I just love finding the next big thing in the crowded world of restaurants - and Formosa Zen is a great possibility! We found it based on reviews - 100% Five-Star - and I knew that had to mean this was a special place. It was. The decor is modern Asian, sleek, black and red with attractive lighting and art. Our starters - Crab Rangoon and Pan Fried Dumplings- were artistically presented, perfect temperature and flavor, each with a marvelous sauce. Our entrees - Pan Fried Noodles with Shrimp, Beef, and Chicken and the Lemongrass Salmon were truly as beautiful as they were delicious! We will return!
(5)
Megan S.
Ate lunch here. Crab Rangoon were really uniquely shaped and tasted awesome! Pot stickers were great too. Fried rice was really fresh. I had the General Tsao Beef which was really yummy and a good change from the tradition chicken. The restaurant also is very clean and has a great modern atmosphere!
(5)
Mimi H.
The Pho is one of the worst attempts at pho I've ever tasted!! Oh my goodness it was horrible! The Chinese dish was pretty good though.
(2)
Ace J.
Great new restaurant close to our house. We'll certainly be coming back. Of the 4 tomes we've been there, everything has been great.
(5)
Adam C.
Formosa Zen is an outstanding asset to Omaha of authentic Taiwanese (Chinese) cuisine that cannot be missed. The owners of the restaurant are extremely friendly and set us up with an incredible meal that already has us planning our next visit. The pan fried Mi Fen (炒米粉）was insanely good and the Taiwanese beef noodle soup was 100% authentic - more so than anything I've seen even on the West Coast. If you want something more than the typical sweet and sour Americanized version of Chinese food in Omaha, look no further my friends.
(5)
Amera J.
The Taiwanese beef soup has good flavor but the beef is very fatty, pretty much all fat. Too bad, it ruins the soup. I tried it twice, both times there was little meat and lots of fat. I would not get it again.
(2)
Katie W.
3 words... WHITE. MEAT. CHICKEN. Need I say more? Well, I'm gonna. I grew up close to the owner's previous Omaha restaurant, China Road, on 132nd and Dodge. It was by far our favorite Chinese restaurant. When we found out they had sold and left, I was devastated. So imagine my delight at finding a Yelp review of a new place less than a mile from my work whose owners were the very people whose food I loved oh so many years ago!!! Needless to say, my expectations were immediately very high. Jenny, the owner, greeted me at the counter. I was giddy and she was so sweet when I told her how much I missed China Road. She asked my favorite dish, and they had it on menu, Sesame Chicken. Sorry nothing exotic, but you love what you love. She told me they were frying the fried rice fresh and I had to try the hot and sour soup. Well, twist my arm. My order was out in no time and I've never been happier to dodge potholes back to work. After opening everything up, and diving right in, it completely met my expectations. Like I said, they started pretty high. The flavors, quality, and amount of food for the price were spot on. We will be back, and I'll be bringing my family with me!!! Most likely during a live music night. Thank you for coming back to Omaha, and I wish you many years of success.
(5)
Brian D.
Glad that Jenni made her way back to the restaurant scene. Date night with my wife. Good food and decanted wine. Lo Mien was great. Only suggestion I would make is try a seat not facing the overhead lights. Down lights point to walls and make it a bit distracting
(5)
Kevin M.
I was in town from LA working. I was looking for something to eat for lunch and I stumbled upon this place. It's set back in a half empty shopping plaza. I found the decor very nice. The food was GREAT! I feel this place could do more business if people knew where it was. Definitely worth looking for.
(5)
Theresa S.
Eggrolls had no pork in them and they served them with sweet and sour sauce. I ordered the pho and I was told it had beef and meatballs in it but only had meatballs. The meatball had chunks of cartilage in it! I won't be coming back.
(1)
Brandy V.
I really enjoy this place. It's very nice inside with cool art and a small family environment. Crab Rangoon is amazing. Best in omaha.
(5)
Wendy C.
First of all the proprietor stopped by our table and greeted us personally, which was so nice! The ambiance is very modern and upscale and most importantly the food was fantastic. The service was perfect and we never went without water. I had Red curry chicken. It was delicious! And my friend ordered the Amazing stir fry which lived up to its name. We also ordered the pan seared dumplings which came with a very flavorful and savory sauce.
(5)
Cam V.
Oooh how I want so badly to rate them higher!!! We actually were recommended in several places to try this place out (husband's coworker, Nextdoor.com ) so we decided to go here one Friday evening. There were only 2 other tables when we arrived and about 8 when we left so you could tell traffic was picking up. Upon arriving, I noticed the decor was matching and tastefully done. Black and red are not my first color choices as it tends to be dark/dim, however, it was all well coordinated. The exterior is deceivingly small because the restaurant is quite spacious when you get inside. We sat in a booth and were immediately handed menus. There were only two people on the floor- a server and someone I assume was the female owner. They were both SUPER DUPER nice, which is why it pains me to only give them 3 stars, but here's why... 1. Service was really disorganized- Our waters were empty quite often and it's not that they didn't care, they were just too busy/preoccupied with waiting on the other tables. Like I said, they were really nice...but after we got our food, we weren't checked upon until it was time for the check. 2. The food was just average- l tried their "Formosa Noodles" which had chicken, beef, shrimp and veggies over crunchy noodles. It was good, however, it tasted no different than any other "brown sauce" at an Asian restaurant. Maybe I just expected their signature dish to have some other crazy flavors that I've never tried in a Chinese dish before. The good was... 1. Very nice people (albeit below average service) 2. Very clean bathrooms 3. Convenient location- like 1/2 mile from our home! I was originally going to give them 4 stars, but I need to warn you. DO NOT GET THE PHO!!! I know of some Chinese places that have a decent pho (Vietnamese dish), but this is NOT one of them. It tasted like water mixed in with some pho concentrate with some noodles thrown in- very disappointing. A really good Chinese place just down the street is Five Spice, I would HIGHLY recommend them. The food there is great (some of the best), service is really quick, and place is clean. So in summary, very average food, slow/disorganized service, well decorated, and clean. They did try very hard to give us the best service/food, but it was just lacking. We may be back at Formosa Zen...maybe.
(3)
WAJ W.
The best crab Rangoon in Omaha. The best pan fried dumplings in Omaha. Seriously, either one is a reason to return. At the risk of using an overused word, the Amazing Stir-Fried was. We wanted to eat the sauce in the Lemongrass Salmon right out of the serving dish with a spoon. Seafood Soup is indescribably good. Beyond words. Decor is tasteful, service fantastic. We will return.
(5)
Sam M.
Best Asian food in Omaha in my opinion. Jenny and Andy (previous owners of China Road West Omaha) returned to Omaha and just opened this place. Much more than typical Chinese food. You can create your own dish or try one of their excellent menu items. They even have fish and lamb chops. My favorite is the Basil Chicken. Ask for the hot peppers if you like your meal extremely hot! I'm going to eat here once a week. They have a full bar and even a kids menu with chicken strips.
(5)
Jessica M.
I went here for the first time today for lunch. So good! Not a fan of the calamari but the curry amazing with chicken was, like the name says, AMAZING. I will definitely go back and would recommend it. I took half of it home and had it for dinner. Num num. The lettuce wraps were pretty good too. Very nice staff.
(5)
kati d.
Pleasantly surprised! This place has fabulous food and great service. I even order chicken fingers for my son that came on a leaf of lettuce, plus pineapple, brown rice, and plantain chips. I'll surely be dining in and ordering take out regularly.
(5)
Barb S.
So happy that Andy and Jenni have a new restaurant!!! The food is still fabulous. The crab Rangoon is the best EVER! Shari Poffenbarger (The Pecan Lady)
(5)
Dana Z.
I have really struggled to find good fresh chinese food since moving here. This is not only the best in omaha but one of the best I have ever had. The prices are good. The stafff was very attentive. The decor simple, clean and modern. Not tacky like many places. The ingredients were fresh and expertly prepared. Like the other reviewer stated, they will make whatever you want. I will make this a regular stop.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes 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.
Tom D.
I just love finding the next big thing in the crowded world of restaurants - and Formosa Zen is a great possibility! We found it based on reviews - 100% Five-Star - and I knew that had to mean this was a special place. It was. The decor is modern Asian, sleek, black and red with attractive lighting and art. Our starters - Crab Rangoon and Pan Fried Dumplings- were artistically presented, perfect temperature and flavor, each with a marvelous sauce. Our entrees - Pan Fried Noodles with Shrimp, Beef, and Chicken and the Lemongrass Salmon were truly as beautiful as they were delicious! We will return!
(5)Megan S.
Ate lunch here. Crab Rangoon were really uniquely shaped and tasted awesome! Pot stickers were great too. Fried rice was really fresh. I had the General Tsao Beef which was really yummy and a good change from the tradition chicken. The restaurant also is very clean and has a great modern atmosphere!
(5)Mimi H.
The Pho is one of the worst attempts at pho I've ever tasted!! Oh my goodness it was horrible! The Chinese dish was pretty good though.
(2)Ace J.
Great new restaurant close to our house. We'll certainly be coming back. Of the 4 tomes we've been there, everything has been great.
(5)Adam C.
Formosa Zen is an outstanding asset to Omaha of authentic Taiwanese (Chinese) cuisine that cannot be missed. The owners of the restaurant are extremely friendly and set us up with an incredible meal that already has us planning our next visit. The pan fried Mi Fen (炒米粉）was insanely good and the Taiwanese beef noodle soup was 100% authentic - more so than anything I've seen even on the West Coast. If you want something more than the typical sweet and sour Americanized version of Chinese food in Omaha, look no further my friends.
(5)Amera J.
The Taiwanese beef soup has good flavor but the beef is very fatty, pretty much all fat. Too bad, it ruins the soup. I tried it twice, both times there was little meat and lots of fat. I would not get it again.
(2)Katie W.
3 words... WHITE. MEAT. CHICKEN. Need I say more? Well, I'm gonna. I grew up close to the owner's previous Omaha restaurant, China Road, on 132nd and Dodge. It was by far our favorite Chinese restaurant. When we found out they had sold and left, I was devastated. So imagine my delight at finding a Yelp review of a new place less than a mile from my work whose owners were the very people whose food I loved oh so many years ago!!! Needless to say, my expectations were immediately very high. Jenny, the owner, greeted me at the counter. I was giddy and she was so sweet when I told her how much I missed China Road. She asked my favorite dish, and they had it on menu, Sesame Chicken. Sorry nothing exotic, but you love what you love. She told me they were frying the fried rice fresh and I had to try the hot and sour soup. Well, twist my arm. My order was out in no time and I've never been happier to dodge potholes back to work. After opening everything up, and diving right in, it completely met my expectations. Like I said, they started pretty high. The flavors, quality, and amount of food for the price were spot on. We will be back, and I'll be bringing my family with me!!! Most likely during a live music night. Thank you for coming back to Omaha, and I wish you many years of success.
(5)Brian D.
Glad that Jenni made her way back to the restaurant scene. Date night with my wife. Good food and decanted wine. Lo Mien was great. Only suggestion I would make is try a seat not facing the overhead lights. Down lights point to walls and make it a bit distracting
(5)Kevin M.
I was in town from LA working. I was looking for something to eat for lunch and I stumbled upon this place. It's set back in a half empty shopping plaza. I found the decor very nice. The food was GREAT! I feel this place could do more business if people knew where it was. Definitely worth looking for.
(5)Theresa S.
Eggrolls had no pork in them and they served them with sweet and sour sauce. I ordered the pho and I was told it had beef and meatballs in it but only had meatballs. The meatball had chunks of cartilage in it! I won't be coming back.
(1)Brandy V.
I really enjoy this place. It's very nice inside with cool art and a small family environment. Crab Rangoon is amazing. Best in omaha.
(5)Wendy C.
First of all the proprietor stopped by our table and greeted us personally, which was so nice! The ambiance is very modern and upscale and most importantly the food was fantastic. The service was perfect and we never went without water. I had Red curry chicken. It was delicious! And my friend ordered the Amazing stir fry which lived up to its name. We also ordered the pan seared dumplings which came with a very flavorful and savory sauce.
(5)Cam V.
Oooh how I want so badly to rate them higher!!! We actually were recommended in several places to try this place out (husband's coworker, Nextdoor.com ) so we decided to go here one Friday evening. There were only 2 other tables when we arrived and about 8 when we left so you could tell traffic was picking up. Upon arriving, I noticed the decor was matching and tastefully done. Black and red are not my first color choices as it tends to be dark/dim, however, it was all well coordinated. The exterior is deceivingly small because the restaurant is quite spacious when you get inside. We sat in a booth and were immediately handed menus. There were only two people on the floor- a server and someone I assume was the female owner. They were both SUPER DUPER nice, which is why it pains me to only give them 3 stars, but here's why... 1. Service was really disorganized- Our waters were empty quite often and it's not that they didn't care, they were just too busy/preoccupied with waiting on the other tables. Like I said, they were really nice...but after we got our food, we weren't checked upon until it was time for the check. 2. The food was just average- l tried their "Formosa Noodles" which had chicken, beef, shrimp and veggies over crunchy noodles. It was good, however, it tasted no different than any other "brown sauce" at an Asian restaurant. Maybe I just expected their signature dish to have some other crazy flavors that I've never tried in a Chinese dish before. The good was... 1. Very nice people (albeit below average service) 2. Very clean bathrooms 3. Convenient location- like 1/2 mile from our home! I was originally going to give them 4 stars, but I need to warn you. DO NOT GET THE PHO!!! I know of some Chinese places that have a decent pho (Vietnamese dish), but this is NOT one of them. It tasted like water mixed in with some pho concentrate with some noodles thrown in- very disappointing. A really good Chinese place just down the street is Five Spice, I would HIGHLY recommend them. The food there is great (some of the best), service is really quick, and place is clean. So in summary, very average food, slow/disorganized service, well decorated, and clean. They did try very hard to give us the best service/food, but it was just lacking. We may be back at Formosa Zen...maybe.
(3)WAJ W.
The best crab Rangoon in Omaha. The best pan fried dumplings in Omaha. Seriously, either one is a reason to return. At the risk of using an overused word, the Amazing Stir-Fried was. We wanted to eat the sauce in the Lemongrass Salmon right out of the serving dish with a spoon. Seafood Soup is indescribably good. Beyond words. Decor is tasteful, service fantastic. We will return.
(5)Sam M.
Best Asian food in Omaha in my opinion. Jenny and Andy (previous owners of China Road West Omaha) returned to Omaha and just opened this place. Much more than typical Chinese food. You can create your own dish or try one of their excellent menu items. They even have fish and lamb chops. My favorite is the Basil Chicken. Ask for the hot peppers if you like your meal extremely hot! I'm going to eat here once a week. They have a full bar and even a kids menu with chicken strips.
(5)Jessica M.
I went here for the first time today for lunch. So good! Not a fan of the calamari but the curry amazing with chicken was, like the name says, AMAZING. I will definitely go back and would recommend it. I took half of it home and had it for dinner. Num num. The lettuce wraps were pretty good too. Very nice staff.
(5)kati d.
Pleasantly surprised! This place has fabulous food and great service. I even order chicken fingers for my son that came on a leaf of lettuce, plus pineapple, brown rice, and plantain chips. I'll surely be dining in and ordering take out regularly.
(5)Barb S.
So happy that Andy and Jenni have a new restaurant!!! The food is still fabulous. The crab Rangoon is the best EVER! Shari Poffenbarger (The Pecan Lady)
(5)Dana Z.
I have really struggled to find good fresh chinese food since moving here. This is not only the best in omaha but one of the best I have ever had. The prices are good. The stafff was very attentive. The decor simple, clean and modern. Not tacky like many places. The ingredients were fresh and expertly prepared. Like the other reviewer stated, they will make whatever you want. I will make this a regular stop.
(5)