In the mood for some spice? - Zyka

Dinner at Zyka.

My first venture into Indian food came when I visited my aunts in Houston.  They are super foodies and Evan and I took advantage of their knowledge of the city and planned to eat our way through it.  We ate at a restaurant called Khyber, which specialized in Northern Indian and Pakistani food.  By the end of the meal, there were so many dishes on our table that we had no room for our own plates.  Good thing it is acceptable to eat with your hands!  The food was great and we always wanted to go back but being in Mississippi at the time, there were no Indian-food options. 

When we moved to Atlanta, Evan's cousin, Scott, mentioned that he and his co-workers frequent a low-key Indian restaurant called, Zyka.  Being that is was so long since our last Indian meal, we couldn't wait to sample the food again.  From what I remembered, the spices were strong and savory,  they used flat bread as a base for a lot of different dishes, and if there was a picture of a pepper on the menu next to a dish, it was there as a warning.  'Indian' spicy is on a whole different level than 'America' spicy.  Let me rephrase that.  It is simply hot, not spicy.  But we felt up to the challenge.  Our first visit lived up to all of our expectations.  And dumbly we both ordered the two hottest dishes on the menu.  As new-comers, it was rookie move.  But now I can call myself a pro and the little peppers next to the menu description don't scare me anymore.  I see them as a challenge.

Zyka is in a former church that still looks the part.  There is a large dining area on one end and a banquet hall on the opposite side.  When you walk in, you order at the counter off of laminated menus, grab a pitcher full of water along with all the needed plasticware, and sit at one of the available tables until they call your name.  Food is served in/on styrofoam bowls and plates and almost every dish comes with a bowl full of chopped white onions, jalapeños, and a lime wedge.  The presentation is simple.  The flavors are complex and wonderful.  There are a few things that I highly recommend trying: 

Chicken 65

For the new-comer to Indian food, start slow.  Try the Chicken 65 (their signature dish) and a piece of naan. It's boneless chicken marinated in ginger, garlic, and mild spices, and then deep fried with green chilies, cilantro and curry leaves.  It's also comes out an alarmingly bright shade of red, but don't let that scare you.  It is not as spicy as it looks.  The chicken comes with two sauces, one brown and sweet, the other tan and sort or creamy.  I have no idea what they are but they go delicious with the naan/chicken combo. 
Chicken 65 - $6.39
Naan - $1.49

Aachar Gosht

For those that like a little more spice, the aachar gosht (one pepper next to it on the menu) is my personal favorite, of course pair with a piece of naan.  It's a stew-like consistency of mutton simmered with tomatoes, fried onions, cilantro, whole garlic, cloves, fennel seeds, and whole red chilies.  The naan is best used as a scooping device to help you eat the aachar gosht from the bowl, but be warned, it is not for the faint hearted.  There is a bright orange hot oil usually sitting on top to warn you of the heat you should expect from the first bite.  But if you like heat, then the flavors are amazing.
Aachar Gosht - $6.89
Naan - $1.49

Nehari

For the most daring of you, the nehari is the devil's broth (two peppers next to it).  Ok, that may be an overstatement.  It's really damn hot, but equally damn delicious.  It's chunks of beef shank simmered with garlic, ginger, and spices to a stew-like consistency.  You will definitely need a piece of naan and might I suggest following up the meal with a cup of kulfi for dessert.  Trust me, your tongue will thank you.  Kulfi is Indian ice cream that is super thick and very rich but not very milky.  It comes in saffron, mango, and pistachio flavors. 
Nehari - $6.89
Kulfi - $2.99

Vegetable Samosas

And I haven't mentioned this one yet because it fits into the 'appetizer' category but one of my favorite things on the menu are their vegetable samosas.  Most people have tried samosas at one point or another.  But I can promise you they weren't as good as these. These are worth the 25 minute drive from my house alone!
Vegetable Samosas (2) - $3.49




Zyka is strangely furnished and minimally decorated but they are doing something right because there is always a line at the counter for lunch or dinner.  And they do a crazy amount of to-go orders.  They keep the people happy and I most definitely count myself as one of those people. 

Naan

Dining room.

Zyka
1677 Scott Boulevard
Decatur, Georgia 30033
(404) 728-4444
 www.zyka.com