Came by myself on a Wednesday night without a reservation. I had to wait a little bit but was able to get seated. It is very loud, both from people talking and then with music once that started. This is more of a vibe place than a good food place. Misoshiru has too much miso. The mackerel was a bit disappointing, the vinegar flavoring is light and it has that thawed from frozen texture. The rice is good, much better than I typically see stateside. The tuna was oddly sweet and didn't have firmness. The hamachi was spot on though, not sure why the other two were misses. The signature dish is fried monkfish in something similar to sweet and sour sauce, honestly not that impressed. Cheesecake is not as dense as American cheesecake and not fluffy like a soufflé, I think it was a good middle ground. Not too sweet. read more

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Very different (in a good way) dining experience. Dimmed lights, extravagant Japanese-style design and glorious decor on your way to the toilet upstairs are definitely memorable! The food was simply amazing and arranged like a work of art! We were quite a big group and the food arrived at the same time. The menu is quite varied - from more traditional Japanese style dishes to quite modern cuisine - I for one had a meal called 'Mad crab' which was a selection of seafood with a delicious cheese sauce and poached oak Choi with oyster sauce. The service was very attentive. read more

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We went there on a Sunday night. We loved it. I had the Hannon's 40 day aged fillet steak. It was delicious. We started with tempura and dumplings as an appetizer. Staff was great and the service was fast. The music was a good mix. read more

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Zen is an amazingly different dining experience. I visited yesterday with my sister Caroline S for an impromptu Saturday evening dinner. They kindly offered us a table from 6pm to 7.30pm which suited us fine, especially as we rang at just 5pm that same day asking for one. We struck it lucky as Zen is an extremely busy restaurant! The restaurant decor is spectacularly beautiful being a mix of modern and traditional Japanese design. Service was perfect and atmosphere buzzing, happy and friendly. Zen has some great Vegetarian dishes on the menu so we got stuck in and ordered asparagus sushi, tofu parcel sushi and aubergine tempura as a sharing starter. My main was Coconscious Curry a thick rich coconut curry with spicy chilli, aubergines, green beans, tofu and pineapple. It was very, very good but not as good as my sisters Assorted Mushroom Teppanyaki dish - I'll be having that when I return as it was fabulous! The house white Pinot Grigio complemented our food very well and the cocktails were amazing. For dessert we sat at the bar and worked our way through a range of cocktails including the Fountain of Youth (we can but try!), Cherry Blossoms, Russian Kisses, Watermelon Martinis, Banana Mojitos and a couple of Chunky Geishas. The best cocktails I have ever tasted. We had a brilliant evening and will definitely return to Zen very soon. read more

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Zen's decor is nice but tacky (I don't do plastic flowers!). I have visited twice now, first time the service was good and I would have given them 5 stars. However second time the service was not up to scratch, we had to ask twice for water, cocktails and our bill. Nonetheless the food is always fresh, amazing and different. Cocktails are to die for! A nice spot with a vibrant atmosphere to set you up for a Saturday night out. Great for large groups and special occasions. read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Cocktails - Japanese Near Me - Belfast, BFS

I have tasted Zen's cocktails a few times before and I found them amazing, so I couldn't wait to try their food as well. 7 of us had a booking yesterday for my Hen-do dinner. I was delighted we got to sit upstairs as I really like the atmosphere and the decor there. The menu is extensive and impressive, especially if you are into sushi. I am not a fan, so I went for the garlic butter coriander king prawns with egg noodles and what a great choice it was! Absolutely out of this world, I was very happy with it. My dessert was a Mango mojito but I admit I was jealous of the others' Cherry Blossom which is a masterpiece of cocktails! The highlight of the night was the surprise shot with fireworks and wedding music! OMG goosebumps! I'm still getting emotional when thinking about it. Food and drinks came quickly, waiters were pleasant. However, with a 10% service charge I would have preferred not having to ask for our table to be cleared. Overall, I highly recommend Zen as it is very special and a real treat. read more

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It's not often I would award 5 stars, but Zen definitely gets it. This is definitely one of my absolute favourites in Belfast. They offer an extensive menu ranging from sushi to sashimi to steak, duck and lots of other Asian fusion cuisine. Their signature dish - Monkfish tails done in a Tangyang sauce is to die for! They also have a huge drinks selection and are known for their award-winning cocktails. I've tried a number of different ones and they never dissapoint. My favourites would have to be either the Osaka Lady or the Chunky Geisha. They have the options to book their unique function room upstairs which is a beautifully designed Japanese dining space with soft cushions surrounding the table. You would be invited to remove your shoes before entering the area, for the authentic experience. They also offer a separate karaoke room for large groups. The restaurant is a bit on the pricey side, but believe me it's worth every penny!! read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Most amazing cocktails in Belfast!! - Japanese Near Me - Belfast, BFS

If you're looking for excellent quality sushi in Belfast, this is your place. Slightly expensive but totally worth it, and the cocktails are to die for read more

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Tasty flamed duck with amazing sauce and noodles. Great interior and well staffed. They also do karaoke upstairs. read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Came here on a trip to Belfast and had the most amazing garlic butter prawn dish! I'll definitely be back again!

Was in Zen Adelaide street on Friday for the early bird, was surprised at how busy it was at 6pm. The menu is great value pre threatre as on Friday and Saturday also includes a glass of wine or a beer. The menu itself was substantial, I ordered Maki/sushi starter and my husband ordered the chicken skewers, both were lovely and tasty and substantial quantity. I got the honey and peppered chicken which was a substantial portion and had lots of chicken, the sauce was tangy and flavoursome, and he got sizzling beef which again was delicious as nothing was left on the plate. Great service and again great food at a great price, would definitely go back. For £16.50 pp with a drink and sides and fantastic friendly professional service it's hard to fault. The cocktails looked amazing so next time I will definitely order one. read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Belfast, BFS

I adore this place! Last time I was here I had a platter of sushi and sashimi and it don't fail to impress! I also had monkfish tails that were so juicy and delicious! And to finish it off had a fantastic strawberry daiquiri! The place is very cool, dimmed lighting, funky lights and chic decor...if you haven't been..,then go! read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Oh my goodness if you can find a better restuarant in Belfast I will happily buy you dinner in it. This place is arguably the best food you will ever eat. To review this and look over my reviews of chinese takeaways and dodgy pizzerias doesn't make any sense and if I can become wealthy enough to eat here every night i would. I took a punt on the Zen signature meal with monkfish and i've not had monkfish before and to be honest, I'm not quite sure what it is, but it's outstanding! They have a wee bit on the menu which tells you how to order and stuff in a Japanese restaurant which is a nice bit to put in and relaxes your inhibitions. Still had room for supper when I got home much later but this place by far is the best in Belfast. read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Been coming to Zen for ages and still one of my all time favourite places to eat in Belfast. My previous review (2010) still stands and I still have never had a bad experience. The Staff are out of this world and very experienced. Alex is by far the nicest, kindest host ever, talk about feeling welcome! we have always been greeted by Alex and he always takes the time to chat with us. The whole team are great... these guys know how to do it. While the price is a little expensive - it's 100% worth every penny. If you let them know in advance you can reserve booths for your party depending on numbers. This is a very popular restaurant. Would definitely recommend the food (Pan Fried Asparagus in Rib Eye Steak Rolls) also try the sushi platter, even if you never have. It's pretty amazing. I cannot rant and rave about this place enough. Try it! read more

I have been hearing about this place for a long time now from friends and family who have been. Constant reports of how great it is, and how it's so worth travelling up from Bangor to eat there. And mostly I just let it wash over my head. "Yeah yeah, it's great. Got it", because everyone ALWAYS exaggerates their experiences. Last night however at the Yelp Mouth Off event, I have to say I was very surprised to see that mostly people have not been exaggerating. The place was very specious, very well laid out, did not play cheesy music but played modern popular music, the cubicles upstairs add the the privateness of anyone's dining experience. The staff were cheerful, pleasant and helpful, even laughing at one or two of my lame jokes. As far as I could see the place was spotless and I have to say, all in all it had the feel of stepping into a more tranquil world and I was well pleased and will definitely be back again! read more

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Been here a few times for both evening meals and a spot of lunch after being dragged round the shops.Always enjoyed it. Friendly staff, nice atmosphere and the food is very good. Saturday night can be hectic,if you are hoping to get a drink at the bar pre dinner be prepared for a bit of a scrum! On one occasion we had to wait close to an hour beyond our booked table time which was not great but the food was worth the wait. To be fair it was December so right in the middle of Xmas party season, the place was bunged! Good selection of cocktails if you are into that sort of thing and generally a cool spot. read more

The tempura starter is absolutely unbelievable as is the service in this chic Asian fusion restaurant... I then opted for the WASABI peppered monkfish which honestly, was one of the most taste bud tingling dishes I've ever had...! Though surprisingly, not as hot as it sounds...! Decor and layout it superb, with the usual Japanese standard of an open kitchen/dining room so you can watch the chefs prepare the food... Waiting staff are attentive while not being overbearing and food was served promptly and with a smile and some bravado (food served onto hot stones at table side)... The menu was perfect for the Japanese food rookie and explained how to order sushi and sashimi and what was in every dish, something other sushi restaurants do not do and I feel puts people off... The choices available for both was extensive as was the delightful main course selection and, in contrast to what other Japanese eateries in Belfast offer, the wine, cocktail and extended drinks menu was brilliant... However, for such a lovely place I felt the wall depicting photos of celebrities who had eaten in the establishment was a bit sad and self-serving and reminded me of a cheesy American chain restaurant but this couldn't put me off giving Zen 5 stars and recommending it to a friend before I had even left the restaurant... PS. TRY TRY TRY...! read more

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I am in love with this restaurant it ticks every single box for me!!!! Brilliant service every time, the food is outstanding and the atmosphere is always amazing. It's always busy but never over crowded which I love. They have some beautiful dessert cocktails as well. I will definitely be back soon xx read more

God, even thinking about Zen is making me hungry (and I've just eaten!). The interior of this restaurant looks like it could be used in a scene from Sex and the City. Upstairs is uber cosmpolitan with hanging beads and swinging booths. Downstairs is more traditional, and has a definite Japanese vibe to the decor (although you don't have to sit on the floor to eat). The food is also pretty special. It has a really wide menu, but the food is always fresh. The problem I have is that I order too much because I can't decide and at the prices they charge, it gets expensive! The price is a factor in people deciding to go I think. Everytime I can remember being in there, I can recall there being balloons for a birthday, or a cake emerging at some point, so it's definitely a favourite for special occasions. In fact, I think most of the times I've been have been special too... I'm having trouble faulting this place actually. From the moment you go in, you're looked after, the food is delicious and overall, despite the price, it still feels like great value for money. read more

The food and the service is amazing！The decoration in the store is the combination of modern and ancient Chinese style. VERY RECOMMENDED！ read more

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Based on the good reviews, I desided to have dinner here. My first impression when I came in is that is was very busy and noisy. The reservation was made at 2130 but the table was not ready and we had to wait for about 30 minutes before our table was ready. As I am a great sushi fan, (and again based on the reviews it had to be good) I did order a variety sushi. I have to say....I had better. That is also my overall conclusion of this restaurant. I just have been to better places in Belfast (much better). So for me it was a bit disapointing. As we say in dutch: the place was a bit of a "vreetschuur". read more

Was lovely meal! It had been a few years since I had gone but was a pretty good meal the chili prawns were delish! The service was good to!

I've had the pleasure of visiting Zen twice in as many weeks recently, once with family and the other time with friends. I have to say that I really love visiting this restaurant, the interior is so slick and modern, it is incredibly cool. My fellow diners remarked that they could be in London or New York in this restaurant! From the second you walk in, you are greeted with a smile and either shown straight to your table or asked to sit at the bar where you can sample some of their amazing cocktails! I recommend the Sour Apple Martinis - I was introduced to these a while back by a former colleague, and I haven't bothered with another cocktail in Zen since! Ahmet, the genius behind them, is wonderful! I always find the waiters and waitresses so polite. They give you space, but always check in and take your order so well - there is no confusion and you always get what you ask for. On the first visit, we decided to go down the tapas route and order lots of dishes for the table... Chicken Topanyaki, Prawns in Thai Coconut Sauce, Angry Crab, Deep Fried Sushi, California Rolls, Vegetable Tempura with a Garlic Soy Sauce, Salted Chilli Squid, Chicken and Pine Nut Parcels and Edemame. And it was all delicious. I cannot fault a single dish, I just wish I had a bigger stomach to have been able to gobble every last mouthful on the table! On my second visit, I throroughly enjoyed a starter of Prawn and Seaweed Dumplings which were divine, and quite inspired - instead of the standard dumpling sack, the prawns were mashed up into cubes with the crisp seaweed on top - really stunning. I followed up with a starter portion of Kimchi Chicken Skewers with Satay Sauce, Deep Fried Sushi and a side of Edemame. I'm a sucker for satay and their peanut sauce is just spot on. It's fresh, not oily and has a perfect kick of chilli. I got the Deep Fried Sushi again as I was surprised that I had enjoyed it so much the first time - california rolls with crab and avacado - gorgeous. My fellow diners enjoyed the Zen Signature Dish - Monkfish in a sweet thai chilli sauce. I had a taste and the sauce was really flavoursome, however I'm not sure I would've enjoyed the monkfish for an entire meal. We sat on enjoying cocktails past midnight and were never asked to leave or to move to the bar. We had a fantastic night on both occasions and will most certainly be back very soon! BE WARNED: If you are easily embarrassed, do not attend Zen for your birthday celebrations!!! A very loud rendition of Happy Birthday, followed by For He's a Jolly Good Fellow is played on rotation for all unsuspecting birthday boys and girls... You have been warned!! read more

I went here for Valentines, due to the positive reviews for the sushi here. I booked 3 weeks i advance. A few days before, the restaurant called me and said that they only had a set menu, and sushi would only be available as a starter. It would be great to know that when I booked, and not 5 days before when all the restaurants in town were fully booked, leaving me no choice. But hey, Japanese food can be great even if it is not sushi, and as my second option would be McDonalds on Valentine, I went for it. The place looks OK, like a semi-up-scale Japanese restaurant. Downstairs looks more traditional, while upstairs is more modern. The interior design is neither fantastic, nor too bad. For Valentine, they were playing 80's love songs, which to me was a little too cheesy. I can only hope that they usually play more lounge-like music. The sushi for the starter was totally acceptable. The fish was fresh and decent quality. I don't know why people has been giving it great reviews though... More like what you expect from a sushi take-away. The rice was lacking flavor, and the sushi we had was uninspiring, but edible. For main course we had seafood tepanyaki, which was pan seared prawns and scallops in a spicy, creamy sauce. The seafood was decent quality, and the sauce tasted good. In my view, a spicy sauce with scallops is not optimal though, since it overpowers the flavor of the scallops. The dessert was cheesecake, with "sorbet". The cheesecake tasted like it came from the freezer, but it wasn't bad. The "sorbet" was frozen berries straight from the blade mixer. It tasted OK, albeit a little unsophisticated for a restaurant. All in all, the food was OK, but not great for the price. A 3-course menu for 2 people with a bottle of not-so-great cava was 90 pounds. The service was OK besides failing to inform about the fixed menu, and the place looks OK, except for the music. The real deal-breaker for me was that the waiter put a 10% tip on our bill. The last time I experienced this was at a crappy Italian restaurant in the touristy Little Italy area in New York 10 years ago. To me, this is rude and unprofessional. The tip should be voluntary, and it should be a given depending on much you like the service and the place. It pissed me off, so I refused to pay it. I would not really recommend this place, unless you must have some Japanese food when in Belfast. I will not go back. read more

Great food and best sushi in Belfast! Friendly, helpful staff. Try to book upstairs as it's more interesting layout :) Giant cocktails! read more

Went to zen last night for a friends birthday we were seated upstairs and it was really busy but the staff were very efficient and so fast with food and drink orders only thing I didn't like was the tabes were very close togather wasn't much room to move but everything else was five stars and the decor was really nice as was the cocktails they were amazing defo be back here again read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Upstairs in zen - Japanese Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Best cocktails in Belfast! Love this place. Fantastic staff and delicious food. Highly recommend. read more

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They have dropped the ball badly in Zen. We went for my birthday and it was a typically busy Saturday night, service was really quick and almost as soon as the delicious starter was sat down in front of is the HOVERING started, every mouthful we took brought the waitress closer and closer. The pressure was ON...we felt really uncomfortable, and my fork hardly hit the plate when it was whipped away and the main course set down. Which leads me to my major gripe, the food was COLD, not only that but in the side of cold noodles there was a lump of cling film stuck to the side of the dish. This might all be acceptable in a fast food outlet but due to the exorbitant price tag attached to a Zen meal I expect a bit more than microwave heated noodles. The stuff was obviously waiting getting cold while we were eating our starters, big crowd, big price tag but not worth it. Disappointed read more

I had a lot of people telling me that this restaurant was to die for and to be honest i wasn't impressed. I have had better take away! the bill was enormous and i was still a little hungry afterwards. So no I wouldn't recommend. read more

I was honoured to attend a wine pairing event here. The wines were from Peter Lehmann and we tasted five tasting dishes (salmon, sushi, chicken, duck and monkfish) along with the respective wines. The ambience of the place, coupled with the efficient and professional service really made this a truly wonderful experience. Suffice to say this is still my favourite Japanese restaurant in Belfast!! The food tasters we had really made us all wanting more!!!! read more

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Zen is an Asian / Japanese restaurant about two minutes' walk from City Hall. It would like to think that it is one of the more sophisticated eateries around, with it's sushi menu, immaculately turned out staff, and expensive looking decor. But there's no denying the fact that they've thrown in a lot of populist stuff to appeal to the less culinary adventurous of Belfast's fine townspeople... Strawberry daiquiris, plain curries, satay skewers. All of which clearly sell like hot cakes. Me, I prefer the sushi (I could eat Zen's sushi & sashimi forever), and make sure you ask for their sake to be warmed. Be careful though - this stuff heads straight upstairs - you'll find yourself talking nonsense after a couple of cups. Well worth trying. A word of warning though - I was there with a group of five of an evening, one of whom was my brother. It happened to be him who asked for the bill, which he was promptly presented with. I watched his eyes go wide with shock. The other diners in the restaurant were treated to a yell of 'HOLY CHRIST!!' It's a bit on the pricey side. read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Really, really good food and excellent service make this restaurant a really fun and interesting place to head for dinner. Situated quite close to the city centre this restaurant is really well placed to head to for a bite to eat before you head to the cinema, theatre or on a night out. The prices can be slightly steep but I think it is well worth it for the quality of the sushi and the quality of the friendly and warm service. I would definitely try the crispy duck and if you like sushi you won't be disappointed. read more

This is by far the best Japanese restaurant I've ever been to! The decor is very upmarket and the atmosphere is vibrant but relaxed! The menu here is extensive, its so hard to chose what to go for! I always go for something from the sushi menu as a starter and would defiantly recommend the octopus! Its awesome! The sea bass is by far my favourite for my main as its served on a bed of noodles and is always cooked to absolute perfection! Then there's the Saki which comes in a great flask with cute cups! Its a must have! The cocktails are also amazing and they really know they're stuff- we always go for several of these! Zen is ore expensive than any other Japanese restaurant in Belfast but the prices are representative of the first class food and service! A fantastic dining experience! read more

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Definitely a contender for best restaurant in town! Food is absolutely delicious, with a huge menu. Service is great and staff are very friendly. An added bonus is the drinks menu, especially the cocktails these are not to be ignored, trust me. It is a little pricey however, but after you have had the experience I guess its worth it! read more

Very stylish (the decor is a bit James Bond.), friendly restaurant with fast, efficient service. The veggie food is very lovingly prepared excellent tempura especially the lotus root. The still bottled water came opened and the bottle looked very used, hmmmmm The waitress took away our soy sauce half way through the meal, which was a bit irritating. read more

If food heaven is a hot bowl of miso soup and a plate of fresh sashimi then Zen is the only place in Belfast to provide such bliss. With a wide range of cocktails, excellent service, as well as the breadth of Asian-inspired dishes, Zen is a real treat. The décor is stylish and relaxing with the best seats in the upstairs booths - so best book as it is always busy. Not the cheapest place to eat but one that you will return to again. read more

I also have only been for lunch which is great value. A little expensive for me at night and they no longer take the Hi-Life card giving 2 meals for price of 1. Kimchi dishes are great and I would thoroughly recommend. read more

Went for a birthday meal. The food was very good. Very different from the standard oriental offerings we get. Cocktails were very good and again different. Staff were friendly and attentive. Will be back read more

Had a great meal at Zen a couple of weeks ago with the City Lunch Group. Brilliant food and great food! Definitely recommend it! read more

It was our son's choice as we'd never heard of it. As we entered for lunch all the staff milling about greeted us and were really friendly. Comfy chairs, low light and a big restaurant. It also has a very extensive bar and a huge cocktail list. We opted for starters of tempura of mixed fish, which included king prawn, scallop and salmon with a light soy based dip; crispy duck in crispy pancakes. There was oodles of shredded duck, which wasn't very crispy, some veg and the very crispy pancakes were round crispy discs about saucer size. Finally a chicken satay with peanut sauce on the side. All the starters were below £4 very tasty and good portion size. The food came quickly enough and hot too. The mains included fillet steak in black pepper sauce (£9.50) with steamed rice, a king prawn with veg fried rice (£7) and a chilli chicken with steamed rice (£7). Each item in the mains was technically just right with the sauces balanced just right. The portions were generous including the chunks of fillet steak and all the food was great tasting. The prawn main came with a choice of different sauces on the side; we opted for curry. This sauce was similar to a Chinese curry sauce in taste and colour but a little bit more light. As I said all friendly folk and the place was packed out which added to the atmosphere. Soft drinks added another £12 to the bill. read more

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