Maki Rolls to die for! Sizzling Rice with Wagyu beef. And the flourless Chocolate/Black Sesame mousse cake, the dessert of lovers! Nico, our server was delightful. And the food runner was so nice as well. It was our 30th anniversary. We had menus printed, "Happy Anniversary, Lisa & Rob"!! Who does that? Ambiance was cozy, romantic lighting. This is a Ballyhoo Hospitality restaurant & they have hit a home run with Zenzi Den. It may become our new special occasion spot. Thank you, staff at Zenzi Den! You're the best read more

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Came here with a party of 12 for dinner. Beautiful, dimly-lit space with a lively atmosphere. Our server was... "Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy!" Jimmy was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, broke it down, and gave our group a bunch of his recommendations. As far as the food goes... Everything that came out was delicious, but IMO the 5-stars of the show were: Apps: the spicy pork and shrimp ghost dumplings. It has this deep broth that you want to drink by the cupful. Main: Shiro-Mizo glazed Black Cod in butter lettuce cups (these were little umami bombs!). Nigiri: Bluefin (truffle) Akami. I could have eaten a dozen of these by myself. Dessert: it was a tie between the banana caramel katsu and the clementine creamsicle. Great way to top off dinner. Hit that sweet itch without being over-bearing nor too heavy. Much like Highwood, it is restaurants like this that will accelerate Glenview's downtown overhaul and revitalization. I don't give out many 5 stars. This place deserves it. Well done! We will be back! As a side note. If you don't drink alcohol, try their iced tea. It was a "Wow, this is some good freaking iced tea!" kinda tea. read more

I was so excited to try Zenzi Den. My friend who i met here had already been and said it was amazing so offered to go again. I originally could only get a 5:15pm res on a Wed evening, but a 6pm opened up at the last minute to grabbed it. It was a gorgeous Chicago summer evening so we grabbed a table on their small, but inviting front patio. We were immediately greeted by our waiter who gave us lots of tips about what to order from the menu. The cocktails looked amazing, but I opted for a glass of riesling instead. Overall thought the sushi/fish was really good and everything else was just OK: - Kamikaze Crab Tostada: 2 stars. It was basically a cracker with lots of spicy mayo and some crab. My friend said she got this last time and it was totally different and way better so maybe they need to bring the old one back - spicy pork and shrimp ghost dumplings: 4 stars. Tasty and they look like cute ghosts (hence the name). They weren't very spicy - Wagyu beef & onion rice: 3 stars. Nothing special and super salty - Miso Black Cod: 5 stars We ordered in lettuce cups (offered by our waiter) to get a little taste of this dish and it was SO good. I've never met a miso cod i don't like and this was one of the better ones. - Tuna Truffle Nigiri: 5 stars. Melt in your mouth good. We liked it so much that we thought about getting more sushi, but were too full from everything else. Service was attentive, but the food came out a little slow. It didn't help that our waiter forgot to put in our nigiri until the very end, but it was worth the wait...and he was very apologetic. Fortunately, my friend and I also weren't in a rush and happy to catch up. I'll definitely go back, but will probably stick with the sushi (and maybe cocktails) over everything else. read more

I was excited to check out Ballyhoo's newest concept in Glenview, and overall I'd say it delivered a good experience. We were in a bit of a rush but were seated close enough to our reservation time. We placed our food order and were pleased by how quickly the appetizers came out. We got the carrot salad, the ghost dumplings and the tempura shrimp. I liked the dumplings and the shrimp a lot. It was frustrating to be waiting for our other dishes for 30 minutes though. I had to be somewhere and unfortunately did not get to try the tan tan noodles we ordered. The truffle tuna nigiri came just as I was walking out so I had a piece before leaving. It was very tasty. Ambiance is sleek and perfect for a date night or girls night out. Restaurant gives city vibes for sure. I wish the pacing and timing of the meal was better but food was solid. read more

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Okay love me some Asian food and new restaurants...this is both! Go here, if you like Japanese food, it is great. One quick review...you know the rules: Food: SOOOO Good. Got apps, noodles, sushi, main, all amazing Service: it was new but the staff was not very up to date with what to order and not to knowledgeable Ambiance: awesome. Total vibe and energy like restaurants I have been in Asia read more

Zenzi Den - American Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

Zenzi Den was an absolute treat from start to finish! My husband and I visited to celebrate my birthday and were surprised with custom menus! The inside wasn't overly large but was very well designed. They had a series of booths and banquets to accommodate all group sizes. I loved the unique light features, semi-private feeling of the booths, and warm atmosphere. We start with a round of drinks. I got the Kintsugi which was a sweeter old fashioned style drink. I really enjoyed the flavors and balance of the drink. My husband tried Star Platinum which tasted like their version of a Vesper Martini. For food, we shared a couple of dishes. First, we got the Golden Scallop Motoyaki which had crab and scallop mixed and baked with other creamy flavors. We then shared the Emerald Spider Roll, California Crab Roll, Crispy Duck Miso Yaki Rice. The Emerald Spider roll was a standout with great flavor and a beautiful presentation. The rice also came with a table-side poured sauce that sizzled in the cast iron bowl. Overall, there was not one bad dish. The presentation was all top notch and portion sizes were shareable for two people. If you aren't sold off the food and drinks, know that Zenzi Den staff will treat you so kindly. Our server Levie went above and beyond for us, made great menu suggestions, checked in on us enough. He also gave us a complimentary glass of sake to share for my birthday! He truly made our experience that much more special feeling which always deserves extra kudos. read more

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We came for my birthday dinner and we're pleased with the food, the ambience and the service. They put my name on the front of the menu, which was very cute. It's clubby and a little dark in there. A separate room with a bar and some two top tables along the wall across from the bar is a nice quiet space. They supposedly have some to tatami rooms which we did not see. All in all with the hanging paper lanterns, and decor you could imagine yourself being in Japan. My cocktail was the Sakura SZN, which was a perfect combination of lemongrass vodka, Sakura juice, lychee, and possibly some egg white. It was a little sweet - not overly so and really had a depth of flavor. We had five dishes total. The first was the flaming tuna roll. The flaming refers to the fact that the tuna is seared with a torch on top of the roll. It had temporary shrimp inside and drizzled with a sweet soy. The next item was the Karaage chicken, which was similar to others we've had in Japan, but not as highly seasoned. It was very moist and extremely crunchy. The dipping sauce served with it was very fluffy and light, nothing like those heavy mayo based dipping sauces that were used to. The shrimp and pork ghost dumplings we're probably our least favorite of the evening. The dough was a little heavy around the filling, and the filling was not as flavorful as I had hoped. The chili crunch served with it helped elevate the dish. Our server told us this was the better of the two the other option having been duck dumplings, which we did not order. The next dish was the Tantan noodles and it was spicy and had very thinly sliced pieces of pork. They use Ramen noodles and I was used to udon or thicker noodles one in Japan. It was still very good just different than what I expected. The last dish we ordered was the wagyu beef and onion sizzling rice. This was supposed to get crunchy in a stoneware bowl however it was really not hot enough for that to happen. We are used to those kind of hot stone bowls at Korean restaurants and those are much hotter. They should probably either up the temperature on the stone bowls or forget about calling it sizzling rice. It was still delicious even with the lack of crunch on the rice that they claimed would form if we left it alone for a couple of minutes before we dug in. My second beverage was a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, which I asked the server about and he said it was still really good, but I have to say I would never order that again, it lack fruit, it laity and really wasn't very good chili is known for their cheap wines, which is probably why it's on the menu. They would do much better with an offering from New Zealand. They are part of the Ballyhoo hospitality group. If you already have points with other Ballyhoo restaurants you can use them here. They do offer a $15 birthday gift which had I known about before I would've gotten to use that night. We only have 30 days to use it so we have to get back there soon! read more

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New to the neighborhood and already our new favorite spot for a date night! The inside as absolutely stunning, dark and moody, perfect for a date night. Our waitress was the kindest person who suggested all the gems that we had! The nigiri was OUT OF THIS WORLD and nothing like you can get anywhere in the suburbs, which is incredible!!! The cocktails were well crafted and gorgeous, we have nothing bad to say at all! The wait was a bit but totally worth it and understandable for a new business. Can't wait to go back! Also would loooove if they had a happy hour eventually! read more

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Wow wow wow!!! I cannot say enough good things about this spot. Went at 4:30pm on Sunday w a friend sat at the bar. The place was busy as soon as it opened. The service and attention of all the staff is incredible. We felt so taken care of and special. The carrots salad, nigiri, black miso cod cups, and roasted edamame were all epic. Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu. Vinnie was our server at the bar and he was top notch! Very excited to bring more friends and family here. The ambiance is moody and sexy ... this place is such a vibe, I'm obsessed! read more

Zenzi Den - American Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

The food was spectacular Hana our server was phenomenal The whole experience was beyond my expectations read more

The food here was great! We left feeling satisfied without feeling super full and we had dessert which was soo delicious. The place was beautiful. The photo we got shows no one because we were only able to get in at 4:30 pm making a reservation two days ahead so if you plan on going here make sure to reserve well ahead of time. The service was consistent our waiter was a bit dry in personality but helpful and checked in on on us at the perfect time. The food didn't take long in coming out so no complaints on wait time for food and drinks but again we did arrive before the dinner rush. By the time we left the restaurant was full. Overall great food and great experience! read more

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Great food! Loved it here. There are small booths all over the restaurant and it was very pretty. Our server was super nice. Would recommend the Wagyu tataki. read more

The ambiance of Zenzi Den is interesting. It has a lounge/tiki vibe which is cool. We sat in one of their big booths which was great for sharing. Wait staff was slow at times and definitely hard sell on all of the most expensive items. We thought it was a little much to recommend the Tuna Tower ($100+) for the two of us, especially after we already ordered two appetizers. Apps- the Kamikazi Crab Tostada was fresh and delicious, with a little spice from the jalapeños. The roasted edamame was awesome. The chili crisp and the roasted earthiness blew me away. Rolls- Flaming tuna had a nice smoky flavor with fresh veggie crunch. The Spicy Tuna was fresh but basic. Wine- very limited choices imho Overall the food was good but the pushy server might have me going elsewhere. read more

New Ballyhoo! Really delicious food: the crab yakisoba is a standout of comfort. So good, spicy, lots of flavor. The Kampachi is really good as well. Kids loved their teriyaki bowls. The rolls were good, really gorgeous salmon. Service was a little slow with the pacing; we ended up waiting some time for the noodles, but they were very apologetic and manager came by and they were nice enough to comp dessert. The interior is gorgeous and really quite different from anything you'd see in Glenview. More like a city place! Prices are a little steep, also what you'd expect from the city. Would come back for a special occasion! read more

Zenzi Den - Crab yakisoba - American Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

If you want upscale quality foods this place is Great. A bit snooty, and just a warning very dark,interior. Had a great crab cake type appetizer, too many jalapeños ruined the delicate crab. Odd combo, I took them off. Sushi was great, eel, shrimp..yummy. This for me is a once in a while stop, not too often due to prices. read more

5 stars! Everything at Zen Den was fantastic. The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the crab tostado was hands down one of the best things I've eaten in a long time. Every dish was amazing, the service was great, and the atmosphere made for a perfect night out. Can't wait to come back! read more

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This place is beautiful and the food is great but my visit tonight could've been much better. I came for a quick drink/small plates and went to sit at the bar. The bar was full so I asked for a table for one. I explained to the hosts that I had other plans later and would be in and out in like 30 mins if that helped because they seemed hesitant to seat me. The lead host or manager at the hoststand seemed irritated that I wanted a table and went to go check the bar to make sure it was actually full lol. The hosts sat me and although it took a while to get my my order taken, everything was going fine until I went to the bathroom (15 mins into my seating) and they completely bussed my table. The server was aware that I was just in the restroom, I even asked him where it was When I came back 3 mins later my entire table, including my full drink and the umbrella that I left at the table were gone. Very bad communication on their part. I had to wait for a new drink and the food runner was confused about where to put my entree. The experience went downhill from there. No one apologized either. What a shame. read more

Excellent food, service and vibe. Duck dumplings were stellar. The sushi was excellent, and the wagyu beef rice was surprisingly flavorful. However, the beef was quite sparse; more like ground beef rather than sliced. I was expecting tender slices of beef instead. Will definitely go back. read more

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I'm very much a fan of Ballyhoo restaurants so I was particularly excited to try their new Japanese place in Glenview. I was able to obtain a reservation on its second night, which shows that it really opened without a great deal of fanfare. It should've opened with fanfare because it's great. Easy to say about any new restaurant, but this one is special because it combines the freshness and creativity of the best Japanese sushi restaurants with new dishes that are special. There are regular entrées, but everything reflects a creativity in appearance and most importantly taste. You can see from the pictures here that they are doing something special. And beyond the food even the decor is very clever, creating sophistication and fun in a storefront place. Like any new restaurant there are minor bugs to resolve. The pacing of the dishes to our table was somewhat inconsistent, but that's an easy thing to fix. Also given the interesting taste combinations of many of the dishes there's no problem waiting a bit. One other thing I like about Ballywho is their pricing. They're not the least expensive restaurants but they're not crazy out of sight either. It's always a fair deal especially for a non-pretentious but still epicurean meal. read more

Zenzi Den - Crispy Kaarage chicken - American Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

This place is insane. Totally blew me away. Every single thing was beyond delicious. Staff were all incredibly kind read more

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The ambiance here is top notch. Think unique, subdued lighting, good date ambiance. We really loved our time from entering to being seated, a promise the exterior facade makes and keeps! Food quality - great sushi. The dessert was pretty stellar also (the mousse). Hopefully we can return and try the other things on the menu, like noodles, etc. Cocktails were also VERY tasty Service was good, though a bit slow and there was some confusion with how the food was to be prepared. It felt like typical growing pains at a new restaurant. Pricing - The reason why this loses a star. The tuna tower in particular was very expensive and although tasty, didn't deliver on tuna quality/amount/etc. Its part of a wider trend, so can't really be too upset. read more

Jimmy, our waiter, was amazing!! Food was so yummy. Recommend the miso black cod, cucumber salad and the rainbow roll. All was great. Atmosphere was cozy. Thanks!! read more

Most go for really good service. The food was really good. The place has an amazing vibe, so it's worth it. Also, the tuna tower is so worth it. Everything is also placed and plated really nicely. read more

This is the best Asian restaurant I've eaten at in the Northshore. Food and service were outstanding. On par with city food!

The restaurant design is gorgeous. Unfortunately that doesn't compensate for the food. The carrot salad was the only dish we enjoyed. Chicken karage was cooked in used oil and overly salty. Duck dumplings suffered from over salting. Scallop dish had too much parmigian. Not Japanese. Sushi was most disappointing,. Maki was made with cucumber instead of fish. Drinks were watered down. Service was good but can't make up for the food. We won't be back. The north burbs deserve better. read more

Amazing. Great service. Great cocktails. Best in neighborhood and surrounding burbs. Nothing else in the neighborhood comes even close.

Outstanding addition to the North Shore restaurant scene. Gorgeous décor, extremely helpful, friendly service, delicious, unique food. We thoroughly enjoyed the shrimp dumplings, the sizzling rice with duck and the black miso cod. Fabulous chocolate dessert. Only comment would be to tone down the music to a quieter, more serene level. Highly recommend for those who enjoy unique, slightly spicy dishes - not for everyone, but perfect for those who are adventuresome. read more

So excited to see such a great place in downtown Glenview. Super tasty, staff was fantastic. The GM came over and welcomed us. The place was bumping on Sat night. Got the carrot salad, black cod, tan tan noodles, sashimi, and a couple of rolls. All were fantastic. We ordered pretty much all the drinks. They were all yum. Place is really cool. Not too loud but feels like you're out on the town. Maybe even in the west loop. Definitely go. It's awesome. read more

Beautiful decor. Our waiter was awesome. the menu was so enticing that we wanted to try everything