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Best Chicken Tikka Masala in Houston (2026)

Best Chicken Tikka Masala in Houston: 1. Ashiana Indo/pak Restaurant, Banquet & Catering · 2. Ambrosia · 3. Tarka Indian Kitchen · 4. India's Restaurant · 5. Everest Curry Bar and Grill. Addresses, prices and what to order.

Priya Menon
By Priya Menon Dining Trends Editor · Updated September 2026 · How the score is built
Best Chicken Tikka Masala in Houston (2026)

Houston's Indian restaurant scene runs from long-standing buffet institutions to fast-casual counters to strip-center standbys across the suburbs, and chicken tikka masala threads through all of it. The ten picks below draw from across the city, calibrated to the Insider Score and what the record actually shows about each kitchen.

1 Ashiana Indo/pak Restaurant, Banquet & Catering Yelp

Ashiana Indo/pak Restaurant, Banquet & Catering

Indian · Houston · $$
4.1

Ashiana has operated as one of Houston's more polished Indian dining rooms, a regular stop for energy-corridor lunch crowds and group tables alike. The chicken tikka masala and dal makhani are the anchors here, and the lamb biryani draws consistent attention. Service holds up under group-of-ten conditions on a Sunday, which is the real test for a room billing itself as banquet-capable. The price point stays accessible for the level of formality on offer.

What to orderChicken Tikka MasalaLamb BiryaniGarlic Naan Call Directions Scored from the full review record 12610 Briar Forest Dr · (281) 679-5555
2 Ambrosia Yelp

Ambrosia

Small Plates · Houston · $$
5.2

Ambrosia's menu runs Spanish small plates, patatas bravas, croquetas, gambas al ajillo, which places it outside the tikka masala conversation entirely. The room draws notice for its exterior design and a well-appointed outdoor dining area, though the interior runs loud once tables fill up on a weekend. Groups sharing plates on a special occasion are the clearest fit. Diners looking for Indian cuisine specifically should look elsewhere on this list.

Call Directions Scored from the full review record 2003 Lexington St, Houston, TX 77098 · (713) 393-7211
3 Tarka Indian Kitchen Yelp

Tarka Indian Kitchen

Indian · Houston · $$
4.8

Tarka operates on a fast-casual model with one feature that earns loyalty: diners choose their own spice level and swap proteins across dishes, so the coconut curry works for heat-averse eaters and serious spice seekers at the same table. The mulligatawny soup and vegetable samosas round out a menu that reads well for a quick lunch stop. Counter service keeps the pace moving, and the garlic naan holds its own alongside the main dishes.

Call Directions Scored from the full review record 721 W 19th St, Ste 7, Houston, TX 77008 · (346) 802-2096
4 India's Restaurant Yelp

India's Restaurant

Indian · Houston · $$
4.5

India's Restaurant carries decades of Houston history, with a customer base that has been eating here for forty years and counting. The lunch buffet is a reference point in this part of the city, frequently cited when the subject of Indian buffets comes up. The butter chicken runs aromatic and generous, and the prawn vindaloo brings the heat without sacrificing depth. For longtime Houstonians, this is less a discovery than a familiar constant.

Call Directions Scored from the full review record 5704 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77057 · (713) 266-0131
5 Everest Curry Bar and Grill Yelp

Everest Curry Bar and Grill

Indian · Houston
6.0

Everest Curry Bar sits in a strip-center location that the room's fans treat as a non-issue. The butter chicken, samosas, and garlic naan form the core order, and the spicy lemon chicken adds a useful alternative for tables that want range. Food is prepared fresh to order, so the kitchen runs at its own pace rather than the diner's. Staff walk through the menu for anyone new to the dishes, which helps groups with mixed experience navigate the options.

Call Directions Scored from the full review record 10502 Huffmeister Rd, Ste A, Houston, TX 77065 · (832) 688-9738
6 Himalayan Taj Yelp

Himalayan Taj

Indian · Clear Lake · $$ · № 19 on the List
6.9

Himalayan Taj leans into northern Indian cooking, with butter chicken, saag paneer, and dal makhani as the standards a group table will recognize. The kitchen also runs a buffet, useful for diners who want range without committing to a single order. Everything that comes out reads as freshly prepared. For a neighborhood with limited Indian options, this room holds the ground well and handles group dinners without the service slipping.

What to orderChicken Tikka MasalaLamb BiryaniNepalese Momos Call Directions +Read the review

Nepalese Depth Out by Clear Lake

Nestled along NASA Road 1, Himalayan Taj brings the authentic flavors of India and Nepal to the Clear Lake area, offering diners an exceptional culinary journey through the Himalayan region. This family-owned establishment has earned a stellar reputation among locals and visitors alike, combining traditional cooking techniques with fresh ingredients to create memorable dining experiences that transport guests to the foothills of the world's highest mountains.

The menu showcases an impressive array of traditional Indian curries alongside distinctive Nepalese specialties that set Himalayan Taj apart from other South Asian restaurants in Houston. Signature dishes include perfectly spiced chicken tikka masala with its rich, creamy tomato base, aromatic lamb biryani layered with fragrant basmati rice, and traditional momos, Nepalese dumplings that arrive steaming hot with house-made dipping sauce. The kitchen excels at balancing heat levels, ensuring both spice enthusiasts and milder palates find dishes to savor.

The restaurant's warm, inviting interior features traditional décor elements that create an authentic atmosphere without feeling overwhelming. Comfortable booth seating and well-spaced tables accommodate both intimate dinners and larger family gatherings, while soft lighting and gentle background music enhance the relaxed dining environment. The open kitchen concept allows diners to catch glimpses of the skilled preparation happening behind the scenes.

Himalayan Taj serves as an ideal destination for adventurous food lovers seeking authentic flavors and families looking for a welcoming spot to share a satisfying meal. The generous portions and reasonable prices make it perfect for casual dinners, special celebrations, or introducing friends to the diverse tastes of Himalayan cuisine. The restaurant's location makes it particularly convenient for those exploring the NASA area or Clear Lake region.

Map showing Himalayan Taj© OpenStreetMap
HoursMon - Thu: 11:00 AM - 9:30 PMFri: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PMSat: 11:30 AM - 10:00 PMSun: 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Address1425 Nasa Rd 1
Insider tip

Try the weekend lunch buffet for the best value and opportunity to sample multiple dishes at once.

7 Tandoorish Yelp

Tandoorish

Indian · Houston · $$
5.2

Tandoorish delivers on the core combination: butter chicken with garlic naan and a mango lassi is the order that comes up most often, and the execution on that trio is the room's clearest strength. The lunch buffet is less reliable, running thin on busy days off the school calendar when traffic spikes and prep can't keep up. For a sit-down dinner on a quieter evening, the kitchen shows better than the buffet record suggests.

What to orderButter ChickenChicken Tikka MasalaLamb Biryani Call Directions Scored from the full review record 9135 W Sam Houston Pkwy N · (346) 206-4299
8 Peacock Indian Restaurant Yelp

Peacock Indian Restaurant

Indian · Houston · $$
5.8

Peacock stands out for portion size. A shared curry and a single order of garlic naan has fed two people with food to spare, which matters for groups watching the tab. The dosa gets specific attention as a standout, and the saag runs on the creamier side. Pani puri appears on the menu but the execution is uneven, so the stronger play is staying with the curries, the naan, and the dosa if it is on the table that day.

Call Directions Scored from the full review record 1275 Eldridge Pkwy, Ste 130, Houston, TX 77077 · (281) 965-0554
9 London Sizzler Yelp

London Sizzler

Indian · Mahatma Gandhi District · $$ · № 47 on the List
5.0

London Sizzler runs a pub-style room with low lighting and decor that puts it in a different register from the typical Indian dining room. The garlic naan is one of the more frequently cited in Houston, and the chicken curry and vegetable dishes hold up the rest of the menu. Saturday nights pack the space. The room suits a group dinner where the atmosphere is part of the conversation, not just a backdrop for the food.

What to orderChicken Tikka MasalaLamb BiryaniGarlic Naan Book a table Call Directions +Read the review

Indian Comfort Food Built for the Table

London Sizzler runs on the strength of Indian dishes built to be shared, not plated for one. Chicken tikka masala carries the room, the tomato-cream base doing the kind of steady work that keeps a table of first-timers and regulars both satisfied, no negotiation needed. Lamb biryani is the dish that separates a competent kitchen from a careless one, and the layered rice and tender lamb suggest a kitchen that treats the dish as a centerpiece rather than an afterthought. Garlic naan rounds out the order, the kind of bread that exists to mop up what's left of the curry, which is the whole point of ordering it.

None of this is trying to be a tasting menu. It is Indian food scaled for a group, priced to let a family or a set of friends order across the menu without doing math first. That combination, moderate prices and dishes engineered for sharing, is exactly the corridor logic that runs through Houston's suburban belt, where a strip-center Indian kitchen can outwork a fine-dining room on flavor per dollar. London Sizzler fits that mold: casual seating, a menu that reads as family-style by design, and a kitchen clearly more interested in getting the tikka masala and biryani right than in reinventing either.

The Indian food scene stretches well past the Loop, into the corridors where South Asian families actually eat on a Tuesday, and rooms like this are the reason that argument holds. There is no pretension here, and there does not need to be. A group of four or six can walk in, order the signature dishes, split the naan, and leave full without the bill turning into an event. That is the job this kind of restaurant is built to do, and on the strength of the tikka masala and the biryani, it does it.

Map showing London Sizzler© OpenStreetMap
HoursMon: ClosedTue - Thu: 5:00 PM - 10:00 PMFri: 5:00 PM - 11:00 PMSat: 12:00 PM - 11:00 PMSun: 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Address6690 Southwest Fwy
Houston, TX 77074
Insider tip

Order the lamb biryani and chicken tikka masala together with extra garlic naan for the table, since the naan is built for scooping both.

Frequently asked

Where can I find the best chicken tikka masala near me in Houston?
It depends on which part of the city. India's Restaurant has decades of history and a well-regarded lunch buffet. Himalayan Taj and Peacock Indian Restaurant both serve solid northern Indian cooking with group-friendly portions. Tarka Indian Kitchen operates across multiple Houston locations with a fast-casual format and spice customization. Every restaurant on this list earned its place through the Insider Score, and no restaurant pays to be listed.
How does the Insider Score work?
The Insider Score is a normalized rating built from verified diner reviews. It weighs volume and consistency so that a restaurant with hundreds of reliable reviews ranks more accurately than one with a handful of recent ones. No restaurant pays to appear on Top of Houston, and no placement is sponsored.
Are any of these restaurants good for a large group?
Several are. Ashiana has banquet and catering capacity and handles groups of ten at lunch. Himalayan Taj and Peacock Indian Restaurant both show well for group dinners. London Sizzler fits a group looking for a pub-style room with shared plates.
Which of these Houston Indian restaurants have lunch buffets?
India's Restaurant is among Houston's most referenced lunch buffet stops and has been for decades. Himalayan Taj also runs a buffet. Tandoorish offers one but the record shows it runs inconsistently on busy days. Tarka Indian Kitchen uses a counter-service model with customizable bowls rather than a traditional buffet format.
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The data first, then the verdict

We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →

About the writer
Priya Menon
Dining Trends Editor

Priya tracks the new Houston: the openings, the pop-ups gone permanent, the formats reshaping how the city eats. She writes the trend pieces and reaches the rooms everyone is about to be talking about.

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