Came here for a quick lunch and I have to say the food is amazing! The food is fresh, the service is top notch, the bathrooms are clean. It's always exciting when you go to a fast food type of place and quality, cleanliness and service is top notch. I do want to give credit to their quality of service. My wife accidentally spilled one of our meals just the veggies off of it. A regular employee saw it on her lunch break and didn't say anything to us she just went and told her manager and the manager came over and insisted we get a new meal. The level of integrity and service this location offered was incredible! Pictured is a bowl with half brown rice and the lo main . Steak for choice of meat (also offer chicken , tofu, meatballs) , topped with corn, broccoli mix, carrots, cilantro and peanuts. I mixed Two sauces teriyaki and chili lemongrass. 10/10 read more

Zao Asian Cafe - Asian Fusion Near Me - Riverdale, Utah

This Zao is the worst one is this area. It consistently takes longer to order here compared to all the other Zaos around here and their portions are ridiculous. I'm paying 14 dollars for a bowl and this location consistently gives half the amount compared to others. read more

Zao Asian Cafe - How is this a full chicken bowl? - Asian Fusion Near Me - Riverdale, Utah

Big dark hair in my food for the second time in a couple months. Two bites in and have to trash it again. Hard pass.

Staff were awesome and helped me navigate the gluten free parts of the menu. Food was fresh and tasty. I took off a star because the music was so loud. It sounded like a dance party in there! Maybe I'm getting old? It just wasn't my vibe. read more

I'm so happy I tried Zao!! Luckily the person in front of me ordered several bowls so I was able to get an idea of what all the options were. I went with a chicken bowl over white rice with green curry. It was delicious and I can't wait to go try new combinations. The employees were very friendly even though it was the last hour before closing. Everything looked very clean and I enjoyed the option to eat outside on the patio. It's definitely a nice change from the normal quick food options. read more

Zao Asian Cafe - Chicken Bowl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Riverdale, Utah

SO Disappointed! They removed the soup from their menu! BOO!! :-( I guess I will find somewhere else to go. read more

The dumplings were very disappointing. You could tell they dont make them to order and it tasted very greasy, too crunchy and rubbery and had a off taste as if the oil was stale too. Service wasnt that great either but it wasnt bad. The rest of the food was amazing though!!!! Had the chicken bowl with the Y noodles and my fiancé got it with rice. Delicious sauces. Protein portion sizes are very small, i got 5 small cubes of chicken lol so if you love your protein sizes maybe its not the place for you or you might want to order an extra portion on the side like I did. I got the chicken meatballs to try and honestly didnt have that much flavor but their yummy sauces made up for it read more

Zao Asian Cafe - Asian Fusion Near Me - Riverdale, Utah

It's fresh, it's different, it's tasty. Excellent little spot to come get your rice/noodle bowl on! Pick your base (i like the brown rice) add a protein (I've tried both the chicken and the beef) and add your "stuff" on the top. There are several different sauces to choose from and the spicy sauce or the curry tend to be my go to. Look. This sounds like a simple little place but the flavors are complex and wonderful. They have some toppings like grilled corn / carrots that really set this dish off and you will be pleasantly surprised at just how tasty a simple rice bowl can be. On a side note, try the guacamole. You will be impressed. read more

Zao Asian Cafe - Rice bowl, two proteins. ~$8 - Asian Fusion Near Me - Riverdale, Utah

Been awhile since we stopped in at this Zao location. The service here was worthy of a 5 rating (friendly and helpful team!), but the food seemed a bit off on this visit. The corn in particular had a musty smell to it and the amount of chicken was minimal. (4 small pieces). By no means do I expect it to be a full bowl of protein, but at the very least, make me feel better about your ever increasing prices by providing a fair portion. Two fast casual meals and two drinks came out to $34... which, is a norm nowadays for a sit down restaurant. But, for Zao.... It's a bit much. I won't be in a hurry to return. The healthy eating concept is great, the menu offerings are many, but the quality for the price was lacking (in my opinion and experience). read more

It's a pick your protein, carb and sauce style set up. Pretty delicious. I was quite pleased. Today was our first visit. We got the bowl: steak, yaki soba, with teriyaki; and a bahn mi: steak, wrap, cilantro lime. Loved the steak and both the sauces! Kind of disappointed that the French Baguette was NOT available, although it's on the printed menu and was online when I looked last. Good selection of non-carbonated beverages. My only complaint was the wrap wasn't folded nice and tight... wrapping is an important skill! Turned into quite a mess. A delicious mess. Overall it was delicious. $22 for two of us. We will be back. read more

As fans of the downtown Salt Lake location, we've been excited for Zao to open in Riverdale ever since we heard it was coming a year ago. Tonight they threw a pre-grand-opening welcome to the community with a complementary dinner service. They kept the food and friendliness on point with welcomes and check-ups for those in line and eating at tables. Our family's regular go-tos were here: tacos, soup and noodle bowls. The yellow and green curry sauces on the limited-time yakisoba noodles were especially scrumptious. The chili-lemongrass sauce was tasty on the noodles, too. However, it is the banh-mi sandwiches with their hoisin and aioli sauces that have been my fave-of-favorites of Zao's menu--and we learned this location has jettisoned the warm baguette bread in favor of a cold flatbread wrap. They told me that with the growth and expansion they've been undertaking that dependable service on fresh bread hasn't been nailed down, so the flatbread wrap could be rolling out in other locations too. I will have to try it on a subsequent visit, but this was very disappointing news to hear. There are already too many "fast casual burrito" places notwithstanding Zao's Thai-Asian-fusion ingredients. That said, those crispy fried shallots and edamame-avocado guacamole could make up for a lot! We also learned that they have been switching over for the last few months the in-house homemade meatballs to a chicken-only recipe from the chicken-and-pork featured elsewhere. They had the same good Asian-fusion flavor but were a touch dry today. It's possible that this was due to preparing for the huge crowd tonight and not that the recipe has suffered. The diced steak we tried tonight was good, though. Will give these meatballs another try soon! read more

Zao Asian Cafe - Asian Fusion Near Me - Riverdale, Utah

This spot is SO refreshing! Fresh, healthy and light ingredients with a mild and yet full Asian flavor! Our first time visiting, staff were friendly and the restaurant was clean. They offer military discount and the prices are very reasonable considering the quantity you get! 2 bowls served us twice each and we were full each time! Lots of menu options and build your own abilities. The isles are a bit snug, and indoor seating is limited but so worth it! Thank you Zao! read more

Zao Asian Cafe - Beef Steak Bowl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Riverdale, Utah

See all

Love it! I see the employees checking food temps regularly. That's nice to see... The chicken meatballs are THE BOMB! And the green curry is perfect!! Love how flexible the menu is and I love how quickly you get your food! Cute decor, yummy food! All around a fav of ours for sure! read more

You can't help but feel healthy after eating these menu items. I always get a rice bowl. It is filling with lots of flavor. The line staff is friendly. The restaurant has high turnover and could probably have a table wiped down a little more often. Also, for the price, I would like a much larger drink. read more

I'm so happy they opened up this location! YAY! Definitely closer to us than Woodscross. The service here was great and our cashier was awesome! He smiled, started conversation and even came to check how we enjoyed our food :) I love Zao's protein bowls! My sister and I got the chicken/steak rice bowls the Zao way with yellow curry. Yummy! My favorite at the juice bar is the Mango. Glad to have a Zao near me now!!! read more

Zao Asian Cafe - Chicken rice bowl the Zao way with yellow curry & mango juice :) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Riverdale, Utah

We were heading to a neighboring restaurant for lunch when we noticed the grand opening of Zao. We decided to give it a whistle. Glad we did! I had a 1/2 chicken and 1/2 chicken meatball brown rice bowl with carrots, corn and broccoli. It was delicious! For less than $20, my wife and I had an excellent lunch. Excited to try again in the future. read more

Zao Asian Cafe - Chicken Meatballs and grilled chicken brown rice bowl with teriyaki sauce! Delicious. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Riverdale, Utah

I was skeptical. Very skeptical. But this place was awesome. The staff were pretty cool and the food was great. The soup was delish too!

First experience. Ordered online. Super easy, got to specify every ingredient. Picked up on a busy Friday night. Place was packed so I was super happy to be picking it up off a shelf and leaving. Was completed within the ten minutes and waiting with my name on the receipt. Was quite roomy and well-designed inside. Got the order home and was pleasantly surprised that everything was made correctly to order. The food was delicious. Will certainly order out again on the weekends but probably go sit down inside on less busy days. read more

Great service! Staff is always professional kind and efficient. Environment is clean and has a fresh vibe. Food is delicious and gluten free friendly I Highly recommended this restaurant. read more

Zao Asian Cafe - My meal - Asian Fusion Near Me - Riverdale, Utah

It's takes me a lot to leave a review, would go 4.5. The food is unique, sourced well, crafted beautifully. Like the Asian equivalent to chipotle. I go here a couple times a week. Their cooked noodle option is worth the extra, super sauce may not be on the menu, but it is so incredible. Their fresh drink options are fun and unique I would recommend this place to anyone. I have 3 negatives for you though... 1. NEVER ENOUGH SAUCE. Like EVER!!. There was ONE TIME out of 40 where I felt like there was adequate sauce, I am not a saucey individual. I don't do tons of sauce. So when I say they skimp on the sauce. I mean that whole heartedly. So keep that in mind. I don't care if I have to pay extra, I just want enough sauce for the portion size given. So if you go inside to order, make sure when it comes time for the sauce and you say, "I'll take the super sauce." Then watch them skimp ya and tell them to add a little more sauce. 2. They don't take cash. That's just lame 3. (This one is petty) the meat options are all cut too big. Would be ideal if they cut the meats in smaller sizes. You'll see. But I would give it a 4.5... their employees are always positive and smiling and kind, it's got good energy in there, management is top notch, the drinks are fantastic, the food is a 10. (Except skimping on the sauce) everything there is a 10, and the amount of food for the money has value written all over it. You should go there. Remember on the sauce!!!! read more

Yum! I'm such a fan of this place. It's a fast casual chain, but it's unlike anything else Riverdale has to offer. I like their take on tacos and you can't go wrong with a bowl! Their yakisoba noodles are so tasty. You can get brown or white rice. I tend to stick with chicken and teriyaki sauce, but I was not disappointed when I ventured out and tried the meatballs and lemongrass sauce. One of my favorite things here are the drinks!! They are so good! I normally skip the drink and ask for a water cup everywhere else, but their special teas, lemonades, and limeade are so tasty that you must give it a shot! If you like Asian fusion, give this place a try. read more

My family's first experience with Zao Asian Cafe was disappointing. We placed an order with Door Dash at just the right time for them to have completely run out of both rice noodles and white rice. When we received our order they all (4 bowls) had brown rice. I called about the problem and they said both they and the driver tried to contact us about the problem. I spoke to a fine young man named Juan who offered 4 free bowls to make amends. Well last night we stopped in to take advantage of his olive branch. Absolutely fantastic! I was impressed by the quality of the food and the obvious concern Juan showed to dissatisfied customers. Respect! Juan and his team earned more repeat business. Thanks all. read more

Portion sizes are very inconsistent last few times hasn't even filled the bowl half way very disappointing for the price you pay.

This is the Chipotle of Asian Fusion. It's fast and fresh and you pay extra for Guac. Is it good, yes it's tasty. My only disappointment was that they did not have the bread for a proper bahn mi. read more

Zao Asian Cafe - Bahn Mi Wrap - Asian Fusion Near Me - Riverdale, Utah

The food is delicious! Grabbed a chicken bowl and the flavor was there. Super happy that I got to try it out and will be coming again !!

This is probably our favorite go-to spot during the week. When we first discovered Zao cafe, we literally went every day for two weeks straight. We're definitely regulars. That's how much we enjoy their food. My favorite combination is definitely the noodles with chicken, carrot, cucumber, corn, onion & curry lemongrass sauce. The meatball soup is also bomb! Thanks to the manager for hooking us up with two free bowels! Appreciate their service at this location. read more

Fresh yummy food, lots of options, well balanced. Each individual ingredient is prepared well and tasty plus they have fancy juices to drink read more

See all

Poor execution. All vegetables were soggy. Layton location best option. Very disappointed on my second visit to Zao. Go to Chipotle next door instead at Riverdale location. read more

My Dad and I went there one day just to try it out. There was a line but got through it so fast. I got adventurous and went for the green curry, it was the wrong choice especially for being my first time ordering there. I should have stuck with the yellow cause that's usually my go to at any Thai restaurant. Haven't gotten a chance to go back yet but I will probably cause the noodles were good. read more

I've been to many Zao, in fact it used to be my favorite restaurant. This Zao on Riverdale is not up to par with the chain. I've never had any issues with portion sizes or staff. Today I asked for corn and broccoli and they put 2 pieces of broccoli and half a spoon of corn. I asked for more and they said double portions would be extra. I pointed out it wasn't a full scoop and she said she would charge me 75 cents for more broccoli and an additional 75 for more corn. I asked when they implemented this and the girl chuckled and said listen we don't make the prices. I told her I understood, I just wondered if it was new and she ignored me. Without asking if I wanted toppings she put the lid on and told my my total. Shocked by this poor service. I won't be returning to this location. read more

First time here and the meal I had was delicious! No complaints! I tried the noodle bowl with steak and all the toppings available. I also had the chili lemongrass sauce. Very yum! read more

I stopped in for the first time for lunch today. I had no idea what to expect. I had the bowl with noodles, tofu, and Broccoli it was excellent!! read more

As a gluten free vegetarian it's super hard to find places to eat... but, big here! It's healthy, gluten free, and the yummiest tofu ever. BEST customer service ever as well. If you haven't been here ya gotta try it! read more

Great, fresh, healthy, and authentic This fast but the flavor is amazing and you can't feel bad eating it.

Great set up similar to chipotle except Asian. Great place if you are a vegan. Good portions. I have yet to finish a bowl. I opted for the noodles instead of the rice. No wait. Quick in and out. read more

I found this food to be quite tasty and delicious. Way better than what I expected. I tried both the tofu and chicken which was super yummy. I wish it was a little closer to my house I would probably go all the time. read more

Ordered online using the app and they forgot the curry sauce. I usually go in and order in person. Will probably never use the app again.

The Food is so fresh. Great noodles and selection of sauces. We always stop here when driving through the Salt Lake area for a quick and nourishing meal. Great for vegetarian options as well. read more

Best food ever AND ALSO STAFF ARE AMAZZINBGGGG best thing to order is the white rice with the chicken meatballs

This place is amazing! It's a medley of different kinds of food. They have Asian style bowls, but they also have tacos, chips and guacamole, and other things. read more