Pakistani in Houston

12610 Briar Forest Memorial

281-679-5555

The prices are higher and the ambiance is more elegant than at most Indian restaurants, but there is no doubt that Ashiana serves one of the best Indian lunch buffets in Houston. Evening dinner service is also available, which includes options such as lamb chop masala, tandoori chicken and house specialties, such as the Ashiana Feast, a hearty platter for two that includes samples of various entrees with a side of naan, soup or salad and dessert.

Bhojan

6855 SW Freeway Outer Loop - SW

713-777-6900

Health, Indian, Pakistani, Vegetarian, Recommended, Menu

In Gujarati, bhojan means "to eat," and here you will enjoy eating spicy vegetarian food from a well-stocked buffet for less than ten bucks. The place is elaborately decorated and sits just off the Indian enclave on Hillcroft. Basmati rice, lentils, potatoes, beans, soups and freshly-made rotis (breads) are just some of the highlights of this ever-changing smorgasbord of dishes.

Bismillah Restaurant

5702 Hillcroft Ave Outer Loop - SW

713-781-5000

Indian, Pakistani, Recommended, Best Of

This isn't your average chaat house. While Bismillah Cafe does offer a standard array of chaat snacks like excellent dahi puri, samosas and lassis, owner Inam Moghul takes his menu to a different level by offering Paki-American fusion dishes like chicken wings coated with his signature "ten spice" blend, halal sliders with hand-formed patties and "animal-style fries" better than you'd find at an In-N-Out Burger. Among the other fusion items are burgers and pizzas, although you'll need to call ahead for the latter; it takes Moghul at least 40 minutes to bake the pies from scratch.

3 articles

Himalaya Restaurant & Catering

6652 Southwest Freeway Outer Loop - SW

713-532-2837

Indian, Pakistani, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu, Readers' Choice

Looks can be deceiving. Such is this the case at this unassuming Hillcroft hole-in-the-wall, which dishes out some of the best (and most affordable) Pakistani cuisine in town. Owners Kaiser and Azra Laskari are warm, friendly and get to know all their regular customers, and that’s a good reason to become one. They’re happy to help with the ordering, but here are some suggestions. Go for Himalaya’s fried chicken, or as it’s affectionately known, “HFC.” The bird takes a nice, long soak in a brine that is chock full of spices like garam masala and ginger before being dredged in seasoned flour and fried to an absolutely gorgeous, golden-brown crisp. You may want to call ahead for to see if it’s available, as it can sell out. But if it does, there’s always the excellent green curry and slow-simmered beef shank nehari. And did we mention it’s BYOB? Get there.

15 articles

Hot Breads Bakers and Confectioners

5700-A Hillcroft Outer Loop - SW

713-785-1212

Bakery, Indian, Pakistani, Recommended, Menu

Believe it or not, this is a fast-food franchise that started in Madras, India, in 1988. The idea was to bring Western-style baked goods to an Indian audience, but the bakery offerings eventually morphed into a European-Indian fusion style. Chicken croquettes and "chicken hot dogs" are popular here, as are the masala breads, cookies and tea cakes. After opening 52 locations in India, the chain spread throughout the Middle East and went on to Europe. (There are two locations in Paris.) This is one of three locations in the States.

Kabab Kahani

21542 State Highway 249 Jersey Village

281-251-2500

Indian, Pakistani, Recommended, Menu

Kabab Kahani has a surprisingly small menu, but one that still satisfies. As the name implies, they serve kebabs, but also wraps, which are stuffed pieces of naan. The meat stuffings include beef, lamb or chicken. In addition, they also serve samosas (fried, stuffed savory pasties). All platters come with rice.

Kings Chicken Tandoori Cuisine

2209 Highway 6 S. Memorial

281-498-2900

Pakistani, Restaurants, Recommended, Menu, Slideshow

Other than the name, the new Kings Chicken Tandoori Cuisine doesn’t have much in common with its prior incarnation on Beechnut. Gone are the halal pizzas, but in their place is a classy and very traditional Punjabi restaurant hidden in an old strip center in dire need of a fresh paint job. It doesn’t seem like a bad tradeoff. Except for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, the food is served buffet-style and at $10.99 or $11.99 per person, it’s a fabulous value. As one might expect, there’s quite a good iteration of the namesake dish, tandoori chicken. Moist on the inside with just the right amount of char on the outside, it will make guests fall in love with the smoky classic all over again. The brunch buffet on Saturday and Sunday mornings is when the real treasures are found, like the paya made with beef trotters and a plethora of spices that creates an impossibly thick, silky curry gravy that’s perfect for dipping delicate, crispy naan. There’s no booze and no BYOB allowed. Sorry, buddy. Just drink your water and eat your food.

2 articles

La Sani Restaurant & Banquet Hall

9621 Bissonnet St. Outer Loop - SW

713-270-4040

Indian, Pakistani, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu

This southwest-side Pakistani restaurant uses whole spices in almost every dish. Don't be surprised to find black peppercorns, whole cloves, cinnamon bark and fruity green cardamom pods in your mouth. But La Sani is worth it -- the food ululates with flavor. Lunch is the best deal; the buffet goes for $7.99. The food is extremely hot, and there's no beer, so you might consider getting dinner to go.

1 article

Raja Quality Restaurant & Sweets

5667 Hillcroft Outer Loop - SW

713-782-5667

Indian, Pakistani, Recommended

It's hard to pass up the festive trays of Indian pastries on display, but the hidden steam table on your right hides a bountiful feast. Choose from chickpeas, curry, lentils and goat meat; the sari-clad server will open the lids for you to reveal the extra-spicy offerings. Choose from rice or naan, and enjoy an even lower price if you skip the goat meat. They also serve superb samosas and vegetable pakoras.

Royal Restaurant

11919 Bissonnet Outer Loop - SW

281-530-1100

Indian, Pakistani, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

The super kind folks at Royal have been doing knockout Pakistani and Indian food for two decades, and they know how to make you feel at home, whether home is Montrose or Punjab. If you're looking for a family meal of beef seekh kebabs or just a chicken curry and a lassi (yogurt drink), Jaffar and Rahim Ali will take you in, wrap you in naan and keep you warm on cold days or cool you off with gola ganda (Indian snow cones) on hot days.

1 article

Salaam Namaste

10732 W. Bellfort St. Outer Loop - SW

281-530-4263

Indian, Pakistani, Recommended

Salaam Namaste is a haven for cricket and snooker connoisseurs, and it also happens to serve up brilliant Indian and Pakistani food like rich goat keema and delicately flavored fish biryani, as well as the best naan in Houston. Unlike some Desi restaurants, Salaam Namaste also offers beef thanks to its Muslim Pakistani owners, and it's 100 percent halal.

Shahnai Restaurant

5920 Hillcroft St. Outer Loop - SW

713-953-1388

Buffet, Indian, Mediterranean, Pakistani

Sheikh Chilli's

6121 Hillcroft Outer Loop - SW

713-995-6768

Indian, Pakistani, Recommended

Refinement is not the deal at this Spartan Pakistani spot; exuberant flavors are. The fainthearted may quail, but draining excess oil from your takeout sag paneer or vegetable du jour pays off in complex seasoning and sneaky heat. The aloo kulcha -- rivetingly spicy, potato-filled flatbread with assertive tamarind sauce -- is one of the city's primo fast-food items.

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (BAPS)

1150 Brand Lane, Stafford Outside Houston

281-765-2277-128

Indian, Pakistani, Recommended, Best Of

While taking a look at the Hindu temple in Stafford, stop for a dessert. The anjir bahar explodes with nutty, fruity, milky goodness. Other classic favorites from the subcontinent include buttery magas, barfi (it tastes much better than it sounds) and shrikhand - sweetened, condensed yogurt liberally flavored with saffron and ground pistachio.

1 article

Tandoori Nite

7821 Highway 6 S Outer Loop - SW

713-852-7642

Indian, Pakistani, Recommended, Slideshow

Parked fittingly in the parking lot of a Phillips 66, Tandoori Nite is the closest to an authentic Indian dhaba as you'll get in Houston (in India, the informal restaurants are always located next to gas stations). It serves an array of Pakistani and Indian food — all of it halal — and specializes in tandoori chicken. Bullet naan studded with jalapeño is a popular side dish to scoop up all of the beautiful, creamy sauce from goat korma or chicken curry, and the saag paneer is as good as any you'll find.

3 articles

Tempura Halal Indo Pak Grill

5901 Hillcroft St Suite B6,, Houston, Outside Houston

832-740-4255

Pakistani

Tempura means authentic Pakistani food with a Japanese fusion, marinated and cooked with the best spices Pakistan has to offer, right here in Houston.

Search

Search

Pakistani in Houston