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Modern Indian - Surry Hills, Sydney

Don't Tell Aunty Menu Prices 2026: Full Sydney Indian Menu

Full Don't Tell Aunty menu and prices for 2026 (Sydney, Australia) -- every category, all prices in AUD, sourced from the restaurant's official menu PDFs. Tasting menus from A$78 pp, street food from A$9, tandoor mains from A$30, and a bottomless brunch from A$79. Below: the full priced menu, tasting menu breakdowns, the best value picks, a dietary guide, and the essential FAQ.

Surry Hills, SydneyModern IndianOpen 7 nightsBottomless brunch Fri-SunStrong vegan menu
Sample · $$

Signature items

Unauthentic Butter ChickenA$33
Aussie Lamb CutletsA$39
TSO CauliflowerA$23
Happy ShotsA$14
Chef's Tasting MenuA$78 pp
Jump to: Tasting menus Best value picks Vegetarian and vegan Full menu Tandoor section Cocktails About Price comparison FAQ
Quick answers

Don't Tell Aunty: four essential questions, answered

Best starter, signature main, top set menu value, and the leading vegan dish -- answered at a glance.

Best starter
Happy Shots A$14

Aunty's signature welcome treat -- crispy semolina puffs with house-made chutneys. Every table orders these.

Most popular main
Unauthentic Butter Chicken A$33

A modern take -- tandoori chicken in a velvety tomato-butter sauce. The name is the joke; the dish is serious.

Best value set meal
Chef's Tasting Menu A$78 pp

Happy Shots + Papdi Chaat + TSO Cauliflower + Tandoori Chicken + curated Thali. Four courses for A$78.

Best vegan dish
Vegan Butter Chicken A$32

Soy protein in a creamy tomato gravy. One of seven dedicated vegan pot curries on the menu.

Set menus and brunch

Don't Tell Aunty tasting menus and bottomless brunch (2026 prices)

Three tasting menus (A$78, A$88, A$98 per person) and a bottomless brunch (A$79 per person, Friday to Sunday) let you experience the full breadth of the kitchen. All prices are AUD. Each tasting menu is accompanied by Aunty's signature Thali, designed to complement and elevate the flavors of the experience.

Chef's Tasting MenuA$78 pp

  • Happy Shots (signature semolina puffs with chutneys)
  • Papdi Chaat (crispy wafers, spiced yogurt, hibiscus)
  • TSO Cauliflower (sweet-tangy Tso sauce, sesame)
  • Tandoori Chicken
  • Curated Thali (curries, rice, raita, naan)

The entry-level tasting menu. Strong value for a four-course introduction to the full kitchen.

Aunty Ji's Tasting MenuA$88 pp

  • Happy Shots
  • TSO Cauliflower
  • Kale Soy Chaap (smoky)
  • Tandoori Chicken
  • Aussie Lamb Chops
  • Thali with rich, aromatic sides

Adds the lamb chops -- the most-praised tandoor item -- for A$10 more per person.

Uncle's Grand Tasting FeastA$98 pp

  • Happy Shots
  • Biryani Crunch
  • TSO Cauliflower
  • Goan Chops
  • Tandoori Chicken
  • Grilled Summer Prawns
  • Exquisite Thali selection

The flagship feast. Adds seafood (prawns, Goan preparations). Best for special occasions.

Bottomless BrunchA$79 pp (A$99 with Margaritas)

  • Two hours of free-flowing wines and beer
  • Signature shared plates (rotates)
  • Available Friday to Sunday 11:30 am - 3:00 pm
  • Margarita upgrade: +A$20 pp

Most popular weekend offer. Book well in advance -- Saturday seatings fill quickly.

Best value picks

The 10 most affordable items at Don't Tell Aunty

Ranked by price (AUD). Even at the cheapest end of the menu, the kitchen gives first-class treatment: the Chuski Chai is brewed to order; the cumin rice is fresh-cooked basmati; the Happy Shots at A$14 are the most-mentioned dish across every review platform. Budget-conscious visits are possible -- arrive hungry and share a few street food snacks before ordering curry.

  1. 1Chuski ChaiCheapest item -- cutting-style spiced tea.A$4
  2. 2Cumin RiceEssential side. Fragrant basmati tempered with cumin.A$7
  3. 3Mango or Rose LassiExcellent with spicy dishes. Masala Chai also A$8.A$8
  4. 4PappadumsCrispy, golden papadums.A$9
  5. 5Mini PappadumsIdeal for sharing before mains arrive.A$10
  6. 6Happy ShotsSignature starter. Worth every cent.A$14
  7. 7Chilli Naan (each)Fluffy naan with a spicy kick; basket for A$23.A$9
  8. 8Onion BhajiCrispy fritters with tamarind chutney.A$16
  9. 9Uncle DalHearty yellow lentil preparation -- comfort food.A$26
  10. 10Punjabi KadhiGram flour dumplings in yogurt curry. North Indian staple.A$24
Vegetarian and vegan

Vegetarian and vegan options at Don't Tell Aunty

Don't Tell Aunty runs a dedicated vegan curry section with seven dishes alongside the standard menu -- a rarity at a mid-upscale Indian restaurant. Many street food items are naturally vegan. All vegetarian and vegan items are flagged on the menu; staff can assist with other dietary requirements.

The vegan pot curry list rivals the regular curry menu in depth: Vegan Butter Chicken (soy protein in creamy tomato gravy, A$32), Malai Kofta (cashew sauce, A$28), Palak Mushroom (A$27), Chana Masala (A$26), Aloo Baingan (A$26), Madras Potato (A$28) and Uncle Dal (yellow lentil, A$26). Pair with Cumin Rice (A$7) or Coconut Rice (A$12).

Street food items that are vegan: TSO Cauliflower (A$23), Onion Bhaji (A$16), Samosa (A$16), all three salads (A$13-14), and the Achari Plum Soya spotlight dish (A$28). The Coconut Mango Kulfi dessert is also vegan.

Dietary requirements can be catered for -- check with staff on arrival. Cross-contact is possible in a shared kitchen environment.

  • Cheapest vegan: Chuski Chai A$4, Cumin Rice A$7
  • Vegan starter: TSO Cauliflower A$23, Onion Bhaji A$16
  • Vegan curry (mild): Chana Masala A$26
  • Vegan curry (rich): Vegan Butter Chicken A$32
  • Vegan dessert: Coconut Mango Kulfi A$10
  • 7 dedicated vegan pots on the standard menu
  • BYO wine: A$20 corkage per bottle
Browse the menu

Jump to a category

All 11 menu sections at Don't Tell Aunty.

The full priced menu

Every item on the Don't Tell Aunty menu with AUD prices (May 2025)

All categories listed below. Tags flag vegan and vegetarian items. Prices are in Australian dollars, sourced from the official May 2025 menu PDF. A 1.9% card surcharge applies.

About these prices. All prices shown are in Australian dollars (AUD) and are sourced directly from Don't Tell Aunty's official food menu PDF (May 2025) and drinks menu PDF (2024), published at donttellaunty.com.au. Don't Tell Aunty is a single-location restaurant in Surry Hills, Sydney -- prices are set by the house and do not vary by franchisee. A 1.9% card surcharge applies on all card payments. Confirm current pricing before visiting.
Tandoor mains

The five tandoor dishes, ranked

The tandoor oven is the heart of the kitchen. All five mains are cooked over direct radiant heat, producing the signature smokiness and char that defines the restaurant. Australian lamb cutlets and fresh Sydney prawns are used in place of frozen alternatives.

  1. 1Aussie Lamb CutletsPremium Australian lamb, flame-grilled. The standout.A$39
  2. 2Grilled Summer PrawnFresh plump prawns with summer herb marinade.A$39
  3. 3Tandoori FishFresh fillet in mustard-yogurt marinade.A$39
  4. 4Tandoori ChickenThe classic -- chargrilled with yogurt and spice.A$32
  5. 5Kashmiri PaneerSaffron-infused paneer. Vegetarian.A$30
Signature dishes

The six dishes that define Don't Tell Aunty

If you have one visit to plan, these six items are the ones cited across every positive review -- from Time Out Sydney to Yelp. Order at least two or three alongside whichever curry calls to you.

A$14 - Signature welcome

Happy Shots

Crispy semolina puffs filled with tangy, spiced chutneys -- Aunty's calling card since day one. Served amuse-bouche style, eaten in one bite. Every table should order these first.

A$39 - Best tandoor item

Aussie Lamb Cutlets

Premium domestic Australian lamb loin cutlets marinated in robust Indian spices and flame-grilled in the tandoor. The most-cited main across review platforms. Smoky, charred and juicy.

A$33 - Most ordered curry

Unauthentic Butter Chicken

The name is a provocation; the dish is meticulous. Tandoori chicken pieces in a rich, velvety tomato-butter sauce. Deliberately richer and smokier than a classic version.

A$23 - Best vegan dish

TSO Cauliflower

Crispy cauliflower tossed in a sweet-and-tangy Tso sauce, finished with sesame and nigella seeds. A modern Chinese-Indian hybrid that works well as a starter or shared plate. Fully vegan.

A$21 - Classic street food

Papdi Chaat

Crispy wafers topped with spiced yogurt, tangy green and tamarind chutneys, dusted with hibiscus powder. A North Indian street food staple, executed with care and precision.

A$33 - Rich curry

Short Rib Korma

Slow-cooked short ribs in a luxurious cashew and saffron gravy. Korma at most restaurants is mild to the point of dullness; this version is complex, aromatic and built on a premium cut.

Bar program

Don't Tell Aunty cocktails, mocktails and drinks

The bar program is built around the same philosophy as the kitchen: familiar formats pushed in unexpected directions. The 'Originals' series uses Indian-adjacent ingredients like tamarind, Lapsang Souchong and beetroot. Two barrel-aged cocktails rotate. All cocktail prices are AUD.

A$23 - Signature cocktail

Don't Tell Aunty Cocktail

The house signature: Mezcal, Tequila, Beetroot, Aperol and Agave. Smoky and earthy with an Indian-inspired colour from the beetroot. Pairs naturally with the chaat section of the menu.

A$23 - Best food pairing

Aunty's Margarita

Homemade tamarind syrup, Tequila, Rum, fresh lime juice and lava salt. The tamarind replaces triple sec entirely -- brighter, more complex and built to work with spicy Indian food.

A$26 - Oak barrel aged

Barrel-Aged Negroni

Rosemary-infused gin, Campari and lemongrass-infused vermouth, aged in an oak barrel for depth and smoothness. A companion barrel-aged Tequila Manhattan is available at the same price.

Beer is available self-serve from a fridge at A$12 per serve. Flight experiences: Aunty's Gin Flight (three gins) at A$35 and Uncle's Whisky Experience (four styles) at A$40. BYO wine permitted at A$20 per bottle corkage. Three mocktails available from A$15. Wine list is predominantly Australian with French and European selections.

About Don't Tell Aunty

A modern Indian restaurant built on what traditional aunties did not want you to know

Don't Tell Aunty opened in October 2018 at Shop-1, 414 Bourke Street, Surry Hills, taking over the site of the well-regarded 4Fourteen. The concept was built around a playful provocation: Indian food that is deliberately 'unauthentic' while still being rigorously spiced and technique-driven. The name references the Indian cultural custom of aunties who guard culinary tradition zealously -- the restaurant's pitch is that the kitchen has other ideas.

The restaurant is operated by co-owners Varan Deep and Chef Jai Singh, who took over in 2020. The original concept was founded by Chef Jessi Singh, who previously ran Horn Please and Babu Ji in Melbourne. The space features blue banquettes, green tiles, pink walls and a self-serve beer fridge, with a fairy floss machine in the open kitchen. A sister venue, Don't Tell Uncle, operates in Sydney CBD.

The kitchen is organized around three pillars: North Indian street food and chaat, tandoor-grilled meats and paneer, and slow-cooked pot curries. The wine list is predominantly Australian with French and European selections, designed to complement Indian spicing rather than fight it.

2018Opened
1Location (Surry Hills)
A$78Tasting menu from
7Nights open
Ordering tips

How to get the most out of a meal at Don't Tell Aunty

Always order

Start with Happy Shots

At A$14, the Happy Shots are the restaurant's entry point. Every reviewer mentions them. If you skip them you will regret it -- order before anything else reaches the table.

Best deal

Tasting menu vs. a la carte

The Chef's Tasting Menu at A$78 covers four courses including a curated Thali. If you would otherwise order a starter, a tandoor main and a curry with rice, the set menu almost always represents better value.

Weekend

Bottomless brunch on Saturday

A$79 for two hours of wines, beer and shared plates is a strong value proposition for a Saturday lunch. Book at least a week ahead -- Saturday seatings sell out routinely.

Drinks

BYO wine saves money

BYO wine at A$20 corkage per bottle. A single bottle of white or orange wine works better with Indian spicing than most reds. Typically saves A$30-50 versus ordering from the wine list.

Groups

Groups of 10 or more need a set menu

The restaurant requires groups of 10 or more to dine on a set menu arrangement. Contact in advance to confirm the current group menu and pricing. Private event hire is available via the 'Let's Party' option.

Getting there

10 minutes from Central Station

Bourke Street has metered parking. The venue is a 10-minute walk from Central Station and is served by buses along Crown and Oxford Streets. Rideshare drop-off is straightforward at the front of the venue.

Full price overview

Complete price table: every section at a glance

Key items from every menu section in one table. Prices in AUD from May 2025.

DishPrice (AUD)Category
Happy ShotsA$14Street Food
TSO CauliflowerA$23Street Food
Tandoori ChickenA$32Tandoor
Kashmiri PaneerA$30Tandoor
Aussie Lamb CutletsA$39Tandoor
Unauthentic Butter ChickenA$33Pot Curry
Short Rib KormaA$33Pot Curry
Goan FishA$35Pot Curry
Prawn CurryA$36Pot Curry
Shahi Paneer MasalaA$28Veg Curry
Vegan Butter ChickenA$32Vegan Pot
Malai KoftaA$28Vegan Pot
Chana MasalaA$26Vegan Pot
Chef's Tasting MenuA$78 ppSet Menu
Aunty Ji's Tasting MenuA$88 ppSet Menu
Uncle's Grand Tasting FeastA$98 ppSet Menu
Bottomless BrunchA$79 ppBrunch

All prices in Australian dollars (AUD). A 1.9% card surcharge applies. Sourced from official restaurant menu PDFs (food: May 2025, drinks: 2024).

Price comparison

How Don't Tell Aunty prices compare to other Sydney restaurant options

Like-for-like comparison across four popular Sydney restaurants serving Indian, Asian or global cuisine. All prices are approximate AUD.

CategoryDon't Tell Aunty (AUD)Wagamama Sydney (AUD)Nando's Australia (AUD)Halal Guys Sydney (AUD)
Cheapest starterA$4 (Chuski Chai)~A$8~A$5~A$5
Standard starterA$14-23A$10-16A$7-13A$8-12
Main course rangeA$24-39A$18-30A$17-29A$14-22
Signature dishA$33 Butter ChickenA$22 RamenA$18 1/4 ChickenA$16 Platter
Set / combo mealA$78-98 ppA$25-35A$15-25A$15-22
CocktailA$23-26VariesNo alcoholNo alcohol
Price tier$$$$$

Don't Tell Aunty sits in the mid-upscale segment -- above fast-casual options like Nando's and Halal Guys, comparable to dine-in restaurants like Wagamama but with a more premium tandoor and curry program. The cocktail list adds cost vs. non-licensed venues.

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Common questions

Don't Tell Aunty -- frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the questions visitors most often ask about the menu, prices, bookings, vegan options and tasting menus.

Where is Don't Tell Aunty located?

Don't Tell Aunty is at Shop-1, 414 Bourke Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 in Sydney, Australia. The restaurant operates as a single location. Dinner runs seven nights a week from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm; lunch is served Friday to Sunday from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm. Reservations are available via the restaurant's website at donttellaunty.com.au.

What style of food does Don't Tell Aunty serve?

Don't Tell Aunty serves modern Indian cuisine that deliberately departs from convention. The menu is built around three pillars: North Indian street food and chaat, tandoor-grilled meats and paneer, and slow-cooked pot curries spanning butter chicken, korma, masala, Goan fish and daal. The restaurant describes itself as 'unauthentic' in the best sense -- the food respects traditional spicing and technique while using premium Australian produce like lamb cutlets and fresh prawns. A strong vegan menu runs alongside the standard one.

How much does the tasting menu cost at Don't Tell Aunty?

There are three set tasting menus as of May 2025 (prices in AUD): the Chef's Tasting Menu at A$78 per person includes Happy Shots, Papdi Chaat, TSO Cauliflower, Tandoori Chicken and a curated Thali. The Aunty Ji's Tasting Menu at A$88 per person adds Lamb Chops. The Uncle's Grand Tasting Feast at A$98 per person is the most comprehensive, including Summer Prawns and an exquisite Thali selection. Prices are AUD and subject to a 1.9% card surcharge.

What is the Don't Tell Aunty bottomless brunch?

The bottomless brunch runs Friday to Sunday from 11:30 am, starting at A$79 per person for two hours of free-flowing wines and beer. An upgrade to include bottomless Margaritas is available for an extra A$20 per person (A$99 total). The brunch features shared plates including the signature Happy Shots, street food snacks, Tandoori Chicken and a curry Thali selection. Groups of 10 or more must dine on a set menu arrangement.

What are the most popular dishes at Don't Tell Aunty?

The most consistently praised dishes are the Happy Shots (A$14 -- crispy semolina puffs filled with tangy chutneys, Aunty's signature welcome treat), TSO Cauliflower (A$23), Aussie Lamb Cutlets (A$39 from the tandoor), Unauthentic Butter Chicken (A$33) and Short Rib Korma (A$33). The Papdi Chaat (A$21) is a staple starter. Across reviews from Time Out Sydney, Yelp and TripAdvisor, the lamb chops and butter chicken are cited most frequently as signature must-orders.

Does Don't Tell Aunty have good vegan options?

Yes -- Don't Tell Aunty runs a dedicated Vegan Pots section with seven curries, all clearly labeled. Standouts include the Vegan Butter Chicken (A$32 with soy protein in a creamy tomato gravy), Malai Kofta (A$28), Chana Masala (A$26), and Aloo Baingan (A$26). Several street food items -- TSO Cauliflower, Onion Bhaji, Samosa, all three salads, and cumin rice -- are also vegan. The Coconut Mango Kulfi variant is vegan too. Many other items can be adjusted; check with staff.

Can I book Don't Tell Aunty for a group or private event?

Yes. The restaurant has a dedicated 'Let's Party' private event and group dining option. Groups of 10 or more guests are required to dine on a set menu. The venue features a self-service beer fridge, an open kitchen and a fairy floss machine. To enquire about private dining or large group bookings, contact the restaurant through the booking form at donttellaunty.com.au or by phone.

Does Don't Tell Aunty have BYO?

Yes -- BYO wine is permitted at Don't Tell Aunty. The corkage fee is A$20 per bottle. Beer and spirits are not included in the BYO policy -- wine only. The restaurant has its own bar program with an extensive Australian and international wine list, craft cocktails and spirits. A 1.9% card surcharge applies on all payments.

How does Don't Tell Aunty compare to other Indian restaurants in Sydney?

Don't Tell Aunty sits in the modern Indian, mid-upscale segment of the Sydney dining market. Key differentiators are the tandoor program -- the Aussie Lamb Cutlets (A$39) use premium domestic lamb -- and the strong cocktail list designed specifically to pair with Indian spicing. The restaurant earned a Time Out Sydney listing and consistently holds a 4.4-star average across aggregator platforms. A sister venue, Don't Tell Uncle, has since opened in Sydney CBD, using a similar format.

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