Divine is their Tuesday's fried chicken special-- it was delicious!! Pondicheri never disappoints with the variety and quality of the dishes served. Great yummy alternatives for vegans and vegetarians... so good for you. There's also delicious non-alcoholic mocktails to sip on. #foodbliss #Thaifarangeats #pondicherihouston read more

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Carnivore thali: a lot of flavors, small portions. Butter chicken was good but again small portions about 2 pieces of 1 inch cubed chicken, saag paneer (just okay), lamb keema (very good), and carrot and carrot roti. Butter chicken: the plate was mainly rice. Mango lassi: yogurt drink. I prefer Maharaja Bhog read more

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Food in INSANELY good. Full service after 5pm and if you have a wonderful, knowledgeable waiter like Jacob you're in for a treat!

This place was so great for dinner! We went last minute on a Saturday night at 6:45 and we're immediately seated outside. The patio is really cute. It's a generally casual but nice place. We caught happy hour just before 7pm and got amazing $8 cocktails (Ruby sour and pollinator, highly recommend!). We ordered the patra fish and butter chicken for entrees and they were so flavorful and colorful. We started with the Sindhi pakora chaat and it was so crispy and good. It was veggies fried in chickpea dough, so they were listed as gluten free! We will be back. read more

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One of the most unique, positive, cultural Indian restaurants I've been to. Decor (inside and out) is lovely, food variety and quality is A+, staff is very nice. Location is nice - upstairs and downstairs. Maybe slightly on the pricey side but it's quality and the service is good so worth it :) read more

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Everything you expect with good Indian food. Good rice, hood naan and sauces with bold complex flavors. Not everything is super spicy but even the butter chicken has a mild pepper that stays with you. I shared a platter with my lil sis that had stewed oxtail, ghee flavor mashed sweet and reg potatoes, a lamb kebob and butter chicken. My other system had curry crab which was fire as well. Rice perfect and I ran out of naan as I picked and ate everything with it. Also don't sleep on the unique dessert. My mother swears by the mint chocolate chip cookie. REAL mint read more

This is some of theee best flavors I have experienced in a very long time. I wanted to hug the owner and tell her how magical her work is. We ordered a morning Thali, a plain dosa (nothing plain about it) and then went upstairs to the bakery and cleaned them out. read more

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Pondicheri is located in an upscale shopping area in downtown Houston on Kirby. The restaurant is named after a city in the Southeast coast of India, and offers some of the prettiest, creative, and tasty Indian-fusion food I've had in a while. I came with three coworkers and we each ordered an individual entree with shared appetizer and desserts. I recommend making the Thali plate the centerpiece of your meal. I got the Rancher which features perfectly-cooked butter chicken and a tender, herb-crusted lamb chop as the protein. For bread, I got a crispy spinach roti. Veggies included yellow dal and some sautéed greens. The colors and flavors really popped in the Rancher! For appetizers, we shared: * Goat Lentil Samosa - crispy and spicy. Enjoy with their saffron yogurt dip to balance the flavors. * Khandvi - pinwheels of chickpeas that hold their shape and has unique flavors and textures of cashew, coconut, radish, and cilantro. Fit for vegetarians and omnivores alike. * Lentil Dumpling Chaat - Vegetarian-friendly bites with jicama, peanuts, saffron yogurt, and tamarind. We split like four different desserts: * Moringa Ice Cream Ladoo was my favorite - think avocado ice cream coated with a thin, crust of pistacios and ground up seeds. Very nutty, smooth, and rich but not overly sweet. Apparently this dessert was featured in the New York Times. * Kulfi Ice Cream - these rosewater-flavored goodies were served as disks and had pistachios and almonds embedded. Eat them fast or they'll melt! * Crack Balls - My least favorite - super sweet chocolate shells with a soft, crunchy granular core of milk and caramel. * Sindhi Ladoo - Like a really sweet donut but made with cardamom and roti flour and less sweet than the Crack Balls. read more

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Amazing food every single time I come never a bad meal and I come a lot! I plan to try everything on the menu because every time I do, it's a fabulous surprise read more

I love this place!!!! I been here twice since it's a long drive for me, but both of the time I had such a pleasant experience, I love that they have plant based options, I have tried each one of them and they are to die for!!! And their cocktails!!!! Oh!!! So flavorful, love it love it, I have nothing bad to say about their food, I wish I had pictures of the food but it was just soooo good I always remember to once I'm done with the food, the point is, their food is great and you need to try it, every plate is full of flavor and textures, and every bite is like having an orgasm in your mouth, super good !!! read more

Pondicheri - Bar - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Rubber band (likely from cilantro bunch tie) in the food - showed server - no follow up! Lunch - spicy with a nice kick on 5 items (vegetarian), but food came up afterward with burps for rest of the day - eater beware. Nice outside set up with umbrellas for shade, same upstairs for coffee n chai shop, but pricey - at the moment waste of peace-lover's time due to machinery noise for shopping mall maintenance/ construction (Apr. 2024) read more

Ok let me give you the scene it's a Monday I'm repping my sausage sweatshirt ofc {because yall don't know me I am definitely not a vegetarian the opposite think like liver king carnivore status} ok back to the story. Its Monday. Do you know what that means... meatless Monday. The shook, the chills, the horror that first hit me. My freind knew the devastation this had caused me and even asked if we should leave but to her surprise I decided to a stick it out. Boy let me tell you it was worth it!!!!! The chickpea tikka masala was absurdly amazing and could fool a meat eater like me. The masala sauce was so good I'm convinced this sauce should be something to hide veggies under like when you're trying to get your child to eat broccoli or something. Anyways very good veryyyyy nicccceeeeee read more

Food was fantastic! We ordered the Saturday special Kashmiri Waza, which was a delicious selection of beef stew, chicken meatballs, rice & mushroom pilaf and naan. The service is much a self-serve where the diner chooses flatware and a drink/water on the way to the table. The waitstaff does not refill. Knowing that will help provide a proper expectation. read more

The last we went to Pondicheri we had to leave abruptly because we had toddlers who were so tired and cranky. Today we got to enjoy the experience with no pressure. The space is so amazing, the 15 ft door welcomes you into a smallish foyer/waiting area; host pushed the heavy door open for us, and sat us within 5 minutes(no reservation) on a Friday evening at 5:45p. We were seated and promptly served cold water in steel cups. Waitress was quick, pleasant and efficient. We ordered a couple of mango lassi, it isn't just mango pulp and yoghurt, they add some spices(cardamom and maybe a touch is a masala); we got butter chicken, a Texan Thali, garlic naan and carrot paratha....... This is where the experience stepped up 3 notches for me. The food came real quick, plate was warm and it looked sooooo good. I started with garlic naan, went into the lamb keema.....cluck me!!! Explosion of flavour, tangy, hearty and rich; garlic naan and uppma dal w/okra....I also dipped it into the yoghurt and greens...damn!!!! And then I dived into the butter chicken, silky smooth, soft chunks dripping in that smooth sauce. I left the lamb chop for last; it's grilled, and you can taste the yoghurt, lemony, and spices marinade...amazing!! Fair warning, young kids won't like it too much unless initiated to the cuisine, and the mango lassi is adultish...but the ambiance, presentation m, service and food is authentic, bursting with flavor in a wonderful setting....I am a fan..... read more

Pondicheri embraces an interesting concept: a spin on traditional Indian food with non-traditional combinations of ingredients. I heard about the restaurant from a few friends who called it "pretentious," and visited with a group of 3 friends for lunch on a Thursday. The venue was quite beautiful, with high ceilings and modern seating options. It was spacious, and relatively quiet and relaxed when we arrived around 2 pm. I ordered a morning thali to share with C, while P ordered a Frankie (can't remember which one), and K ordered French toast. The thali came with masala fried chicken, uttapam, keema, dal with a sweet chutney, and salad. I really liked the flavor of the chicken - the Indian spices added a subtle kick to otherwise bland fried chicken. I didn't really care for the keema, but I liked the dal and salad. I tried a few of P's desi fries that came with her Frankie, and they reminded me of Indian masala snacks (like Kurkure) - really delicious! The 3/5 stars is largely due to the prices. I didn't think the food was worth what we spent for it, and didn't leave feeling full (given that I only shared a thali, it's somewhat justified. But... I've left other restaurants splitting a thali and feeling stuffed!) I can understand why this place is called pretentious, though everything was still pretty delicious. I just prefer more traditional Indian food from restaurants like Shiv Sagar, where you get a much larger quantity of food for the same price. I probably won't be coming back here. read more

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My mind doesn't normally turn to Indian food when I'm looking for brunch. In today's case, though, we had a soccer match we needed to watch at the pub at 10:30 am, and Pondicheri was one of the only places that opened before 10 am. Seating was offered both indoors and out, but it actually felt a bit warm inside, so we chose to dine on the patio where the temperature was a bit cooler. Also, unlike other brunch spots, there isn't a special brunch menu for either drinks or food. It's the same "essential menu" ordered at the counter like any other day until 5pm when things switch to the dinner menu with waiter service. That doesn't mean you can't still get your mimosas, though, as those are on offer as well as 10 other cocktail concoctions and several non-alcoholic mocktails. We opted for the lush lassi (mango coconut lassi, old monk rum, and cardamom) and a golden lemonade (housemade lemonade with ginger and turmeric). The lush lassi had a great, rich flavor that gave the sensation of drinking a tasty liquid yogurt. The golden lemonade was likewise excellent and supremely refreshing. For brunch-type food, you can choose from 9 breakfast items that mix traditional breakfast selections like pancakes, French toast, and eggs with Indian additions such as roti, dosa, and cardamom. There's also a morning thali on offer. We went with the breakfast Frankie (masala eggs with lamb wrapped in a carrot roti) and 3 scrambled eggs with French toast topped by nutella and cardamom with fresh fruit on the side. The masala wrap really hit the spot, perfectly blending the various flavors into what can aptly be described as an Indian breakfast burrito. The eggs and French toast also impressed with the French toast having a thick, fluffy consistency to which the nutella was a wonderful topping. Aside from the delectable food, the service was quick and efficient, which was much appreciated as it allowed us to arrive in time for the subsequent soccer viewing. I have read the weekly recipe columns in the Houston Chronicle by Pondicheri's owner, Anita Jaisinghani, for some time and was happy to find that her restaurant lived up to its reputation, even if it was only for a quick brunch. While it might not be a classic kind of brunch, it provides for an enjoyable and unique experience that is well worth checking out. read more

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I was trying to find a place to eat brunch in Houston during this time of covid and I read some articles and Pondicheri was recommended so we thought we would give it a try. Now I wasn't sure about eating Indian for breakfast because it's always so savory when I do eat it. I got the breakfast thali and it was really tasty. I didn't love the carrot deal but the rest of the food on top of it made it worth it. The variety was really quite nice because it involved a lot of dishes. My friends ate off of my place because they liked everything so much. Their food was really tasty too. Everything came out really beautiful and with great flavor. read more

Pondicheri - Breakfast Thali - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

You know when you eat something so good you know it will live rent free in your head forever? That is absolutely every thing we ate at Pondicheri tonight. The pokora, butter chicken, and chai pie were all exceptional. Every bite and dish was better than the last. I am only sad we don't live in houston and we can't enjoy this more often. We will absolutely be back when we are! 10/10, so delectable. read more

Pondicheri - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Food was absolutely delicious. However, it took about 15 mins, maybe more from the time we were seated to a waiter actually showing up to get our order. In fact my boyfriend had to go in and see where our waiter was before someone was sent to see us at the table. I wonder what would have happened if he never went to ask. read more

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The food I had as well as the server I had were both amazing!! Gave the place 4 stars due to the host! He was not welcoming or friendly at all, not one smile and that's important because you're the first person people see upon entering. Anywho, my server KIARA (my good sis) broke down all the selections for me and everything she recommended that I order, did not disappoint, even the drink!! I'll for sure be returning and hope she is my server again!! read more

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I LOVE pondicheri. The flavors are phenomenal. It is modern Indian, so understand that. Not too spicy so can bring people new to Indian and/or sensitive to heat. read more

Pondicheri - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

This place has been here for a while. I hadn't been here since they first opened and was worried that the quality had gone down; as restaurants often do. But, I was pleasantly surprised that the food was even better than I remembered! read more

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This place has great dinner options. The menu is mixed so you have the option of vegan/vegetarian as well. Basmati rice had incredible aromas as it was cooked in the kitchen and found its way to our table. They must have used saffron, either way, it smelled and tasted incredible. Okra, cabbage, and sweet potato looked great. I tried the avocado, zucchini, carrot, potato plate. Every bite was flavorful and delicious. Price matched the quality. read more

Pondicheri - Aviyal Curry - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This restaurant smells amazing as soon as you walk in. So many wonderful spices and flavors. We opted for the weekday special since it had a little bit of everything. It was a good portion size for two people and we still had some leftovers. Afterwards, drinking tea and taking in the atmosphere was the best way to end dinner. Great place and amazing location! read more

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Eclectic menu, good ambience, interiors could be a bit loud but prefer it to sitting outside in summer. Goan fish curry, shrimp upma, chicken Frankie and sesame dosa are free of my favorites here. read more

I really like this place but I do think it is slightly over rated and expensive. Expect to pay $16 for a entree but it is Upper Kirby so I understand the higher prices. We got the Aviyal and Saag Paneer curry. We got Desi fries with both and it was delicious! We were satisfied and full after our meal. The place was so cute and nicely decorated. Oh and coffee was great!! Don't forget to stop by the bakery upstairs. We got a chocolate cake and it was delicious. It was not too sweet. We also got spices to make Tiki Marsala at home. It turned out great and I would highly recommend checking it out. read more

Pondicheri - Saag Paneer with Desi fries - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I have been here twice and had excellent food both times. The first time I had the dosa waffle for brunch and it was amazing. 2nd time I went for dinner and shared lamb ribs which was also incredible. My only complaint was that I ordered a Sangria and had it checked twice before it came out. Both my friends had received their drinks and were uncomfortable drinking without me for the proceeding 20 minutes. read more

Pondicheri - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Had my fist visit here tonight for dinner and was AMAZING. Cocktails, appetizers and mains were spectacular. Super delicious. Staff was very friendly. 10/10 recommend! read more

Pondicheri - Turmeric Moscow mule, honey blues cocktail, samosa, pani poori - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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My son and I are eating our way through Houston Chronicles top 100 restaurants and we can see why Pondicheri is always top 25. We shared the $75 weekend special with osso buco, chicken meatballs, mushroom rice, sag paneer, naan etc. everything delicious, perfectly flavored. Zach is paleo but will cheat for good naan - we had the one that comes with the dinner but would've preferred the garlic. Next time... Our Server was excellent, knowledgeable and helpful. Table near kitchen a little too out in the open with little kids running around but not a deal breaker. We will be back read more

If you want Americanized Indian food and non authentic Indian forts go here. Pricey and unauthentic Indian food.

We hadn't been to pondicheri in a number of years. A few changes since we last ate here are now you order at the counter and the water/tea/silverware is self service. I miss being able to sit down and have a server take care of you. The menu is a good mix of mains, salads and starters. They also had a board of beers, but it's a little difficult to see from the first cashier stand and I wasn't sure which beer would hit the spot so we passed on ordering any brews. An issue we had is there aren't very good descriptions as to what the dishes are on the menu. So after queuing to get to the cashier we had to try and ask questions, but the cashier didn't seem to know much about the menu and the environment is somewhat loud. Therefore we didn't end up receiving what we really wanted or know exactly what the mains would be that we ordered. I an not a fan of the fast casual practice of counter ordering and then (either through practice or pressure) tipping before you've received anything. When we paid for the ~$60 lunch (two mains an appetizer and smoothie) the only options we were given to complete the transaction were 15%, 18%, 20% or custom tip. This while the cashier is standing in front of you and customers are waiting behind you to order. So we did 15% brining our lunch to $72 (house water and a smoothie for drinks). Our food was ready in about 10 or 15 minutes and the employee walked it from the counter to our table which is nice that we didn't have to collect, but dang it used to be tips were for receiving a level of service. Not for just taking an order behind a counter and walking a tray 10 feet. No one stopped by to check on us, etc the whole time we were at the table. I digress, but seriously if a restaurant that charges $26 for a bowl of rice, veg, curry and some seafood and $24 for a Indian sampler plate can't pay their staff an acceptable market wage then what is happening to the service industry? We had the Araam Thali w/ chicken that was like a sampler platter and the seafood Pilao (Sunday special). The Araam Thali wasn't as hot (temperature) as we would've liked. I'd imagine the cooks had everything precooked and just added the portions to make up the platter. The Pilao was much warmer. Both dishes were very tasty. In summary, the food is quite good. Everything we ate was top notch. The menu is difficult to decipher for us novices and the ordering process is not very flash. When we return we will know what we want to order before arriving. Taking some time to look at pictures from yelp and get everything sorted before walking up the counter. Also we will use the custom tip option to complete the transaction. Most likely for a few dollars as the only service customers receive is someone delivering your meal and cleaning the table. read more

While I've heard a lot about Pondicheri, I unfortunately hadn't gotten around to dining there until this month. I went for a friend's birthday and made it just in time for happy hour! They have wines, beers, and even cocktails on the HH menu! Great variety for all your friends. I opted for the lush lassi - a boozy twist on a mango lassi, what's not to like?! For my meal, I got the non veg (butter chicken) earth thali. While we sat outside (and it was definitely a colder day), the food warmed me right up. The saag was flavorful, tasting almost like creamed spinach. The chicken had the right level of flavor (maybe a little more spice would be nice, but you can't please everyone haha), and the naan was the perfect amount to sop up all the extra sauce. honorable note: some friends ordered the chicken wings and the waiter mentioned it was the spiciest thing on their menu. Something I definitely want to try in the future! All in all, the food was on the more expensive size for the portion size but I would come back JUST for the lush lassi. read more

Pondicheri - Non veg earth thali - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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A southern Indian fusion restaurant with vegetarian dishes rivaling in flavor with its meat dishes. Any thali dish is a great way to experience a multitude of flavors revolving around themes of light and refreshing. Vegetables are perfectly cooked, whether that is in dals, browned and seasoned with aromatics, or mixed into Market curries with a purpose, Pondicheri knocks out of the park with its choice of seasonal vegetables. They are cooked harmoniously with touches of coconut and an emphasis on preserving natural flavors. Its meat dishes are just as good, but they do not have to be the star here at Pondicheri. read more

If your not Indian then they seem like they dont wanna serve other people. Weird experience. Food was ok....

Near perfect experience. Love the ambience and the feel of the place. They really have done an exceptional job of elevating South Indian cuisine for a wide audience. Traditional flavors are all there but everything is quite unique and innovative. Other than the bake lab, things are definitely tilted toward the health side, a little bit too much in the case of the carrot paratha which tastes like a stiff board. The dosa is definitely a healthy version of the dish but still very good. Coconut pancakes taste like mithai especially with the jaggery syrup. Lamb is halal, and the alcohol free drink menu is pretty spectacular. Definitely coming back. read more

WHY I WENT I visited Pondicheri a few weeks ago and had an amazing meal (closer to 4 stars), so my wife and I decided to bring my brother when he visited. We spent the day checking out museums and went to Pondicheri for an early dinner. WHAT I GOT - 2 stars I ordered the OXTAIL NIHARI which is the dish I got the first time I visited Pondicheri. The first time I ate here, the Ox Tail dish had big, juicy chunks in a savory, thick gravy. This time it tasted like my brother and I (he ordered the same dish) got whatever was in the bottom of the pot. The gravy was rich but overly-greasy, and the meat was completely disintegrated - i.e. no chunks. The taste was okay, but my brother ended up getting sick later on and I think it was due to the greasy meat. The rest of the dish - the side of veggies and flatbread - was perfect. But since the Ox Tail is supposed to be the star of the show, I had to give the meal 2 stars. I also tried the BREAD PUDDING and the LUSH LASSI. Both were delicious; the bread pudding was served in a small amount of thick, rich cream and tasted like sweet stuffing. The Lush Lassi has a nice texture and a natural, rich mango flavor. I couldn't taste the alcohol and the drink is not particularly strong, but if you like mango, it is worth trying out. It tastes like a mango milkshake. HOW I WAS TREATED - 4 stars The waitress was a polite guy named John; he took his time to give recommendations, checked on the table often and we had a nice little convo as dinner wrapped up. The hostess was warm as well, and I've been seated immediately each time I've visited. IMHO - I don't know if I'll come back anytime soon, but I still think this place is worth visiting. The dishes are creative and there are some delicious sounding vegetarian options read more

Pondicheri has a great variety for Indian food and other options as well. I love that it is a walk up ordering type system. I've been several times and will be back. Location is great as well. Delicious naan! read more

Pondicheri - Brioche French Toast - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Pondicheri is on the short list of high-profile, upscale Indian restaurants in Houston along with the likes of Indika and Kiran's. Alison Cook, Houston's most prominent food critic, has Pondicheri high up on her list of the top restaurants in town. I stopped by for dinner on a Thursday along with a friend. The restaurant is located in a trendy shopping center in the Kirby area along with Eddie V's Prime Seafood, Del Frisco's Grille, and several retailers. They have a complimentary parking structure so parking shouldn't be a problem. The decor inside is pretty cool. Once seated, they bring you water and a complimentary snack. I'm not really sure what it was but it's a trail mix of sorts with pumpkin seeds, something that tasted a little like corn flakes, and some other stuff with a little kick to it. Plus a lime as a garnish. Rather than an entree, I ended up going with a starter and some sides. I had the lamb lollipop appetizer, some desi fries, and I shared the cheese scallion naan. The presentation of all of the food was impressive. The creativity is also there as the menu consists of a lot of interesting choices. With that being said, I felt like the execution was lacking. The lamb lollipop was a shank of lamb but it was mostly ground lamb rather than tender, lamb meat. I wasn't impressed with this dish. The desi fries are curly fries with Indian seasoning and they are pretty spicy. My favorite part of the meal ended up being the naan and my dining partner agreed. Some things I feel like they could work on. For a restaurant that has a lot of spicy dishes, they don't list the spice level for any of their dishes. That's uncommon for restaurants like this one that serves a lot of spicy food. I had actually planned to order the wings appetizer before my server told me that it was the spiciest item on the menu. Nice of her to let me know but this is something that should be indicated on the menu. She also forgot to bring me my iced tea and I had to ask for it once the food came out. Added bonus: They're known for their bake shop and creative breakfast so maybe that would be more my jam! read more

Loved the ambiance and service. But as someone trying to move to a Plant-based whole foods diet, eating out has been a challenge. The menu has several vegan options, so I chose the stuffed portobello. It was very spicey and tasty, but also floating in oil and heavy on the salt. Enjoy this while you're still young. read more

Pondicheri has been in Houston for 10 years! It seems just like yesterday when we first heard about this non-traditional authentic South Asian restaurant that opened up.⁣ ⁣ It was nice to visit after a long time and experience this spot with my family (we've all come on separate occasions but not together).⁣ ⁣ They have their Restaurant, Bake Lab, Cooking Classes, Take-out & Deliver, Catering and even recipes on their site! I'm a fan of Indian fusion cuisine as long as it's authenticity with a twist and that's exactly what you get!⁣ ⁣ FOODS:⁣ * Pomegranate Pani Poori [v] - semolina puffs, pomegranate cumin broth with lentil vegetable filling⁣ * Shrimp & Uppma [gf] - seared with caramelized onions, tomato, herbs & spices | savory corn grits hash & crispy okra⁣ * Onion Cheese Paratha with tomato chutney⁣ * Frankies with desi fries | a classic mumbai street dosa wrap [gf] [v] with cauliflower & chickfu [v] green masala cauliflower, minced onion & ginger, seared chickpea tofu (you can also select carrot roti for the wrap, chicken for the protein and soup or salad for a side)⁣ I think the Shrimp & Uppma was the best...everything could use a little more spice and kick, but it's not just for South Asians so maybe that's why. read more

Pondicheri - Pomegranate Pani Poori and Shrimp & Uppma - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas