First Look at Khau Gully

Khau Gully is the new Indian restaurant that opened this month on Rayford Road near I-45. They took the spot previously occupied by the late, and not missed Popeye’s Chicken. They also took the space next door, and expanded the restaurant.

The interior of the restaurant is fairly bare bones currently; they plan to add TVs and other improvements.

We didn’t come to Khau Gully for the decor. We wanted to check out the food. Khau Gully focuses on Indian street food, specifically vegetarian street food. Confirmed carnivores, keep reading. In general, we’re not a huge fan of vegetarian dishes, but Indian food is different. The rich, intense flavors make you forget that there’s no meat in the dish.

The first thing we tried was the Mixed Veg Pakora, a favorite of ours. The version at Khau Gully is different than we’ve had before; veggies are mixed with breading, rolled into nuggets, and deep fried. They were reminiscent of hushpuppies, albeit very flavorful ones. If you like hushpuppies, here’s a safe and tasty way to start your meal.

Next up was the Paneer Uttapam, which comes across as a hybrid of a pancake and a frittata. The light, slightly dense pancake was topped with a variety of veggies and Indian paneer (a mild cheese) and offered up with three dipping sauces. The flavors were enticing but not overpowering; another successful dish.

Finally, we tried one of our favorites… Samosa Chaat. Dense, hearty samosas (fried potato turnovers) are topped with a variety of savory and aromatic veggies, and finished with a combination of spicy, savory sauces. This delicious dish is well represented; the flavors are intense and satisfying. If you like big flavors, go directly to this dish, and prepare for a very pleasant surprise.

Service is very casual and friendly; you order at the counter. Prices are extremely reasonable; almost everything is under $10, and the two exceptions stretch all the way to $12. Food is far better than you’d expect at these low prices.

We enjoyed our first visit to Khau Gully. Ignore the bare bones setting, and dive in to some delicious Indian street food. If you’re a vegetarian, this place is designed for you; if you’re not, prepare for a very pleasant surprise.