Saffron Kabob House

Houston’s best Afghan grub hides up an escalator from the rest of Hillcroft’s greatest hits. A salad filled with fresh mint arrives as soon as you sit, and the flavors only get bigger, whether it’s yogurt-dressed dumplings or a deeply marinated chicken kebab.

Bombay Sweets

Neighboring Raja Sweets may have Andrew Zimmern’s seal of approval, but we prefer the sugary selection (and spicy buffet) here.

Chowpatty Chat Co.

A Bollywood theme informs the menu and décor at this chaat house, serving mountains of Indian street food and flavorful thalis (you’ll find those under the menu’s “Block Buster” section).

Himalaya

At this Houston classic, the opportunity to chat with owner Kaiser Lashkari is as much of an attraction as his famous fried chicken, juicy lamb shank and Pakistani-style pastrami.