Shri Balaji Bhavan in Houston is the Mahatma Gandhi District South Indian vegetarian room on Hillcroft Avenue, with masala dosa, idli, vada and the Hillcroft late-lunch crowd.
Tip: Order the masala dosa and a vada-sambar combo. Cash and card. Lunch buffet is the value entry.
Address: 5655 Hillcroft Ave, Houston, TX 77036
Pondicheri in Houston is Anita Jaisinghani's modern Indian room with a strong vegetarian menu, including thali plates, masala omelette and the Bake Lab pastry counter upstairs.
Tip: The thali at lunch has a default vegetarian arrangement. The masala chai is the constant.
Ruggles Green in Houston is the Montrose health-focused American room on West Alabama with a marked gluten-free menu, organic plates and a separate-prep gluten-free policy.
Tip: Ask for the gluten-free menu by name; the staff handle cross-contact carefully. The fish tacos with corn tortillas are the order.
Himalaya in Houston is Kaiser Lashkari's Pakistani-and-Indian fully-halal kitchen on the Southwest Freeway since 2004, with lamb biryani, hunter's beef and chai-glazed lamb chops.
Tip: Lunch buffet weekdays is the value. BYOB; the corner liquor store across Hillcroft is the run.
London Sizzler in Houston is the British-Indian-Pakistani halal kitchen in the Hillcroft Olympic Center, with mixed-grill sizzlers, tandoori lamb chops and a late-night Hillcroft crowd.
Tip: Order the mixed-grill sizzler for two. Closed Mondays; Saturday opens at noon for lunch service.
Field & Tides in Houston is the Heights farm-to-table restaurant on East 11th Street with a separate plant-based menu, including vegan grain bowls and seasonal plates.
Tip: Ask for the plant-based menu by name; it is not on every table. The patio is the seat in cool weather.
