"Mutton is an underrated meat - tastier than lamb and more tender too if you cook it long and slow enough. It's hard to find in New Zealand but Top in Town's mutton biryani in Sandringham is a great execution, delicious and spicy with whole spices elevating this well above food court fare." — Jesse Mulligan, eating out editor
"Whenever a friend's birthday rolls around, we seem to end up at cosy BYO restaurant and takeaway spot Tiffin, possibly because it has one of the best value banquets in the city. The North Indian curries are full of flavour and come with a generous assortment of delicious pickles, chutneys and condiments. The service is accommodating, even with all those wine bottles on the table." — Rebecca Barry Hill, writer
"Satya is the obvious answer for anyone who lives in central Auckland, right? I'll get a takeaway curry from the Sandringham or Great North Rd restaurants, and it's usually the Kadai chicken with peppers and coriander and cumin, with the perfect accompaniment: crunchy fragrant dahi puri. Satya's owner, Swamy, is also a sweetheart." — Zoe Walker, associate editor
"If an affordable and absurdly delicious curry is what you are feeling like, you can't beat Empress of India in Grey Lynn. I always order their palak paneer spinach dish, with saffron rice and a garlic naan — takeaway, or dine in and enjoy the Bollywood music videos they play which are certain to have you dancing in your seat." — Rosie Kelway, writer
"It's nice to discover a modern take on traditional dishes at Cassia. My favourite is the market fish curry with Bengali spices and onions or the spiced eggplant with Kadhai spices and coconut. Of course you can't look past the fragrant pani puri here, and dessert is always a good idea to balance out the heat. Try the caramelised coconut ice cream with pineapple, coriander, ginger." — Dan Ahwa, fashion editor
"It's not often that I have curry, but on the odd occasion I do I will go for something vegetarian, preferably with chickpeas – like the Kabuli Channa curry from Indian Summer in Hobsonville." — Danielle Clausen, editorial assistant
"Mt Everest Kitchen in Blockhouse Bay is a cheap and cheerful dinner option, offering traditional Indian dishes as well as Nepalese options. The restaurant's chicken or lamb vindaloo never disappoints, and the onion bahji is some of the best I've had." — Jessica Beresford, writer
"My favourite spot in Auckland to get a curry is Paradise in Sandringham and I'm not alone — you can't make reservations and there's often a queue out the door. Specialising in Northern Indian Mughlai cuisine, it would take you forever to make your way through Paradise's enormous menu, but I can recommend the chicken jalfrezi, the spicy aubergine in tamarind gravy (bagarey baigan), the sizzling platter of mixed meats, and any of the biryani dishes." — Shandelle Battersby, acting digital producer
