Pakistani/Indian · Southwest Houston
By Monty Khas, Anonymous Critic. Pays every bill.
Ask a desi Houstonian where to take a visiting cousin for proper Pakistani food and there's a good chance the answer is Aga's. It has grown from a restaurant into a full catering and banquet business, and it has built its reputation on one dish above all others: the goat chops.
The room
This is not a place for candlelight. The dining room is big, bright and busy, with plenty of seating and a crowd that leans toward families and groups of friends who clearly know exactly what they want. On weekends it's almost always full. Table service keeps things moving, and the energy is that of a celebration that happens every night of the week. The team also handles weddings and big events, so the kitchen is built for volume.
What to eat
Start, and possibly finish, with the goat chops. They come five to an order, charred at the edges and juicy inside, laid over a bed of hot onions that soak up every bit of marinade. The menu calls them the most popular grilled goat chops in Texas, and nobody in the room seems inclined to argue. Order one plate per two people, then another.
Karahi is the other pillar. Aga's offers three distinct styles, and comparing them is half the fun. The Peshawari and Shinwari versions come from the northwest frontier tradition, where meat, tomato, green chili and very little else do the talking, while the Hyderabadi brings a different spice profile from the south. Get the goat versions if you can; chicken is lighter and still very good. Houston Chronicle critic Alison Cook singled out a Peshawari-style karahi built on minced chicken kabab as bold and rustic, which captures the kitchen's style nicely.
The slow-cooked dishes are where you see the depth. Beef nihari is rich, glossy and gently fiery, perfect with naan. Beef haleem, the lentil-and-meat porridge, is pure comfort. Goat biryani is fragrant and generous, and the aloo choley masala, potatoes and chickpeas in a tangy gravy, is the side you'll keep reaching for.
If you like heat, say so. The kitchen will happily make things properly spicy.
Weekend brunch
On weekends, Aga's runs a brunch from late morning into the afternoon, the time to come for a lazy, multi-generational spread. It's also a good way to try the menu without the evening crush.
Before you go
Come hungry and come with a group; this food is meant to be shared. Dinner on Friday and Saturday is busy, so arrive early or expect a short wait. Takeout is popular and travels well, especially the karahis and nihari.
Why it matters
Houston has one of the largest Pakistani communities in the United States, and Aga's is one of the places where that community celebrates. It's not trying to reinvent anything. It's trying to cook the dishes people grew up with, in big portions, every single night, and it does that better than almost anyone in town.
The Quick Fix
What to order: Goat chops; goat Shinwari or Peshawari karahi; beef nihari; beef haleem; goat biryani; aloo choley masala; fresh naan
Pricing: Wallet-friendly. Excellent value for the quality and portion sizes.
Best for: Families, big groups, desi regulars, karahi devotees and anyone chasing Houston's best goat chops
How it compares: Houston's goat chop benchmark; more karahi choices than Himalaya; more of a sit-down feast than Bundu Khan; the go-to for a Pakistani family celebration
See where Aga's Restaurant & Catering ranks: The Best Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi Restaurants in Houston: Our Top 10 for 2026
The food was always this good. We're just paying attention.