Shri Balaji Bhavan

"Whether you grab a seat at this counter-service spot or get your meal to go, take comfort in knowing that you’re eating the best South Indian food in Houston. Shri Balaji Bhavan specializes in chaats, and every single one we’ve ordered is somehow better than the last. Like the samosa chaat, a large fried dumpling smothered in so many different spicy and tangy sauces you can barely see it. Try the pav bhaji, a simple tray of spicy vegetable mash with buttered, pillowy soft buns to dredge until the tray looks wiped clean. photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva Food Rundown photo credit: Liz Silva Bhel Puri Consisting of crispy puffed rice, tangy-sweet tamarind chutney, chopped tomatoes and chilis, and salty snacks laced on top, the bhel puri is a satisfying crunchy and light snack. We like to grab bites of this between dishes. photo credit: Liz Silva Samosa Chaat While most South Indian spots serve samosa chaat, the spicy, masala-rich version at Shri Balaji Bhavan remains one of the best in town. Suspended in a pool of sauce, every bit of the samosa lurking beneath gets perfumed with cumin and tangy chutney. photo credit: Liz Silva Pav Bhaji Rich and comforting, pav bhaji will line your stomach with butter-rich thick vegetable curry and fresh buns. Spiked with a little citrus, pav bhaji also has a refreshing tang that keeps the hearty dish tasting light. photo credit: Liz Silva Masala Dosa There’s something special and primal about pulling apart a hot dosa filled with curried potatoes and letting a cloud of masala spice whack you in the face. While there’s enough dosa here to share, why would you?" - Chelsea Thomas

"When you sit at this counter-service spot, take comfort in knowing that you’re eating the best South Indian food in Houston—and everything is vegetarian. Shri Balaji Bhavan specializes in chaats. Like samosa chaat, a large fried dumpling smothered in so many different sauces you can barely see it. Or papdi chaat with crunchy hollow wafers puffed up little ping pong balls that you can stuff with tangy chutney. And for those seeking spice along with their vegetables, Shri Balaji Bhavan won’t disappoint because most meals here require you to drink at least seven mango lassis to feel human again. " - gianni greene, chelsea thomas

"Offering an affordable assortment of chaat, dosas, and entrees, Shri Balaji gives the option to sample. Go for the $10 Madras Thali meal, which comes with seasonal vegetables, basmati rice, tangy, tomato, tamarind and lentil soup, sambar, fresh yogurt, lentil chips, your choice of three chapatis cooked on the griddle, and three puris with the dessert of the day. Feeling extra hungry? Add an appetizer like the three stuffed potato-stuffed samosas for $5." - Sean Hekmat, Megha McSwain, Eater Staff

"A popular counter service vegetarian place dominated by 2 big screens streaming mesmerizing Indian music videos. It's all good. We tried a Thali, the Pav Bhaji, a paper thin crispy Dosa (accompanied by the best Sambar I've tried), and our favorite, the Dahi Puri. One of their delicious signatures, it's a hard shell filled with chickpeas then drizzled with yogurt and tamarind and meant to be eaten in one bite." - ph Design Shop

"Whether you grab a seat at this counter-service spot or get your meal to go, take comfort in knowing that you’re eating the best South Indian food in Houston. Shri Balaji Bhavan specializes in chaats, and every single one we’ve ordered is somehow better than the last. Like the samosa chaat, a large fried dumpling smothered in so many different spicy and tangy sauces you can barely see it. Try the pav bhaji, a simple tray of spicy vegetable mash with buttered, pillowy soft buns to dredge until the tray looks wiped clean." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene