South Auckland doesn’t always seem to be quite such a hotbed of foodie news. But the reality is that central Auckland and the inner suburbs tend to dominate the ‘best of Indian restaurants’ lists, while places further south are often treated as practical rather than destination dining. What gets lost in all of that is something pretty amazing. Simply driving through Takanini, Manurewa, Papakura and Manukau on a Friday night, you’ll see bustling restaurants; they aren’t busy because they’re the latest Instagram flavour of the month, it’s because they’re popular, again and again. And when it comes to Indian food, the diversity of dishes, much like the quality of food and taste is often greater than many think. Indian restaurants in this part of Auckland have had to earn their regulars. Notably, they’re not relying on Instagram hype or one-off tourists. They’re feeding families who know what good butter chicken should taste like, office groups who want dependable catering, and people who simply want a proper meal without driving half an hour. That keeps the standards real.
One place that’s quietly been doing well for years is Indian Zaika on Broadway in Papakura. It’s the sort of place that wins awards-Best Indian restaurant Southern Auckland Zone at the Menulog award in 2018-and then just keeps going. The menu has all the reliable standards: butter chicken, biryanis, tandoori, stacks of vegetarian options, plus Indo-Chinese fare and Nepali-style momos. Nothing feels bolted on. The tandoor breads are made fresh, the curries have proper depth, and the portions are the generous kind that South Auckland does well.
What sets venues like this apart isn’t just the meals it’s the impact it has in the community. Cater from restaurants in this area regularly ends up at weddings, piece of work functions, and birthday parties across Takanini, Drury, Pukekohe and beyond. Without question, when the solid food has to travel and still taste good when it arrives, kitchens can ‘ t cut corners. That discipline shows up in the dine-in experience too.
A tip for neighbours and visitors; a beginner’s guide even. – The best litmus test you can give a near neighbour of eatery is a well-made butter chicken and garlic naan. Vegetarian? You need the smarts of a good chef. A Dal makhani or a paneer dish will tell you more about an eatery’s skills and mettle than any other litmus test, even more so than simply throwing chicken and rice in a wok. Indo-Chinese. Just try one. Manchurian and Hakka and black bean noodles. Done right, they’re a legitimate part of the modern Indian restaurant experience in New Zealand, not a compromise.
If you’re cooking for an occasion, you might want to inquire about catering. A lot of these kitchens are far better equipped to do big orders, and they know the logistics better than a restaurant in the heart of the city which serves mostly small tables. South Auckland’s Indian restaurants aren’t trying to be the most innovative or the most pretty. They want to be the place you go to on a Tuesday night when you don’t feel like cooking and the restaurant you call when you’ve got fifty friends coming over on Saturday. That takes a different level of reliability than many people imagine.
So next time you’re craving different Auckland food suggestions from the usual, head south. Point the car South. Order the biryani. Tear the naan. See for yourself why so many locals already know where to go.
Are you bored of the usual haunts? Maybe point your car in a southerly direction next time. You might as well order that biryani, enjoy a tasty fresh garlic naan, and discover what it is many Aucklanders have discovered – the Indian food is much better in this city than the celebrity chefs would have you believe. Indian Zaika at Papakura doesn’t try to chase trends – it just gets on and does the job perfectly.
