Shor

This upscale Hawaiian Gardens restaurant, filled with royal blue accents and moody spotlights over each table, works best for special occasions. Shor is run by a fine dining chef from Orange County and specializes in Halal dishes from across South Asia: Afghani lamb chops with chili, paper dosa longer than your forearm, and superb chicken biryani baked with a flaky crust. For a first visit, we’d point you toward the chicken tikka masala—which might sound snoozy until you realize the velvety, cumin-scented sauce in Shor’s version tastes like it was made with tears from the god of tomatoes. Instead of cocktails, Shor offers fancy mocktails and luxury mineral waters from around the world. Come to ball out on a family-style spread the next time someone in your life wants to celebrate with sag paneer and chocolate truffle cake.