This was our first visit but we will ABSOLUTELY be back. Heard wonderful things and thought we'd be adventurous. We cannot handle spice, so we were a *little* nervous. We were also fully unfamiliar with Indian food other than what we'd heard, so this was a new experience.We ordered at the counter and has several questions about what certain dishes were, how they were prepared, and what to expect from a spice level. The girl who took our order was patient and thorough in her explanation, which we appreciated greatly. She said that everything is prepared at a mild spice level but can be increased, but we opted for mild. We ordered the butter chicken, the tandoori chicken, an order of rice, plain naan, and fountain drinks.It was busy the night we visited (a family of around 20 people took up half of the restaurant), so they said it would be a 30-40 minute wait. We knew the food was cooked to order and is authentic, and it was a busy weekend night, so we had no concern waiting.The food came quickly despite being busy. The butter chicken was lovely. The chicken was prepared perfectly: tender and flavorful with the slightest hint of spice. The sauce was creamy and delicious without having an overwhelmingly tomato flavor. The rice was cooked just right and the naan was lovely. If I had any critique of the food it would be that the naan was possibly rolled or stretched slightly too thin at the middle, leaving it quite crispy. Nearer the edges were soft and pliable. Not a complaint in the slightest, just a personal preference.The tandoori chicken came out last. Several full chicken legs, covered in a deep red sauce. Deep, complex flavors. However, Zaika's definition of "mild" and ours are somewhat different. ? Not a criticism, but the chicken was slightly spicier than I expected and much spicier than my wife expected. The flavor was incredible, but the heat was too much for our underdeveloped palates. Next visit, we'll ask for no spice to make sure we can both enjoy to the fullest extent.Following dinner, the owner and head chef came to the table to chat. We congratulated her on the 24-hour change to their hours and she let us know about the plans for the Zaika Express food truck. She offered to make us something not on the menu if we ask on our next visit, which was incredibly generous. She even gave us a sample container of something else on the menu to take home (something with potatoes and soy beans--I feel terrible not knowing what it's called!). She was so sweet and made us feel like family.It was a wonderful experience for an on-a-whim dinner, and we cannot wait to visit again and try more.
Awesome ? food and service.Jaggery tea ☕️Moreover, they are open 24 hours from now.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mikhail Pruidze
The food was ammzing, chief very friendly, family owner restaurant highly recommended especially if you like or love Indian food like i do !As you can see i ate almost everything but coulnt finish since my eye is bigger then my stomach.
Best food, Prontha is amazing and very polite staff and good service ❤️??
Prabh Brar
Good quality food
Raj Gill
Chicken curry is good taste ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shane Russell
The food has been great! You don't go for the atmosphere so get it to go.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
Anastaysa B.
I can't speak to the ambiance or cleanliness of the restaurant, as I ordered delivery. And I know this is a pretty new place, so maybe this was just a one-off. But this was possibly the worst and most inauthentic "Indian" food I've had in the Des Moines area. The garlic naan lacked garlic, and also didn't really resemble the texture of any naan I've ever had. It felt like eating a large, slightly burnt saltine. Very weird texture, super dry. The tikka masala, which is one of my baselines for trying new places was...not that thing. It was watery, which makes zero sense and it did not taste anything like a savory tomato gravy. I'm not sure what went wrong, but it was like chicken in watered down pumpkin pie filling. And it was SWEET. Like saccharine. We also got no rice, which I've never experienced but maybe it was an oversight, or maybe it's just another weird thing about them. My fiance got the kadai chicken, and the flavor profile there was actually pretty good, at least in comparison to everything else. It was bone-in though, which is very unclear on the menu. Which has super flowery, eloquent descriptions that are both inaccurate and seem like they took more effort than the food. And the samosas? Wonton wrapper. Burnt. Also the weirdest I've seen. And this is just a personal problem, but why only vegetarian saag? I've eaten quite a bit of Indian food, but that is not what I would call whatever this is.
Jas Lin
Food so goodVegetarian options: GoodParking: There have truck parking
This was our first visit but we will ABSOLUTELY be back. Heard wonderful things and thought we'd be adventurous. We cannot handle spice, so we were a *little* nervous. We were also fully unfamiliar with Indian food other than what we'd heard, so this was a new experience.We ordered at the counter and has several questions about what certain dishes were, how they were prepared, and what to expect from a spice level. The girl who took our order was patient and thorough in her explanation, which we appreciated greatly. She said that everything is prepared at a mild spice level but can be increased, but we opted for mild. We ordered the butter chicken, the tandoori chicken, an order of rice, plain naan, and fountain drinks.It was busy the night we visited (a family of around 20 people took up half of the restaurant), so they said it would be a 30-40 minute wait. We knew the food was cooked to order and is authentic, and it was a busy weekend night, so we had no concern waiting.The food came quickly despite being busy. The butter chicken was lovely. The chicken was prepared perfectly: tender and flavorful with the slightest hint of spice. The sauce was creamy and delicious without having an overwhelmingly tomato flavor. The rice was cooked just right and the naan was lovely. If I had any critique of the food it would be that the naan was possibly rolled or stretched slightly too thin at the middle, leaving it quite crispy. Nearer the edges were soft and pliable. Not a complaint in the slightest, just a personal preference.The tandoori chicken came out last. Several full chicken legs, covered in a deep red sauce. Deep, complex flavors. However, Zaika's definition of "mild" and ours are somewhat different. ? Not a criticism, but the chicken was slightly spicier than I expected and much spicier than my wife expected. The flavor was incredible, but the heat was too much for our underdeveloped palates. Next visit, we'll ask for no spice to make sure we can both enjoy to the fullest extent.Following dinner, the owner and head chef came to the table to chat. We congratulated her on the 24-hour change to their hours and she let us know about the plans for the Zaika Express food truck. She offered to make us something not on the menu if we ask on our next visit, which was incredibly generous. She even gave us a sample container of something else on the menu to take home (something with potatoes and soy beans--I feel terrible not knowing what it's called!). She was so sweet and made us feel like family.It was a wonderful experience for an on-a-whim dinner, and we cannot wait to visit again and try more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Butter Chicken, Naan, Tandoori Chicken
Awesome ? food and service.Jaggery tea ☕️Moreover, they are open 24 hours from now.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was ammzing, chief very friendly, family owner restaurant highly recommended especially if you like or love Indian food like i do !As you can see i ate almost everything but coulnt finish since my eye is bigger then my stomach.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Tikka, Naan, Jeera Rice
Fresh and tasty
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best food, Prontha is amazing and very polite staff and good service ❤️??
Good quality food
Chicken curry is good taste ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food has been great! You don't go for the atmosphere so get it to go.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
I can't speak to the ambiance or cleanliness of the restaurant, as I ordered delivery. And I know this is a pretty new place, so maybe this was just a one-off. But this was possibly the worst and most inauthentic "Indian" food I've had in the Des Moines area. The garlic naan lacked garlic, and also didn't really resemble the texture of any naan I've ever had. It felt like eating a large, slightly burnt saltine. Very weird texture, super dry. The tikka masala, which is one of my baselines for trying new places was...not that thing. It was watery, which makes zero sense and it did not taste anything like a savory tomato gravy. I'm not sure what went wrong, but it was like chicken in watered down pumpkin pie filling. And it was SWEET. Like saccharine. We also got no rice, which I've never experienced but maybe it was an oversight, or maybe it's just another weird thing about them. My fiance got the kadai chicken, and the flavor profile there was actually pretty good, at least in comparison to everything else. It was bone-in though, which is very unclear on the menu. Which has super flowery, eloquent descriptions that are both inaccurate and seem like they took more effort than the food. And the samosas? Wonton wrapper. Burnt. Also the weirdest I've seen. And this is just a personal problem, but why only vegetarian saag? I've eaten quite a bit of Indian food, but that is not what I would call whatever this is.
Food so goodVegetarian options: GoodParking: There have truck parking
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Butter Chicken
Restaurantji Recommends
Best test I like
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is very tasty and staff is very co
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chicken rice biryani and chai ☕️ was really good ?.
Food: 5
Great service,,,,Nice
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
good food must
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Kala Chana