Kiran’s, a posh spot in Upper Kirby, is a luxurious and often spicy setting for a special occasion, mostly because it resembles a fantastical palace if that palace was also full of gilded tandoors. The menu —which includes afternoon high tea service, multiple naanzzas (or naan pizzas), and even a full-tasting menu of lobster—offers a dizzying number of layered, ornate dishes like dried cherry, English pea, and spiced lamb samosas. Whether you dine at the bar or daintily snack on finger sandwiches at high tea, the food at Kiran’s will make you feel exceptional.

Owner: Kiran VermaThere’s a warmth to Kiran Verma that translates into her food, a reason why her eponymous Kiran’s has been such a success since it first opened in 2005. A self-taught cook who came to Houston when she was 18, Kiran didn’t plan on becoming a chef or owning a restaurant, but as a stay-at-home mom she started working part-time at an Indian restaurant and fell in love with the business. Sixteen years later, you can’t talk about the best Indian restaurants in Houston without mentioning Kiran’s.

The ‘godmother of Indian fine dining’, Kiran Verma's beautiful golden restaurant is in Upper Kirby and is known for exceptional Indian hospitality, French sophistication, and American informality. They have an award-winning wine list of over 300 labels, monthly wine dinners and a popular Saturday Afternoon Tea service that uses chef Kiran’s own chai blend. The food is inspired by an Awadhi style—cooking over a slow fire, with subtle use of spices and herbs to create delicate flavors.

Kiran Verma was one of the first restaurateurs in town to showcase Indian fine dining, describing her food as “Indian hospitality with French sophistication.” Inspired by the Awadhi style of cooking from Northern India, marked by its delicate flavors cooked over a slow fire, Kiran’s offers Indian cuisine with a contemporary twist like papadum nachos or tandoori duck with an apricot biryani. And this extends to the bar’s range of signature cocktails, like the chai old fashioned with Indian whisky, orange bitters, and Kiran’s own chai blend. And don’t miss out on the restaurant’s afternoon tea service, served with finger foods like curried crab and truffle masala chips.

Chef Kiran Verma is one of the pioneers of Indian fine dining in Houston, and at her eponymous Upper Kirby-area restaurant, the cuisine is showcased with style and grace. Chef Kiran relies on traditional ingredients and tried and true techniques to present elegant dishes like tandoori duck ($52), wood-fired Texas quail with chutney ($22), and Madras curry ($29). The sprawling restaurant houses a dedicated bar and lounge, and an enclosed patio where guests often retreat to with cigars and after-dinner drinks.

Kiran Verma’s namesake restaurant has long been synonymous with fine Indian dining in Houston. The veteran chef is an Indian native who incorporates fragrant, hand-ground spices with fresh meat and seafood and seasonal bounty to create soulful dishes like lobster shorba with black truffle butter, crab and corn samosas and tandoori duck breast. Beyond its impressive menu, the restaurant’s elegant tea service, featuring Kiran’s own chai blend and scones presented with jam and clotted cream, is worth a try.

In a dynamic dining landscape like Houston’s, it’s a rare feat to keep your restaurant relevant for 20 years. But chef Kiran Verma, who introduced the city to upscale Indian cuisine in the late ’90s, has the current edition of her namesake restaurant feeling fresh and dialed in. The kitchen — where Kiran herself still works the line — can wow with anything from street food riffs to vivacious naan-based pizzas (no, really!), to the more luxurious ideas with which she first made a mark.

At Kiran’s Restaurant, English afternoon tea is a multi-course affair starting with samosas paired with masala chai, followed by classic and Indian-inspired finger sandwiches paired darjeeling tea, and ending with scones and desserts paired with earl grey tea. Gluten-free and vegetarian menus are available as is a kids menu that pairs peanut butter and jelly, and green apple and chicken sandwiches with hot chocolate. Tea service is available on Fridays and Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m.

Houston's fanciest Indian restaurant is the golden choice for tantalizing tandoori salmon, chicken jalfrezi, korma and more. Chef Kiran Verma is known as the local "godmother of Indian fine dining," and takes inspiration from the Awadhi style of cooking over slow fire for a delicate cut in taste and texture. Don't miss Kiran's homemade chai tea too, which can also be enjoyed during the restaurant's weekend afternoon tea service.

I've been to Kiran's multiple times and have never been let down. From the attentive and knowledgeable wait staff, to the delectable spices used in each dish, it's easy to pick out why Kiran's stands out amongst other indian restaurants in Houston. The range of dishes here is impressive – they offer some of my favorite classic recipes as well as unique options that you won't find anywhere else.

The menu features lobster shorba, served with black truffle butter and sherry, as well as lobster tail served with saffron rice pulao. Guests can order their lobster to be poached, curried, or wood-fired. Head chef Kiran recently appeared on the latest season of Top Chef, cooking up their famous chicken tikka masala, so there’s something for everyone in your group, even the non-seafood lovers.

Tea at Kiran’s is held only on the second Saturday of each month, so if you miss it you’ll have a long wait until the next one. Naturally, this tea is delightfully interwoven with Indian influences such as samosas with fig chutney and tandoori salmon “ladyfinger” sandwiches, but there are plenty of traditional bites too such as scones and English cucumber sandwiches.

Suite 160, Houston, TX 77098Phone:+1 (713) 960-8472Website:mealhi5.com/KiranDetails: $$$, Modern Indian restaurant. Step into a world of culinary excellence at Kiran’s, an upscale Indian restaurant in Houston that promises an extraordinary dining experience. The well-trained and attentive staff go above and beyond to ensure your comfort and satisfaction.

If you’re on the lookout for a relaxing way to enjoy your gluten-free meals, then we suggest going for the upscale route and giving Kiran’s a visit!. They have everything from plenty of authentic Indian meals, to tea times that you can enjoy on the weekends!. Some of the good options Kiran’s has on their menu are Lamb Belly and Chicken Jalfrezi.

Overview: Kiran’s is a gem in Houston’s Indian culinary scene, celebrated for its sophisticated approach to traditional Indian flavors. The chef, Kiran Verma, curates an innovative menu that includes dishes like the tandoori quail and butter chicken. Why Visit: The restaurant is known for its elegant setting and exceptional service.

The venerable fine-dining Indian restaurant in Upper Kirby has a weekend tea service. The menu starts with wild mushroom vol-au-vents, followed by finger sandwiches, scones, and petit fours; a vegetarian menu is available, as is a children's menu. The adult service is priced at $65 per person, with the children's menu at $35.

Kiran simmers with intimacy from the opulent entrance to the moonlit patio. Share fragrant curries, like Butter Chicken’s buttery embrace, under dimmed lights and live sitar’s serenade. Reservations are essential, request a secluded table for added privacy, and inquire about the chef’s tasting menu for a culinary surprise.

Kiran’s might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of high tea in Houston, but it should be!. It’s a fine-dining Indian restaurant that can be found right in the heart of Houston, and its afternoon tea is really special. Their afternoon tea menu is $65 per person, and it’s not one to be missed.

Chef Kiran Verma is often considered the “godmother of Indian fine dining.” The restaurant is known for serving up Indian hospitality with French sophistication and American informality. Some of the food is cooked in traditional clay ovens (or tandoors) in the style of the Indian North-West Frontier Province.

If you’re craving Northern Indian food, then Kiran’s is just the place for you!. Chef Kiran and her crew prepare every dish beautifully with elegance, flavor, and a whole lot of love. Each dish is cooked over a slow, smoldering fire in a clay oven, and you will be able to taste the difference in each bite!

2925 Richmond Ave Suite 160 | Upper Kirby | kiranshouston.com. At Kiran’s Restaurant, you will be treated to world-class Indian cuisine. Led by Chef Kiran Verma, this classic Indian restaurant serves inventive and authentic dishes that will leave you ready to come back for more.

A three course service is $40 and comes with gluten-free and vegetarian options. The traditional menu includes Kiran's special Chai blend with samosas, finger sandwiches with Darjeeling, and scones with Earl Grey. A special menu for young adults is available for $20.

2925 Richmond Ave., Houston, Texas Telephone (713) 960-8472 Websitewww.kiranshouston.com Best of Award of Excellence. With a 3,000-bottle inventory, Kiran’s offers plenty of options for pairing with Texas-accented Indian cuisine. (Courtesy of Kiran’s)

Kiran’s is another well-loved Indian restaurant here in Houston. The restaurant is located in the Galleria on Richmond Avenue, right in front of Levy Park. It looks and tastes like a 5-star restaurant boosted with its excellent services.

Kiran’s restaurant is synonymous with a fine dining restaurant in Houston. Chef Kiran Verma introduced sensational menus by incorporating fragrance and spices with fresh meat or seafood.

2925 Richmond Ave Suite 160, Houston, TX 77098Phone: 713-960-8472 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Kiran’s (@kiranshouston)