making up much of the trade. Over 540 Google reviews at 4.3 stars back up the quality reputation.
Services
- Authentic Indian cuisine – full curry, tandoori, and biryani range
- Dine-in restaurant and bar
- Takeaway available
- Vegetarian and vegan menu options
- Group bookings and catering
Highlights
- Family-owned since 2012 (Pooja and CJ Singh)
- Over 540 Google reviews at 4.3 rating
- Te Hapara Gladstone Road location
- Restaurant with bar service
- Well-established local reputation
Location & Contact
Name: Tamarind of Gisborne
Address: 663 Gladstone Road, Te Hapara, Gisborne
Phone: 06 863 3232
Website: tamarindofgisborne.com
3Friends Indian Takeaway & Dairy
Friends Indian Takeaway & Dairy is a takeaway-first Indian operation on lower Gladstone Road, focused on the quick, well-priced end of the market. Long weekday hours (10:30am-8:30pm Monday to Saturday) suit workers and families wanting a straightforward Indian dinner without the dine-in wait. Combined takeaway and dairy operation, so grabbing a curry and a drink in one stop is the pitch. Ninety-one Google reviews at a solid 4.0 rating.
Services
- Indian takeaway – curry, tandoori, rice, breads
- Dairy convenience items and drinks alongside meals
- Family meal deals and combos
- Vegetarian options
Highlights
- Long weekday hours (Mon-Sat 10:30am-8:30pm)
- Combined takeaway and dairy – one-stop convenience
- 4.0 Google rating across 91 reviews
- Central Gladstone Road location
Location & Contact
Name: Friends Indian Takeaway & Dairy
Address: 61 Gladstone Road, Gisborne 4010
Phone: 06 863 3228
Website: Facebook – Friends Indian Takeaway
Indian Restaurants in Gisborne at a Glance
| Business | Based in | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Bollywood Indian Restaurant Gisborne | Gisborne | Established Tandoori Indian restaurant chain (Hastings and Napier sib... |
| Tamarind of Gisborne | Te Hapara | Family-owned since 2012 (Pooja and CJ Singh) |
| Friends Indian Takeaway & Dairy | Gisborne | Long weekday hours (Mon-Sat 10:30am-8:30pm) |
How to Choose the Right Indian Restaurant in Gisborne
- Match to dining preference – Bollywood and Tamarind both offer dine-in restaurants with bar service, while Friends is takeaway-focused.
- Check location if you’re eating in – Bollywood is central Gladstone Road, Tamarind is at Te Hapara end.
- Confirm BYO policy if bringing wine – Bollywood is BYO wine friendly for dine-in.
- Order ahead for peak times – Friday and Saturday evenings are busy at all three.
- Ask about vegetarian options – all three restaurants offer strong vegetarian menus.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gisborne Indian Restaurants
How much does an Indian meal cost in Gisborne?
Main curries at Gisborne Indian restaurants run around $20 to $30 for a substantial main plus rice or naan. Combo meals and family packs bring per-person cost down. Takeaway pricing is generally slightly lower than dine-in.
Do Gisborne Indian restaurants offer vegetarian options?
Yes. Bollywood, Tamarind, and Friends all have dedicated vegetarian sections on their menus – paneer curries, dal, chana masala, aloo dishes, and vegetable biryani. Vegan options are also available, ask when ordering.
Are Gisborne Indian restaurants BYO?
Bollywood Indian Restaurant Gisborne welcomes BYO wine for dine-in service. Tamarind is fully licensed (has a bar), so BYO isn’t needed. Friends is takeaway-focused.
Do any deliver Indian food in Gisborne?
Bollywood offers delivery for orders placed through their online system. Friends and Tamarind are pickup-focused, though check with each for current delivery arrangements or third-party delivery apps.
Which Gisborne Indian restaurant is best for a family dinner?
Bollywood and Tamarind both offer family-friendly dining rooms with high-chair options and quieter early-evening seating. Both handle larger groups with reservation.
How spicy is the Indian food at Gisborne restaurants?
All three restaurants adjust spice levels on request – most dishes come standard mild-to-medium with heat available on request. Vindaloo and chilli specialties are the fully hot options.
How We Chose the Best Indian Restaurants in Gisborne
Every business in this guide was found by searching for indian restaurants in Gisborne, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Gisborne, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.
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