Tarka Indian Kitchen

I've been here a few times, and think the food is fantastic. I've had to lamb tikka Masala, and lamb vindaloo, and both were excellent. I've also had the veggie samosas which are really tasty as well. I definitely recommend coming here for fresh, tasty Indian food that doesn't take too long to prepare. Be aware though, they're medium spicy has a bit more kick than most other places. But overall the setting, quality of food, friendly service, and ease of parking make this one of my go to places 😎

Everything on the table was bursting with flavor. The curry was rich, creamy, and perfectly spiced—comforting without being overwhelming. The lentils were hearty and smooth, with just the right amount of heat, and paired beautifully with the fluffy basmati rice. The fresh sides of jalapeños, onions, cilantro, and lemon added a bright, refreshing contrast that really elevated each bite. Definitely a spot I’d come back to again—highly recommended if you’re craving flavorful, satisfying Indian food! 🍛✨

If you’re looking to try Indian food for the first time, GO HERE! I went with my boyfriend today to try Indian food for the first time because of how delicious it had looked based off tik tok videos I’ve seen. When I tell you, this restaurant made my first time trying Indian food experience AMAZING. The food was absolutely DELICIOUS I was blown away. Especially that garlic naan, it was so delishhhh. I even had to go back to the register to order another round to go and even told the staff of how delicious it was. The woman who took my order, she had pink hair with braids, was SUPER nice. Shout out to her! Other than that, I will be making a return here. LOVED IT!!

We ordered out the chicken biryani, vegetable samosa, kabob lamb, and garlic naan. Kabob lamb had an excellent hint of herbs and spices, and it was tender! Vegetable samosa was filled to the brim with green peas and potatoes! Very crunchy and flaky! Garlic naan was excellent, fluffy and garlicky! Chicken biryani was very flavorful, tender basmati rice. Tomato curry was awesome! Overall, loved it. Wished I had more time to try the other dishes!

This place has a modern, light and airy feel to it. It's counter service with booths, tables, and bar height seating to choose from. There's a kids' menu and lots of options to pick different spice levels. The menu is clearly labeled for people with food restrictions. Helpful, friendly staff.

Very concerning business practices (i.e. no refunds) and poor customer service. We are (were) long time Tarka patrons (both locations), however the first time we ever needed to call and address an issue with our food, we were met with extremely poor customer service and concerning business practices. For our recent take out order (approx $85), several dishes were spicy when they were ordered as mild / not spicy. I called the restaurant to see how the manager would address the issue, and was met with no solutions. What followed was an inquisition into what food I had ordered, who the food was for, excuses for flavor/spice level information that is not on the website (but should be), and requests that I box up my food and bring it back to the restaurant so that it could be taste tested. When I indicated that I would simply like a refund, it then turned into a negotiation - going line by line down the ticket. When it was finally agreed upon which specific items would be refunded (3 dishes) I was put on hold for over 10 minutes, disconnected, called back, put on hold again, to then be told that they had spoken with the owner and that only one (1) dish would be refunded. I asked for the owner’s phone number and was refused. I then indicated that I would be driving back to the restaurant to address the issue - which I did. At the restaurant I was told by staff that they are told by the owner not to issue refunds (this is not posted anywhere at the establishment). It took another 10 minutes to have the three (3) items refunded. Will not be patronizing this business in the future. As a side note: food quality and flavor has declined significantly over the years.

Great tasting fast Indian food. Service was decent. I really like their choices of sodas and teas. Lots of flavors. I edited the vanilla cream soda. Naan is fabulous. We got the Tikka Masala and Yellow Daal Curry. Delicious.

I really enjoyed my experience here. I had the chickpea curry. It was spicy, hot to the touch, and flavorful. And the bowl was plenty. Couldn't eat it all. Great customer service. There was no wait. It was slow at the time of my visit. I would eat there again.

The food was fantastic and there were a lot of options without being too overwhelming. Everyone was very friendly, and there was plenty of seating for all party sizes.

This was my first time trying Indian food in Houston and let's just say I'm still on the hunt to find one comparable to the east coast. My friend recommended Tarka so my neighbor and I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon. This location isn't as nicely laid out as the one we saw online located in the Heights but we were hoping the food was good. It's a no frills spot where you order your food at the counter and it's brought out to you. I went with the coconut curry ($13) and tikka masala fries ($3). We sat outside because it was a beautiful day and our meal came out within minutes. For a $16 lunch, I say it did its job. They also seemed quite busy as there was plenty of foot traffic and takeout orders coming through. The staff were very polite and patient as we took some time deciding what to get. The service alone will bring me back.

Great place for both dine in and takeout. Food is always served fresh, of great quality and extremely flavorful and delicious, but quantity seems to be inconsistent which is my only complaint. Food stays hot even when taking out, making this a weeknight staple for me. Service is quick, vibe is casual and quick service. I've had the chicken kebab and goat tikka masala. The chicken kebab was very tender and juicy, seasoned perfectly. The pita is soft on the center and crispy on the outside. The rice is nice hot and fluffy. The goat was very tender as well and could be cut with a spoon, but not too soft so as to fall apart in the sauce. Somehow, each bite of it is even more packed with flavor then the sauce itself, which is impressive and makes the gamble on the portion size kind of worth it. Even though the protein quantity seems to vary, the amount of curry sauce that comes with this dish is always huge and typically more than what you can finish with the rice alone. Overall, this place is great and definitely worth a try.

If you're looking for a fast and convenient spot to satisfy your craving for Indian food, Tarka is a great option! The menu has many options ranging from curries to kebabs to rice bowls. The style of dining is fast casual, similar to Chipotle or Sweetgreen. After ordering at the counter, we waited for about 10-15 minutes before our food arrived. While waiting, my husband and I tried the garlic naan and paneer pakora. The naan was great and the paneer pakora was good but reminded me too much of fried mozzarella sticks. For our main entrees, we shared the coconut chicken curry and the lamb vindaloo. Both were served with a hearty portion of basmati rice. The curries were warm and flavorful, perfect for a cold night. The portions were large enough that I could easily take home half for another meal. Overall, our dining experience was pleasant and the food was good. It was not as authentic or complex in flavor as traditional Indian food, considering their goal is most likely to please crowds of Americans. However, it was a good value and flavor for what you pay for! In the future, I would return if I want a quick and convenient Indian meal.

I've been to better Tarka locations. This one the vibes were a bit off and the food just wasn't as good. I ordered my usual, Malai Kofta, and it just didn't taste as good as other Tarka locations. The veggie dumplings are good and crispy and the curry has a nice hit there was just something that was a bit underwhelming flavor wise. The naan was also kind of bland. The garlic flavor was t very strong. Overall it was very mediocre Indian food, but I would go to a different Tarka location.

The food and services were excellent. We are from out of town and really enjoyed everything.

I had tried the one in the heights and it's better food than here but the service here is exceptional. Staffs are super nice and eager to help. Haven't seen a fastfood place with a service like that. Food wise wasn't too good. Too salty to my taste. Price range is OK running below $12-$15 per dish.

Caught up with a friend at Tarka Indian Kitchen in the montrose/upper Kirby area. This is a chain that includes kabobs, biryanis, curries, and vegetarian dishes. I got the chicken biryani (medium spice) with cheese pakora. My friend got the tikka masala (medium) with tikka masala fries. The biryani had a side of yogurt to mix in, it was decently spicy. The chicken was a little dry though. The cheese pakora is like a deep fried mozzarella stick with a sauce and I thought it was pretty good. I tried my friends tikka masala fries and they were pretty good with the tikka sauce. The sauces have a tiny bit of spice. They have an app where they have occasional deals, we both got our appetizers for free because of it. Overall a decent place with decent prices.

On a rainy evening we stopped by at Tarka. Just the perfect weather for some hot fried stuff, so I got the tikka masala fries, which was basically fries with red pepper and tikka masala for the dip, but....the guy at the counter said something about the dip not being vegan and gave us ketchup! So, it was technically spiced up fries. They were real yummy though. Then got the mattar panner, which comes with zeera rice. This is a perfect deal for the money, quantity wise and taste wise. Am not sure if anything is made from scratch here at the restaurant, it has a very fast-food kinda vibe. We had to pay additional $1.50 for raw onions which we wanted and jalapeños which, we did not want.. Got the garlic naan too, which had no sign of garlic and neither tasted like naan ... Lastly we got the paneer fried rice with additional vegetables for $2, I loved all the veges in it, the rice itself was just alright. Service was fast and someone dropped by to ask how the food was - dicey situation- I always politely nod and say good, but if I really like, I talk lot more ... wonder how many others do the same- I mean the polite nodding part ?

I love some good Indian food and Tarka Indian Kitchen definitely met my expectations. Setup like a fast food restaurant, you order at the counter and take a seat. Big Kuddos as they offer a Military discount. I ordered the Chicken Korma, medium heat( they have a full range of heat from mild to call out the fire truck). This comes with rice, the Naan is a standalone item and I ordered the butter naan. Meal was fantastic, customer service was great. Portion size was good at the $12 price point. Soda was $2.95 and the Naan was $2.65. I ordered Gulab Jaman for $3.50(2 pieces in syrup) this could have been increased to three pieces for a better price point. But it was very good! Nothing fancy about the decor of the restaurant but plenty of seating. The restroom was clean. The only reason I removed a star is they don't accept good old American CASH! It's a completely electronic payment restaurant.

Came in for a quick and comforting dinner. We ordered plenty to share and didn't even finish half of it. We came in 40 minutes to closing and the food came out fairly quickly. The service is easy, you order and pay at the register and sit down with your number and they bring the food out. The atmosphere is casual and vibrant. It's a great place to have a casual meal and catch up with friends or family. Also great for introverts having solo dinners.

I just noticed Tarka Indian Kitchen over by the busiest street corner in Upper Kirby. This one-way street on Shepherd Drive connects to Farnham Street at an angle makes me want to turn into the parking lot. I was shopping at Montrose area and had a urge for some Indian food. Then, I remembered this location. Here I am. On a lazy Monday afternoon, the restaurant was fairly busy. There were few takeout and pickup orders as I observed by sitting next to the counter. One crazy thing I observed was loud dance music shooting from the kitchen to the ordering counter. When I sat by the counter, I could hear both Indian music from the dining room and the hip-hop music from the kitchen. One other reason I chose to come to Tarka was because of rewards program. I think I made a mistake by doing so. The food was ok but the service was below my expectation. I ordered Samosa Chaat as appetizer and Goat Mirchi Mirch Curry as a spicy entree. The description said "spicy only" was because the dish is based on chili. I tasted the spiciness was just alright. The spicy level seems better than Tikka Masala from my last visit at a different location. My Chaat tasted sweet. I felt like it should be a dessert. I found a shiny substance in my rice. When I took it to the person at the counter, he nonchalantly said "that's onion." That person was the only employee what wore Tarka Indian Kitchen uniform. Everyone else were wearing whatever. It was awkward to see random people wiping the tables. They didn't greet customers. I don't know why I even come here. I felt very unwelcomed. I don't think I'll be back at this Tarka location.

Food - despite this being kind of like a fast food Indian chain, it's delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed the daal and the coconut curry chicken! The curry is very creamy and well flavored, ate both curry all by myself! Service - fast and friendly Ambiance - nice clean modern casual, well lit!

First time here - kept it simple with the yellow dal and malai kofta. They came with jeera rice. Apart from the dal there was definitely room for improvement taste-wise. Still, I can't and won't complain because we were so tired and the food was tasty and filling... So yup, that's about it! Liked the vibes, the view onto the city, and the music playing on the speakers!

Parking is adequate the environment is chill music playing at a reasonable volume. Now if youre expecting authentic indian food lets just say its american indian food. The staff is cool and the food I would rate 6/10 the flavors were ok but wasnt that whole indian type of vibe.

Tried the Chicken Tikka Masala (Mild) 10/10 Garlic naan 10/10 Mango Lassi 10/10 Will definitely be back

Chicken Tika Masala (hot) Garlic naan Mango Lassi Masala was a good spice level. Good food. Will return but wouldn't drive more than 20 min for.

Besides Aga's, I'm really skeptical of Indian food in Houston. Chain or not, this was actually pretty good. Ordered a couple of dishes and they were all good. Loved the samosas and the mint chutney sauce. Chicken slightly dry, but not all of it. Definitely coming back.

This is by far the best "fast food Indian" you'll find on earth! They never disappoint and the food and service is consistently a 10. My favorite items are the Chana masala (vegan), beyond biryani (incredibleeeee), the samosas and the Pav bread (also vegan) is insanely good!

Amazing food and service! Great prices! I had the chicken tiki masala naan pizza! A must try if you're in Houston!

Tarka Indian Kitchen continue to make great Chicken Tikka Masala because welp... that's all I order. Growing up I spent a considerable amount of time with a few friends who were Indian & their mothers who would cook authentic Indian dishes with one of them being.. well... you guessed it... Chicken Tikka Masala that I honestly fell in love with. Tarka Indian Kitchens Chicken Tikka Masala is made just as authentic & oh I cannot forget the Naan bread that is fresh! I substitute the chicken for lamb though which (taste like chicken) because I love lamb. So I guess that would make it Lamb Tikka Masala? Anywho, you get the point.

Tarka is a fast casual restaurant with wonderful Indian food and a ton of vegetarian options. The store is clean, parking is plentiful, service is good, prices are reasonable and the food hits every time. It's counter service but they bring the food to your table and serve "for here" food in real dishes and I like that. Last time I went I got the hot paneer tikka masala with garlic naan and vegetable pakora. Everything was WONDERFUL. The vegetable pakora is an amazing deal at $5 and is a generous serving, not overly greasy, won't make your stomach feel queasy like a lot of fried food can. The sauce served with it was so good too. The tikka masala was awesome too, a very generous portion with plenty of paneer, I hate when I get paneer curry and there's like 4 pitiful cubes of cheese in an ocean of curry. The rice to curry to paneer ratio was impeccable. The tikka masala was creamy, tangy, the perfect amount of spicy and the paneer was perfection too. Perfect size and tasted so fresh. The garlic naan on the side was incredible, for $2.50 you get several big pieces of naan and with the massive serving of food, it was enough to make both lunch and dinner out of it. I love this place and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for quick, delicious and low priced Indian food

The food was pleasantly delicious!! My cousins and I have tried their food for the first time and they did not disappoint :)

I had constantly wondered about trying this place again since my first one over two years back was just mediocre. Due to this chain's popularity here and being reached out to for not so great experience, I finally made tonight the night to give it another try. I am glad I did. My order of Chicken Tikka Masala medium spicy with double rice was awesome, so well-seasoned, creamy, fresh and very delicious. The herbs n spices were bold and striking in the sauce making one very aware they're eating a good curry. The tomato base was ideal in the gravy as well as whatever was blended altogether coming as one array of "very tasty." The chicken pieces were all juicy, soft and well-marinated. The rice was very fresh, doughy and paired perfectly with the rest. This meal was several steps up in greatness from my first one, whether it was just a fluke that time, more improvement in recent times or whatever. Bottom line, I was very pleased and will be back. I need to make room for the gulab jamun and mango lassi on my next visits, bc those are really tasty Indian sweet treats in general. I kept seeing multiple customers drinking mango lassis and they sure looked captivating.

Fast food vibe. We got the vegetable pakora, chicken tikka masala and the lamb vindaloo. We also got the aloo gobi and an order of naan. I liked the lamb vindaloo and aloo gobi. Their mild level is still pretty hot. Wait time was reasonable.

A classic spot to satisfy your Indian food craving. We first tried Tarka in Austin several years ago, and the taste at this location in Houston is just as I remember it. My favorite entree here is the lamb korma - it is so rich and flavorful, and the lamb itself is great quality. We also like the chicken tikka masala and garlic naan. I recently tried the samosa chaat, which was tasty but not the best version of the dish I've had. I also tried the coconut curry, and that was the first item I've had here that was just ok - I'd say it was nothing special, and I didn't taste any coconut, so I probably wouldn't order that one again. When dining in, Tarka reminds me of Panera where you order at the counter and sit down. It is also a great spot to get takeout from, which we have done several times now. We will definitely be back for more lamb korma!

I ordered the tikka masala with rice and naan. Although I've had better, I enjoyed my food and it was quickly delivered so I'm guessing the service might be good! I can't comment on the ambience since it was take out but I had good service.

Although it's a chain restaurant I think Tarka tasted pretty authentic and good! I got the tikka masala (medium spicy) and regular naan bread. They give you about 4 pieces of naan (generous) and the portion of food looks small but isn't. It's a big mound of rice but the bowl of masala went a long way. It had a tinge of heat for medium spicy and lots of chicken chunks. The prices weren't bad and there's actual service if you dine in (your food gets brought to your table with silverware, but drinks are self service). After you finish eating you dispose of your dishes/trash yourself. I'd go back!

Tarka is a great casual place to eat. The food is tasty and they will adjust spice levels to your preferences. I love their vindaloo and butter chicken.

Small, high quality portions for reasonable price. Just right for my needs. Like the patio

Good spot for quick service Indian food. Ordered the samosa chaat and chicken tikka masala bowl. The samosa chaat was tasty, but could have been spicier. The chicken tikka masala bowl was spicy but a little tomatoey, could have used more Indian spices. Liked the basmati rice.

Great Indian food for a good price! Ordering is done at the counter here and is usually fast. Not having a server makes this restaurant more appealing to me. It saves money and makes the place a more relaxed environment. The prices are already great compared to other similar restaurants. We ordered Chicken Vindaloo and Chicken Tikka Masala. I would recommend ordering them spicy since the regular spice level isn't spicy at all. Even ordering the entrées spicy was mild compared to other Indian restaurants. The Naan bread was hot, fresh, and delicious. It's a must-order item for me since it goes so well with the sauce. I would recommend coming here if you want fresh Indian food in a casual setting. It's a restaurant I keep coming back to and always enjoy.

Mike and his staff are amazing!! I go there at least four times a week. The food is of great quality, and delicious, every time. I highly recommend this location and this chain for excellent Indian cuisine.

I thought this was only an Austin chain but I was happily surprised to find one in Houston. Very clean and my favorite fast Indian food! I love the huge variety of options and customization of certain dishes. My normal go to is Aloo Gobi but this time I got the Beyond Keema. WOW! Delicious! The beyond meat almost fooled me, paired with green peas, each bite was so so tasty. Plus the yeast rolls I could dream about. So soft and chewy, tastes so good with the keema. Disclaimer: they don't lie about their spice levels - hot is QUITE hot! I also tried the mango lassi, both regular and vegan. The regular was too tangy in my options and the vegan was overpoweringly coconut milky, I barely tasted the mango. Would pass on these next time.

Let's start this review with the fact that I've always loved Tarka Indian Kitchen and it's unfortunate that I have to leave this review and declare that I will never go into Tarka Indian Kitchen again. The problem is that the service was wonderful as always, the flavor of the food was on point. but in their wisdom they've decided to join all the other restaurants that are gouging Americans on the portion size as well as raising the prices of everything. I would pay an increase in the price for the same portions that I got pre-covid but that is not an option so I will not be returning to the restaurant. I would advise that you find any other Indian food restaurant and just go there.

We frequent Tarka's off of Sheppard at least 2-3 times a month. Today we decided to stop in, I got the new chili (forgot the name) cheese naan, garlic naan, and shrimp biryanis. I only had the chili and the fried bread that came with it. Which tasted a lil different from when I first tried it a few weeks ago. I started feeling sick right towards the end of what I was going to eat. There was still plenty left in the bowl. I became dizzy and nauseous. 2 hours past and by the time I got home I'm feeling worse. I started getting cold chills, pains In My stomach, (like I'm getting punched in my gut) then I started throwing up and having diarrhea. Ugh! It's been since 2pm since we ate it's now 4 am and I'm still sick as a dog and running to the restroom. Even though the heater is on, I'm still cold. I'm not sure if someone was there that was sick or if the food was spoiled but I almost feel like I got food poisoning. I can't believe they served me something that me sick!!!!! I use to love this place.

Awesome food, very fragrant and flavorful. Good potion sizes and great options for most dietary preferences. The restaurant is lovely and the staff are kind!

The chicken biryani is amazing! Garlic naan is also good hot and fresh. The lemonade is also awesome and flavorful.

Convenient, fast, comfortable spot when craving Indian food and not wanting full-service dining experience. The veggie samosas were amazing! I could have eaten six and called it a meal! Excellent food and Naan bread. Glad this location is here. I plan to return to keep trying new things.

Had this for delivery and it was good. Sag paneer is very good. The tikka masala was more tomato based than I'm used to bug still food. Could be a bit more flavorful. If you want spicy I say do a very spicy meal. I did medium and it was not spicy at all. Overall, I would order again.

Amamzing food. Reasonable prices and 5-star level taste. Will definitely be coming here again when back in Huston.

Really impressed with Tarka. This is fast casual Indian food -- it's not the best or the most authentic out there but it's pretty damn good. Also, the prices are LOW. Good and cheap? Count me in. They have a large menu with really affordable options. A side of naan -- $2.50. A cup of soup -- $2.75. Samosas -- $4.25. You get the idea. I had the Madras soup, garlic naan, vegetable samosas, lamb korma, and a mango lassi with yogurt. Everything was really tasty. Also, their mint chutney condiment is excellent. Very quick service. Food came out right away. Ample seating inside. Easy parking in the lot.

We always get Tarka delivered to our home. OMG their samosas are just to die for. You can't go wrong with the chicken Tikka. Good food at a great price!

Authentic Indian food that happens to be a franchise restaurant. Perfection!! All of their ingredients are fresh, very well seasoned, and full of flavor. Not shown but the Mango lassi is a favorite! I've been to both locations in Houston.

3.5/5 Stars. As many have mentioned, Tarka fits a very under served food niche in Houston! Indian fast food. Definitely good enough for my Indian taste buds. Is the food like my Mom's or my Aunts? Not really but it gets the job done without breaking the bank. Don't get me wrong the flavor is great and I really like the spice level selection. The garlic butter Naan was excellent. One discrepancy was that I selected Samosas for appetizer but got the vegetable pakora. Not a big problem because that was very good too. Update here: I forgot to mention that the app and website for Tarka work great! A really good experience compared to many other platforms and applications. The app even works on my ancient iPhone 6s that has never been updated! As a warning, if you are going to the Shepherd location watch out for construction right in front of the store. You might find easier access from the back roads. Lamb Biryani, Lamb Tikka Masala, and Garlic butter Naan. Thank you Tinku Saini for reading my review. I'm very grateful to have the pleasure of eating great Indian food close to where I live. I hope one day you can have more locations here. There is surely a great demand for this in a city like Houston. Especially, in the Medical Center or Rice Village!

A solid spot for Indian food in the upper kirby area! I got the saag paneer, paneer tikka masala, and malai kofta paired with roti. Each dish also came with plenty of rice, so the roti is definitely not a necessity to order. Saag panner: 5/5 - the flavors of the gravy was spot on and very authentic. I will definitely be returning to Tarka just for this dish alone. The creamy/spicy spinach paired well with the paneer cheese chunks. I would recommend getting this with paneer instead of chicken/meat. Paneer Tikka Masala: 3/5 - I usually love a good tikka masala but the gravy in this dish wasn't my favorite. It was very tomato-y and didn't have a creamy rich flavor im accustomed to. I would probably skip on this dish. Malai Kofta: 3/5 - I was hoping to love this dish because malai kofta is my favorite north indian curry. The gravy was again, not my favorite and didn't have the authentic malai kofta flavor. The gravy tasted very similar to the tikka masala gravy (very tomato-y and not creamy/rich). Overall, not a bad option for decently affordable, quick indian food in the local houston area. Will def be back when I'm craving some saag paneer!

Great place! I come here quite often. Indians also go there which is a good sign! A perfect place for lunch!!!

Very good food at reasonable prices. The menu is limited, it is a fast food format, but quality much better than traditional fast food.

It was my fault for not reading more. It is a fast food Indian place. Not bad , but not memorable. The chicken curry was chewy and dis not feel fresh. Service was fast as you order at the counter. Ambiance was not there as it was a fast food joint.