ZIBAA Kafe Indonesia - Gading Serpong — Restaurant in Pagedangan

Love, love, love everything about this place! The vibes, food, service... highly recommend experiencing dining here.

Upon entering, the front desk asks how many or whether someone is already inside. Since my friend got there first, I said someone was waiting inside. Usually, we just go inside and find our friends. At Zibaa, the server leads you to the table. I mean, they remember their diner and who is waiting for others. Along the way (my friend was on the 2nd floor), you can't help but notice the eclectic decor. Mirrors, colorful beads, and painted walls.

Got seated, and I didn't have to wait for the extra menu. The server immediately got me one, and we ordered. The menu is a fusion of Indian, Mediterranean, and Indonesian food. My friend wanted to try the wagyu beef ribs biryani, and the server helpfully mentioned there is a portion for sharing. Of course, we wanted to share. I ordered chicken tikka tacos for an appetizer (another helpful recommendation by the server), vanilla panna cotta with rose jelly for dessert, and Zibaa masala chai for drinks.

The chicken tikka tacos and wagyu beef ribs biryani were served first. The presentation was beautiful and colorful. We tried the chicken tikka tacos with pico de gallo and drops of lemon. An enjoyable fresh start! The chicken tikka isn't overpowering, and it complements well with the vegetables and pico de gallo.

The wagyu beef ribs biryani was served in a pot. A big portion of ribs that's so tender we could effortlessly pick away the meat from the bone. The taste? Two thumbs up! They served it with fresh cut-up tomato condiment that adds a kick to it. The biryani was cooked well and tastes just right. Another awesome meal.

Dessert was served after the meal. The vanilla panna cotta with rose jelly was refreshing. I really loved the drink: zibaa masala chai, that I had extra.

When you're there, take a look at the bathroom. It's as decorative as the dining area. Overall, a definite repeat dine...

Zibaa is a real gem. The owner is friendly and is really committed to the restaurant, you'll see him quite often around. But you're not here for the owner so let's talk about the resto. I would like to start with the negatives because there are very few and very nitpicky ones. First of all, no bathroom on the first floor. That means elders will have to suffer climbing stairs just to wash their hands and do their business. Second, it is on the pricey side but for the quality of food you're getting I do shill for it. Third, they only serve plain pratas. That means no garlic, no onion. I am deeply devastated because those two are my favorites. Ok negatives done, all I have is praise left so commence the shilling. The food is terrific, mind you it is NOT authentic Indian. It is a localized Indian which means that you are eating modified Indian food to suit the tastes of Indonesian people. The owner understands that Indonesian taste buds are not Indians and so he holds back the spice flavours. This does not mean that the food is bland. If you come here, you better order the muttons (goat meat), they are delightful. It is soft and flavorful, it is their specialty. You could also order the Indian chicken dishes (Masala) which also has a very "zesty" flavor. Other than that, I cannot recommend any other "modern" or "western" type of dishes. It's not because they're bad, it's just that they are less impressive. The desserts are also great. I personally recommend their brownie and ice cream dish. It is simple but done right. They even have chai, which I have to point out will not be your typical tea, but I liked it. Order it hot. For those of you who don't know what Indian tea is like, imagine ginger tea.... And then add every spice known to mankind. It's like woody medicine.

It is truly one of a kind restaurant. However it is a bit on the pricey side. One beriyani lamb dish is 100k but as I said before, I am willing to...

Zibaa is a fusion restaurant serving variety of Indian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, and Western foods. Foods are of course not 100% authentic but taste pretty good overall. Taste 7/10 Service 6.5/10 Ambiance 6.5/10 Price $$ Revisit Yes

Zibaa Hummus (55k) 7.5/10 Hummus is a dip made out of chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, garlic confit, and lemon juice. Zibaa’s take also include some Dukkah spice mix and hints of cumin. Quite a well made, flavourful hummus. Served with grilled pita bread and marinated grilled lamb. Lamb added a nice texture and flavour but pita was a bit too hard and thick for my taste.

Masala Fries with Zibaa Chili Sauce (27k) 6/10 Nicely crispy fries, though Masala weirdly taste like Cajun seasonings to me. There’s really not much to say about this😆. Pretty nice sides.

Masala Fish Taco (45k) 7.5/10 Crispy Tilapia fillet, tomato coriander salsa, and special Zibaa taco sauce. Mexican-Indian taco fusion that’s executed quite well. Crispy battered fish mixed with the freshness of salsa are a pretty safe mix, but the best part of the tacos is the dipping sauce, which taste like Indian raita and Mexican crema mixed together to create tangy yet light dressing.

Roasted Almond and Pistachio Kulfi Ice Cream (25k) 4/10 Indian style ice cream with a hint of cardamom and roasted nuts. Dessert was sadly a letdown for all of us. I couldn’t get past the icy texture and there’s some weird chemical undertone in the ice cream. Pass.

Rooh Afza Rose Milkshake with Vanilla Ice Cream (40k) 6.5/10 Shake made with Indian rose syrup with some pistachio. We ironically got more pistachio taste from this vs the aforementioned dessert. Not too sweet but quite filling drink.

Zibaa Masala Chai (30k) 8/10 Hot milk tea infused with Indian spice. Authentic masala chai with bold taste. Taste miles better than the chai latte (powder) they serve at your typical cafes here. Heavy on the spices so beware based on your...