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    Pondicheri

    3.7 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed • 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    PONDICHERI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Pondicheri

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    Beet soup
    Farrah A.

    I LOOOOOOVE Pondicheri. Lunch, dinner, brunch... it hits the spot. What draws us in: :: Woman-owned :: Locally sourced (when possible) and high quality ingredients. :: They don't use seed oils. :: Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are clearly noted on the menu. My favorite dishes are: :: The butter chicken salad--it's one of the best salads in Houston. It's savory, saucy, and a bit tangy and sweet as it's topped with butter chicken, greens, garbanzo beans, chèvre, blueberries, and almonds. :: Saag (which vegans and dairy-free can opt for it cooked with cashew cream and chickpea tofu vs paneer). I get the regular version :: Sunday's thali special :: the GF desserts, specifically the rose laddu ($3/pop) The portions are huge, and it's crazy to notice so many tables leave so much leftover on the table. Y'all... take that to-go! Leftover Indian food slaps. Be sure to go upstairs to check out the bake lab.

    Henry B.

    Came in on a Saturday evening with a reservation, seated fairly quickly Dress code: casual Food 5/5: ordered their green dosa, panipuri, Texan thali and their burger. Everything was amazing. Fairly spicy but nothing too crazy. Favorite was surprisingly the burger. Ambiance 4/5: very casual, a bit loud but quirky setting Service 5/5: fantastic service, knew we had an allergy, quick, friendly and helpful Value 4/5: pretty good price for the food about what I would expect from an Indian restaurant Overall 4.5/5: great experience overall, will likely be back to try more curries. They also have a bakery attached that I was too full to try Parking: garage parking as part of the complex

    POMEGRANATE dal chaat
    Desh M.

    Pondicheri brings an interesting, modern spin on Indian food. They have some nice patio seating as well, so since the weather has gotten nicer, we took the opportunity to bring our dog out for dinner. The ambience is really nice, and service is good. They have a daily happy hour from 4-7, which includes some food specials. Pomegranate dal poori - 5/5, pretty basic chaat item Fish kofta - 5/5 very unique and tasty Texan thali- 4/5 - my spouse wanted both the lamb chop and butter chicken, and she got to have both with this! The lamb chop was really flavorful and delicious. Goa shrimp - 4/5 shrimp curry itself was great, but we weren't a fan of the coconut uthappam Bread pudding with ice cream- 5/5 - really tasty! A good meal and we'll definitely be back!

    Side of Naan
    Natalie P.

    Just visited for my first time in a few years, and the food overall fell a little flat compared to what I remembered. We arrived towards the end of happy hour, and the $9 cocktails were a great deal! I had a Chai Old Fashioned which I felt was lacking in spice, just tasted like a regular old fashioned. The lentil dumpling chaat on the happy hour menu was delicious, my favorite thing we tried. For mains we got the butter chicken and saag paneer, and neither was quite as flavorful as I remembered. The service was great, we sat outside on the patio and had no wait for a table on a Saturday night. The restaurant is in a quiet, fancy shopping center off Kirby, with plenty of garage parking and a peaceful outdoor patio. I know they are popular for their breakfast and bakery, so i'll be back some time to try those!

    Cocktail menu
    Allison L.

    Love Pondicheri for so many reasons! My first visit was during lunch with my cool coworkers. Second visit was with my boyfriend (now husband), a d our recent visits were most memorable after a visit to milk + honey and during Diwali! Pondicheri offers happy hour drink and food specials, including 25% off wine. We tried bone marrow (WOW) and the Diwali thali which was amazing! Great service by Madison & the bartender!

    Lamb puffs
    Zanarah K.

    Looking for an upscale Indian restaurant, come here! Rezys needed, but the flavoring for this food is a bit different than traditional Indian food. I died for the parli g ice cream sandwich!!! If i could get that over and over I would Garage parking or valet Separate gender bathrooms Outside seating as well.

    Jenny Q.

    I went with my friend here for HRW. The food was not bad. I had the samosa, butter chicken, and the pistachio ice cream. Samosa was filling. Butter chicken was unique with different blend of spices. The pistachio ice cream was alright, it served as a refreshing end to the meal. Service was prompt. There's a complimentary garage nearby.

    Bengali Fish
    Dede T.

    This spot is supper cute and can accommodate groups. We had 6 in our party and ordered appetizers and main course meals. I don't remember all of the apps but I enjoyed all of them especially the lentil balls (not actual name). For my main course I had the Bengali fish with naan, eh chef's kiss! My mouth is watering just thinking about the overload of spices, flavors and just plain goodness. I would return for that dish alone. My drink was the golden soda. Make sure you stir because at first mine tasted like medicine but once I gave it a good turn around it started to taste okay. It was not to my tastebuds liking so I ordered lemonade after. The service was superb! The server confirmed my entree choice as her favorite and I now know why. Definitely another restaurant added to my Houston tasty foods list! See you next time!

    Masala Chai
    Surbhi G.

    Paneer Bonda were soooo good. Love the way they do the chutney and pomegranate. Paneer texture light and fluffy too. Rajma chaat is a must. Carrot parathas too. Never a bore to dine here

    Sasha G.

    I'm not sure what it is about this place, but I've been here about four times over the years, and it just never quite hits the mark for me. It's located in a very upscale shopping area, and the restaurant itself is attractive, offering both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff is friendly, and it's always busy. That said, despite giving it multiple chances, I always walk away remembering why I don't come back more often. The food is just average. It's not bad--it simply tastes like fast Indian food to me. The elegant setting and fancy presentation might give the impression that it's something special, but when it comes down to the actual flavors, it fails. The dishes look great in pictures, but the taste doesn't live up to the visual appeal.

    Chickpea Tofu Frankie
    Devangi D.

    Pondicheri offers a creative spin on Indian flavors, and everything we tried was delicious. The chickpea tofu frankie was packed with flavor and a perfect portion size -- hearty but not heavy. The naan was warm, soft, and full of flavor, easily one of the best I've had. We also tried a house-made mocktail that was super refreshing and perfectly balanced. The vibe is trendy yet laid-back, and the bakery counter is hard to resist. Great spot for anyone wanting something unique and satisfying! Our server was very knowledgeable and we had great service.

    Devesh S.

    This time we were flying out of Houston so decided to try out Pondicheri which came highly recommended. First of, there is plenty of covered parking around which is nice to have. The ambience is great and tastefully done. The menu is unique and refreshing for an Indian restaurant. We got the lamb chops, thali and the ommlette with keema along with a couple of non alcoholic drinks and beer. They have a happy hour till 7 PM so the beer was $5 a pint, nice surprise. The food was mostly good, thali had Undhiyu which is a traditionally Gujrati curry and it was nice. Other curries in the thali were ok. The lamb chops were really good on their but the combination with eggplant raita does not work, at least for us. We might be back again to try the Dosas.

    Texan thali
    Alex S.

    This was an amazing unique experience. Coming from an avid India food lover, the naan and paratha were far from the best I've had, however I thoroughly enjoyed the saag with figs and the butter chicken was good as usual (hard to mess up a butter chicken in my op) the potato cake was a nice touch. The chai pie, however, was excellent. The cookie crust was thick and delicious and the pie custard had such a nice chew to it. Perfectly spiced!

    Texas Thali  This was amazing way to try different things  The lamb chop is delicious

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    13 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    we loved all the dishes we ordered - butter chicken, their thali, masala dosa and the Frankie. The coffee was amazing too!

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    5 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    really amazing happy hour and good fusion dishes. Our servers John and Jennifer were the best!!

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Some of the best indian food i've had. ever. We got the Texan Thali and the goat masala samosa. Did not disappoint. I'll be coming back.

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Average food, and coffee was cold. Overall, it was a disappointing brunch. We won't be back.

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    7 years ago

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    Page 8 of 36

    Ask the Community - Pondicheri

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    Kiran's - ~Butter Chicken

    Kiran's

    4.0(544 reviews)
    0.6 mi•Upper Kirby
    •$$$

    Came here for my mom's 60th birthday celebration with a group of 11 individuals. The interior was…read morebeautiful, and we were seated immediately after using the valet parking. I will say that the service was very good. They were patient with our communication, indecision, and even helped specifically make menu items for certain dietary restrictions (no onion and garlic). The prices, especially for the quantity are exorbitant. They also brought out a small dessert to share for the birthday. Overall, everything tasted okay. It was not a memorable meal at all tastewise, so I would not rush back here again. However, I was not particularly disappointed in any dish either. My family does not often go to fine dining restaurants, so this was more for the experience than anything, and that part did live up to the standards. The papadum nachos were fun and a good appetizer. The palak chaat was also good, but could have used some more chutney to make it less dry. Portions for the goat cheese salad were really small and underwhelming. Most of the curries were again, just okay. The biryani and suprisingly, the bhindi, were my most favorite dishes, and the naan was warm and soft. I will not be rushing back to this restaurant anytime soon, but could consider on occasion.

    This rating and review is solely on the afternoon tea. As far as my thoughts on the…read moremeals/restaurant food, I still stand by my previous review. Eventhough the Chai was so bad last time that I figured I wouldn't even come back for afternoon tea, we came back for afternoon tea. But it really was only bc we had credits to use from the Chase credit card deal and this was one of the covered places. The chai did not taste like soap this time, thankfully. It was actually very close to how my parents make it. So I liked it and had like 3 cups of it. The food was pretty good except for dessert. But even that didn't bother me too much just bc by that point I was stuffed and I add sugar to my chai. I got the gluten free afternoon tea. It was good mostly. The scone was really good. The cucumber sandwich was very bland and the curried crab was fishy and bland. The deviled egg was too mustard-y. And the desserts were all bad, maybe frozen and just not good tasting (there were 3 small ones). We got there at 1:15 and we were seated in the back, pretty far from the harpist. Our server was kind of rude and seemed swamped.

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    Musaafer - Paani puri

    Musaafer

    4.3(1k reviews)
    2.8 mi•Galleria/Uptown

    We had the best experience for a date night! We got the lychee ceviche, prawn Manchurian toast and…read morevegetable seekh kabob. All were good but the prawn toast was the best! For dinner, we got the butter chicken experience, dal musaafer and paneer rizala. All were good but I liked the paneer rizala the best. We got naan and rice (both basmati and carmelized onion to share!) For desert, I would highly recommend the rasmalai and gulab!

    What a wonderful experience we had with the family…read more As we took the elevator to the second floor to the reception area, I noticed right way I think I stepped into a different world. The reception area was small and almost claustrophobic, but very ornate. There were a few chairs for you to wait. We didn't wait long, probably less than a minute. As the hostess lead us into the main dinning area, I was shocked on how big the place was (it reminding me of the big meat market restaurants in NYC). The first room was bright from the outside sunlight, almost like an outside cafe. Our table was in a different area, where it was a little darker and decorated a lot differently from the previous room. As I looked around, there were other sections at this restaurant that kind of represented different places. The section we sat in had a very long table...which I'm guessing can host a very big family or corporate party. It sat right next to the open kitchen. Our waitress, Yaretzy, was very nice. She explained how the owners traveled to the different states of India and want to share that experience at Musaafer. Yaretzy would provide an explanation for each dish. Some of them were mixed/put together table side. Everything was delicious, and not too spicy. Musaafer is fine dining, so it's not something we can do ever weekend. But we will be back. Getting here was a little tricky if you are not familiar with the area. The restaurant is located in the Galleria. The entrance to Musaafer is on the first floor inside the mall, down the hallway closest to Saks Fifth Ave on the right (if facing Saks). You will need to take the private elevator to the second floor or walk up the stairs. There is valet parking if you prefer to do that. I think there is a small parking lot in front of the restaurant that might be free, but we went into the underground Purple garage. If you park right after going down the ramp into the Purple garage, you will see an elevator into Saks Fifth Ave, which you take up and walk outside with a short walk to Musaafer. The only problem with what we did was when Saks closes, we couldn't take that elevator back down. There were stairs back down to the purple garage, but it stank! There had to be another elevator that will take you into the mall.

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    Musaafer - Ambience

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    Doshi House - Emerald Lime Tonic, Chamomile Tea, Jackfruit Chikin' taco

    Doshi House

    4.5(499 reviews)
    3.3 mi•Third Ward
    •$

    The interior is very cozy and community-centered, just like its mission. The furniture is very…read moreantique-like and there are couches, high chairs by the window, and small square tables. It would be really great for a study spot! The coffee menu has a good amount of specialty drinks. I got the pistachio latte, which is ground pistachio with cardamom, and I got it with vanilla syrup. Every first Tuesday of the month (don't quote me on this, check their instagram!) they have free drinks covered by Frost Bank, which is very nice. Lines can get long though so come quick, right at 8!

    Doshi House is a popular coffee shop and cafe located on Emancipation Ave. I finally got the chance…read moreto stop by in the morning for a coffee before work and was surprised to find it almost completely full, many of the customers being students. Not quite sure what to expect, I was pleased to see that it's completely plant-based including the pastries and no extra plus charge for alternative milks (praise!) I ended up ordering their pistachio latte which had a really rich, bold espresso note and a sweet cardamom finish at the bottom of the cup. I would definitely get this again but might try to stir it before drinking for a more even flavor distribution. In terms of the setting, there's lots of small tables and couches to work and study with either a small group or alone. They also have a back patio with additional seating, board games, and even a printer which can be hard to find in this day and age. Overall the vibe is relaxed and casual. Finally, while I had to wait about 30 minutes to order and receive my drink, I had some time to watch their workflow and would offer some suggestions for improvement to speed up their service. The staff all clearly put a lot of care into preparing each drink and were doing the best they could to move quickly, but the layout of the back counter area is fairly inefficient. To start, the ice well for cold drinks is on the complete opposite side of the register away from their espresso machines. This added a lot of steps for the staff to prepare iced coffee drinks. Secondly, the straws were also quite a reach for the staff across the counter, also by the ice well. Finally, the order retrieval process is not the best. There are no names written on the cups and customers are sometimes in the bathroom or outside on the back patio when their order is ready. It can be hard for the staff to locate the right customer or if the drink gets left on the counter, it's hard to know what it is and who it is for. Overall, a pleasant (plant-based!) discovery but hoping they might consider a few steps (pun intended) to reduce the strain on their staff.

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    Doshi House - Cute interior

    Cute interior

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    Scone, matcha and americano

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    Mural on side of building

    The Monk's- Heights - Shrimp Biryani

    The Monk's- Heights

    4.1(149 reviews)
    2.5 mi•Washington Corridor, The Heights

    Where spices, spice…read more Service: 5/5 Quick and friendly. Ambiance: 4/5 When I looked up the restaurant, I didn't realize it was only for takeout. I walked in and the spices were spicing so much so that I started sneezing. I asked if maybe the dining area was through some door, but no there is no dine in. It's a small space with a register and seats to wait for your order or you can wait in your car. Food: 4/5 Chicken Tikka Masala it was creamy and velvety, I'm not a big fan of tomato but know is a core part of it, which I did distinguish the taste in this order that I haven't usually tasted in others. The garlic naan had good flavor however it was a bit tough and crunchy when biting into it. Which wasn't my favorite, but got the job done to dip into the sauce.

    Monk's has officially become our Houston tradition. We drive in from San Antonio, and this is a…read morenon-negotiable stop for us every single time. Honestly, every dish we've ever tried here has been fantastic--it hits exactly the right spots. The Flavor Profile: A quick heads-up for those seeking "authentic" traditional Chinese--this isn't it. This is the Indianized version of Chinese food (Indo-Chinese), so prepare for bold spices and a serious kick. If you grew up loving those specific flavors, Monk's is the gold standard. The Verdict: The heat is on point, the portions are great, and the flavors are nostalgic and bold. It's the kind of meal we look forward to all the way down I-10. Truly a gem for anyone who appreciates the spicy, savory fusion of Desi Chinese!

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    Pondicheri - indpak - Updated September 2026

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