Zen Japanese Food Fast
Austin, TX 78757
Phone: (512) 451-4811
- Price:
- $
- Specialties:
- Cheap Eats
- Hours:
- Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11:30am-8:30pm
Editorial Review for Zen Japanese Food Fast – by Susan Kirr
In Short
A cool, simple interior makes Zen a nice place to sit and linger. Avocado-green walls, reed mats suspended from the ceiling, inventive halogen lights and utilitarian stools and tables are bolted to the floor. Young folks on a budget usually populate the place, but those who appreciate good food and fast service have also discovered it. Sushi rolls are super-cheap, as are dishes like sesame soba noodle salad--chilled buckwheat noodles in a sesame soy vinaigarette.
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Insider Tips
Look GoodSome menu items are labeled "good for your heart." Ask your server for information on the relationship between saturated fats and heart disease.
What to DrinkThere's no wine available, but there are several Japanese beers to choose from, including Sapporo and Kirin.
Where to SitThe wooden booths contribute to the spare design, but avoid the ones flanking the walls. The slatted seats are rather uncomfortable.
User Reviews for Zen Japanese Food Fast
12/17/2007 Posted by chairvaincre
Sorry, 'healthy'? Would a place that charges extra for 'white meat' instead of 'dark meat' (why not use *all* white to begin with? McDonald's faces the same dilemma as well), for brown rice instead white (again why make a distinction this way?), so that a TINY bowl of something I can easily (ie under 10 mins) whip up at home with 3 ingredients ends up costing $8+...Thanks, but No thanks. I gander in terms of *strictly* portion control, it IS healthy (fasting *has* been scientifically corroborated to lengthen lifespan), but when you're so CHEAP that you need to charge 75 cents extra, 25 cents extra...for 'healthier' (still - organic? NO. free-range? NO) substitutions, your 'lifestyle' (I love this word) eating plans should just be called what they are: Disingenuous Marketing. Which, I see, works on 95%+/-2% Austinites. Yes, Zen Japanese Fast Food, err...Food Fast, I commend you absolutely for your efforts here. Oh, and the South Congress location, every time I walk by there, REEKS. (And to the 'idiot' below who demands her California rolls be made by Japanese people: when you go to Gattiland, do you always make sure with management that all the cooks *are* Italian?)
Pros: None.
Cons: Yes.
09/29/2007 Posted by decorator17
So I have never left a review for anything I just either dont think it was that bad or that good to go through the trouble. But I thought people should know what they are getting themselves into when they eat at Zen. I understand that somethings are fluke they happen to people sometimes but i dont think this is the case. I tried Zen yesterday not really expecting anything great, just cheap and fast. I am not a good food critic I dont really care as long as it isnt that bad but even looking at the sushi you can see that the edges are dry and the avacado was turning brown but i thought oh well just get it and pray you dont get food p****** so I got the sushi. I go to take a bite and see a hair it kind of looks like mine so i go to pull it off and the whole roll unravels practically (OMG) So then I see another one and the same thing happens so i take it up front and get the Dashi Bowl and when I finally get it (after 10 Minutes of the two white guys up front looking at me like i am an idoit and the two MEXICAN cooks in the back looking at me like a piece of meat) I just leave and take it home it wasnt terrible but i had to pick all the broccoli out because it was way undercooked (probably because the mexican cooks were not paying attention) And the salmon was a little salty I ate what i could and Vowed to never return. I can not stress enough how much it takes to send me running for the hills but they certainly did it. MY opinion is that I am glad if you have had good experiences but common sense tells me that most are bad with Mexican cooks (No Offense but if i want mexican food i am not going to be satisfied with a japanese cook either) and No one in there of asian decent. LIGHTBULB
Pros: CHEAP
Cons: EVERYTHING ELSE
