Why 4 stars? Because the chicken shawarma did the job. --- --- --- And the job was: feed a very hungry me. I played basketball earlier that morning and was feeling hungry enough to eat the entire contents of whatever kitchen I got to first. I gave my wife my phone and said - pick any place I have bookmarked. She chose Zara's and off we went. Normally, I'd probably order a gyro, but I saw that the chicken shawarma was a top highlight, so I went with that and some waffle fries on the side. It hit the spot and healed me of my hangry ailment. I also ordered tiramisu, but to be honest, I didn't love that. It had clearly been frozen before and seemed like it was straight out of a box. But I did order a mango lasso to drink and that was great. My wife ordered a gyro and it had a very strong lime taste, which neither of us were a big fan of. I felt bad because she chose this place but did not love her meal. She probably would have given 2-stars if this was her review, and to be honest, I don't blame her because I agree that hers was not the best. But my order was enjoyable. I also appreciated the hostess/server's flexibility. We initially ordered this food to-go, but ended up changing our plans and wanted to dine in. They didn't mind that and also were kind enough to bring us a mango juice for our son and didn't even charge us for it. I'll probably opt to try some other places in the area in the future, but appreciated my visit here, despite the hiccup with the gyro. read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Chicken Shawarma Wrap - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

Every time we eat here the food is simply wonderful. Never had a bad meal. The staff is also very nice. I highly recommend Zara's!

The owner kept his word from the last unfavorable experience I had! This time I had a great experience and the food was fantastic! I got the same chicken kabob and gyro plate. I also got to try the rose water I believe that's what it was called, recommended by the employee & it was great! read more

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Good as he!!. Visiting H-town for a bit and decided I wanted some Mediterranean food. Lordt this place did not disappoint. I was stoked. It's a beautiful restaurant, adorable decoration, and warm ambiance. A tad bit hot but there was a fan that was blowing nearby so that helped. The waitstaff was kind and patient. I had chicken shawarma platter, rice, hummus, veggie grape leaves, mint tea, and Zara tea. Umph umph umph. I devoured most of it. The rice was perfect, chicken was good-tad bit dry, hummus was flavorful, pita bread was warm and soft. The mint tea was delicious. The Zara tea was different but tasty. I definitely tasted rose syrup. The baklava pistachio was very sweet, did my sweet tooth good. My bff had gyro platter which doesn't come with a wrap, so beware of that. He thought he was getting a regular gyro. Womp womp womp. He said the Zara tea was the "bomb diggity woohhh" lol. He enjoyed his food. All in all I really enjoyed myself here more than I expected. The next time I'm in H town, I'll stop by. Give them a try Yelpers!!!! read more

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The Mediterranean food was absolutely delicious--fresh, flavorful, and authentic. Our server, Shayan, made the experience even better with his friendly attitude and outstanding service! read more

Wow! I can't say enough good things about the meal I just had from Zara's. Just incredible flavor and value for the price. The chicken and beef Shawarma in the Shawarma Lover's Platter was phenomenal! No really. It was off the charts good. I added Gyros and it was the best I've had in ages. Please do yourself a favor and order anything from this place and then come back and tell me I was right! Zara's is amazing. read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Shawarma Lover Platter - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

I had high hopes. Unfortunately I was disappointed by the food and the service. The wait staff was inattentive. No offer of refills for the water and leaving the appetizer plates when pulled away from their cell phones to bring water. The most disappointing were the lamb chops. They asked how I wanted them: medium. They came charred and completely well done read more

When we want Mediterranean food for a special event such as a birthday, this is our Togo place! The ambiance is much more nicer than other Mediterranean restaurants, and the food is presented well. Food is also delicious! Their hummus options are definitely worth trying. Service is also quick! read more

First time here with my wife the other day. Place is solid! The pesto hummus may be one of the best hummus I've ever had. Will be coming back in the future! read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Gyro Platter - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

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We went to Zara's on our way to HIA - and let me say, everything was AMAZING! No picturesl (party of 4) and were so excited to eat there, we quickly feasted instead of photo'd. We ordered the tabbouleh salad, hummus trio with pita, spanikopita, falafal salad, Skewer combo entree, chicken kabob plate, and baklava. Everything was fantastic. Service was fun and inviting. Can't wait to go again. read more

Great food, comfortable atmosphere and great service. Found this treasure on Yelp and so very glad we did. read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Hummus sampler. - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

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10/10 would recommend this place! The beef shawarma wrap had AMAZING flavor, the garlic sauce it comes with is also fantastic. Can't wait to try more. Also love there special sweet tea. Not to sweet not to bitter, just perfect! read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Beef Shawarma Wrap - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

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service was and ambiance was great, they were very attentive to us. I ordered the shawarma wrap and the shawarma lover plate, both were very good! The chicken was very juicy and the creamy garlic sauce that came with it was great if you like garlic. The bread was very light and soft, falafel was cooked amazingly, very authentic! I will be coming back!! read more

I have ordered food from here in the past. I love Kibbehs, so I ordered them again. To my surprise, they are not making them the same. This time I saw a considerable change in size and amount of filling. Most if the inside was the outer layer made very thick. I think they should have fried them more, it almost felt as if it has been reheated in a microwave. I don't know what the sauce but it wasn't tzatziki nor garlic sauce. read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Smaller, thinner kibbehs. - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

Service was good. But I definitely expected more from this place since it has very good reviews. We were craving Mediterranean food for a while and decided to try Zara's. The food itself is very meh. Looks wise it looks absolutely amazing but the rice is dry and not flavorful, the salad was wet, didn't taste fresh. The beef and lamb was equally dry and didn't taste like much. Pita is also dry, I've definitely had better pita before especially from Greek restaurants. The babaganoush was the best item and I'm glad I ordered it. Still I've had better. For the price, definitely not worth the price. Again, not horrible but I won't be returning. read more

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Great food, great people. Love The lamb is very tasty. The kabobs are juicy tender. Basmati rice is the best. Service was super friendly and all were helpful. Prices paid are reasonable. read more

Awesome and authentic Mediterranean food! We started with the falafel and it was filled with herbs. So much flavor! My husband and I each had a chicken kebab pita for lunch and I had mine with an amazing Greek salad while he has crispy waffle fries. The kids enjoyed their burger and nuggets as well, and my son love the mango lassi. We will be back next time we are on this side of town! We left full, but not uncomfortable. It was all very fresh and healthy. Oh! And their garlic sauce... whoa! I wish they sold it by the bottle! I would buy so many! read more

Food was excellent. Ordered a combo chicken and koobideh platter and did not disappoint! Pita was warm and fresh and the seasonings I could taste with every bite! Service was good, and ambiance was nice and relaxing. Will be back again! read more

Service was attentive. Kitchen is slow. Atmosphere is a mixed bag: great music, but there are operating theaters with lighting that is more hospitable to diners. Do we really need 10, 000 lumens to see to eat? The good news is I got a tan while waiting for the order! read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

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Only ordered takeout on DoorDash from here and my wife and I both love this place. Lentil soup is great and all of the meats we have ordered have been tasty. The rice here is some of my favorite rice ever. read more

This place is pretty good. The food is just delicious. The staff are friendly and always checking in on you. They are Spanish/English friendly. The quality of the food is superb. The lentil soup seems bland but it perfectly complimented the wrap(when it felt like too much flavor the soup was a nice reset). There is medium low music in the background so definitely chill and conversation welcoming since it doesn't sound like everyone can hear you. I have doordashed food many times but I don't think I will; have to come every time now to enjoy the fresh and hot food. If you haven't given it a try come in! Decor very interesting too! read more

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Great Mediterranean Cuisine. The service was good and the food was tasty. Very cozy atmosphere! I'll be back read more

It was a rainy day so my wife and I stoped by for something that reminded her of her mother land. Upon our entrance it was empty due to the storm coming but I will do anything to get her a taste of home. The wait staff was attentive to my picky wife and made her feel like royalty. Our plates were licked clean because I can stuff anything down . The ambience was fitting for the restaurant theme and made me feel like Aladdin. I love you Zara. This place is always a blast! read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Beef Shawarma Wrap - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

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Are you kidding? Im shocked this place has this many great reviews. I was so excited to try this place & support a small business. Arrived at 8:50 for a late dinner with kids. Drinks took forever to come. Our waitress clocked out & left at 9:20 without letting us know anyone else would be helping us. Our order never came. 9:30 we walked out. We were the only ones left inside, all people dining had left and everyone in the front was gone.. It was clear we were not welcome. We were appalled. read more

Came here with my wife, uncle & aunt for dinner; enjoyable meal. We started off with an appetizer of falafel. They were good; nicely crunchy on the outside and well moist and seasoned inside and the tzatziki sauce was good but I've definitely had better. I've been to A LOT of Mediterranean restaurants so I'm a bit picky nowadays. For dinner, I got a lamb shank. It was very good. The shank itself was very tender and seasoned well. Again, can't say It's the "best" I've had but it was DEFINITELY good enough to recommend. The seasoned basmati rice wasn't bad and the salad was a tad lacking in flavor to me, at least for what I'm used to having as a salad in Mediterranean restaurants. For dessert we split a Zara's Chi Chewy. It was very good and quite unique. It put me in the mind of an oat pastry with raspberry topping. It was sweet and lightly rich with a mild tartness to it. Tasted "healthy" yet enjoyable. Service was lackluster. The waitress who served us seemed new and unfamiliar both with the menu and the machine so the owner came out several times to help her but it's all good. However, when we asked for water or napkins, she kept forgetting and we had to ask multiple times. Hopefully, she'll eventually get the hang of things. Otherwise, it wasn't a bad experience. I would return. read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Zara's Chi Chewy - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

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Excellent service for carry out. I ordered the beef and lamb kebabs, medium rare, and they were fantastic!!! read more

I was looking for a quick to-go dinner late the other night in my new neighborhood, and decided to try Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen on Louetta Road, and I'm glad I did! The hostess was very warm and welcoming, even though I had arrived only 20 minutes before closing time. Their menu had so much to choose from; everything looked amazing. From roasted lamb, gyros, chicken, shrimp and fish, to moussaka, falafel, vegetarian and even vegan options. I already knew I was going to be back to try more things on that menu. For my first experience, I went old school and chose the lamb/beef Gyros Platter with the feta salad and basmati rice as my sides, and I couldn't leave without a slice of their baklava for dessert. The baklava comes in two varieties: pistachio and walnut. Pistachio baklava is good and very popular in H-Town, but having been raised on the walnut variety, I chose that one. As I waited for my order, I enjoyed looking around at the beautiful, ornate interior of the restaurant. The temperature in the building was a little warm, but it was over 100 degrees outside, and they were getting ready to close, and I was the only patron there, so it didn't concern me. Especially since the food came out quickly and I was on my way back home in no time. I was pleasantly surprised when I got home and opened the to-go container. Everything looked and smelled delish. I also felt that the portion size was good for a to-go order. They did not skimp, and I enjoyed everything. I started with the feta salad but was a little disappointed with the amount of feta on my "feta" salad and would have liked to have had it include big chunks of feta, and a few kalamata olives thrown in would have been a nice touch, but the salad was not bad. Lightly dressed and fresh. It was a nice prelude for what was to come. I'll order it again but ask for more feta the next time. The gyro meat was the star of the show hands down. Beautifully seasoned and very tender, (not that dry jerky stuff rotating on the spit for hours that we're accustomed to at some places, this meat was perfect!) and the pickled red onion added a little burst of flavor when wrapped up in the pita and tzatziki sauce. The tzatziki sauce was AMAZING! Very fresh, a perfect mix of house made yogurt, dill, lemon, garlic, and whatever else yummy goodness they put in that little dollop of heaven. The pita bread was a little bulky to make a sandwich with (not exactly a pocket like we gringos are used to) but I worked it out. It was still tasty, warm, and again, fresh. The basmati rice was good. The baklava did not disappoint and was extremely good. Very fresh, very flavorful, a nice portion, and my only regret was that I hadn't ordered an extra slice for the next day. I have to say that baklava was some of the best I've had (and I've eaten a lot of baklava through the years). Again, I cannot express how fresh everything was, and this was at 9:00 at night! I'm hungry now just thinking about it all. I can't wait to go again and bring my daughter this time for dine-in. My little pescatarian is going to love this place as much as her mama. Great job y'all! read more

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Gyro meat had good flavor but was a bit dry, tzatziki sauce was warm which was off putting to me. Had a combo salad, Greek salad no dressing (?), artichoke hearts tasted off. Tabbouli, while I love parsley left me wanting more bulgur wheat, lacked flavor. I guess I should have ordered a pita but don't think it would have changed my opinion. I have had worse at the mall but also have had much better. Service was fast, staff was warm and attentive. read more

Ordered via GrubHub. Enjoyed my chicken Shawarma plate with rice and hummus. Very filling and couldn't even finish it all.. I'd like the flavor and the chicken. It wasn't moist, but not dry either. I really like the tea as well. Baklava was OK. The pylo dough Seemed a little overdone and too flaky. I would order from here again though. I thought the prices were reasonable compared to of the other restaurants in the area. read more

I really enjoyed my meal. See my pics This was our first time there. The waiter was very nice and courteous. He also recommended a best selling dish for our best visit. We will be back read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Soothing water fountain - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

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So, I cheated on Lama, and it was worth it...kind of. Given the exterior, and the limited parking, I wouldn't blame anyone for thinking...naw, there's no way this place is replacing bae...I've been foodie catfished. But, upon opening the door, my initial trepidations melted away. The decor is transformative, team members friendly, and every patron seemed to be smiling, laughing & enjoying themselves (a promising sign). From my to-go experience, the chicken kabob is juicy, spiced and worthy of a return visit. The basmati rice is fragrant and flavorful, and the food comes hot! The hummus is good, not great. Next time I'll pass on the tabouleh, and skip the fatoosh. All and all, not wifey material, but certainly a worthy side chick when I need my Mediterranean cuisine fix. read more

Togo or dine in the chicken shish kabob's are a go to! The goat cheese appetizer (I forgot name) is super fresh tasting & a great way to start off the meal. Beautiful interior and lovely service ! read more

Definitely recommend this place! Great portions of meat and kids platter was also great. Servers were very polite and very quick service. Spacious place and well put together. read more

Had high hopes for this place, but was disappointed. Upon walking in, it was super loud as a big party was having a dinner here. We walked to the front and the guy said it was open seating. It would be nice if there was a sign that stated "Seat Yourself". The service was quick at first, but took a huge leap down. It was really hard to get someone attention. The food was pretty mid and I've had a better shawarma from Alwadi. There was no onions, barely any pickles and the pita was really thick. The chicken did have a good flavor. The fries were really good with their garlic sauce. $60 dinner for 2 is a bit high for the quality. The mango lassi was good, no refills. They were out of iced tea. Will not be returning read more

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Wonderful that they were open and allowing take out! There is a small private lot with plenty of parking. Although we didn't dine in, there seems to be a lot of seating. The chicken shawarma was good, but a little dry. I really enjoyed the salad that came with the lamb shank. read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Roasted Lamb Shank - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

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I'm new to Zara's, and totally in love! the food is incredible; especially, the gyro. Definitel, my favorite go to place. read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - My almost totally devoured gyro, with extra tzatziki sauce and, baklava...for the WIN!! - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

All we can say is excellent food and service!! Eckatrina s is an awesome catering Chef and brings it to your door! The food tasted and smelled fantastic!! She is very diverse in the foods she prepares! Like her dessert sampler tray and breakfast burritos so delish! The lasagna was outstanding as well the new poratoes and stuffed mushrooms! I'll never cook again for the holidays, I'm retired!! read more

This place used to be amazing, but the service has dropped off tremendously. The food is still good, but the friendly and helpful staff is gone. read more

We love Zara's for take out of in restaurant. We like the gyro platter and kebab combo platter. The tzatziki and garlic dip are both addicting and the pita is so good - crispy outside and soft inside read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Gyro Platter with Waffle Fries and Greek Feta Salad - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas

Had lunch here and ordered a salad, hummus and two wraps (gyro and falafel). The amount of meat they provide is quite generous. I enjoyed my gyro sandwich a lot. The falafel sandwich was eh. That might be because I ate this many hours later and it wasn't crispy anymore. read more

Zara's Mediterranean Kitchen On Rayford Road - Gyro Wrap - Halal Near Me - Spring, Texas