Shahi Cafe

It's a little tucked away on the corner of Parmer and North Lamar, but Shahi Cafe is worth it. I ordered the shawarma combo platter, which is both lamb and beef with rice and a choice of 2 sides. And a generous amount of pita! The cafe is actually connected to a grocery store, so you can also shop and eat at your leisure. I will definitely be coming back to try some other items.

Very good middle eastern food. The hummus is delicious, their wraps are HUGE (and very good value). I took some of my non-middle eastern friends here and they loved it! I hope that they can maintain their quality as they get more busy :)

Best Bangladeshi food in Austin? Try this. Trust me, you won't regret. The owner / manager Aziz Bhai is really great. I respect him as a person. Don't confuse Shahi cafe with Shahi grocery. You might not meet good people in Shahi grocery. But Aziz Bhai from Shahi cafe is very humble. I will continue to visit over and over again for food.

Update: Not the best biryani in Austin, but it is still in my top tier of biryani spots here. Details: I would classify it as on the level of Mirchis, but a different style. Even the buffet biryani is better than single-order biryani at many other places here in ATX. If you do come for the buffet, grab some tabouleh as a fresh end to your meal! The portions are the best in Austin though, so great value. The other main downside to this spot is that the cafe part isn't open as much as you'd like (ex: on Eid) - so you can't always get the biryani when you want it. Enjoy!

The food is great. The Nan bread will be in the oven after you ask.. The main food items change every day.. The goat meat will always be fresh, right from the cut shop (in the same place) Perfect for a lunch..

Shahi Cafe has the best biriyani ive ever had at a restaurant, and its better than 98% even cooked at home parties. Its almost as if it was literally just cooked, every single time. love the mint tea and the chai as well. shawarma wraps are always great.

Wonderful cafe! The fresh packed kebabs are delicious and the veggie plate is a must try, especially because there are so many different options for you veggie lovers out there! Be sure to have some of their sweet iced tea. They have a couple different brews, but the most recent one I tried was a minty one, and I fell in love. Btw, the servers are very generous, so be prepared to leave this cafe stuffed. But save room for Rasmalai or Gulab Jamun and a cup of chai. You'll definitely see a well balanced mash up of eastern cultures here, and you will love it.

Abdul Dada is an awesome host. Food is great.

Goat Lovers paradise. I was there for lunch today. And to my surprise they had introduced lunch buffet. The food was good. The best part was 3 different kind of goat curries. Absolutely loved it. Thumbs up

Mmmm toasty shawarma wraps! gyro wraps are always my go to. love all the fresh sides(Shirazi salad,hummus, roasted potatoes, curried lentils, pakora, falafel, MUHAMARRA!) my favorite is the small Shahi salad with the home made dressing, (zestyyy and SO fresh). the staff are really helpful and ready to make sure you are comfortable and taken care of. Is it crazy that they make me feel classy everytime I order tea? just go!

When a café is inside a grocery store, it's gonna be good. Try #1, the lamb shank. Comes with plenty of comforting velvety sauce and choice of rice or naan.

The Beef Shawarma Wrap was delicious and very filling. Some of the beef was chewy but overall it was tasty. I enjoyed the spicy sauce on the meat and the hummus, cucumber and onions perfectly complemented the wrap. I look forward to trying other things on the menu in the future.

We visited Austin recently and were on the lookout for Bangladeshi food. Every item we tried was absolutely delicious. The mutton yakhni pulao was exceptional, probably the best we’ve had. It had generous amount of meat. The lamb shank was perfectly cooked with traditional desi masala and large pieces of potato. It tasted just like homemade curry, with a thick, buttery gravy. The beef curry was equally flavorful and satisfying. The portion size was great for the price for all the items. The owner and staff at the cafe were kind and welcoming, which made the experience even more memorable.

Bought Chicken Biriyani and it tastes good. The spice (salt and chili powder) is just perfect. I like it better than NYC chili biriyani. It’s the only Bengali restaurant and grocery in Austin as I was told. They had ample amount of rice and chicken pieces and the price $12 was just right for the size.

I have gotten Bangladeshi food from there a couple of times, and it is absolutely delicious! Very authentic. The price is a bit high compared to Houston, so I'm not sure if it's because of the area or if their prices are just higher than other places. But I think this is the only Bangladeshi restaurant in town, so they pretty much have a monopoly on this. With that being said, I'd still recommend this place because the quality of the food is good. Although, they should really consider renovating their cafe if they want customers to dine-in. I really want to take my non-Bangladeshi friends and colleagues to a Bangladeshi restaurant, but theirs is not up to the mark. It looks like the owner has given up. Would like to dine-in there if they make it more customer friendly.

This is our go to place for Bangladeshi food ( the only one Bangladeshi place in Austin)! The food is close to what one would find in Bangladesh. Their beef tehari is the best one to me! Another one of our favorite item is alu samosa with cha Over the years we have tried their haleem, chicken roast, rui bhuna etc all of which are really tasty especially for someone craving that deshi food! It’s always better to call ahead of time since they have a lot of catering orders, hence they run out of food. Also this is more like a hole-in-the-wall kind of place, not a fancy one! So don’t have high hopes. But we really love it! Gives you that star kabab ( if you are a Bangladeshi who lived at Dhaka you would know) type feeling!

Their Tehari is awesome! Perfect bangladeshi taste, the amount is really good for price as well. They also have a grocery section, a huge range of fish, and frozen Sajna, kachur loti, korolla, kalo jam and other usual stuffs! The front desk bangali bhai is really friendly as well. Definitely our go to place from now on!

Bangladeshi vaat er hotel. Arguably the best type of Bangladeshi food you could ever find in Austin. This place is just too good. All food items are delicious, mouth-watering and you would certainly find the presence of deshi taste in your tongue. This is also a grocery shop so you can also buy varieties of fish items alongside halal duck, mutton and beef items from here. They would serve sweets as deserts and their tea tastes heavenly.

delicious chicken kofta kebab!! they also have a $7 buffet!! 👍🏼👍🏼

Paul Short

When a café is inside a grocery store, it's gonna be good. Try #1, the lamb shank. Comes with plenty of comforting velvety sauce and choice of rice or naan.

Jaw Knee

The Beef Shawarma Wrap was delicious and very filling. Some of the beef was chewy but overall it was tasty. I enjoyed the spicy sauce on the meat and the hummus, cucumber and onions perfectly complemented the wrap. I look forward to trying other things on the menu in the future.

Syeda Marjana Razzak

We visited Austin recently and were on the lookout for Bangladeshi food. Every item we tried was absolutely delicious. The mutton yakhni pulao was exceptional, probably the best we’ve had. It had generous amount of meat. The lamb shank was perfectly cooked with traditional desi masala and large pieces of potato. It tasted just like homemade curry, with a thick, buttery gravy. The beef curry was equally flavorful and satisfying. The portion size was great for the price for all the items. The owner and staff at the cafe were kind and welcoming, which made the experience even more memorable.

Mousumi Rahman

Bought Chicken Biriyani and it tastes good. The spice (salt and chili powder) is just perfect. I like it better than NYC chili biriyani. It’s the only Bengali restaurant and grocery in Austin as I was told. They had ample amount of rice and chicken pieces and the price $12 was just right for the size.

SharkTheBear

I have gotten Bangladeshi food from there a couple of times, and it is absolutely delicious! Very authentic. The price is a bit high compared to Houston, so I'm not sure if it's because of the area or if their prices are just higher than other places. But I think this is the only Bangladeshi restaurant in town, so they pretty much have a monopoly on this. With that being said, I'd still recommend this place because the quality of the food is good. Although, they should really consider renovating their cafe if they want customers to dine-in. I really want to take my non-Bangladeshi friends and colleagues to a Bangladeshi restaurant, but theirs is not up to the mark. It looks like the owner has given up. Would like to dine-in there if they make it more customer friendly.

Farzana Rahman

This is our go to place for Bangladeshi food ( the only one Bangladeshi place in Austin)! The food is close to what one would find in Bangladesh. Their beef tehari is the best one to me! Another one of our favorite item is alu samosa with cha Over the years we have tried their haleem, chicken roast, rui bhuna etc all of which are really tasty especially for someone craving that deshi food! It’s always better to call ahead of time since they have a lot of catering orders, hence they run out of food. Also this is more like a hole-in-the-wall kind of place, not a fancy one! So don’t have high hopes. But we really love it! Gives you that star kabab ( if you are a Bangladeshi who lived at Dhaka you would know) type feeling!

Shaila Saaki

Their Tehari is awesome! Perfect bangladeshi taste, the amount is really good for price as well. They also have a grocery section, a huge range of fish, and frozen Sajna, kachur loti, korolla, kalo jam and other usual stuffs! The front desk bangali bhai is really friendly as well. Definitely our go to place from now on!

Hasib Chowdhury

Bangladeshi vaat er hotel. Arguably the best type of Bangladeshi food you could ever find in Austin. This place is just too good. All food items are delicious, mouth-watering and you would certainly find the presence of deshi taste in your tongue. This is also a grocery shop so you can also buy varieties of fish items alongside halal duck, mutton and beef items from here. They would serve sweets as deserts and their tea tastes heavenly.

Steph Marco

delicious chicken kofta kebab!! they also have a $7 buffet!! 👍🏼👍🏼

Shahi Cafe is a cozy spot serving up authentic Bengali flavors that hit home. The Beef Tehari and Chicken Biriyani are rich, aromatic, and deeply satisfying. Their Lamb Shank Curry is a buttery, spice-packed standout. Friendly service and a tucked-away grocery section add charm. If you're craving bold, homestyle Bengali cooking, this place is what you need! Ask for Aziz bhai, he is the best!!

Very good Bengali food, it’s very flavorful and portions are large. The staff is also a joy to talk to and are so kind ☺️

Very good food, friendly staff, reasonable prices that have you keep coming back, I can eat their food everyday and not get tired of it. I can say this because I have done this for months. I love that they have their own grocery store within the cafe, so I can buy extra ingredients to enhance my experience. They have great vegetable and pepper spreads but also decently priced flat breads to add to your meal to enhance the pallet even further. If I had all the money to last me for life, this would be the only place I would eat at.

They are having offer one biryani is free with the other biryani. Their seeks kebab, yakni pulao, biryani are top notch and very reasonable price too.. must visit place.. they have groceries too. All halal meat..

Do not let this humble place slip past you. They have the best Biryani I have ever had. If the rest of their food is half as good it will still knock your socks off. Do yourself a favor and get lunch here one day and you’ll never look back!

Aziz bhai is the masterchef. I can safely say he is the best Bangladeshi chef we have in entire Austin. We get his Beef Tehari every Friday. It’s one of his specialty dishes. His customer service is as good as his cooking. An amazing guy who always goes above and beyond for his customers. Highly highly recommend Aziz bhai and Shahi Cafe.

100% Deshi Taste. Goat Akhni Polau is excellent. For lamb shank curry, they use ghee and potatoes to make a thic gravy, you should try it. Beef curry is good too. I have heard their beef tehari is very good, but could not taste it as it was unavailable.

So good! We had the lamb shank and the lamb biryani for lunch and both were excellent. The staff were also super friendly! Attached to a grocery store so not somewhere to go for it's ambience but otherwise highly recommend!

taz tastes

Very good Bengali food, it’s very flavorful and portions are large. The staff is also a joy to talk to and are so kind ☺️

Biswanath Saha

They are having offer one biryani is free with the other biryani. Their seeks kebab, yakni pulao, biryani are top notch and very reasonable price too.. must visit place.. they have groceries too. All halal meat..

Kazi Gaos

Shahi Cafe is a cozy spot serving up authentic Bengali flavors that hit home. The Beef Tehari and Chicken Biriyani are rich, aromatic, and deeply satisfying. Their Lamb Shank Curry is a buttery, spice-packed standout. Friendly service and a tucked-away grocery section add charm. If you're craving bold, homestyle Bengali cooking, this place is what you need! Ask for Aziz bhai, he is the best!!

Don Hood

Do not let this humble place slip past you. They have the best Biryani I have ever had. If the rest of their food is half as good it will still knock your socks off. Do yourself a favor and get lunch here one day and you’ll never look back!

Renadh C

Aziz bhai is the masterchef. I can safely say he is the best Bangladeshi chef we have in entire Austin. We get his Beef Tehari every Friday. It’s one of his specialty dishes. His customer service is as good as his cooking. An amazing guy who always goes above and beyond for his customers. Highly highly recommend Aziz bhai and Shahi Cafe.

Joseph Kuzoo

Very good food, friendly staff, reasonable prices that have you keep coming back, I can eat their food everyday and not get tired of it. I can say this because I have done this for months. I love that they have their own grocery store within the cafe, so I can buy extra ingredients to enhance my experience. They have great vegetable and pepper spreads but also decently priced flat breads to add to your meal to enhance the pallet even further. If I had all the money to last me for life, this would be the only place I would eat at.

Hamim Akib

100% Deshi Taste. Goat Akhni Polau is excellent. For lamb shank curry, they use ghee and potatoes to make a thic gravy, you should try it. Beef curry is good too. I have heard their beef tehari is very good, but could not taste it as it was unavailable.

Eileen Shihadeh

So good! We had the lamb shank and the lamb biryani for lunch and both were excellent. The staff were also super friendly! Attached to a grocery store so not somewhere to go for it's ambience but otherwise highly recommend!

For those of you who don't know, this is both an Indo-European Grocery store and Cafe combined. That means it has a mixture of Middle Eastern and Indian food, for those not aware. As for my visit, I received nothing but friendly vibes. I am not sure if the gentleman behind the counter in the cafe was one of the owners (that's the vibe I received tho), but we had a lovely conversation about the many different editions of several dishes there. As I gave him feedback on my taste preferences for certain dishes, he made suggestions that were spot on. Can't wait to go back! I like low key, friendly, casual (not to mention healthy) and Shahi filled all of those roles. Also, you can't EVER go wrong with buying pre-made puff pastry and making cheese filled puff pastries at home. They even have baby goats. Not sure how I feel about that, nor do I care to see, but I understand it's a cultural thing, right? Right?

I tried bryani, hummus and chicken tikka. All were very delicious. Server is very friendly and place and price are very convenient. Nan bread was very very good too. Place is not for a dine out but overall, it is a good place for good food.

I absolutely love the Tehari at this restaurant! It's the best I've ever tasted. Whenever I'm in Austin, I make it a point to come here. The chicken shwarma platter didn't impress me as much, but the Tehari is a must-try. They have a shop attached where you can buy South Asian Masala, sweets, foods, and halal meat, although it's a bit pricey. Overall, highly recommend for the amazing Tehari! However, I must mention that the entry point was quite challenging. The steep downhill at the entrance made it difficult to navigate, resulting in unintentional bumps to our car on multiple occasions.

Shahi is the ONLY place in Austin to have Bangladeshi style Beef Tehari (call first and check, it's usually over the weekends). Their catering prices are also reasonable and highly customizable. Chicken Roast, Korma Chicken and Shami Kababs are all really good.

Tasnim Ara Islam

I absolutely love the Tehari at this restaurant! It's the best I've ever tasted. Whenever I'm in Austin, I make it a point to come here. The chicken shwarma platter didn't impress me as much, but the Tehari is a must-try. They have a shop attached where you can buy South Asian Masala, sweets, foods, and halal meat, although it's a bit pricey. Overall, highly recommend for the amazing Tehari! However, I must mention that the entry point was quite challenging. The steep downhill at the entrance made it difficult to navigate, resulting in unintentional bumps to our car on multiple occasions.

Shayer S

Shahi is the ONLY place in Austin to have Bangladeshi style Beef Tehari (call first and check, it's usually over the weekends). Their catering prices are also reasonable and highly customizable. Chicken Roast, Korma Chicken and Shami Kababs are all really good.

Let me start by saying the food here is delicious!!! but the portions are too small! its not worth taking to go, cause you can eat more for just a couple more bucks at the buffet.. I ordered a shwarma plate, maybe got half a serving of chicken.. The only reason I got it was FOR the chicken.. I didn't end up getting rice, cause i'm on a restricted diet, so they gave me half a portion of veggies.. I get why they did, but its not really that appealing when they're nickel and dime'ing you..

I was very excited to try this place 6 but the food was pretty mediocre, unfortunately. Chicken bryani and samosas were decent. Most of the food, especially the veggie platter, is very oily. Dal didn’t even taste good. Pretty disappointed. Won’t be trying again.

I went there a couple of times. They have good snacks sometimes. The Shawarma plater is terrible. The rest of the food has a home-cooked feel but nothing special.

Muhtasim Ahmed

I went there a couple of times. They have good snacks sometimes. The Shawarma plater is terrible. The rest of the food has a home-cooked feel but nothing special.

The food smells really good upon entering and the customer service was excellent. The portions were more than enough for one person when you order the plate. The cost is pretty reasonable. We ordered the chicken biryani which was greasy and caused heartburn afterwards. The second dish was a combo kebab and shawarma. The kabob was full of flavor. The shwarma was burnt and some of the pieces were just fat. I might give this place a second chance (if I am next door shopping indian groceries) because my experience was very different than the previously posted reviews.

I have mixed reviews about this place. If you are going to buy groceries here, it's a good place. I have had multiple bad experiences here. I often have received food that is extremely salty to the point that I had to throw them away. Last weekend I ordered some kebabs along with two orders of Mango Lassi. They brought me my food in a to go bag. I assumed the drinks were also in there. When I got home and checked the bag the drinks were missing. I thought to myself, okay, this is not a big deal, I will just call and they will fix it right away. When I called them they could not confirm whether they really did mess up. I told them that I am not willing to come back to get my drinks, instead I will just pick them up another day. At this point I was told well I am not sure if we will remember that. This was a disappointing response from a store I visit often. Needless to say after all the bad experiences I will probably not be visiting them for their food.

I was in the area and wanted to try a food truck but it was closed. Noticed Shahi Cafe was near by so decided to have lunch there instead. The staff member was courteous enough to let me know that the lamb shank would be gamy, so I ordered the kafta kabob platter with naan. Firstly, they no longer make their own Naans, they just heat up the frozen ones from a packet - which at $13.99 per plate is ridiculous. At least they should've let me know. Secondly, the Kafta kabob was extremely bland. I have had kafta at several persian / middle eastern restaraunts and this one appeared to have a lot of fillers and baking soda. I sprinkled one with salt, pepper, and lot's of sumac and managed to finish it as I was hungry but I left the second kabob untouched. It was that bad. The side salad was tiny and for $13.99 I expect at least a side of hummus but it wasn't included. I will definitely not repeat. It's shameful to server customers this quality of food.

Terrible food. Ordered a combo shawarma wrap to go. They did not put any chicken in the wrap and the beef felt like hard rubber. The pita was hard and cold. Had to throw away the wrap. Called them and told them about the food and they did not even have the courtesy to offer refund.

Not even the Sesame street grouches wouldn't eat here! if you find any pleasure eating in a dumpster this might be the perfect place... The "food" looks terrible the place is filthy and the owner is lacking common sense, respect and pretty much anything that would qualify him to be a business owner. I eat at cleaner places in NY at the corner carts than here. I believe in any other place in Texas he would be closed but Austin city apparently favors garbage places and expired food. I hope city inspectors can read and comprehend maybe they'll close this filth and someone with more decency can open something else

I went to this place a couple of time and like d the kuftah Kebab. It was good till the last time that it took 20 min to prepare the food and the kebab was too overcooked. I ask the employee to exchange it but he refused and kept arguing with me that it has good quality and then charged us for the food we didn't eat. I feel sorry for him that doesn't understand the basics of customer service.