Zareen's Restaurant & Catering — Restaurant in Redwood City

We recently dined at this spot and tried a variety of dishes, and I have to say, it was a wonderfully flavorful experience that satisfied every craving.

We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Gosht, Garlic Naan, Nihari with Rice, and a Mango Lassi to round it all out.

Let’s start with the Chicken Tikka Masala: hands down the star of the meal. The chicken was incredibly tender and juicy, with a subtle charred, smoky flavor that added depth to each bite. The gravy was rich, creamy, and bursting with layers of spices, it was finger-licking good, and we found ourselves scooping up every last bit with naan. A true comfort dish that hits all the right notes.

The Lamb Gosht was also well-prepared. The lamb was soft and flavorful, cooked with just the right amount of spices to make it aromatic and hearty. While I personally lean more toward chicken dishes, I could still appreciate the care put into this one—especially if you’re a fan of red meat.

Next came the Nihari, and it absolutely delivered. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth soft, simmered to perfection. The gravy was thick, rich, and full of slow-cooked, meaty flavor. It paired exceptionally well with the garlic naan, soaking up all the goodness and making for a deeply satisfying bite.

The Garlic Naan itself was also a standout. It came out warm, generously slathered in garlic and butter, and was larger than expected, perfect for sharing (though you may not want to). It had the ideal texture: crispy at the edges and soft in the center.

To top it all off, we ordered a Mango Lassi, and it might just be one of the best I’ve had. It had the perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess, and you could really taste the richness of both the mango and the milk in every sip. Cool, refreshing, and perfectly smooth-a great way to balance the spices of the meal.

Aside from the food, the ambiance was warm and inviting, with a cozy atmosphere and beautiful traditional decor that made the dining experience even more enjoyable. The service was excellent-prompt, attentive, and friendly without being intrusive. Everything came out in good time.

Overall, this place is a hidden gem for anyone craving authentic, comforting Pakistani-Indian cuisine in a beautiful and relaxing setting. I’ll definitely be back-especially for that Chicken Tikka Masala and Mango Lassi combo!...

I am a long-standing customer at Zareen’s Mountain View and Palo Alto branch. I love the food there and keep going back for more. Today I dined at the Redwood City restaurant for the first time. Inside decor was really cool. Very clean restaurant with plenty outdoor seating. The reason I took off stars - I had ordered my usual chicken boti sizzler that I have been eating from few years now, it’s their signature dish. However, today it had multiple issues. It was extremely salty. It was that salty that tongue felt burnt towards the end. I am still gulping tons of water to kick off that extra sodium. Also, as it was a sizzler, it came on the hot plate. It was that hot that it kept sizzling for the next 5 mins. It looked cool to other costumers sitting nearby, but for us - we started coughing, it smoked for too long. When that got over, we realized with so much heat the chicken got over cooked. In fact the layer of chicken and onions below was completely burnt and had to be discarded. I would say - please serve the regular food - it got spoiled by adding extra gimmicks. Parantha was as usual great, super oily but great. This review was specific to Redwood City branch. I will keep going to Mountain view and Palo Alto ones. 5 starts for them!

Update: the manager reached out to me personally and explained that it was a one-off incident. I am really impressed with the kind of genuine concern she expressed. This shows the strong character to own up and that the restaurant really care about the customers. I wouldn’t expect this kind of courtesy from most of the restaurants. As a longstanding customer of this chain, I already am aware of the delicious food they have been serving from years. She graciously offered to refund for the item that I wasn’t happy with. I would give “awesome” rating to their customer service. I am changing my stars from 2 to 4, all for their excellent...

Updated review: docked 2 stars Twice I ordered outside of the bestseller menu and it was a big disappointment. The palak methi dish gave me food poisoning for two weeks. Today I ordered an aloo tiki bun kabab and it was literally just an aloo tiki in a bun with some onions and chutney for $10. Unbelievable price gouging. It was not a burger. It should have been listed under small plates as a slider. It was also pretty bland, not something I expected from aloo tiki.

Old review:

Best and most authentic Pakistani food place in the entire US (that I’ve had to eat at). The vibe is definitely Karachiite, which is a unique taste that you won’t know unless you’ve experienced it. Saw some comments saying this is not Pakistani food, well sorry to say if you’ve been eating subpar Pakistani food or really good Indian food, which is completely different from Pakistani food, then you don’t know what authentic Pakistani is like. Even their Naan taste authentic. Nihari is legit Sabri nihari style but the beef somehow tastes better and cleaner. The chicken sizzler is to die for. The kabab fry is so nostalgic and reminiscent of our good days on Karachi food streets. Love the ambiance that’s both upbeat and keeps the desi pro-feminist vibe intact. Service is remarkable. I also like the self order kiosks, as I always find it hard to order verbally. Could be cleaner during customers because sometimes during peak hours it can feel like a zoo. But other than that, just the best ever. I can...