First time here I ordered sushi not impressed at all. I ordered the combo and they gave me imitation crab meat, really? The other fish was okay but not better than Publix. The restaurant was okay but I also noticed the smell, reminded me of a dive bar stale smoke and alcohol. I doubt I'll try this place again. There have to be better places for sushi.
(2)
N K.
The dolsot bibimbap was delicious! My boyfriend was in the mood for chicken fried rice, which was great as well. It was all white meat chicken. The rice had almost a smokey taste, it was delightful. The smoked salmon in our sushi roll wasn't the best, but we are also spoiled from living in alaska. We will definitely be back for my bibimbap fix! :)
(4)
Rick S.
It's better than people make it out to be. Lunch boxes are a good choice. Sushi is acceptable and it's the best food in the shopping area. Korean food is hard to find in Tampa Bay and the better Korean places are 30min drives from here so I'll take what I can get! Service is good and it's cleaner than some other places I've been for Asian food. The one thing that might turn people away is that it's not very cheap. $10-15 per person is normal for the menu. All around an ok place for lunch and dinner.
(4)
Coty S.
I did not even know that this Winn-Dixie shopping center existed. St Petersburg is full of surprises! TL;DR- This is a Korean restaurant, order Korean food here. It will not be as good as the restaurants in Tampa, so don't raise your expectations too high. Sushi Zen has been around for a long time. From the awards on the walls, I would say... at least 15 years. The articles written about them clearly note that they are a Korean restaurant first and foremost. So don't get it twisted. It has also been at least 15 years since the restaurant has been renovated. The entire front of the restaurant is blocked off so you cannot see inside. Seating is down a long corridor-like dining area. As soon as I entered, I was hit with a wave of smell that was all too familiar of Busan's Jalgachi market--- the smell of fish tanks and cigarettes. The smell permeates the entire restaurant to the point where my clothing smelled like it when I went home. I would not order raw fish again from Sushi Zen, tried it once and will not do it again. The raw fish is hard to chew and does not taste fresh. At the end of one roll the fish tasted totally wrong, something was not right. They use old Korean rice to make the sushi- not fresh, not seasoned. Too much fish per rice ratio. Their Pork Bulgogi is advertised as spicy (mae-un dwae-ji bulgogi), which is more like a simple spicy pork stir fry (jae-yuk bokkum), served with four banchan and a hot metal bowl of rice (no spoon). The pork was thinly sliced, spicy, crispy on some parts, and did not have too many veggies. It was delicious! Suited to my American tastes, ha. It had just the right amount of sugar in the marinade. Many people complain that Korean food in the US is too sweet. Well, hate to break it to you, but it tastes the same as in Korea. Kimchi here is soooooo salty, unbearable to eat. I would hate to order Kimchi Jigae here. My rice issue: The rice I also received with my meal that I ordered was at least 24 hours old, and had the taste of being in a rice cooker for too long, it was not white but more of a brown color. There was also rice crust mixed in. Rice crust is awesome from freshly cooked rice, but this was up against a non-stick treated surface for a long time. Even after all of my specific complaints, it is good that I tried Sushi Zen. It is nice to have a Korean food option in St Pete, where it is definitely lacking (other than Jung Il grocery store).
(3)
Michael M.
I wanted Korean food and the girls wanted sushi. I had almost given in until I found Sushi Zen. Here they serve very tasty sushi while offering hot and tasty Korean food. Upon entering there was a strange smell in the air which could have ended it right then and there. We were promptly seated and our drink order taken. After our drinks were delivered our food order was taken. I dont know if it was me but it almost seemed like the lady taking our order would have hoped we weren't even there. Well the girls ordered a bunch of sushi. I ordered the Galbi. Everything began to come to our table in kind of a strange order. One dish at a time and very very slow. Luckily the food was worth the wait but I give this place 3 out of 5 stars for the smell, poor attitude ,and such slow service.
(3)
Thuyen B.
Craving Korean food and where to go in St Pete?! Sushi Zen is actually right around the corner from me so despite some of these reviews, I decided to check it out (The craving was too strong!). The restaurant just stretches far back with booths lining the wall. We were greeted by a nice lady. There was a man behind the sushi counter making sushi. They were not rude in any way. Just friendly in an understated kind of way, which is fine with me. We ordered the fried dumplings, galbi, and dolsot bibimbap. Fried dumplings- very tasty with the dipping sauce! Meat inside the dumplings had a nice gingery taste. Dumplings were fried perfectly and were not too greasy. Galbi beef- marinated short ribs in their special sauce. The plate came out sizzling hot and smelled wonderful. I only had a bite. Not the best galbi I've ever had but it was good. Bibimbap- DING DING DING! Winner! Most delicious meal of my week. Served in a hot stone bowl, the bowl was still sizzling as it came out. The rice on the bottom was all crunchy and smoky flavored- So so good! There was a variety of vegetables in there to include shitake mushrooms, cucumber, seaweed, and lettuce. The beef was seasoned perfectly. I was given the Korean chili paste/sauce on the side for it so I threw that in and mixed everything up and: total mouthgasm. Did not try the sushi so I can't comment on that. But our service and food was good. Prices are kinda the same as other Korean restaurants in the area; not sure how portion sizes compare though. Will most definitely be back for more Korean food.
(4)
Nikki A.
This small sushi restaurant is close to my house, and that is the best thing it has going for it. I will grab a few rolls (I like the St. Pete, the Tuna Crunch Roll, and the Eel) and a Kirin Light and I am a happy gal. I can also recommend their Bulgogi. The staff is always friendly and there is usually not a big crowd. The last few times I have felt a little rushed (big pet peeve of mine) and it has not appeared to be the cleanest place in town. I have been coming here forever, hopefully they step up their game to where it used to be.
(3)
Rachel Z.
I can't speak on the Korean food some reviewers seemed to enjoy, but I was completely unimpressed (even a little turned off) by their sushi. Something about the tuna "nagiri" sushi tasted off; it just fell a little flat in regards to flavor and it seemed to fall apart when I tried to bite into it--not in that 'melt in your mouth' kind of way, but rather in a deflating balloon kind of way...i couldn't chew it enough to be able to actually swallow it. The roll sushi that I ordered was unincredible but not horrible. The green seaweed salad was actually pretty good, but still not the best I've had. There are too many sushi options in St Pete to return to this mediocre establishment.
(2)
Ashley M.
Here's the thing- three of us have tried the sushi and it was just bad. I don't eat cooked rolls so I'm telling you the fish did not taste fresh. I hate being mean but I have to be honest. If you eat sashimi or fresh fish rolls don't go here.
(1)
Matthew B.
I've eaten here since about 2006. Great little sushi place with a lovely korean menu also. Things to try?? Try the succulent sashimi appetizer. I love raw fish (as I am descended from the cat-people) and the sashimi here is always of the best quality. They also put a delicious tataki on the plate that is to die for... Mmmmmmm! My other two favorites are the bibimbap and the squid bokum.
(5)
Andrew H.
AWFUL. Absolutely worst sushi ever, poor service, and horrible price/portion ratio. I ordered a crunch roll (Spicy Tuna roll with Crunch Flake) - I asked to add cucumber and avocado to the spicy tuna in the crunch roll, and received two rolls: one spicy tuna with avo & cuc, the crunch roll by itself. THE TUNA CAME OUT OF A CAN. Absolutely awful. Not very spicy. The crunch flakes were good, that was the best part. My drink glass was sticky on the rim and outside of the glass, which is bad when you order iced tea. My fiance ordered Japche (sp?) -- rice noodles with korean beef & vegetables. The korean beef was amazing, I wish there would have been more than 8 little tiny slivers of beef in the dish. The mushrooms were obviously reconstituted and RUBBERY. The noodles were tough. The vegetables were sparse and varied between raw and over cooked. The most over-priced plate of noodles EVER. I was so disappointed as we just moved in across the street and was looking forward to having a japanese restaurant across the street. We will never eat here again. Anyone that has a positive review must not have had exposure to quality japanese/korean cuisine. I planned on ordering more food, but decided I would wait until I got home to eat more - and now, I have lost my appetite. SAVE YOURSELF THE TROUBLE AND AVOID THIS PLACE. There are tons of better places close by.
(1)
Sandra F.
Went here for lunch today. I was the only table in the place and it took 30 minutes for my food to arrive at the table. I ordered Korean food being that I am Korean. Worst Korean food I have ever had. From the rice to the banchan to the entree, absolutely the worst.
(1)
Alex O.
Always enjoy the rolls I get here, check them out.
(4)
Eugene L.
Sushi Zen has been in this location for more than a decade, which is usually a good sign. I have eaten here numerous times over the years, mainly for lunch, and while the food is not spectacular, it is competent and the fish smells okay. They have a standard variety of sushi and sashimi, makimono, Chef's Special rolls, a limited selection of Japanese entrees, and Korean dinners, served as box lunches in midday. Again, everything is well-prepared, but not really out of the ordinary range. The bento box lunches include soup, salad, and a wooden box with some California roll, fried rice, a small egg roll, and your choice of bulgokis or other Korean specialties. Everything is tasty, and served fairly quickly at lunchtime. Dinner is a more leisurely affair. Service does tend to be somewhat inconsistent, depending on the server, time of day, and how crowded it is. Depending on how fussy you are about sushi etc., this place may or may not meet your needs. I find it adequate, and certainly better than supermarket sushi (yuck!). The Korean dishes are tasty, but somewhat Americanized. They've certainly been in business a long time, I give 'em that, and you can have an nice meal here, as long as your standards for this cuisine are not excessively high.
(3)
Alisha E.
Not a fan. I just moved to the area and decided to try eating someplace close to where I live instead of driving downtown. I should have known by the stale smell that hit me in the face when I walked in to turn around but decided to give it the benefit of the doubt since I've read some descent reviews. There was just a husband and wife working and I was the only one there at 6:30 on Friday so the service was quick. My food was not great, heavy on the scallions, under ripe mango, and that "fishy" smell you always try to avoid. Also, the longer I sat and looked around, the more grossed out I got. There was dust on the draperies around the sushi bar, stains on the table clothes and carpet, ceiling tiles that needed to be replaced and a sad looking fish tank. To be fair, I didn't get sick and didn't try the Korean food but I live across the street and won't even be going back despite convenience.
(2)
Patty R.
I wouldn't go here for sushi again. The traditional Japanese isn't anywhere to be found on the menu, only weird combinations that perhaps only Koreans could come up with. On the other hand, I would go here again for Korean dishes! I think the restaurant should change its name to highlight its Korean menu so I don't go in expecting a Japanese menu. Anyway, I tried an octopus dish that came with with some deliciously spicy reddish sauce. The octopus was a bit chewy and cut up in some uncomfortably large pieces but oh, that sauce! The staff is reserved and cordial. I suspect if one is a regular customer they might thaw out a bit but they pretty much leave you alone.
(2)
Maksim S.
We were in St Pete on the weekend and decide to eat sushi. The worst sushi ever! Never go there again. All 3 or 4 king of sushi we ordered was terrible.
(1)
Aleksandr O.
I had a craving for sushi during a business trip and this one was nearby. Coming from CA I had a fairly high expectation for sushi and I can't say that it was met. The sushi was OK - nothing better. I sat at the bar and the chef has not said a word to me all this time. I don't think I'll come back there again but I give them 3 stars given the OK sushi and the lack of other sushi options.
(3)
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Address :11024 4th St N
Saint Petersburg, FL, 33716
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Maria M.
First time here I ordered sushi not impressed at all. I ordered the combo and they gave me imitation crab meat, really? The other fish was okay but not better than Publix. The restaurant was okay but I also noticed the smell, reminded me of a dive bar stale smoke and alcohol. I doubt I'll try this place again. There have to be better places for sushi.
(2)N K.
The dolsot bibimbap was delicious! My boyfriend was in the mood for chicken fried rice, which was great as well. It was all white meat chicken. The rice had almost a smokey taste, it was delightful. The smoked salmon in our sushi roll wasn't the best, but we are also spoiled from living in alaska. We will definitely be back for my bibimbap fix! :)
(4)Rick S.
It's better than people make it out to be. Lunch boxes are a good choice. Sushi is acceptable and it's the best food in the shopping area. Korean food is hard to find in Tampa Bay and the better Korean places are 30min drives from here so I'll take what I can get! Service is good and it's cleaner than some other places I've been for Asian food. The one thing that might turn people away is that it's not very cheap. $10-15 per person is normal for the menu. All around an ok place for lunch and dinner.
(4)Coty S.
I did not even know that this Winn-Dixie shopping center existed. St Petersburg is full of surprises! TL;DR- This is a Korean restaurant, order Korean food here. It will not be as good as the restaurants in Tampa, so don't raise your expectations too high. Sushi Zen has been around for a long time. From the awards on the walls, I would say... at least 15 years. The articles written about them clearly note that they are a Korean restaurant first and foremost. So don't get it twisted. It has also been at least 15 years since the restaurant has been renovated. The entire front of the restaurant is blocked off so you cannot see inside. Seating is down a long corridor-like dining area. As soon as I entered, I was hit with a wave of smell that was all too familiar of Busan's Jalgachi market--- the smell of fish tanks and cigarettes. The smell permeates the entire restaurant to the point where my clothing smelled like it when I went home. I would not order raw fish again from Sushi Zen, tried it once and will not do it again. The raw fish is hard to chew and does not taste fresh. At the end of one roll the fish tasted totally wrong, something was not right. They use old Korean rice to make the sushi- not fresh, not seasoned. Too much fish per rice ratio. Their Pork Bulgogi is advertised as spicy (mae-un dwae-ji bulgogi), which is more like a simple spicy pork stir fry (jae-yuk bokkum), served with four banchan and a hot metal bowl of rice (no spoon). The pork was thinly sliced, spicy, crispy on some parts, and did not have too many veggies. It was delicious! Suited to my American tastes, ha. It had just the right amount of sugar in the marinade. Many people complain that Korean food in the US is too sweet. Well, hate to break it to you, but it tastes the same as in Korea. Kimchi here is soooooo salty, unbearable to eat. I would hate to order Kimchi Jigae here. My rice issue: The rice I also received with my meal that I ordered was at least 24 hours old, and had the taste of being in a rice cooker for too long, it was not white but more of a brown color. There was also rice crust mixed in. Rice crust is awesome from freshly cooked rice, but this was up against a non-stick treated surface for a long time. Even after all of my specific complaints, it is good that I tried Sushi Zen. It is nice to have a Korean food option in St Pete, where it is definitely lacking (other than Jung Il grocery store).
(3)Michael M.
I wanted Korean food and the girls wanted sushi. I had almost given in until I found Sushi Zen. Here they serve very tasty sushi while offering hot and tasty Korean food. Upon entering there was a strange smell in the air which could have ended it right then and there. We were promptly seated and our drink order taken. After our drinks were delivered our food order was taken. I dont know if it was me but it almost seemed like the lady taking our order would have hoped we weren't even there. Well the girls ordered a bunch of sushi. I ordered the Galbi. Everything began to come to our table in kind of a strange order. One dish at a time and very very slow. Luckily the food was worth the wait but I give this place 3 out of 5 stars for the smell, poor attitude ,and such slow service.
(3)Thuyen B.
Craving Korean food and where to go in St Pete?! Sushi Zen is actually right around the corner from me so despite some of these reviews, I decided to check it out (The craving was too strong!). The restaurant just stretches far back with booths lining the wall. We were greeted by a nice lady. There was a man behind the sushi counter making sushi. They were not rude in any way. Just friendly in an understated kind of way, which is fine with me. We ordered the fried dumplings, galbi, and dolsot bibimbap. Fried dumplings- very tasty with the dipping sauce! Meat inside the dumplings had a nice gingery taste. Dumplings were fried perfectly and were not too greasy. Galbi beef- marinated short ribs in their special sauce. The plate came out sizzling hot and smelled wonderful. I only had a bite. Not the best galbi I've ever had but it was good. Bibimbap- DING DING DING! Winner! Most delicious meal of my week. Served in a hot stone bowl, the bowl was still sizzling as it came out. The rice on the bottom was all crunchy and smoky flavored- So so good! There was a variety of vegetables in there to include shitake mushrooms, cucumber, seaweed, and lettuce. The beef was seasoned perfectly. I was given the Korean chili paste/sauce on the side for it so I threw that in and mixed everything up and: total mouthgasm. Did not try the sushi so I can't comment on that. But our service and food was good. Prices are kinda the same as other Korean restaurants in the area; not sure how portion sizes compare though. Will most definitely be back for more Korean food.
(4)Nikki A.
This small sushi restaurant is close to my house, and that is the best thing it has going for it. I will grab a few rolls (I like the St. Pete, the Tuna Crunch Roll, and the Eel) and a Kirin Light and I am a happy gal. I can also recommend their Bulgogi. The staff is always friendly and there is usually not a big crowd. The last few times I have felt a little rushed (big pet peeve of mine) and it has not appeared to be the cleanest place in town. I have been coming here forever, hopefully they step up their game to where it used to be.
(3)Rachel Z.
I can't speak on the Korean food some reviewers seemed to enjoy, but I was completely unimpressed (even a little turned off) by their sushi. Something about the tuna "nagiri" sushi tasted off; it just fell a little flat in regards to flavor and it seemed to fall apart when I tried to bite into it--not in that 'melt in your mouth' kind of way, but rather in a deflating balloon kind of way...i couldn't chew it enough to be able to actually swallow it. The roll sushi that I ordered was unincredible but not horrible. The green seaweed salad was actually pretty good, but still not the best I've had. There are too many sushi options in St Pete to return to this mediocre establishment.
(2)Ashley M.
Here's the thing- three of us have tried the sushi and it was just bad. I don't eat cooked rolls so I'm telling you the fish did not taste fresh. I hate being mean but I have to be honest. If you eat sashimi or fresh fish rolls don't go here.
(1)Matthew B.
I've eaten here since about 2006. Great little sushi place with a lovely korean menu also. Things to try?? Try the succulent sashimi appetizer. I love raw fish (as I am descended from the cat-people) and the sashimi here is always of the best quality. They also put a delicious tataki on the plate that is to die for... Mmmmmmm! My other two favorites are the bibimbap and the squid bokum.
(5)Andrew H.
AWFUL. Absolutely worst sushi ever, poor service, and horrible price/portion ratio. I ordered a crunch roll (Spicy Tuna roll with Crunch Flake) - I asked to add cucumber and avocado to the spicy tuna in the crunch roll, and received two rolls: one spicy tuna with avo & cuc, the crunch roll by itself. THE TUNA CAME OUT OF A CAN. Absolutely awful. Not very spicy. The crunch flakes were good, that was the best part. My drink glass was sticky on the rim and outside of the glass, which is bad when you order iced tea. My fiance ordered Japche (sp?) -- rice noodles with korean beef & vegetables. The korean beef was amazing, I wish there would have been more than 8 little tiny slivers of beef in the dish. The mushrooms were obviously reconstituted and RUBBERY. The noodles were tough. The vegetables were sparse and varied between raw and over cooked. The most over-priced plate of noodles EVER. I was so disappointed as we just moved in across the street and was looking forward to having a japanese restaurant across the street. We will never eat here again. Anyone that has a positive review must not have had exposure to quality japanese/korean cuisine. I planned on ordering more food, but decided I would wait until I got home to eat more - and now, I have lost my appetite. SAVE YOURSELF THE TROUBLE AND AVOID THIS PLACE. There are tons of better places close by.
(1)Sandra F.
Went here for lunch today. I was the only table in the place and it took 30 minutes for my food to arrive at the table. I ordered Korean food being that I am Korean. Worst Korean food I have ever had. From the rice to the banchan to the entree, absolutely the worst.
(1)Alex O.
Always enjoy the rolls I get here, check them out.
(4)Eugene L.
Sushi Zen has been in this location for more than a decade, which is usually a good sign. I have eaten here numerous times over the years, mainly for lunch, and while the food is not spectacular, it is competent and the fish smells okay. They have a standard variety of sushi and sashimi, makimono, Chef's Special rolls, a limited selection of Japanese entrees, and Korean dinners, served as box lunches in midday. Again, everything is well-prepared, but not really out of the ordinary range. The bento box lunches include soup, salad, and a wooden box with some California roll, fried rice, a small egg roll, and your choice of bulgokis or other Korean specialties. Everything is tasty, and served fairly quickly at lunchtime. Dinner is a more leisurely affair. Service does tend to be somewhat inconsistent, depending on the server, time of day, and how crowded it is. Depending on how fussy you are about sushi etc., this place may or may not meet your needs. I find it adequate, and certainly better than supermarket sushi (yuck!). The Korean dishes are tasty, but somewhat Americanized. They've certainly been in business a long time, I give 'em that, and you can have an nice meal here, as long as your standards for this cuisine are not excessively high.
(3)Alisha E.
Not a fan. I just moved to the area and decided to try eating someplace close to where I live instead of driving downtown. I should have known by the stale smell that hit me in the face when I walked in to turn around but decided to give it the benefit of the doubt since I've read some descent reviews. There was just a husband and wife working and I was the only one there at 6:30 on Friday so the service was quick. My food was not great, heavy on the scallions, under ripe mango, and that "fishy" smell you always try to avoid. Also, the longer I sat and looked around, the more grossed out I got. There was dust on the draperies around the sushi bar, stains on the table clothes and carpet, ceiling tiles that needed to be replaced and a sad looking fish tank. To be fair, I didn't get sick and didn't try the Korean food but I live across the street and won't even be going back despite convenience.
(2)Patty R.
I wouldn't go here for sushi again. The traditional Japanese isn't anywhere to be found on the menu, only weird combinations that perhaps only Koreans could come up with. On the other hand, I would go here again for Korean dishes! I think the restaurant should change its name to highlight its Korean menu so I don't go in expecting a Japanese menu. Anyway, I tried an octopus dish that came with with some deliciously spicy reddish sauce. The octopus was a bit chewy and cut up in some uncomfortably large pieces but oh, that sauce! The staff is reserved and cordial. I suspect if one is a regular customer they might thaw out a bit but they pretty much leave you alone.
(2)Maksim S.
We were in St Pete on the weekend and decide to eat sushi. The worst sushi ever! Never go there again. All 3 or 4 king of sushi we ordered was terrible.
(1)Aleksandr O.
I had a craving for sushi during a business trip and this one was nearby. Coming from CA I had a fairly high expectation for sushi and I can't say that it was met. The sushi was OK - nothing better. I sat at the bar and the chef has not said a word to me all this time. I don't think I'll come back there again but I give them 3 stars given the OK sushi and the lack of other sushi options.
(3)