Reviewed by Caitlin Ginn, a writer.

Zareen’s, located on California Avenue in Palo Alto, California, serves Indian and Pakistani cuisine along with a small selection of fusion dishes, such as tandoori burgers and naan wraps. The restaurant offers  a variety of main dishes, including curries, kababs, and daals, as well as combination plates (thalis) consisting of a main dish with rice, daal, and a small salad. There are also smaller items, such as their samosas and wraps. 

A fairly small restaurant with minimal inside seating and some outdoor seating, Zareen’s is very casual. It’s a favorite among college students because of the relaxed atmosphere and fairly inexpensive food. You wait in line to order next to a long counter where you can watch prep work being done. After ordering off of the extensive menu, you can choose a table, either inside surrounded by books, art, and the small talk of the surrounding tables, or outside, on larger tables outside fitted with colorful umbrellas and offering views of people walking their dogs and the everyday life of California Avenue.

I ordered the paneer tikka masala thali, the dish recommended to me by the waiter as one of Zareen’s number-one sellers, and it was delicious. The firm cheese was served in a rich, creamy, spice-filled, tomato-based sauce topped with fresh cilantro for color. As I’d ordered the thali, a combination plate, the paneer was accompanied by bright yellow daal made from lentils, turmeric, and chilies, along with a small salad on the side made of spring mix to add some brightness to the meal. The daal was incredibly flavorful, filled with turmeric—notable for its vivid color—as well as cumin, dried chilies, and more. The rice served with the plates was also seasoned well with saffron, salt, and whole cumin seeds. I ordered garlic naan to go with my dish, and it came out piping hot, covered in freshly sliced garlic and baked to perfection.

Not only were the dishes tasty, they were also beautiful. Each plate had so many different colors and textures on it that it resembled a piece of art. On my thali, there was the orange of the paneer tikka masala, the yellow of the daal, the green of the salad, the yellow of the rice, and the golden brown of the naan. Together, they made a plate that I couldn’t help but dig into immediately.

The balance of the flavors and the slight acidity in the tikka masala sauce is what really sets this restaurant’s food apart from that of others. The different flavors, textures, and elements of all of the menu items work perfectly together. In all honesty, I haven’t tried a combination of two of Zareen’s dishes that I have not loved. The dishes have roots in Indian and Pakistani cuisine, and the chefs mix different elements together to create their own take on the cuisines. All of their food I have ever had the pleasure of tasting has left me eager to plan my next trip to the restaurant. 

The ambience of the restaurant is a little confusing at first, but the different aspects work together, in a way. The dim interior lends itself to a somewhat romantic and private feel at the double tables nestled closely inside; however, the room is also full of families, college students, and everyone else imaginable filling the air with the sounds of their conversations. Outside, there is even more seating, but it is much more casual. This is not to say that inside is formal by any means— the furthest thing from it, in fact—but outside, people are seated on mismatched tables of varying sizes on metal chairs and crammed under umbrellas and tarps with space heaters in between. 

The service at Zareen’s is nearly perfect, especially when you take into account the sheer number of people that they are serving, taking orders from, and keeping track of. All of the wait staff and kitchen staff are immensely kind and helpful, and the food gets delivered quickly. I will say, though, that in order to get to the point where you can even order your food at the front desk, you need to wait in a line that can take up to an hour to get through.

A friend who joined me to review the food said something along the lines of, “I could eat this food every day of my life and not get sick of it. I’m not even joking.” To that end, I think it would be a crime to give this restaurant a review of anything less than five stars. The food is impeccable, the service is great, and it is fairly inexpensive. This is not to say that a meal at Zareen’s is cheap, but the food is much more affordable compared to other restaurants in Palo Alto. A full meal plus a drink and a side for two people didn’t even come out to 30 dollars after tax, and most things on the menu are under 10 dollars. Without a doubt, Zareen’s is the perfect option for anyone seeking a casual, hearty, affordable meal in Palo Alto.

Zareen’s hours (Palo Alto location):
Monday through Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Located on 365 S. California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA. Other locations in Mountain View and Redwood City, CA.