Expensive but not worth the price. We pay for the pretty decorations and layouts of the dishes, but not for the taste. The rice dinner is just average. The service is ok. Nice interior environment.
(3)
Jessica C.
Yum! Came in here last week for lunch with a friend. We were walking by trying to decide which restaurant we should stop for a bite to eat- so.many-choices! In looking in the window, we say a few dishes (looked like veggie lo mein) that caught our eye. We were able to pick any seat that we wanted and were able to score a table near the window- great people watching. The little garden outside was also a gem to look at during our meal. We both opted for the lunch box- friend had chicken and broccoli with won ton soup and I had beef and broccoli with a side salad. Both were $9.50 and came with 1/2 of a California roll. The salad could have used a little work- wasnt a fan of the iceberg lettuce and there were only a few veggies but the ginger carrot dressing was phenomenal. Lunch box: broccoli was cooked to PERFECTION. I absolutely loved the beef sauce, too. Great portion of rice to mix in with the beef/broccoli mixture. And the best for last------ probably the BEST California roll I have ever had! I almost ordered another one but I was already filled up from the large portions. Service was attentive- plates were picked up as we finished and we didnt have to track anyone down to get/pay for the check. Yum. My next trip there will include 2 California rolls for sure. [still thinking about that veggie lo mein that originally caught my eye, too]
(4)
Angela M.
Our group of 6 found this on a rainy Sunday night in June. We were seated upstairs, which was perfect for us to converse and get to know each other. The menu is an eclectic mix of Asian cuisines. I chose the tom yum soup and the mango curry. The soup was warm and flavorful, relying on the aromatics for the flavor. The mango curry was good, though the rice was a bit overdone and the whole thing was a little on the sticky side. Service was attentive and easily split our checks when requested.
(3)
Maher A.
Nice atmosphere for sure in a very nice location. I think the food can be improved, except for the sushi which was good and that's why the 4 stars instead of 3. Something must be done about too much grease in the food making it loose the freshness. My family and I ordered several items including the veggie sampler and a Pad Thai dish... Presentation on point but lacks freshness. This place has potential but the average rating is exactly where it should be. I may try again but not likely as there are many other options in the area.
(4)
Steve J.
I was able to sit right next to the window with my GF and enjoy a peaceful meal while we people watched (some characters came out this past Labor Day weekend so it was quite enjoyable) The meal started with chai tea, very delicious and given in a large glass full to the brim, already sweetened and full of cream. I went with the special, a Pyramid roll, along with many other specialty rolls and some sort of taco that had tempura chicken in it. The meal as a whole was very excellent with my only criticism including the amount of fried food present. It may have been the quality of the oil that altered the taste of the rolls/taco, but it was to the point of over powering all other flavors and I could no longer tolerate the meal. It's for this reason that I gave 3/5 stars. I would highly recommend, with avoidance of fried goods.
(3)
Greg T.
Stopped in for dinner with the Smithie for her birthday dinner. Ordered the ribs and curry fries as appetizers. The ribs were very good, tender and served with a delicious dipping sauce. The curry fries were wrapped in phyllo and lightly fried. They were filled with curried potatoes, peas and carrots and also came with a zesty sauce. She had the udon noodles which were tasty and I had a couple of rolls. The volcano roll was good but was nearly impossible to eat with chop sticks as it completely fell apart with each bite. It was prepared slightly different than others I have had as it was completely cooked with scallops, tuna and salmon and topped with spicy sauce. The firecracker was even better in flavor with a zippy sauce on the side. The fish was fresh and it was garnished with micro radish greens which gave it a nice peppery flavor. Service was nice and attentive while the decor was contemporary and hip. Worth coming to if you like asian fusion.
(4)
Winston H.
As a penguin, I expect to be fed like my mother fed me. She was a great prideful penguin and took utmost care of me and my 4 penguin siblings. She regurgitated my food every meal for me, but the hostesses at zen wouldn't do it even though I asked and explained why and how to do it. The sushi tastes good, and so does the Kalbi, but I just wish they would serve me my food partially digested.
(5)
Kerry R.
Came here with the husband a few weeks ago. We were craving good sushi and wanted a departure from our usual spot. I have been to Zen before but he hadn't so I decided we would go together. Fairly empty for a late brunch and we were seated immediately. I wasn't thrilled to be sitting literally next to the door and hostess stand, nor did I enjoy the sun blazing into my eyes from the tall windows. But it was nice out so there wasn't cold air rushing in every time the door opened and the sun eventually got out of my way. I normally do enjoy the natural light the windows provide, just not directly into my retina. It took a few moments before a waiter came by to take our drink orders. We were recovering from the night before so just soft drinks for us. We settled on about 8 rolls and a few pieces of sushi. The waiter quickly reiterated our choices and within 20 mins we had our meal served on a platter almost too big for the table. The standard rolls (salmon, avocado, cucumber and tuna, avo, cuke) were basic but good. I really liked the firecracker roll and the spicy sauce that accompanied it. The biggest disappointment was the mango roll. We expected it to have a much sweeter taste to it but unfortunately, it was very bitter. The rest of the rolls were big but messy. They kept falling apart like they weren't rolled tight enough. Overall good but we are still loyalists to our favorite sushi place. Zen is nice for a date with prices indicative of a special occasion. I'd go back but probably just stick to the basics.
(3)
Kara C.
Disappointing. Although it looks beautiful and the atmosphere is nice the food is lacking. The spring rolls were the only part of the meal that was enjoyable. The shrimp shumai was heavy and the filling was pretty gross with a pea on top? Then our sushi, I have never experienced COLD sushi! It was bad. We ordered the shrimp tempura which was mainly cold crab coleslaw? I don't know what else to call it, it was strange. Besides the spring rolls nothing else was worth it. Probably wouldn't bother coming here again.
(2)
Red T.
My family and I stopped by Zen for dinner tonight. The meal started off on a sour note when one of our party discovered that the beer they were serving was more than a year old. The food and atmosphere saved the day though as the food was absolutely delicious and the atmosphere was peaceful with a nice view of downtown Northampton. The mini raviolis were definitely the highlight of the night and I highly recommend them to anyone who stops by! The sushi was fresh and tasteful, though they did fall apart easily. The lettuce wraps were great, but a little difficult to eat and very messy. I have to say I loved the calamari, I only wish that we hadn't had to send the dish back due to the fried hairs that accompanied it. All and all the food was tasty, the service was good, and the atmosphere was great! If only there hadn't been so many little mistakes.... Until next time...
(2)
Chris C.
We had a private event with 25 people at Zen and it couldn't have been more perfect. We were so impressed with the quality of service, food, and decor that we actually changed our plan to spend even more time at Zen than we originally scheduled! The staff at Zen truly made it a perfect and memorable night. If you ever need a private event space in Northampton complete with catering, alcohol, and top notch service, Zen is the place! Thank you Zen!
(5)
Liz K.
Had the most amazing lunch with family. Who knew every palate from fussy child to even fussier adults (me) could be satisfied with what at first pass seemed like an esoteric menu? We had all sorts of sushi, the vegetarian sampler, some chicken potstickers, pork lo mein, crispy chicken, crab taco and coconut Thai noodles. Expertly cooked & served hot. No complaints - fresh ingredients, excellent service and charming Xmas decorations. What more could you want when shopping downtown?
(5)
Jason M.
Light food. A little different. Fun. I go here every couple of months and enjoy. I usually get the curry and one of their roles (usually western or Hawaii).
(4)
Andrew B.
Zen is a solid 3. Eclectic, perhaps confused, menu, with nice decor. Good for a date, or with a small group of friends. Food is 3/5, and the prices are a tad high for the quality. If offered seating on the second level, I suggest you politely decline. Service is non-existent and abysmal when up there. Request to be on the main floor. I would suggest giving Zen a shot, but for me, I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.
(3)
Ryan M.
You'd have to be a real Northampton person to like this place. If you actually eat in New York or Boston or anywhere with really good food you will be at least underwhelmed and probably disappointed here. Mediocre through and through.
(2)
Ivan G.
Really cool place. I had a few rolls and Bulgogi. Also tried the kimchi. Food was great and fast. Definitely recommend.
(5)
James L.
Rock and Roll lunch special was amazing! Fair prices and a bit cheaper than others in the area. EXCELLENT sushi! Service is decent as well.
(5)
Christelle D.
Really great date night experience here! Wandered in on a whim one Thursday evening and the place was not crowded at all, so we got great attention from our server. The decor is very minimalistic and ambiance is very serene. We started with some warm Sake and the Northern Spare Ribs which were delicious - especially paired with the Zen barbecue sauce. I also had the Seafood Miso which was so flavorful and comforting on such a chilly March night. I forget the name but I had a really great scallop and avocado roll. Scallop tasted super fresh and was the perfect size. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Jaclyn N.
Amazing. The food is so flavorful and plenty. The place looks very nice and makes you feel good. The service is fantastic. Our go to in Northampton for sushi- no doubts.
(5)
Ashley B.
This is one of the few restaurants I can honestly say I've NEVER had a poor experience at. The food, especially the sushi, is always amazing and delicious. The sushi is the best in the valley, in my opinion, and tastes fresh every time. At one point I came here so much that the waiter knew my order. I came back a year or so later and he STILL remembered. Another time I was longing for a roll that was no longer on the menu, and the manager had the sushi chef make it anyway. That's amazing customer service! The food is expensive, as many have pointed out, and there is no kids menu. However, I think the price is worth it for the quality of food. Plus, the lunch specials are very reasonably priced. I can't say enough good things about this place. Though I've since moved across the country, whenever I'm home I make Zen a stop. I hope it stays for a long, long time!
(5)
Bill S.
This place initially had me okay with its can't-decide-which-cuisine-to-be fare, but then lost me, quite simply, over the rotten attitude of the management and the ridiculous prices. We went with friends and our small daughter, and thinking they had some sort of children's option, ordered plain noodles, with butter. The wait was eternal, and when the bill came back: $15 for the plain noodles. After some discussion, we left concluding that the owners were greedheads. Never gone back.
(1)
Chris F.
This place looked a lot nicer than the food tasted, I was really bummed out. Unlike some of the previous reviews I had excellent service; my server was very sweet and attentive. The hostess was also very nice. Maybe I should have stuck to sushi. I got a curry noodle dish and it was really odd. The curry chicken part was on the side with too much cilantro and soggy cucumbers. The noodles had a totally separate sauce- it was like someone dumped a Chinese dive joint lo mein in my dish by accident. The sauce on the noodles was really thick and I felt like total crap after I ate it. If I hadn't been starving I probably would've bypassed most of the dish. The chicken was also a bit gamey. It wasn't gross but it wasn't at all what I was expecting and I also found myself swatting away fruit flies though the restaurant seemed immaculate.
(3)
Chris M.
For land-locked western mass this place had great sushi. Like one of the Zen raters, I have had Sushi all over the US and Spain and can say that the quality stacked up well. What marred the experience for me was the waiter, who obviously didn't want to be there and had no qualms about showing it by leaving our table unattended and serving courses out of order. All said, I'd give it another chance because of the food.
(3)
Norco B.
I have literally eaten sushi all over the United States and I have never had better. The sauces they use are fantastic. They have an ever evolving menu with which my only complaint would be that sometimes a new favorite is lost with a change, but there's always something new.
(5)
Jackson D.
Zen is a great little place in downtown Northampton when you're in the mood for Asian fusion and/or sushi. The restaurant has two floors and a sushi bar where the full menu is available,but seating is still at a premium. At 7 on a Friday we waited 20 minutes for a table, not too bad at all - but the people kept coming in and there is no space for a waiting area. The hostess did offer to call our cell phone when our table was ready. The menu is expansive with a number of traditional and a number of unique options. We ordered a few appetizers along with our entrees. Everything was delicious and the portions are pretty big. They also have a pretty good selection of beer and specialty drinks. I agree with some others, the prices are a little high, but considering the atmosphere and quality of food, it's not unreasonable. Entrees are between $15 and $20. Beers $4-$7 and apps around $10. Food and drinks were great, atmosphere is comfortable and service was friendly if not a little slow. Overall a good experience and I can't wait to go back to try their sushi.
(4)
Nadim K.
Food is mediocre at best, sushi was great and fresh I should've stuck with the sushi part and away from the hot, we had the Zen platter and the crab wonton, food came luke warm and lacks flavor.
(3)
Colin M.
Best sushi in New England Only thing is: The other dishes I had weren't so great. The scallops were tough and chewey.
(4)
Steven T.
We headed up to Northhampton for the day. Most restaurants were closed due to the 4th of July holiday. So we decided to stop in and try out Zen. It was good Japanese. We had chicken saute on lettuce, a sweet potato roll and nigiri sushi. The service was prompt, food was fresh and well prepared. I would try this place again. It was a good place for people watching on main street because it had a clear view of downtown. The prices were reasonable. Next time I'm in town I'll try the box lunch.
(3)
gwynnie p.
I'm normally not a fan of "fusion", but we recently had an assortment of very good food at Zen. It was a crowded Friday night, and we descended upon Zen with a party of 6, no warning. They handled that action with aplomb and good service. My favorite was the shrimp shu mai. Delicious! I had a salmon teriyaki dinner, and my complaint is that it had far too much teriyaki sauce on it. I scraped off what I could. But the fish was well cooked and I'm sure some people love that cloyingly sweet sauce. The decor is lovely so Zen would be great for a special occasion dinner and a casual meal as well. They seem to have a few options for private parties. Check it out.
(4)
Jessica L.
Love this place!!! Everything here is delicious and fresh. I especially love that everything here is excellent, ranging from the sushi to lo mein to noodle soups, etc., so it's the perfect place if not everyone in your your group likes sushi. Really nice ambience, plus the upstairs seating area is a bit more private and great for larger parties. There's always excellent service here, and if you sit along the window you can get a nice view of Main Street. It also offers excellent lunch specials. It is a bit pricier than some of the other restaurants in Northampton, but the nice ambience and high quality food make up for it.
(5)
Emily Q.
Zen used to be our go-to place. Decent rice, good portions, fun ambiance. My friends and I went together once a month or more, and I went on my own for lunch frequently. No more. In December, we had our last "sushi Sunday" at Zen. My friend got a bento box with tuna sashimi, took one bite, and declared herself done. Confused, I made my way through my dinner special until I tasted the tuna as well. It was absolutely rancid. Fishy, slimy--far gone enough that it shouldn't have been served cooked, much less as sashimi. I tried to get the attention of the waiter, who brushed me off. After another try, the owner finally came over and refused to comp anything on my bill. I pointed out that half my meal was a spicy tuna roll, and was thus inedible. They hemmed and hawed said they could take off $5, which they did-off another friend's check. As a fairly regular customer at Zen, I was very disappointed to be brushed off so quickly, not to mention the fact that they didn't seem to care about their bad fish! As many good experiences as we had at Zen, we definitely won't be back.
(1)
Melanie S.
Go to Zen if you want to play it safe. Everything I've ever ordered from Zen has been pretty good, if not, absolutely yum. Some of my favorites are the starter spare ribs, the shogun roll, and the volcano roll. I can understand how one reviewer wrote that he was underwhelmed by his experience here, but from living in Northampton I can honestly say its one of the best restaurants in a town that is basically made up of restaurants. I return to Zen time and time again not because its a fabulous dining experience with complicated and interesting cuisine, I return to zen because its quick, filling, and on the whole pretty good. It's an asian fusion restaurant so all the dishes, though exotic, are pretty standard in their distinction as such. Aside from the sushi, it might be difficult to distinguish any of the mains from dishes at any other asian food restaurant. My only qualms come with the service. The waiters tend to be slower when there isn't a lot of traffic in the restaurant and they always seem rather bored. Now, I'm not asking for my waiters to be all applebee's baby voice, in your face, but I'd like to feel as though I'm not imposing on them by being present in the restaurant and making them do their jobs. Also, if you're looking for really good Korean BBQ I wouldn't recommend ordering from Zen. Go down the road to Gohyang in Hadley.
(4)
Anthony P.
The ambience was great, the food and presentation were great and the service was good. I'll come back for more. I tried the crab wonton dumplings, it's like the sophisticated version of crab Rangoon, where they used real mozzarella instead of cream cheese. The wontons looked like sacks tied up (view picture for details). I had sushi for the main course. My friend and I chose sweet tofu sushi, sweet shrimp sushi, and the mix of crab, salmon and shrimp sushi. I also wanted to be adventurous so i had the Salmon Egg sushi. They all were good trying. Other entrees I saw served to customers had very nice presentation. I coming back!
(4)
D. B.
First and foremost, the food at Zen is DELICIOUS. As an Asian-fusion restaurant, Zen has many interesting dishes on the menu. The sushi/rolls in particular are fresh and delicious and wildly creative -- a few standouts on the menu include the claw roll, Zen taco, and volcano roll. That being said, Zen is pretty pricey. It's borderline too pricey for me, but I try to justify it by going only once and awhile and reminding myself that the taste is so good. The service is also inconsistent; sometimes you get a friendly and attentive waiter/waitress, and sometimes you get someone who virtually ignores you. The ambiance of the restaurant is also hit or miss, as the decor is lovely and it's usually not too noisy, but occasionally they try to cram extra tables where there really isn't room. Overall, Zen is a great place for delicious and creative food.
(4)
Kylan M.
Went here with my wife and infant for lunch. Bulgogi was delicious. The owner was so nice. She brought over some complementary soft tofu in miso broth for the baby and he loved it.
(5)
Dan S.
When I'm in town, there are other places to eat, but Zen is always my first choice. Time and again, it continues to provide GREAT Asian food at reasonable prices with great service. On a recent visit, we went for lunch with the family. For $10, kids had a salmon teriyaki bento box with soup, dumplings, california roll, and rice. A great deal. The bulgogi was also a hit. The wonton soup was a little peppery but the hot & sour soup hit the spot too. The highlight was the hand rolls which looked like mini ice cream cones. Couldn't even finish them. Sar Chai Mei Fun noodles were also a big hit. You really can't go wrong but the highlights are always the Dragon Rolls and the other apps. Ignore the negative and fake reviews, this is a great place in town. Family friendly and delicious. A great combination.
(5)
Hank H.
decent sushi. very expensive and poor service. ordered a sushi plater the other day, the waitress simply dropped the plate and walked away. no soy sauce and no chopsticks. i ended up having to get them myself because the waitress was no where to be seen. the salad never came either. would not go there again
(2)
Paul B.
ZEN has grown to be my go-to place when I am in Northampton. Yes, there are many good places to eat downtown, but what keeps me coming back to ZEN is the consistency. The food and service are always top notch. ZEN is an Asian fusion restaurant, so you'll find dishes with Japanese, Korean, Thai, Chinese, and other Asian influences as well as some East meets West fare. Often I've found that this can be a downfall for restaurants as they become jack of all trades, master of none. This is not at all the case for ZEN. They have my favorite sushi in Northampton both for selection, quality, and presentation. The Korean and Thai dishes I've had have been terrific and while I have not had any of the Chinese main courses myself, some nibbles off of a friend's dish were quite tasty. I like to start with a pot of Jasmine tea and the mini "raviolis", choose either an entree from their large menu or sushi depending on my mood, (they often have wonderful seasonal specials, too) and then end with a lotus bun served with ice cream. Asian beers aren't my thing, though my wife will enjoy a saki now and then. The service has been nothing short of outstanding every time I've dined here which is frequent. Also, the presentation rivals and often surpasses pricier restaurants in the area. The other negative reviews surprise me as I just have always had such good experiences there and if you read my other reviews you'll see that I can be quite picky. At any rate, give ZEN a try. Oh and even if you think you don't like sushi, try a Hawaiian Roll for dessert!
(5)
Julie T.
Zen, you've won me over. I went on a day trip to Northampton and decided to try this place out. I was not disappointed! DECOR: I love the set-up of this restaurant. Very visually appealing and a warm ambiance. Good first impression. FOOD: I ordered salmon sashimi and the chicken teriyaki with brown rice. First of all, love that they have the brown rice option! The salmon was fresh; wish they had thicker slices but it was still delicious. The chicken was also very good! Decent sized portions; I was full after eating only half my plate, I doggy-bagged the rest. SERVICE: This is where Zen really won me over. Service is a huge deal-breaker for me. The staff was so attentive and checked on us often without being suffocating. When they saw my friend reaching to try a piece of my salmon sashimi, they immediately brought her a small plate without being asked. They were great with refilling our water too; glass was never less than half full. Such friendly service, I love it. PRICE: Around $15-30 per person. Not bad, pretty average. I will definitely return here! Whoo-hoo!
(5)
N K.
Our annual day after Christmas sushi stop in Northampton. Yesterday was a disappointment for sure. My fire roll was just not very good tasting and not appealing to look at either. Hot and Spur soup was good. Good service and nice atmosphere.
(2)
Elyse Q.
Zen is a consistently amazing sushi experience. I was a lifelong Osaka girl, then Zen opened. I've never looked back. Try the Zen Nachos, Sunrise and Fire rolls, or the Bento specials. YUM
(5)
Lisa R.
Our large group of 16 -- students, parents, visiting friends -- enjoyed the exquisite selections and presentation of Asian fusion offerings delivered by attentive servers. Everything arrived as ordered (except my hot green tea, but no matter because my husband's cold saki was excellent and they'd brought an extra cup for that). We enjoyed the vegetarian dumpling sampler app, and a Summer Salad of pickled cabbage and cucumber, along with Chicken with Shiitake Mushroom in a delectable sauce and Orange Beef (which we'd forgotten was a fried dish and while excellent would probably skip for more interesting and healthier dishes). My husband LOVED his seaweed salad; and other friends quite liked their sashimi sampler, and another the seared tuna with greens. Very glad for the option of brown rice. We had several servers coming and going with things, and a manager overseeing all the tables was just a nod away for anything overlooked. Extensive and creative menu -- anxious to go back to try more!
(4)
Timothy A.
I highly recommend this place! Everything I've tried has been awesome. There are plenty of vegetarian options too. My favorite dish is the mint roti wrap. The prices are reasonable and the service is great. The few times we have had questions about a dish or allergy concerns, they had changed the menu to include the information by the time I ate there again. I can't say enough good things about Zen.
(5)
Alex S.
One of the most notable western MA sushi restaurants, the food here is phenominal. I've eaten here a few times and am always satisfied. They have some interesting selections for specialty rolls, some very sweet. You can't go wrong at Zen. Also has the nicest atmosphere of any NoHo / Amherst sushi place.
(5)
Sarah O.
It just didn't seem fresh. And that's just about the worst thing a person can say about sushi. I ordered three maki rolls, each of which was indistinguishable from the next, and all doused in some sort of heavy, mayonnaise-based liquid. Instead of whole pieces, the fish was minced-- finely-- and then rolled. Gross. I've seen that preparation before in tuna rolls, and perhaps I'm missing something, but it just seems as though pulverizing the fish is an attempt to conceal its poor quality. The texture was disgusting, and the food was generally unappetizing. My sister-in-law's chicken dish was room temperature, as were the pork dumplings she ordered. The service was attentive, but otherwise the experience was dreadful.
(2)
Aaron T.
Tried it again a couple of times--service was a bit better, atmosphere relaxed, food OK. Not a knockout, but a great space to dine in. Recommend sitting up front near the windows to get a good downtown view.
(3)
Salman A.
The sushi was not bad but that is as far as it goes. The service leaves a lot to be desired with a complete lack of interest.
(2)
Ajay S.
Good food, but not cheap. Enjoyed most stuff Ive had here.
(4)
Michelle W.
Try the deluxe crunch roll. Everything is good. But not cheap. Zen is awesome but has a limited menu.
(4)
Nancy H.
We try to spread our sushi-eating all over Northampton. For tuna-yellowtail-salmon sashimi, I'll stick with Osaka. However, we love Zen for the engagement, the personality at the sushi bar, and the sheer fun of eating there. My surf clam allergy is honored in the mixed platters without complaint. We are encouraged to try new things, and we've never been disappointed. Engaging with the people who are making your food is one of the most elementally satisfying experiences, and Zen never disappoints.
(4)
Sara S.
I love Zen. great food, reasonable price, good atmosphere and good sake too! this sushi bar/restaurant does not disappoint. I have had their awesome chicken mango curry, their soups, their duck and of course all different specials on their sushi menu. they change their menu periodically which is nice, and seasonally fresh. one of my favorite sushi places ever.
(4)
Bill B.
I've been to Zen more times than I can remember, and have always had a great experience. I know some folks who aren't crazy about it and, judging from the reviews here, they aren't alone. The sushi's always fresh; IMHO it's the best in the area, and I've tried 'em all. And the service has been super-friendly and attentive every time. Some of my favorites? The chicken tea rolls, shrimp shumai, and the crunch, godzilla, shogun, or spicy tuna rolls. I'm getting hungry just typing this.
(4)
Courtney R.
Zen is a cute asian fusion restaurant with an inventive menu and pretty presentations. Steamed vegetarian dumplings were a bit sticky and chewy, but the Crispy Chicken with the black pepper sauce was quite nice and the lettuce wraps (which could have been a special for the evening, it may nor may not be on the menu still) provided lots of variety and was large enough for sharing. The lotus bun dessert is luscious and satisfying.
(3)
Shaina P.
I loved the waitress here. She shared her life story; as did I and the guys I came here with. There's something to be said about being able to talk casually and easily with the person who is serving you. It doesn't happen often in the bigger urbs like Boston. The white tuna sashimi was served in inch-thick slices; another instant love. The salmon sushi was almost as big a cut as the sashimi; mmm. Some might say that the wasabi had no kick, which I would have to agree with, but the fish tasted so fresh and awesome, it shouldn't be overwhelmed with the aromatic burn of wasab. The dumpling soup came served in a little bowl with three chicken-filled dumplings bathing in a very flavorful broth. A satisfying $5 accompaniment. The crysanthymum tea was also a pleasant surprise -- flavored with a fragrant floral, but with a very subtle hue. Even the general gau's/tso's/tau's chicken was tasty in its sticky spicy sauce and thick crunchy coating served with the option of brown or white rice. This dinner after dinner will make sleeping very easy.
(4)
Kmb A.
By far my favorite place to get sushi! I moved out to Boston a while ago and I just cannot find any sushi that compares to Zen. Every time I return to Wmass to visit family I make a trip out to Noho just to get my Zen fix. I love the atmosphere, and the service is usually pretty good. I only go for sushi, and my favorite roll is the spicy tuna. I would also recommend the edamame with the garlic dipping butter sauce. My boyfriend has ordered a chicken dish a few times, and it seemed to get worse each time (my 5 star rating is based only on sushi). Sushi is always fresh, consistent and delicious!!!
(5)
Yuri E.
I've tried a lot of Sushi place and this place didn't wow me at all. The inside is decorated very nicely, and it's very trendy. The food was kind of meh(I ordered some rolls), and the service was pretty horrible. I went with a friend, but they kept serving people that seemed "older" . Maybe they thought we weren't going to order much. The food is also very expensive for its quality. The fish seemed a bit watery(meaning they probably freeze the fish and store it in the freezer) and didn't taste very good. Perhaps non-sushi food is good, but I'm skeptical.
(2)
Karl T.
I don't understand any of the negative reviews on Zen. This restaurant is by far the best Japanese/sushi option in Northampton. I have been here many times over the years and have not had one bad experience. Bottom line is: 1. Sushi is delicious, fresh and creative. I love the Sunrise roll! 2. The restaurant decor is very nice and kept up well 3. The staff is very friendly and they care about your experience. The manager Yeiyu, is a great asset to the establishment. 4. Prices are reasonable for the quality they offer- much better than Osaka 5. Location is terrific 6. Menu is well balanced offering an array of mixed Asian fusion with plenty of veggie and health dishes 7. The miso soup is the best in town I recommend this place for a large gathering, nice dinner or for a simple tasty lunch. Keep up the good work Zen!
(4)
Sisi R.
Came here and ordered general tso's chicken lunch special and it was underwhelming. The food was bland but salty. The sushi looked good though I didn't try it. Nevertheless, very good service and nice restaurant decor/atmosphere.
(3)
Andrew R.
Most everyone I know in Northampton likes this spot a lot, but I really think it is way over-rated and over-priced. The stir fries tend to be oily and to have gloppy sauces with indistinct flavors, the dumplings seem like they are micro-waved (see my dumpling review on my blog) and the sushi rolls are overly fussy. i had a noodle in peanut sauce dish there once which was one of the singularly worst noodle dishes I have eaten. -Andrew dumplinghunter.wordpress…
(1)
Kristina D.
It is expensive. The special rolls are worth every penny. Volcano Roll, Dragon Roll, and Spider Roll, are truly some of the best flavors I've experienced in sushi. I'm a wicked penny-pincher, but the special rolls are really worth the indulgence!
(5)
Q S.
I'd say the sushi here is pretty decent. It's a bit pricey, and out of all the times that I've been here, I have never been that impressed.
(3)
Kiernan G.
Decor: 3 stars Service: 2.5 stars Price/food: 2 stars Overall: 2.5 stars. I made the mistake of going here for sushi. A few friends said they liked it, sadly I cannot agree. Firstly, the prices are obscenely high. They are higher prices than Osaka or Moshi Moshi, the other high end sushi bars in Northampton. Even a basic rainbow roll here costs $12.50 (They run from $7.95-9.95 everywhere else). Unlike most asian restaurants in town, they charge for green tea. They brought me a very tasty pot of tea, but I am used to it being a complimentary part of the meal at those places. The service was friendly. Not extremely knowledgeable about the menu, but very nice. I ordered one of the specials of the day and she brought me something entirely different. The sushi wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything special. For what I paid for it I was shocked at how small it was. I am used to paying $13-14 for huge, amazing full meal style rolls at Tokyo, so maybe I am a bit spoiled. The decor was nice, they have done a good job making the place pretty. Sadly, this is really the only good thing I can say about the restaurant so I don't expect to be going back.
(2)
Jennifer W.
If I could give it 0 stars, I would. The only thing positive for us was the atmosphere, and this will probably fool many. The service was less than friendly (we didn't even get the cursory "how is the food?" check-in), and the food was awful. My "spicy" basil seafood had no flavor, and I was brought the wrong rice. My husbands Korean barbecue beef tasted mostly of soy sauce and little else. There are FAR better Asian places in NoHo than Zen, and we were very disappointed. We thought we'd try something new, but we won't be going back. Completely overpriced for the bland food we had.
(1)
Alfonsina S.
Things to order: If you are vegetarian: Hawaiian roll, Noho roll, steamed vegetable dumplings, vegetarian mango curry if you like a little kick, Buddha Garden if you like it a little sweeter (also has seitan), corn potstickers If you like seafood: garlic chicken and shrimp, lemongrass, or mango curry with shrimp, Tom Yum soup, **CRISPY TUNA TACOS** If you like sushi: Godzilla roll, fire roll, rainbow roll (if you're a tuna fan), volcano roll (baked deliciousness), East Meets West roll If you like traditional: chicken dumplings, General Tso's chicken, Sesame chicken (but I recommend a vegetable side to accompany) TRUST ME. I go here a lot.
(5)
Andrew K.
One of two really good places in town. Service is good too.
(4)
Emma O.
Yesterday I ate at Zen for the second time. And both times were delicious. I had dinner there the first time and lunch there yesterday. Both times I shared the Zen sampler with my fellow diners. It is delicious. There are 5 different snacks on the plate. 3 of which are vegetarian which was a plus for me. We had a variety of sushi as our main course. Most of which was vegetarian. My personal favorite was the sweet tofu with cashews. Yum! All of the other sushi was delicious as well. Good service, but by far the best part of our dining experience was the garlic miso butter that accompanied the edamame beans. SO DELICIOUS! Do yourself a favor and check out Zen for the sushi as well as the delicious asian cuisine.
(5)
Ren C.
Zen: super expensive, but it's hard to stop going there. They have *probably* the best spicy tuna rolls I've ever had. Sauce is perfect, and they melt in your mouth. My boyfriend and I used to get full meals (which were nice), but have recently just pared down to getting two or three orders of spicy tuna rolls and something random, like a rainbow roll. As you can probably tell, I dig their sushi. Unfortunately, that's about all the place has going for it--prices are high, waitstaff is snooty (you can't go there for a quick small bite without them glaring at you for not ordering more), and service is slow as molasses when it's busy. It's a shame, because really, they employ great sushi chefs... and not much else.
(3)
Sarah M.
I had been a long time Zen fan, until last week. Now I will never go back. I went to Zen with 7 of my friends (8 of us total) and we called ahead to make reservations and went ahead to place our food order, which would simply mean it went to the kitchen as soon as we were seated. The food was great but the service was absolutely terrible. The server didn't speak clearly and didn't seem to understand what we said when we talked with him. Then, because of this poor communication due to the server's poor English fluency, we thought we needed more rice than what was served with our meal, as we had ordered 5 dished that come with a serving of rice on the side. He quickly said ok and got us more rice for our large party. We thought that was the end of any issue and then preceded with our nice meal. However, when the bill came-- we were charged over $10 for extra rice! First of all, we asked for clarification about why we were being charged for extra rice when we asked for the rice that came with each dish only. He then explained that he had to charge us because we had already gotten our appropriate serving of rice with the meal when we asked for more. It then turned into a battle of his poor communication & he had to go and get the manager. She then explained that we had already gotten the appropriate serving of rice when we had asked for more. We then told her how it was NOT communicated to us that we were being charged for RICE when we has specifically asked for the rest of what we thought was appropriate for our order. The terrible manager fought with us, the party of 8+ spending a significant amount of money at their establishment, over RICE. Alright, rice is cheap and charging us $10 for a side of rice was absurd by itself. Then because we were a large party-gratuity included so we couldn't even show how frustrated we were with the service via tip. The manager was clearly just as inexperienced and inhospitable as the server. I myself am a manager in the food service industry, at a nice restaurant near Boston-- so to see how poorly these managers treated customers (especially customers dropping a lot of money) was absolutely ridiculous. The management at Zen needs to work on training its staff better and they actually need to work on their upper level management too... maybe with a replacement of someone who knows the golden rule to hospitality and food service-- THAT THE CUSTOMER IS RIGHT. It's sad that they destroyed their reputation with an incident over rice... good god, learn how to be in the service industry. I'll miss the food but there are plenty of other and better Asian restaurants in Northampton.
(2)
Max W.
Very good food. I come here with my family every Wednesday afternoon and get the lunch box which is very delicious and comes with many options. I would give double thumbs up!
(4)
Wing M.
First, I like the name. It's actually really clever wordplay since zen, spoken in the proper inflection, actually means cuisine in Chinese (and that is the character they have as their logo). Second, I like the food and atmosphere. I went here on a date once and it was awesome. The food was better than most places in Northampton. Their desserts in particular were creative twists on Asian desserts that I really loved. Problems: I've been warned against getting sushi at Zen so I did not do it. I was not impressed with the sushi that folks at tables around me god. Also, this place is stupid crowded---it's just way too popular and, well, there are places in Northampton I like more that have shorter waits.
(4)
hk k.
Not a fan of Zen's food. Zen is not a "fusion Asian" restaurant; rather, it serves Asian-esque food for non-Asian palate. Everything I had (my friend and I tried to be fair by ordering a number of things) was mediocre at best to downright terrible. Never order sushi here, for one thing. The sushi rice was cooked terribly and the fish had no taste. Thai food is prepared in such a way that ruins the most common dishes such as pad thai. (In Zen's version, bland, limp noodles are drowning in coconut sauce. Who ever cooks Pad Thai in coconut milk?) Everything seemed to have too much oil and sugar in general. And not cheap, either. It is too bad, since the decor is very nice. What a disappointment. :-(
(2)
Richard R.
Great raviolis and sushi rolls. Love the specials.
(4)
Inigo M.
A slight twist on Bul Go Gi: slices of fresh red tomato, green pepper, and carrot. The kimchi side order (not free) either had some alcohol or wasn't quite ripe yet. Fast and courteous service. Warm, modern ambiance.
(3)
alexandra f.
Zen always fails to impress me however I find myself here often because of friends who think differently. Meh. I've ordered the thai pasta here which is pretty decent. The chicken satay isn't bad. However, everything else is just a boujie taken on chinese food. Not impressed. Their sushi is also subpar. It's served very beautifully on a big platter but the rolls are always TOO big. I'm talking circles the size of rolls of hay. I've tried their specialty rolls am usually underimpressed so i stick with my favorite philly roll. Even that they can't get the proportions of salmon and cream cheese right. Don't waste time/money at Zen.
(2)
Susan A.
Not impressed. My partner and I went to Zen a while back on a double date. Not a soul in my party was impressed. The location is great and the decor is nice...but the food was not so great. I ordered some maki rolls. They were boring and flavor-less. The one thing that I can say is good is the look of the place. Not bad. People keep telling me how great it is. Maybe I'll try it again but I honestly don't have much of an interest.
(2)
Callie F.
I have heard the hype of Zen since moving to the area almost two years ago. Finding free time today, I gave it a shot. Long story short: I FOUND PLASTIC IN MY SOUP!!! this wasn't just a little piece of plastic, this was a piece of saran wrap, that apparently the wontons are wrapped in, about three inches in diameter that I inhaled. I brought it to the attention of the waiter, and he just muttered a half assed apology, "oh it must have come from the wonton" didn't offer another bowl of soup, no discount, no free meal, NOTHING. The mark up is so high, I can't imagine offering something would put them under. Food wasn't that great, atmosphere is poor. Waitstaff was distant, (we waited about twenty minutes before he finally came over to ask if we were done) we had even stacked up all the plates in an effort to illustrate we wanted to leave. & the meal came to 25 bucks. for two people, for lunch. Never, Zen. Again.
(2)
Jenn X.
I was underwhelmed. The decor is nice, thus the extra star. We had three appetizers and all were poorly conceived and bland. We didn't eat them and left to get food elsewhere.
(2)
Lauren R.
I guess if you're really dead-set on fusion cuisine and you're stuck in Northampton, then Zen is the place to go. I don't have any outstanding complaints except that their pricing is redonkulous. But nor do I have any rave reviews for Zen. My mom and I stopped by after walking past it about 40 times on her other visits. We figured it was about time. Neither of us figured it was stellar enough for a return trip.
(3)
Theo B.
The place looks amazing and but the food is hit or miss for me. Sometimes it is amazing and sometimes I wish they would leave the French influence out of the dish.
(4)
Jane R.
Recommended to me as a great dining experience and good to take my 17 year old son, I gave it a try. Wow. Really, really good! Although we were seated upstairs, we were well taken care of and served in a friendly and timely manner (important when dining with sons!). Lovely, tasty wings as an appetizer were so delicious, we ate half without even dipping them into the wonderful sauce accompanying the dish. I ordered the house curry veggie chicken dish and it was so fresh and delicious! The veggies were done perfectly, and the sauce was great with just the right amount of heat. I chose the brown rice vs. white. It came wrapped inside a banana leaf and had the best taste! My son ordered a 'healthy' (!) dish of teriyaki salmon and asparagus. He ate every bit. I tasted it and was again pleased to see that it too was wonderful. Go Go Go to Zen Restaurant while in the five college area of Northampton MA!
The fish was very fresh. I understand how poeple say the pieces were big. They were actually normal, but the proportion of the fish to rice was terrible. I personally like the rice, maybe they'll beef it up someday
(5)
Lora B.
I went on a Mother-Daughter date to Zen and was not impressed. The food was actually 1.5 stars, but I rounded up to 2 because the service was excellent. We started with the Tom Yum soup and the Chicken Dumpling Soup. The dumpling soup was ok, but nothing special and the Tom Yum soup was bland and lacked the spice that makes this soup so great. Next we got Kim Chi that was also too mild, and tasted almost canned. Finally we split Curried Chicken and Noodles. The noodles tasted like greasy American/ Chinese lo mein. The veggies that were said to come with the dish consisted only of a ton of peas with a random cucumber or tomato piece thrown in. AND once again the dish contained no spice. I wanted to say something to our waiter about the poor quality of the food, but he was so nice and attentive, I decided to let it slide.....but I will not be going back to Zen.
(2)
Suzette L.
Fantastic food! We had lunch on a weekday and the food was terrific. The price was reasonable and affordable, $28 for an app, and 2 lunch entrees. The portions were ample, I still had to take home half, but then again, we had the Zen Sampler appetizer to begin. Great service, friendly, helpful staff, and quiet atmosphere. Intimate seating, so there maybe a little more noise when it is full. I will go back!
(5)
Elizabeth T.
This place was so good! I'm a massive sushi fan and the night we went, I branched out and tried some new sushi and was very impressed. The food was delicious. I'm definitley coming back!
(4)
Michelle T.
Zen's atmosphere alone drew me in. You can dine near the window, people-watching or, for a more intimate experience, you can dine upstairs. The waitstaff is helpful but does not hover. I have enjoyed every meal I've had here but the crowning glory was a spicy Tom Yum Soup and a sirloin-asparagus sushi roll. Different and delicious. I won't say Zen isn't a bit pricey but it is definitely worth it. A great place for a date or a girl's night out. And the bathrooms are lovely and located in an out-of-the-way place so that you don't feel as though you're doing your business in the middle of other diners. Also a great location. Leave time for a stroll around Northampton after dinner.
(4)
Emily Von P.
I can quickly and easily think of at least 5 other places to get sushi/japanese/korean/chinese within 10 miles that are far superior and less expensive than Zen. Leave this place to the Smithies and out-of-towners who don't know any better, and head elsewhere if you want more than just the facade of asian-fusion hype.
(1)
brooke m.
Ooh I like this place. Maybe I'm just easily impressed by the decor, but it can't hurt. For some reason their California rolls are really good; it has something to do with the crab but I can't figure out what exactly. As far as entrees/fusion cuisine goes, I've tried the seafood fried rice and the asian chicken salad, both were very tasty. Lots of big scallops and shrimp in the rice. They also have a nice selection of sake, which in my experience is hard to come by around here (except for Osaka up the street). I recommend going in the summer when they take the big front windows out (because I have a thing for sitting outside). Awesome for people-watching.
Great sushi, and outstanding Thai entrees. Another big plus: reasonably priced beer. And the staff was great, very welcoming and attentive.
(5)
N D.
I grew up in the area. When Zen opened a few years ago, I feel in love with it. Recently, I got married at The Log Cabin and had my rehearsal dinner at Zen. We were a group of over 30, and so I had a hard time finding a good restaurant in the area that could accomodate us. Luckily, Zen was there to save the day! With any large group, I had to deal with a varity of tastes and preferences. The owner worked with me to come up with a menu that meet everyone's needs. We had a bit of Japanese food, Chinese food, and Korean food. The apps were delicious and plentiful. The sushi and sashimi were well presented and fresh. Needless to say, EVERYONE in attendance was more than satisfied. And there was plenty of leftovers to have another banquet dinner at home! One of the owners even came out with a customized menu for the occasion! The staff was very accomodating to our needs and made the event run very smoothly. I would highly recommend this place for all occasions!
(5)
Diana F.
Honestly, I really wasn't impressed by their food at all. I was drawn to Zen because of their cool and chic decor, but that is probably all there was to offer. I wouldn't give it 1 star because it wasn't entirely awful. I didn't hate it; however, I probably will never return to Zen.
(2)
Jen M.
This place deserves a good rating if for no other reason than that their water doesnt have a funky flavor (like most of the restaurants on that street) and their bathrooms are clean, unlike most noho establishments. We sampled a few dishes and really liked everything we got. The sushi was good, not as good as Rice or Ginger Blossom in Springfield, MA. But good nonetheless. I would go there again.
(3)
Sula P.
Zen rocked it last night...you have to try 'east meets west' dish.....so delicious. good atmosphere, good wine, good eats.
(4)
Jaquelina L.
My gf and I went to this place because of their cool decor, but I wasn't impressed by their food at all. I didn't hate it; however, I probably will never return to Zen.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Cherry H.
Expensive but not worth the price. We pay for the pretty decorations and layouts of the dishes, but not for the taste. The rice dinner is just average. The service is ok. Nice interior environment.
(3)Jessica C.
Yum! Came in here last week for lunch with a friend. We were walking by trying to decide which restaurant we should stop for a bite to eat- so.many-choices! In looking in the window, we say a few dishes (looked like veggie lo mein) that caught our eye. We were able to pick any seat that we wanted and were able to score a table near the window- great people watching. The little garden outside was also a gem to look at during our meal. We both opted for the lunch box- friend had chicken and broccoli with won ton soup and I had beef and broccoli with a side salad. Both were $9.50 and came with 1/2 of a California roll. The salad could have used a little work- wasnt a fan of the iceberg lettuce and there were only a few veggies but the ginger carrot dressing was phenomenal. Lunch box: broccoli was cooked to PERFECTION. I absolutely loved the beef sauce, too. Great portion of rice to mix in with the beef/broccoli mixture. And the best for last------ probably the BEST California roll I have ever had! I almost ordered another one but I was already filled up from the large portions. Service was attentive- plates were picked up as we finished and we didnt have to track anyone down to get/pay for the check. Yum. My next trip there will include 2 California rolls for sure. [still thinking about that veggie lo mein that originally caught my eye, too]
(4)Angela M.
Our group of 6 found this on a rainy Sunday night in June. We were seated upstairs, which was perfect for us to converse and get to know each other. The menu is an eclectic mix of Asian cuisines. I chose the tom yum soup and the mango curry. The soup was warm and flavorful, relying on the aromatics for the flavor. The mango curry was good, though the rice was a bit overdone and the whole thing was a little on the sticky side. Service was attentive and easily split our checks when requested.
(3)Maher A.
Nice atmosphere for sure in a very nice location. I think the food can be improved, except for the sushi which was good and that's why the 4 stars instead of 3. Something must be done about too much grease in the food making it loose the freshness. My family and I ordered several items including the veggie sampler and a Pad Thai dish... Presentation on point but lacks freshness. This place has potential but the average rating is exactly where it should be. I may try again but not likely as there are many other options in the area.
(4)Steve J.
I was able to sit right next to the window with my GF and enjoy a peaceful meal while we people watched (some characters came out this past Labor Day weekend so it was quite enjoyable) The meal started with chai tea, very delicious and given in a large glass full to the brim, already sweetened and full of cream. I went with the special, a Pyramid roll, along with many other specialty rolls and some sort of taco that had tempura chicken in it. The meal as a whole was very excellent with my only criticism including the amount of fried food present. It may have been the quality of the oil that altered the taste of the rolls/taco, but it was to the point of over powering all other flavors and I could no longer tolerate the meal. It's for this reason that I gave 3/5 stars. I would highly recommend, with avoidance of fried goods.
(3)Greg T.
Stopped in for dinner with the Smithie for her birthday dinner. Ordered the ribs and curry fries as appetizers. The ribs were very good, tender and served with a delicious dipping sauce. The curry fries were wrapped in phyllo and lightly fried. They were filled with curried potatoes, peas and carrots and also came with a zesty sauce. She had the udon noodles which were tasty and I had a couple of rolls. The volcano roll was good but was nearly impossible to eat with chop sticks as it completely fell apart with each bite. It was prepared slightly different than others I have had as it was completely cooked with scallops, tuna and salmon and topped with spicy sauce. The firecracker was even better in flavor with a zippy sauce on the side. The fish was fresh and it was garnished with micro radish greens which gave it a nice peppery flavor. Service was nice and attentive while the decor was contemporary and hip. Worth coming to if you like asian fusion.
(4)Winston H.
As a penguin, I expect to be fed like my mother fed me. She was a great prideful penguin and took utmost care of me and my 4 penguin siblings. She regurgitated my food every meal for me, but the hostesses at zen wouldn't do it even though I asked and explained why and how to do it. The sushi tastes good, and so does the Kalbi, but I just wish they would serve me my food partially digested.
(5)Kerry R.
Came here with the husband a few weeks ago. We were craving good sushi and wanted a departure from our usual spot. I have been to Zen before but he hadn't so I decided we would go together. Fairly empty for a late brunch and we were seated immediately. I wasn't thrilled to be sitting literally next to the door and hostess stand, nor did I enjoy the sun blazing into my eyes from the tall windows. But it was nice out so there wasn't cold air rushing in every time the door opened and the sun eventually got out of my way. I normally do enjoy the natural light the windows provide, just not directly into my retina. It took a few moments before a waiter came by to take our drink orders. We were recovering from the night before so just soft drinks for us. We settled on about 8 rolls and a few pieces of sushi. The waiter quickly reiterated our choices and within 20 mins we had our meal served on a platter almost too big for the table. The standard rolls (salmon, avocado, cucumber and tuna, avo, cuke) were basic but good. I really liked the firecracker roll and the spicy sauce that accompanied it. The biggest disappointment was the mango roll. We expected it to have a much sweeter taste to it but unfortunately, it was very bitter. The rest of the rolls were big but messy. They kept falling apart like they weren't rolled tight enough. Overall good but we are still loyalists to our favorite sushi place. Zen is nice for a date with prices indicative of a special occasion. I'd go back but probably just stick to the basics.
(3)Kara C.
Disappointing. Although it looks beautiful and the atmosphere is nice the food is lacking. The spring rolls were the only part of the meal that was enjoyable. The shrimp shumai was heavy and the filling was pretty gross with a pea on top? Then our sushi, I have never experienced COLD sushi! It was bad. We ordered the shrimp tempura which was mainly cold crab coleslaw? I don't know what else to call it, it was strange. Besides the spring rolls nothing else was worth it. Probably wouldn't bother coming here again.
(2)Red T.
My family and I stopped by Zen for dinner tonight. The meal started off on a sour note when one of our party discovered that the beer they were serving was more than a year old. The food and atmosphere saved the day though as the food was absolutely delicious and the atmosphere was peaceful with a nice view of downtown Northampton. The mini raviolis were definitely the highlight of the night and I highly recommend them to anyone who stops by! The sushi was fresh and tasteful, though they did fall apart easily. The lettuce wraps were great, but a little difficult to eat and very messy. I have to say I loved the calamari, I only wish that we hadn't had to send the dish back due to the fried hairs that accompanied it. All and all the food was tasty, the service was good, and the atmosphere was great! If only there hadn't been so many little mistakes.... Until next time...
(2)Chris C.
We had a private event with 25 people at Zen and it couldn't have been more perfect. We were so impressed with the quality of service, food, and decor that we actually changed our plan to spend even more time at Zen than we originally scheduled! The staff at Zen truly made it a perfect and memorable night. If you ever need a private event space in Northampton complete with catering, alcohol, and top notch service, Zen is the place! Thank you Zen!
(5)Liz K.
Had the most amazing lunch with family. Who knew every palate from fussy child to even fussier adults (me) could be satisfied with what at first pass seemed like an esoteric menu? We had all sorts of sushi, the vegetarian sampler, some chicken potstickers, pork lo mein, crispy chicken, crab taco and coconut Thai noodles. Expertly cooked & served hot. No complaints - fresh ingredients, excellent service and charming Xmas decorations. What more could you want when shopping downtown?
(5)Jason M.
Light food. A little different. Fun. I go here every couple of months and enjoy. I usually get the curry and one of their roles (usually western or Hawaii).
(4)Andrew B.
Zen is a solid 3. Eclectic, perhaps confused, menu, with nice decor. Good for a date, or with a small group of friends. Food is 3/5, and the prices are a tad high for the quality. If offered seating on the second level, I suggest you politely decline. Service is non-existent and abysmal when up there. Request to be on the main floor. I would suggest giving Zen a shot, but for me, I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.
(3)Ryan M.
You'd have to be a real Northampton person to like this place. If you actually eat in New York or Boston or anywhere with really good food you will be at least underwhelmed and probably disappointed here. Mediocre through and through.
(2)Ivan G.
Really cool place. I had a few rolls and Bulgogi. Also tried the kimchi. Food was great and fast. Definitely recommend.
(5)James L.
Rock and Roll lunch special was amazing! Fair prices and a bit cheaper than others in the area. EXCELLENT sushi! Service is decent as well.
(5)Christelle D.
Really great date night experience here! Wandered in on a whim one Thursday evening and the place was not crowded at all, so we got great attention from our server. The decor is very minimalistic and ambiance is very serene. We started with some warm Sake and the Northern Spare Ribs which were delicious - especially paired with the Zen barbecue sauce. I also had the Seafood Miso which was so flavorful and comforting on such a chilly March night. I forget the name but I had a really great scallop and avocado roll. Scallop tasted super fresh and was the perfect size. Will definitely be back!
(4)Jaclyn N.
Amazing. The food is so flavorful and plenty. The place looks very nice and makes you feel good. The service is fantastic. Our go to in Northampton for sushi- no doubts.
(5)Ashley B.
This is one of the few restaurants I can honestly say I've NEVER had a poor experience at. The food, especially the sushi, is always amazing and delicious. The sushi is the best in the valley, in my opinion, and tastes fresh every time. At one point I came here so much that the waiter knew my order. I came back a year or so later and he STILL remembered. Another time I was longing for a roll that was no longer on the menu, and the manager had the sushi chef make it anyway. That's amazing customer service! The food is expensive, as many have pointed out, and there is no kids menu. However, I think the price is worth it for the quality of food. Plus, the lunch specials are very reasonably priced. I can't say enough good things about this place. Though I've since moved across the country, whenever I'm home I make Zen a stop. I hope it stays for a long, long time!
(5)Bill S.
This place initially had me okay with its can't-decide-which-cuisine-to-be fare, but then lost me, quite simply, over the rotten attitude of the management and the ridiculous prices. We went with friends and our small daughter, and thinking they had some sort of children's option, ordered plain noodles, with butter. The wait was eternal, and when the bill came back: $15 for the plain noodles. After some discussion, we left concluding that the owners were greedheads. Never gone back.
(1)Chris F.
This place looked a lot nicer than the food tasted, I was really bummed out. Unlike some of the previous reviews I had excellent service; my server was very sweet and attentive. The hostess was also very nice. Maybe I should have stuck to sushi. I got a curry noodle dish and it was really odd. The curry chicken part was on the side with too much cilantro and soggy cucumbers. The noodles had a totally separate sauce- it was like someone dumped a Chinese dive joint lo mein in my dish by accident. The sauce on the noodles was really thick and I felt like total crap after I ate it. If I hadn't been starving I probably would've bypassed most of the dish. The chicken was also a bit gamey. It wasn't gross but it wasn't at all what I was expecting and I also found myself swatting away fruit flies though the restaurant seemed immaculate.
(3)Chris M.
For land-locked western mass this place had great sushi. Like one of the Zen raters, I have had Sushi all over the US and Spain and can say that the quality stacked up well. What marred the experience for me was the waiter, who obviously didn't want to be there and had no qualms about showing it by leaving our table unattended and serving courses out of order. All said, I'd give it another chance because of the food.
(3)Norco B.
I have literally eaten sushi all over the United States and I have never had better. The sauces they use are fantastic. They have an ever evolving menu with which my only complaint would be that sometimes a new favorite is lost with a change, but there's always something new.
(5)Jackson D.
Zen is a great little place in downtown Northampton when you're in the mood for Asian fusion and/or sushi. The restaurant has two floors and a sushi bar where the full menu is available,but seating is still at a premium. At 7 on a Friday we waited 20 minutes for a table, not too bad at all - but the people kept coming in and there is no space for a waiting area. The hostess did offer to call our cell phone when our table was ready. The menu is expansive with a number of traditional and a number of unique options. We ordered a few appetizers along with our entrees. Everything was delicious and the portions are pretty big. They also have a pretty good selection of beer and specialty drinks. I agree with some others, the prices are a little high, but considering the atmosphere and quality of food, it's not unreasonable. Entrees are between $15 and $20. Beers $4-$7 and apps around $10. Food and drinks were great, atmosphere is comfortable and service was friendly if not a little slow. Overall a good experience and I can't wait to go back to try their sushi.
(4)Nadim K.
Food is mediocre at best, sushi was great and fresh I should've stuck with the sushi part and away from the hot, we had the Zen platter and the crab wonton, food came luke warm and lacks flavor.
(3)Colin M.
Best sushi in New England Only thing is: The other dishes I had weren't so great. The scallops were tough and chewey.
(4)Steven T.
We headed up to Northhampton for the day. Most restaurants were closed due to the 4th of July holiday. So we decided to stop in and try out Zen. It was good Japanese. We had chicken saute on lettuce, a sweet potato roll and nigiri sushi. The service was prompt, food was fresh and well prepared. I would try this place again. It was a good place for people watching on main street because it had a clear view of downtown. The prices were reasonable. Next time I'm in town I'll try the box lunch.
(3)gwynnie p.
I'm normally not a fan of "fusion", but we recently had an assortment of very good food at Zen. It was a crowded Friday night, and we descended upon Zen with a party of 6, no warning. They handled that action with aplomb and good service. My favorite was the shrimp shu mai. Delicious! I had a salmon teriyaki dinner, and my complaint is that it had far too much teriyaki sauce on it. I scraped off what I could. But the fish was well cooked and I'm sure some people love that cloyingly sweet sauce. The decor is lovely so Zen would be great for a special occasion dinner and a casual meal as well. They seem to have a few options for private parties. Check it out.
(4)Jessica L.
Love this place!!! Everything here is delicious and fresh. I especially love that everything here is excellent, ranging from the sushi to lo mein to noodle soups, etc., so it's the perfect place if not everyone in your your group likes sushi. Really nice ambience, plus the upstairs seating area is a bit more private and great for larger parties. There's always excellent service here, and if you sit along the window you can get a nice view of Main Street. It also offers excellent lunch specials. It is a bit pricier than some of the other restaurants in Northampton, but the nice ambience and high quality food make up for it.
(5)Emily Q.
Zen used to be our go-to place. Decent rice, good portions, fun ambiance. My friends and I went together once a month or more, and I went on my own for lunch frequently. No more. In December, we had our last "sushi Sunday" at Zen. My friend got a bento box with tuna sashimi, took one bite, and declared herself done. Confused, I made my way through my dinner special until I tasted the tuna as well. It was absolutely rancid. Fishy, slimy--far gone enough that it shouldn't have been served cooked, much less as sashimi. I tried to get the attention of the waiter, who brushed me off. After another try, the owner finally came over and refused to comp anything on my bill. I pointed out that half my meal was a spicy tuna roll, and was thus inedible. They hemmed and hawed said they could take off $5, which they did-off another friend's check. As a fairly regular customer at Zen, I was very disappointed to be brushed off so quickly, not to mention the fact that they didn't seem to care about their bad fish! As many good experiences as we had at Zen, we definitely won't be back.
(1)Melanie S.
Go to Zen if you want to play it safe. Everything I've ever ordered from Zen has been pretty good, if not, absolutely yum. Some of my favorites are the starter spare ribs, the shogun roll, and the volcano roll. I can understand how one reviewer wrote that he was underwhelmed by his experience here, but from living in Northampton I can honestly say its one of the best restaurants in a town that is basically made up of restaurants. I return to Zen time and time again not because its a fabulous dining experience with complicated and interesting cuisine, I return to zen because its quick, filling, and on the whole pretty good. It's an asian fusion restaurant so all the dishes, though exotic, are pretty standard in their distinction as such. Aside from the sushi, it might be difficult to distinguish any of the mains from dishes at any other asian food restaurant. My only qualms come with the service. The waiters tend to be slower when there isn't a lot of traffic in the restaurant and they always seem rather bored. Now, I'm not asking for my waiters to be all applebee's baby voice, in your face, but I'd like to feel as though I'm not imposing on them by being present in the restaurant and making them do their jobs. Also, if you're looking for really good Korean BBQ I wouldn't recommend ordering from Zen. Go down the road to Gohyang in Hadley.
(4)Anthony P.
The ambience was great, the food and presentation were great and the service was good. I'll come back for more. I tried the crab wonton dumplings, it's like the sophisticated version of crab Rangoon, where they used real mozzarella instead of cream cheese. The wontons looked like sacks tied up (view picture for details). I had sushi for the main course. My friend and I chose sweet tofu sushi, sweet shrimp sushi, and the mix of crab, salmon and shrimp sushi. I also wanted to be adventurous so i had the Salmon Egg sushi. They all were good trying. Other entrees I saw served to customers had very nice presentation. I coming back!
(4)D. B.
First and foremost, the food at Zen is DELICIOUS. As an Asian-fusion restaurant, Zen has many interesting dishes on the menu. The sushi/rolls in particular are fresh and delicious and wildly creative -- a few standouts on the menu include the claw roll, Zen taco, and volcano roll. That being said, Zen is pretty pricey. It's borderline too pricey for me, but I try to justify it by going only once and awhile and reminding myself that the taste is so good. The service is also inconsistent; sometimes you get a friendly and attentive waiter/waitress, and sometimes you get someone who virtually ignores you. The ambiance of the restaurant is also hit or miss, as the decor is lovely and it's usually not too noisy, but occasionally they try to cram extra tables where there really isn't room. Overall, Zen is a great place for delicious and creative food.
(4)Kylan M.
Went here with my wife and infant for lunch. Bulgogi was delicious. The owner was so nice. She brought over some complementary soft tofu in miso broth for the baby and he loved it.
(5)Dan S.
When I'm in town, there are other places to eat, but Zen is always my first choice. Time and again, it continues to provide GREAT Asian food at reasonable prices with great service. On a recent visit, we went for lunch with the family. For $10, kids had a salmon teriyaki bento box with soup, dumplings, california roll, and rice. A great deal. The bulgogi was also a hit. The wonton soup was a little peppery but the hot & sour soup hit the spot too. The highlight was the hand rolls which looked like mini ice cream cones. Couldn't even finish them. Sar Chai Mei Fun noodles were also a big hit. You really can't go wrong but the highlights are always the Dragon Rolls and the other apps. Ignore the negative and fake reviews, this is a great place in town. Family friendly and delicious. A great combination.
(5)Hank H.
decent sushi. very expensive and poor service. ordered a sushi plater the other day, the waitress simply dropped the plate and walked away. no soy sauce and no chopsticks. i ended up having to get them myself because the waitress was no where to be seen. the salad never came either. would not go there again
(2)Paul B.
ZEN has grown to be my go-to place when I am in Northampton. Yes, there are many good places to eat downtown, but what keeps me coming back to ZEN is the consistency. The food and service are always top notch. ZEN is an Asian fusion restaurant, so you'll find dishes with Japanese, Korean, Thai, Chinese, and other Asian influences as well as some East meets West fare. Often I've found that this can be a downfall for restaurants as they become jack of all trades, master of none. This is not at all the case for ZEN. They have my favorite sushi in Northampton both for selection, quality, and presentation. The Korean and Thai dishes I've had have been terrific and while I have not had any of the Chinese main courses myself, some nibbles off of a friend's dish were quite tasty. I like to start with a pot of Jasmine tea and the mini "raviolis", choose either an entree from their large menu or sushi depending on my mood, (they often have wonderful seasonal specials, too) and then end with a lotus bun served with ice cream. Asian beers aren't my thing, though my wife will enjoy a saki now and then. The service has been nothing short of outstanding every time I've dined here which is frequent. Also, the presentation rivals and often surpasses pricier restaurants in the area. The other negative reviews surprise me as I just have always had such good experiences there and if you read my other reviews you'll see that I can be quite picky. At any rate, give ZEN a try. Oh and even if you think you don't like sushi, try a Hawaiian Roll for dessert!
(5)Julie T.
Zen, you've won me over. I went on a day trip to Northampton and decided to try this place out. I was not disappointed! DECOR: I love the set-up of this restaurant. Very visually appealing and a warm ambiance. Good first impression. FOOD: I ordered salmon sashimi and the chicken teriyaki with brown rice. First of all, love that they have the brown rice option! The salmon was fresh; wish they had thicker slices but it was still delicious. The chicken was also very good! Decent sized portions; I was full after eating only half my plate, I doggy-bagged the rest. SERVICE: This is where Zen really won me over. Service is a huge deal-breaker for me. The staff was so attentive and checked on us often without being suffocating. When they saw my friend reaching to try a piece of my salmon sashimi, they immediately brought her a small plate without being asked. They were great with refilling our water too; glass was never less than half full. Such friendly service, I love it. PRICE: Around $15-30 per person. Not bad, pretty average. I will definitely return here! Whoo-hoo!
(5)N K.
Our annual day after Christmas sushi stop in Northampton. Yesterday was a disappointment for sure. My fire roll was just not very good tasting and not appealing to look at either. Hot and Spur soup was good. Good service and nice atmosphere.
(2)Elyse Q.
Zen is a consistently amazing sushi experience. I was a lifelong Osaka girl, then Zen opened. I've never looked back. Try the Zen Nachos, Sunrise and Fire rolls, or the Bento specials. YUM
(5)Lisa R.
Our large group of 16 -- students, parents, visiting friends -- enjoyed the exquisite selections and presentation of Asian fusion offerings delivered by attentive servers. Everything arrived as ordered (except my hot green tea, but no matter because my husband's cold saki was excellent and they'd brought an extra cup for that). We enjoyed the vegetarian dumpling sampler app, and a Summer Salad of pickled cabbage and cucumber, along with Chicken with Shiitake Mushroom in a delectable sauce and Orange Beef (which we'd forgotten was a fried dish and while excellent would probably skip for more interesting and healthier dishes). My husband LOVED his seaweed salad; and other friends quite liked their sashimi sampler, and another the seared tuna with greens. Very glad for the option of brown rice. We had several servers coming and going with things, and a manager overseeing all the tables was just a nod away for anything overlooked. Extensive and creative menu -- anxious to go back to try more!
(4)Timothy A.
I highly recommend this place! Everything I've tried has been awesome. There are plenty of vegetarian options too. My favorite dish is the mint roti wrap. The prices are reasonable and the service is great. The few times we have had questions about a dish or allergy concerns, they had changed the menu to include the information by the time I ate there again. I can't say enough good things about Zen.
(5)Alex S.
One of the most notable western MA sushi restaurants, the food here is phenominal. I've eaten here a few times and am always satisfied. They have some interesting selections for specialty rolls, some very sweet. You can't go wrong at Zen. Also has the nicest atmosphere of any NoHo / Amherst sushi place.
(5)Sarah O.
It just didn't seem fresh. And that's just about the worst thing a person can say about sushi. I ordered three maki rolls, each of which was indistinguishable from the next, and all doused in some sort of heavy, mayonnaise-based liquid. Instead of whole pieces, the fish was minced-- finely-- and then rolled. Gross. I've seen that preparation before in tuna rolls, and perhaps I'm missing something, but it just seems as though pulverizing the fish is an attempt to conceal its poor quality. The texture was disgusting, and the food was generally unappetizing. My sister-in-law's chicken dish was room temperature, as were the pork dumplings she ordered. The service was attentive, but otherwise the experience was dreadful.
(2)Aaron T.
Tried it again a couple of times--service was a bit better, atmosphere relaxed, food OK. Not a knockout, but a great space to dine in. Recommend sitting up front near the windows to get a good downtown view.
(3)Salman A.
The sushi was not bad but that is as far as it goes. The service leaves a lot to be desired with a complete lack of interest.
(2)Ajay S.
Good food, but not cheap. Enjoyed most stuff Ive had here.
(4)Michelle W.
Try the deluxe crunch roll. Everything is good. But not cheap. Zen is awesome but has a limited menu.
(4)Nancy H.
We try to spread our sushi-eating all over Northampton. For tuna-yellowtail-salmon sashimi, I'll stick with Osaka. However, we love Zen for the engagement, the personality at the sushi bar, and the sheer fun of eating there. My surf clam allergy is honored in the mixed platters without complaint. We are encouraged to try new things, and we've never been disappointed. Engaging with the people who are making your food is one of the most elementally satisfying experiences, and Zen never disappoints.
(4)Sara S.
I love Zen. great food, reasonable price, good atmosphere and good sake too! this sushi bar/restaurant does not disappoint. I have had their awesome chicken mango curry, their soups, their duck and of course all different specials on their sushi menu. they change their menu periodically which is nice, and seasonally fresh. one of my favorite sushi places ever.
(4)Bill B.
I've been to Zen more times than I can remember, and have always had a great experience. I know some folks who aren't crazy about it and, judging from the reviews here, they aren't alone. The sushi's always fresh; IMHO it's the best in the area, and I've tried 'em all. And the service has been super-friendly and attentive every time. Some of my favorites? The chicken tea rolls, shrimp shumai, and the crunch, godzilla, shogun, or spicy tuna rolls. I'm getting hungry just typing this.
(4)Courtney R.
Zen is a cute asian fusion restaurant with an inventive menu and pretty presentations. Steamed vegetarian dumplings were a bit sticky and chewy, but the Crispy Chicken with the black pepper sauce was quite nice and the lettuce wraps (which could have been a special for the evening, it may nor may not be on the menu still) provided lots of variety and was large enough for sharing. The lotus bun dessert is luscious and satisfying.
(3)Shaina P.
I loved the waitress here. She shared her life story; as did I and the guys I came here with. There's something to be said about being able to talk casually and easily with the person who is serving you. It doesn't happen often in the bigger urbs like Boston. The white tuna sashimi was served in inch-thick slices; another instant love. The salmon sushi was almost as big a cut as the sashimi; mmm. Some might say that the wasabi had no kick, which I would have to agree with, but the fish tasted so fresh and awesome, it shouldn't be overwhelmed with the aromatic burn of wasab. The dumpling soup came served in a little bowl with three chicken-filled dumplings bathing in a very flavorful broth. A satisfying $5 accompaniment. The crysanthymum tea was also a pleasant surprise -- flavored with a fragrant floral, but with a very subtle hue. Even the general gau's/tso's/tau's chicken was tasty in its sticky spicy sauce and thick crunchy coating served with the option of brown or white rice. This dinner after dinner will make sleeping very easy.
(4)Kmb A.
By far my favorite place to get sushi! I moved out to Boston a while ago and I just cannot find any sushi that compares to Zen. Every time I return to Wmass to visit family I make a trip out to Noho just to get my Zen fix. I love the atmosphere, and the service is usually pretty good. I only go for sushi, and my favorite roll is the spicy tuna. I would also recommend the edamame with the garlic dipping butter sauce. My boyfriend has ordered a chicken dish a few times, and it seemed to get worse each time (my 5 star rating is based only on sushi). Sushi is always fresh, consistent and delicious!!!
(5)Yuri E.
I've tried a lot of Sushi place and this place didn't wow me at all. The inside is decorated very nicely, and it's very trendy. The food was kind of meh(I ordered some rolls), and the service was pretty horrible. I went with a friend, but they kept serving people that seemed "older" . Maybe they thought we weren't going to order much. The food is also very expensive for its quality. The fish seemed a bit watery(meaning they probably freeze the fish and store it in the freezer) and didn't taste very good. Perhaps non-sushi food is good, but I'm skeptical.
(2)Karl T.
I don't understand any of the negative reviews on Zen. This restaurant is by far the best Japanese/sushi option in Northampton. I have been here many times over the years and have not had one bad experience. Bottom line is: 1. Sushi is delicious, fresh and creative. I love the Sunrise roll! 2. The restaurant decor is very nice and kept up well 3. The staff is very friendly and they care about your experience. The manager Yeiyu, is a great asset to the establishment. 4. Prices are reasonable for the quality they offer- much better than Osaka 5. Location is terrific 6. Menu is well balanced offering an array of mixed Asian fusion with plenty of veggie and health dishes 7. The miso soup is the best in town I recommend this place for a large gathering, nice dinner or for a simple tasty lunch. Keep up the good work Zen!
(4)Sisi R.
Came here and ordered general tso's chicken lunch special and it was underwhelming. The food was bland but salty. The sushi looked good though I didn't try it. Nevertheless, very good service and nice restaurant decor/atmosphere.
(3)Andrew R.
Most everyone I know in Northampton likes this spot a lot, but I really think it is way over-rated and over-priced. The stir fries tend to be oily and to have gloppy sauces with indistinct flavors, the dumplings seem like they are micro-waved (see my dumpling review on my blog) and the sushi rolls are overly fussy. i had a noodle in peanut sauce dish there once which was one of the singularly worst noodle dishes I have eaten. -Andrew dumplinghunter.wordpress…
(1)Kristina D.
It is expensive. The special rolls are worth every penny. Volcano Roll, Dragon Roll, and Spider Roll, are truly some of the best flavors I've experienced in sushi. I'm a wicked penny-pincher, but the special rolls are really worth the indulgence!
(5)Q S.
I'd say the sushi here is pretty decent. It's a bit pricey, and out of all the times that I've been here, I have never been that impressed.
(3)Kiernan G.
Decor: 3 stars Service: 2.5 stars Price/food: 2 stars Overall: 2.5 stars. I made the mistake of going here for sushi. A few friends said they liked it, sadly I cannot agree. Firstly, the prices are obscenely high. They are higher prices than Osaka or Moshi Moshi, the other high end sushi bars in Northampton. Even a basic rainbow roll here costs $12.50 (They run from $7.95-9.95 everywhere else). Unlike most asian restaurants in town, they charge for green tea. They brought me a very tasty pot of tea, but I am used to it being a complimentary part of the meal at those places. The service was friendly. Not extremely knowledgeable about the menu, but very nice. I ordered one of the specials of the day and she brought me something entirely different. The sushi wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything special. For what I paid for it I was shocked at how small it was. I am used to paying $13-14 for huge, amazing full meal style rolls at Tokyo, so maybe I am a bit spoiled. The decor was nice, they have done a good job making the place pretty. Sadly, this is really the only good thing I can say about the restaurant so I don't expect to be going back.
(2)Jennifer W.
If I could give it 0 stars, I would. The only thing positive for us was the atmosphere, and this will probably fool many. The service was less than friendly (we didn't even get the cursory "how is the food?" check-in), and the food was awful. My "spicy" basil seafood had no flavor, and I was brought the wrong rice. My husbands Korean barbecue beef tasted mostly of soy sauce and little else. There are FAR better Asian places in NoHo than Zen, and we were very disappointed. We thought we'd try something new, but we won't be going back. Completely overpriced for the bland food we had.
(1)Alfonsina S.
Things to order: If you are vegetarian: Hawaiian roll, Noho roll, steamed vegetable dumplings, vegetarian mango curry if you like a little kick, Buddha Garden if you like it a little sweeter (also has seitan), corn potstickers If you like seafood: garlic chicken and shrimp, lemongrass, or mango curry with shrimp, Tom Yum soup, **CRISPY TUNA TACOS** If you like sushi: Godzilla roll, fire roll, rainbow roll (if you're a tuna fan), volcano roll (baked deliciousness), East Meets West roll If you like traditional: chicken dumplings, General Tso's chicken, Sesame chicken (but I recommend a vegetable side to accompany) TRUST ME. I go here a lot.
(5)Andrew K.
One of two really good places in town. Service is good too.
(4)Emma O.
Yesterday I ate at Zen for the second time. And both times were delicious. I had dinner there the first time and lunch there yesterday. Both times I shared the Zen sampler with my fellow diners. It is delicious. There are 5 different snacks on the plate. 3 of which are vegetarian which was a plus for me. We had a variety of sushi as our main course. Most of which was vegetarian. My personal favorite was the sweet tofu with cashews. Yum! All of the other sushi was delicious as well. Good service, but by far the best part of our dining experience was the garlic miso butter that accompanied the edamame beans. SO DELICIOUS! Do yourself a favor and check out Zen for the sushi as well as the delicious asian cuisine.
(5)Ren C.
Zen: super expensive, but it's hard to stop going there. They have *probably* the best spicy tuna rolls I've ever had. Sauce is perfect, and they melt in your mouth. My boyfriend and I used to get full meals (which were nice), but have recently just pared down to getting two or three orders of spicy tuna rolls and something random, like a rainbow roll. As you can probably tell, I dig their sushi. Unfortunately, that's about all the place has going for it--prices are high, waitstaff is snooty (you can't go there for a quick small bite without them glaring at you for not ordering more), and service is slow as molasses when it's busy. It's a shame, because really, they employ great sushi chefs... and not much else.
(3)Sarah M.
I had been a long time Zen fan, until last week. Now I will never go back. I went to Zen with 7 of my friends (8 of us total) and we called ahead to make reservations and went ahead to place our food order, which would simply mean it went to the kitchen as soon as we were seated. The food was great but the service was absolutely terrible. The server didn't speak clearly and didn't seem to understand what we said when we talked with him. Then, because of this poor communication due to the server's poor English fluency, we thought we needed more rice than what was served with our meal, as we had ordered 5 dished that come with a serving of rice on the side. He quickly said ok and got us more rice for our large party. We thought that was the end of any issue and then preceded with our nice meal. However, when the bill came-- we were charged over $10 for extra rice! First of all, we asked for clarification about why we were being charged for extra rice when we asked for the rice that came with each dish only. He then explained that he had to charge us because we had already gotten our appropriate serving of rice with the meal when we asked for more. It then turned into a battle of his poor communication & he had to go and get the manager. She then explained that we had already gotten the appropriate serving of rice when we had asked for more. We then told her how it was NOT communicated to us that we were being charged for RICE when we has specifically asked for the rest of what we thought was appropriate for our order. The terrible manager fought with us, the party of 8+ spending a significant amount of money at their establishment, over RICE. Alright, rice is cheap and charging us $10 for a side of rice was absurd by itself. Then because we were a large party-gratuity included so we couldn't even show how frustrated we were with the service via tip. The manager was clearly just as inexperienced and inhospitable as the server. I myself am a manager in the food service industry, at a nice restaurant near Boston-- so to see how poorly these managers treated customers (especially customers dropping a lot of money) was absolutely ridiculous. The management at Zen needs to work on training its staff better and they actually need to work on their upper level management too... maybe with a replacement of someone who knows the golden rule to hospitality and food service-- THAT THE CUSTOMER IS RIGHT. It's sad that they destroyed their reputation with an incident over rice... good god, learn how to be in the service industry. I'll miss the food but there are plenty of other and better Asian restaurants in Northampton.
(2)Max W.
Very good food. I come here with my family every Wednesday afternoon and get the lunch box which is very delicious and comes with many options. I would give double thumbs up!
(4)Wing M.
First, I like the name. It's actually really clever wordplay since zen, spoken in the proper inflection, actually means cuisine in Chinese (and that is the character they have as their logo). Second, I like the food and atmosphere. I went here on a date once and it was awesome. The food was better than most places in Northampton. Their desserts in particular were creative twists on Asian desserts that I really loved. Problems: I've been warned against getting sushi at Zen so I did not do it. I was not impressed with the sushi that folks at tables around me god. Also, this place is stupid crowded---it's just way too popular and, well, there are places in Northampton I like more that have shorter waits.
(4)hk k.
Not a fan of Zen's food. Zen is not a "fusion Asian" restaurant; rather, it serves Asian-esque food for non-Asian palate. Everything I had (my friend and I tried to be fair by ordering a number of things) was mediocre at best to downright terrible. Never order sushi here, for one thing. The sushi rice was cooked terribly and the fish had no taste. Thai food is prepared in such a way that ruins the most common dishes such as pad thai. (In Zen's version, bland, limp noodles are drowning in coconut sauce. Who ever cooks Pad Thai in coconut milk?) Everything seemed to have too much oil and sugar in general. And not cheap, either. It is too bad, since the decor is very nice. What a disappointment. :-(
(2)Richard R.
Great raviolis and sushi rolls. Love the specials.
(4)Inigo M.
A slight twist on Bul Go Gi: slices of fresh red tomato, green pepper, and carrot. The kimchi side order (not free) either had some alcohol or wasn't quite ripe yet. Fast and courteous service. Warm, modern ambiance.
(3)alexandra f.
Zen always fails to impress me however I find myself here often because of friends who think differently. Meh. I've ordered the thai pasta here which is pretty decent. The chicken satay isn't bad. However, everything else is just a boujie taken on chinese food. Not impressed. Their sushi is also subpar. It's served very beautifully on a big platter but the rolls are always TOO big. I'm talking circles the size of rolls of hay. I've tried their specialty rolls am usually underimpressed so i stick with my favorite philly roll. Even that they can't get the proportions of salmon and cream cheese right. Don't waste time/money at Zen.
(2)Susan A.
Not impressed. My partner and I went to Zen a while back on a double date. Not a soul in my party was impressed. The location is great and the decor is nice...but the food was not so great. I ordered some maki rolls. They were boring and flavor-less. The one thing that I can say is good is the look of the place. Not bad. People keep telling me how great it is. Maybe I'll try it again but I honestly don't have much of an interest.
(2)Callie F.
I have heard the hype of Zen since moving to the area almost two years ago. Finding free time today, I gave it a shot. Long story short: I FOUND PLASTIC IN MY SOUP!!! this wasn't just a little piece of plastic, this was a piece of saran wrap, that apparently the wontons are wrapped in, about three inches in diameter that I inhaled. I brought it to the attention of the waiter, and he just muttered a half assed apology, "oh it must have come from the wonton" didn't offer another bowl of soup, no discount, no free meal, NOTHING. The mark up is so high, I can't imagine offering something would put them under. Food wasn't that great, atmosphere is poor. Waitstaff was distant, (we waited about twenty minutes before he finally came over to ask if we were done) we had even stacked up all the plates in an effort to illustrate we wanted to leave. & the meal came to 25 bucks. for two people, for lunch. Never, Zen. Again.
(2)Jenn X.
I was underwhelmed. The decor is nice, thus the extra star. We had three appetizers and all were poorly conceived and bland. We didn't eat them and left to get food elsewhere.
(2)Lauren R.
I guess if you're really dead-set on fusion cuisine and you're stuck in Northampton, then Zen is the place to go. I don't have any outstanding complaints except that their pricing is redonkulous. But nor do I have any rave reviews for Zen. My mom and I stopped by after walking past it about 40 times on her other visits. We figured it was about time. Neither of us figured it was stellar enough for a return trip.
(3)Theo B.
The place looks amazing and but the food is hit or miss for me. Sometimes it is amazing and sometimes I wish they would leave the French influence out of the dish.
(4)Jane R.
Recommended to me as a great dining experience and good to take my 17 year old son, I gave it a try. Wow. Really, really good! Although we were seated upstairs, we were well taken care of and served in a friendly and timely manner (important when dining with sons!). Lovely, tasty wings as an appetizer were so delicious, we ate half without even dipping them into the wonderful sauce accompanying the dish. I ordered the house curry veggie chicken dish and it was so fresh and delicious! The veggies were done perfectly, and the sauce was great with just the right amount of heat. I chose the brown rice vs. white. It came wrapped inside a banana leaf and had the best taste! My son ordered a 'healthy' (!) dish of teriyaki salmon and asparagus. He ate every bit. I tasted it and was again pleased to see that it too was wonderful. Go Go Go to Zen Restaurant while in the five college area of Northampton MA!
(5)Hilary S.
Zen does Asian fusion as well as any restaurant I have experienced. My daughter and I sat upstairs and had great service and ambiance as we had sushi for an appetizer, then Chinese and Thai dishes for our entrées. Overall it was a wonderful and relaxing experience that I look forward to experiencing again. Recommended.
(4)Lola K.
The fish was very fresh. I understand how poeple say the pieces were big. They were actually normal, but the proportion of the fish to rice was terrible. I personally like the rice, maybe they'll beef it up someday
(5)Lora B.
I went on a Mother-Daughter date to Zen and was not impressed. The food was actually 1.5 stars, but I rounded up to 2 because the service was excellent. We started with the Tom Yum soup and the Chicken Dumpling Soup. The dumpling soup was ok, but nothing special and the Tom Yum soup was bland and lacked the spice that makes this soup so great. Next we got Kim Chi that was also too mild, and tasted almost canned. Finally we split Curried Chicken and Noodles. The noodles tasted like greasy American/ Chinese lo mein. The veggies that were said to come with the dish consisted only of a ton of peas with a random cucumber or tomato piece thrown in. AND once again the dish contained no spice. I wanted to say something to our waiter about the poor quality of the food, but he was so nice and attentive, I decided to let it slide.....but I will not be going back to Zen.
(2)Suzette L.
Fantastic food! We had lunch on a weekday and the food was terrific. The price was reasonable and affordable, $28 for an app, and 2 lunch entrees. The portions were ample, I still had to take home half, but then again, we had the Zen Sampler appetizer to begin. Great service, friendly, helpful staff, and quiet atmosphere. Intimate seating, so there maybe a little more noise when it is full. I will go back!
(5)Elizabeth T.
This place was so good! I'm a massive sushi fan and the night we went, I branched out and tried some new sushi and was very impressed. The food was delicious. I'm definitley coming back!
(4)Michelle T.
Zen's atmosphere alone drew me in. You can dine near the window, people-watching or, for a more intimate experience, you can dine upstairs. The waitstaff is helpful but does not hover. I have enjoyed every meal I've had here but the crowning glory was a spicy Tom Yum Soup and a sirloin-asparagus sushi roll. Different and delicious. I won't say Zen isn't a bit pricey but it is definitely worth it. A great place for a date or a girl's night out. And the bathrooms are lovely and located in an out-of-the-way place so that you don't feel as though you're doing your business in the middle of other diners. Also a great location. Leave time for a stroll around Northampton after dinner.
(4)Emily Von P.
I can quickly and easily think of at least 5 other places to get sushi/japanese/korean/chinese within 10 miles that are far superior and less expensive than Zen. Leave this place to the Smithies and out-of-towners who don't know any better, and head elsewhere if you want more than just the facade of asian-fusion hype.
(1)brooke m.
Ooh I like this place. Maybe I'm just easily impressed by the decor, but it can't hurt. For some reason their California rolls are really good; it has something to do with the crab but I can't figure out what exactly. As far as entrees/fusion cuisine goes, I've tried the seafood fried rice and the asian chicken salad, both were very tasty. Lots of big scallops and shrimp in the rice. They also have a nice selection of sake, which in my experience is hard to come by around here (except for Osaka up the street). I recommend going in the summer when they take the big front windows out (because I have a thing for sitting outside). Awesome for people-watching.
(4)Alex G.
Zen has been a favorite for birthdays and random get togethers for the past 5 years. This is probably the best sushi in Northampton. The place is smack in the middle of downtown. There is no parking lot, so you have to find street parking, which kind of sucks sometimes, but if you come later at night, there is a parking lot down the street where it's free after 6. The inside décor is pretty nice, good ambience, especially if you sit on the 2nd floor. Never had any problems with the staff, they are always pretty very friendly. As for the food, it's a bit pricey, but well worth the few extra bucks. You should definitely try the crunch roll or the Philly roll. Some of the specialty rolls are good too, like the dragon roll or spider. Other then sushi I rarely get appetizers, I think they are kind of overpriced. I would rather fill that space with some sushi. But we usually get a plate of general tso's chicken for the table, which isn't too bad.
(5)Peter B.
Great sushi, and outstanding Thai entrees. Another big plus: reasonably priced beer. And the staff was great, very welcoming and attentive.
(5)N D.
I grew up in the area. When Zen opened a few years ago, I feel in love with it. Recently, I got married at The Log Cabin and had my rehearsal dinner at Zen. We were a group of over 30, and so I had a hard time finding a good restaurant in the area that could accomodate us. Luckily, Zen was there to save the day! With any large group, I had to deal with a varity of tastes and preferences. The owner worked with me to come up with a menu that meet everyone's needs. We had a bit of Japanese food, Chinese food, and Korean food. The apps were delicious and plentiful. The sushi and sashimi were well presented and fresh. Needless to say, EVERYONE in attendance was more than satisfied. And there was plenty of leftovers to have another banquet dinner at home! One of the owners even came out with a customized menu for the occasion! The staff was very accomodating to our needs and made the event run very smoothly. I would highly recommend this place for all occasions!
(5)Diana F.
Honestly, I really wasn't impressed by their food at all. I was drawn to Zen because of their cool and chic decor, but that is probably all there was to offer. I wouldn't give it 1 star because it wasn't entirely awful. I didn't hate it; however, I probably will never return to Zen.
(2)Jen M.
This place deserves a good rating if for no other reason than that their water doesnt have a funky flavor (like most of the restaurants on that street) and their bathrooms are clean, unlike most noho establishments. We sampled a few dishes and really liked everything we got. The sushi was good, not as good as Rice or Ginger Blossom in Springfield, MA. But good nonetheless. I would go there again.
(3)Sula P.
Zen rocked it last night...you have to try 'east meets west' dish.....so delicious. good atmosphere, good wine, good eats.
(4)Jaquelina L.
My gf and I went to this place because of their cool decor, but I wasn't impressed by their food at all. I didn't hate it; however, I probably will never return to Zen.
(2)