MEET THE MALIKS - SHAMMI & MITHU
MICHELIN-Starred Indian Restaurant Musaafer Owners Shammi & Mithu Malik, Houston, TX
ABOUT SHAMMI
Shammi Malik is a seasoned entrepreneur and the co-owner of One MICHELIN star Musaafer Indian restaurant in Houston, Texas, along with his wife, Mithu. Together, they have been at the helm of multiple successful ventures for the past 16 years.
Shammi holds a master’s degree in business studies, while Mithu's background is in Pharmacy. Their shared ambition, drive, and hard work have been pivotal in establishing their business empire, which includes an ice cream import and distribution division and a commodity export business, in addition to their restaurants.
In 2004, Shammi and Mithu brought Debonairs Pizza, a South African franchise, to West Africa, where it earned the title of "The Highest Grossing Debonairs Pizza in Africa" for several consecutive years. They later expanded their franchise portfolio to include Steers burgers, Fishaways, and Mugg & Bean coffee shops.
ABOUT MITHU
Mithu Malik was born and raised in India, where frequent travel due to her father's law enforcement career exposed her to diverse cultures and cuisines. With a strong interest in biology, she pursued a career in pharmacy, becoming a certified pharmacist. However, her deep-rooted love for food, inspired by her mother’s elaborate cooking, eventually led her to shift careers.
After marrying her husband, Shammi Malik, the couple moved to Lagos, Nigeria. Disappointed by the local representation of Indian cuisine, they decided to enter the restaurant business. They initially established Nigeria’s first pizza restaurant by securing a Debonairs Pizza franchise, following Mithu’s comprehensive training in Johannesburg. Her disciplined approach, shaped by her background as a certified pharmacist, proved invaluable as they navigated the challenges of launching a food franchise in a new country.
Shammi & Mithu Malik
Co-Founders of One MICHELIN star
Indian Restaurant Musaafer | Houston. TX
ABOUT MUSAAFER
Musaafer is MICHELIN starred restaurant located within Houston’s Galleria at Westheimer and Sage. Owned by Mithu & Shammi Malik, and under the culinary direction of Executive Corporate Chef Mayank Istwal and his team, with a specialized cocktail programme (including a selection of zero-proof mocktails) by Beverage Director Afzal Kaba, they earned their first MICHELIN star in November of 2024, becoming the first and only Indian Restaurant in the State of Texas to do so.
THE CUISINE , COCKTAILS AND PASTRY PROGRAM
Musaafer offers an elevated culinary journey featuring seasonal, vegetarian, and vegan menus crafted from locally sourced ingredients and rare spices collected during their Executive Chef Mayank Istwal’s 100-day exploration of all 29 states of India.
Complementing the cuisine, Beverage Director Afzal Kaba curates an array of sophisticated drinks, blending familiar and artisanal ingredients sourced both globally and locally. These craft cocktails, prepared using a variety of innovative techniques, are served in a striking bar setting, where every piece of the mixed-media interior has been imported from India.
The experience is beautifully rounded off with exquisite desserts crafted by their exceptionally talented Pastry Chef and a team of artisans, ensuring a perfect finale to this unique dining adventure.
Musaafer emulates the highest standard of inventive Indian cuisine with a sophisticated twist, opulent design, and impeccable service.
THE ENVIRONMENT
An eclectic Indian restaurant that transports guests through a multi-layered environment, unlike anything in the city or region, for a celebration of India’s vibrant food culture, led by corporate executive chef Mayank Istwal.
Musaafer means “Traveler” is an elegant Indian restaurant in the Galleria featuring many different meticulously designed spaces, and whose raison d’etre is to serve up exquisite dishes that represent an edible journey across the vastness of the subcontinent. The website https://musaaferhouston.com features an interactive map for exploring the origins of the cuisine.
Guests are welcomed into an authentic experience that engages all the senses, and showcases a neoteric approach through inventive food presentations and textural enrichment to the traditional dishes from the sub-continent.
Located at
5115 Westheimer Rd, (at Sage)
Suite C-3500 (2nd floor) at the northwest corner of The Galleria.
Open daily. Reservations recommended.
Monday and Tuesday, 5pm–10pm;
Wednesday and Thursday, 12pm–10pm;
Friday and Saturday, 12pm-11pm;
and Sunday 12pm–10pm. For more information call (713) 242-8087 or
visit the website at www.musaaferhouston.com.
For the latest news, follow along on Facebook and Instagram @MusaaferHouston.
Media contact:
McCartney Multimedia, Inc.
Los Angeles, CA
Ruth McCartney
310-301 8166 xtn 221
Cell 310 901 8166
info@mccartney.com
