Zara’s Mediterranean Kitchen

We had lunch here today and it was amazing. The atmosphere is nice, it is clean, and the staff was friendly and helpful. It is the best Mediterranean food I have had. We tried a variety of items and everyone was delicious. We will certainly make the 30 mile drive again to enjoy Zara’s.

we are moving to the woodlands in a few months so I am excited to find great restaurants in the area. this is one of them. we visited here a few months ago. just wonderful. loved the schwarmas, dips, kebabs.
will definitely make this a regular go to place once we are permanently in the area!

Used Unilocal to find something for lunch since I am not from this area. Great reviews and I see why. Great food and service!

I am so glad I live close to Zara’s. They provide tasty food and amazing service at a great price. The ambience is nice as well. For apps, I love the spanakopita, falafel, and all the hummus varieties. My husband and I normally get the Vegetarian Maza plate so we can select different appetizers. For entrees, we love the Falafel salad, Shawarma Lover Platter, and the Chicken Shish Kabob. My favorite part though is their sweet tea. I actually crave it. I haven’t tried the Chi Chewy yet; it was sold out on my last two visits, but I look forward to it.

My fiancée and I get to go here quite often, the food is very good. We get the gyro wrap and combo schwarma plates, and everything is very tasty. The meat is great, prices reasonable, and the wait time for to go is super short. The fries have a donut like taste which is unique and kinda cool, and the dipping sauces they have (like the garlic sauce) are very good.

I have to say that this restaurant really worthy of 5 stars for many reasons:
1) customer service: both gentlemen running the establishment that night were knowledgable and friendly to no end!
2) cleanliness: the place was immaculate!
3) appetizer: we had this dish called «M» something that was outstanding! My gf and I could not stop eating it. We even poured it over the our main courses
4) main dish: falafel sandwiches with sides — my gf and I both loved our sandwiches. I love tahini. She wanted to smother hers with the previous appetizer leftovers. The sweet potatoes were of utmost quality!
I will definitely be making more visits to this little hidden gem in The Woodlands.
Thank you Zara and your fine staff! You guys deserve raises $$$$

After being away from the Houston area for a few years, I was excited to try this new establishment with such high ratings. Zara’s most definitely deserves its accolades. From the moment I entered, there was an inviting atmosphere not usually found in a strip mall. I was seated with my family by the owner of the restaurant and ordered the Zara’s Iced Tea. It was a delicious blend of lavender, lemon and green tea; a welcome refreshment from the Texas summer heat.
We ordered the hummus trio as an appetizer and were quite surprised. The trio consisted of traditional hummus, red pepper hummus and Greek hummus. All three were very impressive, especially the Greek hummus which incorporated feta cheese and olives. The pita bread was very warm and soft, cooked just a tad crispy on the outside. The service was very attentive as they brought us more bread as we were running out. The hummus trio is a great way to start the meal off at Zara’s.
I then ordered the Beef Koobideh as my entrée which came with basmati rice and a Greek salad. The dish was presented very nicely with tomatoes garnishing the beef. The Greek salad was tasty and not overpowered by the dressing and feta cheese. The beef was cooked just right with the edges being slightly krispy and had a flavor full with spice and garlic which went perfectly with the tzaziki sauce. The only complaint I had was that the beef tended to fall apart easily. The rice complimented the beef well and was nice to add to the pita to make a little «mediterranean taco».
Overall my experience at Zara’s was top notch. The attention to detail and enthusiasm of the staff was tangible, especially in how knowledgeable they were of the menu. I will definitely be returning to this establishment and have to try some of the other dishes!

Hands down the best tasting Mediterranean food I’ve had in Woodlands or Spring. While the staff were friendly and helpful, service was slow and it took about 30 minutes to get our meal. Took one star off for that. We went on a Sunday so they may have more staff available during peak periods.

We peeled off the freeway when we saw 108 reviews and an incredulous 5 star rating. The waiter Conner said the owner contacts all reviews that arent good and invites them back to understand what went wrong. We ordered the vegetarian maza (sampler — pick four), chicken shawarma platter and beef shawarma platter.
I could ramble on but the short version is that Zara’s is simply amazing and you should go!
They brought out samples of their tea. It has lavender, citrus and honey. We got a ½ gallon to go even though shelf life limited.
The service is excellent and caring. Our extra napkins came out on a plate. Its the most respectfully prepared and served meal I have ever had. In a world that moves so fast its great to come here and get real food. We felt like family.

Yum!
The hummus appetizer was amazing. Everything we ate was so fresh and clean tasting. It felt like it was prepared with love.
Will definitely be back!

Let me start by saying OHHH MY GOSH their food is dELiCioUs! I found Zara’s by taking a Facebook poll for Mediterranean restaurants and it was by far the top pick.
The first time we went (my husband and I) we ordered the lamb kabobs, hummus and something else that my husband ate wayyyyy too fast for me to even see what it was.
The second time was about a week ago, I took my friend who is part Lebanese to Zara’s and let me tell you!!! This was the visit that turned me into a lifetime customer. My friend is verrrrrrry inquisitive (to say the least) and before I knew it we were talking to Mohammed, who I believe is the owner. He was so incredibly hospitable… that’s the best word to use. I almost felt like we were guests in his home. He and my friend talked at length about the food and family traditions, it was wonderful. He even gave us their house tea and basmati rice just because he really wanted us to try both. And OMG am I glad he did! They were both so flavorful, but not in an overwhelming kind of way. You must try the ice tea, it’s a secret recipe and it is the most refreshing thing I’ve ever tasted; it’s crisp, naturally sweetened with a subtle fragrance. I can tell why it’s a secret recipe. I asked if they sell it by the gallon, and the do. I’m serving it at our next pool party!
So what did we order? We couldn’t help ourselves, we practically ordered everything… somethings we ordered two of (don’t judge). Taste their stuffed grape leaves and you’ll understand! They are fresh and served warm, you can tell they make them as you order them. Let’s see… we ordered the falafel, spanakopita, basil pesto hummus, fried kibbeh, maa maa cheese, tabbouleh, gyro… I said don’t judge! Needless to say we had a few Togo boxes. I was surprised at how well everything tasted reheated the next day.
If I could change one thing about Zara’s menu… well, add one thing it would be a «ladies plate» (as my girlfriend called it). A sampler platter you can create from a choice of appetizers, that way your table won’t look like ours. Everything is so reasonably priced that we didn’t break the bank by ordering everything we wanted to taste.
Zara’s is definitely a must try!

Amazing!!! Easy to see why they have 5 stars. Food is fantastic and the service is even better :) We had the beef sambosas as an app. Entrees were the shawarma lover platter (beef and gyro… can get chicken) with hummus and feta salad for sides. Husband can’t stand hummus but loves the hummus here! I had lamb kebab last time… also great. Husband and kid are obsessed with the mint mojito (non-​alcoholic)!! I stick to water at meals, but that mojito is pretty awesome.
I got so carried away talking about the food, I almost forgot to emphasize the great service!!! The two guys working the front are an asset to any restaurant. They are genuinely friendly and always welcome you with a smile. Above that, they are very knowledgeable and passionate about the food. I always enjoy asking the staff for their favorite dish and hearing the honest enthusiasm about their favorite. Makes you excited to try it!

This is a very tasty spot. I ordered the beef shish kebab with a side of baba ganoush for lunch. Everything tasted great. The basmati rice was beautiful and subtly flavored. The beef was marinated with good flavors. The baba ganoush had a wonderful, full flavor. My only complaint is that the beef was very tough. Oh, and I was very disappointed that the olive on my baba ganoush was a standard canned black olive. I expect a Mediterranean restaurant to have decent olives. I’d come back and try something else if I’m in the area but I wouldn’t order the beef again and I wouldn’t make a special trip.
Update: The restaurant has already been in touch with me to let me know the meat was substandard for their expectations and are addressing the problem! What fabulous service and responsiveness to problems. I am looking forward to ordering the kebabs again to taste the improvement! They are also looking in to the olives.

A great restaurant is not only about quality food and friendly, knowledgeable service, but also about how they handle and recover from mistakes. Some of their servers recently went back to college, so the gentleman on the floor tonight was brand new. There were also a couple new people in the kitchen as well. Every restaurant has ‘one of those nights’ where things aren’t quite moving efficiently and people have to wait a little bit.
I was waiting a while for the server to come back with an answer to a drink question I had asked him. I considered walking out when Mohammad, the owner came over and asked if he could help. I was debating between two different drinks they had, an Apple Malt and a Cream Soda and asked what was in them. He answered my question and then said that since I’d been waiting longer than I should have, he would bring both of them for me for free. Wow, I was very impressed!
I waited a while longer and the server still had not taken my order. I knew it was is first night on the floor and I’ve been a server before so I know how it goes. Still, I was getting a little impatient. Mohammad came over to check on me and apologized for the wait. Then, he asked what I wanted and said to get what ever I want because the entire meal would be on the house. Wow, above and beyond… again, I was truly impressed!
I ordered the Sombosas, the Shawarma Lover’s Platter (w/​Chicken and Gyro), a Baklava (homemade… mmmm… :-)) and Zara’s Chi Chewy (one of their signature desserts… a very unique and tasty combination of a cookie base with whipped cream, nuts, blueberries, and strawberries). The food came out in a very reasonable time and was very good.
I especially enjoyed the Sombosas and the Gyro Shawarma. When Mohammad asked how everything was, I commented that I really enjoyed it but the chicken was a little dry. He said, yes, it seemed a little dry tonight, so he brought be out a plate of Beef Shawarma (which was very juicy and tender), a side of their Basmati Rice and a cup of their special Zara’s Iced Tea for free… keep in mind he was already giving me the entire meal for free.
All-​in-​all an excellent experience. Yes, there was some difficulty at the beginning, but they made up for it and then some. They make all their food from scratch in house and Mohammad, the owner, was friendly, caring, gracious and very attentive. I will definitely go back and I recommend it to anyone reading this that loves good Mediterranean food.
Update 4÷7÷16
— — — — — — –
I’ve either dined in or gotten food to go multiple times since my original visit and Mohammad and his staff have continued to excel. Recently, at his suggestion, I tried their falafels. I’ve honestly never liked them… most restaurants I’ve had them at come out way too cripsy and dry with very little flavor. The ones from Zara’s were by far the best I’ve ever had!
I know everything they do is made from scratch, but I had no idea what all went into it. Mohammad told me that most restaurants simply take a pre-​made powder, get it wet, make a dough and then fry it. At Zara’s they soak the beans overnight, boil them the next morning, grind them in a special grinder, mix in the spices and then fry them in a special fryer only for falafels so no other flavors get mixed in. Well, it works!
Great job again guys… soon on my list is the lamb shank. He said it’s fall-​off-​the-​bone amazing and one of the best things they make, so I’m really curious to try it. Happy eating everyone!

We’ve been here twice now and both times have been really great experiences and really great food! The meat moussaka dish has been the best so far. They also have a house ice tea which is worth a try. We took the waiter’s recommendations both times and haven’t been disappointed. It’s a small place, cozy atmosphere & colorful decorations.

When I’m craving Mediterranean food this is where it’s at!
The service is great, he kept our drinks filled and friendly.
The food is yummy! I like to get the beef Shwarma plate. I love how the beef has crispy edges and sliced thin. I get the basmati rice as a side and baba ganoush.
My husband got the gyro. This is wrapped full of meat so much it was falling open.
We both love their house tea, it has floral notes and sweet. They have texas tea you can get sweet or unsweet.

Summary– Fantastic Mediterranean food in a cute little spot with good service.
Food– 5 Stars
It was all amazing and I am super picky about my greek food. The Baba, the tzatziki, the shawarma, the gyro meat, it was all amazing. There wasn’t one thing that my husband I ordered that wasn’t fantastic. Biggest problem– wish it was closer to home!
Service– 4 Stars
Nice and fast.
Value– 4 Stars
Not super cheap but lots of awesome food.
Atmosphere– 4 Stars
They did a good job on the strip mall space. The benches they made are uncomfortable and cheesy though.

Got many great reviews about this restaurant from friends and family. Went there at 9:10 and the restaurant was closed.
The owner called me right away and explained why the door was closed and apologized even though It wasn’t that big of a deal I respect that a lot from any restaurant owner! Thank you sir.

Absolutely loved Zara’s, very authentic and delicious. We shared the mixed kebob and it was great. One of my favourite restaurants so far.
The waiter was so friendly and helpful. 5*

I was so excited about this restaurant opening up in the Spring area. I’m a huge fan of Mediterranean food so I went in with an open mind and hoping for a great experience. I was definitely not disappointed. The décor inside is not something you’d expect in a strip center. It’s very warm and inviting. You are greeted immediately upon entering by either the owner or his brother. This truly is a family owned restaurant and that is evident in the pride in which they take in their food and service.
I decided to order an assortment of items because I honestly wanted to eat the entire menu. I started with falafel, kibbeh, and a hummus trio. The falafel were fried crispy on the outside, but still moist and flavorful on the inside. It is served with warm, soft pitas and tzatziki sauce. The hummus trio included traditional, basil pesto, and red pepper. All were delicious, but a little difficult to scoop out of the containers. My favorite app was the kibbeh. It’s a crispy fried croquette of cracked wheat, seasoned ground beef, roasted almonds, and house spices. My dinner companion did like it and said it was a textural thing, but I loved it!
For entrees we tried the shawarma platter, chicken shish kebobs, and the lamb shank. The shawarma platter includes beef and chicken shawarma as well as gyro slices so it’s a great way to taste a variety of meats. I would also recommend the mixed grill. The chicken kebobs are flavorful, tender marinated chicken chunks with a slight lemony-​yogurt tang. The lamb shank is simmered for 24 hours in special house blended spices and is falling off the bone tender. For lamb lovers, it is quite the steal at $ 16.95.
Zara’s offers your typical soda and tea options and they do not serve liquor, nor are they BYOB. They do have some great teas. The Zara’s Iced tea is a refreshing blend of tea with a touch of rose water. I recommend the fresh mint mojito. It’s the perfect choice to help cut down on the richness of the meat. Finally, you’ll want to save room for dessert. The rice pudding is okay and the baklava is above average. What you really want is the Chi Chewy! A strange name, but awesome dessert. I would equate it to maybe a blueberry cheesecake square, but that would not really do it justice. I also decided to end my meal with a cup of Turkish coffee. I wasn’t really sure what it was, but it sounded interesting. It was quite an eye-​opening experience. Overall, I had a great time at Zara’s and will definitely add it to my rotation of local family owned restaurants.