The Most Scrumptious Indian in Houston

Pondicheri

★★★★☆ 3.7 (1336) • $$

"I think it's been 12 years since I visited (I no longer live in Houston), but Pondicheri and Indika have been on my radar since their beginnings since I went to lower and middle school with the owner's daughter.We got both samosas to start. They were smaller than expected, I liked the goat more which also has a kick. Between the 3 of us, we got the Tuesday fried chicken special, green masala shrimp, and lamprais curry. Portion size is good, not huge like you may see at more "standard" Indian restaurants. What I enjoyed about the meal is the variety of flavors and textures. I love parties in my mouth, and Pondicheri delivered. We did make a reservation and "reserved" the special which is good because they did run out otherwise tonight. The fried chicken is an Indian take on chicken and waffles. The dwaffle (dosa waffle) has great chew and some crispiness and a savoriness that goes well with the sweet syrup that's also on it. Lamprais was just a unique mix of flavors not quite like anything I've really had before. I only had a bit of the shrimp since I'm technically allergic and don't really like it, but my sister enjoyed it. The utthapum is similar to a fermented pancake and was another flavor I liked.For dessert we got a chai pie bite and the saffron cheesecake. I only had a small bit of the pie bite but was pleasantly surprised by the custard texture which I was wary about. The saffron cheesecake was delicious, from the aromatic sauce to the creamy (I assume) saffron-ness."

Maharaja Bhog

★★★★☆ 4 (853) • $$

"I have been inhaling the delicious vegetarian food every time I drop off stuff at Goodwill behind Mahabharata Bhog during Covid pandemic. They had been operating and never close. Fast forward to 2023! I was grateful that I finally got a chance to eat here. I came here for a friend's birthday. We had lunch $22.99 was well spent. Because of their all you can eat in the format of bringing food to you, instead of get up and walk over to the buffet line. I have consumed enough Indian food, I could literally explain it to my friend as the food placed on our trays. My favorite part of meal was the variety of starches. I can ask as little or much as I want."

Palette Indian Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.5 (593) • $$

"We really enjoyed coming here. It was our first time. They open at 4:30 for dinner. They offer a lunch buffet but we'll have to try that another time. We ordered the Gobi Manchurian as an appy to share, followed by lamb korma for me and Goan shrimp curry for my husband.The korma was tasty but missing the cashews I'm used to having in the curry. The lamb was cooked to perfection and there was a good amount of it. The dishes came with white rice.The Goan shrimp curry was also nice, a nice amount of shrimp. They generally cook the food mild so if you want some kick to it you have to specify and let them know how hot. We also shared one garlic naan.The menu is extensive and varied. We will be back to taste other items.They also serve wine and beer."

Cowboys & Indians Cuisine & Cocktails

★★★★☆ 3.8 (556) • $$

"Ok, I've visited enough times to say that Cowboys and Indians is good. Really good! Their menu is eclectic (Tex-Mex, Indian, and more) but you can definitely order the old faithfuls if you ask nicely. The butter chicken is great and tender. The short rib is epic in both flavor and tenderness. Everything I've tried is yummy. Ordering via phone is a bit of a struggle but they get the job done. Parking is easy which means a lot to me. It's tasty and convenient which makes me a repeat patron.Cheers!"

India's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (536) • $$

"We had a craving for a good Indian buffet and India's filled that need nicely. They have a plethora of offerings and we tried everything, butter chicken,, sag paneer, chicken tika masala, Kheer, fresh nan brought to your table. Amazing service. Priced a little high but worth it. Wifey and I ate here at least 18 years ago, it was great then as well as now. A lot of people were ordering off the menu but we wanted to try everything. Friendly people. We'll be back."

Bombay Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (392)

"I came in for lunch and I found it odd that it wasn't busy. Usually not the best sign. The manager and cook were both super nice. I ordered chicken Rogan josh. It tasted ok. It was a bit oily. The garlic naan was tasty. What I thought was weird was rice didn't come with rice. In fact, it cost an extra $4 for rice. I abstained from ordering it. Prices seemed a bit high considering. Over all, it was ok. Nothing terrible, but nothing amazing."

Kiran's

★★★★☆ 4 (459) • $$$

"BAM! BAM! BAM! That is what will happen to your tastebuds when they're being hit by the wonderous food at Kiran's. I've only gone once, recently for my anniversary, but it delivered beyond expectation. The restaurant states they are known for "serving up Indian hospitality, with French sophistication and American informality."Kiran's is a fine-dining Indian restaurant located in Upper Kirby. I've only had Indian food a handful of times, but this was by far the best Indian food I've ever had, as well as some of the best food in general I've had. Our waitress was HI-larious and she really helped us with food suggestions that all turned out amazing. Her initial dish she recommended for us as first timers was the Delhi Chaat. It looked like nothing I normally eat, but tasted like everything I want. We also had a Mango Lassi to drink which paired well with the flavors of the food. For dinner we enjoyed the Chicken Tikka Masala and the Lamb Vindaloo. POW! The naan bread with it was as soft as a pillow. Honestly I look forward to my next excuse to indulge at Kiran's"

Nirvana Indian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (377) • $$

"Nirvana is one of the nicer Indian buffets in Houston. I came by back in September to try their lunch buffet. The service is quick and the food is refilled quite often. They have the usual fare that you expect from an Indian buffet but what really impressed me is the fact that they had an assortment of salads, chutneys, and pakoras. There was also a large variety of chicken and a goat curry dish. Several types of rice available including biryani. Most surprising was the Indo-Chinese food that they had. I liked all the desserts that they had to offer. I forgot to take any pics while I was here because I was super hungry. Note to self: Parking can be a little tricky. Get early or time it correctly."

Shiva Indian Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (532)

"We've never had a bad experience at their new location. Great food and service. My wife and only remaining boss always enjoy a non vegan lunch special that comes with an entree, a bunch of sides and a dessert. The silver tray comes with a small green salad, spectacular nan, sag paneer, mixed lentils, and the best rice pudding ever, I had the murgh tikka masala and wifey got the tandoori murgh.....a chicken leg baked in a tandoori oven. All the sides come in silver cups on a silver tray and they were all 5 stars and I could not eat it all. Both came with a nan also. We love their "spiced iced tea" and we always get it. A stellar meal for under 12 dollars apiece, we'll be back."

Shri Balaji Bhavan

★★★★☆ 3.9 (394) • $$

Shiv Sagar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (375) • $

DDK Kabab & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (301) • $$

"Delicious biryani here without going all the way to Hillcroft. I tried their chicken biryani, tawa chicken and garlic naan. All the dishes were so good that it was tough to choose the best out of the three for me. :) Very good portion size too. I did takeout so can't tell about the service. But, the takeout service was efficient, it was ready on given estimated time.I'm definitely returning!"

Da Gama

★★★★☆ 4 (329) • $$

"I have never had a bad meal at Da Gama. In fact, it's one of my go-to places when guests are in town, because the menu is unique, the flavors are flawless, and the atmosphere is inviting. This last time we went, 2 out of the 3 of us opted for the Restaurant Week menu, which was also a great price and a LOT of food! My husband opted for an appetizer and main meal, and yours truly was hungry and went for all 3 courses...which I wasn't able to finish. So, my eyes convinced me that I could eat more than I could. Two of us opted for seasonal refreshments, and they went amazingly well with our food too! I'm not sure how they keep their menu, flavors, and appeal so top-notch, but this place warrants repeat-visits. Definitely one of my faves in Houston - will be back!"

Narin's Bombay Brasserie

★★★★☆ 3.6 (388) • $$

"While Narin's has been a mainstay for the better part of two decades, I can't help but wonder if their heydey has passed. My last few visits have been a little lackluster, marred by the subpar service and the skimpy fixings of their popular but ultimately disappointing lunch buffet. The kinks need to be ironed out, but the potential is still here.The first thing one will notice is their parking situation. It's a narrow lot, followed a tight and awkward backlot. Coming here during non-peak times might be best to get an ideal spot. The door looks like something out of a medieval decor leading into a place that screams old school brasserie vibes. Beyond the white tablecloths, well dressed wait staff, and bar, it can feel strangely feel little stale. Heat haters (#1) will appreciate their ultra cold AC temps.Like many places, the lunch buffet is a good starter for all the foods they offer. At $18, it's a solid lunch time but, despite not offering as many items as other places. I was surprised at how infrequently it was maintained: spillage around the buffet should be wiped immediately but the staff couldn't be bothered to oversee it.Food wise, there were hits and duds. On the plus side, the saag paneer was wonderfully creamy, naan was crispy and fluffy without being too oily. I thought the gobi manchurian was sweet in a good way and was pleasantly surprised with their tasty daal makhani.However, the basmati rice was incredibly dry, which is what happens when the sternos are on for too long. The same issue was happening with the vegetable pakoras and the tandoori chickens were very subpar. The tikka masala was lacking all around and the same goes for the navratan korma.Same issues are consistent during all of my visits. I really do hope they iron out these issues because I do think they can get past this and hopefully return to the reputation that I've always heard about.__________(#1) Mmmm, ventilation. It's so cold, it's chilling down the food too."

Biryani Express

★★★★☆ 4.2 (274) • $$

"Chicken tikka masala was very flavorful. Asked for 4/5 spice and it was so spicy!!! Like 5/5. Be warned. I'll definitely order from here again. This may be the go to for my Indian cravings,"

Kurry Walah

★★★★☆ 4 (298) • $$

"Stopped by because I was craving some Indian food and got excited that they had a lunch buffet! The variety was kind of limited in regards to non vegetarian items. When arriving, another couple had just finished and I was the only one there. Service was super nice nonetheless. Food was good but as others have said, it's not as bold due to perhaps they are trying to cater to a certain crowd. The food wasn't horrible but definitely can use more flavor."

Nirmanz Food Boutique

★★★★☆ 3.8 (328) • $$

Larosh Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (255) • $$

"I was looking for a new pakistani restaurant in the Houston area and found this one on my way back home. Although the area and the interior of this restaurant is no frills, dont let that fool you. The food is pretty good and was not nearly as spicy as I was originally thinking it may be.I tried the beef nihari, which is the first entree on the back side of the menu, also the goat curry, and butter chicken. I also added garlic naan. Soft drinks are in a can or bottle, as they do not have a soda fountain here.Beef nihari - this was like a stewed pot roast. It is cooked with fat and sits in a lot of oil. I am thinking you receive about 1/4 lb of meat, if that in the dish. I likes the slivers of ginger in this.Goat curry - this also has slivers of ginger and to me it seemed a bit spicier than the nihari. In contrast, you receive much more goat meat which comes in tender chunks. I am thinking I would order this dish again for sure.Butter chicken - this was my least favorite dish. The white meat chicken was too dry and most noticeably the curry was just too salty. I've had many better in the Houston area, so wouldn't order this dish again.Service is ok, but don't expect to be waited on after ordering."

Bombay Delight

★★★★★ 4.6 (220) • $$

"I've always liked Indian food but it was tough convincing my wife to try it.Luckily, when we moved into the area I was craving it and found this spot on Yelp to try.I don't get many opportunities to get Indian so Bombay Delight had to deliver for us to get another shot in the future.They do have a decent dining room but I did notice they do a ton of take out.Our first visit was in person and their garlic naan is so good when it comes out fresh and hot.We had the chicken tikka masala along with the butter chicken. Both dishes are delicious.We have ordered it to go now on multi occasions, if you have an air fryer pop the naan in there and it comes out just like if you eat it at the restaurant."

London Sizzler

★★★★☆ 3.7 (326) • $$

"Delicious!!! Really great spot for amazing British-style Indian food. If you want amazing, refined flavors, this is the spot for you! I highly recommend the chicken tikka masala and the samosas. The curry is very flavorful with just the right amount of kick to it. The samosas are perfectly fried with the most soft filling. It pairs perfectly with the green sauce It literally melts in your mouth. Don't even get me started on the naan! Overall, I highly recommend this spot for casual dining. It can be a bit pricey, but I really think its worth the price. The service is also fantastic. I can't wait to be back!"

Sitar Cuisine of India

★★★★☆ 3.8 (303)

"Prices are up to $14.99 before tax, but still a good value for the buffet. As long as I get by butter chicken, saag paneer, samosas, onion pakora, and tandoori chicken I'm happy!Given inflation, there are no more lamb / goat dishes with whole chunks of meat (there are lamb meatballs on the buffet). Also the mango ice cream has been drastically watered down f compared to pre covid.Overall, Sitar is one of the last good value Indian buffets in the Houston metro!"

Flying Idlis

★★★★☆ 4.2 (240) • $

Curry Masala - Louetta

★★★★☆ 4.4 (216) • $$

"1. Service - according to the wife, the cashier was very nice and friendly. This is a A-La-Carte restaurant. You wait to be seated, order, and pay at your table. 2. Price - for a main entree, they range about $10-$15 a plate. 3. Ambiance- I personally have not eaten inside yet, but my wife said it was a pretty decorated place when she went in to pick up our take out. Dress code here is casual. 4. Food - we've ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and the Vindaloo Masala. Both were really good and authentic. 5. Cleanliness - I haven't had a chance to dine in, so cannot rate on the dining area. However the to-go presentation is packaged well and the food was fresh and clean. I recommend this place and would definitely come back for a dine-in experience. I will add to this review once we dine-in here."

Howzatt

★★★★☆ 4.4 (203) • $$

Mezban

★★★★☆ 3.7 (256) • $$

"Nice old-fashioned interior and furniture for a Indian buffet restaurant. As soon as I walked in to Mezban, employees immediately greeted us.Food was decent. I went with a group after a bus tour around Hilcroft Gandhi Shopping District. The cleanliness however was a concern. I saw a critter crawling across the floor as I was about to sit down. As I poured a drink into the foam cups, I started to feel the leak on my hand. Holy sh... I grabbed another cup to catch the drip. The tables were not the cleanest. I guess they got so many leaky cups. Customers seemed to enjoy this place. It's a buffet. It was Saturday. The food seemed plentiful on the buffet line. I sampled few dishes and went back for more of what I liked. I couldn't tell which was which because the labels were moved. I just wish Mezban was more organized and cleaned to my usual restaurant dining expectations."

Savoy Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (219) • $$

"Nice place with great service. The food items at Savoy are super flavorful and the quality is great. Everything we tried was worth ordering and reordering. I especially enjoyed their goat biryani and mixed vegetable dish. I look forward to trying their special weekend breakfast menu and other items."

Biryani Factory

★★★★☆ 4.1 (196) • $$

Tandoorish

★★★★☆ 4.2 (183) • $$

"My go-to for Indian lunch buffet. The restaurant is small and quiet, with a good selection in the lunch buffet, the space is clean and the food is delicious. The naan bread came out piping hot to the point I could barely touch it...crispy yet soft. The buffet has all of my usual favorites; chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, vegetable korma, multiple kinds of biryani (vegetarian or meat eater), tandoori chicken that is very nicely seasoned and numerous other selections.One critique I have is that I like my paneer and tikka masala a bit thicker, these run just a bit, but still taste great. Something else that I don't remember from previous visits was the unsweetened iced tea - this is very good and not just your run of the mill iced tea. I detected cloves and possibly all spice in what appeared to be a black tea. It was super flavorful and slightly surprising.Definitely check this spot out, it's one of the best in the area."

Cafe India

★★★★☆ 3.9 (212) • $$

"I had picked up a curry for my UberEats customer. Today, I stopped by here. I was ready to eat.I visited around 2 pm. Lunchtime was almost over. I found a lunch box for $12. While I was waiting, I found a lucky cat doll. It really looked like a Japanese restaurant instead of an Indian. The lunch box was super excellent. It is located far from my house.If I had to visit this area again, I would like to go!"

Namaste Indian Chinese Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.4 (166)

"Avoid the "tomato soup" at all costs!!! It isn't tangy, or acidic or even remotely tasting of tomato. They dump tons of sugar and butter into it and it turns into some type of sweet orange syrup. Avoid! Everything else was delicious tho. I had the chickpea curry and house shrimp special curry and was delighted. The food was just as spicy as I requested and it was making my nose run a little bit. The chick peas were tender, and the sauce was well balanced and not lacking any herbs or spices. The shrimp dish was delicious as well, just wish there was more shrimp but not too sad as that delicious sauce was most definitely sopped up with the naan. I don't know why the naan tastes like saltine crackers, but I like saltine crackers very much so I'm not complaining. the basmati rice was basmati rice and all was well in this Indian restaurant. Def recommend."

Kabob Korner

★★★★☆ 4.1 (190) • $$

"Ordered beef shawarma through a grubhub delivery and man it hit the spot! The garlic naan was bigger than I anticipated and was the perfect side to my meal. Will definitely be back!"

Hyderabad House

★★★★☆ 3.5 (253) • $$

"Done Thai, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, BBQ...all represented in the massive strip mall on Sawdust East of I-45....but,Needed to try Briyani! Ordered the staple, Chicken "Briyani" Middle Persian for "Rice-A-Roni," is certainly more than a San Francisco Treat.Excellent service guided me to the perfect level of spiciness and explained chicken could come with or without bones. I trusted the good chef, and ordered without. Superb, but be forewarned, one order easily feeds two.Why one star missing? Atmosphere. It's as if owners have consciously removed everything that could possibly distract you from gorging yourself."

Bombay Sweets

★★★★☆ 3.5 (252) • $

"I think this place is so awesome and a 5 star review is well deserved but think the service could be nicer. It isn't a fancy place but every single item is very good! We go to Indian places not knowing what things are so we usually just end up ordering a bunch of random things to try and take home knowing there is no way we would finish things. Pani Puri is the best here in my opinion and prices are very reasonable. Would come here more if I live closer!"

Maza Pakistani Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (157) • $$

"Fish Masala over Rice is the dish I get almost every time.... It was even my Christmas dinner once!! (I'm a pilot, often stuck at IAH) It is always cooked exactly as I like it, which is of course the best way; crispy and loaded with masala spices... yum yum yummy!!"

Tandoori Hut

★★★★★ 4.5 (139) • $$

"Another day, another Indian restaurant to try.This place was absolutely fantastic, I don't know how we didn't know about it until today!We ordered vegetable samosa, goat biryani, butter chicken, lamb korma, aloo naan, and Gobi Manchurian.The butter chicken was done perfectly the way it's supposed to be with dark meat tandoori chicken. The lamb korma was cooked perfectly in a thick fragrant sauce. The goat biryani was the most generous, not only in portion size, but the amount of goat meat in it. There was a juicy piece of goat right around each corner. We got a ras malai and a stuffed gulab jamun. The ras malai was creamy and delicious!Will definitely be back and spread the word about this gem!"