Dinner time ! At a hidden gem This spot is behind a gas station and connected to its own grocery store. The menu is so simple and fulfilling. I love the portion of food that I get. The service is friendly and doesn't take forever! I got the lamb shank biryani. It is really tasty and flavorful. I highly recommend checking this place out Wish I was given naan though. read more

Shahi Cafè - Lamb shank biryani - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

When a cafe is inside a grocery store, it's usually good. Shahi Café is no exception. Try #1, the lamb. The sauce was a velvety comforting carrot infused curry, mild but not too mild. Meat was fork tender. read more

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Their food is just breathtaking Chicken and beef kebabs lamb shank shawarma Rice pilaf Very friendly and family oriented service Over all the ambiance is great I would suggest goat curry and chops read more

Ordered biryani the other day via doordash. 12 out of 10. Outstanding. Place is a hidden gem

I love the way they prepare the food. Super fresh and the service has always been top notch. The ambiance EH...but it doesn't matter simply bcoz I always take my food to go. The place it self is super clean-so that's a plus read more

Stopped here for a bite. I didn't want to drive anywhere due to construction close to the hotel. I checked yelp map and walked. At first, I thought the cafe was closed. It is co-located with a grocery store. Also, the steam heating bins typically used for buffets were covered. However, I was greeted and my order taken. My food was made to order and freshly grilled. Expected to wait for it but it was worth the wait. I ordered one of the specialty items and had enough food for two meals. Definitely worth a try. Check out the grocery store While you wait. read more

Found this authentic South Asian cuisine in a tiny strip on Austin's north side. If you blink, you will miss it. The Chicen Tikka was juicy,spicy and delicious and accompanied with cucumber salad and yogurt sauce. It appeared to have been grilled fresh and the platter was sufficient for two meals. I have never gotten so much naan with a meal and it was almost too much. It is attached to a grocery store so one can shop while waiting for a meal. There is a decent sized dining area. read more

Shahi Cafè - Honey Naan - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My previous review still remains true, however Shahi is the ONLY place in Austin to have Bangladeshi style Beef Tehari (call first and check, it's usually over the weekends) so I have to add a star just on that alone! Their catering prices are also reasonable and highly customizable. Chicken Roast, Korma Chicken and Shami Kababs are all really good. read more

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Still on my adventurous kick I decided to try some Middle Eastern cuisine for lunch today after watching several Food Ranger episodes on YouTube lol. I did a little Yelp search and ended up at Shahi Cafe on North Lamar. I have to point out that upon entering the establishment there is a bit of an interesting smell, however, that's only because the Cafe is within the International Grocery/Meat Market. So don't let that deter you from trying the food out. I decided to try out a Mixed Plate which included a Beef and Chicken Kafta Kabab, Rice, Grilled Veggies (Onion, Tomato & Bell Pepper), Salad and Cucumber Sauce. The plate came with the choice of rice or naan but I knew I still wanted to try their Naan so I also picked one up. There was quite a bit of food stuffed into the plate. The kababs were tasty, tender and not too spicy. I can't say if I'd choose one over another because they were both good. The rice was fluffy and went so well with the grilled veggies. The salad consisted of cucumbers, onions and tomatoes and was such a nice, refreshing side with the kababs. I do wish I had asked for a little extra cucumber sauce because it was a great accompaniment to everything. The naan was huge and tasted like it was freshly baked. The prices were reasonable too... it was about $12 for everything. Definitely worth the try! read more

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Friendly service, but the biryani is awful. It's just lamb mixed with rice (both lacking any flavor or aroma). They charge $15 for it. I wouldn't even pay $5 for it to be honest. The best part of my meal was the Thums-Up soda from India. The market seems good though. read more

Dirty napkins, unseasoned kebab, owners and cooks walking around talking loudly on the phone... was so disappointing. This is not a middle eastern restaurant, it's Bengali and I have Bengali family members that can cook their butts off, in the IndoPak Desi world Begalis are the kings of cooking, and this was not it. Finding home style middle eastern is difficult in Austin but in comparison to a halal brothers this place which states it has Middle Eastern was horrific. The kebabs were unseasoned, the microwave ding kept going off and the shawarma was pitiful and dry. Besides my gross table, the place didn't give you clean vibes, especially with the uncleared table for the whole time we were there. It's cheap, the rice was nice and fluffy and the store prices for Indopak foods were great, all the rest meh..... oh and the Raita was like salad dressing. read more

*******DEFINITELY AS GOOD AS IT GETS!******** Thank you Yelp for another winner. I hit the search nearby feature while we were out of our 'hood' and found this place. We are of Indo-Pak descent and have eaten this food our entire lives (Mostly in Houston, where the options of Indian/Pakistan restaurants is endless) This place was out of their leagues. Just different and delicious. It may sound cliche but you could taste the love in the food. We ordered: beef & lamb schwarma platter - impressive and delicious. Tasted nothing like any other schwarma we've ever had. It tasted much more middle eastern with different flavors and very tender. Chicken tandoori kabob skewer - excellent - our almost 3 year old gobbled up every bit of it while dunking it in his dal (soup). The dal was exceptional. Such delicate flavors yet bursting full of them. I had the goat haleem. I mentioned that I couldn't eat beef due to an allergy and she said she could do a goat haleem. It was spectacular. Topped with fried onions, cilantro, fresh chopped ginger and very spicy chili peppers on the side if you wanted to add them. We also had baba ganouj and hummus. Both were the best I can remember eating anywhere (and I am kinda known for my homemade hummus!). Every single bite was delicious! I cannot wait to go back. A bonus is, I think it's one family who owns, cooks, and serves. They are so sweet and pleasant and helpful. :) A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ read more

Shahi Cafè - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great food. The food is very fresh and tastes really good. The service is impeccable and the staff is very polite. Always took it to go, so can't say much for the ambience. read more

Over the past few months, the restaurant has made small changes that are making a difference. The schwarma plate is now served on a bed of rice along with the two sides. The kebab plate is still the same but they actually lowered the price by $1 or so! it also appears that they have a few more sides added to the roster, which is always a plus. read more

Shahi Cafè - Chicken schwarma and chicken tikka. - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

Absolutely delicious and authentic Punjabi food. Would highly recommend. Their chicken tikka is some of the best I've had.

Best biryani in Austin. The crew there will make many off menu items for you as well..

I used to eat here all the time and for no particular reason I haven't been back in awhile. I stopped in today and I am glad to see they are still open, still clean, and the food is still great. The prices have gone up, yes, but that's understandable during this pandemic. They are a husband and wife that run the restaurant, and the husband is always very nice when taking orders and answering questions. I love how they still have the chai tea dispenser and it's always full and hot. Usually when I'm driving down Parmer I stop in just to get a tea as it's help yourself. As a plus, the kebob plate is enough for 2 meals. read more

Amazing! Tried their lunch buffet and was so blown away by how flavorful everything was. My vegetarian friends found a lot of options and was just as satisfied as I was. New fave lunch spot for sure! Follow me on Instagram for more gems read more

Shahi Cafè - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

The food here is definitely of great quality; their kabobs are never frozen. I recently had their lamb haleem and it was quite tasty. We have also tried their chicken and lamb kabobs, and those too are very tasty. The bread they give with their dishes is also freshly baked. All their food items are really tasty, so why the 3-star review? Almost every time we have been there, there is one lady behind the counter who always seems to have a bad attitude. I don't know why, can't put my finger on it. A bad attitude can really effect your customers, so much so that if my husband and I did want to go to Shahi cafe, we would hesitate or choose to go somewhere else only because we don't want to encounter the lady with the negative attitude. Sadly, they lose our business everytime because we ultimately end up deciding to not go there! read more

I've come here 3 times now and have never been displeased. Also, I've brought three different people here to try this place out each time and we've always gotten different dished and always are happy. This place is a little hidden and you could easily miss it if you are not looking for it or find it on yelp. It's located in a store right near the corner of Parmer and N. Lamar. They have daily specials M-F for $6.99 and their wraps are very good and inexpensive starting at $5.99. I've had their chicken shawarma, beef and lamb shawarma (amazing and worth the extra dollars), curry veggies, beef stew($5.99 with rice), dolma (grape leaf wraps), and their hummus and everything is amazing! They also have fresh meat that you can buy and they even do catering. You won't be sad that you found this place!! Do it! read more

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I was looking for a good Mediterranean place and this was at the top on yelp, but sadly, I was let down. I will say though, the guy behind the counter was awesome to talk to while we waited. I ordered the combo chicken and beef plate to go and when I got home, it only had beef. It was a $2 loss but not a big deal if the quality of the food made up for it. Overall, the beef seemed a bit dry and the rice lacked any major flavors. My other big issue was how small the sauce container they provide was. For a large plate like the combo, a tiny container was good for a bite or two. Most places will load you up on the sauce. With the many different options around town for Mediterranean, I doubt I will be back but if I do, I will make sure to come back and provide an update review. read more

It is a small place,I guess a family business,with a market beside it.we often visit shahi market for chicken and meat shopping.we have been here for 2 times and we had chicken minced and jajube kabob,kabob platter,chicken biriyani so far.I am really surprised to see their food quality,really good tasty food.they have kabob skewers ready,u order and they grill it for u.my only problem was with their rice items.rice items are not freshly made like kabobs,so most of those are partly dried up,doesn't look good. Definitely a good place for finger-licking kabobs. read more

Shahi Cafè - Nice decor - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

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If you're not brown they charge you extra for the food. I had been in plenty of times with my friend from India and they always charged him one price, but when I went in by myself they up the price by over $3, and when I called them out on it they denied it. I literally called my friend from the store and asked him how much they charged him for what I was getting, and lo and behold it was $3 cheaper than what the lady was trying to charge me. She also wouldn't show me the menu with the prices on it... If you can make a profit on selling at a certain price to certain people, you can still make a profit on other people even if they have a different skin color and accent. read more

Lamb biryani and Beef tihari are excellent choices here, they make party trays too, try their desi chai as well

Let me start by saying the food here is delicious!!! but the portions are too small! its not worth taking to go, cause you can eat more for just a couple more bucks at the buffet.. I ordered a shwarma plate, maybe got half a serving of chicken.. The only reason I got it was FOR the chicken.. I didn't end up getting rice, cause i'm on a restricted diet, so they gave me half a portion of veggies.. I get why they did, but its not really that appealing when they're nickel and diming you.. read more

Went there for the buffet a few weeks ago. This is certainly a gem in hiding. Authentic (AFAIK), tasty and very good value for the money. We were greeted by someone behind the buffet counter who helped us understand the different culinary choices (THANK YOU!). While the place is not large and not the easiest place to just happen to walk into, I really recommend you try if you like Mediterranean choices. read more

This place is great and very clean! It's also connected to a grocery/market so the food is always fresh. I ordered a Gyro and it was definitely the best I've had so far in my geek eating experience. I also had a side of hummus and naan. My boyfriend had the Chicken Shawarma served over rice with a side choice of potatoes and vegetables in curry. He was also very pleased with his platter. The Gyro came out before the hummus and naan and I thought the staff forgot about the side and they informed me it takes a little longer because they make the bread fresh. It was worth the little wait. Overall, great experience. read more

Shahi Cafè - Gyro, Chicken Shawarma Platter served over rice with potatoes and vegetables in curry - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

So all the good reviews..i can understand... you got good food at that time or more often than not and you write a good review..my personal policy..i don't write reviews until i have been to the place at least 2 to 3 times.. so i have been here few times now and majority of the time food is bad and old.. lunch buffet im talking about... weekdays and weekends.... haven't tried menu items yet but lunch buffet is a no go..old good... bad rori/naan..... don't know what the issue is.. but not going there anymore for lunch buffet... guys you can cook less good but do fresh... and some items are nothing but oil..lol.. really... Indian/pakistani can also be cooked with just a little less amount of oil read more

Shahi Cafè - As you can see burnt up roti/naan... whatever you wanna call it... that's not how its supposed to be - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Came here for dinner. I was a bit hesitant first because, well, I had different expectations. The restaurant is part of a grocery store and it looked like an the fluorescented version of a dive bar. The menu is an ordering ticket where you select what you want if you've established communication with the guy who take it from you. I go in. The guy hands me this piece of paper and asks what I want. I ask if they have a menu and he says yes. So I hand the paper back. Puzzled look. There was an awkward moment where I was expecting a menu and then he hands me the paper back. It clicked. The paper IS the "menu". Ordered chicken, rice, naan, salad and hummus plate. Went around the grocery store while the food was being prepared. I was half thinking about picking a chocolate for dessert if the food turns to be disappointing but that decision was thankfully delayed by a ring of the phone. The food was... good. Real good. The chicken was tender, juicy and I couldn't get enough of. The hummus was thick and scoopable, like I like so it could be "wiped" with a naan perfectly. There was some za'atar and olive oil in it to add to the flavor and complexity. Obviously I ran out of naan so like any normal person I've ordered another one. Garlic naturally. It came out fresh and steaming. Delicious. It was an effort but I didn't give up and finished everything. Hence the lucky phone call from earlier that saved me from having a dessert. The meal was only 17$ and I think that it was too cheap but I could get a menu to check the price. Will eat there again! read more

One of the better Shawarma's I've had in this town. Authentic, but not as good as other Middle-Eastern Cafes and Deli's here in Austin. They use Phonecia Bakery Pita bread, so it's pretty tasty. The meat was well-seasoned and had authentic flavor. Comparable to street Shawarma I've had in the Middle-East. They come in Lamb, Beef or Chicken. The filling is rounded out with marinated cucumber Lettuce, Tomatoes and Onion, with a dollop of hummus and Tzaziki. Topped off with a nice Chilli Paste. I'd go back for another. The owner's a dick. Service is slow. Get over yourselves. read more

For those of you who don't know, this is both an Indo-European Grocery store and Cafe combined. That means it has a mixture of Middle Eastern and Indian food, for those not aware. As for my visit, I received nothing but friendly vibes. I am not sure if the gentleman behind the counter in the cafe was one of the owners (that's the vibe I received tho), but we had a lovely conversation about the many different editions of several dishes there. As I gave him feedback on my taste preferences for certain dishes, he made suggestions that were spot on. Can't wait to go back! I like low key, friendly, casual (not to mention healthy) and Shahi filled all of those roles. Also, you can't EVER go wrong with buying pre-made puff pastry and making cheese filled puff pastries at home. They even have baby goats. Not sure how I feel about that, nor do I care to see, but I understand it's a cultural thing, right? Right? read more

Oh my kebab! Shahi Cafe for the win. I has a craving for mediterranean food and didn't want to go far. I found this gem through Yelp and once again yelp has steered me to the right place. My husband and I got the 2 kebab skewers plates that includes pilaf saffron rice and a side salad with a onion garnish. Definitely get the CHICKEN kebab and the chicken tikka. It was moist and so flavorful. I also got the spicy minced beef skewer and that was delicious. The baklava was a different variation from what I used to. There was no gooey honey soaked in it. It was a dry pastry. I highly recommend Shahi for your Kebab cravings! read more

This new restaurant is a place I have been enjoying more and more with each visit. The food is great as is the service. I am a fan of the beef kabab plate. They've recently started making tandoori naan, which is some of best naan in Austin. The hummus is also very good, but a bit spicy. Be sure to try the chicken samosas; they are a bit greasy but absolutely amazing. Def worth checking out. Also halaal. read more

The food, service, and environment were worth creating a page for this spot. my family has been shopping at Shahi Foods for years for all of our South Asian groceries(their grocery selection ranges from Eastern European to South Asian). We went in today to buy groceries and were happy to see Shahi Cafe in full bloom. firstly, i could smell the warm, fresh, garlicy aroma from outside. when we walked up to the kebab display there were the familiar faces of the family who owns the store(nice touch, keepin it real). we ordered the kebab platter with one chicken skewer and one minced beef skewer. MAN WAS MY BELLY HAPPY!!! Kebabs were grilled over a flame, the Shahi salad and the vinegraitte had a nice tang, and the basmati rice was fluffy and aromatic(way it should be!) i also had a spinach pie which was mild yet fulfilling and they gave me a baklava on the house. if you want some great and authentic mediterranean ish food... GO TO SHAHI CAFE read more

Just went there for a quick sandwich, Tasted delicious, and you can taste the freshness of the ingredients. Love it, will be back. read more

For the life of me I can't figure out why this place has good reviews. It is cheap, which is great, and the and the customer service is good (+1 star), but that doesn't make up for the incredibly bland food and disgust. It's kind of like eating at grandma's house when grandpa has high blood pressure.....and a pest problem. After several dashes of salt and whatever red seasoning comes in those shakers into my daal, and spreading some salt on my plate to rub my falafel in, I could finally taste what I was chewing. And I don't even like salty foods. But that's not what got me out of my seat and out of there in a hurry. The guy who works there (super nice) had to kill 2 roaches - and left them there, I saw a 3rd, and when a fourth nearly made its way into my purse, I booked it without finishing my food. Mind you I was in there for all of 15 minutes. NEVER AGAIN! read more

Well deserved 4 stars for the food. Can't say enough about the skewers, lamb, beef, or chicken, had them all, and they are all great. It's a small place with a grocery store attached. And they have a small buffet for lunch 11-4pm. Not a lot to say for service but it's not rude or extremely bad. And really good take out order of 4 skewers, chicken biriyani, two large sides and naan bread for $25. read more

Meat was dry. Rice was dry. I had to drench my meat and rice in the white sauce to make it taste better. Try Santorini cafe down the street, it's better. read more

Shahi Cafè - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I came in one lunch to check out the new cafe. I decided to try the Veggie Plate although I at first thought the price was a little steep. Then I saw my portions! The plate was definitely worth the money as the server heaped on the baba ghanoush, grilled zucchini, cucumber/tomato/onion salad, and gave me three good size falafels. For my fifth side I got the lentil soup. The best part of the meal was the flavor. This was some of the best baba ghanoush, falafels, and lentil soup I've ever had. The soup and falafels were just a touch spicy and the eggplant was perfectly smokey. The salad and zucchini were also delicious. It's been two weeks since I stopped by and I'm so excited to be eating dinner there tonight. I can't wait to try their Persian entrees such as Gormeh Sabzi! My mouth is watering thinking about it. read more

I really like this cafe. It is attached to a cute market with various ethnic foods. I was surprised at the variety. They seem to have everything from the traditional Mediterranean to Turkish and Russian treats. The cafe itself had a nice melody of options from shawarma to butter chicken. I had a skewer of lamb that was tender and seasoned very well. If I was a little hungrier at the time I would have enjoyed a bit of everything. I will save that little adventure for next time. read more