How do you mess up plain rice and naan? The rice was dry, the naan didn't have even a hint of butteriness on it. Portions were ridiculously, laughably, insultingly small. The shrimp app was bigger than the main. The main could have been one single chicken thigh cut into even smaller pieces. We looked at the waitress like.. "are you serious?" And she sheepishly goes "yeah, the portions are small." Boy. That's an understatement. I will never go back here and I almost had to disown my friend for bringing me here. Eric, I will probably never let you live this down. For anyone looking for even remotely decent Indian food at a price that makes more sense, there are several very "average" quality restaurants that still outshine Monk's. 3 stars because the chicken was pretty tasty! read more

Tried this place out for the first time this week. Ordered the veggie samosas, veggie biryani, chicken butter masala, goat vindaloo, saag paneer, and garlic naan. We ordered it to go, and the food was hot and delicious. Went for heat level "medium" (2 out of 4, I believe), and it had a nice kick of heat without being too overpowering. Flavors were amazing, and we enjoyed it all. Only complaint is that there was such a small amount of chicken and goat in the two dishes--like 80% sauce. Although we took it to go, the inside of the restaurant was very nice and clean with plenty of tables. Will be back. read more

The Monk's Indian Bistro - From the top--goat vindaloo, biryani, garlic naan, chicken butter masala, and saag paneer - Indian Near Me - Richmond, Texas

Recently went to @themonksrichmond and was amazing, what a great place. always get excited for a #halal spot in #richmondtx. we ordered the Manchuria Noodles, Chicken 65 Biryani, Hot & Sour Soup, Dynamite Shrimp, Tandoori Momo's and Chicken Lollipop. and yes we were hungry. I have had momo's before but first time trying tandoori momo's with were great the tandoori masala gave it this perfect flavor to them. also I am a fan of Chicken 65 and again I have never had Chicken 65 Biryani which was excellent. overall we enjoyed every item that we order, definitely will be back. read more

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Ridiculously tasty. So flavorful. Wow. Everything was fantastic. Wish I could eat this stuff every day

A chain Indian restaurant but a first rate one. Enthusiastic thumbs up. The menu is small, with about 3/4 standard Anglo-Indian Curry House Items and a small number of more contemporary favorites. What sets the place off is execution. They simply do a better job on those fine familiar dishes. The Monk's was recommended to me by a West Houston suburbanite who knows her Indian food as the top place she could think of for eating in ANY cuisine in the Katy-Richmond area. The recommendation was right on target. I was alone so I could not try the "all six dishes" that I would have gotten at a table with more people. But the goat saag I got was two standard deviations above the mean good. The one rap - mentioned by other Yelpers and with which I would concur - is that the goat you get is heavy on bones, light on meat. It is as if the whole dish was made from goat tail. But bones impart great flavor to a dish. The saag itself was so filling and good that I was perfectly happy to have goat as an accent. Overall, I was totally impressed. read more

This restaurant is new and absolutely does not need a learning curve, the food and service are outstanding right away. They make Tandoori Chicken anything but boring. We had the Tandoori Murgh, Chandi Kaliyan, Hot and Sour Soup and Garlic Naan. They did all extremely well but the Chandi Kaliyan wins hands down in this group. If you're sensitive to spicy foods tell them or be prepared to be tested even at medium spice level. The restaurant is bright with modest decor and staffed to handle both takeout and seated quests. They're located in the corner of a shopping plaza with adequate parking. Given enough time I'll get through the entire menu. read more

The Monk's Indian Bistro - Chandi Kaliyan - Indian Near Me - Richmond, Texas

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Seating was immediate and the food delicious. Jay was our waiter and service couldn't be better. He was attentive without hovering. The interior was comfortable and modern. The bar area looked attractive and well stocked. read more

Food was good. Too bad the sharing platter is only to go. We love the serving and the flavor.

Great flavors! We tried the fried chicken tandoori momos and it was tasty. It is much like dumplings but dough thicker and fillings are by itself. The lollipop biryani was awesome. Very flavorful. The chicken vindaloo was spicy but it was not my favorite. Also had the samosas which was spicy and ok. Got the garlic and bullet nan which were thin but good tasting. Lots of choices, will go back! We had everything spicy, and it was definitely spicy! It was overall a smaller restaurant than I thought it would be but I didnt have to wait when I went on the weekend. read more

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Thank you to my friend Ali we came here the very 1st time. Overall we ordered lot of dishes but I have to say everything was super delicious the quality was good & taste was excellent & Harish customer service was excellent ! read more

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A disappointing visit ruined by the chef's behavior -- despite great momos and a wonderful server I'm writing this review as someone who was really looking forward to visiting Monk's Indian Bistro in Richmond. I was home from Alabama for the holidays, and my mom had hyped this place up for weeks--especially the momos and the Sichwan noodles. We walked in with high hopes. There were five of us, and we decided to order the family-size Sichwan noodles. Our server, Ram, a genuinely kind and down-to-earth guy, gently let us know that the family platter was normally for takeout only. No problem--my family immediately said, "Then we'll place it as a to-go order; we still want it." He smiled, took care of it, and everything seemed smooth. The tandoori chicken momos came out first and they were absolutely phenomenal. If the rest of the experience had matched those dumplings, this review would be glowing. But then the meal started unraveling. The dishes began arriving in a strange, staggered, almost disorienting way. First the spicy masala noodles came... then nearly 10 minutes later, the chicken Manchurian... then another 10-15 minutes passed before the chicken fried rice showed up. Each person sat staring at their food getting cold while someone else waited for theirs to arrive. It completely killed the flow of what should have been a simple family meal. And then things took a turn. From where we were seated--right near the entrance--we suddenly heard someone in the back yelling. It was loud, aggressive, and unmistakably directed at our server Ram. The voice, clearly the head chef, was berating him in harsh Hindi for accepting a family-size platter order for a seated table. Ram tried to explain that we, the customers, had asked for it as a to-go order, but the chef kept going--rude, loud, and downright unprofessional. Everyone in our area heard it. The mood at our table shifted instantly. To put this in context: It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The restaurant was empty except for us. There were a few delivery drivers picking up orders, but it wasn't remotely crowded. This wasn't stress-induced chaos. This was someone choosing to take their temper out on an employee. A few minutes later, Ram walked out--quiet, apologetic--and set our to-go platter of Sichwan noodles on the table. The air was thick with discomfort. We told him we were sorry he had to deal with that kind of treatment in front of customers. His response--"It's okay, I'm used to it"--made the whole situation feel even worse. No employee should ever be "used to" being yelled at like that. We asked if the head chef could come speak with us, because we genuinely wanted to address his behavior respectfully. Both Ram and another server (also extremely polite) warned us that they didn't recommend speaking with him at all. That says everything. Look--Monk's has good food. Those dumplings were absolutely worth the hype. But no dish is worth the drama we witnessed. A restaurant is more than its recipes. It's the atmosphere, the service, the respect between staff, and the way customers are made to feel. On all those counts, today was a disappointment. I truly hope the owners of Monk's read this and speak with the head chef at this branch. No matter how talented someone is in the kitchen, there is no excuse for public outbursts, hostility toward staff, or a complete breakdown in timing and communication. Customers should not hear temper tantrums from the back. Food should not arrive 10-15 minutes apart. And employees like Ram--who was professional, gentle, and genuinely trying to do right by us--should not be treated like that. I went in with high expectations. I left feeling uncomfortable, embarrassed for the staff, and honestly sad that what should have been a great family meal turned into a stressful experience. I hope things improve--because the food has potential. The leadership, at least today, did not. read more

Really nice! Very good food and service. Spicy food was very spicy and mild flavors were very rich and smooth. We have good memories of traveling through India and China and these flavors reminded us of the experiences. read more

Located kinda behind Krogers next to a martial arts studio. It's really really really cold inside. I told the owner and he brought the ac down so by the time I came back (30 min later) it wasn't as cold inside. I ordered the chicken momos ( we didn't like it) , the samosas were good, the goat vindaloo had mostly bones little meat & the medium spice was very spicy, paneer tikka masala was tasty but not much paneer was in it --mostly the sauce, tandoori murgh was good....the garlic naan was good. It did come with white rice. Overall it was ok. A lot of people recommended this place. It would be better if there was more protein in the sauce. read more

Stopped in for lunch at Monk's. This was my second visit here, my husband's third. To start, I love the light and positive vibe of the decor. We like Indian food, but we don't eat it regularly, so we needed some advice about what to order. Javid explained everything to us and made wonderful suggestions. We ate a spicy dish, goat vindaloo, and a sweet dish, chicken tiki masala, plus butter-garlic naan. The food was delicious! The vindaloo was a little spicy for me, but Javid had warned me it might be, so I was ready. Most of the people dining in were Indian families, and honestly I think that is a good sign that the food is both authentic and delicious because people don't generally go out and pay for restaurant food if it's not at least as good or better than what they make at home. Am I right? I recommend you give this place a try. It's in the Kroger plaza at South Mason. read more

The Monk's Indian Bistro - The restaurant from outside in the parking lot. - Indian Near Me - Richmond, Texas

The butter masala is so good. If I weren't trying to work on portion control, I would eat the whole thing in one sitting. I got the butter masala, biryani rice, and garlic naan. The place is chill, and the service is cool. It's family-friendly! I got my food to go. read more

Enjoyed some takeout from here. The garlic fried rice is delicious! Looking forward to trying in person one day

We love to eat at Monk's. Food is always fresh and the helpings are huge. The customer service is very friendly, the servers always have a smile on their faces. It's family friendly ambiance. You can easily bring someone here to celebrate any occasion. The management is very accomodating. read more

Sweet little spot in the heart of Richmond, they seem to have a different limited menu compared to the Westheimer location but the quality, taste and service of the place is great. Ordered the Tandoori paneer momos which were delicious with right amount of spices, followed it up with Chili garlic noodles and Wok tossed fried rice. Great spot for a quick bite if you are driving around the location. read more

This is a quaint little restaurant in a nearby shopping center. We have seen many restaurants come and go at this location. It is very nice and clean with good service. Our problem is we ordered a Chinese dish from an Indian type restaurant. It was alright, but did not hit the spot for us. We will probably return to get one of the recommended dishes already reviewed. read more

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Is the meat and chicken served halal , and what the level of spicy is, please can any one share the experience with me.

Our first time visiting and we were delighted. The food was delicious and the staff were very friendly and welcoming. The portions are generous and spices were tasty. We will definitely return. Thanks for a great lunch! read more

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The food was packed with flavor and delicious. I ordered garlic naan, veggie samosa and chicken momos with door dash. The delivery was faster than I expected. Next time I will go in so I can enjoy the ambiance. read more

The Monk's Indian Bistro - Veggies samosa. - Indian Near Me - Richmond, Texas

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Ordered take out twice and both times the food was bland and didn't taste fresh. The cost of the food for the lack of taste/freshness is ridiculous. It must be a new cook or they're cutting corners. read more

I've come here twice now and both times received exceptional service, Ashok does a great job explaining the menu and is extremely professional and patient! It is extremely clean and has a homey feel. The food is the show stopper! I have not had Indian food that was THIS good in this area since moving here in 2015. You can tell they take their time making each dish and pay special attention to the fresh ingredients, preparation and the plating! We will definitely be back and recommend this restaurant to everyone craving South Indian food! read more

The Monk's Indian Bistro - Street noodles w/ chicken (spicy) sooo good! - Indian Near Me - Richmond, Texas

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Pleasantly surprised food was very good better than Alings in my opinion!! Wait time was a bit long but food was fresh and hot! The tandoor paneer momos were AMAZING! Very clean inside silverware, cups, etc. read more

Food was excellent. We had Chicken Vindaloo (Hot and it was hot!), Butter chicken, some samosas and Naan - great flavor and quantity. Service was great and the dessert was amazing as well. read more

Oh my god! The food was so so great. Amazing flavor, nice and soothing ambiance and very courteous staff. The food took me back to Indian street Chinese memories. Loved this place a lot. We have ordered from here as well a lot but this was our first dine in experience. This place has never disappointed. read more

I didn't enjoy my food as much as I thought I would. The flavor was okay. I got the curry goat and it was more bones than meat. The guy at the register was nice though read more

I visited this restaurant for the first time after driving over 45 minutes. Despite the delicious food, I found a medium-strong black hair in the butter chicken and couldn't continue eating. The next day, I called the manager to request a remake. However, when I arrived to pick it up, I was ignored while another customer was immediately addressed by the manager. This incident made me feel uncomfortable and led me to believe that the restaurant may be racist. I'll just continue making my butter chicken at home. I would have said rude but clearly he isn't that if he was welcoming to the other customers. read more

We have ordered for pick up twice now and each time they have forgotten part of our order, given us someone else's order or given us the wrong items . The first time we called them went back up there to pick up the items they left off, they had only been opened a couple of months so we knew they could be working out the kinks. We ordered again last night and AGAIN, items were left off our order, the biryani was supposed to be veggie, we were given meat, a chicken dish that was ordered they assured us it was white meat and it was all dark. The food is good enough, but if you place an order to pick up do not leave until you have CHECKED everything. We will just order take out from other local places going forward. read more

I've only done takeout so far, but every time it's fantastic! With such an expansive menu, I want to try everything but good lord the street style noodles (#4 level spicy w veg) and butter masala (paneer) were so good on my first visit that I just keep ordering those. The portion sizes are great and they text when it's ready for pick up. Inside is clean and inviting and there is plenty of parking. So lucky to have this place so close and can't want to try different dishes...someday...maybe... read more

Wow. This place is a hidden jewel of Indian food in Richmond! We ordered tandoori chicken, vindaloo goat, sagg paneer and spicy shrimp! So bummed I forgot the Naan. But it was so amazing. We will be back and they have Chinese food to boot!! read more

Came here to say to eat before studying, and saw all the reviews. We loved it here! The inside is nicely decorated and the employees are so helpful. We also got the garlic naan, which was yummy, and paired wonderfully with the food. The flavors were wonderful, but the goat chettinad wasn't my favorite. Not that it wasn't good, but it had a nutty kind of flavor that I haven't liked in previous dishes i've tried elsewhere, but if you like that flavor, Chettinad is perfect for you! I did ask for our servers recommendation and this is what he recommended, which i'm thankful for because I love trying new things. Other than that I loved everything and enjoyed my experience here. read more

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This place has the best Butter Chicken and Tiki Masala. The service is wonderful along with how they always are giving us a wonderful experience. Monks ambience is one of, if not the greatest, best I've ever been too. read more

Delicious food and big portions! Got the butter masala, tikka masala, and the spicy masala noodles for a family of four and had leftovers. The staff is very welcoming, we will be returning! read more

The Monk's Indian Bistro - Dessert - Indian Near Me - Richmond, Texas

Ordered pick up food multiple times and found Live insect and bug in rice and butter chicken! Be aware.

Normally I don't post semi-negative reviews but... Pros: Delicious flavors, nice staff. Cons: Food took a while to come out but the taste would have been worth it, except, my chicken tikka masala was raw. No biggie, I sent it back. Round 2, chicken still raw. Got into a "debate" where I showed them the rawness. Reason for semi-negative post: They asked if I wanted another protein, such as goat. I declined and asked for just some tikka masala sauce to eat with my rice. Bill came, chicken tikka dish was still on it. I asked for it to be removed, which they did but then charged me $5 for the sauce! Like, how was I supposed to eat my garlic naan without a sauce to dip it in? I paid for the sauce but have decided I won't be back. read more

Tried this place for the first time and it was great! All of the food was very flavorful and filling. The service was good and attentive. Overall we will definitely be back. read more

Good service, food quantity is less for paneer curry, less tasty food, nice and friendly staff. I might visit again though

New in the neighborhood this small Indo/Chinese restaurant had very fresh food, respectful service, and made to order meals with choice of spice (mild to very hot). we tried paneer, noodles with vegetables, and dumplings and took half home for another meal. We will be back and encourage our neighbors to give it a try. Hope they will be sucessful in attracting business. read more