Holy fish ("holy cow" seems inapplicable)!How have I never reviewed Sushi Zen before? This has been our neighbor go-to sushi place for years! But convenience is not the only reason we go. Tonight was probably our 20th visit... Their sushi is, without exception, always the best, and the freshest we have ever had in the area! Additionally, this is a locally owned and operated business that really cares about the community. How many Arlington restaurants have an AFAC donation box in their vestibule? Their connection to Arlington amplifies their value as a local business with delicious food. Among our favorites are the scallop sushi -- and even the simplest thing, their miso soup, is fabulous! Great for catering too! (We get a 150-piece platter for our holiday party every year!) read more

The fish was fresh and the rolls were good; however, I wasn't a huge fan of the spicy sauce that they used. I prefer when the fish is marinated in the sauce rather than it being placed on top. The rolls were still good, but just didn't match my personal preference. My boyfriend really enjoyed the spice used on the tuna roll. I like that they use Roe on their California rolls. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. The restaurant was quiet and played great covers. I'm looking forward to trying Sushi-Zen again. Next time, I'll probably get something that doesn't have the spicy sauce. read more

Sushi-Zen - Spicy Roll Lunch Combo (3P) - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I got this place for delivery and there were some goods and some bads. - The fish quality was great, all of the nigiri and sashimi was very flavorful - I've had some sushi in this area where the fish didn't taste like much. The seared salmon belly melts in your mouth. - The rolls had good flavor. - Everyone online says the rice is the best here but my rice was very dense and the nigiri had about 2x as much rice as it should have. - I feel like the rolls were pretty small for the price. - On the pricier side and you need to order quite a bit to be full. But the fish quality is great, so tradeoffs. read more

Sushi-Zen - Hamachi, Salmon Belly, Salmon - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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We have gone twice to Sushi Zen and had great experiences both times! During our second time we decided to go for a platter (I think it was around $70) for nigiri and sushi rolls. It was the perfect portion for two and we got to try a variety of rolls and proteins. I would recommend arriving early because the parking situation can be tough, since it is next to a grocery store and many other small businesses. read more

Sushi-Zen - Sushi Combo Platter - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Sushi-Zen is my go-to sushi neighborhood restaurant and it never disappoints. It's fresh, delicious, and fast. The rolls are creative and yummy, though they have all the basics if that's your preference. The fried oyster appetizer is excellent, as are the salads. I often take the salad dressing to go to use at home. The staff is always nice and responsive. read more

Sushi was delicious, nicely presented. Especially appreciate the brown rice option. Server was attentive and pleasant. Ambience was pretty basic, tucked into a shopping center. read more

A fun night out with my eldest niece (15) and friend. They ordered a variety of rolls, and I got the udon with tempura. Delicious! They actually had uni on the menu which was a surprise. I will have to try the unagi or Unaju next time. We also shared the okonomiyaki appetizer which was fun. read more

One of my favorite sushi spots! I haven't eaten inside here because I've always done take out. They are very quick and high quality sushi. I love them because they don't use a lot of rice. Only negative thing is the sushi burrito because it was $14 and I was expecting it to be a bit more like a burrito size when it was more like the size of an egg roll. read more

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Alright, Sushi-Zen is worthy of a bump. I've come here on and off for the past 10+ years, whenever I visit Mom. Sometimes the sushi is really good. In the past, it's definitely been suspect. I can say that on 3/24/24, the sushi was on point. The nigiri tasted really fresh... BUT... if you take a glance at their display case, you will see that everything is pre-sliced and portioned. This, presumably, is to put up with the demand for takeout... the entire sushi bar was covered in plastic bags! Despite the pre-prepared fish, which obviously came out quickly, it did taste very good on this day. Not perfect, but very good. read more

Sushi-Zen - Arlington roll. - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Family run and owned business, in the Lee Harrison Shopping Center. They help with High School Fundraisers and are nothing but kind. They are extremely welcoming when you enter and help define the basis of what hospitality is supposed to be at a minimum. Food is definitely flavorful, and I couldn't imagine anyone sending anything back. The staff work very hard for everything to be just right! read more

My friend and I stopped by Sushi-Zen for dinner this past Friday. We were looking for something quick in the area and was craving sushi, so Sushi-Zen we went. The servers were pretty busy and didn't pay us too much attention and our sushi took almost 30 minutes to come out (despite only ordering two rolls and nigiri). There were only a few other tables there that night, but maybe they're just short on staff. NIGIRI: SALMON BELLY (ABURI -- SEARED) - 7.99 2 pieces of seared salmon belly nigiri. It was a tasty bite, but there was way too much rice for the amount of salmon belly, which had a nice sear and glaze(?) smeared on top. Maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of the rice is enough for that amount of fish. YELLOWTAIL ROLL W/ SCALLION - 8.50 Quite expensive for 6 small bites, but I love my yellowtail and scallion. The fish was fresh and good, and scallion is a great garnish. Was it worth it? Probably not, because I can get it elsewhere for a cheaper price. SALMON ROLL - 7.50 Again, 6 small delicious bites, your standard salmon roll. Not sure if it's worth 7.50. Overall, the sushi quality here is pretty solid and the rice is good. But the wait was a bit too long and the price is too high (compared to other sushi places in the area, too). read more

Sushi-Zen - Yellowtail & Scallion Roll, Salmon Roll - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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This is hands down the best sushi, like anywhere. Maybe Uchi can compare, lol. Being serious, the quality and consistency is amazing. It's always on point. I also legitimately think they have the best rice of any sushi place I've ever eaten. It's light and airy. It melts in your mouth. How can rice melt in your mouth! It does! It's so light and fresh. I eat here regularly and feel very fortunate to have it as a sample dining option. read more

I've been making an attempt to try every sushi spot in the NOVA/DC area, and this one just... wasn't good. The quality of the fish was... fine, although the tamago was a weird yellow/grey (and not good). We got two specialty rolls and a tuna roll and everything was subpar. The tuna roll was really really small and unremarkable, as were the two specialty rolls. There's so many great sushi places in the area, we probably won't be returning. read more

Sushi-Zen - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Great sushi. We ordered a handful of rolls and they were ready quickly and each one was really good. Our favorites were definitely the arlington roll and the super crunchy roll. The shiro blossom roll had a little too much kanpyo for our taste but it was really nice and fresh. We also really liked the caliente roll which was one of the fried rolls but eat that one before it cools down as the fish kind of overcooks itself in the residual heat. All of the fish was fresh and sushi zen doesn't fall into the issue of all of their rolls having fake crab like so many sushi places around falls church have. Definitely will be back! read more

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We had a hard time getting refills on water. I was not thrilled about the rolls or the fish quality. We will not return.

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Was way better than we thought! Service was great. Very clean. Food came out fast! read more

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Great place, great sushi,great service! Sushi zen has a large amount of rolls to choose from and you can't go wrong with any of them. Sit down or take out are both great options. Must try the alligator roll! read more

MISO SOUP PORTIONS ARE TINY! SUSHI IS GOOD. I've ordered from Sushi Zen twice now. Both times I got the Combo Platter of 34 pieces to share with one other person which costs $78. The most recent time I added two orders of miso soup and the sizes are criminal. Literally 6 sips in these containers, together it cost $7.70.. I do not recommend paying for this as a side. The sushi platter is plenty for 2-3 to share, I always have leftovers. Fish has been fresh and the rolls are well made with fresh ingredients. Had to rate it 4 out of 5 because of the miso soup portion sizes. :( read more

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This place is typical small sushi restaurant and space is well kept,even though restrooms and back of the house are a little shabby. Service is fine,personnel was attentive and quick to respond. We did order a signature combo platter for 3 persons to share for 135 dollars. Fish was fresh,but variety is really small and limited to 4 or 5 types of fish.Second issue was that not only kitchen decides to not offer any complimentary food or just chef's compliment for such a big order,they substituted one of the large rolls in that combo(volcano roll) with a second shrimp tempura roll which is much more basic and obviously cheaper. They decided not even tell us or apologize if they were out of the ingredients that they are not going to provide whatever is stated in the menu. I didn't confront or ask anything,but there are a lot of choices in the area to not give them second chance. read more

Sushi-Zen - Signature Combo Platter 135 dollars - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Recommended to me by a Co worker, this place is definitely a must stop if you're in the area. The restaurant is clean, the staff are friendly, the food is delicious, and the experience is a 10/10! Support local, no need to go to some super pretentious, super expensive place in DC for Sushi when you've got a phenomenal location here! read more

Since our initial review, we have visited a few more times, and I think we have found dishes that match our tastes much better. We were disappointed with some of the other appetizers in terms of flavor and texture. However, we found the Gyoza (fried chicken dumplings to be better in flavor and texture). Also, to date, the Virginia, spicy salmon, and SHIRO blossom rolls are our favorites. Service continues to be attentive and the restaurant is very clean. Cleanliness is something I highly value, especially in a sushi restaurant : -) Typically, we have a hot appetizer, two salad and miso soup orders, and four rolls. We have a soft drink and a single beer. The total with tax and 20% tip clocks in a little north of $100 depending on the rolls. We leave full and satisfied and think this is good value for the money, considering the quality, and have added Sushi-Zen to our regular Arlington rotation. read more

Cozy and crowded. This place is almost always crowded. While it is a bit pricey for Arlington Sushi Places, the quality and quantity reflect the additional cost. I had a Chirashi Bowl, my usual choice for any place that isn't Yama Sushi in Vienna. Sushi-Zen makes it "theirs" with goodly sized fish pieces placed in a lovely arrangement. It costs about 20% more than similar restaurants and is still an excellent value. Tea is served as a cup of hot water and a teabag. It was matcha and surprisingly delicious. (I've never been able to stomach matcha tea made from powder, maybe because I've always been the one trying to make it?) And speaking of crowded, Sushi-Zen is located in the Lee-Harrison (shouldn't that be Langston-Harrison?) shopping center, and with all, they have going on, the parking lot is almost always a zoo. When we were there on a recent Friday evening, it took a few minutes of circling in the lot before getting a space, and we were lucky enough to get the last available table before the line started to form. However, it is worth the wait if you're in the market for some delicious raw fish. read more

Sushi-Zen - Still trying to keep us safe from each other. - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Short notice date night with my Sweetie. My love ordered the shrimp tempura, it was so good we didn't get a picture. I ordered the salmon sushi , so yummy in my tummy. Friendly staff, love this place. Local treasure . read more

Sushi-Zen - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We came in for a quick after work snack. Ordered the salmon avocado roll (6 PCs) and the eel avocado roll which was light and refreshing. The highlight of our mini meal was the specialty item: panko fried oysters. Absolutely delicious. Our wonderful sever Mia suggested the perfect bite was with all components at once and she was not lying. My only complaint is I had to share. read more

Sushi-Zen - Eel & Avocado Roll Salmon & Avocado Roll - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Popped in for late lunch. Right away noticed how clean & fresh everything is, from the front to the server area, and even the restroom(s). Since I was cutting it close before afternoon closing (2:30), I had called ahead and my order was ready for dine-in. Simple for me today: lunch special, 3 rolls (California, tuna & salmon). Simple turned out to be SPECIAL--because everything was so delicious, so perfect in it's own little way. The fish itself was very fresh and just the right temperature. But it doesn't end there. My Japan-born & raised wife always says that no matter how good the fish is, if the rice isn't right... And that's so true here: each bite so delicious, full of flavor & texture And not to be overlooked: the miso soup--subtle, wonderful, fulfilling. My tummy is very happy today. I'll be back! read more

Sushi-Zen - Sushi Maki Roll Lunch Combo - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Great local place for some sushi! I got the outrageous roll, oishii (delicious) roll, and the eel avocado roll, and the miso soup and salad. everything was so good and tasty. will definitely come back when I'm in Arlington. Love that it's also right next door to LaMoo too! stop over there for dessert after some sushi! you won't regret it read more

Sushi-Zen - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

The food is always good at Sushi-zen, and their lunch specials are a good deal, I highly recommend you give them a try.

My 6-year old son loves the avocado roles here and keeps asking for more! I really like the simple meal of agadashi tofu, high-quality white rice, and miso soup. My husband always orders the sushi and tonkatsu. We are pretty happy with the meal and definitely recommend sushi zen! read more

Came in for Sunday dinner for two at 7:30 and found a VERY long line of customers for "Take-Out-Pick-up" ... but a few empty tables in the restaurant for dining. The 3, sometimes 4 servers were VERY busy as were the 5 Sushi Chefs behind the counter. One server was dedicated to just filling the take-out orders, a second to processing the payments, leaving the rest of the dining room to just 2 other colleagues. We were offered a "2-top" table and accepted it -- which was a mistake! The table is simply TOO SMALL for all the glasses, plates and dipping sauces! We had 2 large glasses of water, 2 large glasses + 1 Kirin Ichiban can of beer, a single tray for 1 California Roll appetizer, 2 bowls of Miso soup, 2 bowls of the great Sushi-Zen salad and virtually no room for the large plate of Shrimp Teriyaki & another plate for the Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura! Fortunately the table for 4 next to us had not yet been cleared by the VERY busy wait staff ... so we found ourselves reaching over to it to put our empty bowls onto that table as we finished each course. We tried the Shrimp Teriyaki for the first time and were very disappointed. The sauce was too sweet & syrupy & too much, overwhelming the beautifully butterflied shrimp. We won't be ordering it again. Our server "Divine" was very friendly and stopped by a few times to check on us, clearing empty plates and bowls when she could ... but as we said above, she and her other servers were forced to hurry and run about ... leading to one tray of empty dishes being dropped in the dining room ... which caused even more distress for diners and employees. We've been coming to Sushi-Zen since the late 1980s and won't come back on a weekend evening again. We'll stick to 'mid-week' and takeout orders. We know you won't like this review but you can't fix things if you don't know there are problems. Arlington Regulars! read more

This restaurant is located in a busy shopping center but it's worth the minor inconvenience of searching for a parking spot. The food is good and the service is friendly and fast so what more can you ask for? read more

Sushi-Zen - Post workout meal - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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So, I seen some reviews here TLDR at the bottom if people are lazy. If anyone actually stumbles by this one, just know I never made a Yelp review before. I only am doing this cause I feel this place deserves my honest opinion from someone who has had sushi in 5 different states. Ohio, Florida, Seattle, New Jersey, and now Virginia. Out of 30 sushi places I tried in my life so far, this is the TOP 2. Not number 1 and that is only because the take out isnt as good as sitting down to eat. You gotta have everything when its nice and hot/fresh. The miso is given generous amounts of Tofu compared to most places who just server murky water with seaweed. | The sushi is always presented well and never feels outdated. I come here with my roommate, they always get fatty tuna, and I always get eel rolls (this is a me thing, not everyone loves eel). The servers actually give a damn and some remember who you even are if you become a regular. It is definitely not the most fancy place in the world, but for the medium costs, the well kept enviornment, and the service you get. I keep coming back here everytime, because when I experiment and just try somewhere else. No where can compare in the surrounding area. (I am sure some better places exist, but within a 10 mile radius of it? not so much). If you are ever craving sushi and see this is in your area, give it a chance. Grab some shrimp tempura, miso, and a beer see how you feel bout that, if you like that, then try reaching out for some sushi rolls or sashimi depending on what you like. You may not find what you like immediately, but its about experimenting. TLDR: Small cozy place when no kids are around. Nice staff, good fresh food in house, dont do delivery its not the same. read more

Local favorite; supports YHS and always has the best attitude when serving their guests. The vibes definitely give off family owned which is great for this tiny restaurant. I love my Dragon Roll and Softshell Crab Tempura. Chef Carlos is the best! read more

we are in Lexington several weekends a year...Zen is our first choice... excellent, fresh, creative food, wonderful servers...get thee to Zen! read more

Always good. A staple in our house. Love the Jumbo Deep Fried Spicy Tuna. Rolls are delicate and delicious.

Cold gyoza, undercooked sweet potato, forgot the soup. Mediocre food and poor service.

My wife and I ordered 4 rolls and an edamame app for a total of $75 before tip. The amount of food we got barely fed a single person and was, sadly, quite unremarkable. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with this sushi, but you get nearly nothing for your money. See photo for proof. All 4 rolls together barely the size of my hand. read more

Sushi-Zen - Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Came here midweek about 8:45pm; they close at 9:30pm. There were 3 other tables filled. Lily quickly took our drink order and came back for our food order. Service was quick and we knew they were closing in 45 min. We got the king salmon sashimi, eel nigiri, spider roll, and rainbow roll. Everything was fresh and good but the king salmon was outstanding. I would get that again and a lot of it! Miso soup and salad were good. Edamame a few minutes overdone. We were basically kicked out at 10pm by the sushi chef. We were not done our drinks but left anyway. read more

I love sushi, and I can tell you that Sushi-Zen is an excellent restaurant with fast service and great food. Upon arriving to a mostly full restaurant, I was immediately greeted and given a seat. Within a minute, my waitress had stopped by to take my order. I ordered the Chirashi, and it was ready in just a little over 10 minutes. Everything was fantastic. The fish was fresh and melt-in-your-mouth, while the addition of roe complemented the sashimi. The rice was flavorful and perfectly seasoned, as well as having the correct chewy and sticky texture. read more

Sushi-Zen - Chirashi - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Wide selection of sushi and nigiri, with a lot of roll options. Fish was very fresh and the rolls were tasty- good ratio of fish to rice. Pretty standard pricing for sushi in the area. We got there right as they opened for dinner and had no troubles getting seated. Service was speedy and friendly. This is obviously a go-to sushi spot for locals so that says something about the quality keeping repeat customers. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm craving sushi. read more

Sushi-Zen - 6 Pieces Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll, 8 Pieces Volcano Roll - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I was craving for sushi and there were no resevations for Sushi Taro, found this restaurant to be somewhat close to where I live. I did not enjoy most of the food here: *agedashi tofu was overly fried, the shell was not light and crispy and I didn't like the dipping sauce *I did not enjoy the sushi rice that they used here, it's too mushy and sticky and seems like the sushi chefs packed it together too hard *we ordered a bunch of rolls and nigiris, the rice made a lot of the items taste bad. spent $15 on 2 uni nirigis, don't think the uni is very fresh, that was a bad purchase Should have just gone to Sushi Taro and sit at the bar which usually doesn't require reservations but might have a wait. Felt like I would have spent the same amount of money but would have had much better quality at Taro (esp the Uni!). read more