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    Shahnai Restaurant

    3.1 (133 reviews)
    InexpensiveIndian, Pakistani, Buffets
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    SHAHNAI RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Shahnai Restaurant

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    Lingyun Z.

    Not a well known place but their chicken biryani is good, second only to Aga's but cheaper

    Naan complimentary with the buffet
    Diana C.

    Tucked inside a large shopping center, Shania Restaurant is truly a hidden gem. First and foremost, we found out the hard way that Indian restaurants typically don't offer buffet style dinners on the weekends. After calling at least 10 various restaurants, Shahnai was 1 of 2 that offered a dinner time buffet. After researching on yelp, the picture for this place looked pretty good so we decided to give it a try. The dinner buffet (weekday and weekends) is only $10.99, which is very reasonable for their many offerings! The lunch buffet rings in at a whopping $1 cheaper. It was pretty empty when we walked in Saturday night around 6:30, but we weren't deterred by that as our stomachs growled. We went straight to the buffet and were pleasantly greeted by a plethora of Indian items: saag paneer, chicken tikki masala, chickpeas and cauliflower, lo mein (okay this doesn't really fit in), biriyani, goat curry, chicken kebabs, and more. Even though the place was relatively quiet (I heard a warning once that you don't go to a empty buffet cause the food will be old and cold, since there's no incentive for the cook to bring out new fresh foods!), I felt that the food was still fresh and hot. As we sat down, the skies opened up and a basket of naan descended upon us...hallelujah. Unfortunately, the naan didn't appear very fresh as it was cold and some pieces were even a bit tough to chew. No worries though, because as soon as I tasted the saag paneer, everything bad in the world disappeared. The taste of this saag paneer was on point. My favorite saag paneer to date (and I've been on many dates with different saag paneers...) I enjoyed it so much, I went back for seconds, and then thirds. The rest of the meats and curries were pretty darn good too (the lo mein was surprisingly appetizing, the chickpea curry was flavorful, and the chicken kebab was tasty and juicy.) All in all, I would definitely come back here for an Indian craving. Don't pass on this place just because it's tucked deep inside a shopping center in Hillcroft. Bonus round: the buffet offers mango lassi included on the buffet price!

    Ice cream!
    Shane B.

    I've been coming here for about 15 years. The food is always excellent and the butter chicken is the best of any restaurant I've tried. (Seriously, try the butter chicken. It's the best.) Also try the Crown Kulfi ice cream. Simply outstanding!

    Seasoned fried fish, chicken tikka, naan
    Yasser H.

    I was invited for an event at Shahnai's party hall and Shahnai restaurant had catered the dinner service. It was a nice sized hall and it can hold at least 300 people. Normally inside the restaurant they have an all day buffet, but customers can order from a la carte menu also. Our dinner include the following items: Chicken Tandoori/Tikka Lahori Fish Biryani Chicken Korma Spicy eggplant (Baingun) Haleem and Naan The dinner was on point, and there was plenty of food to get second servings. There were no complaints regarding food service. You can find most of those items on the daily buffet. I've been going to Shahnai for years and it has been a gamble but for the most part, I've been able to enjoy my buffet or specialized dinner.

    a refrigerator full of soft drinks

    Best place I have eaten for Butter Chicken. Not your standard flavor! Biryani, Tandoori Chicken, Palak Paneer, Naan Bread also very good! A casual setting makes this a nice place to eat. 5 stars!

    Sign maker dropped the H in Shahnai :-)

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    4 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Outstanding food. Going on 25 years eating there. Open holidays. Increased size of buffet and can order off menu. Ask for palak paneer.

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

    beautiful people and great atmosphere and it has great food and I tried the buffet which is amazing and helpful employees

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    1 year ago

    Need to check their food weather its fresh or not?? Nobody wants rotten food. The money you spend its not going to be worth.

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    3 years ago

    I love coming here. Food is good. For a buffet it's decent. Small selection but when your hungry and wanna try something new , it works.

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    3 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    0 flavor what so eve. felt akward they didn't seem friendly. The food didn't look good either. save your money and go to biryani pot.

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    4 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Awesome food great customer service experience! Tikka chicken is delicious. Not busy at lunch time.

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    5 years ago

    My all-time favorite go-to place for Pakistani food. A little on the greasy side.. just how I want it!!

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Very inconsistent food taste. Buffet is usually good and grilled items taste good. Other a la carte dishes are pretty average

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    4 years ago

    I like place lot of food buffed very tasty price is very good, management very nice ,

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    9 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Shahnai Restaurant

    Review Highlights - Shahnai Restaurant

    Best Pakistani lunch buffet in Hilcroft area.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Aga's Restaurant & Catering

    Aga's Restaurant & Catering

    4.7(3.6k reviews)
    6.1 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)
    10.0 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

    Shahnai Restaurant - indpak - Updated May 2026

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