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    Himalaya Restaurant

    3.1 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    HIMALAYA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Himalaya Restaurant

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    John's Shrimp Masala & Rice | Red Curry
    Dee D.

    I've been wanting to try this place for a long time and finally made it in. I was not disappointed. The service was really good. Unlike some other reviews I saw, the owner came over, introduced himself, asked what we liked, checked for food allergies, and gave helpful recommendations. He really went above and beyond for us. We ordered a variety of dishes so I got to try a little bit of everything, and everyone enjoyed their food. I'm a big fan of biryani and hadn't found any good biryani here since I moved, but this one was made just right. The garlic naan was exceptional. The shrimp was good, and the fried chicken was delicious and seasoned very well. The sauce on the side paired perfectly. I also had the steak and it was super tender. I like spicy food. This wasn't overly spicy for me, but it might be a bit much for someone who doesn't enjoy heat. The mint lemonade was also really good. One helpful tip: your bill is slightly cheaper if you pay cash instead of card. Overall, this is the best Indian food I've had so far. I've tried Agas and wasn't a big fan. Himalaya for the win.

    Chicken Biryani (After 1:30 pm daily)
    Neha S.

    We got the chicken biryani to-go, and we've done this for years now. If anything, I think it tastes better over time. We went in and ordered the biryani to-go and it came within 5 minutes, so service was really fast. The ambiance is like any other Indian restaurant inside. It's a little tight in terms of seating, but I think a lot of people order to-go. The actual chicken in the biryani was so soft and easily cut apart. It was almost like the tenderness of a tandoori chicken, and the rice wasn't super oily either. They also gave a side box of cut onions, cabbage, and a green mint chutney that was a little limey. The mint chutney was so good, and I don't remember getting this in the past. Will definitely continue the tradition of getting biryani to-go from here. Love it.

    Combo Platter | Lunch
    Alexis C.

    Ordered their Combo lunch platter. A must for lunch and great value! Besides their main dinner entrees, this lunch combo is the best first introduction plate to the restaurant. It has a little bit of everything to sample out. Portions may seem averagely small but it super filling! Service was prompt and the ambiance gives a personal cafe feel.

    The owner, my husband and dad outside of the restaurant
    Mishaal S.

    I went with my family to celebrate my husband's birthday at Himalaya restaurant. Honestly? I wanted to give the restaurant 4/5 due to the service being a bit poor: they're a bit understaffed compared to the sheer number of patrons that visit. But the food quality is so good I have to give it 5/5. We got the steak kebabs which were cooked perfectly: juicy, a bit pink in the middle and for 39.99 pretty decently portioned. We also got the mutton biryani which honestly blows Aga's out of the water. It's super spicy, filled to the brim with meat, and the rice is so fluffy and nice. Another big recommendation I have to give is the chicken hara masala, which may be my favorite dish in Houston now. Another big plus was that the owner came around often, spoke with us, and even sang happy birthday and gave a bunch of gulab jamun to my husband. All in all, a great experience. I hope to come back soon. I didn't get any photos of the dishes since my phone died, but my sister snapped a picture of the men of the hour

    Rose N.

    Ok the garlic butter naan is some of the best. So good. My friend got the goat curry. I ordered the special grilled bbq platter. Service was great. We ordered too much food. Had to take it to go. The goat curry was good. But the bbq platter was better. However, from the bbq platter. The really good meat was really the steak, which is sold separately and called Sandy's steak tikka bourdain. Succulent meat, great flavor, perfectly cooked. On the bbq platter some of the pieces of meat were dry, some were juicy, one was too spicy for me, I liked the fresh bell pepper that it came with and the green cilantro/parsley sauce. Very interesting.

    Chicken Biryani (After 1:30 pm daily), Special Butter Chicken | Bombay, Paneer Hara Masala
    Jess F.

    Himalaya is a small, causal spot that you could consider "hole in the wall" except that it receives well-established restaurant levels of business. The food is amazing, but the service is a little pushy in terms of trying to get you to add things on after your order is placed, even after you refuse multiple times. (We were asked if we wanted to add naan or a mango lassi probably 5 or 6 times and that "everyone does it, you want it trust me" which was a little off putting). But the food makes up for what they lack in atmosphere or service. The special butter chicken is so flavorful, creamy, and intense - one of the best I've tried. The spinach paneer was also one of the best I've had and I wished I could've taken one to go. And the chicken biryani was humongous and with good portions and a large amount of chicken. Ultimately the food was very satisfying and between two people we couldn't even finish these three things! I'd definitely come back for the food, I'd just have lower expectations going in about service. It did leave an impression on me that makes me hesitate to give it a full 5 stars. However, Himalaya has a reputation for a reason, and I'll be a repeat customer for sure!

    Special Butter Chicken | Bombay
    Michelle O.

    The garlic naan was delicious (crispy, fluffy and delicate). The minced garlic and butter on top was very fragrant. The butter chicken is different from what I remember, but it's full of spices and tender chunks. The portion is a small/medium bowl and doesn't come with rice. A small bowl of rice is the same size, while a regular comes on a plate. The rice is always well cooked. The saag paneer was a chunky creamy spinach dish with cubes of paneer. The seasoning and oils' flavors were pretty apparent. I really wanted to try the fried chicken as it sounded interesting. It takes 20-25 minutes from ordering. The chicken breasts were sliced thin and deep fried. The wings were crispy but not as flavorful as the breasts. The chicken pieces were moist and crispy (thin and crispy batter).

    Jose L.

    Great place to enjoy family style food. Can't remember everything that we ordered, but I will list what I do remember and say everything was delicious. Chicken Hará Masala - 4/5 Chicken Tikka Masala - I am a fan of anything chicken tikka masala, if the flavor isn't there then the food is not good. It's a simple dish that if it's not good, for me can make or break if I revisit. Luckily, it was delicious, and this dish also had competition with the steak tikka. I wanted 2nd's and 3rds of it. The place is intimate in a cozy space in a plaza off southwest freeway, parking is within the plaza and seems safe enough, but still don't leave your valuables. The service was quick and efficient, the manager/owner came and checked on us a couple of times and overall made the visit all the more enjoyable, because I was feasting with family. The place is bring your own wine (that and the chicken tikka masala are how they got me to come visit. Looking forward to my next visit.

    Beef Pakidillas
    Mike R.

    This is a review for a charity dinner I purchased at an auction held by the Periwinkle Foundation at their Iron Sommelier Event in 2024. We finally got around to putting the event together in October of this year. Bottom line that Chef Kaiser and his team put together one of the most awesome meals that our 8 guests could ever have imagined, especially since we all love this kind of cuisine. And our host from Periwinkle - Jim Veal brought some kick butt wines and made for an exceptional host. If you don't know the Periwinkle Foundation - you should look them up as they area wonderful organization. In a nutshell, they provide camping experiences and other events for kids at Texas Children that are impacted by cancer and other devastating illnesses. These folks are saints. Ok, enough of the public service announcement, lets talk about the meal. As I said, the food was flowing from the minute we sat down. As you may know, Himalaya is located in an unassuming strip center in what might be referred to as Houston's "India Town" area. Chef Kaiser Lashkiri has been nominated for James Beard Awards and featured on Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown TV Show and also on Andrew Zimmern's show The Zimmern List. And he was an awesome host and kept our guests pleased with both his hospitality and his wit. We started with his famous Pakistani Fried Chicken. The chicken has the skin removed and is marinated in a bunch of spices, then breaded and fried. One guest raved that it was the best fried chicken ever and it was very good fried chicken. What followed next were described as Pakidillas (Pakistani version of Mexican Quesadillas) with braised beef inside an Indian flatbread. Very good, but pretty filling. Then we were served a mound of Beef Biryani. Woah was it good, and we still had a bunch to take home at the end of the night. We were then served three different curries - a butter chicken, a chicken tikka masala, and a green curry chicken. Each with distinct and vibrant tastes. A large plate of his Hunters Beef came out next along with another braised beef kind of dish. And I almost forgot - We had two large platters of different grilled meats from lamb, to beef, to chicken with different seasonings. Everything was on point. My favorite bite of the night was probably the green curry chicken, but everything was fantastic, as were our hosts both Jim and Kaiser equally. Everyone left with full belly's and smiling faces. Thank you Himalaya!!

    Chicken tikka masala deluxe
    . ..

    Excellent! Found this place from researching other people's Best Lists. It's a Mom and Pop place. Casual vibes. One of the best places to eat in Houston. We started with the veggie samosas. They were good. Definitely get the Fried Chicken! It was served with a garlicky butter and spice dipping sauce that was very addicting. Their Chicken Tikka Masala was unique; it tasted different than what we've had before - lots of cardamom spice. My wife said it was her favorite. Service was friendly; the owner checked in on us. Loved that this place is BYOB. We paired our meal with a Grenache based wine from Paso Robles - RIISE (IYKYK). Parking was easy.

    Mango Lassi
    Irene B.

    Full stop Enough with the hating on this restaurant in the reviews!! Go look at all the reviews and restaurants I have given and add this spot to the top of the list!! I love me some Aga's yet this place takes the cake for sure. The butter chicken is creamy and decadent and the Garlic Naan fresh, pillowy and all that butter....c'mon now. I'm getting paid $0 for this review and paying close to $120 for 2 people for all the stuff I ordered!!! worth it- those Sandy steaks...my lawd. Just come eat here already- everyone knows the hole in the wall restaurants are the best! Even better when you see Anthony Bourdain and Zimmerman on the wall! The staff is not rude and neither are the owners... Walk in with a great attitude and you shouldn't have any issues. I came on a random weekday at 11 AM right when it opened and within 10 to 15 minutes, it was packed to the core and the staff was so great about getting all the orders and the dishes out in a timely manner. Truly amazing and my favorite Indian spot in Houston so far! That's a huge statement. Everyone knows how international our town is and how many great Indian restaurants are in this town as well! I was so surprised that I had never heard of this place and I even went to research him on YouTube and the chef has such a great story. You have got to give this place a try and leave a review because this is a hidden gem!

    Morgan H.

    This was my first time ever having Himalayan food and I have really been missing out! Since being here, I have tried a couple other places and they just aren't as good. Himalaya Restaurant may not look like much from the outside, but don't let it fool you. The walls were covered in newspaper articles and reviews from culinary experts and I can understand why! I ordered the chicken tikka masala and it came with rice and garlic naan. I've never had chicken so tender, food so flavorful, and it was so fresh. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because the service could use some work. Like I said it was my first time eating Himalayan food and I had no idea what to order. The waiter didn't seem to care explaining any of the dishes and almost seemed impatient. Other than that he was mostly kind and the food came out fast.

    Nhi T.

    Came after seeing a few Tiktoks of the owner advertising the food and was very pleasantly surprised by the dishes. We ordered the garlic naan, the steak tikka, and the goat masala with a side of rice. The garlic naan was not only delicious but also smelled great -filling my nose with the essence of garlic right when it hit the table. The tops of the naan were doused in a generous amount of garlic butter and parsley and came out warm and whole as though they were right out of the tandoor. (8/10) The steak tikka was the star of our meal. Though I'm not a big steak person, when I heard this was an Anthony Bourdain approved steak I knew I had to give it a try. The steak was not only super juicy and tender, but the Indian spices and flavors really elevated this dish and made it one of the best steaks I've ever had. This along with the herby green yogurt sauce it comes with is a must try when coming here. Though the dish is one of the pricier dishes in is worth every penny and comes in a generous portion. (8.5/10) The goat masala was also very tasty and the meat was tender. Dipping the garlic naan in the curry was definitely another highlight of this meal. This dish was a solid goat curry, however, I have had better as I felt like the flavor of it was less complex than other goat curries I've had. (7/10) Overall, the food was delicious and packed with authentic flavors. I would definitely come back for the steak tikka and to try other menu items. The ambiance is very casual and they have a good amount of parking outside and seating inside.

    Biryani , Saag Paneer | Palak Paneer, Dahl, Garlic Nan

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    1 month ago

    Awesome food every time we go or pick up. Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani , Lamb Vindaloo and more.

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    3 months ago

    Awesome food and a funny owner-I took my Pakistani friends, in their loved the food and said it was authentic.

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    Page 1 of 44

    Himalaya Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Himalaya Restaurant

    Is it halal?

    Yes.

    Can I bring my own beer or wine? BYOB? Is there is corkage fee?

    Is this place worth the hype, if It is what should I get?

    Chicken Hara Masala. Very unique tangy green chicken curry with astounding depth of flavor. Tawa Gosht (if they have it in rotation, and if you eat beef, it's worth getting)… Read more

    How good is the fried chicken?

    Its good if you can eat it immediately after it is served. Meaning either eat it in the restaurant or in your car (if doing take away). If you let it sit for more than 30mins, it loses some of the crunch, which is unfortunate because thats where the… Read more

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    Aga's Restaurant & Catering

    Aga's Restaurant & Catering

    4.7(3.6k reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $$

    Aga's Restaurant & Catering is considered one of the best Pakistani restaurants in all of North…read moreAmerica. This location has a banquet hall as well as a large restaurant that looked like it had seating for over 200 people. I went with their goat chops, beef bihari boti, goat shinwari karahi and naan. Goat chops ($27 - 5 pieces) - This is their most famous dish, and was the best Pakistani BBQ spiced item I have ever tried! The goat chops were so tender, juicy and had such flavorful spices. I can't stop thinking about these! Beef bihari boti ($13 - 6 pieces) - This was another impressive dish, consisting of 6 tenderized boneless pieces of beef prepared in some bold spices which utilized papaya and yogurt. Goat shinwari karahi ($21) - While the karahi was good and flavorful, I don't feel this particular karahi was as bold and strong as regular karahis I have had elsewhere. This restaurant offers several types of karahi, and I should have gone with the standard karahi, but this was still good. Naan ($2) - This was extremely reasonably priced and the naan was pillowy soft. Overall I was impressed with the service here and the food. Aga's definitely lived up to the hype and I'm glad I got to try this Pakistani HALAL restaurant. This is a must visit for anyone visiting Houston!

    The Food: Every dish is packed with authentic, bold flavors. The Goat Chops were perfectly charred…read moreand tender. They are a bit spicy, which doesn't bother me but they are too spicy for my daughter that eats nothing spicy. The Butter Chicken is delicious and not spicy at all, and their Garlic Naan is the ideal companion for scooping up every last bit of curry. The Service: Despite how busy they stay, the staff is remarkably efficient and attentive, ensuring that your water is filled and your courses arrive hot. The Vibe: It's a great spot for large groups or a nice dinner out. It feels upscale yet remains deeply rooted in traditional hospitality. OVERALL - The food was absolutely delicious. Whether you are a longtime fan of Indo-Pak cuisine or trying it for the first time, Aga's sets a very high bar. It's the kind of meal you'll find yourself craving again the very next day. Depending on what time you go you will have to wait more than just a few minutes. We went on Sunday afternoon and had a half an hour wait, but was worth the wait.

    Photos
    Aga's Restaurant & Catering - Line during Ramadan

    Line during Ramadan

    Aga's Restaurant & Catering - Aga's Platter 31.99

    Aga's Platter 31.99

    Aga's Restaurant & Catering - Mango Lassi 17.99

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    Mango Lassi 17.99

    Pak-Man - Empty plate. Vegetarian Super Pak. I'm going to finish the rice as soon as this post drops.

    Pak-Man

    5.0(14 reviews)
    8.7 miSixth Ward

    I didn't eat all the pellets on my first try, but when eating those fried pickles a felt like they…read morewere the large flashing dots called "Power Pellets" which cause the ghosts to temporarily turn blue, allowing Pac-Man to eat them for bonus points. The spicy kick to those fried pickles will stay embedded in my brain because It gave a new twist on the fried pickle I had never imagined nor experienced before. Ok and now the burger story, and so many other good things to eat here for the palate. Although the inspiration for the Pac-Man character was the image of a pizza with a slice removed I would say the Pak-Man burger was the perfect Puck-(in a burger)-Man. The Pak sauce is for real and just the right taste to go with the seasoning. The brioche buns held tight together even with the dripping sauce and flavors coming out of this fantastic meal. I love Samosas too and the truck says it all. Next time I'll get some of the Nutella samosa and or kulfi ice cream if they have it. Glad I stopped in to try this truck out and the staff was supper friendly and efficient.

    Loved the concept of the video game design. The staff was very friendly and provided some good…read morevegetarian options for my friend. We ordered the Potato Samosas and fried pickles. Both were very delicious (good seasoning, excellent texture/flavor). The food came out very fast on a chilly afternoon in front of Silver Street studios. Later on in the evening I ran into them again outside of Cidercade! It was meant to be for me to write this review. Would definitely go back and try some of their other wraps/kabobs.

    Photos
    Pak-Man - The Pak Man truck

    The Pak Man truck

    Pak-Man - Pak-Man burger

    Pak-Man burger

    Pak-Man - Some of the menu

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    Some of the menu

    Karahi Boys - Sultan chicken.

    Karahi Boys

    4.0(171 reviews)
    11.6 mi
    $$

    Out with 2 teenage boys, whom by the way, 5 star ratings are for restaurants worth visiting more…read morethan 2 times... With that said, absolutely loves the flavors offered here! We ordered the goat, spinach, some chicken and some goat rice as seen in the photos. Official names- Goat Biryani, Potohari Goat Karahi, Aashik Beef Kabob, Palak Paneer, Classic Chai and Garlic Naan BUT!! the one thing is appetizers coming out the same time you order a main meal- normally I would subtract a star... I love the classic chai because it's not sweet and great ratio of milk to tea. You can choose your spice level on dishes and also note that all goat items have bones. The ambience is very cultural, colorful and peaceful. Quick service and comfortable seating. Our waitress was also kind enough to explain the different dishes and sauce bases. So don't feel intimidated and definitely come hungry! yummy!

    Service is a little slow but the staff is great and extremely accommodating . It's a beautiful…read moreplace, clean well maintained. We had the family garlic naan I forgot which karahi but the chicken breast with a cream based sauce, mango lassi, chole (chickpeas), lahori fish. It took me this long to go because I kept looking at their prices and couldn't justify, but don't be like me and let it scare you away. The portions are definitely more than enough for 2. They are not stingy with their portion size. Looks like their weekday lunch prices are pretty decent so I'm going to have to go back for that for sure. Pretty much everything we had was great. I will say next time I want to try a more traditional tomato based Karahi. Family size Naan was $10 it's probably like 3 regular naan super fluffy not dense so it's easy to eat. Chole was perfect great flavor all around chickpeas were soft. Mango lassi was good but I think it was too heavy for me so I may pass on it next time and leave more room for food. Not sure what kind of fish they use for the lahori fish but the flavors were great, I feel like it should come with fries and I wish it was another type of fish but otherwise on point. The Karahi was chicken breast, really good flavor if you are introducing someone to Pakistani food,it's cream based so it's milder but still has great flavor. My bill was around $87 and I definitely had leftovers. I suggest not going alone if you are getting off the regular menu and not weekday lunch.

    Photos
    Karahi Boys
    Karahi Boys - Chicken Dum Biryani

    Chicken Dum Biryani

    Karahi Boys - Garlic naan. Necessary to mop up the karahi sauce.

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    Garlic naan. Necessary to mop up the karahi sauce.

    BBQ Tonight - Roghni naan

    BBQ Tonight

    4.2(20 reviews)
    10.1 miEnergy Corridor

    There's a moment that happens in every desi person's life in Houston when you stop apologizing for…read moreour food and start evangelizing it. The biryani isn't "kind of like jambalaya," the kababs aren't "Pakistani street meat," and the chai isn't "spiced tea." It's just biryani, kabab, and chai, full stop, and if you're lucky enough to live in this city, you have access to two operators doing it at a level that demands attention: Chef Saadat and BBQ Tonite Katy. If you grew up watching ARY Zauq or Hum, you already know the man. Saadat Siddiqi is a MasterChef Pakistan judge, hosted travel-and-food programming across Pakistan's biggest networks, and built a global following while half the rest of us were still figuring out how much haldi goes into daal. Now he's based stateside, and Houston has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of that move. What separates Chef Saadat from your khala who "could open a restaurant if she wanted to" (every desi family has this woman, may God protect her) is that Saadat actually trained. Australia, formal kitchen work, years of broadcast cooking that demanded consistency. So when he runs a pop-up or a curated dinner in Houston, you taste the difference immediately. The masalas are layered instead of blunt. Proteins hit the right doneness without going leathery. The chaat isn't drowned in chutney; it's balanced. It's Pakistani food cooked with the kind of precision that French and Italian kitchens take for granted, and it's a revelation when you realize our cuisine has always deserved that treatment, just nobody was bothering. The man is also genuinely warm. Walk up to him at an event and he'll talk you through what he made, why he made it, and where the recipe came from. That's not nothing. Most celebrity chefs would rather you take a selfie and move along. Tucked into Park Row in Katy, BBQ Tonite has quietly become one of the most reliable Pakistani spots on the west side of greater Houston. The Katy location runs on the same DNA as the broader BBQ Tonite family; charcoal grilling, generous portions, halal across the board, weekend buffet ambitions, but it caters specifically to the Katy desi diaspora that has exploded in the last decade. You're as likely to hear Urdu and Punjabi at the next table as English, and that's the highest compliment I can pay a Pakistani restaurant in America. The mixed grill is the move. Bihari kabab with that papaya-tenderized melt, beef seekh that holds together without being a hockey puck, chicken boti with proper char and yogurt-marinade tenderness, and a tandoori chicken that's actually red because of masala and not food coloring (the cardinal sin of lesser kitchens). Pair it with garlic naan straight out of the tandoor and a side of green chutney, and you're operating at peak efficiency on a dollar-per-flavor basis. The karahi game is strong. The goat karahi has the proper tomato-and-ginger backbone, and they don't drown it the way Americanized desi spots do when they get scared of their own cuisine. Order it with a roghni naan if you're feeling indulgent. Houston's Pakistani food scene has always been good. With Chef Saadat doing his thing and BBQ Tonite holding it down in Katy, it's now genuinely great. Bring out-of-towners. Bring skeptics. Bring the colleague who only knows "tikka masala." Both of these will do the convincing for you.

    Amazing food and incredible service! Love the goat karahi and garlic naan. Chai is yummy. Beautiful…read moreambiance. Would highly recommend!

    Photos
    BBQ Tonight
    BBQ Tonight - Chicken Biryani

    Chicken Biryani

    BBQ Tonight - 3 people ordered for 6

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    3 people ordered for 6

    Mai Colachi - Sugar Land

    Mai Colachi - Sugar Land

    4.1(350 reviews)
    10.4 mi
    $$

    As one of the most well known South Asian restaurants in Sugar Land, Mai Colachi has spent the…read morebetter part of the last decade showcasing their Pakistani flair in the form of ambitious buffet offerings and a menu that appeals to both longtime desi food fans and newcomers alike. The space has touch of modern vibes in a warm group friendly / community setting. The layout can be customized for large groups, but yours truly prefers the booths with a window to the outside world. (#1) The bathrooms are clean and the very enthusiastic Afghani (?) staff are a bubbly and fun bunch. One of their standout offerings is their weekly buffet nights and weekend brunch buffets, which regularly draws locals looking for variety and value. The Thursday evening service is street food inspired with chaats, nihari "tacos" and a mix of Indo-Chinese foods such as fried rice (#2) and spring rolls. The Sunday all day buffet is a bit more of my speed, which a number of curries, naans, and desserts. The spread varies from week to week, but it is generally quite good. Prices are standard and the aforementioned parking is abundant. I would be compelled to return on different Sundays to peep the seasonal selections and look forward to my return in the near future. ____________ (#1) Or a view to a massive parking lot. (#2) So much for biriyani.

    Outstanding per usual! Had the chili shrimp and goat chops. Both had delicious flavor and just the…read moreright amount of spice. Goat chops had plenty of meat. The service was 10/10 with very attentive and kind employees. Restaurant was clean. I would def come back! The buffet looked so inviting and smelled incredible. All the food stations were filled as needed. I will definitely have to come back to try it!

    Photos
    Mai Colachi - Sugar Land - I felt like I was in a fancy hotel

    I felt like I was in a fancy hotel

    Mai Colachi - Sugar Land
    Mai Colachi - Sugar Land - Luxury looking dining room

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    Luxury looking dining room

    Himalaya Restaurant - indpak - Updated May 2026

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