Shahnai Restaurant

I went to a lunch buffet here. The up side was that it was under $10 (just barely). But the food was only "ok." It's worth giving a try I suppose, but I'm in no rush to go back.

Every time I come here, this place never has what I want. Although their menu looks vast and appetizing, from the meat entrees, all they ever have is chicken boti or tikka and seikh or chapli kabab (beef). You know a place is slacking if I have to recommend sticking with the buffet. The only reason that this place gets two stars instead of one is because it is capable of dishing out decent food and is one of the cleaner Pakistani restaurants here in Houston.

Worst food and service. Rip off. Went for Iftar food was bad. When checking out the cashier charged me 10% tips and did not tell me of it. Realizing it later at home what she did. Save yourself some dollars by not going there.

Pakistani coworker told me this place is the most authentic for Indo-Paki food so I figured I'd give it a try. Ordered via UberEats and I wish they had packaged their food better. The entire bag was orange from the chicken tikka masala and it was impossible to eat without grabbing a bunch of paper towels and wipes and being very careful. Although the driver could have also been to blame, it's not that hard to use an extra bag and/or package everything better so there isn't a bunch of air in the bag for the food to be all over the place. Regardless, the tikka masala (what was remaining of it) was delicious, spicy, yet ridiculously oily. The chunks of chicken were hit or miss--some bits were tender and fresh and others were rubbery which makes me think they probably mix the old stuff with the new when reheating/cooking. Chicken biryani was delicious and spicy and was their saving grace. Garlic/butter naan was just garbage and tasted nothing like garlic or butter. I'll probably reorder just for the biryani, but I've had better Indian food.

Their food is always fresh and delicious. It's self service buffet but it is not very pricey. Lunch is $10.99 and dinner after 4 pm is $11.99. The price is $11.99 all day on the weekends.

I'm writing this post buffet and writhing from a sweet pain of overstuffing myself. I'd also like to point out that finding this place was quite difficult and Google maps has a higher chance of helping you find Harry Potter.

The buffet is delicious. Some of the signs are missing for the foods but this adds to the mystery, which in my opinion is an amazing seasoning. The buffet is constructed to test your mettle, for you go through your wheats before reaching the meats. Meats before wheats as a golden rule for buffets, but unfortunately, I had stayed up all night to finish my take home essay final over the political history of India and the ties to being a secular nation. Therefore, each plate I had was running a strong quarter of goat biranyi(sp?), a rookie mistake that I let slide due to delirium. There was this yellow dumpling ball looking item that looked like an overinflated gnocci ball but was a ball rolled from the material used to make tamales. Corn...? God this review is progressively getting harder as my eyes unfocus.

The meat selection is spectacular. Once you survive the beautiful smorgasbord of wheat and corn products, you've earned your spot with the top dogs. There was a dark, brown soupy beef/lamb dish that was such wow. No sign to them but that didn't stop my eyes, I got a fat plate and it was worth it. Meat fell off the bones. There is an item that looks like orange chicken with a thicker sauce. Don't settle. Another beef dish covered in a orange sauce that tasted highly like pasta sauce. Don't settle.

My soul is reaching max capacity, so I'll try to finish this. There are two outstanding items that make this the eye unfocusing buffet that it is: naan bread and the silky white sauce. The bread is so fluffy, you would assume the baker in the kitchen is some sort of airbending master with hot hands to perfectly heat the yeast through his fingers. Like a bread that takes you across the world to the inner workings of India as it welcomes you with its beautiful open door policy. Stuff these in your pockets or purse. The white sauce is like a cilantro-yogurt looking sauce that should have a sign that said "put on everything" because that is literally what you will do. You will baptize your entire plate in the stuff and recognize how you changed their lives.

Place is good but I almost passed out. 10/10 would pass out safely.

I visited this place 4 times so far and everytime I go there it suffers dining experience. Very slow service and very very rude they almost do a quick scan of you whether you are a Muslim or not. If you are non-muslim they give a "damn"..
They also do lot of catering and if you arrive late night like 9:00 for dinner get ready for leftovers from their catering service
I stopped going to this place...

Pros: Cheap dinner buffet
Cons: Only beef and very rarely they put lamb or goat & very very poor service

Some of the food here is really good. I like the variety of selections for the buffet. They always bring out fresh naan that is very good and the price is inexpensive.
What i don't like about this place is their butter chicken.. Yuck find a different recipe please! I love butter chicken but not here. Second their room in the back smells bad, I don't know if it's from the restrooms but ewww if it is.
I will still come back just gonna avoid that back room and the butter chicken.

Decided to check this place out for lunch. I'm very familiar with good quality Indian/Pakistani food. This food lacked flavor and was very bland. Also the naan was cold when brought to the table. The food on buffet line was lukewarm. We should've known to turn around by the lack of people during lunchtime and the reviews.

I'm so torn about this place. I love their food but hate the dining experience. Every time I come here, the service is extremely slow and inexplicably rude. My feelings always get hurt.

The whining aside, they have a great and affordable buffet. Their chicken makahani is hands down the best in H-town. I end up coming here when my S.O. convinces me that I miss their chicken makahani.