Tried out Tarka Indian Kitchen recently and honestly... I'm a little confused. The service was friendly, the place was clean, and the food came out much faster than expected. We picked up our order about 3-4 minutes after getting the "ready" text and it was still before the estimated pickup time, but the food honestly wasn't that warm which is wild because everytime I pick up Indian food from any place even if I am a bit late it is piping hot or pretty hot. I don't think they even have a heat lamp or have the AC on too high. The smell of garlic when we walked in had me excited, but unfortunately the garlic naan ended up being the best part of the meal. We ordered medium spice since we were sharing with a younger family member who likes spice but doesn't want to sweat through dinner like we do. What we didn't expect was how sweet everything would be. The tikka masala tasted like sweet yogurt with a little garam masala for color. The chicken vindaloo was even more confusing. Vindaloo is usually tangy and vinegary, but this one was also sweet. It honestly tasted more like sweet tomato sauce than anything resembling a vindaloo. Nothing tasted bad in a spoiled sense, it was just very Americanized and very very sweet. The two stars are for three things: the clean location, the fast friendly service, and the garlic naan. If you have a very mild palate or prefer sweet food, you might enjoy this place. But if you're hoping for bold, tangy, flavorful Indian food, this probably won't be it. read more

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Was in the mood for some lentil soup, so I got the Mulligatawny soup. Not bad. Hit the spot. Also grabbed some vegetable samosas and some garlic naan. The samosas were good and the naan was just average. I think they need to cook it longer for a little better texture. As always, the restaurant was clean. The staff was prompt, friendly, and the food came out fairly fast. read more

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Coconut curry - bomb! I love that you can select your own spice level (since I can't really handle any spice!). And you can select your protein. Staff is super friendly and will help if you're not sure what to get. You THINK the serving is small, but it's so hefty that I couldn't even finish mine! Would recommend checking out if you love curry and/or Indian food. read more

The food here was great. For a simple menu they did a great job of nailing the flavors. The naan is really good also. The service was ok, it's more automated and you don't really talk with anyone. You order on a computer and sit or wait around. This place felt more of a take out than a dine in experience and they do try to hurry you along. Overall though good place. read more

There are not many Indian options in the Heights area, but Tarka is the best. I always order Chicken Korma (medium spicy) and it's definitely my favorite menu item. The service is quick and friendly, and this location is nice and clean. The food comes out quick and is reasonably priced. The only thing I would suggest for an improvement is to increase the amount of rice included with the entree. read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Chicken Korma - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

This was my first time ordering from here and my good was amazing. It definitely packed flavor. I liked that I could choose my own spice level. I ordered it to go and it was still hot upon arrival. read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Delicious. Ordered a pick up during the week to cover lunch + dinner plus next day lunch and it was a fairly quick and easy.. Staff was nice. Ordered garlic naan, vegetable samosas, chicken tikki masala, chicken biryani and mango lassi. Garlic naan - good portion, for me personally not garlicky enough Vegetable samosas- good and crispy, 2 large samosas filled with potatoes and peas. The seasoning was on point. The dipping sauce paired well. (You can also eat alone bc it is seasoned so well) Chicken tikki masala - came with a small white rice, the masala was delicious. (I also used it as a dipping sauce for the naan), there was a good portion of chicken and it went well with the rice. Chicken biryani - just enough of spice to make me happy, tender chunks of chicken mixed with deliciously made rice. I love biryani and their version was pretty good Mango lassi - in heaven, never had one and this was a great first time! I tried not to drink so much of it in the car ride home but it was soooooo delicious Def in my list of quick food spots by the house. The price was reasonable. Total with everything was $37.78. It adds a different option other than my normal Chinese or Vietnamese choices or the fast food options. Def will order in the future. read more

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The staff and the manager were absolutely amazing with their hospitality and kindness of letting me have a few samples before I tasted it, and I had so many jokes and told me personal stories. It sounds corny, but it makes a very big difference between just placing an order and eating out of place and actually having an experience because now whenever I walk in the store, I remember everyone's generosity and smiles and how great the samples tasted and now you have a permanent customer with me. Great energy from the staff. read more

I'm by no means an expert on Indian food, I actually had never even tried it until a buddy and I decided to be adventurous and try something new for lunch.. I don't know how Tarka matches up with smaller mom and pop Indian food places but it blew our socks off! The tiki marsala was so flavorful and had the perfect amount of spice. The lamb was so tender and juicy and the rice played its role as a side dish to perfection. The cheese naan was also incredible, we were damn near fighting over it at one point and regretted sharing it but it was a lot for just one person so we made the right call lol. We came back I think a few weeks in a row and tried their coconut chicken and I think I even loved that one more! Just insanely good (at least for some noobs that aren't well versed in Indian food). Their desserts were also really good and I loved the stark difference between the warm and syrupy Gulab Jaman and the cold and milky Ras Malai. Also, maybe the unsung hero of this whole experience: their drinks but especially a light pink one they have. I don't think it was strawberry lemonade, I think it was some floral drink but it's amazing. I'll have to update this review once I figure out the name. ***UPDATE***: it's a strawberry rose lemonade (I'm pretty impressed that I kinda nailed it with my description??? Lol). Amazing drink, super light and refreshing. I think I loved it because it reminded me a bit of an agua fresca. read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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My friend has been raving about this place so I decided to try this place out for lunch today. I normally would get a tikka masala but I ended up ordering the chicken coconut curry and I loved it; no regrets. I thought the portions and the price were good. The place a lot seating and the environment was clean. I would definitely come back here! read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

This might not be the best indian food in town, but for the price, it's hard to beat. The restaurant is clean and the food is fresh. I appreciate that you can order at the counter, and the wait is not long. I ordered hot spice, and it is spicy, but not overbearing compared to other restaurants' spicy. read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Service was great, everything was clean. Food is amazing. Don't know why it took me so long to come here read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

This is a modern casual Indian food kitchen that serves up some great food. We ordered the chicken tikka masala and it was creamy, rich, and loaded with spices. The masala was amazing, beyond my expectations. The medium spice level was quite mild, and so most eaters can probably go for the hot. The garlic naan was also spot on. Very light and fluffy. Could have used a bit more garlic. What a great place to get some quality food at an affordable price (and not have to wait so long). You'll want to add this restaurant to your list in the Heights. read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Chicken Tikka Masala (GF) - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Love Tarka!!!! Super fast food, Indian style. Pakoras are my favorite. Tarka Daal is really good with the basmati rice. Beyond Keema is a best seller for all my plant based lovers. Mango Lassi is also delish & yes they have a vegan kind. Garlic naan is always super warm & the pav is like a vegan roll super yummy! Reasonably priced & great portions. Staff are always really helpful and knowledgeable about what to order. Lots of seating options cafe style. read more

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The food is delicious, the portion sizes are generous, and the establishment has a visually appealing atmosphere. The staff was also very friendly. read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Tikka Masala (GF) - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

We ordered matter paneer, channa masala and vegetable pakoras! Those are very good and very pleasant! I'd love to try more Indian foods there!! :) Keep up the good business there! :) Vegetarian friendly place! :) Good service and love it! Come and enjoy Cheers I read more

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Isaac was very pleasant and helpful with my ordering experience. look forward to returning with the family!

Really quaint Indian fast food with nice sized portions. While it isn't the best and most flavorful Indian food, the flavor is good, portion sizes can be shared and the service is berry friendly. read more

Delicious chicken biryani!!! It keeps me coming back to this spot! That dish won my heart ever since ive tried it! I will explore more of the menu in the future. Their naan bread is also very good , and their somosas!!! Definitely give them a try yall! ;) Level 3 is a good heat level. Thank you Tarka! For keeping it spicy!! :)) -Santangelo Balli Gonzales read more

Craved some Indian food one night and didn't want to go far from home. Saw that Tarka is less than 10 minutes away and gave them a try. I have no complaints at all. I ordered the Tika Masala with garlic Naan and it was good. This will be my go to from now on. Everything was flavorful and hot even ordering from a delivery service. read more

Went back to Houston for Father's Day weekend and was craving Indian. I was visiting a friend so we settled on something quick and nearby. We got the chicken pakoras, chicken biryani, lamb vindaloo, naan, and gulab jaman. The pakoras was courtesy of their app's sign-up offer. I think the pakoras was okay but perhaps not worth being priced at half that of an entree given how much you get, also thought it could have been crispier, had a soggy-ish texture. The chicken biryani was not bad, decent portion size, decent heat (I got hot), and flavors were on point. The color of the rice was slightly off compared to other biryanis but for the price and being made-to-order, it's hard to complain. I thought the lamb vindaloo was a bit too tangy and sweet for my friend's and my tastes. Wasn't quite expecting the sweet & sour taste profile more reminiscent of Americanized Chinese rather than Indian curry. For better or worse, you can taste the gamey-ness of the lamb. Naan was okay, it had a texture that reminded me of tortillas, more doughy than crispy. Personally I like my naan closer to the almost charred Neapolitan pizza crust. If you haven't had gulab jaman, it's basically fried dough in a rose-flavored syrup. Very heavy. I would say it's pretty close to the ones I've had elsewhere. Tarka is good for fast casual Indian food, but I'd check out Aga's or Biryani Factory if you want something more authentic. read more

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Please come here. You will not be disappointed. This place is an "order at the counter place", it's not fancy, but the food will surely make up for all that. The owners have it right: focus on good food at a good price and this is exactly what they have achieved. I went with a colleague here for lunch and he's from India. Even he said the flavors were very authentic Indian. I ordered the hottest tikka masala, it's wasn't hot up to my standards, but I eat really spicy. Overall, yes, please come here to eat. I will definitely visit this place again when I'm in the area. read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Tikka masala and naan - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Tarka is by far my favorite new "fast food" night. After a long day of work when I do not feel like cooking, Tarka is my favorite thing to call in to eat at the restaurant or take home. I have been making Chicken Tiki Masala for years and it is never as good as what I get from tarka. This is such a great spot, extremely consistent, with lots of seating a menu options! We always get some Naan bread, Medium spice Chicken Tiki Masala, and Hot Chicken Vindaloo. I cannot recommend this place enough! read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Medium Chicken Tiki Masala, Hot Chicken Vindaloo, Naan - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ordered using GrubHub for delivery to our hotel in downtown Houston where we are staying. Food was preparing fast, delivered quickly, in ample portions, and tasty as can be! Thanks, Tarka! read more

They no longer take cash! Which seems silly and something a classist business would do. What if someone doesn't have credit? They have to go track down a cash card to buy a plate at Tarka? That's silly, businesses should be offering more options to pay... not LESS. Poor form CORPORATE execs of Tarka. Moving forward would have been accepting Bitcoin, NOT taking away a cash option. Our family loved Tarka, and for years we typically used a credit card for purchases there, with the occasionally cash purchase. We stopped going to Tarka a little over a year ago, we won't ever return. Our family doesn't support any business that subtly imposes ANY sort of "ism", including (and not limited too) classism. You're a fast food restaurant Tarka, stop acting too big for your britches (as people say). Probably for the best anyways, better food at LOCAL Indian restaurants for the same price. read more

The mango lemonade is to die for!!! Any time you want fast Indian food this is your place. I've gotten the chicken, paneer, and veggie tikka masala and loved every one!!! The vegetable samosas are a bit pricy for only 2 but they are also really yummy :) The costumer service is always great and fast 5/5 read more

3.5 stars. Decent value. Tikka masala was better than the korma. On the sweeter side for sure. The biryani was passable for sure. Huge portions on the naan. Kinda feels like Indian version of rice Box. Strawberry lassi was good as well. read more

This is my takeout spot for a meal once a month or so when there's a craving for Indian food. Again, not too many good options nearby. I got the Tikka Masala and Korma for takeout this time and the taste was way off. Tasted sour for the Tikka masala for some reason and tasted awful. The korma was just literally heavy cream. Not sure what was up with the food but I think I'll be taking a long break from here. read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - a bowl of soup and a plate of crackers - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ahhh... the deliciousness that is Tarka. I came here for Indian in a hurry and they never disappoint. The chicken tikka Marsala is always a hit, as is their naan, but today I tried something different. The biryani has more rice than is humanly possible to eat.. but I did my best. Medium spicy wasn't very spicy at all, and the jalapeño more than made up for it. Everything came out pipping hot. It's like a shrimp fried rice. That soup though read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Shrimp yum yum biryani. - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Been to Tarka a few times and their food is usually pretty good. there's plenty of accessible dishes with your choice of protein, as well as some more authentic stuff. It's a walk up service counter and the food comes out fast. However my friend did get food poisoning from the chicken tikka masala here :( hence the two star knock off. read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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We went to the Tarka in Spring for the first time. First the good things, ambience is good, clean and service was quick. The host was courteous. The food temperature was perfect and portion size were good for the price. Now the negatives. The food itself was not "Indian". When we order hot, we do not mean adding Jalepenos, which spoils the gravy flavor and make it bitter. The gravy was not rich/flavorful suggesting the people preparing them were not trained on cooking Indian cuisine (I have eaten Indian cuisine in multiple places). The Naan was soft, but not prepared in the "Tandoor" which adds flavor. It is like heating frozen Pizza, instead of preparing from scratch in stone fired oven. Sorry, but will not return to this "fusion" cuisine. It may cater to a certain crowd, but not for the authentic Indian food cuisine lover. read more

Ordered take out. Presentation was nice and it arrived still warm. Based on yelps reviews I was very excited to try this place and find an Indian spot near us. We got the following Chicken biryani: I asked for hot. This was not spicy at all. It tasted mainly like turmeric and coriander power. It did not have a equal blend of spices. This was a huge disappointment. The rita that came with was okay but missing something. I still can't put my finger on what it was. Chicken tikka- again the spices and blends were not good. Asked for Medium spice and did not taste like your typical "Indian" chicken tikka. It also did not come with a side of rice which at most Indian places they provide it but this one does not I guess. So make sure to order a side of rice or naan if you do choose to order it. read more

They package in Environmentally responsible paper containers. And honestly that's all I could ask for. For that they have my loyalty. The food is also amazing at an amazing price. Great vegetarian selection. The madras soups is great. Thank you! read more

Alright, pretty fast Indian-fusion food. Got everything to go. I ordered the chicken biryani and added paneer because I love paneer lol. This was hot and really good. I liked it a lot. It comes with a yogurt sauce and honestly I would ask for more yogurt sauce because it really makes the dish. Get garlic naan if you want more carbs! The mango lassi isn't bad either. I would come back! read more

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I have been going to this location since 2018, but the quality and taste of the food has gone down dramatically. I don't know what ingredients or recipe has changed but I had to throw the tikka masala away. Very sad. If you want great tasting desi food, make the extra drive down to Hillcroft. read more

The best indo-pak "take-out" restaurant. Everything here is soooo good, freshly made to order, and prices are reasonable. Come here if you want great Indian food in a casual environment. You won't be disappointed. read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Vegetable biryhani and lamb tikka masala. - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Tired of Mexican food I decided to try something different.. glad I did!! Other than the food being amazing one particular staff went above and beyond to help me pick out my food! Thank you Carla for making me not feel stupid I will be back Only con. Food that was supposed to be super Hot was not .. I wanted my nose to run.. read more

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Very good food. I got the extra HOT and it was HOT, which is good cause most places are wimps. :) Staff was very nice. Overall great experience. read more

Nice customizable options. Food was tasty. Good price for solid portions. Service was quick

We had mild chicken biryani, aloo gobi and garlic naan. It was good for a order first location. There was plenty of seating and the chai was good.The biryanis was well spiced but not much chicken or vegetables. The food came fairly quickly and the aloo gobi and naan are made to order. The music sets a nice relaxing atmosphere and it is a very bright space. There are nearly more windows than there are walls. The host/manager came around frequently. It would have stayed as a five star until they came around spraying Clorox scented spray and I nearly gagged. read more

Tarka Indian Kitchen - Seating - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas