Chinese and Indian Restaurant

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#1241528 18-Feb-2015 12:28

+1 for Zaika. We have tried several in Wellington, but Zaika is the stand out winner. The food is rich and full of flavour, without being overly hot. Nice people as well.

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#1241585 18-Feb-2015 13:05

tchart: Zaika (just down from the corner of Dixon/Willis) does a good curry but order off the menu and not their lunch buffet.

Everyone seems to rate Great India (also on Manners) but Ive found it hit and miss. Little India on Cuba is more consistent.

+1 for Zaika.

It's the best I have found in Wellington so far. Most of the Indians in Wellington are a bit middle of the road - Auckland seems to offer better ones IME.

khull

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#1241675 18-Feb-2015 14:30

another +1 for zaika.

amazes me how many 'fusion' asian and indian places out there. While not necessarily bad (i.e. take the office worker or a western person) is a safe bet, they aren't anywhere as authentic as they should be.

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#1241783 18-Feb-2015 16:09

khull: another +1 for zaika.

amazes me how many 'fusion' asian and indian places out there. While not necessarily bad (i.e. take the office worker or a western person) is a safe bet, they aren't anywhere as authentic as they should be.

True. I have actually had several instances of trying to get properly spicy dishes where I have almost had to beg for it! One time they insisted on getting the manager, who, as soon as he found out I originated from the UK, approved the spicy request and then asked me if I had been to his brother's restaurant in Manchester!

I do find it odd to order Vindaloo and be asked "mild, medium or hot?"

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#1241851 18-Feb-2015 18:08

I do like Zaika but we find the best curry in Wellington is from Curry Village in Porirua (Hagley Court). Worth the drive to Porirua but I didn't mention it because the OP most likely doesn't have a car.

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#1241896 18-Feb-2015 19:26

Regal on Courtenay Place does great Chinese.

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#1241923 18-Feb-2015 20:00

I'd recommend

dragonfly on courtney place (asian fusion)
ancestral on courtney place (chinese)
siam reap on dixon st (cambodian/thai fusion)

Indian is not great in Wellington
Avoid tulsi
Taste of India is recommended by a lot of people
Planet spice in newtown is pretty good.

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#1241947 18-Feb-2015 20:15

Visited Planet Spice once, years ago and it was pretty good, really.

Dragonfly is overpriced.

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#1241975 18-Feb-2015 20:54

If you're going to Newtown, there are plenty of amazing options. Curry Pot is my favourite (south Indian specialty - proper dosa). My indian friends like Indian Flavours (sp ?). Apparently it's the only place where you can get a goat curry with the bone still in.

Dulouz

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#1242165 19-Feb-2015 10:58

For Chinese we normally frequent Dragons Restaurant on Tory. For Peking Duck (best to order in advance) we go to Peking House on Kent Terrace. Peking House also offer hot pot which is popular with students.

Amanon

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#1242217 19-Feb-2015 11:42

Found a cool little asian-style food court the other night.

Was heading to Zaika and it was full, and we were on minutes so could not wait (we were en route to making the mistake of going to see Eddie Izzard) but just opposite is a covered food court with curry, Vietnamese, noodles, Chinese etc etc

Hardly salubrious nor the finest cuisine, but good enough and cheap. $12 for curry, rice and naan. Had lamb Madras - really quite passable.

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#1242221 19-Feb-2015 11:46

Geektastic:
khull: another +1 for zaika.

amazes me how many 'fusion' asian and indian places out there. While not necessarily bad (i.e. take the office worker or a western person) is a safe bet, they aren't anywhere as authentic as they should be.

True. I have actually had several instances of trying to get properly spicy dishes where I have almost had to beg for it! One time they insisted on getting the manager, who, as soon as he found out I originated from the UK, approved the spicy request and then asked me if I had been to his brother's restaurant in Manchester!

I do find it odd to order Vindaloo and be asked "mild, medium or hot?"

Yes, funny.

I was talking with the boss at our local Indian on Sunday - he says people order a vindaloo, then complain it is hot.

Or, they order a Butter Chicken (!) and complain it isn't hot.

floydbloke

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#1242263 19-Feb-2015 12:46

tchart: I do like Zaika but we find the best curry in Wellington is from Curry Village in Porirua (Hagley Court). Worth the drive to Porirua but I didn't mention it because the OP most likely doesn't have a car.

But the beauty of this community is that there are others (like me

) who can benefit from this recommendation.
You sure it's not in Hartham Place though (what used to be under the canopies, before they took them down) rather than Hagley Court?

Edit: Never mind - Hagley St. , Cobham Court, Hartham Pl. - all the same vicinity.

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

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#1242269 19-Feb-2015 12:54

At Zaika right now to try it.

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#1242292 19-Feb-2015 13:26

Certainly very tasty here at Zaika.

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