Reviews

Based on 20 reviews

coog78

Bland food

This is a great example of what an Indian restaurant should not serve, bland food. I didn't finish my entree because it just tasted horrible. The atmosphere is one that emits superiority while the dishes embrace inferiority. If a restaurant has bad food, I don't care about the "ambience". The bread was half decent but that's where it stopped. Don't go here for good Indian food, Houston has so much more and better to offer,

posted at 02/06/07

kriegman

Rude Manager + Bland Food

Went for the lunch buffett and found the food to be very bland and the meal to be relatively expensive. If that weren't enough reason to avoid the place, there was an insect in my iced tea! I mentioned this to the waiter and he simply brought me another glass (without an apology). I went to speak to the manager/owner and he said he would get back to me. He never came by my table, so I got his attention on the way out. His response to the insect in the tea was "that there are 10 million insects in Houston and I am not going to commit suicide over some "insect" in your iced tea." No offer of refund. No apology. Needless to say, I will never visit that restaurant again!

posted at 05/09/07

mousermedia

Depending on the Indian food you want...

Okay. I was raised in an Indian household--my stepfather was from New Delhi and a fair bit of my family live in India--and I've consumed vindaloo curries from many parts of England. If you want spicy food, this is not the place for you; try Pavani instead. But if your palate doesn't tolerate a lot of heat, this place is great. My friends and I have been coming to Khyber for brunch for several years and love the food and the service. When they see us walk in, they almost always bring us our particular drinks without having to ask, and they always bring us fresh samosas! My favorite buffet dish is the saag paneer. Regarding the folks that gave Khyber one or two stars and complained about the bland food--surprise, but not all Indian food is spicy, folks. Yes, I prefer my aloo mattar and cholas with kick and eat achar with my meals, but not all Indians do; my Indian siblings can't take the spice. BTW: Khyber does great gulab jamans and samosas.

posted at 05/13/07

suzistack

We love this place!

We have been going here for a couple of years and always enjoy it. The Chicken Tikka Masala is the best - it has large chunks of chicken smothered in a creamy tomato sauce. It is served with a cucumber salad and a yogurt dip called raita which all complement each other nicely. Their Naan Bread is great - fluffy and warm with a hint of butter. Yum! We have also enjoyed the Chicken Vindaloo Curry (which can be pretty hot so watch out) and the regular Chicken Tikka. The latter will please even the pickiest of eaters.

The service is pleasant and attentive - but on a busy night there can be delays. Also, the manager is a prickly fellow with a tendency towards unfunny sarcasm as other reviewers have noted, but he does not seem to interact all that much with customers so don't let him scare you off.

All in all, this is our favorite Indian place in Houston (even over Indika, etc..)

posted at 06/28/07

duske

Best Naan, Spinach and Kheer- Great Owner Manager

One of the best places in Houston to dine. I don't know what the problem is with some others who have posted, however Mickie-the owner/manager is one of the best people I have ever met and I have known him for 8 years. He is funny and yes he does have a humor that can bite a little however he is not mean, nasty or vicious and it can be thought provoking as well. His food is great and when you take the time to get to know him you will receive a great treat. When it is not super busy Mickie walks about talking to all customers making sure all is well and spends a little more time with those he knows. when it is mega busy and he sees you walk through the door, if he does not have time to meet and greet you personally, after you are seated and drinks are orders there is this whish... and what has landed on your table is hot fresh naan with either minced onion and spices or finely chopped pistachios and honey baked in the middle........ OH I LOVE THIS! If and when he has time Mickie will come back and chat later. in the mean time enjoy a fab meal...... Khyber has the only cooked spinach I will eat!

posted at 07/21/07

gissen

Wonderful Indian food in a friendly atmosphere

My husband and I have been coming to the Kyber Grill since it first opened.

The food is consistently excellent! The service is attentive.

The host/owner (Mickey Kapoor) does his very best to remember his repeat customers. We have never been disappointed. Bring your out-of-town visitors, and come to the Khyber Grill often. You will never be disappointed.

posted at 07/25/07

monnieb

Good food, but still disappointed

I love Khyber Grill. They have great food and a great atmosphere, but they are classified on this website as good for 'group dining'. So, I planned to take a group of people there for my birthday, and was excited to share this spot with my friends. Unfortunately, they only do 'group dining' up to 10 people. Even 15 people is apparently too much for this restaurant to handle. I guess the 'group dining' classification needs to be taken with a grain of salt so that you are not disappointed as well.

posted at 10/19/07

shmi

Very good experience overall

My husband and I have been here a few times, and we have been pleased with it overall. Sometimes the service is a bit slow when it's crowded (Friday and Saturday nights), but that's to be expected, I guess. The portions for the vegetarian dishes are very generous - we always have a ton leftover. The saag paneer is solid, and the bengan bhartha is awesome. The shrimp dishes are also good.

posted at 01/13/08

mrsesquilo

Eat ANYWHERE else!

I have eaten at Khyber many, many times, and though it's too expensive for what you get, and the food is not as good as many other Indian restaurants, it's still decent-tasting, and the location is convenient.

Last week, though, my family went for lunch and had one of the worst experiences I have ever had in a restaurant. The waiters were EXTREMELY rude, we were charged full adult buffet price for the tiny bit of food my
2 year old ate, our plates and flatware were removed from our table and our check plunked down unceremoniously before we were even able to get second servings, and we'd each only taken a little taste to begin with.
When leaving I started to approach the podium to discuss it with the owner, he scowled at me and practically waved me out the door dismissively. The restaurant was near empty though it was well within what should have been the "lunch rush," and now I understand why.

We did nothing to prompt this behavior (if that's even possible). We were quiet, cordial, neat, appropriately dressed, and ate in moderation (barely ate at all, more accurately). In return we were treated horribly - it was really just inexplicable, surreal, beyond the pale.
We'll never eat there again. Not if it's the last restaurant on earth. Khyber's lost a loyal, vocal and well-connected customer who'd have otherwise (continued to have) given them a lot of business.

Keep driving down Richmond to India's, where the food and the service are absolutely impeccable, or try one of the other myriad Indian restaurants in the vicinity . Khyber doesn't deserve your hard earned money, and you deserve a LOT better.

posted at 02/25/08

garywise

Expensive American Indian

Had lunch there last week, first time in 10 years. What happened?

$14.95 for a less-than-spectacular bland-ish buffet and unengaged, distant staff?

Nah, not ever again. I don't care if dinner is better, why would I risk it on that performance?

Really, really average and expensive.

Shame, as once it was great.

posted at 03/05/08

theIndian

WORST SERVICE EVER!!!

Everytime I come here these guys are total jerks. If your wondering why I come here at all, well its because its closer than most Indian places on Hillcroft. These people cater to unsuspecting bland non-Indians willing to pay outrageous amounts of money. As far as some of the good reviews on this page go, I wouldn't put it past the manager and staff to have written most of those glowing reviews.
However, the worst part is one of my student's dad's is friends with the owner and says he hates it when Indians come to his restaurant. I always had my hunches from previous rude/ or lack of service towards me but not towards other non-Indians at my dinner table. I hope these bastards get sued and put out of business!

On another note, Bombay Brasserie in Rice Village offers coupons in the Houston Press for buy one get one free entree. They have better food and better service. I am taking my business elsewhere.

posted at 05/14/08

houtexanguy

PHENOMENAL FOOD!!! Buffet is great; menu is great; Mickey is great!

We have been going here for about 10 years. Delicious chicken masala. Wonderful vindaloo. Tasty lentils and potatoes. The naan is to die for (but don't--you'll miss the INCREDIBLE rice pudding!). And then, there is Mickey, the owner. Funny, serious, politically savvy and always interesting to talk to. He, along with the other professional staff who have been with him for years make this a fabulous example of northern Indian cuisine and a great place to enjoy a meal. Touche!

posted at 05/24/08

frequentdiner100

To be avoided

Weak-flavored food served off temperature by surly, rude and inattentive wait staff for prices that are not at all reasonable. Table and paper menus were dirty. Waiter was largely absent and when present was rude. Attitude only improved when check was presented and it was obvious that tip-tallying was soon to begin. There are many far better Indian restaurants in Houston. This one does not deserve any business and should be put out of its misery so a new place with more competent management and employees can move into the space.

posted at 05/27/08

atomsatium

Would have given no stars if possible.

Uck. Horrendous service, nasty manager, blah food.

I came despite the bad reviews (and agree with a previous reviewer that the good reviews here are total BS written by Khyber-related parties) 'cause back in the day, 5-6 years ago when I used to frequent this restaurant, it was actually somewhere worth eating.
Don't make the same mistake I did.
I won't go into the myriad ways my party's visit to Khyber ROYALLY SUCKED, but I urge you to take my word for it:
Eat somewhere else. Eat anywhere else.
Stay home and eat saltines - you'll have a better meal.

Make sure you click to the next page to read the more reviews. They're not good, and there's a reason. There are a bunch of reasons, actually.

Yuck.

posted at 06/07/08

MWZ

LET THE BUYER BEWARE!! CAVEAT EMPTOR !

I have had mixed experiences with this restaurant but today was the last straw. Basically let us just say that if you are a friend of Mickey Kapoor you are treated like royalty, but if you are just an ordinary diner the service is GHASTLY!!! We came into this establishment within the time period stated on the hours for lunch. However, it was rather obvious that we were going to be rushed through our lunch so that the waiters could start clearing up the luncheon buffet. No sooner had i eaten my meager portions of food than the waiter was all over us trying to railroad us out of there. I would have liked to perhaps get a few more items but there was no chance of that. I find this buffet to be rather boring , the menu NEVER CHANGES and the selection is not a good representation of Indian food compared to what I have had elsewhere. The vegetable selection particularly is rather lacking in imagination and variety. This restaurant basically is remaining in business primarily due to its convenient inner loop location rather than the dining experience. I have always found the waitstaff to be unfriendly verging on downright rude. The prices are outrageous for what is provided and I am tired of being overcharged simply because a business owner thinks he can get away with it based on the neighborhood. I think I will entertain myself with the owner's amusing comments on his billboard from now on and save my money for a better meal elsewhere!! Very disappointing indeed!

posted at 10/17/08

chillieruben

bombay brasserie in rice village is better

still crappy food for exorbitant prices and awful service. A friend of mine knows the owner and says he hates Indians coming to his restaurant because they complain and don't tip. How sad that he feels that way about his own people. I will tell all my Indian friends about this.
If you can't afford Kiran's or Indika's, but live inside the loop, try Bombay Brasserie, its pretty good and their buffet (11.99) is more than decent. It's a lot closer than Hillcroft (little india) where better Indian food exists.

posted at 11/28/08

perseus7401

Outrageous prices for inferior, tasteless food

Was on a business trip in Houston, and as we enjoy indian food, we stopped at this restaurant for lunch buffet as it was close to work. Decorations were good, and that's all about this restaurant had to offer.
There was a total of 8 dishes on the main buffet. 4 vegetarian dishes, and 4 meat dishes; there was some salad and dessert. We sampled all dishes and none of them had any flavor that was close to indian food. Granted, I eat out at indian restaurants at least once a week, so I have a decent idea what good indian food is. Maybe if you never had indian food before you will believe this food is good, as it has some hotness to it, but the unique flavors of Indian food are nowhere to be found in any of the 8 dishes we tried. On the positive side, dessert was good.

Then we got the bill, and before taxes and tips, it was close to 15 dollars. I don't mind paying this amount of money for quality, tasty food, but to know that I have had tons of better indian food in more expensive cities, this definitely put the nail in the coffin. This restaurant is a complete disgrace and ripoff. If you want inferior, indian food, by no means, run to this place. If you know better about indian food, stay away.

posted at 02/14/09

elelle8

Great all around Indian Food

The quality ingredients that Mickey uses are worth the lunch buffet. I eat lunch here four or five times a month because of the high quality of ingredients used to prepare the meals and over the years have inquired as to why his lemons are actually juicy and the chicken is really tasty not stringy. Mickey refuses to lower the quality of the ingredients to produce a cheap $7-8.50 buffet. His price is $15 and worth every penny. My husband likes the clear taste of the ice tea as well. The service is great and attentive even though its a buffet. Also, and this is very important, its one of the cleanest kitchens in Houston. I often get there late and I eat slow so I see the effort they go thru every day to clean up. In Houston restaurants this is a major factor for me.

posted at 05/14/10

asharyaya

Food is not bad, but the staff is WEIRD!

I think the food is pretty good although a little dry for curry in my opinion. However, the guys who work here are odd balls. I went with a friend and the waiter was asking me and my friend where we live, work, and for our phone numbers!!!!!! WHAT!?! CHECK PLEASE!!!!! & NO TIP 4 YOU!

posted at 11/08/10

rybernard

Solid Indian Cooking with a Track Record

Despite what you read elsewhere, this is solid North Indian cooking with a track record. Mickey Kapoor was among the group that introduced the curried arts to Houston starting at the Taj Mahal Restaurant back in the early 70s. He opened Khyber over 20 years ago, specializing in North Indian and Pakistani influenced foods, and has been delivering consistent quality at the same location for all these years.

My favories here are the mixed grill (shrimp, beef, lamb, etc.), the masalas, and a sag paneer (spinach with cheese) that is better than any that I've found in all my travels from Europe to the West Coast. Friends of mine who grew up in North India always appreciate the food here, as do well-respected (professional) food critics who known Houston's restaurant scene. I've tried taking friends and family to some of Houston's many other excellent Indian restaurants, but this is the one that seems to keep drawing them back.

One thing you have to understand about the staff here, they are eccentric in a way that can be charning to some, while rubbing others the wrong way. These guys would fit seamlessly in a place like New York or London, but their flippant nonchalance tends to raise hackles in the average Houstonian, judging by some of the other posts I've read here. If you don't appreciate dry humor, curmudgeons, or aimless wise-cracking (as witnessed by their "in joke" signs), try to concentrate on the food and take the rest in stride. I've never found the service slow here -- it is adequate to good -- but don't be offended if staff does not KYA or grovel at your every command.

In a city like Houston, which has few things going for it other than its large selection of world-class restaurants, Khyber Grill can hold its own with the best. I too would like to be Mickey's pal -- at a distance, he seems like a funny guy to me -- but I'll settle for the food any day.

posted at 11/22/10

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