Zaina Food Drinks & Friends

My Italian cousin & I were walking around downtown Seattle, communicating by speaking Spanish & Italian… we stopped in here (hoping to rent a hookah and enjoy some Middle Eastern food, which I love) & the only guy working there ended up being from Mexico, and he could speak Italian. :)
The gyros were fantastic, and the Turkish coffee was good and strong, but we were not allowed hookah. Another plus is that the stereo was blasting Tarkan, Turkish pop music. The ambiance is lovely as well.

Great place for teenagers from the suburbs on the weekends and late night.
This is the hang out place to rent hookahs and the music is loud and fun.
As for food, I wasn’t too impressed by the falafel or the gyro and fries combo. I think the food is ok but I don’t go there to eat food but to hang out w/​my friends who are under 21.

***CLOSED***
As of June 2006, it looks like this place is closing. Not sure why. At least there is a Cherry St location to enjoy.
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I have a tendency to really dislike middle eastern food. Not all of it, but most of it. I think it has something to do with how bland most of it is. But this place was different.
First off, the ambiance is incredible. They walls and ceiling are all painted with beautiful sketches of old Egyptian people, pharaohs, eyes of Ra, and even monkeys. I adore Egypt and even have my house decked out in papyrus and altars so this was just incredible to sit back and enjoy the middle eastern music and environment.
The food here was actually good too. Though I’m not a fan of olives, I got the kebab skewer special. $ 10 and it was like a middle eastern taco salad with pita and get it spicy! It just makes it nice and flavorfull. I really enjoyed it but wasn’t able to finish it all because I had a stomach ache, but strangely enough, this food didn’t bother me. Oh and get the baklava, so full of cinnamon, it’s incredible.
I’ve heard the lunch crowd can be crazy and the staff will be short with you, but in the evening they take their time and it’s a great vibe.
No more hookahs, but still beer and a full bar.

i love falfle here! This one of my very favorite falfle places. they will gladly make your sandwicth however you like. the hookahs and full bar only make the food that much better.

best falafel in town, honest.

I LOVE ZAINA! And it’s not just because of the popluarity, the great music, the awesome food, fresh hookah, and the fabulous service. Zaina is great because it exposes teens to middle eastern culture and makes it fun, cool and popular. I love that you can go here and see people of all ages and all walks of life. Everyone must go to Zaina’s and soon; I fear that soon the cops are going to close down this place because of the abundance of 18 years olds (you have to be 18 for the Hookah-​lame!) that hang out here and the fact that 21 year olds can purchase beer (and, yes, they’ve got RED STRIPE!). Support Zaina’s and support the melding of middle-​eastern and western cultures in a time of frailty and tension!