I had the whole family over for a meal today and didn't feel like cooking so I ordered from Zaky's…read moreand went and picked it up. The food was ready when I arrived, smelled oh so good in the car on the way home, and was a huge hit with everyone, including the little kiddy-wids who are picky eaters.
The last time I ate at Zaky's was many years ago when it was called Zaki's with an "i" and had 3 locations throughout the city. It was fantastic, but then all the locations closed. Then one location reopened and was renamed Zaky's with a "y." I believe that there was a change in ownership (the other 2 locations became other businesses). I'm happy to say that the food is still as good as I remember. The only thing is prices have gone up, and it's not just inflation.
I got the Family Feast ($45.49) and the 15 piece Broasted Chicken Family Meal ($40.99) because no one is going to leave hungry on my watch! The Family Feast consisted of 2 ground beef shami, 2 ground chicken shami, 1 beef tikka kebab, 1 chicken breast kebab, naan, rice and salad. The 15 piece Family Meal consisted of 15 pieces of broasted chicken, fries, naan, dipping sauces and pop.
We were 6 adults and 2 kids. There were leftovers, lol.
The meats in the Family Feast were very flavourful and well marinaded. They were tender and juicy and not dry at all. My mom felt that the beef tikka was a little tough, but I thought it was fine. Maybe it was just the piece she had. The rice was long grain basmati and very fragrant (it had lots of warm spices in it, tasted like nutmeg, cinnamon, etc.). I liked that the rice was not oily. The salad had cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and romaine lettuce with spices on top. Dressing was on the side, which I appreciated so the salad didn't get soggy. I didn't have any of the naan, but everyone else liked it.
The biggest hit though was the broasted chicken (chicken fried in a pressure cooker). So crispy, yet not greasy or oily. My dad said "this is better than Popeye's and KFC" and then asked "is there a location near my house?" Lol.
The fries were seasoned but not battered and the kids loved them. They were a little soggy by the time I got home with them, but I think that is unavoidable. I'll need to eat in sometime to see how their fries are fresh.
Their BBQ and Sweet and Sour dipping sauces are store-bought, but their garlic sauce and yogurt dressing are made in house. Cilantro-hating husband tasted cilantro in the dressing, so be warned if you also dislike cilantro.
The person who took my order on the phone and who served me in the store (I'm pretty sure it was the same person) was quick and efficient. They said the food would take 20-25 minutes. I said I would be there in 30 minutes, and when I arrived it was already packed and ready to go.
The place looked clean. It's in the same complex as the big Walmart, Bai Du, Mucho Burrito, and Sally Beauty Supply. Lots of free parking.
If you like fried chicken, give their broasted chicken a try!