Ranosh

by Khalid S.

I went to this place 3 out of 4 nights I was down in Houston last time, and what's weird is that it's not even all that. It was just close to my friend's place where I was staying at and it's cheap Shisha in an environment which is almost like the highway cafes back in Saudia. So, we had fun here. Food was below average though.

by Michelle K.

Everytime I visit Houston, I come back to Ranosh for some amazing kafta or lamb kabobs with rice and of course the hummus shawarma. There is absolutely nothing negative that I can say about their food. Their kabobs and vegetables are perfectly seasoned and grilled, the rice is delicious and plentiful, their flat bread is always freshly made, but the hummus shawarma is the highlight of every meal. You can eat inside where customers typically smoke hookah or play games, or you can eat outside where they have built a large and airy verandah. It's a very casual atmosphere and I have introduced this place to many friends, who have also become converts to amazing, reasonably priced middle eastern food.

by Cliff J.

I guess it really depends on what your looking for.  I have enjoyed my experiences at this establishment.  Its very authentic in the fact that its similar to what I have experienced throughout the Middle East.  (Limited flavors of narghile, no alcohol, and a lot of people relaxing playing cards and other games)I have been to a few hookah bars in Houston (Uptown Hookah, Mary's, and Sinbad).  It really depends on what your looking for.  If you want the westernized version of hookah, then I would say Uptown Hookah.  You can drink alcohol, you can listen to American music, etc.  They also have tons of shisha flavors, even the alcohol mixed hookahs, which I havent been to inclined to try.Maryz and Sinbad are good places when you want to get a good meal and smoke narghile after dinner.  Its almost like a desert.  Ranosh on the other hand is a place you can go with friends, grab a bite to eat and play cards or other board-games.  Its not a place you would typically go for "dinner".  The flavors are limited.  I think they may have 4-5 different flavors.  (Mint, Grape, Apple and one or two others)  Its very very inexpensive.  I think your experience will be based on what you are seeking.  I have never really had a problem with the coal service.  The staff has always been friendly.  Sometimes I get the ocassional eye when my wife and I first walk in, because ethnically we look a little out of place.  But, having spend a considerable amount of time abroad, its something Im very comfortable with.This place is quickly becoming a regular spot for me and my wife.  If any yelpers are every interested in smoking hookah, drinking sodas and playing cards, dont hesitate to let me know.   Since its only two of us, my wife and I usually just settle with playing phase ten.  Or sometimes we just bring a book.

by Mia K.

Ranosh is by no stretch of the imagination the best hookah I've ever had.  I wouldn't even put it in the top 10 and it would be a stretch to make top 20, however, it's the best Houston's got to offer.The food at Ranosh is nothing to write home about.  Simple middle eastern/mediterranean dishes like gyros, shawarma, kebabs, etc, with fries or rice on the side.  I wasn't disappointed by it, but I wasn't impressed either.  The chicken was lacking in flavor.  I can't speak for the beef or lamb.The hookah could have been cleaner.  They also could have been a lot more attentive about the charcoals, because in the maybe 5 or 6 times I've been there, the charcoal has always gone compeletely dead before we could even find anyone to get more.  Their flavor selection is shit - they have apple, apple, and on special days, apple.But what do you want?  They've got the monopoly on shisha on Houston.  A relatively large restaurant with a massive outdoor deck, open all night in the heart of Houston's Little Arabia/Desi Central.  The market is cornered right there.I also ordered Moroccan tea the FIRST time I went there.  Never again.  It was horrible. Cold, and it took forever.You COULD hit up "Hookah Bar" down the street, next to "Oxygen Bar", but you could also go hang out in the Westside High School bathroom and get the same experience, 16 and 17 year old kids looking for somewhere they can smoke and be as (yet another one of my EX) boyfriend(s) said, "cool but legal".That being said, I've also been to some place in League City, that was so painfully boring that I can't remember the name (although, I'm sure after writing this I'll google it to discourage people from wasting their time there), so I have a pretty good idea of the "hookah scene" in Houston.So, I pose this rhetoricalish question - with so many middle eastern and south asian people in Houston - why is Ranosh as good as it gets?  There is so much potential for business in this market.  Someone with money (I'd do it if i had it), take advantage of this opportunity.  And if you need advising, give me a call.

by Alex V.

You walk into this place and its like you literally travelled to the Middle East. You could pass it without even knowing it existed since its pretty hidden from the street it borders. They were playing Middle Eastern music while older arab men played dominos and yelled and screamed at eachother. Open air seating with mediterranean style trees outside made it seem that much more away from everything industrialised. We had double apple-mint mix for the hookah, my favorite, They brought it out in a huge hookah with real coals. Not that instant light crap that people can buy. The one bowl that we had lasted us around an hour and a half. One of the best experiences I have had with a hookah place in Houston. I have been to others but they are trendy, clubby spots that dont really care about the authenticity.The food was great. To start off we had some  really delicious humus and pita bread. The humus didnt have any overbearing spices, but was just right. We then had some turkish coffee and my friends both got shawarma sandwiches and left nothing on the plate.Taking all my other friends here, definitely an awesome experience.