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    CZEN Restaurant Brooklyn

    3.9 (285 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    CZEN RESTAURANT BROOKLYN ATMOSPHERE

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    Moderate noise
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    Summer Brunch 2021
    Cassandra Melissa M.

    Came here in 2021 so this is definitely a dated review. But I'm clearing out my drafts, and think this place deserves a review. I came here with friends for a brunch. A Saturday in Aug. we dress up cute, and the aesthetic of the restaurant matched. As a post pandemic outing, we liked that it wasn't too crowded, and the tables spacing. We enjoyed the vibe and service. The food was good too. (That's the only thing I have pictured actually.) I don't remember specifics on the drinks, but I do remember the mimosas had us singing while we were walking out, and still onto the street. lol Overall a good experience. Will revisit, and review again soon

    Tempura Fish
    Lisette C.

    I went to this restaurant for a breast cancer event. Upon arrival, I noticed the restaurant was pretty empty with only four other patrons. My assumption is that the event wasn't advertised enough. More diners arrived before we left but not a crowd. Our server, Chanel greeted us pleasantly. She made recommendations and we ordered based on her knowledge of the food. The fish cakes were tasty but quite spicy. The aioli helped provide a cooling effect for my mouth. Next up as our entrees. My friend had the pancakes and I had the French toast. I added on turkey bacon and eggs with cheese. This meal was divine. The French toast were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was so sweet so I didn't bother adding syrup. Compliments to the chef for getting my eggs right. The cheese was folded nicely into the eggs. Just needed to add salt and pepper to make it perfect. I had to deduct one star for the lack of seasoning. There was a dj playing music that made you want to dance and some people actually did just that. I noticed big tv screens showing a football game. I totally think I will be back to sit at the bar and watch a basketball game.

    Mussels
    Debra C.

    Finally made it to this local spot in the neighborhood. Parking is on the street, for the most part that's good. Arrived at 6:15 pm and that is the switchover timing from brunch (Sunday) to dinner. Decor is nice, music was a bit LOUD, have to yell at my companions. I guess they were still in "turn up brunch mode." Had the appetizers of wings, mussels and mango habanero fried shrimps. Wings are wings so not much to say about that. The mussels were very good and the sauce that it came in made it better. Bao buns were tasty as well. Temptation island drink, don't have too many, fruity version of a Long Island and the coconut margarita For dinner we ordered berry jerk short ribs, very tasty, cooked to perfection and the berry sauce is nice, came with mashed potatoes and veggies. Five spice glazed salmon was also cooked to perfection with garlic mash and veggies. Whoever is isn't the kitchen knows what they are doing. I will come back and definitely will do the brunch just to see the whole vibe of things. Overall a neighborhood gem. Took away a star because of the music level.

    Fried chicken and waffle
    Yvonne D.

    I was nervous going here because I have not heard good things. But I was pleasantly surprised! The food was the bomb, we all shared our dishes and we all enjoyed everything. The pancakes were so moist and fluffy, the shrimp and grits flavorful and creamy, the chicken and waffle with the spicy sweet combo. Service was good too. Could've been better but it wasn't bad. They had a DJ during brunch so it was pretty loud but the vibes were fun!

    Thai Chilli Chicken and Red Velvet Waffles
    Denise Z M.

    The service wasn't bad but we waited a little while for our drinks and food. The food was pretty good overall.

    French toast with turkey bacon and eggs  Red Sangria
    Rosemond S.

    I visited on a Sunday early afternoon and was able to be seated right away. Parking was easy and the restaurant didn't have too many patrons. The customer service was OK, no complaints but nothing out of the ordinary. The ambience was beautiful, but it was just very dark inside, so it will take a while for your eyes to adjust when you leave. As for the food, it was great, but the sangria was underwhelming. It was watered down and tasteless but thankfully the French toast, bacon, and eggs were not, and I enjoyed them very much. This was my first time visiting this establishment and I don't see myself returning .

    Oxtail ramen
    Giselle G.

    First we had a pulsd deal and this place is amazing. We came from Harlem but it was definitely worth the trip. So we ordered a lot of food and all the food we ordered was delicious and well cooked. Our server was great he was a really nice guy. First he was very attentive and all his suggestions worked. He also made sure to let us know if we had more money left in our credit. He would check in on us and ask us about the food. The manager also came over to ask about our experience. The owner also came over to introduce himself and ask about our experience. Now the good part the food. We ordered the loaded wontons and the oxtail dumplings. The loaded wontons were really good they had a good amount of toppings which complimented each perfectly. It was great and I recommend it. The oxtail dumplings were also really good and they were so good we got two orders. For the main entree we ordered the butter shrimp with the fried rice; the jerk beef and shrimp and the oxtail ramen. I tasted my niece's shrimps and they were really good; a nice taste. I also tried the jerk beef and shrimp stir fry and that was really good. The seasonings were really good and the texture of the food was also good; the noodles were not overcooked. My oxtail ramen was good flavorful but the noodles were overcooked so they can try to execute that differently with the noodles. For dessert we had the red velvet cake and the bread pudding. Both desserts were really good. The bread pudding was amazing so delicious and it was homemade and soft. I loved that bread pudding and I recommend it 100%. Also don't let the outside fool you; I thought it was dark because it looked different from the outside but this is definitely a place you have to go to. The inside is so beautiful, well lit and it feels like I have been transported somewhere warm. I recommend this place fully and my whole family enjoyed it too.

    Rum punch
    Sandy F.

    It's was girls night out and my friend found Czen which is a neighborhood bar/restaurant. I honestly don't know how long they've been there but it's a hidden gem. It's a cozy space and I'm sure if it isn't already, it will become a neighborhood favorite. The food is delicious. We ordered the Tempura fish cakes, Shanghai Jerk chicken and the Honey butter garlic shrimp. The entrees include your choice of rice and peas or white rice and bok choy. I also recommend the Rum punch. The DJ was amazing. The only flaw in my opinion was the lack of servers. We had to wait for the 1 and only server to come take our order and it was a little bit of a wait for the appetizer to come out. There was a huge group celebrating a birthday and the server was attending to them and in turn, every other patron had to wait for him to come around. Other than that, it was a great night out. They have Happy hour during the week from 4-7pm and food specials on Thursdays and Fridays. If you're in the neighborhood, check them out. Eat, drink and enjoy!

    Mari T.

    I went to a party for my friend and their family. The service was very disappointing. From the moment we arrived, we sat at the table for a while. The restaurant wasn't busy as well. Our orders took forever to be taken, and we waited over an hour for food. We assumed everything would come out together, but there were multiple issues: - Several items from the brunch menu were unavailable. They could have told us right from the start or block the option instead having us to choose and then find out on the spot. - Some drinks were also out of stock. I waited over an hour for my drink, only to find out they didn't have it--no one told me until I asked. I ended up ordering something else and it was water down. - The food didn't arrive for about 1.5 hours. - The food was just okay--the home fries were better than my main entrée and my partner entrée. He had lobster and waffles, while I had Thai Chili Chicken and Red Velvet Waffles. Overall, the service was slow, disorganized, and gave the impression there might have been only one cook in the kitchen. The menu looked good, but left with disappointment. In total we were at the restaurant nearly three hours. I do say they have good music, but that's about it.

    Saigon Jerk Beef Stir Fry
    Shari D.

    This place was so chaotic. I had it saved on my bookmarks and I was so disappointed at the experience. We arrived at 6:55, we didn't get our food until 8:03. Between the long wait, them moving furniture (while patrons are eating) unprofessional customer service and overpriced underwhelming drinks, I won't be back. The food was decent, but again, underwhelming, hence the 2 stars.

    Temptation Island
    Sabrina K.

    Out to celebrate my friend birthday with good drink and good vibes. First please make a reservation, it is a small location but the vibe is good as well as the food. The DJ was playing a mix of hip hop rnb reggae and Afro beat that spoke to me and the cuisine. I was seated at the reserved table as soon as I walked in and was offered water immediately. Menus for food and drink specials were at the table set up along with tableware. I had a drink called a temptation and it was so good. The food was flavorful and well made. I will be visiting this spot again for the food and the vibe.

    Berry jerk Salmon - CZEN Bowl with udon noodles
    Monique T.

    Dinner and a vibe on a Friday. Beautiful Decor Asian style theme with a Caribbean vibe. They had a live dj that kept us all dancing in our seats. And everything was delicious. Only con was that the wait for food was very long despite them not being very busy. But I would give them a try again.

    Melissa A.

    Went to dinner with my friend here last night. The place is relatively small but the space is utilized well. The Decor is cute and colorful. The service was good, the waitress was helpful with helping me decide what to get, since It was my first time. Had the oxtail dumpling which I thought were tasty. My friend had the shrimp, good but I liked the oxtail better. Lychee martini was my choice of drink and they were good. For my entree I had the Berry jerk short ribs, Comes with garlic mash and a side of veggies. I was underwhelmed, the mash was bland and the jerk sauce was just ok, also felt the ribs were a bit overcooked and dry. My friend had the oxtail dish, which she felt was mostly bone. I would come back to give another dish a try, if in the area. But not a place I'd go out of my way for.

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - CZEN Restaurant Brooklyn

    What are the Happy Hour details (days, hours, what's offered, etc.)?

    Hello! Happy Hour is Weds through Friday 4p to 8pm. Non Premium Drinks and all of our appetizers ( outside of the Czen Rolls are all $7 and Below!

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    The Islands

    The Islands

    4.2
    (834 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    Something about Caribbean food when the winter weather's frigid sounds dandy to me. Guess if you…read morecan't be somewhere tropical, eating tropical cuisine sure helps. Enter The Islands. It was sort of an odd time so the spacious restaurant wasn't very busy. We studied the menu for too long and after much deliberation, here's what we ordered, in order of spice level: - Oxtail ($35): Not spicy, super flavorful, "Trimmed and sliced chunks of oxtail seasoned freely with fresh spices and simmered to tender perfection." - Curry goat ($29): Mildly spicy, "Goat meat marinated and cooked in curry spices and herbs makes this an exotic dish." - Jerk chicken ($20): Apparently incredibly spicy so I steered clear of it, "A Jamaican delight. Spicy, delicious chicken baked with this unique combination of spices from the island." The dishes I could handle were excellent, with no drop of sauce left unmopped. On the sides front, the rice and beans, roti, steamed vegetables, and plantains were all tasty. The entree sizes were hearty. Our server seemed like a cool dude: easygoing with a sense of humor. It was kind of chilly in the restaurant, not sure if we were in a warmth dead zone or what. The bathroom was frog-themed which was a cute touch!

    "Deep in Brooklyn, hides the Caribbean"…read more Came here on sleepy Tuesday. Not many people in the restaurant but lots of take out going on. The friendly one woman staff helped seat us, recommend the dishes, made the drinks, prepped and served the food. It was all tasty. What's to cheer - Nice not to too sweet homemade rum punch - Solid, flavorful oxtail. Very island spiced and cooked well - Goat was also really strong - Reasonable prices - service with personality What's to jeer - they were out of the jerk chicken unfortunately which I really wanted to try - place is pretty low key and not swimming with ambience

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    Jerk chicken
    Jerk chicken
    Upstairs dining area at The Islands
    Upstairs dining area at The Islands
    Stew chicken.  so good, craving it now

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    Kokomo

    Kokomo

    3.9
    (1.1k reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$$

    Visited Kokomo to celebrate my college graduation, and overall I had a nice experience. The…read moreatmosphere was definitely a highlight, the music was great, the vibe was lively, and it feels like a nice lounge spot for hanging out with friends. They also offer hookah, which adds to the social atmosphere. The food was okay. I ordered the oxtails, but they were a bit spicier than I prefer, so I didn't enjoy them as much as I hoped. One thing I really appreciated was the thoughtful service. Since I was still wearing my cap and gown, the staff surprised me with a complimentary ice cream dessert to celebrate my graduation, which was a very kind gesture and made the experience feel special. Overall, I'd return more for the ambiance, music, and lounge experience than for the food. Congratulations to the staff for creating such a fun and welcoming environment!

    Pretty disappointing experience overall. I ordered the ackee and saltfish avocado toast, priced at…read more$28, and nowhere on the menu did it mention that the portion was large enough for 2+ people. It came out as two huge slices of sourdough stacked so high that I couldn't even finish one. For something that expensive, there should absolutely be some indication of portion size, or at minimum the waiter should mention it when ordering. Avocado toast also isn't exactly something you can box up and save for later, so a lot of it just went to waste. Honestly, the menu feels arrogantly overpriced, what avocado toast dish is pushing $30? The only thing that seemed reasonably priced was the $35 bottomless brunch. Overall, the pricing felt excessive and the lack of transparency made the experience frustrating.

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    Koko Happy Hour
    Koko Happy Hour
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    Stella's

    Stella's

    4.6
    (183 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    I can't express how much I enjoyed my dining experience at Stella's. The staff were wonderful and…read moreinviting from the moment we walked in. The drinks were perfectly made nice, strong, and flavorful. The food was fresh and absolutely delicious. The codfish fritters had to be my favorite, perfectly fried without being oily, just pure deliciousness. I ordered the Stella's Tasting, and it was more than enough food for two. My friends enjoyed their meals as well. Since it was my birthday, the staff came out and surprised me with a very delicious carrot cake. Moist, not overly sweet, and the perfect way to end the meal. To top it all off, we were vibing to a really great playlist the entire time we ate. I will definitely be back!

    We were craving Caribbean food and I've been curious about trying this spot out for a while so when…read moremy husband suggested it was an easy Yes! I had their passion fruit lemonade which was refreshing and not overly sweet. For my entree I ordered their oxtails and rice and peas on the side. Their oxtails were cooked perfectly, the meat was falling off the bones. I would like it to be a bit more spicy and some more Lima bean but maybe thats just my own preference. When I asked for some spice the server brought us some pepper sauce which was exactly what I needed! My sister tried their jerk wings and mac and cheese. Their Mac and cheese is WOW. Definitely recommend! I didn't try their wings but I tried the sauce that comes with the wings and it had a lovely kick to it. For dessert we shared the Plantain Paradise and the ice cream paired so great with the plantains. It was vanilla ice cream but didn't taste like regular vanilla ice cream.. it had a nice rich texture . Service was great, the music was nice and although it was a bit cold in there they had a blanket per table which I thought was a cool concept.

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    The inside
    The inside
    Rice and Peas
    Rice and Peas
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    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK

    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK

    3.9
    (562 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$$

    9.5/10 for the vibe, ambiance, and service -- and a full 10/10 for the food…read more I'm not a picky eater, but I've had some really disappointing oxtail lately, so I was hoping for the best here. I'm Dominican so I know oxtail pretty well and have made it myself. Thankfully, this place absolutely delivered. The oxtail was perfectly slow-braised, tender, and falling right off the bone -- exactly how it should be. Absolutely amazing. Of course I had the rice and peas, plus some veggies. A few of the veggies were slightly overcooked, but still flavorful and enjoyable. The drinks looked incredible, but I went with the rum punch and loved it. It was a little sweet, but super flavorful, strong, and definitely worth ordering again. For dessert, I had the Hennessy cheesecake, which was rich, decadent, and unbelievably delicious. There were three of us dining, and we all left completely satisfied -- with take-home containers because the portions are VERY generous. The only thing that bothered me a bit was that our server seemed to focus most of her attention on my friend. She is Jamaican, and because I look like a white American woman, I felt a little overlooked at times, even when I had several requests myself. We also had to look for her a couple of times while she was sitting with a group nearby. That said, everyone overall was very nice and welcoming. The bussers especially stood out -- they checked on us often, kept everything clean, and even greeted me in Spanish, which I appreciated. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience and will definitely be back with more people next time.

    The moment we walked in, I knew we were in for an amazing culinary experience. It was my birthday…read moreweekend, and we were in New York for an extended stay. For my hubby, Brooklyn is home - and we always love exploring the new places the city has to offer when we visit. We had reservations, and were seated within 10 minutes, which was reasonable. The place was packed - everyone was in high spirits, and I was ready to taste some of the best Caribbean cuisine in the region. My hubby's best friend - a Brooklyn resident, joined us. He had been to the restaurant a few times - and had good things to say. We were not disappointed. I had the Brown Stew Red Snapper - *chef's kiss*. Hubby had the iconic Jerk Oxtail over Macaroni & Cheese Pie! The English language cannot convey the beauty of that combination! Tender, tender oxtail, falling off the bone with the creamy, cheesy mac & cheese! He wanted to savor that dish another day, so he got a to-go bag and took it back to the hotel! (I couldn't help but clean my plate - I was obsessed with the fish!) Our friend enjoyed the Hennessy Fried Shrimp (not pictured) - one of his favorite dishes at the restaurant. It looked delicious as well. For drinks, I had the Bob Marley cocktail. A colorful drink - flavorful - and effective! There were people celebrating their birthdays throughout the night - and the wait staff goes IN! I was enjoying watching at least 10 people receive the Stevie Wonder "Happy Birthday" song while we were there. Imagine my surprise when it was my turn! My birthday was the day before, and we had already celebrated in Manhattan. Having two special recognition events made the evening that much more special! Shout out to the Simpson crew who came with the song, the rhythm, the sparkling cake, and the good vibes! My 70th birthday was exceptional - without a doubt. The Simpson added the touch I needed. We'll definitely go back next time we're in Brooklyn!

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    Jerk Oxtail Over Macaroni & Cheese Pie
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    Flamingobaby Kitchen

    Flamingobaby Kitchen

    4.3
    (280 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    I am still thinking about this food. It was so good, flavorful and fresh. We cleared those plates…read more We were full, but not sluggish at all..just completely satisfied. This is an intimate and cozy space, great to sit and talk without the noise of a loud space. Music was played, but not obnoxious and there is a tv. Service was great, food was tasty, no complaints at all! Quick heads up, this is a cash only spot, but so worth it. Will definitely be back!

    I scoured the internet and my old photos trying to find this restaurant again. It had been about a…read moreyear since our first visit, so it took some digging but we eventually found Flamingobaby Kitchen and off we went! For the table, we ordered the oxtail stew, fried chicken, yams, collard greens, and mac & cheese. I also had a Peach Bellini for a little bubbly. Everything was exactly as I remembered -perfectly cooked and well seasoned, large portions with more than enough to take home. The chef stopped by our table which was a nice touch. Service overall was great. They also make great use of such a small space. It is indeed well worth the visit. Side note, we ordered the same exact items off the menu as we did a year ago...only one thing was missing which was the biscuits with the flavored butter jam. We were told the biscuits were replaced with cornbread. I didn't order the cornbread this time around but would like to see the biscuits return at some point.

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    Flamingobaby Kitchen
    Catfish strips
    Catfish strips
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    Oxtail Stew

    CZEN Restaurant Brooklyn - caribbean - Updated July 2026

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