New Zen Japanese Restaurant
509 S 3rd St,Ste A, Renton, WA, 98057
New Zen Japanese Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Renton for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Renton for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
509 S 3rd St,Ste A
Renton, WA, 98057 - Phone (425) 254-1599
- Website https://www.newzensushi.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Dan C.
I can tell a good Japanese restaurant by the Uni- excellent!
(4)Lauren L.
I was hunting and pecking around Yelp to find a restaurant that I haven't patronized yet in my own community. Based on the reviews, I was encouraged to try this place. Service: Very attentive, friendly, helpful Decor: Clean, artful Ambience: quiet, serene Food: Very well presented, tasty, not as authentic as I would've liked with the veggies. Ordered their Bento box lunch for $9.95. You get to choose from about six elections for your main entree. I chose chicken teriyaki. Very delicious. Then you get to choose two smaller items. Chose the steamed vegetables which turned out to be a small fistful of cooked cabbage with slices of carrot and onions. Very inexpensive for the business to serve cabbage. I was expecting some authentic Japanese veggies such as sliced roots, etc. I also chose their seaweed salad which was a tiny fistful, but delicious. Included with the Bento was a tiny salad, full bowl of white rice (weren't offered other options like brown rice), and the best soup I've had ever in a Japanese restaurant.
(4)Brent H.
Pretty good food. Split the Katsudon and beef curry with my brother. Both dishes could use more meat but the taste was pretty good. Only had one server when we were there on a Monday and it got pretty busy so the service was a little slower than I'm accustomed to from other Japanese restaurants. I looked at the other parts of the menu and looked pretty pricey. I saw other people order the items and it looked like the quantity wasn't that big. It better make up for it with the taste. I may try it next time.
(4)Amanda M.
We were hopeful and tried a variety of items all of which were not good. The flavor and texture of the food was off and we both got sick upon leaving. The lettuce in the salad was frozen, the miso was only broth, both of our chicken dishes tasted gross and one was very rubbery. We were both sick for several hours after leaving. We won't be returning.
(1)Mieko T.
When my husband and I wanted to try something new in the area we looked on Yelp, of course. We aren't picky, we just have preferences and we decides to try this place out. It is located near the transit center, so I was a little worries about parking, but there is a huge lot with plenty of parking right next to the building. It has a very small store front and it more rectangular shaped, so I almost walked into the restaurant next door. That could have also been from food deprivation, but whichever. My husband and I walked in. The atmosphere is not "ghetto" as a fellow Yelper stated. It was pleasant, but not gaudy. It was quiet and there were about three other people eating there and one of them was an employee off duty at the sushi bar. The other was a couple on the other side of the restaurant than us. A mother and well manured child came in nearing the end of our visit. I digress. There were two people in the front of house and a cook (or two, I couldn't see them) in the back of house. One of the ladies in front was at the sushi bat making sushi the entire time we were there. Or cleaning. Whichever. The waitress was pleasant and brought out menus and water right after we sat down. She was nice. She helped the other people in the same manor. She came back to get our orders. He got tonkatsu ramen and I got tofu sukiyaki. We sat for about 10-15 minutes waiting for our food having pleasant conversation. It was quiet, but not eery. When our food arrived, it was hot, as expected. He said his food was very food and quickly slurped it up, as is Japanese style. The broth in my food was very food, but I felt that there was not enough noodles in the sukiyaki. I had had better sukiyaki elsewhere, but I am a bit picky on this food in particular. All in all, we will be back, but I will order udon or something else next time. Perhaps we will try the sushi. Place was clean, waitress nice, although a tad awkward in her downtime. Food was alright in different areas. Place appeared well maintained.
(4)Willie T.
I had a pleasurable experience from beginning to end. I ate lunch here on Black Friday so it was nearly empty except for one guest at the bar and one guest at another table. We were greeted with the cheery Japanese greeting was we walked in. We had real wooden chopsticks instead of the cheap disposable ones, and they were in these cute little origami chopstick pockets. The menus are really cool because they're laminated and they give you something to write on them with to check off the boxes you want. We started with hot tea. It was delicious. We ordered a lunch bento with chicken shioyaki, shumai, and sake-Maki. And we also ordered chirashi. The lunch bento came with SUPER DELICIOUS somen noodle soup and the chirashi came with pretty good miso soup. The food inside the bento was delicious, but I wish it would've come with a bit more of the sides (only 2 pieces of shumai and 4 pieces of the salmon roll), but for $9 it's fairly priced. The chicken/rice were delicious and it came with enough meat to warrant buying it. The chirashi was suuuuuper good and the rice was delicious. It came in this cute little square container and the portion was fair. For dessert we had their maccha cheesecake which was also super delicious. If I had more money and stomach I would've gotten like 4 slices of that. After the meal they said thank you to us in Japanese as we were leaving. Throughout our meal the sushi chef at the bar was chatting with the guest who was sitting at the sushi bar. In summary: delicious food, nice service, pretty good/okay prices and portions, enjoyable experience.
(4)Pamela G.
First things first, the food is very good. I started coming here because the local Japanese Restaurant closer to my home closed down about a month ago. I was pretty bummed out about it because it had come to be my favorite place to eat. Found New Zen here on Yelp and decided to give it a try, despite the fact it takes over 40 minutes to get there! The food is very good as I mentioned. The server is super nice as well. However, there seems to be a slight inconsistency with the pricing. I got the same thing today in my to go order today as I did last time, with the slight addition of a Maki roll ($5) and a Rainbow Roll (had no idea it was over $14 and yet the roll was kind of small)....but my order this time came out to be twice as much as I paid last time, and yet they didn't give me as much stuff this time, either. Last time my Ramen had more toppings (sprouts for example) and there was a cold noodle dish that came alongside the rice and tempura I really liked....but it was missing this time around. The price was so high I only had a few dollars in my account and had to only leave a very small tip, which normally I don't like doing. So yes, the food is GREAT, but the portions and pricing seem somewhat inconsistent. I'll ask them about it next time I go there. Wish it was closer. If you're a fan of Tonkotsu ramen, this is a great place to go FYI. 9/11/14 UPDATE I spoke with the owner here and she explained things pretty clearly for me as to what might have happened with my order. Haven't had any problems since, and currently am calling this place my favorite Ramen/sashimi restaurant in our area. Love their salad dressing as well!
(4)Ling L.
I went to the New Zen Restaurant with friends to place take out orders. We waited 45 minutes for our orders and they only had one table to service... But the lady making our sushi was yelling at the poor waitress the entire time we were there. This made the waitress nervous and got the order tickets messed up. She had to redo 3 tickets. Based on my observation the lady could have focused on making the sushi rolls and let the waitress take our order. Also, I know I ordered sushi but it smelled and tasted very fishy. We will not be returning.
(1)Shane E.
Always friendly and good service. Fish is always fresh and well prepared. Good sushi. Can't ask for more. Recommend sitting at the bar and talking with the owner she is really nice.
(5)Kristina P.
For the location, this place is pretty fabulous. Great sushi, good prices and very friendly staff. I am not sure if they use a little more fish in their sushi than other places but it makes a world of difference. You can actually taste the fish in the rolls, versus just the filling. Overall, this is a solid sushi place and definitely my go-to place in Renton.
(4)Scarlett A.
Very upset! I have been here several times, each time very good. Well tonight really ruined it for me. There were maybe 8 other people in the whole place. I came in to grab some take out. I repeated my order SEVERAL TIMES to the girl, which she confirmed. After about 20 minutes of me sitting there, the woman making the sushi finally stopped chatting with "the regulars" and informed me she had incorrectly made my roll. (I had ordered no avocado, as I am allergic to it) She said she would remake it. Another 10 or so minutes go by, I see her push out about 3 other orders, and finally *throws* mine together. I ordered the karen roll, which I'm fairly certain is one of the more expensive rolls on the menu. I had also ordered edamame. They boxed it up and handed me the bag. I asked the man if my edamame was also in there. After about 5 minutes of heavy investigating, he returns back to tell me the edamame didn't make it on the order. "Sorry" he says. By this point, I had been sitting there for over 30 minutes for one roll and some edamame, and 2 pieces of shrimp nigiri. I said "ok, never mind then I guess" and proceeded to quickly leave. I am an extremely patient person, okay. I never make a fuss... but this was ridiculous. I get home to eat my sushi... the roll didn't even have HALF of what was supposed to be in it!!! I paid 13.75 for basically a roll with rice, seaweed, and the tiniest piece of shrimp tempora you've ever seen.. I am not a happy camper. Please get your act together... I really want to make this a regular spot!!!
(1)George S.
Tried the new location. Nicely done. Good sushi. Non-sushi excellent as well.
(5)Mary G.
Visited new zen for the second time at the downtown Renton location. Service was prompt. Place is clean. Sushi was, as always, very delectable. I also tried the minced meat katsu curry. It is a must try for curry lovers. Highly recommend this place. The owner even still remembered us after our absence for a few years!
(5)Jenna L.
My husband and I had this a few years ago when they were located in Kent on Benson, I didn't like it then, (completely forgot about it). So co-workers and friends said they were "pretty good". Let's say uh NO. Chicken Teriyaki was bland, sauce was watery. The kitchen semi messed up our order, they have my hubby tofu for 1 of his sides (which he didn't order) the side he ACTUALLY ordered was on my bento box which we could of easily swapped bc I didn't get the gyozas I ordered. Instead of letting us swap and him keeping the Tofu she took both plates back. Took out the tofu and brought my plate back missing a side. They fried up Gyozas which were Meh.. All in all... I think we will def remember NOT to come back and eat. I should of stuck with my gut and ate at Heaven Sent Chicken Next door which is never disappointing!!
(1)Jenny P.
Love this place. I'm pregnant and love sushi but can't have the raw stuff, they have helped me pick out cooked options that are really good! Friendly ladies, and great food. Sushi chef is a woman, which is awesome. A little weird because they share some funky bathrooms with the fried chicken place next door but I don't mind. I've had take out several times, and wouldn't mind eating there - ambiance is ok, typical of non-fancy Renton. Plus I'd much rather go for awesome food and ok ambiance than the other way around (like at the landing).
(5)Dan W.
I see its frequented more by Japanese folks than anyone else, I've been the only white guy in there each time. Albacore Nigiri and Tonkotsu Ramen & tea. Lunch total came to $15. I liked the ramen, would like more of the delicious pork, but realize ramen typically doesn't come with lots of meat. Someone else complained of salty broth, but this was anything but salty. dont eat sweet before salty. On my second visit, I had one of the bento box lunch specials. You have a choice of the main entree and a couple sides, comes with soup, rice and salad. $12 for the teriyaki salmon. I don't understand why people complain about prices.. Honestly I find this place better than the average sushi joint in Renton. Service has always been good and attentive, especially showing support on Blue Friday.
(4)Janis W.
First time trying out this place and I ordered to-go over the phone. Lady was super nice over the phone. Came in to pick up my order and I was immediately welcomed! I'm a server at a restaurant, so I kind of already have an automatic judgement and knowledge to know what should be expected in a restaurant. Anyways, lady was again, extremely nice. I ordered the Katsu Curry. I have to say, I was extremely impressed with the food!!!! Seriously, the best Katsu Curry I've had ever. From the welcoming and inviting service, to the delicious food, definitely deserves 5 stars. I can't wait to come back to try out more of their food!!!
(5)Alan M.
Not many customers during the weekday dinner time when I was there... which is always a bit worrying for a sushi place. Food was pretty good though with some interesting items on the menu. Clean restrooms too. Location may seem a bit sketchy if you don't know what to expect in downtown Renton.
(3)Amy M.
Good quality sushi, mirugai (geo duck) sashimi style was excellent! Staff very personable and accommodating. Definitely will return when we come back to visit.
(4)Wayne M.
Decend lunch menu. Very limited selection. Tons of different sushi's Pros: Price Private parking lot attatched Cons: Service was slow
(3)Rhi S.
I've finally found authentic Japanese food! Yay! I love New Zen. The owner is so nice and friendly as is all the staff. Even on busy nights they usually will have seats which is nice. Because of the location I constantly looked past this restaurant thinking it was some white rendition of Japanese food, but it's not. The food here is great! The service and taste is consistent. I wish I could eat here every day but it's a little pricy for that. I like the ambiance and how the owner often wears her kimono. It's so cute and gives it that extra touch. I heard a new company bought the building the restaurant is in. I hope they don't have to move or anything because it's so close to my house and has such great food. I haven't found anther place in the area with food as good as here. If you come here you have to try their tempura ice cream! This is the only place I've found any since I moved up to Seattle.
(5)Bruce F.
I am newly being introduced to Japanese restaurants and this is the 2nd one that I have tried (other than many Teriyaki places). Over the years this location has changed owners but we have not been here for a while and since we were going to the theater next door, we decided to try it. It is actually a lot nicer inside than out so do not let the appearance fool you. The only real issue we had was they were out of Ramen soup for the weekend - not sure how a place that is noted for the Ramen runs out but stuff happens. Since I was now experienced with Japanese cuisine (one restaurant with our Daughter in Law :) ) I planned on ordering a dinner bento since the one I had before was a perfect size meal. Apparently the meal is not standard because the one here is twice as big and way to much - so we had to try something else. First we split the "Real Crab Rolls" and it was good. One roll but cut into 5 pieces along with an explanation by the waiter of what to put on it - he was correct - it was good. For dinner my wife and I split the Combination Dinner and had Tempura and Teriyaki Beef - along with the sides of soup and very small salad. Both of us enjoyed the tasty food but probably could have had a little more - our fault - it is a dish designed for one. There are some comments that the prices are high but we did not find this to be correct - however - they are not low either. The service was efficient, friendly (Orient style - not American style) and overall we had a great meal. We were also luck because I asked the owner if we could park in the restaurant lot (next to the theater) while we enjoyed the show and she said since we had dinner it would be no problem. Perhaps the theater and restaurant should work something out in the form of a dinner/show package.
(4)Ashley M.
Cheap sushi that is filled with fillers. Four out of four coworker didn't like it and won't eat there agin even though it is cheap and you get more. The soup that comes free for lunch hour is bland even though I understand it is suppose to be made in this fashion. And the salad has too little sauce and flavor and is cheap mixed greens. The sushi itself is more filled with rice then meat. The spicy tuna roll was decent but the meat was mutilated to the point that you couldn't tell what it actually was.
(2)Victor A.
I love this place. I've only been twice, got the beef udon both times and it was quite good. That's not why I give it 5 stars. The two ladies who work there are such a delight! The first time I went in we went with my 18 month old son and he, like all children got restless but they handled it very well. They're very nice, and got his food out early, they're chatty but not overbearing. Extremely welcoming and just warm kind people. The second time, I just went for pickup and they were equally pleasant even though I just had a takeout order. It's a shame they aren't busier. I was pretty hangry (not with them, rush hour at 5pm) and they were so pleasant that I left with a smile on my face. The food and the service here combined are really what makes this little place great. I have 7 years experience in the food industry and these two could run circles around most people I know in terms of customer service.
(5)Sarah R.
This place looks like a total hole in the wall in downtown Renton but when you go inside it's actually very clean, neat, and nicely decorated! The chairs are even nice suede, modern decor. We went right when it opened at 4PM for dinner and so there was hardly anyone there but the sushi chef where he happily greeted us, he was waiting behind the sushi bar ready to go. A lady came right out of the back and was ready to take our order after we decided what we wanted for Togo. They both were very kind and offers waters as we waited. We ordered their Hot & Spicy Tuna Roll, Ichi Roll, Chicken Teriyaki, and the Curry Katsu. I felt everything was okay, I've had better else where. My BF liked the Curry Katsu, he said it was flavorful and savory. Despite that, I would still definitely try going there again.
(3)Mister E.
Really friendly service from the owner/host. The food was not very good though. I eat a lot of sushi so am pretty picky. The sushi rolls rice was hard even though the rolls were just made. Some chewy fish in the nigiri. I sat at the sushi bar, all the fish was wrapped in plastic but I could smell a strong fish smell. Not a very good sign. Really wanted to like it but unfortunately I don't think I'll be back.
(2)Michael I.
Simply too pricy. While the staff were somewhat friendly, and the food tasted good if not exceptional, getting sushi (rolls other than standard California rolls) is expensive. I had the Boone roll, which was shrimp tempura in a roll topped with a bit of roe. Tasty, but comparable to Blue C Sushi. However, I could get the same amount and same quality for much cheaper than the $18.50 I paid. I came out of there $37 poorer (including tax and 15% tip). There was the Boone roll, alcoholic drink, and appetizer. Lastly, the place has kind of a strip-mall vibe. Not a great atmosphere given the price.
(2)Steven S.
Good service. Overpriced and okay sushi. I rather drive to Bellevue or Southcenter next time for better food. Not a place that I will visit again. :(
(2)Jesi B.
Amazing sushi! Honestly, it's absolutely delicious. We read all of the glowing reviews of the ramen but couldn't seem to tear ourselves away from the sushi menu. The Karen roll is a must have and save room for tempura fried green tea ice cream. The staff was friendly and sweet, the food was rad and the bill was far less than shocking. My first 5 star review.
(5)Dominique D.
Woke up craving for ramen and found that this is the only Japanese restaurant that serves Ramen in Renton! It really is Authentic Japanese and I really like that. Loved the Ramen although they don't have that much variety. I can't believe I've never tried this place before. Can't wait to come back and order other things.
(4)Rachel P.
This place is amazing! I wish they were open more! Prices are ok but service is amazing. I would come here more often but they always seem to be closed when I want some... Great for a date night.
(5)Kristin L.
We decided to give this place a try as some friends of my parents had dined here multiple times. We arrived around 6:50. We made reservations as it was a Friday night, though they were in no way necessary. We were seated right away and given a choice between 4 open four tops. After being seated for 15 minutes we still had not received any menus and had to get up and ask for some. Another 15 minutes later we had to make multiple attempts to get anyone's attention to order our food. We ordered 2 appetizers and 4 entrees. About 20 minutes later, a couple of side salads arrived. The waitress apologized for the long wait blaming it on an "overwhelming rush" that came in when we did. I never saw this "rush" of people she was referring to. The restaurant was filled to less than half of its seating occupancy. Roughly 50 minutes in, we finally received a Tempura roll and a couple bowls of Miso soup. After being there for an hour and 15 minutes, we received 2 orders of Tempura Udon, followed by our 2 "appetizers," Chicken Karage and Tempura, a Tonkatsu dinner, and Beef Sukiyaki. Our appetizers arrived AFTER two of our entrees! As I ate, I overheard our waitress continuously apologizing to other tables who arrived well after us. She continued to use the excuse of the "overwhelming rush" of which I still had not observed. The Chicken Karage tasted completely unseasoned, but overall the food was pretty average. I don't plan on coming back!
(2)Ken L.
My hope for great ramen and sushi in proximity to my residence pushed me to New Zen. Unfortunately, said trial did not meet expectations. The noodle bowl contained three slices of brisket-like pork, a precooked brown egg and a couple of other smaller items not worth mentioning. The summary take on this soup - priced higher at $10, about a 15 min wait to cook and nothing special. The sushi rice was not moist, on the verge of dry. On the plus side, the friendly folks served with a mission of ensuring satisfaction. Update 3/9/12: owner has sent comment on my lack of knowledge on ramen. I do not claim to be an expert on ramen but I do know that there are better ramen noodle bowls elsewhere and that is my basis for comparison. As always, your mileage may vary.
(3)Megan S.
Wow. How ghetto and uncomfortable. Im assuming it's the mom and daughter. The mom keeps yelling at the daughter and asking people to pay cash. It's really uncomfortable. I will never return. Awkward. Not enough beer for this.
(1)Nava O.
Aside from the restaurant being small in size, the food is amazing and the staff is so friendly. There is a traditional Japanese atmosphere, and the fish is fresh. When I first dined there, my friend and I ordered three appetizers, one entree each, and two rolls. That was more food than what we should of consumed, but everything sounded so delicious. I always get their agedashi tofu and hamachi kama. I definitely recommend this place if you want to be adventurous!
(5)Jennifer V.
I've always passed by this place while driving and didn't know where the entrance was. Heaven Sent is so much more noticeable, especially since they've painted the giant chicken on the wall recently. Upon closer inspection though, there's the door to New Zen right next to it! I first went with my friends a couple months back, and we were surprised with such cute interior. It's a small space, but it makes it all the more homey. I ordered the nabeyaki soba, and my friends ordered nabeyaki udon, takoyaki, a roll of sushi (I do not recall), and sukiyaki. The presentation was great and everything was delicious! The second time I went, my family and I got bento boxes. Great variety to choose from! There were some issues with wrong orders, but everything was overall fine. Both times, I was greeted with nice servers who were attentive, though the food came out relatively slow. I'm sure it's because they're preparing it per customer, and it's totally worth the wait, anyway. I wouldn't recommend eating here if you're in a rush, but if you're wanting to relax and you're craving some sushi or Japanese comfort food, they have an amazing selection of sushi and curry! I know free parking on the side gets most people too.
(4)Kenneth L.
Really good ramen. The ramen comes out hot, rich, and flavorful. They pack in a lot of noodles, meat, an egg, and naruto. I would definitely come back again for the ramen. The one negative is that the rolls are pretty pricey here. I had a white tiger roll that was $12 for 8 small pieces. While good, it should have been priced lower.
(4)Connie K.
Well, sitting here for 55 minutes now, some of the food ordered is starting to trickle to our table, woops, no, wrong order! People have been patiently waiting to be seated for over half an hour, plenty of available tables. Maybe the restaurant is hoping some of the customers will turn around and leave. Maybe they don't want any business. My order is here, food is decent. Not worth an hours wait though. Don buri is pretty bland and dry.
(1)Pat A.
Perfect lunch at New Zen sushi yesterday. We ordered: - Salmon Skin Roll with gobo - special chawanmushi donburi (nice little twist for being on rice) - 2 nabeyaki udon - salmon kama Everything is always so yummy at New Zen.
(5)Jen L.
I enjoyed my ramen for lunch. The noodles were perfectly cooked, not too soft like some other places. Half a hard boiled egg, meat was tender not dry. It was a touch too salty for me, but not a bad as some other places. It is a bit pricier, but I enjoyed it and the service was good.
(3)Michael K.
I have eaten here twice for Ramen, and both times it was good - the broth is flavorful without being too salty, and the pork has great flavor too. They don't have a lot of options for the Ramen, but this is only one item on a menu. Next time I'll try something else so I can give a more comprehensive review, but it's hard to do that when craving ramen.
(3)Daren D.
This is a nice gem on Benson Hill. Coming from central Renton, it's easier to take Benson Dr as opposed to Hwy 167. A nice hole in the strip mall type place. And the New Zen neon sign seems to have a cool 80's/early 90's flair to it. Kewl. I think this is a Japanese ma' & pa' place, and even has a great website, too. I'm immediately greeted by a lady in a kimono, who turns out to be Yumiko (co-owner?). It was quiet and slow that evening. Feel free to sit where ever you like; just settled by the wall at center. She was sufficiently patient with me as I perused the great menu. (thx!) Also came with a paper if you chose to select from 2 combo specials stand-alone, or in addition to whatever else you wanted (since i mentioned to her i was thinking about trying Natto for first time, she said i could try a Natto roll... cool). So I also got a Natto roll. My special (see pic) was good and had freshness to it. Mmmmmmm-Mm. Also, the fish slices were well cut and towered over their rice beds.... speaking of fish nigiri, I could totally devour a trayfull of salmon/tuna nigiri. -Right. --Now! Yumiko was really kind and pleasant. When brought my miso soup, she offered spoon or *motioning hands* japanese style? JPN style, yo. ^^ Some things I regret not trying, as I'm pretty sure I had some room left, was perhaps the Lychee sorbet or Ginger ice cream (I swear I noticed them checked off on the table triangle thingy). All was flushed down with an iced tea. One minor thing i noticed was previous reviewer Uhura mentioned a hot towel, but didn't have one; unless they're at the bar. You know you want to try them out. Hop to it, yo. ^_^ I'd like to come back and try their katsu curry & katsu don. **6/2010**: Went back and tried the straight up Natto... yeah, it's like online stuff says, strong, pungent, and an acquired taste by those who like it. I had to mix in some brown rice to finish it. :)
(5)Juliet N.
Tried the new location out today in downtown Renton. It's very easy to find and they have a whole parking lot!! Same great food same great staff :)
(5)K G.
I hate to do this because the service was so great, and the lady so kind; however, the food is bad. New Zen has been around for awhile but now they had to try to fill in the shoes of Toshi's who abruptly left this location and left us teriyaki lovers sad. I was hoping New Zen would keep the same teriyaki sauce, chicken, etc but it is not so. I got the bento today, and $8.95, not only was it overpriced, it was bad. This place just won't work in Renton, especially trying to fill in the big, gigantic hole of Toshi's. The New Zen teriyaki is really bad. The chicken was dry and it smelled funny. The sauce was tangy, and didn't have the right balance. The "spicy tuna" was tuna with some siracha on top....seriously? Gyoza was good, soup was good. That's about it. Oh, it also came with a stale side of rice. Unfortunately, us Toshi lovers will have to find a new place because New Zen will not fill that hole with their overpriced, mediocre food...
(2)Abby C.
Loved it! My dad loved the sushi, I had great teriyaki beef and tempura. Clean space and friendly staff.
(5)Jens J.
I happened to be up on Benson Hill around lunch time so I thought I'd check out New Zen. I was here once with a couple coworkers for lunch well over ten years ago, but other than the name being the same, New Zen was unrecognizable from my previous visit. Inside, there is now a sushi bar along with several tables. The interior has a cozy feel. I loved the evergreen textured walls. Service was attentive, warm and friendly from start to finish - and it was the service that propelled this review to four stars. I ordered $8.95 Bento lunch special. They gave me a checklist where I marked the boxes for options I wanted for my Bento Box. I went with the "minced meat" katsu, mashed potato croquette and squid salad. I could have selected chicken, beef, salmon or even tuna teriyaki. After I placed my order, my server brought me a bowl of "soup noodle", which was like a miso soup with thin noodles and finely sliced scallion. Very good. Everything in my bento box was delicious. The sausage-like katsu was good to start with, but really came to life with the application of a bit of soy sauce. I also enjoyed the potato croquette and fresh squid salad. I especially loved the side of rice. It wasn't just rice but was adorned with tempura flakes and and a little sweet soy sauce. Delicious! Definitely one of the better Japanese restaurants in Renton.
(4)Erin W.
use in sushi was a wonderful experience today. After being told that a nother local joint that there would be a 20 minute wait to even sit at the bar, I said no thank you and went on a hunt for another sushi restaurant. I was not disappointed. The quality of the fish and rice is top notch, and the service was excellent. Everything I ordered was prepared with expertise, and the chef and owner were delightful to interact with. I will definitely be back.
(4)Cory Z.
This place is alright in my book. Despite the long wait time for our food, it was worth it since it was pretty good! I ordered the tonkotsu ramen; very flavorful broth and soft chewy noodles. Meat was also juicy! Yum!
(4)Kristi C.
Great Japanese restaurant! I enjoyed the friendly waitress and the chef! Very nice atmosphere inside. I enjoyed the spider sushi rolls, tempura and vegetables, and chicken teriyaki! I had a great dinner there with my family!
(4)Amber K.
Tried this place last week because we were looking for a sushi place that was in renton. We've tried several and have been disappointed so had high hopes for it since it came highly recommended from a friend. We ordered what we typically order at any sushi place (couple rolls, hamachi nigiri, 2 beers and a wine) and paid about $90 with tip. For what we paid I felt like we could have gone to Umi downtown and had a martini. I read the reviews about high prices before going but still went in thinking the prices weren't going to be that bad. It's Renton, not Seattle. The ambiance and overall flavor of the sushi just isn't enough for me to pay $90 for our weekly sushi experience. On the plus side, it's the best sushi we've had in Renton. Fish is fresh which is a must. I'd come back if the prices were just a little lower.
(3)Lynne B.
Love this restaurant! The food is excellent, the sushi is reasonably priced, fresh, and very good & the staff is friendly. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Patrick L.
What a neighborhood gem! I drove by this place 200x before I finally stopped in, purely on the strength of Yelp reviews. One day I was searching for a ramen joint on Yelp, and New Zen popped up. I didn't think much of it until I noticed the rating, and then read further and checked out the pics. We were very skeptical but decided to give it a try anyways. This turned out to be one of the rare situations where I'm so glad I got over it and gave it a shot. The ramen here is solid! It's all I order here, but I've also tried the katsu curry and sukiyaki, both also quite good. I'll be honest, I did not expect this place to be run by such friendly Japanese couple, nor that the food would be so good. I hope they find a better location, because this place deserves much more recognition and business!
(5)scott m.
I've eaten here now for about 4 years at both old location and new one DT Renton. I haven't ever had a bad experience. Order is always correct, business transaction goes smoothly, and most importantly quality of food is great! I have a number of their rolls, sushimi, as well as ramen and curry dishes. This is truly one of Renton's hidden gems, though not so hidden on the main street of Renton. Don't waste your time at Landing, come to old town Renton for the best restaurants, including New Zen best Japanese and Sushi.
(4)Thuy D.
I've only tried their nigiri sushi and everything just tasted alright. Nothing outstanding. Service was very friendly from our cute waitress. However, for the price that I have to pay I would rather go to Miyabi instead.
(3)Chau B.
This place is alright. Not great. Miyabi is still my #1 sushi place in the Renton area. The only good dish I had here was the sake clams.
(3)Homan L.
I have been eating here for years and in the past before they moved, on a pretty regular basis for lunch (once a week) and semi-regular basis for dinner. It's reasonably close to work/home and pretty much the most delicious food one can find in Renton, although not cheap compared to other places, it was well worth the price and was my go to restaurant when around the area. Their menu selection is vast and offered truly the best Sushi in Renton, their entrees like the tonkatsu is always cooked perfectly. You know its legit when there are always old Japanese people here and there isn't even that many Japanese people that live around here to begin with! So it pains me to say this but I promised myself when writing reviews to be honest, even if it means I will have summoned the wrath of the most culinary-challenged reviewers viciously attacking me for stating the painfully obvious about the most comically bad suburban "restaurants". No, this is not one of them. However, that is a burden that the righteous has the carry when reviewing - the unfortunate circumstances of never being able to go back and/or risk being sabotaged (I am not suggesting Zen will do that). Back to it, their quality has dropped significantly. I understand that it's extremely difficult to sell good sushi in Renton when most of the demographics are happy with Genki Sushi or Sushiland, the cost margins of keeping a vast stock of high quality sushi is tough to maintain when at times there isn't that many customers. That is a strong reason why I have always supported them, I felt they are trying to do right in a market that is totally happy with WRONG. However, I am not Jesus nor am I descended from the gilded thrones of the 1%, I cannot in good conscience over pay for food that I find has become mediocre at best. To compare, the seaweed salad - a simple dish, yet was prepared perfectly in the past. Nowadays I find that the seaweed salad has been replaced with seaweed + rice vermicelli salad, the menu still reads the same. Sure, most people don't notice that half of the seaweed is now cheap rice vermicelli dyed in green and yes I understand why they have to cut corners to remain open and somewhat profitable and I even am ok with this BUT this is one of many things I have noticed. The octopus salad, same story: in the past there was a perfect balance of amount of octopus and other ingredients with a perfect kick of vinegar. Not so many octopus pieces anymore... The sushi, I don't know if the suppliers are switched or if it's because the old Japanese man is no longer the chef but I get an acute sense that the grade of fish has been lowered, even the sweet shrimp - my absolute favorite here; doesn't feel as fresh. I have gone back multiple times since I noticed this but each time it further solidifies my previous experience to my utter dismay. What really swayed me from "ok, let's try it again" to "ok, I think I am done" was the last incident I had paying the bill there. During the years I ate here, I burn thru probably between 10 to 15 stamp cards. Each time you pay increments of $25 for your bill, you get a stamp. When reached 12 or 16 stamps (can't remember), you get a $25 discount or a bottle of sake. I usually opted for the discount but am persuaded to get the sake. I understand that it's more profitable for them to give me the sake as it doesn't cost them $25 to obtain, and usually in support of their establishment I have let them steer me away from the discount and to the sake. Last time however, I just got enough to finish a card and really wanted the $25 discount as I wasn't too happy about my meal. They insisted that they just moved to the new location and the discount for dining at the new location is what I should take, which is of course way less than the $25 discount. Awkward moment followed in both of us knowing that which discount is greater, however I didn't feel like creating a scene and arguing over it. I was very disappointed that a long term customer that has probably spend thousands of dollars was asked to take a lesser discount when it is one that they earned thru repeated dining at the establishment. I don't understand why offer something if you are going to make it hard to use? Just don't offer it at all, it's bad for everyone in the long term. Discount or not it's not a huge deal but to offer something and make it difficult to redeem just creates unnecessary animosity. I hope one day they can go back to the way they were, offering quality sushi and Japanese cuisine. I am however doubtful and sad that it has to end (for me) on this note.
(2)Jo S.
Terrible service. Big rip off they charge $3 dollar for the tea and $1 for wasabi and $1 for ginger. Never come back
(1)L O.
We ate here on our last night in Washington. The food was good, the tonkatsu was crispy and moist. Sushi, was good and service was ok. Friendly staff, almost missed this place considering its location.
(4)Lauren G.
Yumiko never fails to disappoint. My parents have been coming here regularly for a few years now and every time I visit them I ask to go. I love the new location but what makes this place special is how much love Yumiko has put into the place and into the great service she provides.
(5)Grace Y.
New Zen Japanese is authentic and consistently delicious. I've been averaging a visit here at least once a week now for the past month or so. I've tried the bento lunches with assorted choices. My favorite is the minced meat katsu and the somen noodle soup they serve with the lunch combos. Their tonkotsu ramen is also very good and sushi is fresh and delish. I'm always looking forward to my visits here. So glad to have a legit Japanese restaurant in Renton and the owner/server is always welcoming and friendly. You won't be disappointed with New Zen.
(5)J K.
Traditional Japanese-American fare served by Japanese-Americans to Japanese-Americans. The menu was longer than normal, which I appreciated. The ramen was above average. The sushi was pretty good. Might I drive all the way to Renton again? Not sure. But if I'm in the area, New Zen will be on my short list.
(4)Clayton J.
Lived near here for a couple years. Known of the restaurant for about a year. Figured lunch would be a safe bet. The location has a big open shared lot, but looks like a run down strip mall. Inside, the place is clean, but he décor is really shabby. The service was good and the food was great. The portions were fair, but I could have used a bit or two more for my buck. Bottom line the food was impressive, but location and décor are not. Good place to go for a hot plate, but you'll never impress a date here.
(3)Crystal P.
I honestly think this is the WORST sushi I have ever had. I came here strictly on recommendations from Yelp, and was completely disappointed. There was not one person in the restaurant during the peak of dinner hours (should have been the first clue). I ordered a roll that was supposed to have real crab, but it was just a roll with shredded krab sticks that was poorly rolled and fell apart quickly. This roll was equal to or below grocery store quality. I made the mistake of ordering Geoduck Butteryaki, like I enjoy at Shiro's, and it was horrible. Perhaps I just ordered wrong, but after two bad dishes I decided to drive further south and find another restaurant. It sounds as if the hot dishes might be good; however, if you're an experienced sushi lover like me, I would skip this restaurant.
(1)Danielp S.
Decent ambience, especially for a strip mall. Friendly staff. Not cheap. Not expensive. Sushi quality: Fine as a fallback: about on par with I Love Sushi's cheaper offerings, but with considerably larger cuts of fish. I will come here when I don't want to go further afield for sushi. You can get better sushi for the price, but not anywhere nearby that I know of.
(3)Robert B.
Went to dinner last night here and was very impressed. The sushi was amazing. It was not busy so everything was crafted with skill and care. I will totally be going back soon!
(5)Adoracion D.
I've lived in the Benson Hill area for 15+ years and I finally decided to try this place out. AMAZING food! Yea, the place isn't fancy looking, but if you want to know about the food and service; it's amazing in both departments. Give them a try! My husband and I had the veggie tempura and hot and spicy california roll. About $14, but it was more than enough for us both, plus i thought the service was nice. Definitely a new sushi place to go!
(5)Jon D.
A little lacking in posh, but makes it well in the flavor marks. This strip mall sushi joint makes quite the impression of being a strip mall sushi joint upon walking in, but the quaint plastic cafe tables don't necessarily make food taste worse. And in fact, the waitress in the kimono comes over to greet us as we sit anywhere we like, so she says. We get started some sushi, tempura, and rolls, while she soon comes back out with miso soup. Miso soup, difficult to do wrong, tasted fine. Tempura came out next, and while I am usually pensive about bad, greasy tempura, this actually came out crispy and moist inside. The vegetables still tasted fresh, and the shrimp came out perfectly done, so my surprise. Chirashi bowl was full of goodies, of course. The fish clearly was of good quality, taken from the good cuts of meat, and not the odd sinewy edges that sometimes happens in bad sushi places. Thoroughly enjoyed. The special roll we ordered, I don't really remember the name... it was something Japanese-named. And it was tasty enough. Cost, a bit on the high end for a place like this, I thought. But overall, I suppose on the lower end of Japanese cuisine prices in the area. I enjoyed it.
(4)Stuart A.
I'm always comforted by a restaurant where I can order in Japanese, and the waitress doesn't bat an eye. Maybe it's because this is in Seattle, where there's a higher statistical likelihood that blond white guys might have some facility with the language. At any rate, it was comforting not to be regarded as an anomaly. This is a shitamachi kinda place. I went in craving something fried, and left with my belly fully of chicken katsu curry and emerald-green tea. I'd give it more stars, but we went there seeking the ramen it was supposedly known for in a magazine advertisement. As it turns out, they only had one type of ramen, and it was kinda no-frills. Whatever. All the other food was good. I can't imagine any reason to go to Renton unless I'm making an Ikea run for cheap lingonberry jam, so I'm not sure I'd make the trip all the way back out here just for the food. But hell, people. If you want the best Japanese food, you're gonna have to go to Vancouver.
(4)Judy K.
The location is at a random strip mall location. If it wasn't for Yelp, I would never stop by here. The sushi rolls here are pretty good. But for the price I paid, I think I would rather go to a different joint. I recommend their roll "Monkey Brains"; it doesn't look very appetizing, but if you order something that is named brains, you really can't be picky about the presentation. Pretty tasty, but didn't WOW me.
(3)Dave N.
Unfortunately, the sushi was good... My wife and I come to the Seattle area at least once a year, usually for a family vacation. This trip was no different. We usually stay in the Renton area and use Yelp to help us find places to eat. Wanting to see how fresh Seattle fish is compared to Hawaii, we searched Yelp to find some sushi. We were very anxious to try New Zen since it had four stars after 19 reviews. We stopped by on a Monday night. The restaurant was very slow with only one other couple dining. We were greeted by a friendly waitress and seated immediately (as one would expect in an empty restaurant). The waitress promptly took our order and our food soon arrived. My wife ordered several nigiri sushi and I ordered a combo meal (salmon and tempura) & two nigiri. One of the nigiri my wife ordered was amaebi. The waitress brought our nigiri sushi along with my miso soup and a small salad. This was the beginning of our problems. The waitress brought ebi nigiri, not amaebi. We could have easily over looked this mistake, until she brought my teriyaki chicken & tempura. If you remember what I said I ordered earlier in my review, teriyaki chicken isn't going to satisfy my craving for the salmon I expected. Had the waitress not been talking so much with the sushi chef and cook, we could have gotten her attention to correct her mistakes. My wife opted not to eat her ebi so she could have the waitress bring amaebi. I on the other hand ended up eating the teriyaki chicken since I didn't know when our waitress would return. After my wife finished all but her ebi nigiri, the waitress came by to check on us. We pointed out the error with the amaebi and the waitress said she only heard "ebi". Both my wife and I know amaebi was ordered. The amaebi quickly arrived and the waitress said she would not charge us for the ebi. Of course my wife and I both thought she better not charge us since we didn't order it. At this point the waitress realized I ordered salmon and offered to take the chicken and correct her mistake. I declined her offer and finished the chicken. By now our optimistic attitudes changed and we began noticing how much time the waitress was spending socializing with her coworkers at the expense of providing any reasonable level of service. Upon finishing our meals, I asked if my combo meal came with a dessert. I was told, "Not today." Did I pick the wrong night to order a combo meal? Definitely a strange response as I did not see desserts being offered only on certain days of the week. Before I close with yet another mistake, I want to mention the quality of the sushi was pretty good. The hamachi I ordered was okay, but the salmon (sake) was very good. My wife mentions she would give the sushi three stars. And finally... The waitress added our tab wrong. I don't normally check the addition of our bill, but our it seemed to be unusually high - and it was. I doubt we'll go back to New Zen again, but if we lived here in Renton, we might give it another chance. With the 18 other four and five star ratings, we may have just picked a bad night. Or perhaps the waitress we had is new or doesn't usually wait tables. [4/10/2011 - Follow up] Since writing my review, I was contacted (via Yelp) by the owner who both apologized for the poor service received and said she spoke to the waitress. As mentioned, perhaps we just picked a bad night...
(2)Jeff L.
The omakase.... 20 bucks. You definitely get 20 bucks worth of good sushi. If you're ever at IKEA, skip the Swedish Meatballs and give the Omakase a try. (yes, I told you to skip the Swedish meatballs... *runs for cover*) The ramen is about 9 or so dollars and is also yummy with good portion size.
(4)Louann M.
Located in a strip mall in Renton, this little place had some very good sushi. It appeared to be family run. They were happy to make adjustments to the sushi my daughter ordered, as she did not want the mushrooms in it. I had the Real Crab roll, she had the Washington Roll, and we shared a seaweed salad and topped it all off with Red Bean ice cream - yum! The service was about average, but then, the place was pretty low key. Overall, a good pick!
(4)Rachel R.
Talk about a gem. I was invited by a friend to New Zen for a premium sake tasting. Primarily, I went to go see a good friend of mine. As far as outward appearance, I was not expecting much given that this place is nestled in a dated, eighties-looking, plaza. I was expecting the generic teriyaki-sushi hybrid restaurant with fluorescent lighting and a stand-up cooler of soda. You know, like 'Toshi's' or something. New Zen was charmingly decorated. High ceilings with the sushi chef taking up a good chunk of a corner, like a stage. The menu was extensive and they even offer a menu in 'manga'! The sushi offerings were creative and I have a feeling that the Japanese food here is more authentic than most places. The agedeshi tofu and the calamari was delicious. The sushi was fresh and well made. I do not know how often they do the premium sake tastings, but I would suggest checking it out next time they do have one. Basically, the Japanese sake and beer distributor comes by and offers generous samples to patrons in hopes to sway the restaurant to place a giant order. Generous samples.
(5)david tetsuo b.
Monkey brain sushi is awesome!
(4)Alvin N.
This is the only Japanese Restaurant in Renton that serves Sushi & other various yummy goods. Located by the Gold's Gym on Benson Hill. Our server was really nice, the Sushi Chef presented his craft well. Theres no competition around so the prices are above average, for dinner for 2 it was about $55 total. I will definitely come back though =) The Toro Nigiri & Rainbow Roll I had was really good =P
(4)Shelly B.
Awesome! Spicy tuna roll - the best. Fish is fresh!
(5)Slav S.
Great service and very good food. I've never seen such polite servers and they would check on us quite often. Never had an empty glass. Definitely recommend. Will be my permanent sushi spot.
(5)Michael L.
It's a pretty good hidden gem in the area. Only the best, friendliest service here. The food is also very good. But it's also fairly pricey in my opinion. I know sushi can be expensive, but it just seemed a little pricier than I would want to pay for the food. Don't get me wrong, it's good food, just fell slightly short of a 5 star rating.
(4)Emmalee S.
Getting teriyaki at 9pm shouldn't be too difficult..... key word being "shouldn't"....but when my tummy decided that's what it wanted, man, was it pain. I called 3 other places, all of them closing at 9. Then, my handy little Yelp app. showed me New Zen. I thought " What the heck. I'll give it one more shot". Jackpot. They were open til 9:30. My order was simple: 2 beef and chicken teriyaki to go. They told me it would be ready in 10 mins. This Place is super cute place. It's tucked away in a little strip mall on the corner of 108th and Carr. I don't think I would have even realized it was there if it hadn't been for Yelp.I opened the front door and was overwhelmed by the smell of food. Even with a stuffy nose my mouth started to water. I am assuming it is a family owned place because a sweet older couple was working that night. They were both very friendly and welcoming. The man behind the glass window was rolling sushi. I sat in front of him and watched. He told me the story of how the California Roll was invented. Now, the portions where pretty small for the price I paid... $40 for the 2 meals... but it tasted great. The sauce was not too sweet and not too mild. The beef was a little under cooked for my liking but the chicken was delicious. Next time I go tho, I think I'm going to try the sushi.
(3)Brian C.
I give this place 3.5 stars. The service was attentive and the fish was fresh. This seems like a mom and pops place with only a 2-3 employees. Not in a very good location (Downtown Renton), but overall a solid place for sushi. The price point is a bit high for what you get, but overall a good experience
(4)Malea X.
i've been here a few more times with the hubby in tow and have become less impressed. the fish never looks fresh and some of it isn't very good. the chef will get creative for hubby to have some good veggie rolls, but that's all it has going for it. the service is excellent, but i need more than that.
(3)Kendrick R.
For a Japanese restaurant, the portions are generous than most. It's also a dollar more. However, the food was exquisite enough to warrant a review as well as continued patronage. I've had a few lunches here lately and the menu consists of some specialized fare (sushi, fresh ramen) to the "low brow" cuisine (teriyaki). The ramen is served in a light, flavorful broth. It's fresh, light and huge enough for a truck driver. the sushi and the teriyaki are prepared with care and it shows. It's too bad they're not located in Seattle. But I suppose a field trip in the light industrial wonderland known as Renton is educational, eye-opening and downright...oh, i can't do it. it's RENTON. this food here is worth the drive though.
(4)Ampere V.
Almost perfect. This is precisely the polar opposite of what one expects from strip mall restaurants. Friendly, encouraging hostess with amazing service and outstanding food. Best sushi rolls I've had in ages. Homemade ramen soup. Yosenabe with homemade udon. They also have a "manga" menu. I have no idea what's on it, but considering the caterpillar roll was made to look like an anime caterpillar, I suspect a healthy mix of "twee" and "tasty". So close to perfect that if something was missing, I can't think of it.
(5)S Y.
Living in Kent means our dining options aren't nearly as diverse as Seattle so New Zen was a wonderful find. We've been going there for several years for lunch and dinner, sometimes on special occasions. The service is pleasant and quick and the food is mostly excellent, especially the sushi and katsu. The clientele is varied and seems to range from locals, Japanese, and Japanese aficionados. The food has been consistent although there were a few hiccups regarding some dishes. Of course, ours were fine but my friend's chicken teriyaki (she has food allergies) was disapointing but that was also nearly two years ago. The chicken was not served hot and seemed to have been overcooked at medium heat so the meat was almost mealy. Could have been an older batch of marinated meat as well. My husband and I usually order sushi, katsu and occasionally udon. The portions are comparable to Seattle restaurants but the cost is less. We've ordered the Omakase several times and for $20 it's a steal. Granted, it won't be as fancy as most Seattle restaurants, but the fish is fresh and portions generous.
(4)Mark M.
Want a real piece of Japan? The stop by New Zen Japanese to treat you taste buds and wet you whistle today! A++ Awesome Food!
(5)Uhura J.
Located on Benson Hill, it's technically Renton, 5 minutes from Tukwila and about 15 from Kent. South 167 towards Ikea takes you to the right area, just take a left off the ramp, and your next left up the hill towards the hospital. New Zen is at the top of the hill, in a shopping plaza on the left with Benders bar, an independent gym, and an acupuncture place. Good miso. Hot towel presentation. Quiet, low-key, welcoming atmosphere. Nigiri was simple, with fresh, large pieces of delicious fish. I had the salmon, hamachi, creamy scallop, and copper river salmon. I only had one roll, the spider. Wasn't jazzed about the sharp, sour asparagus taste and I could barely find any crab - unacceptable for $9. Pricing was above average, but definitely the freshest fish and most generous portion sizes I've had so far. Can't wait to try out the rest of the menu. Staff was friendly and nice; maybe I'll start making special requests here to see how they handle it. =) Also met quite a few regulars who seemed very much at home and welcomed me as a newbie.
(4)Scott Y.
Best REAL Japanese food in the area.
(4)Marianna K.
We loved it. Everything was just right, the quality of food (lunch menu), the amount of food, the price was great! It's not a fancy restaurant, but nevertheles, it's a very nice place.
(5)Allen U.
most Japanese restaurants do some things great and some things ok-- it is hard to be everything for everyone--this is a Japanese home style restaurant--soba / udon noodles cold or hot --broiled saba and black cod all execellent --tempura is great too--not too greasy--however the sushi is somewhat spoty--some good ( maguro /unagi salmon)and some not so good (saba/ shrimp) weekends probably better--this is kinda a hole in the wall restaurant located in a strip mall ( not too fancy) a little expensive however great taste just like Japan for most of the sauces and miso soup--
(3)Sheri D.
We've been fans for last six years! Great service and sushi. We get take out - but even though we only go every few months.... Hostess sees us we order and she brings us a glass of wine! Amazing. Won't sushi...the dragon roll is always the highlight!
(5)Kimberly F.
My husband, best friend, and I went here to celebrate my husbands birthday on Saturday night. The waitress was great, but our table was dirty and we had to ask her to wipe it off. My husband and bf ordered a ton of sushi, however my stomach can't handle it so I got the kashi chicken and tempura. The tempura was served to me cold (uhh what? yah. cold.) My husband and bf said the sushi was good, but not enough that they would spend that much again on it.. I'm giving two stars.. I wasn't impressed :(
(2)Claudia C.
Sushi is great here and it's fun to watch the chef prepare it. The prices can be a little high, but the restaurant is very clean and the service is great.
(4)BettyNEithon T.
This is a fairly undiscovered Japanese restaurant on the South end. From what I've been able to discern so far, most of the clientele is Japanese-speaking Japanese, which, for a Japanese restaurant, is usually a good sign. Our first time here, we came because we were hungry for some Japanese and in the area. Our first impression was that both the outside, and the inside, of the restaurant is fairly unremarkable. We also found it to be pretty expensive, an observation that was in dissonance with the rather bland surroundings. Our chef was an elderly gentleman who clearly knew his sushi, and it showed. All the various sushi pieces we ordered were of high-quality, and well prepared, and in very appealing presentations. Second time around was no different, and it seems clear that this is a good place for consistent and delicious sushi -- a rare find in south King county. It is a little expensive (expect to pay around $20 per person for a full meal), but still cheaper than most downtown Seattle sushi joints without sacrificing quality. Overall, a great find. CONTEXT Date: February, March 2007 Time: 7pm, Dinner No reservations, seated for 3 at a table, 2 at the sushi bar
(4)Kelly A.
There were 2 other couples in the restaurant and everyone looked relatively happy. It makes this a hard review to place because I didn;t like it and more than likely won't be back. We're new to Renton so we were in search of a good teriyaki place. It looked reasonable enough so we ordered to go. The teriyaki was average, small in portion and twice the price. ($16.95 for what is normally a single portion; but I also think the bill is $2 higher than was on the menu. That still makes it $14.95 for a single teriyaki dish.) Anyways, the extra star was for the polite service; but, I won't be back. Too pricey for average teriyaki at best.
(2)Jennifer K.
My husband and I used to have lunch together at Zen's on a near-weekly basis (we both worked near the restaurant at the time;) we still grab a meal there occasionally and I'm still a big fan of their sushi combo lunch special. While their teriyaki and other such dishes are average, you really won't find a better sushi restaurant south of Seattle. The sushi at Zen's is always extremely fresh and excellently prepared - I have yet to be disappointed. Also, the waitstaff is always attentive and very personable.
(5)