Community Highlights: Meet Navul Nanda of Noon Mirch

Hi Navul, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have lived in Houston, TX (Clear Lake Area) since 1989, when my family moved from New York. I attended Clear Lake High School and graduated from UHD in Finance.

I was bussing tables at my parents’ Indian restaurant at the age of ten, and going on weekend caterings, with my father. I’ve been around the restaurant business, since early childhood. After trading equities for 4 years, I decided to go back to the restaurant business, and started a Dairy Queen franchised restaurant in 2013. From my DQ experience, I learned how to successfully manage a team, and having a structured organization.

Fast forward to September 30, 2020 when my mother’s restaurant lost four people, who left suddenly and opened a nearby competing restaurant.

We are a close-knit family, and always help each other. Therefore, I showed up the next day (October 1, 2020) to start learning Indian cooking and prevent any disruption in the operation of the restaurant.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a rewarding but, very challenging experience to learn different operational concepts and unique style of cooking. The basic principles of a successful restaurant stay the same, that is be humble, believe in your team and install an organizational structure that ensures the best food quality and customer service. Knowledge is a powerful tool. At the age of 37, I know how to make all products in a Dairy Queen, and am also an Indian Chef, trained by my mother.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Noon Mirch?
Noon Mirch – Cuisine of India has been in Clear Lake since 1989. Our customers emphatically claim we are the best Indian restaurant in Houston! Our mother, Monica Nanda, is the co-founder & executive chef who created all the recipes, that are shared with the community, through her wide variety of menu dishes. We show our passion for authentic Indian food in that each menu item has distinct flavors and a unique taste. Cooking has been our family’s passion, since childhood, and our mother has laid the foundation to carry on her legacy, by training me and other chefs, within the company, on the art of preparing flavorful and tasty Indian food.

We serve a wide variety of regional dishes from the Indian sub continent and are continuously introducing new creations. Many of our customers have dined with us, since we opened in 1989, and we continue to gain new loyal followers, who are interested in healthy foods, prepared without preservatives. Noon Mirch also caters to those interested in vegetarian, vegan or gluten free dishes.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the diverse cultures and food scene offered by the welcoming residents of Houston. One can find all types of cuisine in the city. I am proud to be a Houstonian!