ZamZam: shockingly tasty
by Andrew | February 6, 2008 | 30 Comments
(votes: 23, average: 3.09) 
Loading ...ZamZam is located at 3913 North MacArthur Blvd in Oklahoma City (map). Call them at 405.789.8008.
I’m not sure if its my lack of previous awareness, or if suddenly there really are a bunch of Middle Eastern / East Mediterranean influenced restaurants popping up in the area. ZamZam has been open for a few months now in Warr Acres bringing a whole new level of diversity to the Oklahoma City food scene.
I had noticed the ZamZam sign and never understood what it was. It has a weird looking white shape on a sign with a blank marquee saying “drive through open.” I thought to myself, “great, another weird frozen custard joint.” Boy was I wrong. When you drive up from the other direction, you can see that it was simply that they only have one side on their sign. The strange white object was lit up at night, and the marquee was filled with a nice ZamZam logo. On the side of the building was written, “Mediterranean Grill and Hookah.” Sounded good to me so the family and I popped in. If you have time read more about the ZamZam well near Mecca, it’s fascinating. I assume this is their namesake.
I was a little confused at the sign on the door stating that you had to be 18 to buy tobacco products. I’m no expert in Oklahoma Law, but I’m pretty sure you can’t smoke in restaurants. Once we saw the menu, traditional east Mediterranean food on the left, flavored tobacco on the right, I began to look around nervously. That’s when I noticed outside on the patio, in sub freezing temperatures, the throngs of middle eastern men puffing away on hoses coming out of these elaborate “bongs” (that I soon learned to be Hookahs).
I’ll admit it caught me off guard and I nearly panicked. My one year old nearly pulling one of these Hookah pipes off the wall didn’t ease my concern either. I’ve attached a picture of one of these Hookahs so you can begin to understand my concern. I consulted my local Bangladesh friend, and expert in Middle Eastern culture, to explain this Hookah business. He said it started in India and spread west through Persia and into western Asia and Eastern Europe through the centuries. I asked about potential “funny business” going on with it and he said, of course, people slip things into the Hookah besides tobacco on occasion, and that the older generation (his Grandma) used to like to put opium in these things to really take the “edge off” after a long day. But I digress, on to the food.
The menu consists of what you would expect from your typical Middle Eastern / Mediterranean place. Speaking of which, these guys are from Pakistan. How is that considered Mediterranean? I guess since many of these cooking techniques moved into Turkey and Greece, and because if it were advertised as Middle Eastern gringos like me wouldn’t know what it is. I’m not sure, but I do know I like the food! Appetizers include falafel (I like to call these Arabic hush-puppies), grape leaves, hummus, tabouli, baba-ganouj (a mashed eggplant salad), and yummy meat and spinach pies. My kids liked the yogurt salad which was full of bits of fruit. They were also big fans of the little meat pies. There were a couple things on this menu I have never seen before. Once I try them, I will post my experience.
For a main course you can have a sandwich, which is basically a thin pita filled with your choice of meat and rolled up like a burrito and stuffed with pickled beet strips, a garlic mayonnaise like substance, lettuce, and marinated onions. Or, you can order a full-on dinner plate with basmati rice, salad, hummus … etc. Of course, every meal comes with homemade pita bread. There are a variety of Kabob’s to choose from. I have tried most of them. I really like the chicken Kabob, which is grilled to perfection with just the right amount of spice. These guys use lots of saffron in their food, which I am a big fan of. The Shish Kabob’s are nice big pieces of marinated steak with a great flavor as well. The kefta kabob is perhaps the most interesting and inconsistent. It is a ground beef kabob mixed with different spices and then pressed around a skewer and grilled. You know this is handmade because each time I have been it has varied in appearance, flavor and consistency. It’s never been bad, and I admit it’s not my favorite, but each time it has been just a little different. Of course, for dessert there are a couple yogurt dishes, and baklava. I’m not sure if its homemade or not. I don’t think anyone makes it fresh. I’m pretty sure its frozen at every Mediterranean place in town. I figure if that bold blanket assumption is wrong then someone will correct me and we will all know where to go for our Baklava from now on. You’re welcome.
ZamZam is unique and provides great food, great atmosphere, and dynamic culture. I had the opportunity to wait on a to go order the other day while a table of Arabic speaking gentlemen channel surfed on the flat panel tuned to an Arabic satellite package. It was fascinating. Arabic comedy, music videos, and news. A lot of my stereotypes of that region were shattered when I saw a few of their music videos. The restaurant is decorated with Arabic paintings, rugs, and hookah’s adorn every nook and cranny. Maybe one day when it’s warm I will try a little Hookah. I figure if the stuff is so good that you would toke on it in sub freezing temperatures, I owe it to the people of Oklahoma City to test this stuff out. Well….maybe.
(4.63 out of 5)
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So far, 30 people have responded to this article. Won't you join in?April 4th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
If you’d like to try some good (not to mention homemade!) baklava, some relatives of mine just opened a medierranean grill in the southside of Okc. They haven’t even been open a month, and I have only tried their appetizer combo platter, but I was absolutely in heaven.
I am a little worried that they won’t make it for long due to their location- I wish they would have picked a spot on the northside so I could have an authtentic persian meal any time of the day!
http://themedgrill.com/
May 6th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I have been driving by this place for a while now. I think you have pushed my curiosity over the edge and now I am ready to try this place out. Thanks for the info, keep it up.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Retired Military.
It would require a long flight to find anything better.
May 26th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I can understand why you are having to write for the internet, you can’t get a real job with a real publication becasue you can’t get your facts straight. These guys are not from Pakistan you dolt, they are from Palestine. You need to do better research and consider yourself lucky you have made some money on an erroneous article.
May 26th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
OK, a couple things here:
1) Who said I made money on this article?
2) I asked the guys specifically where they were from and they said Pakistan. Pardon me, he said, “most of us are from Pakistan”
3) “Dolt”? Really? Are we in 4th grade?
May 26th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
are they still open? drove by to try it this past sunday and they were closed. maybe they’re closed on sundays…..
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:21 am
yeah of course they are still open they are always open…
but on sundays they open from 5 to 11..
and they also open the pattio so now everyone is welcome to smoke hooka outside….
July 11th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
ok the guys are from palestine for sure
they have an accent so might have heard them say pakistan but i promise you theyre not
July 11th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
ive been there a couple of times
in fact its my favorite resuarant
the chicken kabob entree is amazing
and the hookah is too
July 11th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
dude there palestineian ive asked b4 to and im positivly sure of it and i think its a family buisness but ya great food
July 11th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
plus ya they cant be from pakistan if they have an arabic channel and decorations and everything its arabian so ya palestianian im sure of it cuz palestineians are arab
July 11th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
oh my ZAm ZAm i love ittt! its great i go there a lot! but ya they are palestiain i go there so much ive probably asked everything!
the chicken kabob is truely the best! and a advice everyone to try it its a nice arab family thing goin on i absloutly love it!
July 13th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
It would be nice to have the telephone number and hours of operation posted. I can’t find their listing online or in the phonebook, as I’m assuming it’s still too new. Thanks!
(I love this place, just fyi. And the family who runs the place is AWESOME!)
July 13th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
@Julia, if you click the “map” link in the top information box, you’ll find the Google maps listing for the restaurant which includes the phone number. I’ve also added the phone number directly to the top box. Sorry for the oversight. I don’t have the information on the hours right now, but we’ll try to get that and add it. Thanks again for the comment.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:55 am
I hate to be negative but when I mentioned this place at a work lunch this week, a group from my work went the other day and said it was crawling with roaches…maybe they’ve had it treated since then? It kinda scared me off…i would repeat the story but it was pretty bad…anyone have this experience? Maybe you can talk me into trying it…ha!
August 6th, 2008 at 10:54 am
That was a really good review with one caveat…You made hookah sound kind of negative. While people have used them for such behavior, it is far from the tradition of hookah to do so. If you ask me, hookah is a wonderful tradition that spread just as your friend has said. I really encourage you to try it yourself. It’s amazyingly flavored, and even if you only try it once (doubtful once you try it) it will be an experience that you will always remember. Thanks again for the review, I cant wait to try this place out!
October 30th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I *hated*, *hated*, *hated* Zorba’s on my one, and only, trip. I couldn’t comprehend just how bad the “Middle-Eastern/Mediterranean” cuisine must be here for that place to be voted number one in OKC. Seriously, after moving here I was immediately distraught over losing that delicious bit of culture after having it so readily available in St. Louis.
Enter Zam-Zam (and later, Cous-Cous). On our first trip the bf and I marveled at the lackluster decor and crappy patio area; and promptly exclaimed “this food better be f***ing amazing, or never again.” We were not disappointed. Zam-zams has the *best* hummus I’ve ever tasted, hands down, anywhere, everywhere, of all time. I don’t know what they use to get that rich, nutty flavor but it’s so insanely awesome. Sometimes the service leaves a little to be desired (on occasion we’ve been completely ignored after receiving food), but it’s a small thing compared to such tasty fare.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Is it out of business? The building is boarded up!
January 25th, 2009 at 3:29 am
My favorite place to eat a gyro, and their hummus is outstanding…the best in OKC! You get LOADS of meat with their gyro, and the prices are great. The hookahs are cool – try a banana/mint tobacco mixture. I know, I know…sounds gross but it’s surprisingly tasty. The only thing I don’t like about Zam-Zam is that they like to keep their TV volume turned-up to an earsplitting level. If the weather’s nice, dine outside to avoid this.
March 10th, 2009 at 10:58 am
I went in with some friends from work hopeful. The two friends that sat at the table behind us ordered tea. When they opened their napkins to grab out a spoon baby roaches swarmed out. They kept trying to swat them and more and more roaches came out of the silverware napkin. I left immediately.
March 10th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Roaches INSIDE the silverware wraps?? This goes down as one of the more awesome moments in Oklahoma City shady dining. You know, in a lot of cultures roaches are a prized delicacy. Maybe you were viewing the situation from the wrong perspective.
June 11th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
My goodness, what a terrible piece. Please quit.
June 27th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Jeff Johnston, what do you mean, “a terrible piece?” I thought this was a great review!
I live close to ZamZam, but the appearance was less than inviting. I’ll have to try it out if they are still in business.
Thanks, Andrew!
July 15th, 2009 at 11:58 am
I eat there every other week or so and have never seen a roach. It’s also been very clean (not spotless, but clean) each time.
Also, the hookah is AMAZING. Tried it for the first time a few months ago and it’s become an after-work treat for several of us at the office.
I’ll 2nd (or 3rd) the comment that the hummus is the best in OKC, because it is. The gyro’s are bursting with meat and I cannot recommend the kufta skillet highly enough.
It’s shady, but it’s a very good meal at a very reasonable price.
The biggest downside, voiced by many already, is that the service is hit or miss. Sometimes it’s great, sometimes it’s horrible. The food, however, is always good.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Do they have schwarmas?
July 21st, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Sorry, shawarmas
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:29 pm
These guys are from Palestine. I asked them myself!
Anyways, this place has food that is just as good as the Middle East, if not better in many ways. I studies in Jordan for 2 months, so I know!
April 7th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
The rats almost destroyed this place when it was a Taco Mayo…chew carefully!
April 19th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
they are palestinian bro you got it wrong i know them personally
August 23rd, 2010 at 10:24 pm
I went their two times hoping for some good middle east food. I got the same food and rude customer service. I recommend people not to visit this place. I am afraid if they are following any food safety measures. My vote of .25 out 5. Will never go in life.
Please tell us what you think.