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    Kitchen Rumors

    4.4 (51 reviews)
    PriceyIndian
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    KITCHEN RUMORS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Lamb chops!!! Yes please!!!!! You can cut these with a butter knife
    Jennifer H.

    Exceptional in every way. Bold Indian flavors paired with eclectic global fusions come together beautifully to create a truly special dining experience. Every dish impressed. This place is unassuming and the service is friendly and genuine. The lamb chops are to die for! And the dessert is heaven sent (seriously!) Holy Gulab Jamun.

    Lupe M.

    Came here for the first time and it was such a great experience from start to finish. The hostess was very friendly and playful as I checked in with my reservation. I was seated very quickly and my waiter Tony wasted no time bringing me the menu and giving me drink recommendations. He went in depth about each of the drinks and how they are made and the flavors you will get from them. He did the same with the food menu, explaining the popular dishes and his personal favorites. I ended up trying the Infladita which ended up being a little arts and crafts project lol jk. They are little hollowed balls that you fill with the provided ingredients. Very flavorful and customizable. I also tried the blue cheese chicken kebab which was amazing! So much flavor and the chicken was juicy and tender! I paired it with the garlic naan as Tony recommended. The garlic naan was perfect! Freshly baked and so much flavor. I'll be back soon for sure!

    Crispy Cauliflower
    Jason D.

    Having been out for an event, I wanted to come back and show some love. The location can be a little rough. There's a lot of construction around which makes it a bit difficult to get where you want to go. They have a small parking lot in the front and a slightly larger one in the back. It's not necessarily the easiest place to get in and out of. We rolled in on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. We were the only ones in the joint for most of the time we were there. Which is unfortunate. It's a really well decorated spot. And while I do enjoy having a place to myself, I would much rather see the business flourishing with humans during happy hour. They're happy hours 4:00 to 6:00 in case you were wondering. They do have both food and drinks on their happy hour menu. So this time through we ordered crispy kale, but they ended up bringing us crispy cauliflower. That's fine, because it was really good. And we really liked the side of sauce that it came with. Very fresh, very tasty and flavorful. We also got some sliders, which were okay. This is your stand when fair that you would get pretty much anywhere with the side of fries. Nothing amazing. But we did get the Grilled Gossip Lamb Chops, and those were fantastic. Unfortunately they only come in a pair, but they were very, very tasty. Highly recommend if you're into Lamb. The staff were very attentive and helpful. The place is decorated very well. I do hope they generate more business and they get more people to come out. Highly recommend if you're in the air and you want to give them a shot.

    Kira L.

    Kitchen Rumor is a great date night spot -- cute ambiance, good vibes, and the staff was super friendly and attentive. We got the lamb chops, mushroom, and blue cheese chicken with garlic naan. The lamb chops were well-seasoned with a nice char, and the blue cheese chicken was decadent -- creamy, tangy, and indulgent. Mushroom was mainly the bean paste with a few pieces of mushroom on top. The garlic naan was not too garlicky but solid naan. The flavors are bold and rich, and if you're into big, unapologetic flavors, you'll probably love it. That said, most dishes leaned a touch too salty and heavy for my taste. By the end of the meal, I was feeling the weight of it all so if you prefer something lighter or more balanced, just be aware that subtlety isn't really on the menu. I likely would not return because of the heaviness and saltiness in the flavor. Solid pick for an Indian fusion night out in Houston!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Didn't try their cocktails but if I were to try the cocktails I would try the cocktail bites- they look super cute and yummy.

    Jordan Z.

    I went with 3 girlfriends to Houston restaurant week. Unfortunately, the restaurant had a few fans running because their AC was having issues. The first table they sat us at was right in front of the fan. We requested to move and it wasn't a problem. Our food was stellar. We enjoyed a 4 different appetizers and entrees; they were all well balanced and tasty. None had any spice (if you were looking for one). Desserts were great. Cocktails and mocktails were solid. Overall, if the ac was working, it was a full stellar night for a mainstream American/ Indian restaurant. If you are looking for authentic Indian, you will be lacking. But I had a great time and great service. Top bites- pani puri, shrimp curry, blue cheese chicken app Parking isn't great but there are two parking lots (front and back).

    Eat Me Like a Taco - Paneer Kakori
    Sasha D.

    Came on a Sunday night at 6:30 and the place was almost completely empty the entire evening, which is unfortunately because we really enjoyed our experience. The paneer tacos were quite good and the spaghetti bolognese with lamb was also delicious (somehow even better reheated the next day) and the chili cheese bread it came with was also just as good. Service was fast and friendly; the rest of the menu also looked really good, would come back again

    Crispy Kale & Wasabi Ragda Chaat
    Ari K.

    We came in around 5:20ish for our 5:15 reservation on Saturday - a train had unfortunately blocked us on the way there. We called ahead about this and they were very understanding about the delay! There is a lot in front and street parking nearby. We asked to be moved to the bar (they were exceptionally accommodating) as it was less busy there. It was also HH which was an added plus. We also saw Chef Jassi, who kindly gave us added information about the dishes we ordered. It was fairly busy and got busier over the course of our stay - the atmosphere was lively and conversational. We got some appetizers from the HH menu and the HRW dinner. I do suggest getting an appetizer along with the HRW menu as some may feel portions are smaller in some dishes than others. We got the Sichuan Eggplant and Crispy Kale off the HH. Both were great, but the warm and spicy eggplant was SO good. They were the perfect warm-up. For our HRW appetizers we got the Hokkaido Scallop Ceviche and the Jackfruit Chilla. The scallops were fresh and tender and we loved the creamy leche de tigre poured on top. We also enjoyed the chilla. Our mains were the Malabar Prawn Curry and the Branzino with Herb Sabzi. The branzino was the star of the show and the sabzi paired perfectly with delicate white fish. The $10 up-charge was well worth it for the portion size and taste. We felt the curry could have had a bigger portion size or have had rice as a side, but the sauce was delicious. The HRW mains also come with a side of garbanzo bean curry and naan, both of which held their own well. For the dessert we got the Chocolate Cardamom Mousse and the Howdy Gulab Jamun. We felt that the mousse had more depth flavor-wise with the warm spice and the rich dark chocolate. The gulab jamun dessert was mainly 'just' sweet - I liked the pecan pie bar and the lemon curd though! The glasses of white wine and rosé we got also paired well with what we ordered. The service was great and the food came in a timely manner. I enjoyed my experience and would love to come back to see what Chef Jassi has in the future or to just try more of the menu!

    Robert A.

    Top-notch experience! Food and service were both wonderful. Can't wait to be back in the area so we can visit again and explore more of the menu.

    Serra M.

    I drive past this location everyday and I was surprised to see the previous restaurant no longer in business. However, I saw that Kitchen Rumors was taking over! I had to stop by on opening day. I must say, it is super cute...I'm digging the color palette! I love pops of color and they have done such a great job. When they bring you the ticket it comes in a little mailbox:). I ordered the Rose Cocktail, Cauliflower Tajin Appetizer and Chicken Sliders. They were all from the Happy Hour Menu...drop the mic!!!! Oh yes, this is my new happy hour spot and it's within walking distance to my home. The parking is limited, but it's located in a neighborhood so you might have to park there if they are packed in the lot. They have a patio that is very spacious. The staff provided great service and they accept walk ins if you do not have a reservation. I'm bummed that I had to leave early due to this Saharan Dust giving me a headache. Nonetheless, I will return next week. They have craft cocktails and an array of dishes that vary in pricing. You definitely should give them a try!

    Crispy Kale Salad with Wasabi White Beans
    Mike R.

    We are big fans of Amrina, so we were excited to visit Kitchen Rumors in the Heights. They are housed in the old Xin Chao space and have done a great job of making the space their own. The service was top notch - We had a lead server, but there was a great deal of support staff and management who made the whole experience flow perfectly. Chef Jassi even came out and greeted us. Antonio, the assistant GM and Somm was extremely helpful. We started with a couple of innovative and tasty cocktails - The Bhangra Routine which was sort of a tequila based Gin and Tonic type drink. The strawberry ice cubes were interesting. We also had the Swag Wali which was an old fashioned riff. Both tasty. On to the food. For appetizers we had the Roasted Tikki Oysters, the Scallop Ceviche, the Lobster Dumplings and the Crispy Kale Salad. Each dish was innovative and very tasty. The oysters were some of the best roasted oysters I've had in Houston. And the Lobster Dumplings could stand out on the best dim sum menus in town. The Ceviche was flavorful and the scallops were tender and the Kale Salad was a mixture of flavors and textures that Chef Jassi excels at. The Oysters were the closest thing to an Indian dish of the 4, but were all certainly Indian influenced. For our main course we went with the Atta Chicken. Insider note - It takes 45 minutes to prepare this dish, so get it ordered early. The presentation of opening the dough crust was fun, but it might have been more fun if the dish was plated at the table rather than taking it back to the kitchen. In any event, it was like some of the most delicious tandoori like bone in chicken I've had. There have been some complaints about the size of the chicken in the reviews, but for me the size was perfect for two guests and the price was consistent with two entrees. The only side dish we ordered was the Sichuan Eggplant that used to be on the Amrina menu. It was great as usual, but we were so full that most of the eggplant came home with us. We were too full for dessert. Great job Kitchen Rumors. We will return to try some other items!!

    Howdy Gulab Jamun
    Kiran A.

    **This place was upsetting... to say the least.** My girlfriends and I saw a bunch of posts about this spot on Instagram and decided to make reservations and check it out. It wasn't packed when we arrived, but it's still worth reserving a table -- about 70% of the place was full on a Tuesday night. There's parking in the front and back, not a ton, but there's street parking nearby so finding a spot wasn't an issue. We were seated right away, but wow -- it is *cramped*. There was a group of four guys at the table directly behind us, and every time a server came by to take their order, clear plates, or refill water, our chairs got bumped. Constantly. We were basically sitting back-to-back, rubbing chairs, and could hear each other's conversations word-for-word. Maybe that kind of setup flies in New York, but in Houston? Where space isn't exactly at a premium? It felt unnecessary and uncomfortable. Then came the part that really soured the night. When our server came over to introduce himself, drop off menus, and take our drink order, he gave us a little spiel about the restaurant. And in that, he told *a table of three Desi women* that the food wasn't traditional Indian -- it was fusion, borrowing from different cuisines so you get "the best of everything without that bad Indian smell." We were stunned. Why say that? And to *us*, of all people? What about us made him think that comment would land? It was ignorant, offensive, and honestly, just disappointing. As for the food -- it doesn't cater to a traditional Indian palate at all. Indian food is bold, layered, and rich. This was, across the board, forgettable. Here's what we tried: 1. **Infladita** - Basically a lamb pani puri. The passion fruit water was nice, but otherwise meh. 2. **Jackfruit Chilla** - Looked beautiful, tasted like nothing. Way too thick. 3. **Pan-Fried Paneer** - Actually pretty good. 4. **Bison Short Rib Nihari** - A complete letdown. Barely any shorba, which is *the* star of nihari. This dish missed the mark completely. 5. **Chili Cheese Kulcha, Garlic Naan, and Layered Sheermal** - Kulcha was tasty but *tiny* for the price. Naan was good but swimming in oil. And the sheermal? Not even close to the real thing -- missed both flavor and texture. 6. **Howdy Gulab Jamun** - Didn't hate it, but there was way too much going on. We left feeling disappointed and uncomfortable. It wasn't a memorable meal -- at least, not in a good way. And honestly, we were glad our husbands didn't come. That comment from the server alone would've ruined the night for them. We won't be back. There are too many amazing places in Houston that actually respect the food -- and the culture it comes from.

    Roasted oyster tikka
    Desh M.

    We tried out Kitchen Rumors on opening weekend - we made a reservation, but there were several open tables available for walk in. The space is inviting and casual. There was a decent amount of parking in the front and side of the restaurant. The service was quick and attentive for opening weekend. We tried a few cocktails, which were all great! Our favorite was the Bindaas Vibes - had a nice curry leaf tinge to a refreshing, ginger cocktail. We got a few dishes to share: - Roasted oyster tikka - 4/5, these were good, definitely different from any other oysters I've had, but wish they were fresh instead of roasted. - Infladita - 3/5, these were okay. It's their version of pani puri. We got them vegetarian, which was double portion of avocado instead of lamb. That was a bit of a let down - I wish they subbed it with another ingredient because it felt pretty plain and missing key texture. Lobster dumplings - 3/5, these were lobster shumai (not potstickers/traditional dumplings) and it felt like the lobster meat was ground up. These were a bit of a let down because of that as well. They just didn't feel like they were particularly different from some shumai that you'd get at dim sum. Blue cheese chicken kebab - 5/5, these were great! The chicken was well seasoned and cooked. Our waiter recommended getting it with the chili cheese kulcha, which was a great recommendation. Butter chicken ramen - 3/5, this was the main reason we went but we were a bit let down by it. We're huge ramen fans, but this wasn't particularly flavorful. We tried to get hot sauce to soup it up - but they gave us what seemed like Cholula or Tabasco, which didn't seem like it fit with either the Indian or ramen taste profiles. Branzino - 5/5, this was great! Cooked perfectly, skin was nice and crispy. On a bed of the spinach you'd maybe see in saag paneer. Cumin spice potatoes - 2/5, would not recommend. Just seemed like boiled potatoes with some seasoning. Not crispy or particularly flavorful. Howdy gulab jamun - 5/5, really tasty and love how they reimagined gulab jamun. It's great with the pecan cookie bar crust. Chocolate cardamom mouse - 5/5, also very tasty! Had a great caramel center and very cardamom forward. Overall, it was a good experience. Drinks and desserts were great, main course items were okay.

    HRW Infladita
    Edward P.

    The food was great and I would try it again but the hostess was very uncooperative. She couldn't find my reservation and would not sit me. I had the reservation which I made from Open Table which I had on my phone but they seemed unconcerned with me trying their food for the first time. All of the food was cooked what I believe as well as it was supposed to because it was flavorful, seasoned well, and I enjoyed every bit. I will come back again because I like the feel of the decoy and set up but other that the server hopefully the hostess learns better customer service.

    Bindas vibe

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    Telling you as a desi person, this place is GOOD. Great good, good servers, and decent drinks!

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    Ask the Community - Kitchen Rumors

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    Upper 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!

    Musaafer - Mishti Doi

    Musaafer

    (1k reviews)

    Galleria/Uptown

    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!

    Dining at Musaafer has all the ingredients of a truly great experience, though our evening got off…read moreto a bit of a rough start. Even with a reservation for six, we were first seated at a communal table outside the main dining room, and then moved to a tight, dim corner--neither felt quite right for a place of this caliber. That said, the manager handled everything with kindness and professionalism, and once we were moved to a round table in the center of the main dining room, the night completely turned around. From there, everything was excellent. Justin took great care of us--attentive, thoughtful, and easy to talk to--and the food was beautifully prepared and full of flavor. Musaafer is clearly a special place. With the right seating to match the experience, it really shines.

    Govinda's Vegetarian Cuisine

    Govinda's Vegetarian Cuisine

    (508 reviews)

    $$

    Oak Forest/Garden Oaks

    It's been about a decade since my last review of Govinda's shortly after they first opened so it's…read morehigh time that I finally update that review after being a repeat customer over that time. Lots of things changed but Govinda's largely stayed the same. The decor hasn't changed but there is some wear and tear on the walls. Still clean, food still reliably good and has the homemade taste. They change up the menu daily and now they have 3 all vegan menu days to the week: Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Plus, weekdays have a themed specials that aren't necessarily Indian. They post their menus online but weekday menus are posted the day of on their menu Instagram "ghmenu". Weekend menus are typically posted on Thursday. They are still a buffet so service is minimal but it is pretty good but no frills. Unfortunately, they got rid of their salted lassi years ago so they only have mango lassi now along with mint lemonade for cold drinks. Price has gone up as well to around $18 (a little more for holidays and weekends) per person but that's to be expected. Carry out is $16.95 per meal (large take out container plus a soup, roti, salad, papadam, and dessert). You can opt of out of items but you'll still pay the same price. In the past decade, I still love their food but I can no longer eat as much to make it worth it to dine in so we've been getting take out (we took a brief break from buffets but I missed them so we went the take out route). One take out meal lasts me 2 meals at home so it's a no brainer (husband finishes the take out container in one sitting though). Plus, I have kids now and they definitely aren't good eaters so it didn't make sense for them to eat in. Over the last few months in Houston, we typically go once every 2-3 weeks because my picky kids absolutely love their saag paneer. I got them al a carte saag paneer ($10 for a half container, $5 for a half container of rice, $7 for a small container of an entree) until someone there suggested I just order an entree because it's the same price but you get more. And their plastic containers are limited. I started doing it but then one day, the main guy (manager?) wasn't happy since the big container was just rice, saag paneer, and maybe a little bit of dal makhani. I was a little miffed because if we ate in and all they ate was saag paneer, it would be okay. That aside, I noticed someone mentioned food allergies. The reason why I order Al a carte and segregate their take out container is because my youngest is allergic to wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, avocado, pineapple, and kiwi. Their food is usually labeled but I like asking to be sure. On days they serve something that contains nuts, we just don't go (unless it's only in the dessert). My kids usually like the same things and we only go on non-vegan days. The general consensus is vegan days' food tends to be spicier. My youngest is okay with spice, but my eldest who is super picky won't eat it if it's too spicy. Plus, I love their makai kofta. If I'm in town and I see they have makai kofta, we are THERE. However, I noticed that their menu isn't always set in stone. One day, they didn't have my favorites but we went because I didn't want to cook and THEY HAD MALAI KOFTA. I was so pleased. If you love potatoes, their batada vada is divine (but moderately spicy). I also enjoy the BBQ tofu but they usually only offer it on vegan days so I haven't had it in a long while. They have special menus on holidays but they're vegan so I have unfortunately never tried any holiday menus. We moved but when I'm in town, we make sure to drive up north to eat here at least once. We absolutely miss Govinda's and my kids ask for their beloved saag paneer even when we're not in Houston. I should ask if they can part with the recipe! Haha.... We ordered catering in 2024 for my eldest's birthday! Even the non-vegetarians enjoyed it and you get a lot of food for less than $500. You choose from certain dishes but it still covered many of my Govinda favorites, if not all. Honestly, we'd do it again just for fun with close friends and family and have leftovers for at least a week after splitting it up with everyone. Price has probably increased though.

    I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a little while now and since I had training in The…read moreHeights for work. I had my opportunity to. Parking is on the opposite side of the temple. The grounds of the temple is well manicured and neat with flowers. A big red sign read, "Govinda" was positioned so that I wouldn't miss it. As soon as I walked in at lunch time, the restaurant was damn near empty with only two families. The host immediately sat me at a table front of the buffet line. There was a strong lingering smell of pine-sol and Mr. Clean in the air. Of course, that indication told me that the restaurant was clean. The items on the buffet line was plenty, but limited. I got the rice, tofu curry, chaat marsala, and some vegetables. Everything except for the chaat was bland. It wasn't very easy to eat while the smell of cleaning supplies was in the air. It reminded me of sitting in a bucket of cleaning chemicals while eating a meal. The tofu curry tasted only like turmeric, but no salt or pepper or anything. The rice was super bland. The chaat marsala was very tasty and well seasoned. I finished off with desserts which both options were tasty. I hope to return to try their holiday menu, but I think today was a bad day for the cooks.

    Kitchen Rumors - indpak - Updated May 2026

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