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    The Taj Indian Kitchen

    4.2 (24 reviews)
    Open 12:30 pm - 10:00 PM

    The Taj Indian Kitchen Indian Restaurant Photos

    THE TAJ INDIAN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - The Taj Indian Kitchen

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    Lamb shank
    Khaled A.

    The food here was just ok which was a surprise given it has the highest rating on trip advisor for restaurants in Queenstown. I might be unfair here because I ordered something new. They didn't have my typical Indian restaurant dish (butter chicken or chicken tikka massala) I went with a chicken dish that is infused with cashews. It was creamy and wasn't spicy as what I would expect from an Indian restaurant. My wife went with the lamb shank and she really liked it, I didn't taste it so won't be able to rate it but will take here word for it. We started with the broccoli which was good given it was combined with melted cheese and some green sauce. We also shared one garlic naan, the portion of the naan was big! Overall an ok restaurant, nothing special

    Handi Gosht (Lamb, Potato, Cardamom & Fried Onion Curry) with a side of rice and mixed diced vegetables

    This is the place to go in Queenstown for authentic Indian cuisine. The place is small so you will definitely need reservations if you want to go for dinner. Reservations at lunch time are not necessary per the hostess. We ordered Pan-seared Scallops (Scallops, Smoked pepper chutney, Asparagus) for starters. I loved it, but husband felt that it tasted to burnt. I ordered the Handi Gosht (Lamb, Potato, Cardamom & Fried Onion Curry) with medium to hot level of spiciness. It was Devine and the spiciness was hot enough but not so hot that I couldn't taste other foods. My husband ordered the Murg Tikka Makhanwaala (Tandoor cooked chicken, Rich Tomato Curry) with the medium spice which was also delicious. The garlic roti was heavenly with the two different curries. Highly recommend this restaurant for any travelers looking for something different.

    Corn chaat

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    2 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food was okay, service was average! Not worth a revisit but if you want Indian food, this is an option

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    Saurabh B.

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    9 years ago

    The food is just Amazing !!! Could not resist but visit again the next day for dinner !

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    Review Highlights - The Taj Indian Kitchen

    Upon arriving we were wowed by the impressive ambiance and greeted by a kind and attentive host who guided us to a window seat overlooking the lake at sunset.

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    Vudu Cafe & Larder - vegan fritter

    Vudu Cafe & Larder

    4.3(130 reviews)
    0.1 km
    $$

    Perfect start to my first trip here with a strong vanilla latte and a mocha. They have wonderful…read moreoutdoor seating and inside seating. We were seated fast and ordered 2 coffees and pancakes with a pastry. My biggest standout were the pancakes, I'm a simple guy who likes my pancakes and they were oh so fluffy, chewy, dense and honestly that filled me up surprisingly a lot because I wasn't expecting them to be so big. They put real cherries and cream on top. The serving sizes are definitely generous. I recommend them for their breakfast and coffee, especially for the central location, great view and seating areas.

    A friend recommended this place to me so on one of the mornings I got up to try it out. I came in…read morearound 7:30am and there were only a few other tables occupied. I ordered my go-to breakfast item, which is their Vudu Benedict ($30NZD), along with a cup of their Housemade Lemon Honey Ginger ($6). You order at their counter in the middle of the shop, and then they give you a number to take to your table. The tea came out pretty quickly, and the benedict followed maybe about 10 minutes after. The benedict was good, and while there was only 1 egg, the whole thing stuffed me for hours afterwards. The bread at the bottom was definitely the most filling part, and I was struggling to finish it all. They had a glass display with various bakery items, and they looked so good I was so tempted to get something even though I was stuffed from the benedict. If I ever come back to Queenstown I would definitely be coming back here to try some of those bakery items.

    Photos
    Vudu Cafe & Larder
    Vudu Cafe & Larder - Raspberry chia pudding. Amazing! Will go back for another.

    Raspberry chia pudding. Amazing! Will go back for another.

    Vudu Cafe & Larder

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    Madam Woo - Beef rendang with coconut rice

    Madam Woo

    3.9(68 reviews)
    0.2 km
    $$

    We came here for dinner. The service is not that great as it took about 20 minutes for our food to…read morearrive. This is more a Happy Hour place with not too many options for an entree. Still we ordered a few appetizers, like Chicken Satay, Prawn toast, Malaysian cabbage and we added Duck to that meal because it was suggested that the Chicken will come spicier. Anyway, the Chicken Satay is yummy with three skewers. However, the peanut sauce that came with this didn't taste like there's any peanut in the sauce as it was very pale in color. We, also, felt there's way too much sesame seeds and too little shrimp for the prawn toast with the Sriracha mayo.

    So in my haste to make a reservation, I definitely accidentally did it for the Hamilton location…read moreinstead of the Queenstown location, but since I was doing an early dinner, the restaurant was completely empty and it wasn't an issue. Especially considering this is in the downtown area, I can see it getting packed for dinner. I loved the ambiance and decor inside the restaurant. I got the laksa after reading many reviews recommending this dish. It was on the spicy side, and it was good, but I wouldn't say it was outstanding. Next time I would try something else. I was intrigued by the Portuguese custard tarts, as that wasn't expected from a Malaysian restaurant, but I was already planning on getting dessert later, so I skipped them this time.

    Photos
    Madam Woo - Interior. So cute!

    Interior. So cute!

    Madam Woo - Fried Chicken Hawker Roll

    Fried Chicken Hawker Roll

    Madam Woo - Prawn toast

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    Prawn toast

    Caribe - Left is the vegetarian arepa. Right is the mushroom & cheese empanada.

    Caribe

    4.5(49 reviews)
    0.3 km
    $

    It was my first time visiting Queenstown from the U.S., and I was immediately intrigued by all the…read morefood options in this particular area of town. Caribe caught my attention due to its colorful Latin-inspired decor and tables/seating. I initially asked to order the prawn & cheese empanada, but the cashier told me they did not have prawns. Instead, I ordered the mushroom & cheese empanada, which did not dissapoint! The outer layer was crispy, flaky, golden goodness. The mushroom and cheese combo was not something I've had before. It didn't scream "Latin" to me, but that didn't stop it from being delicious. I also got an order of the vegetarian arepas, which was my least favorite of the two. I wish the veggies that came with it were more hearty; it appeared that they used something similar to a frozen mix of peas, corn, and diced carrots. Again, it was still yummy, but I think it could be elevated with beans! The arepa breading itself was fresh and crispy.

    When missing Latino cuisine in New Zealand, this is the place to visit for that! They have a mix of…read moreMexican, Brazilian, Argentinian, Colombian, and Peruvian snacks, meals and drinks. We ordered a passionfruit and regular frozen margarita and both were great! The place itself is colorful, cozy and vibrant which is exactly what you would expect from a Latin restaurant. The food came out pretty fast which is another bonus. The beef empanadas were some of the best I've ever had seriously. The arepa was another great choice and so were the quesadillas. Stop by if you're ever in Queenstown you won't regret this little gem.

    Photos
    Caribe - Horchata (best ever!)

    Horchata (best ever!)

    Caribe - Reina pepeada arepa (chicken & avocado mix arepa)

    Reina pepeada arepa (chicken & avocado mix arepa)

    Caribe - Reina pepeada arepa (chicken & avocado arepa)

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    Reina pepeada arepa (chicken & avocado arepa)

    Yonder - Grilled Chicken Flatbread

    Yonder

    4.4(36 reviews)
    0.3 km

    Very rude staff. Good food, get ready to feel unimportant…read more Menu shows a fish option for dinner. Item did NOT indicate that it was breaded when other items clearly note "crumbed" or fried. Item arrived, deep fried and breaded. Okay - not the end of the world. Maybe it's my own mistake... here's where it gets nuts.... I told the waiter about the issue, said I don't mind even paying for the item because maybe my kids will eat it, but could I please order some grilled chicken instead. First, his response when I OFFERED TO PAY for an item that was ultimately their own miscommunication was "okay, good." Like, good, you SHOULD pay for this item. But then he proceeds to roll his eyes and get visibly upset that I asked to order (and pay for) an additional item that was grilled. I'm not a cheapskate, was even giving the benefit of the doubt that this could've been customer error (it wasn't, but let's just take ownership here, right?). But then to get visibly shamed by the waiter, not a single apology or helpful manner, just frustration and irritated behavior. So, I sent a note to them on instagram about the menu and the experience as I didn't want to just leave a review. They view the message, never reply or acknowledge. So, it tells me a lot about how they run their business. Funny thing is, we are there for breakfast and then came back for dinner. The food was good, but do NOT come here for service. We're easy going, not looking for a freebie, just wanted food AS LISTED on the menu. The waiter at one point came back and said "you know it's fried but still gluten free, right?" I acknowledged and said "yes, but it isn't about the gluten, I'm just not interested in fried fish." He became even more irritated because he felt I was being difficult by wanting to eat cleaner. That's WHY we wanted to eat here in the first place, because it IS SUPPOSED to be cleaner! Anyhow, I can see by recent reviews that this place is going downhill with the service. I get it, people can be difficult, but don't shame customers that are polite and trying to do the right thing. We've been in restaurant service before, I know it's tough; but also, level up and take responsibility and check the ego at the door. PS: Turkish Eggs with Brekkie were out of this world delicious.

    What a beautiful restaurant! They offer indoor and outdoor seating and both have great ambiance!…read moreThe service was friendly but a bit slow. Full disclosure they told me upfront that it would be about a 30min wait once my order was placed and it took about that much time. No biggie, we are on island time! I ordered coffee, chili egg toast with bacon and a side of fries. All were delicious but it was entirely too much food for one person. I could have done without the tasty fries. I would recommended you try this place but be patient or choose another spot if you're in a hurry. High recommend you give it a try!

    Photos
    Yonder - Bar

    Bar

    Yonder - Vegan crispy tofu bowl

    Vegan crispy tofu bowl

    Yonder - Whiskey sour (left) and spicy margarita (right)

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    Whiskey sour (left) and spicy margarita (right)

    Taco Medic - Searle Lane - The bushman - pork belly tacos

    Taco Medic - Searle Lane

    4.7(64 reviews)
    0.2 km
    $

    Taco Medic is in a densely populated restaurant tourist area so it's hard to notice among…read moreeverything else. But, we were feeling tacos for dinner and it popped up as the first suggestion on Google Maps. Walking up to the stall, it was packed full of patrons eating outside, so a good sign. We got four tacos and I've detailed my thoughts below: The Bushman: there was a massive amount of pork belly and the sweet onion reduction which was good, but the huge amount led to mush when I picked up the taco. The integrity of the tortilla was hugely compromised by the toppings, so I wished there was a double tortilla situation. The Stockman: one of my favorites with the green hot sauce they have made from tomatillos and jalapeños. The chipotle créme fraiche were just three big circles on the taco, but it ended up being incredible to cut the richness from the brisket. The Fisherman: first bite and it was way salty and acidic, but I persevered through to a second, which was better. I thought that the fish itself was good, but the balance from the toppings was lacking. The Ken Tuckymwan: my absolute favorite. The freshness from the mango chunks cut through the richness from the fried chicken and that chipotle mayo. I really enjoyed this with the hot sauces they offered. Overall, the integrity of the tacos were really poor as the tortilla almost disintegrated after the second bite. But, the tacos pack a punch of flavor that makes the mess worth it.

    The Adoboman taco was the best thing I ate in my entire vacation in New Zealand. Make sure to…read moresample their salsas. My favorite was the jalapeno tomatillo. While I did find some other tacos to be hit or miss, I'm giving it 5 stars b/c the Adoboman alone is sublime.

    Photos
    Taco Medic - Searle Lane - L - R - vege, pork + fish

    L - R - vege, pork + fish

    Taco Medic - Searle Lane
    Taco Medic - Searle Lane

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    Rata - Really tasty - honey cherry palm sugar meringue dessert

    Rata

    4.4(81 reviews)
    0.4 km
    $$$

    Good food, but not amazing. Nice atmosphere and the staff was really great. The fish dish was…read moreexcellent, although it was a small portion. The potatoes were very good. The Wagyu beef was not very good in my opinion. It was average. I would eat there again, but it is not what we expected, people had raved about eating there.

    Really enjoyed a few of the dishes…read more 1-lamb dish was one of the more enjoyable versions of lamb I've had. Ribeye was tender but most interesting were the stuff on the side - asparagus with lamb bacon, and lamb meat flakes and capers over feta cream. The flavors perfectly balanced the richness of the lamb. *chef's kiss* 2-honey cherry dessert was a perfect mix of milky creamy honey fruity. Felt like a dreamy dessert that came from foraging. 3-duck parfait over flaxseed beet chip was also delightful. Perfect mix of textures. The mousse tasted like foie gras. 4-I really enjoyed the tomato consommé we started with. It came out of a tea pot and did taste a bit like tea. Umami and complex and refreshing. 5-salmon was great - smoked eggplant purée on the side went well with it. I liked that it came with koji butter, and was served with sourdough and marmite butter. Marmite tastes similar to soy sauce so it went really well with the salmon dish. Other dishes were also good even if not quite as memorable as the above. Overall the food excelled at complex flavor profiles. I thought the food itself was equivalent to somewhere in between a Michelin one and two star. Service was a bit uneven though waiter was friendly. Ambiance was pretty casual.

    Photos
    Rata - Bar area

    Bar area

    Rata - Fiordland Crayfish croustade, pretty good

    Fiordland Crayfish croustade, pretty good

    Rata - Dining room

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    Dining room

    The Taj Indian Kitchen - indpak - Updated May 2026

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