I went to Zento on a quiet Sunday night with a friend before a movie. The restaurant, like most reviewers mention, is pretty tiny and intimate inside - but very well decorated and gives off an overall nice environment. I ordered the seaweed salad as an appetizer - which was tasty, kind of a small portion (as compared to some others in the city.) I ordered a spicy tuna roll and a sweet potato roll - both of which were very good. No real complaints. The service was attentive, friendly, and quick.
(4)
Nola C.
Pretty good, atmosphere is elegant but tight, me and my date were almost rubbing elbows with the table next to us on a Friday evening. The rolls were impressively presented as well as delicious and so was the sashimi. I would go back on an afternoon when there were less people.
(4)
Darragh M.
Another dark restaurant that should be avoided by the over 40's. Food was fine. The service was Faulty Towers at best.
(3)
Javier C.
Went here for the first time and I'm hooked. Started my meal with fried calamari which was great with a golden brown crust and not to chewy. Then I had the chicken teriyaki that was nice and juice with the right sweetness. The sushi I had was some roll with shrimp tempura and spicy king crab meat...awesomeness!!! The sake was good as well. Service was really good and we were seated pretty fast on a Friday night.
(5)
Chi T.
The food took quite a while to come out, so careful if you're tight on time. The tuna tartare appetizer was tasty, but the portion was small. We ordered the mixed sashimi, love roll, spicy scallop & avocado roll, and flaming dragon. Food overall was a bit pricey, but hey, it's Old City. The sushi and sashimi weren't mindblowing, so I wouldn't go out of my way to go here either. However, it's nice to have as an option.
(3)
Aaliyah P.
Apparently Zento is Japanese Slang for slow ass service. Almost a 3 hour (sushi dinner) here made me not so happy especially since the food was mediocre and overpriced . We had a reservation and were seated right away. Everything else took forever , forever to get water, forever to order , for ever to get food. I cant get on board with restaurants that aren't aware of timing. As a group we split edamame and we each did a few rolls. The Lobster specialty roll caught my eye so i ordered that along with the shrimp and asparagus roll. They will get points for presentation ( see photo) but the rolls were just alright. The lobster roll ($17) had a good amount of lobster involved but the mustard aioli over powered the dish and the raspberry sauce was barely memorable. I wont be back anytime soon. There are way to many sushi options in the city to dine here. Its not all bad a few silver linings if you will Yelp check in -Free app up to 10.00 value BYO- but a $5 corkage fee They offer discounted parking if you must drive
(2)
Jon Z.
Not your average Japanese cuisine! Best atmosphere and friendliest staff in old city by far. The sushi is uber fresh, delectable and miraculously plated. Grab a reservation as this restaurant fills up fast!!
(4)
Megan A.
Went here for valentines day - we had a great experience. I had veggie sushi (green roll and vegetables roll) and the waitress asked if I wanted vegetarian soy sauce since their normal soy sauce has some kind of fish in it and I was really appreciative of that! My bf had the zento roll and the volcano roll and liked both. We also split the garden salad and the dressing was really good. The ambiance is really great for a date and they gave all the girls roses for valentines day! I would definitely recommend this place for a date and we will be returning
(5)
Joseph R.
So when I was thinking about how to rate this place, I was trying to figure out if I would give it four stars or five stars. I usually don't like to just throw out a five star review for no reason, so I really thought about it. The conclusion I came to was: yes, five stars, definitely. We started out with edamame, salmon and Spanish mackerel sashimi. The edamame, a tad above average. The salmon, extremely smooth, great consistency, dead on fantastic taste. The Spanish mackerel, that's where I lost it. I wasn't expecting it at all. It was smoky, not at all salty or fishy. It, like the salmon, melted away as you ate it. We've gotten sashimi from a lot of places, and this was right up there with the best we've ever had. We had six people in our party, and we all ordered two rolls. We figured the best way to sample what they have is to order a few each and then trade pieces. Most of us ordered their specialty rolls, which were all fantastic and included things we've rarely seen before, like a roll that had shallots and yuzu vinaigrette. The few less extravagant rolls we ordered were good though too. There wasn't one roll I didn't like. I can't remember what others got, but I specifically ordered, the Volcano Roll ("deep fried" roll, i.e., tempura'd) and the Green River Roll which I remember featured plum paste. All absolutely delicious. To drink they had beers as well as carafes of warm and chilled sake, most of which are fairly reasonably-priced, even for something really good like a junmai daiginjo (we got the "diamond sake"). The space itself is absolutely beautiful. Dark wood throughout, it opens up in the back to high ceilings with intimate lighting. There's upstairs seating as well, and I imagine this place can pack in quite a few people at its busiest. Overall this place left six people very, very satisfied. I would never hesitate to go here again.
(5)
David I.
I have been to a lot of sushi places in Philly and this is one of my favorites. Great sushi, love the specials, great service, BYOB is a plus, and serves there own alcohol, I love the vibe and ambiance. There prices are definitely reasonable for a nice sit down sushi restaurant.
(5)
Emmaleigh A.
I went to Zento before a concert at Penn's Landing. It was a little early for dinner (around 5:30) on a Thursday night and there was only one other couple in the restaurant. I had the King Crab Miso Soup, which was really good and had a lot of crab meat in it, although I'm not sure it was worth $5. I also had the Love Roll, which was one of the Zento Signature Rolls on the menu. It was so pretty and elegant looking! Everything was very fresh. I think this is a good place for a date -- it's a cool, intimate little place. It is BYOB (I believe there was a $5 corkage fee). The $10 Yelp deal was a nice bonus!
(4)
Long P.
Took a gander into Old City and tried out Zento because it had a favorable number of reviews on here and who I am to go against the grain when it comes to sushi since I'm not expert, yet. The ambiance that Zento gives off is pretty relaxed, a good spot for a casual date, with a friend or possibly by yourself at the bar. Lots of wood and low light mood lighting compliment each other well and the seating is spread apart enough not to be part of another groups conversation. I ordered a specialty roll and regular style and my friend did the same, he's more the sushi expert and he he gave it 3 stars for freshness. Service was average until I spotted the owner and actually knew him from his previous venture at the same venue. Than the service was really good. All in all a good Japanese spot worth trying at least once and a welcome addition to Old City's revival.
(3)
Elizabeth M.
I'm extremely picky about sushi - and this place has yet to disappoint me! I try to order at least one new thing every time that I go but thats hard to do because I've been so thrilled with the previous dishes that I've ordered. The service is always great, atmosphere is lovely, the drink selection is phenomenal, and to top it off it's a BYOB! Highly recommend it.
(5)
Paul V.
The best thing about Zento was the ambiance. A very cute and cozy restaurant with very comfortable atmosphere. Otherwise, the food and service was mostly average to decent at best. We dined early on a weeknight and were warmly greeted and immediately seated. Our server was cordial with a good personality, but was slow and inattentive. Water glasses were not kept filled; we were never checked on to see if everything was okay or if we needed anything. We started out with the mixed salad with ginger dressing. The salad contained fresh and crisp lettuces and assorted vegetables along with good ginger dressing. The salad plate was cold. We ordered the steamed shrimp dumplings. The appetizer consisted of 8 small dumplings and were quite tasty with prominent shrimp flavor and good seasoning. The dumplings were moist and well prepared. For our entrees we had chicken teriyaki. This entree was a disappointment. The chicken was mostly dry,tough and stringy. The sauce was just average and didn't do much to help the lackluster chicken. It was served with steamed rice and mixed salad with ginger dressing. Presentation was good. We also ordered the Ocean Roll. The Ocean roll contained spicy softshell crab with cucumber and was topped with spicy scallop and masago. The contents were fresh tasting and was tasty, but wasn't memorable. We also had the mixed vegetable roll which again was good but nothing spectacular. Presentation was very good. I have had much better sushi in other locations in the area and the sushi here is decent, but not a good value. The chicken teriyaki was a rather poorly prepared version of this common Japanese restaurant entree. The ambiance and courteous service is only reason I did not give 2 stars. The food was a mix of 2 and 3 star quality. Zento needs to brush up on their service and step up their game with food quality. If the food and service matched the ambiance then Zento would be a 4 star location.
(3)
Jessica D.
Everything we ordered was great. The rolls were so tasty, and for once the pieces were just the right size! I'm sick of eating ridiculously huge fancy rolls where you have to struggle and choke to get the whole piece in your mouth.. and of course to break it in half would be insulting to the sushi chef... so this was just perfect. They managed to pack a ton of flavor and variety into perfect bite-sized pieces. Also the sashimi and sushi fish were so delicious and fresh. We eat sushi often... most commonly salmon sushi/sashimi and scallop, and this is some of the sweetest and freshest fish we have encountered. Will definitely be back. Also HIGHLY recommend the Lychee Martinis as a perfect sushi accompaniment :)
(4)
Jim S.
Very good sushi and a nice cozy atmosphere. The soft shell crab roll was fantastic...
(4)
Ryan I.
Went there for the first time tonight. Everything was quality, and tasted great. I got the shrimp dumplings, which were excellent. Probably my favorite part of the meal. With that, I also got the crunchy spicy salmon roll, and the spicy scallop rolls. All of which were high quality. The put a wholeee lot of crunch on top of the salmon rolls, which gave it an odd taste, but that's a minor complaint. Scallop roll was tasty. All in all I was very happy, and will be returning
(4)
Naomi O.
This is a wonderful sushi destination in Philly. Good menu, friendly/diligent service, and a cool ambiance to top it off versus the counter type hole in walls (which have delicious sushi but aren't always date friendly). This place is BYOB and has a bar....I didn't know places had both. Great pick, awesome Kani salad, Love Roll, and King Crab miso soup!
(4)
Matt P.
Basic, just like all of Old City.
(2)
Kristyn S.
More like 3.5... But not a option. Found a groupon for this place, the reviews were good so my bf and I tried it out! Service was a little slow, but we were okay with that because we weren't in a rush. Waitress was knowledgable about the menu and offered us some best sellers. The sushi was fresh, above average, but not great. The rolls were smaller than I expected. Typically chef rolls or speciality rolls are very big and these 4 we ordered were average size. Order more than you think! I would suggest this place to friends, cool environment and decor. Check out groupon I paid $36 for a $60 cert.
(3)
Redwood K.
This is definitely a classy joint. If you're out to impress, take her or him here. It's dripping chic vibes. Like a lot of the finest in Japanese cuisine, it's all about presentation and freshness. And oola la, they've got that in spades. For sure it's pricey and portions aren't for the ravenous but it's a dining experience that stood out.
(4)
Michael F.
I enjoyed my meal at Zento, but had trouble coming up with a reason to give a rating higher than 3-stars based on value. Yes, the quality was good, but the portions were merely alright, and the prices didn't align with the overall package provided. It should be noted, the friend who joined me for dinner was able to purchase a coupon deal on restaurant.com (while waiting to order) which saved him a small percentage off. They have a good variety of specialty rolls and I have to give them credit for a tasty Sashimi Roll. Unfortunately, while I can't speak for all their apps, the Rainbow Ceviche left a lot to be desired. Again, overall the value didn't speak to me, but I could see myself back to give them another chance (with a restaurant.com coupon!).
(3)
Hong H.
Came here last night for our annual Christmas party for our staff. Everything was so fresh and delicious. I had the salmon entree, crab cakes, calamari, and a variety of sushi rolls. My son usually does not like sushi rolls but he fell in love with their crab rolls. We had to order another order just for him. Not sure what the name was but it was one of their pricier rolls. Before we left, he mentioned that he wanted to come back. That's rare because he's picky with his food. Also a plus was we went past their closing time and they told us that we can stay and take our time. Of course we didn't want to keep them but it was so nice for them to say that. Service was attentive and awesome.
(5)
Raghu H.
Vegetarian sushi was average, at best. The service however, was non-existent. For a corkage fee at a "BYOB" restaurant, I at least expect someone to pour my beverages for me, or at the very least know not to knock things over on my table.
(2)
Amanda C.
Review Summary: Ambience: 3/5 Food: 2/5 Service: 3/5 As the other reviews have mentioned, this establishment is very well decorated. It is a fitting place to have an intimate meal, and the service is fine, et cetera. But really, let's get down to what we're all here for and talk about the food. I picked out this place to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and was sorely disappointed. The food definitely tastes better than it looks, but that isn't saying very much. We started off with the Scallop Capracio and the Rainbow Ceviche, both of which were the best-looking and best-tasting dishes of the night. Then we tried a few of the rice-paper/soy paper rolls, which came recommended by the waiter. I must say, these rolls were nothing special and even a little strange tasting. Although I liked the appetizers I could not overlook how mediocre the sushi was, and I left feeling quite embarrassed that I had suggested this place at all. If you have been swayed by the other reviews and still want to try Zento out, please do not do it with someone you are trying to impress.
(2)
Katherine O.
This place is great! Came here first time with an Amazon local deal, and loved it. Thanks to other Yelp reviews I found out it is a BYOB but you want sake they do have a lot of options for that too. I'm sure they have other drinks, but I'm not asking questions why they allow patrons to bring their own alcohol! Had the sashimi platter the first time and the tuna pizza. (good!) Bought two more deals to come back in the future. There always seems to be something on Groupon/Living Social for Zento deals- look for them! Also thanks to the website I found out the restaurant validates parking (completely free!) for the weekends (Starting Thursday) in the garage on 2nd in the block north of Chestnut St.
(5)
Matt C.
I've mentioned before that I can't really differentiate between good sushi and great sushi; good sushi vs bad sushi is an EASY distinction, but good vs great is a little harder to discern. That said, Zento had good sushi. We were here for Restaurant Week last night, and after a reservation snafu with another restaurant, (*cough* thanks a LOT, B....) we were able to find a seat at Zento. The place is pretty small, so seating is kind of crammed in every nook and cranny. Our particular seat was straight back against the back wall, DIRECTLY across from the air conditioner. It was FREEZING. The ac blew so hard, it blew our candle out on our table. And speaking of that candle, you absolutely need that thing. Zento is like a cave inside. Its very dark. The upside is that the service was very, very good. Everyone was polite and personable. The restaurant week menu was decent, and we were able to get full, although I felt that we didn't eat $100 dollars worth of food, which was our total bill. I wouldn't mind a return trip, but there are many, MANY comparable options closer, cheaper and that don't force you to deal with infuriating Philly parking. Oh, check in on the Yelp app and you get 1 free validated parking.
(4)
Dominique F.
My friend and I dropped by without reservations for an early dinner and got seated right away. Ordered a couple sushi rolls which were delish but nothing out of this world, or nothing that I know remember a couple months later and wish I'd go back to if you know what I mean.
(3)
Katja N.
I really enjoyed this place. I had Ceviche and sushi so I loaded up on raw fish. It was FRESH and well prepared. Yum! I liked the ambiance as well. We went early on a Saturday, so almost had the place to our selves. Staff was really nice and professional, food arrived quickly. No complaints Will def return.
(3)
Adam L.
I highly recommend zento. Besides having excellent food I want to comment on the customer service. Their manager Christian went above and beyond to make all of our visits memorable. We noticed it is not just us - he make sure that all customers are treated excellently.
(5)
Rebekah T.
I wanted to find a little place for a light sushi dinner, so I checked the reviews. We were planning on Morimoto the next day, so we tried to keep it inexpensive. It all looked good, so I booked an Opentable reservation. We arrived and the place was empty. We took a look at the menu and already knew we were getting the Crab Miso soup from the reviews. Zento says that it is a sushi and sake bar, yet they didn't have a sake menu or any Nigori. I'm used to lists of sake and trying new ones and favorites each time. We ordered what they had. yelp.com/biz_photos/nR3V… The menu isn't as extensive as I'm used to. Mostly rolls, some sashimi and hand rolls. We ordered a couple starters and rolls: *Crab Miso Soup (Really Good): yelp.com/biz_photos/nR3V… *Seaweed Salad: yelp.com/biz_photos/nR3V… *Mixed Rolls: yelp.com/biz_photos/nR3V… All devoured with a nice crisp Sapporo. yelp.com/biz_photos/nR3V… So in the end the food was pretty good, service was really slow (despite it being empty) and was kind of disappointed by the lack of menu items. I guess I can be spoiled coming from a city that has some of the freshest fish around.
(3)
Matt D.
We've been to Zento twice, and while I enjoy the atmosphere and the sushi, something is missing. The rolls are very good, the crab soup is lovely, and the Love roll is unique and tasty. It's been a popular spot for a long time, but it seems a little tired and worn out. Also, the new $45 minimum for credit cards is just wacky. They announce it at the hostess stand, and we saw two couples turn around and walk out over it...not the best idea for business. Compared to its peers like Doma, Umai Umai, Roe, etc, it's a bit pricey. The folks over at Roe are super friendly, and you can throw in a Thai appetizer to mix in with the Sushi.
(3)
Alex D.
Visited Philadelphia back in November, and wanted to see if we could find some good sushi near our hotel. While Morimoto down the street was a place we probably would have enjoyed very much, we were concerned that it would be a difficult place to fully enjoy with our 3 year old, and instead went to Zento after reading many favorable reviews. I must say we were glad we decided to come here - great experience! It's not as avant-garde as Morimoto-san's place is, but definitely tasty! We made a reservation and were seated promptly in their upstairs space. Drinks and appetizers came in a flash, and so did our sushi order. The wait staff was very friendly and efficient, but not hovering or impersonal. The food was delicious, every bit of it. We really liked the scallop carpaccio, the Peking duck hand roll, the nigiri hirame. It's a little on the higher priced side, but as with most sushi that's really authentic, well worth it - sushi is served at the right temperature and in the proper portions - they don't overdo the amount of rice or fillers, and we left satisfied but not overstuffed. It was especially fun to watch our little one wolf down an entire bowl of udon in short order - I never knew that much food could fit into such a little kid! Our only "gripe" was the music. I realize that Zento wants to be a trendier place, and the music wasn't terrible, but it was a bit loud and overbearing. A bit of quieter ambient music would have hit the spot, and let diners chat a bit more, without having to speak loudly. Overall, we enjoyed it very much, and were impressed with their ability and interest in accommodating our young child with us on a little bit of a late night dining run. Would definitely return!!
I LOVE this place. Stopped here for a quick bite with the boyfriend. We were seated immediately. Our server was SUPER nice and friendly. We ordered the beer brewed mussels (delicious!!) and thoroughly enjoyed them. We also had a cocktail each. Bf ordered the Country Club Cocktail, but the waiter accidentally brought him the sangria instead. My bf didn't even care because the sangria was so delicious, but the waiter quickly realized his mistake and didn't charge us for it. He brought out the correct cocktail and was very apologetic. I ordered the lychee mojito - I just can't say no to lychee anything - and it was superb. I don't really get why other yelpers are complaining about the size of the place - yes, it is small, but it's not THAT small. It was intimate and romantic and we really loved that. For our entree we split the salmon zento square sushi. I described it to my boyfriend as "sex in my mouth" but not the kind you'd find in pornography. No, it was more like sweet, passionate love making in my mouth. The salmon was delicate, very fresh and the sauce on top just pushed it over the top. Yes, it's expensive here. You wouldn't want to eat here for sushi every week, there are other places for that, but as a special occasion place, Zento kicks ass.
(5)
Cat P.
I was a little leery of coming back to this place because I do not remember having a good meal here the first time. My experience with their lunch on Saturday, though, was pleasant. The space itself is beautifully done (a little bit edgier than your standard Japanese restaurant, but not as mod as say, Morimoto or Pod), the wait staff was friendly, and the food was delivered quickly. What more could you ask for? Oh wait, you want the food to be tasty, as well? Well relax, dear Yelper, because Zento delivered on that end, too. I went with the yellowtail tartare, which actually had a really different flavor to it because of the fried shallots and tobiko. I also had their miso soup as an appetizer. I personally wish it had seaweed in it, but it was still pretty damn delicious with just scallions and tofu. My rolls then came out quickly thereafter. I know a lot of people always like to get the crazy rolls, but I try to go with the more traditional rolls because I want to taste what their actual fish is like without all the extra stuff inside. The salmon roll I had was a good size and the fish itself was fresh and delicious. The yellowtail roll was just as good as the tartare and I enjoyed eating it again. The Japanese squash roll was not my favorite (I didn't enjoy the texture), but the presentation of it was still lovely and the actual taste was decent. I was full by this point, but the topped sashimi on their menu piqued my interest. I hope to be able to try that in the future. I will say that Zento is a little on the expensive side if you don't have any coupons, groupons, etc. There didn't really appear to be any deals in their menu and I'm sure you could find a better value somewhere else in the city. It was a charming meal, though, so I didn't really feel like my time was wasted here. I would like to try this spot out for dinner, but I don't typically hang out in Old City, so it may be a while before that happens.
(3)
Steve C.
To start, the service is spectacular. I wish I could recall the name of our waiter but he was amazing. Went there with a restaurant.com coupon and they had no problems taking it (you'd be surprised how many put up a fuss). We ordered some sushi and an appetizer (scallops) and got some cocktails 50% off which are that way every evening from 830-1030pm so save your yelp deal for happy hour. The sushi was great. I usually first gauge sushi on the quality of the rice then the fish then the sauce and they were all great. They have a forty five dollar minimum for credit cards which I can't knock them for because they get charged a percentage each time they accept a credit card for payment (just a heads up). I'll definitely be coming here again (and I'll make sure to bring enough cash and a restaurant.com coupon).
(5)
Firas I.
Simply put: Sushi was very good. Everything else was mediocre at best. We had the chef's tasting menue, which comprised of seven courses. The miso soup was very tasty and the clams were cooked well. However it was very salty. Again, the sushi was very good. Had I known, I would have just ordered sushi and saved a significant amount. Everything else was not great: there was nothing wrong with the food, but it was not worth the price. Zento is trying to be a very trendy/hip place, which it is not doing very well. It is no longer that small neighbourhood gem.
(2)
Vichet O.
Very good drinks here. A bit on the pricey side, but hey - what in Old City isn't? My only criticism - and this is solely because of my own prejudices - is that the drinks on the menu are all girly drinks**. Tasty and well made, but girly nonetheless. **They were on special, so I had to go for it. I had the Grasshopper (think mint chocolate-chip cookies) and the Last Samurai (think pear juice). Both were tasty, and didn't even have a hint of booze flavoring in them - if you know me, this is simultaneously cool and a problem. On one hand, it was a special feat to completely mask the Bombay Sapphire in my Last Samurai. On the other hand, I wanted to taste it, which is why I selected it. I can only wonder if the drink would have been horribly sweet if I'd chosen a lighter gin. Meh. It was good, anyway. I just would never have known there was gin in it - until it started to hit me fifteen minutes later, anyway. As for sake, I had their apple sake, plum sake, and coconut-lemongrass. None of them tasted like sake, and the carafes are shaken with ice, so if you actually like sake for sake (I do), I can't recommend any of these. If you like sweet/tart things that go down easy with an ABV comparable to a beer, then go for it. Decor here was pretty slick as well. Lots of dark wood and paneling. Dim lights. We already know that's my thing. The place opens up a bit from the footprint of its deceptively small Old City row. It's a small place, sure, but it's pretty well laid out. Worth a trip back with my associates. Next, when the drinks are full price, I think I'll stick to my own suggestions. Pro-tip: There is a dining room upstairs that is much more open than their downstairs seating. Try asking about it if you don't want to deal with being a little cramped. !!UPDATE!! I just realized this was my 100th review. Congrats, Zento - you did well!
(4)
Nellie F.
My girlfriend and I had lunch here last weekend. We were one of only two tables occupied in the place, but it was an odd hour (2:30) on a Saturday. We sat inside in the back cave/castle-like dining area, which I thought was pretty cool. High ceiling with rock walls covered in melted candle wax with a big gothic looking chandelier. The service was pleasant. Two things I liked most: the scallop starter and the spicy scallop roll. What? That's a lot of scallop you say? I know! But it was really fantastic and incredibly fresh. I personally think well done scallop highlights how fresh (or not fresh) a restaurant's ingredients are as a raw scallop will grab ahold of virtually any flavor or scent, good or bad. We also had a few other rolls and carpaccio, which were also good. Another great thing that I really appreciated: they have gluten free soy. Although we were not there for it, the happy hour specials looked excellent and we will likely return for happy hour sometime soon.
(4)
Christina A.
Not as overrated as Fat Salmon and way better than Kisso! Great sushi and ambience. Makes you feel like you found a hidden gem. You MUST order the Mexican Roll. (If you can tell, I feel strongly about this menu item.) My fellow sushi lovers and I usually order 2...The guac and mango salsa is such a unique explosion of flavor! The Tuna Pizza was good the first time but the tortillas were a but soggy the second. It's a cool concept though, worth giving another shot. The Deep Sea roll is also unique with wasabi seared tuna, but you have to be able to handle some spice. Skip the Zeno Square Sushi, and order the Old City and Volcano Roll instead.
(4)
Izabella J.
Veeeeery good sushi! Many options for Vegetarians :)))) seriously good... Love that they have outdoor seating. Indoor is very nice too. Suggestions to order: - mushroom roll - yum!
(5)
Reiko S.
I came here for lunch. But I'm not sure I'll come back or not. Kinda expensive for than kind of sushi. My sushi was not too bad but also not so good. The rice was too soft for me. Tuna Pizza is good. Nothing too special but like the idea make this kind of pizza. The price for lunch is around $10 & up. Which is other restaurants have cheaper or same price but better quality. The main reason I came here is just because the bonus point offers from my card lol.
(3)
Grace H.
I was really excited to try Zento because I'd read so many great reviews about it from my fellow yelpers. But maybe I went on the wrong day. It was a Sunday evening and totally dead - my friend and I were two of 6 diners in the entire restaurant that night. We ordered the sashimi roll, the crunchy spicy salmon, and the monkey roll, as well as the chicken dumplings to start, and I have to say I was disappointed. The sashimi roll was the best of the three, but nothing special. The spicy salmon roll was seriously mediocre and the smoked salmon on the monkey roll tasted of freezer burn. It was so evident to the point where we mentioned it to the server, and his only response was "it's smoked". Other than that he was very attentive, but again, there were only 6 customers to attend to...Maybe I'll be back for a redemption meal but probably not for quite some time.
(2)
Claire L.
Always have excellent meals here. Sushi is great. The rolls are delicate but still substantial. Lindan roll is my favorite so far- spicy crunchy salmon with cream cheese (not too much!) and topped with avocado and sauce. Like a better version of philly roll. Plus best of both worlds- BYOB no corkage feel AND a full bar. Come on.
(5)
Brian M.
Fast friendly service on sushi at a very reasonable price. The sushi is fresh and they don't try too hard to make crazy concoctions. The sushi just is what it is: great food. The wine is also very good and the cost is about average. I'd come back again.
(5)
Kartinya W.
I've been here a few times before and my experience was fine this time was unique because I actually had a problem. The problem turned to to be just a misunderstanding, but I was thoroughly impressed by the way the hostess immediately got the manager involved and by how friendly and engaging he was. Not only did he clear up the misunderstanding. He invited me back for happy hour and made sure everything was good before I left. I can tell the staff, lead by the manager, Christian, I believe his name was, really cares that customers are satisfied and come back to their restaurant. And I will most definitely be back!
(5)
Jon L.
I think this is probably more of a 3.5 star sort of place..excellent sushi with a good meat to rice ratio, interesting side dishes, and a good modern atmosphere. Major detractors are: 1) drinks are pretty meh..their descriptions sound very tasty but nothing was that amazing 2) the price is a bit high, and I think I can probably only afford this (barely!) using the Livingsocial deal. That being said, I do think it's a good option for sushi in the Old City area.
(4)
A N.
I had Zento cater my wedding in May 2015. To say these guys were incredible is an understatement, my guests RAVED about the food and the atmosphere these guys created. Prior to my wedding, I had heard from some guests that its common for the food at weddings to be so so, and no one ever expects much. Zento blew those people out of the water. From the moment I contacted them, Darin was on top of everything, calling me frequently with updates and getting back to me quickly when I called. It may sound hard to believe, but this is a rarity in the wedding business for some reason. Zento came up with an amazing menu: Pecking duck bao hoisin cucumber and green onions, Shrimp shu Mai with yuzu ponzu, Lettuce cups with Shitake Ragu, Vietnamese sticky rice, Miso eggplant with Lobster, Japanese cucumber gazpacho shooters, Tempura Shrimp and veggies with ponzu glaze, Kobe beef with summer truffles...plus huge platters of their sushi rolls (the monkey roll being my absolute favorite!!!!). Zento also provided the bar, with top shelf selections and a couples choice drink the Bourbon Blossom (HIGHLY RECOMMEND). The bartender Christian is a great guy, and my guests did not leave thirsty, that's for sure. The service throughout our reception was perfect, we had circling waiters with a different food choice, no sit down dinner. I've heard from many guests that they LOVED that arrangement; it skipped the forced table interactions and just let guests get to what they wanted to do (eat, drink, socialize). Zento provided numerous high top tables, linens, and disposable bamboo plates and utensils (I'm sure you can upgrade to real plates and whatnot, but the bamboo actually made it feel a little more authentic and less stuffy. I really liked it!) I cannot recommend Zento enough to anyone looking to have a) amazing food at their wedding b) professionals to work with and c) AMAZING FOOD at their wedding. On a related note, the restaurant rocks too! If I could eat here every day I would. Perfect for dates!
(5)
Olivia K.
Zen is one of my favorite restaurants in old city. The atmosphere is good for dates. I went here with two of friends because I had a living social voucher. Before they let you use the voucher on lunch specials as well but not anymore. We ordered the tuna pizza, old city roll, tuna crunch roll and the double shrimp roll. Out of those the old city roll is usually my go to. In addition to those I also like the zento square roll, the sashimi roll and the tofu cheesecake. The other cool thing about this place is that they have a phone charging station downstairs so you can charge your phone if needed.
(4)
Rachel L.
Best sushi I've had in a long time. My fav spot in the city used to be Raw, but I feel like you get more bang for your buck. I'm vegan and the vegetarian roll selection was awesome. Between my boyfriend and i, we ordered the Kanpyo Roll, cucumber roll, asparagus roll, grilled mushroom roll, the Hang on salmon roll, green roll, the real California roll, and the green roll. We also got miso soup and edamame. Excellent food. The service was a little confusing because we had two waitresses but they were both very friendly and got everything that we needed. Highly recommended.
(5)
Joey M.
I hope the rest of the night goes better than the interactions I have had thus far with this venue. I came across a New Year's Eve Ad on Grim Philly web page which boasted of a great meal and open bar for $75 from 9-11:30 and then a buffet and open bar from 11:30-2:00 am for $35. "That's Great!" I thought, having a good meal with flowing alcohol and don't have to worry about having a seat etc. My friend and I were psyched for this. Well, this morning I get a phone call informing me that the open bar is illegal in Philadelphia and that they are unable to offer it AND that the price for the 9-11:30 pm slot will remain the same. BUT oh they will comp us a bottle of champagne. Really??! I am not sure about you but when I go to a place for an open bar (esp on NYE) I do NOT order champagne until the ball drops! Furthermore, every other bar in Philly seems to be offering an open bar so how is it that Zento is the ONLY place unable to do so!? And why am I finding out the DAY OF the event?! Disappointed does not even begin to describe how I feel... If it wasn't for my friend's insistence I would have demanded a refund and attempted to find another venue (even though it is already NYE) The owner insists that the food is worth the price and that I will not be disappointed...We shall see (4:50 pm NYE) To be continued... So as it turns out we were refunded the full amount and were given the option of choosing the $80 three course meal (see pic) or directly from the menu. I must say that I was THRILLED that we were given this option because the three course meal for $80 did not seem worth it in my book (what do you think?). Upon arrival we were greeted by a host who attempted to seat us near the door but we asked for alternate seating and were guided upstairs. The waiter brought over an ice bucket with the champagne but did not open it (it was only a twist off) or serve it to us which I found kinda of odd. Maybe I've grown too snobby as I age? Anyway, the prices are a tad high but the selection is good. We ordered: Rainbow cerviche: delicious cube cut chunks of a variety of fish that were perfectly seasoned--HIGHLY recommend Love Roll: salmon, tuna, yellowtail, eel, asparagus, and avocado. wrapped with soy paper--OK Lindan Roll: crunchy spicy tuna, cream cheese inside. topped with avocado, tobiko and sriracha--HIGHLY recommend Korean BBQ Wagyu Beef: korean dipping sauce, kimchee puree, mix green with ginger dressing, multi grain. beef served medium rare only.--Good but not worth the price in my opinion Overall I enjoyed my meal and look forward to trying other menu items (ie: Mexican roll, Square sushi...) FYI: If you like saki this place may be for you. They have an impressive selection and even offer a flight sampler! (KUDOS if you made it through this review!)
(3)
Tania K.
Thank Goodness for the Groupon discount! Still spent additional $100 on top of the $70 for $120 deal. I'll tip my hat off to their freshness. The Hamachi melts in yo mouf! Although their sushi is fresh, Zento is quite too expensive for their serving sizes. $8 for a hand roll that you can devour in a single bite is ridiculous. Oh. Don't get the Ramen. I was just curious toward the end of my meal, and you really just need to order the sushi! The ramen noodles were too thin to be ramen, and the broth was more on the salty side for my palette. Also, appetizer Calamari was also too breaded! Not enjoyable.
(2)
Lea T.
When I've been craving sushi, nothing hits the spot like a trip to Zento in Old City. Right across the street from Han Dynasty, this spot is dark and intimate inside (perfect for a date). Zento has a full bar with late night happy hour (8:30-11:00 pm) and its BYO! ($10 corkage fee on weekends) Have a saki-bomb with Sapporo or try the Lychee Martini or Mojito. The bar has about 6 seats and there is 2 levels of dining area, however this spot is ideal for parties of 6 or less. Reservations can be made on Opentable and parking is free with validation. If you stop by for lunch, bento boxes are served Monday-Friday 11:30 am - 3 pm and they come with miso soup, white rice and a choice of spring roll or a California Roll. Both Lunch specials and Bento boxes start at $12. For dinner there is are numerous sushi and sashimi options, as well as hot dishes. I would recommend starting with edamame, dumplings, crabcakes, tempura vegetables, or the avocado salad. For sushi rolls I LOVE the Branzino roll, Mexican Roll, Double Shrimp Roll, and Angus Beef Roll. These are specialty rolls I promise you will not find at any other sushi restaurant in Philly. For entrees, the Chicken and Salmon Teriyaki are large portions and the Chilean Sea Bass is perfection. Try the Mochi ice cream for dessert. Since Zento can be more expensive than most sushi places, try Groupon or LivingSocial for a voucher and check in with Yelp for half off a signature cocktail!
(5)
Flora W.
I was wandering near Penn's Landing and looking for a Japanese place. Honestly, I don't think their sushi is good. I just feel their sushi is really small. Fish also don't taste fresh as well. If I choose to go for a sushi and sashimi, I still prefer Fat Salmon or Zama unless I find another good sushi place.
(3)
Djuan S.
Late lunch date with the girls. We are rating this place a 4. The atmosphere is really nice. The exposed brick wall gives it character. It's very cozy and has nice lighting. My friend says that "it's an upscale atmosphere with medium prices." The menu has some unique sushi combos and lots of options even for non-sushi eaters. Solid choice for a nice sushi dinner. Looks like they do lunch as well.
(4)
Nikki R.
One of my favorite restaurants in Old City and one of my favorite sushi restaurants of all time. Place is small, but people are nice and sushi is delicious!
(5)
Aria S.
I came here because I got a Restaurant.com deal through work which was $5 for $30 worth of food. Definitely a steal, right? Well, despite the great deal I got, I was very disappointed with the food. It took a while to get the food, the options were pretty limited, and the portions were TINY. Sometimes sushi doesn't fill people up, but this was a joke how small the pieces were. Especially for full price, it was a joke. Of course, it is a trendy, cool olde city spot. But other than that, the food isn't great.
(2)
Christine V.
Solid sushi place in Old City. I came here for restaurant week last week with my boyfriend. What we ordered: Appetizers - white fish carpaccio and the crab cakes Entrees - sushi and sashimi platter, mexican roll, and volcano roll Dessert - green tea mochi and tofu cheesecake For the appetizers, the white fish carpaccio was good and a great way to start off the meal. They topped the carpaccio with yuzu suace, which has a citrus zing to it. Sweet and tangy! I didn't think the fish was that fresh, which was disappointing because I do expect carpaccio dishes to have pretty fresh fish. Regardless of this, it was still enjoyable and kick started our meal. The crab cakes were small but filled with fresh crab. No complaints. Now the entrees. The sushi and sashimi platter came with 5 pieces of nigiri, 6 pieces of sashimi and 8 pieces of spicy tuna. I personally enjoyed the salmon sashimi and the escolar! I will give Zento kudos for labeling their "white tuna" escolar given the controversy around escolar these days. A little piece of it won't kill ya, so why not have some once in a blue moon? The escolar here is not as buttery as I would like but still good nonetheless. Their sushi and sashimi platter, even during restaurant week, is pretty filling! The volcano roll was a deep fried roll that had smoked salmon, imitation crab, and avocado. Nothing too special. The Mexican roll was really interesting and had a creative spin to the regular sushi rolls I'm usually used to. It had white fish tempura with cucumbers and topped with guacamole and mango salsa. I was hesitant to try it when I first looked at the menu but it was restaurant week and the perfect time to try something new. I was definitely happy with the decision to try it. It was different but in such a good way! My boyfriend and I were both very impressed with the Mexican roll. It was a very refreshing and light roll. The guacamole and mango salsa were such good compliments to the white fish! The roll was wrapped in soy paper which was a better alternative given the guac and salsa. Give this roll a chance if you can! When it came time to dessert, my boyfriend and I were pretty full already. Green tea mochi had a great matcha taste to it. The tofu cheesecake took a little getting used to but after a while, my tastebuds were starting to enjoy it more. I personally wouldn't order the tofu cheesecake again if given the chance. Zento is a great place to come for restaurant week. At $35 for their dinner menu, it really is worth it in my opinion. A gem in Old City!
(4)
Katrina C.
I really like Zento. The sushi is just so good. The service is great, too. It's not cheap, but they frequently have Groupons. My friends and I had gone in a couple of times, and they even gave us a $10 gift card to use the next time we went in! (Which we did, naturally). My favorite is the Mexican roll. It's different! The noodle soup is really good, and their avocado salad is my favorite! It's BYOB, even though it has a full bar.
(5)
Eunni C.
This place seems have always promotions going on. I see their coupons pretty often. We went there after our show at Arden theater. Restaurant wasn't big but clean. There was semi private dining area in the end of hall but they didn't have door so it was really loud since big group was drinking and eating. Wasn't able to enjoy our dinner at all. Food was ok and they had promotion but I would not necessarily go to old city to eat there.
(2)
Bing G.
The food was pretty good and the atmosphere was romantic. It's a nice place for a date. The only downside is that when i came here, the server was really confused. It was a weekend so i didn't mind them being a little slow, but she didn't know what the specials had in them and struggled to even say them. Our food also sat on the serving stand for a long time before it was brought to us. .. like 15 minutes ( we could see cause it was right next to us). Our waitress was also a little rude in my opinion. she didn't address me at all, but only my boyfriend the entire time. I guess she just assumed the guy made the date so he was in charge? But it made me feel a little uncomfortable when she looked down the entire time i ordered and only looked at my bf when asking if we needed anything or giving us the specials, if we wanted more water, etc. I've been a server for a few years at a bunch of different places, so it's strange to me that a place as nice as this had such mismatched service. Hoping this was just an off night, and others have better experiences
(3)
Sarita C.
Mussels steamed in beer with a slight green curry was my favorite dish/appetizer of the night. The dragon roll with crunchy spicy tuna with avacado was good and we also got the zento square sushi and we went half salmon and half tuna was good too!
(5)
Kelly P.
It's my go-to sushi spot when I'm in Old City. The downside is their lunch specials are not available on the weekend, but I have never been disappointed here, lunch or dinner.
(4)
Your M.
Highly recommended the calamari! Also we came in closer to closing and I was waiting for them to say no but they seated us right away. My Mixed Sushi order was fantastic!!
(5)
Noah R.
DELICIOUS. Went here for a late lunch and had the spicy salmon, rainbow roll, and the eel and cucumber roll. The eel and cucumber roll was AMAZINGLY definitely would recommend. The person I was eating with ordered an iced tea and said it was great, and he's a tough grader. Fast service, beautiful decor, will definitely return!
(5)
Rachel C.
Out of all of the Japanese restaurants I've been to, I would have to say Zento is definitely one of the best. Each time I've been there, there is always some sort of deal on Yelp or on Groupon so make sure you check that out. I have ordered: Steamed Shrimp Dumplings- these were just shu-mai, nothing special and just mediocre in my opinion. Tuna Pizza- LOVE this! I am not the biggest fan of sashimi but this sashimi tuna with seaweed salad on top of a thin bread cracker is amazing. Sea bass- Fresh sea bass, well cooked and great flavor. Double Shrimp Roll- My favorite roll of all time. Delicious XO sauce mixed with shrimp, small asparagus bits and mushrooms. Must try! The atmosphere is very chic with the exposed brick walls and decor. Great service and friendly staff too!
(4)
Komal D.
We came here on a Saturday and it was super packed. We didn't get our appetizers for about 45minutes. So we left and had to come back another day because we had a groupon to use up The restaurant looks like a lounge and the tables are really close together. Our waitress was good. We ordered 2 appetizers and 5 rolls. Everything was delicious. I highly recommend the sweet potato tempura roll and the Mexican roll. Don't buy the groupon to this place though. They nickel and dime you into basically paying the full price, so the groupon savings is basically worthless. Good food. Good service. Super expensive. I've had just as good sushi for cheaper in the city. I probably wouldn't come back here even with a groupon.
(3)
Hagana K.
Very solid sushi place in Old City. Calamari appetizer is great, calamari salad not so much - it's breaded/fried calamari on top of lettuce and tomatoes, I was hoping it would be unbreaded calamari. The rolls are great, the fish is very fresh, and it's a step above most sushi places in the city. I really liked the flaming dragon roll I think it was called. Only wish I lived closer!
(4)
Candice H.
Wow. You get a refill on green tea and you pay per each cup. That's like asking for a refill on your water. 0 stars for that one, 3 stars average. They don't even tell you there's a charge for that. Never have I experienced any charge at a sushi place for that one... Overall the fish was tender, but kind of mild tasting. Not chewy so that's good and I'm a straight up chirashi bowl eater. The flavor was sort of lacking, price was high, service was good, but nothing too exciting to come back for. The king crab eel roll was tasty but the eel was really flavorless... Again about the mild tasting fish. Right amount of spiciness though. Most of all, that green tea charge really caught me off guard. There are TVs here for any sports fans. Atmospheres nice at night but in the day likely not the most refinished setting. Some seating outside. A lot of guests with BYO wine (not sure what the charge is). They do provide nice wine glasses though.
(3)
Saliya B.
Update on 06/20/15: customer service is just great ! I can't thank the manager enough for making our experience unforgettable. Five stars. This place is truly my favorite
(5)
Eduardo A.
Their sushi rolls are pretty good, better than Momos and most Sushi places in Old Town. Good service.
(4)
Kristy C.
The interior design of the place is warm and comforting. The staffs seems to be short handed with only two servers on a Sunday night. As for the food the salmon teriyaki was tasty and nicely presented and the calamari were the highlight of the night. Sushi wise rolls were a bit mushi nothing to rave about. If you want hot food this is the place for you
(4)
Jo L.
I've been wanting to try this place for a while so my friend & I came during her lunch break today to try this place out & use a gift certificate that I had. First thing I noticed was there was only 1 person working. Even though it may not be as busy during the day, I definitely felt like there should have been at least 2 people. The poor guy was running around trying to help everyone. There were 4 tables in the back, including us, & a big group in the front. There were also people getting take out. That is definitely a 2 person job. Especially since this is during people's lunch break. I do give him props though. My friend had the Tuna Pizza $14 from the appetizer menu & the Alaska roll $15. Tuna Pizza: "Crisp Tortilla Fresh Minced Tuna, Cilantro, Seaweed Salad, Tomato and Spicy Sauce" I am not a huge fan of seaweed salad so I can't judge this dish too much. I do wish they had more tomatoes though. Alaska Roll: "Spicy California Roll, Fresh Salmon On Top With Sweet Miso Glaze, Yuzu Miso Creame Friache" The miso glaze is pretty sweet, different from the usual rolls I've had. I had the Tuna Zento Sushi Square $14 "Square Sushi with Eel, Avocado, and Plum Paste. Topped with Tuna or Salmon glazed with Sweet & Spicy Sauce" you could also get salmon instead of tuna. I wanted to try this because of a lot reviews mentioned it. It was cool that it was square but in the end, it just tasted like I was eating rice. And rice also fell apart easily. I also had the Tsunami Roll which is not on their website but I do remember torched tuna on top & tempura eel inside. I did like this roll though I am not usually a fan of tempura, especially shrimp. I liked the torched part. As busy as the guy was he refilled our water often & was quick to come over. Being so dark outside, you can't really look in & tell big it is or how far back it goes but this place is pretty small. It's not necessarily a bad thing, I would just want to keep that in mind during busier times. What we ordered: ' Tuna Pizza ' Alaska Roll: try if you like something a little different & kind of sweet ' Tuna Zento Square Roll: mostly tasted like just rice + Tsunami Roll: torched tuna & tempura shrimp
(3)
Laura S.
Love the ambiance- dim and quiet. The staff is extremely attentive and the food is top notch. Teriyaki Salmon was the best I have ever had. I will be going back many more times to come!
(5)
Ali F.
This is a great hidden BYOB sushi spot in old city and a well treasured hidden secret of mine. With reasonably priced sushi and a quiet eclectic atmosphere, Zento has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. Checking in on yelp has its advantage as you receive half off a cocktail if you decide to utilize bar service! My personal favorites are the sweet potato tempura and the inari as a non-sushi, sushi water. The guests, however, always enjoy the other dishes and typically order more! Keep it up Zento!!
(5)
Anna Y.
They are very busy ! I didn't make a reservation but the host was kindly enough to give me a one hour limit dinning time . For starters, we had the wagyu beef and duck hand roll. The wagyu beef was so so, i couldn't remember much of it. As for the duck roll, it was tasty but wished they didn't have rice inside and the wrap was boring. For entree, we had miso soup , uni and a sashimi platter. The miso soup was your average sushi restaurant miso soup. Sashimi were fresh and so was the uni. Overall, it was a good try, but i think there are better places to go in the city.
(3)
Amanda N.
3.5/5 stars would be more accurate.. I'm not normally a big grouponer but after hearing rave reviews about this restaurant from friends, I decided to give it a try. We were seated in an awkward high top table between the bar and regular dining tables. My boyfriend bruised his arm on the wall deco a few times. It was a bit distracting having food/drinks squeezed by your table constantly and there was a group of loud girls and guys at the bar that we had an unfortunate good view of (gosh i sound old but those "friendly" guys from back in the day get creepier looking to me as time goes on). So the layout is tight obviously. It is definitely a trendy atmosphere where the bar was the center of the layout's focus as opposed to the japanese chefs.They don't have the traditional sushi bar where you see the chefs in action doing their magicil work of art so that was a bit of a bummer to me being a traditionalist soo gotta be open-minded! The menu was very impressive selection-wise w/some very modern selections and unique dishes such as king crab miso tofu soup. The nigiri was pricier than I am used to for quality that was sub-par.. We ordered: * king crab miso tofu soup: soooo good! **a must if you like crab (yumm i can still taste the awesome crab) * crab cakes: smaller portion than expected but tastey if you don't mind the crunch * spicy king crab roll: the definite winner out of all the rolls (thanks for the review/suggestion Vy D.) * zento square salmon roll: good balance of flavor and decent quality roll overall * ocean roll or something with soft shell crab: definitely not a winner and overwhelmed by the heavy avocado serving that made everything taste like guac and rice * sea eel and salmon nigiri My complaints are in the quality of the sashimi used in the rolls and the salmon nigiri.. salmon didnt have that nice fresh texture or taste that I crave when in the mood for good japanese food. Still on the lookout for a solid place... but pickings are slim compared to California :( Suggestions: sit in the main dining area if possible unless you don't mind people watching, groupon is helpful as the menu is on the pricey side but you can grab ice cream after at franklin fountain or a snack down by all the vendors at the events near the water to fill you up (free movies on thursday nights) if you don't feel like splurging on dinner here.. don't know if we'll be back as we are really picky about quality japanese food, there's outdoor seating for small groups (~2) which looks fun, wish we had known about the free parking!
(4)
Rich R.
Tried the place with a groupon, and we will be back. Went on a Sunday night and the place was not busy at all. In fact, we experienced a random act of kindness out front looking for a parking spot. A woman was leaving her spot right in front of Zento, got out of her car and ran over to us while we were waiting for her. She handed me her unused parking reciept, paid until 9:30pm. It was 7 pm. Nice of her. We tried the tuna pizza, aithough it is smaller than pictured, it was delicious. We got the usual assortment of rolls, no problem. Service was great. They dinged us with $10 corkage for a $6 bottle of wine, in spite of reading here that it was Fri and Sat only.. Oh well. I can see doing that on a busy night, but there were only 3 couples eating there.
(4)
Cindy B.
This is a really neat place in Old City. I love their fried calamari. There are some decent deals for our large Meetup group that goes there for game night, although that recently changed. The staff is very friendly and attentive. My friend says they have the best Saki he's tasted in the area. The food I've had with them has always been good, but now that they've changed prices I probably will not be eating there regularly. It's very close to ample street parking which is great There are so many options on Chestnut Street and on surrounding streets in Old City it's hard to say if I would pick Zento above others. But I am glad they are willing to host our meetup and therefore I give them points for hospitality!
(4)
Larry F.
FOOD: 3/5 The food was rather average. I came with 3 other friends and we ordered the Tuna Pizza, Peking Duck Hand Rolls, and some specialty rolls. Out of these things we tried, the only one I would recommend is probably the Peking Duck Hand Rolls. I'm a big fan of Peking Duck and this was definitely an interesting and tasty way to try it. Tuna Pizza came with some tasty seaweed, but besides that, it was pretty average. The specialty rolls are probably subpar from the other sushi places I've been to. I was also disappointed at the quantity of fish they gave for the rolls. Besides the food, I also tried the cocktails my friends ordered - bland, watery, and a bad after taste. I was surprised to see people writing good reviews about them. SERVICE: 3/5 Average. We were a bit confused on why we were charged 20% gratuity for a group of 4. Apparently it's "house rules" for any Groupons and Living Social deals. I wish we knew this coming in, but I guess it's not completely their fault. Cocktails took a pretty long time to come... AMBIANCE: 4/5 Definitely an interesting venue. I would strongly recommend sitting in the inside room. There are a couple tables in front of the bar by the entrance, but the inside is much better. TL;DR: Interestingly decorated sushi shop with disappointing food.
(3)
Quirky J.
I heard several people rave about this place, but food-wise, nothing jumped out to me. The sushi was a-okay...but based on that and the service, I would have given this place a 3. It's not bad, by any means, but the prices are a little high for the serving sizes. They do have happy hour prices for select appetizers, so if you're looking for some decent calamari, check it out during that time. I wouldn't pay full price for most of it. I gave the fourth star based on 2 things. 1. There's an upstairs that is great for larger gatherings. 2. They do have quite the variety of Asian alcohols that you might not get elsewhere.
(4)
Katrina D.
Last May my boyfriend and I went here for the first time and had an experience that bordered between lack-luster and bad. I put up a review and within 24 hours I received a call from the manager. He wanted to learn more about our experience so he could ensure it wouldn't happen again. He encouraged us to come back so he could make sure we had a positive experience. This level of effort and professionalism is rare this day and age so I took him up on the offer. Last month we returned, and received plenty of attention plus a delicious ceviche appetizer. Between the improved service, better food quality and commitment to customer satisfaction exemplified by the Manager, this place gets 4 stars in my book.
(4)
Vy D.
Here's why you should go to Zento for sushi if you're in the city: Zento, which means "future" in Japanese, truly represents what modernized, new-age sushi is all about here in the states and abroad. Zento Contemporary Sushi and Sake Bar feels like a chic, sophisticated new dining experience in Old City Philadelphia. The dining room creates a warm, contemporary space. It is well-decorated with the high ceiling main dining room, exposed brick walls adorned with wax drippings from the ten candle nooks, and beautiful red banners of bold Japanese calligraphy. We began with a bowl of King Crab Tofu Miso Soup ($5), which had plenty of crab floating in a tasty miso/dashi broth combined with silky tofu, wakame (seaweed), and clear cellophane noodles. Yummy. The highlight sushi roll is the King crab roll ($19). Handcrafted with shrimp tempura inside, and broiled eel and crab toppings on the outside. Delish. Other rolls we liked a lot were the square roll, monkey roll, crunchy spicy tuna roll, and love roll. Aside from the wonderful quality of fish, seafood, and rice, everything was beautifully presented. Excellent service. Oh, if you check in on Yelp, there's a 50% off any cocktail! My recommendation- Use the coupon on the lychee martini. You won't regret it. Seriously. ***Coolest part of the Zento dinning experience- You can park for free on 37 S 2nd street!***
(4)
Kira K.
My roommate has been wanting to try this place out for a while and she bought a groupon so we went on a Saturday night. When first walking in, we were brought waters by the waitress and without introducing herself, she just plainly asked "are you ready to order?" As a waitress myself, I was a little turned off by how un-personable she was. Anyways, my roommate and I ended up ordering the Tuna Pizza for an appetizer, and I got the Alaska Roll for my entree, and my roommate got the square sushi roll (with salmon). The Tuna Pizza tasted really fresh and was accompanied well with the spicy sauce drizzled on top. The only thing I could comment on it, was that it could have been a little bigger for the price. My Alaska Roll was pretty good and had a really good miso sauce drizzled over it. The square sushi also had really great sauces that went well with the sushi. For dessert, we opted for the tofu-cheesecake with the poached peaches (since it sounds interesting). This dessert I definitely recommend :) It is light, yet the poached peaches (i believe it's poached in sake) was a unique taste that was a perfect end to dinner. Overall, since I am a big sushi-lover, I would say this restaurant has pretty good sushi and interesting/unique appetizers. The service could have been a little better, and the prices are a little high, but I would still recommend trying this place. Also... they add automatic 18% gratuity (even though there was only 2 of us).. which may have been why the waitress didn't seem to care
(4)
Megan S.
Mediocre at best, expensive & slow delivery. Why can't I find a good sushi place that delivers in Philly!
(2)
Laura H.
I've been this place a few times. They have a full bar, but allow you to BYO. Sometimes they have a cork fee, sometimes they don't. And I haven't quite figured out the schedule behind that-- call ahead to check. I've been here twice now with friends that have, knowing my healthy/unhealthy? obsession with sushi, had groupons and needed a companion, so check for that too. The place is pretty small, but we've never had an issue getting a table. They'll walk you past the bar towards the back that has this old-timey gothic feel to it. Mounted fixtures hold white candlesticks that have melted wax running down the black painted walls. The sushi is good too! The tuna pizza is pretty good, it's no tuna flatbread from doma, but still good. Just be careful if you drive, the PPA will ticket or tow your car pretty much immediately after your time is up around here.
(4)
Byron R.
Best sushi in Philly! We had amazing service as always! I was there with 8 others and most had never been there. They all had an amazing time and we tried about 15 different kinds of Sake! My kind of night!!!
(5)
Elizabeth L.
I'm a huge fan of Zento - one of my favorite, pricier places for sushi. I've gone here three time using a Groupon and each time was as delicious as the last. With a Groupon discount, we got $50 for around $32. Sushi was great with an interesting selection of combinations - some of our favorites were the volcano and monkey rolls. They are also BYOB without a corkage fee except for Friday and Saturday nights, but check ahead just in case. It is a small space, but I didn't have a problem getting a table (they also have a small upstairs in case the bar and first floor are full). Service wasn't the fastest I've had, but the atmosphere and food made up for it. It's a cute, intimate place - I don't want to speed through dinner anyways! Will be back for sure, a great place for celebrations, anniversaries, or just a fun date night.
(5)
Raj M.
This place is a very good sushi option within its area. As a bit of a sushi snob, I was a little bit worried when I had their seaweed salad... especially since one of my friends had been here before and really didn't like the sushi. But she was giving the place a second chance. Anyway, the seaweed salad was a little more dry than what I'm used to, though still what I would call good. The two sushi rolls I got were very good. I didn't like the king crab roll, but I think that's just my food preference talking. The other roll I had, the "something" dragon was very yummy. And my friend got a crunchy spicy salmon roll which was great too. The only things to be weary of is the space and the price. It's a little bit more tight than I would like a restaurant to be, but others may not mind. And it's a little more expensive than I would have liked, but again, others may not mind. All told, it's definitely worth trying at least once.
(4)
Alex R.
Tied for best sushi in philly. Ambiance makes it and the sashimi was soooo fresh. Only thing is 2nd time I tried to go there there was a mad long wait. So MAKE A RES
(5)
Majlinda K.
Wow I really had my hopes high for this place and really wanted to give it a good rating but as the night went on I could see the stars for my review quickly fading away. First off this place is a BYOB, it's advertised as a BYOB but they fail to mention a $10 cork fee, that was almost as much as the bottle of wine we brought! Since we had the bottle with us we ended up paying the cork fee. I think cork fees are one of the most obvious way to rip off your customers. We got a small table right away even for a Saturday night which was great. The service was really slow, we got the sushi after we were almost done with the wine. We got the Mexican roll, the salmon zeno square and the garden roll. The zeno square was a little disappointing; the rice was super sticky and a bit bland. The experience was all that terrible, the Mexican roll was a total winner and the roll only gets 5 stars. The other positive is if you check with Yelp you get free parking!
(2)
Jay Z.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday. The decor was pretty nice albeit a little dark. The food was decent but nothing really stood out: mussels weren't as good as the mussels from Monk's Cafe and the sushi wasn't as good as those from Vic (which is cheaper). One interesting thing I did notice was that there were some sadiddy ass people sitting around me. One dude was on a date with his girl and viewed my sweaty forehead as I sat down with obvious disgust as if his sitting at the table adjacent to mine would ruin his chances. (Bro, chill mang the girl ain't that hot). Another group was a bunch of women who talked like they know everything about sushi and tried way too hard to be classy. Anyways, service was great. The food just wasn't my type.
(3)
Laurie J.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia, and my favorite place for sushi overall. Yesterday, we went back for the first time since Zento moved down the street to its new location. The ambiance may have changed, but the sushi is still fantastic. My two favorites are the Angus Beef Roll and the Sweet Potato Tempura Roll. Both delicious. I can't really comment on the entrees, as I only ever get sushi there. It's definitely a bit pricy, but totally worth the cost. There's also a large cocktail and sake list - and a decent beer list. I didn't try any sake, so I can't comment on it. In addition, you can park at a lot around the corner and get your ticket validated by Zento for up to three hours of free parking (Skypark 37S 2nd Street - right next to The Plough & the Stars). When I lived in Philadelphia, they also delivered (though I'm not sure of how far they will deliver - I only lived a block away). If you're looking for delicious sushi - don't miss out on visiting Zento.
(5)
Edward W.
Had a great time taking my friend out to this place. The place is not big and thus seating was limited, but the environment was modern and sufficiently "cultural." Food and rolls were very good in freshness and quality. However, they were very skinny and tended to be not very satisfying (even from a sushi standpoint). I'm here for sushi, don't give me tuna carpaccio on rice and call it a roll. Do need to provide more satiation and bang for buck here.
(3)
Michael A.
I'd been wanting to check this place out for and eventually tried it for a date. I didn't experience any of the hostess ambivalence others have described, and was pleasantly surprised by the tasteful art and modern decor. The miso soup was wonderful, as was my spider roll. Their cocktail menu was very creative, but the drinks didn't quite measure up to expectations. The value wasn't quite there, but the sushi was good and overall delivered on a very enjoyable meal.
(4)
Vincent I.
I recently purchased a Groupon for this place, and decided to take my wife out tonight. First, I will start with the positives. The food and drinks were very good. We thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered. The servers were great; super friendly, and quick to take care of whatever you needed. The atmosphere was also very nice. Great decor and ambiance. Now let's talk about the negatives. My wife order the Pinot Noir, and thought she was going to get what they advertised on the menu. What she got was a 9 dollar glass of Barefoot Pinot Noir (retail price per bottle 9.99 -12.99). I ordered the Tennessee Tokyo (Jack based drink) which included "fresh orange and fresh lime juice". As I watched the bartender poor in Tropicana, I began to question all of the ingredients being advertised for both food and drink. Second, the price was very high. Even with our Groupon, we still ended up spending close to a hundred bucks for dinner and drinks for two. Overall, this place is good. However, with all of the great sushi places in the city that are off the beaten path, we have easily found places that offer more bang for your buck. Not sure if I would go back, but still enjoyed my experience.
(3)
B. C.
This was pretty good. Wife's sushi was good, as was my salmon. Will say though that the sweet-potato-tempura roll could have used more punch (a bit of lemon? something) to ramp up the flavor a bit.
(3)
Chelsea G.
The sushi was fresh and tasty. The volcano roll was amazing. We tried the spicy tuna, kobi beef, monkey and volcano rolls. The only one I wouldn't recommend is the kobi beef one. It was great but wasn't bad. It just wasn't worth the money.
(4)
Joe Y.
The food was alright here. It wasn't anything amazing, but they definitely had some interesting dishes. As appetizers, I had the Tuna Pizza and the Peking Duck Hand Roll as they were the most raved about on Yelp. The tuna pizza was nothing that interesting except for the fact that it was a play on pizza. The rice on the duck roll was actually very well made, and the duck was great! We also ordered a variety of specialty rolls, including the Deep Sea Roll, the Zento Square Roll, and the Volcano Roll. Our favorite was the volcano as it had a variety of flavors with a crunchy outer layer. However, I felt that it was a bit pricy for what I had. I definitely think you can get similar sushi for cheaper the Philadelphia. Overall though, it was an enjoyable experience.
(3)
Patrick S.
My wife prefers traditional sushi, instead of the updated style Zento specializes in. Quality was good, but service left a little something to be desired. They brought us one roll incorrectly, which turned out to be much more expensive than what we had ordered. And with the Yelp deal, they automatically charged us what turned out to be about a 25% gratuity. Pretty good food, but not sure we will return next time we are in Philadelphia.
(3)
Incognito I.
I dined alone and the specialty love roll was good but the simple rolls were not that great. They are overpriced also. Spent $40 and left hungry- ordered 3 rolls. The portions are small.
(2)
Tasha S.
Here on business and craving sushi, this location was closest to my hotel. Was shocked to see how small and crammed in everything was, but when we arrived we were one of three other groups. Prices were a little over the top! But the food was still good. Im more of someone who could care less about presentation as long as the foods good, I want a good amount for a good price. This is not the place for that. I left still hungry, $70 later. I will recommend their king crab miso soup. That was delicious. One thing that I can say I didn't like very much was that the waiters are really on top of filling your water cup. I'd take a sip, literally a little sip, and within two seconds there's our waiter filling it with water. It happened just about every time. Then once our food came, he stopped. I don't get it . Bottom line, would I come again? No. Would I recommend thusly place as my first choice for sushi? Probably not, but since this was the only place I knew of relatively close to the hotel I would but also tell people you're paying for all that extra for a flower on your dish.
(3)
Allison B.
Lunch at Zento was the highlight of my day on 1/5/12. Granted, it is only 2:30 and there's a chance things could perk up from here, but I'm not sure what could top this flawlessly executed meal. For a mere $10, you can enjoy miso soup (savory and rich, not watery at all), a green salad (sprinkled with black sesame seeds and a light ginger dressing) and two rolls from the list provided. I ordered my favorites: spicy tuna and salmoncado (this roll was not on the list, and had a $1 upcharge, but whatever). Michelle C ordered green tea for the both of us, which was served in a fancy handle-less mug, and had hints of an earthy rice flavor. The rolls aren't massive, but I liked it that way. The rice:fish ratio is on point. No globs of rice falling off any piece. Both the tuna and salmon tasted fresher than any other sushi I've tasted in Philadelphia. Service was, if anything, too good. There are only so many times a two-top happily eating their sushi needs to be checked up on. I'll have to dine-in while they're still BYOB before their location changes to a "sexy and trendy establishment with a premium sake bar." Liquor licenses are the worst. Regardless, every bite was delicious. I'll be back, BYO or not.
(5)
Ricky A.
Was a very decent spot for downtown Philadelphia Sushi. We ordered the Volcano Dragon Roll (not as spicy as I thought it would be, maybe you're able to ask for it a little more). Also ordered the Flaming Dragon roll, same spice level as above. Not to discredit the whole roll in general, as it was still very tasteful! For the appetizer we got the Shrimp Dumplings, the sauce they serve it with is the one!!
(3)
Elizabeth K.
For dinner we ordered seaweed salad, vegetable and shrimp tempura, and the sushi & sashimi platter with some sake and Japanese craft beer. The seaweed salad was rather dry, but the tempura was pleasantly crispy. In terms of the platter, I think the regular maki was the best part of it. Overall, the food was decent but didn't stand out from other trendier sushi spots we've tried. We did go on a Wednesday, so that might explain why the fish didn't seem amazingly fresh. On the plus side, it is really convenient that you can get your parking ticket validated for the garage right up the street. Parking in Old City can sometimes be a pain. Also service is prompt and courteous.
(3)
Tom W.
I love the ambiance of this place. There are (at least) two dining areas, one upstairs and one downstairs. We were seated downstairs. The room has a nice high ceiling and is generally pretty dimly lit, with alcoves in the stone walls for candles. They have a couple of flatscreens high up on the walls showing black and white films -- I caught bits of two of them while I was there. One was a gangster film and the other seemed to be a Jet Li martial arts thing. Personally, I would expect a bit more of a sword/martial/samurai theme given the name of the restaurant but I really can't complain! Maybe they should show old jidaigeki films on those flatscreens to get a bit more on theme. My friend and I had a coupon from LivingSocial for a seven course tasting menu for two. The coupon described a meal including choices like "wagyu beef and zento's famous square sushi", but what we received was very different. The courses were as follows: 1. Miso soup with mussels - I am not a fan of miso soup; usually I find the fishy flavor of the dashi to be overpowering. However, this soup was exceptional. The flavors were really well balanced and the mussels were very tasty. 2. Calamari Salad - a few rings of deep fried calamari over greens. I liked it. 3. Crab cakes - two small handmade fried crab cakes. These were pretty plain and could have used a bit more sauce. They tasted fine, but nothing exceptional about it. 4. White fish carpaccio - three thin slices of white fish very well plated. Delicious and easy on the eyes! 5. Chicken Teriyaki - a couple of pieces of chicken, sauce, and a small mound of spinach and mushrooms. This dish was by far the most disappointing of the night as it was both small and boring. The greens were more exciting than the chicken. It tasted fine but nothing stood out about it, especially given that this should be an entree course. This is where the advertised Wagyu beef or square sushi should have been. 6. Sushi platter - Four nigiri sushi (salmon, tuna, white tuna, yellowtail) and half a roll. The sushi was incredible -- by far the best I've had in Philadelphia (for reference, I have had sushi at Pod, Mizu, Mixx, Aki, Green Garden, and the now defunct Genji). The roll had some sort of mayo based sauce in it (usually a no-no for me) but it was just perfectly balanced. 7. Dessert (shared) - Tofu cheesecake and red bean mochi ice cream. This was fine but unexciting. The cheesecake was better than expected but still pretty bland, and the ice cream was good. My girlfriend ordered some Tempura green tea icecream which I stole a bite of -- now THAT was a good dessert! Additionally, the meal came with some non-alcoholic cocktails. I tried a green apple based drink and a white peach based drink, both of which were quite tasty. Overall it felt like a reasonable value but mainly because of the Livingsocial price. I could see spending $35 plus tax and tip for this meal as a very nice value, but at $70 it would be overpriced.
(4)
Meredith B.
Very good. I'm a fan of Vic's on 20th and Sansom so I was skeptical about any other sushi place in the city. I'll be honest - this would be my second choice for sushi in the city. Def crowded and BYO.
(4)
Jenny B.
I may not ate here during when there's a big crowd, but my friend's fiancee, who's the sushi chef assistant, definitely showed me how great of a sushi this place has to offer. The fact that knowing the owner used to work under Chef Morimoto definitely sets him apart for great expectations and some sushi was served squares just like Morimoto style. I got a great Shimaji sashimi, Love roll, and some storched salmon topped with slice orange tomato, it's just so great. The menu was pretty extensive and the presentation was just amazing, you should see how the Love Roll looked like when it's brought out. It's so pretty I was almost hesitant to eat it. The place is pretty small, so don't bring a crowd here. A group of for tops and it's close to a public parking lot, pretty easy access. I would totally come back to try more stuff on the menu.
(5)
Tatiana H.
best sushi place I've been to!! I just went over the weekend with my friend to Zentos. we had a groupon and upon booking it was super easy to make reservation and they were super nice over the phone. once there the good service over the phone reflected in person too! they didnt' give you any less service for using a groupon and it was quick and easy to pay check with it. Great service and the food was amazing. I recommend the Monkey rolls and the volcano rolls! best I've had. The tofu miso soup was to die for also! i loved everything abut this restaurant and when in Philly again i will definitely go back, groupon or not!.
(5)
Lindsay H.
I've been dying to try out Zento for some time. I went with a few friends and it was all that I hoped it would be. It was a rainy night in Philly when my friends and I decided we would go to this tiny tiny sushi place in old city. We figured sushi would be a perfect way to avoid some holiday overeating...however, we were wrong. The food was too good not to order a ton of. I don't care, it was worth it. Two items stand out in my mind as the best. 1. The Zento signature square roll and 2. the tuna pizza. What made their signature roll extra special was this house made delicious plum sauce. It was sweet like an eel sauce but still different, tasty and unique. Next, the tuna pizza. It has everything I love...seaweed salad, raw tuna and a special spicy sauce on a wonton...it wasn't' so easy to eat in pieces but i loved it so much it didn't matter. The only thing I was not crazy about was the place. It's super small and sort of run down. BUT the great news is that they're moving to a bigger/nicer place a half a block away! I can't wait to go again to the new place!
(4)
Michelle M.
Although pricey, the food was very high quality and the restaurant is in a very cool location. The service was unremarkable. What I really had a problem with was their watered-down cocktails. I tried two different martinis. The first-Last Samurai, was refreshing but watery. The second a Hendrick's dirty martini up was VERY watery. So NOT cool. I would have gotten wine, but the server basically said it was crap and they only had nicer wines by the bottle; this becomes difficult if you are the only person in the party drinking wine. We will not be back, even though the food is good.
(3)
Polly E.
Solid food, solid service. Maybe more of a 3.5 because of price but they have a yelp deal so that worked!
(4)
Pete J.
My experience at Zento's was ok. I recently visited for the first time for a party of about 8-10 for a friends birthday. So I ordered miso soup to start, it was ok but there wasn't much scallions, tofu, or seaweed in the soup. Soup wasn't hot when it came out... Then as for dinner, I Split some sushi with a friend. I ordered scallop sushi, soft shell crab tempura roll, crunchy spicy salmon, el and avocado roll, and a shrimp tempura roll. I was kinda surprised to see the quality of the sushi when it came out. First off I tried the Scallop sushi, didn't seem to be so fresh. Usually raw scallops would be delightful and just melt in your mouth, but these didn't. Then as for the what seemed kinda weird to me was that some of our rolls that usually come with a sauce on top of it, didn't come out with any sauce, we had to ask for it. There was no el sauce on top of the soft shell/shrimptemp/elavocado/ and no spicy mayo on top of the crunchy spicy salmon roll. I'd say that their sushi is mediocre, service I thought could've been more better because it was automatic gratuity added and all the waiter did was just take the order, run food, give us the check but didn't seem to ask us how the food was etc. Lastly as for sushi price, it was about standard to pricey.
(3)
Nashely S.
I have dined here twice before and I was happy with my meal. So I jumped at the chance for a groupon deal. I called on a Saturday 11:30am and made a reservation for 5:30 on Sunday evening. I made sure to Say that I had a groupon and everything was set for Sunday. My friend and I arrive at the restaurant and they cannot find our reservation but seat us anyway. I tell the hostess that I specifically made a reservation since it was a groupon. she says it's restaurant week so they are not accepting groupons. But she will check with the manager. Now I feel that's reservation was deleted BECAUSE it was a groupon. The manager tells me they won't accept it and I explain to hime disappointment and that I feel that is bad business practices since I made the reservation like explained in groupon. Very disappointed and we decided to eat somewhere else. I drove 45 minutes away to enjoy this groupon with friends. The manager could have been more accommodating.
(2)
Eunjin K.
Great food and great service!!!!
(5)
Blair E.
Not the greatest experience. A few highlights (square roll is excellent, beef negimaki was very good) but nothing else stood out. Service was absentee at best and negligent at worst. Likely will not return.
(2)
Christina A.
This was my first time in Philly, and we honestly just stopped here because we were hungry, and it wasn't crowded. This place had the best sushi I've ever had in my life! I wish they would expand to Charlotte :).
(5)
Rachel M.
I ordered delivery from Zento. I got spicy tuna rolls, shrimp tempura and wontons. The tempura was decent.The spicy tuna rolls had this sort of shredded something (check the photo) on top of them that made it look messy but it didn't actually add to the meal. The wontons were chewy so I ended up throwing them away. I would never order from here again.
(3)
Danny N.
First off I can't give 5 stars to a Sushi Restaurant when they don't actually have a Sushi Bar you can sit at. 2nd, they called themselves a Sake Bar but when I ordered a carafe of the gekkeikan sake they were out of it...not good in my opinion. Other than the 2 issues listed above our Sushi & Sashimi platter was very good and fresh. Of the many Sushi restaurants in Philadelphia this ranks among the best...yes I have been to Morimoto, Raw, and others not as high profile and the quality is just as good if not better. All in all, you will have a great experience at Zento...if you are craving Sake...you might want to call and make sure they have it unless you want a fruity or infused Sake.
(4)
Ralph D.
Small little restaurant close to the heart of Philly. Great atmosphere- small, low lighted with really really good ambiance. Food- a great selection of menu, reasonable prices for a Japanese restaurant. The sushi was phenomenal- visually pleasing with bursts of flavors. We also got the shrimp dumplings which aren't your traditional looking dumplings, they were much smaller in size with a different coating- more waferry and crunchy than the traditional ones. I highly recommend it. Drinks- we ordered the specialty cocktails which were phenomenal, although low in alcohol content, the flavors were quite complex. I recommend the Bourbon one, I forget the name- it was one of the few ones with whiskey in them, most are with Vokda. Overall, if you are in the mood for sushi and are in the area of Philly- look no further.
(4)
Regina F.
Zento has moved, and made their rolls flavorful, funky and festive. If you're in a Huey Lewis mood, try the tuna square roll filled umami eel, creamy avocado and slightly sweet plum sauce. Topped with savory tuna, this roll glistens with an ambrosial aura that your tongue will truly swoon over. The tuna pizza is okay - something about a flat bread somewhere between a baked tortilla and a non-salt soda biscuit doesn't mix well with seaweed salad, tuna and spicy mayo...though the half cherry tomatoes offered a nice bit of acidity to an otherwise overly smooth combination.
(4)
Nicole E.
I can't speak to the food because our reservation was lost. I booked us a table a month ago via phone and today called to confirm only to find that our reservation didn't exist. The person on the phone was not in the last apologetic and simply stated that we should have used OpenTable ... versus calling and talking to a human. We had a nice evening planned and it was ruined. I would recommend that if you plan on going here you confirm your reservation at least a few days in advance to be sure you can rebook if it has been lost. I probably will never be able to update this review because my husband has decided we're never going to go here because of this whole fiasco - and a simply apology would have probably gone a long way.
(1)
John F.
Best sushi in Philadelphia!!! I'm typically a huge sushi critic. I'm rarely ever satisfied with the price, portion size and overall freshness of the sushi, but Zento gets the thumbs up in all categories. -BYO, zero cork charge, cant beat it. -The restaurant is located right in the heart of Olde City. You walk through the bar area and into a larger room for dinner. There are a handful of tables, tall ceilings, brick walls with inlaid lights that provide a cool/calming vibe, and two flat screen TV's. An old black and white movie with elvis played while I had dinner. - Prices are very reasonable and portion sizes are large by sushi standards. 1) Miso soup - cheap and delicious, great to start off the meal 2) Seaweed salad - a bit over priced for portion size. Wasn't a huge fan 3) Volcano roll - An absolute must. Huge, crunchy, spicy 4) Rainbow roll - Very good, nice blend of meat and cool presentation 5) Philly hand roll - Classic, stuffed full of salmon with just the right amount of cream cheese 6) Spicy tuna hand roll - Very fresh and great va Total cost including 20% tip = $65
(5)
Anannya T.
The restaurant is definitely not suitable for a date or an intimate gathering. My friend and I were so close to the people on either side of us that I felt like we were all sitting at one big table. The sushi and shrimp dumplings are tasty. The ceviche appetizer was delicious (and served in an adorable cocktail glass). The crab cakes were too creative (read: blech) for my liking. However, all of the serving sizes were smaller than normal.
(3)
Isata S.
Ok service. Sad excuse of a sushi restaurant, it is really a Chinese restaurant.The sushi barely has any real fish on it , and the size of the rolls are super small for 14$ square zento roll, it has twice amount of rice than fish. The sauce on the double shrimp roll taste like Chinese stirfry but the amount is super stingy. O and the maki just falls apart when you pick it up. On top of all these it is charging like a good sushi restaurant price. So overall this restaurant fails in all categories, do not waste your money and palate here.
(1)
Mary G.
My boyfriend and I ate here for the first time last weekend. The ambiance was good. The staff was friendly and attentive. The food was tasty especially the Mexican Roll. Overall, it was a great experience. The only thing that we suggest that they do is bring out items, such as the shrimp dumplings, on a hot, covered plate to keep it as hot/warm as possible while bringing it from the kitchen, which is in the basement.
(4)
Carmen S.
The Zento Square and Rainbow Ceviche were AMAZING!! First time here. Will definitely come back!!!
(5)
Janna R.
The first time I was there, days after it was first opened, everything was great. Good sushi, good miso soup, good service. The second time I came back, a couple of months later, I was very disappointed. First of all, they raised their prices A LOT! Secondly, their $15 square roll: 80% rice! I mean, come on! At least be fair about it. They have it under their signature special rolls but all you pay for is the rice. The other rolls, I will say are quite delish, but this one really unnerved me, especially for the price. I don't think I will be coming back there any time soon.
(3)
Nicci L.
Pro's: Chilean Sea Bass, Seaweed Salad, Vegetable Tempura, great service from waitstaff. Con's: Very small seating area, inconsistent food, mandatory gratuity if you use online discounts. THE GOOD: Great food and service. Staff is always friendly and attentive. The lychee mojitos are to die for!!! Although the menu is really small, the food is almost always amazing. The sea bass is phenomenal! The menu caters to those who love sushi. THE BAD: If you don't like sushi, it's slim pickings. I am not a sushi eater, but the entrees were so good, I decided to try a sushi entree. I was a bit disappointed with the amount of food I received. For the price, I was hoping for a bowl of rice or soup to accompany the "sushi entree". The arrangement was great, there just wasn't enough food on the plate for the price. It looked like an appitizer, not a meal. Also, they are inconsistant with the way they serve their entrees. I ordered the sea bass in the past, and received grilled esparagus with it. The combination was delicious. When my friend and I returned, we both requested grilled asparagus to come with the sea bass like the last time. We were told that wasn't a problem. When the food arrived, there was no asparagus on either plates.. Again, asparagus was requested. The asparagus that was eventually served was steamed, not grilled as requested. Also, it had no flavor, as if they didn't bother to season it. The Wagyu beef is way overpriced. The beef portion was small, tough, full of fat and gristle. Totally not worth $37. A complete disappointment, especially since half of it was inedible due to the reasons described. We have found, if you use a groupon, they charge a mandatory 15% gratuity. If you ask me, it totally cancels the online discount. What is the point of offering a special if your going to make up fees to compensate for it? You (the patron) don't save a dime. You end up spending full price in the end. Don't bother purchasing online coupons for this restaurant. Otherwise, the food is great. A lot of people come for sushi. I love this place and they have excellent drinks. Just wish they had more consistent food preparations. Also, that mandatory gratuity for patrons using an online voucher is obsurd and bad for business. JMO
(3)
Maria T.
The atmosphere was good. The service was poor. I ordered sushi and it took almost 2 hours to get it. I ordered sake and it took 30 minutes. It shouldn't take this long for even a drink. Food was good though.
(2)
Burgle K.
I dont pretend to be a sushi expert since i generally drown everything in wasabi, but i think Zento is a great little spot in Old City. The inside is dimly lit, has high ceilings and exposed brick walls making it a very good spot to bring a special someone. Zento is BYOB and they also have a full bar. There is no corkage fee during the week, but otherwise i believe its $10/bottle. The waitress who helped us was very friendly and attentive. They are also on restaurant.com so $25 coupons are available for around $5 which is great. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Michelle C.
I've been feeling the pressure to go big or go home for my 500th review (review updates = stalling for time), but my experience at Zento tonight was just so refreshing that I'm ready to go all the way. The experience started with a call for reservations this afternoon. At the last minute on a Friday I wasn't expecting a miracle, but low and behold, I got my table for two at the desired time slot. Plus a very friendly interaction with the gentleman who answered the phone and who also reminded me that the restaurant is a BYO. The seed of a good first impression was planted. We arrived to a small, mostly empty restaurant, save for one loud, cackling (drunk?) foursome, who thankfully left a few minutes later. The rest of the tables were eventually filled with respectful diners. Our server was sweet and attentive despite the fact that she had lost her voice, and she stopped by our table at all the right times during the meal. We started with edamame, which was the only misstep. The soybeans were boring in comparison to our neighbors' rock shrimp tempura. The edamame was forgotten once our sushi rolls arrived. Crunchy spicy tuna, "real" California and green (avocado and cucumber) rolls for me, a fatty tuna roll and a "square sushi" specialty roll for my boyfriend. Despite my hesitations, I tried a bite of the fatty tuna and it was mind-blowingly fantastic. One of the most pure-tasting pieces of raw fish I've ever tried. My rolls were equally pleasing. The thing I liked most about Zento's preparation is that they didn't go overboard with the extras. The fish still tasted like fish, just with minor enhancements from the supporting cast of ingredients in each roll. This may not be the most glittery sushi joint in town, but the quality of the fish and the welcoming staff were more than enough to win me over. I look forward to returning.
(5)
Lili B.
The food was good but the service was just Horrible. We had to wait for over 30 minute to even have our forder taken. They could have make up for the wait by taking our drinks orders quickly but not even.. (we probably waited 20 minutes to get our drinks). I do not know if it is always like that but I sure will not give it anoither shot as there is so many more choices in the city for sushis.
(2)
Mo P.
Tasting menu was fun and the white fish carpaccio was outstanding. Miso soup with mussels accentuated the miso flavor. The house wine was $25 per bottle and very drinkable. The seating is quite snug and the people sitting next to us raved about the duck roll which is not to be missed. The sushi is fresh and very well done. I would highly recommend he sushi and come back again.
(4)
Sharon M.
Came with restaurant.com coupon when looking For good sushi in the city. Although we couldn't combine happy hour with coupon- it sounds like they had stellar late happy hour (830p-1000p). Have the sake flight. You won't regret it. Love roll, sashimi roll (cucumber wrap-no Rice) and king crab tofu all divine. Awesome gem in old town. Would go back in a heart beat and often if I lived closer.
(5)
Alyssa M.
Zento is good....but nothing spectacular for the prices. This place is TIIIIIIIINNNY! Only a few tables and completely lacks any type of decoration/ambiance. I came here for lunch and ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box and the famous square sushi with salmon on top. The bento box came with the typical stuff: miso soup, salad (really good ginger dressing!), cali rolls, and a side of rice. The chicken was nice and moist, however I would have liked a little more teriyaki sauce (I'm a sauce girl!). The square sushi was quite good--but quite overhyped. It had fresh salmon and avocado on top with a tiny bit of eel inside and it was topped with eel and spicy sauce. Tasty roll---but $15???? Perhaps if the portion size was bigger and there was a little more substance in the middle I could justify this price. The service was nice and friendly and the waiter even warmed my half drunken sake bottle :-) All in all, a decent spot to try but I can think of a lot more places I would go for great sushi before I break the bank here.
(3)
Maria S.
This restaurant is ok. The service could be a little faster. The actual setting is nice and clean. The rolls are comparable to anything I've had at other sushi restaurants that are less expensive and easier to park at. The one roll that i'd say is my favorite and that I always get is the Volcano Roll. Zento by far does it the best.
(3)
Monica O.
Since it ended today, I made sure to take advantage of Japanese Restaurant Week and the 20% discount from participating restaurants and had lunch at Zento. Best bang for my buck was the lunch special bento box so I chose the scallop teriyaki bento. It came with miso soup, a nice mixed greens salad, 4 pieces of California roll, and steamed rice. The bento's four medium-sized scallops were perfectly cooked, tender, and seasoned well. The salad and its spunky ginger dressing were also very good. The California rolls were just typical. The steamed rice was de-lish and intriguing to the palate with Zento's addition of fish flakes on top. Me likey! I heard that the thing to try here is the Zento signature roll so I had that as well. The Zento square sushi roll consists of eel, avocado, and plum paste on the inside, topped with tuna or salmon and spicy mayo and unagi sauce. Very good but not worth all the hype because, while it was visually appealing and tasty, it was lacking texturally...like it would've been nice if it had had some tobiko on top or a piece of shrimp tempura in the middle. All in all, I had a very enjoyable dining experience here. Service was good but a tinge over-attentive. Zento's located in the heart of Old City so parking is a bit of a hassle. Zento's also small space-wise (place only seats about 20) so don't come here squad deep. Also, don't come here if you're on a tight budget because it can get pricey. Major point score: Zento is BYOB so I also brought a bottle of sake that they gladly warmed (don't judge me...I know it was only lunch :p).
(4)
Khanh V.
Zento is a nice space for dinning. The food is not bad. I like the overall presentation of the food. In term of space it is a bit narrow downstairs making it hard to walk when it gets crowded. I came here for happy hours and a birthday event. Both experiences were good. Overall, I feel Zento is a bit overrated same goes for Han Dynasty across the street.
(3)
C K.
We had a groupon for the Chef tasting menu and got: Mussel miso soup - very flavorful and 3 nice mussels Calamari salad - perfect amount of salad dressing and a very generous portion of calamari Crab cake - tiny but tasty and full of crab. Fried and looked like a tater tot. Very cute Whitefish carpaccio - delicious! Tastes fresh and very tender with a nice, fresh citrus soy sauce Chicken teriyaki - tasty and tender atop a bed of spinach. Sushi sampler - decent sushi. Salmon and tuna were excellent and the whole plate had a pretty presentation Green tea ice cream mochi was delicious Tofu cheesecake was interesting, but not for us. The ambiance and service were very good, and it would be a good date place, but since I don't really eat sushi and the food wasn't really good enough to justify their regular prices posted on the menu - that being said, I hear that they run tons of groupons/living social deals, so if you can get one of those, it's probably very much worth it.
(4)
Elizabeth P.
Though I waver between three and four stars (hence if there were .5's I would give this place 3.5 stars), I think my experience here is closer to 3 than 4 stars so I'm rounding down. Two main reasons why: a) I was not too happy with their service. I may be overly sensitive, but the waitress carried with her this pretentious aura. Mehhh b) Their food was not memorable. Pls note - I did not say tasteless, mediocre, or bad, meaning the food itself didn't taste bad or anything, but it didn't really do much for me. I just remember it being "good enough" and the portions being really small. Ehhh. Funny note: their bathroom sign has some gibberish written in Korean and is a male stick figure peeping over a female stick figure while she's trying to use the bathroom. And, no, it did not say 'peeping tom' in Korean. lol TIP: They are, indeed, BYOB and they do not charge a corking fee which is awesome. Also, the restaurant is very cozy and actually an ideal place to take someone out to for a date.
(3)
Jenna M.
Nooooo.... Zento... what happened? The former owners must have sold the business, because now that it's in a new location it is unrecognizable. Not just for the interior -- I could forgive the too-dark nightclub lighting, the TV screen hovering above my date's head, and the elbow-to-elbow tight seating plan, if the sushi were good. But no. Everything was wrong. 1. The sushi bar has been relegated to a back room somewhere. Maybe in the weird, low-ceiling basement kitchen? So I don't even know if the original chefs are still there. 2. The wait staff were unprofessional. The hostess basically ignored us until some guy (the manager?) told her to find us a table. Our waitress had a cold and rubbed her nose with her hands... just after carrying food to our table. Gross! It was impossible to get anyone's attention until they arrived with the next dish. 3. The food was not good, not at all. This is not the Zento I once knew. I had the Groupon for the tasting menu, and it was so not worth it. The dishes were plain and uninspired. And the sushi... gristly tuna, boring rolls, basically on par with average-quality supermarket takeout sushi. I was really looking forward to going back to Zento after being away for a while, but sadly the Zento I once knew is gone forever.
(1)
Leila A.
Good sushi! Went with a deal which brought down the cost. Service was friendly and attentive.
(4)
Jessie J.
Zento is really fantastic in all respects. Went in the other night with the all-you-can-eat livingsocial deal. I was a little scared of the waiter hating us because of it, but experienced no such thing (service was A++)! All in all, it was a great way to sample more sushi on the menu than I normally would have. The Food: What stood out to me was the deep sea roll, which is wasabi pan-seared tuna with romain heart and spicy mayo. If you like tuna, get this! The interesting thing about getting this over raw fish or tempora is that the tuna is really well seasoned and has searing all the way around the "tube" of fish. Other stand-outs: -tuna pizza appetizer (includes seaweed) -square sushi - it's kind of like nigiri but condensed into a square -lychee mojito -green-tea mochi (much more strong matcha taste than Trader Joe's if you've had that) My only complaint is the flavor on the Mexican roll. It's really strange to me because all I could taste were the toppings, gauc & mango salsa. I'm sure there's fish in there but I couldn't tell because it was completely overpowered. Atmosphere I'll admit, I do miss the sushi bar being visible, but they do have some nice alcoholic choices at the bar. They were also playing an old Gordzilla movie on a few TVs, which was neat after just having seen Pacific Rim the day before. Price / Value Clearly I didn't pay menu price this time, but I think the prices are pretty accurate. They give 8 pieces of sushi per roll, which is an important detail. Other sushi places I've tried may charge slightly less but also only give 6 pieces per roll. Will be returning soon :)
(5)
Michele R.
Although totally empty when we went for an early dinner on Monday night, the food was all very good. Service was very friendly and attentive also. I had sushi for lunch that day so I opted for a ceviche appetizer, which was yum, fried shrimp dumplings which were so good I wished there were twice as many, and the mussels special which were good, but not great. There were two mussels I couldn't pry open so I let them be. The broth was pretty good but I wouldve turned the heat up a notch. Love the exposed brick and decor, but thought it bizarre that two large t.v.s are in the dining area within 4 feet of each other. I wouldn't want them in there if it were up to me. It distracts people when they should be paying attention to each other!
(4)
Kristen K.
Food is amazing especially the deep sea roll. Friendly and helpful staff. Took the time to explain gluten free options! Drinks are amazing as well!
(5)
R ALopo C.
Excellent sushi!!!! :) Its a must if you're in the city Better yet, they deliver with Diningin.com . it's a dream come true
(5)
Aisha L.
I came here for dinner with my man and I was looking forward to some yummy sushi, This place was pretty good. The server was nice and the manager stopped by the table to see how everything was going throughout the meal. I got the udon noodle soup. Tasted pretty gross so I told the server and he took it away and took it off the bill. I got the salmon roll and a seaweed salad my guy the avocado roll and the sweet potato roll. both were good, the prices werent outrageous. They take the whole order on an i pad and you sign your bill that way too, cool and with the technological times.
(3)
Brittany R.
My best friend came into town for business a few weeks ago and after work we came here. I can't even tell you how great this place is. Just SO good. We had a sashimi salad which I didn't like but otherwise we had like 5 different rolls that were all great, tempura was phenomenal. Since it was Philly beer week this place wasn't too crowded (all the local bars were). We sat outside underneath the sign and laughed the night away. Apparently they've lost their liquor license so no Sake right now. Also the hostess and waiter we had that Thursday night were AMAZING, and I had no problem tipping them $20 for being so awesome to us. It's a great place overall and I can't wait to go again.
(4)
Seb S.
Great place for rather cheap sushi and nice atmosphere. However, nothing completely life changing. Whenever you are craving LARGE amounts of sushi I would definitely come here. It was all very tasty, but as I said, if you want something really on another level, I would recommend Morimoto. Staff was very nice and we also had some yelp deals there, which made the whole thing even cheaper. The back room has really cool decorated walls, great for a date.
(3)
Nakia B.
The atmosphere in this restaurant was amazing, the metal tiled ceiling was beautiful and the rock walls with melted wax pouring out so to speak added a really nice flare, and the chandelier was BEAUTIFUL! The presentation of food was UNBELIEVABLY pretty. I almost didn't even want to eat it. I went with a friend of mine she ordered the "Monkey Roll" I ordered the "Volcano Roll". It truly was a party in my mouth. LOL! The servers were incredibly friendly and the cocktails were like a perfect marriage with the food the was presented. So much so that I may actually venture out and try sake the next time I go.
(5)
Zack L.
Fun and Unique sushi. Fresh Wasabi. Ramen & Udon and crisp tempura that is strangely not greasy. Hooray. Also lunch.
(5)
Mr P.
We are on a sushi hunt. Plan is to try a new sushi place once a month so to sample enough place to justify giving up on sushi in Philly or may be surprised by a hidden gem. Zento is not it. First, there is no sushi bar per se, hmmm what are they hiding... how do I know the chef is not picking his nose when making the rolls??? just kidding. Secondly, I don't like the "contemporary" deco, cute but does not do it for me in a sushi setting. Thirdly, we always try the sashimi first to judge the quality of the fish. If it is good we try other things. The fish is not bad, but some of the pieces were seared, it is interesting but I think it is a way to cater to novices. Is it technically still sashimi once the fish is cooked, however lightly it may be? can I order sashimi well done?? Finally, there was just a tiny dap of wasabe, I know other would thought it is more than enough, on the other hand people like I can't get enough of that stuff. Each to his own. Only saving grace is we had a groupon so the bill is half'ed.
(2)
love n.
Tried Zento for the first time tonight. Cute little place with very good food. The sushi was fresh and the Mexican roll was great. Lots of interesting 'roll' combinations/options. Service was friendly and attentive.
(4)
Lan G.
My friends and I went to Zento for dinner. I have heard so many good things about the place and they do have awesome sushi! The new location is only a few doors down from the old place. It's definitely much bigger. Our server is very friendly and she recommended some drinks they were having on special. We tried out a couple of sake cocktail but they tasted more like flavored water. So I changed to Apple sake which is very tasty and easy to drink (Dangerous!!!) I got the duck hand roll and love roll. They are both delicious. Writing about this is making me hungry! =) I cannot wait to go back there next time. Definitely get reservation beforehand. Although the new place is much bigger, I still don't see how you can have a large party (more than 6 people) sitting at the same table.
(5)
Rachel S.
Well gotta say that I was a little disappointed. The rolls were small - not short - but in diameter. I ordered the Flaming Dragon, Rainbow, and Salmon Avocado rolls to go. I looked at the photos on Yelp which looked amazing but it they didn't live up to my expectations. They were very tasty but really just very small.
(3)
Truth B Told R.
This place is amazing. Really cool bar and delicious food. Came here on a living social deal but wound gladly pay full price.
(5)
Paul H.
It is my favorite sushi place in old city, the rolls are just delicious and the staff is friendly, I would definitively recommend that place
(5)
David B.
Their lychee martini was tasty!
(4)
Bri H.
I decided to check out Zento for the first time last night based on it's great reviews and I wasn't disappointed. The decor is boring and ambiance is pretty much nonexistent but the food easily makes up for that. I'd say the highlight of my night was the square roll. I opted for the tuna (vs. salmon). The appetizers were also surprisingly good. I normally don't bother with apps when I'm eating sushi but the pan-seared scallops (with their 8-spice blend) were really good. I also liked the rock shrimp tempura with spicy aioli, and you get a generous sized bowl for $14. Service was excellent also. Granted, we were one of only a few tables, but our server was knowledgeable and friendly and our food came out very quickly. I tried the special 'summer roll' with tuna & mango (amongst other things) wrapped in rice paper. It certainly was fresh and summery...maybe TOO summery for such a cold night (but that's what I get for ordering it in the middle of winter). Also I'm not sure how I feel about the rice paper wrapper. The gummy consistency is surprisingly good but I think I prefer seaweed. I was slightly disappointed by the Christmas roll and there were no fresh scallop options on the menu (in either sushi/sashimi or roll form), but overall it was a good experience and I'll be back to try out their other menu options.
(4)
Anthony Y.
The flavor was good and the rolls were pretty original. The only gripe I had was the the price was expensive relative to the size of the rolls. I was often paying triple the price that I normally would for the same size rolls. While the rolls were innovative, I don't believe that it warrants the price that was paid for them. Not even close. Nevertheless, the place was a good switch up from the places I'm used to going. However, from the price alone, I think this was just a night out with something new. There are other places with better value.
(3)
Temma H.
My boyfriend and I both love sushi, so we were eager to try Zento, since it's so highly rated. We were not disappointed. We both started off with the King Crab Miso Soup, which was very light. The crab and glass noodles were a fun change from plain old miso soup. Next, I ordered the Zento Square Sushi with tuna and the Center City roll. The Zento Square Sushi isn't a roll so much as Oshizushi (pressed sushi), which I rarely see on the menu. The Center City roll is wrapped in soy paper instead of seaweed, which is an option for all of the rolls. Both of my choices were delicious, and I wouldn't hesitate to order both of them again. My boyfriend got a variation of a Dragon Roll, and something else... Obviously I was paying more attention to my plate than to his, sorry. He enjoyed both of his rolls, and the piece I tried of his dragon roll was very good. The fish was very fresh, and the sauces used were very good. The only complaint I have is that the rice used in our sushi was still a little bit too warm- they must have not let it cool quite long enough. Warm rice aside, we'll definitely be going back to Zento soon.
(4)
Liz H.
BEST sushi in the city! Always fresh, creative rolls with more fish than rice, and they delivery in old city! Fav rolls are old city roll, flaming dragon, and eel and avocado!! Friendly staff!
(5)
Gabe F.
The food was pretty good. Unfortunately, service just took way too long. We had to push to get our food out faster (though I don't think that had any effect). Moreover, when we tried to split the bill, they ended up losing one of our credit cards until we asked for it back. The staff didn't seem as professional as the ambiance.
(2)
Edward M.
Dinner: Their standard fare sushi rolls are great. Get three of them if you're in the area. BYOB. Great service.
(4)
Alix H.
There was only one waiter working when we went, so we got ignored. That's not the waiter's fault, it's the management's. I thought the sushi was tasty, but it was WAY too expensive for what we got. The rolls were tiny and I left hungry. Bummer. We won't be returning. I think this place took that "best of Philly" award and got a little ahead of itself. Side note: obnoxious family next to us came to a sushi place and asked for substitutions for all the fish in all the dishes they ordered. wtf....if you don't like fish you should not go to a sushi restaurant and order dishes with fish in them. rude
(2)
Max T.
Good overall, but nothing special.
(3)
edgar v.
I have to say one of the best places in the city for a nice sushi lunch thats not to pricey . I recently tried their bento box , I loved it!! will be back soon!
(4)
Joshua A.
We read about this place on Yelp and decided to check it out while we were visiting the city. I would have rated them a 4.5, but I decided to round up. We got there and were seated by a really nice server, who subsequently flipped the sign from OPEN to CLOSED. I asked why he was closing, and we thought he said something like, "We close at 8" but it was 3 PM, so I was a bit confused. People have mentioned the size of this place, but I feel the need to reiterate. We were the only ones in there, so it was quite comfortable. This place is *really* small, though. It might be uncomfortable when busy. We ordered a philly roll (we had to, right?), a zento square roll, and a volcano roll. The server was really friendly and our food came out relatively fast. I know the zento square roll is the big hit, and it was pretty amazing, but my favorite was the Volcano roll (and my girlfriend's favorite was the philly roll). They were really just amazing -- the fish was fresh, the ingredients were wonderful, and the flavors were big and complex (especially the zento square). I'm really sad to go back to State College sushi. I look forward to visiting this place again.
(5)
LAURA F.
Ever since they moved to their new location/new ownership, they have not been the same. The service has been horrible! The atmosphere is no longer quaint and you can expect to wait forever to get your food. It was a lot better when they were smaller and more personable. I have been going there since it opened at its 1st location but have decided as of today it's not worth it. I I'll say the food is still good, but that might be because I'm starving by the time I get it!
(2)
Janey O.
Zento is a great sushi BYO. Their seaweed salad is a delicious appetizer, and I highly recommend the angus roll (somewhat anomalous to have steak and sushi, I know, but it's so good). This place is very small on the inside and busy, so they try to turn the tables quickly. Completely worth it though!
(4)
Jorge d.
I went to Zento based on reviews I had read from various sites. Let me start by saying the place is tiny; I mean not much bigger than my hotel room. Decor was minimal and tasteful, albeit a bit utilitarian. But I came for the sushi and not the decor and I was not disappointed. Tempura was excellent, light and not greasy as it should be. Sushi was extremely fresh. My complaints would be the rather smallish portions of sushi and sashimi and prices, though not exorbitant, were rather high for the size and quantity. Lastly, there were two families dining and since the place is small, it is also loud especially with kids. Given the prices, I would have preferred to dine without loud children but then, I was a kid once too. I like the BYOB policy and as I said, the sushi was excellent. I would and will, go back.
(4)
Michael L.
Fish is good, but it's overpriced. The environment was ok, nothing special. I'm not sure that the $18 dollar specialty rolls are worth it; it's literally no bigger in size or taste to justify a 3x hike. And the waiters keep pushing you to order them over the traditional rolls and pay in cash! Bad manners, however nice it tried to come across, it was wrapped all in greed and annoyance. So many better places for a fraction of price. Stay away.
(2)
Esther O.
Hm. Fresh sushi was a plus. But I've had better-- noticeably better. Not a picky picky sushi eater so I will say this place is good but not something for me to rave about. I ordered the square sushi with extra high expectations since that seemed to be a signature--but there was only a litttle sushi and a lot of rice. Not really my style. Cute place though with good service .
(3)
Meghann p.
I loved this place....service was great...and sushi was out of this world...I am being very honest. My friend lives in Society Hill and we went to a movie....and just started walking around old city....so happy we found this place!
For such a tiny location, Zento really delivers fantastic sushi at a reasonable price. The size of a take out pizza place (I can't imagine more than 15 people sitting comfortably in here at one time), Zento is easy to write off. However, it has some of the best sushi I've had in the city. I went recently and had the summer sushi, a special of the day, sauteed mushrooms and asparagus, and king crab miso soup. Everything was fresh, presented beautifully, and flavorful. The staff is really attentive and was genuinely happy to hear that we had enjoyed our meal. As a plus, they do deliver, but there is a $40 minimum, yikes. However, this sushi is worth the walk/cab ride/etc.
(5)
Wallspro S.
GREAT sushi, fair prices and they deliver. The only reason for 4 stars is that the place is tiny and kind of claustrophobic. The spare decor seems to make it a little spacier, but 12 feet across can only seem so large.
(4)
Sophia S.
Great sushi lunch place (I haven't been for dinner). It doesn't look like much--its a small place with no hint of the over-the-top-steve-starr-esque decor you find in some old city establishments. So if you're looking for a scene, go elsewhere. But if what you want is tasty, not overpriced, sushi then zento is great.
(4)
Phil S.
Great sushi squares... wonderful food. The interior does not remind you of fine dining, but who cares when the food is delicious.
(5)
Kathy L.
One of the best sushi places in the city with quality similar to Bluefin without the drive to Plymouth Meeting. The dining area is small, but you're not too uncomfortably close to your dining mates. Their signature rolls are very creative. The Zento square roll is delicious: Rice wrapped over eel topped with salmon and avocado with some very good eel sauce mixed with Japanese mayonnaise. They don't drown their rolls in sauces or spices so that you can still taste their fish. I think the best part of this restaurant is the quality of their sashimi. Get the chirashi, or sushi/sashimi combo and you won't be disappointed! Huge pieces of fish, a large variety, and great quality as well. The white tuna is great and the yellowtail sashimi I had there was so fatty, something I've never experienced with yellowtail before. Surprisingly, their nigiri sushi is quite small (itty piece of rice) with a small piece of fish on top. It still tasted great and this is what the nigiri sushi looked like at Morimoto's as well, but I prefer larger pieces of fish atop my nigiri. There's also a lot of hot foods available if you're bringing along a "I-hate-raw-fish" friend... Udon noodles, tempura, teriyaki.
(5)
William T.
Zento is not only a prime location in Old City to get authentic Asian cuisine, but also is a very affordable establishment. I would highly recommend it to tourists traveling through the city or old city residents that have yet to frequent this exquisite restaurant. My favorite item on the menu is the Chicken Bento Box with a California Roll. Their sushi portions, much like everything on their menu are large. You won't leave here hungry.
(4)
Jim B.
cool decor, hip vibe, decent but unmemorable meal in tight quarters.
(3)
Stacey T.
I was visiting from out of town and used Yelp to find somewhere to eat in Olde City. We made a reservation via Open Table for 6:30, but due to the oppressive heat, we showed up at 6 and they kindly seated us. We were able to purchase the Yelp Deal on our smart phones while at the table and the waiter was very generous about splitting up the bill so we could use more than 1. I split the special lobster tempura roll with pineapple and berry aioli sauce and got a spicy tuna roll. The lobster roll was really tasty. The spicy tuna was good too but it was a little smaller than I'm used to. Overall, good experience.
(4)
Zarah A.
best sushi in old city! great food great staff awesome first date place!!!
(5)
Sam L.
Spring for the square roll. If you cheap out here, you're missing the best part. Also, according to my wonderful fiancee (the love of my life) the traditional offerings, especially those with crunch, hold their own on a plate of big hitters, such as the Monkey Roll and the aforementioned Square Salmon Roll. Ultimately, the square comes out on top (that's what she said). Btw, Happy Birthday, Love of Life.
(5)
Suraj P.
I went here on a whim because I had heard good things and we were looking for sushi before a movie at the Ritz. I had actually been to this place before with a group of friends, however didn't actually eat anything ... The BYO status was a BIG plus too! On ordering, we stuck to the basics, mostly maki with a few pieces of nigiri and sashimi. They definitely have all of the basics done well and along with some speciality rolls. I enjoyed their Monkey Roll which was a tasty shrimp tempura with smoked salmon on top. But enough with the cooked stuff, I normally am a raw and sashimi kind of guy and in this department, Zento shines! Sashimi Roll (fish wrapped in thin cucumber) was delicious and fresh. The sashimi and nigiri was awesome with the exception of the fatty white tuna, but the young himachi made up for this twice over! Unfortunately while Zento gets praise for its look, locale, and taste, they did loose me for a moment when the bill arrived. I'm sure that will not keep me away for long.
(3)
Jake M.
The sweet potato tempura flake roll was OUTSTANDING. The place is cozy and friendly. One of the few sushi places I would actually return to.
(4)
Cynthia K.
Our secret is out! Man, we had this place as our secret sushi heaven, going there from the day it opened. But then all the sudden everyone heard about how great the food was here and now we have to share... Ok fine, I'll share in the deliciousness that is Zento. I think we've tried almost every roll in their ever-expanding menu, but my favorite is still the Spicy Crunchy Tuna roll. The freshness of the sushi and variety of rolls gave this place a well-deserved reputation. The prices are starting to spike up as their popularity does, but still remain among the most affordable high quality sushi establishments in town, and clearly out-shines others in the Old City area like over-done Haru (you pay for their decor, not the sushi), Uzu Sushi (giant rolls, but lack freshness). No that we all know, I guess I'll be fighting you for a reservation. Weekends basically require you to call ahead, now and don't forget to BYOB.
(4)
Erin R.
The sushi was excellent - very flavorful and delicious. However, the rolls are VERY small (diameter) especially for the price. Service was so-so....not so great. The decor is cozy, but a little tight (tables are very close together). I enjoyed my time here, and I will definitely be going back.
(4)
Lindsay H.
Best sushi I've ever had. Excellent service. Reasonable prices. My only complaint is that the place is TINY, and I personally am not a fan of being seated 6 inches from a total stranger. If you don't mind your personal space bubble being invaded, however, give this place a try.
(4)
Leslie M.
I came here recently with my boyfriend on a food crawl experiment through Old City. We decided to try some entrees here and were not thrilled at the experience. I'll only come back with recommendations on what I "need/should" get here or with someone who can give recommendations... because this was a pretty blah meal... Ambiance: Small. Simple/Chic decor. Quite busy and expected. A bit tight so on a busy night I wouldn't go here for an intimate date. Good place for a small group. Service: Nice but a bit disorganized. Food: This was where I minused points. Though I also leave room for redemption in my future update. I was massively craving udon noodle soup and some simple sushi creations so... Udon noodle soup was a fusion fail. It came with pho like noodles ... thus defeating the purpose of UDON noodle soup ... The broth was relatively bland and if anything was a bit sweet (not usually what I want from udon soup...) The biggest sad face was that they didn't have any shichimi (a pretty standard Japanese 7 spice seasoning) ... which is a pretty common seasoning found in lots of the usual Japanese restaurants. They did give me lots of vegetables, which was nice. Spicy tuna roll was not spicy. It was mashed tuna with almost no flavoring and was packed with tons of crunchy tempura or panko flakes which made it seem like I was eating sawdust ... My boyfriend and I enjoyed the presentation or rather were bemused by it. Almost every dish had one or two orchid flowers on it. Either they are recycling some of these delicate beauties or it just rains orchids in their kitchen ... I won't go into the details of the bf's meal because he's vegetarian and realistically we never have any expectations for his meal at most sushi restaurants ... Overall, the amount we spent was just not justified to what we ate. Hopefully I was just ordering the wrong items for this place. Drinks: BYOB which I appreciate. We brought a bottle of Morimoto's Hazelnut Ale by Rogue. The beer was great but I'd match it carefully. The Hazelnut can bring out a bit too much fishiness in the sushi... The price just didn't match to my experience but I probably need to try my hand again with better menu choices. I look forward to upgrading in my update..
(2)
Heather L.
My favorite sushi in the city. The venue is small, so it's probably a good idea to come early or make a reservation if you have a party of more than two. It's BYO, but there's a shoppe just up second street, so that's easy, especially if you're coming from the El.
(5)
callie b.
My friend and I had a great meal here the other night. The place was packed, but we had a reservation and were seated immediately. The service was quick and friendly, and most importantly the food was delicious! I got the special "square" sushi they are known for, and it was amazing! The rest of our food was great as well, will definitely be going back soon! We didn't drink since we were going straight to a movie afterwards, but the ability to BYO is also nice.
(5)
matthew l.
Almost pretty little storefront in Old City certainly in the pantheon of excellent Japanese restaurants in the city. Utterly pristine sashimi expertly and generously cut and beautifully presented without the curious paper grass that the Japanese seem so fond of. Brown rice sushi with avocado and crisp salmon skin one of the most delicious as well as one of the most healthful snacks you are likely to find. House blended soy sauce a revelation with great taste and no store bought sodium overload.
(4)
Nate A.
On the continuous quest for good sushi, we came here based on Yelp's general praise and were not disappointed by great, fresh sushi, our expert BYOB sake selection, and mochi for dessert. Sucky atmosphere and service are endurable annoyances for this relatively affordable, high quality sushi fix. Pros -Having also been to neighborhood leading brands Haru and Kisso, I was most impressed with Zento's sushi in terms of freshness and overall quality. Everything we ordered was excellent, particularly the yellowtail sashimi and kanpachi satomaki. -BYOB - although the sake selection at the nearby wine & spirits continues to disappoint, this is always an appreciated feature. -Mochi - rarely seen on menus, this rice jello-encased ice cream is bizarrely delicious. Zento's green tea variety requires less courage than it might seem and was a delicate sweet to finish the meal. Cons -Size - this is a proxy for comfort of all varieties. Zento is a small, unadorned box with possibly too many tables, and Philadelphia's least inviting sushi bar with seating for 3. When it gets crowded the noise level gets up to 11. So my 4 star rating is purely sushi-based. The ambiance is the pits, with regular blasts of cold winter air whenever the door opens for good measure. -Service - our waiter, doubling as everyone's waiter, was inscrutable, unfriendly and all business. Not rude per se, but reptilian in his complete lack of emotion. He moved us mid-meal from our first table to make room for a group of 3. We were 2 at a 4-top, so this was logical, but off-putting. A more compassionate waiter would have comped us the mochi or the edamame - but no such courtesy was forthcoming from the lizard man. Outside of this he was periodically hard to pin down, curt and/or abrupt. Don't come here looking to be coddled.
(4)
Dav id N.
Great meal! The Toro special was outstanding albeit a bit expensive ($10 for each piece of sushi) . Even though the space is small, the overall attentiveness of the staff and the quality of the food makes up for it.
(4)
Alex K.
we came here for a quick snack. I ordered a shrimp roll, I can't remember the name of the roll but what I could remember was the fact that it was not properly cleaned... this is not ok in my book.
(3)
Kay P.
Have the calamari appetizer and the volcano roll ... you will leave VERY happy. It helps that the main waiter is an absolute sweetheart. He always remembers me even if it's been months since I've gone. Very genuine and comfortable spot with exquisitely fine sushi.
(5)
Rachel G.
I live in central PA, where the closest thing to good sushi is of the supermarket variety. Thank goodness for Zento. We ordered the tuna pizza--stay with me here--which defied skepticism: a pile of tuna sashimi, seaweed salad, and a touch of spicy mayo on a crisp tortilla crust. I ordered as well miso soup filled with tofu and seaweed (no skimping here!) and the crunchy spicy tuna roll, which contributed welcome texture with tempura flakes and cucumber. Some unlimited green tea, and equal quantities of food ordered from my two dining mates, and we were on our way for about $60.
(4)
Aisling O.
Meeh. It wasn't bad, I just wasn't particularly impressed with the sushi I ordered. Maybe it was an off night, because for the most part the reviews on here were great. First of all, the positive...our calamari appetizer was amazing, and our waitress was very gracious and attentive, and to top it off the prices are reasonable and it's a BYOB. But the place is smaller than some people's closets (okay maybe not that small). You are literally right on top of the people next to you...a little too close for me and difficult to tune out other peoples conversations. The sushi was only OK. Honestly, my Tuna and Salmon were not the freshest. After practically living on raw fish in California, I expect when people say something's really fresh that you taste it. I think for a nicer atmosphere and better sushi I'm better off at my neighborhood Umai Umai.
(3)
Dana G.
Always a solid meal. The wait staff always remembers me and my friend when i come in. BYOB is always a plus for me. The soups and salads are always spot on. They have lots of fun rolls to choose from. Sushi is always yum. It seems a tad over priced to me which is why i'm taking off a a star.
(4)
Alex V.
We went to Zento last night, and came away impressed. The space is small and cramped like most BYO's, but the sushi was very solid. Zento had a pretty large menu, with lots of interesting roll options. Our salads were very fresh and well presented. The Sushi was good, but the sizes were a little on the small side. The roll prices were very competitive, but I was surprised how expensive the 1 pc sushi items were. Still, we had a good time and we will definitely be back.
(4)
Kelly S.
Love this place. Sushi is delicious; regular menu is a good mix of traditional with elegant and creative fusion or flair.
(4)
Alex F.
Went to Zento sushi last night for dinner and was not impressed. Though they have innovated and unique special rolls, they are also high priced and small. The rolls were tasty and the sushi rice was also made very well, however, if I hadnt eaten an appetizer at Continental prior to arriving, i would have left hungry and disappointed. My girlfriend, her sister, and I split 4 rolls (then had to order a 5th). Eel avocado, spicy crunchy salmon, one wrapped in cucumber, and fourth- of the four i think the eel avocado was the most tasty. the 5th roll we ordered was the first special roll listed (with salmon). i would not recommend this roll as it was about an inch of rice with a thin thin sliver of salmon on top. If you're going to go, make sure you are aware that these rolls ARE very small- even the special rolls. There is not very much fish or filling in them either and its a lot of rice.
(3)
Diane T.
I have never written a review of restaurant but the worst service I have ever experienced inspired me to do so. I have worked in the restaurant business for about 20 years and while I know it can be annoying when people use coupons and vouchers, there is absolutely no need to be obnoxiously rude about it which our waiter was. I purchased the 7 course tasting menu deal on Living Social because while my son loves good food, he tends to inhale it so I don't always love spending a fortune on a meal for him. We made a reservation but were seated in the bar area even though there were multiple open tables in the dining room available. Our waiter sat at the bar watching us for about 10 minutes before approaching the table and when he did, he said "tasting menu, can I get your coupon?" He never asked if we wanted a drink or anything else when he greeted us or at any point during our meal. I do not eat meat and I asked if I could substitute and his reply in an extremely snarky, condescending tone was "no, it is a chef's tasting menu", the only thing he left out was "duh" which he obviously thinking. I have have ordered many tasting menus at many restaurants and have never been denied a substitution for a dietary restriction. Even if this restaurant does not substitute, had he been civil about it, I would have skipped that course without complaint. When he presented each course, he barely grunted what we were eating. When my son ordered a soda, it sat at the bar for so long while our waiter watched TV, half the ice in the glass had melted and he had to drain the glass before pouring his soda in. At the end of our meal, our waiter dropped the check immediately after dropping dessert without asking if we wanted anything else, which we might have had he not been so rude. I have experienced incompetent service on many occasions and it has been tolerable because at least the service was civil. This server was clearly capable but acted as if he were doing us a favor by bringing us the food we paid for. I have never been tempted to not leave gratuity in my life but I came very close tonight. I typically would have tipped on the value of the meal and not what I purchased it for but I could not bring myself to do that either. I ended up compromising and tipped on the price of the Living Social voucher plus what we spent on additional food and drinks. As for the food, it was solid but had it's ups and downs. The Miso soup, calamari salad and dessert were very good, the carpaccio and sashimi were excellent. The crab cake was not great, it was fishy tasting and had a lot of shells in it. We ordered an additional tempura lobster roll which was fine but not exciting. I really wanted to and fully expected to love this place. Overall, the food was good, the prices were reasonable but the service made the experience miserable.
(2)
Jacquelin K.
Zento is a tiny little shoe box of a restaurant with no curb appeal that's serving up some mighty fine sushi. Well, that's what the Inquirer says. I'm no sushi connoisseur, but our dishes tasted very fresh. We ordered square sushi and the green river roll. Our square sushi was made with salmon; it's a very sweet roll with some unidentified orange sauce on top. I spotted this sauce on virtually every dish served in the place, so it must be a Zento thing. I liked the green river roll better, which had fatty tuna and avocado. I'm learning that I have a thing for tuna. The refills of hot green tea were plentiful. Now, tonight is First Friday & unfortunately we arrived at what must have been a peak hour for this tiny little shoe box of a restaurant. There are perhaps 10 tables in total. By 930 they were all full & the ensuing din made it very difficult to carry on a conversation. There's a real space crunch here, and that's not pleasant. We interacted with all 3 gracious servers throughout the meal, which was interesting. Decor is minimalist; I'm not a fan of the bare white walls. I might come back for the green river roll, but not on a First Friday night.
(3)
Sharon M.
At first glance it doesn't look like a 5 star sushi place. However; never judge a book by its cover. The service was amazing. Our waitress was oh so happy to be working and thoroughly enjoyed her work. Rare in Philly! The choices of sushi rolls were Amazing! Try the King Crab Miso Soup! If you like pho its a combo of miso with a large amount of crab thrown in! Its BYOB and the liquor store is just up the corner. We tried the Pear Sake in the blue bottle. Also exquisite! I loved this place and recommend it highly!
(5)
Bill C.
Service took FOREVER and was rude... until I ordered $60 worth of sushi for myself. The atmosphere was minimal. On the way back to the hotel I felt like I was going to burp up most of what I'd just eaten. Not a fan.
(2)
Ali H.
This place was recommended by expert yelper Dave H. and I will never question his advice again! I was a little reluctant to go here after I saw pics of the tiny interior and read others' complaints about how small it is. We went at 6 pm on a Saturday, which I guess is on the early side, so we had the place to ourselves for most of the meal--more diners filtered in as it got later. So while it was small, we didn't feel crowded. The staff was really friendly, and most importantly, the sushi was out of this world. The square Zento roll is a must, as well as the Dragon roll, Volcano roll and Monkey roll. . . if we had been able to shovel in any more, we would have. Everything was excellent, even the simple rolls. Another thing I appreciated was no corkage fee, a small detail that always irks me. This was the best sushi I've ever had, hands down. I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Scott L.
Fish could be more fresh. Uni and yellowtail were a bit fishy. Portions are not large. I would also rate it $$$. Spent close to $120 for two people. Won't be going back. Service was good.
(3)
Amy D.
Ok so I decided to go here for sushi because of the great reviews I read on here. I expected amazing sushi, well that wasn't the case. My tuna roll was terribly mushy and the spicy sauce was mostly mayo which made it have a sweet taste. The edemame was also over steamed and mushy. I got a bowl of miso that was about 10 oz. of broth and maybe a piece or two of tofu. I ordered the center city roll and they sent me god knows what but it did not have three of the ingredients listed, which were fish! I don't know, to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I am still kind of confused because of the tons of great reviews. I would, however, give it one more shot. Maybe i got an off night or I went too late, whatever the problem I have to say it's some of the worst food let alone sushi i've ever had.
(2)
Yonatan R.
Absolutley the best Sushi place in Philadelphia
(5)
bryan m.
Had dinner here with the family. The sashimi was all very fresh, the kitchen entrees were above average for a predominately sushi restaurant, and the rolls were a bit on the small and not so tasty side. Overall nothing was terrible, but definitely over priced for the quality and portion, service was a bit slow and unattentive. If you are in old city and have a craving for sushi and have money burning through your wallet hit it up, otherwise keep moving.
(3)
Oski B.
Tasty sushi, but under-staffed. There was only one server for the entire restaurant on the night we went. She was as helpful as she could be, but definitely over-stretched.
(4)
Reena H.
One of my favorite sushi restaurants in Philly. I have been here twice and both times the food has been up to par. For starters, I recommend the tuna pizza (just delicious!), and the miso soup. The fish is fresh! I don't think you can go wrong with any of the sushi rolls-sooo yummy! I like the fact that they keep it simple in keeping a balance of the taste of the fish with the additional sauces added. My favorite sushi rolls here are the zento square roll and the spicy tuna roll, both are fabulous! I also recommend the monkey and volano rolls. For dessert, I've tried the banana fritters---i could keep eating more!!! The restaurant is small, but charming. The staff is attentive. The prices are very reasonable for high quality food.
(5)
Dave W.
Had lunch here. Very, very good sushi. 25 bucks with tip for one of the lunch specials: miso, salad, 8 pieces sushi, 1 roll. Also had a green tea.. wasn't really that full. And I'm still giving it 5 stars. Like I said very, very good sushi.
(5)
Marian R.
i really wanted to give this place 5 stars, but it is a little bit too expensive and the rolls are tiny. that being said, oh how delicious the sashimi! i popped in for a quick dinner before pool league (it was playoffs, i wanted a minute alone and some yummy food to fortify me) and it was absolutely perfect. i ordered two pieces of white tuna (which should've been squeezed for their juice, so moist, fresh and sweet), one piece of australian yellowtail (not on the menu, recommended because i asked for scallop and they were out of it) that was perfect with a beautiful color pattern and texture and one piece of spanish mackerel (i so should've ordered 5 of these) that came with a tiny chop of a mushroom sauce on the skin side, beautiful and unbelievably delicious. also ordered a bowl of miso that smelled very pleasantly of the sea, a side of sushi rice and the toro scallion roll (yummy but plain, and definitely wee). but i was very satisfied by my entire meal and am excited to go back. the wait staff was also extremely friendly without being overbearing and since i was in for a VERY early dinner, i ate the meal in silence and was in a perfect mood to beat some bottoms on the pool table. which i did. :) i read most of the negative reviews below and to be honest, a place like this is in old city, so of course prices are going to reflect how much they pay in rent. but my order was beautifully displayed with edible garnish (chrysanthemum leaves, nasturtium, daikon), so they try to make up for it. and there really isn't much ambience, but whatever, i was there for the food. it was nice enough though, and i liked the plain but stylish tables and chairs. and i think i'm done. :)
(4)
Tom C.
My girlfriend and I eat a lot of sushi ...no really ...a lot and Zento is the real deal. Creative menu items, quality food and service, reasonable prices. One of the best sushi places that we have been to on the east coast.
(5)
Sarah B.
Hands down the best sushi in the city! And the service is awesome!
(5)
a r.
Everything here was fantastic; maki, sushi, salads, and drinks! Downside was the wait staff! Otherwise, would have been a 4 star review. I was very impressed with the food! Everything was very fresh, flavorful, and well presented. The drinks were the perfect combination of strength, flavor, sweetness, etc. Everything was well proportioned, the food was simply excellent. However, after a long wait, we waited much longer to order, and longer yet just for a glass of water. That being said once we did order the food arrived relatively quickly. It seemed like it was an organizational issue. No one seemed to know who was responsible for taking care of which guests and the place really wasn't THAT crowded and there doesn't seem to be an excuse to warrant this. Interior is small, but doesn't seem crowded and has a nice ambience. Prices were pretty standard for the sushi, higher end for drinks. All in all, I will definitely be back!
(3)
Roman S.
Definitely over-hyped. I liked the large selection of special rolls, but was disappointed with the small size and small amount of fish on them, given the cost. They also seemed over-sauced. The fish itself was average. Despite my feelings, my 3 companions enjoyed it greatly.
(3)
Noheli T.
I went to Zento on Friday night and had a great time. I ordered the Love Roll and my friend ordered the Center City Roll and both of them came out delicious! The only compliant that I have is the service. A waiter approached us about drinks and we asked for a bit more time. I didn't expect for him to give us an extra 10 minutes. It felt like they had just forgotten about us even though the restaurant was far from full.
(4)
Ann V.
The tuna pizza was the only thing able to save this place from 1 star territory. All else was terrible. 1. Way too expensive 2. Rolls we ordered were disgusting 3. Location does not keep heat in very well. Everytime the door opened I would freeze. 4. Sashimi was meh.
(2)
Stephanie W.
I found Zento via Urbanspoon, which is my new way to find great unknown restaurants. My friend and I went and had a great dinner-we split three amazing sushi rolls and shared an appetizer of a spring roll. The spring roll was stuff with beef and noodles and was amazing! The sushi rolls were all great. I also had a Citrus Sake drink that was fabulous. I would highly recommend this restaurant to those looking for a great sushi restaurant. There was a great Yelp deal, but the waiter wasn't very excited about us both using the deal and having to give us separate checks. Next time I'd probably only use one.
(4)
John B.
Overall solid sushi place. I found that their fusion (with Chinese?) dishes were better. They have dishes that are drizzled with hot oil, yuzu and micro greens. Scallop special, thinly sliced, drizzled with hot oil, yuzu/ponzu sauce, micro greens, it's served somewhat in between warm and cold. The addition of oil and slight saltiness of the yuzu sauce adds to the nuttiness of raw scallop. It was very good. The ama ebi (sweet shrimp) appetizer was also very good. The udon noodle was different but good. We did a-la-cart nigiris and sashimis. Though they smelled and tasted fresh, they weren't as tasty, though I thought the red snapper and fluke nigiris were very good (albeit a little small).
(4)
Rob V.
We purchased a Groupon and hit it the other night. It was a first visit from a very big sushi foodie. The atmosphere (decor, music, lighting, etc.) was great, the food was excellent, staff great, and pace of the seven course meal was perfect. We will certainly be back again!
(5)
Scott G.
As I said in my first review, the food here is top notch. I went back again because I really did enjoy myself, until the check came (see previous review). The square roll was quite interesting and the ceviche app, while not necessarily ceviche, was really good. It's simply pieces of fresh fish with a little marinade. But to start with such nice fresh fish is great. The green tea is also a winner, for $2 with refills, I would go back just for it! All-in-all it is a very nice restaurant, good fresh fish, and rather quick for a sushi place. It seems that my first experience was an anomaly. The price is a little high, but the quality is to match. I am excited for their new space, just 3 doors down. I wish them the best of luck in their new location.
(4)
Jennifer T.
Went to Zento last night for the first time an it was sooo yummy!!!! The sushi was super fresh and delicious. The focus at Zento is simple, high quality fish paired only with ingredients that enhance the natural, fresh flavors. The place is small but I went on a Monday night so I was seated quickly. The prices were very reasonable too...my sister and I left out of there STUFFED and our bill only came out to be $55. We ordered edamame, zento salad (calamari salad) - which had way more calamari than salad, a shrimp tempura roll, spicy tuna roll, a REAL California roll (made with real crab meat), and a salmon Zento square sushi (sooo yummy)!!! All in all, it was a great meal and very quaint atmosphere. I will definitely go back...there's a lot left fir me to discover at Zento! **The only reason they are not getting 5 stars is because I felt like the menu was limited and I wish they had some sort of "blackboard" list of daily specials or what was fresh that day.**
(4)
bob m.
Unfamiliar with Philly sushi, wasn't sure what to expect. Fiance had heard such rave things that I expected the classiest joint ever. It was a little room with very informal furnishings. Kinda thought "did we come to the right place" Went here on night I proposed so at first a bit dissappointed with what I saw. Couple joined us, and they brought a bottle of champagne to help us celebrate. Staff had no problem with this and chilling it for us. Did not get charged a corkage fee. I like that. Our bill was expensive (about 150 bucks) but when I think about it, we ordered sooo much food that it was our own darn faults. So, It wasn't expensive... we just weren't wise. I thought the rolls were very good. It took a while for them to take our order but when they did it came pretty quick and it was pretty good. Very pretty presentation too. I enjoyed it. In short, I think this is a good place to come out with some friends for a quick grab of some decent sushi, but it isn't the mecca we were expecting. No decor, no ambience, and pretty cramped. If this were in California I would 3 star the food, but due to location I would 4 star it. Unfortunately the crowded, lunch counter atmosphere would make me think 1 or 2 stars. 2+4 = 6. The average is 3, so that is what I would say Zento is.
(3)
Aaron H.
Sushi was the bomb , had the Flaming dragon and Philly roll. The rice tasted very fresh. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very cool and upbeat. They also have these cute coke bottles
(5)
Ron F.
ZENTO Sushi & Sake Lounge a great place to meet and mingle. The food and drink are culturally diverse and the atmosphere is quaint. Stay awhile and you will meet some great people. And the hostess is so cute with a beautiful smile.
(5)
Michael L.
We met a guy on our flight from Florida to Philly who told us that Zento made him fall in love with sushi. Well, we fell in love with Zento. We had a spicy king crab roll, a garden roll, a rainbow roll and a sashimi roll. Arguably the best sushi I have ever had. Everything was fresh and the service was great. The place is small, but quiet. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Katie F.
Had my first sushi experience here- It was everything I'd hoped for! Trendy spot, quick service, has a nice bar. We had fun walking around the area afterwards too. Im no expert on sushi, but by the taste of it I knew I was getting quality. Recommended!
(3)
PJ M.
Great, fresh fish! The King Crab Miso was very good as well. Would definitely come back. My only complaint is the prices.
(4)
Marques G.
Pretty slow service, gets pretty crowded and cluster around evening hours, but great food! :)
(3)
Lorraine F.
Delicious food with affordable menu! Casual yet high-end, sophisticated atmosphere. A friendly, knowledgeable, professional staff. Zento's is a wonderful dining experience! Great place to meet friends and drink, eat, hang-out for hours!!!
(4)
Ibrahim S.
Great Asian beer selection, my favorite is tiger beer. Great sushi and service
(5)
Colleen M.
The food was really pretty good. But... this is a BYO that charges $10 corking fee. PER BOTTLE. It wasn't really clearly communicated either, so the bill was a bit of a surprise.
(3)
Cindy C.
A fairly classy place with a decent menu. The sushi is fantastic. All the flavors melt together in your mouth and is soo delicious. The presentation is good; garnished with sauce and a flower. They have specialty rolls that range from $12 - $15, and includes everything else that a sushi joint should have. They don't serve alcohol however they will pick something up for you if you ask. I recommend their green river roll and monkey roll. Their Zento special roll is squared, which is very unique. Our waitress was very attentive. The only con would be the size. Otherwise, excellent place for sushi!
(4)
Cam D.
Went here a few days ago for a friday night date. It was very nice, and very dark. we needed our phones to read the menu. The atmosphere is very nice, however the tables a re a little too close together for my taste so it isn't very private. However most sushi bars I've been too share this characteristic. The sushi was quite good, and the king crab miso is phenomenal! we also got the seafood udon and it was decent, but not unbelievable. The sushi is good and the special rolls, although pricey, are very creative!
(4)
Hoang T.
Zento was the 2nd stop of me and my friends sushi tour of Philadelphia (read my Uzu review). The interior was on the 'modern' side, but a bit stark. It needs a little bit more on the interior. But we're not there for the looks right? On to the food... Appetizers: Miso soup first. It was pretty "filling" as in heavy--something i wasn't really expecting from miso soup. Good amount of tofu too; not too much not too little. Next was the Tuna Pizza (highlight of the meal imo). Tuna, seaweed salad, tomatoes, cilantro, and a spicy mayo sauce (just the right heat). Very tasty. Good bold flavors and pretty balanced. Agedashi (tempera tofu and vegetables). My friend said she had better, i wasn't sure why it needed a separate name, it was basically Tempera but the dipping sauce already in the dish. The batter was a bit heavier then tempera should be, but was still good. Main: we ordered the Sashimi sample (10 piece for $25) to get a better taste of the "fresh fish" everyone on yelp claimed. The pieces were very nicely cut! Consistent size and the sushi chefs knife skill really showed. The assortment of fish we were served: tuna, salmon, yellow tail, smoked tuna?, and some fish from spain with a mushroom topping. The latter was IMO, HORRIBLE. The mushroom sauce thing (think...a thick creamed mushroom) it ruined the entire taste of the fish. Moreover, it totally ruined my palette. (more water please!) We ordered 2 other rolls, American Roll and that day's special--2 tuna wrapped in Ricer Paper. American Roll wasn't the greatest maybe because of the scallop topping (too creamy-made it too heavy). The special roll was a good choice. Topped with fried onions and a different sauce, it did deliver bold flavors and a fresh new twist to sushi rolls. Dessert: Red Bean Mochi Ice Cream. This was very good and redeemed the meal. Zento only gives you a choice of 4-5 flavors, but you can only pick 1, whereas Uzu gives you 4 flavors with the order. Service: Great attentive service. If my glass of water was 60% full, our waitress filled it right back up. Very friendly too! Overall, it was a good dining experience. However, when the bill came, it was pretty high for what we had. It was about $120 including tip the two of us. One of the more expensive places i've been in the area (and i've been to Morimoto's as well). on to the next spot of our tour...
(3)
Dan F.
It's not every day you want the experience of an exploding nutsack of flavor in your mouth. Should that day come however, run, don't walk to Zento and order the ice cream mochi. It's two tablespoons of ice cream encased in a ball of sticky rice dough, dusted with an angel's wave of powdered sugar. You'll find green tea, strawberry, vanilla, red bean, and on all the days I'm not there, black sesame, because I really want it and it's Asian Murphy's Law that I'm to be denied. But you probably didn't come to my review to read about dessert. How's the savory side of the menu? Excellent. I want to give special props to the miso soup, which was extra-tasty and many cuts above the average. From the turf side of town I had the crunchy spicy tuna (very nice) and the yummy Zento Square Sushi (salmon version) with eel, avocado and plum paste. Cute, cozy place for a fun evening out with friends -- and solid sushi. Word is they're very consistent, so any night should be fine.
(4)
Danan R.
I love this place. It's small but has really great sushi. Try the square sushi with tuna. It comes plum sauce, avocado, eel, tuna, and is topped off with a spicy sauce. The spicy king crab roll is also excellent (king crab, shrimp tempura, and eel), as is the double shrimp roll (XO sauce anyone? sooo good). If you don't like fish, the duck rolls are a great option. They also have oh toro on the sashimi menu, and that was very fresh. The miso marinated sea bass is very flavorful and fresh if you are not in the mood for sushi. The service here is superb and the sushi chef has a perpetual smile on his face. This is a top notch sushi place that offers both presentation and taste.
(5)
Rishit B.
Pretty good sushi and decently priced!
(3)
Colette D.
I have to admit Zento is a favorite of mine and holds a special place in my heart. With that said, I held a star only because parking is such a hassle and the music selection of terrible nightclub beats makes me nervous. The sushi, AMAZING. Always fresh and tasty. The miso kingcrab soup is a great starter. Service is great and always pleasant. A favorite sushi restaurant in the city for sure :)
(4)
Anne B.
A nice intimate place to grab sushi in Olde City. It's extremely small so reservations are recommended! I think I'd heard a little too much hype, so my expectations were through the roof. We arrived and were seated at our reserved table (party of 4). We had our menus and the server took an inordinately long time to take our order (along the lines of 20+ minutes). We ordered a multitude of rolls and I got miso soup as a starter. It pains me to say the sushi was just above average. I don't know if it's a California thing, but I am missing a certain taste or texture or sensation in my mouth that I just didn't get here. Maybe it's because it was the end of the day on a Thursday? Is that old joke about fish being flown in on a Monday really true?! Anyway, seems like a good place, but between the very slow service and the meh quality of the sushi, I probably wouldn't come here again.
(3)
Julian D.
It was a great overall experience! Food was really good but the drinks were out of this world! Shout out to Christian for the hospitality.....
(5)
Rex P.
I was disappointed. :( I didn't wanna be... the place looks great, with a full bar. It has a lounge-y atmosphere with cool low lighting and the wait staff dressed in all black. But all I wanted was some good sushi, and I was disappointed because the menu didn't really have many non-traditional options. I can get my tuna and yellowtail at Wegman's, thank you very much. Yes, there's some deluxe rolls, but they didn't sound great. Don't get me wrong, it was yummy and fresh, but for the price, I wanted something new and refreshing. When I was leaving, I noticed that they had specials that would've been interesting, but they didn't tell me inside what the specials were! Also, they had a large beer and wine selection from all over Asia, if they're into that kind of thing. I wasn't, though, so I came away disappointed.
(2)
B M.
Sushi is my absolute most favorite food in the world. I've heard good things about Zento. I have tried just about every other place in Philly, but based on reviews- was anticipating some great,, unique sushi I made reservations online two days in advance. However,when we arrived, we were moved three different times because we were told the tables were all reserved. We agreed to move and didn't think too much of it. . Our appetizer and miso soup came out immediately- great start. They were both mediocre. My friend ordered a Sprite and it was the worst tasting "Sprite" imaginable. He said it tasted like metal. How do you mess up a Sprite? Odd... We thought the couple next to us was just being difficult when they called over the waitress and complained. However, we realized they waited over 45 minutes and 3 of the four rolls they ordered came out wrong.. Also, they indicated that the one roll they had was full of rice and absolutely no fish. When I glanced over, I realized that was the same roll we had ordered. That couple wound up leaving before eating anything. 55 minutes later, our rolls came out. We both got the Zento Square roll. It had a tiny sliver of avocado, a tiny sliver of salmon, barely there piece of eel, and tons of rice. I now knew why the couple next to us complained so much. For 15 dollars, this roll was EMPTY. The Old City roll and typical yellow tail scallion were pretty decent, but very small. Our bill came out to 85 dollars....and we were still really hungry. The only positives I can say about this place was that the ambiance was pretty cool, and the waitresses were very sweet. There are MUCH better sushi places in the city for much less money. We won't be back.
(1)
Clare H.
Stumbled across this place on a friday night and had a better meal than we could have expected. We checked the place out on yelp after we sat down and were able to get the $18 for $10 deal which was a nice surprise! The miso soup is perhaps the best I have ever had and borg the sushi and the noodle dishes were very good! The service was friendly and attentive. We'll be back.
(4)
Angela E.
I went to Zento with a few friends for lunch and it was pretty good. We all got the maki combo and that comes with a miso soup and salad. Everything was tasty and came to about $18 a piece (tip included) for the four of us. A little steep for lunch but worth it for all that we got. I've been to other sushi places in the city and have found that you truly get what you pay for. In other words, worth it! The service was perfect. The sushi chefs were quick and although we sat at the table in front of them, I never felt like there were eavesdropping! Also, it's a small-ish place but it didn't feel like it, so that was nice, too. I'd def. go back.
(3)
Ali E.
Stopped in for take-out before hitting the movies at Ritz, and it did not diappoint. I went for the Flaming Dragon roll - crunchy spicy tuna, avocado, tobiko, topped with eel - delicious, but the crunch had soggified somewhat by the time it was eaten. If you go for crunchy items, eat immediately. Everything was reasonable, and the guys making the sushi and at the register were friendly and helpful. I'll def be back.
(4)
J L.
great service and outstanding food. try the tuna pizza
(5)
Ren P.
I love this BYOB sushi place. I've been coming here for a few years, as I used to live in the area. Coming back for the first time after moving out of old city, to my surprise, they added a corkage fee of $10. Our server was willing to accommodate us, comp the fee and they even gave us complimentary mochi ice cream. They are willing to go above and beyond to keep their customers happy and coming back. This is one of my personal favorites for sushi in the city. I love the crab miso soup, center city roll and love roll, but I'm sure you couldn't go wrong with anything on the menu.
(4)
Lauren K.
Awesome sushi. byob!
(4)
Dan B.
Good sushi and good decor. Lighting just right, not too bright. The night I was there they were in between liquor licenses and were giving out free sake. A place worth checking out. Sushi is a bit expensive but it correlates with center city prices.
(4)
Stephen B.
Amazing! Everything about Zento is top notch. The food, staff & service is the BEST in Philly!
(5)
Austin A.
This is a hard review to write, as I don't want to judge a restaurant unfairly, however I was completely unimpressed with Zento when judged relative to its competition. Zento isn't a "moderate" priced restaurant, it's a spendy one, and overpriced at that. While sushi, sashimi, and rolls were individually tasty, there were unsatisfying with meager cuts of fish and even more impressively an insufficient amount of rice with the nigiri. So while I appreciate that they aren't like other restaurants in trying "bulk up" a small cut of fish with a ton of rice, at least y'know, provide a decent amount. Really, to sum it up, after spending $80 on sushi (for my wife and self), we ordered a pizza.
(2)
Stuart G.
I dined solo and the service was fantastic and friendly. The miso was quite nice, with silky tofu cut in a big slab. The avocado salad was perfectly underdressed. I thought that the Sushi entree was rather small for the price and the rolls, though delicious, were terribly small. They had nice, fresh fish that was well cut and prepared. They just need to upsize all the sushi and rolls by about 20% to make it appropriate. If not for that detail, I would give them 4 stars!
(3)
Josh L.
Read somewhere a seems-to-be experienced sushi fan said this place was way better than Morimoto so I had high expectation. However this turned out to be a big disappointment. Simply not many offerings on their menu, no uni, no ama ebi, no bluefin... Not many beer selections either. The rice was too wet and not firm, topping was just ok to say the least. Not authentic Japanese restaurants even though the owner was said to be a former chef at Morimoto. They call themselves a "sake bar" and I guess that may be a more appropriate name.Service was efficient even though they were quite busy, and this dragged up their rating from me by 1/2-1 star.
(3)
Adam D.
ZENTO..........ZENTO....................ZENTO!!!!!Â!!!!!!! scream it over and over again. Its really fun to say. ZENTO!!!!!!!!!!!!! ok, enough of that. Zento is located on 2nd and Chestnut right down the road from Han Dynasty. Its a little place. But that aint gonna stop it from being great dammit! The square sushi is very nice , ( tuna and salmon ) the king crab miso soup is more than really nice as is the grilled chicken soup. BOTH are legendary. Both are incredible. There is a tuna sushi with avocado dish that might not even be on the menu thats incredible but here is the down side. That tuna sushi...its amazing, but............its like 6-7 bucks a piece. So when you get 5-6 pieces and you didn't know the price and BLAM.......30-35 bucks on an app..........IT ADDS UP! because 2-3 rolls are not gonna fill my should be fat ass up! I would say be careful with ordering a ton because its going to cost you. I hate writing that because the quality of the food is really high. Sam Ho the chef ( co chef as the sushi chef is another fella ) really is a genius. He makes incredible dishes and is very creative. I think the prices are just a bit too high. Top quality sushi though ( especially for the east coast. It hangs with just about any NYC place I have been to not that that's saying a ton because the instant you hit the west coast it's way easier to get your good sushi on....can I get a Sushi Ike ya'll?!?! ) The kitchen dishes are amazing. You could easily just get some soup and one dish and it wont cost you an arm and a leg. The vibe in the place is cool enough. You wont be going there for its stylish design and mood lighting. While its not a North Philly take out only Chinese place , its also not the absolute silliness that is all things Steven Starr ( the extra R in star is for Really mediocre food ) Zento is probably philly's best sushi in center city. There is a place however in Plymouth Meeting called Blue Finn that might take the regional crown. The fact that the best sushi in the area might be in Plymouth Meeting is quite astonishing. That's a whole other story. Zento is easily worth your visit. Its pricing keeps it from a 5th star. I might give out the 5 stars too easily come to think of it. 4 aint too shabby. Great job Zento. scream Zento over and over and magically a japanese movie monster will appear! HAI DOZO!!!!!!!
(4)
John G.
First timer, can't wait until the next time. The food was GREAT, and the staff was wonderful. They couldnt do enought for us. Such a great place, plan on going back offen.
(5)
Katie B.
Just went to Zento for lunch and the Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box was delicious!! 6 of us had lunch and everyone was pleased with the options sushi, sashimi, etc. Server was very attentive and all lunch specials came with miso soup and salad. Only con of Zento is the size, on a weekend night I am sure it gets packed and there is no room to wait for a table - other than the size, food is superb!
(5)
Percy N.
Went for lunch and was the only customer there (besides a few who came to pick up their take out orders). The sushi combo I got consisted of very high quality fresh fish. The rolls were cut into smaller than usual bite size, which I like since it lets your palate experience the intricacies of allowing the flavors from all ingredients from the entire piece of sushi come together. Their spicy mayo did not overpower the fish and the white tuna roll was great. Next time I will get a larger platter of sushi.
(5)
Marcel M.
In short this place is amazing. The special (not on the menu) Mango, tuna, salmon, yellowtail sushi roll was orgasmic. Not an over exaggeration, it's was so duhlicious. All the other special rolls we tried were splendid as well. I will confirm as other reviewers have said it is on the pricey side although well worth the price cause the fish quality is top-notch. I do have to disagree with several reviewers who noted the miso soup as "the best." I didn't taste the difference. I've definitely had better miso. While good, definitely not the best. Make a trip here, you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Chanda B.
I decided to hit up Zento for restaurant week because I'm such a big sushi lover! Its located right in old city philly where it used to be called Grey Lounge. The decor is very nice and the restaurant is quite small. The menu is a bit pricey but overall food is great! Their drink menu is also pricey but at the time that I was there, they were half off. I had the Geisha Girl which is a vodka cranberry martini with mangos and cranberries in the drink which is very interesting. The drink wasn't too strong and it was a little sweet due to the mangos. Now down to the food, I ordered the Kani salad. The Kani Salad is by far the best thing I've had. I also had the Flaming Dragon Roll with spicy tuna topped with eel. If you do not like raw fish and a first time sushi eater, this is recommended. I also ordered the Volcano roll which is very good. My boyfriend ordered the Mixed Sushi and he enjoyed it. Lastly, I had the Mochi ice cream. You can never go wrong with that! Zento is best for a date or just a nice night out in town with the girls. Although food was great I gave it 3 stars because I felt rushed by the server.
(3)
Michael W.
Zento is without a doubt the best sushi spot in the city for a whole host of reasons, conveniently laid out in list fashion: 1) Chef is dominant. Worked at Morimoto, presumably lived up to the Iron Chef's standards. Rolls are creative & delicious. 2) Fish is the freshest I've had in town. Considering we're on a heavily trafficked water way, I'm always shocked when establishments have frozen, old, or just plain nasty fish. Thankfully Zento takes advantage of our ocean-friendly placement. 3) Location is strong...vibrant part of town, although you might want to wear shades to protect your eyes from the spiky Jersey blow-outs that infest Olde City on the weekends (I'd like to know who showed those people how to get across the river). Popped Collars aside, I enjoy the pulse and hum of 2nd and Chestnut...great change of pace from the Squares in Rittenhouse. 4) I've seen several posters on here complain that the price was too high, but I found quite the opposite to be true. For my girlfriend and I to eat our fill of rolls and edamame, the cost was approx. $65 including tip. This day in age, I'm fired up any time I can escape the dinner table with a sub-$100 tab. 5) Save the best for last. Jimmy the waiter! Extremely attentive. I've got a sneaking suspicion that he might have a mild crush on my girlfriend and her friends, but that's fine with me if it guarantees prompt service, hilarious jokes, and consistent positive vibes. Zento is one of the best BYOB's that I've been to in the city and my vote for the best sit down sushi spot in town (VIC is the best take-out). Affordable + Tasty + Vibrant + Free Cool Breeze Waiter = Numero Uno.
(5)
Courtney d.
I went on a first date here and I was extremely impressed with Zento and their Amazing Rolls. The Ambiance was romantic and cozy. Warm wood and candle pockets through out on exposed brick while dripping wax sets the mood. The miso king crab is phenomenal as well as the tuna tartar. I was pleasantly surprised by their "Reserve Happy Hour which starts from 8:30pm to 10:30pm all week long! Was impressed w the waitress as she was on top our table. Only complaint was their were only two bathroom which I had to wait a few minutes to use. Will return!!!!
(5)
Kelly S.
I'm a total sushi junkie, and Zento tops my list of favorite sushi places in Philly (of course, I haven't made it to Morimoto's yet - I'm too poor!). The sushi chef cut his teeth working for Morimoto before setting off on his own, and his efforts at Zento have paid off. This place is a small but very charming restaurant next to Eulogy at 2nd and Chesnut. The decor is very modern and refreshing - sparkling white walls, flat screen TV, and cool, wiggly blue lighting at the ceiling. Everything about this place is classy and put-together, from the food to the decor to the servers. Beyond the inviting atmosphere, the food is fantastic. My boyfriend and I went for his birthday, so we went all-out and ordered everything we wanted from the menu. We started off with the Peking duck hand roll (2 pieces), which was crunchy and oh so good, and the soft shell crab tempura drizzled with a balsamic reduction, since I LOVE softshell crab. We also got miso soup and edamame. Then we got the green river roll (delicious!), the tuna and scallion roll (yum!), their signature square sushi (double yum!), the old city roll (soo good), and we ended things with green tea ice cream served on a banana leaf. Each and every dish had a beautiful presentation, and the wait staff brought everything to us with perfect timing. The sushi gets an A+ for freshness and taste. Also, I was thrilled that they featured toro in some of their rolls, which means that they always have it. I order toro wherever I go for sushi, and 9 times out of 10, the restaurants say that they're out of it. So kudos to Zento for keeping the best kind of fish in constant supply! A note of advice: Zento is byob, so bring some good sake or a wine that will complement your meal (you can check out their menu online at zentocontemporary.com ). My boyfriend and I brought a bottle of vinho verde, a light Portuguese white wine that went perfectly with our seafood, and the waitress was kind enough to open the bottle and pour our wine into some lovely wine glasses for us. Expect to pay $10-12 for special rolls, slightly less for average rolls, and about $6-8 per appetizer. Although the bill can start to add up once you start ordering multiple items, this place is SO worth saving up some dough so you can splurge on a fantastic sushi experience. Finally, this place is small and not usually full to capacity, which I think is due to the fact that word hasn't gotten out about this place yet. But still, I recommend reservations if you're going on a weekend evening for dinner because this place can fill up in no time due to the limited seating and the high demand for restaurants in the area. And it'll just get more crowded once the place becomes more popular, as it inevitably will. So call up, reserve your spot, and make sure to try as much sushi as possible!
(5)
Lona W.
The restaurant was small but the ambiance was very nice. Their geisha girl drink was very good. Their sushi was good too. You could definitely tell that the fish was fresh.
(4)
Patti A.
A few colleagues and I were in town for a conference and made the hike by foot to Zentos form the convention center. There were a few people in heels that were not happy about walking about a mile but once they sat down and had a delicious drink and tasted ten different rolls, all was forgiven. There was not one bad roll in the bunch. Even the Mexican roll was fabulous. Guacamole on sushi, genius! A am looking forward to going back in a few weeks.
(4)
Michelle C.
Zento further proves that I am every marketing scheme's wet dream. I fall for all sorts of items in cute little packages. So when I saw a high quality picture of their Square Sushi roll in Philadelphia Mag, I had to go. Food needs to aesthetically please my palate AND my eyes. Further more, I have a major crush on Morimoto and learning that the sushi chef here interned under him. Oh, I think I had a wet dream, myself. The restaurant is small. T he space here can accommodate about 25 people patrons. Since I'm s-m-r-t and didn't make reservations we had to wait about 45 mins on a Friday night for a table. That wasn't too bad since there are lots of places in Olde City to grab a drink while you wait. The waitress took down my name and cell to call me when a table was ready. We brought a bottle of wine and ordered the square sushi roll, rainbow roll, softshell crab tempura roll, kanpachi (yellowtail) roll, spicy tuna and edamame. The service was great, quick and attentive. All of the rolls were tasty and looked beautiful, however, they were TINY! Their sushi rolls pack a lot of flavor but the size just doesn't do it for me. As much as I love feeling like a giant when I pick up small things, I'd rather not feel that way when picking up my food.
(4)
Bruno M.
Overall, an enjoyable experience, the staff is very helpful, and the food is excellent. Definitely try the king crab miso and the specialty drinks when you go.
(4)
Laura W.
Now located in what used to be Grey Lounge.
(4)
Todd V.
The unappealing decor and the lame (and very dated) electronic music playing bring this down to 3 star. Otherwise, the sushi was excellent. All the fish was very very fresh and the apps were good too. I typically hate Miso soup and I actually liked theirs. The calamari was really crispy and the edamame were perfectly cooked. Definitely try the Peking duck roll. It was delicious. But someone please tell the owners to paint the place a new color and get some artwork on the walls. It feels way too much like a take out joint (which they provide) if you decide to dine in.
(3)
Bill R.
Great food and drinks and reasonable prices for center city.
(5)
dc h.
Food has always been great but the old location was too small. They've moved a few doors down (into the grey lounge spot), there's a lot more seating and just a way better aesthetic. Congrats on the move. Its exciting to see someone's business growing!!!
(5)
Amy B.
This is my absolute favorite sushi restaurant in PA. It's quaint, clean, and the fish is fresh. The sushi chefs and waitstaff are super nice. The square sushi is really fun, but my favorite thing to order is the sushi/sashimi combo. You get an awesome variety of fish and they take the time to explain to you which pieces you're getting. I also ordered a spicy scallop handroll. It was on the expensive side since the scallop was live. And I do mean live -- literally still twitching. It doesn't get more fresh than that. The best thing they have is the white tuna. Do not go here with out trying the white tuna - sushi, sashimi, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that it's what makes life worth living.
(5)
Carrie E.
The pressure was for my birthday and my BFF wants to take me out to dinner. This may shock you, but I rarely know where I want to go. I guess that's an occupational hazard about being a Yelp Community Manager - too much information! But I was in the mood for sushi, and because I like trying new places (so I can write new reviews) I did a Yelp search. Lo and behold, Zento caught my eye. The reviews were great and the menu looked tasty, so off we went in search of raw fish. We actually drove around the block a few times looking for the restaurant - turns out they have no sign (Zento is written on the front window). Amazingly we got Princess parking and were seated right away. And get this - after ordering, our food was delivered to the table in less than 10 minutes. We ate it up, oohing and ahhing the whole time, and completed what Leash and I have now dubbed "The Fastest Meal Ever." Service was unobtrusive and attentive, the food was great and we had fun. If that's not a five star birthday experience, then I don't know what is!!! Thanks, yelpers, for not steering us wrong!
(5)
Jean C.
After living for several years on the west coast, it was nice to be able to appreciate sushi/sashimi again. The sushi/sashimi platter was very delectable. It was fresh and soft like buttah! Very tasty selections. My favorites are the tuna and the salmon. The real California rolls were also great. I was happy that the option of real crab was available. The atmosphere is very matter of fact, but the service was good. The restaurant is very tiny, but I've gone twice and have not had any issues in getting a table. Good sushi place that I will continue to visit.
(4)
Pauline S.
The ambiance was very nice, the decor was artful and unique. From my initial sit down I actually saw a tiny bug crawling off my table, but no biggie. The server was very friendly and helpful, and our glasses were never empty of water. My friend and I shared the love roll, flaming dragon roll, and the zento square sushi in salmon. each one was delicious and enjoyable. I would definitely come back.
(4)
Devon G.
This is my favorite sushi bar! Their signature square sushi is so delicious and I make sure to stop in everytime I'm in Philly. I've never had anything here that wasn't delicious and the staff is very friendly. It's currently BYOB, so make sure to bring your own bottle if you want wine with your meal!
(5)
Jing G.
Heard great things about this place, so we went to have lunch there one day. Tiny little place with a tiny sushi bar, but the menu looked pretty inclusive so we sat down to have a few dishes. Overall, I was pretty disappointed. The yellowtail tartar came out swimming in a soba-base mirin-soysauce combination that was too overpowering and negated the point of raw fish. My squid pasta was just slices of squid in a sweet-savory sauce with asparagus. It was my fault that I took 'squid pasta' to mean 'squid ink pasta', but the result was not a happy mistake. It was average. As for sushi, I ordered 4 pieces of a la carte nigirizushi - anago, uni, suzuki, and hotate. These were the only true highlight of the visit here. The nigirizushi were tasty and especially the uni on the day we went was firm and tasty. I'm not sure why my boyfriend and I ordered any rolls, as most rolls are more or less sushi that we don't even really consider sushi. One can hardly appreciate most rolls without them being smothered in overpowering sauce or having too much in them that you can't appreciate the fish. We ordered the Center City roll and the Love Roll. Of the two, the Love Roll was the better of the two. The Center City roll was really very disapointing. The description capped it as ' Broiled yellowtail, tuna, salmon, whitefish, crab, asparagus, scallion and spicy sauce'. What we got looked and tasted like a bit of cooked salmon, imitation crab, asparagus rolled together and spicy sauce on top. We called the waiter over and asked if we had recieved the correct order and he said yes, and that the fish is broiled and then mashed together. Um, what is the point of that? That basically negates the point of sushi, after all. Plus, I took 'Broiled yellowtail' to mean that only the yellowtail was broiled - and by that I thought it meant that it was seared on top, with the rest of the fish being raw. But all of the fish in that roll was exactly the consistency of canned tuna. And oh yeah, no where was the scallion to be seen. Hmm. Our bill came out over $100USD for lunch and I left disappointed - not in the price, but rather in what I got from it. I won't be back. I guess the place is good for people who like fusion rolls and other nouveux type sushi, but I prefer old-style original sushi - the types where you can actually taste the fish and be able to gauge the quality by that - not by how creative or tasty the sauce put on top of the roll is. I really doubt based on my experience here that most ratings here are from people who actually have ever had good, real sushi. To put it in short terms, sushi is made to highlight the delicate nature of raw fish. Once you dump mayonnaise or 10 types of fish into one roll, you've pretty much ruined any chances to do so. I guess that's one of the reasons why in Japan, the only rolls we really have are simple- simple enough to highlight the fish - such as tuna or negi-toro rolls. After this and a few other disappointing sushi ventures, I'm pretty much set on giving up finding any more decent sushi places here in the states - at least here in philly.
(2)
Sharon K.
Whoo hoo! Really great sushi in Philly! Love the Square Roll and the Tuna Pizza. The service was great. It was pricey, but not ridiculously so. I probably wouldn't eat here regularly because of the price. But if you stick to the basic rolls instead of specialty, you are good to go!
(4)
Maria F.
We flew into Philly for a family event. Zento was recommended by our hotel people the first night in town. My husband, daughter, and I decided to try the 9 course Chef Taste meal for $75. We weren't very hungry, so thought it would be a nice thing to share. Our waiters were great, very informative, friendly, good service. Dishes were very small, very pleasing to the eye. We thought it was nice how they were able to split the items evenly, and bring us each our own little dish. ie..three thin slices of cucumber with dressing; two little fried soft shell shrimp, etc. You can imagine our shock when we got our bill, and had been charged $75 per person! EXTREMELY NOT WORTH IT!!! We did not argue as we had had a rough travel day, and this was the first pleasant experience. Now, if it had happened on a "normal" day...... We did tell the waiter on the onset that we thought it would be a nice meal to share. Don't know what he thought we meant by that!
(2)
Vlad K.
Small, quiet place to have really good sushi. It might be a bit overpriced (at least IMHO) but definitely one of the best sushi places in Philly - if you are a fan, their spicy tuna roll just might be the best in the city. It is BYO, so plan accordingly.
(4)
Jeanine Q.
AMAZING!!!! Can't wait to go back again. Yummy!
(5)
Tom G.
Oh Zento, why hast thou forsaken me? I had such a solid relationship with you. So, when my girlfriend and I decided to introduce our friends for a party you failed...badly. Calling me 5 times during a work day on my cell phone trying to confirm a reservation for 6 (and essentially yelling at me when I call you back during my drive home) is silly. Then telling me that we have to leave by 7 (for a 5:30 reservation) was absurd. To the dinner: no waters given but we did get reminded two more times to leave by 7. Having to ask for glasses of water is unacceptable. The sushi was comparable to previous visits, but the service was slow (and there was only one other table in the restaurant being served). Luckily the food was still solid, but it wasn't good enough to overshadow the bad parts. It wasn't as if they were swamped...it is just clear they are not able to handle groups larger than 4. I probably won't go back for a while.
(3)
Dennis M.
meh. weird vibe, food was standard.
(2)
Tempa B.
I love sushi at Zento. This place is in my neighborhood and we go here almost weekly. I felt compelled to Yelp about it because I want to see this place succeed. Food is always fantastic and I love that you can get brown rice with your sushi. Some faves are spicy tuna with brown rice, seaweed salad, Branzino roll, Mexican Roll, tempura tofu, broiled salmon and eel sashimi. BYOB, prices are very reasonable. Staff is very nice and restaurant decor is well done. Also my go-to for take out.
(4)
Mallory P.
I wasn't hungry... but I'm glad I went for it. I only got a spicy tuna roll, but I was able to get in on what my boyfriend was eating, so I can attest to the awesomeness of a few things. With sushi, you can just tell when it's good quality or not. This is good quality. Maybe this is gross, but when raw tuna tastes like butter, things can't get any better. The prices are really no different than other sushi places, but they do have more to offer... nicer, more intricate dishes that have reason to cost more. Next time, I'll be sure invest in one of those.
(4)
Ye W.
It's a really nice neighborhood restaurant! Good sushi and the place is neat thought it's a bit small (total seating is less than 20 I believe.) Would definitely go back and eat there again!
(4)
Heather C.
The sushi here is awesome, really fresh, imaginative and delicious. Service is always friendly and accommodating -- even when they graciously make room for groups of 4, 6 or 8 on a Friday night in their small restaurant. I love that they're BYOB and BYOSake. This is my favorite sushi spot in Philly for a nice night out.
(5)
Brad N.
Used to be BYOB in a smaller space a couple stores down. Now they have a nice/remodeled larger space and a full bar ($10 corkage fee). Sushi is excellent. If the branzino roll is on the menu, get it!
(4)
Aaron S.
Best sushi I've had in Philadelphia. The place is very small so it may be difficult to get a table later in the evening on weekends. Reservations are a good idea especially for larger groups. Service is great and their special rolls are amazing. As others have said, try the Zento square roll!
(5)
Adam R.
I live in Old City and Zento is our go-to place for sushi delivery. This review is based on delivery sushi only. I have yet to dine-in at zento but our sushi was wonderful. Fresh fish, rice is perfectly seasoned. Kisso is not NEARLY as good as this place.
(4)
K G.
We had a reservation for 18 here on a Saturday and they gave us the upstairs to ourselves. The food was great, the service was great and we had an awesome time and they were very accomodating of our large party.
(4)
Juliana K.
I don't really know how this is the best sushi in Philly because I've definitely had better. We sat at a table across from the bar with chairs that were uneven. Right when we sat down, the hostess told us there was a $45 minimum for credit cards? I've never heard of a minimum credit card charge of over $10. Crazy. After our waiter got our order, he said..."It's going to be a long wait." Really awkward and weird. Spicy tuna roll- average roll. I've had better Old City Roll- was good Love Roll- was better than I thought it would be Green River Roll- was okay, but what plum paste? Overpriced sushi. Mediocre service. Overall, it was okay.
(3)
Rossella F.
The place is very nice, very soft environment and great service. The soft music allows to have a conversation without screaming. The sushi is very tasty...maybe the nigiri was not perfect but overall I would reccomand it.
(4)
Clare D.
The 7 course "chef's choice" meal isn't really a true chef's choice. I've had it twice and it was the same series of dishes. C'mon, even Morimoto asks you if you've ever been there before and tries to serve you different things each time you go. I tried to get a substitute for the chicken teriyaki but the server said no. It would be nice if they were more accommodating. I would've knocked this review down to two stars if it wasn't for the calamari salad being so good. Here's my review of each of the 7 courses: mussels in miso broth soup *** calamari salad ***** homemade crabcakes topped with garlic aioli ** yellowtail sashimi in citrus soy and sizzling oil *** chicken teriyaki ** a small sushi platter * mochi ice cream ** Overall: 2.57 out of 5.00 I'm sorry, but Morimoto and Zama do the multicourse meal much better.
(3)
Michelle L.
Fantastic Food! Great ambiance! Great Service! BYOB... what else can you ask for? We loved it!
(4)
Lilah T.
This place rocks. The food is excellent, the staff are nice, and they are BYOB ($10 corking fee on weekends) but also have a full bar! We had a groupon here and it was so delicious I actually bought another groupon and came again the same week! The sashimi ceviche is one of the best dishes I've ever tasted! Don't miss it. Also recommend the monkey roll, spicy crunch tuna/salmon, the pan-fried shrimp dumplings and the dancing dragon. Actually it was all delicious you could order anything and be happy.
(5)
Amanda G.
I was part of a group of 8 that had a reservation on Saturday night. We were a little early, so we sat at the bar first. We were kind of cramped because the restaurant is long and narrow. The Geisha Girl cocktail was delicious (there's a Yelp check-in deal for 50% off a specialty cocktail). When it was time for us to be seated we were taken to the second floor, which was vacant except for us. Apparently they also have a third floor. So, my worries about being cramped all night long were unfounded. The service was a little slow to start, but then it was A-OK. Everyone got their drinks and food, and no orders were messed up. The Old City Roll (shrimp tempura roll with spicy sauce topped with eel and avocado) was good. One thing I noticed was that the specialty rolls were a little smaller than I'm used to, so just keep that in mind when you're ordering. This is definitely a solid sushi joint. I'd return if I was in the area.
(4)
Leila R.
Came here for a quick bite to eat on our road trip to. Bonus points: Easy to make a reservation, quick service, beautiful presentation (orchid on each dish!) and very fresh fish. Cons: Bit crowded, expensive for the portion s. Not enough parking nearby and the location is kind of hidden if you're not looking for it. Not so memorable that I'd go out of my way to eat there, but a wonderful quick stop.
(4)
Susanna L.
Delicious! The place was alot smaller than I thought, but that didn't ruin the quality of the food. A couple of friends and I had some special rolls to share. We had the love roll, dragon roll, crab roll, and a couple I don't remember. The fish was really fresh and had the right amount of rice in it. We finished our share so fast that we were hungry for more. That's how good it was. We ordered a couple of normal rolls right after. For dessert we had green tea/ mango mochi icecream and fried green tea icecream. All was very good, except I thought that the mochi was a little more on the expensive side. The bill came to be about a little more on the expensive side, but it was a great meal and great service. I'd come here again to grab some sushi when I am around the area.
(5)
John K.
Awhile back, Living Social had a deal offering a 7-course tasting for 2 for $70 at Sushi Zento. The normal retail for this tasting menu was $140 - so that's a 50% savings. So when I noticed the deal was about to expire, I decided to finally get off my butt and cash it in! So I made reservations for a Saturday evening. I called the day of the dinner as I needed to move back dinner by an hour, and it was a good thing I did. For some reason, they did not have my initial reservation down. Perhaps that was why I never received a confirmation call, despite making my reservation 3 weeks in advance. Regardless, they were able to provide a table for me that night. Sushi Zento offers the talents of Chef Sam Ho, former sous chef at Morimoto, of Iron Chef fame. Having tried Iron Chef Morimoto's cuisine at his NYC outpost, I was excited to try Chef Ho's cuisine. Unfortunately at Sushi Zento, there is no sushi bar (just a normal bar). Still, I was informed that omakase (traditional japanese tasting consisting primarily of sashimi/sushi/nigiri) was available. Still, one of the perks of omakase is being able to watch the sushi chef expertly prepare the nigiri right in front of you. The decor at Sushi Zento is intimate. I loved the exposed brick and the wax coming from candle-lit openings on the walls. Still, the seating was reminiscent of Barbuzzo - in other words, really close quarters. Tasting Menu ($70 pp) Pumpkin Spice ($10) Hiram Walker pumpkin liqueur, Hanger One spiced pear vodka, Cointreau orange liqueur, simple syrup agnostura bitters, garnished with fresh ground cinnamon While the Living Social deal offered free non-alcoholic drinks, we decided to opt for a few cocktails. The GF went with the pumpkin spice, which was light, subtly sweet, and frothy. Johnny Sokko ($10) Muddled ginger, Bacardi rum, Coca cola, garnished with fresh ginger root and lime wheel Mine was sweet as well, with some definite bite from the rum. However, I didn't notice any fresh ginger root garnish and the carbonation from the Coke was slight. Miso Soup with Mussels We both started off with miso soup with mussels. There was balanced salinity in a typically overly salty soup. The scallions were a nice touch and the sweet, plump mussels were perfectly clean and juicy. Crispy Calamari Salad I could smell the crisply fried calamari before I ate anything - and that was a good thing. The calamari was light and was a nice highlight to the perfectly dressed greens, which had a prototypical ginger-sesame dressing. Homemade Crab Cakes The crab cakes were crisply fried in panko - perfect pucks of meaty crab. There was a slight amount of sweet, garlic tartar sauce on each disc and some greens to break up any monotony. Whitefish Carpaccio The whitefish was thinly pounded out - light and toothsome. The accompanying sauce was smoky and bright, rounding out the dish nicely. Chicken Teriyaki The chicken breast was juicy and was seasoned lightly. The teriyaki sauce was saccharine and pretty standard. Frankly though, the spinach was my favorite part of the dish, especially as I'm usually not looking to get the teriyaki dish at a sushi restaurant. Sushi/Nigiri Platter We received white tuna (escolar) sushi with avocado. This had a slight mayo dressing, which was creamy. Topped with black sesame, this was pretty good. Next, we had amberjack (yellowtail), which had a nice delicate snap. The salmon was prototypically fatty and delicious. The super white tuna (fatty escolar) was smoky. Maguro (tuna) was fishy to me however, and was quite disappointing. A pet peeve of mine is when the wasabi is served on the side with nigiri and that was the case here. Additionally, the rice was substandard for sushi - cold and I could barely sense any vinegar. Tofu Cheesecake Our first of our dessert duo was the tofu cheese cake, with lychee in the middle. This had a creamy panna cotta-like texture and was subtly sweet. Mochi with Green Tea Ice Cream This was the GF's first time trying mochi and she wasn't the biggest fan, mainly due to the texture. However, being used to mochi, it was perfectly dense and smooth. The green tea ice cream within was a nice palate cleanser for the meal. Overall, I can't see the tasting at Sushi Zento being worth $70 per person. Heck, the tasting at Jose Garce's restaurants consist of more overall dishes, higher quality, and better creativity. However, thanks to Living Social, the price point justified this initial meal. Still, I was expecting a bit more though I may have been misled by the guise of Chef Ho's experience at Morimoto. While Morimoto isn't a pure sushi/sashimi/nigiri experience, the quality of the fish is still quite high. And the cuisine offered (do try the Duck, Duck Duck at Morimoto) is simply superior. I can see the uninitiated being enthralled by Sushi Zento, but I would come here for a stiff drink and a specialty roll. Not for the omakase at the bar for sure.
(3)
Ramu A.
The location was nice, the waitress was friendly and helpful, and the food was very good. My personal favorites were the tofu and the 2nd street roll. I especially liked the ambience/decor.
(4)
Samantha S.
I've been to Zento twice so far and I'm hooked! I'm new to the sushi world, so my first time I had my boyfriend help me order. The food is spectacular, both times we've had the tuna pizza appetizer and it's SO delicious - I'm obsessed with the spicy sauce! We've tried most of the speciality rolls and I love them all. My favorites are the monkey roll and the Mexican roll (the guacamole and mango salsa on top are to die for!) Aside from the food, the service was great both times and the ambience of the restaurant adds to the experience - it's a perfect little date spot! And you have to love the fact that it's a BYOB.
(5)
Carter P.
Meticulous attention to detail is how I describe a solid sushi experience and Zento delivers this with its appearance and the taste adventure their sushi creates on my taste buds. While dining with a friend, we share multiple rolls ranging from Spicy Tuna to one of their more specialty rolls. Delicately placed pieces of seafood alongside perfectly sticky rice with the right hints of sauce. Everything was based in getting the details no matter how small correct. The servers are very friendly and willing to satisfy any request - within reason of course. In fact, although they have a wine list of their own, they will gladly allow you to BYOB (for a $10 corkage fee). The atmosphere is perfect for a relaxing evening amongst friends, solo dining at the sushi bar or, one-on-one with a date. Overall, I recommend a stop at Zento if you're in Old City and find yourself in the mood for sushi in a modern and relaxing environment.
(4)
Cynthia T.
I came here for New Years Eve dinner and only because this is a BYOB restaurant. (However, we mistakenly forgot to bring the sake/wine.) Location is great; Penn's landing is only a few blocks away. We walked right to the fireworks after dinner. Everything is around it as well. Bars/Nightclubs and scenery if you like to take strolls after dinner. We were sitting right now by door, which was a little bit cramped. But I saw that there were inside seats, which had a better environment. Now we were half hour late for our reservations, so we were just glad they didnt give our table away. Now for the food, most important part of any meal: the sushi was mediocre, and decent for its price and area. You are paying more for the environment and seeing that the location is right next to Penns Landing and the river/bridge. They had a mussels miso soup, which was delicious. Their tempura tofu/vegetables were good as well, not too fried. All in all, I don't think I would go back. Many other restaurants to try, if I wanted to stick around the Penn's Landing area.
(3)
Rebecca W.
My husband and I decided to go here for a late dinner after seeing a groupon ($36 for $60). The resturant itself had a great atmosphere. We were sat right away in a cute corner booth. Our servers name was Julie and she was wonderful. We checked in on yelp to receive half off a cocktail. She offered to do another round at the same price. The only problem was that my husbands drink came out a good 15 minutes before mine. The sushi was unlike any other sushi I've had. Their specialty rolls were so original! My favorite was the ocean roll and my husband loved the Mexican roll. Over all a great experience with excellent service. After our meal Julie sat down and talked to us to see how we enjoyed the food and where we were from. She went above and beyond what was expected of her.
(4)
Lora S.
Great sake and sushi. Wasn't a huge fan of the crabcakes - very dry and fishy tasting.
(4)
Lindsey L.
Food was great, but it was a little small. Our table wasn't in an ideal location, but the service was good. I definitely plan on returning.
(4)
You W.
Do not come, fish is not fresh! Tempura is not traditional! And also unsatisfied with their serves.
(1)
Brad P.
Between yelp check-in deals, a restaurant.com coupon, and $5 corkage for BYO, you are looking at perhaps the most cost-effective sushi meal you can get in Philly. It seems that Zento is doing its best to draw business with every internet trick that it can find. Since I am a sucker for internet tricks, I ended up here and was glad I did. The tuna pizza appetizer is very good. The sushi square roll is also very good. Bring your mobile phone and get some savings. Nice work, Zento.
(4)
Tiffany T.
Ambience: At first glance, it looks tiny. But the restaurant is narrow and goes in very deep. The decor was nice Service: Above standard, about 3.5 stars. The male server was attentive but not overbearing, my water was always full when needed Drinks: I tried the Peach Cosmo. For $10, I've unfortunately had better. It was nice and strong which I appreciated, but overall, meh on taste Food: Standard - Miso soup + crab meat : 4 stars! This was my favorite part of the meal. The crab meat was plentiful and delicious. The miso soup broth was quite good, not too salty or sweet like some other places. - Rainbow roll & the one that looks just like rainbow roll but has shrimp tempura on the inside. I think this is half our fault for ordering something so similar, but they were exactly the same just different topping on the inside (california roll vs shrimp tempura). But the sushi itself was very standard. Presentation was standard, and whoops, the sushi fell apart as soon as I picked it up with my chopsticks.. that's a no-no. It wasn't BAD, it just didn't blow me away. In my opinion, Fat Salmon is still my favorite sushi spot in Philly thus far. I wouldn't mind giving Zento another try and ordering some different stuff.. but from what we got it was very meh. maybe i'll roll back with a groupon in hand for one last try...
(3)
Gracie C.
After purchasing a groupon, four of us went out to Zento on a Friday night. The atmosphere was very cool with lounge-like seating. However, the tables were a little close together and walking space was a little cramped. Once we were seated our waiter took a little while to take our order but once we did place our order the food came out relatively quickly. We ordered the spring rolls, steamed shrimp dumplings and miso soup to start. Everything was fantastic! We also ordered the $80 sushi/sashimi platter. The fish was fresh and presented beautifully on a platter. I would definitely recommend Zento as delicious sushi with reasonable prices.
(4)
Emily X.
The dish is very exquisite and nice and small, for my small bday party, however, it's not a usual japanese restaurant where you find in Philly like Fuji mountain where you get a big plate full of sushi and sashimi.It's in old city, therefore their positioning is probably more higher end. Good for date or some special occasions.
(4)
Monica L.
PROS: Good sushi, good prices, nice service, chill ambiance CONS: Slightly smaller portions We came on a Sunday night and it was still pretty busy --- which says a lot. The shrimp dumplings were really good --- flavorful and fresh! The rolls were also quite tasty. I would definitely return again in the near future!
(4)
Rob P.
I'm inherently suspicious of restaurants that constantly run deals on every one of those daily deal sites imaginable. Either they're in such bad shape that they're desperate to get anybody in the door, or they've inflated their prices so much that the deal just re-sets the prices back to normal. Zento seems to fall into that latter category. The sushi was good, but you can't honestly call Zento a sushi bar. The food is all prepared in a kitchen somewhere in the basement of the place. The service was solid. I'm not sure what else I can say. It was a good meal, but not anything that blew my mind.
(4)
Xida Z.
Trendy Western Sushi I came here because the reviews were good and there was a deal to pay $10 for $18 in food. The place has a small storefront in Old City. The restaurant was long and skinny and my friend and I sat near the middle next to the bar. The menu is as expensive as many people expect sushi places to be ($4 for a piece of sashimi, ~15 for rolls). We sat next to the wine rack and checked one of the wine prices. I would take advantage of the BYOB policy. I did what I always do for my first time at sushi places: order traditional rolls. I got the salmon ($6) and eel avocado roll ($7). They came with eight pieces each, which is a good portion. The salmon was fresh and tender. The eel avocado was creamy and not over-sauced. My friend had a yellowtail and scallion that was fantastic because of the creamy sauce (a sign that it's suited to western tastes). I was most impressed by the ginger. Most ginger at sushi places is toned way down, but theirs packed a punch. With the deal, everything was $10, which is a steal. Without the deal though, I'm not sure I would have come. Note: After we left, we both felt that we had been treated like VIPs. Water was filled frequently, the manager asked us how the food was, and four or five people said goodbye to us on the way out. Perhaps, it was because we were sitting in the middle of the restaurant (where the servers were concentrated), perhaps it was because we were one of two groups of Asians or perhaps it was because I took a photo of the food when they brought it out, I don't know. It could be the kind of service that they gave everyone, but it didn't feel that way. Ambiance & Service 5/5 Food 4/5 Value 5/5 with deal, 3/5 without
(4)
Beth P.
I loved everything about this place!! Great food, great atmosphere and affordable! I had the king crab roll which was absolutely amazing. The service was great, we weren't rushed or hurried and we had time to enjoy our meal. The bathrooms were super clean and as an added bonus this restaurant has a secure locker phone charging station near the bathroom. You put your phone in the locker and attach it to the charger, lock it and take the key with you. Best meal and experience out for me in a while. Highly recommend.
(5)
Pira T.
We came here for the 7 course meal but it turn out to be 6 1/2 since we have to share a dessert.The place is nice. It was an ok value but mainly because of the Livingsocial price. I could see spending $35 plus tax and tip for this meal, but at $70. (regular price is around $120. it's not worth it.) I asked a waiter for a regular cosmo cocktail instead of white peach cosmo that's on the drink menu. The waiter said it's not on the cocktail menu we can't make it. My friend and I looked at each other. Is this for real? you can't make me a cosmo, really? the place is nice food is good service is ok. I will go back but not anytime soon. I would go try other places first.
(3)
Marlene M.
Superb sushi.the square zento roll was my favorite along with the lychee martini. The ambiance of the restaurant was unique. I would definitely go there again.
(4)
Vanessa W.
Cocktails were half-price, so my sweetie and I each ordered one. They were pretty meh and one-note. Our appetizer, rock shrimp tempura, was spectacular. The shrimp were sooo sweet and fresh-tasting. Yum! The sashimi was out-of-this-world fresh and tasty. However, the rolls were not good. They were teeny-tiny and the flavors of the fish were overpowered by sauces. They were around $13 each and nowhere near worth that! I thought the meal was overpriced for what we got, but I would have been pretty happy if I had just ordered sashimi, I think. All in all, I have to say that in terms of overall experience, I've had better. The service was friendly, fast, overall quite good.
(2)
Bill M.
Sheer sushi perfection pure and simple. Plus if you're looking for an eclectic BYOB experience then look no further than Zento. Even when we rolled in with a group of 12+ for a birthday gathering Zento went the extra mile in service, and also kept track of the obscene amount of sake and rice/plum wine that we had for the occasion! Chef Sam Ho was a student of Morimoto, and it shows in the quality and overall mastery of the restaurants cuisine. The king crab miso soup was sheer perfection for an appetizer. Meanwhile the Spanish mackerel, striped bass, surf clam, and fluke were all flawless pieces of sashimi. the volcano roll of imitation crab, smoked salmon, and shrimp tempura with masago and avocado was on fire! and the special roll of Branzino was some of the flawless and best executed sushi that I've ever had. Even though it may be on the small side. Zento goes beyond being a definite recommend!
(5)
Jackie W.
I had the chef's omakase. The white fish carpaccio was outstanding I enjoyed the mussels with miso soup and the tofu cheesecake. I wasn't particularly fascinated by the cooked foods. There were a lot of cooked foods in the omakase, and I would have preferred more sushi. The last round was sushi, and the sushi was very delicious. I will come again to try to sushi, but this is definitely not my go-to sushi restaurant.
(4)
G C.
Came here because I had a certificate so I ended up paying $22 for a $35 meal. The space was nice and service was great. The food however was just okay. Tuna pizza would be the best tasting out of the items we ordered. The sushi were okay, the rice were off a little (Vic has better sushi for sure), the ramen broth was quite tasteless. Wouldn't choose to come back unless there's a deal.
(3)
Pat W.
Beautifully plated sushi dishes that melt in your mouth like candy ~ can't get enough of it ! Their friendly, helpful staff always make us feel welcome. Make sure you try the Geisha Girl martini ~ so hard to stop at just one!
(5)
Robert G.
Recommend the fried calamari! Really tender. Some of the options are overpriced though. I went there on New Year's Eve and the ceilings were filled with low leveled balloons. Was very annoying. But the owner came over and moved it away from my table. Nice guy.
(4)
Ron H.
This is close to a girlfriends house, so we usually alternate between Zento and Han Dynasty for take-out at least twice a week, suprisingly, this is my first review here as this was my first time actually eating in the restaurant. The space is small and intimate, from the front it's deceiving and you think it will open up a little more in the back. Although it's a 2 story ceiling in the back with a beautiful brick wall with built in candles and a chandelier and amazing lighting, you still feel cramped in the space. On a Sunday night, almost all the tables were seated, and it left the room feeling "tight". The bar has a few 2-top cafe tables and seats at the bar. I'd normally just sit at the sushi bar, but this is the first sushi restaurant I've ever been to that DOESN'T have a sushi bar on display! Without seeing who was preparing my food, and what fish was out and fresh, I would normally walk out and never come back, but since I've had the take-out here already so many times, I knew it was fresh and safe so I gave it a shot and ate there. We each order a few pieces of sushi and 2 rolls. All the food came out on one plate, fairly quickly. The rice was nice, not as sticky/sweet as I would prefer it, but it was still slightly warm. The fish were nice size portions and well cut. The avocado in the tuna roll was perfect and buttery and melted in your mouth. The second roll was a seared tuna inside of ricepaper wrapper. The wrapper was sticker and it was difficult to get it off of the plate without the roll falling apart. We had to end up eating this in pieces and picking it apart off the plate. Miso soup with king crab was a favorite of my date, lots of crab chunks and glass noodles, it made the perfect start to a light sunday night meal. For me theseasonal vegetable udon soup was a little bit fishy in in the broth and the vegetables were still a little to raw for a soup (the carrots shouldn't be crunchy still). Service is consistent and friendly and very attentive, what you would expect from such a small and intimate space. Overall, I'd recommend this as a nice neighborhood dinner option, but not somewhere I'd drive to come eat. If you live nearby or are in the neighborhood, it's a solid choice. If I'm looking for parking however, I'll drive uptown a little and eat at my 5 star favorite.
(3)
Dani G.
Sushi tasted old, drinks were decent, bar space is a little tight. Somewhat overpriced for what you get. If you want sushi don't waste your time here. Fat salmon is much better.
(2)
Jeff R.
Delicious sushi, inventive menu (appetizers, special rolls, etc.), friendly staff, and cool atmosphere. And, it's BYOB, too! Definitely recommend
(5)
Noelle P.
Sushi was amazing, ramen was delicious. Terrible service though. We waited too long for the food and it didn't all come out at the same time. Thank goodness we overheard that there was a groupon special... This place is a little more expensive than expected!
(3)
Lina S.
2.5 stars... But I'm rounding down. Inconsistent. I've had amazing sushi here, and I've had sushi that I threw in the trash. Trash has been the pattern lately. And that my friends, at their price, is not cool. After having a great experience my first 2 times there, I kept giving it more and more tries when it wasn't right. Last time, the tuna was grainy and chopped up, like it was the remaining stuff left at the bottom of the bin they chopped up for spicy tuna. That's not appropriate for a restaurant at this level- it should be a solid piece. Today I got a love roll and all of the fish smells off and looks far from appealing. The salmon looks like it came from a packet of lox. I'm over it. I'll eat mediocre pizza, but not mediocre raw fish for $15 a roll. I'll also mention, the service is terrible. Everyone is very nice, but nice only goes so far when you never come check on the table and I have to get up and look for you to order more. And then you forget to bring it. Good drinks though.
(2)
Amy A.
I thought Zento was one of the better Japanese food in Philly. I would definitely give them an A+ for service. The hostess was always asking if the food was up to par, refilling the water, and being patient as we were being indecisive. Also be sure to take advantage of their 50% off happy hour deals on cocktails (I liked the lychee mojito - very strong). They also have promotions on Yelp if you check in and 18 for 25 dollar deals. Notable dishes: Flaming Dragon Roll Tuna Tartare Salmon Sashimi (this is so fresh, and the slices of salmon were so fatty and large)
(4)
Zak L.
We set off for Zento for a fun Saturday night excursion. Their menu is great, the reviews are great, the service is INSANELY slow. The quality of the sushi was more than up to snuff. Their drink menu was ok and I'm a fan of their drinks. (disclaimer, I'm ok with fun drinks over strong drinks). The drinks were a little small, and I think they were fermenting the booze in an effort to keep it fresh; aside from that, I can't explain what takes 20 minutes to bring a drink, or a refill. Call me crazy, but it's the only Asian restaurant I've ever eaten at that lets your water glass get, and stay, empty. Our waiter almost never checked in and seemed to be a bit frazzled himself. We were a group of 5 and probably ordered 10 of the specialty rolls. I don't have a complaint about any of them. The food was great, the drinks were weak and insanely slow, and the service was subpar. At over $50.00 a person, everything should be perfect.
(3)
Tyler M.
Quaint setting, small establishment, but big on flavor. Wait staff is kind and knowledgable. Everything was exactly as you'd expect for a meal that is in a bit higher price range. Overall very satisfied and will definitely be back for more delicious sushi. Pro tip, get the Volcano Roll.
(5)
Edward M.
Came here recently for a dinner free from shellfish and eel. This limited the options noticeably more than some other area sushi restaurants. We tried a couple of sashimi appetizers. They were both tasty, but seem a bit pricey in retrospect. We also tried a few rolls. They happily let us modify one of the rolls by adding avocado, which was nice. The salmon skin roll -- which is often a hit or miss item -- was well executed here. The sweet potato tempura roll was surprisingly good and I may well be ordering it more in the future. There are some beers and wines available, but the selection was not particularly impressive. Service was good. The restaurant recently moved a few storefronts over so the place looks all brand new.
(3)
Brian M.
Tied for favorite sushi place with Izumi but this only gets 4 stars because it is lacking in a couple areas. I don't care if that doesn't make sense. This is the best typical sushi roll, special roll, etc. place. The interior here is a bit weird with a little bar counter area I think then exposed brick. Service is good but not spectacular. This is the most filling of the sushi places I've been, which is good because sushi places usually aren't very filling. Too many of their rolls have cooked fish in my opinion. Stick to the raw stuff, you guys.
(4)
Shir K.
Great service and consistently the best sushi I've had in Philadelphia. I would recommend to anyone looking for something tasty in old city. My favorite roll was the Mexican roll: it has this delicious mango salsa. So good.
(5)
H. I.
Tiny place but well decorated. It's a good spot for a date. Ordered the tuna tartare which was delicious and 3 rolls to share. I eat sushi often and would say they have a large / wide variety of rolls to pick from which was nice. Definitely will be back. There is also an upstairs room but it feels cut off from the rest of the restaurant.
(4)
Jeff P.
The atmosphere and decor is excellent,which is very important in a downtown-style dining place. Perfect amount of lighting,very modern and chic seating,and nice mood music. As for the food: The salad with ginger dressing is perfect,probably the best of any Japanese style dressings I've ever eaten.Every roll I have had there is beautifully presented,fresh tasting and delicious! My girlfriend and I normally share the Volcano Roll,Mexican Roll, and the signature Philly Roll. Also it is recommended to try the Tuna Pizza! Very creative menu,excellent service and priced right. If you have a little room left after your meal, try the Green Tea Gelato,a very nice,cool and light dessert. Sake-Fused cocktails and a selection of Japanese beers also adds a nice touch if you choose to just pull up a seat at the bar. Highly Recommend!
(5)
Will S.
I love this place! Miso soup is awesome....sushi is amazing....best mojito ever! go here!
(5)
Dave H.
Stopped in for sushi lunch yesterday; all the usual options, but done far, far better than most places nowadays... everything was obviously fresh and meticulously prepared. They have more room than they used to, with a new spacious seating area past the bar in the back, and though our waitress was overworked, she was polite, helpful and as quick as she could be. They'll add the gratuity auto for big groups, but the prices are reasonable. Excellent work!
(4)
Geoff c.
Awesome. Wanted to find a place with great sushi but didn't hurt the wallet as badly as Morimoto. Zento. Fish and rolls were excellent and fresh. Not outrageously packed (for a weekday lunch), though it is a fairly small place, so I could see it getting quite packed. The chicken katsu don buri was not dry like many places. Staff was great and attentive. Even the miso soup was possibly the best I've ever had. Tofu was soft and delicate. Not the stiff cubes you normally get. The $10 for $18 off deal makes it even better. Sure the price is still on the more splurge-y side, but definitely a good deal. The old exposed brick walls with melted candles decor reminded me of Poe's Cask of Amontillado for some reason... but that slight eeriness was easily overshadowed by the rest of the decor, music, and food.
(5)
Scott B.
Overpriced, Overrated. Came here during our trip to Philadelphia for dinner as it was rated highly on yelp. I guess coming from Los Angeles, you've had great Japanese food, you've had great Asian Fusion and you expect better. I did...and I was wrong. We found a bug in one of our food. I killed it in my napkin and showed it to the manager. Other than that bug issue, the place is small and has a nice feel to feel to it. The food is way over rated and over priced for how it tastes though.
(2)
Jennifer R.
Zento's one of my favorite sushi places in Philly. The service is always great. Some really intricate rolls that aren't too pricy but high quality. Our favorites are the Zento square roll, monkey roll and love roll.
(4)
Jackie M.
Terrible Management / Great food. I've been calling this place for the past 3 days now trying to get a manager on the phone, but there's never a manager on site. I've left messages with my phone number, and no one bothers to care about customers and calling me back. The food was good but I hate places that are poorly managed... it's just a matter of time for this one.
(1)
Sadie A.
Have been here a few times and it has always been great. The hostess ladies are very kind and Benjamin is a great server. He was very patient and informative on anything containing gluten to help me with my allergy. They even have gluten free soy sauce available. I definitely recommend this place. A mojito goes nice with your dinner also.
(5)
Colleen M.
Stumbled upon this place with a girlfriend after our first choice had a crazy wait and saw the reviews for Zento were just as good. We were seated as soon as we arrived and at an outside table which was awesome for a warm summer Saturday night. Started off with their white fish carpaccio, the flavor was so on point we finished the dish in less than a minute. Followed that with two speciality rolls, the Zeno square sushi with salmon and the Flaming Dragon. They were SO tasty that we would up ordering a third, the Lindan roll. Washed that down with basic chilled Sake anddd half price cocktails that we earned from checking in - love that! The bill wound up to be like 70 which isn't too bad considering we left full, satisfied, and craving more. To top it off, the FREE parking is also a nice little treat as we watched probably 5 cars get towed towards the end of our dinner for parking on the street. Definitely thinking about making a second trip again soon.
(5)
Deb B.
We have dined here twice and both experiences were fabulous! Cool jazz music in the background, pleasantly greeted at the door, promptly shown to a table, wait staff very attentive, food outrageously delicious, great beer selection, we particularly enjoyed OB, a Korean beer
(5)
Balla S.
This place has ok sushi, but for the price its too expensive. Plainly put, they charge a little too much for the quality. And their specialty rolls are similar to everywhere else. But I admit, the Mexican roll is exotic & awesome, and they have a good selection of sake & Asian beers. Definitely worth going but be expecting to shove out 10-20% more than you would to a place of its caliber. I guess its high priced because its in old city smh
(3)
Matt W.
Cool vibe. It's set in an older build with brick inside, but also has a very modern vibe as well. Very cool! Very friendly staff as well. And on top of that, a GREAT menu. We had a variety of food for lunch from udon (veggie and tonkatsu) to bento and sushi rolls. All was put together expertly, looked great, and tasted even better. DEFINITELY a place I'd go back to!!
(5)
Lolly G.
I often walk right past Zento in pursuit of Han Dynasty. Today I decided to stop in for lunch. From the outside this place is very small looking, and doesn't stick out much. However, when you walk in you're impressed with the size as well as the instant feel you get when you walk in. It's beautiful inside, cool music is playing, and you feel like you're far from Old City (in a good way.) I ordered from the lunch special. They have a vegetarian option where you can pick a couple of options that you like. Each special comes with a soup and a salad. For $12, I thought this was a good deal. Most of the other options ranged from 12-17. As soon as I sat down, I was greeted right away by my server who offered to get me a drink. I ordered a water, and he took my order right away. I also wanted to place a to-go order which he took then as well. As soon as I put the last sip of my water down, he was behind the bar refilling. I found the service to be very prompt and professional. When my salad came, I knew I was in for a treat. Finally, ginger dressing that isn't pre-made. You could taste the french ginger, and it was amazing. The miso soup was a generous portion and was delicious. Just as I finished my rolls came out at the perfect time. They were fresh, delicious, and beautiful in presentation. Although I didn't order fish, the couple next to me did and were raving about it. When I asked for my check he gave me my check and to-go order without me asking. This place is ideal for a quick lunch but at the same time is probably amazing as a dinner date. It was very refreshing to get such delicious food and amazing service. Zento, will no longer be overlooked.
(5)
Alli H.
Delicious! My boyfriend and I stopped here on a whim for lunch and we were so glad we did! The service was super friendly (he even gave us a table at 2:50 even though the restaurant closes at 3pm before they re-open for dinner). I had the vegetarian lunch special, which is served with miso soup and a salad as appetizers. The miso soup was delicious and full of flavor. The house salad with ginger dressing was very fresh, light, and tasty. The two sushi rolls I got were really very nice - my favorite was the avocado and cucumber roll. Great lunch! We'll be back :-D
(4)
Jake M.
Went here packing a living social all you can eat deal...with this deal you can only order two rolls at a time which is no big deal...cuts down on waste and allows you to pace yourself for the impending face stuffing. The rolls were really fresh and super delicious...my favorite was the Mexican and King Crab (real crab meat)...the atmosphere is a mix between romantic and modern...service was awesome! 50% off cocktails with Yelp check-in...the lychee martini is habbit forming :) Overall will definitely be back hopefully with another living social deal
(5)
Vinny P.
When faced with a day or two of vacation time, one of my favorite things to do is to actually have a stay-cation around Philly. I always plan a nice lunch to my stay-cation because unlike many other yelpers, I am not afforded the opportunity to lunch around Philly. It's a rare treat. Zento was my most recent (to date) lunch staycation spot. I met up with fellow blogger Melissa from yummarksthespot[dot]com for a 1pm lunch at Zento. I arrived early and secured a table in the back next to some old city dude-bros finishing up their lunch. Perhaps it was "take-a-picture-of-yourself-with-your-mouth-open-Âand-sushi-hanging-out-day" I must have missed that memo. We each ended up ordering the same item which was the maki combo. It was a heck of a lot of food for a very reasonable price. I completely forgot about sushi bars starting you with miso soup and the salad with ginger dressing. While I've had it many places, I can honestly say that both of these items were very delicious, possibly some of the best I've tasted. The miso had soft (maybe silken) tofu and the dressing on the lettuce had a great zing. It definitely got me ready for my main plate. The maki plate looked as beautiful as it tasted. Its presentation reminded me of a mathematical model (one of those things you see in a trippy movie or as an iTunes screen saver) The 4 pieces each of tuna, yellowtail, salmon and eel all were placed beautifully on the plate and they tasted fresh and crisp. These are the things I look for in sushi. We split the bill and I paid with level up. I really had a great time and I'm happy they kept the cool ceiling from the previous iteration of this space. I can see myself coming back for dinner. It seems I've found yet another reason to go to Old City.
(4)
Ida G.
We had been meaning to come here for a while, and when a daily deal for $70 for a seven course menu for two cropped up, I jumped right on it. It was the middle of the week, so not very busy, and there seemed to be at least two other tables taking advantage of deals as well. The courses were hit and miss, and all really tiny, as were the cocktails. I mean, I get that a tasting menu isn't going to consist of seven entrees, but by the end of it we were hungry enough to order extra rolls. In the end, we dropped another $60 on top of the voucher (for two cocktails, two rolls, tax and tip), and there's absolutely no way our meal was worth the $130 we paid in total, let alone $200. The mochi ice cream was insanely good. I would have been a lot happier with seven courses of that. And the hunt for decent sushi in Philly continues.
(2)
Ashley S.
I got takeout here the other day, and the sushi was just ok. The spicy tuna was not spicy at all, and although the fish was fresh, it just wasn't what I expected. The salmon and avocado roll, on the other hand, was pretty good. My meal came with miso soup and a salad. The soup was tasty and had large chunks of tofu and seaweed in it, but the salad had a ginger dressing that had a gross consistency (there was a thick layer of gingery paste on top of my salad and a lot of water at the bottom of the container, and even when I tried mixing them together the dressing was still pretty watery and not great). So, some items were good, and others were not--very hit or miss.
(3)
Cassy H.
My friend and I were in town and stayed near Penn's landing. We wanted something delicious and healthy, so we thought Japanese! Sushi! You can't go wrong with Japanese. However, as a Japanese food fan, I had high standards.. perhaps, too high. The vibe: Zento is trendy. It's got this modern, sleek, and chic look. Imagine dark furniture, dim lighting.. kind of romantic but not like overkill romantic. The food and drink: We ordere edamame; it was typical.. kind of salty and not as fresh. We ordered rolls. Unfortunately, the rolls weren't that memorable, which is why this place is a 3 star for me. I ordered two rolls, but only remember one -- the shrimp tempura roll. My friend ordered vegetarian rolls; I tried one and thought it was eh. Side note, these rolls are small. Finally, we ordered fuji apple sake. It was great, cold fruity and sweet sake. It went well with our rolls. Overall, I wouldn't say this is a "must try" place during a Philly visit, but it's a decent place for locals. Oh, and the bill? The damage wasn't bad at all.. about $60 for two people. I'd say it's a pretty decent deal since we also ordered drinks.
(3)
Jenny N.
Absolutely delicious Japanese fare. We started off with the mussels and steamed shrimp dumplings which were divine. The mussels also came in this delicious soup that had the loveliest level of spice. We then ordered the Tonkoramen (spelling isn't quite right!) udon with the pork slices which was also fantastic. We visited on a Saturday night and it was not busy, much to my delight. We also found an $18 for $25 coupon on Yelp. Highly recommended to anyone, especially if you're after something lighter than Western food.
(5)
Cat N.
Went here for lunch with a friend during my lunch break. This place is really nice inside. We were sat down immediately. We looked at the menu and the waiter came back to take our orders. I got the Tuna tartare and the Monkey roll. They were okay.. The tuna tartare was good. It wasn't anything special though. It comes mixed with these like crunchy strings. Not sure what they are, but mixing the tartare with it was pretty good. The monkey roll was just like shrimp tempura in a roll.. I have a hard time making a decision, and so I picked this with my eyes closed without looking at what was inside. Bad choice. I should have picked something with fish in it. Service was great. We were in and out within 45-1hour. I'd come back here, but I won't be getting the Monkey Roll next time. SKIP; Monkey roll (theres better options for sushi, unless you don't like fish) TRY; Tuna tartare (if you like tuna tartare and have to get it whenever it's on the menu)
(3)
Hank M.
Sushi was good, the wait time for my food was unbelievable. My food did not come for about 40 minutes. I was also interested in trying beers that they had on the menu however the first 3 I wanted were unavailable. It was a good 15 minutes before a waitress came to us and asked what we would like.
(2)
Sarah B.
I'm originally from the Virginia Beach area, and I've had some pretty amazing (and far better-priced) sushi before moving to Philadelphia. I always feel that sushi in this city leaves something to be desired, but I'm attempting to give Philly a break because there are so many other yummy foods here that I would never see in good ol' VA. Zento is a tiny place in Old City. I wouldn't recommend a large group; however, I think this makes a good date or double-date night spot. The music might be off-putting to some but I happen to like techno (to a certain extent anyway). Our waiter was very friendly and was always there to refill our waters. (I don't know what's in the water, but it's delicious and fresh, lol.) The sushi was decent; I ordered the eel and cucumber roll and my significant other ordered a spicy tuna roll and a shrimp tempura roll. Like I said, I've had better, but for Philly, it was decent. Presentation of the rolls was a nice plus. I wouldn't recommend going on a very cold night, because as customers open the door to enter and leave, you'll feel the cold right away because Zento is so tiny! I was there on a windy night and sometimes the door wouldn't close. A patron or the waiter always had to run to shut the door.
(4)
Elena C.
T and I tried this place on Monday afternoon during our President's Day foray into the city. We started with the miso soup which was salty and fishy and everything miso soup should be. We then had the avocado salad. I'm not usually a fan of ginger dressing but this one was really good and I loved the fresh slices of avocado on top. For our main course we had: crunchy spicy tuna roll, eel and avocado roll, Philly roll and a Monkey roll. I didn't try the eel but the others were all very well made and tasty, particularly the monkey roll. I love the smoked salmon. However, I thought the rolls were a little small for the prices. I loved the atmosphere at Zento, particularly the back room with the two story ceiling and the rustic chandelier. Our server was really sweet and I think I'd like to go back for dinner to get a different, more romantic "vibe" from this place.
(4)
Capri D.
My favorite sushi in town!
(5)
Carol K.
Did the 7 -course tasting menu and it exceeded expectations. Admittedly, the portions for all 7 were pretty small -- as I would expect for a seven course meal. But everything was cooked to perfection and the sushi was the freshest I have ever tasted -- better then Morimoto's even. Just incredible. The other standout was the whitefish carpaccio which we loved, and everyone around us was also raving about. Just a fantastic dish. The only disappointment was the desert a spoonful of ice cream with some mochi cheesecake -- it was Ok, but nothing special and tiny to boot. Service was efficient and friendly. The space is warm and has a nice cool-but-casual vibe. We had a groupon which made it very reasonably priced. The standard prices are probably a touch higher than I'd like to see, but you're paying for the location. We'll definitely be back -- most likely when they run another deal or for happy hour though.
(4)
Kristin W.
This BYOB is a little crowded with tables placed fairly close together. We brought a couple bottles of wine to enjoy with our array of rolls, which were tasty, but were a little short on the fish, particularly for the price: -Love Roll - asparagus in and rice paper around my sushi were new, but overall a pleasant combination. -Philly Roll - I typically shun all cream cheese in my sushi, but this was reasonably good...perhaps because Philly Rolls taste better in Philly? -Rainbow Roll - a nice and fairly standard combo - the center salmon/avocado was good, but the fish outside the roll was a little thin -Zento Square Sushi with Tuna - probably my favorite of the night, the roll had lots of flavor We also tried the Edamame (nice sized portion) and the Tempura Vanilla Ice Cream (the dough was too thick and not crispy enough, and the vanilla was unexciting).
(3)
Kevin T.
Place was awesome! Waitress was super accommodating, and the bourbon blossom cocktail was to die for. Would definitely come back again!
(5)
Horatio J.
A little pricey for what you get. Great quality but when the waiter points out what each piece of fish is, it annoys me. At least I was not offered a fork. No miso soup or salad with $25 sashimi? Boo.
(3)
Dave H.
Zento is an intimate spot, but can get a bit noisy sometimes due to close quarters. There's still space to enjoy your food, and enjoy you will! My friend ordered for the entire table - the appetizers (Zento salad, scallops, foie gras and cucumbers) were wonderful, and the various rolls (Zento roll, and others; $6-$10/roll) melted in our mouths. Don't forget to order the duck hand rolls, they're delectable. Prices aren't the cheapest, as you're paying for quality Japanese fare and their Old City rent probably! The sushi chef is friendly and you can see him preparing away with a big smile on his face. Servers Jimmy and Chi were accommodating, and helped us secure a table for nine. As noted by another reviewer, and confirmed by my friend, their chef used to work at Morimoto. (No surprise, as every piece of sushi I tried was exquisite.) Zento is tiny but packs a BIG punch.
(5)
Giedrius T.
The food was great! I can't complain, salads were delicious and sushi was really good as well. Now on the other hand the dark hair guy that was at the bar at 10:30 pm May 13, 2013 was very rude. My girlfriend called to place an order over the phone, he was giving her an attitude and then hung up. When we got to the place to order in person he gave an attitude again saying to my girlfriend "that's fine if you don't come here again, you really don't have to order here right now either" he was also acting like he was the manager of the restaurant, which I'm sure he wasn't 100% he was just a bartender. We were very disappointed with the service of Zento. Food A+ Service F
(3)
Kelly D.
Really tasty annd with a quiet laid back tomosphere. Drinks were good too!
(4)
Karen F.
Went for lunch here with a friend today and the place was EMPTY save for the 2 of us. We were treated extra-well due to this, I think. We both had lunch specials - a very good value - and my sushi platter was super fresh and delicious. The ramen here is good, too! And we split vanilla mochi ice cream for dessert. YUM! I will definitely be back to try the specialty rolls. (My sushi lunch was a yellowtail scallion roll - 8 bite size pieces and 5 nigiri.)
(4)
Gina F.
The best sushi spot in old city hands down. We definitely prefer the old, much smaller location but the sushi is still great. Their hand rolls are out of this world. They wrap them in soy paper - delicious. The zento square sushi roll is divine as is the vegetable miso soup.
(4)
Lin Z.
Lychee mojito is awesome! Also the crab cake is great for appetizer!
(4)
Melissa D.
Olde City is near the Hyatt Regency at Penn's Landing, so this place was convenient to grab some sushi during my business trip. Since I'm a visitor to Philadelphia, I wanted to try their signature Square Sushi. I also ordered some Salmon Sashimi, and the American Dream Roll. The square sushi was innovative and I hoped the plum sauce would captivate me but it didn't really. I actually like their American Dream roll which had baked scallop, white fish and shrimp. The sweet and saltiness combined with a kick of the spicy mayo was tasty. The salmon sashimi was kind of thin than what I expected. Overall, it was a nice place to try.
(3)
Jenn T.
If you are looking for traditional Japanese sushi, then is not the place to go. If you are looking for American-Japanese fusion food, then you've found a good place. For appetizers, my boyfriend ordered a miso soup ($2) and I had the king crab miso soup ($5). I am not sure why other reviewers raved about the soup, it tasted exactly the same as the $2 miso soup except it had some noodles and a few morsels of canned crab meat. It tasted good but not worth the $3 mark up compared to the regular miso soup. We also had the lobster roll special, crunchy tuna roll and monkey roll. The rolls tasted okay, but nothing to rave about. It was definitely not worth the price. The "traditional" crunchy tuna roll didn't taste very traditional. One redeeming point is that the presentation was very well done. I gave it 3 stars because overall, it wasn't a terrible experience. The service was very very good. The hostess, waiters and owner were all very friendly and personable. I will probably only come back for lunch specials.
(3)
Daniel S.
Food and presentation were excellent. Ambience very nice, but cramped quarters detracted from this. Absurdly expensive, and that makes this place not quite worth it.
(3)
Stephanie Y.
We arrived on time for our 8:00 reservation and were kindly asked by the hostess if we minded waiting at the bar til the table was ready (this was the last pleasant service we had all evening). After waiting there almost 10 minutes, the bartender finally asked us for a drink order. Shortly after a manager eventually pointed to where our table was in the crowded bar area (which another couple was sitting in waiting for a spot at the bar... not awkward at all or anything). When our waiter bothered to come to our table 10 min after being there we asked to move to the dining room. He rolled his eyes then told us it was for reservations only then asked if we were ready to order. Interesting sir, because I did have a reservation. I don't mind a crowd but when the staff is bumping into the table, then I have a problem with where I am. When we finally received our food it was all pretty good. It took about 30 min for our first course, the calamari to come out. The calamari was cooked perfectly and came with a really tasty chili sauce. Our second course came about 30 minutes after that. I forget what rolls we ordered specifically but there were about 6 and all tasted fresh and worth the wait. The server had to be waved over for any refills. He dropped a carafe of sake on the table on the house, it was appreciated but the damage was already done. I think the lowest point of the evening was when a manager could be heard cursing about his staff and how poorly service was running. I've worked in the Philly service industry for years and I think that is the most appalling thing I have seen while in a restaurant. Zento, congratulations on having the worst front of house staff I've ever witnessed. But with FOH management like that, I really shouldn't be shocked.
(1)
A K.
The place is small but has multiple levels. The bar area is painfully uncomfortable to sit. We had the rolls which was really great. Loved each of them. The soup was luke-warm than hot. On a snowy day would have loved hot soup. Being a multi-level space, the staff has to walk up and down the stairs so service can be a bit spotty. But the food was worth the wait.
(4)
Daniel H.
Our friend James raves and raves, but he hasn't shown us the zen-like experience that he speaks of... the sushi is expensive, the taste is mediocre, and I'd really rather eat somewhere else. Not impressed, and not wanting to spend the money for something so lack-luster. E-Moneh's perspective - Small sushi place with a small sushi menu. Go around the corner to the next Sushi place - which in Philly is likely less than 1 block. I bet it will be better and less expensive. $
(2)
ross f.
This modern Japanese restaurant was jammed pack on a saturday night. Nevertheless, it was easy to get a seat at the bar. The staff was top rate - friendly, accommodating and quick. A 20 inch television makes bar seating enjoyable. The back room was spacious and inviting with a large canvass hanging from the back wall. One complaint is the space between the bar seats and the tables behind the bar. The staff bumped into the bar patrons a couple times (lightly). This was far from a serious disturbance. My roll was Tasty. Maybe it could have used a little bit more spicy tuna but when the rest of the experience was so enjoyable, who really cares. Check this place out!
(4)
Tina N.
Zento is a tiny BYOB sushi spot that's pretty easy to overlook. Luckily, my reservation was ready immediately. I came here to cure a month long sushi craving that was not satiated by two other places previously that same week. I came to Zento with the intention of putting an end to this craving at any cost. While it is a bit on the expensive side, the sushi is nice and fresh, as well as innovative. Despite my commitment to eat only raw fish, I wound up trying the peking duck roll. Not bad at all. I also requested a salmon hand roll, where they also used the soy paper, rather than the seaweed. It's a good alternative for those who don't like seaweed paper. I, however, like both and will eat whatever's clever. The pieces are on the small side, as stated in other reviews. I would stick with the rolls at Zento, and maybe order a few Need to Have pieces. Another plus I should mention, is that they have online ordering too. I might try that route the next time for pickup. I felt a little rushed at the end, while we were trying to order the fried ice cream. They brought us our check without asking if we wanted dessert, and when we mentioned dessert, the waiter gently implied that we were on a time constraint. While I understand, I never enjoy being rushed. Something must have changed (canceled reservation perhaps) between dessert and the check, because when he brought us the check he told us to take our time. I'd say this is a "come back eventually but not necessarily immediately".
(4)
Ted S.
Everyone was very nice as soon as I walked in the door. They are happy to create a sushi dinner for you if you just tell them what you like. I ordered the King Crab Miso soup and it was exceltently salted with good sized peices of crab. The rice-less sushi roll was fill with great raw fish and the broiled salmon was chared to the right level. I liked the salmon especially because it still had the skin, which was crispy. Everything was very fresh and seasoned spot on. I will return. BYOB
(4)
Tim G.
Yikes! First of all paying $66 for a lunch that consists of two rolls, 1 miso soup ,1 green tea and 10 pieces of sashimi is not cool. Let me start with the good, the interior of the space is cool. But when the only good thing about a sushi place is the interior run away fast. The service was horrible. Our waitress was too busy eating her own lunch I think to wait on us. One of my big pet peeves about restaurants is when I see wait staff eating on the floor. Come on now! She was inattentive and very slow. When I order sashimi I shouldn't have to ask what I have been served. That and whatever the Spanish Mackerel was should be sent back to Spain. It was grey, and supposedly charred, I think the small bite I had is what is giving me a stomach ache as I write this review.The sashimi pieces were tough and cut so big it was hard to eat. The miso soup and green tea was not served hot. I love sushi and always on lookout for new place to try, sadly though Zento goes into the never go back category. I can overlook bad service and great food to make a return visit but bad food and bad service at the same time tells me to move on.
(2)
YelpHatesMe Y.
Pretty good sushi. We were here Friday night. We had a reservation for 8:15 and there were still some open tables but by 8:45 there were none left so make reservations. I wont act like a sushi pro, but to me it was good although I felt that all (we had 4 different rolls) the sushi tasted the same - and it seemed warm? I always thought it was supposed to be on the colder side. Maybe I've eaten too much grocery store sushi. The Center city roll was our favorite. Dragon roll was good - spicy. we also had the crab roll and tuna roll. All were good but like I said, due to the warmness I think. I was thinking 3 stars but given my "ignorance" on sushi, I'll just go 4.
(4)
Shaina T.
Food was fine. Atmosphere was nice. Nobody was in the restaurant when we were there. I'd probably only go back if I had another deal.
(3)
Christine G.
This is really one of the best sushi places in philly. We easily spent just over a hundred bucks on two people - so its an expensive night out. The portions are small, but really good. really nice special rolls and starters. I usually go to fat salmon because it is half the price - but this place is a bit better. Really small dining area so you need reservations. And its kind of quiet, so its almost a little awkward - good if you want a really quiet night out.
(4)
Annie M.
I know I'm being biased by being used to the giant rolls in sushi places in CA but I just can't really help it. Sushi in Philly just sucks and is overpriced. Rolls taste ok but are soooo teeny tiny :( This place was no exception. BYOB so that was nice but besides that, to pay $15 for a roll that is barely bigger than a quarter.... Yikes! After being here for 3 years, I still haven't learned my lesson about sushi and why I should just stop trying...
(3)
Steve M.
Seriously delicious, innovative sushi. Fascinating rolls, plus a delicious-looking and long menu that I'm excited to go back again and again to plow through. Their king crab miso soup was fantastic on a cold rainy night, a perfect salty hot blend. The tuna pizza may sound kitschy but it was absolutely delicious, refreshing and tasty and fun. Their "Zento Roll" square sushi roll was amazing; that plum sauce put a smile on my face again and again, and the bronzino roll was delicious as well. I wish I'd known it was BYO before I showed up, but next time I will come prepared! It's tiny, so I'd recommend reservations... and a big appetite.
(4)
Melissa V.
This is ranked among the best sushi I've ever had! I don't remember the names but we had 8 rolls and they were all winners!
(5)
Chris F.
What is there not to like about about Zento? The atmosphere is ..... a bit stale, serivce is okay, but the food is AMAZING! A term i dont use loosely. From the first time i went i have been hooked. Their sushi is fresh, tasty and just generally good. Much better than the other sushi restuarnts in the area. Long and short, try their Tuna pizza, its awesome! And my fav roll, VOLCANO ROLL!!!! It is a MUST. I HIGHLY recommend it.
(4)
Katrina S.
Sorry but I can't hop on the Zento bandwagon. We went for dinner before a movie and can only say "meh." I ordered the sweet potato tempura roll and the center city roll and my friend ordered the tuna roll, the philly roll, and a cucumber roll. Service was fairly slow for the number of people there (note: Only two other tables and there were at least two people making sushi and another two back in the kitchen). The highlight for me was the sweet potato. It was really really well done, I would go back and order just that. There were only two rolls that didn't have things I don't eat (shrimp and eel). Usually I have a lot of options at sushi places but here I had two, the rainbow roll (which I've had at a lot of other places) and the center city roll. I wanted to try something new so I went with the center city roll and it was bad. Seriously, don't order it. The portion is tiny for $14 and the amount of fish in it seemed miniscule and yet it tasted crazy fishy. My friend's rolls were pretty tiny (compared to other place's versions of the same rolls) but they did contain a lot of fish. (Lucky for us, the movie was very good so we weren't left thinking about our lackluster dinner!)
(2)
Loy G.
the sushi is good.. just expensive. i live in old city and would easily go once a week, but this place is too pricey for anything more than monthly visits. (the yelp coupon helps a bit) simply stated, the quality of the fish is second to none. i live for their chirashi! i dream about it! zento has officially ruined sushi for me. zento has made me into a sushi snob. i hate you zento for making mediocre sushi spots seem so unenjoyable now. well, at least i can say that the service is spotty. or that they also have this really awkward waiter that makes me laugh. and how i think it's silly to have a sushi bar where there isn't even a sushi bar. so i guess i feel better about hating zento. ..eh, who am i kidding, i'll be back next week.
(4)
Scott B.
food was pricey for what I got. buddakanhas much better calamari salad...hands down
(3)
David M.
A hidden gem in old city. Morimoto/Nobu quality Japanese cuisine at a third of the price. Not only is the sushi incredible, but the miso marinaded sea bass was the best piece of fish I've ever had the pleasure of eating. So, if in Philly and in the mood for Japanese, then make sure to reserve your table at Zento.
(5)
Kenny J.
Amazing vibe!! The sushi was amazing and the service is great!
(5)
Nissa G.
Cute little place in the heart of the Old City nightlife on Chestnut St. Some tables outside but its a little too crowded for that. Cool decor inside, although looked semi under construction. Small place, tables close together.. Good service, and its BYOB!! They have some pretty cool different rolls, there was one that was like a fish taco roll, YUM. They also have a sweet potato tempura roll which is what really sold me on it. Id go back.
(4)
Elizabeth S.
This is the best sushi I've had in Philadelphia so far. In my experience, sushi tastes the same pretty much anywhere you go (disclaimer...I've never been to Morimoto, where I'm sure the sushi is amazing), but you could tell how fresh the fish was here. It had a different flavor, superior to the other sushi I have had in the city. The tuna pizza was awesome and refreshing, and I've never had better shrimp tempura rolls (Olde City roll). Though the rolls were a bit on the smaller size, they were satisfying and priced reasonably. I will DEFINITELY be heading back here many times.
(5)
K W.
meh, i really have experienced better. i ordered take-out sushi one day while at work. i chose zento because i had never been, and i wanted to try a different sushi restaurant (i was tempted to stick with makiman...i should have listened to my gut.) i ordered some type of tropical roll and a futomaki roll to change things up. both were not great. the tropical roll was *slightly* more palatable than the futomaki which was completely inedible. i don't know what they stuffed into the futomaki but there was something that didn't agree with my taste buds. the tropical roll sounded better on the menu than it did in real life. at over 20 usd for my order, i felt like the rolls could have been better quality. again, as i am wont to do in situations like this, i will return for a second visit just to make sure that i didn't hit this restaurant on a bad day, but i'm not going to go out of my way to return here since there are so many other sushi restaurants to try.
(2)
Molly G.
This place is amazing!!! My new favorite sushi place in Philly. It's pretty tiny inside with exposed brick walls, very high ceilings, comfortable seating, great service and sexy yet casual ambience. The sushi is incredible from the sashimi to the specialty rolls. The sushi is perfectly cut and the specialty stuff is inventive and delectable. It's definitely more affordable than Zama, for example, without the awkward formality and stuffiness. The food is probably on par with Morimoto. I hadn't been to Zento since it was at its old location, years ago, but since a friend suggested it a couple weeks ago, I've been back several times. I'm kind of obsessed now. Everything has been awesome. I always end up with the same server, who's really sweet and knowledgable and will offer great suggestions if you ask for advice. I highly recommend the Yellowtail new style appetizer, the tuna pizza, any of their sushi/sashimi combinations and the Bronzino specialty roll. They have a wide range of sake, japanese beer and fruity cocktails also. This is place is heavenly. Seriously, so freaking good.
(5)
Shmulik K.
Contemporary sushi rolls with ingredients that make you raise an eyebrow. I had to try the basics before I try the new, innovative stuff Wow. What a bummer. I got five pieces of sushi and a spicy tuna roll. The first thing for a great sushi is the rice. This rice was overcooked And was old and cold. So instead of plump pieces of rice clinging to each other I got a sticky, cold, sticky mass. Bad!!! The fish was not good. Scallop wasn't sweet. Texture of yellow tail was wrong. The roll was really strange. Way too much of the crunch, couldn't taste the tuna, only the oil flavored crunch. Again, the rice was terrible in the roll. 2 dollars for tea. No alcohol yet. I've been to some great sushi bars in NY, San Francisco, LA and in Japan. This was not good sushi
(2)
Ashley G.
A nice little surprise down in Old City. Loved their cocktails, delicious sushi and Japanese with some new twists. Staff (owners?) made us feel very well taken-care of, and as a bonus, there are a few outdoor tables, not so common for Asian restaurants, that make for great people-watching on a nice night.
(4)
Surya N.
Good food, nice staff, great service, cute decor. I honestly recommend this place to everyone. Its a nice place to bring a few people to hang out and a lot of people go on dates here. They also host a lot of free events (which is how i discovered it) so check it out next time. I even met the owner and he recommended other good restaurants and dishes to try in the area. I love the udon and dragon roll sushi but I sometimes stop by JUST for the Mochi ice cream, it is soooooooo good. Never had a bad dish or bad experience here. Just to emphasize how nice they are, I sat on their seats outside one hot day because I was so hot and tired and the waiter came out and offered me a glass of water! 5 stars for not only being a good quality restaurant, but for being decent people. UPDATE: Zento is still one of my favorite regular places to visit. You get to know the staff very well and the owner often comes down and mingles with the guests. They frequently hold events here and it is just a lively place to be at.
(5)
Joe M.
Went to Zento with my wife and enjoyed it. Interesting atmosphere, good sushi. Waitstaff was helpful and efficient. Sushi was excellent, but a bit pricey - still worth it!
(4)
Kate W.
"Really like this place. It's right around the corner from where I work and you can grab a nice lunch without breaking the bank. They always have great deals too. Love their monkey roll
(4)
Lauren C.
Authentic, tasty sushi in a laid-back environment. Although we were told that we would have to finish by 8:30 (because a large party was coming in), we weren't rushed while we were there, even when one of our dining companions was 30 minutes late. Her lateness did give us the opportunity to order the king crab miso soup, which was delicious and completely worth the $5 per order. The fish was fresh and the rolls were tasty, although I wasn't as blown away by the square roll as other people. I only have one major complaint: If spicy sauce isn't listed as part of the roll, don't drizzle it on top! It drives me nuts when restaurants do this. I may be in the minority here, but I do not want mayonnaise anywhere near my sushi.
(4)
Iris B.
wonderful vegetarian sushi options! everything was delicious.. very cool ambiance and decor.
(4)
Lisa P.
Beautiful decor, tempting drinks and delicious sushi. Great sushi location that is a bit more upscale but still has moderate prices. Not BYOB as one poster mistakenly posted.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Herbie H.
I went to Zento on a quiet Sunday night with a friend before a movie. The restaurant, like most reviewers mention, is pretty tiny and intimate inside - but very well decorated and gives off an overall nice environment. I ordered the seaweed salad as an appetizer - which was tasty, kind of a small portion (as compared to some others in the city.) I ordered a spicy tuna roll and a sweet potato roll - both of which were very good. No real complaints. The service was attentive, friendly, and quick.
(4)Nola C.
Pretty good, atmosphere is elegant but tight, me and my date were almost rubbing elbows with the table next to us on a Friday evening. The rolls were impressively presented as well as delicious and so was the sashimi. I would go back on an afternoon when there were less people.
(4)Darragh M.
Another dark restaurant that should be avoided by the over 40's. Food was fine. The service was Faulty Towers at best.
(3)Javier C.
Went here for the first time and I'm hooked. Started my meal with fried calamari which was great with a golden brown crust and not to chewy. Then I had the chicken teriyaki that was nice and juice with the right sweetness. The sushi I had was some roll with shrimp tempura and spicy king crab meat...awesomeness!!! The sake was good as well. Service was really good and we were seated pretty fast on a Friday night.
(5)Chi T.
The food took quite a while to come out, so careful if you're tight on time. The tuna tartare appetizer was tasty, but the portion was small. We ordered the mixed sashimi, love roll, spicy scallop & avocado roll, and flaming dragon. Food overall was a bit pricey, but hey, it's Old City. The sushi and sashimi weren't mindblowing, so I wouldn't go out of my way to go here either. However, it's nice to have as an option.
(3)Aaliyah P.
Apparently Zento is Japanese Slang for slow ass service. Almost a 3 hour (sushi dinner) here made me not so happy especially since the food was mediocre and overpriced . We had a reservation and were seated right away. Everything else took forever , forever to get water, forever to order , for ever to get food. I cant get on board with restaurants that aren't aware of timing. As a group we split edamame and we each did a few rolls. The Lobster specialty roll caught my eye so i ordered that along with the shrimp and asparagus roll. They will get points for presentation ( see photo) but the rolls were just alright. The lobster roll ($17) had a good amount of lobster involved but the mustard aioli over powered the dish and the raspberry sauce was barely memorable. I wont be back anytime soon. There are way to many sushi options in the city to dine here. Its not all bad a few silver linings if you will Yelp check in -Free app up to 10.00 value BYO- but a $5 corkage fee They offer discounted parking if you must drive
(2)Jon Z.
Not your average Japanese cuisine! Best atmosphere and friendliest staff in old city by far. The sushi is uber fresh, delectable and miraculously plated. Grab a reservation as this restaurant fills up fast!!
(4)Megan A.
Went here for valentines day - we had a great experience. I had veggie sushi (green roll and vegetables roll) and the waitress asked if I wanted vegetarian soy sauce since their normal soy sauce has some kind of fish in it and I was really appreciative of that! My bf had the zento roll and the volcano roll and liked both. We also split the garden salad and the dressing was really good. The ambiance is really great for a date and they gave all the girls roses for valentines day! I would definitely recommend this place for a date and we will be returning
(5)Joseph R.
So when I was thinking about how to rate this place, I was trying to figure out if I would give it four stars or five stars. I usually don't like to just throw out a five star review for no reason, so I really thought about it. The conclusion I came to was: yes, five stars, definitely. We started out with edamame, salmon and Spanish mackerel sashimi. The edamame, a tad above average. The salmon, extremely smooth, great consistency, dead on fantastic taste. The Spanish mackerel, that's where I lost it. I wasn't expecting it at all. It was smoky, not at all salty or fishy. It, like the salmon, melted away as you ate it. We've gotten sashimi from a lot of places, and this was right up there with the best we've ever had. We had six people in our party, and we all ordered two rolls. We figured the best way to sample what they have is to order a few each and then trade pieces. Most of us ordered their specialty rolls, which were all fantastic and included things we've rarely seen before, like a roll that had shallots and yuzu vinaigrette. The few less extravagant rolls we ordered were good though too. There wasn't one roll I didn't like. I can't remember what others got, but I specifically ordered, the Volcano Roll ("deep fried" roll, i.e., tempura'd) and the Green River Roll which I remember featured plum paste. All absolutely delicious. To drink they had beers as well as carafes of warm and chilled sake, most of which are fairly reasonably-priced, even for something really good like a junmai daiginjo (we got the "diamond sake"). The space itself is absolutely beautiful. Dark wood throughout, it opens up in the back to high ceilings with intimate lighting. There's upstairs seating as well, and I imagine this place can pack in quite a few people at its busiest. Overall this place left six people very, very satisfied. I would never hesitate to go here again.
(5)David I.
I have been to a lot of sushi places in Philly and this is one of my favorites. Great sushi, love the specials, great service, BYOB is a plus, and serves there own alcohol, I love the vibe and ambiance. There prices are definitely reasonable for a nice sit down sushi restaurant.
(5)Emmaleigh A.
I went to Zento before a concert at Penn's Landing. It was a little early for dinner (around 5:30) on a Thursday night and there was only one other couple in the restaurant. I had the King Crab Miso Soup, which was really good and had a lot of crab meat in it, although I'm not sure it was worth $5. I also had the Love Roll, which was one of the Zento Signature Rolls on the menu. It was so pretty and elegant looking! Everything was very fresh. I think this is a good place for a date -- it's a cool, intimate little place. It is BYOB (I believe there was a $5 corkage fee). The $10 Yelp deal was a nice bonus!
(4)Long P.
Took a gander into Old City and tried out Zento because it had a favorable number of reviews on here and who I am to go against the grain when it comes to sushi since I'm not expert, yet. The ambiance that Zento gives off is pretty relaxed, a good spot for a casual date, with a friend or possibly by yourself at the bar. Lots of wood and low light mood lighting compliment each other well and the seating is spread apart enough not to be part of another groups conversation. I ordered a specialty roll and regular style and my friend did the same, he's more the sushi expert and he he gave it 3 stars for freshness. Service was average until I spotted the owner and actually knew him from his previous venture at the same venue. Than the service was really good. All in all a good Japanese spot worth trying at least once and a welcome addition to Old City's revival.
(3)Elizabeth M.
I'm extremely picky about sushi - and this place has yet to disappoint me! I try to order at least one new thing every time that I go but thats hard to do because I've been so thrilled with the previous dishes that I've ordered. The service is always great, atmosphere is lovely, the drink selection is phenomenal, and to top it off it's a BYOB! Highly recommend it.
(5)Paul V.
The best thing about Zento was the ambiance. A very cute and cozy restaurant with very comfortable atmosphere. Otherwise, the food and service was mostly average to decent at best. We dined early on a weeknight and were warmly greeted and immediately seated. Our server was cordial with a good personality, but was slow and inattentive. Water glasses were not kept filled; we were never checked on to see if everything was okay or if we needed anything. We started out with the mixed salad with ginger dressing. The salad contained fresh and crisp lettuces and assorted vegetables along with good ginger dressing. The salad plate was cold. We ordered the steamed shrimp dumplings. The appetizer consisted of 8 small dumplings and were quite tasty with prominent shrimp flavor and good seasoning. The dumplings were moist and well prepared. For our entrees we had chicken teriyaki. This entree was a disappointment. The chicken was mostly dry,tough and stringy. The sauce was just average and didn't do much to help the lackluster chicken. It was served with steamed rice and mixed salad with ginger dressing. Presentation was good. We also ordered the Ocean Roll. The Ocean roll contained spicy softshell crab with cucumber and was topped with spicy scallop and masago. The contents were fresh tasting and was tasty, but wasn't memorable. We also had the mixed vegetable roll which again was good but nothing spectacular. Presentation was very good. I have had much better sushi in other locations in the area and the sushi here is decent, but not a good value. The chicken teriyaki was a rather poorly prepared version of this common Japanese restaurant entree. The ambiance and courteous service is only reason I did not give 2 stars. The food was a mix of 2 and 3 star quality. Zento needs to brush up on their service and step up their game with food quality. If the food and service matched the ambiance then Zento would be a 4 star location.
(3)Jessica D.
Everything we ordered was great. The rolls were so tasty, and for once the pieces were just the right size! I'm sick of eating ridiculously huge fancy rolls where you have to struggle and choke to get the whole piece in your mouth.. and of course to break it in half would be insulting to the sushi chef... so this was just perfect. They managed to pack a ton of flavor and variety into perfect bite-sized pieces. Also the sashimi and sushi fish were so delicious and fresh. We eat sushi often... most commonly salmon sushi/sashimi and scallop, and this is some of the sweetest and freshest fish we have encountered. Will definitely be back. Also HIGHLY recommend the Lychee Martinis as a perfect sushi accompaniment :)
(4)Jim S.
Very good sushi and a nice cozy atmosphere. The soft shell crab roll was fantastic...
(4)Ryan I.
Went there for the first time tonight. Everything was quality, and tasted great. I got the shrimp dumplings, which were excellent. Probably my favorite part of the meal. With that, I also got the crunchy spicy salmon roll, and the spicy scallop rolls. All of which were high quality. The put a wholeee lot of crunch on top of the salmon rolls, which gave it an odd taste, but that's a minor complaint. Scallop roll was tasty. All in all I was very happy, and will be returning
(4)Naomi O.
This is a wonderful sushi destination in Philly. Good menu, friendly/diligent service, and a cool ambiance to top it off versus the counter type hole in walls (which have delicious sushi but aren't always date friendly). This place is BYOB and has a bar....I didn't know places had both. Great pick, awesome Kani salad, Love Roll, and King Crab miso soup!
(4)Matt P.
Basic, just like all of Old City.
(2)Kristyn S.
More like 3.5... But not a option. Found a groupon for this place, the reviews were good so my bf and I tried it out! Service was a little slow, but we were okay with that because we weren't in a rush. Waitress was knowledgable about the menu and offered us some best sellers. The sushi was fresh, above average, but not great. The rolls were smaller than I expected. Typically chef rolls or speciality rolls are very big and these 4 we ordered were average size. Order more than you think! I would suggest this place to friends, cool environment and decor. Check out groupon I paid $36 for a $60 cert.
(3)Redwood K.
This is definitely a classy joint. If you're out to impress, take her or him here. It's dripping chic vibes. Like a lot of the finest in Japanese cuisine, it's all about presentation and freshness. And oola la, they've got that in spades. For sure it's pricey and portions aren't for the ravenous but it's a dining experience that stood out.
(4)Michael F.
I enjoyed my meal at Zento, but had trouble coming up with a reason to give a rating higher than 3-stars based on value. Yes, the quality was good, but the portions were merely alright, and the prices didn't align with the overall package provided. It should be noted, the friend who joined me for dinner was able to purchase a coupon deal on restaurant.com (while waiting to order) which saved him a small percentage off. They have a good variety of specialty rolls and I have to give them credit for a tasty Sashimi Roll. Unfortunately, while I can't speak for all their apps, the Rainbow Ceviche left a lot to be desired. Again, overall the value didn't speak to me, but I could see myself back to give them another chance (with a restaurant.com coupon!).
(3)Hong H.
Came here last night for our annual Christmas party for our staff. Everything was so fresh and delicious. I had the salmon entree, crab cakes, calamari, and a variety of sushi rolls. My son usually does not like sushi rolls but he fell in love with their crab rolls. We had to order another order just for him. Not sure what the name was but it was one of their pricier rolls. Before we left, he mentioned that he wanted to come back. That's rare because he's picky with his food. Also a plus was we went past their closing time and they told us that we can stay and take our time. Of course we didn't want to keep them but it was so nice for them to say that. Service was attentive and awesome.
(5)Raghu H.
Vegetarian sushi was average, at best. The service however, was non-existent. For a corkage fee at a "BYOB" restaurant, I at least expect someone to pour my beverages for me, or at the very least know not to knock things over on my table.
(2)Amanda C.
Review Summary: Ambience: 3/5 Food: 2/5 Service: 3/5 As the other reviews have mentioned, this establishment is very well decorated. It is a fitting place to have an intimate meal, and the service is fine, et cetera. But really, let's get down to what we're all here for and talk about the food. I picked out this place to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and was sorely disappointed. The food definitely tastes better than it looks, but that isn't saying very much. We started off with the Scallop Capracio and the Rainbow Ceviche, both of which were the best-looking and best-tasting dishes of the night. Then we tried a few of the rice-paper/soy paper rolls, which came recommended by the waiter. I must say, these rolls were nothing special and even a little strange tasting. Although I liked the appetizers I could not overlook how mediocre the sushi was, and I left feeling quite embarrassed that I had suggested this place at all. If you have been swayed by the other reviews and still want to try Zento out, please do not do it with someone you are trying to impress.
(2)Katherine O.
This place is great! Came here first time with an Amazon local deal, and loved it. Thanks to other Yelp reviews I found out it is a BYOB but you want sake they do have a lot of options for that too. I'm sure they have other drinks, but I'm not asking questions why they allow patrons to bring their own alcohol! Had the sashimi platter the first time and the tuna pizza. (good!) Bought two more deals to come back in the future. There always seems to be something on Groupon/Living Social for Zento deals- look for them! Also thanks to the website I found out the restaurant validates parking (completely free!) for the weekends (Starting Thursday) in the garage on 2nd in the block north of Chestnut St.
(5)Matt C.
I've mentioned before that I can't really differentiate between good sushi and great sushi; good sushi vs bad sushi is an EASY distinction, but good vs great is a little harder to discern. That said, Zento had good sushi. We were here for Restaurant Week last night, and after a reservation snafu with another restaurant, (*cough* thanks a LOT, B....) we were able to find a seat at Zento. The place is pretty small, so seating is kind of crammed in every nook and cranny. Our particular seat was straight back against the back wall, DIRECTLY across from the air conditioner. It was FREEZING. The ac blew so hard, it blew our candle out on our table. And speaking of that candle, you absolutely need that thing. Zento is like a cave inside. Its very dark. The upside is that the service was very, very good. Everyone was polite and personable. The restaurant week menu was decent, and we were able to get full, although I felt that we didn't eat $100 dollars worth of food, which was our total bill. I wouldn't mind a return trip, but there are many, MANY comparable options closer, cheaper and that don't force you to deal with infuriating Philly parking. Oh, check in on the Yelp app and you get 1 free validated parking.
(4)Dominique F.
My friend and I dropped by without reservations for an early dinner and got seated right away. Ordered a couple sushi rolls which were delish but nothing out of this world, or nothing that I know remember a couple months later and wish I'd go back to if you know what I mean.
(3)Katja N.
I really enjoyed this place. I had Ceviche and sushi so I loaded up on raw fish. It was FRESH and well prepared. Yum! I liked the ambiance as well. We went early on a Saturday, so almost had the place to our selves. Staff was really nice and professional, food arrived quickly. No complaints Will def return.
(3)Adam L.
I highly recommend zento. Besides having excellent food I want to comment on the customer service. Their manager Christian went above and beyond to make all of our visits memorable. We noticed it is not just us - he make sure that all customers are treated excellently.
(5)Rebekah T.
I wanted to find a little place for a light sushi dinner, so I checked the reviews. We were planning on Morimoto the next day, so we tried to keep it inexpensive. It all looked good, so I booked an Opentable reservation. We arrived and the place was empty. We took a look at the menu and already knew we were getting the Crab Miso soup from the reviews. Zento says that it is a sushi and sake bar, yet they didn't have a sake menu or any Nigori. I'm used to lists of sake and trying new ones and favorites each time. We ordered what they had. yelp.com/biz_photos/nR3V… The menu isn't as extensive as I'm used to. Mostly rolls, some sashimi and hand rolls. We ordered a couple starters and rolls: *Crab Miso Soup (Really Good): yelp.com/biz_photos/nR3V… *Seaweed Salad: yelp.com/biz_photos/nR3V… *Mixed Rolls: yelp.com/biz_photos/nR3V… All devoured with a nice crisp Sapporo. yelp.com/biz_photos/nR3V… So in the end the food was pretty good, service was really slow (despite it being empty) and was kind of disappointed by the lack of menu items. I guess I can be spoiled coming from a city that has some of the freshest fish around.
(3)Matt D.
We've been to Zento twice, and while I enjoy the atmosphere and the sushi, something is missing. The rolls are very good, the crab soup is lovely, and the Love roll is unique and tasty. It's been a popular spot for a long time, but it seems a little tired and worn out. Also, the new $45 minimum for credit cards is just wacky. They announce it at the hostess stand, and we saw two couples turn around and walk out over it...not the best idea for business. Compared to its peers like Doma, Umai Umai, Roe, etc, it's a bit pricey. The folks over at Roe are super friendly, and you can throw in a Thai appetizer to mix in with the Sushi.
(3)Alex D.
Visited Philadelphia back in November, and wanted to see if we could find some good sushi near our hotel. While Morimoto down the street was a place we probably would have enjoyed very much, we were concerned that it would be a difficult place to fully enjoy with our 3 year old, and instead went to Zento after reading many favorable reviews. I must say we were glad we decided to come here - great experience! It's not as avant-garde as Morimoto-san's place is, but definitely tasty! We made a reservation and were seated promptly in their upstairs space. Drinks and appetizers came in a flash, and so did our sushi order. The wait staff was very friendly and efficient, but not hovering or impersonal. The food was delicious, every bit of it. We really liked the scallop carpaccio, the Peking duck hand roll, the nigiri hirame. It's a little on the higher priced side, but as with most sushi that's really authentic, well worth it - sushi is served at the right temperature and in the proper portions - they don't overdo the amount of rice or fillers, and we left satisfied but not overstuffed. It was especially fun to watch our little one wolf down an entire bowl of udon in short order - I never knew that much food could fit into such a little kid! Our only "gripe" was the music. I realize that Zento wants to be a trendier place, and the music wasn't terrible, but it was a bit loud and overbearing. A bit of quieter ambient music would have hit the spot, and let diners chat a bit more, without having to speak loudly. Overall, we enjoyed it very much, and were impressed with their ability and interest in accommodating our young child with us on a little bit of a late night dining run. Would definitely return!!
(4)Jade V.
A lovely afternoon wandering around Olde City culminated in a long dinner at Zento. Usually, I go for the traditional Japanese nigiri sushi, but today I was in more of a tapas-style sharing mood, so my dining partner and I ordered a few of Zento's original sushi platters at a time. They have a really interesting selection of drinks, including some interesting sake and original soju and Japanese-themed cocktails, but it seems like they needed an actual bartender; we were seated right across from the bar and the person they had making the drink seemed kind of new. Like, scooping ice into the cocktail glass using the drinks (which could potentially chip the glass) and constantly referring to the recipe. However, by the time we received them, the cocktails were well-made and delicious There's not as huge a variety of roll styles here as other places, but what they have, they do well. It did take a while for some of the sushi to come out, though. For one, the Peking Duck roll is phenomenal (be warned, though, it's a one-person hand-roll-type deal). I really liked the garden roll, too, with that ginger dressing I can't get enough of. The Mexican roll is crunchily delicious, too! The service was friendly, if a bit slow and awkward. The waiters seemed a little unsure of themselves and little things, like reaching across our plates without warning to refill water, which made it seem like they were a bit green. Nothing totally distracting, though. The jazzy music and warm décor made for a nice ambiance which, in turn, made for a fun night out. If you're driving, you might wanna check out their validated parking coupon printed on their website!
(4)Dana R.
I LOVE this place. Stopped here for a quick bite with the boyfriend. We were seated immediately. Our server was SUPER nice and friendly. We ordered the beer brewed mussels (delicious!!) and thoroughly enjoyed them. We also had a cocktail each. Bf ordered the Country Club Cocktail, but the waiter accidentally brought him the sangria instead. My bf didn't even care because the sangria was so delicious, but the waiter quickly realized his mistake and didn't charge us for it. He brought out the correct cocktail and was very apologetic. I ordered the lychee mojito - I just can't say no to lychee anything - and it was superb. I don't really get why other yelpers are complaining about the size of the place - yes, it is small, but it's not THAT small. It was intimate and romantic and we really loved that. For our entree we split the salmon zento square sushi. I described it to my boyfriend as "sex in my mouth" but not the kind you'd find in pornography. No, it was more like sweet, passionate love making in my mouth. The salmon was delicate, very fresh and the sauce on top just pushed it over the top. Yes, it's expensive here. You wouldn't want to eat here for sushi every week, there are other places for that, but as a special occasion place, Zento kicks ass.
(5)Cat P.
I was a little leery of coming back to this place because I do not remember having a good meal here the first time. My experience with their lunch on Saturday, though, was pleasant. The space itself is beautifully done (a little bit edgier than your standard Japanese restaurant, but not as mod as say, Morimoto or Pod), the wait staff was friendly, and the food was delivered quickly. What more could you ask for? Oh wait, you want the food to be tasty, as well? Well relax, dear Yelper, because Zento delivered on that end, too. I went with the yellowtail tartare, which actually had a really different flavor to it because of the fried shallots and tobiko. I also had their miso soup as an appetizer. I personally wish it had seaweed in it, but it was still pretty damn delicious with just scallions and tofu. My rolls then came out quickly thereafter. I know a lot of people always like to get the crazy rolls, but I try to go with the more traditional rolls because I want to taste what their actual fish is like without all the extra stuff inside. The salmon roll I had was a good size and the fish itself was fresh and delicious. The yellowtail roll was just as good as the tartare and I enjoyed eating it again. The Japanese squash roll was not my favorite (I didn't enjoy the texture), but the presentation of it was still lovely and the actual taste was decent. I was full by this point, but the topped sashimi on their menu piqued my interest. I hope to be able to try that in the future. I will say that Zento is a little on the expensive side if you don't have any coupons, groupons, etc. There didn't really appear to be any deals in their menu and I'm sure you could find a better value somewhere else in the city. It was a charming meal, though, so I didn't really feel like my time was wasted here. I would like to try this spot out for dinner, but I don't typically hang out in Old City, so it may be a while before that happens.
(3)Steve C.
To start, the service is spectacular. I wish I could recall the name of our waiter but he was amazing. Went there with a restaurant.com coupon and they had no problems taking it (you'd be surprised how many put up a fuss). We ordered some sushi and an appetizer (scallops) and got some cocktails 50% off which are that way every evening from 830-1030pm so save your yelp deal for happy hour. The sushi was great. I usually first gauge sushi on the quality of the rice then the fish then the sauce and they were all great. They have a forty five dollar minimum for credit cards which I can't knock them for because they get charged a percentage each time they accept a credit card for payment (just a heads up). I'll definitely be coming here again (and I'll make sure to bring enough cash and a restaurant.com coupon).
(5)Firas I.
Simply put: Sushi was very good. Everything else was mediocre at best. We had the chef's tasting menue, which comprised of seven courses. The miso soup was very tasty and the clams were cooked well. However it was very salty. Again, the sushi was very good. Had I known, I would have just ordered sushi and saved a significant amount. Everything else was not great: there was nothing wrong with the food, but it was not worth the price. Zento is trying to be a very trendy/hip place, which it is not doing very well. It is no longer that small neighbourhood gem.
(2)Vichet O.
Very good drinks here. A bit on the pricey side, but hey - what in Old City isn't? My only criticism - and this is solely because of my own prejudices - is that the drinks on the menu are all girly drinks**. Tasty and well made, but girly nonetheless. **They were on special, so I had to go for it. I had the Grasshopper (think mint chocolate-chip cookies) and the Last Samurai (think pear juice). Both were tasty, and didn't even have a hint of booze flavoring in them - if you know me, this is simultaneously cool and a problem. On one hand, it was a special feat to completely mask the Bombay Sapphire in my Last Samurai. On the other hand, I wanted to taste it, which is why I selected it. I can only wonder if the drink would have been horribly sweet if I'd chosen a lighter gin. Meh. It was good, anyway. I just would never have known there was gin in it - until it started to hit me fifteen minutes later, anyway. As for sake, I had their apple sake, plum sake, and coconut-lemongrass. None of them tasted like sake, and the carafes are shaken with ice, so if you actually like sake for sake (I do), I can't recommend any of these. If you like sweet/tart things that go down easy with an ABV comparable to a beer, then go for it. Decor here was pretty slick as well. Lots of dark wood and paneling. Dim lights. We already know that's my thing. The place opens up a bit from the footprint of its deceptively small Old City row. It's a small place, sure, but it's pretty well laid out. Worth a trip back with my associates. Next, when the drinks are full price, I think I'll stick to my own suggestions. Pro-tip: There is a dining room upstairs that is much more open than their downstairs seating. Try asking about it if you don't want to deal with being a little cramped. !!UPDATE!! I just realized this was my 100th review. Congrats, Zento - you did well!
(4)Nellie F.
My girlfriend and I had lunch here last weekend. We were one of only two tables occupied in the place, but it was an odd hour (2:30) on a Saturday. We sat inside in the back cave/castle-like dining area, which I thought was pretty cool. High ceiling with rock walls covered in melted candle wax with a big gothic looking chandelier. The service was pleasant. Two things I liked most: the scallop starter and the spicy scallop roll. What? That's a lot of scallop you say? I know! But it was really fantastic and incredibly fresh. I personally think well done scallop highlights how fresh (or not fresh) a restaurant's ingredients are as a raw scallop will grab ahold of virtually any flavor or scent, good or bad. We also had a few other rolls and carpaccio, which were also good. Another great thing that I really appreciated: they have gluten free soy. Although we were not there for it, the happy hour specials looked excellent and we will likely return for happy hour sometime soon.
(4)Christina A.
Not as overrated as Fat Salmon and way better than Kisso! Great sushi and ambience. Makes you feel like you found a hidden gem. You MUST order the Mexican Roll. (If you can tell, I feel strongly about this menu item.) My fellow sushi lovers and I usually order 2...The guac and mango salsa is such a unique explosion of flavor! The Tuna Pizza was good the first time but the tortillas were a but soggy the second. It's a cool concept though, worth giving another shot. The Deep Sea roll is also unique with wasabi seared tuna, but you have to be able to handle some spice. Skip the Zeno Square Sushi, and order the Old City and Volcano Roll instead.
(4)Izabella J.
Veeeeery good sushi! Many options for Vegetarians :)))) seriously good... Love that they have outdoor seating. Indoor is very nice too. Suggestions to order: - mushroom roll - yum!
(5)Reiko S.
I came here for lunch. But I'm not sure I'll come back or not. Kinda expensive for than kind of sushi. My sushi was not too bad but also not so good. The rice was too soft for me. Tuna Pizza is good. Nothing too special but like the idea make this kind of pizza. The price for lunch is around $10 & up. Which is other restaurants have cheaper or same price but better quality. The main reason I came here is just because the bonus point offers from my card lol.
(3)Grace H.
I was really excited to try Zento because I'd read so many great reviews about it from my fellow yelpers. But maybe I went on the wrong day. It was a Sunday evening and totally dead - my friend and I were two of 6 diners in the entire restaurant that night. We ordered the sashimi roll, the crunchy spicy salmon, and the monkey roll, as well as the chicken dumplings to start, and I have to say I was disappointed. The sashimi roll was the best of the three, but nothing special. The spicy salmon roll was seriously mediocre and the smoked salmon on the monkey roll tasted of freezer burn. It was so evident to the point where we mentioned it to the server, and his only response was "it's smoked". Other than that he was very attentive, but again, there were only 6 customers to attend to...Maybe I'll be back for a redemption meal but probably not for quite some time.
(2)Claire L.
Always have excellent meals here. Sushi is great. The rolls are delicate but still substantial. Lindan roll is my favorite so far- spicy crunchy salmon with cream cheese (not too much!) and topped with avocado and sauce. Like a better version of philly roll. Plus best of both worlds- BYOB no corkage feel AND a full bar. Come on.
(5)Brian M.
Fast friendly service on sushi at a very reasonable price. The sushi is fresh and they don't try too hard to make crazy concoctions. The sushi just is what it is: great food. The wine is also very good and the cost is about average. I'd come back again.
(5)Kartinya W.
I've been here a few times before and my experience was fine this time was unique because I actually had a problem. The problem turned to to be just a misunderstanding, but I was thoroughly impressed by the way the hostess immediately got the manager involved and by how friendly and engaging he was. Not only did he clear up the misunderstanding. He invited me back for happy hour and made sure everything was good before I left. I can tell the staff, lead by the manager, Christian, I believe his name was, really cares that customers are satisfied and come back to their restaurant. And I will most definitely be back!
(5)Jon L.
I think this is probably more of a 3.5 star sort of place..excellent sushi with a good meat to rice ratio, interesting side dishes, and a good modern atmosphere. Major detractors are: 1) drinks are pretty meh..their descriptions sound very tasty but nothing was that amazing 2) the price is a bit high, and I think I can probably only afford this (barely!) using the Livingsocial deal. That being said, I do think it's a good option for sushi in the Old City area.
(4)A N.
I had Zento cater my wedding in May 2015. To say these guys were incredible is an understatement, my guests RAVED about the food and the atmosphere these guys created. Prior to my wedding, I had heard from some guests that its common for the food at weddings to be so so, and no one ever expects much. Zento blew those people out of the water. From the moment I contacted them, Darin was on top of everything, calling me frequently with updates and getting back to me quickly when I called. It may sound hard to believe, but this is a rarity in the wedding business for some reason. Zento came up with an amazing menu: Pecking duck bao hoisin cucumber and green onions, Shrimp shu Mai with yuzu ponzu, Lettuce cups with Shitake Ragu, Vietnamese sticky rice, Miso eggplant with Lobster, Japanese cucumber gazpacho shooters, Tempura Shrimp and veggies with ponzu glaze, Kobe beef with summer truffles...plus huge platters of their sushi rolls (the monkey roll being my absolute favorite!!!!). Zento also provided the bar, with top shelf selections and a couples choice drink the Bourbon Blossom (HIGHLY RECOMMEND). The bartender Christian is a great guy, and my guests did not leave thirsty, that's for sure. The service throughout our reception was perfect, we had circling waiters with a different food choice, no sit down dinner. I've heard from many guests that they LOVED that arrangement; it skipped the forced table interactions and just let guests get to what they wanted to do (eat, drink, socialize). Zento provided numerous high top tables, linens, and disposable bamboo plates and utensils (I'm sure you can upgrade to real plates and whatnot, but the bamboo actually made it feel a little more authentic and less stuffy. I really liked it!) I cannot recommend Zento enough to anyone looking to have a) amazing food at their wedding b) professionals to work with and c) AMAZING FOOD at their wedding. On a related note, the restaurant rocks too! If I could eat here every day I would. Perfect for dates!
(5)Olivia K.
Zen is one of my favorite restaurants in old city. The atmosphere is good for dates. I went here with two of friends because I had a living social voucher. Before they let you use the voucher on lunch specials as well but not anymore. We ordered the tuna pizza, old city roll, tuna crunch roll and the double shrimp roll. Out of those the old city roll is usually my go to. In addition to those I also like the zento square roll, the sashimi roll and the tofu cheesecake. The other cool thing about this place is that they have a phone charging station downstairs so you can charge your phone if needed.
(4)Rachel L.
Best sushi I've had in a long time. My fav spot in the city used to be Raw, but I feel like you get more bang for your buck. I'm vegan and the vegetarian roll selection was awesome. Between my boyfriend and i, we ordered the Kanpyo Roll, cucumber roll, asparagus roll, grilled mushroom roll, the Hang on salmon roll, green roll, the real California roll, and the green roll. We also got miso soup and edamame. Excellent food. The service was a little confusing because we had two waitresses but they were both very friendly and got everything that we needed. Highly recommended.
(5)Joey M.
I hope the rest of the night goes better than the interactions I have had thus far with this venue. I came across a New Year's Eve Ad on Grim Philly web page which boasted of a great meal and open bar for $75 from 9-11:30 and then a buffet and open bar from 11:30-2:00 am for $35. "That's Great!" I thought, having a good meal with flowing alcohol and don't have to worry about having a seat etc. My friend and I were psyched for this. Well, this morning I get a phone call informing me that the open bar is illegal in Philadelphia and that they are unable to offer it AND that the price for the 9-11:30 pm slot will remain the same. BUT oh they will comp us a bottle of champagne. Really??! I am not sure about you but when I go to a place for an open bar (esp on NYE) I do NOT order champagne until the ball drops! Furthermore, every other bar in Philly seems to be offering an open bar so how is it that Zento is the ONLY place unable to do so!? And why am I finding out the DAY OF the event?! Disappointed does not even begin to describe how I feel... If it wasn't for my friend's insistence I would have demanded a refund and attempted to find another venue (even though it is already NYE) The owner insists that the food is worth the price and that I will not be disappointed...We shall see (4:50 pm NYE) To be continued... So as it turns out we were refunded the full amount and were given the option of choosing the $80 three course meal (see pic) or directly from the menu. I must say that I was THRILLED that we were given this option because the three course meal for $80 did not seem worth it in my book (what do you think?). Upon arrival we were greeted by a host who attempted to seat us near the door but we asked for alternate seating and were guided upstairs. The waiter brought over an ice bucket with the champagne but did not open it (it was only a twist off) or serve it to us which I found kinda of odd. Maybe I've grown too snobby as I age? Anyway, the prices are a tad high but the selection is good. We ordered: Rainbow cerviche: delicious cube cut chunks of a variety of fish that were perfectly seasoned--HIGHLY recommend Love Roll: salmon, tuna, yellowtail, eel, asparagus, and avocado. wrapped with soy paper--OK Lindan Roll: crunchy spicy tuna, cream cheese inside. topped with avocado, tobiko and sriracha--HIGHLY recommend Korean BBQ Wagyu Beef: korean dipping sauce, kimchee puree, mix green with ginger dressing, multi grain. beef served medium rare only.--Good but not worth the price in my opinion Overall I enjoyed my meal and look forward to trying other menu items (ie: Mexican roll, Square sushi...) FYI: If you like saki this place may be for you. They have an impressive selection and even offer a flight sampler! (KUDOS if you made it through this review!)
(3)Tania K.
Thank Goodness for the Groupon discount! Still spent additional $100 on top of the $70 for $120 deal. I'll tip my hat off to their freshness. The Hamachi melts in yo mouf! Although their sushi is fresh, Zento is quite too expensive for their serving sizes. $8 for a hand roll that you can devour in a single bite is ridiculous. Oh. Don't get the Ramen. I was just curious toward the end of my meal, and you really just need to order the sushi! The ramen noodles were too thin to be ramen, and the broth was more on the salty side for my palette. Also, appetizer Calamari was also too breaded! Not enjoyable.
(2)Lea T.
When I've been craving sushi, nothing hits the spot like a trip to Zento in Old City. Right across the street from Han Dynasty, this spot is dark and intimate inside (perfect for a date). Zento has a full bar with late night happy hour (8:30-11:00 pm) and its BYO! ($10 corkage fee on weekends) Have a saki-bomb with Sapporo or try the Lychee Martini or Mojito. The bar has about 6 seats and there is 2 levels of dining area, however this spot is ideal for parties of 6 or less. Reservations can be made on Opentable and parking is free with validation. If you stop by for lunch, bento boxes are served Monday-Friday 11:30 am - 3 pm and they come with miso soup, white rice and a choice of spring roll or a California Roll. Both Lunch specials and Bento boxes start at $12. For dinner there is are numerous sushi and sashimi options, as well as hot dishes. I would recommend starting with edamame, dumplings, crabcakes, tempura vegetables, or the avocado salad. For sushi rolls I LOVE the Branzino roll, Mexican Roll, Double Shrimp Roll, and Angus Beef Roll. These are specialty rolls I promise you will not find at any other sushi restaurant in Philly. For entrees, the Chicken and Salmon Teriyaki are large portions and the Chilean Sea Bass is perfection. Try the Mochi ice cream for dessert. Since Zento can be more expensive than most sushi places, try Groupon or LivingSocial for a voucher and check in with Yelp for half off a signature cocktail!
(5)Flora W.
I was wandering near Penn's Landing and looking for a Japanese place. Honestly, I don't think their sushi is good. I just feel their sushi is really small. Fish also don't taste fresh as well. If I choose to go for a sushi and sashimi, I still prefer Fat Salmon or Zama unless I find another good sushi place.
(3)Djuan S.
Late lunch date with the girls. We are rating this place a 4. The atmosphere is really nice. The exposed brick wall gives it character. It's very cozy and has nice lighting. My friend says that "it's an upscale atmosphere with medium prices." The menu has some unique sushi combos and lots of options even for non-sushi eaters. Solid choice for a nice sushi dinner. Looks like they do lunch as well.
(4)Nikki R.
One of my favorite restaurants in Old City and one of my favorite sushi restaurants of all time. Place is small, but people are nice and sushi is delicious!
(5)Aria S.
I came here because I got a Restaurant.com deal through work which was $5 for $30 worth of food. Definitely a steal, right? Well, despite the great deal I got, I was very disappointed with the food. It took a while to get the food, the options were pretty limited, and the portions were TINY. Sometimes sushi doesn't fill people up, but this was a joke how small the pieces were. Especially for full price, it was a joke. Of course, it is a trendy, cool olde city spot. But other than that, the food isn't great.
(2)Christine V.
Solid sushi place in Old City. I came here for restaurant week last week with my boyfriend. What we ordered: Appetizers - white fish carpaccio and the crab cakes Entrees - sushi and sashimi platter, mexican roll, and volcano roll Dessert - green tea mochi and tofu cheesecake For the appetizers, the white fish carpaccio was good and a great way to start off the meal. They topped the carpaccio with yuzu suace, which has a citrus zing to it. Sweet and tangy! I didn't think the fish was that fresh, which was disappointing because I do expect carpaccio dishes to have pretty fresh fish. Regardless of this, it was still enjoyable and kick started our meal. The crab cakes were small but filled with fresh crab. No complaints. Now the entrees. The sushi and sashimi platter came with 5 pieces of nigiri, 6 pieces of sashimi and 8 pieces of spicy tuna. I personally enjoyed the salmon sashimi and the escolar! I will give Zento kudos for labeling their "white tuna" escolar given the controversy around escolar these days. A little piece of it won't kill ya, so why not have some once in a blue moon? The escolar here is not as buttery as I would like but still good nonetheless. Their sushi and sashimi platter, even during restaurant week, is pretty filling! The volcano roll was a deep fried roll that had smoked salmon, imitation crab, and avocado. Nothing too special. The Mexican roll was really interesting and had a creative spin to the regular sushi rolls I'm usually used to. It had white fish tempura with cucumbers and topped with guacamole and mango salsa. I was hesitant to try it when I first looked at the menu but it was restaurant week and the perfect time to try something new. I was definitely happy with the decision to try it. It was different but in such a good way! My boyfriend and I were both very impressed with the Mexican roll. It was a very refreshing and light roll. The guacamole and mango salsa were such good compliments to the white fish! The roll was wrapped in soy paper which was a better alternative given the guac and salsa. Give this roll a chance if you can! When it came time to dessert, my boyfriend and I were pretty full already. Green tea mochi had a great matcha taste to it. The tofu cheesecake took a little getting used to but after a while, my tastebuds were starting to enjoy it more. I personally wouldn't order the tofu cheesecake again if given the chance. Zento is a great place to come for restaurant week. At $35 for their dinner menu, it really is worth it in my opinion. A gem in Old City!
(4)Katrina C.
I really like Zento. The sushi is just so good. The service is great, too. It's not cheap, but they frequently have Groupons. My friends and I had gone in a couple of times, and they even gave us a $10 gift card to use the next time we went in! (Which we did, naturally). My favorite is the Mexican roll. It's different! The noodle soup is really good, and their avocado salad is my favorite! It's BYOB, even though it has a full bar.
(5)Eunni C.
This place seems have always promotions going on. I see their coupons pretty often. We went there after our show at Arden theater. Restaurant wasn't big but clean. There was semi private dining area in the end of hall but they didn't have door so it was really loud since big group was drinking and eating. Wasn't able to enjoy our dinner at all. Food was ok and they had promotion but I would not necessarily go to old city to eat there.
(2)Bing G.
The food was pretty good and the atmosphere was romantic. It's a nice place for a date. The only downside is that when i came here, the server was really confused. It was a weekend so i didn't mind them being a little slow, but she didn't know what the specials had in them and struggled to even say them. Our food also sat on the serving stand for a long time before it was brought to us. .. like 15 minutes ( we could see cause it was right next to us). Our waitress was also a little rude in my opinion. she didn't address me at all, but only my boyfriend the entire time. I guess she just assumed the guy made the date so he was in charge? But it made me feel a little uncomfortable when she looked down the entire time i ordered and only looked at my bf when asking if we needed anything or giving us the specials, if we wanted more water, etc. I've been a server for a few years at a bunch of different places, so it's strange to me that a place as nice as this had such mismatched service. Hoping this was just an off night, and others have better experiences
(3)Sarita C.
Mussels steamed in beer with a slight green curry was my favorite dish/appetizer of the night. The dragon roll with crunchy spicy tuna with avacado was good and we also got the zento square sushi and we went half salmon and half tuna was good too!
(5)Kelly P.
It's my go-to sushi spot when I'm in Old City. The downside is their lunch specials are not available on the weekend, but I have never been disappointed here, lunch or dinner.
(4)Your M.
Highly recommended the calamari! Also we came in closer to closing and I was waiting for them to say no but they seated us right away. My Mixed Sushi order was fantastic!!
(5)Noah R.
DELICIOUS. Went here for a late lunch and had the spicy salmon, rainbow roll, and the eel and cucumber roll. The eel and cucumber roll was AMAZINGLY definitely would recommend. The person I was eating with ordered an iced tea and said it was great, and he's a tough grader. Fast service, beautiful decor, will definitely return!
(5)Rachel C.
Out of all of the Japanese restaurants I've been to, I would have to say Zento is definitely one of the best. Each time I've been there, there is always some sort of deal on Yelp or on Groupon so make sure you check that out. I have ordered: Steamed Shrimp Dumplings- these were just shu-mai, nothing special and just mediocre in my opinion. Tuna Pizza- LOVE this! I am not the biggest fan of sashimi but this sashimi tuna with seaweed salad on top of a thin bread cracker is amazing. Sea bass- Fresh sea bass, well cooked and great flavor. Double Shrimp Roll- My favorite roll of all time. Delicious XO sauce mixed with shrimp, small asparagus bits and mushrooms. Must try! The atmosphere is very chic with the exposed brick walls and decor. Great service and friendly staff too!
(4)Komal D.
We came here on a Saturday and it was super packed. We didn't get our appetizers for about 45minutes. So we left and had to come back another day because we had a groupon to use up The restaurant looks like a lounge and the tables are really close together. Our waitress was good. We ordered 2 appetizers and 5 rolls. Everything was delicious. I highly recommend the sweet potato tempura roll and the Mexican roll. Don't buy the groupon to this place though. They nickel and dime you into basically paying the full price, so the groupon savings is basically worthless. Good food. Good service. Super expensive. I've had just as good sushi for cheaper in the city. I probably wouldn't come back here even with a groupon.
(3)Hagana K.
Very solid sushi place in Old City. Calamari appetizer is great, calamari salad not so much - it's breaded/fried calamari on top of lettuce and tomatoes, I was hoping it would be unbreaded calamari. The rolls are great, the fish is very fresh, and it's a step above most sushi places in the city. I really liked the flaming dragon roll I think it was called. Only wish I lived closer!
(4)Candice H.
Wow. You get a refill on green tea and you pay per each cup. That's like asking for a refill on your water. 0 stars for that one, 3 stars average. They don't even tell you there's a charge for that. Never have I experienced any charge at a sushi place for that one... Overall the fish was tender, but kind of mild tasting. Not chewy so that's good and I'm a straight up chirashi bowl eater. The flavor was sort of lacking, price was high, service was good, but nothing too exciting to come back for. The king crab eel roll was tasty but the eel was really flavorless... Again about the mild tasting fish. Right amount of spiciness though. Most of all, that green tea charge really caught me off guard. There are TVs here for any sports fans. Atmospheres nice at night but in the day likely not the most refinished setting. Some seating outside. A lot of guests with BYO wine (not sure what the charge is). They do provide nice wine glasses though.
(3)Saliya B.
Update on 06/20/15: customer service is just great ! I can't thank the manager enough for making our experience unforgettable. Five stars. This place is truly my favorite
(5)Eduardo A.
Their sushi rolls are pretty good, better than Momos and most Sushi places in Old Town. Good service.
(4)Kristy C.
The interior design of the place is warm and comforting. The staffs seems to be short handed with only two servers on a Sunday night. As for the food the salmon teriyaki was tasty and nicely presented and the calamari were the highlight of the night. Sushi wise rolls were a bit mushi nothing to rave about. If you want hot food this is the place for you
(4)Jo L.
I've been wanting to try this place for a while so my friend & I came during her lunch break today to try this place out & use a gift certificate that I had. First thing I noticed was there was only 1 person working. Even though it may not be as busy during the day, I definitely felt like there should have been at least 2 people. The poor guy was running around trying to help everyone. There were 4 tables in the back, including us, & a big group in the front. There were also people getting take out. That is definitely a 2 person job. Especially since this is during people's lunch break. I do give him props though. My friend had the Tuna Pizza $14 from the appetizer menu & the Alaska roll $15. Tuna Pizza: "Crisp Tortilla Fresh Minced Tuna, Cilantro, Seaweed Salad, Tomato and Spicy Sauce" I am not a huge fan of seaweed salad so I can't judge this dish too much. I do wish they had more tomatoes though. Alaska Roll: "Spicy California Roll, Fresh Salmon On Top With Sweet Miso Glaze, Yuzu Miso Creame Friache" The miso glaze is pretty sweet, different from the usual rolls I've had. I had the Tuna Zento Sushi Square $14 "Square Sushi with Eel, Avocado, and Plum Paste. Topped with Tuna or Salmon glazed with Sweet & Spicy Sauce" you could also get salmon instead of tuna. I wanted to try this because of a lot reviews mentioned it. It was cool that it was square but in the end, it just tasted like I was eating rice. And rice also fell apart easily. I also had the Tsunami Roll which is not on their website but I do remember torched tuna on top & tempura eel inside. I did like this roll though I am not usually a fan of tempura, especially shrimp. I liked the torched part. As busy as the guy was he refilled our water often & was quick to come over. Being so dark outside, you can't really look in & tell big it is or how far back it goes but this place is pretty small. It's not necessarily a bad thing, I would just want to keep that in mind during busier times. What we ordered: ' Tuna Pizza ' Alaska Roll: try if you like something a little different & kind of sweet ' Tuna Zento Square Roll: mostly tasted like just rice + Tsunami Roll: torched tuna & tempura shrimp
(3)Laura S.
Love the ambiance- dim and quiet. The staff is extremely attentive and the food is top notch. Teriyaki Salmon was the best I have ever had. I will be going back many more times to come!
(5)Ali F.
This is a great hidden BYOB sushi spot in old city and a well treasured hidden secret of mine. With reasonably priced sushi and a quiet eclectic atmosphere, Zento has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. Checking in on yelp has its advantage as you receive half off a cocktail if you decide to utilize bar service! My personal favorites are the sweet potato tempura and the inari as a non-sushi, sushi water. The guests, however, always enjoy the other dishes and typically order more! Keep it up Zento!!
(5)Anna Y.
They are very busy ! I didn't make a reservation but the host was kindly enough to give me a one hour limit dinning time . For starters, we had the wagyu beef and duck hand roll. The wagyu beef was so so, i couldn't remember much of it. As for the duck roll, it was tasty but wished they didn't have rice inside and the wrap was boring. For entree, we had miso soup , uni and a sashimi platter. The miso soup was your average sushi restaurant miso soup. Sashimi were fresh and so was the uni. Overall, it was a good try, but i think there are better places to go in the city.
(3)Amanda N.
3.5/5 stars would be more accurate.. I'm not normally a big grouponer but after hearing rave reviews about this restaurant from friends, I decided to give it a try. We were seated in an awkward high top table between the bar and regular dining tables. My boyfriend bruised his arm on the wall deco a few times. It was a bit distracting having food/drinks squeezed by your table constantly and there was a group of loud girls and guys at the bar that we had an unfortunate good view of (gosh i sound old but those "friendly" guys from back in the day get creepier looking to me as time goes on). So the layout is tight obviously. It is definitely a trendy atmosphere where the bar was the center of the layout's focus as opposed to the japanese chefs.They don't have the traditional sushi bar where you see the chefs in action doing their magicil work of art so that was a bit of a bummer to me being a traditionalist soo gotta be open-minded! The menu was very impressive selection-wise w/some very modern selections and unique dishes such as king crab miso tofu soup. The nigiri was pricier than I am used to for quality that was sub-par.. We ordered: * king crab miso tofu soup: soooo good! **a must if you like crab (yumm i can still taste the awesome crab) * crab cakes: smaller portion than expected but tastey if you don't mind the crunch * spicy king crab roll: the definite winner out of all the rolls (thanks for the review/suggestion Vy D.) * zento square salmon roll: good balance of flavor and decent quality roll overall * ocean roll or something with soft shell crab: definitely not a winner and overwhelmed by the heavy avocado serving that made everything taste like guac and rice * sea eel and salmon nigiri My complaints are in the quality of the sashimi used in the rolls and the salmon nigiri.. salmon didnt have that nice fresh texture or taste that I crave when in the mood for good japanese food. Still on the lookout for a solid place... but pickings are slim compared to California :( Suggestions: sit in the main dining area if possible unless you don't mind people watching, groupon is helpful as the menu is on the pricey side but you can grab ice cream after at franklin fountain or a snack down by all the vendors at the events near the water to fill you up (free movies on thursday nights) if you don't feel like splurging on dinner here.. don't know if we'll be back as we are really picky about quality japanese food, there's outdoor seating for small groups (~2) which looks fun, wish we had known about the free parking!
(4)Rich R.
Tried the place with a groupon, and we will be back. Went on a Sunday night and the place was not busy at all. In fact, we experienced a random act of kindness out front looking for a parking spot. A woman was leaving her spot right in front of Zento, got out of her car and ran over to us while we were waiting for her. She handed me her unused parking reciept, paid until 9:30pm. It was 7 pm. Nice of her. We tried the tuna pizza, aithough it is smaller than pictured, it was delicious. We got the usual assortment of rolls, no problem. Service was great. They dinged us with $10 corkage for a $6 bottle of wine, in spite of reading here that it was Fri and Sat only.. Oh well. I can see doing that on a busy night, but there were only 3 couples eating there.
(4)Cindy B.
This is a really neat place in Old City. I love their fried calamari. There are some decent deals for our large Meetup group that goes there for game night, although that recently changed. The staff is very friendly and attentive. My friend says they have the best Saki he's tasted in the area. The food I've had with them has always been good, but now that they've changed prices I probably will not be eating there regularly. It's very close to ample street parking which is great There are so many options on Chestnut Street and on surrounding streets in Old City it's hard to say if I would pick Zento above others. But I am glad they are willing to host our meetup and therefore I give them points for hospitality!
(4)Larry F.
FOOD: 3/5 The food was rather average. I came with 3 other friends and we ordered the Tuna Pizza, Peking Duck Hand Rolls, and some specialty rolls. Out of these things we tried, the only one I would recommend is probably the Peking Duck Hand Rolls. I'm a big fan of Peking Duck and this was definitely an interesting and tasty way to try it. Tuna Pizza came with some tasty seaweed, but besides that, it was pretty average. The specialty rolls are probably subpar from the other sushi places I've been to. I was also disappointed at the quantity of fish they gave for the rolls. Besides the food, I also tried the cocktails my friends ordered - bland, watery, and a bad after taste. I was surprised to see people writing good reviews about them. SERVICE: 3/5 Average. We were a bit confused on why we were charged 20% gratuity for a group of 4. Apparently it's "house rules" for any Groupons and Living Social deals. I wish we knew this coming in, but I guess it's not completely their fault. Cocktails took a pretty long time to come... AMBIANCE: 4/5 Definitely an interesting venue. I would strongly recommend sitting in the inside room. There are a couple tables in front of the bar by the entrance, but the inside is much better. TL;DR: Interestingly decorated sushi shop with disappointing food.
(3)Quirky J.
I heard several people rave about this place, but food-wise, nothing jumped out to me. The sushi was a-okay...but based on that and the service, I would have given this place a 3. It's not bad, by any means, but the prices are a little high for the serving sizes. They do have happy hour prices for select appetizers, so if you're looking for some decent calamari, check it out during that time. I wouldn't pay full price for most of it. I gave the fourth star based on 2 things. 1. There's an upstairs that is great for larger gatherings. 2. They do have quite the variety of Asian alcohols that you might not get elsewhere.
(4)Katrina D.
Last May my boyfriend and I went here for the first time and had an experience that bordered between lack-luster and bad. I put up a review and within 24 hours I received a call from the manager. He wanted to learn more about our experience so he could ensure it wouldn't happen again. He encouraged us to come back so he could make sure we had a positive experience. This level of effort and professionalism is rare this day and age so I took him up on the offer. Last month we returned, and received plenty of attention plus a delicious ceviche appetizer. Between the improved service, better food quality and commitment to customer satisfaction exemplified by the Manager, this place gets 4 stars in my book.
(4)Vy D.
Here's why you should go to Zento for sushi if you're in the city: Zento, which means "future" in Japanese, truly represents what modernized, new-age sushi is all about here in the states and abroad. Zento Contemporary Sushi and Sake Bar feels like a chic, sophisticated new dining experience in Old City Philadelphia. The dining room creates a warm, contemporary space. It is well-decorated with the high ceiling main dining room, exposed brick walls adorned with wax drippings from the ten candle nooks, and beautiful red banners of bold Japanese calligraphy. We began with a bowl of King Crab Tofu Miso Soup ($5), which had plenty of crab floating in a tasty miso/dashi broth combined with silky tofu, wakame (seaweed), and clear cellophane noodles. Yummy. The highlight sushi roll is the King crab roll ($19). Handcrafted with shrimp tempura inside, and broiled eel and crab toppings on the outside. Delish. Other rolls we liked a lot were the square roll, monkey roll, crunchy spicy tuna roll, and love roll. Aside from the wonderful quality of fish, seafood, and rice, everything was beautifully presented. Excellent service. Oh, if you check in on Yelp, there's a 50% off any cocktail! My recommendation- Use the coupon on the lychee martini. You won't regret it. Seriously. ***Coolest part of the Zento dinning experience- You can park for free on 37 S 2nd street!***
(4)Kira K.
My roommate has been wanting to try this place out for a while and she bought a groupon so we went on a Saturday night. When first walking in, we were brought waters by the waitress and without introducing herself, she just plainly asked "are you ready to order?" As a waitress myself, I was a little turned off by how un-personable she was. Anyways, my roommate and I ended up ordering the Tuna Pizza for an appetizer, and I got the Alaska Roll for my entree, and my roommate got the square sushi roll (with salmon). The Tuna Pizza tasted really fresh and was accompanied well with the spicy sauce drizzled on top. The only thing I could comment on it, was that it could have been a little bigger for the price. My Alaska Roll was pretty good and had a really good miso sauce drizzled over it. The square sushi also had really great sauces that went well with the sushi. For dessert, we opted for the tofu-cheesecake with the poached peaches (since it sounds interesting). This dessert I definitely recommend :) It is light, yet the poached peaches (i believe it's poached in sake) was a unique taste that was a perfect end to dinner. Overall, since I am a big sushi-lover, I would say this restaurant has pretty good sushi and interesting/unique appetizers. The service could have been a little better, and the prices are a little high, but I would still recommend trying this place. Also... they add automatic 18% gratuity (even though there was only 2 of us).. which may have been why the waitress didn't seem to care
(4)Megan S.
Mediocre at best, expensive & slow delivery. Why can't I find a good sushi place that delivers in Philly!
(2)Laura H.
I've been this place a few times. They have a full bar, but allow you to BYO. Sometimes they have a cork fee, sometimes they don't. And I haven't quite figured out the schedule behind that-- call ahead to check. I've been here twice now with friends that have, knowing my healthy/unhealthy? obsession with sushi, had groupons and needed a companion, so check for that too. The place is pretty small, but we've never had an issue getting a table. They'll walk you past the bar towards the back that has this old-timey gothic feel to it. Mounted fixtures hold white candlesticks that have melted wax running down the black painted walls. The sushi is good too! The tuna pizza is pretty good, it's no tuna flatbread from doma, but still good. Just be careful if you drive, the PPA will ticket or tow your car pretty much immediately after your time is up around here.
(4)Byron R.
Best sushi in Philly! We had amazing service as always! I was there with 8 others and most had never been there. They all had an amazing time and we tried about 15 different kinds of Sake! My kind of night!!!
(5)Elizabeth L.
I'm a huge fan of Zento - one of my favorite, pricier places for sushi. I've gone here three time using a Groupon and each time was as delicious as the last. With a Groupon discount, we got $50 for around $32. Sushi was great with an interesting selection of combinations - some of our favorites were the volcano and monkey rolls. They are also BYOB without a corkage fee except for Friday and Saturday nights, but check ahead just in case. It is a small space, but I didn't have a problem getting a table (they also have a small upstairs in case the bar and first floor are full). Service wasn't the fastest I've had, but the atmosphere and food made up for it. It's a cute, intimate place - I don't want to speed through dinner anyways! Will be back for sure, a great place for celebrations, anniversaries, or just a fun date night.
(5)Raj M.
This place is a very good sushi option within its area. As a bit of a sushi snob, I was a little bit worried when I had their seaweed salad... especially since one of my friends had been here before and really didn't like the sushi. But she was giving the place a second chance. Anyway, the seaweed salad was a little more dry than what I'm used to, though still what I would call good. The two sushi rolls I got were very good. I didn't like the king crab roll, but I think that's just my food preference talking. The other roll I had, the "something" dragon was very yummy. And my friend got a crunchy spicy salmon roll which was great too. The only things to be weary of is the space and the price. It's a little bit more tight than I would like a restaurant to be, but others may not mind. And it's a little more expensive than I would have liked, but again, others may not mind. All told, it's definitely worth trying at least once.
(4)Alex R.
Tied for best sushi in philly. Ambiance makes it and the sashimi was soooo fresh. Only thing is 2nd time I tried to go there there was a mad long wait. So MAKE A RES
(5)Majlinda K.
Wow I really had my hopes high for this place and really wanted to give it a good rating but as the night went on I could see the stars for my review quickly fading away. First off this place is a BYOB, it's advertised as a BYOB but they fail to mention a $10 cork fee, that was almost as much as the bottle of wine we brought! Since we had the bottle with us we ended up paying the cork fee. I think cork fees are one of the most obvious way to rip off your customers. We got a small table right away even for a Saturday night which was great. The service was really slow, we got the sushi after we were almost done with the wine. We got the Mexican roll, the salmon zeno square and the garden roll. The zeno square was a little disappointing; the rice was super sticky and a bit bland. The experience was all that terrible, the Mexican roll was a total winner and the roll only gets 5 stars. The other positive is if you check with Yelp you get free parking!
(2)Jay Z.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday. The decor was pretty nice albeit a little dark. The food was decent but nothing really stood out: mussels weren't as good as the mussels from Monk's Cafe and the sushi wasn't as good as those from Vic (which is cheaper). One interesting thing I did notice was that there were some sadiddy ass people sitting around me. One dude was on a date with his girl and viewed my sweaty forehead as I sat down with obvious disgust as if his sitting at the table adjacent to mine would ruin his chances. (Bro, chill mang the girl ain't that hot). Another group was a bunch of women who talked like they know everything about sushi and tried way too hard to be classy. Anyways, service was great. The food just wasn't my type.
(3)Laurie J.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia, and my favorite place for sushi overall. Yesterday, we went back for the first time since Zento moved down the street to its new location. The ambiance may have changed, but the sushi is still fantastic. My two favorites are the Angus Beef Roll and the Sweet Potato Tempura Roll. Both delicious. I can't really comment on the entrees, as I only ever get sushi there. It's definitely a bit pricy, but totally worth the cost. There's also a large cocktail and sake list - and a decent beer list. I didn't try any sake, so I can't comment on it. In addition, you can park at a lot around the corner and get your ticket validated by Zento for up to three hours of free parking (Skypark 37S 2nd Street - right next to The Plough & the Stars). When I lived in Philadelphia, they also delivered (though I'm not sure of how far they will deliver - I only lived a block away). If you're looking for delicious sushi - don't miss out on visiting Zento.
(5)Edward W.
Had a great time taking my friend out to this place. The place is not big and thus seating was limited, but the environment was modern and sufficiently "cultural." Food and rolls were very good in freshness and quality. However, they were very skinny and tended to be not very satisfying (even from a sushi standpoint). I'm here for sushi, don't give me tuna carpaccio on rice and call it a roll. Do need to provide more satiation and bang for buck here.
(3)Michael A.
I'd been wanting to check this place out for and eventually tried it for a date. I didn't experience any of the hostess ambivalence others have described, and was pleasantly surprised by the tasteful art and modern decor. The miso soup was wonderful, as was my spider roll. Their cocktail menu was very creative, but the drinks didn't quite measure up to expectations. The value wasn't quite there, but the sushi was good and overall delivered on a very enjoyable meal.
(4)Vincent I.
I recently purchased a Groupon for this place, and decided to take my wife out tonight. First, I will start with the positives. The food and drinks were very good. We thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered. The servers were great; super friendly, and quick to take care of whatever you needed. The atmosphere was also very nice. Great decor and ambiance. Now let's talk about the negatives. My wife order the Pinot Noir, and thought she was going to get what they advertised on the menu. What she got was a 9 dollar glass of Barefoot Pinot Noir (retail price per bottle 9.99 -12.99). I ordered the Tennessee Tokyo (Jack based drink) which included "fresh orange and fresh lime juice". As I watched the bartender poor in Tropicana, I began to question all of the ingredients being advertised for both food and drink. Second, the price was very high. Even with our Groupon, we still ended up spending close to a hundred bucks for dinner and drinks for two. Overall, this place is good. However, with all of the great sushi places in the city that are off the beaten path, we have easily found places that offer more bang for your buck. Not sure if I would go back, but still enjoyed my experience.
(3)B. C.
This was pretty good. Wife's sushi was good, as was my salmon. Will say though that the sweet-potato-tempura roll could have used more punch (a bit of lemon? something) to ramp up the flavor a bit.
(3)Chelsea G.
The sushi was fresh and tasty. The volcano roll was amazing. We tried the spicy tuna, kobi beef, monkey and volcano rolls. The only one I wouldn't recommend is the kobi beef one. It was great but wasn't bad. It just wasn't worth the money.
(4)Joe Y.
The food was alright here. It wasn't anything amazing, but they definitely had some interesting dishes. As appetizers, I had the Tuna Pizza and the Peking Duck Hand Roll as they were the most raved about on Yelp. The tuna pizza was nothing that interesting except for the fact that it was a play on pizza. The rice on the duck roll was actually very well made, and the duck was great! We also ordered a variety of specialty rolls, including the Deep Sea Roll, the Zento Square Roll, and the Volcano Roll. Our favorite was the volcano as it had a variety of flavors with a crunchy outer layer. However, I felt that it was a bit pricy for what I had. I definitely think you can get similar sushi for cheaper the Philadelphia. Overall though, it was an enjoyable experience.
(3)Patrick S.
My wife prefers traditional sushi, instead of the updated style Zento specializes in. Quality was good, but service left a little something to be desired. They brought us one roll incorrectly, which turned out to be much more expensive than what we had ordered. And with the Yelp deal, they automatically charged us what turned out to be about a 25% gratuity. Pretty good food, but not sure we will return next time we are in Philadelphia.
(3)Incognito I.
I dined alone and the specialty love roll was good but the simple rolls were not that great. They are overpriced also. Spent $40 and left hungry- ordered 3 rolls. The portions are small.
(2)Tasha S.
Here on business and craving sushi, this location was closest to my hotel. Was shocked to see how small and crammed in everything was, but when we arrived we were one of three other groups. Prices were a little over the top! But the food was still good. Im more of someone who could care less about presentation as long as the foods good, I want a good amount for a good price. This is not the place for that. I left still hungry, $70 later. I will recommend their king crab miso soup. That was delicious. One thing that I can say I didn't like very much was that the waiters are really on top of filling your water cup. I'd take a sip, literally a little sip, and within two seconds there's our waiter filling it with water. It happened just about every time. Then once our food came, he stopped. I don't get it . Bottom line, would I come again? No. Would I recommend thusly place as my first choice for sushi? Probably not, but since this was the only place I knew of relatively close to the hotel I would but also tell people you're paying for all that extra for a flower on your dish.
(3)Allison B.
Lunch at Zento was the highlight of my day on 1/5/12. Granted, it is only 2:30 and there's a chance things could perk up from here, but I'm not sure what could top this flawlessly executed meal. For a mere $10, you can enjoy miso soup (savory and rich, not watery at all), a green salad (sprinkled with black sesame seeds and a light ginger dressing) and two rolls from the list provided. I ordered my favorites: spicy tuna and salmoncado (this roll was not on the list, and had a $1 upcharge, but whatever). Michelle C ordered green tea for the both of us, which was served in a fancy handle-less mug, and had hints of an earthy rice flavor. The rolls aren't massive, but I liked it that way. The rice:fish ratio is on point. No globs of rice falling off any piece. Both the tuna and salmon tasted fresher than any other sushi I've tasted in Philadelphia. Service was, if anything, too good. There are only so many times a two-top happily eating their sushi needs to be checked up on. I'll have to dine-in while they're still BYOB before their location changes to a "sexy and trendy establishment with a premium sake bar." Liquor licenses are the worst. Regardless, every bite was delicious. I'll be back, BYO or not.
(5)Ricky A.
Was a very decent spot for downtown Philadelphia Sushi. We ordered the Volcano Dragon Roll (not as spicy as I thought it would be, maybe you're able to ask for it a little more). Also ordered the Flaming Dragon roll, same spice level as above. Not to discredit the whole roll in general, as it was still very tasteful! For the appetizer we got the Shrimp Dumplings, the sauce they serve it with is the one!!
(3)Elizabeth K.
For dinner we ordered seaweed salad, vegetable and shrimp tempura, and the sushi & sashimi platter with some sake and Japanese craft beer. The seaweed salad was rather dry, but the tempura was pleasantly crispy. In terms of the platter, I think the regular maki was the best part of it. Overall, the food was decent but didn't stand out from other trendier sushi spots we've tried. We did go on a Wednesday, so that might explain why the fish didn't seem amazingly fresh. On the plus side, it is really convenient that you can get your parking ticket validated for the garage right up the street. Parking in Old City can sometimes be a pain. Also service is prompt and courteous.
(3)Tom W.
I love the ambiance of this place. There are (at least) two dining areas, one upstairs and one downstairs. We were seated downstairs. The room has a nice high ceiling and is generally pretty dimly lit, with alcoves in the stone walls for candles. They have a couple of flatscreens high up on the walls showing black and white films -- I caught bits of two of them while I was there. One was a gangster film and the other seemed to be a Jet Li martial arts thing. Personally, I would expect a bit more of a sword/martial/samurai theme given the name of the restaurant but I really can't complain! Maybe they should show old jidaigeki films on those flatscreens to get a bit more on theme. My friend and I had a coupon from LivingSocial for a seven course tasting menu for two. The coupon described a meal including choices like "wagyu beef and zento's famous square sushi", but what we received was very different. The courses were as follows: 1. Miso soup with mussels - I am not a fan of miso soup; usually I find the fishy flavor of the dashi to be overpowering. However, this soup was exceptional. The flavors were really well balanced and the mussels were very tasty. 2. Calamari Salad - a few rings of deep fried calamari over greens. I liked it. 3. Crab cakes - two small handmade fried crab cakes. These were pretty plain and could have used a bit more sauce. They tasted fine, but nothing exceptional about it. 4. White fish carpaccio - three thin slices of white fish very well plated. Delicious and easy on the eyes! 5. Chicken Teriyaki - a couple of pieces of chicken, sauce, and a small mound of spinach and mushrooms. This dish was by far the most disappointing of the night as it was both small and boring. The greens were more exciting than the chicken. It tasted fine but nothing stood out about it, especially given that this should be an entree course. This is where the advertised Wagyu beef or square sushi should have been. 6. Sushi platter - Four nigiri sushi (salmon, tuna, white tuna, yellowtail) and half a roll. The sushi was incredible -- by far the best I've had in Philadelphia (for reference, I have had sushi at Pod, Mizu, Mixx, Aki, Green Garden, and the now defunct Genji). The roll had some sort of mayo based sauce in it (usually a no-no for me) but it was just perfectly balanced. 7. Dessert (shared) - Tofu cheesecake and red bean mochi ice cream. This was fine but unexciting. The cheesecake was better than expected but still pretty bland, and the ice cream was good. My girlfriend ordered some Tempura green tea icecream which I stole a bite of -- now THAT was a good dessert! Additionally, the meal came with some non-alcoholic cocktails. I tried a green apple based drink and a white peach based drink, both of which were quite tasty. Overall it felt like a reasonable value but mainly because of the Livingsocial price. I could see spending $35 plus tax and tip for this meal as a very nice value, but at $70 it would be overpriced.
(4)Meredith B.
Very good. I'm a fan of Vic's on 20th and Sansom so I was skeptical about any other sushi place in the city. I'll be honest - this would be my second choice for sushi in the city. Def crowded and BYO.
(4)Jenny B.
I may not ate here during when there's a big crowd, but my friend's fiancee, who's the sushi chef assistant, definitely showed me how great of a sushi this place has to offer. The fact that knowing the owner used to work under Chef Morimoto definitely sets him apart for great expectations and some sushi was served squares just like Morimoto style. I got a great Shimaji sashimi, Love roll, and some storched salmon topped with slice orange tomato, it's just so great. The menu was pretty extensive and the presentation was just amazing, you should see how the Love Roll looked like when it's brought out. It's so pretty I was almost hesitant to eat it. The place is pretty small, so don't bring a crowd here. A group of for tops and it's close to a public parking lot, pretty easy access. I would totally come back to try more stuff on the menu.
(5)Tatiana H.
best sushi place I've been to!! I just went over the weekend with my friend to Zentos. we had a groupon and upon booking it was super easy to make reservation and they were super nice over the phone. once there the good service over the phone reflected in person too! they didnt' give you any less service for using a groupon and it was quick and easy to pay check with it. Great service and the food was amazing. I recommend the Monkey rolls and the volcano rolls! best I've had. The tofu miso soup was to die for also! i loved everything abut this restaurant and when in Philly again i will definitely go back, groupon or not!.
(5)Lindsay H.
I've been dying to try out Zento for some time. I went with a few friends and it was all that I hoped it would be. It was a rainy night in Philly when my friends and I decided we would go to this tiny tiny sushi place in old city. We figured sushi would be a perfect way to avoid some holiday overeating...however, we were wrong. The food was too good not to order a ton of. I don't care, it was worth it. Two items stand out in my mind as the best. 1. The Zento signature square roll and 2. the tuna pizza. What made their signature roll extra special was this house made delicious plum sauce. It was sweet like an eel sauce but still different, tasty and unique. Next, the tuna pizza. It has everything I love...seaweed salad, raw tuna and a special spicy sauce on a wonton...it wasn't' so easy to eat in pieces but i loved it so much it didn't matter. The only thing I was not crazy about was the place. It's super small and sort of run down. BUT the great news is that they're moving to a bigger/nicer place a half a block away! I can't wait to go again to the new place!
(4)Michelle M.
Although pricey, the food was very high quality and the restaurant is in a very cool location. The service was unremarkable. What I really had a problem with was their watered-down cocktails. I tried two different martinis. The first-Last Samurai, was refreshing but watery. The second a Hendrick's dirty martini up was VERY watery. So NOT cool. I would have gotten wine, but the server basically said it was crap and they only had nicer wines by the bottle; this becomes difficult if you are the only person in the party drinking wine. We will not be back, even though the food is good.
(3)Polly E.
Solid food, solid service. Maybe more of a 3.5 because of price but they have a yelp deal so that worked!
(4)Pete J.
My experience at Zento's was ok. I recently visited for the first time for a party of about 8-10 for a friends birthday. So I ordered miso soup to start, it was ok but there wasn't much scallions, tofu, or seaweed in the soup. Soup wasn't hot when it came out... Then as for dinner, I Split some sushi with a friend. I ordered scallop sushi, soft shell crab tempura roll, crunchy spicy salmon, el and avocado roll, and a shrimp tempura roll. I was kinda surprised to see the quality of the sushi when it came out. First off I tried the Scallop sushi, didn't seem to be so fresh. Usually raw scallops would be delightful and just melt in your mouth, but these didn't. Then as for the what seemed kinda weird to me was that some of our rolls that usually come with a sauce on top of it, didn't come out with any sauce, we had to ask for it. There was no el sauce on top of the soft shell/shrimptemp/elavocado/ and no spicy mayo on top of the crunchy spicy salmon roll. I'd say that their sushi is mediocre, service I thought could've been more better because it was automatic gratuity added and all the waiter did was just take the order, run food, give us the check but didn't seem to ask us how the food was etc. Lastly as for sushi price, it was about standard to pricey.
(3)Nashely S.
I have dined here twice before and I was happy with my meal. So I jumped at the chance for a groupon deal. I called on a Saturday 11:30am and made a reservation for 5:30 on Sunday evening. I made sure to Say that I had a groupon and everything was set for Sunday. My friend and I arrive at the restaurant and they cannot find our reservation but seat us anyway. I tell the hostess that I specifically made a reservation since it was a groupon. she says it's restaurant week so they are not accepting groupons. But she will check with the manager. Now I feel that's reservation was deleted BECAUSE it was a groupon. The manager tells me they won't accept it and I explain to hime disappointment and that I feel that is bad business practices since I made the reservation like explained in groupon. Very disappointed and we decided to eat somewhere else. I drove 45 minutes away to enjoy this groupon with friends. The manager could have been more accommodating.
(2)Eunjin K.
Great food and great service!!!!
(5)Blair E.
Not the greatest experience. A few highlights (square roll is excellent, beef negimaki was very good) but nothing else stood out. Service was absentee at best and negligent at worst. Likely will not return.
(2)Christina A.
This was my first time in Philly, and we honestly just stopped here because we were hungry, and it wasn't crowded. This place had the best sushi I've ever had in my life! I wish they would expand to Charlotte :).
(5)Rachel M.
I ordered delivery from Zento. I got spicy tuna rolls, shrimp tempura and wontons. The tempura was decent.The spicy tuna rolls had this sort of shredded something (check the photo) on top of them that made it look messy but it didn't actually add to the meal. The wontons were chewy so I ended up throwing them away. I would never order from here again.
(3)Danny N.
First off I can't give 5 stars to a Sushi Restaurant when they don't actually have a Sushi Bar you can sit at. 2nd, they called themselves a Sake Bar but when I ordered a carafe of the gekkeikan sake they were out of it...not good in my opinion. Other than the 2 issues listed above our Sushi & Sashimi platter was very good and fresh. Of the many Sushi restaurants in Philadelphia this ranks among the best...yes I have been to Morimoto, Raw, and others not as high profile and the quality is just as good if not better. All in all, you will have a great experience at Zento...if you are craving Sake...you might want to call and make sure they have it unless you want a fruity or infused Sake.
(4)Ralph D.
Small little restaurant close to the heart of Philly. Great atmosphere- small, low lighted with really really good ambiance. Food- a great selection of menu, reasonable prices for a Japanese restaurant. The sushi was phenomenal- visually pleasing with bursts of flavors. We also got the shrimp dumplings which aren't your traditional looking dumplings, they were much smaller in size with a different coating- more waferry and crunchy than the traditional ones. I highly recommend it. Drinks- we ordered the specialty cocktails which were phenomenal, although low in alcohol content, the flavors were quite complex. I recommend the Bourbon one, I forget the name- it was one of the few ones with whiskey in them, most are with Vokda. Overall, if you are in the mood for sushi and are in the area of Philly- look no further.
(4)Regina F.
Zento has moved, and made their rolls flavorful, funky and festive. If you're in a Huey Lewis mood, try the tuna square roll filled umami eel, creamy avocado and slightly sweet plum sauce. Topped with savory tuna, this roll glistens with an ambrosial aura that your tongue will truly swoon over. The tuna pizza is okay - something about a flat bread somewhere between a baked tortilla and a non-salt soda biscuit doesn't mix well with seaweed salad, tuna and spicy mayo...though the half cherry tomatoes offered a nice bit of acidity to an otherwise overly smooth combination.
(4)Nicole E.
I can't speak to the food because our reservation was lost. I booked us a table a month ago via phone and today called to confirm only to find that our reservation didn't exist. The person on the phone was not in the last apologetic and simply stated that we should have used OpenTable ... versus calling and talking to a human. We had a nice evening planned and it was ruined. I would recommend that if you plan on going here you confirm your reservation at least a few days in advance to be sure you can rebook if it has been lost. I probably will never be able to update this review because my husband has decided we're never going to go here because of this whole fiasco - and a simply apology would have probably gone a long way.
(1)John F.
Best sushi in Philadelphia!!! I'm typically a huge sushi critic. I'm rarely ever satisfied with the price, portion size and overall freshness of the sushi, but Zento gets the thumbs up in all categories. -BYO, zero cork charge, cant beat it. -The restaurant is located right in the heart of Olde City. You walk through the bar area and into a larger room for dinner. There are a handful of tables, tall ceilings, brick walls with inlaid lights that provide a cool/calming vibe, and two flat screen TV's. An old black and white movie with elvis played while I had dinner. - Prices are very reasonable and portion sizes are large by sushi standards. 1) Miso soup - cheap and delicious, great to start off the meal 2) Seaweed salad - a bit over priced for portion size. Wasn't a huge fan 3) Volcano roll - An absolute must. Huge, crunchy, spicy 4) Rainbow roll - Very good, nice blend of meat and cool presentation 5) Philly hand roll - Classic, stuffed full of salmon with just the right amount of cream cheese 6) Spicy tuna hand roll - Very fresh and great va Total cost including 20% tip = $65
(5)Anannya T.
The restaurant is definitely not suitable for a date or an intimate gathering. My friend and I were so close to the people on either side of us that I felt like we were all sitting at one big table. The sushi and shrimp dumplings are tasty. The ceviche appetizer was delicious (and served in an adorable cocktail glass). The crab cakes were too creative (read: blech) for my liking. However, all of the serving sizes were smaller than normal.
(3)Isata S.
Ok service. Sad excuse of a sushi restaurant, it is really a Chinese restaurant.The sushi barely has any real fish on it , and the size of the rolls are super small for 14$ square zento roll, it has twice amount of rice than fish. The sauce on the double shrimp roll taste like Chinese stirfry but the amount is super stingy. O and the maki just falls apart when you pick it up. On top of all these it is charging like a good sushi restaurant price. So overall this restaurant fails in all categories, do not waste your money and palate here.
(1)Mary G.
My boyfriend and I ate here for the first time last weekend. The ambiance was good. The staff was friendly and attentive. The food was tasty especially the Mexican Roll. Overall, it was a great experience. The only thing that we suggest that they do is bring out items, such as the shrimp dumplings, on a hot, covered plate to keep it as hot/warm as possible while bringing it from the kitchen, which is in the basement.
(4)Carmen S.
The Zento Square and Rainbow Ceviche were AMAZING!! First time here. Will definitely come back!!!
(5)Janna R.
The first time I was there, days after it was first opened, everything was great. Good sushi, good miso soup, good service. The second time I came back, a couple of months later, I was very disappointed. First of all, they raised their prices A LOT! Secondly, their $15 square roll: 80% rice! I mean, come on! At least be fair about it. They have it under their signature special rolls but all you pay for is the rice. The other rolls, I will say are quite delish, but this one really unnerved me, especially for the price. I don't think I will be coming back there any time soon.
(3)Nicci L.
Pro's: Chilean Sea Bass, Seaweed Salad, Vegetable Tempura, great service from waitstaff. Con's: Very small seating area, inconsistent food, mandatory gratuity if you use online discounts. THE GOOD: Great food and service. Staff is always friendly and attentive. The lychee mojitos are to die for!!! Although the menu is really small, the food is almost always amazing. The sea bass is phenomenal! The menu caters to those who love sushi. THE BAD: If you don't like sushi, it's slim pickings. I am not a sushi eater, but the entrees were so good, I decided to try a sushi entree. I was a bit disappointed with the amount of food I received. For the price, I was hoping for a bowl of rice or soup to accompany the "sushi entree". The arrangement was great, there just wasn't enough food on the plate for the price. It looked like an appitizer, not a meal. Also, they are inconsistant with the way they serve their entrees. I ordered the sea bass in the past, and received grilled esparagus with it. The combination was delicious. When my friend and I returned, we both requested grilled asparagus to come with the sea bass like the last time. We were told that wasn't a problem. When the food arrived, there was no asparagus on either plates.. Again, asparagus was requested. The asparagus that was eventually served was steamed, not grilled as requested. Also, it had no flavor, as if they didn't bother to season it. The Wagyu beef is way overpriced. The beef portion was small, tough, full of fat and gristle. Totally not worth $37. A complete disappointment, especially since half of it was inedible due to the reasons described. We have found, if you use a groupon, they charge a mandatory 15% gratuity. If you ask me, it totally cancels the online discount. What is the point of offering a special if your going to make up fees to compensate for it? You (the patron) don't save a dime. You end up spending full price in the end. Don't bother purchasing online coupons for this restaurant. Otherwise, the food is great. A lot of people come for sushi. I love this place and they have excellent drinks. Just wish they had more consistent food preparations. Also, that mandatory gratuity for patrons using an online voucher is obsurd and bad for business. JMO
(3)Maria T.
The atmosphere was good. The service was poor. I ordered sushi and it took almost 2 hours to get it. I ordered sake and it took 30 minutes. It shouldn't take this long for even a drink. Food was good though.
(2)Burgle K.
I dont pretend to be a sushi expert since i generally drown everything in wasabi, but i think Zento is a great little spot in Old City. The inside is dimly lit, has high ceilings and exposed brick walls making it a very good spot to bring a special someone. Zento is BYOB and they also have a full bar. There is no corkage fee during the week, but otherwise i believe its $10/bottle. The waitress who helped us was very friendly and attentive. They are also on restaurant.com so $25 coupons are available for around $5 which is great. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Michelle C.
I've been feeling the pressure to go big or go home for my 500th review (review updates = stalling for time), but my experience at Zento tonight was just so refreshing that I'm ready to go all the way. The experience started with a call for reservations this afternoon. At the last minute on a Friday I wasn't expecting a miracle, but low and behold, I got my table for two at the desired time slot. Plus a very friendly interaction with the gentleman who answered the phone and who also reminded me that the restaurant is a BYO. The seed of a good first impression was planted. We arrived to a small, mostly empty restaurant, save for one loud, cackling (drunk?) foursome, who thankfully left a few minutes later. The rest of the tables were eventually filled with respectful diners. Our server was sweet and attentive despite the fact that she had lost her voice, and she stopped by our table at all the right times during the meal. We started with edamame, which was the only misstep. The soybeans were boring in comparison to our neighbors' rock shrimp tempura. The edamame was forgotten once our sushi rolls arrived. Crunchy spicy tuna, "real" California and green (avocado and cucumber) rolls for me, a fatty tuna roll and a "square sushi" specialty roll for my boyfriend. Despite my hesitations, I tried a bite of the fatty tuna and it was mind-blowingly fantastic. One of the most pure-tasting pieces of raw fish I've ever tried. My rolls were equally pleasing. The thing I liked most about Zento's preparation is that they didn't go overboard with the extras. The fish still tasted like fish, just with minor enhancements from the supporting cast of ingredients in each roll. This may not be the most glittery sushi joint in town, but the quality of the fish and the welcoming staff were more than enough to win me over. I look forward to returning.
(5)Lili B.
The food was good but the service was just Horrible. We had to wait for over 30 minute to even have our forder taken. They could have make up for the wait by taking our drinks orders quickly but not even.. (we probably waited 20 minutes to get our drinks). I do not know if it is always like that but I sure will not give it anoither shot as there is so many more choices in the city for sushis.
(2)Mo P.
Tasting menu was fun and the white fish carpaccio was outstanding. Miso soup with mussels accentuated the miso flavor. The house wine was $25 per bottle and very drinkable. The seating is quite snug and the people sitting next to us raved about the duck roll which is not to be missed. The sushi is fresh and very well done. I would highly recommend he sushi and come back again.
(4)Sharon M.
Came with restaurant.com coupon when looking For good sushi in the city. Although we couldn't combine happy hour with coupon- it sounds like they had stellar late happy hour (830p-1000p). Have the sake flight. You won't regret it. Love roll, sashimi roll (cucumber wrap-no Rice) and king crab tofu all divine. Awesome gem in old town. Would go back in a heart beat and often if I lived closer.
(5)Alyssa M.
Zento is good....but nothing spectacular for the prices. This place is TIIIIIIIINNNY! Only a few tables and completely lacks any type of decoration/ambiance. I came here for lunch and ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box and the famous square sushi with salmon on top. The bento box came with the typical stuff: miso soup, salad (really good ginger dressing!), cali rolls, and a side of rice. The chicken was nice and moist, however I would have liked a little more teriyaki sauce (I'm a sauce girl!). The square sushi was quite good--but quite overhyped. It had fresh salmon and avocado on top with a tiny bit of eel inside and it was topped with eel and spicy sauce. Tasty roll---but $15???? Perhaps if the portion size was bigger and there was a little more substance in the middle I could justify this price. The service was nice and friendly and the waiter even warmed my half drunken sake bottle :-) All in all, a decent spot to try but I can think of a lot more places I would go for great sushi before I break the bank here.
(3)Maria S.
This restaurant is ok. The service could be a little faster. The actual setting is nice and clean. The rolls are comparable to anything I've had at other sushi restaurants that are less expensive and easier to park at. The one roll that i'd say is my favorite and that I always get is the Volcano Roll. Zento by far does it the best.
(3)Monica O.
Since it ended today, I made sure to take advantage of Japanese Restaurant Week and the 20% discount from participating restaurants and had lunch at Zento. Best bang for my buck was the lunch special bento box so I chose the scallop teriyaki bento. It came with miso soup, a nice mixed greens salad, 4 pieces of California roll, and steamed rice. The bento's four medium-sized scallops were perfectly cooked, tender, and seasoned well. The salad and its spunky ginger dressing were also very good. The California rolls were just typical. The steamed rice was de-lish and intriguing to the palate with Zento's addition of fish flakes on top. Me likey! I heard that the thing to try here is the Zento signature roll so I had that as well. The Zento square sushi roll consists of eel, avocado, and plum paste on the inside, topped with tuna or salmon and spicy mayo and unagi sauce. Very good but not worth all the hype because, while it was visually appealing and tasty, it was lacking texturally...like it would've been nice if it had had some tobiko on top or a piece of shrimp tempura in the middle. All in all, I had a very enjoyable dining experience here. Service was good but a tinge over-attentive. Zento's located in the heart of Old City so parking is a bit of a hassle. Zento's also small space-wise (place only seats about 20) so don't come here squad deep. Also, don't come here if you're on a tight budget because it can get pricey. Major point score: Zento is BYOB so I also brought a bottle of sake that they gladly warmed (don't judge me...I know it was only lunch :p).
(4)Khanh V.
Zento is a nice space for dinning. The food is not bad. I like the overall presentation of the food. In term of space it is a bit narrow downstairs making it hard to walk when it gets crowded. I came here for happy hours and a birthday event. Both experiences were good. Overall, I feel Zento is a bit overrated same goes for Han Dynasty across the street.
(3)C K.
We had a groupon for the Chef tasting menu and got: Mussel miso soup - very flavorful and 3 nice mussels Calamari salad - perfect amount of salad dressing and a very generous portion of calamari Crab cake - tiny but tasty and full of crab. Fried and looked like a tater tot. Very cute Whitefish carpaccio - delicious! Tastes fresh and very tender with a nice, fresh citrus soy sauce Chicken teriyaki - tasty and tender atop a bed of spinach. Sushi sampler - decent sushi. Salmon and tuna were excellent and the whole plate had a pretty presentation Green tea ice cream mochi was delicious Tofu cheesecake was interesting, but not for us. The ambiance and service were very good, and it would be a good date place, but since I don't really eat sushi and the food wasn't really good enough to justify their regular prices posted on the menu - that being said, I hear that they run tons of groupons/living social deals, so if you can get one of those, it's probably very much worth it.
(4)Elizabeth P.
Though I waver between three and four stars (hence if there were .5's I would give this place 3.5 stars), I think my experience here is closer to 3 than 4 stars so I'm rounding down. Two main reasons why: a) I was not too happy with their service. I may be overly sensitive, but the waitress carried with her this pretentious aura. Mehhh b) Their food was not memorable. Pls note - I did not say tasteless, mediocre, or bad, meaning the food itself didn't taste bad or anything, but it didn't really do much for me. I just remember it being "good enough" and the portions being really small. Ehhh. Funny note: their bathroom sign has some gibberish written in Korean and is a male stick figure peeping over a female stick figure while she's trying to use the bathroom. And, no, it did not say 'peeping tom' in Korean. lol TIP: They are, indeed, BYOB and they do not charge a corking fee which is awesome. Also, the restaurant is very cozy and actually an ideal place to take someone out to for a date.
(3)Jenna M.
Nooooo.... Zento... what happened? The former owners must have sold the business, because now that it's in a new location it is unrecognizable. Not just for the interior -- I could forgive the too-dark nightclub lighting, the TV screen hovering above my date's head, and the elbow-to-elbow tight seating plan, if the sushi were good. But no. Everything was wrong. 1. The sushi bar has been relegated to a back room somewhere. Maybe in the weird, low-ceiling basement kitchen? So I don't even know if the original chefs are still there. 2. The wait staff were unprofessional. The hostess basically ignored us until some guy (the manager?) told her to find us a table. Our waitress had a cold and rubbed her nose with her hands... just after carrying food to our table. Gross! It was impossible to get anyone's attention until they arrived with the next dish. 3. The food was not good, not at all. This is not the Zento I once knew. I had the Groupon for the tasting menu, and it was so not worth it. The dishes were plain and uninspired. And the sushi... gristly tuna, boring rolls, basically on par with average-quality supermarket takeout sushi. I was really looking forward to going back to Zento after being away for a while, but sadly the Zento I once knew is gone forever.
(1)Leila A.
Good sushi! Went with a deal which brought down the cost. Service was friendly and attentive.
(4)Jessie J.
Zento is really fantastic in all respects. Went in the other night with the all-you-can-eat livingsocial deal. I was a little scared of the waiter hating us because of it, but experienced no such thing (service was A++)! All in all, it was a great way to sample more sushi on the menu than I normally would have. The Food: What stood out to me was the deep sea roll, which is wasabi pan-seared tuna with romain heart and spicy mayo. If you like tuna, get this! The interesting thing about getting this over raw fish or tempora is that the tuna is really well seasoned and has searing all the way around the "tube" of fish. Other stand-outs: -tuna pizza appetizer (includes seaweed) -square sushi - it's kind of like nigiri but condensed into a square -lychee mojito -green-tea mochi (much more strong matcha taste than Trader Joe's if you've had that) My only complaint is the flavor on the Mexican roll. It's really strange to me because all I could taste were the toppings, gauc & mango salsa. I'm sure there's fish in there but I couldn't tell because it was completely overpowered. Atmosphere I'll admit, I do miss the sushi bar being visible, but they do have some nice alcoholic choices at the bar. They were also playing an old Gordzilla movie on a few TVs, which was neat after just having seen Pacific Rim the day before. Price / Value Clearly I didn't pay menu price this time, but I think the prices are pretty accurate. They give 8 pieces of sushi per roll, which is an important detail. Other sushi places I've tried may charge slightly less but also only give 6 pieces per roll. Will be returning soon :)
(5)Michele R.
Although totally empty when we went for an early dinner on Monday night, the food was all very good. Service was very friendly and attentive also. I had sushi for lunch that day so I opted for a ceviche appetizer, which was yum, fried shrimp dumplings which were so good I wished there were twice as many, and the mussels special which were good, but not great. There were two mussels I couldn't pry open so I let them be. The broth was pretty good but I wouldve turned the heat up a notch. Love the exposed brick and decor, but thought it bizarre that two large t.v.s are in the dining area within 4 feet of each other. I wouldn't want them in there if it were up to me. It distracts people when they should be paying attention to each other!
(4)Kristen K.
Food is amazing especially the deep sea roll. Friendly and helpful staff. Took the time to explain gluten free options! Drinks are amazing as well!
(5)R ALopo C.
Excellent sushi!!!! :) Its a must if you're in the city Better yet, they deliver with Diningin.com . it's a dream come true
(5)Aisha L.
I came here for dinner with my man and I was looking forward to some yummy sushi, This place was pretty good. The server was nice and the manager stopped by the table to see how everything was going throughout the meal. I got the udon noodle soup. Tasted pretty gross so I told the server and he took it away and took it off the bill. I got the salmon roll and a seaweed salad my guy the avocado roll and the sweet potato roll. both were good, the prices werent outrageous. They take the whole order on an i pad and you sign your bill that way too, cool and with the technological times.
(3)Brittany R.
My best friend came into town for business a few weeks ago and after work we came here. I can't even tell you how great this place is. Just SO good. We had a sashimi salad which I didn't like but otherwise we had like 5 different rolls that were all great, tempura was phenomenal. Since it was Philly beer week this place wasn't too crowded (all the local bars were). We sat outside underneath the sign and laughed the night away. Apparently they've lost their liquor license so no Sake right now. Also the hostess and waiter we had that Thursday night were AMAZING, and I had no problem tipping them $20 for being so awesome to us. It's a great place overall and I can't wait to go again.
(4)Seb S.
Great place for rather cheap sushi and nice atmosphere. However, nothing completely life changing. Whenever you are craving LARGE amounts of sushi I would definitely come here. It was all very tasty, but as I said, if you want something really on another level, I would recommend Morimoto. Staff was very nice and we also had some yelp deals there, which made the whole thing even cheaper. The back room has really cool decorated walls, great for a date.
(3)Nakia B.
The atmosphere in this restaurant was amazing, the metal tiled ceiling was beautiful and the rock walls with melted wax pouring out so to speak added a really nice flare, and the chandelier was BEAUTIFUL! The presentation of food was UNBELIEVABLY pretty. I almost didn't even want to eat it. I went with a friend of mine she ordered the "Monkey Roll" I ordered the "Volcano Roll". It truly was a party in my mouth. LOL! The servers were incredibly friendly and the cocktails were like a perfect marriage with the food the was presented. So much so that I may actually venture out and try sake the next time I go.
(5)Zack L.
Fun and Unique sushi. Fresh Wasabi. Ramen & Udon and crisp tempura that is strangely not greasy. Hooray. Also lunch.
(5)Mr P.
We are on a sushi hunt. Plan is to try a new sushi place once a month so to sample enough place to justify giving up on sushi in Philly or may be surprised by a hidden gem. Zento is not it. First, there is no sushi bar per se, hmmm what are they hiding... how do I know the chef is not picking his nose when making the rolls??? just kidding. Secondly, I don't like the "contemporary" deco, cute but does not do it for me in a sushi setting. Thirdly, we always try the sashimi first to judge the quality of the fish. If it is good we try other things. The fish is not bad, but some of the pieces were seared, it is interesting but I think it is a way to cater to novices. Is it technically still sashimi once the fish is cooked, however lightly it may be? can I order sashimi well done?? Finally, there was just a tiny dap of wasabe, I know other would thought it is more than enough, on the other hand people like I can't get enough of that stuff. Each to his own. Only saving grace is we had a groupon so the bill is half'ed.
(2)love n.
Tried Zento for the first time tonight. Cute little place with very good food. The sushi was fresh and the Mexican roll was great. Lots of interesting 'roll' combinations/options. Service was friendly and attentive.
(4)Lan G.
My friends and I went to Zento for dinner. I have heard so many good things about the place and they do have awesome sushi! The new location is only a few doors down from the old place. It's definitely much bigger. Our server is very friendly and she recommended some drinks they were having on special. We tried out a couple of sake cocktail but they tasted more like flavored water. So I changed to Apple sake which is very tasty and easy to drink (Dangerous!!!) I got the duck hand roll and love roll. They are both delicious. Writing about this is making me hungry! =) I cannot wait to go back there next time. Definitely get reservation beforehand. Although the new place is much bigger, I still don't see how you can have a large party (more than 6 people) sitting at the same table.
(5)Rachel S.
Well gotta say that I was a little disappointed. The rolls were small - not short - but in diameter. I ordered the Flaming Dragon, Rainbow, and Salmon Avocado rolls to go. I looked at the photos on Yelp which looked amazing but it they didn't live up to my expectations. They were very tasty but really just very small.
(3)Truth B Told R.
This place is amazing. Really cool bar and delicious food. Came here on a living social deal but wound gladly pay full price.
(5)Paul H.
It is my favorite sushi place in old city, the rolls are just delicious and the staff is friendly, I would definitively recommend that place
(5)David B.
Their lychee martini was tasty!
(4)Bri H.
I decided to check out Zento for the first time last night based on it's great reviews and I wasn't disappointed. The decor is boring and ambiance is pretty much nonexistent but the food easily makes up for that. I'd say the highlight of my night was the square roll. I opted for the tuna (vs. salmon). The appetizers were also surprisingly good. I normally don't bother with apps when I'm eating sushi but the pan-seared scallops (with their 8-spice blend) were really good. I also liked the rock shrimp tempura with spicy aioli, and you get a generous sized bowl for $14. Service was excellent also. Granted, we were one of only a few tables, but our server was knowledgeable and friendly and our food came out very quickly. I tried the special 'summer roll' with tuna & mango (amongst other things) wrapped in rice paper. It certainly was fresh and summery...maybe TOO summery for such a cold night (but that's what I get for ordering it in the middle of winter). Also I'm not sure how I feel about the rice paper wrapper. The gummy consistency is surprisingly good but I think I prefer seaweed. I was slightly disappointed by the Christmas roll and there were no fresh scallop options on the menu (in either sushi/sashimi or roll form), but overall it was a good experience and I'll be back to try out their other menu options.
(4)Anthony Y.
The flavor was good and the rolls were pretty original. The only gripe I had was the the price was expensive relative to the size of the rolls. I was often paying triple the price that I normally would for the same size rolls. While the rolls were innovative, I don't believe that it warrants the price that was paid for them. Not even close. Nevertheless, the place was a good switch up from the places I'm used to going. However, from the price alone, I think this was just a night out with something new. There are other places with better value.
(3)Temma H.
My boyfriend and I both love sushi, so we were eager to try Zento, since it's so highly rated. We were not disappointed. We both started off with the King Crab Miso Soup, which was very light. The crab and glass noodles were a fun change from plain old miso soup. Next, I ordered the Zento Square Sushi with tuna and the Center City roll. The Zento Square Sushi isn't a roll so much as Oshizushi (pressed sushi), which I rarely see on the menu. The Center City roll is wrapped in soy paper instead of seaweed, which is an option for all of the rolls. Both of my choices were delicious, and I wouldn't hesitate to order both of them again. My boyfriend got a variation of a Dragon Roll, and something else... Obviously I was paying more attention to my plate than to his, sorry. He enjoyed both of his rolls, and the piece I tried of his dragon roll was very good. The fish was very fresh, and the sauces used were very good. The only complaint I have is that the rice used in our sushi was still a little bit too warm- they must have not let it cool quite long enough. Warm rice aside, we'll definitely be going back to Zento soon.
(4)Liz H.
BEST sushi in the city! Always fresh, creative rolls with more fish than rice, and they delivery in old city! Fav rolls are old city roll, flaming dragon, and eel and avocado!! Friendly staff!
(5)Gabe F.
The food was pretty good. Unfortunately, service just took way too long. We had to push to get our food out faster (though I don't think that had any effect). Moreover, when we tried to split the bill, they ended up losing one of our credit cards until we asked for it back. The staff didn't seem as professional as the ambiance.
(2)Edward M.
Dinner: Their standard fare sushi rolls are great. Get three of them if you're in the area. BYOB. Great service.
(4)Alix H.
There was only one waiter working when we went, so we got ignored. That's not the waiter's fault, it's the management's. I thought the sushi was tasty, but it was WAY too expensive for what we got. The rolls were tiny and I left hungry. Bummer. We won't be returning. I think this place took that "best of Philly" award and got a little ahead of itself. Side note: obnoxious family next to us came to a sushi place and asked for substitutions for all the fish in all the dishes they ordered. wtf....if you don't like fish you should not go to a sushi restaurant and order dishes with fish in them. rude
(2)Max T.
Good overall, but nothing special.
(3)edgar v.
I have to say one of the best places in the city for a nice sushi lunch thats not to pricey . I recently tried their bento box , I loved it!! will be back soon!
(4)Joshua A.
We read about this place on Yelp and decided to check it out while we were visiting the city. I would have rated them a 4.5, but I decided to round up. We got there and were seated by a really nice server, who subsequently flipped the sign from OPEN to CLOSED. I asked why he was closing, and we thought he said something like, "We close at 8" but it was 3 PM, so I was a bit confused. People have mentioned the size of this place, but I feel the need to reiterate. We were the only ones in there, so it was quite comfortable. This place is *really* small, though. It might be uncomfortable when busy. We ordered a philly roll (we had to, right?), a zento square roll, and a volcano roll. The server was really friendly and our food came out relatively fast. I know the zento square roll is the big hit, and it was pretty amazing, but my favorite was the Volcano roll (and my girlfriend's favorite was the philly roll). They were really just amazing -- the fish was fresh, the ingredients were wonderful, and the flavors were big and complex (especially the zento square). I'm really sad to go back to State College sushi. I look forward to visiting this place again.
(5)LAURA F.
Ever since they moved to their new location/new ownership, they have not been the same. The service has been horrible! The atmosphere is no longer quaint and you can expect to wait forever to get your food. It was a lot better when they were smaller and more personable. I have been going there since it opened at its 1st location but have decided as of today it's not worth it. I I'll say the food is still good, but that might be because I'm starving by the time I get it!
(2)Janey O.
Zento is a great sushi BYO. Their seaweed salad is a delicious appetizer, and I highly recommend the angus roll (somewhat anomalous to have steak and sushi, I know, but it's so good). This place is very small on the inside and busy, so they try to turn the tables quickly. Completely worth it though!
(4)Jorge d.
I went to Zento based on reviews I had read from various sites. Let me start by saying the place is tiny; I mean not much bigger than my hotel room. Decor was minimal and tasteful, albeit a bit utilitarian. But I came for the sushi and not the decor and I was not disappointed. Tempura was excellent, light and not greasy as it should be. Sushi was extremely fresh. My complaints would be the rather smallish portions of sushi and sashimi and prices, though not exorbitant, were rather high for the size and quantity. Lastly, there were two families dining and since the place is small, it is also loud especially with kids. Given the prices, I would have preferred to dine without loud children but then, I was a kid once too. I like the BYOB policy and as I said, the sushi was excellent. I would and will, go back.
(4)Michael L.
Fish is good, but it's overpriced. The environment was ok, nothing special. I'm not sure that the $18 dollar specialty rolls are worth it; it's literally no bigger in size or taste to justify a 3x hike. And the waiters keep pushing you to order them over the traditional rolls and pay in cash! Bad manners, however nice it tried to come across, it was wrapped all in greed and annoyance. So many better places for a fraction of price. Stay away.
(2)Esther O.
Hm. Fresh sushi was a plus. But I've had better-- noticeably better. Not a picky picky sushi eater so I will say this place is good but not something for me to rave about. I ordered the square sushi with extra high expectations since that seemed to be a signature--but there was only a litttle sushi and a lot of rice. Not really my style. Cute place though with good service .
(3)Meghann p.
I loved this place....service was great...and sushi was out of this world...I am being very honest. My friend lives in Society Hill and we went to a movie....and just started walking around old city....so happy we found this place!
(5)Rebecca P.
I have been here at least 10 times. For a while I was obsessed with the Tuna Pizza. Full on obsessed. The last few times I ordered it was not as good, or maybe I was over my obsession. But no matter, their sushi is always fresh, yummy, and thoughtfully made. I love the old city roll, love roll, the crunchy spicy salmon roll, the sweet potato tempura roll, and the Philly roll (sans scallions). Their seaweed salad is one of the best I have had and I'm a huge fan. Their miso soup is yummy and not too salty. I have never ordered an entrée and probably never will. I have never ordered a desert, but we were given a complimentary one once. It was fine. My moto is: If I'm still hungry I will order sushi for desert. The service is polite, reserved and efficient. As you probably already know it's a tiny place, so make a reservation on the weekend.
(5)Kaitlin L.
For such a tiny location, Zento really delivers fantastic sushi at a reasonable price. The size of a take out pizza place (I can't imagine more than 15 people sitting comfortably in here at one time), Zento is easy to write off. However, it has some of the best sushi I've had in the city. I went recently and had the summer sushi, a special of the day, sauteed mushrooms and asparagus, and king crab miso soup. Everything was fresh, presented beautifully, and flavorful. The staff is really attentive and was genuinely happy to hear that we had enjoyed our meal. As a plus, they do deliver, but there is a $40 minimum, yikes. However, this sushi is worth the walk/cab ride/etc.
(5)Wallspro S.
GREAT sushi, fair prices and they deliver. The only reason for 4 stars is that the place is tiny and kind of claustrophobic. The spare decor seems to make it a little spacier, but 12 feet across can only seem so large.
(4)Sophia S.
Great sushi lunch place (I haven't been for dinner). It doesn't look like much--its a small place with no hint of the over-the-top-steve-starr-esque decor you find in some old city establishments. So if you're looking for a scene, go elsewhere. But if what you want is tasty, not overpriced, sushi then zento is great.
(4)Phil S.
Great sushi squares... wonderful food. The interior does not remind you of fine dining, but who cares when the food is delicious.
(5)Kathy L.
One of the best sushi places in the city with quality similar to Bluefin without the drive to Plymouth Meeting. The dining area is small, but you're not too uncomfortably close to your dining mates. Their signature rolls are very creative. The Zento square roll is delicious: Rice wrapped over eel topped with salmon and avocado with some very good eel sauce mixed with Japanese mayonnaise. They don't drown their rolls in sauces or spices so that you can still taste their fish. I think the best part of this restaurant is the quality of their sashimi. Get the chirashi, or sushi/sashimi combo and you won't be disappointed! Huge pieces of fish, a large variety, and great quality as well. The white tuna is great and the yellowtail sashimi I had there was so fatty, something I've never experienced with yellowtail before. Surprisingly, their nigiri sushi is quite small (itty piece of rice) with a small piece of fish on top. It still tasted great and this is what the nigiri sushi looked like at Morimoto's as well, but I prefer larger pieces of fish atop my nigiri. There's also a lot of hot foods available if you're bringing along a "I-hate-raw-fish" friend... Udon noodles, tempura, teriyaki.
(5)William T.
Zento is not only a prime location in Old City to get authentic Asian cuisine, but also is a very affordable establishment. I would highly recommend it to tourists traveling through the city or old city residents that have yet to frequent this exquisite restaurant. My favorite item on the menu is the Chicken Bento Box with a California Roll. Their sushi portions, much like everything on their menu are large. You won't leave here hungry.
(4)Jim B.
cool decor, hip vibe, decent but unmemorable meal in tight quarters.
(3)Stacey T.
I was visiting from out of town and used Yelp to find somewhere to eat in Olde City. We made a reservation via Open Table for 6:30, but due to the oppressive heat, we showed up at 6 and they kindly seated us. We were able to purchase the Yelp Deal on our smart phones while at the table and the waiter was very generous about splitting up the bill so we could use more than 1. I split the special lobster tempura roll with pineapple and berry aioli sauce and got a spicy tuna roll. The lobster roll was really tasty. The spicy tuna was good too but it was a little smaller than I'm used to. Overall, good experience.
(4)Zarah A.
best sushi in old city! great food great staff awesome first date place!!!
(5)Sam L.
Spring for the square roll. If you cheap out here, you're missing the best part. Also, according to my wonderful fiancee (the love of my life) the traditional offerings, especially those with crunch, hold their own on a plate of big hitters, such as the Monkey Roll and the aforementioned Square Salmon Roll. Ultimately, the square comes out on top (that's what she said). Btw, Happy Birthday, Love of Life.
(5)Suraj P.
I went here on a whim because I had heard good things and we were looking for sushi before a movie at the Ritz. I had actually been to this place before with a group of friends, however didn't actually eat anything ... The BYO status was a BIG plus too! On ordering, we stuck to the basics, mostly maki with a few pieces of nigiri and sashimi. They definitely have all of the basics done well and along with some speciality rolls. I enjoyed their Monkey Roll which was a tasty shrimp tempura with smoked salmon on top. But enough with the cooked stuff, I normally am a raw and sashimi kind of guy and in this department, Zento shines! Sashimi Roll (fish wrapped in thin cucumber) was delicious and fresh. The sashimi and nigiri was awesome with the exception of the fatty white tuna, but the young himachi made up for this twice over! Unfortunately while Zento gets praise for its look, locale, and taste, they did loose me for a moment when the bill arrived. I'm sure that will not keep me away for long.
(3)Jake M.
The sweet potato tempura flake roll was OUTSTANDING. The place is cozy and friendly. One of the few sushi places I would actually return to.
(4)Cynthia K.
Our secret is out! Man, we had this place as our secret sushi heaven, going there from the day it opened. But then all the sudden everyone heard about how great the food was here and now we have to share... Ok fine, I'll share in the deliciousness that is Zento. I think we've tried almost every roll in their ever-expanding menu, but my favorite is still the Spicy Crunchy Tuna roll. The freshness of the sushi and variety of rolls gave this place a well-deserved reputation. The prices are starting to spike up as their popularity does, but still remain among the most affordable high quality sushi establishments in town, and clearly out-shines others in the Old City area like over-done Haru (you pay for their decor, not the sushi), Uzu Sushi (giant rolls, but lack freshness). No that we all know, I guess I'll be fighting you for a reservation. Weekends basically require you to call ahead, now and don't forget to BYOB.
(4)Erin R.
The sushi was excellent - very flavorful and delicious. However, the rolls are VERY small (diameter) especially for the price. Service was so-so....not so great. The decor is cozy, but a little tight (tables are very close together). I enjoyed my time here, and I will definitely be going back.
(4)Lindsay H.
Best sushi I've ever had. Excellent service. Reasonable prices. My only complaint is that the place is TINY, and I personally am not a fan of being seated 6 inches from a total stranger. If you don't mind your personal space bubble being invaded, however, give this place a try.
(4)Leslie M.
I came here recently with my boyfriend on a food crawl experiment through Old City. We decided to try some entrees here and were not thrilled at the experience. I'll only come back with recommendations on what I "need/should" get here or with someone who can give recommendations... because this was a pretty blah meal... Ambiance: Small. Simple/Chic decor. Quite busy and expected. A bit tight so on a busy night I wouldn't go here for an intimate date. Good place for a small group. Service: Nice but a bit disorganized. Food: This was where I minused points. Though I also leave room for redemption in my future update. I was massively craving udon noodle soup and some simple sushi creations so... Udon noodle soup was a fusion fail. It came with pho like noodles ... thus defeating the purpose of UDON noodle soup ... The broth was relatively bland and if anything was a bit sweet (not usually what I want from udon soup...) The biggest sad face was that they didn't have any shichimi (a pretty standard Japanese 7 spice seasoning) ... which is a pretty common seasoning found in lots of the usual Japanese restaurants. They did give me lots of vegetables, which was nice. Spicy tuna roll was not spicy. It was mashed tuna with almost no flavoring and was packed with tons of crunchy tempura or panko flakes which made it seem like I was eating sawdust ... My boyfriend and I enjoyed the presentation or rather were bemused by it. Almost every dish had one or two orchid flowers on it. Either they are recycling some of these delicate beauties or it just rains orchids in their kitchen ... I won't go into the details of the bf's meal because he's vegetarian and realistically we never have any expectations for his meal at most sushi restaurants ... Overall, the amount we spent was just not justified to what we ate. Hopefully I was just ordering the wrong items for this place. Drinks: BYOB which I appreciate. We brought a bottle of Morimoto's Hazelnut Ale by Rogue. The beer was great but I'd match it carefully. The Hazelnut can bring out a bit too much fishiness in the sushi... The price just didn't match to my experience but I probably need to try my hand again with better menu choices. I look forward to upgrading in my update..
(2)Heather L.
My favorite sushi in the city. The venue is small, so it's probably a good idea to come early or make a reservation if you have a party of more than two. It's BYO, but there's a shoppe just up second street, so that's easy, especially if you're coming from the El.
(5)callie b.
My friend and I had a great meal here the other night. The place was packed, but we had a reservation and were seated immediately. The service was quick and friendly, and most importantly the food was delicious! I got the special "square" sushi they are known for, and it was amazing! The rest of our food was great as well, will definitely be going back soon! We didn't drink since we were going straight to a movie afterwards, but the ability to BYO is also nice.
(5)matthew l.
Almost pretty little storefront in Old City certainly in the pantheon of excellent Japanese restaurants in the city. Utterly pristine sashimi expertly and generously cut and beautifully presented without the curious paper grass that the Japanese seem so fond of. Brown rice sushi with avocado and crisp salmon skin one of the most delicious as well as one of the most healthful snacks you are likely to find. House blended soy sauce a revelation with great taste and no store bought sodium overload.
(4)Nate A.
On the continuous quest for good sushi, we came here based on Yelp's general praise and were not disappointed by great, fresh sushi, our expert BYOB sake selection, and mochi for dessert. Sucky atmosphere and service are endurable annoyances for this relatively affordable, high quality sushi fix. Pros -Having also been to neighborhood leading brands Haru and Kisso, I was most impressed with Zento's sushi in terms of freshness and overall quality. Everything we ordered was excellent, particularly the yellowtail sashimi and kanpachi satomaki. -BYOB - although the sake selection at the nearby wine & spirits continues to disappoint, this is always an appreciated feature. -Mochi - rarely seen on menus, this rice jello-encased ice cream is bizarrely delicious. Zento's green tea variety requires less courage than it might seem and was a delicate sweet to finish the meal. Cons -Size - this is a proxy for comfort of all varieties. Zento is a small, unadorned box with possibly too many tables, and Philadelphia's least inviting sushi bar with seating for 3. When it gets crowded the noise level gets up to 11. So my 4 star rating is purely sushi-based. The ambiance is the pits, with regular blasts of cold winter air whenever the door opens for good measure. -Service - our waiter, doubling as everyone's waiter, was inscrutable, unfriendly and all business. Not rude per se, but reptilian in his complete lack of emotion. He moved us mid-meal from our first table to make room for a group of 3. We were 2 at a 4-top, so this was logical, but off-putting. A more compassionate waiter would have comped us the mochi or the edamame - but no such courtesy was forthcoming from the lizard man. Outside of this he was periodically hard to pin down, curt and/or abrupt. Don't come here looking to be coddled.
(4)Dav id N.
Great meal! The Toro special was outstanding albeit a bit expensive ($10 for each piece of sushi) . Even though the space is small, the overall attentiveness of the staff and the quality of the food makes up for it.
(4)Alex K.
we came here for a quick snack. I ordered a shrimp roll, I can't remember the name of the roll but what I could remember was the fact that it was not properly cleaned... this is not ok in my book.
(3)Kay P.
Have the calamari appetizer and the volcano roll ... you will leave VERY happy. It helps that the main waiter is an absolute sweetheart. He always remembers me even if it's been months since I've gone. Very genuine and comfortable spot with exquisitely fine sushi.
(5)Rachel G.
I live in central PA, where the closest thing to good sushi is of the supermarket variety. Thank goodness for Zento. We ordered the tuna pizza--stay with me here--which defied skepticism: a pile of tuna sashimi, seaweed salad, and a touch of spicy mayo on a crisp tortilla crust. I ordered as well miso soup filled with tofu and seaweed (no skimping here!) and the crunchy spicy tuna roll, which contributed welcome texture with tempura flakes and cucumber. Some unlimited green tea, and equal quantities of food ordered from my two dining mates, and we were on our way for about $60.
(4)Aisling O.
Meeh. It wasn't bad, I just wasn't particularly impressed with the sushi I ordered. Maybe it was an off night, because for the most part the reviews on here were great. First of all, the positive...our calamari appetizer was amazing, and our waitress was very gracious and attentive, and to top it off the prices are reasonable and it's a BYOB. But the place is smaller than some people's closets (okay maybe not that small). You are literally right on top of the people next to you...a little too close for me and difficult to tune out other peoples conversations. The sushi was only OK. Honestly, my Tuna and Salmon were not the freshest. After practically living on raw fish in California, I expect when people say something's really fresh that you taste it. I think for a nicer atmosphere and better sushi I'm better off at my neighborhood Umai Umai.
(3)Dana G.
Always a solid meal. The wait staff always remembers me and my friend when i come in. BYOB is always a plus for me. The soups and salads are always spot on. They have lots of fun rolls to choose from. Sushi is always yum. It seems a tad over priced to me which is why i'm taking off a a star.
(4)Alex V.
We went to Zento last night, and came away impressed. The space is small and cramped like most BYO's, but the sushi was very solid. Zento had a pretty large menu, with lots of interesting roll options. Our salads were very fresh and well presented. The Sushi was good, but the sizes were a little on the small side. The roll prices were very competitive, but I was surprised how expensive the 1 pc sushi items were. Still, we had a good time and we will definitely be back.
(4)Kelly S.
Love this place. Sushi is delicious; regular menu is a good mix of traditional with elegant and creative fusion or flair.
(4)Alex F.
Went to Zento sushi last night for dinner and was not impressed. Though they have innovated and unique special rolls, they are also high priced and small. The rolls were tasty and the sushi rice was also made very well, however, if I hadnt eaten an appetizer at Continental prior to arriving, i would have left hungry and disappointed. My girlfriend, her sister, and I split 4 rolls (then had to order a 5th). Eel avocado, spicy crunchy salmon, one wrapped in cucumber, and fourth- of the four i think the eel avocado was the most tasty. the 5th roll we ordered was the first special roll listed (with salmon). i would not recommend this roll as it was about an inch of rice with a thin thin sliver of salmon on top. If you're going to go, make sure you are aware that these rolls ARE very small- even the special rolls. There is not very much fish or filling in them either and its a lot of rice.
(3)Diane T.
I have never written a review of restaurant but the worst service I have ever experienced inspired me to do so. I have worked in the restaurant business for about 20 years and while I know it can be annoying when people use coupons and vouchers, there is absolutely no need to be obnoxiously rude about it which our waiter was. I purchased the 7 course tasting menu deal on Living Social because while my son loves good food, he tends to inhale it so I don't always love spending a fortune on a meal for him. We made a reservation but were seated in the bar area even though there were multiple open tables in the dining room available. Our waiter sat at the bar watching us for about 10 minutes before approaching the table and when he did, he said "tasting menu, can I get your coupon?" He never asked if we wanted a drink or anything else when he greeted us or at any point during our meal. I do not eat meat and I asked if I could substitute and his reply in an extremely snarky, condescending tone was "no, it is a chef's tasting menu", the only thing he left out was "duh" which he obviously thinking. I have have ordered many tasting menus at many restaurants and have never been denied a substitution for a dietary restriction. Even if this restaurant does not substitute, had he been civil about it, I would have skipped that course without complaint. When he presented each course, he barely grunted what we were eating. When my son ordered a soda, it sat at the bar for so long while our waiter watched TV, half the ice in the glass had melted and he had to drain the glass before pouring his soda in. At the end of our meal, our waiter dropped the check immediately after dropping dessert without asking if we wanted anything else, which we might have had he not been so rude. I have experienced incompetent service on many occasions and it has been tolerable because at least the service was civil. This server was clearly capable but acted as if he were doing us a favor by bringing us the food we paid for. I have never been tempted to not leave gratuity in my life but I came very close tonight. I typically would have tipped on the value of the meal and not what I purchased it for but I could not bring myself to do that either. I ended up compromising and tipped on the price of the Living Social voucher plus what we spent on additional food and drinks. As for the food, it was solid but had it's ups and downs. The Miso soup, calamari salad and dessert were very good, the carpaccio and sashimi were excellent. The crab cake was not great, it was fishy tasting and had a lot of shells in it. We ordered an additional tempura lobster roll which was fine but not exciting. I really wanted to and fully expected to love this place. Overall, the food was good, the prices were reasonable but the service made the experience miserable.
(2)Jacquelin K.
Zento is a tiny little shoe box of a restaurant with no curb appeal that's serving up some mighty fine sushi. Well, that's what the Inquirer says. I'm no sushi connoisseur, but our dishes tasted very fresh. We ordered square sushi and the green river roll. Our square sushi was made with salmon; it's a very sweet roll with some unidentified orange sauce on top. I spotted this sauce on virtually every dish served in the place, so it must be a Zento thing. I liked the green river roll better, which had fatty tuna and avocado. I'm learning that I have a thing for tuna. The refills of hot green tea were plentiful. Now, tonight is First Friday & unfortunately we arrived at what must have been a peak hour for this tiny little shoe box of a restaurant. There are perhaps 10 tables in total. By 930 they were all full & the ensuing din made it very difficult to carry on a conversation. There's a real space crunch here, and that's not pleasant. We interacted with all 3 gracious servers throughout the meal, which was interesting. Decor is minimalist; I'm not a fan of the bare white walls. I might come back for the green river roll, but not on a First Friday night.
(3)Sharon M.
At first glance it doesn't look like a 5 star sushi place. However; never judge a book by its cover. The service was amazing. Our waitress was oh so happy to be working and thoroughly enjoyed her work. Rare in Philly! The choices of sushi rolls were Amazing! Try the King Crab Miso Soup! If you like pho its a combo of miso with a large amount of crab thrown in! Its BYOB and the liquor store is just up the corner. We tried the Pear Sake in the blue bottle. Also exquisite! I loved this place and recommend it highly!
(5)Bill C.
Service took FOREVER and was rude... until I ordered $60 worth of sushi for myself. The atmosphere was minimal. On the way back to the hotel I felt like I was going to burp up most of what I'd just eaten. Not a fan.
(2)Ali H.
This place was recommended by expert yelper Dave H. and I will never question his advice again! I was a little reluctant to go here after I saw pics of the tiny interior and read others' complaints about how small it is. We went at 6 pm on a Saturday, which I guess is on the early side, so we had the place to ourselves for most of the meal--more diners filtered in as it got later. So while it was small, we didn't feel crowded. The staff was really friendly, and most importantly, the sushi was out of this world. The square Zento roll is a must, as well as the Dragon roll, Volcano roll and Monkey roll. . . if we had been able to shovel in any more, we would have. Everything was excellent, even the simple rolls. Another thing I appreciated was no corkage fee, a small detail that always irks me. This was the best sushi I've ever had, hands down. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Scott L.
Fish could be more fresh. Uni and yellowtail were a bit fishy. Portions are not large. I would also rate it $$$. Spent close to $120 for two people. Won't be going back. Service was good.
(3)Amy D.
Ok so I decided to go here for sushi because of the great reviews I read on here. I expected amazing sushi, well that wasn't the case. My tuna roll was terribly mushy and the spicy sauce was mostly mayo which made it have a sweet taste. The edemame was also over steamed and mushy. I got a bowl of miso that was about 10 oz. of broth and maybe a piece or two of tofu. I ordered the center city roll and they sent me god knows what but it did not have three of the ingredients listed, which were fish! I don't know, to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I am still kind of confused because of the tons of great reviews. I would, however, give it one more shot. Maybe i got an off night or I went too late, whatever the problem I have to say it's some of the worst food let alone sushi i've ever had.
(2)Yonatan R.
Absolutley the best Sushi place in Philadelphia
(5)bryan m.
Had dinner here with the family. The sashimi was all very fresh, the kitchen entrees were above average for a predominately sushi restaurant, and the rolls were a bit on the small and not so tasty side. Overall nothing was terrible, but definitely over priced for the quality and portion, service was a bit slow and unattentive. If you are in old city and have a craving for sushi and have money burning through your wallet hit it up, otherwise keep moving.
(3)Oski B.
Tasty sushi, but under-staffed. There was only one server for the entire restaurant on the night we went. She was as helpful as she could be, but definitely over-stretched.
(4)Reena H.
One of my favorite sushi restaurants in Philly. I have been here twice and both times the food has been up to par. For starters, I recommend the tuna pizza (just delicious!), and the miso soup. The fish is fresh! I don't think you can go wrong with any of the sushi rolls-sooo yummy! I like the fact that they keep it simple in keeping a balance of the taste of the fish with the additional sauces added. My favorite sushi rolls here are the zento square roll and the spicy tuna roll, both are fabulous! I also recommend the monkey and volano rolls. For dessert, I've tried the banana fritters---i could keep eating more!!! The restaurant is small, but charming. The staff is attentive. The prices are very reasonable for high quality food.
(5)Dave W.
Had lunch here. Very, very good sushi. 25 bucks with tip for one of the lunch specials: miso, salad, 8 pieces sushi, 1 roll. Also had a green tea.. wasn't really that full. And I'm still giving it 5 stars. Like I said very, very good sushi.
(5)Marian R.
i really wanted to give this place 5 stars, but it is a little bit too expensive and the rolls are tiny. that being said, oh how delicious the sashimi! i popped in for a quick dinner before pool league (it was playoffs, i wanted a minute alone and some yummy food to fortify me) and it was absolutely perfect. i ordered two pieces of white tuna (which should've been squeezed for their juice, so moist, fresh and sweet), one piece of australian yellowtail (not on the menu, recommended because i asked for scallop and they were out of it) that was perfect with a beautiful color pattern and texture and one piece of spanish mackerel (i so should've ordered 5 of these) that came with a tiny chop of a mushroom sauce on the skin side, beautiful and unbelievably delicious. also ordered a bowl of miso that smelled very pleasantly of the sea, a side of sushi rice and the toro scallion roll (yummy but plain, and definitely wee). but i was very satisfied by my entire meal and am excited to go back. the wait staff was also extremely friendly without being overbearing and since i was in for a VERY early dinner, i ate the meal in silence and was in a perfect mood to beat some bottoms on the pool table. which i did. :) i read most of the negative reviews below and to be honest, a place like this is in old city, so of course prices are going to reflect how much they pay in rent. but my order was beautifully displayed with edible garnish (chrysanthemum leaves, nasturtium, daikon), so they try to make up for it. and there really isn't much ambience, but whatever, i was there for the food. it was nice enough though, and i liked the plain but stylish tables and chairs. and i think i'm done. :)
(4)Tom C.
My girlfriend and I eat a lot of sushi ...no really ...a lot and Zento is the real deal. Creative menu items, quality food and service, reasonable prices. One of the best sushi places that we have been to on the east coast.
(5)Sarah B.
Hands down the best sushi in the city! And the service is awesome!
(5)a r.
Everything here was fantastic; maki, sushi, salads, and drinks! Downside was the wait staff! Otherwise, would have been a 4 star review. I was very impressed with the food! Everything was very fresh, flavorful, and well presented. The drinks were the perfect combination of strength, flavor, sweetness, etc. Everything was well proportioned, the food was simply excellent. However, after a long wait, we waited much longer to order, and longer yet just for a glass of water. That being said once we did order the food arrived relatively quickly. It seemed like it was an organizational issue. No one seemed to know who was responsible for taking care of which guests and the place really wasn't THAT crowded and there doesn't seem to be an excuse to warrant this. Interior is small, but doesn't seem crowded and has a nice ambience. Prices were pretty standard for the sushi, higher end for drinks. All in all, I will definitely be back!
(3)Roman S.
Definitely over-hyped. I liked the large selection of special rolls, but was disappointed with the small size and small amount of fish on them, given the cost. They also seemed over-sauced. The fish itself was average. Despite my feelings, my 3 companions enjoyed it greatly.
(3)Noheli T.
I went to Zento on Friday night and had a great time. I ordered the Love Roll and my friend ordered the Center City Roll and both of them came out delicious! The only compliant that I have is the service. A waiter approached us about drinks and we asked for a bit more time. I didn't expect for him to give us an extra 10 minutes. It felt like they had just forgotten about us even though the restaurant was far from full.
(4)Ann V.
The tuna pizza was the only thing able to save this place from 1 star territory. All else was terrible. 1. Way too expensive 2. Rolls we ordered were disgusting 3. Location does not keep heat in very well. Everytime the door opened I would freeze. 4. Sashimi was meh.
(2)Stephanie W.
I found Zento via Urbanspoon, which is my new way to find great unknown restaurants. My friend and I went and had a great dinner-we split three amazing sushi rolls and shared an appetizer of a spring roll. The spring roll was stuff with beef and noodles and was amazing! The sushi rolls were all great. I also had a Citrus Sake drink that was fabulous. I would highly recommend this restaurant to those looking for a great sushi restaurant. There was a great Yelp deal, but the waiter wasn't very excited about us both using the deal and having to give us separate checks. Next time I'd probably only use one.
(4)John B.
Overall solid sushi place. I found that their fusion (with Chinese?) dishes were better. They have dishes that are drizzled with hot oil, yuzu and micro greens. Scallop special, thinly sliced, drizzled with hot oil, yuzu/ponzu sauce, micro greens, it's served somewhat in between warm and cold. The addition of oil and slight saltiness of the yuzu sauce adds to the nuttiness of raw scallop. It was very good. The ama ebi (sweet shrimp) appetizer was also very good. The udon noodle was different but good. We did a-la-cart nigiris and sashimis. Though they smelled and tasted fresh, they weren't as tasty, though I thought the red snapper and fluke nigiris were very good (albeit a little small).
(4)Rob V.
We purchased a Groupon and hit it the other night. It was a first visit from a very big sushi foodie. The atmosphere (decor, music, lighting, etc.) was great, the food was excellent, staff great, and pace of the seven course meal was perfect. We will certainly be back again!
(5)Scott G.
As I said in my first review, the food here is top notch. I went back again because I really did enjoy myself, until the check came (see previous review). The square roll was quite interesting and the ceviche app, while not necessarily ceviche, was really good. It's simply pieces of fresh fish with a little marinade. But to start with such nice fresh fish is great. The green tea is also a winner, for $2 with refills, I would go back just for it! All-in-all it is a very nice restaurant, good fresh fish, and rather quick for a sushi place. It seems that my first experience was an anomaly. The price is a little high, but the quality is to match. I am excited for their new space, just 3 doors down. I wish them the best of luck in their new location.
(4)Jennifer T.
Went to Zento last night for the first time an it was sooo yummy!!!! The sushi was super fresh and delicious. The focus at Zento is simple, high quality fish paired only with ingredients that enhance the natural, fresh flavors. The place is small but I went on a Monday night so I was seated quickly. The prices were very reasonable too...my sister and I left out of there STUFFED and our bill only came out to be $55. We ordered edamame, zento salad (calamari salad) - which had way more calamari than salad, a shrimp tempura roll, spicy tuna roll, a REAL California roll (made with real crab meat), and a salmon Zento square sushi (sooo yummy)!!! All in all, it was a great meal and very quaint atmosphere. I will definitely go back...there's a lot left fir me to discover at Zento! **The only reason they are not getting 5 stars is because I felt like the menu was limited and I wish they had some sort of "blackboard" list of daily specials or what was fresh that day.**
(4)bob m.
Unfamiliar with Philly sushi, wasn't sure what to expect. Fiance had heard such rave things that I expected the classiest joint ever. It was a little room with very informal furnishings. Kinda thought "did we come to the right place" Went here on night I proposed so at first a bit dissappointed with what I saw. Couple joined us, and they brought a bottle of champagne to help us celebrate. Staff had no problem with this and chilling it for us. Did not get charged a corkage fee. I like that. Our bill was expensive (about 150 bucks) but when I think about it, we ordered sooo much food that it was our own darn faults. So, It wasn't expensive... we just weren't wise. I thought the rolls were very good. It took a while for them to take our order but when they did it came pretty quick and it was pretty good. Very pretty presentation too. I enjoyed it. In short, I think this is a good place to come out with some friends for a quick grab of some decent sushi, but it isn't the mecca we were expecting. No decor, no ambience, and pretty cramped. If this were in California I would 3 star the food, but due to location I would 4 star it. Unfortunately the crowded, lunch counter atmosphere would make me think 1 or 2 stars. 2+4 = 6. The average is 3, so that is what I would say Zento is.
(3)Aaron H.
Sushi was the bomb , had the Flaming dragon and Philly roll. The rice tasted very fresh. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very cool and upbeat. They also have these cute coke bottles
(5)Ron F.
ZENTO Sushi & Sake Lounge a great place to meet and mingle. The food and drink are culturally diverse and the atmosphere is quaint. Stay awhile and you will meet some great people. And the hostess is so cute with a beautiful smile.
(5)Michael L.
We met a guy on our flight from Florida to Philly who told us that Zento made him fall in love with sushi. Well, we fell in love with Zento. We had a spicy king crab roll, a garden roll, a rainbow roll and a sashimi roll. Arguably the best sushi I have ever had. Everything was fresh and the service was great. The place is small, but quiet. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Katie F.
Had my first sushi experience here- It was everything I'd hoped for! Trendy spot, quick service, has a nice bar. We had fun walking around the area afterwards too. Im no expert on sushi, but by the taste of it I knew I was getting quality. Recommended!
(3)PJ M.
Great, fresh fish! The King Crab Miso was very good as well. Would definitely come back. My only complaint is the prices.
(4)Marques G.
Pretty slow service, gets pretty crowded and cluster around evening hours, but great food! :)
(3)Lorraine F.
Delicious food with affordable menu! Casual yet high-end, sophisticated atmosphere. A friendly, knowledgeable, professional staff. Zento's is a wonderful dining experience! Great place to meet friends and drink, eat, hang-out for hours!!!
(4)Ibrahim S.
Great Asian beer selection, my favorite is tiger beer. Great sushi and service
(5)Colleen M.
The food was really pretty good. But... this is a BYO that charges $10 corking fee. PER BOTTLE. It wasn't really clearly communicated either, so the bill was a bit of a surprise.
(3)Cindy C.
A fairly classy place with a decent menu. The sushi is fantastic. All the flavors melt together in your mouth and is soo delicious. The presentation is good; garnished with sauce and a flower. They have specialty rolls that range from $12 - $15, and includes everything else that a sushi joint should have. They don't serve alcohol however they will pick something up for you if you ask. I recommend their green river roll and monkey roll. Their Zento special roll is squared, which is very unique. Our waitress was very attentive. The only con would be the size. Otherwise, excellent place for sushi!
(4)Cam D.
Went here a few days ago for a friday night date. It was very nice, and very dark. we needed our phones to read the menu. The atmosphere is very nice, however the tables a re a little too close together for my taste so it isn't very private. However most sushi bars I've been too share this characteristic. The sushi was quite good, and the king crab miso is phenomenal! we also got the seafood udon and it was decent, but not unbelievable. The sushi is good and the special rolls, although pricey, are very creative!
(4)Hoang T.
Zento was the 2nd stop of me and my friends sushi tour of Philadelphia (read my Uzu review). The interior was on the 'modern' side, but a bit stark. It needs a little bit more on the interior. But we're not there for the looks right? On to the food... Appetizers: Miso soup first. It was pretty "filling" as in heavy--something i wasn't really expecting from miso soup. Good amount of tofu too; not too much not too little. Next was the Tuna Pizza (highlight of the meal imo). Tuna, seaweed salad, tomatoes, cilantro, and a spicy mayo sauce (just the right heat). Very tasty. Good bold flavors and pretty balanced. Agedashi (tempera tofu and vegetables). My friend said she had better, i wasn't sure why it needed a separate name, it was basically Tempera but the dipping sauce already in the dish. The batter was a bit heavier then tempera should be, but was still good. Main: we ordered the Sashimi sample (10 piece for $25) to get a better taste of the "fresh fish" everyone on yelp claimed. The pieces were very nicely cut! Consistent size and the sushi chefs knife skill really showed. The assortment of fish we were served: tuna, salmon, yellow tail, smoked tuna?, and some fish from spain with a mushroom topping. The latter was IMO, HORRIBLE. The mushroom sauce thing (think...a thick creamed mushroom) it ruined the entire taste of the fish. Moreover, it totally ruined my palette. (more water please!) We ordered 2 other rolls, American Roll and that day's special--2 tuna wrapped in Ricer Paper. American Roll wasn't the greatest maybe because of the scallop topping (too creamy-made it too heavy). The special roll was a good choice. Topped with fried onions and a different sauce, it did deliver bold flavors and a fresh new twist to sushi rolls. Dessert: Red Bean Mochi Ice Cream. This was very good and redeemed the meal. Zento only gives you a choice of 4-5 flavors, but you can only pick 1, whereas Uzu gives you 4 flavors with the order. Service: Great attentive service. If my glass of water was 60% full, our waitress filled it right back up. Very friendly too! Overall, it was a good dining experience. However, when the bill came, it was pretty high for what we had. It was about $120 including tip the two of us. One of the more expensive places i've been in the area (and i've been to Morimoto's as well). on to the next spot of our tour...
(3)Dan F.
It's not every day you want the experience of an exploding nutsack of flavor in your mouth. Should that day come however, run, don't walk to Zento and order the ice cream mochi. It's two tablespoons of ice cream encased in a ball of sticky rice dough, dusted with an angel's wave of powdered sugar. You'll find green tea, strawberry, vanilla, red bean, and on all the days I'm not there, black sesame, because I really want it and it's Asian Murphy's Law that I'm to be denied. But you probably didn't come to my review to read about dessert. How's the savory side of the menu? Excellent. I want to give special props to the miso soup, which was extra-tasty and many cuts above the average. From the turf side of town I had the crunchy spicy tuna (very nice) and the yummy Zento Square Sushi (salmon version) with eel, avocado and plum paste. Cute, cozy place for a fun evening out with friends -- and solid sushi. Word is they're very consistent, so any night should be fine.
(4)Danan R.
I love this place. It's small but has really great sushi. Try the square sushi with tuna. It comes plum sauce, avocado, eel, tuna, and is topped off with a spicy sauce. The spicy king crab roll is also excellent (king crab, shrimp tempura, and eel), as is the double shrimp roll (XO sauce anyone? sooo good). If you don't like fish, the duck rolls are a great option. They also have oh toro on the sashimi menu, and that was very fresh. The miso marinated sea bass is very flavorful and fresh if you are not in the mood for sushi. The service here is superb and the sushi chef has a perpetual smile on his face. This is a top notch sushi place that offers both presentation and taste.
(5)Rishit B.
Pretty good sushi and decently priced!
(3)Colette D.
I have to admit Zento is a favorite of mine and holds a special place in my heart. With that said, I held a star only because parking is such a hassle and the music selection of terrible nightclub beats makes me nervous. The sushi, AMAZING. Always fresh and tasty. The miso kingcrab soup is a great starter. Service is great and always pleasant. A favorite sushi restaurant in the city for sure :)
(4)Anne B.
A nice intimate place to grab sushi in Olde City. It's extremely small so reservations are recommended! I think I'd heard a little too much hype, so my expectations were through the roof. We arrived and were seated at our reserved table (party of 4). We had our menus and the server took an inordinately long time to take our order (along the lines of 20+ minutes). We ordered a multitude of rolls and I got miso soup as a starter. It pains me to say the sushi was just above average. I don't know if it's a California thing, but I am missing a certain taste or texture or sensation in my mouth that I just didn't get here. Maybe it's because it was the end of the day on a Thursday? Is that old joke about fish being flown in on a Monday really true?! Anyway, seems like a good place, but between the very slow service and the meh quality of the sushi, I probably wouldn't come here again.
(3)Julian D.
It was a great overall experience! Food was really good but the drinks were out of this world! Shout out to Christian for the hospitality.....
(5)Rex P.
I was disappointed. :( I didn't wanna be... the place looks great, with a full bar. It has a lounge-y atmosphere with cool low lighting and the wait staff dressed in all black. But all I wanted was some good sushi, and I was disappointed because the menu didn't really have many non-traditional options. I can get my tuna and yellowtail at Wegman's, thank you very much. Yes, there's some deluxe rolls, but they didn't sound great. Don't get me wrong, it was yummy and fresh, but for the price, I wanted something new and refreshing. When I was leaving, I noticed that they had specials that would've been interesting, but they didn't tell me inside what the specials were! Also, they had a large beer and wine selection from all over Asia, if they're into that kind of thing. I wasn't, though, so I came away disappointed.
(2)B M.
Sushi is my absolute most favorite food in the world. I've heard good things about Zento. I have tried just about every other place in Philly, but based on reviews- was anticipating some great,, unique sushi I made reservations online two days in advance. However,when we arrived, we were moved three different times because we were told the tables were all reserved. We agreed to move and didn't think too much of it. . Our appetizer and miso soup came out immediately- great start. They were both mediocre. My friend ordered a Sprite and it was the worst tasting "Sprite" imaginable. He said it tasted like metal. How do you mess up a Sprite? Odd... We thought the couple next to us was just being difficult when they called over the waitress and complained. However, we realized they waited over 45 minutes and 3 of the four rolls they ordered came out wrong.. Also, they indicated that the one roll they had was full of rice and absolutely no fish. When I glanced over, I realized that was the same roll we had ordered. That couple wound up leaving before eating anything. 55 minutes later, our rolls came out. We both got the Zento Square roll. It had a tiny sliver of avocado, a tiny sliver of salmon, barely there piece of eel, and tons of rice. I now knew why the couple next to us complained so much. For 15 dollars, this roll was EMPTY. The Old City roll and typical yellow tail scallion were pretty decent, but very small. Our bill came out to 85 dollars....and we were still really hungry. The only positives I can say about this place was that the ambiance was pretty cool, and the waitresses were very sweet. There are MUCH better sushi places in the city for much less money. We won't be back.
(1)Clare H.
Stumbled across this place on a friday night and had a better meal than we could have expected. We checked the place out on yelp after we sat down and were able to get the $18 for $10 deal which was a nice surprise! The miso soup is perhaps the best I have ever had and borg the sushi and the noodle dishes were very good! The service was friendly and attentive. We'll be back.
(4)Angela E.
I went to Zento with a few friends for lunch and it was pretty good. We all got the maki combo and that comes with a miso soup and salad. Everything was tasty and came to about $18 a piece (tip included) for the four of us. A little steep for lunch but worth it for all that we got. I've been to other sushi places in the city and have found that you truly get what you pay for. In other words, worth it! The service was perfect. The sushi chefs were quick and although we sat at the table in front of them, I never felt like there were eavesdropping! Also, it's a small-ish place but it didn't feel like it, so that was nice, too. I'd def. go back.
(3)Ali E.
Stopped in for take-out before hitting the movies at Ritz, and it did not diappoint. I went for the Flaming Dragon roll - crunchy spicy tuna, avocado, tobiko, topped with eel - delicious, but the crunch had soggified somewhat by the time it was eaten. If you go for crunchy items, eat immediately. Everything was reasonable, and the guys making the sushi and at the register were friendly and helpful. I'll def be back.
(4)J L.
great service and outstanding food. try the tuna pizza
(5)Ren P.
I love this BYOB sushi place. I've been coming here for a few years, as I used to live in the area. Coming back for the first time after moving out of old city, to my surprise, they added a corkage fee of $10. Our server was willing to accommodate us, comp the fee and they even gave us complimentary mochi ice cream. They are willing to go above and beyond to keep their customers happy and coming back. This is one of my personal favorites for sushi in the city. I love the crab miso soup, center city roll and love roll, but I'm sure you couldn't go wrong with anything on the menu.
(4)Lauren K.
Awesome sushi. byob!
(4)Dan B.
Good sushi and good decor. Lighting just right, not too bright. The night I was there they were in between liquor licenses and were giving out free sake. A place worth checking out. Sushi is a bit expensive but it correlates with center city prices.
(4)Stephen B.
Amazing! Everything about Zento is top notch. The food, staff & service is the BEST in Philly!
(5)Austin A.
This is a hard review to write, as I don't want to judge a restaurant unfairly, however I was completely unimpressed with Zento when judged relative to its competition. Zento isn't a "moderate" priced restaurant, it's a spendy one, and overpriced at that. While sushi, sashimi, and rolls were individually tasty, there were unsatisfying with meager cuts of fish and even more impressively an insufficient amount of rice with the nigiri. So while I appreciate that they aren't like other restaurants in trying "bulk up" a small cut of fish with a ton of rice, at least y'know, provide a decent amount. Really, to sum it up, after spending $80 on sushi (for my wife and self), we ordered a pizza.
(2)Stuart G.
I dined solo and the service was fantastic and friendly. The miso was quite nice, with silky tofu cut in a big slab. The avocado salad was perfectly underdressed. I thought that the Sushi entree was rather small for the price and the rolls, though delicious, were terribly small. They had nice, fresh fish that was well cut and prepared. They just need to upsize all the sushi and rolls by about 20% to make it appropriate. If not for that detail, I would give them 4 stars!
(3)Josh L.
Read somewhere a seems-to-be experienced sushi fan said this place was way better than Morimoto so I had high expectation. However this turned out to be a big disappointment. Simply not many offerings on their menu, no uni, no ama ebi, no bluefin... Not many beer selections either. The rice was too wet and not firm, topping was just ok to say the least. Not authentic Japanese restaurants even though the owner was said to be a former chef at Morimoto. They call themselves a "sake bar" and I guess that may be a more appropriate name.Service was efficient even though they were quite busy, and this dragged up their rating from me by 1/2-1 star.
(3)Adam D.
ZENTO..........ZENTO....................ZENTO!!!!!Â!!!!!!! scream it over and over again. Its really fun to say. ZENTO!!!!!!!!!!!!! ok, enough of that. Zento is located on 2nd and Chestnut right down the road from Han Dynasty. Its a little place. But that aint gonna stop it from being great dammit! The square sushi is very nice , ( tuna and salmon ) the king crab miso soup is more than really nice as is the grilled chicken soup. BOTH are legendary. Both are incredible. There is a tuna sushi with avocado dish that might not even be on the menu thats incredible but here is the down side. That tuna sushi...its amazing, but............its like 6-7 bucks a piece. So when you get 5-6 pieces and you didn't know the price and BLAM.......30-35 bucks on an app..........IT ADDS UP! because 2-3 rolls are not gonna fill my should be fat ass up! I would say be careful with ordering a ton because its going to cost you. I hate writing that because the quality of the food is really high. Sam Ho the chef ( co chef as the sushi chef is another fella ) really is a genius. He makes incredible dishes and is very creative. I think the prices are just a bit too high. Top quality sushi though ( especially for the east coast. It hangs with just about any NYC place I have been to not that that's saying a ton because the instant you hit the west coast it's way easier to get your good sushi on....can I get a Sushi Ike ya'll?!?! ) The kitchen dishes are amazing. You could easily just get some soup and one dish and it wont cost you an arm and a leg. The vibe in the place is cool enough. You wont be going there for its stylish design and mood lighting. While its not a North Philly take out only Chinese place , its also not the absolute silliness that is all things Steven Starr ( the extra R in star is for Really mediocre food ) Zento is probably philly's best sushi in center city. There is a place however in Plymouth Meeting called Blue Finn that might take the regional crown. The fact that the best sushi in the area might be in Plymouth Meeting is quite astonishing. That's a whole other story. Zento is easily worth your visit. Its pricing keeps it from a 5th star. I might give out the 5 stars too easily come to think of it. 4 aint too shabby. Great job Zento. scream Zento over and over and magically a japanese movie monster will appear! HAI DOZO!!!!!!!
(4)John G.
First timer, can't wait until the next time. The food was GREAT, and the staff was wonderful. They couldnt do enought for us. Such a great place, plan on going back offen.
(5)Katie B.
Just went to Zento for lunch and the Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box was delicious!! 6 of us had lunch and everyone was pleased with the options sushi, sashimi, etc. Server was very attentive and all lunch specials came with miso soup and salad. Only con of Zento is the size, on a weekend night I am sure it gets packed and there is no room to wait for a table - other than the size, food is superb!
(5)Percy N.
Went for lunch and was the only customer there (besides a few who came to pick up their take out orders). The sushi combo I got consisted of very high quality fresh fish. The rolls were cut into smaller than usual bite size, which I like since it lets your palate experience the intricacies of allowing the flavors from all ingredients from the entire piece of sushi come together. Their spicy mayo did not overpower the fish and the white tuna roll was great. Next time I will get a larger platter of sushi.
(5)Marcel M.
In short this place is amazing. The special (not on the menu) Mango, tuna, salmon, yellowtail sushi roll was orgasmic. Not an over exaggeration, it's was so duhlicious. All the other special rolls we tried were splendid as well. I will confirm as other reviewers have said it is on the pricey side although well worth the price cause the fish quality is top-notch. I do have to disagree with several reviewers who noted the miso soup as "the best." I didn't taste the difference. I've definitely had better miso. While good, definitely not the best. Make a trip here, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Chanda B.
I decided to hit up Zento for restaurant week because I'm such a big sushi lover! Its located right in old city philly where it used to be called Grey Lounge. The decor is very nice and the restaurant is quite small. The menu is a bit pricey but overall food is great! Their drink menu is also pricey but at the time that I was there, they were half off. I had the Geisha Girl which is a vodka cranberry martini with mangos and cranberries in the drink which is very interesting. The drink wasn't too strong and it was a little sweet due to the mangos. Now down to the food, I ordered the Kani salad. The Kani Salad is by far the best thing I've had. I also had the Flaming Dragon Roll with spicy tuna topped with eel. If you do not like raw fish and a first time sushi eater, this is recommended. I also ordered the Volcano roll which is very good. My boyfriend ordered the Mixed Sushi and he enjoyed it. Lastly, I had the Mochi ice cream. You can never go wrong with that! Zento is best for a date or just a nice night out in town with the girls. Although food was great I gave it 3 stars because I felt rushed by the server.
(3)Michael W.
Zento is without a doubt the best sushi spot in the city for a whole host of reasons, conveniently laid out in list fashion: 1) Chef is dominant. Worked at Morimoto, presumably lived up to the Iron Chef's standards. Rolls are creative & delicious. 2) Fish is the freshest I've had in town. Considering we're on a heavily trafficked water way, I'm always shocked when establishments have frozen, old, or just plain nasty fish. Thankfully Zento takes advantage of our ocean-friendly placement. 3) Location is strong...vibrant part of town, although you might want to wear shades to protect your eyes from the spiky Jersey blow-outs that infest Olde City on the weekends (I'd like to know who showed those people how to get across the river). Popped Collars aside, I enjoy the pulse and hum of 2nd and Chestnut...great change of pace from the Squares in Rittenhouse. 4) I've seen several posters on here complain that the price was too high, but I found quite the opposite to be true. For my girlfriend and I to eat our fill of rolls and edamame, the cost was approx. $65 including tip. This day in age, I'm fired up any time I can escape the dinner table with a sub-$100 tab. 5) Save the best for last. Jimmy the waiter! Extremely attentive. I've got a sneaking suspicion that he might have a mild crush on my girlfriend and her friends, but that's fine with me if it guarantees prompt service, hilarious jokes, and consistent positive vibes. Zento is one of the best BYOB's that I've been to in the city and my vote for the best sit down sushi spot in town (VIC is the best take-out). Affordable + Tasty + Vibrant + Free Cool Breeze Waiter = Numero Uno.
(5)Courtney d.
I went on a first date here and I was extremely impressed with Zento and their Amazing Rolls. The Ambiance was romantic and cozy. Warm wood and candle pockets through out on exposed brick while dripping wax sets the mood. The miso king crab is phenomenal as well as the tuna tartar. I was pleasantly surprised by their "Reserve Happy Hour which starts from 8:30pm to 10:30pm all week long! Was impressed w the waitress as she was on top our table. Only complaint was their were only two bathroom which I had to wait a few minutes to use. Will return!!!!
(5)Kelly S.
I'm a total sushi junkie, and Zento tops my list of favorite sushi places in Philly (of course, I haven't made it to Morimoto's yet - I'm too poor!). The sushi chef cut his teeth working for Morimoto before setting off on his own, and his efforts at Zento have paid off. This place is a small but very charming restaurant next to Eulogy at 2nd and Chesnut. The decor is very modern and refreshing - sparkling white walls, flat screen TV, and cool, wiggly blue lighting at the ceiling. Everything about this place is classy and put-together, from the food to the decor to the servers. Beyond the inviting atmosphere, the food is fantastic. My boyfriend and I went for his birthday, so we went all-out and ordered everything we wanted from the menu. We started off with the Peking duck hand roll (2 pieces), which was crunchy and oh so good, and the soft shell crab tempura drizzled with a balsamic reduction, since I LOVE softshell crab. We also got miso soup and edamame. Then we got the green river roll (delicious!), the tuna and scallion roll (yum!), their signature square sushi (double yum!), the old city roll (soo good), and we ended things with green tea ice cream served on a banana leaf. Each and every dish had a beautiful presentation, and the wait staff brought everything to us with perfect timing. The sushi gets an A+ for freshness and taste. Also, I was thrilled that they featured toro in some of their rolls, which means that they always have it. I order toro wherever I go for sushi, and 9 times out of 10, the restaurants say that they're out of it. So kudos to Zento for keeping the best kind of fish in constant supply! A note of advice: Zento is byob, so bring some good sake or a wine that will complement your meal (you can check out their menu online at zentocontemporary.com ). My boyfriend and I brought a bottle of vinho verde, a light Portuguese white wine that went perfectly with our seafood, and the waitress was kind enough to open the bottle and pour our wine into some lovely wine glasses for us. Expect to pay $10-12 for special rolls, slightly less for average rolls, and about $6-8 per appetizer. Although the bill can start to add up once you start ordering multiple items, this place is SO worth saving up some dough so you can splurge on a fantastic sushi experience. Finally, this place is small and not usually full to capacity, which I think is due to the fact that word hasn't gotten out about this place yet. But still, I recommend reservations if you're going on a weekend evening for dinner because this place can fill up in no time due to the limited seating and the high demand for restaurants in the area. And it'll just get more crowded once the place becomes more popular, as it inevitably will. So call up, reserve your spot, and make sure to try as much sushi as possible!
(5)Lona W.
The restaurant was small but the ambiance was very nice. Their geisha girl drink was very good. Their sushi was good too. You could definitely tell that the fish was fresh.
(4)Patti A.
A few colleagues and I were in town for a conference and made the hike by foot to Zentos form the convention center. There were a few people in heels that were not happy about walking about a mile but once they sat down and had a delicious drink and tasted ten different rolls, all was forgiven. There was not one bad roll in the bunch. Even the Mexican roll was fabulous. Guacamole on sushi, genius! A am looking forward to going back in a few weeks.
(4)Michelle C.
Zento further proves that I am every marketing scheme's wet dream. I fall for all sorts of items in cute little packages. So when I saw a high quality picture of their Square Sushi roll in Philadelphia Mag, I had to go. Food needs to aesthetically please my palate AND my eyes. Further more, I have a major crush on Morimoto and learning that the sushi chef here interned under him. Oh, I think I had a wet dream, myself. The restaurant is small. T he space here can accommodate about 25 people patrons. Since I'm s-m-r-t and didn't make reservations we had to wait about 45 mins on a Friday night for a table. That wasn't too bad since there are lots of places in Olde City to grab a drink while you wait. The waitress took down my name and cell to call me when a table was ready. We brought a bottle of wine and ordered the square sushi roll, rainbow roll, softshell crab tempura roll, kanpachi (yellowtail) roll, spicy tuna and edamame. The service was great, quick and attentive. All of the rolls were tasty and looked beautiful, however, they were TINY! Their sushi rolls pack a lot of flavor but the size just doesn't do it for me. As much as I love feeling like a giant when I pick up small things, I'd rather not feel that way when picking up my food.
(4)Bruno M.
Overall, an enjoyable experience, the staff is very helpful, and the food is excellent. Definitely try the king crab miso and the specialty drinks when you go.
(4)Laura W.
Now located in what used to be Grey Lounge.
(4)Todd V.
The unappealing decor and the lame (and very dated) electronic music playing bring this down to 3 star. Otherwise, the sushi was excellent. All the fish was very very fresh and the apps were good too. I typically hate Miso soup and I actually liked theirs. The calamari was really crispy and the edamame were perfectly cooked. Definitely try the Peking duck roll. It was delicious. But someone please tell the owners to paint the place a new color and get some artwork on the walls. It feels way too much like a take out joint (which they provide) if you decide to dine in.
(3)Bill R.
Great food and drinks and reasonable prices for center city.
(5)dc h.
Food has always been great but the old location was too small. They've moved a few doors down (into the grey lounge spot), there's a lot more seating and just a way better aesthetic. Congrats on the move. Its exciting to see someone's business growing!!!
(5)Amy B.
This is my absolute favorite sushi restaurant in PA. It's quaint, clean, and the fish is fresh. The sushi chefs and waitstaff are super nice. The square sushi is really fun, but my favorite thing to order is the sushi/sashimi combo. You get an awesome variety of fish and they take the time to explain to you which pieces you're getting. I also ordered a spicy scallop handroll. It was on the expensive side since the scallop was live. And I do mean live -- literally still twitching. It doesn't get more fresh than that. The best thing they have is the white tuna. Do not go here with out trying the white tuna - sushi, sashimi, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that it's what makes life worth living.
(5)Carrie E.
The pressure was for my birthday and my BFF wants to take me out to dinner. This may shock you, but I rarely know where I want to go. I guess that's an occupational hazard about being a Yelp Community Manager - too much information! But I was in the mood for sushi, and because I like trying new places (so I can write new reviews) I did a Yelp search. Lo and behold, Zento caught my eye. The reviews were great and the menu looked tasty, so off we went in search of raw fish. We actually drove around the block a few times looking for the restaurant - turns out they have no sign (Zento is written on the front window). Amazingly we got Princess parking and were seated right away. And get this - after ordering, our food was delivered to the table in less than 10 minutes. We ate it up, oohing and ahhing the whole time, and completed what Leash and I have now dubbed "The Fastest Meal Ever." Service was unobtrusive and attentive, the food was great and we had fun. If that's not a five star birthday experience, then I don't know what is!!! Thanks, yelpers, for not steering us wrong!
(5)Jean C.
After living for several years on the west coast, it was nice to be able to appreciate sushi/sashimi again. The sushi/sashimi platter was very delectable. It was fresh and soft like buttah! Very tasty selections. My favorites are the tuna and the salmon. The real California rolls were also great. I was happy that the option of real crab was available. The atmosphere is very matter of fact, but the service was good. The restaurant is very tiny, but I've gone twice and have not had any issues in getting a table. Good sushi place that I will continue to visit.
(4)Pauline S.
The ambiance was very nice, the decor was artful and unique. From my initial sit down I actually saw a tiny bug crawling off my table, but no biggie. The server was very friendly and helpful, and our glasses were never empty of water. My friend and I shared the love roll, flaming dragon roll, and the zento square sushi in salmon. each one was delicious and enjoyable. I would definitely come back.
(4)Devon G.
This is my favorite sushi bar! Their signature square sushi is so delicious and I make sure to stop in everytime I'm in Philly. I've never had anything here that wasn't delicious and the staff is very friendly. It's currently BYOB, so make sure to bring your own bottle if you want wine with your meal!
(5)Jing G.
Heard great things about this place, so we went to have lunch there one day. Tiny little place with a tiny sushi bar, but the menu looked pretty inclusive so we sat down to have a few dishes. Overall, I was pretty disappointed. The yellowtail tartar came out swimming in a soba-base mirin-soysauce combination that was too overpowering and negated the point of raw fish. My squid pasta was just slices of squid in a sweet-savory sauce with asparagus. It was my fault that I took 'squid pasta' to mean 'squid ink pasta', but the result was not a happy mistake. It was average. As for sushi, I ordered 4 pieces of a la carte nigirizushi - anago, uni, suzuki, and hotate. These were the only true highlight of the visit here. The nigirizushi were tasty and especially the uni on the day we went was firm and tasty. I'm not sure why my boyfriend and I ordered any rolls, as most rolls are more or less sushi that we don't even really consider sushi. One can hardly appreciate most rolls without them being smothered in overpowering sauce or having too much in them that you can't appreciate the fish. We ordered the Center City roll and the Love Roll. Of the two, the Love Roll was the better of the two. The Center City roll was really very disapointing. The description capped it as ' Broiled yellowtail, tuna, salmon, whitefish, crab, asparagus, scallion and spicy sauce'. What we got looked and tasted like a bit of cooked salmon, imitation crab, asparagus rolled together and spicy sauce on top. We called the waiter over and asked if we had recieved the correct order and he said yes, and that the fish is broiled and then mashed together. Um, what is the point of that? That basically negates the point of sushi, after all. Plus, I took 'Broiled yellowtail' to mean that only the yellowtail was broiled - and by that I thought it meant that it was seared on top, with the rest of the fish being raw. But all of the fish in that roll was exactly the consistency of canned tuna. And oh yeah, no where was the scallion to be seen. Hmm. Our bill came out over $100USD for lunch and I left disappointed - not in the price, but rather in what I got from it. I won't be back. I guess the place is good for people who like fusion rolls and other nouveux type sushi, but I prefer old-style original sushi - the types where you can actually taste the fish and be able to gauge the quality by that - not by how creative or tasty the sauce put on top of the roll is. I really doubt based on my experience here that most ratings here are from people who actually have ever had good, real sushi. To put it in short terms, sushi is made to highlight the delicate nature of raw fish. Once you dump mayonnaise or 10 types of fish into one roll, you've pretty much ruined any chances to do so. I guess that's one of the reasons why in Japan, the only rolls we really have are simple- simple enough to highlight the fish - such as tuna or negi-toro rolls. After this and a few other disappointing sushi ventures, I'm pretty much set on giving up finding any more decent sushi places here in the states - at least here in philly.
(2)Sharon K.
Whoo hoo! Really great sushi in Philly! Love the Square Roll and the Tuna Pizza. The service was great. It was pricey, but not ridiculously so. I probably wouldn't eat here regularly because of the price. But if you stick to the basic rolls instead of specialty, you are good to go!
(4)Maria F.
We flew into Philly for a family event. Zento was recommended by our hotel people the first night in town. My husband, daughter, and I decided to try the 9 course Chef Taste meal for $75. We weren't very hungry, so thought it would be a nice thing to share. Our waiters were great, very informative, friendly, good service. Dishes were very small, very pleasing to the eye. We thought it was nice how they were able to split the items evenly, and bring us each our own little dish. ie..three thin slices of cucumber with dressing; two little fried soft shell shrimp, etc. You can imagine our shock when we got our bill, and had been charged $75 per person! EXTREMELY NOT WORTH IT!!! We did not argue as we had had a rough travel day, and this was the first pleasant experience. Now, if it had happened on a "normal" day...... We did tell the waiter on the onset that we thought it would be a nice meal to share. Don't know what he thought we meant by that!
(2)Vlad K.
Small, quiet place to have really good sushi. It might be a bit overpriced (at least IMHO) but definitely one of the best sushi places in Philly - if you are a fan, their spicy tuna roll just might be the best in the city. It is BYO, so plan accordingly.
(4)Jeanine Q.
AMAZING!!!! Can't wait to go back again. Yummy!
(5)Tom G.
Oh Zento, why hast thou forsaken me? I had such a solid relationship with you. So, when my girlfriend and I decided to introduce our friends for a party you failed...badly. Calling me 5 times during a work day on my cell phone trying to confirm a reservation for 6 (and essentially yelling at me when I call you back during my drive home) is silly. Then telling me that we have to leave by 7 (for a 5:30 reservation) was absurd. To the dinner: no waters given but we did get reminded two more times to leave by 7. Having to ask for glasses of water is unacceptable. The sushi was comparable to previous visits, but the service was slow (and there was only one other table in the restaurant being served). Luckily the food was still solid, but it wasn't good enough to overshadow the bad parts. It wasn't as if they were swamped...it is just clear they are not able to handle groups larger than 4. I probably won't go back for a while.
(3)Dennis M.
meh. weird vibe, food was standard.
(2)Tempa B.
I love sushi at Zento. This place is in my neighborhood and we go here almost weekly. I felt compelled to Yelp about it because I want to see this place succeed. Food is always fantastic and I love that you can get brown rice with your sushi. Some faves are spicy tuna with brown rice, seaweed salad, Branzino roll, Mexican Roll, tempura tofu, broiled salmon and eel sashimi. BYOB, prices are very reasonable. Staff is very nice and restaurant decor is well done. Also my go-to for take out.
(4)Mallory P.
I wasn't hungry... but I'm glad I went for it. I only got a spicy tuna roll, but I was able to get in on what my boyfriend was eating, so I can attest to the awesomeness of a few things. With sushi, you can just tell when it's good quality or not. This is good quality. Maybe this is gross, but when raw tuna tastes like butter, things can't get any better. The prices are really no different than other sushi places, but they do have more to offer... nicer, more intricate dishes that have reason to cost more. Next time, I'll be sure invest in one of those.
(4)Ye W.
It's a really nice neighborhood restaurant! Good sushi and the place is neat thought it's a bit small (total seating is less than 20 I believe.) Would definitely go back and eat there again!
(4)Heather C.
The sushi here is awesome, really fresh, imaginative and delicious. Service is always friendly and accommodating -- even when they graciously make room for groups of 4, 6 or 8 on a Friday night in their small restaurant. I love that they're BYOB and BYOSake. This is my favorite sushi spot in Philly for a nice night out.
(5)Brad N.
Used to be BYOB in a smaller space a couple stores down. Now they have a nice/remodeled larger space and a full bar ($10 corkage fee). Sushi is excellent. If the branzino roll is on the menu, get it!
(4)Aaron S.
Best sushi I've had in Philadelphia. The place is very small so it may be difficult to get a table later in the evening on weekends. Reservations are a good idea especially for larger groups. Service is great and their special rolls are amazing. As others have said, try the Zento square roll!
(5)Adam R.
I live in Old City and Zento is our go-to place for sushi delivery. This review is based on delivery sushi only. I have yet to dine-in at zento but our sushi was wonderful. Fresh fish, rice is perfectly seasoned. Kisso is not NEARLY as good as this place.
(4)K G.
We had a reservation for 18 here on a Saturday and they gave us the upstairs to ourselves. The food was great, the service was great and we had an awesome time and they were very accomodating of our large party.
(4)Juliana K.
I don't really know how this is the best sushi in Philly because I've definitely had better. We sat at a table across from the bar with chairs that were uneven. Right when we sat down, the hostess told us there was a $45 minimum for credit cards? I've never heard of a minimum credit card charge of over $10. Crazy. After our waiter got our order, he said..."It's going to be a long wait." Really awkward and weird. Spicy tuna roll- average roll. I've had better Old City Roll- was good Love Roll- was better than I thought it would be Green River Roll- was okay, but what plum paste? Overpriced sushi. Mediocre service. Overall, it was okay.
(3)Rossella F.
The place is very nice, very soft environment and great service. The soft music allows to have a conversation without screaming. The sushi is very tasty...maybe the nigiri was not perfect but overall I would reccomand it.
(4)Clare D.
The 7 course "chef's choice" meal isn't really a true chef's choice. I've had it twice and it was the same series of dishes. C'mon, even Morimoto asks you if you've ever been there before and tries to serve you different things each time you go. I tried to get a substitute for the chicken teriyaki but the server said no. It would be nice if they were more accommodating. I would've knocked this review down to two stars if it wasn't for the calamari salad being so good. Here's my review of each of the 7 courses: mussels in miso broth soup *** calamari salad ***** homemade crabcakes topped with garlic aioli ** yellowtail sashimi in citrus soy and sizzling oil *** chicken teriyaki ** a small sushi platter * mochi ice cream ** Overall: 2.57 out of 5.00 I'm sorry, but Morimoto and Zama do the multicourse meal much better.
(3)Michelle L.
Fantastic Food! Great ambiance! Great Service! BYOB... what else can you ask for? We loved it!
(4)Lilah T.
This place rocks. The food is excellent, the staff are nice, and they are BYOB ($10 corking fee on weekends) but also have a full bar! We had a groupon here and it was so delicious I actually bought another groupon and came again the same week! The sashimi ceviche is one of the best dishes I've ever tasted! Don't miss it. Also recommend the monkey roll, spicy crunch tuna/salmon, the pan-fried shrimp dumplings and the dancing dragon. Actually it was all delicious you could order anything and be happy.
(5)Amanda G.
I was part of a group of 8 that had a reservation on Saturday night. We were a little early, so we sat at the bar first. We were kind of cramped because the restaurant is long and narrow. The Geisha Girl cocktail was delicious (there's a Yelp check-in deal for 50% off a specialty cocktail). When it was time for us to be seated we were taken to the second floor, which was vacant except for us. Apparently they also have a third floor. So, my worries about being cramped all night long were unfounded. The service was a little slow to start, but then it was A-OK. Everyone got their drinks and food, and no orders were messed up. The Old City Roll (shrimp tempura roll with spicy sauce topped with eel and avocado) was good. One thing I noticed was that the specialty rolls were a little smaller than I'm used to, so just keep that in mind when you're ordering. This is definitely a solid sushi joint. I'd return if I was in the area.
(4)Leila R.
Came here for a quick bite to eat on our road trip to. Bonus points: Easy to make a reservation, quick service, beautiful presentation (orchid on each dish!) and very fresh fish. Cons: Bit crowded, expensive for the portion s. Not enough parking nearby and the location is kind of hidden if you're not looking for it. Not so memorable that I'd go out of my way to eat there, but a wonderful quick stop.
(4)Susanna L.
Delicious! The place was alot smaller than I thought, but that didn't ruin the quality of the food. A couple of friends and I had some special rolls to share. We had the love roll, dragon roll, crab roll, and a couple I don't remember. The fish was really fresh and had the right amount of rice in it. We finished our share so fast that we were hungry for more. That's how good it was. We ordered a couple of normal rolls right after. For dessert we had green tea/ mango mochi icecream and fried green tea icecream. All was very good, except I thought that the mochi was a little more on the expensive side. The bill came to be about a little more on the expensive side, but it was a great meal and great service. I'd come here again to grab some sushi when I am around the area.
(5)John K.
Awhile back, Living Social had a deal offering a 7-course tasting for 2 for $70 at Sushi Zento. The normal retail for this tasting menu was $140 - so that's a 50% savings. So when I noticed the deal was about to expire, I decided to finally get off my butt and cash it in! So I made reservations for a Saturday evening. I called the day of the dinner as I needed to move back dinner by an hour, and it was a good thing I did. For some reason, they did not have my initial reservation down. Perhaps that was why I never received a confirmation call, despite making my reservation 3 weeks in advance. Regardless, they were able to provide a table for me that night. Sushi Zento offers the talents of Chef Sam Ho, former sous chef at Morimoto, of Iron Chef fame. Having tried Iron Chef Morimoto's cuisine at his NYC outpost, I was excited to try Chef Ho's cuisine. Unfortunately at Sushi Zento, there is no sushi bar (just a normal bar). Still, I was informed that omakase (traditional japanese tasting consisting primarily of sashimi/sushi/nigiri) was available. Still, one of the perks of omakase is being able to watch the sushi chef expertly prepare the nigiri right in front of you. The decor at Sushi Zento is intimate. I loved the exposed brick and the wax coming from candle-lit openings on the walls. Still, the seating was reminiscent of Barbuzzo - in other words, really close quarters. Tasting Menu ($70 pp) Pumpkin Spice ($10) Hiram Walker pumpkin liqueur, Hanger One spiced pear vodka, Cointreau orange liqueur, simple syrup agnostura bitters, garnished with fresh ground cinnamon While the Living Social deal offered free non-alcoholic drinks, we decided to opt for a few cocktails. The GF went with the pumpkin spice, which was light, subtly sweet, and frothy. Johnny Sokko ($10) Muddled ginger, Bacardi rum, Coca cola, garnished with fresh ginger root and lime wheel Mine was sweet as well, with some definite bite from the rum. However, I didn't notice any fresh ginger root garnish and the carbonation from the Coke was slight. Miso Soup with Mussels We both started off with miso soup with mussels. There was balanced salinity in a typically overly salty soup. The scallions were a nice touch and the sweet, plump mussels were perfectly clean and juicy. Crispy Calamari Salad I could smell the crisply fried calamari before I ate anything - and that was a good thing. The calamari was light and was a nice highlight to the perfectly dressed greens, which had a prototypical ginger-sesame dressing. Homemade Crab Cakes The crab cakes were crisply fried in panko - perfect pucks of meaty crab. There was a slight amount of sweet, garlic tartar sauce on each disc and some greens to break up any monotony. Whitefish Carpaccio The whitefish was thinly pounded out - light and toothsome. The accompanying sauce was smoky and bright, rounding out the dish nicely. Chicken Teriyaki The chicken breast was juicy and was seasoned lightly. The teriyaki sauce was saccharine and pretty standard. Frankly though, the spinach was my favorite part of the dish, especially as I'm usually not looking to get the teriyaki dish at a sushi restaurant. Sushi/Nigiri Platter We received white tuna (escolar) sushi with avocado. This had a slight mayo dressing, which was creamy. Topped with black sesame, this was pretty good. Next, we had amberjack (yellowtail), which had a nice delicate snap. The salmon was prototypically fatty and delicious. The super white tuna (fatty escolar) was smoky. Maguro (tuna) was fishy to me however, and was quite disappointing. A pet peeve of mine is when the wasabi is served on the side with nigiri and that was the case here. Additionally, the rice was substandard for sushi - cold and I could barely sense any vinegar. Tofu Cheesecake Our first of our dessert duo was the tofu cheese cake, with lychee in the middle. This had a creamy panna cotta-like texture and was subtly sweet. Mochi with Green Tea Ice Cream This was the GF's first time trying mochi and she wasn't the biggest fan, mainly due to the texture. However, being used to mochi, it was perfectly dense and smooth. The green tea ice cream within was a nice palate cleanser for the meal. Overall, I can't see the tasting at Sushi Zento being worth $70 per person. Heck, the tasting at Jose Garce's restaurants consist of more overall dishes, higher quality, and better creativity. However, thanks to Living Social, the price point justified this initial meal. Still, I was expecting a bit more though I may have been misled by the guise of Chef Ho's experience at Morimoto. While Morimoto isn't a pure sushi/sashimi/nigiri experience, the quality of the fish is still quite high. And the cuisine offered (do try the Duck, Duck Duck at Morimoto) is simply superior. I can see the uninitiated being enthralled by Sushi Zento, but I would come here for a stiff drink and a specialty roll. Not for the omakase at the bar for sure.
(3)Ramu A.
The location was nice, the waitress was friendly and helpful, and the food was very good. My personal favorites were the tofu and the 2nd street roll. I especially liked the ambience/decor.
(4)Samantha S.
I've been to Zento twice so far and I'm hooked! I'm new to the sushi world, so my first time I had my boyfriend help me order. The food is spectacular, both times we've had the tuna pizza appetizer and it's SO delicious - I'm obsessed with the spicy sauce! We've tried most of the speciality rolls and I love them all. My favorites are the monkey roll and the Mexican roll (the guacamole and mango salsa on top are to die for!) Aside from the food, the service was great both times and the ambience of the restaurant adds to the experience - it's a perfect little date spot! And you have to love the fact that it's a BYOB.
(5)Carter P.
Meticulous attention to detail is how I describe a solid sushi experience and Zento delivers this with its appearance and the taste adventure their sushi creates on my taste buds. While dining with a friend, we share multiple rolls ranging from Spicy Tuna to one of their more specialty rolls. Delicately placed pieces of seafood alongside perfectly sticky rice with the right hints of sauce. Everything was based in getting the details no matter how small correct. The servers are very friendly and willing to satisfy any request - within reason of course. In fact, although they have a wine list of their own, they will gladly allow you to BYOB (for a $10 corkage fee). The atmosphere is perfect for a relaxing evening amongst friends, solo dining at the sushi bar or, one-on-one with a date. Overall, I recommend a stop at Zento if you're in Old City and find yourself in the mood for sushi in a modern and relaxing environment.
(4)Cynthia T.
I came here for New Years Eve dinner and only because this is a BYOB restaurant. (However, we mistakenly forgot to bring the sake/wine.) Location is great; Penn's landing is only a few blocks away. We walked right to the fireworks after dinner. Everything is around it as well. Bars/Nightclubs and scenery if you like to take strolls after dinner. We were sitting right now by door, which was a little bit cramped. But I saw that there were inside seats, which had a better environment. Now we were half hour late for our reservations, so we were just glad they didnt give our table away. Now for the food, most important part of any meal: the sushi was mediocre, and decent for its price and area. You are paying more for the environment and seeing that the location is right next to Penns Landing and the river/bridge. They had a mussels miso soup, which was delicious. Their tempura tofu/vegetables were good as well, not too fried. All in all, I don't think I would go back. Many other restaurants to try, if I wanted to stick around the Penn's Landing area.
(3)Rebecca W.
My husband and I decided to go here for a late dinner after seeing a groupon ($36 for $60). The resturant itself had a great atmosphere. We were sat right away in a cute corner booth. Our servers name was Julie and she was wonderful. We checked in on yelp to receive half off a cocktail. She offered to do another round at the same price. The only problem was that my husbands drink came out a good 15 minutes before mine. The sushi was unlike any other sushi I've had. Their specialty rolls were so original! My favorite was the ocean roll and my husband loved the Mexican roll. Over all a great experience with excellent service. After our meal Julie sat down and talked to us to see how we enjoyed the food and where we were from. She went above and beyond what was expected of her.
(4)Lora S.
Great sake and sushi. Wasn't a huge fan of the crabcakes - very dry and fishy tasting.
(4)Lindsey L.
Food was great, but it was a little small. Our table wasn't in an ideal location, but the service was good. I definitely plan on returning.
(4)You W.
Do not come, fish is not fresh! Tempura is not traditional! And also unsatisfied with their serves.
(1)Brad P.
Between yelp check-in deals, a restaurant.com coupon, and $5 corkage for BYO, you are looking at perhaps the most cost-effective sushi meal you can get in Philly. It seems that Zento is doing its best to draw business with every internet trick that it can find. Since I am a sucker for internet tricks, I ended up here and was glad I did. The tuna pizza appetizer is very good. The sushi square roll is also very good. Bring your mobile phone and get some savings. Nice work, Zento.
(4)Tiffany T.
Ambience: At first glance, it looks tiny. But the restaurant is narrow and goes in very deep. The decor was nice Service: Above standard, about 3.5 stars. The male server was attentive but not overbearing, my water was always full when needed Drinks: I tried the Peach Cosmo. For $10, I've unfortunately had better. It was nice and strong which I appreciated, but overall, meh on taste Food: Standard - Miso soup + crab meat : 4 stars! This was my favorite part of the meal. The crab meat was plentiful and delicious. The miso soup broth was quite good, not too salty or sweet like some other places. - Rainbow roll & the one that looks just like rainbow roll but has shrimp tempura on the inside. I think this is half our fault for ordering something so similar, but they were exactly the same just different topping on the inside (california roll vs shrimp tempura). But the sushi itself was very standard. Presentation was standard, and whoops, the sushi fell apart as soon as I picked it up with my chopsticks.. that's a no-no. It wasn't BAD, it just didn't blow me away. In my opinion, Fat Salmon is still my favorite sushi spot in Philly thus far. I wouldn't mind giving Zento another try and ordering some different stuff.. but from what we got it was very meh. maybe i'll roll back with a groupon in hand for one last try...
(3)Gracie C.
After purchasing a groupon, four of us went out to Zento on a Friday night. The atmosphere was very cool with lounge-like seating. However, the tables were a little close together and walking space was a little cramped. Once we were seated our waiter took a little while to take our order but once we did place our order the food came out relatively quickly. We ordered the spring rolls, steamed shrimp dumplings and miso soup to start. Everything was fantastic! We also ordered the $80 sushi/sashimi platter. The fish was fresh and presented beautifully on a platter. I would definitely recommend Zento as delicious sushi with reasonable prices.
(4)Emily X.
The dish is very exquisite and nice and small, for my small bday party, however, it's not a usual japanese restaurant where you find in Philly like Fuji mountain where you get a big plate full of sushi and sashimi.It's in old city, therefore their positioning is probably more higher end. Good for date or some special occasions.
(4)Monica L.
PROS: Good sushi, good prices, nice service, chill ambiance CONS: Slightly smaller portions We came on a Sunday night and it was still pretty busy --- which says a lot. The shrimp dumplings were really good --- flavorful and fresh! The rolls were also quite tasty. I would definitely return again in the near future!
(4)Rob P.
I'm inherently suspicious of restaurants that constantly run deals on every one of those daily deal sites imaginable. Either they're in such bad shape that they're desperate to get anybody in the door, or they've inflated their prices so much that the deal just re-sets the prices back to normal. Zento seems to fall into that latter category. The sushi was good, but you can't honestly call Zento a sushi bar. The food is all prepared in a kitchen somewhere in the basement of the place. The service was solid. I'm not sure what else I can say. It was a good meal, but not anything that blew my mind.
(4)Xida Z.
Trendy Western Sushi I came here because the reviews were good and there was a deal to pay $10 for $18 in food. The place has a small storefront in Old City. The restaurant was long and skinny and my friend and I sat near the middle next to the bar. The menu is as expensive as many people expect sushi places to be ($4 for a piece of sashimi, ~15 for rolls). We sat next to the wine rack and checked one of the wine prices. I would take advantage of the BYOB policy. I did what I always do for my first time at sushi places: order traditional rolls. I got the salmon ($6) and eel avocado roll ($7). They came with eight pieces each, which is a good portion. The salmon was fresh and tender. The eel avocado was creamy and not over-sauced. My friend had a yellowtail and scallion that was fantastic because of the creamy sauce (a sign that it's suited to western tastes). I was most impressed by the ginger. Most ginger at sushi places is toned way down, but theirs packed a punch. With the deal, everything was $10, which is a steal. Without the deal though, I'm not sure I would have come. Note: After we left, we both felt that we had been treated like VIPs. Water was filled frequently, the manager asked us how the food was, and four or five people said goodbye to us on the way out. Perhaps, it was because we were sitting in the middle of the restaurant (where the servers were concentrated), perhaps it was because we were one of two groups of Asians or perhaps it was because I took a photo of the food when they brought it out, I don't know. It could be the kind of service that they gave everyone, but it didn't feel that way. Ambiance & Service 5/5 Food 4/5 Value 5/5 with deal, 3/5 without
(4)Beth P.
I loved everything about this place!! Great food, great atmosphere and affordable! I had the king crab roll which was absolutely amazing. The service was great, we weren't rushed or hurried and we had time to enjoy our meal. The bathrooms were super clean and as an added bonus this restaurant has a secure locker phone charging station near the bathroom. You put your phone in the locker and attach it to the charger, lock it and take the key with you. Best meal and experience out for me in a while. Highly recommend.
(5)Pira T.
We came here for the 7 course meal but it turn out to be 6 1/2 since we have to share a dessert.The place is nice. It was an ok value but mainly because of the Livingsocial price. I could see spending $35 plus tax and tip for this meal, but at $70. (regular price is around $120. it's not worth it.) I asked a waiter for a regular cosmo cocktail instead of white peach cosmo that's on the drink menu. The waiter said it's not on the cocktail menu we can't make it. My friend and I looked at each other. Is this for real? you can't make me a cosmo, really? the place is nice food is good service is ok. I will go back but not anytime soon. I would go try other places first.
(3)Marlene M.
Superb sushi.the square zento roll was my favorite along with the lychee martini. The ambiance of the restaurant was unique. I would definitely go there again.
(4)Vanessa W.
Cocktails were half-price, so my sweetie and I each ordered one. They were pretty meh and one-note. Our appetizer, rock shrimp tempura, was spectacular. The shrimp were sooo sweet and fresh-tasting. Yum! The sashimi was out-of-this-world fresh and tasty. However, the rolls were not good. They were teeny-tiny and the flavors of the fish were overpowered by sauces. They were around $13 each and nowhere near worth that! I thought the meal was overpriced for what we got, but I would have been pretty happy if I had just ordered sashimi, I think. All in all, I have to say that in terms of overall experience, I've had better. The service was friendly, fast, overall quite good.
(2)Bill M.
Sheer sushi perfection pure and simple. Plus if you're looking for an eclectic BYOB experience then look no further than Zento. Even when we rolled in with a group of 12+ for a birthday gathering Zento went the extra mile in service, and also kept track of the obscene amount of sake and rice/plum wine that we had for the occasion! Chef Sam Ho was a student of Morimoto, and it shows in the quality and overall mastery of the restaurants cuisine. The king crab miso soup was sheer perfection for an appetizer. Meanwhile the Spanish mackerel, striped bass, surf clam, and fluke were all flawless pieces of sashimi. the volcano roll of imitation crab, smoked salmon, and shrimp tempura with masago and avocado was on fire! and the special roll of Branzino was some of the flawless and best executed sushi that I've ever had. Even though it may be on the small side. Zento goes beyond being a definite recommend!
(5)Jackie W.
I had the chef's omakase. The white fish carpaccio was outstanding I enjoyed the mussels with miso soup and the tofu cheesecake. I wasn't particularly fascinated by the cooked foods. There were a lot of cooked foods in the omakase, and I would have preferred more sushi. The last round was sushi, and the sushi was very delicious. I will come again to try to sushi, but this is definitely not my go-to sushi restaurant.
(4)G C.
Came here because I had a certificate so I ended up paying $22 for a $35 meal. The space was nice and service was great. The food however was just okay. Tuna pizza would be the best tasting out of the items we ordered. The sushi were okay, the rice were off a little (Vic has better sushi for sure), the ramen broth was quite tasteless. Wouldn't choose to come back unless there's a deal.
(3)Pat W.
Beautifully plated sushi dishes that melt in your mouth like candy ~ can't get enough of it ! Their friendly, helpful staff always make us feel welcome. Make sure you try the Geisha Girl martini ~ so hard to stop at just one!
(5)Robert G.
Recommend the fried calamari! Really tender. Some of the options are overpriced though. I went there on New Year's Eve and the ceilings were filled with low leveled balloons. Was very annoying. But the owner came over and moved it away from my table. Nice guy.
(4)Ron H.
This is close to a girlfriends house, so we usually alternate between Zento and Han Dynasty for take-out at least twice a week, suprisingly, this is my first review here as this was my first time actually eating in the restaurant. The space is small and intimate, from the front it's deceiving and you think it will open up a little more in the back. Although it's a 2 story ceiling in the back with a beautiful brick wall with built in candles and a chandelier and amazing lighting, you still feel cramped in the space. On a Sunday night, almost all the tables were seated, and it left the room feeling "tight". The bar has a few 2-top cafe tables and seats at the bar. I'd normally just sit at the sushi bar, but this is the first sushi restaurant I've ever been to that DOESN'T have a sushi bar on display! Without seeing who was preparing my food, and what fish was out and fresh, I would normally walk out and never come back, but since I've had the take-out here already so many times, I knew it was fresh and safe so I gave it a shot and ate there. We each order a few pieces of sushi and 2 rolls. All the food came out on one plate, fairly quickly. The rice was nice, not as sticky/sweet as I would prefer it, but it was still slightly warm. The fish were nice size portions and well cut. The avocado in the tuna roll was perfect and buttery and melted in your mouth. The second roll was a seared tuna inside of ricepaper wrapper. The wrapper was sticker and it was difficult to get it off of the plate without the roll falling apart. We had to end up eating this in pieces and picking it apart off the plate. Miso soup with king crab was a favorite of my date, lots of crab chunks and glass noodles, it made the perfect start to a light sunday night meal. For me theseasonal vegetable udon soup was a little bit fishy in in the broth and the vegetables were still a little to raw for a soup (the carrots shouldn't be crunchy still). Service is consistent and friendly and very attentive, what you would expect from such a small and intimate space. Overall, I'd recommend this as a nice neighborhood dinner option, but not somewhere I'd drive to come eat. If you live nearby or are in the neighborhood, it's a solid choice. If I'm looking for parking however, I'll drive uptown a little and eat at my 5 star favorite.
(3)Dani G.
Sushi tasted old, drinks were decent, bar space is a little tight. Somewhat overpriced for what you get. If you want sushi don't waste your time here. Fat salmon is much better.
(2)Jeff R.
Delicious sushi, inventive menu (appetizers, special rolls, etc.), friendly staff, and cool atmosphere. And, it's BYOB, too! Definitely recommend
(5)Noelle P.
Sushi was amazing, ramen was delicious. Terrible service though. We waited too long for the food and it didn't all come out at the same time. Thank goodness we overheard that there was a groupon special... This place is a little more expensive than expected!
(3)Lina S.
2.5 stars... But I'm rounding down. Inconsistent. I've had amazing sushi here, and I've had sushi that I threw in the trash. Trash has been the pattern lately. And that my friends, at their price, is not cool. After having a great experience my first 2 times there, I kept giving it more and more tries when it wasn't right. Last time, the tuna was grainy and chopped up, like it was the remaining stuff left at the bottom of the bin they chopped up for spicy tuna. That's not appropriate for a restaurant at this level- it should be a solid piece. Today I got a love roll and all of the fish smells off and looks far from appealing. The salmon looks like it came from a packet of lox. I'm over it. I'll eat mediocre pizza, but not mediocre raw fish for $15 a roll. I'll also mention, the service is terrible. Everyone is very nice, but nice only goes so far when you never come check on the table and I have to get up and look for you to order more. And then you forget to bring it. Good drinks though.
(2)Amy A.
I thought Zento was one of the better Japanese food in Philly. I would definitely give them an A+ for service. The hostess was always asking if the food was up to par, refilling the water, and being patient as we were being indecisive. Also be sure to take advantage of their 50% off happy hour deals on cocktails (I liked the lychee mojito - very strong). They also have promotions on Yelp if you check in and 18 for 25 dollar deals. Notable dishes: Flaming Dragon Roll Tuna Tartare Salmon Sashimi (this is so fresh, and the slices of salmon were so fatty and large)
(4)Zak L.
We set off for Zento for a fun Saturday night excursion. Their menu is great, the reviews are great, the service is INSANELY slow. The quality of the sushi was more than up to snuff. Their drink menu was ok and I'm a fan of their drinks. (disclaimer, I'm ok with fun drinks over strong drinks). The drinks were a little small, and I think they were fermenting the booze in an effort to keep it fresh; aside from that, I can't explain what takes 20 minutes to bring a drink, or a refill. Call me crazy, but it's the only Asian restaurant I've ever eaten at that lets your water glass get, and stay, empty. Our waiter almost never checked in and seemed to be a bit frazzled himself. We were a group of 5 and probably ordered 10 of the specialty rolls. I don't have a complaint about any of them. The food was great, the drinks were weak and insanely slow, and the service was subpar. At over $50.00 a person, everything should be perfect.
(3)Tyler M.
Quaint setting, small establishment, but big on flavor. Wait staff is kind and knowledgable. Everything was exactly as you'd expect for a meal that is in a bit higher price range. Overall very satisfied and will definitely be back for more delicious sushi. Pro tip, get the Volcano Roll.
(5)Edward M.
Came here recently for a dinner free from shellfish and eel. This limited the options noticeably more than some other area sushi restaurants. We tried a couple of sashimi appetizers. They were both tasty, but seem a bit pricey in retrospect. We also tried a few rolls. They happily let us modify one of the rolls by adding avocado, which was nice. The salmon skin roll -- which is often a hit or miss item -- was well executed here. The sweet potato tempura roll was surprisingly good and I may well be ordering it more in the future. There are some beers and wines available, but the selection was not particularly impressive. Service was good. The restaurant recently moved a few storefronts over so the place looks all brand new.
(3)Brian M.
Tied for favorite sushi place with Izumi but this only gets 4 stars because it is lacking in a couple areas. I don't care if that doesn't make sense. This is the best typical sushi roll, special roll, etc. place. The interior here is a bit weird with a little bar counter area I think then exposed brick. Service is good but not spectacular. This is the most filling of the sushi places I've been, which is good because sushi places usually aren't very filling. Too many of their rolls have cooked fish in my opinion. Stick to the raw stuff, you guys.
(4)Shir K.
Great service and consistently the best sushi I've had in Philadelphia. I would recommend to anyone looking for something tasty in old city. My favorite roll was the Mexican roll: it has this delicious mango salsa. So good.
(5)H. I.
Tiny place but well decorated. It's a good spot for a date. Ordered the tuna tartare which was delicious and 3 rolls to share. I eat sushi often and would say they have a large / wide variety of rolls to pick from which was nice. Definitely will be back. There is also an upstairs room but it feels cut off from the rest of the restaurant.
(4)Jeff P.
The atmosphere and decor is excellent,which is very important in a downtown-style dining place. Perfect amount of lighting,very modern and chic seating,and nice mood music. As for the food: The salad with ginger dressing is perfect,probably the best of any Japanese style dressings I've ever eaten.Every roll I have had there is beautifully presented,fresh tasting and delicious! My girlfriend and I normally share the Volcano Roll,Mexican Roll, and the signature Philly Roll. Also it is recommended to try the Tuna Pizza! Very creative menu,excellent service and priced right. If you have a little room left after your meal, try the Green Tea Gelato,a very nice,cool and light dessert. Sake-Fused cocktails and a selection of Japanese beers also adds a nice touch if you choose to just pull up a seat at the bar. Highly Recommend!
(5)Will S.
I love this place! Miso soup is awesome....sushi is amazing....best mojito ever! go here!
(5)Dave H.
Stopped in for sushi lunch yesterday; all the usual options, but done far, far better than most places nowadays... everything was obviously fresh and meticulously prepared. They have more room than they used to, with a new spacious seating area past the bar in the back, and though our waitress was overworked, she was polite, helpful and as quick as she could be. They'll add the gratuity auto for big groups, but the prices are reasonable. Excellent work!
(4)Geoff c.
Awesome. Wanted to find a place with great sushi but didn't hurt the wallet as badly as Morimoto. Zento. Fish and rolls were excellent and fresh. Not outrageously packed (for a weekday lunch), though it is a fairly small place, so I could see it getting quite packed. The chicken katsu don buri was not dry like many places. Staff was great and attentive. Even the miso soup was possibly the best I've ever had. Tofu was soft and delicate. Not the stiff cubes you normally get. The $10 for $18 off deal makes it even better. Sure the price is still on the more splurge-y side, but definitely a good deal. The old exposed brick walls with melted candles decor reminded me of Poe's Cask of Amontillado for some reason... but that slight eeriness was easily overshadowed by the rest of the decor, music, and food.
(5)Scott B.
Overpriced, Overrated. Came here during our trip to Philadelphia for dinner as it was rated highly on yelp. I guess coming from Los Angeles, you've had great Japanese food, you've had great Asian Fusion and you expect better. I did...and I was wrong. We found a bug in one of our food. I killed it in my napkin and showed it to the manager. Other than that bug issue, the place is small and has a nice feel to feel to it. The food is way over rated and over priced for how it tastes though.
(2)Jennifer R.
Zento's one of my favorite sushi places in Philly. The service is always great. Some really intricate rolls that aren't too pricy but high quality. Our favorites are the Zento square roll, monkey roll and love roll.
(4)Jackie M.
Terrible Management / Great food. I've been calling this place for the past 3 days now trying to get a manager on the phone, but there's never a manager on site. I've left messages with my phone number, and no one bothers to care about customers and calling me back. The food was good but I hate places that are poorly managed... it's just a matter of time for this one.
(1)Sadie A.
Have been here a few times and it has always been great. The hostess ladies are very kind and Benjamin is a great server. He was very patient and informative on anything containing gluten to help me with my allergy. They even have gluten free soy sauce available. I definitely recommend this place. A mojito goes nice with your dinner also.
(5)Colleen M.
Stumbled upon this place with a girlfriend after our first choice had a crazy wait and saw the reviews for Zento were just as good. We were seated as soon as we arrived and at an outside table which was awesome for a warm summer Saturday night. Started off with their white fish carpaccio, the flavor was so on point we finished the dish in less than a minute. Followed that with two speciality rolls, the Zeno square sushi with salmon and the Flaming Dragon. They were SO tasty that we would up ordering a third, the Lindan roll. Washed that down with basic chilled Sake anddd half price cocktails that we earned from checking in - love that! The bill wound up to be like 70 which isn't too bad considering we left full, satisfied, and craving more. To top it off, the FREE parking is also a nice little treat as we watched probably 5 cars get towed towards the end of our dinner for parking on the street. Definitely thinking about making a second trip again soon.
(5)Deb B.
We have dined here twice and both experiences were fabulous! Cool jazz music in the background, pleasantly greeted at the door, promptly shown to a table, wait staff very attentive, food outrageously delicious, great beer selection, we particularly enjoyed OB, a Korean beer
(5)Balla S.
This place has ok sushi, but for the price its too expensive. Plainly put, they charge a little too much for the quality. And their specialty rolls are similar to everywhere else. But I admit, the Mexican roll is exotic & awesome, and they have a good selection of sake & Asian beers. Definitely worth going but be expecting to shove out 10-20% more than you would to a place of its caliber. I guess its high priced because its in old city smh
(3)Matt W.
Cool vibe. It's set in an older build with brick inside, but also has a very modern vibe as well. Very cool! Very friendly staff as well. And on top of that, a GREAT menu. We had a variety of food for lunch from udon (veggie and tonkatsu) to bento and sushi rolls. All was put together expertly, looked great, and tasted even better. DEFINITELY a place I'd go back to!!
(5)Lolly G.
I often walk right past Zento in pursuit of Han Dynasty. Today I decided to stop in for lunch. From the outside this place is very small looking, and doesn't stick out much. However, when you walk in you're impressed with the size as well as the instant feel you get when you walk in. It's beautiful inside, cool music is playing, and you feel like you're far from Old City (in a good way.) I ordered from the lunch special. They have a vegetarian option where you can pick a couple of options that you like. Each special comes with a soup and a salad. For $12, I thought this was a good deal. Most of the other options ranged from 12-17. As soon as I sat down, I was greeted right away by my server who offered to get me a drink. I ordered a water, and he took my order right away. I also wanted to place a to-go order which he took then as well. As soon as I put the last sip of my water down, he was behind the bar refilling. I found the service to be very prompt and professional. When my salad came, I knew I was in for a treat. Finally, ginger dressing that isn't pre-made. You could taste the french ginger, and it was amazing. The miso soup was a generous portion and was delicious. Just as I finished my rolls came out at the perfect time. They were fresh, delicious, and beautiful in presentation. Although I didn't order fish, the couple next to me did and were raving about it. When I asked for my check he gave me my check and to-go order without me asking. This place is ideal for a quick lunch but at the same time is probably amazing as a dinner date. It was very refreshing to get such delicious food and amazing service. Zento, will no longer be overlooked.
(5)Alli H.
Delicious! My boyfriend and I stopped here on a whim for lunch and we were so glad we did! The service was super friendly (he even gave us a table at 2:50 even though the restaurant closes at 3pm before they re-open for dinner). I had the vegetarian lunch special, which is served with miso soup and a salad as appetizers. The miso soup was delicious and full of flavor. The house salad with ginger dressing was very fresh, light, and tasty. The two sushi rolls I got were really very nice - my favorite was the avocado and cucumber roll. Great lunch! We'll be back :-D
(4)Jake M.
Went here packing a living social all you can eat deal...with this deal you can only order two rolls at a time which is no big deal...cuts down on waste and allows you to pace yourself for the impending face stuffing. The rolls were really fresh and super delicious...my favorite was the Mexican and King Crab (real crab meat)...the atmosphere is a mix between romantic and modern...service was awesome! 50% off cocktails with Yelp check-in...the lychee martini is habbit forming :) Overall will definitely be back hopefully with another living social deal
(5)Vinny P.
When faced with a day or two of vacation time, one of my favorite things to do is to actually have a stay-cation around Philly. I always plan a nice lunch to my stay-cation because unlike many other yelpers, I am not afforded the opportunity to lunch around Philly. It's a rare treat. Zento was my most recent (to date) lunch staycation spot. I met up with fellow blogger Melissa from yummarksthespot[dot]com for a 1pm lunch at Zento. I arrived early and secured a table in the back next to some old city dude-bros finishing up their lunch. Perhaps it was "take-a-picture-of-yourself-with-your-mouth-open-Âand-sushi-hanging-out-day" I must have missed that memo. We each ended up ordering the same item which was the maki combo. It was a heck of a lot of food for a very reasonable price. I completely forgot about sushi bars starting you with miso soup and the salad with ginger dressing. While I've had it many places, I can honestly say that both of these items were very delicious, possibly some of the best I've tasted. The miso had soft (maybe silken) tofu and the dressing on the lettuce had a great zing. It definitely got me ready for my main plate. The maki plate looked as beautiful as it tasted. Its presentation reminded me of a mathematical model (one of those things you see in a trippy movie or as an iTunes screen saver) The 4 pieces each of tuna, yellowtail, salmon and eel all were placed beautifully on the plate and they tasted fresh and crisp. These are the things I look for in sushi. We split the bill and I paid with level up. I really had a great time and I'm happy they kept the cool ceiling from the previous iteration of this space. I can see myself coming back for dinner. It seems I've found yet another reason to go to Old City.
(4)Ida G.
We had been meaning to come here for a while, and when a daily deal for $70 for a seven course menu for two cropped up, I jumped right on it. It was the middle of the week, so not very busy, and there seemed to be at least two other tables taking advantage of deals as well. The courses were hit and miss, and all really tiny, as were the cocktails. I mean, I get that a tasting menu isn't going to consist of seven entrees, but by the end of it we were hungry enough to order extra rolls. In the end, we dropped another $60 on top of the voucher (for two cocktails, two rolls, tax and tip), and there's absolutely no way our meal was worth the $130 we paid in total, let alone $200. The mochi ice cream was insanely good. I would have been a lot happier with seven courses of that. And the hunt for decent sushi in Philly continues.
(2)Ashley S.
I got takeout here the other day, and the sushi was just ok. The spicy tuna was not spicy at all, and although the fish was fresh, it just wasn't what I expected. The salmon and avocado roll, on the other hand, was pretty good. My meal came with miso soup and a salad. The soup was tasty and had large chunks of tofu and seaweed in it, but the salad had a ginger dressing that had a gross consistency (there was a thick layer of gingery paste on top of my salad and a lot of water at the bottom of the container, and even when I tried mixing them together the dressing was still pretty watery and not great). So, some items were good, and others were not--very hit or miss.
(3)Cassy H.
My friend and I were in town and stayed near Penn's landing. We wanted something delicious and healthy, so we thought Japanese! Sushi! You can't go wrong with Japanese. However, as a Japanese food fan, I had high standards.. perhaps, too high. The vibe: Zento is trendy. It's got this modern, sleek, and chic look. Imagine dark furniture, dim lighting.. kind of romantic but not like overkill romantic. The food and drink: We ordere edamame; it was typical.. kind of salty and not as fresh. We ordered rolls. Unfortunately, the rolls weren't that memorable, which is why this place is a 3 star for me. I ordered two rolls, but only remember one -- the shrimp tempura roll. My friend ordered vegetarian rolls; I tried one and thought it was eh. Side note, these rolls are small. Finally, we ordered fuji apple sake. It was great, cold fruity and sweet sake. It went well with our rolls. Overall, I wouldn't say this is a "must try" place during a Philly visit, but it's a decent place for locals. Oh, and the bill? The damage wasn't bad at all.. about $60 for two people. I'd say it's a pretty decent deal since we also ordered drinks.
(3)Jenny N.
Absolutely delicious Japanese fare. We started off with the mussels and steamed shrimp dumplings which were divine. The mussels also came in this delicious soup that had the loveliest level of spice. We then ordered the Tonkoramen (spelling isn't quite right!) udon with the pork slices which was also fantastic. We visited on a Saturday night and it was not busy, much to my delight. We also found an $18 for $25 coupon on Yelp. Highly recommended to anyone, especially if you're after something lighter than Western food.
(5)Cat N.
Went here for lunch with a friend during my lunch break. This place is really nice inside. We were sat down immediately. We looked at the menu and the waiter came back to take our orders. I got the Tuna tartare and the Monkey roll. They were okay.. The tuna tartare was good. It wasn't anything special though. It comes mixed with these like crunchy strings. Not sure what they are, but mixing the tartare with it was pretty good. The monkey roll was just like shrimp tempura in a roll.. I have a hard time making a decision, and so I picked this with my eyes closed without looking at what was inside. Bad choice. I should have picked something with fish in it. Service was great. We were in and out within 45-1hour. I'd come back here, but I won't be getting the Monkey Roll next time. SKIP; Monkey roll (theres better options for sushi, unless you don't like fish) TRY; Tuna tartare (if you like tuna tartare and have to get it whenever it's on the menu)
(3)Hank M.
Sushi was good, the wait time for my food was unbelievable. My food did not come for about 40 minutes. I was also interested in trying beers that they had on the menu however the first 3 I wanted were unavailable. It was a good 15 minutes before a waitress came to us and asked what we would like.
(2)Sarah B.
I'm originally from the Virginia Beach area, and I've had some pretty amazing (and far better-priced) sushi before moving to Philadelphia. I always feel that sushi in this city leaves something to be desired, but I'm attempting to give Philly a break because there are so many other yummy foods here that I would never see in good ol' VA. Zento is a tiny place in Old City. I wouldn't recommend a large group; however, I think this makes a good date or double-date night spot. The music might be off-putting to some but I happen to like techno (to a certain extent anyway). Our waiter was very friendly and was always there to refill our waters. (I don't know what's in the water, but it's delicious and fresh, lol.) The sushi was decent; I ordered the eel and cucumber roll and my significant other ordered a spicy tuna roll and a shrimp tempura roll. Like I said, I've had better, but for Philly, it was decent. Presentation of the rolls was a nice plus. I wouldn't recommend going on a very cold night, because as customers open the door to enter and leave, you'll feel the cold right away because Zento is so tiny! I was there on a windy night and sometimes the door wouldn't close. A patron or the waiter always had to run to shut the door.
(4)Elena C.
T and I tried this place on Monday afternoon during our President's Day foray into the city. We started with the miso soup which was salty and fishy and everything miso soup should be. We then had the avocado salad. I'm not usually a fan of ginger dressing but this one was really good and I loved the fresh slices of avocado on top. For our main course we had: crunchy spicy tuna roll, eel and avocado roll, Philly roll and a Monkey roll. I didn't try the eel but the others were all very well made and tasty, particularly the monkey roll. I love the smoked salmon. However, I thought the rolls were a little small for the prices. I loved the atmosphere at Zento, particularly the back room with the two story ceiling and the rustic chandelier. Our server was really sweet and I think I'd like to go back for dinner to get a different, more romantic "vibe" from this place.
(4)Capri D.
My favorite sushi in town!
(5)Carol K.
Did the 7 -course tasting menu and it exceeded expectations. Admittedly, the portions for all 7 were pretty small -- as I would expect for a seven course meal. But everything was cooked to perfection and the sushi was the freshest I have ever tasted -- better then Morimoto's even. Just incredible. The other standout was the whitefish carpaccio which we loved, and everyone around us was also raving about. Just a fantastic dish. The only disappointment was the desert a spoonful of ice cream with some mochi cheesecake -- it was Ok, but nothing special and tiny to boot. Service was efficient and friendly. The space is warm and has a nice cool-but-casual vibe. We had a groupon which made it very reasonably priced. The standard prices are probably a touch higher than I'd like to see, but you're paying for the location. We'll definitely be back -- most likely when they run another deal or for happy hour though.
(4)Kristin W.
This BYOB is a little crowded with tables placed fairly close together. We brought a couple bottles of wine to enjoy with our array of rolls, which were tasty, but were a little short on the fish, particularly for the price: -Love Roll - asparagus in and rice paper around my sushi were new, but overall a pleasant combination. -Philly Roll - I typically shun all cream cheese in my sushi, but this was reasonably good...perhaps because Philly Rolls taste better in Philly? -Rainbow Roll - a nice and fairly standard combo - the center salmon/avocado was good, but the fish outside the roll was a little thin -Zento Square Sushi with Tuna - probably my favorite of the night, the roll had lots of flavor We also tried the Edamame (nice sized portion) and the Tempura Vanilla Ice Cream (the dough was too thick and not crispy enough, and the vanilla was unexciting).
(3)Kevin T.
Place was awesome! Waitress was super accommodating, and the bourbon blossom cocktail was to die for. Would definitely come back again!
(5)Horatio J.
A little pricey for what you get. Great quality but when the waiter points out what each piece of fish is, it annoys me. At least I was not offered a fork. No miso soup or salad with $25 sashimi? Boo.
(3)Dave H.
Zento is an intimate spot, but can get a bit noisy sometimes due to close quarters. There's still space to enjoy your food, and enjoy you will! My friend ordered for the entire table - the appetizers (Zento salad, scallops, foie gras and cucumbers) were wonderful, and the various rolls (Zento roll, and others; $6-$10/roll) melted in our mouths. Don't forget to order the duck hand rolls, they're delectable. Prices aren't the cheapest, as you're paying for quality Japanese fare and their Old City rent probably! The sushi chef is friendly and you can see him preparing away with a big smile on his face. Servers Jimmy and Chi were accommodating, and helped us secure a table for nine. As noted by another reviewer, and confirmed by my friend, their chef used to work at Morimoto. (No surprise, as every piece of sushi I tried was exquisite.) Zento is tiny but packs a BIG punch.
(5)Giedrius T.
The food was great! I can't complain, salads were delicious and sushi was really good as well. Now on the other hand the dark hair guy that was at the bar at 10:30 pm May 13, 2013 was very rude. My girlfriend called to place an order over the phone, he was giving her an attitude and then hung up. When we got to the place to order in person he gave an attitude again saying to my girlfriend "that's fine if you don't come here again, you really don't have to order here right now either" he was also acting like he was the manager of the restaurant, which I'm sure he wasn't 100% he was just a bartender. We were very disappointed with the service of Zento. Food A+ Service F
(3)Kelly D.
Really tasty annd with a quiet laid back tomosphere. Drinks were good too!
(4)Karen F.
Went for lunch here with a friend today and the place was EMPTY save for the 2 of us. We were treated extra-well due to this, I think. We both had lunch specials - a very good value - and my sushi platter was super fresh and delicious. The ramen here is good, too! And we split vanilla mochi ice cream for dessert. YUM! I will definitely be back to try the specialty rolls. (My sushi lunch was a yellowtail scallion roll - 8 bite size pieces and 5 nigiri.)
(4)Gina F.
The best sushi spot in old city hands down. We definitely prefer the old, much smaller location but the sushi is still great. Their hand rolls are out of this world. They wrap them in soy paper - delicious. The zento square sushi roll is divine as is the vegetable miso soup.
(4)Lin Z.
Lychee mojito is awesome! Also the crab cake is great for appetizer!
(4)Melissa D.
Olde City is near the Hyatt Regency at Penn's Landing, so this place was convenient to grab some sushi during my business trip. Since I'm a visitor to Philadelphia, I wanted to try their signature Square Sushi. I also ordered some Salmon Sashimi, and the American Dream Roll. The square sushi was innovative and I hoped the plum sauce would captivate me but it didn't really. I actually like their American Dream roll which had baked scallop, white fish and shrimp. The sweet and saltiness combined with a kick of the spicy mayo was tasty. The salmon sashimi was kind of thin than what I expected. Overall, it was a nice place to try.
(3)Jenn T.
If you are looking for traditional Japanese sushi, then is not the place to go. If you are looking for American-Japanese fusion food, then you've found a good place. For appetizers, my boyfriend ordered a miso soup ($2) and I had the king crab miso soup ($5). I am not sure why other reviewers raved about the soup, it tasted exactly the same as the $2 miso soup except it had some noodles and a few morsels of canned crab meat. It tasted good but not worth the $3 mark up compared to the regular miso soup. We also had the lobster roll special, crunchy tuna roll and monkey roll. The rolls tasted okay, but nothing to rave about. It was definitely not worth the price. The "traditional" crunchy tuna roll didn't taste very traditional. One redeeming point is that the presentation was very well done. I gave it 3 stars because overall, it wasn't a terrible experience. The service was very very good. The hostess, waiters and owner were all very friendly and personable. I will probably only come back for lunch specials.
(3)Daniel S.
Food and presentation were excellent. Ambience very nice, but cramped quarters detracted from this. Absurdly expensive, and that makes this place not quite worth it.
(3)Stephanie Y.
We arrived on time for our 8:00 reservation and were kindly asked by the hostess if we minded waiting at the bar til the table was ready (this was the last pleasant service we had all evening). After waiting there almost 10 minutes, the bartender finally asked us for a drink order. Shortly after a manager eventually pointed to where our table was in the crowded bar area (which another couple was sitting in waiting for a spot at the bar... not awkward at all or anything). When our waiter bothered to come to our table 10 min after being there we asked to move to the dining room. He rolled his eyes then told us it was for reservations only then asked if we were ready to order. Interesting sir, because I did have a reservation. I don't mind a crowd but when the staff is bumping into the table, then I have a problem with where I am. When we finally received our food it was all pretty good. It took about 30 min for our first course, the calamari to come out. The calamari was cooked perfectly and came with a really tasty chili sauce. Our second course came about 30 minutes after that. I forget what rolls we ordered specifically but there were about 6 and all tasted fresh and worth the wait. The server had to be waved over for any refills. He dropped a carafe of sake on the table on the house, it was appreciated but the damage was already done. I think the lowest point of the evening was when a manager could be heard cursing about his staff and how poorly service was running. I've worked in the Philly service industry for years and I think that is the most appalling thing I have seen while in a restaurant. Zento, congratulations on having the worst front of house staff I've ever witnessed. But with FOH management like that, I really shouldn't be shocked.
(1)A K.
The place is small but has multiple levels. The bar area is painfully uncomfortable to sit. We had the rolls which was really great. Loved each of them. The soup was luke-warm than hot. On a snowy day would have loved hot soup. Being a multi-level space, the staff has to walk up and down the stairs so service can be a bit spotty. But the food was worth the wait.
(4)Daniel H.
Our friend James raves and raves, but he hasn't shown us the zen-like experience that he speaks of... the sushi is expensive, the taste is mediocre, and I'd really rather eat somewhere else. Not impressed, and not wanting to spend the money for something so lack-luster. E-Moneh's perspective - Small sushi place with a small sushi menu. Go around the corner to the next Sushi place - which in Philly is likely less than 1 block. I bet it will be better and less expensive. $
(2)ross f.
This modern Japanese restaurant was jammed pack on a saturday night. Nevertheless, it was easy to get a seat at the bar. The staff was top rate - friendly, accommodating and quick. A 20 inch television makes bar seating enjoyable. The back room was spacious and inviting with a large canvass hanging from the back wall. One complaint is the space between the bar seats and the tables behind the bar. The staff bumped into the bar patrons a couple times (lightly). This was far from a serious disturbance. My roll was Tasty. Maybe it could have used a little bit more spicy tuna but when the rest of the experience was so enjoyable, who really cares. Check this place out!
(4)Tina N.
Zento is a tiny BYOB sushi spot that's pretty easy to overlook. Luckily, my reservation was ready immediately. I came here to cure a month long sushi craving that was not satiated by two other places previously that same week. I came to Zento with the intention of putting an end to this craving at any cost. While it is a bit on the expensive side, the sushi is nice and fresh, as well as innovative. Despite my commitment to eat only raw fish, I wound up trying the peking duck roll. Not bad at all. I also requested a salmon hand roll, where they also used the soy paper, rather than the seaweed. It's a good alternative for those who don't like seaweed paper. I, however, like both and will eat whatever's clever. The pieces are on the small side, as stated in other reviews. I would stick with the rolls at Zento, and maybe order a few Need to Have pieces. Another plus I should mention, is that they have online ordering too. I might try that route the next time for pickup. I felt a little rushed at the end, while we were trying to order the fried ice cream. They brought us our check without asking if we wanted dessert, and when we mentioned dessert, the waiter gently implied that we were on a time constraint. While I understand, I never enjoy being rushed. Something must have changed (canceled reservation perhaps) between dessert and the check, because when he brought us the check he told us to take our time. I'd say this is a "come back eventually but not necessarily immediately".
(4)Ted S.
Everyone was very nice as soon as I walked in the door. They are happy to create a sushi dinner for you if you just tell them what you like. I ordered the King Crab Miso soup and it was exceltently salted with good sized peices of crab. The rice-less sushi roll was fill with great raw fish and the broiled salmon was chared to the right level. I liked the salmon especially because it still had the skin, which was crispy. Everything was very fresh and seasoned spot on. I will return. BYOB
(4)Tim G.
Yikes! First of all paying $66 for a lunch that consists of two rolls, 1 miso soup ,1 green tea and 10 pieces of sashimi is not cool. Let me start with the good, the interior of the space is cool. But when the only good thing about a sushi place is the interior run away fast. The service was horrible. Our waitress was too busy eating her own lunch I think to wait on us. One of my big pet peeves about restaurants is when I see wait staff eating on the floor. Come on now! She was inattentive and very slow. When I order sashimi I shouldn't have to ask what I have been served. That and whatever the Spanish Mackerel was should be sent back to Spain. It was grey, and supposedly charred, I think the small bite I had is what is giving me a stomach ache as I write this review.The sashimi pieces were tough and cut so big it was hard to eat. The miso soup and green tea was not served hot. I love sushi and always on lookout for new place to try, sadly though Zento goes into the never go back category. I can overlook bad service and great food to make a return visit but bad food and bad service at the same time tells me to move on.
(2)YelpHatesMe Y.
Pretty good sushi. We were here Friday night. We had a reservation for 8:15 and there were still some open tables but by 8:45 there were none left so make reservations. I wont act like a sushi pro, but to me it was good although I felt that all (we had 4 different rolls) the sushi tasted the same - and it seemed warm? I always thought it was supposed to be on the colder side. Maybe I've eaten too much grocery store sushi. The Center city roll was our favorite. Dragon roll was good - spicy. we also had the crab roll and tuna roll. All were good but like I said, due to the warmness I think. I was thinking 3 stars but given my "ignorance" on sushi, I'll just go 4.
(4)Shaina T.
Food was fine. Atmosphere was nice. Nobody was in the restaurant when we were there. I'd probably only go back if I had another deal.
(3)Christine G.
This is really one of the best sushi places in philly. We easily spent just over a hundred bucks on two people - so its an expensive night out. The portions are small, but really good. really nice special rolls and starters. I usually go to fat salmon because it is half the price - but this place is a bit better. Really small dining area so you need reservations. And its kind of quiet, so its almost a little awkward - good if you want a really quiet night out.
(4)Annie M.
I know I'm being biased by being used to the giant rolls in sushi places in CA but I just can't really help it. Sushi in Philly just sucks and is overpriced. Rolls taste ok but are soooo teeny tiny :( This place was no exception. BYOB so that was nice but besides that, to pay $15 for a roll that is barely bigger than a quarter.... Yikes! After being here for 3 years, I still haven't learned my lesson about sushi and why I should just stop trying...
(3)Steve M.
Seriously delicious, innovative sushi. Fascinating rolls, plus a delicious-looking and long menu that I'm excited to go back again and again to plow through. Their king crab miso soup was fantastic on a cold rainy night, a perfect salty hot blend. The tuna pizza may sound kitschy but it was absolutely delicious, refreshing and tasty and fun. Their "Zento Roll" square sushi roll was amazing; that plum sauce put a smile on my face again and again, and the bronzino roll was delicious as well. I wish I'd known it was BYO before I showed up, but next time I will come prepared! It's tiny, so I'd recommend reservations... and a big appetite.
(4)Melissa V.
This is ranked among the best sushi I've ever had! I don't remember the names but we had 8 rolls and they were all winners!
(5)Chris F.
What is there not to like about about Zento? The atmosphere is ..... a bit stale, serivce is okay, but the food is AMAZING! A term i dont use loosely. From the first time i went i have been hooked. Their sushi is fresh, tasty and just generally good. Much better than the other sushi restuarnts in the area. Long and short, try their Tuna pizza, its awesome! And my fav roll, VOLCANO ROLL!!!! It is a MUST. I HIGHLY recommend it.
(4)Katrina S.
Sorry but I can't hop on the Zento bandwagon. We went for dinner before a movie and can only say "meh." I ordered the sweet potato tempura roll and the center city roll and my friend ordered the tuna roll, the philly roll, and a cucumber roll. Service was fairly slow for the number of people there (note: Only two other tables and there were at least two people making sushi and another two back in the kitchen). The highlight for me was the sweet potato. It was really really well done, I would go back and order just that. There were only two rolls that didn't have things I don't eat (shrimp and eel). Usually I have a lot of options at sushi places but here I had two, the rainbow roll (which I've had at a lot of other places) and the center city roll. I wanted to try something new so I went with the center city roll and it was bad. Seriously, don't order it. The portion is tiny for $14 and the amount of fish in it seemed miniscule and yet it tasted crazy fishy. My friend's rolls were pretty tiny (compared to other place's versions of the same rolls) but they did contain a lot of fish. (Lucky for us, the movie was very good so we weren't left thinking about our lackluster dinner!)
(2)Loy G.
the sushi is good.. just expensive. i live in old city and would easily go once a week, but this place is too pricey for anything more than monthly visits. (the yelp coupon helps a bit) simply stated, the quality of the fish is second to none. i live for their chirashi! i dream about it! zento has officially ruined sushi for me. zento has made me into a sushi snob. i hate you zento for making mediocre sushi spots seem so unenjoyable now. well, at least i can say that the service is spotty. or that they also have this really awkward waiter that makes me laugh. and how i think it's silly to have a sushi bar where there isn't even a sushi bar. so i guess i feel better about hating zento. ..eh, who am i kidding, i'll be back next week.
(4)Scott B.
food was pricey for what I got. buddakanhas much better calamari salad...hands down
(3)David M.
A hidden gem in old city. Morimoto/Nobu quality Japanese cuisine at a third of the price. Not only is the sushi incredible, but the miso marinaded sea bass was the best piece of fish I've ever had the pleasure of eating. So, if in Philly and in the mood for Japanese, then make sure to reserve your table at Zento.
(5)Kenny J.
Amazing vibe!! The sushi was amazing and the service is great!
(5)Nissa G.
Cute little place in the heart of the Old City nightlife on Chestnut St. Some tables outside but its a little too crowded for that. Cool decor inside, although looked semi under construction. Small place, tables close together.. Good service, and its BYOB!! They have some pretty cool different rolls, there was one that was like a fish taco roll, YUM. They also have a sweet potato tempura roll which is what really sold me on it. Id go back.
(4)Elizabeth S.
This is the best sushi I've had in Philadelphia so far. In my experience, sushi tastes the same pretty much anywhere you go (disclaimer...I've never been to Morimoto, where I'm sure the sushi is amazing), but you could tell how fresh the fish was here. It had a different flavor, superior to the other sushi I have had in the city. The tuna pizza was awesome and refreshing, and I've never had better shrimp tempura rolls (Olde City roll). Though the rolls were a bit on the smaller size, they were satisfying and priced reasonably. I will DEFINITELY be heading back here many times.
(5)K W.
meh, i really have experienced better. i ordered take-out sushi one day while at work. i chose zento because i had never been, and i wanted to try a different sushi restaurant (i was tempted to stick with makiman...i should have listened to my gut.) i ordered some type of tropical roll and a futomaki roll to change things up. both were not great. the tropical roll was *slightly* more palatable than the futomaki which was completely inedible. i don't know what they stuffed into the futomaki but there was something that didn't agree with my taste buds. the tropical roll sounded better on the menu than it did in real life. at over 20 usd for my order, i felt like the rolls could have been better quality. again, as i am wont to do in situations like this, i will return for a second visit just to make sure that i didn't hit this restaurant on a bad day, but i'm not going to go out of my way to return here since there are so many other sushi restaurants to try.
(2)Molly G.
This place is amazing!!! My new favorite sushi place in Philly. It's pretty tiny inside with exposed brick walls, very high ceilings, comfortable seating, great service and sexy yet casual ambience. The sushi is incredible from the sashimi to the specialty rolls. The sushi is perfectly cut and the specialty stuff is inventive and delectable. It's definitely more affordable than Zama, for example, without the awkward formality and stuffiness. The food is probably on par with Morimoto. I hadn't been to Zento since it was at its old location, years ago, but since a friend suggested it a couple weeks ago, I've been back several times. I'm kind of obsessed now. Everything has been awesome. I always end up with the same server, who's really sweet and knowledgable and will offer great suggestions if you ask for advice. I highly recommend the Yellowtail new style appetizer, the tuna pizza, any of their sushi/sashimi combinations and the Bronzino specialty roll. They have a wide range of sake, japanese beer and fruity cocktails also. This is place is heavenly. Seriously, so freaking good.
(5)Shmulik K.
Contemporary sushi rolls with ingredients that make you raise an eyebrow. I had to try the basics before I try the new, innovative stuff Wow. What a bummer. I got five pieces of sushi and a spicy tuna roll. The first thing for a great sushi is the rice. This rice was overcooked And was old and cold. So instead of plump pieces of rice clinging to each other I got a sticky, cold, sticky mass. Bad!!! The fish was not good. Scallop wasn't sweet. Texture of yellow tail was wrong. The roll was really strange. Way too much of the crunch, couldn't taste the tuna, only the oil flavored crunch. Again, the rice was terrible in the roll. 2 dollars for tea. No alcohol yet. I've been to some great sushi bars in NY, San Francisco, LA and in Japan. This was not good sushi
(2)Ashley G.
A nice little surprise down in Old City. Loved their cocktails, delicious sushi and Japanese with some new twists. Staff (owners?) made us feel very well taken-care of, and as a bonus, there are a few outdoor tables, not so common for Asian restaurants, that make for great people-watching on a nice night.
(4)Surya N.
Good food, nice staff, great service, cute decor. I honestly recommend this place to everyone. Its a nice place to bring a few people to hang out and a lot of people go on dates here. They also host a lot of free events (which is how i discovered it) so check it out next time. I even met the owner and he recommended other good restaurants and dishes to try in the area. I love the udon and dragon roll sushi but I sometimes stop by JUST for the Mochi ice cream, it is soooooooo good. Never had a bad dish or bad experience here. Just to emphasize how nice they are, I sat on their seats outside one hot day because I was so hot and tired and the waiter came out and offered me a glass of water! 5 stars for not only being a good quality restaurant, but for being decent people. UPDATE: Zento is still one of my favorite regular places to visit. You get to know the staff very well and the owner often comes down and mingles with the guests. They frequently hold events here and it is just a lively place to be at.
(5)Joe M.
Went to Zento with my wife and enjoyed it. Interesting atmosphere, good sushi. Waitstaff was helpful and efficient. Sushi was excellent, but a bit pricey - still worth it!
(4)Kate W.
"Really like this place. It's right around the corner from where I work and you can grab a nice lunch without breaking the bank. They always have great deals too. Love their monkey roll
(4)Lauren C.
Authentic, tasty sushi in a laid-back environment. Although we were told that we would have to finish by 8:30 (because a large party was coming in), we weren't rushed while we were there, even when one of our dining companions was 30 minutes late. Her lateness did give us the opportunity to order the king crab miso soup, which was delicious and completely worth the $5 per order. The fish was fresh and the rolls were tasty, although I wasn't as blown away by the square roll as other people. I only have one major complaint: If spicy sauce isn't listed as part of the roll, don't drizzle it on top! It drives me nuts when restaurants do this. I may be in the minority here, but I do not want mayonnaise anywhere near my sushi.
(4)Iris B.
wonderful vegetarian sushi options! everything was delicious.. very cool ambiance and decor.
(4)Lisa P.
Beautiful decor, tempting drinks and delicious sushi. Great sushi location that is a bit more upscale but still has moderate prices. Not BYOB as one poster mistakenly posted.
(5)