ZiZa Kabob — Restaurant in Columbia

My recent visit to Ziza Kabob left me disappointed on multiple fronts. Despite the hype surrounding this restaurant, I found it to be an overall underwhelming experience that fell short of my expectations. From the exorbitant prices to the minuscule portions and unsatisfactory taste, it was a letdown from start to finish.

Let’s start with the prices. Ziza Kabob definitely does not come cheap, and it quickly became apparent that I was paying a premium for very little in return. The menu items were priced significantly higher than what one would expect for similar offerings in other establishments. I found it difficult to justify the steep prices when the quality and quantity of the food were sorely lacking.

Speaking of quantity, the portion sizes at Ziza Kabob were downright disappointing. I was astounded at how small the servings were, leaving me feeling hungry and dissatisfied. It’s disheartening to pay a premium only to receive what can only be described as an appetizer-sized portion. It felt like I was being taken advantage of, paying more for less.

Unfortunately, the quality of the food did not redeem the experience. The flavors were lackluster, and the overall taste was far from enjoyable. The kabobs, which should be the star of the show, were dry and overcooked. The promised aromatic spices were barely detectable, leaving me longing for a more flavorful and satisfying meal. It was a clear missed opportunity to showcase the vibrant and delicious flavors that Middle Eastern cuisine has to offer.

Furthermore, the service at Ziza Kabob was lackluster at best. The staff seemed disinterested and inattentive, making it difficult to get their attention when needed. Requests for condiments or simple inquiries were met with indifference or delayed responses. The lack of hospitality and attentiveness only added to the overall disappointment of the dining experience.

In conclusion, I cannot recommend Ziza Kabob based on my visit. The combination of high prices, small portions, and unsatisfactory taste made for a truly underwhelming dining experience. If you’re looking for a restaurant that offers authentic and flavorful Middle Eastern cuisine at reasonable prices, I would suggest exploring...

A recommendation popped up for ZiZa so my wife and I headed over. I'm generally not a big fan of counter service restaurants vs. wait service and was ready to go elsewhere, but my wife said we should give it a try.

Opened to door to walk in and the kitchen aromas enveloped us, it was wonderful. We walked up to the counter and we quickly greeted as we gazed at the menu boards trying to take it all in. My wife ordered Samosas and a Lamb Kabob, I opted for the Chicken Tikka Masala a regular favorite. We were asked where we'd sit, choose a table by number, and went to sit.

The Samosas (we'd ordered 4) were brought out, they were large, full looking and in the more traditional style that those wrapped in Filo Dough. They came with the expected mint laced green sauce and another one that looked like an apple compote, which of course it wasn't. Both were very nice, the 'apple' one had a bit of a kick. The dough was much lighter and flaky than we had anticipated, we're used to it being heavy, bread like and bland. The filling was also a pleasant with chunks of potato and spiced in a very uniquely pleasant manner.

My wife would have liked the Lamb to be a bit more on the rare side, but, it was otherwise good. We both enjoyed the accompanying salad which consisted of proper greens and drizzled with a good dressing.

Now onto the Chicken Tikka Masala, chicken was warm, tender, and was very tender. The Basmati Rice was exactly what I'd come to expect from Afghani and Indian establishments. When I later spoke to the owner I learned that the dish is the hottest on the menu, meaning 1/2 of it came home and I left red faced, sweating, with tingling lips and tongue. You would probably think the peppers put the disk in the mild to medium range, but it was overkill for me. It was still hard to put my fork down as the Masala tasted far too good. The owner suggested I tell them the dish was too hot for me and that they could add yogurt or sugar to tone it down before serving...

Creamed/chopped, spiced spinach app (Sabzi) is usually buttery and tasty, tho it was served bland once. Big enough for three people to share only $6. Chicken Seekh Kabob was great. One end was a little overcooked, but overall still delicious. It was just the right amount spicy. (I'm a spicy eater.) Kofta Kabob (beef) was the best I've had. So juicy and flavorful. (Sundays-only) Karahi Chicken (pic) was fantastic, falling off the bone in rich stew broth. I swapped out the salad for chickpea curry, no upcharge. I usually don't care for chickpeas, but theirs is tasty. Chicken Chili Kabob is amazing. Chicken thighs and a bit more spicy than the regular chn kabob. Suggest you ask for it crispy. Chicken Jalfrezi (pic) first time was not impressed. White meat ckn dried out, probably cuz it was sitting out since 11am. Second time I got it was much better, was earlier before noon. Chicken Curry (Tuesday special), also suffered from dried white meat, but the curry sauce was pretty good. Do Piaza (lamb in a thick stew gravy), Thursday special, was surprisingly not very tasty and lamb was overcooked. Online order was ready early, go in 15min instead of 20min. One time they did not have the special of the day that I ordered. Instead they offered Salmon & Shrimp kabob. It was $5 more, but they waved the upcharge since it was their fault. Tandoori Salmon & Shrimp was excellent, fish pieces . Fish piece could have been bit bigger, shrimp very tasty, recommend you eat w shell on. Chicken Kabob was decent. White chicken chunks were pretty moist, had good flavor. Hummus app was good. Not as thick as most hummus, taste excellent. Kadu app was quite tasty. Very sweet, makes a better dessert than appetizer. Also very large enough for three people to share. Lamb Shawarma (gyro style) was excellent (pic). Suggest you get it with spinach instead of fries. Liked the lentils garnish...