Zyka: The Taste | Indian Restaurant | Decatur

"Zyka sits in the bones of an old church, and the fellowship hall vibes make sense here—you'll want to gather around family-sized mounds of biryani and curries too good to hoard for yourself. Add in standouts like the humongous spicy potato-filled samosas and the fiery red chicken 65, and you’ll want to keep this Decatur counter-service operation as your first option next time you’re rolling nine deep and looking to spontaneously walk in somewhere to get a meal. Just prepare to wait at least 20 minutes for your food since Zyka’s kitchen is busy feeding a dining room always filled with families, coworkers, entire little league teams, Alabama cousins, and anyone else who appreciates this kind of rich, hearty, and comforting Indian cooking." - juli horsford, jacinta howard, nina reeder

"Zyka, an Indian spot in Decatur, sits in the bones of an old church, and the fellowship hall vibes make sense here. In their massive dining room, you’ll often find extended families or whole little league teams gathering around mounds of biryani and curries too good to hoard to yourself. Add in standouts like the humongous spicy-potato-filled samosas and the fiery red chicken 65, and you’ll want to keep this counter-service operation as your first option the next time you’re rolling nine deep and looking to walk in somewhere that can fit the whole crew. Just prepare to wait at least 20 minutes for your rich, hearty, and comforting Indian dishes to arrive at your table. photo credit: Sarah Newman photo credit: Sarah Newman photo credit: Sarah Newman Food Rundown photo credit: Sarah Newman Samosas These housemade samosas are bursting with so much spicy potatoes and vegetables that the dough looks stressed. They are about the size of a softball, come in an order of two with tamarind chutney and yogurt sauce, and set the city standard for what a great samosa should be. photo credit: Sarah Newman Dal Hyderabadi This is a decent dal. It’s satisfying and a tad spicy, but not very memorable. photo credit: Sarah Newman Chicken 65 The Chicken 65 is listed as a house signature, and we get why. It’s very good. The fried chicken pieces are coated in a red chili spice mix, which is more savory than hot. You may even contemplate returning to the counter for another (as many diners do), so save yourself another lengthy wait and place your take-home order along with your dine-in order. Kadhai Chicken The stewed dish is a little greasy, but it’s packed with flavor, including garlic, cumin, and tomatoes. Just get an extra order of naan to scoop up the sauce, and enjoy the messiness of it all." - Nina Reeder

"An Atlanta-area institution since 1997, Zyka on Scott Boulevard in North Decatur serves up delicious Indian fare, ranging from halal meats to vegetarian options, in a no-frills dining room setting. Ordering kulfi — a dense frozen dessert — is a must here. The dessert comes in a variety of flavors, including pistachio and mango, and is served in a little clay pot. There’s also a location open in Alpharetta." - Lia Picard, Eater Staff

"An Atlanta institution since 1997, Zyka on Scott Boulevard in North Decatur serves up delicious (and super affordable) Indian fare, including halal meats and vegetarian options throughout lunch and dinner. Look for the occasional lunch special here, and make sure to order the pistachio or mango kulfi frozen dessert served in a little clay pot. There’s also a location in Alpharetta. Halal menu items listed accordingly." - Beth McKibben, Caroline Eubanks

"First opened on Scott Boulevard in North Decatur over 25 years ago, Zyka continues to offer a broad range of dishes from Hyderabad and the surrounding region. Think dishes like aloo tikki and gobi Manchurian and popular favorites like Chicken 65, saag paneer, Hyderabadi biryani with mutton, and malai kofta. The restaurant also serves halal meats. Make sure to order kulfi — a dense frozen dessert sporting flavors like pistachio and mango served in clay pot. There’s also a location in Alpharetta." - Nandita Godbole