CHEF KAISER LASHKARI

Culinary Talent - Houston, TX

Chef | Restaurateur | Keynote Speaker | Indo-Pak Consultant | Competitor | Gastro-Judge

Lashkari earned his master’s degree from the University of Houston’s Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management in 1989. After working for Westin Hotels and teaching at Houston Community College, he opened Kaiser Restaurant and Catering in 1993.

Then, in 2004, he started Himalaya on Hillcroft Ave, also known as the Mahatma Gandhi District.

Making delicious meals from fresh ingredients is Lashkari’s passion. He was a James Beard Semi-Finalist in 2019. In addition, Himalaya was rated No. 9 number nine in food critic Alison Cook’s “Top 100 Houston Restaurants” list, and has placed in the top 15 in previous years.

When Anthony Bourdain visited the city in 2016 to film an episode of “Parts Unknown,” Himalaya took center stage.

Bourdain dined on green curry chicken, steak tikka and an Indian-style pastrami — a few of Lashkari’s unique creations, inspired by his time in Pakistan and in Texas.

The chef enjoys riffing on Mexican, Indian, Pakistani and Texan flavors.

“It’s Indo-Tex,” Lashkari said. “We have a steak that’s our take on a fajita. We have green chicken curry that’s our salsa verde. We have chicken fried chicken and brisket.”

There’s even HFC, or Himalaya fried chicken, made the “Southern way” but with Indian spices. The Keema, or ground lamb cooked in a masala sauce, is described on the menu as a dish that “closely resembles Texas chili.”

Traditional desserts are joined by a mango tres leches and an almond custard that is like flan with a twist.

Chef Kaiser was a James Beard Semi-Finalist in 2019, and Himalaya was rated No. 9 in the Houston Chronicle’s “Top 100 Houston Restaurants” list, and has placed in the top 15 in previous years. He can be found most often in Himalaya’s kitchen when he is not out greeting guests.