The owner does not wear a mask. And this is not just a one-time thing. I've been in to the restaurant 4-5x this semester since September and not once was the owner wearing a mask. The first time I was in, the owner was even loudly shouting across the kitchen to other employees (over the open food, pizzas that were being prepared, etc.) while not wearing his mask. I mentioned it to one of the employees that first time and they assured me that it was not the norm/would bring it up to him. However, every subsequent time I've been in, the owner has still not been wearing his mask. It's sad when the 20-year old college students who work there have better hygiene & care more about COVID policies than the actual owner of the establishment. Stop being so entitled. I recognize most college students probably won't care, but if you do take COVID seriously, this is not the place to go. I've kept trying again because there are too few other options on Green Street right now and because the food is OK, but my hopes that they'll take COVID more seriously have been proven wrong each time. Not worth it. read more

Za's is average, and it fascinates me as it's basically a pseudo-Italian factory of food. The server could barely hide her snarl when I asked a question, but that's because they were serving about 3,000 people at once. Honestly, it felt like Henry Ford was making a Model T-ortelini. I do like that you can customize salads and sandwiches and pasta--and that lemon cream sauce is DELICIOUS. However, it has all the personality of a computer science grad student, and the old-style Italian movie poster lend very little charm. Yet I know I'm going to be hungry at some point in the middle of the day and forget to bring my lunch. And then Henry Ford's Italian Motor Cafe will be there for me. read more

The large fettuccine Alfredo was slightly burnt, very small portioned, and terribly overpriced. Puked later in the day after eating it.

Food was pretty good! Service was quick and friendly. There was a variety of options to satisfy everyone's taste. read more

Mia Za's Cafe - Food was great! Quick and friendly service. - Pizza Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Went for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Walking into the restaurant is information overload - flashing signs with complicated juice ordering methods (I'll have 3-F?) and a menu with hundreds of lines of text. The entire process of ordering is time consuming and a bit confusing, in my opinion. The food itself is pretty unappetizing. I ordered the "Asian" menu item which was rotini noodles doused in a prepackaged ginger sauce. I added "grilled" chicken that was obviously anything but grilled; if I would have to guess I would say boiled. It also came with a cold and soggy piece of overly buttered garlic bread. I really love eating food and always finish my plate but this time I left half of the dish. I'm leaving a 2 star rating because I think 1 star is reserved for when something horrible happens. However, I will not likely ever eat at this restaurant again. read more

"Mia Za's"? The hell? I'm pretty sure that when I was in college ('03-'07), this place was just plain old "Za's." But that was back in the DAY, back when shit was REAL. It's true, this place has no personality, but the food is serviceable and I like building my own pizza/salad/sandwich/pasta dish. The pizza crust is super-thin and crispy, and I like that the salads are ENORMOUS. The pasta...I could live without. I don't know why, but it kind of reminded me of pasta they might serve in the dorms. GOOD dorm pasta, yes, but still dorm pasta. Maybe that makes sense only in my head? read more

Za's took me back to the days of Radical Rye in Madison, WI. Yes, one is a pizza/toasted sandwich place and the other was a sandwich place, but the binding tie is that you can customize your order on a little sheet of paper. For someone who gets anxious at Starbucks trying to remember all the components that she has to say in the right order (lest she look like a dumbass), an uncomplicated, fill-in-the-bubbles order form is a god-send. After wading through the many, MANY options for customizing my 'panini,' I handed in my order. While the girl behind the counter was not particularly pleasant, it was lunch time on Green St., so I guess I can't fault her too much. My sandwich came out pretty quickly, so no complaints there. Now, the sandwich.....heaven. It's possible that I'm just really good at looking at ingredients and creating a delicious sandwich. I'm not above tooting my own horn there. But I think it's also possible that Za's just makes a mean toasted sandwich. Since they serve it open-faced, I can't really go along with their calling it a 'panini.' And it needs to be eaten with a knife and fork. But it was delicious. In case you're curious (and I know you are), the tasty sandwich I had went like this: Veggie (no meat) panini with pesto mayo, mushrooms, red onions, artichokes, red peppers, spinach, and roma tomatoes, smothered with their gouda/mozzarella cheese. I'm going to call it the Heather's Vegetarian Fake-Healthy Heart Attack Express. That's going to catch on, just watch. *P.S. A safety warning: I'm 95% sure my wallet was stolen out of my shoulder bag while upstairs at Za's. So....practice good sense, which I didn't, and don't leave your bag unattended while you get utensils and napkins. read more

Ugh, what happened to Mia Za's? It used to be a great place to go to for a quick, customized lunch. Now the pasta is obviously frozen, portions are small, Alfredo sauce almost flaky. The amount of meat they give you is lackluster and the salad dressing is weirdly fake-tasting. Some pros are: big and roomy. Convenient location. Very customizable. I used to go often. Now I go never. Even with their price tag, it's not worth it. If you want cheap, quick food, do Chinese. Do McDonalds. read more

Mia Za's here on Green Street is the original. The other places of similar name (just, "Za's") in Champaign have disbanded from the franchise and are their own entities. Mia Za's is located in a cozy little row of businesses in the heart of Campus Town conveniently adjacent to the University of illinois' main Quad. Parking can be a bit difficult, but there are usually spaces available a block or two from the location, bring money as Parking Enforcement is serious business in and around Campus. Depending on the time of day you may be hard-pressed to find ample seating for you and your dining companion as this place is very popular with the student population. If there isn't enough room on the main floor you can head upstairs to find more tables, and a warm atmosphere with a very beautiful copper ceiling, and Italian inspired artwork on the walls. Their menu is full of incredibly tasty and healthy ingredients, and everything is cooked to order. It'll probably take longer for you to decide on what to order with the custom Pizza, Pasta, Panini, and Salad options. But never fear for those you that are indecisive; Mia Za's offers more traditional favorites as well. Prices vary on what kind of sauce or items you get, and if you get extra items. With that said you can get a "Pick 2" where you get half an order of pasta, salad, or panini served with another half order of salad, soup, or panini for just shy of 7 dollars (without drink). read more

The salad I got was tasty, but I found a piece of plastic in it. The table we sat at was dirty, and the concept of using a wax crayon to circle what you want to order on paper is a bit too odd for my liking. read more

This place is a favorite among U of I students! I came here for the first time yeeears ago on my violin teacher's recommendation (she is a U of I graduate and had many fond memories of the place). I have been here several times since; I always try to stop by when I'm in the neighborhood. Za's has an excellent location near campus and a lot of other restaurants, apparel shops, ice cream/froyo places, etc. Eating here can be a bit overwhelming at first because there are SO many options! You fill out a sheet of paper to describe exactly what you want with options from salads, paninis, soups, pizzas, smoothies, and more. The big selling point of Za's is that you can customize your order to exactly how you want it with any toppings, sauces, or flavors--any way you want it! After ordering, you scoot on over to the pick-up counter and wait for your food to be ready. There are tables both upstairs and downstairs, so don't fret if every table is taken on the first floor. The stairs are kind of steep, so be careful as you walk up there with your food! I usually order the "pick two" option. My favorite is the broccoli cheddar soup with the "lite panini," which can be customized exactly how you want it. The broccoli cheddar here is one of my favorites and has grated cheddar cheese on top. Yum. The food is by no means mind-blowing. Overall, this is your standard Italian lunch food with a few very above average options, like the soup. I also highly recommend trying the smoothies here (my drink of choice is the mango). They use real fruit and fruit juice! Honestly, if you're in the area, you really can't miss a stop at Za's. Note: I last ate here before it burned down, so I can't speak to the quality of the original's replacement. read more

As an alumnus of the University of Illinois, I often get a little teary-eyed when I visit the campus and think of both good and bad experiences I encountered there when I was a student in the mid-1960s. I also got teary-eyed with joy when I saw Mia Za listed under the local chamber of commerce's list of "Dining on a Dime" restaurants near the campus. i.e., I assumed it was cheap (and it was). My youthful bride of 34 years (Mrs. B) and I were checking out the restaurants in the Campus town area just northwest of the Alma Mater statue. While looking at the bill of fare at this establishment, the owner came out and gave us a sales pitch for having our dinner there. This is a very small "hole in the wall" place that probably seats no more than 20 diners. Tables are on the first floor and also on a second floor. The gimmick here is that you are provided with a ballot-like menu to order your food. We both decided to order a pasta meal. So, we filled out a paper form that allows you to select the type of noodles, sauce, toppings, and other items you want to eat. Then you hand the form to the counter attendant, and they call you when your meal is ready: usually in less than ten minutes. The same procedure is used to choose salads, paninis, and pizza. We were there at about 5:45 on a Monday during the summer session, so the place was not busy. But given the lack of space at Mia Za, it could look like Groucho's stateroom in "A Night at the Opera" during the fall and spring semesters. read more

if you order a combo here, one out of the two items they bring out will have something odd about it. the buffalo chicken salad that i ordered came topped with this frighteningly chewy, wiry fried chicken that I did not want to put in my mouth. My friend's apple gorgonzola salad was unappetizing with a plethora of iceberg lettuce. what does redeem za's is their selection of cheesecake factory goodies. good to keep in mind when you've had a bad day and you need something sinful to wash away the pain. read more

I love the soup here. Tomato Basil and whatever special of the day is on the menu. That, and the garlic bread, even though it's 80 cents. I tried a pizza once. It was wet in the middle and pretty unencumbered by flavor. I tried a smoothie once. It was aiight. Never been compelled to try another. I tried a salad once. It was pretty boring, and it made me miss Pluto's back in Palo Alto. But the tomato basil soup, I love. It's divine with its small sprinkling of grated parmesan (?) cheese that melts only halfway even though you stir it. One thing I don't appreciate is the impatient guy who calls out my name. He was pretty obnoxious this one time when I didn't respond on the first call. But rudeness and some small confusion about not having a form to just order soup won't keep me away from good soup on Green Street. Under 4 bucks for a bowl of soup that comes with a small piece of french bread is good eatz. And fast, too. read more

I don't know what it is about Mia Za's but it's my absolute favorite. I love pairing up salads, soups, pizzas, and paninis. You can choose a classic or create-your-own of everything they sell. It's made to order and fresh! The vibe is so chill upstairs whenever dining in. PS the portions are enough to get you full PPS the smoothies are bomb! You're welcome. read more

I always come to Mia Za's for their 5$ large pizza or create your own pasta deal. I always get the buffalo chicken and sun dried tomatoes! My absolute favorite toppings!!! Everyone here welcomes you with a smile and their staff is always so nice. Strongly recommend the pesto pasta with the two toppings i suggested along with spinach, zucchini and broccoli!!! read more

First time visiting Mia Za's. I liked the ordering system. You garb a slip -different color for pizza or pasta or salad and the rest is self explanatory. Also the choices and prizes were good. I order a 5' with meatballs, green peppers and 'shrooms. I also order the tiramisu which is was told by the person who took my order was "one of the best". I ordered to go. The customer service was awesome and the pizza had a good taste but I thought mine was a bit burnt. The tiramisu was INCREDIBLE! read more

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5 stars for menu choices. Not only does Za's carry an extensive variety of pizzas, salads and pastas that you can further customize to your liking, they also sell Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes by the slice! So if you have a sweet tooth and are ever craving a Cheesecake Factory creation, you can head to Mia Za's and get your cheesecake fix without having to order a whole expensive cake online and paying steep shipping charges on top of that. 4 stars for value for money. Generous portions of tiramisu and cheesecake slices all cost less than $5. Other menu items are reasonably priced too. Plus they have specials every day. On Thursdays, for example, a small pizza with up to 3 toppings can be had for just 3 bucks. 3 stars for taste of Mia Za's prepared food. As one would expect, Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes are delicious but I'm afraid the Mia Za's pizza I tried wasn't extraordinary. The pesto sauce was alright, if unmemorable. The artichoke topping seemed fresh enough. But the buffalo chicken topping was just OK, lacking the awesomeness I expect from any delectable buffalo chicken. The pizza was prepared quickly but it was a little burnt at the bottom. Not sure if that's how it's supposed to be but I found that part of the crust slightly off-putting. Don't get me wrong. Mia Za's food isn't bad. And perhaps one really shouldn't expect gourmet food at its price point. But in a town like ours with a superb selection of restaurants, I can see why people wouldn't want to go out of their way to try Mia Za's food. That said, located as it's in the heart of Green Street, It's still a good choice for price-sensitive college students, anyone else on a shoestring budget--and, of course, for people fond of cheesecakes! read more

I really like Za's, specifically the one on campus (there are two other Champaign locations). I find the food is always good and there is always a lunch or seasonal special e.g. summer on a Tuesday is $5 Create Your own Pasta/Pizza/Panini, free iced tea, and free chocolate strawberries. That's an entire meal for $5 and tax. Portions are always large (I usually pick 2: salad and pasta). There is plenty of seating (just head upstairs if you don't like sitting close to people or have more than a party of 2). I love the plastic cups that you can take and bring back for cheeper drinks (think Starbucks or Duckin' Donuts without the expensive coffee) and the service is always friendly. Ordering can be a little confusing the first time (which sheet is for the pasta!?) but someone is happy to help you out and ask all the important questions (artichokes? do you like olives? do you want pasta? do you like cheese?). Overall, this places is fairly inexpensive, friendly, clean, and it's always open, even in those strange summer months when no one is around. read more

Mia Za's Cafe - Create Your Own Pasta: Multi grain rotini, artichokes, olives, parmesan, sun dried tomatoes, broccoli. $5 on a Tuesday! - Pizza Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Serious health issues! Well, it used to be a good place for a quick lunch on campus. But now, errrrr. My friend and I have noticed many times that the cashier prepares the bread and stuff without wearing gloves, in the middle of getting cash and cards from people. TOO DIRTY HANDS. We kept telling them about this issue and all the time they said : yeah you are right, and kept doing the same thing! Today we went there for lunch and we saw the same thing, cashier preparing food with bare dirty hands. When my friend wanted to order, he told the cashier and she just went and took the pizza bread with her hands in front of us! We tried to be calm and waited for our food. And guess what we got! My friend got his pizza with the smallest amount of cheese and toppings in the world! The whole thing was just a big bread! He got angry and asked the staff where their boss is. The old guy there said she is out of town and will be back on Wednesday. Well! And he did not accept that the staff use their bare hands to prepare food and showed us tongs and said they always use this! Well, we have never seen them use the tongs! I don't recommend going to this place anymore! NOT AT ALL! You will get dirty food, small small portions, zero-cheese-pizza and almost no topping! read more

Mia Za's Cafe - Who on earth calls that "PIZZA"?! Worst thing EVER! - Pizza Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

A word to the wise, don't get their salads. 2/2 on the times I have ordered salads, I got that green squishy stuff that you typically reject when making your own salads at home. Throwing vegetables (and sometimes fruit) in a bowl doesn't constitute a salad, folks. The pizza and pasta are ok though. I am still giving it 3 stars because they have a good selection of iced tea and the extraordinarily eclectic ambiance. There is wall art of unique silhouettes like a cat dangling from a power line and a ninja on a bike upstairs which are modestly entertaining. But there is also a great little function where you can text in a song request and a monitor will play the song and video. My choice? Birthday Song - 2 Chainz ft. Kanye West. 3 stars. read more

My favourite place on campus, Za's is always the place to go when we can't decide where to go, because ultimately everyone says yes to Za's! Their paninis, pizzas, sandwiches, and pasta, everything's great. I was very sad when this place burned down, it took an year, but its back and as good as ever. Upstairs is great to sit and eat. read more

Better than the Mia Za's in Ann Arbor (though that's not saying much). I am tempted to give this place on two stars though, because the slice of cheesecake I ordered was FROZEN and ICY and took too long to thaw out. read more

Okay Italian restaurant, although the portions are a bit small for the price. There are better places on Green St, although I do come here once in a while. Be on the lookout for deals on the Hooked app -- there are some pretty good ones around lunch and dinner times. 3.5 stars read more

Mia Za's Cafe - Large pasta combo with salad and cheesy bread (Hooked deal) - Pizza Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Dropped by here before my flight back home and got the garlic pesto pizza without cheese and combination of my favorite veggies. I dropped by here after walking past many closed shops and walking in. The worker was kind enough to come around the table and help me out with the vegan options. The crust was a bit slightly soggier than I've liked (could be due to my choices of toppings) but the pizza was tasteful and made within 5-6 minutes. I'll definitely return to try the pasta dishes because I cannot recall how good it was when I dropped by last year. :) read more

I ordered simple traditional pizza margherita. Too sweet. As if they added sugar. Was soggy. Ordered a fountain drink. Cup they gave was dirty, covered in some sticky substance (dried soda probably). Asked for a new cup. That was dirty too. Gross. This is not the Za's I remember from 2 years ago. read more

Another establishment I frequented quite a bit while @ the U of I. I loved creating my own pasta dish with fresh veggies and delicious sauces, fresh parmesan and a HUGE piece of garlic bread. It was very reasonably priced and the upstairs dining area is very nice. I took my parents here many times during moms and dads weekends and they also fell in love with Za's...you cannot go wrong! It does get SUPER crowded during lunchtime, so go at an off time if you want to just waltz right in...I need to go back and visit just to get me some Za's! read more

Ate here twice in the past 2 days. What a nice surprise find in a college town. All fresh ingredients and you can customize your order fully. We had salads, pizzas, panini. Everything was delicious and came out quickly. Wish we had one of these at home! read more

Went in today. There was a massive sign that said $6 3-topping pizza on Thursday. Went in, and the guy behind the counter said he was told to charge more than what the sign said. Bait and Switch scam. They've been inconsistent and random in their pricing in the past. Whole Wheat Crust says on the paper that it's the same price, and they charged me an extra dollar for it. The food is fine if you're okay with being tricked out of your money and lied to. read more

A couple people have said it best, this place has no personality. But does that mean it doesn't have yummy food? Nope! Totally delightful. Went here last night before the dinner rush at around 4 pm. It's one of those places where they give you a sheet of paper with predetermined options on it OR the option to create your own pizza, pasta, salad, or sandwich. Most of the people working the counter are just college students and therefore not necessarily skilled in helping you create awesome meals. After staring at the overwhelming menu for a little while I ended up creating my own pizza. I had garlic marinara sauce with a feta/mozzarella mix topped with red onions, olives, and sun dried tomatoes. It was kick-ass! I ate (most) of the whole thing. I did give away some of it because it was too good not to share. I had been to this place a few years ago (before it burnt down and was rebuilt) and I remember having something delicious then, too! I believe I created a pasta that time. I really had minimal interaction with staff, but everyone seemed pleasant when I did need them to place the order. They don't really "wait" on you because it's seat yourself, leave your dishes at the table. Really all you're doing is ordering at a counter; kind of like a more fancy, involved, delicious subway concept. read more

Za's is back!!!! OK, maybe it's been back for a while, but this was my first time back in Champaign since they reopened post-fire. I was so pleased to see that they still function the same way - design your own pasta, salad, panini, or pizza. This place was a major staple in my college-kid diet. The pasta sauces are all really tasty, and there are plenty of healthy veggie toppings. Let's not forget the amazing garlic bread, which is one of the best parts of any Za's trip. Can we please talk about the fact that Za's really needs to open a location in the Chicago area? Until then, I'll just have to wait and get my fix next time I'm down in CU. Sigh. read more

Mia Za's Cafe - Pasta with spicy marinara, one of my old favorites. And of course, the amazing garlic bread! - Pizza Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

I really enjoyed being the boss of my sauce and picking out exactly what pasta i wanted. They give you options of creating your own, picking one from their menu, or other customer's creations. what a great way to think outside the box. The service was prompt and portions were well worth it. read more

Mia Za's has an excellent variety of food. Unfortunately, none of it is outstanding. It'll fill you up for relatively cheap and you'll be okay with it, but you'll sort of regret not going somewhere else on Green. I've had pizzas and paninis and while some combinations of ingredients taste better than others, that single truth remains. That does not, however, extend to their desserts. The tiramisu in particular is delicious. They also frequently have deals on Hooked that greatly improve the value proposition of its made-to-order Italian food. Go there once or twice to see if you like it, but don't feel too bad if you missed out on it. read more

Oh Za's, how I love thee. It's changed a bit since I graduated, but it's always been one of my favorite places to get fresh-tasting, delicious food on Green Street. Seriously, where else would you go? I've been a fan for years. I have always loved their pastas the best, and they've really expanded the options. Last time I went, I got multigrain rotini with pesto and veggies. It felt really healthy and light, even though it was a sizable portion. The huge and delicious piece of garlic bread did kind of counteract the "light" feeling, however... I also had one of their delicious smoothies, and I have never gone wrong by ordering any of their infinite combos. Anything with mango in it is an automatic favorite of mine! Yeah, it's not gourmet, but for an inexpensive lunch that isn't fast food or a chain place, it's definitely the best you can get in Champaign. And oh, the nostalgia factor... read more

Za's is the first place that I ever ate in Chambana when coming to visit for the first time (summer 2003). And yes, I do have tremendous loyalty to places of my past, so maybe I'm biased. But Za's is awesome. The food isn't going to change the world, but they're well controlled portions, and highly customizable dishes bringa very "it's for me" feel to Za's. The workers (mostly college kids) have always been nice, and I've never had a thing to complain about. The upstairs seating is good enough for big crowds, and it's never been too crowded. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Champaign. Love the way I can customize my pasta and salads. Healthy, tasty and reasonable price. read more

Great paninis at Mia Zas, I enjoy how you select your food there on their sheets. It makes your meal very customizable. The atmosphere is good, sitting upstairs is great too. I knocked it 1 star for price, could be a little more affordable. Other than that, I was very satisfied. read more

I like Mia Za's, even though it's not exactly my first stop in Campustown. Lines tend to be long, and the meal I normally order is a bit steep for lunch. But it's good food and cheap Italian if you need a fix. I'm fond of the thin-crust pizza, and I normally get half with a spinach salad. But the menu is so diverse as to be overwhelming. Come prepared to fill out a scantron of deliciousness; it's totally worth it every once in a while, but the vast array of options slow the place down to no end. read more

The italian panini is so delicious! Also it's decently priced! Yum yum yum they also have sanpellegrino in every flavor which makes me the happiest person. read more

Mia Za's Cafe - Pizza Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Pretty standard fare here, you can customize everything, mix and match whatever crazy combination you can come up with. My absolute faaavorite pasta sauces are the cajun alfredo and cajun pesto. I think they just add some kind of spice to make their normal sauces spicy but you should definitely try them if you like spicy food. I wish they could sell me just the sauces... that's all I would ever need in life. I'd add it to everything I eat. I always mean to try their desserts from the Cheesecake Factory but am always too full so either plan ahead to save room or get some to go! read more