Mandala Restaurant

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#1 of 18 Restaurants in AkaroaIndian, Healthy, $$ - $$$

What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Mandala Restaurant

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Website

+64 3-304 7714Improve this listing

About

Travellers' Choice

2024

Pacific Indian Asian Fusion

Features

CUISINES

Indian, Healthy

Meal types

Dinner, Drinks

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Full Bar

Gift Cards Available

Outdoor Seating

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Takeout

Location

40F Rue Lavaud, Akaroa 7520 New Zealand

Does this restaurant offer takeaway or food to go?

Yes

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Hours

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Closed now

• Opens at 5:00 PM

Sunday

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Monday

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Tuesday

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Wednesday

Closed

Thursday

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Friday

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Saturday

5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

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4.7

287 reviews

Excellent

232

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Terrible

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Yes

David B

7 contributions

Charming and welcoming Akaroa restaurant.

Oct 2024 • couples

My wife and I visited Mandala for dinner last night. My wife had the crispy skin duck and I had the black pork with rice. Both were beautifully cooked and were well-matched with the wine. I especially enjoyed my Main Divide Cabernet-Merlot 2022. My wife especially enjoyed the duck which had wonderfully-matched vegetables provided with a complementary bowl of slaw. My pork was spicy and peppery but the range of spices was well-balanced and interesting. The maitre d' Randhir, who has a degree in hospitality, was charming and well-informed. He was interested in us as people without being intrusive. He is wanting to stay in New Zealand so we can only hope that the NZ immigration service has the sense to welcome as a resident and eventually as a citizen. Immigrants pay a high price for the vicissitudes of government immigration policy. We wish him and Mandala every success.

Written 20 November 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hettipolas

9 contributions

A feast for the senses

Mar 2025 • couples

Our day trip to Akaroa coincided with rain, so the whole town was very quiet. We made reservations for dinner as we weren’t sure how busy places would be (ended up unnecessary on a rainy weekday). We were glad we stuck around in the rain for Mandala - our dinner was lovely. The pani puri was our favorite - creative and have never poured mint water before! We also enjoyed the lamp appetizer and our cocktails. A pleasant shake up from the more traditional NZ cuisine we’ve been enjoying on our vacation.

Written 3 March 2025

Bronwyn878

Pahiatua153 contributions

Great food and service

Jul 2024 • family

We dined at Mandala as part of a large group (20+ people). Really nice food and the staff were super lovely and attentive. Could not fault the service. I had the Fijian Kokoda as an entree (yum) and Crispy Skin Duck Breast as a main (also yum). Would absolutely dine again. The only thing I noticed, and this was purely because we were a large group and there was a wide range of dishes on the table/s, was the difference in portion sizes. I understand that different proteins cost different amounts but dishes with cheaper proteins were increased in size to match or come close to the price of the dishes with more expensive proteins. For example: my partner and I started with the Kokoda and the Scallops. $24 and $26 respectively. The portion of Kokoda was very generous but the scallops was quite small. It would have made more sense (to me) to reduce the portion size of the Kokoda and charge less. Similarly with the mains. My partner and I had the Duck Breast and Pork Belly. $43 and $42. The duck portion was smaller as it's a more expensive cut but the pork (and slaw) was a substantial meal (which he couldn't finish). Just drop the portion size of the cheaper proteins and charge a little less. It makes sense as people often compare meal sizes when eating, less than they compare price.

Written 29 July 2024

SJBerkshire

London345 contributions

Good, But Not Great - no wow factor.

Dec 2024 • couples

I find it difficult to reconcile the numerous 5-star reviews with our experience, which was far from the best in town. Our meal wasn't terrible, just decidedly mediocre and lacking the wow factor we had hoped for. Firstly, we were able to get a table as walk-in customers on a Saturday evening during the holiday period, which was surprising. We were seated outside in the garden area and served by a gentleman who seemed to be the owner. After being handed menus, we were left waiting for around 10 minutes. When we tried to order just a drink to start with when handed the menu, but were asked to order our meal at the same time. We would have preferred a drink while perusing the menu. We ordered two curries: fish and lamb. Both were brought out shortly after ordering. Unfortunately, the lamb curry did not resemble the photos. It came as a side bowl of curry with rice and what seemed like a side plate to eat from. The lamb was not as soft and tender as we had hoped; while it was edible, it did not melt in the mouth. The sauce was quite spicy, and we would have appreciated some raita or chutney to cool it down, but these were only available at an extra cost. The fish curry was presented nicely and was overall good, but again, not exceptional. It was mild in comparison to the lamb curry. After we finished our mains, we decided to have dessert to cleanse our palates after the heat of the lamb curry. We engaged in conversation with a lovely British couple behind us. After waiting around 15 minutes with no one coming to clear our plates, we decided against dessert. We paid our bill at the same time as the British couple and left for cocktails at a local bar to enjoy the sunset views of Akaroa. It's a pity our experience didn't match the rave reviews others have posted. The food was okay (just), but definitely not a wow experience, and the staff were neither friendly nor engaging.

Written 15 February 2025

Nunu-Mervi

Helsinki112 contributions

Too pricey compared to the quality

Jan 2025 • couples

As we arrived late to Akaroa we ordered take-away from Mandala and made the order the previous day. The order was ready by the time we arrived (there are not many restaurants in Akaroa open until late), but the food was disappointement so I'm really surprised about the high ratings. We ordered food almost worth 200 dollars so you could expect at least some kind of quality. They had also forgot the rice from the order (yes, we should've checked on the spot). If the food had been chaper and ratings less raving, I would've said this is just another basic take-out restaurant, but the price level is just too high for a basic eatery. Impression after dinner: felt cheated.

Written 9 March 2025

Diana I

1 contribution

Big dissapointment

Jan 2025 • family

Menu is not vegetarian friendly at all. The only option was lacking flavour and ingredients. This was previously our favorite restaurant with excellent flavors in every dish. Tonight my dish was missing ingredients mentioned in the menu and when I sent it back they didn't offer me even a menu to chose something else. Service was terrible and they didn't offer any discount for ruining our evening.

Written 3 January 2025

samwier33

Sydney1 contribution

Not the experience we expected

Jul 2023 • friends

Sadly not the experience we expected. The ambience is lovely. We order the saffron prawns to start... $24.. for 2 PRAWNS and there was no taste of saffron.. not a great start. Fish curry for mains $34 which doesn't include rice, the fish was dry almost a day too old to serve to be honest. The apple samosa was lovely. Probably won't go back. Expensive for what it is - would hate to pay the price listed for a takeaway

Written 23 August 2023

Nomadnz

Beaver Creek33 contributions

Mandala Flavour and Service are Exceptional

Dec 2023 • family

A little reluctant as we were thinking about going for something with a ocean view but it was a really good decision. Visited early so we were the first there for dinner. Service was exceptional and so was the food, really beautiful flavors and food that suited a 34+ celsius day. Vibe and food is spot on. It's pricey but what isn't these days so quality for money is what it should be judged on.

Written 19 January 2024

MrandMrsFfromNZ

Tauranga29 contributions

Outstanding food and service

Jun 2024 • couples

Fabulous meal and service. What delicious food, the beef in the massaman curry was so tender and the lamb curry equally as good. The service was outstanding considering there was only the maître d serving a relatively full restaurant. There were 2 other customers who also personally complimented the chef which in my mind speaks volumes. Would definitely recommend and return as it was fantastic. Thank you

Written 20 June 2024

Figa V

2 contributions

Great Fijian food (classics) paired with professional French hospitality

Apr 2024 • couples

Hardworking, professional, personable Witnessed the chef and front of house staff (both by themselves) serve many people delicious food. Hope the goat curry and the Fiji fish curry are still on the menu. Delish! Def with a repeat!

Written 11 May 2024

Margret M

Oetigheim125 contributions

Great place

Mar 2024 • couples

We went to Mandala twice for dinner. The quality of the food is very good, the service is friendly and the decor is very nice. We ate fish twice and were extremely satisfied. We can recommend Mandala without reservation.

Written 8 March 2024

Sue M

Coffin Bay33 contributions

Substandard meal

Apr 2024 • couples

I do not know how this restaurant gets top rating on Trip Advisor as our meals were sub standard. My Massaman beef curry contained little beef & a lot of potato. The flavour was bland with none of the fragrant spices typical of a Massaman curry evident. The sauce was thin not creamy. My husband’s Crispy skinned duck was undercooked, not crispy & a very small serve. The side dish of stir fried seasonal vegetables consisted of some cabbage stems with a bit of broccoli. A very disappointing meal. The only positive is that the wait staff were pleasant.

Written 19 April 2024

Tory

Christchurch3 contributions

Reliably good, Thanks Mandala !

Jan 2024 • friends

Relaxed friendly vibe , great service, with quality food (bowl of wok-stir fried greens side was exceptionally good !) Oh and listen to the staff re levels of spicy heat (so used to things being “dummed down for your average consumer but happily I followed advice and the main “mild” curries we enjoyed really were spicey in a good way ! “Hot” wudve been vindaloo like “hot” ).

Written 29 January 2024

234j_rgf

Christchurch5 contributions

Business Dinner

Nov 2022 • none

Mandala is a must when visiting Akaroa. Food is very tasty, service is friendly and accomodating. Don't miss out on trying the Kokoda as a starter. Cosy inside but also try the outdoor area. Some of it is sheltered and blankets are provided. One colleague did not like the taste of their curry and we weren't charged for it. That's true service recovery. Highly recommended restaurant in Akaroa. Very authentic taste!

Written 15 November 2022

AEC

19 contributions

Good Food! Top notch!

May 2024 • couples

This is not what you’d expect at an Indian restaurant. They have the traditional Indian food and then they have Indian Asian fusion food; and it is SERIOUSLY GOOD! Not an extensive menu. Which is no doubt why the food is so good. I liked how they recommended the type of wine which goes best with the food as well. Great service too. Highly recommend.

Written 6 May 2024