Review Maharaja Indian Restaurant - Christchurch

The food was good Goat curry was the chef special of the day which was really good. Tried 2 different types of chicken curries: Chicken jalfrezi & tikka masala, both are worth a try. Our host sunny was really humble & knows his way to customers, He also suggested us some good cocktails. Thank you The quantity for one curry only serves one person though.

We had a large takeaway order of mains and starters. Everything was delicious! I am especially thankful as I forgot to include rice in my online order but we still received rice in the takeaway bags. (Perhaps rice is already included in the main meals, regardless I am thankful!)

We came for early dinner on a Friday night. We are from USA so wanted to try some Indian food. This place was great. Food was amazing and the NZ wine was just as good. Highly recommend.

Delicious entrees and mains: lamb samosas were especially delicate and not heavy. The service was excellent. We're fairly new to Indian food and we're delighted with the flavors and the experience.

It is a very pleasant place to have a curry 🍛, this was our first time visiting the maharaja restaurant and we would definitely be returning for another visit, the set up is an old villa converted in to a very welcoming atmosphere with excellent decor! We found the staff most helpful and friendly and to top it off was one of the best Currys me and my partner have had the pleasure to eat ! So all round 10 out 10 x loved it 😍

I visited last week to Christchurch for the first time, I thought to give a try to this lovely restaurant, looks like a villa but inside its very warm & cozy environment especially when it’s chilly cold outside, I have to say, I enjoyed lamb bhuna, i think best so far i ever had, all the staffs were so welcoming, especially lady at the front, cocktails were amazing, ask sunny, he just asked me what do i like and he surprised me! Plus he got some humor to delight, so overall highly recommended guys!

Excellent food, good value for money. Staff were very friendly. They were able to cater for vegan dishes as well. Highly recommend the crispy broccoli!

Maharajas is probably the best Indian food I’ve had in a very long time. Everything was cooked to perfection and made perfectly. The Mango Lassi’s are delicious. I would recommend this for any date night or family dinner. Everything is so delicious and good value and the venue is so cozy. The staff are also really lovely.

Excellent food! The lamb samosas, butter chicken and garlic naan were delicious. Great service, friendly staff. We will be back.

Nice Indian restaurant with good traditional options

Monthly catch up with friend. Both remarked this was the best food we have had. The mango Lassi was too die for. Maharaja Platter for starters, followed by goat curry and chicken korma. Great service. Stylish interior.

thank you for making my sister’s graduation dinner so special. Everyone was incredibly gracious and very kind to our table! the food was incredible also - I recommend the banquet.

We have been here 3 or 4 times and it is always very good. Atmosphere is nice, the staff are all friendly and it's pretty affordable. We will be be back, and if we didn't live so far away taking advantage of the takeaway option.

Definitely one of the better places in Christchurch for Indian food compared some of the drastic ones in the other parts of town. 😓 This place offers good authenticity in most of their meals and somewhat feels more like an actual Indian restaurant. Some of the curries that you can try are the Chicken/Lamb korma, the Rogan Josh and tikka masala. These dishes are pretty good. Their naan breads are also good, being soft and not having a very thick dough. Some of their kebabs are also worth a try. <br/><br/>Do go check it out if you’re keen for a curry trip! <br/>PS: A humble request from a fellow Indian to the hotel staff, please stop putting so much sugar into the butter chicken! You know how it really tastes in the motherland. 😏 #makeitoriginal

We had takeaways from<br/>This place last night!<br/><br/>It was amazing!<br/>Good price and amazing food!<br/>Very friendly and fast service!<br/>(Waited 15mins for takeaway food which is an amazing time!)

One of my favourite Indian Restaurants.  Even tho I mainly get take away from here the staff seem really friendly and nice.  The food is just amazing - haven't ordered a dish I didn't like & the roti's are great :)

I ordered the butter tikka masala and it was absolutely delicious. The naan was soft and buttery. The service was great. One of the best Indian restaurant I’ve ever been too.

Bad service. Restaurant read 5 pm till late!! We went in at 9.25 pm. Right from we enter the person taking order says last order last order!!. Could have been a bit more welcoming. I always had a feel when I was eating there that everyone working wanted to just shut the restaurant and run away. <br/><br/>Indian restaurant without a welcoming Indian culture!! Food was reasonable.

Butter tikka masala is off the chain and so is the jalapeno cheese naan! The service though is sooooooooo slow. I went there for a double date on a Saturday. I didn't know who the hell our waiter was, it kept changing every five minutes and they were really flaky. You'd ask for a drink and a male would serve you then he would disappear and you would not seem him or that drink ever again. It was so confusing and at times frustrating.

Awesome service and delicious food! Would definitely recommend for those who are in need of rich flavors. The ambience and warmth of the restaurant makes you feel comfortable and at home!

One of the best indian restaurants in Christchurch. The ambience is good. The staff is very courteous. The food is very good. I can say the place is a bit pricey but worth it when the food is good. I have been there 4 times already in the last 3 months

Book yourself a  lovely table for two and enjoy some quality spicy Indian food. Really good paneer  and naan. Their service truly sticks to the brand name, every one is treated as  "Maharaja" here.

Our table was extremely large and we were told right at the beginning there would be a long wait for mains and they recommended we pick some starters... We decided starters were a good idea but unfortunately they didn't arrive until after some of the others at our table had received their mains. I liked the lamb samosa more than the seekh kebab (lamb). For my main I ordered medium chicken korma - nice but I didn't taste a lot of the almonds or cashew nuts. My friend ordered a medium butter Tikka Masala but it was way too spicy for me. The service was polite but I think if they are going to take bookings for large groups they need to put a system in place to cope with it. There was a lot of 'who ordered....?' and drinks orders were taking so long that when people checked if it was still coming some how a second order was made.

I would have to say this is the best Indian restaurant I have been to in NZ. Gorgeous homely setting, warm and relaxing. The curries and naan breads are hot super tasty and you are given hot plates. Only gripe is sometimes the curries can be a bit oily.

First impression, nice old villa, parking on site front and rear. Decor nice, space between tables was good. Service started well but we had to wait to long for our food around 50mins. We only ordered main. They supplied complementary Papadums with mint yoghurt. The food when it arrived was nice just standard Indian. I had the beef vindaloo which for a change had some decent heat. Everyone in my group was happy with their food. It was just the waiting. Prices were good too.

Good Indian restaurant. Tried couple of times . Although thers cream in the curries they were tasting of Indian spices which is a main thing . Customer service and the environment @ night is awesome. Love to visit there again. Always Book in advance the place is always full..

One of the best indian restaurants I have tried so far in chch..<br/>I went with my colleagues and ordered a variety of veg and non veg curries and I was impressed to see the consistent taste. <br/>Service was great. The only downside was they were operating from a house and it sometimes is difficult to find considering their small signage..<br/>

gorgeous venue! the food was very tasty and quick, I love that they gave you a hot plate to put your food on also. Seriously lovely staff, a very extensive menu, adequate parking. The only reason they don't get a full 5 stars is that we wanted another drink but no one ever came to check if we wanted another and we couldn't grab the attention of the wait staff as they were flat out. It's across town for me but I would still go again, worth the wee 20min drive. I can handle a bit of spice for a whitey, I found medium perfect, not very spicy but a wee bit of kick

Maharaja has a reputation for being one of the better Indian restaurants in this fair burg. As one of the first Indian restaurants in Christchurch, at least its stood the test of time. They must be doing something right. Right? Alas, in a city so well served with Indian restaurants by number but not by diversity of cuisine, nor style, this isn't necessarily saying much. <br/><br/>I've had takeaway here a number of times since the quakes and subsequent relocation to a pleasant villa on Papanui Rd. I've found the takeaway food within an acceptable range, if not exactly as good or unique as the menu – or staff member at the other end of the line – has suggested, but I guess that's just advertising so more fool me. They do have specials a tiny bit different from the opposition, and they actually offer goat or what would be called mutton in India, for example, although overall the menu is limited to the same old stock standard central and Northern Indian offerings (along with the odd token Southern gesture) found in any other Indian restaurant nearby. Having average to low expectations of any Indian food purveyor in this town I cannot but say that my expectations have not been met here as elsewhere. Until I dined in...<br/><br/>Dining in, it was clear right from the beginning that service was a challenge. Even getting a table set to suit a reservation made well in advance but requiring a table change from an awkward corner required a trick or three, even while the restaurant was almost empty. After a great deal more negotiation than is due our table was adequately set, well, almost. Nay, the considerable mess on the floor left from a prior party was not cleaned, and the table itself barely so but by ourselves. The floor remained soiled for the duration of the visit. Details.<br/><br/>As for the food, I cannot but say it was uneven. It began with an average tandoori platter, some of which was left over and taken home but upon reheating the next day was utterly inedible. To be fair tandoori food never reheats well, but what made this so thoroughly bad the second time around remains a mystery.<br/><br/>Next item of interest was a seafood curry delicately balanced, a Malabari effort reasonably represented. Hurrah. Actually, this may be the best single dish I've had in an Indian restaurant in Christchurch just for its achievement of delicacy and balance, if not exactly for depth of flavour nor precise regional representation sans cocum or other balancing souring agent in this instance. Following up, the the lamb shanks were, well, rather too large for a lamb. Moreover, they were under cooked by an hour or more and tough; the gravy overly intense and entirely too salty. So much for balance. So much for the so-called “Indian hot” requested but not delivered by any stretch. Other dishes were adequate.<br/><br/>Reputations in advance notwithstanding, average to disappointing food is what one gets more often than not not least when it comes to Indian food outside India. While I am prepared for this, I am always disappointed with poor service. On this count, Maharaja did not disappoint. Alas. Its not as if the staff didn't want to do well – I hope – but that they simply couldn't deal with nuance, despite multiple requests. If you want all of your food delivered en masse and all at once as any old, any cheap restaurant will delight in doing, then good for you. But if you want your food delivered in sequence and as a journey in taste and pace even while very clearly articulated, then you may encounter a problem. In my experience they just didn't get it. Very, very far from it. In fact, asking for anything out of the ordinary in my experience will result in a seriously degraded experience. The prices and sheer marketing shtick demand better – much better. I shall not return in a hurry. If ever.

This is by far the best NZ Indian restaurant I have been to. Excellent food, service and atmosphere. Definitely Christchurch's finest restaurant, a must visit!! 10/10

I was part of a large group booking last night. There were 13 of us in total. We were a little crowded on the table we were seated at, which was made up of several smaller tables. The tables made for a very uneven eating surface and with the close quarters the dining experience was not overly pleasurable. That said, the portions were generous and the food excellent. I will definitely return, but not in a large group.

Excellent Zaalouk. My husband chose this place to celebrate his birthday. We started with Zaalouk; it's an eggplant and tomato relish with Moroccan spices, served with fresh bread. It was good but the bread was excellent! We both ordered lamb for dinner. I had the lamb Tagine made with peas and other vegetables. My husband ordered the lamb special that was cooked in honey and raisins and served on couscous. The dishes were very good and we had sufficient elegancy. We would gladly return here if we lived in town.

Chose to come here based on the reviews I read and the Butter Chicken Tikka was absolutely as delicious as described! Tidy modern decor and helpful friendly staff member Vishal. Highly recommend. Thanks

Very good Indian with classic dishes. I was pleasantly surprised with my order. The restaurant itself looks to be nicely set out and will dine in next time. The best Indian I've had for a while.

Quite simply the best Indian in Christchurch. There is nothing to detract from this 5 out of 5 mark.<br/><br/>The setting is beautiful; a converted house with wooden floors and nicely spaced tables with an airy fresh feel. I haven't ever felt crowded or experience noise problems despite the popularity.<br/><br/>Staff are kind, patient and friendly as well as quick to serve and assist.<br/><br/>The food is even better than any of the above points. Beautifully seasoned whilst still honouring the flavours of the ingredients used; every mouthful a delight. I only wish I could have eaten more.<br/><br/>Thank you.

This is the best Indian Restaurant in Christchurch. The service and the food is faultless. This is a must dine for anyone who just loves Indian food. We just keep coming back. You won't get better than this!

We have eaten here several times over the past few months and have been very impressed with both the quality of the food and the service. However, the last time we visited we were overcharged and it took a lot of phone calls to rectify the situation. Undeterred, we booked again a few weeks later via the website, but on phoning to confirm our booking I was told that our booking had not been recieved and that the restaurant was full! Very annoying, and sadly for these reasons I would hesitate to return.

Wonderful, wonderful meal!! Best Indian we've had in Christchurch yet!<br/>Friendly staff, lovely wee restaurant and delicious food! We ordered "medium strength" butter tikka masala, it was just the right amount of warmth without being too hot, garlic naan too, yum!<br/><br/>Will most definitely be back!!

Saturday night, first visit to the new location, had been to the old site a number of times and my wife and I enjoyed the ambience and smell of the place, although it was a tight squeeze for patrons and must've been a nightmare in the kitchen, the new place certainly looks upmarket. Had to order takeaway, (lamb rogan josh and lamb vindaloo hot also a Plain Naan) was informed of 15-20min prep time so ordered a beer while I waited must've been a bit of a delay cause I was offered another complimentary drink (nice touch) which I declined and My Meal arrived arrived a couple of minutes later, had to endure the long ride home with the food on the passenger seat next to me it was soon apparent I should have ordered an extra naan. When I got home I had a small amount of each dish, the lamb in each was cooked to perfection and the taste, spectacular and fresh. Definitely worth waiting for although I think the dining in experience would be worth it as I watched the staff with other customers while there.

Jan and I own and operate a bed and breakfast in Papanui. We have many restaurants to choose from and believe that Maharaja is one of the best. We often eat there, not just for the great food and ambience, but also because of the great service. <br/>We have over many years taken guests to the door of the Maharaja and introduced them to Raj and his staff and we have never had one come home unsatisfied with either the price, quality or service.<br/><br/>Well done Maharaja, you make us look good when we get new guests coming into our home requesting your restaurant because friends of theirs have stayed with us and eaten with you. Keep doing whatever you are doing. Its working.

We are delighted that the Maharaja has re-opened and it's even better than the old place - off street parking, very nice stylish decor, quite roomy inside and comfortable seating. We've been there twice in the last couple of months to celebrate birthdays and suffice to say it's a favourite. <br/>We eat out as a family and the children are always well catered for with food that is to their liking. My wife trained and worked as a chef both in NZ and overseas so we have high expectations of the food and the service. We absolutely love the menu, everything is cooked to perfection and the flavours are just divine. I'm particular about service so I notice even small things. The staff have always made us feel welcome and relaxed, I like the way they bring out hot plates and ask if you are ready for your mains. For $35 the banquet is fantastic value!

So happy to see this restaurant open again. We were regulars previously. Has a funky new look and a great menu and atmosphere. We have been back three times since it re-opened and, apart from a few funny moments relating to the service on the first visit it has all been smooth as.<br/>The food is the same great food and our girls love it too. They know how to make a mild dish mild so we can enjoy our favourite indian as a family.<br/>Highly recommended

The Christchurch Curry Club had a really good meal here.<br/><br/>The food was very tasty and cooked the way it was ordered.<br/><br/>We recommend giving this place a try!

Great new Maharaja has got under way. Very pleasant surroundings, friendly staff and excellent food.<br/><br/>No trouble with service - ordered entree straight away while deciding on mains then ordered mains just before entree served. Six in party and had a delightful shared meal.<br/><br/>Could possibly have been more fish mains to choose from but otherwise excellent choice.<br/><br/>Naan bread excellent. Certainly worth another visit and more!

I too, have been a patron of the Maharaja Restaurant for many years, and was utterly delighted to learn that a new premises had been found and that the restaurant was up and running again. <br/><br/>My husband and I have been twice since it re-opened, and the quality of food and service has been as always, excellent. In fact, I didn't think it could be improved upon, but I believe the naan bread has had a change of ingredient, and it is unbelievable, crisp, light and so moreish. <br/><br/>The staff are friendly and informative, the atmosphere and ambience a pleasure to experience. I appreciate the lack of loud background music, a nightmare in many restaurants these days. The decor is restful and harmonious.<br/><br/>The Maharaja is a restaurant to be experienced, and is to be congratulated. It is a Papanui icon, and long may it continue to serve the best Indian cuisine I have tasted. <br/><br/>If I could only produce Indian meals in my home like this restaurant, I would be very happy, but I know that it takes skill and in-depth knowledge of Indian cuisine and of regional differences in that country. The Maharaja has got it right.

We have been customers for many years and were sad to see the original restaurant damaged; and we thought gone.<br/><br/>We managed to keep in touch and knew they had committed to the re-opening so was pleased to enjoy a fine meal with our brother in-law from Wellington last night. <br/><br/>The quality of food and service was as expected, well done, you will certainly get our continued support. Ambience of the house is great.

This is the second time I have been to maharaja in a week and once again it didn't disappoint. Went in couple of days ago after contemplating where to dine inn. There was a good crowd in for being fairly late on a Thursday night, just after 9pm and Maharaja were happy to have us in and didn't rush us.<br/><br/>The food is great. The samosa's tasted fresh and we had these as an entree. For mains we had lamb bhuna and butter chicken. The chicken although not overly spicy was well cooked and served in a delicious creamy sauce. and the lamb just broke apart, absolutely beautiful. it didn't at all taste oily. Served with rice and the must try garlic naan bread. I really do mean MUST TRY.<br/><br/>Solid service all night and never felt as though they wanted you to leave. I cannot stop recommending this place to all my friends and family.<br/><br/>If you are in shake city and are looking for a good Indian then you cannot go past this lil gem...hidden inside the most beautifully renovated villa. Pleased we were introduced to maharaja. Planning our next visit already!!

Congratulations to Maharaja for having the courage to re-open and lift Indian dining to a whole new level. <br/><br/> I have been a regular at the Maharaja for 10 years. It is, without question, the best Indian restaurant in Christchurch. I can say this because I have eaten at just about all of them. <br/><br/>I have come to learn that the difference between Maharaja and the others is the time that goes into creating and preparing the food. Every ingredient is sourced fresh, spices are ground by hand in a mortar and pestle, and the dishes are made from scratch every day. Again, I know this because I'm curious and I love cooking, so I've had a look at how it's done!<br/><br/>This is Indian made with a lot of love. It takes time, as all good things do. But I'm always very happy to pass that time with a 500ml bottle of Kingfisher Strong Ale. Perfect.

Do not waste your time &amp; money on this restaurant.<br/>We use to be loyal customers of the Maharaja in its old site and was very pleased that it had re-opened. We went there on Saturday evening to be told that it was no longer BYO. The cheapest bottle of wine is $35.<br/><br/>We ordered the banquet which included starters and a curry of your own choice. I chose the Tandoori chicken, my husband the vindaloo.<br/><br/>After half an hour of waiting the starters finally arrived after a reminder on our part. Half an hour after that the hostess came to explain that the chef only cook fresh chicken in the tandoor and he had only just put it in and it would take 40 mins to cook. We paid for our starters and walked out never to return.