Zam Zam Foods — Restaurant in Hawthorne

My first visit here was disappointing . It seemed like the owner’s kids were running the place, and the customer service was lacking. No one came to take our order — we had to go up to the counter ourselves, while staff stood around chatting or on their phones even for the water i asked 3 times took them 20min to bring water. It was frustrating and unprofessional. This had happened 2 times i came here but got fed up when I brought my friend.

It’s honestly no surprise that the restaurant next door, Al Watan Halal Tandoori, is always packed. Even if their food isn’t good at all but, their customer service makes up for it — something this place could really learn from.

I went back today just to pick up food (I didn’t want to dine in again because of my past experience), I had a short talk with the owner she is soo nice , the mother — she mentioned they had been “verified,” possibly referring to my review. I told her that my feedback wasn’t meant to damage their business, only to help improve it. She seemed to understand, so I let her know I’d take the review down as long as the message was heard.

I do hope they take it seriously. The food is the BESTT , but without proper customer service — whether it’s better training or hiring staff who care — it’ll be hard to earn people’s loyalty. I want to support small, local restaurants, but respect and hospitality go a long way, and again, it's the best food you can have in this area actually...

Update 6: Flavors are now consistent after recent multiple visits. Rice is fluffy and frankly good on its own. Protein pieces wise, lamb biryani is just bones with very little meat. Chicken biryani is a full leg chopped up. Raita quality though is inconsistent at times way too watery and sour. They finally cleaned up the dining room with some new decor. Attitude could be a little more cordial.

Update 5: Lacking flavors again. Chicken biryani is rather bland again. Soggy rice.

Update 4: Happy to say, the flavors are back. Still a bit short of former owners but very close.

Update 3: we officially need Fahim and Forzia back here. Chicken Biryani today was soggy. Lacks flavors. We need the actual spices in the rice. Please add them back. What's going on in the kitchen? We love your food but please do better.

Update 2: Flavors are back. But meat portions are down. Also no potatoes, actual chili or cinnamon bark.

Update 1: Original owners sold this restaurant. Biryani taste a little different. Lamb especially is...

Migrated from adjacent King Fahad Mosque in Culver City to a nondescript strip mall in Hawthorne Zam Zam Market continues to draw crowds for Pakistani Food prepared fresh by a wife and husband kitchen.

Little more than a convenience store at first look, the menu laminated on a wall and service hardly acknowledging guests’ arrivals, it is after brief indecision that choices are made with the bill paid immediately and wait times dependent on robust take-out business.

Stripped-down being generous, the market dusty and tables’ best years passed, it was while sipping room temperature water from a cooler that twenty minutes passed in silence before a sizable plate of Chandad Kabab arrived to ignite the palate with a juicy blend of Meats brightened by Green Chiles.

Barely quelling the fire with a generous Mango Lassi, though a squeeze bottle of Raita helped, course two consisted of Bone-In Lamb Korma better than any tasted elsewhere, fatty Meat gone first followed by every drop of Sauce sopped...