Zareen's

Wander Lust 2 months ago

Affordable Michelin-recommended spot in Palo Alto that’s perfect for a casual meal. Parking was easy with free street parking. The vibe is fast-casual with limited indoor seating, but there’s plenty of outdoor seating with umbrellas, including overflow tables set up along the sidewalk. You order and pay at the counter, get a number, and the food is brought to your table. Everything we tried was delicious. The grilled chicken boti sizzler and chicken tikka thali both had incredibly tender, flavorful chicken. The garlic naan was warm and fluffy, and the mango lassi was thick, refreshing, and not overly sweet. Portions were generous for the price. Fun fact: Zareen’s was founded by Karachi native Zareen Khan, who even bought a house in Menlo Park to rent to her employees at an affordable rate because of Silicon Valley’s high cost of living. It’s easy to see why this flagship location earned Michelin Guide recognition.

Waqas Alam 2 months ago

Incredible service and vibe, but as a Lahori, the food missed the "wow" factor. ​After living in the Bay Area for over 11 years, we finally decided to see if the Zareen's hype was real. True to reputation, the place was absolutely jam-packed for a weeknight. I braced myself for a massive wait, but I was pleasantly surprised—we were in and out incredibly fast. The service was absolutely spot on: friendly, efficient, and well-oiled. ​However, coming from a Lahori background, my standards for flavor and spice profiles are exceptionally high. While the meal was objectively good, the food lacked that definitive "WOW" factor for me. ​Overall, it’s a solid B+ experience. The efficiency and vibe are commendable, but as a destination meal? Probably not a repeat for us. Living out near the Dublin/Danville area, we have some fantastic local options that save us from making a two-hour round trip for food that doesn't quite blow us away. Definitely worth trying once, though!

Danica Odyssey 5 months ago

This was the perfect spot to land after a Standford tour. On this perfect, sunny and breezy afternoon, we were delighted to sit outside and enjoy a spectacular meal. Everything we had was phenomenal, but the garlic naan took the prize!! My daughter enjoyed a mango lassi, and I will admit I would have loved to sip a cold draft beer with this, but they don't sell it - just as a heads up. I fully understand, and the cold water was also refreshing! That said, the waiter very kindly pointed out other nearby locations where I could purchase a drink. We might have come during a shift turnover, because it was a little difficult to get our dessert and check, but well worth the wait once the Gulab jamun arrived. The dessert includes two versus the three that I typically see in restaurants local to our area, so we each had one. It was the perfect amount anyway, because the dinner serving was abundant. Though we ate outside, I did go in to see the interior, and I absolutely loved the eclectic decor, both traditional and futuristic/sci fi/celestial. The modern aesthetic of the chairs and ceiling lighting was very appealing. I would highly recommend Zareen's to anyone local and will definitely r

VP 5 months ago

It had been a while since my last visit, and I was pleasantly surprised by the revamped outdoor patio. The setup with heat lamps and shaded seating makes it feel cozy and upscale, especially in the evening when the place is bustling. They also have a large indoor space, so capacity is not an issue. We tried the dahi puri from the appetizers, and it really stood out. The flavors were well balanced, and it is easily one of the better versions I have had compared to other Indian spots. The chicken samosa was solid, and the crispy chicken zinger burger came with a generous portion of fried chicken. We also got the chicken boti thali with garlic naan, which was flavorful and paired well with the dal. Everything went nicely with chai on the side. The service was friendly and added to the overall experience. It is great to see the updates to this location, and it definitely makes me want to come back more often.

Avais Sherani 11 months ago

This is a big branch of the most popular Pakistani restaurant in the Bay Area. This is a nice branch with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant gets very busy on weekends for all times including brunch, lunch, evening, and dinner. The menu is vast with plenty of options for snacks and meals. There are both meat based as well as vegetarian options, which are smartly written in green ink. The food tastes really authentic, the portion sizes are super generous, and the prices are relative to the quality and quantity. The staff are very nice, despite being really busy they make sure to attend to you. Food is also delivered pretty fast. Seating is only assigned by the staff and even at busier hours they do it quickly. Highly recommended for good quality Halal Pakistani food.