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Zareen was definitely in the Halal rotation on my non-cooking days, and for good reason. It's delicious! I mean, when the menu has items like a chapli kebab burger? A naan filled with cheese, a.k.a. a quesadilla!? It's most certainly going to be an option. They have a great establishment, with indoor and outdoor seating options. They have great background music and cute patio twinkle lights outside, where you can enjoy your meal and people-watch. It's located on a little promenade with other cute shops and coffee shops, which is nice to walk around after a meal. Wonderful service every time I've dined in. Highly recommend!
Consistent and delicious food. My go-to order at Zareen's is chicken tikka masala, garlic naan, and samosa and it never disappoints. There are some people who say the Palo Alto location tastes the best; I would say it's about the same as Redwood City. I wouldn't necessarily drive all the way to a Zareen's location if you already have a local Indian/Pakistani closer to you that you love. Aka I don't think Zareen's is leagues above other good Indian/Pakistani places. I would skip the mango lassi; it's on the more watery side and not as tart as I would like it. Service is quick. Ambiance is casual and a little bit of self-service to get sauce bottles.
A Zareen Experience A locally owned chain of five restaurants which is renowned throughout the South Bay for having some of the most authentic and delicious Pakistani/Indian food. They have also gained notoriety by being listed in the Michelin Guide for several years, including earning a Plate back in 2020. But, as many people note, the authenticity and taste factor in most ethnic restaurants can be determined by the clientele, and from what we gathered, this place must be legit. The Good: * Catering available * Reservations and waitlist available through the Yelp app * Dog-friendly outdoor dining * Friendly service * Prices are not bad, especially given the area; ±$50 for two for lunch is reasonable these days. * Masala Fries were crackalicious, and we couldn't stop eating them. Whatever spice blend they use is terrific and addictive. * Garlic Naan was also fantastic and came out piping hot. I actually wouldn't have minded a bit more garlic, but that's just me; I am not a vampire. * Madras Chicken was delicious, well spiced, and well cooked. The Meh: * The bathroom situation is a little weird, as they have shared restrooms with the neighboring business. I mean, we didn't have any issues, but just be aware. * The menu is a little large for my taste. There are too many options that sounded amazing, which leads to ordering paralysis for me. I know, I know, my steak is too rich and my lobster is too buttery. #firstworldproblems The Ugly: * They have the gall to charge almost $4 for a tiny can of soda served at room temperature. * Despite being in business for many years now, they still draw a crowd at lunchtime. Conclusion: Delicious Pakistani/Indian food at affordable prices, but get ready for a crowd.
Absolutely incredible food! This restaurant is very busy so it is best to order online once you've been sat and you get your own water but it is absolutely so worth it. I will be returning!! The drinks are amazing as well. (we tried the mango lassi) I definitely recommend this restaurant and look forward to returning
First time to Zareen's with my husband. Our son has eaten there many times. The chicken boti was very flavorful. The thali plate seems like a good deal. Enjoyed the chaat- but wish there was more papri. The dal tasted very natural. Naan was soft and warm. Chicken tiki masala also flavorful. Service was efficient.
Everything was amazing! We got the chicken tikka, garlic naan, lamb curry, paneer, and mango lassi. The chicken tikka was so rich and flavorful which paired very well with the garlic naan. Mango lassi was premade and very sweet, so as someone who prefers low sugar drinks, it was great to try but a pass for next time.
Affordable Michelin-recommended spot in Palo Alto that's perfect for a casual meal. Parking was easy with free street parking. The vibe is fast-casual with limited indoor seating, but there's plenty of outdoor seating with umbrellas, including overflow tables set up along the sidewalk. You order and pay at the counter, get a number, and the food is brought to your table. Everything we tried was delicious. The grilled chicken boti sizzler and chicken tikka thali both had incredibly tender, flavorful chicken. The garlic naan was warm and fluffy, and the mango lassi was thick, refreshing, and not overly sweet. Portions were generous for the price. Fun fact: Zareen's was founded by Karachi native Zareen Khan, who even bought a house in Menlo Park to rent to her employees at an affordable rate because of Silicon Valley's high cost of living. It's easy to see why this flagship location earned Michelin Guide recognition.
I came again to Zareen's for dinner and had a great time! My partner and I wanted to share the chicken tikka masala with garlic naan, and we also got some samosas and a wrap. Inside has good seating, and the outdoor area is beautiful as well. Service was good for the most part, though we did need to call our server multiple times to get their attention. The food was outstanding, I love the sauces that accompanied the table. The chicken tikka masala was flavorful, and I loved the roti wrap. I wished the samosas were bigger, but otherwise I had a good time!
Gets busy but typically not a long wait in my opinion. Paring structure around the corner. Great for family sit down. I tried the plate with chicken tikka thali which came with a chickpea side, veggies, and side naan bread. I wished there was more chicken but the flavors were there and everything smelled so good. I paid $2-3 extra for garlic naan bread which was good but I don't know if it was worth it. This place is located alongside other shops so super easy to walk around and check out other shops or event grab some dessert/boba. I would come here again and try their other dishes.
A little update: their Garlic Naan is probably the best I have had in Bay Area! And silver spoon paratha rolls are really good, with their in house chutneys. Aloo tikki is my favorite.
Have tried Zareen's a bunch of times over the years. It is quite a popular brand in bay area and they have multiple locations now. Personally , as a vegetarian, I have not been very impressed with the food. The flavors are often mild and hence haven't found any dishes that may entice me to visit it more often. Recently I felt like having their weekend special halwa puri brunch thali - It is a platter consisting of Chana ( garbanzo beans curry ) , Poori ( fried indian bread ) , Halwa ( semolina based sweet dish ) Also tried the Silver spoon wrap with the Paneer ( cheese ) option. The wrap was very sloppily made, in my opinion. The bread used to wrap the ingredients had soaked up the paneer gravy and was not easy to eat. Would have been better if they only added marinated paneer pieces .
A friendly staff and clean environment make such an amazing experience, but sensational food makes the experience so complete. Zareen's is one of the best Pakistani establishments in the Bay Area, across all its locations, it delivers consistency and amazing flavors. You're missing out if you don't get the tikka masala, all the different types of naan, are incredible, and the chicken samosa is Michelin recommended. Zareen's is to die for , and I wish I lived closer
Ate the madras chicken thali and chicken sizzler. I liked the sizzler. Very soft and flavorful. It had the right amount of spice for me. The madras chicken wasn't that great. It was cooked well but the curry was bland and the carrots did nothing to enhance the flavor. The naan was amazing and the daal was amazing.
17 days ago
This is my first time here at this restaurant. Our server, Sam, was super attentive and very helpful in helping us decide what to order based on recommendations. Not to mention, we didn't have to wait long for a table, our food came out hot and fresh very quickly -- everything was delicious! I would highly recommend the Chicken Tikka Masala with a side order of Garlic Naan. The ambiance of the restaurant was very family oriented and overall such a great vibe. read more
16 days ago
23 days ago
Zareen was definitely in the Halal rotation on my non-cooking days, and for good reason. It's delicious! I mean, when the menu has items like a chapli kebab burger? A naan filled with cheese, a.k.a. a quesadilla!? It's most certainly going to be an option. They have a great establishment, with indoor and outdoor seating options. They have great background music and cute patio twinkle lights outside, where you can enjoy your meal and people-watch. It's located on a little promenade with other cute shops and coffee shops, which is nice to walk around after a meal. Wonderful service every time I've dined in. Highly recommend! read more
22 days ago
Business owner information
Zareen K.
Hello Adam,…
Consistent and delicious food. My go-to order at Zareen's is chicken tikka masala, garlic naan, and samosa and it never disappoints. There are some people who say the Palo Alto location tastes the best; I would say it's about the same as Redwood City. I wouldn't necessarily drive all the way to a Zareen's location if you already have a local Indian/Pakistani closer to you that you love. Aka I don't think Zareen's is leagues above other good Indian/Pakistani places. I would skip the mango lassi; it's on the more watery side and not as tart as I would like it. Service is quick. Ambiance is casual and a little bit of self-service to get sauce bottles. read more
Business owner information
Zareen K.
Hello Erica,…
A Zareen Experience A locally owned chain of five restaurants which is renowned throughout the South Bay for having some of the most authentic and delicious Pakistani/Indian food. They have also gained notoriety by being listed in the Michelin Guide for several years, including earning a Plate back in 2020. But, as many people note, the authenticity and taste factor in most ethnic restaurants can be determined by the clientele, and from what we gathered, this place must be legit. The Good: * Catering available * Reservations and waitlist available through the Yelp app * Dog-friendly outdoor dining * Friendly service * Prices are not bad, especially given the area; ±$50 for two for lunch is reasonable these days. * Masala Fries were crackalicious, and we couldn't stop eating them. Whatever spice blend they use is terrific and addictive. * Garlic Naan was also fantastic and came out piping hot. I actually wouldn't have minded a bit more garlic, but that's just me; I am not a vampire. * Madras Chicken was delicious, well spiced, and well cooked. The Meh: * The bathroom situation is a little weird, as they have shared restrooms with the neighboring business. I mean, we didn't have any issues, but just be aware. * The menu is a little large for my taste. There are too many options that sounded amazing, which leads to ordering paralysis for me. I know, I know, my steak is too rich and my lobster is too buttery. #firstworldproblems The Ugly: * They have the gall to charge almost $4 for a tiny can of soda served at room temperature. * Despite being in business for many years now, they still draw a crowd at lunchtime. Conclusion: Delicious Pakistani/Indian food at affordable prices, but get ready for a crowd. read more
Business owner information
Zareen K.
Hello John,…
15 days ago
Absolutely incredible food! This restaurant is very busy so it is best to order online once you've been sat and you get your own water but it is absolutely so worth it. I will be returning!! The drinks are amazing as well. (we tried the mango lassi) I definitely recommend this restaurant and look forward to returning read more
Business owner information
Zareen K.
Hi Hadleigh,…
First time to Zareen's with my husband. Our son has eaten there many times. The chicken boti was very flavorful. The thali plate seems like a good deal. Enjoyed the chaat- but wish there was more papri. The dal tasted very natural. Naan was soft and warm. Chicken tiki masala also flavorful. Service was efficient. read more
Business owner information
Zareen K.
Hello Julie,…
25 days ago
Everything was amazing! We got the chicken tikka, garlic naan, lamb curry, paneer, and mango lassi. The chicken tikka was so rich and flavorful which paired very well with the garlic naan. Mango lassi was premade and very sweet, so as someone who prefers low sugar drinks, it was great to try but a pass for next time. read more
Business owner information
Zareen K.
Hello Jadelyn,…
Affordable Michelin-recommended spot in Palo Alto that's perfect for a casual meal. Parking was easy with free street parking. The vibe is fast-casual with limited indoor seating, but there's plenty of outdoor seating with umbrellas, including overflow tables set up along the sidewalk. You order and pay at the counter, get a number, and the food is brought to your table. Everything we tried was delicious. The grilled chicken boti sizzler and chicken tikka thali both had incredibly tender, flavorful chicken. The garlic naan was warm and fluffy, and the mango lassi was thick, refreshing, and not overly sweet. Portions were generous for the price. Fun fact: Zareen's was founded by Karachi native Zareen Khan, who even bought a house in Menlo Park to rent to her employees at an affordable rate because of Silicon Valley's high cost of living. It's easy to see why this flagship location earned Michelin Guide recognition. read more
I came again to Zareen's for dinner and had a great time! My partner and I wanted to share the chicken tikka masala with garlic naan, and we also got some samosas and a wrap. Inside has good seating, and the outdoor area is beautiful as well. Service was good for the most part, though we did need to call our server multiple times to get their attention. The food was outstanding, I love the sauces that accompanied the table. The chicken tikka masala was flavorful, and I loved the roti wrap. I wished the samosas were bigger, but otherwise I had a good time! read more
Gets busy but typically not a long wait in my opinion. Paring structure around the corner. Great for family sit down. I tried the plate with chicken tikka thali which came with a chickpea side, veggies, and side naan bread. I wished there was more chicken but the flavors were there and everything smelled so good. I paid $2-3 extra for garlic naan bread which was good but I don't know if it was worth it. This place is located alongside other shops so super easy to walk around and check out other shops or event grab some dessert/boba. I would come here again and try their other dishes. read more
A little update: their Garlic Naan is probably the best I have had in Bay Area! And silver spoon paratha rolls are really good, with their in house chutneys. Aloo tikki is my favorite. read more
Business owner information
Zareen K.
Hi Daman, thank you for your kind words about Zareen's! We're…
Have tried Zareen's a bunch of times over the years. It is quite a popular brand in bay area and they have multiple locations now. Personally , as a vegetarian, I have not been very impressed with the food. The flavors are often mild and hence haven't found any dishes that may entice me to visit it more often. Recently I felt like having their weekend special halwa puri brunch thali - It is a platter consisting of Chana ( garbanzo beans curry ) , Poori ( fried indian bread ) , Halwa ( semolina based sweet dish ) Also tried the Silver spoon wrap with the Paneer ( cheese ) option. The wrap was very sloppily made, in my opinion. The bread used to wrap the ingredients had soaked up the paneer gravy and was not easy to eat. Would have been better if they only added marinated paneer pieces . read more
A friendly staff and clean environment make such an amazing experience, but sensational food makes the experience so complete. Zareen's is one of the best Pakistani establishments in the Bay Area, across all its locations, it delivers consistency and amazing flavors. You're missing out if you don't get the tikka masala, all the different types of naan, are incredible, and the chicken samosa is Michelin recommended. Zareen's is to die for , and I wish I lived closer read more
Ate the madras chicken thali and chicken sizzler. I liked the sizzler. Very soft and flavorful. It had the right amount of spice for me. The madras chicken wasn't that great. It was cooked well but the curry was bland and the carrots did nothing to enhance the flavor. The naan was amazing and the daal was amazing. read more
3 months ago
Holy crap this is the best Indian food I've ever had. My wife went to Stanford for school and she mentioned "Hey lets try this Indian restaurant I ate at like 7 years ago when I lived here." Who knew she ate like a queen when she was in school. We ordered: 1. Chicken Tikka Masala Ala Carte: Holy crap this was soooo good. There are huge pieces of chicken in the curry which is grilled over charcoal. You can taste the amazing flavor of the grill mixed with the extremely creamy rich curry was the best combo I've ever had. I eat Indian food all the time but this was unique and better than any other Chicken Masala I've ever had. 2. Chicken Memoni Samosas: I thought this was just okay. It was good but not the best Samosas I've had. I felt like it was average. Lots of filling and freshly fried crispy outside. 3. Curry Dish: My wife ordered another curry dish but I can't remember the name. It's in the photos I posted. This curry was also really good. It was more spicy than the Tikka Masala but again very flavorful 4. Plain naan: SOOO GOOD! Super light and really generous in size. Def worth the price for a whole one. We got 2x with rice for 4 people and it was more than enough. Overall, this is a must try if you're in the area. Lots of indoor or outdoor seating. Really good service and good. They were very attentive without being overbearing. Kept refilling my water since I kept drinking up the entire water container since the curry was so spicy. read more
I missed this place so much!!! The ambiance is great everyone was chatting and having a great time enjoying themselves. There's plenty of space and lots of seats both inside and outside the restaurant. The service was excellent. Our server was really sweet to us. It was a little chilly outside and our server brought a heater and put it right next to me so I wouldn't get cold. :) The food was immaculate. My favorite is definitely the grilled chicken boti sizzler. The garlic naan was very fresh and the texture was perfect and soft on the inside. The samosa was a great touch was filled with a lot of meat and cooked to perfection. The chicken biryani was calm but nothing to write home about. The tikki masala was great but we left so full! I love this place and I can't wait to come back then next time I visit the Bay! read more
Finally got around to trying Zareen's! Stopped by on a Thursday evening, and the place was packed, which was a great sign. We ordered the chicken tikka masala, garlic naan, biryani, and chicken samosas, and every dish was flavorful and delicious. The staff was welcoming and friendly, making the whole experience even better. If you're looking for great Indian food, I'd definitely recommend checking this spot out. I'll definitely be back! read more
1 month ago
My first meal in the Bay Area and this was delicious! Chicken was tender and tasted like it was grill and has so much flavor. We got the chicken tikka masala w/ garlic naan and sheermal. The chicken samosas are a Michelin guide but it didn't strike out to me. Zareens is one of my staple spots and it's good comfort food or if you want to have a nice night evening with friends, can go both ways! Service is good and they checked up on us regularly. Parking available on the street or nearby lots read more
Absolutely loved Zareen's! The service was amazing and everyone was incredibly welcoming. The food has a modern presentation, but the flavors still taste authentic and delicious. Prices are pretty average for the area, and the quality is definitely worth it. I'll absolutely be coming back! read more
1 month ago
Came to Zareen's through word of mouth from a friend and had a really good experience! I don't eat Indian food that often, but everything was delicious and super flavorful. Funny enough, all 7 of us ordered the tikka masala My wife and I shared one with garlic naan and we were both completely full. It was also my first time trying mango lassi. My wife ordered one, I asked for a sip, and it was so smooth and good that I basically stole hers and she had to order another one lol. We were having dinner together after our friend's funeral and brought a photo of him with us. Our server was incredibly kind and even brought us ice cream on the house to share, which was such a thoughtful gesture. Great food, great service, and I'd definitely come back. Thank you for taking care of us! read more
Somehow I've never been to Zareen's until recently, but I'm glad I was finally able to go!! Everything was delicious and absolutely met the hype of the restaurant. The garlic naan is very tasty, and every dish was excellent. Extremely flavorful. We also got the mango and rose soft serve after even though we were stuffed. They were very good and not too sweet. I definitely need to go back sometime soon! read more
Highlights: * Good service * Energetic ambiance * Food okay, though I only ordered two things Food: - Naan - good, no notes - Beef Chapli Burger (8/10) - with the disclaimer that I requested the jalapeno peppers on the side, the patty was a little dry. Though overall I enjoyed the spicy Chapli beef. I wish I had time to order more items, and more authenic items, but with a short window to eat, this was fine. Service I didn't have a lot of time to eat and I appreciate the service was relatively quick. read more
We came here on a Monday night and it was fairly busy! There wasn't a wait as there were outdoor tables available but there were a few parties waiting when we left, as it was getting a bit chilly and people probably didn't want to eat outside. We were seated quickly and while it took a bit for the server to get to us (probably 5-10 minutes?), we ordered quickly. We asked that the kids food to come out first and it came out five minutes after our food did, which is not good when you have little kids. Not only that but we got our food (tikka masala and lamb and spinach plates) and were waiting and waiting for the kids cheese naan. They brought the garlic naan. We kept waiting for the kids naan and nobody came by. We waited probably 5 or so minutes before we tore into our side of garlic naan and saw it sitting underneath. That wouldve been helpful to know. The chicken tikka masala was very good and the lamb plate was good but both did have a kick despite not having the spicy symbol. I told my husband that the menu said it might still be spicy so we were fine with it but this is for anyone thinking their kids will be fine with it without the spicy symbol. Our kids ate their food when it finally came. The server never checked in with us but we flagged down another guy who helped us. The server was not around very much at all. I get being busy but she'd help out tables around us and not check in at all. With 18-22% minimum tips these days, you'd think you'd at least get a teeny bit better service. Another thing I would add is that the restaurant needs a takeout parking space or two. We were blocked in for ten minutes by a car picking up takeout. Not a good thing when you have small kids in the car with you. read more
Zareens was incredible! Had heard so many great things and they all lived up to the hype. The flavors were all so good - we ordered paneer tikka masala, tadka daal, and palak methi aloo. The jalapeño cheese naan (not pictured) was also so delicious. Service was not bad for how busy it was on a Friday evening! The ambiance is really lively and a nice vibe and there's plenty of seating both inside and outside. read more
5 months ago
The restaurant was extremely busy when we visited, but the line moved quickly and the operation seemed very efficient with plenty of dining space. The food was delicious and well-priced. The chicken boti was definitely the highlight for me. The chicken was tender, perfectly seasoned, and had a great smoky flavor from the sizzling plate. The onions and peppers at the bottom were excellent as well. Both the naan and the sheermal paired perfectly with the chicken boti. The chicken boti portion was the perfect size to share among three people alongside a few smaller dishes. The mango lassi was also great. Highly recommend. read more
5 months ago
After having eaten takeout from this place and liking it a lot, went in for a weekend lunch. It gets quite busy and loud on the weekend. Service is fast and the food is good. Highlight for us was the weekend special Halwa Puri dish. Their Mango Lassi is one of the best in the Bay Area. The Dahi Puri chaat and the burger were also good. Madras curry was average, won't recommend it compared to the other items. Chicken biryani was tasty, not the best in the area though. For dessert we ordered the falooda with rose soft serve. It is a large serving and can be shared. The rose ice cream was delicious. Overall I recommend this place for the lively atmosphere and authentic Indian food. read more
5 months ago
Hands down one of the best restaurant in Palo Alto. I come here at least 1-2x a month. I would come more often if it wasn't so far away! The food here is so fresh and delicious. I like to get their chicken tikka masala with cheesey jalapeño naan. Their mango lasi is also a must every time as well! I like to ask for a cup of ice on the side since it tastes better super cold. Service is usually very fast and there are a lot of workers so they're all very attentive. It can get loud on the weekends during lunch time so I try to come around 3-4 pm before the crowd gets hectic. read more
I stopped by 30 minutes after they opened on a Saturday. There were many open tables on the patio and inside. The restaurant interior is clean, bright, and quite large. We were seated immediately, which was great. We ordered the garlic naan, chicken samosas, chicken madras curry thali, chicken tikka masala thali, and the beef sizzling platter. First and foremost, the garlic naan is a must have, it was the perfect vessel for my curry. The chicken samosas were pretty delicious, seasoned, and bursting with flavor. They're quite small, not as big as I anticipated. Their chicken madras curry was delicious and had chunks of vegetables which was nice. The beef chapli sizzling plate is a must have. The caramelized onions and beef were a perfect combo. It's definitely enough to share amongst 2-3 people. As a disclaimer on the menu, the food is prepped as medium spicy. I did not find that to be the case at all. I have an alright spice tolerance but I don't think the food was beyond mild. I wish there were spicier options. In terms of service, with so many staff bustling around, it was hard to get our waitresses' attention. Our food was served relatively quick, but once we finished our meal it took some time for our server to come and offer to go containers. read more
Honestly, I've never been the biggest Indian food person and have only had it a handful of times, but this is probably the best Indian restaurant I've tried so far. Service was straightforward but attentive, and I appreciated the small touches like the large jug of water they leave at the table. The restaurant itself is spacious and clean, with plenty of outdoor seating as well. They do get busy and so I'd recommend joining the Yelp waitlist before arriving. We ordered: - Chicken Tikka Masala Thaali - Probably my favorite item of the meal. It came with a really good variety of dishes and felt like a great value for the portion size. Everything on the plate complemented each other well, and I genuinely finished every bite. - Garlic Naan - I wish it came out a bit hotter/fresher from the tandoor, but it was still soft, flavorful, and a good addition to the meal overall. - Beef Chapli Kebab - Very flavorful and surprisingly one of the standout dishes for me. It reminded me of an elevated hamburger patty with more depth from the spices. The charred onions on the side soaked up the beef drippings and added even more flavor. * The green chutney paired perfectly with it. - Mango Lassi - Super creamy with the right amount of sweetness. The mango flavor wasn't overpowering, which made it really refreshing alongside the heavier dishes. Overall, this felt like a very approachable spot even for someone who doesn't eat Indian food often. Good portions, balanced flavors, and a comfortable atmosphere. I'll definitely be back. read more
5 months ago
Wow, this place lives up the hype and all the awards it has received! My partner and I don't regularly eat this type of cuisine often, but Zareen's might have changed that... this place definitely hit the spot! Clean environment and super lively atmosphere while still having enough space to be comfortable at your table. That's my favorite, when the restaurant feels alive, but not to the point where you can't hear anyone at your table. We ordered 4 items, here is my rating; - 5/5: Chicken Tikka Thali Plate - 4/5: Beef Chapli Sizzler (wish it was more spicy) Had a chili symbol next to it, but it wasn't spicy at all - at least for our taste - 5/5 Garlic Naan - 5/5 Mango Lassi Overall, every single dish we ordered was super flavorful and was an explosion of goodness for our taste buds. We will definitely be coming back here soon and trying more menu items. I will be recommending to my friends that haven't heard of Zareen's! read more
Wonderful atmosphere and surprisingly quick service given how busy they always are. The atmosphere is lively and the service very friendly and attentive. There is a lot more outside seating than inside seating. Finding parking is a bit difficult in this area, but there is a nearby parking garage. The menu is on the smaller side, but I think there's enough variety to satisfy a wide variety of customers. I do think their vegetarian options are just a little blander than I would have liked, and their vegan options are limited (many vegetarian options have paneer). That said, I did really enjoy the food. I do think that the slight downside to their very quick service is that they tend to be in a bit of a rush, also. When I was served my dish, some of it spilled over the lip because it seemed that the server was also considering speed in their work. It wasn't a major detriment, but I did notice. Overall, I really like the spot and would definitely come back. I don't think I'd bring a big group without first making a reservation, as it does get very packed, but I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone who likes good Indian/Pakistani food. read more
Business owner information
Zareen K.
Dear Rui: Thank you for your kind compliments and for your feedback.…
Came by for dinner the other night and it was a tasty experience. Parking is plentiful in the city owned parking garage or on nearby surface streets. Dining is available both indoors and outdoors on California ave. The restaurant seems to be a sit-down with waiter service now which is different from the previous order at the counter and the wait staff will bring out your food to your number at your table system. Staff wore either a black shirt or a Zareen's shirt. Staff also wore black disposable gloves. Ordering is done with the waitstaff. Utensils and napkins were available at each table. It was interesting to watch staff open cardboard boxes with butter knives. I was surprised that some of the decrepit forks were still kept on use for service...interesting. Started off with the puffs filled with some cream which was new and quite tasty. For the mains, opted for the beef chapli sizzler which was quite fragrant and tasty. The garlic naan was also tasty when super hot. Despite being recently remodelled, the dining room was a touch grimey, including crumbs leftover from previous diners on our table. read more
Business owner information
Zareen K.
Dear Derek,…
6 months ago
Zareen's is a Pakistani-Indian restaurant chain and this location in Palo Alto is near a free parking garage. There's plenty of indoor seating as well as outdoor covered/heated patio seating as well. The ambiance can be described as authentic, aesthetic, and well-maintained. It's a casual-classy place good for big groups or to take someone out on a first date. Our waitress did get a little sassy with us when we asked her to repeat the order and was a bit rude when we corrected an error of the sides in the thaali. Also, we were brought plain chicken tenders and fries when we ordered the masala chicken tenders and fries. When she brought it out wrong, she took it to the kitchen and just sprinkled some seasoning on the original dish. I guess it was fine since the rest of the food was delicious. The food was flavorful overall though. We ordered the chicken tikka masala and mango lassi, which are musts when you are here. The lassi was the perfect amount of sweet and had a good ratio of yogurt to milk. The tikka was tasty as well and paired well with the unique jalapeno-cheese naan. The tikis were also crispy and seasoned well. The prices were definitely worth the quality of the dishes overall. I'd recommend coming here if you're craving a nice meal. read more
Business owner information
Zareen K.
Dear Keerthi:…
3 months ago
3 months ago
If you are searching for delicious Pakistani food with cool aesthetic vibes, this is the place! Went for dinner on Saturday evening and this place was buzzing with people. We ordered dahi papri chaat (slightly sweeter than expected but nonetheless tasty, and their green chutney compensated for it), chicken samosa (okayish, have had better, the crust was very oily and the stuffing not as flavorful), potato wrap/alu roll (blander than expected, can definitely use more spices), chicken boti sizzler (very tender pieces, good flavors, tasty), firni (loved it, first time having it here, slightly gooey and sweeter compared to the ones we got in Kolkata, this dish triggered nostalgia). We really wanted to order their biryani but they were out of it (as well as the pulao) so it was a mood killer. Overall very good experience! Prompt service despite being super busy. read more
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More info about Zareen's
365 S California Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
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(650) 760-9935
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https://www.zareensrestaurant.com
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Ask the Community - Zareen's
Is it fragrance free? Outdoor seating is ok. Bathroom will be dangerous for asthmatics. It has a scent diffuser that I'm still trying to get out of my lungs as I wait for food.
Is the gravy base for your chicken kofta dairy-free?
It has some yogurt so not dairy free.
Which chicken dishes are white meat breast?
You probably shouldn't come here if you want white meat only.
Do you use hand slaughtered meat or machine slaughtered? Also which brand of meat do you use? Ex:…
Our beef is local from Harris Ranch and Lamb is grass fed Australian. Both are humanely raised and hand slaughtered. Our Chicken is halal but not hand slaughtered.
What kind of vegan options do you offer at Zareens? I want to know if they use a meat substitute like seitan or tofu or paneer. It didn't seem clear on the website ordering.
Hi John, We have plenty of vegan option in our menu,…
I love your food and visit your Palo alto branch at least twice a month. just a question on tip! When I add a gratuity to the bill, does it fully go to the waiters?
I am not sure if what my husband and I do is the right way, but we always give cash to the person helping or cleaning up our table....usually it is one person and not many that work around tables...so far it has worked out, from the person who…
Are on-premise serving plates an option for outdoor dining? ...having my garlic naan in a paper bag isn't quite the same as it being hot from the oven... 🙄
Are you open for Togo orders?
Yes we are! We have Takeout with curbside pickup - and delivery. See www.zareensrestaurant.com for details and to place online to-go orders.
Can you stop accepting cash? It's unhygienic considering that cash can carry viruses and other germs. I went in there for a Lassi and had to pay cash. Just factor in into your prices and the cost of doing business, please.
Dear Amber: thank you so much for your note and suggestion. Yes we are implementing a number of changes of additional changes this weekend in response to Covid19. We will be immediately waiving the cash only requirement for small orders that we…
Do you provide cakes for occasions or can we get it with us?
Hi Muneera: you are very welcome to bring cake with you for special occasions :) In health…
Can you no longer order online for same day (PaloAlto)?
Just this weekend as we are expecting to get very busy on Eid weekend. So sorry!
Are they really cooking with charcoal, I don't see any charcoal in the restaurant and they appear to be grilling with a gas grill? The menu says the chicken is charcoal grilled. Food still good either way.
No. They use a gas grill. The food doesn't taste like charcoal used when barbecuing. The food is excellent. You might ask them if you're curious. They are very friendly and helpful.
Do they have gluten free?
Yes, but limited. Kabobs and rice and most curries you will be safe. They are very knowledgeable about the ingredients so don't be afraid to try.
Do you take reservations for a group of 10? (During lunch hours (say 11:30am to 1pm)
No reservations here, to my knowledge.
Is there an 11% Dine In charge? If so, why? Is there an X% Take Out charge?
Yes, it's essentially equivalent to a tip since the waiters are delivering the food and cleanings the tables. I don't believe there is a takeout charge but I've only dined in.
Till what time is halwa puri served on weekends?
From 11:30am to 3pm in Saturday’s and Sunday’s. Given the intensely high demand for Halwa Puri, we do occasionally run short by 2:30p.
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
245 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
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