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Zareen’s, a contemporary Pakistani and Indian restaurant in Mountain View, will soon open a second location on California Avenue in Palo Alto, owner-namesake Zareen Khan confirmed.

Khan will open the new location at 365 California Ave., most recently the home of fast-casual chain Pizza Studio. Pizza Studio suddenly closed in January after about 15 months of operation.

Khan, who grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, decided to open another Zareen’s not only because the very busy Mountain View restaurant is tiny — it seats only 15 inside — but also because it could be forced to close if the City of Mountain View approves LinkedIn’s plans to build a massive 10-building campus at the Plymouth Drive site and surrounding area. Khan an wrote in an email that it’s unclear when that might happen but that she "believe(s) they plan to tear down as soon as the city approves their plans for development there."


Zareen’s owner Zareen Khan cooks chicken in the restaurant’s kitchen in 2014. Photo by Natalia Nazarova/Palo Alto Weekly.

Zareen’s serves traditional as well as more fusion-style Pakistani and Indian food, from samosas and kebabs to a Punjabi chicken burger with spicy fries. The Palo Alto restaurant will serve the same food, but more kitchen space will allow Khan to add more items to the menu, she said. View the existing menu here.


The grilled chicken boti meal and a mango lassi drink at Zareen’s in Mountain View. Photo by Natalia Nazarova/Palo Alto Weekly.

Khan is hoping to be open in Palo Alto within a month or two. Stay tuned for an opening date.

In the meantime, get to know the menu better by reading this 2014 review of the Mountain View restaurant: Luscious kebabs, delicate curries

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