When Chef Narsing Rao arrived in New Zealand from Hyderabad, India, he carried more than just luggage – he carried recipes, memories, and a dream. A dream to bring the authentic flavours of India to a new home, and to create a space where people could connect over food.
He worked in restaurants and hotels to skill up, learning to adapt to local conditions and tastes.
That dream became reality in 2016 when he took over Flavours of India in Browns Bay. From the very beginning, Chef Rao’s goal was simple: to serve food that reminded him of family and tradition, while sharing the warmth of Indian culture with the Kiwi community.
For more than 12 years, he has cooked countless plates of butter chicken, fragrant biryani, smoky tandoori grills, and more. For some customers, it’s a taste of home. For others, it’s a first introduction to the rich flavours and stories of Indian cuisine. Each dish carries care, passion, and authenticity.
Through busy weekends, quiet winters, and even the challenges of the pandemic, Chef Rao has never wavered in his mission: to serve honest, heartfelt food and create a welcoming place for everyone.
“Food is more than taste — it’s memory, comfort, and connection. Through my cooking, I want to give back to the community that embraced me,” says Chef Rao.
Today, Flavours of India is more than a restaurant — it’s a bridge between cultures, a space where stories are shared over a plate, and a celebration of identity, home, and community on Auckland’s North Shore.
References provided by contributor:
https://jessemulligan.substack.com/p/bonus-content-the-best-and-biggest
https://share.google/QT4vPwUzuL1aUAj5h
Contributor’s Information
Name / Business: Flavours of India – Browns Bay
Address: 9/25 Anzac Road, Browns Bay, Auckland 0630, New Zealand
Phone: 09 478 7773
Email: flavours.brownsbay@gmail.com
Reference Link: Google Share Link
