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    Kiran's

    4.0 (533 reviews)
    PriceyIndian, Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    KIRAN'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Upscale
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Kiran's

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    ~Delhi Chaat
    Sofia K.

    The restaurant is beautiful and tastefully decorated. The parking can be difficult as it's limited but valet is available. Our server was very kind and patient. The food ranged from street eats to flavorful curries. We enjoyed each dish. The Delhi chaat incides alloo (potato) tiki which can be too much of a filler. When we're having street eats on hilcroft, there is more balance. It's a great fine dining experience for Indian food.

    Cindy S.

    I came for afternoon tea with a large party (private room seating), and really enjoyed my first experience at Kiran's! I will say our server wasn't exactly fast and I felt like I had to prod her multiple times to get my tea refilled. That's an area they could improve upon. The head maître d' came in to provide some help but it just took a much longer time than expected. The chai is fabulous!

    Delhi Chaat
    Sophie T.

    After hearing so many positive reviews from friends, my sister, and my mom, we decided to try this place for dinner. Our waiter was incredibly friendly and helpful, and they even gave us complimentary dessert at the end of the meal for my sister's birthday, which was a thoughtful touch. The atmosphere is elegant and formal, and that upscale feel clearly carries through to the presentation of the food. To start, we ordered the Delhi Chaat, which ended up being my mom's favorite dish of the night. It was a beautiful combination of flavors and textures. The yogurt mint and tamarind chutneys added creaminess with a bright acidic bite, while the crunchy masala cashews contrasted nicely with the soft potatoes. It was a smart, well balanced dish and a great way to begin the meal. For our mains, we shared the Tandoori Chicken with Daal Makhni, the Rogan Josh with lamb leg, and the Paneer Karahi. My personal favorite was the Rogan Josh because the lamb was incredibly tender and the curry was very flavorful. That said, I did not feel the price quite justified the dish, as I think similar quality could be found at more casual restaurants for much less. The same went for the other entrees. While the chicken was tender, I have had juicier versions elsewhere. Although the paneer itself may have been the best I have ever had, the surrounding peppers, onions, and tomatoes overshadowed it enough that it felt like something I could easily order at another restaurant. We did, however, really enjoy Kiran's bread. It was fluffy and soft and practically melted in your mouth with the goat cheese, which added a rich creaminess. I personally think it could have used a bit more rosemary to cut through the richness, but it was delicious regardless. For dessert, we ordered the Gulab Jamun and the Chocolate Samosas with Chai Ice Cream, and we were also given the Hazelnut and Spiced Chocolate Cake on the house. Unfortunately, none of these stood out. The gulab jamun was not soaked enough in saffron syrup for my taste and ended up being dry. The chocolate samosas were especially disappointing, as they were simply chocolate wrapped in fried egg roll skins. The cake was also fairly forgettable. I would strongly recommend saving your money and skipping dessert here. Overall, this restaurant delivers excellent service and an elegant atmosphere, along with some well executed starters and bread. However, the high prices and uneven execution of the main dishes and desserts make it hard to fully recommend. While it was a pleasant evening, I am not sure it is a place I would rush back to given the strong competition in Houston's Indian dining scene.

    Duck naanza
    Henry B.

    Came in on a Friday night with reservation, seated immediately. Dress code: business casual Food 4/5: we ordered Punjabi Thali (a variety platter and smoking duck naanza. Naanza was definitely the star of the show. Need to ask specifically for a naanza menu, they're not on the regular menu. Loved the butter chicken and garlic naan as well. Other options in the Thali felt a bit over salted. Service 5/5: very open to requests, saw multiple setups for celebrations. Friendly and helpful, slightly slow with the food but apologized profusely (was t even that slow). Ambiance 5/5: beautiful ambiance, we were seated in the side by side love seats which were great. Value 4.5/5: given the quality, fairly good value Overall 4.3/5: overall a great experience, slightly marred by finding out they no longer validate parking in the garage at the end Parking: we parked in the garage as previously it was validated, no longer.

    Jessica W.

    i went for their afternoon tea. i am lactose intolerant so i got the dairy free version of the tea. they were accommodating which was really great. my favorite of the tea was the chai. the savory section for me was disappointing for the price because it was a bunch of sandwiches and a huge portion of chips and that was it. i saw others i was with had more unique options for their savory section. the dessert was really fabulous and each one you could tell was made with care. overall the options were very great. ambiance was lovely with a harp playing in the background.

    Kirsten D.

    My aunt and I had afternoon tea at Kirans and to say that she was impressed and loved it was an understatement. The food was perfect and so was the tea. Service was amazing. Our waitress, Maria, was superb. Wonderful woman and you could tell she really wanted take care of her customers. Ambiance was soft and inviting. I love the inside of the restaurant. We even got to meet Chef Kiran herself who I've met once before back in 2021 when I brought my mom for the same experience. A wonderful woman and you can tell she really wants to please her customers. We had a lovely chat.

    Chocolate Samosas
    Clara S.

    Came here for dinner with a large group and everything we got was really really good!! Vibes were classy and chic, and service was great. - Tandoori sizzler: 100/10 (omg the shrimp was biggg and juicy and oh sooo flavorful) - Lamb samosa: 10/10 (solid lamb samosa) - Chicken tikka masala: 10/10 (solid chicken tikka masala with flavorful curry and tender chicken) - Lamb korma: 10/10 (solid lamb korma) - Wood-fire vegetables: 10/10 (veggies were actually really, really good!) - Chocolate samosas: 100/10 (omg the samosas and chai ice cream were bombbb) - Lychee martinis 6/10 (was too strong for my preference but I guess martinis are always strong)

    Aruna K.

    Revisited to relive some good memories and was not disappointed. The last time was so fresh in mind we ordered way more than our capacity to eat . Enjoyed the Pinnapple margarita - great Tandoori paneer- great Mooli paratha- excellent Roomali roti - just about ok Chilli gobi- great Malai khofta- great Vegetable biryani- excellent- raitha- I don't like sour cream infused raitha Flight of soup- loved this idea and the cups, so cute Dessert- no more place in the stomach- had to skip it Mihaan was great. Very courteous, friendly and ready to help. He made insightful suggestions. A little upset when the waiter put the dishes to be packed and those to be taken for wash all on the same tray - that was unhygienic- tried to tell but he did not understand, maybe I was not clear enough as I was exhausted and in a state of food coma to be more explicit.... If I blind my mind to that incident, it was a great experience

    Tea Sandwiches
    Jennifer G.

    Amazing. Samosa and Prosecco lead off, then tea sandwiches, scones, and dessert. Everything an exercise in culinary flavor balance. Biggest surprise the salmon with capers and cranberries. Very interesting cocktails and we were able to try all the teas. Theresa our server was excellent. Be prepared. One Prosecco each with the tea service for two was $197 with 20% auto included.

    Garlic naan
    Chris P.

    This is a spot we've been to over the years and it's always been great though it feels like certain elements just aren't what they used to be, which I'll expand on. First, they used to validate parking and they do not now, which is a bummer considering other spots do. This means you're either valet parking or paying to self park in the garage. There is street parking around Levy Park, but it's very hit and miss so don't count on this. If you're in a group, ride together or take a ride share service to save some of the hassle. Upon entry you'll be greeted immediately. We've never had to wait with a reservation, which is great considering how busy it seems to stay most weekend nights. The decor is nice and well appointed, it's definitely an establishment you can come for a special occasion. Food & Drink - 4.5* The food is great, always has been. I've never had anything that I felt wasn't authentic or fresh. On our most recent visit we elected to keep it to some staples. The Delhi Chaat, which I think is just fantastic. It has the right balance of sweet, heat, and crunch. The chicken vindaloo has a nice punch while not being overbearing and the chicken tikka masala is good. Though, on this visit the chicken was a bit dry in the tikka masala. On past visits we've had some drinks, but elected not to on this visit. Service - 3.5* / 1* ~2.25* Here's where I'm going to segregate what was witnessed and what was experienced. Our waitress was very lovely, she was willing to make recommendations if you have any dietary restrictions and it was clear she knew the menu well. On the other hand, it felt as though she was upselling a bit much. There was clear disappointment when we didn't order cocktails, wine, multiple appetizers, or dessert. On a plus side, the staff is very attentive to ensuring your water is refilled frequently, which is always welcome in my book. I drink a lot of water! As for service times, it was a bit extended for each course, which is the biggest knock on the first score given above. We were there a little shy of two hours and we only had an appetizer and a main. We were too full for dessert nor did we want to wait any longer. Now, for the other score and further context. As we sat there waiting between our first and second course, we couldn't help but look at the decor and all of the personnel hustling and bustling. Not too far from our table we watched the hostess sit a family of four. They sat there for probably a good 15 minutes or so and it was clear they were debating leaving. Maybe it was the extended service time, maybe it was the pricing. More on that later. Whatever the case, they eventually got up and left. This was after waters and what not had been served. The table was bussed but not in anyway that is acceptable in the service industry. The silverware was not cleared (after the patrons, particularly the children, touched them though they didn't "use" them). The linen was not changed, some napkins were even reset if they didn't look "used." As someone who came up in the service industry, and in a fine dining establishment -- the table is cleared, in full. Silverware, glasses, napkins, everything. The only thing I saw cleared was one, maybe two napkins and the glasses since they had been poured. The silverware not being cleared was particularly off-putting and is simply unacceptable. It's certainly not what one would expect at an establishment that sells itself as high end. Don't even get me started on food safety / health codes. I should have asked for a manager and explained what I just witnessed however I became distracted by the company I was with to which I simply forgot until sat to write this review. So to whoever may inevitably read this from the restaurant, please reiterate how unacceptable this is to your staff!!! Pricing - 2.5* Here's the other are I have to mention. Look, it's always in the eye of the beholder and very subjective, but I just can't say this place is great value. The food is great however it's pricey for the portion sizes. The main entrees mostly start in the $30s while the portions are not very large. And the cocktails are around $18-22 with some even in the $40s. Mocktails are say $9-12. The naanzaas are pricey too, all three on the top of the menu run $34 at the time of this review. At the end of the day, pricing can be set where it may cost with the burdens and margins required to stay in business and ultimately patrons will be the judge with their wallets. The business has plenty of visitors, and large parties at that. We witnessed at least four groups of 12 or more ppl. Overall - 3.25* Kiran's has been around for awhile, for good reason, and I'm sure we will visit agin however competition continues to increase. There's another establishment I would recommend to others ahead of Kiran's for those looking for an "elevated" Indian food experience. I will simply say, check the local Michelin guide.

    Raj Katori
    Amira I.

    We tried this restaurant for the first time while visiting Houston. It has a nice ambiance and our server was very friendly too. We started with their chai old fashioned, which was not bad. It was a nice twist on the traditional old fashioned drink. It's made with Amrut Indian whiskey. For appetizers, we tried their Raj Katori and Pani puri. I enjoyed both. They were delicious. We also ordered their vegetable Thai which came with saag, paneer tikka masala, and some karela with yogurt and naan. We also tried their chicken tikka masala with chicken Briyani. Food was good. It wasn't the best I had in terms of flavoring but the presentation and service was very good. Their chai was my favorite. Apparently it's their own unique blend. For dessert, they gave us one complimentary cake since we were celebrating a special occasion and we also ordered their Panchamrit dessert which our server recommended because it's different than the traditional ras malai. You can see photos of the food below. Getting wet towels at the end to clean your hands was definitely a nice touch. You don't even get that a Michelin star Musaafer Indian restaurant and no complimentary dessert either. These small touches did enhance our dinner experience. Our bill was almost $250 for everything below.

    Lamb keema
    Alex S.

    Everything was really tasty, but for the price I prefer other smaller businesses if you're just going for classic Indian (saag, butter chicken or chicken tikka and naan). The lamb belly was extremely tender and melted in my mouth, the seafood prawn was also a must order.

    Mango mouse
    Manning L.

    Nice upscale Indian cuisine restaurant. Location is easy to get to and the restaurant itself is clean, bright, and has nice decor. The food is good, where the lamb was a little over cooked . The flavors were good and the service was exceptional.

    North Indian thali. Paratha is not shown in this picture.

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    Amazing ambiance and service Try everything on the menu especially their high tea menu I loved it

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    Page 1 of 14

    Kiran's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kiran's

    Is your Saffron Rice Pulao vegan?

    We set aside vegan saffron rice pulao every day for any guest who requests it. Otherwise, as is, our saffron rice pulao has saffron cream. -Puja Verma/Kiran's

    Are we allowed to bring a birthday cake for my daughters 12th birthday celebration ? if the answer is "No" can we cut the cake in the parking lot and then walk in with cake slices...since technically it won't be an "outside whole cake" anymore? TY.

    I am will not be accommodate your request of bringing cake inside the restaurant. Outside food is not allowed to consume inside the restaurant because of liability issues… Read more

    What kind of attire should someone wear?

    Thanks for checking. We encourage guests to be on the dressier side. -Puja Verma

    Is the afternoon tea $45 per person or a flat rate that 2-3 people can share the small bites that are given for that fee?

    Hi Annie, Our tea is $55 per guest. That rate is per person. The tea menu cannot be shared. Our full meu is on our website - www.kiranshouston.com. Thanks. -Puja Verma

    Is there a minimum guest requirement for afternoon tea?

    Hi Zanneh, no minimum guest requirement. -Kiran's

    Should I avoid this restaurant if i have a tree nut allergy?

    I 'think' their rice has sliced almonds in it. I'm sure they can make it without but I'd call and ask just to be safe.

    Is it halal?

    All our Lamb dishes are Halal. We are featuring Halal chicken on for menu for the weekend of July 5th and 6th 2019. More news on halal chicken coming soon....

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    This is one of Rice Village's only real bar scenes, and it's slightly off the beaten path…read more The exterior looks appealing with a nice patio. The interior is dimly lit with a variety of interesting pieces of decor. One thing that I love is this used to be an old bank, and the location has gone through a handful of owners and bars, but the old bank vault still remains, and is even an area where you can play games and sit and enjoy your beverages They have board games, a lane for darts. There's also a popcorn cart in the middle of the bar with complimentary popcorn The staff is fairly pleasant and efficient. The drinks were fine. The ambiance just wasn't my thing. It was fairly dark and the bar, darts area, and a couple other spots just felt crowded and congested. This is also a Rice Owls bar, and many of the clientele are rice students or alumni, and when we went it was very "bro-y" for lack of a better term Come tips: If you can, get reservations for the speakeasy that is located directly above the Owl Bar. Much better vibes, drinks, and service Cheers!!

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    The Owl Bar
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    The Podium - Biscoff latte

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    Such a hidden gem next to the Porsche dealership! The alcoholic drinks are great and super…read moreaffordable, which was a nice surprise. They also have coffee, tea, pastries, and a few small bites, so it's an easy spot whether you're in the mood for a cocktail or just a chill coffee break. The service is always great, and the whole place has a very laid-back vibe. It's perfect for a casual date, but I also noticed quite a few people working remotely while I was there. It kind of feels like a mini lounge or club--but toned down into a cozy cocktail-and-coffee-shop coworking spot.

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    The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club

    The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club

    4.3(155 reviews)
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    I went for the first time with some friends who have been going there for many years. I had never…read morebeen to a blues club before, it was a lot of fun, you go to the bar to get your own drinks. They do not have food, we actually brought pizza in Side from Domino's next-door. We got there early so parking was easy. It's a small place, but there was plenty of seating and two pool tables. People were dancing and having a wonderful time. The band was a lot of fun as well. I would definitely go back. It was $10 cash cover charge on Friday night.

    This is a nice no-fuss, old fashioned live music venue that specializes in Blues and because it's a…read moresmall venue, you really get in up close and personal with the performers. There is a cover charge of $10 for most of the performances but if you check out their website and the calendar, some of the shows are free also. The crowd is mixed but as would be expected with the genre of music, it's older - I would guess the average age of the crowd on the night I was there was 50-60 but they were getting down and having a good time so that's the important part! Parking kind of sucks here so I would suggest coming in early and if you find something in the parking lot or by the mechanic shop, back your car in because people will likely park behind you and it'll be pretty tight getting out later. There is also street parking around the neighborhoods but check the signs to make sure you don't need a permit.

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    The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club
    The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club
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    Inside

    Bar Buena - Ardilla

    Bar Buena

    4.6(12 reviews)
    1.6 miRiver Oaks, Montrose

    Bar Buena was a surprise find after we participated in a cooking class at Sur La Table across the…read morestreet. After the byob cooking experience, we figured "why not!?" So we walked on over to this little speakeasy and were immediately greeted by the bouncer. On a Thursday night, it was quite crowded, but were able to find the last remaining seats at the bar. We were seated at the left end of the bar, which was nice because we had our own little "nook" away from the rest of the bar. Adjacent to us was the server station - the one server tending to the tables, Marilyn, frequently came by and we immediately befriended her. She gave us excellent recommendations and provided her opinion on several drinks. Robin was the bartender who took care of us throughout the night. She was super friendly from the moment we sat down and gave us stellar recommendations on food and drinks. She was happy to tweak a couple of their seasonal drinks to our liking, and even offered to mix other drinks that weren't on the menu. Fantastic service from Robin throughout the night. I started out with Tommy's Margarita - this was just their take on a classic margarita, nothing super special. I then ordered the Oaxacan Old Fashioned - think of an old fashioned made with tequila and mezcal in lieu of bourbon. I was a bit cautious about this one since I am not a fan of mezcal, however the smoky flavor was not very apparent in this one, which was a huge plus! I also got the Ardilla - very unique drink made with mexican corn whiskey, cocoa nibs, sherry, and a milk punch. I award this drink for most unique I've had in a while, definitely give it a try if you're up for something new. To finish, I had the Cariña - their take on an espresso martini made with reposado tequila. I really liked this espresso martini - it was a great way to finish out the night and I left feeling inspired to make my espresso martinis at home using tequila now! With the little room we had left in our stomachs, we tried the Pato Tinga Memela, which was duck leg (no bone) with beans and onions and cilantro atop a memela. I haven't had memela specifically per se, but consider me a fan. It is basically a mini "cake" of masa that is pan fried to a slight crispiness. An Oaxacan speciality, where else can I find these in Houston!? We also tried the Guacamole y Tostadas. The guacamole was unique in the sense that it was Oaxacan style, so contains pepitas, pickled onions, and queso fresco. The tostadas were super crispy and reminded me of how they serve guacamole in Mexico (rather than with chips/totopos). Fun fact is that this bar is owned by Goode Company. Next door to this is Goode Co. Cantina, so it's nice that they created an adjoining restaurant + speakeasy concept within the same strip. At one point in our visit, Levi Goode was standing next to us. We didn't know until after he left and Marilyn informed us, that that was THE man. Just doing a casual check-in of his bar. We really had a good experience at Bar Buena and look forward to returning. The food menu has quite a few offerings I wanted to try had I not come from a cooking class. We were also told that the seasonal drink menu was set to change shortly after our visit, so I look forward to trying these drinks!

    Bar Buena is brand new and already bustling! We stopped by right after 5:00 and were greeted right…read moreaway by the bartender. We did hang out in their standing room area for a little bit but were able to order drinks and snag a table pretty quickly. When I tell you this is the friendliest service I've ever had at a bar or restaurant, I mean it! All different members of the staff were checking in with us to make sure we were having a good time and enjoying everything. We tried out three of their drinks: enamorada, uno amargo, and their classic frozen mezcal margarita. I say this as someone who is stupid about cocktails, but I think if you're a fan of old fashioneds you'll be a fan of the uno amargo - it'll put some hair on your chest! I loved the frothiness that the egg white brings to the enamorada but I think the frozen margarita was our winner. Imagine your favorite frozen marg but better - the mezcal brings an earthier flavor to a cocktail that us Texans all know and love. Finally for food we had the pato tinga memela, gulf crab tostadas, and carnitas flautas. I genuinely loved them all so much, every protein was so juicy bursting with flavor, which makes sense considering everything is made to order. If I had to pick a favorite I would struggle (I'm not kidding, it was all that good), but I think the crab tostadas won us over with their freshness. We had such a great first visit to bar buena and I can see this quickly becoming a cozy date or after dinner drink spot!

    Photos
    Bar Buena - Bar is bueno

    Bar is bueno

    Bar Buena - Interior

    Interior

    Bar Buena - Oaxacan Old Fashioned

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    Oaxacan Old Fashioned

    Kiran's - indpak - Updated May 2026

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