Zayaka The Traditional Taste

We’ve been here in Kandivali East 4 for a while now. It’s just a small spot where we try to get the flavors right like how they used to be back home. My uncle actually started this place because he couldn’t find decent traditional food around here that didn't taste like it came out of a factory. The kitchen gets really hot in the afternoons, especially when the big pots are going. We don’t have fancy menus or anything. Most of the regulars just come in and ask what’s fresh today. Sometimes we run out of things early if the crowd is big, but that’s just how it goes. The neighborhood has changed a lot since we opened. There are more buildings now and more cars parked outside, but we’re still here in the same corner. We spend most of our mornings prepping vegetables and grinding spices ourselves because the pre-packaged stuff just isn't the same. It takes a lot of time and my hands usually smell like turmeric for the rest of the day. Some people say the place is a bit loud when it's busy, but that’s just the sound of people eating and talking. We don’t really do any advertising or anything like that. People just find us by walking past or hearing about it from their neighbors. It’s a simple setup. We just want to make sure the food tastes like it should and that everyone leaves feeling full.