Raja Sweets is one of those Houston institutions that feels both legendary and deeply local. Tucked…read moreinto Hillcroft's Mahatma Gandhi District, it's been around since the mid-1980s and has built a reputation for fresh sweets, savory snacks, and fast, efficient service for good reason. They just celebrated their 40th anniversary which I had the honor of attending! What I love about Raja is that it doesn't feel overly curated or trendy--it feels real. The kind of place people actually return to again and again because the food delivers. Their sweets are what put them on the map, but the savory side deserves love too. If you know, you know. The whole experience feels like a little slice of Houston history with serious community roots. Whether you're stopping in for mithai, chai, samosas, or a full meal, Raja Sweets has that rare combination of longevity, consistency, and cultural significance that makes a place memorable. There's a reason it's been featured by outlets like the New York Times, Eater, and the Travel Channel.

Raja is one of those places that has spot in Houston history. I've heard about it for years and was…read moreexcited to finally get a chance to try some sweets. I got 4 different sweets and they were all so sweet that they were virtually inedible. The milk cake was crumbly and grainy. I guess I thought it would be more soft and moist but it completely fell apart when I cut into it. I got a mango ball and a carrot cake square and both were dry and so sweet that it any other flavor became quite mute. You kinda got the hint of flavor in each but it was very slight. There was a moist coconut ball that was on the brink of good but once again, was overpowered by this blast of sugar in your mouth. It was creamy and bouncy but alas went unfinished. I am giving a 3 because to be fair, nothing was inherently wrong. I just could not enjoy the desserts at all.

I've tried several items here, including the Aloo Tikki plate, Aloo Amritsari Kulcha, and Pani…read morePuri, and these have quickly become my go-to favorites. The flavors are delicious, the portions are satisfying, and every dish feels thoughtfully prepared. The Pani Puri is definitely a must-try -- the perfect balance of flavors, freshness, and tanginess makes it stand out and keeps me coming back for more. The Aloo Tikki is comforting and flavorful, while the Amritsari Kulcha is packed with taste and has that satisfying North Indian touch. As a vegetarian, I truly appreciate having a place where I can explore so many flavorful options. The consistency in taste and quality is what keeps me returning. Highly recommend trying these dishes if you're looking for a delicious and authentic Indian street-food experience!

Bombay sweets. Still solid, after all these years. Latest trip include a Bhel puri, Papri chaat…read moreand dahi puri. Service is counter top. You find an open table and wait for your order to be called out. The chaats were pretty good. Nice hefty portion and vibrant. Ended with a cup of tea which was the icing on the cake. There is a gassy selection of mithai also available for purchase and other Indian snacks I don't know what happened to the 2 ladies that were always at the front counter? Did Bombay sweet have a management change?

The double bun kabob was hearty and nostalgic, very well seasoned. Flavor and richness was there…read more The anda paratha with achaar was straightforward and comforting. The paratha was cooked great, and the achaar added a nice punch that carried the dish, overall executed well. The paratha with chana was satisfying without being overwhelming, although may have benefited from more seasoning. The spicy cheese fries were indulgent, super enjoyable and perfect item to share.

I had a great experience at this restaurant a couple months ago. My mom and I went this week, and I…read morehad their famous Ten Chicken Sandwich. It was pretty huge as always. My mom and I splitted that and the bun kabob double Patties in half so we can try both. The 10 chicken sandwich was undercooked. It was raw. I immediately told the guy and he made me a brand new one and gave my mom and I a free mango lassi. The bun kabob was good, but not the best. After I brought the food home, the burger was cooked. But he gave me the thinnest chicken Patty compared to the ones they usually give (which is pretty big or atleast bigger than the chick fila chicken patty). So I'm a bit disappointed. One the positive side, my husband has never had Bismillah before, so he loved the sandwich and the 10 sauce they use. So we may or may both return. It's up for a debate.

I had been here before but when I came to try the food, the cafeteria had been closed, but, today…read morewas the day! What a hidden gem I just found! Im not sure where to start.... Firstly, this is a small store but it is entirely packed with all middle eastern/indian essentials, like flours, seeds, condiments, chips, sweets (bagged and homemade), canned goods, clay pots, etc. PLUS it has a meat butchery in the back, which means the freshest halal meat...fresh ground beef, chicken breast, ground veal, lamb, organ meats from veal and lamb, etc. it all looked VERY FRESH. They also have a small vegetable section but that is mostly very essentials like cilantro, carrots, onions and tomatoes. PLUS it is a restaurant! Which is precisely what I was there for and, left very well satisfied. I tried the daily special (Mon-Sat 11am-6pm) "sandwich" but is not with bread, is with pita, and chose BEEF KOFTA and FELAFEL.. WOW ! both definitely larger than a usual lunch portion. The kofta was juicy, tender, fresh and very well seasoned with fresh veggies and a mildly spicy red sauce inside that was just perfect every bite!. The felafel was PACKED with smashed felafels with veggies and I added garlic sauce and red sauce... it was truly delicious! They have a wide variety of drinks, chips, snacks and sodas from middle east to complement your sandwich. Also, at the entrance, they have their special coffee, which you serve yourself, and it was delicious! To top it off, the service was very friendly, specially from the lady at the cafeteria, but overall friendly and helpful. And BEFORE you leave, take a look at the small perfume section they have! we found some fantastic arabic perfumes and I will be back for 1 of them that hypnotized me lol. A hidden gem for me and will definitely be back !

Something to clarify: Two Brothers Halal Market is both an Indian grocery store and a restaurant…read more This review will cover the grocery section as I have not tried the restaurant in the back. This is a great secondary grocery. By that, I mean you go here for ingredients you can't find in a regular grocery store like Kroger or HEB. This has the best selection of whole spices and lentils I've seen anywhere in this area: so great in fact that this grocery is my go to location for these goods. If you're in the area and you want to cook some Indian food, this place is one you must visit. However, their limited space limits the amount of inventory they can hold. This results in extremely limited amounts of vegetables (I saw one large container, and that was it). I didn't see milk or eggs at all. Their meat selection is better though; they even have frozen microwave dinners separated by meat (beef, chicken, and lamb). I wouldn't use this grocery for pantry essentials; I'd use them in case you want to eat/cook something from Indian cuisine specifically. And the parking spaces are very limited. I got lucky and found a parking space, but not everyone might be so lucky. The parking lot is just two rows of spaces, and a couple are reserved for a separate entity. I'd try to get here near the time they open (9 am every day according to their website) since there's probably fewer people then.

Ordered porotta and beef fry and it was amazing and got the order in a timely manner.read more

Kitchen offers reasonably priced Indian food. Enjoyed the chicken biryani, butter chicken, samosas…read moreand naan.

Great food and great service! I got the chicken samosa and it was so flavorful with a nice little…read morespice to it. For my meal I got the Tikka Masala with basmati rice and garlic naan bread. All of which was very flavorful. For my drink I got the tea chai latte. The service was very helpful and friendly. He explained a lot of the dishes and drinks to us. If you're looking for good food, go here!

Good tasting food !! Definitely got some flavor ! Fast service and nice clean restaurant! Big…read moreportion for the money!!!

We had an amazing dinner here this evening. Food tasted homemade and customer service was…read moreoutstanding. Fish curry was one of the best I have had and their squash was delicious. As they also specialize in desserts too, you will have a variety of sweets to choose from. We tried their Jalebi which came out warm and crispy. If you want to experience cuisine from Bangladesh, this is the place! I can't wait to go back.

I was going through a manic episode. I wanted to drive to nowhere, I needed my voice to fall into a…read morevoid of nothing. So I drove where I was not familiar. I found this joint behind a gas station. Shit was weird, but damn that shit smacked. Tony's wife knew little English, but was so hospitable. I didn't even know what I ordered but I found out it's all vegetarian. That is all. I'll be back.. maybe for the lassi.

Best Indian street food I have ever tested since I moved to Houston…read more Indian bun (Pav) must must try, you will not find pav like Tony Chat House in Texas Run by a couple both are extremely nice and talkative We ate Vada Usal pav, dahi puri, vada pav, Delhi tikiya, spring roll Worth the penny