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    Desi Junction

    4.0 (1 review)

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    3 months ago

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    Turmeric Indian Cuisine - Chicken Tikka Masala with an order of Plain Naan

    Turmeric Indian Cuisine

    4.2(63 reviews)
    2.9 miWashington Corridor, The Heights

    This was a good authentic Indian spot. Prices were pretty solid for the amounts and portions that…read moreyou get. Several different street food options or bowl options for an authentic experience. I didn't too much like the butter chicken burger as it was just a slab of dipped butter, chicken with tomato and a huge onion slice about half an inch thick but overall it was okay. Would not get again. It also came with French fries and these were extremely basic from a frozen bag. Very dull. Unfortunately I didn't realize the burger came with fries and I additionally ordered loaded tikka masala fries so instead of it being a replacement for the fries with a burger I just had two huge orders of fries. Seemed like something that the person taking the order could've mentioned before I ordered it. Also had the lamb baryani, tikka masala and garlic naan. This was amazing! Tasted so good. Deep in flavor and of course spices The naan was amazing And everything came out really hot! You can smell the flavors and the spices when you walked into the restaurant. We'll definitely be back to try different things on the menu

    So we tried to make Butter chicken at home. Fail! And it was late. We found Tumeric and Dashed it…read moreto the house. Great decision. Butter chicken was flavorful, Bullet and Garlic naan good and we added a flavor bomb Salt and Pepper Chicken. We are happy to have found a spot closer than Kathmandu that comes close to the same product. We will order from here again.

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    Turmeric Indian Cuisine
    Turmeric Indian Cuisine - Cocktail Samosa, Chilli & Manchurian, Mango Lassi, Tikka Masala

    Cocktail Samosa, Chilli & Manchurian, Mango Lassi, Tikka Masala

    Turmeric Indian Cuisine

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    The Monk's- Heights - Shrimp Biryani

    The Monk's- Heights

    4.1(149 reviews)
    2.1 miWashington Corridor, The Heights

    Monk's has officially become our Houston tradition. We drive in from San Antonio, and this is a…read morenon-negotiable stop for us every single time. Honestly, every dish we've ever tried here has been fantastic--it hits exactly the right spots. The Flavor Profile: A quick heads-up for those seeking "authentic" traditional Chinese--this isn't it. This is the Indianized version of Chinese food (Indo-Chinese), so prepare for bold spices and a serious kick. If you grew up loving those specific flavors, Monk's is the gold standard. The Verdict: The heat is on point, the portions are great, and the flavors are nostalgic and bold. It's the kind of meal we look forward to all the way down I-10. Truly a gem for anyone who appreciates the spicy, savory fusion of Desi Chinese!

    Where spices, spice…read more Service: 5/5 Quick and friendly. Ambiance: 4/5 When I looked up the restaurant, I didn't realize it was only for takeout. I walked in and the spices were spicing so much so that I started sneezing. I asked if maybe the dining area was through some door, but no there is no dine in. It's a small space with a register and seats to wait for your order or you can wait in your car. Food: 4/5 Chicken Tikka Masala it was creamy and velvety, I'm not a big fan of tomato but know is a core part of it, which I did distinguish the taste in this order that I haven't usually tasted in others. The garlic naan had good flavor however it was a bit tough and crunchy when biting into it. Which wasn't my favorite, but got the job done to dip into the sauce.

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    The Monk's- Heights
    The Monk's- Heights - Goat biryani

    Goat biryani

    The Monk's- Heights

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    Kitchen Rumors - Spaghetti Bolognes, chick peas, curry potatoes, chili cheese kulcha, naan

    Kitchen Rumors

    4.4(53 reviews)
    1.2 miSixth Ward
    $$$

    This place never disappoints! Everything is super flavorful, with strong ties to Indian spices…read morewhile still feeling upscale and adding fun twists to traditional dishes. Our server was super accommodating, kind, and knowledgeable about the menu as well. Cocktails: 8/10 - The watermelon one was really good and not too sweet. The other wasn't my cup of tea; it tasted like a healthy ginger shot or some kind of wellness drink. Crispy kale: 12/10 - I've had it twice now and it never disappoints. You'll like this even if you don't like kale. It has a toasty crunch, and you have to eat it inside out since the potato pancake-like layer is in the middle. Mixed with the kale and sauces, it's divine! Oysters: 8/10 - The curry sauce is really good and a unique take, but it does take away from the natural briny oyster flavor. Honestly, if you don't usually like oysters, you'd probably like these since they don't taste super oyster-y. Lobster dumplings: 9/10 - I love these. Perfect consistency with a great sauce. The only downside is I'm allergic to the spicy sauce (it has nuts), which I'm told really elevates them. Sides: The garbanzo bean curry is a solid staple and great with rice. The eggplant was good but nothing special. The cauliflower was 10/10 - perfect crunch, great spice, and a little acidity. Curry butter chicken ramen: 7/10 - The broth is a bit too thick to really be ramen, but the flavor is unmatched. (Also contains nuts.) Lamb shank: 10/10 - The lamb fell right off the bone, and the sauce was thick, flavorful, and slightly spicy. Parking: Small lot, but mostly street parking. I will be going back!

    We really enjoyed our dinner at Kitchen Rumors. It was pretty packed on a Saturday night, so it…read morehad a very fun, upbeat vibe (though a smidge crowded). Kitchen Rumors has a $75/person tasting menu (very good value for ALL that you get below), and it includes what seems to be the restaurant's top items. Here's what we tried (it was a lot!): -Roasted oyster tikka: I'll be honest, I'm not a big oyster fan, so I let my friend have my oyster--I hear it was great. -Infladita appetizer: My favorite item of the night--it's a MUST ORDER appetizer. -Crispy kale & wasabi white peas: I'm so glad this item was on the tasting menu because I probably wouldn't have ordered it--it was the sleeper hit of the night, and I would definitely order again. It had a sweet dressing but was also savory with the potato. -Lobster dumplings: Great, very flavorful, particularly the curry, which was nice and spicy. -Blue cheese chicken kebab: I was pleasantly surprised by this dish--while I probably wouldn't order it again, it wasn't too blue cheesy, which I liked. -Lamb chop: OK, this appetizer was not on the tasting menu, but it's a MUST ORDER too--very tender, perfectly cooked. -Branzino: I liked it, nicely prepared. -Goat biryani: If you like traditional goat biryani (I do!), this dish is perfect for you. -Sichuan eggplant: I like eggplant, but this item was just OK--we each tried one piece but didn't go back. To be fair, we were clearly getting very full by now... -Garlic naan: Delicious and classic! We had to order more. -Garbanzo beans curry: Another not on the tasting menu item, but I liked having the curry to dip the naan. -Dessert: Pana cotta and gulab jamun were the two desserts of the night. We were clearly very full by then and thought the desserts were both great but only managed a few bites before we rolled out of the restaurant.

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    Kitchen Rumors - Main dining room, modern and fun ambiance

    Main dining room, modern and fun ambiance

    Kitchen Rumors - Jackfruit chilla

    Jackfruit chilla

    Kitchen Rumors - Infladita

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    Infladita

    Kati Roll Wala

    Kati Roll Wala

    3.5(25 reviews)
    0.4 miDowntown, Fourth Ward

    Enticed by the promise of flavors, I ordered a chicken tikka kati roll and a paneer naan pizza. I…read moreinitially thought the color of the chicken in the tikka roll was a little off putting (a shade of pink instead of the classic orange), and the flavor wasn't quite right. but then I realized they had given me a chicken cilantro wrap instead. The meat needed some flavor, and there weren't any sauces or dips (which would've helped a bit!) to save the day. The naan pizza was essentially a perfectly flat store-bought naan with the texture of a slightly softer version of a Lunchables pizza crust. The paneer was bright red but didn't have much flavor. The bits of onions and melty cheese were the highlight. MT said it was like bad school cafeteria pizza, but I'm easily satisfied with melty cheese on bread (although this one was quite dry) :) I liked how the food was hot and fresh, but it was pretty pricey for the quality, lack of flavor, and amount of food. I'm a little bummed they messed up my order. Probably would try something else at Lyric Market next time!

    If you've ever been to the lower east side of Manhattan, then you've heard of Kati Roll. Nobody can…read morereplicate it. Kati Roll Wala is not at all like the Kati Roll in NYC, but the smells and nostalgia in the mango juice rings true. I found their tikka bowl little spicy but their wraps add enough carbs (sorry not sorry) to soften the spice. My husband, however, will devour any and all food from Kati Roll Wala. He even commented, "your mom would enjoy this" - that made me laugh. No matter what you order, definitely get a mango juice. The service is quick and this is a a great stop before theater, symphony, or ballet.

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    Kati Roll Wala - Kati Roll Wala

    Kati Roll Wala

    Kati Roll Wala
    Kati Roll Wala - Kati Roll Wala

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    Kati Roll Wala

    Tarka Indian Kitchen

    Tarka Indian Kitchen

    3.9(706 reviews)
    4.2 miThe Heights
    $$

    Tried out Tarka Indian Kitchen recently and honestly... I'm a little confused…read more The service was friendly, the place was clean, and the food came out much faster than expected. We picked up our order about 3-4 minutes after getting the "ready" text and it was still before the estimated pickup time, but the food honestly wasn't that warm which is wild because everytime I pick up Indian food from any place even if I am a bit late it is piping hot or pretty hot. I don't think they even have a heat lamp or have the AC on too high. The smell of garlic when we walked in had me excited, but unfortunately the garlic naan ended up being the best part of the meal. We ordered medium spice since we were sharing with a younger family member who likes spice but doesn't want to sweat through dinner like we do. What we didn't expect was how sweet everything would be. The tikka masala tasted like sweet yogurt with a little garam masala for color. The chicken vindaloo was even more confusing. Vindaloo is usually tangy and vinegary, but this one was also sweet. It honestly tasted more like sweet tomato sauce than anything resembling a vindaloo. Nothing tasted bad in a spoiled sense, it was just very Americanized and very very sweet. The two stars are for three things: the clean location, the fast friendly service, and the garlic naan. If you have a very mild palate or prefer sweet food, you might enjoy this place. But if you're hoping for bold, tangy, flavorful Indian food, this probably won't be it.

    Coconut curry - bomb! I love that you can select your own…read morespice level (since I can't really handle any spice!). And you can select your protein. Staff is super friendly and will help if you're not sure what to get. You THINK the serving is small, but it's so hefty that I couldn't even finish mine! Would recommend checking out if you love curry and/or Indian food.

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    Tarka Indian Kitchen - Clean even after lunch rush

    Clean even after lunch rush

    Tarka Indian Kitchen
    Tarka Indian Kitchen - Vegetable Samosas (V)

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    Vegetable Samosas (V)

    Pondicheri

    Pondicheri

    3.7(1.4k reviews)
    3.5 miUpper Kirby
    $$

    Came in on a Saturday evening with a reservation, seated fairly quickly…read more Dress code: casual Food 5/5: ordered their green dosa, panipuri, Texan thali and their burger. Everything was amazing. Fairly spicy but nothing too crazy. Favorite was surprisingly the burger. Ambiance 4/5: very casual, a bit loud but quirky setting Service 5/5: fantastic service, knew we had an allergy, quick, friendly and helpful Value 4/5: pretty good price for the food about what I would expect from an Indian restaurant Overall 4.5/5: great experience overall, will likely be back to try more curries. They also have a bakery attached that I was too full to try Parking: garage parking as part of the complex

    Pondicheri brings an interesting, modern spin on Indian food. They have some nice patio seating as…read morewell, so since the weather has gotten nicer, we took the opportunity to bring our dog out for dinner. The ambience is really nice, and service is good. They have a daily happy hour from 4-7, which includes some food specials. Pomegranate dal poori - 5/5, pretty basic chaat item Fish kofta - 5/5 very unique and tasty Texan thali- 4/5 - my spouse wanted both the lamb chop and butter chicken, and she got to have both with this! The lamb chop was really flavorful and delicious. Goa shrimp - 4/5 shrimp curry itself was great, but we weren't a fan of the coconut uthappam Bread pudding with ice cream- 5/5 - really tasty! A good meal and we'll definitely be back!

    Photos
    Pondicheri - Don't forget to visit the bakery upstairs.

    Don't forget to visit the bakery upstairs.

    Pondicheri - The Texan Thali. Tasty and gorgeous.

    The Texan Thali. Tasty and gorgeous.

    Pondicheri - Roserita has spice,and kick, and flavor.

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    Roserita has spice,and kick, and flavor.

    Musaafer - Mishti Doi

    Musaafer

    4.3(1k reviews)
    6.2 miGalleria/Uptown

    This was my second time at Musaafr, and it honestly reinforced why I wanted to come back in the…read morefirst place. On my last visit, I had the Lychee Ceviche, Barrah Kebab, Mushroom Khichdi (highly recommend), Dal Musaafar (also a must-order), Laal Maas, Lamb Chop Sulfiyan Biryani, and Brussel Sprouts -- so I already had a strong impression of how layered and ambitious the menu could be coming into this meal. This time around, the experience felt even more intentional -- not just in individual dishes, but in how everything was meant to be combined. The Paani Puri was easily the most fun dish of the night. Each puri came filled with spiced potato and chickpeas, paired with a lineup of flavored waters -- Yogurt Chili, Passion Fruit, Guava, Mango, and Traditional Tamarind. We ended up tasting the waters individually first, then building our own combinations. The tamarind was smoky and nostalgic, while the guava leaned especially exotic, and the passion fruit came in as a close second with its bright tropical notes. I also tried mixing the traditional tamarind with mango, which oddly created a more Hispanic-leaning flavor profile -- sweet, tangy, and super familiar in a completely different way. The passion fruit + guava combination ended up being my favorite overall. It was so light, refreshing, and interactive that we immediately ordered another round. Mithu's Coriander Shrimp was my favorite savory dish of the night. The shrimp sat in a coconut-based curry that had this mellow, toasted depth that reminded me a lot of Vietnamese chicken curry -- warm, aromatic, and comforting without being heavy. The bread soaked up the sauce perfectly, but what really made this dish stand out was how well it paired with everything else. When combined with the Chicken Tandoori Kulcha and its butters, it genuinely elevated both dishes and created one of the best bites of the entire meal. The Chicken Tandoori Kulcha came stuffed with spiced chicken and served with Kashmiri butter and fenugreek butter. On its own, it was already a buttery flavor bomb -- rich, slightly spicy, and incredibly aromatic. The Kashmiri butter brought warmth and heat, while the fenugreek butter added a refreshing, almost yogurt-like herbal note. But the real move was layering the coriander shrimp curry onto the kulcha -- that combination balanced the spice and added depth, making the dish significantly better. The Malwani Fish Curry featured unbelievably tender sea bass -- I compared it to silken tofu, almost like the filet mignon of fish. The curry itself was coconut-based with kokum, which gave it a citrusy, slightly sour edge. While I appreciated how regional and complex it felt, it leaned a bit too citrus-forward for my personal taste when eaten alone. That said, it completely transformed when mixed with rice or the biryani -- creating this incredibly cohesive, flavorful bowl that balanced everything out. The Jackfruit Kolkota Biryani was one of the dishes I was most curious about, and it delivered in a really interesting way. The jackfruit had a texture surprisingly close to meat -- similar to chicken or pork but softer -- and absorbed the spices incredibly well. The rice itself was extremely aromatic, layered with saffron, rose, and warm spices. Like many dishes here, it really shone when combined with the fish curry or dal, which added richness to the overall dish. The Daal Musaafar continues to be one of the most reliable standouts here. It's a 72-hour slow-cooked black lentil dish that comes out incredibly creamy, buttery, and rich. This time, it felt slightly saltier and a bit less creamy than I remembered, but once mixed, it balanced out nicely. It's still one of those dishes I would come back for on its own -- comforting, indulgent, and consistently one of the best things on the menu. The Nimbu Naan was thinner than the bullet naan I had on my previous visit, but that actually worked in its favor. The lemony brightness cut through the richness of the meal and made it the perfect supporting piece for soaking up dal, curry, and biryani. It added a refreshing contrast rather than just being a filler carb. The Pour Me a Slice cocktail -- winner of Truffle Masters 2026 -- was exactly as advertised. It's a truffle fat-washed rum drink designed to taste like a margarita pizza, and somehow... it really does. The savory notes, herbs, and slight cheese element came through in a way that was bizarre but incredibly accurate. Not something I'd drink every day, but easily one of the most memorable concept cocktails I've had. Despite it being Mother's Day and the restaurant running at full capacity, our waiter, Justin (with six years of experience), curated an incredibly smooth and thoughtful experience for us. The pacing, recommendations, and overall flow of the meal never felt chaotic, which is impressive given how hectic the night was. Huge thanks to Justin for really elevating the experience.

    We had Justin as our server during our second visit to Musaafer, which was just as fantastic as the…read morefirst (minus the parking situation which was way worse for Mother's Day weekend). Our first dish, the Paani Puri, came out in 10 minutes. My favorite paani was the tamarind, followed by the passion fruit, yogurt, and then guava and mango. I thought the guava was a bit bland at first but it really worked well in the Puri. It took about ~30 minutes for appetizers to come out. Mithu's Coriander Shrimp (4/5): It reminds me a lot of Vietnamese / Thai curry. It's a bit pricey, but would recommend trying it. The sauce went really well with naan. Tandoori Chicken Kulcha (4/5): Delicious filling. The Kashmiri butter and fenugreek butter were very unique to melt on and add flavors. We actually had the most fun dipping the Kulcha in the shrimp sauce (4.5/5 combo haha) Entrees came out at ~50 minutes. Malwani Fish Curry (4.5/5) Inspired by West india and an incredibly tender piece of cod. The curry was very citrus forward and went excellently with naan and biryani rice. Dal Musaafer (5/5) Still fantastic, smoky, and complex. I'll get this every time we come. Jackfruit Biryani (3/5): A surprisingly good replacement texture for chicken, but I felt that it was missing the complexity of the lamb chop biryani. Nimbu Naan (4/5): Comes with three pieces and has a nice lemony flavor. I think I prefer the spice of the bullet naan. We also tried the "Pour me a Slice" cocktail, which was really a unique experience of drinking a pizza. Seriously, you can barely taste alcohol here. It's a truffle award winner but the truffle really comes out as a lingering flavor. It's really like a margarita pizza. Paid with inKind with no issues again. Another really fun experience here!

    Photos
    Musaafer - Ambience

    Ambience

    Musaafer - Lamb Chop Sufiyani Biryani

    Lamb Chop Sufiyani Biryani

    Musaafer - A vast selection of gin and tonic style drinks.

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    A vast selection of gin and tonic style drinks.

    Desi Junction - indpak - Updated May 2026

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