When in Kensington don't miss to visit this place zaika is one of the finest place to have Indian food in London you will love there seek and chicken starters one of the finest ingredients and very nicely done interiors make it a perfect place to chill out
Went there last week on our way to London for dinner with family. Greeted by nice ambience and polite staff. Being vegetarian generally the choices are limited but that was not the case here. We had a range of vegetarian starters to choose from and the taste was superb. The mains were also very nice and good portions. The most important bit "Taste" was quite authentic Indian. Would definitely visit next time I am in London.
I went to this indian restaurant last week .The interiors are done very well. We ordered Vegetarian Trio which was simply delicious bit the quantity was a bit less.Tandoori Subzi was Okayish and nothing extraordinary. The main course Included Dum gosht biryani,Butter chicken,Paneer tikka masala and Dal Makhani and it was surely the best I've ever had.
Staff was courteous and prompt
Though the atmosphere was not appropriate as was too much towards a club or pub
When it comes to good food, Indians are spoilt for choice. There are enough top tier restaurants that have won Indian, and even global, recognition for what they serve and how they do it. Here we list India's best restaurants ln london Zaika was fantastic, I would highly recomment it to anyone. We had a lovely warm welcome and enjoyed the most delicious cocktails before we decide to stay and eat. The service was excellent and prompt with the food arriving only about 5 mins after ordering. Everything looked amazing so we went for a broard selection to share. Indian tapas if you like... Truly scrumptious. With excellent service and great value too, what more could you want. Very impressed
What to Try: The dal makhani, especially if you want to indulge your taste buds in something rich. The dal is infused with flavour, as it’s kept simmering for 48 hours! and white fish plater was mouth waterring
I've eaten here 4 times and always found the food to be excellent. I have always said your mothers cooking is the best but this food is so close to my mothers (I'm indian) that its a close contest.
The ambience is good, always had good service.
I will be dining there again tonight - but we are running late for our 2030 table so hope after this good review the table is held :)
I’m surprised Zaika isn’t more highly rated as this is the best Indian restaurant I’ve been to in London, and I’ve been to many. When I say best I mean best from start to finish. The starters are out of the world - we had the vegetarian trio, lamb chops, and the fish. Do try at least one. The paneer tikka masala and the karahi chicken were excellent as well but the unmissable dish is the Dal Makhani. I highly recommend it. Oh and we asked for the food to be medium spicy but it would obviously vary from person to person.
I thank the staff for a lovely experience and look forward to dining here again!
One of the best Indian cuisine never had like in London the food was delicious handi cheken was mouth watering the lamb curry was full of flaver and juicy the presntaion of the staters was exelent tandoori chicken super. Great decor and exelent service we will visit again
Didn't manage to take a picture of what we have ordered. It was a mix of all; the starter was really good along with the food. Butter chicken, biryani, and shrimps, all the options were worth a try. The location and space was spacious. The service was great.. Highly recommended.
Went after an event in Kensington just before the Kitchen was due to close for the night but welcomed in. The menu selection is fairly minimal but not to say that's a bad thing as the quality of the food was excellent. Tried the paneer and channa masala and also tried the Zaika fruit punch (mocktail) and all items tasted great. There are set menus also on offer which vary between £50-65 per person so on my next visit i am sure to try this. Good resturant for both vegetarians and meat lovers. Dessert sampler as seen in the photo was clean and refreshing. I usually do not like coconut but all three desserts went down a treat including the coconut one. Decor is smart and lit just right. Acoustics great as you can hear the people you are with. I will definitely go again. I will also add some further photos in due course. I would fully recommend a visit.
Zaika of Kensington is owned by the Tamarind collection which also owns the world’s first Michelin starred Indian restaurant, Tamarind of Mayfair. Located in a former banking hall in Kensington, with many of its original architectural features still in place and over a hundred pieces of artwork on the walls, Zaika’s dining room is majestic and relaxing.
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First stop: Zaika Kensington:
Perched at the most south western edge of Hyde Park, comes this regal Indian restaurant. The Arabs have always been fond of Indian spices, adding many to their own cuisine. You will not be disappointed at Zaika. Expect a grand Indian dining experience. If you plan on munching a bunch of samosas to start with, then please go elsewhere. Here you are meant to appreciate the intricacies of the dishes and the subtle bursting of flavours. I started off with the vegeterian trio. Never seen a samosa platter that beautiful. Went great with the papadum trio sauces that had just that right spicy kick with the tangy feel. The seekh kabab was ok, just too dry for my Arab palate so I should have known better not to order. After convincing the waiter to get me chili nan, I dipped my way into the Dal Makhni; a glorious mix of black lentils in a hearty sauce. The mains come in generous portions; the Murgh Handi Lazeez was too smoked for my tasting - not as lazeez as I expected. However the Malabar Prawn more than made it up; a tantalizing mix of prawns and warm coconut milk infused with the right amount of spices. I found the saffron rice to be good but too light for my liking: Arabs like their rice buttery so this was just an OK plate of rice. No dessert for me but rather a masala tea to wrap up the spice indulgence of the night. All in all, the place makes for a great night out; bursting Indian flavors that make you appreciative of all the spices and herbs without going to extreme and without bursting your wallet.
Around £45 a person - Final Verdict: 8/10
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The Veggie Perspective
+4.5
Zaika of Kensington (member of the Tamarind Collection restaurant family) was one of the first Indian restaurants in London to receive a Michelin star and this is truly deserved. We had a fabulous dinner here to celebrate my sisters 30th birthday. You can really feel the Mughal palace influence with the authentic décor which includes wood paneling and a collection of old photos.
Yash Vardhan Raghuvanshi
+4
One of the best Indian restaurants in London. Located within a stone's throw of The Royal Garden London. Probably the best Indian FOOD that I've had so far in London. The ambience is grand and royal. It makes you feel like a MAHARAJA indeed. Best place for Indian cuisine around Kensington high street so far.
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Once again, it was proved that the most authentic Indian restaurants in UK are situated in the heart of London, are expensive, classy and tasteful. I am grateful to places like Zaika for putting unreal impressions of India and Indian cuisine to rest in their own little way.
Zaika is done up with elegance; dim lighting and soft music make it perfect for a quiet romantic meal. Service is super! I felt so welcome by the staff that I could go back just for that. The cocktails were very unique and refreshing.
Another way to distinguish an authentic Indian restaurant from cheap imitations is when the papad (poppadums) are complimentary instead of charged for. We were served 3 delicious chutneys as accompaniments.
The vegetarian starter platter was amazing with a samosa, aloo tikka and dahi wada which just melted in my mouth. The Paneer Tikka Masala was good but not the best I have had. I found the Dal Makhani average. The Mango Kulfi was small but brilliant.
Zaika is not light on the pocket but certainly leaves you feeling you got your penny's worth. We paid about £80 for 2 cocktails, 2 starters, 2 main dishes, bread & 1 dessert.
Zaika is the sister restaurant to Michelin-starred and a favourite of mine Tamarind, this meant I had high expectations when I visited. Recently revamped and refurbished, Zaika is located in a wood panelled former bank. Adorned in silk drapes and antiques Zaika certainly is an impressive restaurant, to the extent that the high ceiling and dark furnishings give it almost a stern imposing feel.
Absolutely fantastic food one of the best Indian restaurants I have been to. The slow cooked lamb in spices was melt in the mouth and the black lentils and okra blew my mind. Lots of authentic dishes on the menu as well as new inventive dishes definitely worth a visit.
Celebrated my wife's birthday here. Everything from the restaurant interiors to ambiance were very good. The food tasted authentic Indian. We ordered everything vegetarian and found all dishes to our liking. My daughter is a very fussy eater but even she enjoyed all the dishes. I slightly felt the serving staff was overworked but maybe because the restaurant was completely full.
Will definitely go back to try more items on the menu.
The old banking hall which houses Zaika is an imposing building. Despite having been restored less than two years ago, inside it feels as if you’ve stepped back into the days of the Raj. The dining room is lush with plants, traditional Indian art is complemented by wood panelling and ornate plasterwork, seating is on comfy leather chairs or banquettes. There’s a well stocked bar serving some amazing cocktails and, even when it is busy, high ceilings and careful table layout stop the place feeling crowded. I’d been to Zaika before, but this time I was invited to try the Vegetarian Tasting Menu – a special for National Vegetarian Week – one which I was assured can be provided on request at any time.
Stupendous food delivered in beautiful surroundings, with a real sense of class and a wonderful ambience. The flavour combinations are just stunning, the set menu gives you a little taster of everything you could want to try (essential with this kind of food I find, otherwise Food Envy happens!) and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. If you're a fan of Indian food then this is one of the best places in London to experience a refined menu.
This is honestly my favourite Indian restaurant in London. The staff are friendly and helpful. The food quality is excellent! Nuanced flavours combined with a great wine list - you can’t go wrong! Arrive early to avoid the dinner rush.
Some of the best Indian food I have ever had. The presentation was flawless but the flavour was even better. I highly recommend the Samosas and the Pistachio Chicken Korma which was life-changing!
Zaika’s a favorite of ours when in London. Lovely space and great attentive service. They have a new chef and there's some new dishes. We tried—and enjoyed—the Tandoori Pickled Cauliflower which was lovely crisp curry cauliflower and Pineapple Sansav, a zippy sweet palate cleanser. But we were saddened by the lessor flavor punch of some old favorites. The Chicken Pistachio Korma lacked the great heft of pistachio. The tandoori Sea Bass was lest deft in cooking and flavor. The revised bar menu now lacks the Cuban Black, which was a favorite.
It's still a very good Indian restaurant. It's just a bit sad when things change, and not for the better.
Great restaurant for modern Indian food. The service was great from start to finish, the interior design and atmosphere excellent and the food great. Would definitely visit again.
I’d walked past this restaurant a number of times so wanted to check it out. Would definitely return and highly recommend. Service was attentive and spot-on with recommendations and they even helped me to charge my phone. Lovely ambience - reminded me of the old style restaurants of Delhi. The cocktail (margarita?) with Indian spices was a great compliment to the starters while the Chardonnay paired well with my mains. One highly recommended dish was the Raj Kachori - a must have, tasted like something you would get on the streets of Delhi. I didn’t like the kofta curry too much to be honest. Didn’t leave much room for dessert but we still managed to make space following the waiter’s (off menu) suggestion of Indian alphonso mangoes - which were incredible and ended the entire meal on a spectacular note! Highly recommended.
Amazing food that touches the right notes and flavors. Each dish is carefully curated and beautifully presented .By far the best food I've had in London. On top of that the staff is truly amazing and goes out of the way to make it a memorable experience for you. Exceptional!
A friend of ours invited us to Zaika. This is our first time visiting this restaurant. Food was very good, specially their starters, butter Nan and biriyani. Every one should try their Baked golap jamon and kulfi. Their services was excellent and I love the ambiance of the restaurant. Their decor gives a royal antique style vibes.
Food was absolutely delicious with just enough spice (may be too much for some). Lots of flavor. Atmosphere is great as well.
Had the best curry of my life!!! We enjoyed fabulously curated cocktails and the Butter Chicken was absolutely out of this world. Best Naan ever, best fish curry ever, and a delectable crème brûlée for dessert. One of the best meals out in a while. Would highly recommend!!!
Some of the best Indian food I’ve had. I’m from India & am very picky when it comes to Indian food. This takes like someone’s mom is in the kitchen making all the food. The Hyderabadi chicken dum biryani was my favorite.
10/10 would recommend.
We ordered butter chicken, haleem, chicken 65, chicken dum biryani.
Super genuinely friendly staff, seriously whoever is the manager who did the hiring here has selected wonderful people. Food was also fantastic and presented beautifully. Everything we had was so so good, one dish was a bit too spicy for me hence couldn’t finish but the flavors were still great. Loved the ambience, honestly would love to go more frequently but have to wait for my next London trip
The food here was very good. The ingredients were fresh, the dishes were very flavourful and authentic also well presented. I would highly recommend the lamb shank with Cashew nut and Bone marrow sauce, the chicken Biryani was so amazing. The service was also very good, waiters were attentive and really took time to explain the various dishes. I would highly recommend this restaurant and I will certainly be back shortly!
My favourite Indian restaurant ever. Loved every single dish here, and always come back with my parents and siblings. Wish I was rich enough to dine here every night! Specifically, thank you so much Murad for your stellar service, kindness, patience and jokes! What a fine night, partly because of the food and partly because of the service!
What a wonderful dining experience! I dined alone this evening at Zaika and Karthik took such wonderful care of me. I went with an all vegetarian meal, starting with a twist on samosas, kofta curry as my main, and finished off with a delicious vanilla bean ice cream. The food was so fresh, came out very quickly and was incredibly delicious. The service was top tier and even though I was dining alone, they made me feel very welcome, comfortable and taken well care of. Highly recommend if you’re in South Kensington and looking for a fine dining South Asian restaurant!
The food was amazing. Thanks a lot to Mansoor for making our experience here outstanding!
What a wonderful experience. Incredible Indian food in the heart of Kensington. Loved the Shani Badami Chicken Korma, a classic dish served in Lucknow’s palace kitchens.
Fantastic interior, a former bank, and some very tasty food, with innovative samosas and wonderful chicken korma.
Great food, lovely ambience... Service was exemplary. Bit pricey but totally worth it. The range of unique cocktails were nicely presented. We were a group of six including 2 kids. Spent a nice evening a good couple of hours, kitchen did close by around 1030am but we were cautioned well in advance, all the orders were taken and they continued to serve drinks amd desserts well beyond that. Never rushed us... Great customer experience. Will definitely go back again.
I ordered the tasting menu at Zaika tonight, and it was the best meal I’ve had in a very long time! Everything was cooked perfectly, and the freshness of the spices and the flavor combinations were sensational. I finally get what people mean when they say that “the flavors were dancing on my tongue.” I will definitely recommend this restaurant to all of my friends who visit London.
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