Tarka Indian Kitchen, a fast-casual restaurant chain based out of Austin, began building out its third Houston location, 3701 S. Shepherd Drive, Ste. A, in Upper Kirby, and plans to open in mid-January, according to a news release. To prepare for the opening, the restaurant plans to hire around 35 people in the coming weeks. “We couldn’t be more excited to expand in Houston and there’s no better place to do it than in the thriving Upper Kirby neighborhood,” said Tarka CEO and Co-Founder Tinku Saini. Tarka serves curries, kabobs, biryanis and flatbreads, as well as mashups such as Masala Fries and a variety of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. The Upper Kirby restaurant will have a patio and a “Mandala Mural” hand-painted by a local artist. Tarka’s other Houston-area locations are 721 W. 19th St. in the Heights and 2168 Spring Stuebner Road, Springwoods Village. www.tarkaindiankitchen.com