Bawarchi Christchurch operates from Papanui Road in Merivale with both dine-in and takeaway service across the week. Lunch and dinner each have their own rhythm: combination meals and a ready-to-go display suit quicker visits, while the evening opens up the tandoor and the full menu. On weekends, a separate buffet service gives families and groups another way to explore the kitchen's range.

Biryani is one of the clearest signatures. Chicken, mutton and vegetable dum biryani are served with raita and mirchi ka salan, while tawa biryani tosses rice with vegetables, egg, paneer or prawns and the restaurant's spice blend. Family packs scale both styles for shared meals, preserving the accompaniments that bring cooling yoghurt and tangy heat to the rice.

The tandoor covers creamy malai chicken tikka, spicier chicken tikka, lamb seekh kebab and whole or half tandoori chicken. Curry choices then move through paneer, lentils and seasonal vegetables before reaching chicken, lamb, fish and prawn preparations. Mughlai gravies use yoghurt, cashew and slow cooking, while charcoal dishes introduce smoke and Sri Lankan-style curries bring ginger, garlic, coconut milk and stronger spice.

Indo-Chinese cooking adds a distinct second track through Manchurian and chilli dishes, Hakka noodles, Schezwan noodles and fried rice with vegetable, chicken, egg or prawn. Naan, roti and basmati rice complete the savoury side, followed by milk-based sweets, fruit custard and lassi. That breadth makes Bawarchi useful for mixed groups, especially when some diners want vegetarian food and others prefer tandoori meat, seafood or a rice-led meal.

Address: 231 Papanui Road, Merivale, Christchurch 8014, New Zealand

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Bawarchi Christchurch Menu Menu updated on 18 Sep 2026

Today's Specials

Goat Biryani

$18

Goat Meat Dum Biryani. Out Of Stock

Goat curry

$18

Today’s special

BHEJA FRY

$20

Lamb brain fried with fresh ginger garlic and onion

Weekend Specials

Available on Saturday and Sunday

Lamb paya

$20

Dum Biryani

Chicken Biryani

$17

Served with raita and mirchi ka salan (Peanut, tamarind, hot red chili sauce)

Mutton Biryani

$17

Served with raita and mirchi ka salan (Peanut, tamarind, hot red chili sauce)

Veg Biryani

$17

Served with raita and mirchi ka salan (Peanut, tamarind, hot red chili sauce)

Biryani Family Pack

$55

Served with raita and mirchi ka salan (Peanut, tamarind, hot red chili sauce). Choice of vegetable, chicken or Mutton

Biryani Special Family Pack

$60

Garnished with egg and Chicken 65. Served with raita and mirchi ka salan (Peanut, tamarind, hot red chili sauce). Choice of chicken or Mutton

Veg Tawa Biryani Family pack

$55

Made to order. Mix vegetables and rice tossed in wok with special biryani spices, served with raita

Egg Biryani Family Pack

$60

Made to order. Boiled egg tossed in yoghurt curry leaves, onion and special spices

Tawa Biryani

Tawa Veg Biryani

$18

Mix vegetables and rice tossed in wok with special biryani spices, served with raita

Paneer Tawa Biryani

$18

Paneer Biryani

Egg Biryani

$18

Two boiled eggs and rice tossed in wok with special biryani spices, served with raita. Special

Prawn Tawa Biryani

$18

Prawn and rice tossed in wok with special biryani spices, served with raita

Tawa Biryani Family Pack Veg

$60

For 4-5 persons. Served with raita and mirchi ka salan (Peanut, tamarind, hot red chili sauce)

Paneer Tawa Biryani Family Pack

$60

Egg Biryani Family Pack

$60

For 4-5 persons. Served with raita and mirchi ka salan (Peanut, tamarind, hot red chili sauce)

Prawn Tawa Biryani Family Pack

$65

For 5-6 persons. Served with raita and mirchi ka salan (Peanut, tamarind, hot red chili sauce)

Veg Soups & Veg Starters

Veg Sweet Corn Soup

$12

Seasonal vegetables in a sweet vegetable broth

Veg Hot and Sour Soup

$12

Seasonal mix vegetables in hot and sour vegetable broth

Veg Manchuriya / Chili Veg

$18

Corn flour coated mix vegetable pakoda tossed in manchurian sauce / chili sauce soya sauce. Special

Mushroom Manchuriya

$18

Corn flour coated Mushroom slices pakoda tossed in Manchurian sauce soya sauce

Chili Mushroom

$18

Corn flour coated Mushroom slice pakoda tossed in chef made chili sauce

Mix Veg 65

$18

Mix Vegetable pakoda coated with corn flour tossed in yoghurt, curry leave and special spices. Special

Gobi Manchuriya / Chili Gobi

$16

Corn flour coated gobi pakoda tossed in manchurian sauce / chili sauce soya sauce

Chili Paneer

$18

Cottage Cheese corn flour coated cubes tossed in chef made Chili Sauce

Paneer Tikka

$18

Tandoor grilled Cottage Cheese, Onion, capsicum marinated in yoghurt, herbs and spices

Paneer 65

$18

Cottage Cheese pakoda cubes corn flour coated, tossed in yoghurt, curry leave and spices

Chilli potato

$18

NEW. Potato cooked with chilli sauce and chef special spices. Special

Schezwan Paneer

$18

DRY. Paneer cooked with Schezwan sauce and chef special spices

Chicken Soups & Tandoori Entrees

Chicken Sweet Corn Soup

$12

Sweet chicken broth with seasonal vegetables

Chicken Hot and Sour Soup

$12

Spiced chicken broth with seasonal vegetables

Malai Chicken Tikka

$18

Tandoor grilled Chicken thigh marinated in cream, yoghurt, herbs and mild spices

Chicken Tikka

$18

Tandoor grilled Chicken thigh marinated in yoghurt, herbs and medium hot spices

Chicken Manchuria

$18

Made to order. Corn flour coated chicken pakoda tossed in manchurian sauce, soya sauce and spices

Chicken 65

$18

Made to order. Chicken corn flour coated pakoda tossed in yoghurt curry leaves and special spices

Chili Chicken

$18

Made to order. Chicken pakoda corn flour coated tossed in chef made Chili Sauce, tomato, soya sauce and special spices

Devilled Chicken (Chef Special) HOT

$18

DRY. Chicken pakoda corn flour coated tossed in chef made Chili Sauce, tomato and special spices

Schezwan Chicken

$18

DRY. Chicken pakoda corn flour coated tossed in chef spl Schezwan sauce and spices

Golden Chicken Boneless

$18

Chicken pakoda corn flour coated tossed special Spices with yoghurt, cashew nuts, curry and coriander leaves

Spicy Garlic Chicken DRY / Gravy

Dry $20 / Semi Gravy $20

(DRY / Gravy). Chicken pakoda corn flour coated tossed in chef made Chili Sauce, tomato sauce, Garlic and special spices

Chicken Lolipop

$18

(8pcs). Deep fried Chicken Nibbles, coated with corn flour and mix in Chef’s special spices. Special

Lamb Seekh Kebab

$18

Lamb Mince marinated in chef’s secret spices grilled in tandoor oven

Tandoori Chicken

Half $20 / Full $32

Whole Chicken marinated in yoghurt and chef’s secret med to hot spices and grilled in tandoor oven

Tandoori Chicken Nibbles

$20

(DRY or Masala x 8pcs). Chicken nibbles marinated in yogurt and med to hot spices and grilled in tandoori oven

Vegetable – Mains

Vegetable Jalfrazi

$18

Seasonal mix vegetables cooked in cashew and onion tomato gravy. Special

Paneer Tawa Masala

$18

Tandoor grilled Cottage Cheese pieces cooked in cashew and tomato gravy with Chef’s Special Spices

Veg Mughlai Khorma

$18

Seasonal Mix Vegetables cooked in cashew gravy with chef’s special spices, garnish with fresh cream. Special

Mughlai Paneer

$20

Marinated paneer in yoghurt and chef’s special spices, rich mughlai gravy cooked on slow flame with cashew paste and onion, tomato gravy

Balti Paneer

$18

Paneer marinated in fresh coriander, Mint . ginger garlic and special spices cooked in onion, cashew and tomato base gravy

Kaju Masala

$18

Cashew nuts cooked with cashew and tomato gravy with chef’s special spices

Kaju Paneer

$18

Cashew nuts and paneer cooked with cashew and tomato gravy with chef’s special spices

Eggplant Masala

$15

Fresh Eggplant cooked in onion, Penut,Coconut,Sesame Seeds, Tamarind and with chef’s special spices. Special

Bhindi Masala

$18

Okra and tomato deiced pan fry and cooked in onion gravy with special spices

Daal Tadka

$18

Yellow lentils cooked and tempered with curry leaves, cumin seeds and spices. Special

Dal Makhani

$18

Black lentils and red kidney beans cooked in butter and onion, garnished with fresh cream. Special

Paneer Butter Masala

$20

Cottage Cheese cubes cooked in special butter sauce gravy with herbs and spices

Palak Paneer

$20

Spinach and Cottage Cheese cooked with chef’s special spices

Punjabi Malai Kofta

$20

Mix Mashed potato balls cooked with cashew gravy with chef’s special spices

Kadai Paneer

$20

Cottage Cheese cooked in onion, cashew and tomato gravy with chef’s special spices

Paneer Tikka Masala

$20

Tandoori Grilled Cottage Cheese pieces cooked in cashew and onion gravy

Charcoal Paneer

$20

Paneer cooked in chefs special smoked cashew gravy with special spices on charcoal

Aalo Baigan Masala

$16

NEW. Egg plant and Potato cooked with onion & Cashew based gravy with chef special spices. Special

Rajmah Masala

$16

NEW. Red Kidney Beans cooked with chef special spices. Special

Mutter Mushroom

$16

Mashrooms & Green Peas cooked with chef special spices

Chicken – Mains

Chicken Tawa Masala

$24

Boneless tandoori chicken cooked in herbs and onion sauce

Kadai Chicken

$24

Boneless. Boneless chicken cooked in cashew and onion gravy with onion and capsicum

Bhuna Chicken

$24

DRY / SEMI GRAVY. Boneless chicken pan fry with chop onion and chef made special spices

Kaju Chicken

$24

Cashews and Boneless Chicken cooked with cashew, tomato gravy with chef’s special spices

Chicken Rogan Josh

$22

Boneless chicken cooked in onion and tomato sauce with chef’s special rogan sauce

Mughlai Chicken

$22

Marinated chicken in yoghurt and chef’s special spices, rich mughlai gravy cooked on slow flame with cashew paste and onion, tomato gravy

Balti Chicken

$24

Chicken marinated in fresh coriander, Mint . ginger garlic and special spices cooked in onion, cashew and tomato base gravy

Palak Chicken

$24

(Spinach). Boneless chicken cooked with fine chopped Spinach with chef’s special spices

Butter Chicken Indian Style

$24

INDIAN STYLE. Boneless tandoor Chicken cooked with butter gravy and chef’s special spices

Chicken Tikka Masala

$24

Tandoori Grilled Chicken pieces cooked with onion and tomato gravy and chef’s special spices

Charcoal Chicken

$24

Boneless Chicken cooked in chef’s special smoked cashew gravy with special spices on charcoal

Sri Lankan Chicken Curry (Hot)

$22

Cooked in fresh ginger garlic, herbs with special grounded hot spices onion paste and coconut milk. Big Size Container

Lucknowi Chicken

$24

NEW. Special

Afgani Chicken

$24

NEW. Special

Andhra Chicken

$22

Boneless Chicken cooked in South Indian style gravy with chef’s special spices

Lamb – Mains

Rice is not included – Please order separately

Lamb Pepper Fry (Dry/Semi Gravy)

$24

Lamb leg meat cooked with chefs special black pepper and cashew gravy with medium hot spices

Bhuna Gosht (Dry/Semi Gravy)

$24

Lamb Leg meat cooked dry in a wok pan with chef’s special medium hot spices

Talawa Gosht (Dry/Semi Gravy)

$24

Lamb Leg meat pan fry with fresh ginger and chefs special medium hot spices

Lamb and Spinach

$24

Lamb leg meat cooked in fresh Spinach and onion gravy with chef’s special spices

Lamb Coriander

$24

Mild / Med. Lamb leg meat cooked with fresh coriander, cashew and onion gravy with chef’s special spices

Lamb Kadai Gosht

$24

Lamb leg meat cooked in onion and tomato sauce with chef’s special rogan sauce. Chefs Special

Lamb Masala

$24

Lamb Leg meat cooked with chefs special medium spicy spices with onion and cashew gravy

Lamb Khorma

$24

Lamb leg meat cooked with yoghurt, cashew paste and chef’s special spices and tempered with fresh cream (optional)

Lamb Rogan Gosht

$24

Lamb leg meat cooked in onion and tomato sauce with chef’s special rogan gosht sauce

Mughlai Lamb

$24

Marinated lamb in yoghurt and chef’s special spices, rich mughlai gravy cooked on slow flame with cashew paste and onion, tomato gravy

Balti Lamb

$22

Lamb marinated in fresh coriander, Mint . ginger garlic and special spices cooked in onion, cashew and tomato base gravy

Charcoal Lamb

$24

Lamb cooked in chefs special smoked cashew gravy with special spices on charcoal

Lucknowi Lamb

$24

NEW. Special

Afgani Lamb

$24

NEW. Special

Fish Starters & Mains

Chili Fish

$25

Boneless fish pakoda, onion and capsicum tossed in chili and soya sauce with spices

Tawa Fish

$25

DRY. Pan fry boneless fish marinated in garlic

Bengali Fish Masala

$25

Boneless fish tikka cooked in cashew gravy with special spices

Schezwan Fish Masala

$24

Bonelessfish tikka cooked in schezwan sauce with special spices

Bawarchi Fish Special

$25

DRY. Boneless fish tikka pakoda tossed in yoghurt sauce, curry leaves with spices

Sri Lankan Fish Curry

$25

HOT. Cooked in fresh ginger garlic, herbs with special grounded hot spices, onion paste and coconut milk

Manchurian Fish

Prawn Starters & Mains

Prawn Fry / Garlic

$25

Prawn pakoda tossed with garlic herbs and chef’s special spices

Bawarchi Prawn Special

$25

DRY Prawn pakoda tossed in yoghurt sauce, curry leaves with special spices

Chili Prawn Masala

$25

Prawn pakoda, onion and capsicum tossed in chili and soya sauce with spices

Prawn Mirch Masala

$25

CHEF’S SPECIAL Prawn cooked in cashew and onion gravy with chef’s special spices

Schezwan Prawn Masala

$25

Prawn cooked in schezwan sauce with special spices

Kadhai Prawn Masala

$25

Prawn cooked with onion, capsicum, cashew and onion gravy with special spices

Sri Lankan Prawn Curry

$25

HOT Prawn cooked with onion, capsicum, cashew and onion gravy with special spices

Ginger Prawn Masala

$25

Prawn butter Masala

$25

Rice & Naan

Plain / Butter Naan

Garlic Naan

$3.50

Tandoori Roti, Plain / Butter

Garlic Roti

$3.50

Cheese Naan

Chili Cheese Naan

Cheese & Garlic Naan

Chili Cheese & Garlic Naan

Plain Rice (Basmati)

Zeera Rice

$10

Special

Mutter Rice

$10

Special

Indo Chinese

Veg Hakka Noodles

$16

Chicken Hakka Noodles

$16

Egg Hakka Noodles

$16

Prawn Hakka Noodles

$16

Veg Schezwan Noodles

$18

HOT

Chicken Schezwan Noodles

$18

HOT

Egg Schezwan Noodles

$18

HOT

Prawn Schezwan Noodles

$18

HOT

Veg Fried Rice

$16

Chicken Fried Rice

$16

Egg Fried Rice

$16

Prawn Fried Rice

$16

Veg Schezwan Fried Rice

$18

HOT

Chicken Schezwan Fried Rice

$18

HOT

Egg Schezwan Fried Rice

$18

HOT

Prawn Schezwan Fried Rice

$18

HOT

Indo Chinese – Family Pack

Family Pack Hakka Noodles

$60

Family Pack Schezwan Noodles

$60

HOT

Family Pack Fried Rice

$60

Family Pack Schezwan Fried Rice

$65

HOT

Salads & Extras

Red Onion Salad

Green Salad

Circa Onion

Pappadoms

Plain Raita

Desserts

Shahi Thukda

Bread cubes cooked in milk and cream Special

Rabdi Malai

Fresh milk and cream pudding

Fruit Custard Trifle

Fruits with custard and cake layered

Drinks

Mango Lassi

Special

Salted Lassi

Coke

$2.50

Sprite

$2.50

Fanta

$2.50

Diet Coke

$2.50

Milk Chai

(Hot Drink)

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Fried rice Typical in Christchurch: $19.00 $16.00
Chicken tikka masala Typical in Christchurch: $23.00 $24.00
Chicken biryani Typical in Christchurch: $22.00 $17.00

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