Zankou Chicken — Restaurant in Pasadena

Clean restaurant, parking lot is awkward (in the back), and customer service is not consistent. I have asked for extra garlic sauce, sometimes they charge extra and sometimes they don't.

Food I ordered the #4 Quarter White Chicken. It came with hummus, chili peppers, pickled turnips, sliced tomatoes and pita bread. I like it when they warm up the pita (sometimes they serve it room temperature), it's soft and it taste better. The skin of the chicken was partially not there, a bit dry and the portion was small (there were many times I ordered this and the size of chicken was decent and all the skin was there). The best part of my meal is dipping the chicken in the garlic sauce, it's so delicious! The chili peppers also taste good with the chicken, I love spicy food. Take a bite of the chicken then the chili peppers.

I also got a small order of Mutabbal. My friend got it too, one would have been enough for us. Basically it's grilled eggplants, tahini and garlic blended together. It is topped with olive oil and drizzled with paprika. There was a strong flavor that I didn't like, I wouldn't order it again. Other then the chicken, from time to time, I like to get the following items: Shish Kebab, it is marinated steak, served with Basmati Rice, barbecued tomato, hummus, pickled turnips, seasoned onions and pita bread. If you are in a hurry, expect to wait 15 min to 20 minutes, it takes a while to cook. Next is the Shawerma, which is slices steak, hummus, tomatoes, chili peppers, onions and sesame sauce. The last one is the Tabbouleh Salad, it is minced tomatoes, bulgur, tomatoes, and green onions; mixed together with oil and lemon, it has a tangy flavor.

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The beef kabob was LITERALLY made from the cheapest meat at the store. The one that has all the hard chewy tissue in between the strands. But, they charge like it's filet mignon. Either the employees are replacing the meat or, the owner thinks it's slick to cheapen the food, and raise the prices. I showed them the meat was not chewable and, they gave me another kabob with the same quality meat. It was just too much to complain again. Now my stomach hurts. I had the combo, the chicken kabob was just ok, missing flavor. I've eaten at zankou in Pasadena for years! I keep seeing the quality go down every time I go in for the last couple of years. I think this was my last time. I eat at several different middle eastern restaurants. I've never been served that meat before. A $5 burger would have sat better in my stomach, instead of almost $20. The staff is nice but, I went there for the food.

Update 3/15/24 (2 years and 9 months later). So, I finally went back a few days ago. But, I didn't bother with the beef or kabobs. I like to cook my own now, it's the best. So, I had the 1/2 chicken and it was incredibly delicious! I guess that's why it's called...

FIRSTLY THE MENU PRICES LISTED HERE ARE WRONG, FOR EXAMPLE THE QUARTER WHITE is only $10.99 but listed at $18.99.

I've been to the Woodland Hills location a couple of times and overall their ambience and location feels more upscale, this location felt more like KFC in the 80s.

I love the perfect french fries at WH but they are not available at the Pasadena location. The quarter white didn't look as appealing as the WH location but was still good and juicy. All my modifications were honored and my order was correct. Definitely busy, parking is a nightmare and if there is parking in the rear it should be highlighted. Overall food was good but sadly the vibe felt a bit sketchy as so many closed businesses adjacent.

If getting take out appears worth checking orders are complete.

Eventhough Armando did not serve me it was clear he was the backbone of the operation and was totally multitasking and helping all guests, and finding solutions for others who had confusion.

Zankou is superior to other chicken places and give or take there appears to be consistency...