tasty food and all good five star the service ambiance also very good the service was fast and they have many branches

My uncle brought me to this Pakistani restaurant last week in Redwood City. We had the chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, samosas, roti, naans, and mango lassi. I'm so glad the other restaurant we were originally going to was closed for maintenance. I'll be back! Shezad read more

The food here has been consistently delicious, and tonight was no exception, except one dish. We went in last Friday and had samosas, lamb, naan and some weekend beef stew special. However, the amount of oil in the beef stew was visible and pooling on top of the dish. But, the lamb-soooo good. What ruined the dine in experience for us was the service. Yikes. The gal that seated us was very personable, and she took our order. The delivery of the food came in shifts,...first the samosas and lamb, then about 5 min later the beef, then 10 MIN LATER, the naan. And all delivery was literally drop and run. We wanted more naan or to order rice, but could not get the attention of the servers. So, when finally flagged one down, we asked for the check. The change from counter order to server ordering needs work. The food is great, staff seems personable, but service is very disorganized. Now, not pleasant dining out experience. read more

Why, Zareen's? Why mess around when you have something so good? Zareen's has moved to a hostess to seat you and wait staff to take your order. What it has done is made a pleasant, easy experience an annoying one. Maybe helping with seating makes things better for flow, I could see that. Maybe table service is to elevate the experience, I could see that. Instead, you get two extra steps and zero service. No one checking in if you need anything, no one refilling water and for us this time no one to come take our money so we could leave. For some odd reason they decided to have a full service staff meeting at 545P on a Saturday night. What!? No server was available so we could pay so I had to harangue the guy at the register to let me pay. He asked me to wait until the meeting was over.... Ummmm. No. This was really not the Zareen's we love coming to. We won't be back for a while. read more

Zareen's - Some of the awesome artwork inside Zareen's - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

See all

This location is becoming my favorite because KADAHI CHICKEN. Available Friday evening - Sunday. Same availability for Student biryani (tried for first time this visit) and really liked it. Flavorful without being overly spicy. The only downside was micro portions of raita. We even ordered a separate side of raita and got another micro serving. Wish they had an option for bigger one on menu. Chai and garlic naan were great as always. read more

See all

My family and I love coming to Zareen's! Their food is so flavorful and their portions are generous. It used to be a little challenging to find a table after ordering, especially during popular times. Now you check in with a host, they seat you, and you order your food with a waiter. I think this was a smart change and takes away the stress of trying to find an open table. Some of our favorites are the grilled chicken boti sizzler, silver spoon kabob roll (perfect for a light meal), and lamb gosht. Highly recommend ordering their rice and naan to pair with the meat dishes. I especially like the garlic naan. read more

See all

TRIGGER WARNING -- SERIOUS PRIVACY VIOLATION 1 star because 0 stars isn't an option. My first time dining at Zareen's was an absolute nightmare, and I am still incredibly upset about how this situation was handled. While I was actively using the restroom, I had locked the door from the inside using the lock provided. Despite the door being locked, a male employee opened the door and walked in on me. I was completely caught off guard and immediately had to cover myself and protect my privacy. There was also a large line of people waiting outside the restroom, making an already humiliating situation even more uncomfortable. I immediately went to speak with the manager because I was shaken and wanted the incident taken seriously. Instead of asking if I was okay or showing any genuine concern, his response was essentially that I may not have locked the door correctly or that there could have been something wrong with the lock. Seriously? Regardless of whether the lock malfunctioned, I was the person who was violated and humiliated in that moment. The first response should have been empathy and concern for the customer -- not implying that I was responsible for what happened. What made this even worse was the complete lack of accountability. The manager didn't even ask me who the employee was so he could address the incident. He didn't explain what would be done to prevent it from happening again. The employee who walked in never apologized or acknowledged what happened. And then, as if nothing had happened, a waiter came over almost immediately and asked my group to place our food order. I hadn't even had a chance to process what had just happened to me. A few minutes after placing our order, the waiter came back with another family and asked us to move tables because they needed our table. We agreed, despite the awkwardness of having the family standing there looking at us. Then our samosas -- which we ordered as an appetizer -- never even arrived. At that point, I had completely lost my appetite. What bothers me most isn't simply that there may have been a faulty restroom lock. Mistakes and equipment failures can happen. It's how a business responds to them that matters. And Zareen's response was incredibly disappointing. I expected empathy. I expected accountability. I expected someone to ask, "Are you okay?" I expected the employee involved to at least apologize. I expected management to take the situation seriously and reassure me that it would be addressed. Instead, I felt dismissed and blamed, and then expected to simply sit down and continue my dining experience as though nothing had happened. I cannot honestly review the food because this experience completely ruined my appetite and overshadowed everything else. This was my first time dining in at Zareen's, and it will absolutely be my last. A restaurant should be a place where customers feel comfortable and safe. After what happened and the way management handled it, I would not feel comfortable returning. read more

Zareen's - Chicken Tikka Masala Ala Carte - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

My boyfriend and I just came to dine in tonight around 8:30 pm. I'd like to state that my boyfriend and I both work at full service restaurant. He is a server and I'm a food runner. So I'd say we are very understanding with certain things that happen at restaurants when dining out. To say it straightforward... this whole shift from ordering at the counter to a supposed "at table restaurant service" is not it. Just to picture it, we were sat inside next to the counter/ cashier. It took 10 minutes of just sitting there, when finally my boyfriend took the initiative to walk to the counter and try to order. The girl at the front then told him "I can take your order at the table". Mind you she was right there clearly seeing that we were looking around for a server or to be greeted at least. I counted at least 5/6 servers in the whole building. And if you've gone to this location before.... You know it's not that big inside. Each "server" was just trying to look busy. They clearly weren't doing anything. Just standing, talking and looking down at their little ordering screens. As for what we ordered, we got the chicken tikka masala with rice and garlic naan. We ordered a Coke to share and some water. Which was amazing as always. But, we received the food and never received the beverage. Again if you have been to this location before you would know they don't have fountain drinks, they are all from cans or cups. I just don't understand, if this was an "at table restaurant service" why couldn't we recieve our drink which was in a fridge 5 feet away from us. Not entirely sure if we were supposed to grab it ourselves... After we placed our order we never saw the female server until we left and had already had to walk to the register and pay and get the coke off the bill. She was busy talking among other staff members at the host stand it seemed. I understand the change I truly do. Perhaps they want a change of pace from guests finding seating, perhaps tips or even perhaps wanting to give guests well rounded service. However, this approach is very questionable and will make many of their loyal guests avoid this restaurant. The system they had before worked great and was flawless. If they want to perform perfectly. I'd suggest training your staff to perform better with their restaurant service and attentiveness. This location should honestly hire someone for this job I would gladly like to help and be apart of that. read more

Zareen's - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

Tried Zareen's for dinner and overall it was a really solid spot. The butter chicken curry was rich and flavorful, and the naan came out fresh, soft, and perfectly crispy around the edges. The chicken tikka platter was also very juicy with a nice smoky flavor. Their mango lassi was super refreshing and paired really well with the spices. The place gets pretty busy, so seating and service can feel a little rushed during peak hours, but the food definitely makes up for it. Portions were generous and everything tasted fresh. Would definitely come back to try more dishes next time. read more

See all

Zareens is a stable in downtown Redwood City. We got two jalapeno cheese naan, one palak gosht, and one chicken tikka masala curry to share among three people, and we were very satisfied by the food. The restaurant can get quite busy and lively, but the wait is usually short and the staff will help you with ordering and refilling water. read more

See all

Delicious vegan options! I ordered Madras Vegan Curry Thali and it was so flavorful. The Daal Lentil specifically stood out as it was rich and spicy! The price is hard to beat and very fair considering the portion. When I arrived, the staff were incredibly busy yet helpful! Everyone greeted me and I was able to place my order immediately. The space was clean & filled with customers, which is always a great sign. Overall, highly recommend! I would have this at least once a week since it was so tasty. read more

One of the best chicken tikka masala that I've ever had! Zareen's chicken tikka is unique because the chicken breast meat itself is well marinated, seasoned, and grilled/seared before being added to the delicious curry base. It has a nice spicy grill flavor that you can actually taste through the curry sauce, which sets it apart from other chicken tikka masalas in which the chicken breast is generally boiled/cooked in the sauce and lacks flavor outside of it. They actually sell their grilled chicken separately as a plate, which I have yet to try but I'm sure is delicious. I also appreciate how the meal is served in a large portion with daal, a refreshing cucumber/chickpea/tomato salad, rice, and the option to switch rice to naan or add naan to the order. The naan is a good balance of crispy and fluffy, and is the perfect addition to your order. I'd love to return to try their other dishes but if you're in the Redwood City Area, highly recommend stopping just for Zareen's! There is also plentiful seating in a modern, trendy space along with outdoor seating at picnic style tables. And bring friends so you can try more dishes! Also for Kaiser RWC employees, it's the perfect place to grab a quick weekday lunch, and you'll have plenty leftover after too! Dishes recommended: Chicken tikka masala, and mango lassi. Add naan or replace the basmati rice with naan. read more

Zareen's - Chicken Tikka Masala Thali with Naan (side order) - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

Picked up takeout, and to no surprise, it was another satisfying visit. Ordered the chicken tikka masala entree with basmati rice, two garlic naans, and a mango lassi. The tikka masala was amazing, tender, juicy, and full of flavor - the default medium spice was just right for me. The garlic naan paired perfectly with it. It was very chewy it smelled incredible. The mango lassi was creamy, not too sweet, and a nice treat to round out the meal. Staff were very friendly and welcoming, this time very much so in particularly. The ambiance inside is great as well, with cultural décor, hanging plants, and lights, and plenty of seating for downtown RWC. During busy hours, indoor seating can fill up fast, so you might end up outside, but it is not a big deal. Will certainly return whenever I'm in the area. read more

Zareen's - Mango Lassi, Chicken Tikka Masala Ala Carte, Garlic Naan, Basmati Rice - Rice Bowl - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

See all

I tried grilled chicken boti thali. Chicken was juicy and flavorful. Dal tasted good with rice and chicken on the side. Service was quick and ambience was good. It was lively and busy. read more

Zareen's - Grilled Chicken Boti Thali - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

Although Zareen's food and staff are top notch, what hasn't changed is the cleanliness of their bathrooms. I wanted to come back more occasionally before I made this review but nothing has improved per visit. Floors are consistently wet and same are the toilets. Please consider having physical towels along with the air dryer because even the dryers look super dirty with stains on them. They also seem to have a fly problem in the seating area towards the back near the bathrooms. We have to consistently swat them away while we eat which takes away from the experience of being able to enjoy the food. The food here is still amazing and I happily pay toll to eat here, but the cleanliness can use some attention and I hope its taken seriously. read more

Zareen's - Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

My wife and I actually love door dashing Zareen's. The food is amazing delivered, so we figured we'd go for a lunch date out to their Redwood City location to try the food fresh. We entered and we were seated immediately. It was slow and we were able to order right away. Nearly half an hour passed and we still didn't receive our order. We figured they were likely making a fresh batch of Tikka Masala... but after numerous guests (4 other parties) were seated AFTER us and received the same meals that we ordered, we decided to walk out. If we wanted to wait half an hour for our food, we would've just door dashed and stayed in the comfort of our own home. The customer service experience we received was unprofessional and unacceptable. Will just stick to door dashing if we ever want food from here again. read more

So good! Everything was absolutely delicious. You can tell Zareen's puts care and authenticity into their cooking. Their decor is very cute and casual, lots of outdoor seating as well. Best Pakistani food I have had in California. The dishes are authentic, yet Zareen's has found a way to elevate them whilst staying true to Pakistani roots. A couple of our favorites: Karahi chicken, halva poori weekend breakfast/brunch, silver spoon paratha rolls, masala fries, the jalapeño cheese naan (OMG try it) mango lassi, the tikka masala dishes. Please add tandoori fish to your menu! read more

The Friday-only special, a chicken biryani is simply PERFECTION, I've thought about it every Friday since... delicious pakistani food, it's top tier! - Chai to go (5/5): a milky, authentic southeast asian chai. Small, but packs a filling - Mango Lassi (10/5): one of the best mango lassi's I've had. Super thick, light yogurt-y flavor, mango was sweet with a slight tartness. - Biryani (1000/5): so flavorful! the basmati rice was perfectly fluffy, not mushy given the clearly overnight stewed mix. The aromas and spices struck the perfect balance, I tend to struggle with dishes overly salted. Comes with a tiny chili on the side, SPICY (but manageable), don't be deceived. Not too greasy, great portion of chicken which I believe was dark meat, tender and seasoned. Comes with a yogurt sauce on the side, balancing the heavier seasoned dish with a refreshing lightness Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Order at the front, they will bring your dishes to your table shortly and quickly. With the beautiful Burlingame weather, Zareen's its the perfect place to complement the day! read more

Zareen's - Chicken biryani - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

See all

Zareens already has a great reputation so my expectations were high, but it was delicious! We came for lunch and I tried a chicken tikka masala thali set and shared a cheddar jalapeno naan. It was the perfect amount of food, and the space was airy and open. read more

See all

Tried the lamb gosh thali and added a naan as well. The naan was a little hard but it was super busy so can't complain about it. The lamb is delicious, rice was full of flavor. read more

Zareen's - Lamb Gosht Thali - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

Meh. Cold food, frisbee like roof tile called naan and paneer that could have been firm tofu Not sure why it's vaunted as much as it is, the naan was cold and the same consistency as the aluminum serving dish. Chicken bhoti was good, lamb was cold, paneer was rubbery. Meh read more

Zareen's - Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

Went to Zareen's in Redwood City and really liked it. You order at the counter first and then find a table inside or outside. The vibe feels very family-oriented and relaxed. Nothing fancy, just busy in a good way and comfortable. We ordered the garlic naan, beef chapli kebab sizzler, chicken tikka masala thali, and the sabri beef nihari. The garlic naan was honestly kind of addictive. We kept reaching for it and it went with everything. So good for scooping up all the sauces. The chapli kebab had a lot of flavor and came out sizzling. The tikka masala thali was a solid option if you want a little variety. The beef nihari was rich and comforting, especially with the naan. Overall just a really good, casual spot. Easy place to come with family or friends when you're craving something flavorful. read more

See all

Yeah Zareen's was recommended to me by one of my coworkers. My friends and I were in Redwood City for Mazra, but we couldn't get a table. When wandering the streets for an alternative, we stumbled upon this place, and it all clicked - I've heard of this place before... Let's get into it. Honestly, the food was hit or miss, but the hits were amazing. Best things here by far: chicken tikka masala and the jalapeño cheese naan. The garlic naan here was good as well. Naan was fluffy and baked to perfection. Chicken tikka masala sauce was so flavorful and had a generous portion of chicken. Fried chicken sandwich was ok. They gave a monster portion of chicken, and it was super crispy, reminiscent of KFC extra crispy, but it was a bit dry and needed sauce. Masala fries were tasty with a generous portion. Manga lassi was amazing but slightly overpriced at 5.25 for a small cup. My friends thali was pretty bad, I'd avoid the Thalis here personally. What I love about here is that the venue, the service, and the ambiance are all top notch. Love the fast casual aspect of paying up front and finding your own table. Waiters come deliver your food based on your number. Water station for free water. Overall very nice staff. Looking back I'd say Zareen's is slightly overrated bc I don't think it's the best Indian food in the Bay Area, but it's definitely a great experience and worth a try. read more

See all

This review is only for the food. I was there Friday night and ordered their "student biryani" to go. With most biryani dishes, I expect the meal to be hot. However, when I ate the dish not 10 minutes later, I found that it was completely room temperature, not even lukewarm! I dug into the dish and the entire bowl was uniformly unheated. It was as if they had prepackaged the biryani and left it on the counter for an hour. I'm not sure if this is the expected serving style, but for the price, I'd expect a hot meal. read more

This place had been recommended to us a few times so we decided to come for a weekend lunch. This location can get busy! There was a bit of a wait if we wanted shade so we just took the first table that was offered. The decor is cute and it is popular which adds a fun vibe. We didn't realize that the utensils are self serve until we saw others grabbing it themselves too. The food was good and my paneer tikka was creamy. The aloo tikki was cold when it was served which confused me. My husband enjoyed the thin wrapper on the samosas and the spice dusting. The shami kebobs were filling! The jalapeño cheddar naan was delicious! The chai was highly recommended and hit the spot but our server never brought it out. We had to ask to get it and the same thing happened at the next table over which was confusing since many others got their drinks quickly. Overall, it was a good spot but it was not mind blowing. We are glad we tried it but we probably wouldn't drive 30 or more minutes out of the way for it. read more

See all

My first time going to Zareen's I'm so amazed. They truly deserve the spot on the Michelin guide. We had their Tikka Masala and the Lamb Gosht, both were really good, but if I had to pick one thing to order? The Tikka Masala for sure. The chicken they put inside is even charred which adds another depth of flavor. It was so good paired with their fluffy and warm garlic naan. We also got their mango lassi, for me it was too sweet, I wish it was a little more tangy. Nonetheless, I will definitely be coming back frequently to pick up dinner! read more

See all

This is a great option for a somewhat quick but sit down restaurant with extremely good food! The layout of the restaurant allows for large groups, small groups and both indoor and outdoor seating which is very nice! The food is absolutely delicious with tons of options and authentic taste! The service is very quick for such high quality food! I would definitely recommend giving Zareen's a try! read more

Zareen's - Chicken Tikka Thali - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

I have already done a Zareen's review before, but wanted to do one again to shout out Patrick. He really showed that he cares about his customers and is willing to go out of his way to help them. Overall, the food is amazing like always. I always come back for the jalapeño cheese naan. read more

Zareen's - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

Everything is extremely tasty and just right. Even the little sauces, they can be kinda lame, was made very nicely. It shows there's care even with a high throughput place like this. Service is good, attentive. They also have an outside spot and they didn't forget about us. Definitely check it out. read more

Zareen's - Brunch omelette, thali, cheese jalapeno bread - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

Shout out to Patrick who is on staff at Zareen's! He is the best, great service. This spot is 5-Star and a Michelin award winner The Tikka is creamy and on point. Naan is the best, cheese naan is rich and cheesy. The chicken boti is a must try. Basmati rice is perfect for soaking up the delicious sauce from the paneer and tikka. It gets super crowded, but the lime moves pretty quick. read more

See all

Always good to come back for a solid tikka masala. It never disappoints. We went on Saturday and it was super busy with long lines, but the staff was very efficient, so we were able to get a table right after ordering. The portions are big and we were so full. Located right in downtown Redwood City with plenty of parking nearby. Street parking is available as well. read more

See all

The hype of Zareen's is REAL!! We were driving past this location and thought it would be good to order quick takeout so we could take it home. Once we arrived to pick up the food, we figured it may be easier to sit down and eat. Even though they were 20 minutes away from closing, they allowed us to sit inside and eat which we very much appreciated. We ordered the chicken tikka masala with garlic naan and a chicken tikka burrito. Both dishes were soooo so good. Don't even get me started on how creamy and rich the chicken tikka masala was. Like wow! I typically like a smoother gravy as opposed to a chunky tomato gravy so they really hit the spot with this one. The chicken tikka burrito was great as well. It came with tikka gravy so that definitely added to the flavor. I think it would've been even better if I was able to get some raita. We also later ordered a mango lassi which was good! It was on the thinner side. I usually like a thicker lassi but it still tasted good. We were offered complimentary chai which was just the cherry on top! That was so sweet and it was great chai. HIGHLY recommend visiting sometime. They have a lot of indoor seating. Unfortunately we have no photos of the food because we devoured it as soon as we got it. So trust that it really just is that good. read more

Even though I can go on a long rant about how good this place is. How the service was above and beyond. How shrink flation didn't exist there. How WONDERFUL my food was. How this place lived up to my co- workers hype. How I definitely will be returning. Yeah and that mango smoothie is what everyone expires to be in life...PERFECT read more

See all

Zareen's is a great spot for flavorful halal food. The chicken was really good--tender, well-seasoned, and full of flavor. The daal was another highlight: comforting, rich, and a perfect side to round out the meal. Overall, everything tasted fresh and satisfying. Definitely a solid choice if you're craving delicious halal food. read more

This location is worth visiting. The beef nihari was creamy and tasted very authentic. We ordered both plain and garlic naan and they were soft. The crispy chicken zinger burger was average and overpriced, I'd skip this. Definitely try the chicken chargha. It was tasty and the sauce was very flavorful. The masala fries were yummy. The service was good and the ambience was nice. Even at 10 pm the restaurant was quite busy with constant flow of customers. read more

See all

First time at Zareen's in redwood city was amazing! I was recommended the thali and it didn't disappoint. The naan was buttery and delicious and the daal was comforting as well. The food came out really fast which was crazy because of how busy it was in there. There was so much seating both indoor and outdoor! 4/5 for the paneer tikka masala - it was a bit too creamy for me. Still tasted amazing though! HIGHLY recommend the mango lassi. read more

Zareen's - Paneer Tikka Masala Thali - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

Zareen's is a casual Pakistani and Indian restaurant in Redwood City. It's located on Broadway on a little strip with lots of different restaurants, cafes and bars. They have a lot of indoor and outdoor seating available. Ordering takes place at the cashier and you take a number to your seat. Servers are around though to quickly bus tables or respond to guest needs. They have chutneys and sauce that you can take to your table. I was amazed by the portions here! We order the chicken tikka masala. The plate was huge and came with rice, green salad, lentils and a cucumber salad. We also ordered a side of naan. I was so impressed with the taste of the food as well as how much was provided! read more

See all

The food here was great. I'm only taking off a star because one of their staff was careless and they dropped my order on the floor when I went to pick up at this location. They remade my order and apologized so all is well. read more

We really enjoyed the Indian food here! The dal was absolutely delicious, and the paneer and naan quickly became our kids' favorites. Even the French fries were fresh and perfectly crisp, which the kids loved. The aloo tikki could use a bit more flavor, but overall we had a great experience and would definitely come back. Service is super fast. They are amazing workers. We love the open door and creativity of the decorating process. The bathrooms are clean as well. Which is a plus now a days read more

Zareen's - Naan are the best with Paneer Tikka Masala Ala Carte - Indian Near Me - Redwood City, California

See all

Everything we ate at this place is delicious. The beef stew, chicken tikka masala, sizzling chicken all delicious. The naan was huge, puffy and warm and we ended up buying more naan to soak up the gravy and curries. Place can be a bit noisy and crowded but food is delicious. Will definitely come back again. read more