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    Zaranda

    4.5 (53 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Zaranda Takeout or Delivery

    Zaranda Photos

    ZARANDA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Zaranda

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    Avocado Toast
    Carissa C.

    Zaranda was the perfect elevated place for lunch to celebrate my first Mother's Day with the family! They had a preset 3-course menu for Mother's Day at $59/person. First came out the muffins to share amongst the table. My favorite was the chocolate. It was moist and perfectly sweet. Next I opted for the tuna tacos which had large, fresh pieces of tuna. It was delicious, but I loved the lamb empanadas a tad more. They were warm and comforting. For my entree, I got the avocado toast. Sounds boring, but I loved how fresh it was, the kick that the sambal provided, and how the crusty bread was still soft. I also tried the French toast, and it was honestly one of the best I've had at a restaurant. For dessert, I got the coconut cake. It was perfectly sweet and I liked the citrus touch of the yuzu. I washed everything down with a white sangria. It was perfectly tart and not too strong. My husband got the Dragon in a Glass mocktail. It was vibrant purple, refreshing, and a beautiful drink altogether. Service was excellent and our waiter was very attentive. The restaurant is a beautiful place and although they were busy for Mother's Day, our table still had enough room to put my baby's stroller at the end of the table. They're located next to Discovery Green and had free valet which was great. I'd come back to try their happy hour (Mon-Fri 4-6pm).

    PICANHA - amazing
    Gina C.

    I had a fantastic time during a large work dinner at Zaranda. Upon hearing it was under the Hugo/Xochi umbrella, I came with very high expectations. On a rainy Tuesday evening, the place was so lively and bubbly with almost every table filled! We ordered a variety of starters including empanadas, ceviche, and guacamoles. All were fantastic. For mains, I ordered the picanha with a side of shrimp and carrots. The steak was absolutely phenomenal and I would also highly recommend the carrots. Our table ended with a variety of desserts and we had such a fun time admiring the beautiful presentations. The pastel de datiles (warm date cake with candied pecans) was my favorite while the solar de arena was served in such a creative way. Noting this was for a large 15 person table, the service was above and beyond. I'd really like to come again (with less people haha!) to experience more of the menu in an intimate setting.

    Tableside ENSALADA CAESAR
    Tom J.

    Hugo's newest concept did not disappoint! What a wonderful experience and a restaurant we will keep on our list to frequent. We were fortunate to dine on the night before the Houston freeze so the crowd was light and service was amazing. Their menu was fun, although a little overwhelming as I would have liked to have tried everything. The wine menu was not as deep as I had hoped and built around their Alta California/Mexico theme. Nonetheless, found a beautiful Mexican cab. Enjoyed the table side Caesar salad presentation and the flavors of our appetizers and entrees were amazing. Highly recommend

    Jason Z.

    Came for lunch service at a new Hugo spot. Located on the first floor of a building next to Discovery Green. Very modern and nicely decorated interior. The food ranges from average (beef taco) to great (octopus taco). Some of the flavor profiles were very creative and tasty. Good add to the downtown scene!

    Menu
    Michari L.

    I Visited Zaranda for a team lunch and overall, it was a really great experience. First things first--the interior. Absolutely stunning. It gave luxury beach club meets island resort vibes. The space was beautifully designed, and the attention to detail? Chef's kiss. You can tell intention went into every corner of the restaurant. For my entrée, I ordered the Pollo Rostizado. It was decent--I've definitely had better chicken before, but it was okay for what it was. I personally would've loved a bit more seasoning and moisture, as it leaned slightly on the dry side. As a group, we shared appetizers, including the Ensalada Caesar and the Empanadas de Borrego--and listen... if you've been following my reviews, you already know I'm a Caesar salad girl (honestly, salads in general). This Caesar, though not traditional, was one of the best I've had in a long time. Truly impressive. The empanadas were also delicious. Between the salad and the empanadas, I could've easily been full without even touching my entrée. For drinks, I had the School of Fish, which was super cute and perfectly on brand for the restaurant. It included chia seeds, blue curaçao, and tequila. I was a little skeptical about chia seeds in a cocktail, but it worked--and it was definitely strong in the best way. Overall, I highly recommend Zaranda. Whether you're local or visiting from anywhere in the world, this spot is absolutely worth experiencing. Beautiful atmosphere, solid food, and a vibe that makes you want to stay a little longer

    TOSTADAS DE PULPO
    Pelochas E.

    Went for mom's bday lunch, the emapandas de borrego, las tostadas de pulpo, the pichana, pretty much everything was delicious! Chef Hugo's restaurants are always good!

    Roasted oysters
    Libby H.

    The vibes?! 10/10. The architecture and inside of this restaurant is STUNNING! The service? Also 10/10! Super nice server and very attentive. The food?! 10/10 as well! Overall an amazing experience at zaranda. We had a group of 7 and all of us enjoyed the food. The roasted oysters were absolutely delicious. The steak was amazing with the fries being perfectly crispy outside but very fluffy inside. Great lemon aioli to dip! Delicious.

    TACO DE CANGREJO SUAVE
    Mark L.

    I came here for a birthday dinner and overall had a really nice experience. The restaurant had only opened recently, and the inside is super elegant without feeling stuffy. The service was really good, and our food came out pretty quickly. We ordered a few items to share Taco de cangrejo suave (soft shell crab taco): Pretty good as a taco. Seeing the entire crab on top was shocking at first, but it tasted amazing. Taco de gobernador (shrimp taco): Unexpectedly spicy, but the flavors were really well done. Borrego tatemado (braised lamb shank): Just alright. The lamb itself was fine, but everything was kind of drowned in black beans, which overpowered it a bit. Zanahorias tatemadas (roasted carrots): Easily the best thing we ordered - cooked and seasoned beautifully. Tostada de langosta (lobster tostada): Really solid, and the garnishes complemented the lobster really well. Erizo del mar (chocolate "sea urchin" dessert): Super unique and surprisingly really good. A great new restaurant in downtown Houston, and I love the chef's vision with his food.

    Butterflied snapper. REPOLLO ASADO (roasted cabbage)
    Dolly O.

    Best meal I've had in a while. I tried multiple dishes, all were good. The 10/10 ones for me were the empanadas, tuna crudo tostada, lobster tostada, and the butterflied snapper. I can't wait to go back. Staff were super friendly, helpful in explaining menu and making suggestions. Our server Manuel was amazing! It's also very cute inside.

    Hidden pretty good
    Gonzo G.

    While I was working in the area, lunch time snuck up on me. As with most Houston weather it was pouring and I noticed a restaurant directly next to where I was. Not wanting to drive in the rain, we decided to check this place out. I have driven by this restaurant so many times and if you blink you will miss it. When we walked in out of the monsoon I immediately noticed that this place seemed very upscale and unique. We were greeted as soon as we entered and were seated just as quickly. Our server came and greeted us as well and told us about the "Business Man's " lunch special. You can get an appetizer (soup or salad), an entree and dessert for 29 dollars from their select menu. I decided to go with the special. Our server recommended the Picanha steak and fries, so I got that with the soup. My co worker ordered the fish tacos. Now let me just say there was no sign outside that I noticed but man was there lots of flavor in the food that I did notice. The steak was cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. I am glad for once for the nasty weather, because I wouldn't have found this place otherwise. I will definitely be back as you can tell from my review. Truly a Hidden Gem.

    Steak
    Lizzie H.

    This might be our new favorite restaurant by Hugo! The inside decor is absolutely gorgeous. Love the small couches. It is a very big restaurant. Service was exceptional although a little late to start. We went for the Valentines Menu which was a great deal and a good selection. The taco de para was very delicious. The pescado was amazing. Loved every bite. I loved their cocktails as well. I wish the steak came with a side dish but my hid was able to have some things that came with my fish. The dessert was one of the best we have had. Very unique and well conceived. We will return!

    Lobster tostada
    Desh M.

    Wow, this is a fantastic addition to the group that brought us Hugo's, Urbe, Xochi, and Caracol. We made reservations for a Friday night, but the restaurant was honestly pretty empty when we got there. Might just be because it is so new. It's located in the heart of downtown, so parking is not easy - they have a $11 valet, which is probably the easiest. Watch out if you come here when there are events going on at the Toyota Center (just a block or two away) - we left as a Rockets game ended, and it was pretty hectic leaving the area. The space itself is huge - lots of tables on the first floor, and it looked like it had a whole separate space on the second floor. They also have a decent number of tables on the patio. Service was friendly and quick. We got several plates to share and they were all fantastic! Tuna crudo taquitos - 5/5 so delicious! Asian style, ginger forward, good amount of spice to it as well. So yummy! Lamb empanadas - 5/5 - very yummy! They were soft and cheesy. Lamb was tasty. Pro-tip - if you're a fan of spice, ask for their habanero salsa - it was perfect with it! Lobster tostada - 4/5 - lobster was cooked really well, lots of interesting ingredients are combined and they all work pretty well together. Octopus - 5/5 - this is a huge portion of octopus! It's cooked so perfectly - cooked over fire, so it's nice and crispy. It's seasoned well, and comes with different types of salsa, tortilla, and a salad. "Sea urchin" chocolate dessert - 3/5 - this is the dessert they recommend, and it's gorgeous to look at! The chocolate shell is filled with so many different ingredients - maybe too many. Most prominent flavor is probably passion fruit. It was okay, but didn't all seem to work together. Overall, we're a huge fan of the restaurant! We definitely want to come back again for brunch, and try some of the other dinner items. Great addition to the downtown food scene!

    Amazing

    Zaranda should have a 5 star rating just because of the desserts! The food was incredible and the staff were amazing. I will definitely be making this a regular lunch stop when I'm in Houston. Are waiting William was amazing along with the rest of the staff. A truly wonderful experience.

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    6 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Everything about this place is so good! Highly recommend it for night out with friends or a date!

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    Ask the Community - Zaranda

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    Chef Lucas McKinney and the team continue to deliver!…read more I have continued to enjoy visiting here with friends and family. The vibe is great, the decor is awesome, the food delivers consistently, and service rarely takes a day off -- it's just a solid place to go when you're up for some great southern comfort classics. Cocktails, delicious. The daily food specials make it refreshing. The oysters never disappoint. We've rarely had to wait long on any ordered items and servers are all top notch. My only minor complaint is some of the larger groups visiting can sometimes forget there are others in the restaurant. We don't need to hear your entire conversation about the latest office gossip.

    *this review is only for crawfish, not their regular menu (which is amazing) *…read more We went here during crawfish season because they've been advertising their $8/lb crawfish, and we trusted that it would be great given the quality of their regular menu. We went on a Saturday for lunch. Hopefully this was just a one-off, but if you're looking for good Cajun boiled crawfish, this is not it. We started off with 6 lbs (group of 4) of their regular crawfish. First off, they put the Cajun seasoning on outside/shell (!!), which is a cardinal sin for Cajuns. They also minimally seasoned the boil, so the meat was lacking salt and flavor. We ordered 3 more lbs with the "wet sauce" (garlic butter), thinking the lack of flavor may be attributed to this being the first-ish batch of the day. Nope, the second batch was even less seasoned than the first. The sauce was good, but it didn't make up for the unseasoned meat. The crawfish were a good size, at least... Come on guys, I expect more from a Gulf Coast seafood restaurant!

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    Yummy Seafood & Oyster Bar - Crawfish.

    Yummy Seafood & Oyster Bar

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    I really wanted this to be a hit. Seafood, oysters, alcohol....vibes and a time right? It wasn't…read more I tried the bang bang shrimp, fried pickles, and chargrilled oysters. Something simple that should be an easy win. Unfortunately, everything leaned the same direction: either it was heavy, over-sauced, or overly garlicky. It tasted more like dressed-up frozen food than something thoughtfully prepared. And listen...I don't mind indulgent. But there still has to be balance and fresh food. Fresh like it was raw and delivered today, not fresh like fried in the last 15 mins. When everything is coated, covered, and competing, nothing actually stands out. The drinks didn't help either. They leaned hard on alcohol without much flavor behind them--more "this will get you there" than "this tastes good." Nothing was terrible. But nothing made me want another bite, either. And with seafood, that's kind of the whole point. The atmosphere is friendly, great music, and the service was very attentive. Even the presentation wasn't bad. It just wasn't enough. But at some point, you stop asking what's missing and just accept that it's not landing. I was still hungry so I went next door hoping for a better experience. I want to be clear: It's not bad. It's just not working.

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    State of Grace - Texas Blue Crab Hushpuppies

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    State of Grace is an upscale restaurant in which the price and decor scream "let's get dressed up,"…read morebut you are in Houston, so a lot of people were in jeans. There were also a lot of families, which was cute, although I personally am not buying my daughter $16 fries. Our waitress was personable and made great suggestions, especially regarding mocktails. This is important for non-drinkers because there are no mocktails on the drink menu, but the bartender will craft something you will like. Even my friend who normally avoids mocktails was very impressed. Apps: Crab Hushpuppies - 10/10: Crunchy, crabby, and came with a fantastic honey butter sauce. Caviar Tater Tots - 6/10: Well done -- they literally whipped the potato on the inside -- but at $37, you are paying more for the caviar, which was missing that fresh, creamy saltiness you normally seek. You also only get 4 tots. I would just get two orders of the crab hushpuppies. Mains: Chicken - 10/10: The truffle sauce was dreamy, and I think they could sell it on the streets. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and tender, and the dish also came with flaked truffles on top. I normally do not order chicken out, but this dish makes me wonder what I've been missing. Lobster fettuccini - 7/10: I don't think this is the dish to get here. The lobster didn't taste the freshest, and it also didn't have a lot of lobster to begin with. The sauce was well done and clearly made with lobster stock. I would come back, but there are dishes that shine much brighter than others.

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