Las Brasas Charcoal Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.1 (23) • $

"After seeing how popular the Westchase location (#1) is, I had high hopes for the second opening of Las Brasas along Bellaire just outside of Hillcroft. I've been missing my weekly Peruvian jaunts in NYC so this was as highly anticipated for me as anything. The place is clean and feels like an ideal spot for a casual meal. It looked and smells new, with brightness from the natural light, with plenty of rotisserie chickens spinning in the background. So far, everything is looking good.I ordered their claim to fame, a half pollo a la brasa, and was ready my food notalgia to kick in. My chicken, while juicy and tender, was a salt bomb. I tried coating it in the aji sauce and mixing it with the rice in hopes of enjoying it. Strangely, aji makes *everything* better (#2) but this wasn't the resolution. The fries were crispy, but the let down was real. I chalked it up to new establishment jitters.My next go-around included much more variety: chaufa chicken fried rice, a whole chicken, lomo saltado (#3), tallarin verde, ceviche, tallarin saltado, and even their anticucho kebab. Minus the chicken, which was mildly better this time, most things were bland. For the tallarin verde with bistec, I was kind of blown away at how much gristle and how tough the meat was. Once again, I drowned my chicken in their huacatay (aji verde) and it didn't make much of a difference. The lomo saltado was also mad salty and the ceviche had plenty of citrus, but was still disappointing given the price. Even the cilantro rice was dry. The food is 2 stars at best, but I'll give them 3 because the customer service, initial deals, and store location was a thumbs up.Before I could give it another shot, they went ahead and closed, albeit temporarily. I am not sure if they're going to reopen, but I hope they do. I'm not done with satisfying this Peruvian craving palate.___________(#1) https://www.yelp.com/biz/las-brasas-charcoal-chicken-houston-2(#2) Without a doubt, if done properly, aji verde is one of the world's greatest sauces.(#3) The national dish of Peru and the name of my future pet."

The Halal Guys

★★★★☆ 4.3 (142)

"You can always count on the Halal Guys. Service is efficient and food is great. I recommend the Combo Platter, you get to try their amazing beef and chicken meat at the same time, meat is always fresh and well-seasoned, tender and flavorful. Portion size is much appreciated, it comes with rice, lettuce, tomatoes and 4 pieces of pita bread. I also ordered another side of hummus, it comes with another piece of big pita bread, hummus was on point!"

Howdy Hot Chicken

★★★★☆ 3.8 (198) • $$

"Howdy you make everything better when you feel like crap? You come here!I wanted pretty badly to like Howdy Hot Chicken, and in some ways I do like it, and I think it's one of the better hot chicken places I've been to outside Tennessee, but their hot is a little too hot in an uncomfortable way but not a tasty way. That's weird for me to say, I have everything far more spicy than 99% of people can handle, trust me (it's Barbi's influence mainly).Also the sauces are a little too sweet for me. And don't get me started on the prices, although the large portions of chicken are pretty nice. But making the sandwiches sugary is something that the massive expansion of hot chicken places by hipsters has done, and I don't appreciate it.I want this stuff, but I need to have this stuff in Tennessee, and so do you, to see what it's supposed to taste like. Hattie Be's for example. It was never sweet and it shouldn't be sweet. I don't know why everyone has to corrupt and pollute the recipe of traditional stuff around the country with massive doses of high fructose corn syrup.Other than that it's very tasty sandwich, good quality chicken, piping hot, and large and filling, although service at this location was not very nice to me at all, and the prices are pretty high.A four star chain with some one star employees constantly messing up very expensive sandwiches, hence the 3 stars. The Shepherd location is much more reliable."

Jerusalem Halal Meats

★★★★☆ 3.5 (71) • $

"Jerusalem Halal Meats is one of the oldest halal markets in Houston and where so many of my childhood memories begin. If you follow a halal diet and are adventurous in your kitchen at home, then this place is a staple in your repertoire of ingredient sources. For those not in the know, when compared to other stores like HEB or Krogers, Jerusalem is an unorganized mess. The aisles are narrow and the shelves are filled high to the sky. Yes, there are signs letting you know what's generally in the aisles; however, they're more like suggestions. There's a small produce section next to the olive and oil aisle. Yes, a full aisle dedicated to deliciousness. And trust me when I say to peruse the produce section. It's small but has random fruits and veggies like sweet lemon. Yes, that's a thing. No, they don't taste like oranges.The chaotic good continues with aisles that are only open on one end- like their beauty products. An assortment of soaps and lotions towards the front. Head to the back and you think there are going to be more products, but surprise! It's a small prayer hall set up with prayer mats facing Mecca. Then there's a restaurant in the back right corner. Get the chicken shawarma with everything on it, thank me later. The crown jewel of this establishment is the deli in the back. Their meat is delivered three days a week, so you're getting the freshest product sans going to a farm. It's clean and the workers typically fill your order quickly. Bring a sweater, because it's frigid in there. Just outside the deli are a couple of freezers with prepackaged meats that people typically order- think different ground meats, chicken breasts, and the like. They also have products like pepperoni, salami, and bacon. I haven't seen some of these products in the other halal markets in town **major disclaimer** none of the workers on the floor or in the deli are super fluent in English. The guys in the back who butcher the meat understand enough to fill your order, just don't expect a lot of small talk. They even know what cuts you need for certain South Asian dishes like Nihari. Head to the front counter if you can't find something. This is a family owned and operated establishment and they're all great about telling you where everything is and when it'll be in if they're out. If you have some spare time and want to try some new ingredients or aren't sure where to get a certain middle eastern ingredient, try Jerusalem. You never know what will inspire you there."

Bundu Khan Kabab House

★★★★☆ 3.5 (119)

"Was impressed by both goat and chicken, but warning the goat chops are big - for lunch we had too much food. But spices were spot on."

Tahini Plus Halal Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (27)

Café Awtar

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (16)

"Cafe Awtar is a new Mediterranean restaurant and hookah lounge located on Richmond ave. close to Little India. I was invited to a private tasting to try a few things off of their menu and to check out the new space. I really appreciate that this establishment serves halal food and provides great service. Although I'm not too familiar with Mediterranean food - blame my upbringing - I truly enjoyed all of the flavors from each dish. The chef has a unique spin on Mediterranean traditional dishes compared to what I've had somewhere else. Their menu offers a lot of options. If you're in the area, bring a friend or two to come check them out! Instagram: @houstonfoodee"

Karachi Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (19)

"Great food with amazing service. Khalid bhai and Yasmin bhen (master chef) have this place rocking. The crew had all the logistic covered. No wait on puri, naan, paratha or any food. They had so many varieties of food that it was hard to pick and choose. Keep it up guys."

Desi Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (23)

"Yum. Due to the quarantine I've been experimenting with restaurants on Grub Hub. This is one restaurant that I believe offered either a $5.00 coupon perk or free delivery. I got the chicken biryani and was pleasantly surprised. Not only was it extremely tasty but it came with a side salad and plenty of sauces. The portion was HUGE. For $8.99 I got enough food for 3 Meals. They were also very generous with the pieces of meat. Overall, will be ordering from here again."

Bad Chx

★★★★☆ 4 (56) • $$

"I've seen this truck at the local gas station for at least a couple of years, since I moved to the Medical Center area, and I've been curious. The cost of food has made me a bit leary, because I've paid tens of dollars for food from food trucks that don't equal the quality of the food. I was extra cautious when I saw the images of chicken tenders being used on the sandwich, instead of a chicken breast. Last week, I just threw caution to the wind and my kiddo and I went all in....and...it...was...worth it!Prices still make my head spin, especaily when I saw that there was an option for one or two tenders on a bun. Well, the size of the tenders were like a scene from The Flintstones (Google it, Gen Xers!) where when you ask for ribs you get dinosaur sized ribs. Theses tenders were huge...and the taste was just as huge! Very flavorable, indeed! Can't leave out the fries, which were seasoned to perfection! The guy in the windows seemed to be all business (I guess that heat will make you have a straight face) and the wait wasn't long at all. My kiddo was impressed! I'm actrually craving Bad Chx, right now!"

Red Sky Hookah Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.7 (76) • $$

"I went here with a few girlfriends and it was super packed. I was very surprised that so many people hung out here on a Friday night. After trying their hookah.. I definitely know why! Very flavorful and smooth. Loved the lounge feel.. only it didn't come off as "too clubby ". You all know what I mean.. That "forced club" vibe that many other hookah lounges have.However this vibe was very relaxed and chill. Great place to be after a long week of work wanting to just sit back and relax. I definitely recommend it. Their coffee is also pretty tasty!"

Nazif's

★★★★☆ 3.9 (262)

ZOA Moroccan Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.8 (26)

Peacock Indian Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.7 (62)

Abu Omar Halal - Sugar Land

★★★★☆ 3.6 (99) • $

Arabella Mediterranean Kitchen + Grill

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (21)

"Love their food! I got the lamb kabobs and hummus - super tasty and fresh and deliciousZ also recommend the grape leaves!"

Rollin Phatties

★★★★★ 4.7 (6)

"The food was fantastic, the service was friendly, and the place was clean. I would definitely visit again."

Hotline Burger

★★★★★ 4.8 (122) • $$

"I used Waze to try and find this place, and it took me to Bellaire, so I would copy and paste the address if you use that platform for GPS. I found out after I got to their current location, that Bellaire is actually their future location, but it's not open yet. I heard about this place from Jazy, and after reading Zain's review, I was ready to try it!Food - I ordered the Hotline burger. And the Smack fries $5.99 - which were yummy, just as I had read in the reviews. They also had two special burgers, Rodeo and Croissant. I went with the Croissant burger $12.99, since I was curious. I belive, it includes a fried egg, pickles, smack sauce, cheese, and the 2 smash patties. I ordered my food to go. Once I received it all, I became scared and nervous it would be soggy by the time I got home. So I just ended up dinning in, and ate the croissant burger in house. I'm glad I did because I don't think it would have held up well on my long drive home. It's uber buttery and rich. The fries and other burger I took home, they held up. Service- was smooth. Good flow of service, which is crucial. Food is made to order. I got to chat it up, with one of the two owners, Thomas. He was front of house and answering questions. He had chill vibes. Wishing him the very best and much success for his restaurant. Would come again if on this side of town."

Khan Baghdad

★★★★☆ 3.8 (6)

"Iraqi kabob sandwich is delicious. Reminds u of home. Great service. Takes time making ur order. Love the food."

The Halal Guys

★★★★☆ 4.1 (44)

"It gets busy around 6-7 PM even on weekdays but the line moves quickly! There are 4 options, a small bowl is $10 and a regular bowl is $11 -- falafel, chicken only, beef only, and combo chicken & beef. Combo chicken & beef is the best IMO. The chicken by itself was pretty over-cooked and wasn't as seasoned very well compared to the beef. Plenty of parking spots in the small lot adjacent to the building. There are a few tables indoors and also an outdoor seating area with plastic tents over it. Only free toppings are white onions & green peppers.Will be coming back in the future!"

Manosalwa Pizza And Grill Express

★★★★☆ 3.9 (28)

"Believe the hype folks, this place is truly a hidden gem with lots of cool pizza toppings and combinations to offer. I tried the spicy Peri Peri chicken pizza after seeing a lot of great reviews here and it was well worth the anticipation (as well as the 20-mile drive to Sugarland). The peri peri flavor was fully immersed into the pizza and the spices were also well integrated with the sauce. Another pizza I ordered was the Supreme, loaded with beef chunks and halal pepperoni, bringing the OG Pizza Hut vibes (if you've had halal Pizza Hut abroad, that is) back to life. Aside from toppings, pizza enthusiasts will be glad to know that the crust and cheese was dialed in too, making this experience a complete success for my family. Highly recommended, especially since their prices also offer great value (my large pizzas ranged from $10.99-$12.99 before taxes)."

Shawarma Maker

★★★★★ 4.6 (10)

"One word, delicious. My go to is either the chicken wrap OR the mixed beef and chicken wrap. This place is similar to Beeezzz doner on Westheimer, similar taste, Turkish inspired chicken and beef shawarma. Their menu is limited compared to beeezzz but man they have some amazing wraps. Highly recommend if you're not in the mood for Abu Omar ;) About $7.00 for a wrap, generous portions, make sure to eat it fresh and toasted!!! Also get it "hot", it's not that spicy lol"

Al Baraka Halal Meat & Grill World Food Supermarket

★★★★★ 4.8 (4)

Elite Indo Pak Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 (76) • $$

"I've been wanting to check out this place since it was opened. Beautiful spacious place with friendly staff who were very attentive. Every table got a sanitizer and bottled water. Big menu so much to choose from. Staff was helpful with recommendations. Everything we had was delicious, serving bigger than most Indian places we've been to. They even gave us free ice cream WITH WHIP CREAM & SPRINKLES. The only downfall was no alcohol-- the mojito is virgin. We didn't realize that till we ordered and take a sip. I was surprised the bill for all the food was $70. Love it. We'll be back"

The Halal Guys

★★★★☆ 3.9 (268) • $$

"Got a small chicken platter ($9 something) and regular combo platter ($10 something). Preferred the beef (more flavor) over chicken. Decent amount of protein for the price, and the small was filling for me. White sauce is very good but high in calories for those health conscious folks. The red sauce is quite spicy. I still like Gyro Hut better (their chicken has more flavor), but Halal Guys is also good."

Rollin Phatties

★★★★☆ 3.7 (34)

"I took a lap around the POST food hall before making a decision to try Rollin Phatties. It has a funny name and there wasn't a line so I decided to give it a try. I ordered the Chicken Tikka Phattie. The lady at the register told me I would get a text message when it was ready. After about 10 minutes I hadn't received a text so I went back to check on it. After awkwardly standing near the counter for a few minutes, I decided to get a bottle of water at the vendor next to them and go back to my table to wait some more. Another 10 minutes passed and I still hadn't received a text so I went back to the counter to check on it again and it still wasn't ready. The lady asked me what I ordered then checked with the cook and he was finally making it. After about another minute or so, it was finally ready! The paratha was flaky and buttery and each bite had a nice crisp. The chicken tikka was flavorful and a bit spicy. I had to keep drinking sips of water to tame down the heat. Luckily, there are water bottle fillers at the water fountains throughout the food court so I didn't have to purchase another water bottle. The portion was enough for me because I wasn't starving, but if you're really hungry, you may need two or maybe order a side with it. The lack of beverage options and the long wait was disappointing especially because they were not busy at all. The cashier looked bored sitting there. If you're not in a rush, then try this place out. They're close to one of the bars, so you can enjoy a nice cocktail before your food is ready."

Khan Baba Halal

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"I love their Chapli kabob over rice and they add fries too extra sauce. Yum! Friendly service and reasonable price."

Urban Bird Hot Chicken

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (6)

"They need to improve on their customer service and getting orders out in a timely manner. I placed an order online and was not greeted when I walked in. I asked about my order and it took a minute to find out it wasn't ready. Then they didn't have the sweet potato fries which I asked for. I waited for about 10 minutes and wasn't offered a drink or anything for having to wait extra for my meal. The lady finally gave me my food and told me I might want to check it to make sure it was correct?? Uh, aren't you supposed to do that?? So disappointed and I really like the food."

Zara’s Mediterranean Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (48)

"I love this place. Their food is always good and so is the service. Definitely good bang for your buck. Best hummus also."

Gyro King

★★★★☆ 4.1 (83)

"Falafel Gyro is my go-to and finished off with the Tiramisu. Three times already. The gyro is stuffed with healthy tomatoes, cucumber, onions and parsley in a pita. Falafel also comes in a salad and rice platter but I always stick with the gyro. Yummy."

Fanoosh - Burgers & Biryani

★★★★☆ 4 (230) • $$

The Halal Guys

★★★★☆ 4.1 (73)

"It's a veg friendly restaurant with the options for falafel platters, sandwiches and sides.It's like the Chipotle of Mediterranean food. You can customize your platter or pita sandwiches to your liking.(Rice, salad, protein, veggies, sauces) The service was quick and friendly. They helped me along to customize my platter. And overall I loved the concept and the food. Would definitely go back for some more. Here is what I ordered:Falafel platter - salad and rice with falafel, topped with veggies and sauces and served with side of pita breads. A complete meal. My favorite.Baklava Cheesecake - I just loved this one. The cheese cake perfectly cuts down the sweetness of baklava to perfection! I wish more places had this oneCreamy mango - a bit sweet for me personally. But fresh and creamy."

Tru India

★★★★☆ 3.8 (47)

"First time in will absolutely NOT be my last. Fresh made masala dosa was one of the best I've ever had. Sambar was amazing. Complementary chai! They were setting up for recently added weekend buffet. We haven't gone back for that yet. Lots of daily specials! Was a wonderful precursor to our trip to the Indian Grocery next door."

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!"

Las Brasas Charcoal Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.4 (298) • $$