IndoKiwi Dhaba

If there’s anything better than an Indian restaurant, it’s one with an Indian grocery conveniently attached to it. That’s the deal for visitors to Indokiwi Dhaba, where you can tuck into a delicious platter before picking up your Indian spices and essentials next door.

Sitting alongside Indo Kiwi Grocers at Cobham Court, Indokiwi Dhaba is a hub of no-nonsense, tasty Indian food. It’s not a massive space, the compact store only boasting a handful of tables and very clearly designed, first and foremost, as a takeaway spot. Yet that’s part of the overall charm when you visit this neck of the Porirua woods: people come to Indokiwi Dhaba for a good time, not a long time, with fresh, fast food and groceries being the name of the game.

The food at Indokiwi Dhaba has a clear vegetarian bent, but everyone’s welcome and chances are that meat lovers will be hooked from the first bite as well. The majority of the dishes on offer are North Indian chaat (street food), from the refreshing, crispy bites of pani puri and golgappa to soul-warming fried snacks such as samosa and paneer pakora. For a fuller meal, there’s an array of curries and breakfast trays, along with a range of small desserts to help you finish with something sweet.

For a small outlet, Indokiwi Dhaba really goes the extra mile to ensure quality with every meal it puts out - for instance, food colouring is a strict no-no here, instead the chefs only rely on the natural colour from the spices they use. Aiming to be a one-stop shop for all your Indian food needs, Indokiwi Dhaba brings a valuable slice of North India to one of Porirua’s favourite shopping and dining precincts.