Zaika Indian Cuisine Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Cahuita

The service was kind, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The owner (or manager?) did not charge me for the food, and I enjoyed a delicious cocktail (the only thing I paid for). I think the issue is that the volume is very low, so every dish is made to order. To cut down wait time, they rush the cooking. I ordered a very basic matar paneer, but the chef did not simmer long enough to cook the spices down. Every bite was like crunching into raw cardamon or raw black pepper. The menu has no option for single diners, and the food is very expensive. A vegetarian dish cost 9,000 CRC and doesn't even include rice. I love Indian food, but I ended up sick for several days after eating here because the spices were not cooked down at all. (I am not complaining about heat, but raw spices that are not cooked into the food.) I am grateful the owner did not charge me, but I wouldn't recommend this place for single diners. If I were to go back in a group, I would specifically ask for there to be no rush on the food... which to me is a strange thing to have to request when paying for professionally...

Amazing Indian food, best we have had outside of India, and I have been to India 30+ times. Beautiful open air kitchen, the chef is just incredible.

Can order Mild, Medium, Hot and Indian hot.

We ordered a lot of different dishes to try, knowing we would have leftovers for lunch for our stay. Our young girls loved the Chicken Biryani and the plain Naan. We ordered the Butter Chicken, it had a nice warm smokey flavor to it which made it a very unique take on this classic. I love spicy Southern Indian Fish curry, theirs is good. Also get a grill from Tandoori oven, the Salmon came out sizzling and delicious.

Great drink selection, and cold beer & wine. Also try the mango lassi, we all loved it, especially the kids.

Felt like we were quietly surrounded by the jungle, the ambience is so nice, and very unique and fun big wood multi shaped tables. A very open, airy and welcoming space.

Service was amazing, and smiles all around from service to us!

A few Kilometers just south of Puerto Viejo, so nice to escape the town/traffic and come here, we will...

A Magical Indian Culinary Experience in Costa Rica!

This restaurant is pure magic! We honestly didn’t expect to find such authentic Indian food in Costa Rica, but we were truly blown away. Having traveled to India many times, we can say this is just as good as the best food we've had there — maybe even better!

The spices are perfectly balanced, and you can choose your preferred spice level, which makes it perfect for all tastes. They even have a real tandoori oven imported from India, and the flavors reflect that authenticity.

Make sure to check out the live open kitchen — watching the chef work is a treat in itself! He’s not only skilled but also super friendly, speaking English, Spanish, and Hindi. He even took the time to explain how the traditional tandoor works.

The service is excellent, warm, and attentive. Yes, it's a bit on the pricier side, but for the quality, authenticity, and overall experience — totally worth it. A must-visit for anyone craving true Indian cuisine...