That Great Persian Place By the Big Lots

Kasra Persian Grill
9741 Westheimer Road, Houston

Houston is known for being a very diverse, cosmopolitan city. It boasts the third largest Vietnamese population in the U.S as well as the eleventh largest South East Asian Indian population. It is truly a melting pot of cultures and cuisine. I'm not going to claim that culinary diversity is the reason we moved to H-town, but it certainly was a very attractive fringe benefit.

Having devoted quite a bit of time to researching restaurants in Houston, I've learned that many culinary gems are hidden in random strip shopping areas of which, thanks to an almost total lack of zoning in the city, there are many. So, when I pulled into a plaza with a Big Lots and a Tuesday Morning en route to one of Houston's best Persian restaurants, I wasn't that surprised.

I met Hubby at Kasra Persian Grill for an impromptu lunch. We arrived a bit before noon and the restaurant was already packed. Despite the crowd, the hostess quickly led us to a table and within seconds a plate of hot, crispy taftoon bread and a second plate of fresh herbs (mint, basil, parsley), radishes, and cubes of salty feta cheese arrived. We were off to a very good start.

We ordered some hummus while we perused the menu. The hummus was very smooth and packed full of garlicky goodness. We quickly finished our first serving of taftoon bread and polished off a second with the remaining hummus. 

For the main course, I ordered the chicken kabob and Hubby ordered the kubideh, skewers of ground beef and Persian spices. We both upgraded our rice sides; I opted for the basmati rice with dill and fava beans, and Hubby selected the sour cherry basmati rice. The chicken kabob had a tangy, delicious marinade. The menu didn't provide us with much clue regarding the "secret" ingredients, but I have a feeling yogurt may have been involved. The kubideh was spicy and rich and paired perfectly with the tart cherries and cranberries in the basmati rice. The portions were generous and we both took home leftovers which reheated nicely for dinner.

After finishing our lunches, Hubby and I walked back out into the late September heat to our respective vehicles. I passed the Tuesday Morning, which seemed to be featuring fall decor, a random Chinese restaurant that didn't seem especially packed during the lunch rush, and a drive-thru Tex Mex place. Back in my car, I cranked up the AC and headed home, impressed by this city and excited for future international foodie adventures.




d.