Zaika Indian Bistro & Bar
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
11 reviews for Zaika Indian Bistro & Bar
11 reviews in English
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Review from Ohashii F.
2/20/2012
I would agree with the other reviewer that on slow nights the servers seem to be very interested in hanging out in a corner booth so you end up having some awkward waiting times to be seated and to get the check even though they only have a few tables full.
That said, it was incredibly refreshing to get a combination of a comfortable, modern ambiance combined with some very good Indian cuisine. The food tastes legit but with a modern presentation style.
The meats were tasty and the sauces were full of flavor without seeming too heavy. Their margaritas were also mixed well and they have some innovative ones in the list.
I was a bit skeptical on my way in - thinking that perhaps they had focused to much on getting a good atmosphere and maybe the food wouldn't be quite right but I think Zaika pulled off both a good atmosphere and good food. The servers were helpful once they got moving too. -
Review from Marlow C.
Edmonton, AB
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
They have one of the tasier Indian buffets in Edmonton that I've tried recently. The place is swanky on the outside and the inside, very different then many other Indian restaurants in Edmonton.
If you go for the buffet, it's well organized and maintained. Located at the centre of the restaurant, it's organized in a circle, well labelled, with staff constantly cleaning and refilling the buffet station.
The dishes are slightly on the spicier side, but are well seasoned with a good flavor otherwise. Be warned almost every sauce is quite creamy and rich tasting, so it fills you up quickly.
The only hiccup was while paying the bill. They said they would bring the wireless debit machine over, but returned saying it was out of batteries and we would have to go to the front. When we went to the front, they were utilizing the wireless debit machine which was not out of batteries, as opposed to the wired one attached to the computer. They also tried charging us for 3 adult buffets when we only had 2, even though I presented our bill to them. Then when they finally punched in 2 adult buffets, the 15% service charge they had tacked onto our bill as we were a large group was somehow tripled. Least to say, it took a while to convince them to add the amounts manually to prove that they were charging us too much.
So if you go, go for the food and be prepared for some less than desirable service. -
Review from S J.
Edmonton, AB
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Had a lovely luncheon buffet for roughly $15, The butter chicken was good, but it was the vegetarian dishes that shone. The mango vegetables were great.
The decor is very modern, trendy but still welcoming. -
Review from Patricia M.
Edmonton, AB
4/3/2011 ROTD 12/13/2011
On our way to Bone and Biscuit we stopped at Zaika for a quick lunch. The atmosphere and decor of Zaika is perfect. The lighting is beautiful, I love the high quality booths, and the buffet area was spotless.
The lunch buffet was $12.00 a person and I was thrilled at the large selection of vegetarian options. Not all Indian restaurants carry a large selection of meat less dishes. Our food was delicious and the naan bread was really good (Veggie Garden still has the best naan in the world).
Our waitress was fantastic and I will definitely be back. I would also recommend this place to other people. -
Review from Andrew H.
3/7/2011
Take Joey's swanky decor mixed in with quality East Indian cuisine and I give you Zaika.
From the uber hip and modern art to the lounge-type seating, I would never expect to be going up for my third, fourth plate of buffet food. I expect to be heavily charged for my moderately sized meals (I'm looking at YOU, GURU) but oddly enough, I paid the usually amount for eating at an East Indian Buffet.
The tandori chicken was flavorful. Fried fish was your usual affair. Naan and butter chicken was an instant winner for thirds and fourth.
Their drink menu is of the lounge-y affair with flirtatious names but the taste lived up to the name. I had the mango lassi which is mango mixed with yogurt drink. Perfect compliment to a medium spicy meal.
This has to be my favorite place to eat East Indian food. Mostly because I didn't get bad stomach aches after or the day after which means it is clean. -
Review from Natalie W.
Edmonton, AB
12/11/2011
In short: food was great, service was terrible.
Maybe we jut caught them on an off night, but we waited about 10 minutes before a hostess came to greet us, despite it not being very busy at all. We also didn't get any drink refills, and only one rushed quality check. Since our impression of the service wasn't that great, we opted for the buffet. They had all the classic Indian options, aloo gobi, butter chicken, mutter paneer, etc. and all of them were yummy. My only complaint food wise was that their naan bread was quite thin and greasy. All in all, I'd be willing to try this place again, because I really enjoyed the food. -
Review from Kelly Z.
2/9/2010 1 photo
I'm so glad to see this area of the city growing. Although I do not live remotely close to Zaika (it takes me 30+ minutes to drive there, actually) I love that there are people making things work in new areas that aren't chain restos!
Zaika is owned by a young couple who got their start under the people at India Garden I believe. It's in a new suburb as I mentioned, next to a south asian grocer (owned by the sister of the woman running Zaika) and a few other interesting shops. This is an area growing up quickly!
When I first entered Zaika I was worried it would be all style and no substance. This is not the case at all.
The food is well flavoured with fresh ingredients. Even their buffet is top notch: no dry, gloppy, recycled foods here. There are old favourites, but also some new dishes that may be new to you, or twists on those old favourites.
It is a great place to bring someone who is new to Indian cuisine, or even an old hand who is sure to be surprised.
Oh: and they have Newcastle on tap! -
Review from Jack G.
Edmonton, AB
11/4/2009 3 photos
When it comes to atmosphere and looks, Zaika has hit the nail on the head. From the moment I walked in the mood was very relaxed and welcoming. I could instantly tell that there was a lot of thought put into the design of this restaurant and it paid off. It has a very classy, urban design that keeps things simple.
Like most Indian restaurants the menu has a better than average butter chicken but I was impressed by the mint chicken. It was something that is not normally found at these types of places. The food is priced fairly and no price on the menu struck me as over the top.
The dining area and the lounge are divided by 2 midsized walls and have a buffet table in between them. I specifically enjoyed the lounge. It is the perfect size and allows you to feel comfortable. The staff was very pleasant to deal with and they did their best to make sure everything was perfect. The bartender/owner Shawn is really outgoing and makes you feel at home. Be careful though he can smooth talk you into drinking more than you want!
My few concerns are that it is located in a bit of an industrial area but it looks like there are other restaurants and stores going up around it immediately, so it's not that big of a deal. I would also like to see a few finger friendly items in the appetizers (ie. nachos, wings etc.) for people just hanging out. They do have wings on the menu but they need some work.
Overall, this is a place that you can go to hang out in the lounge, go for a business meeting or take someone for an intimate evening. -
Review from Paula K.
8/14/2010
I just tried some food from Zaika at The Fringe. This is the first time I ever heard of the restaurant, and I am eager to pay the actual place a visit after trying the mango chicken combo. The chicken was flavourful and tender. The pieces were huge - I just wish there were more of them. The sauce was almost like butter chicken but not quite as rich. The rice was perfectly cooked and saffron-tasting, while the vegetable samosa was thick and full of seasoned veggies. It was a great festival food value at $8. I am not in the Ellerslie area all that much, but I just might have to make a trip now.
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Review from Ryan M.
Langley, BC
5/29/2010
My first 5 star restaurant on YELP!!
I recently ate hear with a group of 6 friends during a recent visit to Edmonton. I give the price: $$ (2 dollar signs) and everything else 5 full stars.
Upon walking into this place, I was truly stunned. The decor is unlike any other restaurant I've been too, a little bit crazy with an urban/modern touch. Definitely makes you feel excited to dine here.
The staff there were very friendly and were helpful in helping me decide what to order. I don't eat Indian food too often so I was worried it might get a little spicy but again, the staff helped me pick out something that suited my palate! I ended up with the buffet (as many of my friends did as well) and I was surprised that the buffet food tasted better than other restaurant's main dishes! You absolutely have to try the apricot chicken, I've been going to a ton of Indian restaurants here in Vancouver and can't find any that make such a delicious apricot chicken dish.
The bistro also had very good ambiance, with a perfect amount of dark-light ratio. Makes the setting intimate yet it provides a unique boost of energy. Oh and I will mention that they had a substantial bar on one third of the restaurant. We were there on a Saturday night and I'm pretty sure they said there was a wedding party at the bar of over 100 PEOPLE!! Didn't make it over that way because it was so packed so no comments on drinks/drink prices.
I'm babbling on a little bit but I will definitely make a stop out here again WHENEVER I come back into Edmonton. Takes a lot to get 5 stars out of me!! -
Review from John M.
Edmonton, AB
6/19/2011
Great buffet!
