About six years after successfully operating Annam Indian Cuisine off Hwy. 6 and I-10 in Houston, Godwin Mariadason said he and his father, Mariadason “Das” Visuvasam, were looking to meet a need in the underserved Cy-Fair area.

“A lot of people were asking why there’s no other Indian restaurant in the Cypress area,” Mariadason said. “This is your typical south Indian restaurant.”

The eatery opened off Hwy. 290 and Barker Cypress Road in August 2017 with an extensive menu of traditional cuisine—most of which are made-from-scratch family recipes. Mariadason said his father is the main chef for both locations. 

Popular dishes include chicken tikka masala, chicken tandoori, garlic naan, palak paneer, samosas and biryani—a traditional fried rice dish. Because Indian restaurants are uncommon in Cypress, Mariadason said the cuisine draws a diverse crowd. 

Guests can try the lunch buffet to sample a variety of dishes for $9.99 on weekdays and $12.99 on weekends. Catering services are also available for parties and special events. 

Mariadason said he is pursuing a license to serve beer and wine, but in the meantime, diners can bring their own.

“The word ‘annam’ has a lot of meanings, but one is that it’s a place where all people come to meet and get together,” he said. “That’s what it means in our language.”

24120 Hwy. 290, Ste. 100, Cypress 832-653-6464 www.annamus.com Hours: Tue.-Thu. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-9:30 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-10 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., 5-10 p.m.; Sun. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-9:30 p.m.; closed Mon.