Himalaya Restaurant and Catering
You can visit the restaurant a half-dozen times without running out of fascinating
dinner fare. - Robb Walsh
Hours: See Profile
Profile Description: Himalaya Restaurant & Catering (Kaiser Foods Estd. 1992)opened its doors on Feb 20, 2004. The owners, Chef Kaiser Lashkari & his Azra take great pains in preparing fresh & gourmet quality food. Chef kaiser is a graduate of the Conrad Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Manement @ the University of Houston (class of '86). He has worked as Chef apprentice to the famous Chef Haider Aziz of InterContinentals, Karachi. After completing his MBA @ Houston Baptist University Chef Kaiser has worked for
MY REVIEW: I love the food. Have not eaten better Indian/Pakistani food yet. The atmosphere is relatively like restaurants back home in that the focus is more on food and less on surroundings. I prefer it that way. I see a lot of non-desi people there too even though they'd be more mindful of ambiance I'd think. Most Indian/Pakistani restaurants with nice atmosphere have pretty bland food as far as I have seen. Anyway, to sum it up, amazing food and plenty of choices to keep you going back and trying new dishes.
NAME: gullee
SUBMITTED: 10/6/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: June/2008
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...
MY REVIEW: great variety. fresh ingredients. good taste.
NAME: kq
SUBMITTED: 9/19/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: may 2008
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: Definitely some of the best Indian/Pakistani food I've had in Houston. The Saag Paneer was amazing - creamy and just spicy enough. The Behari Steak Tikka was perfectly spiced and very tender. The owner convinced us to get the biryani, claiming it was the best in town, but I thought it was just okay...perhaps because it was beef and I prefer chicken. The naan was soft, pillowy, perfect. Prices were reasonable. We spent $38 for the above, including drinks, and plenty leftover to have lunch the next day!
NAME: sam
SUBMITTED: 7/28/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 7/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: Strong Points- Flavorful dishes made deliciously. The Naan and Daal was wonderful. Lamb was very tender and moist.
Weak Points- Service is slow and ambience is definitely not there. TV was on the News channel, which can be depressing, just channeled it out.
Specialties- Lamb Shank and roasted chicken.
Entrees- beef curry
Like other reviews the food is excellent and worth the wait! the service is poor. We did bring our own wine and they provided Styrofoam cups to drink it out of, which was not very appetizing. Owner was nice! I feel like if he put as much love into the restuarant's environment as he does his food, there would be an overall A+ experience. In conclusion I give it a B-.
NAME: kate23b
SUBMITTED: 5/16/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 5/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: Behari Steak Tikka! Need I say more? I originally went just planning to order our regulars- Dal, Malai Kofta, Chicken Tikka Masala, etc. This time I decided to add one of the grilled meat dishes, and man, am I glad I did. This steak melts in your mouth, just like the menu promises. It is slightly spicy, and juicy as can be. It truly is some of the best beef I have ever had. The rest of the food was yummy as well, with plenty of Naan to sop up the sauces. Chef Kaiser was his usual wonderful self when I picked up the order. I have been coming here for a while now, ever since some of the first reviews came out. I cannot imagine better flavors or value.
NAME: P-Dog
SUBMITTED: 4/30/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 04/08
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...
MY REVIEW: Absolutely fabulous food, and the owner is top notch. Nice variety, excellent seasoning, both veg and non veg dishes are as good as it gets, and at a very reasonable price. We have eaten Indian and Pakistani in many places around the world and this is right up there with the best.
NAME: winter park
SUBMITTED: 4/29/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 04/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: My wife and I had been meaning to try Himalaya for some time and finally made it today for lunch. First impressions weren't very good. The proprietor was in the middle of a heated discussion with a group of customers over separate checks for their table. Meanwhile several people appeared to have been waiting rather a long time for food.
We sat down and gave our order - I opted for the lamb special, Susan for chicken bhoti kebabs - and prepared ourselves for a wait. The food took some time to arrive but was definitely worth the wait. My special had a lamb curry, chicken masala, a lamb kebab and a big pile of rice. Everything on the plate was excellent. Susan's chicken kebab was beautifully cooked and a little spicier than she normally likes, but she really enjoyed it. We had excellent naan breads, too. An interesting experience but one we will certainly repeat.
NAME: Andy Brickell
SUBMITTED: 4/11/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 04/08
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: This is to add to my previous review of this restaurant. I took my and my brother in law's family to the rest. on 03/26 at 7pm. There were 9 of us with 4 adults and the food was served within 20 mins. On other days I have noticed that the server is a bit slow but for this food I'm willing to stand in line. Plus owner Qaiser (aka Lashkari) loves to talk to his customers and offer advice as to what to get. While you're there, for dessert do try gajjar kaa halwa and kheer.
For 6 dishes plus dessert plus tip our total was $72. If you were eating at T*ony's trust me your cost would be in the several hundred dollars with this many people. And trust me as well that this food is much much better than T*ony's or any other restaurant in Houston.
NAME: Bashiradakku
SUBMITTED: 3/27/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 03/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times
MY REVIEW: This restaurant has to have the best Pakistani/Indian food by far in all of Houston area. I have eaten at a lot of indian/pakistan restaurants all over the US and Himalaya's food is many orders of magnitude better than the rest. You go to Himalaya for the food and food alone. The ambience sucks but food makes up for it. I'm a very picky eater but everything I've tried at Himalaya has been excellent so far. I've been told by other friends that the owner, Qaiser considers himself more an artist than a cook. I would have to agree. Thank God he doesn't consider himself an interior decorator though :)
Ask Qaiser for what to order and he will guide you. He loves doing that. I have enjoyed alloo palak (spinach+potatoes+goat cheese i think), daal, haleem, and definitely try his biryani. As far as Paki food goes this restaurant is deinitely on the pricey said but well worth it. In fact I think its one of the best deals in Houston. Most of the clientelle here is non-indian/paki and I've seen people bring their own wine but better to ask before hand if you can BYOB. And tell him that you enjoyed his food, he eats up compliments. Might give you a discount too ;)
NAME: Bashiradakku
SUBMITTED: 3/27/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 03/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: Strong Points: Our first visit was very informative and educational. The owner was very helpful and wanted to be sure our first experience was a good one. The curried lamb that my girlfriend ordered was absolutely top notch and fresh. The meat was so tender it literally fell off of the bone. The seasoning although a bit spicier than what we were used to, was very flavorful. It is definitely a dish that would be ordered again in a future visit. I had the beef curry, it was very good but however I preferred the taste of the lamb over it. The bread being delicious, was an excellent compliment to the meal as well as the rice. The only negative experience was the Pakola Ice Cream soda. It had a taste or flavor that seemed unusual to us, however it might be an aquired taste.
The bottom line is that this a clean dining facility with fresh high quality food. There are other things we will try out the next visit. Special thanks to the owner for being so helpful in our selections. He was friendly and actually cared about our experience in his restaurant. If you like food, this is the place to go.
NAME: Pinky and Blinky
SUBMITTED: 2/8/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 02/08
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: Strong points: great menu; great prices; helpful staff; outstanding chef
Weak points: decor - if you're looking for ambiance, not so much here, but you don't mind, believe me
My favorite was the Behari Steak Tikka. Four pieces of steak that had the most fabulous flavor. I can't describe it, because it's not like anything I've had. Really really good. If you're a beef eater, get this. Please.
Will go back.
NAME: Toots
SUBMITTED: 1/27/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 1/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: This restaurant was fantastic. The service was one of the best I've had in a long time; the owner was pleasant, helpful, and very attentive. The food was flavorful and delicious with a lot of intense spiciness. I loved their suggestions and their Indian drink options.
Their prices are more than fair for their generous portions. The ambiance and overall layout lacks cohesiveness, but it's sufficient enough to make someone feel comfortable.
I'd definitely visit this store for Indian food and remains one of my top choices of its type. Highly recommended for great its great food.
NAME: Synapse
SUBMITTED: 12/23/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: December 2007
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: I went back for another visit and this time had a goat stew dish, can't remember the name but it started with a "K". It was excellent! Very spicy and aromatic dish. This is one of my favorite restaurants now. Don't forget to ask for the bread as it is served only on request.
NAME: Rob
SUBMITTED: 12/2/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: 11/2007
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: I am not an expert in Indian cuisine, but this was far and away the best I have ever had. I ordered the hunter's beef plate and it was fantastic. The lady at the counter said it was a little like pastrami and it was, only better. I ordered it spicy and it was not too hot. My companions had goat dishes--the names of which elude me, if I ever knew them (maybe goat masala)--and, I must confess, in addition to eating almost all of the hunter's beef, I probably ate more of their meals than they did. Both of the goat dishes were very, very good. The bread was exceptional too. We finished it off with an almond custard, which Chef Laskari told us was like a flan, only richer and better; he was right.
NAME: Closet Rat
SUBMITTED: 10/20/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: October 2007
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: Ate here for lunch for the first time today based on all the reviews... all I have to say is that this place has an excellent lunch special... I'm about to slip into a food coma as I type this because I am so stuffed. I will definitely return for more in the future!
Thumbs up!
NAME: SSTNHFTDC - Lunch Crew
SUBMITTED: 9/7/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: September 2007
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: My wife and I are vegetarians. We were skeptical about the food as it appeared that this was a predominantly meat based restaurant. What a pleasant surprise!!!!
The veg biryani is one of the best I have had in the US (even better than the one I used to get at K*ashmiri in U-Pitt). The baingan bartha was a little oily but the taste was excellent.
The owner makes you feel at home and is very accommodating. After giving up hope that there is not an authentic curry-vegetarian restaurant in Houston, I am now planning on taking some of my out of state friends to this place (a little bit of show-off in front of those brash Jerseyites is not too bad. is it:))
NAME: Simoniz
SUBMITTED: 8/18/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: August/2007
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: I had the Hunters beef plate and it was very good! The meat was very tender and seasoned just right. It is served with hot flat bread. I will definitely be back.
NAME: rob
SUBMITTED: 8/10/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: 08/07
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: THE BEST INDIAN FOOD TO EVER CROSS MY LIPS. HAPPY JUMP UP AND DOWN TASTE BUDS DOING A JIG ON MY TONGUE. Yes,I heard service was slow because everything is cooked to order, my advise if your in a big hurry go to M*cDonalds. But if you want really excellent Indain food go here. The 15 minutes we had to wait for our 6 different dishes was well worth it! IF YOU LIKE TRUE INDIAN FOOD YOU WILL LOVE THIS PLACE.
NAME: AMBER NEVA
SUBMITTED: 7/20/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: 7/20/07
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: The food is good but do not count on service. Our order was taken after 15 minutes of arrival. We waited almost an hour to get our food. By that time we were ready to go home.
NAME: Anonymous
SUBMITTED: 7/4/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: June 2007
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: I too visited this restaurant on the strenghth of the reviews found here. I even told the owner of the restraunt, but before I could call out the name of this site he asked, "B4UEAT?", I said "Yes!" he just smiled a knowing smile...
Absolute joy is what I'd call this place.
Delicious food at very moderate prices. The "chicken tikka masala" was velvety smooth, creamy-,even, and oh so delicately, dare I say it, suggestively sweet, and tasted best when sopped with Kaiser's heavenly "nan" There, I've said it. The chicken was market fresh and oh so flavorful. Back to the "nan." I now always order two from Himalaya's with my meal because they're so light and taste great with the meat dishes or dipped in Mr. Kaiser's Saag Paneer (fabulous!) The veggie samosas were to die for, hearty and rich in that potato starchiness that like most people I couldn't resist. The very next day I visited again, this time for the Handi Chicken. Talk about spicy, those green chilies in this tomato-ey chicken concoction add just the right amount of that heat that spice lovers really appreciate. You have got to try it!!!!! I finished this healthy serving of a dish in one sitting it was so tasty and rich with flavors. And that's saying a lot because generous portions are to be had at Himalaya's! I'll end this reviiew with a pitch for the dessert "Himalaya Snow." If you like rich sinful desserts this is the one; creamy, light, airy, yet rich, very rich, and oh so fresh and tasy, pure sin....
Want a simply, clean restraunt, with tasy food, and an owner who will even suggest meals and accompaniments for you? It's Himalaya's. A++++... 3 visits in almost as many days; I am but putty in this restaurant's hands.
Oh yeah, see if he's got those sumptuous coconut maccaroons available when you go by... Oh dear!...
NAME: Todd G.
SUBMITTED: 7/1/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: 06/30
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: After reading all the reviews, my husband and I simply had to go. This was our first time so we weren't sure how to order but the owner was a great help. We had Chicken Tiki Masala and Handi Chicken, Naan and asked for a side of the best rice I've ever had. Zafarani rice. The food was excellent. Not much ambience but we love hole in the wall finds with great food and a neighborhood feel. Customers came in and out the whole time we were there. Bali-wood videos were running so that added to the ambience. You must try this place!
NAME: foodlover
SUBMITTED: 6/22/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: 06/22/07
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: Believe the hype. This place is every bit as good as the reviews here. Owner is friendly and usually on site. You really can't go wrong with either the vegetarian or meat dishes (or the naan or desserts). Best Indian I've had in Houston, and they throw in some Pakistani food in as well. Highly recommended, my friends.
NAME: FormerOfficeTiger
SUBMITTED: 5/2/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: April 2007
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: By now, if you've read the previous reviews, you're thinking, "Oh, the food can't really be as good as they're saying." Well... yes... yes, it is really that good. Really.
We wnt for the first time today and didn't think much of it right at first. We had eaten Indian food at a place around the corner and we had been so disappointed by them that we were not really looking forward to eating at another run-down strip mall cafe. The heavy smell of cleaning chemicals wasn't promising. We sat down anyway and squinted at the menu board for a few minutes.
Then the cook came out and spent a good while counseling us through our order. I've never had someone look so pleased at serving a couple of vegetarians. He mentioned a couple options that weren't even on the menu, but we had our hearts set on dal and sag panir, so that is what we ordered, along with plain rice and nan and a couple of pakoras.
The pakoras were a pleasant surprise, not greasy, with a substantial but light and crisp dunpling dough and a light but tasty seasoning. After we ate those, there was a short wait. We realized the kitchen was making our order fresh and we were not disappointed.
We were served with nan, rice, a somewhat yellow sag panir, an attractive dal topped with cilantro and a bit of fried onion, and a cup of something creamy and pale green that turned out to be a coconut/green chili sauce.
OK, now, we started to eat and made absolute pigs out of ourselves. We could not stop. The nan was oven hot and crisp and light at the same time. The sag panir actually tasted like spinach instead of goo, and managed to taste bright, fresh, and lively even while it was creamy and lush and packed with cubed cheese. The dal made lentils (actually I think they were those little split chickpeas) taste like luxury; spiced enough to wake you out of a sound sleep, extremely rich, and almost aggressive with flavor. The rice was anything but plain, tasty on its own, holding a background beat like a blissed-out drummer. We tried the coconut sauce, cool and hot at the same time, on everything else, and it enhanced everything it touched. We kept looking at each other like we couldn't believe how good everything was.
Having managed to actually eat everything, we ordered dessert. He got his to go, so I didn't have a chance to taste it, but I am a kheer addict and must always end an Indian meal with the rice pudding. Expecting a bowl of the basic ivory sweetened condensed milk with a few spices and a handful of rice floating around in it, I was surprised to get a little flowerpot-looking terra-cotta saucer filled with what looked like tan baby food topped with a spoonful of pistachios. I took an experimental half-spoonful and went straight to Heaven. Five minutes later, after having finished a third of the dish (it's that rich), I started getting paranoid I could never order it again because it couldn't possibly be that good twice.
Well, you get my drift. If there is better Indian food anywhere, I don't know where. Certainly there can't be any better for the price. We definitely have a new favorite restaurant.
NAME: Speedwell
SUBMITTED: 3/28/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: 3/07
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: Excellant food- this was my first time to eat here and I agree with the other reviews. The owner was very helpful and recommended the lunch special (he could probably tell I was a first-timer). The lunch special came with rice, two different curries (green curry with chicken and red curry with lamb), a beef patty, onion yogurt salad, and naan bread. The cost was $7.99 and well worth it. It does take some time for the food to come out but it's very fresh. Highly recommend!
NAME: Cindy
SUBMITTED: 3/14/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: 3/2007
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: My man Kaiser brought out a real treat for my wife and me on Sunday. As you know from my other postings, I think the naan here is the best in Houston but today he wanted me to try something special.
Well, he brought out a bhatura. It looked like a big puri, actually to give you a visual image, it looked like an inflated whoopee cushion. This was a glorious, lightly brown, puffed up flat bread with wonderful flavor of a New Orleans beignet or a sopapilla. But lighter in texture. Man, this thing could have been dusted with powdered sugar, but it was served up as a savory bread.
Do yourself a favor and see if you can coax Kaiser into making one of these marvelous things for you. Pure magic.
NAME: Jay Francis
SUBMITTED: 11/21/2006 LAST VISIT WAS: 11/2006
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...
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