My daughter and I had a free night to ourselves this week and were looking for somewhere close by for dinner. We were torn between a highly-recommended burger place and a recently-opened Mediterranean restaurant that is getting nothing put positive reviews online. While social media isn’t always reliable when it comes to dining raves and rants, we lucked out that the online buzz about Pharaoh’s Kitchen was not fake news.
This is the first Houston location for the business which also has two locations in North Carolina. It debuted February 26, so the restaurant is very new. It took over the space which was previously occupied by Domoishi, a restaurant near and dear to my daughter and her boyfriend. They were bummed when Domoishi closed the 1960 location but after tasting the cuisine at Pharaoh’s, I think they will have a new date night destination.
The restaurant is crisp and clean with a few prints of Egyptian scenes on the walls and televisions above the counters. We were seated at a comfortable booth by the window. There is a mix of seating, including counter barstools. We were one of only two tables at first but customers began to trickle in over the course of our meal.
Our server was very sweet and also very softspoken. We weren’t sure if we should order starters first so we ended up ordering everything at once, which meant it all came to the table at the same time. My bad.
My daughter’s Dr Pepper was crisp and sparkling with more carbonation than one usually gets at restaurants. She really liked it that way. As for me, I opted for the Turkish coffee. I have never had it before and I had been dragging the whole day so I needed a jolt of caffeine. It was delivered via an ornate gold tray and served in a long-handled pot, or cezve. It had a lid on it which kept it warm and the little demi-tasse cup made for an elegant presentation. I was surprised by how smooth it was, without a hint of bitterness. It was a bit sweet for me so I would definitely ask for less sugar next time.
My daughter loves Halal Guys and any other place that serves gyro meat atop saffron rice so she opted for the Lamb Gyro Platter ($13.49). It comes with a choice of sides like the Cairo salad or fries. Since we had ordered fries as a starter, along with kibbeh, I asked her to get the Cairo salad because I was craving something healthy.
Since she was getting lamb gyro, I chose chicken for my gyro wrap. Boy, did it come loaded with meat. The grilled chicken was extremely tender and well-seasoned and the tzatziki sauce, red onions, lettuce and feta all melded together into a tasty wrap. The pita itself was not the kind I prefer. It was flatter and stiffer than the fluffy flatbreads I am used to it at one of Houston’s best known gyro spots. It didn’t hold up to all the juicy meat inside, but that’s just a minor quibble.
The kibbeh appetizer ($8.49) was unique. I have always liked kofta and other dishes that blend meat with sweet and aromatic spices. The interior of the little croquettes was so finely minced, I couldn’t distinguish between the meat and the barley. They were a tiny bit dry but the labneh that was served with it remedied that. My daughter wasn’t a fan of the sweetness but I liked it. There were four pieces in all, with two leftover for my husband, Classic Rock Bob, when he returned home from his concert.
I had to fight my daughter for my fair share of the fries, something I am used to doing with her father. They were served right out of the fryer, super crispy and seasoned perfectly. My daughter had tried to talk me into getting the Athenas Fries which are loaded with gyro meat and all the other delicious accompaniments but that is something to look forward to another time.
She was delighted, though, with her lamb gyro platter. She said the lamb was the best she’s ever had. It was extremely tender and served in chunks. The rice was a mix of both saffron and plain. She expected to have some leftovers but it was too tempting and she finished her plate.
I was busy stealing the Cairo salad off her plate. While most of us know a Greek salad as lettuce-based, traditional Greek salads are just tomatoes, onions, cucumber, olives and feta. The Cairo salad was similar to a traditional Greek version except that there was sumac seasoning, giving it a zesty, citrusy kick. It’s my new favorite dish. I would never think something so simple could be so crave-worthy. I would eat it every day.
I had to take half of my chicken gyro to go because I was getting very full. My daughter and I vacillated between ordering baklava or not. We didn’t and we regret it. I also wish I had gotten a Cairo salad to go.
However, we will definitely be back. There is so much to explore on the menu and I am looking forward to taking that journey. The falafel at Pharaoh’s is made from fava beans and I would like to try its version. I would also like to try the shawarma. Or maybe the shrimp tempura. Or the tabbouleh. There is even a classic burger for the not-so-adventurous folks.
The online reviews were spot on for once and the comments from other guests while we were there were just as positive. When the owner came out to check on the tables, one happy fellow couldn’t stop raving about the meat.
So even though you can’t trust everything you read online, you can trust this review. Pharaoh’s Kitchen is worthy of its praise.
Pharaoh’s Kitchen
12341 FM 1960
281-653-9293
pharaohskitchentx.com
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.
