Za'atar Bake

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#8 of 530 Restaurants in OxfordMediterranean, Middle Eastern, $$ - $$$

What is Travelers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Za'atar Bake

Review

At a glance

Open until 10:00 PM

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Website

+44 1865 466666Improve this listing

About

Travelers' Choice

2024

Arabic Bakery & cafe providing freshly baked food and handmade sweets. Freshly prepared flatbread and main courses from the middle east on the spot.

Features

CUISINES

Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Arabic

Meal types

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night

Special Diets

Gluten free options

FEATURES

Family style

Reservations

Seating

Street Parking

Table Service

Takeout

Location

166 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1UE England

Street Parking

Reserve a table

Order delivery

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Hours

Suggest an edit

Open until 10:00 PM

Sunday

10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Monday

7:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Tuesday

7:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Wednesday

7:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Thursday

7:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Friday

7:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Saturday

10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

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4.9

690 reviews

Excellent

638

Very good

Average

Poor

Terrible

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Yes

Iñigo P

2 contributions

Rich family meal enlivened by Sara

Nov 2024 • family

A formidable place, well decorated, with good Arabic music in the background, the food is rich and Sara's attention was spectacular, from the beginning we were chatting amicably, Sara is very smiling, friendly and attentive; she recommended several dishes that we ordered. Very good bread, like hummus and slime ganoush; very rich lamb tagine too. Dessert baklava was good and cardamom-scented Arabic coffee was the icing on the cake. A hit with capital letters!

Automatically translated

Written November 9, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alumination UK

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such an enjoyable time with your family. It's great to know that Sara made your experience extra special with her friendly and attentive service. We're glad you enjoyed the food, from the delicious hummus and baba ganoush to the lamb tagine and baklava, as well as the aromatic Arabic coffee. We truly appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back for another fantastic meal!

Written November 20, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sara

Oxford10 contributions

Lovely atmosphere and delicious food selection

Dec 2023 • friends

A very lovely atmosphere for any meal! The staff were welcoming and helpful, and their food selection is a good variety of middle eastern dishes. We had the lemonade, kofta, falafel, fatayer and a cup of chai, and savoured every dish with joy! One thing I particularly liked was the large portion sizes, even though they were hard to finish, it's nice to see places that give you what you pay for. Will definitely return here for more meals or even just a cup of chai!

Written December 10, 2023

Alumination UK

Thank you for your delightful review! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed the lovely atmosphere, variety of Middle Eastern dishes, and generous portion sizes. It's wonderful that you savoured every dish with joy and plan to return for more meals or a cup of chai. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! 🍋🍛☕🌟🇬🇧

Written January 3, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Curious792201

Newbury15 contributions

Super tasty food in a relaxed setting!

Aug 2024 • couples

I went to Za'atar Bake with my husband to celebrate my birthday because it had great reviews featuring tasty food. It was a great decision. We easily caught a bus from Oxford city centre to the restaurant on the Cowley road. Our food was served fast, hot, fresh and was delicious. We shared olives, houmous and flat bread; spicy lamb Koftas, chicken with lemon and rice; lemonode with mint; ice cream. The restaurant has an intimate, friendly, informal, relaxed vibe with quiet background music (not too loud to prevent you hearing your partner!), and an enjoyable layout - because from your table you can watch the staff preparing the dishes. Highly recommended.

Written August 28, 2024

Alumination UK

Thank you for choosing Za'atar Bake to celebrate your birthday! We’re so pleased that you enjoyed your meal and that the atmosphere contributed to making your day special. It’s lovely to hear that you appreciated our relaxed setting and open kitchen. We’re chuffed you had such a positive experience and look forward to welcoming you back again soon!

Written August 29, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ana Maria F

London2 contributions

queen's cook cooked for us

Feb 2025 • family

incredible food. My 7 years old daughter said that "it was so fancy and good that looked like the queen's cook cooked for us". Highly recommended! And the staff was all lovely and so friendly. best of luck for the business!

Written February 26, 2025

Alumination UK

Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're absolutely delighted to hear that your daughter enjoyed the meal so much – what a sweet compliment! It means the world to us that you had such a positive experience, and we’re thrilled that you found both the food and the staff to be excellent. We really appreciate your kind words and support, and we wish you and your family all the best. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon!

Written March 10, 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

TrevB56

Camberley937 contributions

Great lunch

Jan 2025 • friends

Enjoyed the food tremendously - flatbread features a lot in the dishes as 'pie' crusts and the 'burgers' are the 'patty' wrapped in flat bread and baked in the oven. We all were impressed with our menu choices. Manager was friendly and chatty, staff were similarly friendly. Visited twice in 2 days whilst we were in Oxford. It does not have parking but there is a pay carpark behind Tesco on the other side of the Cowley Road.

Written January 18, 2025

Alumination UK

Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the food, especially our flatbread dishes and oven-baked 'burgers.' It's great to know that both the menu and our service left a positive impression on you. We're also glad our manager and staff made your experience memorable. We truly appreciate you visiting us twice during your stay in Oxford and hope to welcome you back again soon. Just a quick note, while parking can be a bit tricky, we're glad the nearby pay carpark worked out for you. Thanks again for your feedback!

Written January 20, 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Fahema

Oxford3 contributions

Amazing food, great experience

Oct 2024 • family

Had a family birthday here, it was a really nice experience! Amazing food and great atmosphere! The staff really took care of us all. Tried pretty much everything on the menu (as there were 22 of us!) and the food was honestly so good, my personal favourites being the chicken maqloubah, chicken tagine and of course the spicy baba ganoush! The zaatar manakeesh is also very nice. I have also been in in the mornings before work and the coffees are really good! They use quality beans and great value for money, defo recommend having with the fresh baklava if you’re on the go!

Written October 5, 2024

Alumination UK

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so glad to hear that you and your family had a wonderful birthday celebration with us. It’s great to know you enjoyed a variety of dishes, especially the chicken maqloubah, tagine, and spicy baba ganoush. We're also pleased that you appreciated our coffee and baklava for your morning visits. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we can't wait to welcome you back for another great experience!

Written October 20, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Moonhills

Downderry120 contributions

Zingy Za’atar

Dec 2024 • friends

Really excellent food in a simple atmosphere. Service really good, food outstanding and don’t miss the freshly made mint lemonade, a taste sensation! Arabic breads are freshly made in front of you and are delicious, Kofta simply delicious and the falafel excellent.

Written December 14, 2024

Alumination UK

Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the food, especially the freshly made mint lemonade, Arabic breads, kofta, and falafel. It’s fantastic to know you had such a great experience with both the food and service. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another amazing meal!

Written December 16, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

TheAviator0765

Ripon1042 contributions

Absolutely Superb

Nov 2023 • family

I didn't realise until writing this review, that Za'atar is currently rated as Tripadvisor's #2 rated restaurant in Oxford. I would judge that rating is thoroughly deserved! We had a booking for seven to celebrate our daughter's uni graduation; apparently it had been a favourite haunt of theirs'. Our reception was welcoming, we were soon at out table, and although not all arrived at the same time, it was no problem to wait a few moments so we could all order together. The menu is excellent, I could have happily ordered anything! The starters were perfect, the main courses were all superbly prepared and arrived together for our party, and rounded off with some wonderfully delicate Baklava. Service throughout was first class, and when we got the bill, we realised what fantastic value for money Za'atar offers. This really rounded off a wonderful day, thank you so much!

Written November 13, 2023

Alumination UK

Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience at Za'atar! We're happy to hear that you found the menu excellent, the food superbly prepared, and the service first class. It's wonderful that you and your party had a memorable celebration for your daughter's uni graduation. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back soon! 🎓🍽️🌟🇬🇧

Written January 3, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jan M

Oxfordshire105 contributions

Outstanding!

Mar 2024 • friends

Only wanted a light bite as we'd not long had some brunch. Ordered a selection of things to share and took leftovers home in containers they provided. Was lovely fresh food, great atmosphere and vibe and friendly staff. The mint lemonade at £4.99 might seem pricey but is totally worth it. One of the best drinks I've had in ages. Can't wait to return.

Written April 2, 2024

Ann C

Nashville3395 contributions

Za'atar Bake Oxford

Feb 2024 • solo

Friendly service. I ordered the lamb maqloubah (15.95), a traditional Palestinian dish meaning upside down. The dish was tasty but does not compare to the ones I have enjoyed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The rice did not seem to be cooked with the rest of the ingredients as I am used to, it appeared to me as if the rice was cooked separately and then added. The lamb was tender but dry. The chai tea consisted of a tea bag with fresh mint leaves added (2.50). I arrived for a late lunch, the pastry counter was almost empty, understandable.

Written February 23, 2024

Alumination UK

Thank you for sharing your experience with the lamb maqloubah. It's valuable feedback, and we apologize that the dish did not meet your expectations compared to the ones you've enjoyed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. We will take note of your comments about the rice preparation and the tenderness of the lamb to improve our dishes in the future. If there's anything else you'd like to share or if you have any other feedback, please feel free to let us know.

Written March 19, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Omer

Oxford1 contribution

Great family meal

Apr 2024 • family

Travelled from high Wycombe to have a family lunch here to celebrate a birthday as we heard great things from friends. It was a lovely meal with many options to suit children and varying appetites. The food was presented beautifully and the sweets were great. Would definitely come back again.

Written April 16, 2024

Muhammad E

1 contribution

Great restaurant

Oct 2024 • friends

Zaatar bake offers an unforgettable experience of authentic Arabic cuisine. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and rich with Middle Eastern charm. The food is exceptional starting with the perfectly crafted mezze options, featuring velvety hummus and smoky baba ghanoush, to the succulent mixed grill, each dish is a celebration of flavor. The lamb Tagine was incredibly tender, and the baklava, with its flaky layers and sweet filling, was the perfect finale. The attentive, knowledgeable staff made the meal even more enjoyable. Zaatar Bake is a must-visit for anyone seeking genuine, delicious Arabic dishes and an exceptional dining experience.

Written October 3, 2024

Alumination UK

Thank you for your incredible review! We're thrilled that you had such a memorable experience at Zaatar Bake. It’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed our mezze, mixed grill, and lamb tagine, as well as the baklava. We pride ourselves on providing excellent service, and your kind words about our staff mean a lot. We look forward to welcoming you back for another delightful meal!

Written October 20, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

ClauT

25 contributions

Very worthy or 5 stars

Oct 2023 • family

Booked a table (recommended) for dinner and really enjoyed it. Place is buzzing and we could see the clay oven for the flat breads. Staff were very nice and polite as well as knowledgeable of the dishes , vegan and vegetarian options available. Important to note that they do not have an alcohol licence just a one off corkage fee for your own brought booze. Also don't confuse it with the sister restaurant on the other side of the road which is more kebab skewers and not as highly rated.

Written October 28, 2023

Alumination UK

Thank you for sharing your positive experience! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the buzzing atmosphere, knowledgeable staff, and variety of vegan and vegetarian options. It's good to know that the restaurant allows corkage for your own booze, and we appreciate the tip about the sister restaurant. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! 🍽️🌟🇬🇧

Written January 3, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Miki

6 contributions

Hidden Gem

Aug 2021 • couples

We chose this place based on trip advisor reviews and we were certainly not disappointed. We liked that it felt authentic from the menu, to the bench like seating and low round tables to choose from, to the traditional Arabic music playing. What most impressed us was the service. Our waiter could recommend items from the menu and even let us know that we were maybe over ordering rather than just taking our money and watching good food go to waste. The food was stunning both in style and flavour and for a really decent price too. The staff even carefully packed up our leftovers for us to take away and it did us for lunch the next day too! If you are looking for classy, glossy and character less setting then this may not be for you but for culture, flavour and fun this is the place!

Written August 29, 2021

Mahmoud Al hadad

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience at Za'atar Bake! It's fantastic to hear that you were not disappointed and that the authentic atmosphere, menu, and music added to your enjoyment. I'm glad the service stood out to you, with the waiter's helpful recommendations and advice on portion sizes. It's great that you found the food stunning in both style and flavour, and I'm pleased to know that you appreciated the value for the price. The fact that you even enjoyed the leftovers the next day is a testament to the quality of the food. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for more culture, flavor, and fun in the future. If you have any more feedback or questions, feel free to let us know!

Written August 7, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sarsour L

London4 contributions

I don’t get the hype

Aug 2021 • friends

Made a special trip after reading the rave reviews but was v disappointed.First the seating we were offered was uncomfortable sat in the doorway on small wooden cubes which is very low and no back rest.It’s okay if service is quick which it wasn’t, and nice and sunny but it was cold so not pleasant.As we were in the doorway people coming and going all the time which was annoying. The wait for anyone to take our order was at least 20 mins.No apology for delay. Then there was a wait for the food as it seemed only one or two chefs preparing food and working through orders. Honestly the food is okay nothing to write home about. We had the upside down dish which was just average.As someone with Middle Eastern background I know when food is flavoursome and good and unfortunately this was not the case. Also the fresh juices were just 3/4 crushed ice. They give you a paper straw which just doesn’t work as it gets too soggy and you can’t drink out of it and so ended up not drinking half our drinks. This place isn’t cheap either at around £20 per head for a main and drinks. This will be the first and last time here. It really is overrated and I don’t understand the 5* reviews - only that they are mostly non-Arabs who don’t know what Levant food should really taste like and get sucked in by the waiter drumming on the pot (like really is this a selling point?) Honestly, this is a place you try once and don’t go back. There are much better places in Oxford if you want similar food at cheaper prices such as Gloucester Green Market where there is a whole range of food on offer.

Written September 2, 2021

Mahmoud Al hadad

I'm sorry to hear that your experience at Za'atar Bake didn't meet your expectations. Your feedback is valuable and will help them improve their offerings. It's unfortunate that the seating, service, and food quality didn't align with what you were hoping for. I appreciate your honest assessment of the visit. If you're looking for alternative dining options, exploring other places in Oxford like Gloucester Green Market is a great suggestion.

Written August 7, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.