Zen Bistro Grill & Sushi Bar
9620 Linebaugh Ave, Tampa, FL, 33626
Zen Bistro Grill & Sushi Bar Menu
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Address :
9620 Linebaugh Ave
Tampa, FL, 33626 - Phone (813) 792-8665
- Website https://www.zenbistrotampa.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : 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 : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Bryan S.
Stopped in for lunch. A bit pricey but the portions were large and the food was awesome. I had the Spicy Crab Bowl and it was different, but fantastic.
(4)Lisa W.
I've dined here numerous times, but have only had sushi. I've liked most of what I've tried. I typically ask my server for their favorites and have only been disappointed once. We've dined in and gotten takeout. Sushi is fresh and flavorful. Servers are accommodating.
(4)Kimberly D.
Okay Asian fusion food. Very expensive for what it is ($5 for edamame or an appetizer Wakame salad). After looking over the menu, my friends and I decided not to get any entrees, but just get drinks and appetizers. My friend's Sangria was served with a giant ice cube, one which is usually served with whiskeys, and any basic wine drinker knows never to serve ice in your wine. It was very sugary, almost to the point where I questioned if he was served Kool-Aid. The rest of us ordered beers in the bottle after trying his Sangria. I absolutely loved my BBQ Short Rib Plate appetizer and ate it to the bones. Boyfriend and I shared a Volcano sushi roll, which tasted good. Nothing else spectacular to write about. We spent a good amount of money, considering that we only ordered drinks and picked off of two food plates. Zen Bistro seems like one of those trendy Asian places that keeps the lights dim, not just to provide ambiance, but to hide the less-than-spectacular food they serve there. Save your money and eat elsewhere, especially in a great plaza that has many other eateries to try. Unless you have that urge to burn your money.
(2)Nick S.
I looked at other peoples reviews that were negative about Zen Bistro and I am a little shocked. My first time dining here was last weekend and we had an overall pleasant experience. Of course, I don't have the historical context of having been there multiple times in the past but maybe they got a new front of house manager or someone that this pulling the place back on track? Anyway, the food was pretty fantastic. We ordered a bunch or appetizers to start, with my favorite being the vegetable tempura and the beef satay a close second. I ordered my two usual rolls: bagel roll and spice tuna roll, both of which were well done. When it comes to sushi, I am pretty particular and I typically prefer a very thin layer of rice around the seaweed, they got very close to perfect on this. Personally, there is no worse feeling than shoving a huge rice-ball-piece-of-sushi into your mouth inhibiting you from tasting the fish or other ingredients inside... ...but that might just be a personal preference :) I enjoyed the ambiance as it was pretty disarming and relaxing. Lower dimmed lighting and a back lit tree trunk wall feature added a nice touch and texture to the wall. Service was not bad, nor was it amazingly punctual or mind blowing. My rating is based on the food and decor alone. Cheers!
(4)Patricia R.
Picked this locale for dinner with gal pals. Walked into DJ music resonating through the air while dining - the sounds being put were better than Blue Martini (more on that later). We sat, two ordered drinks (one rum and coke; the other a cucumber martini for $10 which has Bombay Sapphire Gin, St. Germain liqueur, cucumber, Thai basil, topped with soda. The rum was made with house rum and wasn't tasty at all. My order was the volanco ($12) which has crab stick, cucumber, cream cheese and avocado roll, topped with a lot of seafood dynamite. I've eaten in locations where they serve a fair portion of it but this was a lot.. and I looooved it! Also got the tampa roll ($7) with tempura grouper, cucumber, avocado, masago, sesame aioli. It was good but not as excellent as I anticipated. The music made us super ecstasy to want to party after filling up our bellies.
(4)Cari P.
Have eaten here many times and never had a bad experience. After trying a few other sushi places in the area I feel like this is a truly a 5 star place. From the service to the atmosphere to the decor, everything is perfect. The servers are always quick and friendly and my orders have never been wrong, which is an issue that seems to afflict A LOT of the sushi places in Tampa. Last night Stephen was our waiter, will definitely ask for him again in the future. My favorite rolls are the Rock'n Zen and the Eternal Bliss, always carefully assembled and fried to perfection. The portions are very generous, many other places in this price range don't have rolls as big as the ones at Zen Bistro. Last night my friend ordered a tempura bagel roll and everyone at the table was shocked at the sheer size of this thing, especially given that it's $10. The roll nearly spanned the width of the table. They always have a nice selection of drinks as well. Probably the only downside is the parking. Parking in this shopping center is a real pain... we usually park in the big parking lot farther away from the shopping center to avoid the cluster centered around the actual shopping center.
(5)Jayme N.
0 complaints when it comes to this place. Everyone is so friendly here, and literally everything on their menu is delicious! Only thing I would recommend is to have them remove the peanuts from the fried rice. I personally aren't a fan of peanuts or if you're allergic to peanuts to make sure they don't add it to your rice.
(5)Nolan P.
Well it's been a month later and apparently nothing has changed. They continue to mess up take out orders. I'm not exactly sure what's going on or if the person taking takeout orders on Sunday evenings is an idiot? Either way in Westchase your money could be spent better elsewhere.
(1)Kelleigh M.
Located near WOB and Burger 21, you'll find Zen Bistro. Although Samurai Blue is closer to my house, I prefer Zen. Their menu is more inviting, the quality is better and the overall ambiance is better. This is not PHENOMENAL sushi, but if you're in the westchase area, is a good option. I also like the fact that their menu denotes which items are cooked. This is especially helpful when dining with people who are adverse to raw fish. The take out is easy-located in the back of the building with designated spots. Quick and efficient. Pricing is similar to other sushi places in the area. A Tampa, Mexican And a volcano will set you back $30.
(4)Keith K.
I stopped in here was a frequent visitor. My kid don't eat sushi and the kids meals are not kid friendly. This time I brought in some chicken nuggets from Mc Donald's and they asked us to leave because of health reasons. Won't be back went to blue samurai and had dinner. I typically spend about 75$ with my wife and there was probably 5 people in the place what a bunch of tools running the place.
(1)Arthur F.
My new favorite bistro. Based On a Mars F review the wife and I went for lunch. Mark you hit it out of the park! Our lunch was fabulous. We started with miso soup. It was right out of the oven. I like my food hot, not luke warm. It was right on spot. We ordered a volcano roll. A perfect blend of crab, cream cheese, cucumber and avocado. It was topped with seafood dynamite. Delicious. We ordered another roll, a veggie. Good but can't beat a volcano roll! A lite and enjoyable lunch. Looking forward to returning, next time for dinner. In between think, I'll return during happy hour for the $3 California roll and $2.50 domestic beer! Highly recommend.
(5)Robbie C.
A funny thing happened on the way to Greek city cafe in westchase village. It was gone, soon to be opened as The Great Spiedini. Serving NY style Sammie's. So we walked across the street to Zen Bistro. To be clear, I'm not a fan of sushi so I opted for a bowl of miso soup. It came out hot and steamy and was very good. I ordered the veggie and shrimp starter as my meal. Asked our server which veggies came and not knowing, he told me it was traditional. Ha! Every place has their own definition of traditional. He offered to check and came back to let me know it was asparagus, sweet potato, onions and zucchini. This was served on a bed of lettuce and came with a dipping sauce. Was good and not greasy. Enough for a light meal. The decor was modern with bamboo walls and some clear tiles that I've never seen before. Nice ambience making a good place to take your date. They also have outdoor seating. Hubster got two sushi rolls and rated them just ok. Wednesday is $5 sushi special so it's not too pricey.
(4)Lindsey E.
Like the previous Yelpers had stated, the service does ALWAYS suck. Whether picking up a to go order or dining in, the service is alway rancid. The sushi is quite delicious but also, quite overpriced.
(3)Stacey M.
I frequent this restaurant weekly. I have taken food to go and the service has been outstanding. They actually recognize me when I call up. My friend says that their volcano is the freshest and of a higher quality than any other sushi restaurant that we have been to. I have had many things off of the menu so sometimes it is hard to choose. I love the cosmic conchiness (which is no longer available on the menu but they can usually make it), spicy Hong Kong noodles, red dragon, lime beef, tempura sweet potatoes, udon noodles, edamame, and a bunch of rolls. The atmosphere is nice and the service is friendly
(5)Eric H.
This place sucks. I have never even had their food. The reason it sucks is because the service was the absolute worst I've ever had. My wife and I walked in to eat on a weekday night. There may have been three other tables at this point so very empty. I don't know where our server went but we ordered water to start and she didn't come back with our waters. So after ten minutes of waiting we walked out. Save your money and go some where else.
(1)Elizabeth L.
I took a client to lunch here today. I come about six times a year, and the food is consistently good. They have a large selection of regular and special sushi rolls along with a cooked side of the menu. The prices are fair, and the waitstaff is very attentive. The atmosphere is great for a business lunch, but it looks like it would make a swanky date night as well. There is one roll on the specialty side that's baked with cream cheese and wrapped in seaweed with no rice. This roll is a MUST!!! Enjoy.
(4)Jaime T.
The sushi is delicious. I wish i would have just gotten take out instead of sitting here and being served so poorly. I mean the service here is grandpa turtle slow. Our server didn't come to our table for a long time at first. Everything about her was slow. She took forever to eventually take our order and finally put the order in so it took forever to actually get food. But when we did finally get food she brought the wrong order. So more waiting. Good sushi. Bad service. Wont be back, only for takeout. Maybe.
(3)Carol C.
SOOO glad we chose this place for dinner tonight! There's so many options for sushi in Westchase and since by proximity this was the closest we picked Zen. Dimly lit, it's a good date night sushi joint. Our waitress was really friendly. I started put with Lime Beef. I make this at home so figured if it was up to par this place may have a chance. The beef was tender and really tasty. I was impressed immediately. I could've eaten 3 more servings. My husband got the ginger salad. He said the lettuce was crisp and it was really good. I am a salmon (raw) lover. The sushi rolls were pretty limited on salmon rolls that were not fried so I tried the Autumn roll. The tobiko on top was awesome as well as the salmon. Very fresh. My husband had the tuna and shrimp. He said the tuna melted like "butta". Best tuna he's ever had. We will definitely be back for more. Small sakes on Tuesday for $2 -- LOVE LOVE! If you want fresh, delicious sushi - check this place out. They even have a late night menu.
(5)Sandra T.
Would have gave this place 5 stars, but the specialty drinks weren't that good. But everything else was very good. Dim lighting, short ribs were awesomely scrumptious. We found ourselves gnawing on the bone. It was late so not much ppl were there lol. The higher state roll was awesome. Don't let the green apple in it scare you. It wasn't overpowering at all. The curry crab ragoons......could have ate 1,000 of them! Good attentive service, definitely going back!!
(4)Steve E.
I was cruising through Westchase on a Thursday evening and stopped for sushi at Zen Bistro which is located in the little 2-block stretch of restaurants and bars just opposite Westchase Elementary School. This is the second location of Zen Bistro (the first being in the Bay Street section of International Plaza), and I like this spot much better. The music is not as loud, and it's easier to carry on a conversation while enjoying your dinner. I ordered the Miso soup since it was chilly outside, and was very happy with the large bowl of hot dashi broth mixed with miso paste, wakame seaweed, mushrooms, and small cubes of tofu. For my sushi I ordered two rolls, the Angry Hamachi which was made with spicy tuna roll topped with seared hamachi, jalapeno slices, atomic aioli and tempura flakes. My second roll was the Tao specialty roll which was a baked spicy scallop atop a snow crab, avocado and cucumber roll with masago and spicy aioli. Both were excellent! The Zen Bistro locations are owned by three brothers, and their vision is best described as bringing a new perspective to sushi by fusing both traditional and cutting-edge techniques. Along with traditional and modern sushi, Zen Bistro offers a full menu with dishes from all over Asia. From classic favorites such as Pad Thai and Sesame beef to the best in modern Vietnamese fusion there is something to suit any taste.
(4)Amy W.
Great atmosphere for a date night!!! We had the lime beef for an appetizer and the rainbow roll and caterpillar roll for dinner. The rice and fish were fresh tasting and eloquently made!! The proportions were more than adequate and worth eating unlike some sushi places. Service was ok but not terrible. Would go again!!
(4)Brady S.
Zen Bistro, specifically this location, is always a treat. They have fantastic sushi, sangria (yep, in huge pitchers too) and equally good entree's. I have been to this location several times and have yet to be let down. The International Plaza Mall location is not nearly as on the ball though. This place offers a very wide variety of dishes, from guacamole with wontons (appetizer), specialty rolls that are amazing and full meals, like Shaking Beef. It is priced pretty average for a sushi place, which means it is not cheap. On the flip side, most people on the hunt for good sushi or Asian cuisine know what they are in for. If you wind up in Westchase and want some good, interesting food and drinks, I would certainly have no probles recommending this place.
(4)Karen F.
A really good meal from start to finish. The weather was accommodating, so we were able to sit on the side patio at a high-top and it was lovely. I enjoy that Zen's outside patio is blocked off from the sidewalk and the street; you feel inside, outside. My previous visit service had been slow, and I noticed that was a common theme in reviews, but last night, a Friday night, our server was spot on. She did a great job in checking back frequently, and always making sure everything was to our liking. We started with the side salad, a typical, mostly lettuce salad with a few tomatoes thrown in, and excellent ginger dressing. Then we split an order of edamame, a generous portion, cooked perfectly- I hate when they are served mushy. I had two rolls: a spider roll with softshell crab, and a yellowtail roll. The spider roll portion was a bit skimpy I thought, but the seafood in both was fresh and tasty. They have a tempting cocktail menu, but the Mule fell far short of its billing-almost straight vodka was not what I wanted in that teeny tiny glass-for $10. Next time, and there will be a next time, I'll stick with beer, and it should be a perfect meal.
(4)Sue L.
We USED to like this place. When it first opened the food was good and the service was adequate. That was a few years ago. Now... Blah. They decided to start playing club music...way too loudly, and hire a seriously sub par wait staff. No wonder it's easy to get a seat on a Friday night. The last few times we have gone here have been horrible. One night, the waitress forgot our drinks, continually forgot what we asked for and messed our order up. Went one more time after this experience and we waited so long that we left before the server even came to our table. Ps, it was not crowded at all. All in all, if I chance this place again, it will be for take out. I want to like this joint, but it has taken a serious dive.
(1)Sandy S.
What a treat ! Great atmosphere, great service, and wonderful food. The staff has always helped make decisions when you can't make up your mind. I've never been disappointed coming here. The area is great to take a stroll and check out different places. Love it!
(5)Michael E.
We arrived just before noon on a Monday and it was relatively quiet and only a couple of Patrons. The waitress immediately seated us and was extremely attentive. The decor is a mix of traditional and modern with three decorative windows in the floor with Japanese themed "Zen Garden" sand and rocks. The lunch boxes are very tasty with a four portion meal: vegetables, salad, rise, and meat. I ordered the Beef tips and I was not disappointed. Our appetizer were the Crab Dumplings, my instant favorite. This restaurant would be a regular for me if I lived here.
(5)Jason I.
Specialty rolls have great flavor, basic rolls are a bit plain. The is a great mix of flavors in the appetizers and I would like to get back to try some of the entrees. The service however leaves a lot to be desired, it is a bit slow.
(3)Dave W.
I've come here a few times for reliable and casual get-together's and never been disappointed. The sushi is tasty and reasonably creative. The rice bowls are huge enough to take half or more to go for your late night snacking pleasure. The atmosphere is classy enough while still remaining casual. The full bar always helps as nothing goes better with sushi than martini's, trust me :-)
(4)Joshua B.
Not only does this place serve the freshest sushi my tastebuds have ever tasted, the atmosphere is very upbeat and delightful. I love Zen's food + drinks - the food came out extremely fast as well as my two 'Mule' drinks I had. A Russian cocktail containing vodka and ginger beer. 5 stars
(5)Drew G.
I feel like a dummy for sleeping on this place for so long. A few weeks ago, I met some friends at the bar for drinks. We were dazzled by Amanda, who served up creative concoctions that were as pleasing to the palate as they were to the eye. She is a charismatic and skilled mixologist, and I vowed to return for dinner soon. Fast forward to tonight. After trying their dine-in sushi a few times and loving it, I opted for takeout. I was informed that I didn't even have to drag my weary and disheveled butt out of the car! Curbside sushi? Is this real life? Is it just fantasy? Their signature rolls are fantastic. Last time we dined at the restaurant, we didn't see any dumplings on the menu. We asked the server if they had them, and she told us they would make them for us. They were spectacular, and we appreciated the extra effort. This is one of Westchase's best restaurants, and you could find quite a few worse and douchier bars at which to knock a few back. Oh, and we heard Daft Punk while we dined there. If you don't like that, you're no good at life.
(5)Lisa P.
First time - surpassed my expectations! Food was great, so was the service. Will definitely be back!
(4)Sommer A.
I really, really can't believe I have to give it one star, but I do. I've ordered takeout from here many times and the food is always good. I decided to have my birthday celebration there with some friends. The staff kind of ruined it. First, I called a few days in advance to make the reservation. We weren't sure how many people were coming, so we rounded up to be safe. I asked for a reservation for 14. The woman on the phone was very short with me, she said "Yeah - but you gotta sit outside." I was caught off guard and asked her what she meant. She said since we had over ten people, their policy was to seat parties over ten on the patio. She assured me that there were heaters, and it was covered and very nice. We arrived right on time, there ended up being ten of us. We stood at the hostess station for a good five minutes while servers and hostesses ignored us. Finally I caught someone's attention who told us to "go ahead and sit down outside." No servers came by to check on us. One girl from our party went inside to order a drink from the bar, where a bartender spilled warm Sake all over her. She was not offered anything in the way of an apology. After about thirty minutes of sitting and waiting outside, we still had no server. Finally we flagged someone down, who sent our server out. Her excuse was that "she was waiting for everyone else to get here," and it was "really rude of them to be so late." I explained that we were not waiting on anyone else, but that I had overestimated in making the reservations. Again, she did not apologize for making us wait. The service was extremely slow. I don't know if they kept forgetting about us because we were outside, or perhaps they had a lot of to go orders that night as the restaurant did not appear busy. Also, no matter how many times we asked, the "heaters" that the woman on the phone had told me about were not turned on. It was about fifty degrees out, which is far too cold to be outside with no heat. The food was good, no complaints there. But the night was pretty miserable - everyone was freezing and tired of waiting.
(1)Xuan-Lise C.
Went for a Thursday night date, we started with the sweet potato fries. The fries were in a tempura batter and served with delicious aioli. I probably wouldn't order the fries again as I felt the tempura was slightly overwhelming for the potato, however it was very crispy and the aioli was really great. We ordered and split three sushi the infinity within, sirloin and good karma. All the rolls were delicious. If you love cucumber wrapped rolls the infinity within is a great choice, the spicy tuna and crab were really great and all the flavors were well balanced. The sirloin had a really great sauce on top and I love having asparagus in a roll. I will however say that I didn't taste the truffle oil, but regardless a great flavor blend. The third roll was the good karma, it is wrapped in rice paper, it definitely was the most surprising for me how much I enjoyed the roll. The roll without the aioli was great but with was even better, I really enjoyed the mix of tempura shrimp, crab and cucumber. Definitely had great food and they seem to have good specials so we may have to make our way back sometime.
(4)Gigi S.
I like the chill, house music vibe of this place, but I'm haunted by a special I had here once that I've never been able to recreate. The walnut shrimp are great, everything is fresh, and the sake is piping hot, but I can't forget this one special involving tuna on a square of rice that had been flash fried in panko bread crumbs and paired with pineapple! Bring it back! Really proves the chef back there still has a pulse. I'd give it five stars if not for it's douchey neighbors at WOB. Once caught a foot chase involving a cop and a convict right through the back courtyard.
(4)Win N.
We had a bad experience last night at this restaurant . I live in the neighborhood so i invited my friends from out of town to this restaurant for dinner since the restaurant look nice . We have a 1 year old boy, there are 3 bushes available, but the waitress did not let us sit in one of those bushes . It took forever to get the food . My sushi roll for appetizer was horrible . It tasted worse than in the Chinese buffet. Then my plate was cracked . I told the waitress, she did not even care . She said my son cracked it . What the hell !!!! My son is only 1 year old . That waitress was so rude to us. We would not come back this restaurant again . Bad experience :(
(1)Simon I.
This Westchase establishment delivers quality that's matched perfectly to presentation. Zen Bistro may not look much from the outside, but step inside and you are greeted with aroma of eclectic spices of the Asian cuisine. The atmosphere is very inviting and during the evenings the interior is dimly lit evoking the cozy feeling. The flavor of food served here has nothing dark or dim about it. Much has been said about their Sushi and every bit of great taste mentioned is true. Zen Bistro also excel in their presentation of each dish. My favorites here are too many to list. However, if you are a Salmon lover, the Hawaiian Salmon ( fresh sushi grade salmon slow cooke with pineapple, soy, & chili peppers in a clay pot ) is to die for. Just writing about it is making me hungry. The description is indeed true to the actual dish that is served in front of you. The second - Kabayaki Beef is another superstar dish at this establishment. The beef is tender and enormously flavored with the right balance of sweet and heat. One bite and you are hooked. Don't ignore the many elixir Zen Bistro has to offer. Each one is meticulously prepared with a slight twist - ex. Jalapeño Pineapple Martini. The staff are very attentive and demonstrate a true sense of pride of the food served. With great food, tasty drinks, and attentive service, Zen Bistro has a winning combination truly deserving of a 4 1/2 star.
(4)Juan P.
Best sushi in Tampa and per my honey, better than any in Orlando. We've been to pretty much the top 10 found in all the review sites and this one wins, with Soho second. The service was outstanding! We were sat immediately and our server was out to greet us vry quickly. She continued to check on us at the right intervals. She was friendly and helped us pick 3 amazing rolls, Sirloin, the Good Karma and the Sixth Sense. OMG! First, the Sirloin was AMAZING! It had the most tender slice of sirloin on top with just the perfect sauce. Not too much, just PERFECT! The same can be said about the Good Karma which was just amazing. It didn't have any rice, which makes it look tiny, but it has a very good flavor and the alioli sauce is perfect. The Sixth Sense was a spicy roll that had just the right amount of spice, not too much and not bland. My honey and I will be visiting this restaurant on a regular basis.
(5)Mitchell B.
OK, so my friend and I went in here to have lunch and it could not have been more disappointing. In my entire life I have never not finished my sushi. But alas, I had three pieces and had to call it quits. I ordered a California roll and a Spicy Tuna roll. The rolls were loosely rolled and had the ingredients falling out once you picked it up. The fish in the Spicy Tuna roll was tasteless and was the kind of hot that you would find by putting your mouth over an exhaust pipe, terrible. The California roll was no better. The service wasn't bad but it wasn't great.
(1)Mark H.
I'm going 4.5 star on this one, folks! I've eaten here a lot and nothing was off center; not the food, the service or atmosphere. Items I recommend: VOLCANO ROLL - best in town! Serious. I eat this roll everywhere I go. COCONUT CURRY BEEF STEW - traditional beef stew in a beef stock gravy and a hint of coconut curry? Are you serious? This is one of the best fusion ideas I've seen to date. It's served with some very fresh French bread, but order a side of rice and throw it in your bowl. You won't be sad about this decision. HONEY WALNUT ROCK SHRIMP - some of the meatiest shrimp I've ever seen. Very tasty and cooked to perfection. Then it's glazed with a wonderful honey sauce and topped with walnuts. Look, I don't even LIKE walnut, and I found this dish to be nothing but amazing. Never mind the fact that it's served with melon scoops and rice. MISO SOUP - bangin'! Better than I've had at most Japanese restaurants. True story. CURRIED CRAB DUMPLING - curried crab, cream cheese, minced raisins and cilantro wrapped in gyoza skins and fried until crispy served with a sweet chili dipping sauce. I mean, how much stuff can they shove into these things? Just straight up DELICIOUS! Ask for Marcella, she's the bee's knees. I always look forward to my next visit for some House music and Asian-influenced grub!
(4)Mike V.
Zen is a good spot in Westchase. If you want asian food and are with a group, you have enough options to satiate everyone's tastes
(3)Jennie W.
Yes! This is a must try for the sushi snob ha! Great setting for a night on the town. Fun music and staff is great. They are busy but can take care if you still. I like the flow and the knowledge of the staff. They seem to be very good at recommending things they have tried and like from the menu. They also make sure you know the specials and I do like their suggestions. So run down on my personal picks.. Mexican, has a little kick of spice Six sense...this ones good if you prefer cooked rolls Spider Shrimp tempura ...really fresh Curried crab dumplings ...your mouth will be like woah flavor wow! Kamikaze...ask them to add chopped jalapeños if you can handle it :)
(5)Christina C.
I went on a Tuesday night and was happily surprised to learn that there are $2 hand rolls on Tuesdays! I got a salmon hand roll and a snow crab hand roll. Honestly, when I ordered the snow crab I thought it would be lightly fried. It was shredded snow crab, which was still good, just not what I expected. In the salmon hand roll there was a good size chunk salmon. It was delicious. They also had half off wine during happy hour (which I think is before 6:30 p.m.). I got there at about 6:45 p.m. and still got half off the house wine, so I might be wrong. All in all, it was a great, light meal for less than $10! I would suggest this place for a nice date, or a classy night out with friends.
(4)Mary P.
It's ok ... I have tasted better sushi . Service was slow and tight inside . May come back but not necessarily a must. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the company considering the company and being Valentines day!! Not bad but just ok!
(3)Davina D.
They offer the best miso soup you can find with delicious and unique sushi rolls. I also like their wok fried rice. Very trendy atmosphere.
(4)Christie D.
I love this restaurant and even more so since they started offering a brown rice option for their sushi. I get the red dragon roll with cream cheese added in and it's fantastic. I'm not sure what is in their sesame vinegarette house salad dressing but I want to drink it because it is that good. It's a small restaurant with a trendy atmosphere and low lit lighting.
(5)Cindy F.
Zen Bistro has become a favorite for us. Authentic Asian flavors and great atmosphere. Whether you go for the sushi or the cooked dishes, you're never going to be disappointed. Small, intimate atmosphere in a trendy part of Tampa called West Chase. GREAT dining experience and the prices are good too.
(5)Livia A.
Food is excellent. Atmosphere is great. Servers are always attentive. Prices are very reasonable. I go there at least twice a month.
(5)Weeda A.
I just dined there for the first time today. We sat outside to ejoy the nice weather. The first sign that we weren't going to get the best service was the table next to ours that hadnt been cleared after the patrons left. Something about a half eaten plate of sushi sitting outside in the heat is not appealing when you want to eat. Anyway, I ordered a noodle dish (forgot the name) and after waiting for 25 minutes I had to go inside to see what was taking so long. The waiter must've forgotten about us since he came out a few minutes later with the dish. The food was good but nothing to overcome the bad service. BTW the table next to us was never cleaned the whole time we were there. It wasn't busy so there is no excuse. It just seemed like the waiter was taking it easy and didnt want to bother himself. I'm new to Westchase so I'd like some nice dining options when eating out. I may give them one more try since you can't judge a restaurant on one bad experiance or just one lazy waiter.
(2)Amanda C.
By far my favorite sushi restaurant in the Tampa/Westchase area. Every sushi roll I have tried has been awesome (my favorite being the Nirvana and Sixth Sense). Their drinks are creative and they even infuse their vodkas which is fun! Love the atmosphere and location.
(5)Karyn L.
Good: Kabayaki Chicken. Huge serving of sliced chicken, asparagus, carrots, onions and mushrooms with rice. If you've had chicken teriyaki, this is similar. Little on the sweet side. Better: Pad thai. Sparse on the veggies but it's tangy and vinegary and yummy. Best: Curried crab dumplings or Lime Beef appetizers. Sushi is ok but I wouldn't go here specifically for it. Comfortable indoor seating with pretty mood lighting at night. There's also a big outdoor patio with plenty of tables when the weather's nice.
(3)John H.
My wife and I happened to be in the Westchase area last night and decided to give the Zen Bistro Grill & Sushi Bar a try and I must say we were not disappointed. This is a trendy looking bistro with a nice size outdoor patio that has enough variety on their menu to accommodate most palates. Our waiter, Victor, was very pleasant and gave us plenty of time to peruse the many menu choices as well as offering some suggestions. We started out with the Hama Kama which is a grilled hamachi (yellowtail) cheek served with a ponzu sauce served on top of some greens and a sweet kabayaki sauce. This was absolutely delicious! The hamachi was grilled perfectly and very tender and juicy and the ponzu sauce complimented it nicely. Next up we ordered a few rolls, the Volcano, the Rock n' Zen, the Kamikaze and the Siddhartha. They were all tastefully executed, nicely plated and had a wonder mix of flavors that all sang together in unison. The Kamikaze and Siddhartha were spicy rolls but had just the right amount of heat. Sometimes sushi chefs are heavy-handed on the sauces, especially the spicy aioli, but here the rolls were sauced perfectly. I look forward to our next visit so that we can explore more of the menu options which all sounded mouthwatering. In a center with numerous dining choices the Zen Bistro Grill & Sushi Bar is absolutely worth checking out.
(4)Ana G.
Service was friendly but slow, I think they were understaffed and for the price the sushi was just ok.
(3)Brock G.
Definitely one of the best sushi places in town. Whenever I am craving sushi this is my go to spot. I love the nirvana roll and eternal bliss but any roll or dish that I have tried at Zen has been very good. If you haven't eaten here get to it!
(5)Terrance M.
One of the best Sushi places in Westchase for what comes off the Sushi Bar. However, it is one of the worst restaurants in Tampa for the Service. First poor experience, chocked it up to a busy night. Second bad experience, I though maybe my expectations were too high. After the third, I will never go back...
(2)Joe D.
Been here a few times. The service is always lousy and slow. Despite having nobody else in the restaurant, they wouldn't allow my party to sit in a particular booth because we weren't big enough. The last time I went there, I got severe food poisoning. That was the last straw. Don't go here!
(1)Shannon H.
I don't love this place. The food is decent but not at the price. There are definitely better options out there.
(3)Mark S.
Might have to be done with this place after the latest experience. As we walked in we were told they were busy but we could sit outside so went with that. After placing our drink and app order we started to be attacked by mosquitoes. We asked if we could move inside but were told they were slammed. We were offered bug spray and opted for that. Went in to wash our hands after slathering on said bug spray and noticed a number of tables open. So we can sit outside with mosquitoes and get served but the same server can't help us inside? Service was extremely slow. After waiting forever had to walk in to try and get someone to run my card. Someone sitting at the bar said they could help me and took my bill (I always love employees hanging out at the bar). Was also nice to notice almost half of the tables were still empty. The food was ok but nothing spectacular, which seems to be the case each time. Drinks were mixed. One good and one not so good. If we just looked at food and drinks we'd be ok with Zen but when you factor in service and price ($90+ for dinner for 2) we'd have to pass. So we left tonight lighter in the wallet but gained a few new bug bites and the lovely smell of bug spray (always nice to need a shower after going to dinner). Zen has always been the place we want to like but it never delivered. We enjoy the trendy atmosphere and DJ but unfortunately it falls short on food and service, which is needed in a restaurant. I'll note that we're not sushi people and a number of reviews talk about sushi. So this might be the area they excel at but is lost on us. I feel like the owner wants to own a trendy club/bar more than a restaurant.
(2)Joel T.
Very nice atmosphere at this place, with nice mood lighting, bamboo and flowers, and creative floor treatments! We had several sushi rolls, and hot dish, and some appetizers. The food was really good and everyone enjoyed it. The wait staff was very friendly and knowledgeable, and helped us pick out some sake to go with our meal (they have a very good selection of sake here if you are a fan). Overall a very sold experience, and I will be back!
(4)Sam Q.
With so many positive reviews I feel like the party pooper, but I can't bring myself to give this place more than 2 stars. I've had better. I really wanted to like this place, and I've been here often enough. The appetizers are good, and so are the desserts. But the sushi not so much. I am a fan of sushi rolls, like Mexican, Tampa, Sweet Potato, etc. They all have cooked stuff inside. And in most places I go, they cook the stuff when I order it so it's nice and fresh and crispy hot. At Zen, the tempura fillings have apparently been fried some time before I order, because they are always cold and soggy. And that's just not fun. They have a good selection of rolls, and outside of the cold, soggy stuffing they were ok. Presentation was also not one of their strong points. For much, much, much better, nicer, fresher sushi, drive one mile down Sheldon road towards Citrus Park and visit Grille 54. Now THOSE guys know tempura! The Surf and Turf roll is out of this world. And they cook it when you order it, not that morning. Yoko's in South Tampa and Tokyo Bay in St. Pete round out my top three sushi joints I would recommend in the Tampa Bay area. Zen, unfortunately, I cannot. If I were stranded in Westchase and I craved sushi, I'd walk to Grille 54. And if it was raining there's a Pitas Republic, Pizza Fusion, Bollywood, China Wok, Tijuana Flats, Burger 21, and on and on and on, all within a stone's throw of Zen. There are too many better places too close by. C'est la vie.
(2)Dean K.
Great sushi, hit or miss service. Atmosphere is very upscale and the bar area is accommodating and fun. Have had nearly everything on the menu without a complaint. Only downsides are lack of a huge assortment of rolls and occasional spotty service.
(4)David K.
Zen is a good sushi bar with drink specials. The hot entrees are Korean inspired I would recommend the short ribs. Tuesday is the best night to grab sushi here because that is when the fresh fish comes in. The avocado and spicy tuna with wonton chips is an amazing appetizer.
(4)Teneille W.
Very disappointed in the food and service here at lunch. I've eaten here several times before and it has gotten progressively worse. Went from being one of my top choices to eat in Westchase to now not being a choice. Server lacked the knowledge of the food and kept forgetting our order, manager didn't seem to care or even try to assist the server and the pad thai I ordered was absolutely awful. Took us over 2hrs from start to finish at lunch when there were so few customers.
(1)Helen W.
Great spot for sushi in NW Tampa. Highly recommend the daily roll specials. You will find some unique combinations. The sweet potato fries are great starters while you decide. The bartenders are great - - and make good martini's. Laid back location. Outdoor seating. Nice ambiance, well priced.
(4)Scott L.
It's in walking distance which makes it nice..and adds another star. The sushi is above ave. with good drink specials. Like the outdoor seating but parking cam be a pain.
(4)Charlie D.
So this place is about a year old and I think its super cute... Servers and staff know their stuff. Its not like blue samurai that like to drown their sushi in sauces but you can see the small details in the sushi they make. I LOVE their Curry Dumplings! I order like, 2 of them just for myself. The Volcano roll is AMAZING! It melts in your mouth oh so easy. The decor fits the place....mod asian american fusion. The floors are really cool because its the whole sand thing and rocks. Forgot the real name of the artform but it is the art of Zen. LoL! its late right now...heh... But yeah....Super happy with this place and I think its a gem. Not many people know about it except for the folks in the Westchase/Citrus Park area which are more of the laid back northerners so you dont see tacky floral wearing older folks there ( which annoys me a lot for some reason ) OH YEAH! LATE NIGHT SUSHI ON WEEKENDS TILL 2AM!!! GREAT IN TAMPA! LoL!
(4)Marian G.
Lunch staff on Sunday sucks.. big time. The dinner people, however, are great! I ordered lunch to be picked up from here and I specifically stated to hold the sesame seeds on my short ribs. When I arrived at Zen, I was told that my ordered was not quite ready so I ended up sitting by the front lobby. I noticed, though, that there was a paper bag (usually where they put their to-go food) on the bar. 15 minutes later, turns out the paper bag was for me with my food! No one even told me so my lunch has been sitting there for the longest time. I also ordered 2 Thai teas and they did not even have drink holders nor did they give me straws. I will never go to Zen for lunch. Dinner, yes.
(3)Julie B.
This is my favorite place to go for sushi. Even my picky eater kids will eat here and they actually love the unagi (eel)! The specialty rolls are what makes this bistro my favorite. "Lobster Lotus" is a large roll made with lobster and then fried in tempura batter. It's my favorite and I highly recommend it to the timid sushi virgins, as it's not too exotic. It's a bit pricey, but specialty rolls are generous in size.
(5)Vivian O.
This is my favorite sushi restaurant in Tampa. Great place for lunch/early evening with the kids or a late dinner with friends. My favorite roll is the Zen Crunch and my kids are big fans of the edamame, kids chicken fried rice and the Tampa roll.
(5)MIke A.
Although this restaurant is in Westchase, when you enter Zen Bistro you might think you have walked into a trendy Manhattan restaurant. The decor is hip and fresh with plenty of bamboo and intriguing lighting. I have heard wonderful things about the sushi but I have not tried it yet... Maybe next time. For starters we had the Lime Beef ($7.95) which is served cool, tender and tasty. As described on the menu: Seared sirloin beef cubes tossed with sesame lime sauce, cilantro, mint, Thai basil, topped with crispy shallots and crushed roasted peanuts. Then we shared the Shakin Beef ($18.95) and Kabayaki Glazed Chicken ($13.95). The chicken comes in a sweet soy sauce that should please most groups and the beef again was very tender and flavorful.
(5)Pamela S.
I love this place because of the sushi and the atmosphere. However, the service is another story! The have a big selection of special rolls on the menu which are my favortie. Try the Zen roll! It's yellowtail and fried onions but the sauce they serve with it is excellent! Unfortunately, everytime I go there I know that the service will be poor. Whether that be the server forgetting my salad before the meal, the edamame never coming out, or nobody coming to take our order for a while, it seems like the staff has alot of work to do! But, I keep coming back for those special rolls!
(4)Megan O.
Very disappointed! Been there a few times- trying to give them chances but I've had it! Last night went for a nice dinner after a long Day of work and had to leave! We ordered drinks and they came out. Were able to order edamame. However 45 minutes later our server never returned. Prob because she was to busy taking shots at the bar! And may I add, she only had two other tables. Never received our edemame and had to pay at the bar bc our service was horrible. Like I've said, I've tried to give them a chance and will now never return. I recommend to spend your money else where. Like maloneys.
(1)Jay T.
My friends and I were excited to try this place as one of them had previously had a positive experience. This particular visit didn't quite add up. The main deterrent was the staff but we will get to that. The food: the curried crab wontons were good if you enjoy curry. However I have to say the curry tried to overpower the crab rather than compliment it. The grilled nigiri was good in so much that the grilled rice provided an added texture to otherwise bland seafood. The signature rolls were definitely good as one would hope to be the case. The other rolls lacked any real staying power but were acceptable. I have to admit one major source of disappointment was the saki menu. A lot of cold saki options but only one hot saki. It was acceptable but is that what you want to be known for? Finally, the staff. We were sat right by the front door. We asked if we could move to the back to which the manager replied that those are typically reserved for larger parties and they had some later in the evening. I can completely understand this explanation. But then she proceeded to say, "I wouldn't want to seat you there and then hurry you up to leave." Probably not the best choice of words. Our waitress was quick but added jabs like "Do you need anything else while I am in the back?" She snarled while we finished our drinks after dinner. In a nutshell it is acceptable cuisine in a swanky atmosphere served by staff who believe they are fine dining when they are truly run of the mill.
(3)Joyce B.
Love Zen!! Great local restaurant. Love the always fresh sushi. Another favorite being the crab bowl- great lunch menu. Always clean. Nice atmosphere.
(5)