Great service and helpful. Dinner buffet is delicious. My favorite is tikka chicken which is…read moreslightly spicy. And the bone soup is extremely good also. Keer dessert is so good and the cucumber lemonade that I want to work there part time just to learn it. Place is great for families and friends. Regardless if you choose lunch or dinner, thete is on only a small difference. Naan is very healthy.

There are Indo-Pak buffets all around town, but somehow Mezban has managed to stick out with its…read moreunique setup, interesting interior, and not so stellar food. Located in the heart of the the Little India section of Houston (#1), it is semi-hidden in a cluster of desi businesses, neighboring a grocery store and adjacent to a sari shop. Despite all the lackluster experiences, I somehow find myself here one way or another every few months. The dining room feels smaller than what the exterior of the building would have one believe. They do have a larger private room in the back for big groups. The eclectic decor and layout of the buffet is different in comparison to similar spots. It has a cafeteria like feel, but there is really no place that looks like Mezban. On the food front, there is much left to be desired. The salad bar is a little on the sad side but it's made slightly worse when I'm fanning away our winged friends. The samosa chaat looks impressive but it still falls flat a bit. On occasion there are many sandwiches and pani puri, but even those have been disappointing. There hasn't been much relief with the hot foods but there are some areas where they do stand out. They do have a pretty outstanding weekend selection of proteins, whether it's tandoori chicken or seekh kebab. There is fish curry, chole, and korma based curries usually in the mix. I'm not feeling the haleem, which is a popular Pakistani dish; it was just too oily and unappetizing. Almost always they serve kheer or halwa for dessert. It might not seem weird in a dive, but in a restaurant it does seem strange to only serve foam cups for water. This is by no means a deal-breaker but it would go a long way for folks to be able to have slightly larger cups. I think for the price it's a fine choice for a casual lunch or an easy meal. The service could kick it up a notch, but most of the time, the only staff I interact with is whenever I'm paying in the end. __________ (#1) Mahatma Ghandi District aka Hillcroft

Didn't realize I was before which was very long time ago since they renovated the restaurant and it…read morelooks much better now. We had lunch here and picked the buffet part which surprisingly very reasonable price ($21) Food was good and the service was even better. Glad that I went back. Definitely a big change from before

I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Vindaloo entrees on two recent visits. Both were…read morevery different from one another obviously, but both were so delicious, aromatic and full of tender chicken chunks. The rice n peas side by itself was buttery and very flavorful in a softer way too. Butter Chicken and C T M are my usual go-to in any Indian restaurant. The C T M here was so creamy, dense, a little sweet n tart combined with some earthy n savory notes all in one mix. It was really well made and addictive in every bite. The fenugreek, cilantro, tomato base, cream stood out in the recipe. The Vindaloo was seemingly onion based rather than creamy with some spicy, tangy, earthy and savory notes in one blend. Most Indian restaurants either don't make this good or are hit or miss by making it too sour or too runny. You could still taste the fenugreek, cilantro, ginger, chili peppers and overall great taste without the stew being too watery either. Both the C T M and Vindaloo were A ++ excellent on these dine in sessions. I am also a huge fan of their gulab jamun and mango lassi after a meal when I get dessert. The service was very warm, welcoming, attentive, and efficient on both stops.

My friend and I stop by there for lunch and no regrets there. We loved it so much. I have a strict…read morediet of no onion and no garlic and they are willing to accommodate. The cashier and the server were patient since its our firat time. We've ordered the Masala Dosa, samosas, and a chickpea dish. All are yummy choices. You can ordered at the counter and then sit down or just sit anywhere and order from your phone. But if you have a strict diet, you must speak to them in person. There are booths and tables for you to choose from. Lighting is great for nice dining atmosphere. Must TRY!

We very rarely go to the Hilcroft area, but after seeing so many rave reviews, we decided to give…read morethis place a try and had high expectations for the food. Unfortunately, our experience was quite the opposite. The first thing we noticed when we entered the restaurant was a strong, unpleasant smell. Since we had specifically gone there to try the food, we still decided to dine in. We ordered chai, Mysore masala dosa, chole bhature, and samosas. None of the dishes really stood out. The food was just average; not terrible, but definitely not worth making the drive for. The chai in particular had almost no flavor, and we couldn't even finish it. Overall, it was a disappointing experience, especially given the hype. There are many better options in the Katy/Richmond area where you can find great food in a much more pleasant dining environment. The smell inside the restaurant was also concerning, as it raises questions about hygiene and food safety standards. For context, we visited on a Saturday morning around 11:30 AM, so it wasn't late in the day or close to closing time. Based on this experience, I wouldn't prefer to visit again.

Historically significant for Houston. A decades old…read moreinstitution and, for many, their first experience of the food of North India. Curries don't necessarily photograph great so I'll just post two photos. Consider the lunch buffet for your first visit. Mickey Kapoor is known for his humorous observations on the sign outside. Great staff and service. Lovely music snd ambience.

Situated in an area that's densely populated with lunch options galore, between Upper Kirby and…read moreGreenway, Khyber offers an Indian lunch buffet that separates it from most. The items are different every time, but often includes a couple of your standard dishes. On this particular day they had tandoori chicken, chicken Tikka masala, lamb curry, and saag paneer. The waitress brought out a fresh basket of naan, and the waiters made sure my glass of iced tea was full. The decor is simple yet elegant, with window seats set aside for single diners. Overall, I paid 28.00 before tip, which is on par with most buffets of this caliber. The food tastes great. The service was attentive. The location is far enough away from the bustle and has plenty of parking.

Went for a breakfast before heading back home which was a long drive. I'm glad i stopped by and…read moreenjoyed their breakfast buffet and ala carte mysore bonda. Service was excellent, food was very hot and so many south indian varieties i tried. Buffet was very neatly managed and clean, so many good options on alacarte menu also. The best part was fresh made sugarcane and watermelon juice... Will come back again if i am visiting houston..

Nut allergy warning: When I expressed a nut allergy, it was indicated that they could handle it…read morewith no issues with the Thali. I did have some concerns with a few dishes but it was hard to tell if it was a lot of spice or sesame, which can also trigger a light reaction. I'd be a bit careful but overall, I had a good meal. Time-to-Food: ~12 minutes We came for early dinner around 4:30PM and it was not that busy, though it got busier later in the evening. The restaurant layout is a mix of booths and open tables, pretty suitable for large parties. I will preface by saying that I am not at all familiar with Indian cuisine. I rarely eat it because I grew up thinking that Indian food had a lot of nuts. Only partially true (kind of a gamble on things). I ordered the Royal South Indian Thali and a Masala Chai. First, everyone was served a spicy soup-like dish that was a great start to the meal. The Royal South Indian Thali was massive. I got some slightly different sides than my friend that ordered the same, perhaps because of the nut allergy. The curries/sambar were great with the rice and roti and the vegetables were delicious. I thought that the Halwa was my favorite dessert. The yogurt rice was more of an acquired taste (I was advised to mix it with the pickled spices, which I am not usually a fan of), as was the salted lassi. Others enjoyed them more than I did, but I was delighted to finish my meal with the masala chai. There is a small upcharge for paying with a credit card. Overall, pretty solid vegetarian cuisine and I'd definitely come back for some authentic food. One of my friends has been going here for over 10 years, so it definitely came recommended!

4 stars. Stopped in…read morefor an early weekday dinner. The place wasn't overly busy with dine-in, but the to-go orders were running nonstop. The inside isn't giant -- on the smaller side, with a lot of tables packed in, plus a couple of larger ones for bigger parties. Pro Tip: The spice level is was Medium/low, so if you are expecting some very spicy dishes you need to ask for them. Frontier Beef Karhai, $19.50 -- 3.5/5. Himalayan fried chicken, $24.99 -- 4.5/5. Nice crispy batter, prepared a little differently than you're used to. It's skinless, bone-on chicken that's been filleted off the bone a bit, so instead of a plain drumstick, it's more like a filleted drumstick, with the breast filleted off, with a little bone left on to hold it together. The chicken was super tender and moist and the batter was crunchy. There's a bit of an Indian flavor profile, but not overwhelming -- I was actually hoping for a little more spice, kick, and heat. Still, very good chicken, and I'd try it again. Rice, 3.5/5. Solid side, but nothing spectacular. I've had much better. Garlic naan, $9 -- 3.5/5. Solid, big piece of naan. Would get it again. Service was quick. The food took a little while to come out, mostly because of the fried chicken -- though we ordered that right when we sat down, then ordered the rest about ten minutes later as we looked over the menu. If you've lived in Houston all your life, I highly suggest giving this place a try. It's one of those Houston staples that's been around, and some of the things they do are really good and a little different. That said, from a value perspective I think a place like Aga's outshines them just slightly. I've had many of the same curries at Aga's and find them a touch better, and a slightly better value. In the end, it's a totally fine place for takeout or to sit down and eat give it a try. Would recommend, and would return.

Having lived in Houston since prior to 2004, I honestly can't believe my first time to the Himalaya…read moreRestaurant was just recently. Start with their mint lemonade or iced chai tea. These are some of the best drinks I've ever had at any type of Indo-Pak restaurants in Houston. The mint lemonade was definitely in a league of its own. We didn't go for any appetizers, just went straight in to the entrées. The Chicken Hara Masala Supreme. Just wow, chef's kiss. Think cut up chicken thighs in a green curry that almost has a salsa like mouth feel with vegetables. Absolutely decadent. The Steak Tikka. Round of applause. I overheard the owner telling other tables that it's the best steak in Houston. I'll say it's the best steak I've ever had at an Indo-Pak restaurant. The steak was super tender it had that famous Tikka style smokiness. The Butter Chicken. Pretty damn solid. The gravy was silky and perfectly textured. They also use chicken thighs for this, which makes it even better. The Saag Paneer. It was all right, I've had better at other places, but still super solid. The Paneer was fresh and was great on all the various naans we got. For the naan, we just got the garlic and the butter naan. They are absolutely great when they come straight out of the tandoor oven, but I found that they get a little too hard if not eaten quickly. I'm sure they would reheat really well. We also tried the spicy rocket naan and it decent. I would just stick with garlic and butter. The only miss for me was the Mutton Biryani. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid biryani dish, but I've had better that had a little bit more flavor. The mutton was very tender, but the opportunity was making the rice a little bit less clunky. I see a lot of reviews with people hating on things like service or area. Let me just say we had no issues with service. The service was top-notch. We spent $222 with tip across three people. A little pricey but totally worth it.

Sweet we're very good fresh and reasonable prices. All other food items are fresh and deliciousread more

Raja is one of those places that has spot in Houston history. I've heard about it for years and was…read moreexcited to finally get a chance to try some sweets. I got 4 different sweets and they were all so sweet that they were virtually inedible. The milk cake was crumbly and grainy. I guess I thought it would be more soft and moist but it completely fell apart when I cut into it. I got a mango ball and a carrot cake square and both were dry and so sweet that it any other flavor became quite mute. You kinda got the hint of flavor in each but it was very slight. There was a moist coconut ball that was on the brink of good but once again, was overpowered by this blast of sugar in your mouth. It was creamy and bouncy but alas went unfinished. I am giving a 3 because to be fair, nothing was inherently wrong. I just could not enjoy the desserts at all.

What a gem in hillcroft. All the Desi snacks you can think of!! Everything is SO tasty. The owner,…read moreAjay, was SO kind. He gave me so many things to try while he fried my samosas so I could have a fresh batch. Highly recommend for finger licking samosas and treats!!

great light spicy Indian snacks and sandwiches. I had the Bombay sandwich and it was so filling…read moreand full of flavors, just yummy! it is a small place and is right next to The London Sizzler. Check it out! Service was friendly, he gave us samples to try and everything!