Anthony Bourdain visited Houston in June 2016 for “Parts Unknown,” and the episode aired in October to glowing reviews. But when the show later hit streaming, viewers noticed his visit to Himalaya and Keemat Grocer was missing. The edit appears tied to Sunil Thakkar, who joined Bourdain as a dining companion on portions of the episode. Thakkar, 60, runs Masala Radio (98.7 FM) and organizes the Houston Holi and Diwali Festivals at Levy Park. He said he did not want to go to a restaurant that sold meat, especially beef, because of his Hindu upbringing and faith. Himalaya at 6652 Southwest Freeway was not his first choice; he wanted Honest at 5901 Hillcroft Avenue instead. Thakkar said sponsors and friends in the Indian-American community told him not to make a big deal about Bourdain eating beef. In 2016, a Harris County grand jury indicted Thakkar on a second-degree felony charge of sexual assault of a child, age 14-17. He pleaded guilty in 2017, received a $1,500 fine, served 10 days in jail, and the case was closed in 2022. Kaiser Lashkari said the streamed version cut Himalaya out entirely, but Bourdain’s visit still put the restaurant on the map.
