Don't be put off by their decidedly pan-asian menu, this place has been open since before that was a bad sign. I've been going here for probably 15 years, and it's never disappointed. They had vegetarian dishes before that was something you could really count on at a Chinese restaurant, and still have some of the best veggie options in the area. The scallion pancakes are easily the best I've ever had; crispy and with a tasty dipping sauce. The Zen Curry is divine, and a really interesting fusion dish unlike anything I've had elsewhere. Other favorites are the Tofu with Tender Spinach (big huge chunks of tofu), Kung Pao Tofu, and Cashew Tofu. My only complaint is I wish the tofu dishes came with more veggies, so I usually get a veggie dish and mix them.
(4)
Jenny N.
Great food! I'm a pretty big meat eater but my husband talked me into vegetable dumplings and garlic spinach and I was absolutely stuffed! Super fresh and tasty, and their portion sizes are awesome! I crave cafe zen at least once a week!
(5)
Lee C.
Went with my daughter this afternoon, about 2 pm. We were the only people in the place. We wanted sushi, and almost decided to go elsewhere as they did not have much of a selection. We should have went with our first reaction. The crab rangoons had almost no filling. No soy sauce dishes, just round side serving dishes. The sushi was poorly rolled, falling apart. Rice was mushy, grains not nicely defined like they should be. When the bill came we were charged from .25 to .55 cents more than listed on the menu for several items. It's not the money, it's the point that the register should not ring up differently than what is written on the menu. When I brought it up to the waitress she said she was sorry, but the bill was not changed. I decided it was not worth my energy to ask for someone in charge, we just will not go back.
(1)
Emme B.
I'm surprised to see reviews with low stars for this restaurant, because I've never had a bad meal here. The service has always been good. I usually get one of the chinese dishes (garlic chicken or shrimp with vegetables), and there's enough food to save for the next day's lunch. The food tastes healthy (not oily or greasy). It's a little pricey, but it's a pricey neighborhood.
(4)
Nakeia J.
I went yesterday for lunch with my cousin and have been fantasizing about the shrimp toast since I left. It was amazing, the waitress warned that it is addictive. I ordered the Gow Bah Sizzler with chicken as my meal and it was filled with delicious veggies and thinly sliced chicken. Some Asian restaurants skimp on the protein but this one doesn't. The portion size was enough for lunch and dinner! I've lived in the area for years and never went in because from the outside it doesn't have much of a presence, especially with Zen West next door. The lack of curb appeal will no longer stop me, I'll be back...soon!
(4)
Carol C.
The service was great but food was just terrible.... I struggle to find good asian food here and this place really misses the mark. Their special (some candied red pork thing) was hard and difficult to eat. Not tasty at all unless you just like eating grease and sugar. I would rather eat at Panda Express.
(2)
Jim M.
Totally hidden gem... More take out than anything else. Not many eat in as the atmosphere is tired but the food is good and inspired. Chicken with broccoli was great. Hunan Chicken was even better. Great won ton.
(5)
Rentaro M.
This place is a standard Chinese restaurant. I never came here because it's always so empty, but it wasn't that bad. I ordered Singapore rice noodles and it was exactly what I expected it to be.
(4)
Mike B.
We get here about once a month and, without fail enjoy a delicious dinner. The entrees are fresh, plentiful, and tasty. Tonight my husband had sesame shrimp surrounded by broccoli done just right. My tongue got a kick out of the Hunan pork with plenty of fresh vegetables. It was spicy without being burned. The brown rice was cooked just right, not chewy. We both got enough to take home as a second meal. The meal is always finished off with a tiny tub of line sherbet and a fortune cookie. On the walls are painted in a pastel Oriental motif, lots of fun to view. Don't miss out on this place.
(5)
Stephanie S.
Like many posting here on Yelp, my husband and I sought this place out after seeing it featured on Best Thing I Ever Ate. So, the crispy beef (alternately named on the menu as 'Candy Beef' - a more appropriate name) is not for everyone's taste. I see that a lot of people here are giving the place one star after having this dish, which is patently unfair. To eat this dish you have to not think of it as a main dish. It is a snack/appetizer, or even (seriously) a dessert. It is CANDY. And if you drop your preconceptions and think of it that way, it is pretty remarkable and unique. Tip - get it as an appetizer (not dinner). And DON'T try to eat it right away. Actually let it cool for a good 20 minutes - get another app and be patient. After the beef cools and the honey sauce firms up, you have your candy beef. And its even better the next day. I've actually been snacking on it slowly for a couple days - it holds up well. Okay, moving on. My husband and I also ordered two tofu-based dishes - he got the Kung Pao Tofu and I got the Pad Thai with Tofu. His dish was really well-done, with the (non-fried) tofu having sucked up all that good spicy sauce. They serve brown rice which I've found is a rarity at Asian restaurants in the DC-Baltimore area. My Pad Thai had its moments - it gets points for being decidedly non-oily, and the rice noodles were well cooked. They were, however, very bland - I had to add some of the Kung Pao sauce which actually made it taste a lot better. The fried tofu was literally inedible. It was so overfried that you couldn't even chew it. I had to set it aside and had no protein (except my husband's tofu which I pilfered) in my dish :(. The ambiance leaves much to be desired. Drink prices are good (especially the sake). Service was fine, efficient. I would definitely go back.
(3)
Yishin S.
First, this place is more like 3.5 stars. I only dined here once because I was on a mission to search a decent Chinese restaurant in Baltimore and could not find one, so I though I would give this place a try. It is actually not a bad place, given that the food is better than your average take-out local Chinese. We are the only two customers in the entire place during lunch hour, however, they do have plenty take-out orders. I ordered "Ants in the Tree" (ground pork stir fried with rice noodle with soy sauce), and "Moo Shu Beef" (stir-fried beef wrapped in tortilla-like wrap), and they are tasty. However, this place did not woo me so much that I feel obliged to come back. But I can imagine if I live around the neighborhood (it is a 20 minutes drive for me), it would be my take-out place for Chinese food.
(4)
Caleb F.
Created an account just because this place was so terrible. The A&M crispy beef was basically burnt beef covered with a sugar sauce, which stuck to your teeth. The dish was listed on 'The Best Thing I Ever Ate' but whoever said that apparently knows nothing about Chinese food. And they charged for rice!?!?!?! The eggplant, curry chicken, and seafood noodles were mediocre at best. Service - ok. Decor - horrible.
(1)
sandra l.
I've been here three times and each time this place was awful. Save your money and go somewhere else
(1)
Melody H.
Home of A & M Crispy Beef...best Chinese dish ever! Customer service was awesome. Will be back for sure!
(4)
Jay L.
While cruising around Mt. Washington my babydoll had a need for Sushi but Chiyo does not open on Mondays (this is what caught her eye). So, I looked through my GPS and found Cafe Zen not too far away. I should qualify my review. It was a Monday around 8pm. I also have a desire to rate it lower but their sushi wasn't that bad. My problems then? Well their "chicken" dumplings were pork, very doughy, and had an odor I'm familiar with: meat you're trying to get rid of. My can of beer was flat and tasted of sake (sweet). I honestly prefer the sushi at H-Mart to this but it served its purpose, I suppose. Although my "Cucumber and Eel" was clearly more similar to a California Roll without roe. Their spicy tuna is a tuna roll with sriracha. I should have seen the signs. Cafe Zen? Ambiguous Asian restaurant. They served a little Thai, Chinese, Japanese, etc. If a place can't commit then neither should you. The waiter was very sweet, though, so I felt bad. If you're a decent waiter getting marginal tips then it probably isn't you, it's the establishment itself. As a former server I would much rather get a mediocre tip and a telling look than have to beg a manager or deal with unhappy clients that sit around like assholes expecting the world due to a bad wonton. And the little frozen cups of ice cream did placate my feeling of being gypped.
(2)
Joey Z.
The only reason I came to this place was because of the crispy beef which is supposedly amazing according to Duff Goldman from the food network. After taking one bite i realized Duff was either drunk or high the day he ate this crap. Crispy is an understatement as the dish was literally rock hard and painful to chew. As for beef, it was questionable whether there was even meat in the dish as everything was simply burnt and covered with some sort of candy syrup. I guess there's a reason why our table was only one of 3 tables in a restaurant that seats at least 50 people. Service was sub-par at best as rice was very slow to come and came in little teacup sized bowls that take 2 bites to finish. A shame since the white rice was the best thing they had to offer. Also the rice was not even complimentary. Everything was definitely overpriced for the quality. Felt like they should have paid me for having to endure such terrible cooking.
(1)
Tiffany N.
When we walked in, I was hoping that it would at least be better than the many awful carry out Chinese places in Baltimore, but I was sorely disappointed. The so-called "Candy beef" for which Cafe Zen is supposedly famous tasted less like candy and more like sharp pebbles. Indeed, the roof of my mouth was raw after taking only two bites. The other dishes we ordered had the taste of typical Americanized Chinese food and were overly salty and had way too much sauce. Even though we arrived early and were only one of two tables being served, it took forever to order another 3 bowls of rice (which cost money, by the way) and to pay for the meal. Not worth it at all.
(1)
George Y.
I just got back from eating at this "Cafe" because we wanted to get some Chinese that wasnt from Szechuan House, the one decent place to get Chinese food around Baltimore. We got the A&M Crispy Beef because Duff Goldman suggested it on "Best Thing I Ever Ate." I don't know what possessed him to talk about this dish, because it was just burnt beef coated in freaking caramel or something like that. It was too hard to bite and almost completely meatless. Major disappointment. I guess we'll just have to drive those extra 10 minutes to get some decent Chinese food around here. Take it from a real Asian, don't come here for your Chinese food fix. Also, I don't need the wallpaper to define "zen" for me.
(1)
Kara M.
got a little addicted to this place! def not your usual greasy carry out. It's a nice atmosphere and the service was great.
(4)
G. S.
I like this place. They are nice. I have never tried their sushi, but their chinese food is good.
(4)
Cali L.
I was too tired to make it to the supermarket so I called Cafe Zen and ordered a seaweed salad and some sushi. My order was ready right on time and they were very friendly. The seaweed salad was good but I'm not sure why they put lettuce at the bottom of it. The sushi was fine, I'd put it at the same level as whole foods' sushi. Next time I'd go with just the regular tuna roll instead of the spicy tuna roll--I'm pretty sure they just put a dot of the hot chili sauce with the rooster on the bottle and charge you $0.55 more for it.
(3)
Brooke N.
I really liked Cafe Zen. I saw it on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" which featured the A&M Crispy Beef and had to visit when I was in the area. We had the combination vegetables, brown rice, and A&M crispy beef. The food was great. The crispy beef is REALLY crispy and delicious. The meal was very satisfying and the portions are generous. The restaurant was rather empty at the time and the service was courteous but not overbearing.
(4)
Kristy L.
I personally love this place. It's a nice sit down restaurant with a good atmosphere. The Chinese food and the sushi are both delicious. Try the green bean roll...mmm. It's not really cheap but it's worth the price.
(4)
Dee H.
decent asian eats for cheaper tha your old navy flip-flops and more flavorful too! it's more of a dressed up carryout, but the food is slightly above average, the service is good, and you'll have leftovers for tomorrow's lunch.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Very Loud Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Ben S.
Don't be put off by their decidedly pan-asian menu, this place has been open since before that was a bad sign. I've been going here for probably 15 years, and it's never disappointed. They had vegetarian dishes before that was something you could really count on at a Chinese restaurant, and still have some of the best veggie options in the area. The scallion pancakes are easily the best I've ever had; crispy and with a tasty dipping sauce. The Zen Curry is divine, and a really interesting fusion dish unlike anything I've had elsewhere. Other favorites are the Tofu with Tender Spinach (big huge chunks of tofu), Kung Pao Tofu, and Cashew Tofu. My only complaint is I wish the tofu dishes came with more veggies, so I usually get a veggie dish and mix them.
(4)Jenny N.
Great food! I'm a pretty big meat eater but my husband talked me into vegetable dumplings and garlic spinach and I was absolutely stuffed! Super fresh and tasty, and their portion sizes are awesome! I crave cafe zen at least once a week!
(5)Lee C.
Went with my daughter this afternoon, about 2 pm. We were the only people in the place. We wanted sushi, and almost decided to go elsewhere as they did not have much of a selection. We should have went with our first reaction. The crab rangoons had almost no filling. No soy sauce dishes, just round side serving dishes. The sushi was poorly rolled, falling apart. Rice was mushy, grains not nicely defined like they should be. When the bill came we were charged from .25 to .55 cents more than listed on the menu for several items. It's not the money, it's the point that the register should not ring up differently than what is written on the menu. When I brought it up to the waitress she said she was sorry, but the bill was not changed. I decided it was not worth my energy to ask for someone in charge, we just will not go back.
(1)Emme B.
I'm surprised to see reviews with low stars for this restaurant, because I've never had a bad meal here. The service has always been good. I usually get one of the chinese dishes (garlic chicken or shrimp with vegetables), and there's enough food to save for the next day's lunch. The food tastes healthy (not oily or greasy). It's a little pricey, but it's a pricey neighborhood.
(4)Nakeia J.
I went yesterday for lunch with my cousin and have been fantasizing about the shrimp toast since I left. It was amazing, the waitress warned that it is addictive. I ordered the Gow Bah Sizzler with chicken as my meal and it was filled with delicious veggies and thinly sliced chicken. Some Asian restaurants skimp on the protein but this one doesn't. The portion size was enough for lunch and dinner! I've lived in the area for years and never went in because from the outside it doesn't have much of a presence, especially with Zen West next door. The lack of curb appeal will no longer stop me, I'll be back...soon!
(4)Carol C.
The service was great but food was just terrible.... I struggle to find good asian food here and this place really misses the mark. Their special (some candied red pork thing) was hard and difficult to eat. Not tasty at all unless you just like eating grease and sugar. I would rather eat at Panda Express.
(2)Jim M.
Totally hidden gem... More take out than anything else. Not many eat in as the atmosphere is tired but the food is good and inspired. Chicken with broccoli was great. Hunan Chicken was even better. Great won ton.
(5)Rentaro M.
This place is a standard Chinese restaurant. I never came here because it's always so empty, but it wasn't that bad. I ordered Singapore rice noodles and it was exactly what I expected it to be.
(4)Mike B.
We get here about once a month and, without fail enjoy a delicious dinner. The entrees are fresh, plentiful, and tasty. Tonight my husband had sesame shrimp surrounded by broccoli done just right. My tongue got a kick out of the Hunan pork with plenty of fresh vegetables. It was spicy without being burned. The brown rice was cooked just right, not chewy. We both got enough to take home as a second meal. The meal is always finished off with a tiny tub of line sherbet and a fortune cookie. On the walls are painted in a pastel Oriental motif, lots of fun to view. Don't miss out on this place.
(5)Stephanie S.
Like many posting here on Yelp, my husband and I sought this place out after seeing it featured on Best Thing I Ever Ate. So, the crispy beef (alternately named on the menu as 'Candy Beef' - a more appropriate name) is not for everyone's taste. I see that a lot of people here are giving the place one star after having this dish, which is patently unfair. To eat this dish you have to not think of it as a main dish. It is a snack/appetizer, or even (seriously) a dessert. It is CANDY. And if you drop your preconceptions and think of it that way, it is pretty remarkable and unique. Tip - get it as an appetizer (not dinner). And DON'T try to eat it right away. Actually let it cool for a good 20 minutes - get another app and be patient. After the beef cools and the honey sauce firms up, you have your candy beef. And its even better the next day. I've actually been snacking on it slowly for a couple days - it holds up well. Okay, moving on. My husband and I also ordered two tofu-based dishes - he got the Kung Pao Tofu and I got the Pad Thai with Tofu. His dish was really well-done, with the (non-fried) tofu having sucked up all that good spicy sauce. They serve brown rice which I've found is a rarity at Asian restaurants in the DC-Baltimore area. My Pad Thai had its moments - it gets points for being decidedly non-oily, and the rice noodles were well cooked. They were, however, very bland - I had to add some of the Kung Pao sauce which actually made it taste a lot better. The fried tofu was literally inedible. It was so overfried that you couldn't even chew it. I had to set it aside and had no protein (except my husband's tofu which I pilfered) in my dish :(. The ambiance leaves much to be desired. Drink prices are good (especially the sake). Service was fine, efficient. I would definitely go back.
(3)Yishin S.
First, this place is more like 3.5 stars. I only dined here once because I was on a mission to search a decent Chinese restaurant in Baltimore and could not find one, so I though I would give this place a try. It is actually not a bad place, given that the food is better than your average take-out local Chinese. We are the only two customers in the entire place during lunch hour, however, they do have plenty take-out orders. I ordered "Ants in the Tree" (ground pork stir fried with rice noodle with soy sauce), and "Moo Shu Beef" (stir-fried beef wrapped in tortilla-like wrap), and they are tasty. However, this place did not woo me so much that I feel obliged to come back. But I can imagine if I live around the neighborhood (it is a 20 minutes drive for me), it would be my take-out place for Chinese food.
(4)Caleb F.
Created an account just because this place was so terrible. The A&M crispy beef was basically burnt beef covered with a sugar sauce, which stuck to your teeth. The dish was listed on 'The Best Thing I Ever Ate' but whoever said that apparently knows nothing about Chinese food. And they charged for rice!?!?!?! The eggplant, curry chicken, and seafood noodles were mediocre at best. Service - ok. Decor - horrible.
(1)sandra l.
I've been here three times and each time this place was awful. Save your money and go somewhere else
(1)Melody H.
Home of A & M Crispy Beef...best Chinese dish ever! Customer service was awesome. Will be back for sure!
(4)Jay L.
While cruising around Mt. Washington my babydoll had a need for Sushi but Chiyo does not open on Mondays (this is what caught her eye). So, I looked through my GPS and found Cafe Zen not too far away. I should qualify my review. It was a Monday around 8pm. I also have a desire to rate it lower but their sushi wasn't that bad. My problems then? Well their "chicken" dumplings were pork, very doughy, and had an odor I'm familiar with: meat you're trying to get rid of. My can of beer was flat and tasted of sake (sweet). I honestly prefer the sushi at H-Mart to this but it served its purpose, I suppose. Although my "Cucumber and Eel" was clearly more similar to a California Roll without roe. Their spicy tuna is a tuna roll with sriracha. I should have seen the signs. Cafe Zen? Ambiguous Asian restaurant. They served a little Thai, Chinese, Japanese, etc. If a place can't commit then neither should you. The waiter was very sweet, though, so I felt bad. If you're a decent waiter getting marginal tips then it probably isn't you, it's the establishment itself. As a former server I would much rather get a mediocre tip and a telling look than have to beg a manager or deal with unhappy clients that sit around like assholes expecting the world due to a bad wonton. And the little frozen cups of ice cream did placate my feeling of being gypped.
(2)Joey Z.
The only reason I came to this place was because of the crispy beef which is supposedly amazing according to Duff Goldman from the food network. After taking one bite i realized Duff was either drunk or high the day he ate this crap. Crispy is an understatement as the dish was literally rock hard and painful to chew. As for beef, it was questionable whether there was even meat in the dish as everything was simply burnt and covered with some sort of candy syrup. I guess there's a reason why our table was only one of 3 tables in a restaurant that seats at least 50 people. Service was sub-par at best as rice was very slow to come and came in little teacup sized bowls that take 2 bites to finish. A shame since the white rice was the best thing they had to offer. Also the rice was not even complimentary. Everything was definitely overpriced for the quality. Felt like they should have paid me for having to endure such terrible cooking.
(1)Tiffany N.
When we walked in, I was hoping that it would at least be better than the many awful carry out Chinese places in Baltimore, but I was sorely disappointed. The so-called "Candy beef" for which Cafe Zen is supposedly famous tasted less like candy and more like sharp pebbles. Indeed, the roof of my mouth was raw after taking only two bites. The other dishes we ordered had the taste of typical Americanized Chinese food and were overly salty and had way too much sauce. Even though we arrived early and were only one of two tables being served, it took forever to order another 3 bowls of rice (which cost money, by the way) and to pay for the meal. Not worth it at all.
(1)George Y.
I just got back from eating at this "Cafe" because we wanted to get some Chinese that wasnt from Szechuan House, the one decent place to get Chinese food around Baltimore. We got the A&M Crispy Beef because Duff Goldman suggested it on "Best Thing I Ever Ate." I don't know what possessed him to talk about this dish, because it was just burnt beef coated in freaking caramel or something like that. It was too hard to bite and almost completely meatless. Major disappointment. I guess we'll just have to drive those extra 10 minutes to get some decent Chinese food around here. Take it from a real Asian, don't come here for your Chinese food fix. Also, I don't need the wallpaper to define "zen" for me.
(1)Kara M.
got a little addicted to this place! def not your usual greasy carry out. It's a nice atmosphere and the service was great.
(4)G. S.
I like this place. They are nice. I have never tried their sushi, but their chinese food is good.
(4)Cali L.
I was too tired to make it to the supermarket so I called Cafe Zen and ordered a seaweed salad and some sushi. My order was ready right on time and they were very friendly. The seaweed salad was good but I'm not sure why they put lettuce at the bottom of it. The sushi was fine, I'd put it at the same level as whole foods' sushi. Next time I'd go with just the regular tuna roll instead of the spicy tuna roll--I'm pretty sure they just put a dot of the hot chili sauce with the rooster on the bottle and charge you $0.55 more for it.
(3)Brooke N.
I really liked Cafe Zen. I saw it on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" which featured the A&M Crispy Beef and had to visit when I was in the area. We had the combination vegetables, brown rice, and A&M crispy beef. The food was great. The crispy beef is REALLY crispy and delicious. The meal was very satisfying and the portions are generous. The restaurant was rather empty at the time and the service was courteous but not overbearing.
(4)Kristy L.
I personally love this place. It's a nice sit down restaurant with a good atmosphere. The Chinese food and the sushi are both delicious. Try the green bean roll...mmm. It's not really cheap but it's worth the price.
(4)Dee H.
decent asian eats for cheaper tha your old navy flip-flops and more flavorful too! it's more of a dressed up carryout, but the food is slightly above average, the service is good, and you'll have leftovers for tomorrow's lunch.
(3)