Introducing Akbar, owner of Zaika

By Rocky & Kristine Fields

Last month there was a misprint in the Northwest Karaoke & Entertainment Guide regarding the ownership of Zaika Authentic Indian Restaurant and Lounge. This article is to retract that error and to inform our readers that Akbar Quadri is actually the owner of Zaika.

When we sat down and met with Akbar about last month's article misprint, we discovered some very interesting things about Akbar and Zaika. Along with the great karaoke at Zaika every Wednesday through Saturday, and DJ dance music on Sundays, there is a lot to be learned about the restaurant itself, and the owner.

As written by Sue Sawyer in a previous article about Zaika, Akbar Quadri, the owner, already has a fine reputation and caters to a large Indian and Pakistani eat-out crowd. We agree. His food is the best Indian food we have ever tasted to date.

When we asked Akbar where he learned to cook, he just smiled and said he learned from his mom and sister, and developed a love for cooking along with a dream of opening an authentic Indian restaurant where he could provide people with the pleasure, taste and style of his cooking along with flavors from many other regions of India. Akbar also has a master chef on staff who works for and with him as well.

More than three hundred and fifty people enjoyed the grand opening of Zaika last February, after Akbar had spent four months remodeling the restaurant. Along with special care and attention to detail, Akbar brought in all types of imported decorations and art from India, placing them in just the right spots to create a beautiful Indian experience. Many people come in not only to enjoy the food but also the ambiance.

Akbar told us, like food in different parts of the United States, Indian food differs by region, and they have included a sampling of dishes on their menu from the entire country. The innovative recipes reveal the talents of new generation of Indian chefs.

The food at Zaika is all homemade, which Akbar feels is always better. To serve the most authentic food, they make their own yogurt and cheese every day. They grind their own spices and the food is cooked with a minimum of oil and no MSG. No preservatives are used, and everything is made from scratch. Most dishes are seasoned in the traditional way, making them flavorful without being hot; if you want your dish to be milder or hotter, all you have to do is tell your server and chef will accommodate your wishes.

Zaika seats 150 people between the banquet room and regular dining area. There is a banquet room which caters to companies and special events; plus they deliver! Just give them a call.

If you really want to try some excellent, authentic Indian food, enjoy an ambiance of beautiful, imported Indian art, remember Zaika. The Indian word "Zaika" means "taste".

After dinner, there is great entertainment going on throughout the week and into the weekend.