Taupo isn’t really the location you’d expect me to go for some good momos or a proper curry… I’ll admit it, but I’m incredibly happy we happened upon Malabar Nepalese & Indian Kitchen. After a day exploring around Lake Taupo, we was in need of something spicy and this restaurant was just what we wanted.
Malabar sits right on the main strip, and it’s hard to miss. It’s popular (even on a weeknight), so clearly they’re doing something right. There was Indian and Nepalese dishes on the menu, which made me wonder how they’d pull them both off.
A Nice Surprise in Taupo
Malabar Nepalese & Indian Kitchen
The boards outside promising everything from momos to tandoori filled me with hope that they wouldn’t be sticking strictly to the usual suspects. The interior is casual but relaxed, a dining room with a good stone feature wall making it feel a little more cosy than most curry houses, and an open kitchen at the front where you can watch what’s going on.
To start, as ever when I spot it on a menu, I ordered the steamed momos which proved to be proper good. They were thin enough to see through to the filling and came with a tasty tomato based dip with a bit of a kick. Deciding between curry and fried chicken I decided to have both.
The chicken was spicy and well-battered. It came with a simple salad on the side. There was no bells and whistles here, just something crispy with that addictive seasoning that keeps you picking away at it.
But we was there for the curry. And so I ordered one of their house curries which came served in a large bowl, garnished with fresh coriander and accompanied by some warm naan. It was full of depth, real flavour without just heat for the hell of it.
We also got a basket of naan on the side which was soft and ideal for soaking up all of that leftover sauce.
The menu is also one of those photo menus. As I said earlier, I quite like those in places that do two types of cuisine or somewhere you’re trying out for the first time. The drinks list has cocktails and the standard stuff, but the food pages range from rice and breads to a whole section dedicated to rice and breads, biryani, and tandoori grills.
I thought this was a really nice touch as It wasn’t trying to cram everything onto one page, easy to read, easy to work out what they were best at.
In a town I didn’t expect much more than pizza and pub fare, Malabar was a solid meal. The spice levels was spot on, the portions generous, and the momos alone are worth a stop if you’re in Taupo and want something different. If I’m ever in the area again, I’d happily return.
Have you been to any good curry spots in unexpected places? I’d love to hear your recommendations.