First time trying Ethiopian/Eritrean cuisine and it was delicious. I really appreciated the staff for being patient with us and explaining the dishes we had questions on. The portion size is like having a feast - definitely perfect for sharing. The injerito was a great appetizer, love the silky and soft texture of the injera. I ordered the House Special Sampler which was a great option for me because I wanted to try as many dishes as I could. From the choices of meat, the beef was my favorite. I ate it with the rice from the "Lamb with Rice" dish - very perfect pairing. The rice and beef were packed with so much flavor - every bite was a sensation. If you're looking for a great Ethiopian/Eritrean cuisine, I highly suggest this place! read more

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Food 4/5 I went with the vegetarian platter which is my go to wherever possible. My food was made to order and came out within a reasonable timeframe. Everything had a good flavor balance except the Gomen. For my taste buds it could use more seasoning. The whole platter was delectable. Just one thing, a gnat showed up and landed on my other roll of injera so I did not eat it. Service 4/5 KEren, the owner is soft spoken and kind. I told her the spelling of her name was unique to the traditional spelling Karen. She greeted me as soon as I entered. At this time there were no customers. She brought me the drinks menu and the food menu accompanied with a pitcher of water. I feel a pitcher of water should be offered at every restaurant for your table. Minimizes the requests for refills. On a warm sunny day like today hydration is paramount. Keren returned moments later to take my order. Ambiance 3/5 [[HIGHLIGHT]]Clean. Neat. A little bare. Four big screen televisions though for those who are into watching TV.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There's a bar with a limited alcohol selection. Happy Hour is offered from 4-8pm. No days specified. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's two restrooms. One for women and one for men. The women's is missing the door have handle. Inside the one person restroom it's very clean and stocked with all the basics you need.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Service was quick. Food was flavorful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Restaurant was quiet.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We had samosas , Full and vegetarian combination. All were good. There was plenty of food. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options. read more

Generous portions and very flavorful food variety! The sampler plates are HUGE and two of them fed four people with injera leftover. The beef tibsi chunks (soo well seasoned), pickled vegetables, and veggie golden lentils were my favorite. The stewed chicken was quite good too, and the chicken leg while flavorful was awkward to eat trying to pull it off the bone (we chose to replace the lamb). The other veggie stews were a great complement to have with the meats. Injera was soft and plentiful. Each of the four of us were given a basket which was appreciated. This injera is light, less of that sourdough type taste Samosas were crispy and great too. Nice appetizer but the entrees are filling enough you wouldn't need it Maybe a 3.5/5 on service as sometimes the owner/server would disappear to the back and not check if we needed anything (like injera, a box, or the bill). The restaurant itself is pretty spacious so a plus for larger groups. Given the value and flavorful sampler, would certainly recommend for the food! read more

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** BUYER BEWARE: Closed Early, No Communication, and No Courtesy** There are several far better Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants nearby. ** I visited Jack London Square one evening, craving Ethiopian food. A quick Google Maps search for "Ethiopian restaurant near me open now" led me to **Zara**, which looked promising and had solid reviews. I placed a DoorDash order at about 9:15 p.m. and drove over, expecting my meal to be ready for pickup soon after my arrival. When I walked in, the host -- possibly the manager -- *glared* at me from behind the bar as if surprised that anyone had entered. There was no greeting, no warmth, not even a basic acknowledgment. When I explained that I was there to pick up my order, they curtly informed me that the restaurant was closed. I mentioned that their online profiles clearly showed they were still open and that I'd just placed an order minutes earlier. They repeated that they were closed and told me to "take it up with DoorDash." That was it -- no apology, no offer to help, no sense of professionalism or care toward a paying customer. Even a small gesture -- such as, "I'm really sorry for the confusion; we closed early tonight. Let me help you figure out the refund process," or "The kitchen's closed, but you're welcome to have a seat while you contact DoorDash" -- would have made a huge difference. I wasn't looking for a freebie, just basic courtesy and acknowledgment. Adding insult to injury, when I checked my PayPal record (since I had paid DoorDash through PayPal), the phone number listed for "Help" in the transaction record was only eight digits long -- clearly not functional. It took me a few minutes to figure out that was the restaurant number - and even with their PayPal account, they only lasted a 8- rather than 10-digit number. After some trial and error, I finally reached a very professional DoorDash representative who fixed the issue. But the whole ordeal wasted 45 minutes of my time. Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine are among my absolute favorites -- I eat them regularly and seek them out wherever I travel. The Bay Area has several excellent options that consistently offer both great food *and* gracious hospitality. Sadly, Zara doesn't come close to meeting that standard. There are very good options in the same area as Zara. Go to those instead. **Zara Restaurant** really needs to get its act together -- update the business hours on DoorDash, Google, and Yelp, and train staff to greet customers respectfully and handle confusion with empathy. Mistakes happen. But one of the defining characteristics of a good restaurant is how it treats people when they do. read more

I was very pleased with my experience here. I ordered the tibsi beef, and the food was very flavorful with generous portions. It comes with injera and a side salad. The ambiance in the restaurant is great too. It's dimly lit with soft music playing. It's a newer restaurant on the block, and still under the radar. I'd highly recommend checking them out read more

Zara Restaurant - cars parked in front of the restaurant - Eritrean Near Me - Oakland, California

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One minor flaw -the food and rude staff . Polio Romano had an unpleasant warmed-over flavor. When asked how our meals were and we honestly expressed our opinion the staff response was the food was pre prepared. Ok so they serve leftovers. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Eclectic ambience, better description is worn & shabby.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I'm really happy I gave this restaurant a chance. I'm a huge fan of Ethiopian food and I know there's a lot of great options between Oakland/Berkley, but this place happened to be close to my work so I gave it a shot. The portions are really big and I thought the food was delicious and a great value. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They had great customer service and plenty of seating inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The only downside I'll call out is that if you're going for lunch like I did, the food can take awhile to cook, so just plan accordingly. I enjoyed the food so much after my first visit that I ordered from here a week later, but this time doing takeout, and the food was just as amazing as the first time. I really hope this place gets the recognition it deserves because I think the food was excellent and I'll definitely be going back whenever I have a craving for Ethiopian food. read more

The vegetarian combination was really good. We also tried the samosas, they were different, full of lentils, i would order them again! Not sure how i feel about the green sauce that came with it tho. Service was good, she was nice. Recommended! read more

Amazingly delicious food! We had the vegetarian plate with a side of spicy lamb. Each dish on the platter was well seasoned. They aromatics were so flavorful and balanced. My favorites were the yellow lentils and cabbage with potatoes. The hubs favorite was the spicy lamb. The portion size was huge! We split and we're both stuffed. The hubs had a glass of wine to finish off the meal and the pour was very generous. The service was fantastic. Everyone was so welcoming. This place is a great find. The music was authentic and we totally enjoyed the atmosphere. Stop in and treat yourself to a wonderful experience all the way around! read more

Not a good amount food and expensive for the portion I got a small soup with kofta and egd in a small container

Last night I showed up to Zara's and I was refused service due to me being black. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I've never had an experience at a club like this in Oakland.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I noticed that everyone else who was Eritrean or Ethiopian was being served but when I asked for a drink, my service was refused and I was told I was not "supposed to be in here anyway" by the bar tender. I understand the right the right to refuse service but not because of being African American. This establishment is very unprofessional and RACIST. They also ILLEGALLY serve alcohol after 2am. read more

The wonderful lady who runs this place is so warm and kind and it really shows in the food. If you're in the area, you've just stumbled across a real gem! read more

Zara Restaurant - House Special Sampler - Eritrean Near Me - Oakland, California

The food is flavorful and delicious also the woman who serves there has good welcoming behavior.

I had amazing time at this restaurant very delicious and Authentic food I recommend this restaurant restaurant.

I ordered the vegetarian plate. Generous portion for a good price. Also delicious food and quick service! Highly recommend.

Delicious food in generous portions and a convenient location! I love the shiro plate.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The place to relax and have a good time and dance with all fresh cooking dishes and drinks are the best place to be when you have it hookahs around[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I love Zara today and for ever artist Omer Salih Oakland California USA . read more

Delicious food! My favorite Ethiopian restaurant. Definitely worth a visit and worth the trip

I recently dined at Zara, and it was nothing short of a culinary journey to Eritrea! The authenticity of the dishes was unparalleled. From the perfectly fermented injera to the richly spiced stews, every bite was a testament to the rich heritage and traditions of Eritrean cuisine. The staff was exceptionally knowledgeable and offered insightful information about the dishes, adding to the overall experience. The ambiance whisked us away to a cozy setting in Asmara; there was "itan" or incense burning and a coffee station set up too! Highly recommend for anyone looking to experience GENUINE Eritrean flavors and hospitality! read more

Had delicious lamb tibsi ! Huge portions, enough for two meals easy! Great to be served by the pleasant owner named Keren ! Will definitely be back! read more

Great service and delicious food ,I recommend it to everyone who wants to eat Eritrean and Ethiopian food

Really excellent Ethiopian food in the neighborhood. I try to eat here once a week it is so good. The veggie combo is so tasty. The owner is super friendly and she's always hanging out with her friends. Could be a great place for an after work party. They have a huge space. read more

If I could leave a negative star I would, this place is horrible, by far the worst customer service experience in my life. They only serve Ethiopians and Eritreans, they will ignore you and not look your way if they don't know you. They are disrespectful to the max. STOP SELLING ALCOHOL AFTER 2AM TO ETHIOPIANS AND ERITREANS ONLY! read more

Nice food with good customer service, am frm East africa , so I know the best food I found out their, zel zel is the best from all over the Bay Area! read more

Great customer service with outstanding food. Definitely will be back for a good time