For Chain Singh, buying The Kingfisher two and a half years ago wasn't so much a leap into the unknown, as it was the next logical step in a long career built around food.
"My passion is cooking, but I'm not a trained chef,” says Singh. “I just love exploring different cultures and food."
Singh moved to New Zealand more than twelve years ago, studying management in Auckland before relocating to Christchurch. There, he spent several years managing an Indian restaurant, before eventually buying The Kingfisher in Lincoln two and a half years ago.
In the heart of Lincoln at 5 Robert Street, Kingfisher operates as part restaurant, part bar and takeaway — a format that blends traditional Indian cooking with the easy, drop-in feel of a local pub.
The menu leans on the dishes that built that loyalty — butter chicken, chicken tikka masala and chicken korma are the firm local favourites, alongside regional specialties and Indo-Chinese options, while Singh's personal favourite is a rogan josh, cooked hot (for those who want it that way).
He's careful about changing things. When a few favourites were cycled off the menu recently, Singh had a minor uprising on his hands, with customers demanding answers.
“They wanted to know, ‘Where has your biryani gone? When is it coming back?’”
Singh quickly reinstated the missing dishes. "You listen to your customers," he says. “That’s what keeps the regulars coming back.”
A balance between traditional cooking and Kiwi taste runs through the whole operation. Spice levels are calibrated at mild-to-medium, or “Kiwi hot" as Singh says — a world away from the fiery dishes he grew up with, but still true to the authentic recipes underneath.
What sets Kingfisher apart from Lincoln's other Indian restaurants, Singh says, is the space itself — a 60-seat dining room with a lounge feel and live music, rather than the smaller or takeaway-only setups elsewhere in town. It's designed as somewhere families and regulars can settle in, not just grab a meal.
Singh has chosen to make his life in Lincoln too, living locally with his wife and hoping to soon buy a house in the area. He describes the town as peaceful compared with the pace of nearby Rolleston — a quieter, farming-community feel that suits him.
These days, business is on the up. With the recent roadworks in the area now nearing completion, Singh has noticed a steady stream of familiar faces returning over the past fortnight — a reminder of just how loyal his customer base really is.
“We want this to be somewhere locals know they can settle in, be looked after, and find something worth coming back for,” he says.
"We just continue to take this forward for the community," he says — a legacy he's proud to keep serving up, one plate at a time.
Kingfisher's Recommended Dishes
● Chicken Rogan Josh — Singh's own personal favourite, simmered low and slow in a rich, aromatic gravy, and cooked hot for those who like it that way
● Chicken Dopiaza — a rich, slow-cooked classic built around a double dose of onion (the name literally translates to "two onions"), giving the gravy real depth and sweetness
● Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala & Chicken Korma — the three fastest-selling dishes on the menu, and the ones regulars keep coming back for
● Dahl & Vegetable Samosas — a lighter, vegetarian-friendly option that's earned a loyal following of its own among Kingfisher's customers
CultureFest 2026 is on Sunday 13 September, 10am–3pm at the Lincoln Event Centre — a free, family-friendly day of live performances, international food, and hands-on cultural activities celebrating Selwyn's diversity.
