(From December 2010)

Claims of “contemporary Indian cuisine” aside, we’re always happy to see dishes on the menu that are about as old as the civilization itself. Our timeline-spanning favorites were well represented: beef korma (a nutty sauce with garlic, coconut, and lemon), chicken tikka masala (tomato-butter sauce with spices and herbs), saag paneer, and ample quantities of naan for cleaning our plates. For dessert, creamy mango custard united past and present. Bar.

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(From June 2012)

This tiny vegetarian jewel (the covered front porch is magical at night) was recently named one of the country’s top ten healthy restaurants by Gourmet Live. Our “tomato dream” soup sparked by garlic, ginger, and basil made a fine starter; then we dove into an extremely flavorful entrée of tofu with curried greens, plus a filling samosa and crispy, peppery pappadum. Gulab rice pudding pleased with every spoonful. Beer & wine.

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(From June 2012)

Satiny sauces, deftly blended aromatic spices, and cordial service lure us to this spot across the road from the Space Center. The lamb korma is fragrant, the tandoori shrimp toothsome, and the chicken-and-shrimp curry mellow. The saag paneer would make even the pickiest child love spinach. Beer & wine.

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(From February 2011) For prices you’d expect at a no-frills storefront, you get cushions and tables decked out in mirror-studded textiles, gracious service, and some of the hands-down-best Indian cuisine in the Houston area. At $14.95, our plentiful thali (a sampler platter of chicken makhani, lamb curry, palak paneer, and ten other delectable items) was generous enough to serve two. BYOB.

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(From March 2011)

We were rejoicing in our good fortune at discovering such a fine Indian restaurant in Amarillo. Although not very conveniently located, Indian Oven has a vast menu, as well as a daily buffet, and the food is well prepared, affordably priced, and served in generous portions. There are plenty of tandoori and curry options (choose from lamb, chicken, or seafood), plus vegetarian fare and some South Indian specialties. If you’re new to Indian food, go with the mild tikka masala (chicken in the traditional rich tomato and yogurt sauce) with plenty of naan.

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(From May 2012)

At Indika, the small touches of color, taste, and texture make all the difference. Deep burgundy-toned beet soup, puréed with coconut, garbanzos, and ginger, has a clever little slab of grilled paneer perched on the rim; a thick pork chop vindaloo is stuffed with paneer masala and sweet caramelized onions. Expect knowledgeable servers and a modern saffron-hued setting with soaring ceilings. Bar.

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(From June 2011) If possible, plan your meal at this vege-tarian Indian restaurant for the patio, with its tile floor, graceful black rope-twist columns, yaupon holly tree, and hanging bas-kets—it’s nothing short of magical. And the buffet is full of interesting dishes. We started with a nutritious toor dal soup, then it was on to the chickpea curry, the collard greens with tomato chutney, and the dhokla (a steamed rice-dal cake). Pineapple-coconut halvah was fluffy and crowned with vanilla rice pudding.

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(From February 2012)

Never mind that the decor at this Indian restaurant—chandeliers, sheer drapes, and formal cases filled with china—evokes the seventies. You won’t be able to take your eyes off food like a rack of lamb rubbed with rosemary, ginger, and garlic; a rich tomato-saffron soup bursting with flavor; buttery onion kulcha; and flaky ground lamb samosas. Bar.

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(From May 2012)

We like this place, its walls of windows and industrial concrete surfaces softened with bright, gauzy fabric panels, as well as its friendly vibe and service. And we love the Indian home cooking and street-food fare. Recently we dug into a mountain of Berkshire pork ribs vindaloo, as tender as any we’ve tasted, their heat tamed with discreet dollops of yogurt. Leg of lamb, onions, turnips, and butternut squash comprised an excellent curry, and the addictive pickled Texas shrimp chaat would appeal to anyone with a taste for ceviche. Beer & wine.

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(From June 2012)

This pleasant, dimly lit watering hole serves fresh-from-the-Gulf fish, crisp tempura, and other Japanese classics. Vegetable soup in a light miso broth made a flavorful palate cleanser, and a generous bowl of green tea ice cream balanced the bite of the wasabi in our order of sushi. Bar.

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