Review Satya Spice And Chai Shop - Sandringham

I love the ambience here. Heaps of vegetarian options too. If you need dhaba feels in Auckland, this is one of such places. No regrets. Just amazing. Must try their Chai with parle G biscuit.

I love my Indian food. This place is nothing like any normal ‘kiwi’ Indian restaurant. I was so impressed with this place I have to go into deal why: 1: the dishes are insane- not big gut full Indian curries but quality food 2: the naan breed and rotti bread was fresh and the poppadoms were fresh out of the oven. 3: the beer selection, and this got me! Over 100 craft beers to select from. Food came out fast. We were there on a Sunday night and the place was full. Go. And enjoy 😉

Excellent food made even better with great service in a cool environment. Met up with some good friends here from New York and thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

🍄Mushroom Magic Sichuan Chicken Chilli Fish It's good Yum yum😋 The interior decoration is nice!! The food is a bit salty and spicy. but its perfect for a beer snack

No filler, all killer. Superb menu, great atmosphere, chilled vibe, easy going staff. Don’t be asking for mild / medium / hot, just order from the menu, then enjoy with a hot chai. There are GF and DF options, but get the lamb 😋 Highly recommended.

The best southern Indian food I have ever eaten, simply amazing.

We had tea and it was refreshing and nostalgic for my Indian taste buds but it cost $7 per cup which is on the higher side of the cost spectrum.

Cannot recommend Satya enough! Been to the K Road and Sandringham locations multiple times and they're always delicious, especially the starters. It was my parents' 25th wedding anniversary so we loved the little surprise touch they added to our experience. Lovely hosts and quick service, impressed and excited to go again.

Food, service and ambience - A+ Didn’t quite like the seating arrangements. Starters and mains were delivered at the same Time and there were not enough space on the tiny table to fit 4 basic items. The chair felt uncomfortable too. Best dish - chicken 65 and chicken fried rice.

Hidden gem in Sandringham. Food was very yummy. Perfect tea on a cold rainy day. Chicken manchurian was out of the world. Best I've ever had. Seating could be a little better but compensates with amazing food and ambiance. Will definitely go there again.

It's my first visit to this place and I quite like it. I really enjoyed my meal today Chicken Manchurian with Gravy and rice . The environment would be even good if wall is colour and where Customer who wishes their pics to be taken that could be added to the wall leaving behind their good memories. The seating arrangement it could it better if you could provide comfortable seat so that customers they could relax and enjoy their day with nice music.

We visited the Satya Chai Lounge about a month ago. The ambience of this place was warm, very earthy. The food was very delicious. Tried it for the first, will definitely try again. The only thing that I personally didn’t like was that with the Masala Tea they give ‘1’ Parle-G biscuit! Either they should not give any or if they serve the biscuit with the tea, they should give at least 2. Other than that everything was good.

A magical and fun setting with incredible food and of course spiced chai ☕ Entrance is a tiny doorway leading to a hallway filled with overhanging bottles. Toilet onsite plus a restaurantsink to wash hands after a meal, and seating is benches at narrow tables.

Pretty different and innovative ideas to make best out of waste for the decor and furniture. Food is pretty flavorful and had the authentic taste of the cuisine. I am not a Chai person but a big thumps up 👍for the food. A little attention to the greens (plants) would enhance the look of the place.

Have been eating at this place from along time but this time it was horrible. Looks like the person took the order and forgot to place it in the kitchen and we were waiting like idiots for 45 minutes. They served the customers who came 20 minutes after us.<br/>Will never come back or will recommend to anyone.

Amazingly cozy place that serves splendid Indian food, mainly entrée, cocktails and dessert. Their rum & gulab jamun is a must try. The taste of hot crispy chicken is extremely addictive and complete value for money, if you are at Satya chai shop, you must try this one for sure. Splendid options in vegetarian food too. Would also like to mention their prompt customer service and would like to thank the entire team at Satya Chai shop for taking extra care of my food while I order :) Team Satya Chai shop you guys are amazing at your job 🤘🏼😁

Best meal out in a long time! The two of us went hungry which was good as it meant we could try lots from the menu. We ordered the chicken kurryage, egg fried rice, curry flower, lamb nukkad, fried prawns, Dahi puri, mushroom magic, masala chai, and iced chai which had the most amazing ice cream in it! Would recommend getting a side of the yoghurt and tamarind sauce to refresh your palette from the spice, but also to eat by itself- it’s that good. Can’t fault anything. Wow.

6 friends out for a Christmas catch up. Great quirky little place down a long corridor next to the normal Satya restaurant. Lots of beer cans hanging from the roof, and coffee sacks lining the walls and ceiling in the main eating part. Met with a friendly smile and advised we could sit anywhere we liked. You go next door and there are at least 4 glass door fridges with around 100 different beers, awesome. Good wine selection of all the usual varieties. Food comes in sharing bowls, and is super tasty. Here was no ordering pressure and we sat for a good couple of hours catching up and ordering as we wanted. Highly recommended and will definitely return.

Great concept. Cozy ambience. The chai, South Indian coffee and masala fries are like no where else! Highly recommend it for a great stop after a dinner out with friends or for drinks.

Satya is always the go to place to chill and get a nice Chai and have some bites. They have expanded to a few different set ups which work. Big ups to the manager running the Sandrigham store, really great service

This place is quite hidden. It is also more like a bar with small snacks, so size portion was quite small for the price. Interior was pretty cool, but the seating wasn’t great. Chai tea was okay and the food wasn’t as flavorful as we expected.

Super lowkey place with amazing ambience. The food was very authentic and delicious and the vibes felt very much like a typical spot in mumbai.

This is "The Place" for authentic indian chai. A little Gem in Sandringham. We came with a group of friends yesterday for the 1st time. Ambiance is just amazing housed in the inside sack at the back. We were a little noisy but the staff were absolutely amazing and super friendly. Food! I cant comment any further, finger licking delicious. Giving a 5 for service, food and ambiance.

Let me start off by saying the interior is AMAZING, very aesthetic and very well designed. The food is very nice too, however, I find the prices & portions a bit questionable, (maybe it’s me being picky) but besides that - it’s a great place to eat in! A little eatery tucked inside an alley~

The food here was absolutely amazing along and is the only place in Auckland this far that I've found good Indian Street food at.<br/>The reason why I remove a star is that some items can be a bit too pricey and unjustly so. For instance, the dessert was tiny in portion but priced at par with the mains and that didn't feel valid. Also it can feel generally pricey so keep that in mind. Although, for once in a while parties, this can be a very good destination.

Went here during the day. Was pretty packed but still alright to find us a space<br/>We got something like meatballs but was vegetarian & omg it was soooo delicious. Liked the environment too & the staff were really nice. 4 stars only because they could perhaps work on the set up of the place.

Ambience is awesome. Food is great, mostly go for starters, it’s little expensive. Chicken manchurian is really good, spicy and tasty. Good hangout place for drinks and starters. Staff is polite and humble. Must try the masala chai. For 2 people it will be approx $70-$80.

This place is our new favourite. Great cocktails. Awesome food. The lamb is our favourite (with a bit of cool dip). And don't even get me started on the decor. Would recommend!

It’s a very cute place for hangout. The portion is rather small for the price we paid. It was our first time but definitely will go again to try out other dishes.

It was a good experience. Masala Chai was great. It comes in matka. Good service as well. Parking is available on nearby streets. Good to experience this atleast once when in Auckland. Not a place for dinner but only snacks.

Great hidden gem - very cosy and welcoming inside. We liked the seating layout and tables as well as pick you own beer. Chicken and lamb were delicious and idly fry was a great vegan option as well mushroom and masala fries (twist on your usual chips). Overall really enjoyed and will be coming more regular now.

Is an awesome and cool place to sit relax have chai nice food chit chat with family and friends.<br/>Great variety of drinks.<br/>Seatting was unique we loved since it replicate Indian local chai shop

Went here using my Zomato gold and absolutely loved it. The atmosphere is really nice and relaxed and they have a great range of drinks and craft beers. Some of the food portions (particularly the fried rice) we found to be a bit small since we were sharing dishes but the food was still delicious

An amazing place hidden in Sandringham!! 10 out of 10 overall experience. Exquisite food, excellent customer service and my oh my, don’t get me started about the ambience. Would definitely recommend to all my mates. You haven’t really visited Sandringham without paying a visit to this gem restaurant! :)

The presentation at this place is great. From the entrance to the seating I was impressed by how nicely the place is set up to give Indian daaba vibes. Great place and great food however the customer service could definitely improve.

Cute little hidden place in Sandringham. <br/>Great food and a good selection of drinks. Love the ambience and the service. I’d definitely visit this place again. <br/>Would recommend upgrading the seating options as the chairs felt slightly uncomfortable but otherwise, top spot!

The space is really cool. Reminds me on some places in berlin, sadly the prices do not. Especially the food is quite overpriced as the dishes are more smaller tapas style bar snacks but priced similar as a main dish in other neighboring indian restaurants. If they will change the pricing I will for sure come more often with friends as its a cool place to hang around.

We were looking for somewhere light and tasty for hangover eats. This absolutely hit the spot! Love that it’s such an unassuming, little hole in the wall type place on first impression. We were the first diners in there for the lunch service, and you always wonder what it’ll be like... for lunch and first diners of the day, but it was all on point :-). We ordered curry flour, paneer 555, kurryage chicken and chicken lollipop. Service awesome, food wait time minimal, eatery vibe is intimate, and quality of food - made it become a place we desperately can’t wait to try again.

this place is an all time favourite but it is a bit of a shame that they had to cancel the shisha.<br/><br/>regardless the food is great and service is prompt. their filtered coffee is amazing and chicken 65 is amazing (though it is a little spicy)

Come here often for a snack and Chai.<br/><br/>Their chai is a personal favourite and love the chicken and paneer dishes.<br/><br/>Deco is very unique and staff are always very welcoming. Prompt service.

We have been to Satya’s a few times before but have always had tea or coffee and never really tried their food. Tried it for the first time on this visit and definitely not disappointed. The kurryage chicken was the highlight and we absolutely loved it. <br/>Great ambience and the most friendly owner. <br/>Would surely go back for the chicken!

Visited this place on a busy Saturday evening, a cute little place with a charm of its own. The food was absolutely brilliant and did satisfy our long craving of indo Chinese, will definitely visit the place again. And a special mention to the extremely friendly manager.

Great spot for authentic Indian finger food. Lip smacking choices for vegetarians, non vegetarians and vegans (upon request). Friendly service by manager Mr Kamesh and Krishna. Highly recommended.

Cool ambiance, amazing food, easy on pocket, full bar available, friendly staff definitely visiting again, short drive from city of around 10 to 15min, a must visit place

We really appreciated the lovely service here. The setting was very casual and gave a unique cultured vibe (felt deliberately rugged). <br/><br/>The dishes feel more like snacks, so the portion sizes won’t necessarily be filling (see photo for an idea of the size). The real value comes from the fairly unique and authentic flavours they offer. The chicken seasoning is tasty and flavoursome. <br/><br/>Due to the price and portion size, this isn’t a place we’d think of first to come to for a meal. But it’s a place that is faithful in offering creative and tasty flavours. Open minded about a return visit.<br/><br/>(Found out about this place through Zomato Gold)

This is a cute little restaurant located off Sandringham road! It is very adorable and has amazing Indian vibes! The food is incredible as well at a decent price

Food is amazing. But portions are very small. Love the chicken fries rice, the best I ever had. The staff recommended the lychee cocktail bit too sugary. went on a Friday night, super busy and had to share a table 😧

These guys are simply the best. Very creative menu, amazing service and super friendly staff. Walking to this hidden gem makes you feel you are in a different country. I went there 3 times and tried varieties of stuff and every single item was stunning!<br/><br/>Excellent food, set out, price and very relaxed. I highly recommend this place! AAA+++++

one of the hidden gem in Auckland. Their chai is on of the best i ever had and add to it their Indo chinese food is amazing. This has replaced Paradise as my fav place to eat in sandringham . Somedays i just drive from Huapai to Sandringham just to eat at this place. tried most of their items and everyone of them taste amazing. Just be careful when you tell them that you need spicy as they are actually spicy :)

Good food and ambience. Chilli chicken, manchurian and fried spicy chicken are very tasty.<br/>Masala chai is comforting.<br/><br/>Food portions are getting smaller though.

Fantasy sic ambience and excellent good, the only place where I have seen fried idli and my son loved it! Have also been told they make the best spicy chicken ever... check it out. Great collection of beers!!!

Came to satya for some chai and food on a Saturday. For drinks we tried the hard chai, hot chai and an ice mocha. The hard chai was a fave of ours. The food was all really tasty and had good flavour and spice. We tried a mixture of vegetarian and chicken options, the vegetarian manchurian dumplings are a must try!! We also got some complimentary Indian sweets after our food. The place itself has a great ambiance and is a nice quiet place to come to.

Quite possibly the best craft beer fridge in Auckland. Dining down an alleyway, food experience. Typical Indian food, great spot for a craft beer and bites!

<br/>Had an amazing time!<br/>The interior, ambiance and the food is awesome.<br/>The fact that a place is serving you fresh and authentic Indo-Chinese dishes like Chicken Manchurian with on point flavour and taste, Their decor is like a backyard garden party. Perfect place for a brunch or a catchup. <br/>Masala Chai was also very nice .<br/>We tried their Chicken Manchurian and it was delicious.<br/>Pricing is also economical and the portion is sufficient for two.<br/>Rose shake was a nice refreshing cool drink.<br/>Service was a bit slow .<br/>I would definitely recommend this place to try!<br/>

I had heard a lot about this place. The setting is real unique and cute. Buuuuuuut, talk about over priced? The food portions are super small for $20. Also, the chai is $5 for a small cup. $15.00 for a glass of house rosé? On top of that, the glass was 1/4 filled.

Flat mates had all been a few times and rated it highly so went with them a few weeks ago. Difficult to find if you haven’t been before but once your there it’s an awesome vibe! Had kurrage chicken, chicken lollipops, masala fries, vegetable and cheese bombs, vegetable dumplings and paneer 65 which were all amazing. If you are with no one who has gone before you might have some hit and miss items until you find your favourites! Also if you dislike spicy food this isn’t the place for you as most of the menu has a little kick to it at least!

The cutest (not so little) magical Chai spot in Sandringham! <br/><br/>Hidden in a little alleyway, is Satya's chai lounge. The menu is filled with Indian street food, cocktails, craft beer and lots and lots of chai and coffee!!The decor of the chai lounge is what makes it stand out, it isn't the typical glass table and chairs. Instead, the walls are lined with coffee/rice sacks typically seen in India! the chairs are wooden stools complementing the decor.<br/><br/>The Veg Manchurian (dumplings) is my definitely a favorite, and is a must try! It's filled with so many flavors and the quantity is amazing. <br/><br/>The Paneer 555 is also a great hit, a bit on the spicier side, but its filled with great flavors. <br/><br/>The Dahi Puri is another a great dish, one puri hits you with a bomb of flavors! With a bit of spice from the stuffing and the dahi to cancel it out!! Only served with 4 pieces!<br/><br/>Chilly Chicken and Chicken 65 are probably the best chicken dishes, in my opinion, they have such rich flavors. They both are very different, and it's great to see how each individual dish at Satya is so different in taste.<br/><br/>The Chai and Coffee are defiantly not to miss, it'll take you back to India in the shortest span of time!<br/><br/>The staff at Satya are some of the nicest people I've met, they are so friendly and have such a great attitude towards there customers.<br/><br/>The crowd at Satya are also really good, I've never experienced a rowdy crowd here, which makes its, even more, a great place to go.<br/>The vibes of this place are amazing, and is a great place to come and chill out for food, drinks, and shisha!!

Second visit. Was an absolute hidden gem the first time. This time... Not so much. Will say, the food is excellent and the chai is terrific, but the service, well, that has made a definite downside for the worst. When we arrived, there were 3other groups there (group of 4, another of 3, and a table of two). So for a Sunday afternoon, this was quite slow. However when I say slow, I mean less than a snails pace. This is a small place, yes, but it wasn't busy by any means. 3 tables hadn't been cleared when we arrived. The host said to sit anywhere except the unclean tables. OK. Those tables remained uncleaned for the duration we were there. We ordered rather quickly 2 chai and 2 entrees. The chai took at least 20 minutes to arrive, which is acceptable in my mind but the hour plus we waited for the food was beyond ridicious. In that time, two other tables had left and no others arrives. So there were only us and the table of 4 remaining. When reminded about the food, one dish came out within the next 15 minutes and the other, well, we never received that one. Not willing to wait any longer we got up to pay and leave. Upon voicing our dissatisfaction with the host, he claimed they were busy (ummmmm) then tried to state that next door was busy (ummmm, Satya next door wasn't even open and there was no one even in the kitchen as we walked past while leaving). Wouldn't have even left a review, but the lies we were told about the appalling service deserve this. Don't want to discount this place only after 2 visits, so will give one more chance. But would prefer honesty over lies. We didn't have to pay for this visit, and rightly so, but it doenst make up for the time wasted. All up, we were there for 2 long hours.... Mostly waiting for things that just don't arrive.

Even though this place is not the easiest to find dairy/gluten free food and drinks I keep coming back because the vibe is so cool. Was really impressed when I went tonight and they were able to make me a chai with coconut milk this time.

This place has got to be our favourite place for sure fire good food. The paneer 65 are amazing and for someone who previously never like paneer thats a big call. We also enjoy the idli fry and the slow

Great Food and cocktails :) <br/>Paneer 555 and the fried rice is a must try.<br/><br/>the dishes are served in earthern pots - Yumm!<br/>Its one of a kind and unique in Auckland.<br/>Bit pricey but totally worth it!

<br/>Went here with my friend who has been so many times, the guys know his order! <br/><br/>This place has amazing atmosphere. It’s not your typical “Indian restaurant” that us Westerners are used to seeing, and is very much a hidden gem. The craft and layout of this place really makes you feel like you’re in India eating real street food. <br/>I’ve never had street food from Indian before, but boy has my knowledge been expanded. I was expecting typical korma, or tikka masala style food, but these Indian tapas were incredible. <br/><br/>We had:<br/>- Iced chai - recommend if you’re not a great spice lover<br/>- chicken manchurian 5/5 - not too spicy. Like a deep fried chicken, wok tossed in beautiful spice and onions and chilli <br/>- Paneer 555 - amazing 5/5! It is spicy though! It’s deep fried ricotta cheese mini squares in a similar style to the manchurian, but a spicier flavour<br/>- Dah puri 3/5 - very tasty but too much yoghurt for me. Little like papadoms w coriander, chutney and yoghurt. <br/>- “insert name here” 5/5 - I can’t remember the exact name of this dish, but was a vegetarian, potato fritter. Amazing flavour I would’ve had about ten if I could’ve. <br/>- Ice cream 4/5 - plain ice cream but the rose syrup was like Turkish delight goodness!<br/><br/>Don’t be a muppet like me and mistake the green chilli in the chicken for a green bean!! I was on fire immediately and definitely needed that iced chai and ice cream!! 😂<br/><br/>A must visit - I’ll definitely be back to try more on the menu. It was frustrating not understanding what the dish was exactly, and I was lucky I came with an Indian friend and expert!<br/>My only gripe is the facilities were quite dirty but kind of expected for this alleyway set up! <br/>

Lovely place to hang around with your friends. Never disappoints you whether it be food or sheesha..<br/>Great and polite staff. Respectable towards the customers. The renovation of this place has made it more comfortable and spacious. Overall I would always recommend this place to people to visit. Lovely ambience for sheesha!

Its very good place to go with friends to chill. Coz they have good food. Anyone love Indian food must go and try you will like it. Or you can have great time with hookah and drinks too.

Very nice place with an excellent atmosphere and great shisha! Probably one of the best shisha’s ive had in Auckland. The masala chai is amazing! The lollipop chicken was also very nice and masala style which was a nice contrast to the generic sweet ones you get everywhere else. The only thing stopping me giving 5 stars were the seats, a little bit uncomfortable if you sit for Along time on the crate seats but that could just be me. All in all an awesome place with great staff check it out!!

Loved the interior to the core! Something very Unique from different lounges! A very good place to hangout with friends.Light music.. Excellent food. Staff super friendly and efficient. A must visit place.

I play a little game when bringing folks to Satya Spice and Chai Shop. They are told that we will walk without stopping from one end of this commercial Sandringham stretch to another, starting with a butcher shop and ending at an Indian grocery store, and they should tell me which place we are going to actually enter. Three out of four times, they missed the spot. It's not really their fault - the entrance to SSCS is so inconspicuous that you'd think it's just a doorway to a storage room.  <br/><br/>The long narrow corridor which leads in, is hemmed by rough concrete and festooned overhead with hundreds of beverage cans. You'd not be mistaken in wondering that there is no coming out once you enter. Inside is a cozy place that hippies amongst others would love - a one-of-a-kind in Auckland. The roof has dipped curves of jute-sack from which some sunlight percolates, little plants hang from above and the walls and petite furniture are wooden, with some little barstools luxuriously upholstered with a covering of that jute cloth. An interior room, a soothing sanctum especially when other customers leave you alone there, has a wall of exposed brick - an architectural element carefully included here because without it most hipster-chic restaurants would cave in. <br/><br/>The menu may lack main courses but remember this is a 'spice and chai shop' ! 'Kurryaage' is a lip-smacking creation of crunchy coating which wraps over little folds of succulent chicken, made zingier with sprinkled chaat powder while spiced mayo brings welcome creaminess. If you thought this rocks, wait till you sample certain other appetizers. Their chilli chicken has meat of stunning quality, sublimely tender, the chilli benefiting from just a gentle touch while a little conspiracy of rounded flavours swirl this dish to the very top, besting even the excellent chilli chicken from the nearby Mt Eden's Indian Lounge. Chicken Manchurian is no less, glowing gorgeous with attractive orange, the deep-fry-and-then-wok-toss process which fails so many other chefs, expertly rendered here with the crisp-soft balance spot on, the Indo-Chinese flavours robustly smouldering. <br/><br/>The place fills up with all kinds of folks, of myriad age groups but with a slight tilt towards the fruit vert, the atmostphere breezily but quietly clubby. Trundling out on a Thursday night after a solid feed, we were beside two elderly Pakeha couples outside, with them remarking that it was "the most lovely" meal they'd had in a long while - I wanted to butt in and shake their hand but behaved myself. <br/><br/>They stack a deep alcohol reserve - from unique cocktails like 'Vieux Curry', 'Dark & Stormy' and 'Ramos Chai Fizz" to an off-the-menu caboodle of cabinets with craft beers from all over the world which you see direct-on-the-shelf and select. I tried their 'Hard Chai' - a blend of cold milk tea and cognac and while it wasn't spectacular, 'twas harmonious. <br/><br/>Chicken Fried Rice here is a a hearty riff on the Indian innovation of Manchurian Fried Rice , the rice nicely smoky with green capsicum, soy sauce and rice vinegar, with toothsome bites afforded by little cubes of batter-coated shallow-fried chicken. "Curryflower" however, de-bloomed with hunks of fried cauliflower in listless spices. After the initial high of finding a joint like this with many tasty treats, the hits and misses then begin to get more noticeable. 'Crisp Prawns' adverised as 'tempura-fried with Indian-spices' looked huge but a good part of it was batter, with the tempura vapourized, the bites heavy with dull Indo-Chinese flavours while the prawn essence was smothered. Achhe din returned with Chicken 65 - succulent pieces, superbly marinated in a tangy yoghurt-based mix, sharp with the edge of spices led by curry leaves. <br/><br/>The chef is from Vizag in Andhra Pradhesh and the touch of a seasoned Indian chef shows in many dishes, although I'm not sure if his sure hand always steadies kitchen. Amongst its other attributes, Satya Chai Chop is also unique in that they maintain consistency as often as they lose it. A re-visit of the formerly wonderful chilli chicken disclosed a less-than-ideal rendition the second time, hewing more towards the less balanced " Schezwan sauce" flavour found in certain Indo-Chinese mixes. <br/><br/>When a young bespectacled gentleman is at the counter, the front-of-house runs smoothly, and he is politely pleasant when attending to you. When this show-runner has gone out temporarily, service suffers, as it did on our last visit there. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon, the place unusually deserted and a new man at the counter was least interested in attending to us. With three appetizers requested and two having arrived, we then asked him whether the third appetizer could be brought in later on to prevent crowding. He nodded and rushed to the kitchen. Their chef-recommended 'Veg Manchurian Dumplings' when it arrived at a later stage as requested, was disappointing - lukewarm, the "dumpling" element disappeared, stodgy with most of their crunch gone, these being merely the spherical-fritter wok-tossed 'Veg Manchurian' which is a familiar Indian creation. My companion wondered whether these were microwaved before being brought in. 'Twas likely a failure of communication on their part - if it is too late to postpone the cooking of dish, just tell it to the customer and bring in the hot dish rather than letting it sit to be served later on. <br/><br/>The best, most technically accomplished dish here is perhaps not found anywhere elsewhere in NZ, at least not to this high standard - Idy Fry. Idli is a foundation breakfast dish of South India - steamed rice cakes, pillowy soft at their best , best paired with coconut-based savoury chutneys. Here the spin was to deep-fry them, and it was done with such lip-smacking finesse that it would make any Indian, French or Japanese fry-master proud. I don't have the heart to tell you how they tasted on another occasion. My pal initally asked whether they were roasted cubes of potato - so nicely did they maintain their shape. Handsomely crunchy on the outside even several minutes after sitting on the table, there was just a subtle but precise seasoning on the outside, while the interior gave way to soft warm roasted rice cake. 'Twas very sensibly paired with a mildly spiced coconut-based white chutney - this was as just as well because if the latter had been akin to the killer green chutney from Bangalore's S.N Refreshments, I would have climbed the roof and howled in ecstatic delirium. 3/5 = Good. More Pics @ Upnworld

best place in Auckland to chill with friends. outstanding food and ambiance is out of the world. 10 stars overall. try all dishes for best experience , chilli chicken is my fav.

so funky, love the atmosphere it's a slice of heaven and you really feel in a different world, plus the food is sooooo tasty!!! I will definitely be back :)

Loved the relaxed vibes here. Good service, o.k prices/o.k value for $$. Vegetarian options were yummy - especially Veg Manchurian and Cabbage 65 😋

I bought a samosa from satya It was really rubbish and old and i would suggest you guys don’t buy a samosa from this place.

Tucked away down an unassuming laneway, amidst the bustling cultural hub of Sandringham, Satya Spice and Chai Shop brings new life to traditional Indian cuisine. The creative fit out lends itself to the funky, down-to-earth vibe of the place - a chandelier arrangement of 'fallen soldiers' (of the beer bottle variety) leads into a room filled with reclaimed timber furniture, chairs draped in recycled hessian spice sacks and a curtain of hanging plants. Through another doorway lies the spice (and craft beer!) shop, where you can buy spices, shisha and other Indian delights to take home and - more importantly - choose from a spectacular range of craft beers. They also have a great range of alcoholic and virgin cocktails (including 'strong' chai for my fellow cocktail fans).<br/><br/>My partner and I came here on a recommendation whilst travelling through Auckland - after four days of eating and drinking our way through some of the best restaurants in and out of the city (The French Cafe, Amano, Te Motu and Mud Brick Vineyard to name a few), we were not disappointed! In fact, it was one of the best meals we have ever had. We were so engrossed in the incredible food, service and ambience that we even forgot to take photos.<br/><br/>Though everything was sensational, the stand out dishes for us were the Dahi Puri chaat (crispy puri shells topped with the perfect balance of yoghurt, sweet, sour and spicy chutneys), chicken 'Kurryaage' (my ultimate favourite - an Indian take on chicken karaage, which I am never eating again after trying this!), lamb nukkad (6 hour slow roasted, spiced lamb leg - need I say more?), crispy spiced cauliflower (beautifully balanced with fresh herbs on a yoghurt base) and the chilli chicken (tender, spicy goodness in a perfectly tangy sauce). <br/><br/>Highly recommend this place to anyone travelling to Auckland - we can't wait to do it all again when we're back in town.

Okay, so what do I know about street food from India? Not much, but my Indian work mate brought me here. He told me lovingly of all the glorious food he would eat on a rainy day, washed down with a bottle of Kingfisher beer in Indian. Heaven on earth in his words. The next best thing to him is street food here in New Zealand.<br/>He brought me here as he described the deep fried chili as one of his favorite foods.<br/>You could describe the food as Indian meets tapas. Served in beautiful terracotta dishes to be shared amongst friends.<br/>As I had no idea what to eat, he recommended the cut mirchi, deep fried chili in a chickpea batter and served with a chutney. He was disappointed as he described the batter had been fried in oil too hot and was almost rock hard rather than the crispiness described but I still enjoyed them. The highlight for me was the masala tea. Sweet and brewed to perfection. Closest thing to heaven on earth! Sweet with that hint of spice which wraps around your tastebuds. We also had the Dah puri. Small rounds with potato on top, with fresh yogurt and coriander. Very tasty. Really enjoyed them. Can't wait to try other food on the menu.<br/>UPDATE<br/>on the recommendation of another zomato reviewer I did go back and tried the chilli chicken. Just subtle tastes of chilli. not too hot that you couldn't taste it. my taste buds danced as I tucked into it. Can heartily recommend.

Friends and I come here often. Ambience is great to chill out, smoke shisha, have a drink and get some quick bites. Food is delicious - usually have chilli chicken. Paan Shisha is our favourite here. Friendly staff and service is good.

Been here a few times. Food is excellent. Hipster-aesthetic "chairs" are quite difficult to sit on for long. Service seems good too for an Indian joint!

Never been to India so I can’t compare the food in India and this restaurant. However nice staffs and good food. Cocktails were okay. I love their fried prawns.

Cute little spot for a drink and snack! The dairy puri were excellent, and I enjoyed my chai and cognac cocktail - only downside were the slightly uncomfortable stools made from swappa crates, but otherwise super nice.

My first time here and it’s a beautiful little spot in Sandringham. Tried their Manchurian and Paneer with their chai, it was amazing! I recommend this place to anyone who likes masala chai and snacks.

Came in with my friends today after a long time. To be honest I have always enjoyed their masala chai and snacks. I'm a regular here and really appreciate their service. I would definitely be coming back.

Good decor <br/>Good taste<br/>Been here a few times and will keep coming back.<br/>Good vibes from the staff<br/>Sheesha available. <br/>I'm writing this because the guy said I'd vet some free drinks if I wrote a review.

Amazing little spot, nice and quite, and very traditional. Food and beverages are delicious, lots of choices and great presentation. Excellent customer service, by very friendly staff!!!

First time here and can well and truly say amazing vibe and great food! The decor is the best part, loved it 💛 will definitely drop by next time.

Amazing food and drinks! Loved the lamb and the chicken! Staffs were really good and friendly aswell! Highly recommended! Will definitely be back!!

Love this place. Love the food and love the service here. Their snacks are worth trying. I enjoy bringing my friends here and look forward to coming back

Stunning place, quality food and amazing customer service. This is my first time here with my family and I'm definitely coming back here with my family and work colleagues

Amazing ambience, great vibe and absolutely amazing service and the food is even better! Love the drinks AND food menu equally, a really chill place, great shisha too! <br/>

This place is absolutely amazing! Staff are super friendly, vibe is great and food is incredibly flavoursome! I would give this my top recommendation.

Amazing food! Very friendly staff. Always a pleasure to come and eat here. I give it 5/5 for the food and service. One of Auckland's hidden eatery gems.

I heard great reviews about this place but had the worst dining experience. I called on Monday to make a reservation for a group of 15 people at 5 pm. (I also came the week before to check if they would be able to fit us all in, they offered us a separate room, which was great). Anyway reservation confirmed on Monday for 5pm. I turn up with my team and 5.15 it is stil not open. The Satya restaurant next door tells me oh they had to go somewhere and won't be open till 6pm. So I have a group of 15 people with me and we have to wait an hour before it opens as the owners had to leave to go somewhere and are not able to make it on time. I might have lost it a little bit so they opened it for us to let us in. Please remember to there is no one to serve us food and we could just order drinks. By this time we were a bit over the place but had to wait as our dinner reservation was at 7.30 at another restaurant. Thankfully they were happy to accommodate us and take us in earlier.<br/>The place was hot and humid and highly disorganised. Person taking the drinks order was flustered.<br/>It was extremely hard to communicate with him. <br/>The staff did turn up eventually and no apology was offered until I went to pay and had to explain that they completely did not honor our reservation. <br/>I usually am not one to leave bad reviews but this place took the cake for the worst customer service. <br/>Since we didn't eat there, I can not even use the food as saving grace for bump up the review. <br/><br/>

The place has a really nice feel to it and the food tastes good too . <br/>The only issue i have faced time and again at this place is that the service is too slow for my liking.<br/>You're likely to wait for 45 mins atleast for your food to arrive .

Such a unique place! <br/>I had honestly grown tired of the monotonous selection of Indian restaurants in Auckland and it’s refreshing to see places like this taking Indian food to the next level with all kinds of fusion dishes regularly being introduced.<br/><br/>The setting too is very reminiscent of Indian village life and I throughly enjoy the mixture of Indian elements and shabby chic decor, giving the place a very welcoming yet eccentric vibe. <br/><br/>The food is great, the drinks are interesting and fun, so overall I would definitely recommend.

Really enjoy this cool little place hidden down a long alley way in Sandringham. There is a very cool, chilled out vibe to the place. The snack food menu is great. Everything was tasty and hot. Speaking of hot though, in summer, middle of the day would be a killer, but after the sun starts to drop, it gets cooler. The service can be a bit slow, but worth the wait. Great place to spend an couple of hours chilling out with friends. If you like your unusual beers, this is the place to go, or indulge in a nice hot chai

Amazing food, great service, great experience overall ❤️ would recommend to friends. Keep up the good work! You guys are amazing at what you do, be proud of yourselves.

Set up and the atmosphere is definitely is special . Very good customer service. We went for drinks 🍷 so can’t comment on food . Drinks pretty standard

So very amazing. Have told all my friends and will definitely be back. highlight was the chilli paneer. Great range of beers and good service. Extremely hard to get a table however

Such a beautiful place to hang around at and chill for a a bit. The customer service is great and they don't disappoint their customers. Great experience

My to go place to have a good time after winding up after a hard days work. Feels like I am in the Indian joint sipping my kingfisher while munching on a then best chicken Manchurian. This place is a hidden gem. You guys will thank me later for introducing me to this forbidden jewel. ;)

Amazing food and chai! Love how its hidden between everything ☺ The setup is also one of a kind 👌<br/>Would definitely recommend coming here! 😁

Went to the chai 'dhaba' down the ally (not the shop in front) for brunch. Pretty authentic set-up. It was a very cold day today so we ordered hot chai. Chai was simply awesome, we had never tasted such a chai. Ordered idly fry and cauliflower fly. Again very different and so very tasty. Would have been great if they had dosa and paratha's but we were told that they are only available in the front shop (although same owners). Look forward to visiting again for some mains.

What a cool little place. Food was brilliant and so yum, the chicken curryage (across between tandoori chicken and Japanese karage) was my fave. Cocktail was strong but yum. Cool laid back vibe. Definitely be back.

Lousy Place. Pathetic Service.<br/><br/>Had been here on a Saturday evening with family. It took them over an hour to serve 2 starters. Also, one of the dish we ordered was not available, and they told us about the unavailability after waiting for an hour. In the end we left the place with a takeaway. <br/>The seating was not comfortable either: Wooden plank seats that you cannot adjust. The place was not warm enough, no enough heaters available. <br/><br/>We could not refer to one person as their manager. There were different people who came to take the orders, every person came and told us a different thing. So, you could not hold one person responsible for the management.<br/><br/>The place is not worth the money. You have to shell out a lot, for a very little quantity.<br/><br/>Would not even rate this place a 1 star.

Love the food here. Especially the karaage chicken, vegetables manchurian and paneer with ginger n cashews. The chicken 65 is delicious too as is the lamb koftas.<br/>The food here pairs very well with beer and they have a huge range! I will definitely be back for my spice fix and some chai!

Overpriced and poor service.<br/>Considering this place only opened recently, think the owners are getting complacent.<br/>Only good thing about the place is its construct and the design similar to a typical lane.

Ok so reviewing this joint for their chai, being a "chai shop" One would expect to get a decent cup of chai/coffee at a chai shop right? So went to this place with a friend on a cold Sat morning in the opening hours - good time to have some chai. Place was empty and after a couple of minutes we were received by a lady almost angry at us for turning up to the place in the morning. <br/><br/>I ordered a masala chai my friend a south India covfefe. Honestly speaking, the masala chai was average - nothing worth making a trip to Sandringham for. The south India coffee tasted like filter coffee. My friend narrowly escaped his lips getting burned as it was boiling hot in a paper cup. Worst tasting coffee ever and the $6.00, completely unjustified. <br/>Coming to write this review I see that the place also does craft beer with some standard Indian finger food. Maybe they should call it that instead of a chai shop.

Great place that's secretly hidden amongst the bustle of busy central Auckland. <br/><br/>One that that impresses to me atleast is the creativity of the place. From venturing down a alley way to entering a space filled with decorative rustic decorations. The distinction between the common 'chair-table' and this is really aesthetically pleasing to the eye. For some you can argue it's a bit to 'out of the ordinary' however it still without doubt is simple yet effective in terms of looks.<br/><br/>Food wise the price is rather expensive in my opinion for basic Indian cuisine dishes, the drinks are great and refreshing.<br/><br/>Must try the Chicken 65 which from many people including me would say it's probably one of the best versions of the dish in auckland. The chicken isn't drowning in oil and the flavours are deep and rich!<br/><br/>As a negative, the seating and tables do suffer from a "wobble illness" and it is rather frustrating having your plate and drinks spill when your chair or table see-saws to find balance.<br/><br/>It is a great place and recommend it for people who want to experience something new. Regardless of your age and ethnicity you should come check this hidden gem.<br/><br/><br/><br/>

The chai tea is a must try, as is the Manchuria ( both chicken and vege are nice). Have been here twice and both times service has been disappointing; a bit slow and rude at times hence the 3, otherwise would be higher.

Great craft beers, excellent food. Excellent customer service and we really love every single details in the restaurant. The best Indian food ever.

Chillies chicken n orawn so delicious n paneer was yumm.n nice soft n crispy n masala coffee was good ..love ths atmosphere of little cafe n best finger food love to go back again ..

I come here often to buy spices and the masala tea to to make at home.  The only reason for the 2 Rating is for the sudden ludicrous increase in prices. I bought a bag of Masala tea about 400gms, for $12.00 , then when I went he told price has increased to 100$ per kilo! 10$ per 100 grams. I was shocked.  We always stop buy to buy its very tiny cup of takeaway masala tea for $2, but not anymore, now it's 4$.<br/><br/>True it has authentic Masala tea and a fabulous setting, but I can find very similar Masala chai tea mixes for 10$ per kilo!  Plus almost all Sandigram has Masalal tea for 2-2.50 per cup. <br/><br/>Thiss place ha decided to aim at tourists with its new prices, plus the Shisha there is dangerous, since there is practically no ventilation,  a huge fire hazard. I understand when businesses need to increase prices, but within reason.

I go there pretty often, but customer service is poor and is showing no signs of improvement. Number of times we have sat down and they have not checked on us for a drink until we have asked them to come see us. Food takes time and too many rules around seesha, I go there mostly in the afternoon when its empty but the seesha rule of 15 per person still applies, I feel that it should be limited to busier times. Couple of times we have not gone there in the afternoon because we had an hour to kill and wanted some tea n seesha but were not prepared to pay the extra during a non busy time when we thought it was not necessary. They are lucky the concept is unique, ambience is good and food is decent, only reason we go there.

Cute little hidden gem . Great for hangouts with friends and family. Has a unique ambience , which is what makes this place so popular. So busy during day time too. I went today (Saturday afternoon ). The food tasted pretty good. Service was great but would like to see how it would be during nights .

So went here the other night to check wats the hype about. Was greeted by an empty restaurant/pub/cafe (?) in a back alley of another restaurant owned by the same management. The 2.5 rating here is only for the food which was good though we only tried 2 items on the menu bit they were worth every penny. Its not getting any more points due to everything else that is wrong with this so called chai shop.<br/><br/>Biggest turn off was that the owner was lounging there with a few of her friends and they were all loudly talking and parading in the alley as if they are sitting in the owners living room. I get it that you own this place that does not mean you dont care about the comfort of your paying guests and engross yourself in your friends to the extent that it becomes a disturbance for the others. The best part was that this resto has only 1 server who was also sitting with the owner and her guests and when we asked for water casually pointed us out to the water kept in the corner and asked us to help ourselves. And the great owner by the way didnt even acknowledge the presence of other guests. No smiles no hellos nothing. She just carried on loudly with her friends. Coming to the ambience- must have invested 50$ tops to decorate this place since for chairs you have wooden crates and tables look like something you would get at a junk shop and the whole roof and the crate chairs are covered with gunny sacks. Its shabby and old thats all. The place had potential since the food is really good but with customer service being such a turn off i really cant comment much. We even saw 2-3 couples leaving the place within 5 mins as no one was bothered to pay attention to them. <br/><br/>

This place looks like it is a part of the little lost world. Too hard to locate, once you get through the dodgy narrow entrance, you feel like you are visiting a local Indian dhaba. <br/><br/>You get amazing Madras Coffee, North/South Indian starters & Sheesha's here. <br/><br/>We love this place and it's our new favourite coffee hangout.

Great for some real chai and South Indian coffee. Very cool location and great recycled furniture. Will have to come back to try the snacks.

Was keen on this place for a pretty long time so came here to drink some chai with a mate. <br/><br/>The chai came out REALLY good (much better than I expected!).<br/><br/>I ordered some manchurian and dahi puri whereas my friend ordered some fried rice. The dahi puri and manchurian were really yum but I feel like the portion size is very small compared to how much you pay. <br/><br/>Just one pet peeve about this place is that the place had a lot of flies.<br/><br/>I would come back just for the chai!

Was really in the mood for some Dosa today so we decided to try out this place.<br/><br/>We ordered the pani puri, dhai puri and masala dosa. The pani puri actual puri was not very fresh but the fillings were nice.<br/><br/>The dhai puri was actually super crisp with lovely toppings. I didn't enjoy the tamarind paste on top as I'm not a fan of tamarind. I do know that it is part of the dish though. <br/><br/>The masala dosa was delicious. Couldn't fault a thing. Crispy dosa and well cooked potato and onions filling it. The chutney on the side was delicious too.<br/><br/>The ambiance in the place is lovely afternoon and night. You feel like you're in the middle of India. <br/><br/>I look forward to trying more dishes on my next visit

Nice secluded joint in the middle of Sandringham. Shared street style dishes ranging from $10-$15. Have to try the Paneer 555 and Cauliflower 65. Both were awesome. The chai is great too best to go for Large. Highly recommend this place. Also do reasonable priced Hookah

Delicious Indian food. Friendly down to earth service with a smile and a chat.<br/>Highly recommend vegetarian and chicken Manchurian, paneer fry, cabbage fry.<br/>Will definitely be back.

This place is fantastic! It can do no wrong! Order anything and let your tastebuds dance away! I recommend getting the large masala chai cause you'll be kicking yourself for getting a small! <br/>5 outta 5!