Zand’s

This was my first time here but it will definitely not be my last. I’m bringing everyone and their mother’s here. The ambience is on point! For starters, walking in I felt right at home. Beautiful, culturally thick music was playing. I ordered some of the best Turkish coffee I’ve ever had. I also ordered the falafel platter with a side if yogurt sauce and dolma. This was my first time trying dolma and I was not disappointed. The atmosphere is welcoming, the food is delicious and the service was great. Thank you Zands for making me feel right at home.

Writing this review with mixed feelings, because the quality of the food was good, but it just seemed a tad overpriced for the recent catering we did. We ordered vegetarian items for 22 people and meat for 12 of them (so 12 «mixed» dinners with meat and veggies and 10 purely vegetarian and vegan platters). The vegan items were falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, dolmas, cucumber/​tomato salad, tabouleh, and pita bread. The vegetarian items were baklava and an egg/​herb cake that tasted great. For the meat eaters there was a chicken salad and chicken skewers. The tabouleh was the only item that was subpar and some people thought the chicken skewers were a little bland.
The price came to $ 13 per person for the vegetarian combinations and $ 7 per chicken skewer, of which we got about 2 per meat eater. Including some sweets the dinner came to $ 530 for 22 people.
So, be prepared for decent middle eastern food but also $ 20-​$ 30 per person when catering here, depending on whether you are vegetarian or not. Perhaps that’s a normal price for the bay area but I had anticipated to pay less (my mom took care of the order so I didn’t keep track of the final price before she had already paid).

Came here for the first time few days ago, it was recommended by my mom. She loves Zand and promised it wouldn’t disappoint, she was right! The food is delish! The owner is also very sweet and helpful. She offered me several samples because I was conflicted by so many yummy options. She also made recommendations based on what I explained I was in the mood for. I really appreciated that. Definitely coming back here, my new Middle Eastern/​Mediterranean fix.

I have ordered the party platters from Zand a few times, and they are always fantastic. The presentation of the platters is beautiful, everyone oohs and aahs when they see them, and the food is outstanding. Last week I ordered from them again for a birthday party, and on only a day’s notice, they were able to put together the platters and were super helpful about figuring out what I needed and explaining which food goes with which sauces when I picked up the platters.

I have an international palate with a heavy love and craving for anything rose flavored. Here at Zand’s I discovered my two favorite indulgences: Rose water ice cream and rose water pistachio nougat. There is a variety of mid eastern specialties that this deli/​store carries. Conveniently close to places a frequent. Plenty of street parking.

This is my to go place when I want to eat clean after a workout. I normally do a takeout order from Zand’s –falafel, hummus, dolmas (they’re ON POINT), and chicken rice thingy (I totally forgot the name of it). I would try their pastries… but I’m on a diet. Maybe when I decide to have a fat day ;)

Zand’s has good dolmas. Based on these stuff grape leaves I was hoping to purchase some type of platter that I could take to a reception. They did have a platter for $ 12 but it was a serving for one person.
I told the person behind the counter what I was looking for. She needed to know how many people I wanted to serve. She was unpleasant when I told her I had no idea how many people would come to the reception, and just wanted an attractive platter. I had to pass on the idea of a party tray; I ended up buying a dozen of the bite-​size small dolmas. They looked lost and pitiful even on one of my very small platters. I cut them in half and put the put them in the center of the deviled egg plate.
I will stop here again for the dolmas, but not bring them to a reception, or any group function. They are too small and too expensive for a gathering of strangers and my deviled eggs were a bigger hit than the itty-​bitty stuffed grape leaves!

I just randomly came i here and noticed that they had pistachio baklava and almond baklava (no walnuts!!!). So happy I could sing the hallelujah chorus.

Friendly service, good products !

The best falafel I’ve ever had. Friendly service and an exceptions array of products.

Love the Dolma! They have great lunch platters and sandwiches. This is genuinely good mediterranean food with plenty of variety. Don’t expect to get out quickly they take their time making your food and with only one person behind the counter being second in line can mean you are waiting 10 mins to put in your order.

You can’t beat the falafel served up in this little corner. Situated in a little grocery store, I really enjoyed the friendly service from the workers here. It might be a bit more than some other falafel joints, but it’s well worth it. The olives and dolmas were absolutely luscious. Can’t wait to try the hummus next time.

I have eaten here more times than I can count and I gotta say, their food is sooo good! I keep going back for the Olivieh chicken salad on baguette, the KooKoo Sabzi sandwich in Lavash bread, and the Chicken Tah-​cheen. So much goodness. Also, I will never get tired of their dolmas! Mmmm.
The little shop is super fun to browse while you’re waiting for your food. I’m always extremely tempted to buy some of their unique teas and desserts.
If you’re lucky to walk in on a day when there are fresh cream puffs and eclairs, definitely get one. Mrs. Zand makes them herself and they are some of the best pastries I have ever had!
Thank you Zand’s for feeding me such delicious food! My tummy and my taste buds appreciate it more than you could ever understand.

I am able to find what I am looking for here. But it is way over priced, not only over priced but the service is the worst. They are so rude and not polite what so ever. You shouldn’t own a business if you cannot provide a good customer service. This is how you lose customers.

Good Lord. Zand’s chicken tah-​cheen plate with tabouli and yogurt cucumber dip on the side is the only thing my pregnant self wants to eat lately. To try to not seem like the crazy woman who orders the same exact thing week after week, I also ordered the falafel plate today. That was delicious too. THANK YOU, ZAND’S. THANK YOU. This is obscenely good. I am eating your food right this second. There are some tiny pieces of cracked bulgur on my keyboard now, and a large drop of cucumber dip seeping into my shirt. But that’s alright because this food is completely worth ruining electronics for and worth staining the one bra I own which still fits. The bun in the oven thanks you too… At this very moment he’s kicking, probably in delight, and probably because the amniotic fluid tastes like lemon and parsley again.

Every so often I get a craving for really good falafel and this is where I head. Mostly I get it on a good day and it’s fresh, hot, crunchy outside and tender inside with the best flavour you’ll find anywhere in the Bay Area. Their Baba Ganoujsh is also outstanding. I’ve also had great pastries here, though lately I come in and appear to have missed them. Ah well, my clothes fit better because of it. The eclairs I’ve had were to die for!
I’ve occasionally noticed the «rudeness» that other reviewers have mentioned, though I’ve never experienced it directly myself. Usually it seems to be a lack of cultural connection OR some sort of distraction on the server’s part. Since the owner doesn’t seem to train people for anything except precision of orders and running the cash register, I’m guessing it’s not an important thing for her. The last time I was in there, the young woman training behind the cash register was very nice and helpful and the owner seemed in a super good and friendly mood. So it was a very pleasant experience. Other times, it’s been more like «here’s your food now go eat it.» Whatever, the food is really tasty and I think their prices are more than fair for what you get.
There are lots of interesting groceries on the shelves of Zand’s. Unfortunately a lot of them have been there as long as I’ve been coming around. I mean the exact same jar or tin has been there. And I’ve been eating there for a good fourteen years at least! So, if buying tinned or jarred groceries (boxes too I’d presume) definitely check dates. Some things won’t matter, but some really will.
I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5 because of some of the not perfect attitudes and occasional hit or miss food experience. When they’re good they are very very good and deserve 5 stars. But even when they’re bad, I’d still go across town for their falafel!

Summation: expensive and some slowwww service, but personable Persian small biz owner, and fresh fresh fresh!
A falafel should be light and crisp, true. A pita ought to be thin and fresh, yes! Hummus ought to be smooth and zesty, and baba ghanouj ought to also have lively eggplant flavor, balanced finely with lemon and garlic!
So, definitely check there. But to charge $ 7 for one falafel sandwich (note, the menu board will say $ 6.49, but who really gets it on baguette anyways, and well— she never even bothered to ask us which carb delivery system we preferred!)?!? Bit much.
$ 3.50 for one small square of baklava.
$ 2 for literally less than ONE OUNCE or so of the eggplant spread (the charge for a ‘side’) — - all this does quality as spendy.
But wonderful and fluffy was the falafel, and I cannot complain about the eats.
Was a good 5 – 7 minutes until she could even take our order, and another 5 – 10 more to get the food. Yikes:(in the end, cannot reconcile the prices.

They are not lying when they say it’s the best falafel in town. tons of vegan options– I love their baba ghanoush! the owner is a real sweetie.

Zand’s has falafel written all over their menu. Zand’s also has groceries, pastries, and a deli section.
eats: pistachio baklava (3.5)
–very sweet, honey flavored
–didn’t taste the pistachio, crisp layers of breading
3.5 stars
falafel next time?

They lured me in with the big «vegetarian/​vegan» sign outside.
A big ass falafel sandwich with tahini saufe for $ 6.99? It’s no Sultan’s Market but it was damn tasty, filling and reasonable priced. Good choice of little sides too, and the customer service was warm and friendly.