My first time at Zu Izakaya was a blast! I came in with a group of 5 and were seated quickly. Our waitress Tiana was very attentive and helpful as we decided our orders. Overall, the place has a fun vibe with lots of string lights and Japanese decorations. They have happy hour twice a day. We came during their 9-11PM happy hour (we love a late night happy hour!) Lots of options for sushi, drinks, and appetizers on the happy hour menu. The spicy tuna roll was a refreshing roll with just the spicy tuna, cucumber and rice. A simple roll that still has a good spicy flavor but not too overpowering that it takes over your meal. The Vegas roll is a classic if you like fried rolls! Can't go wrong with this one. The nigiri was top notch. The yellowtail nigiri quite literally melts in your mouth and the flavors are buttery and soft. It's my personal favorite whenever I want nigiri. The salmon nigiri was also very good. Slights sweet but if you add soy sauce it balances it out. The jjambong pot was so filling. We ate this after the sushi. It's enough to be shared with 2-3 people and includes a mix of some seafoods, enoki mushrooms, onions, and ramyeon with a spicy broth. The noodles were good, the broth was delicious and not too spicy if you're not a person that handles spice well. My only complaint is that we had about 6-7 mussels but only 2 pieces of shrimp. It would've been nice to have a more even distribution of the seafood but other than that the taste was amazing. With the happy hour it was incredibly affordable. Even without the happy hour I would definitely come here again. 10/10!! read more

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I absolutely love this place! The details, especially down to the gold chopsticks is amazing. It's a fantastic date spot! read more

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I was so excited to hear Zu Izakaya opened a location closer to where I live! I have been to their Scottsdale Rd. location many times before, but I like the aesthetic of this one much more. Plus, you can't beat their happy hour prices! My favorite of their rolls is their shrimp tempura, though I also like their alaskan roll, and their salmon nigiri is always melt in your mouth delicious. The service is excellent too, I will definitely be returning again regularly! read more

Zu Izakaya - ASU - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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I'd been here before the ownership change and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, after the change, it felt pretty average. Nothing stood out like it used to. The service was good and the ambiance was nice, but the restaurant itself didn't smell great. Ultimately, this place just isn't for me -- I won't be back. read more

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The ambiance definitely seems nice inside; however I wasn't a fan of the food. It just tasted generic, not authentic or fresh. I can see why people would want to go for the price aspect though. Good way to get sushi for a decent price for happy hour, but I've had better. read more

The restaurant had a clean atmosphere with nice décor. I went here with two of my friends, and they both ended up wanting to go back. Our server, Josh, was amazing--a very friendly guy with top-notch customer service. I ordered the bulgogi grill, an avocado roll, and a cucumber roll, along with yuzu sake to wash it down. We split everything, and it was enough for all of us to enjoy. We will definitely be returning to try their hotpot. read more

Zu Izakaya - ASU - BULGOGI GRILL & AVOCADO ROLL @ CUCUMBER ROLL - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

So yummy!! And the service is superb!! The edamame pictured is garlic and red pepper, a MUST try!! Sweet and spicy read more

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What I got: Bulgogi with side rice Seaweed salad Miso soup Wasn't a lot of meat on my Bulgogi dish was a small square skillet and I was mostly of onions and some zucchini pieces. I decided to try their miso soup which was not bad tasted like the packets you get from the grocery store, but at least they had seaweed and tofu in it compared to other places, the seaweed salad tasted pretty fresh they don't give you too much of it they put a bunch of lettuce underneath it so it makes it seem like there's more at first my friend got the plate and some parts kinda tasted raw, but he didn't care much since he likes it either way but then again I was supposed to be a cooked dish so. I had gotten a draft beer to start with and for some reason it was warm so that was very un appetizing but then I got a bottled beer and it was cold. I don't recommend draft. This place has gone through a name change in the last few months and have removed a lot of of the stuff from the old menu went to see the difference was told that they kept the same quality as it is the same owner as before, but honestly to me the only thing that seems like the quality stayed the same was the oysters. Everything else seems that gone down a bit and the portion seems really small now some things are priced decently and some things are overpriced and we can't forget to mention how bad it smells in here like sewage. There's so many restaurants like this which is the problem like I don't need to come here and there was nothing memorable about it and it's a pretty far drive from me so I probably won't be coming back read more

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Pro-tip: They have such a generous happy hour where it goes until 7 PM and it's every day even on the weekends. Highlights: I don't know why more people aren't talking about this place. I haven't been in a few years and after our last experience, we are going to throw it in into our regular sushi rotation. I love their nigiri portions, the fish is really fresh and well prepared. With the happy hour pricing, it's definitely a great value. You can even order seared aburi style nigiris. It's not a huge variety of fish, but it has the staples covered. Lowlights: Personally I was not a fan of all the hot foods we got. The Korean fried chicken had too much breading and the pork belly platter was not the traditional style with the way the meat was prepared and they gave us romaine instead of Napa. read more

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Disappointing. We've ordered from the other Tempe location before, but this was our first time ordering from this new location. Husband noted it is very nice inside. We ordered bulgogi ($15.95), chili garlic edamame ($6.95), and marinated galbi grill ($18.95). I've never had chili garlic edamame that has been drenched in sauce? Wasn't sure what sauce either- oyster? It was unpleasant and we didn't finish it. The bulgogi was the only good thing, but both meat dishes had more zucchini and onions than meat. The 6 pieces of galbi (not an exaggeration) were undercooked and could have used another minute or two on the grill. The sides of rice were in a small container and it was hard. Won't be ordering from Zu for awhile, and not from this location. read more

Came here for the first time the other day and I'd probably have to give this place a 3.75 out of 5. We came for a late dinner on Thursday night around 9pm and when we walked in, the restaurant was fairly empty. Restaurant had a fancy but cozy feel to it. A place where you could take a date and have a romantic dinner but also somewhere you could go with a group of friends. Our waiter was very nice and attentive and gave some decent recommendations. In terms of food, this is where I would say the rating took a bit of a hit. To start off, their menu is gigantic. They have so many different options ranging from sushi, ramen, meat off the grill, and skewers. We ordered their chicken karage skewer, Korean mini corn dogs, yellowtail roll, truffle japchae, kimchi fried rice, and their bulgogi off the grill. Everything was tasty and had decent flavor. I think the only thing that really hurt the food was that we tasted a lot of oil and grease in the food to the point where it messed with our stomachs a bit. I would say food wise, the food is decent especially for the portions and price. Just too much oil and grease for our liking. Overall decent spot and would recommend if you're okay with food that's a bit heavier and richer due to the amount of oil. read more

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Needed a late night good stop and one thing about me, I'm always going to love a late night Japanese happy hour. The vibe is definitely casual but cute! It was just me so I was seated at the bar and like I said it was happy hour so I tried quite a few things. - Lychee soju $10 I love soju because it is sweet and lowkey strong. About halfway into the bottle and you should be feeling something!! So I loved it. - Shrimp & beef skewers $3.95 each Tasty sauce. Only 3 pieces of meat so not too worth it but very tasty. Was a nice way to add protein to my rice. - Las Vegas roll $7.95 Fried with 6 pieces but I really enjoyed. It's a fired roll so that's a first for me but it was good! - Kimchi fried rice $12 (not happy hour) My favorite part of the meal. Came with lemon and I love a little drizzle of. Lemon on everything so I loved that. But even without it is super flavorful read more

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This was such a good spot to come a share apps and the vibes inside are so cute! All the wait staff were so friendly even the little robots. I ordered pork belly and some sushi and all was delicious. Overall I think this a fun Korean spot in Tempe! read more

Zu Izakaya - ASU - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I would like to start off by saying the atmosphere was incredible. I loved the darkness of the restaurant, it makes it so much better when you eat. It looked pretty fancy inside and very organized. All the workers there were so friendly and helpful, like when I say all I mean all. There wasn't a single worker who was rude or not helpful. They made you feel very welcomed. The food was great but I just feel like the pasta needed a little extra flavor. When they brought out the food it was very hot but that just meant it was freshly made and wasn't just sitting there. The fries were amazing, they had little garlic chips that added so much flavor. read more

Zu Izakaya - ASU - CREAM CARBONARA - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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This place is absolutely amazing! I'm a bit picky when it comes to sushi (Hawaii transplant) however this place not only was good price wise but also quality. They have a ton of nice drink options too. The staff were super friendly and there's a cool vibe in the restaurant. We sat at the booth table and had a ton of extra space. I highly recommend, especially for happy hour! read more

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I was traveling through town and made a stop here based on a friends recommendation. This restaurant hit all the marks. The interior of the restaurant felt busy with out being cramped, had a great design and set up for a fun atmosphere. The menu itself gave a ton of options and it makes it great for repeatability, and really makes you want to come back to try more. The wait staff was friendly, definitely made great recommendations and stayed attentive. The meal itself was fantastic . I loved the u e cheesecake for dessert, but the bulgogi tteokbokki and wings were incredible and full of flavor. I will definitely put it on my list for the next time I find myself in this part of the desert. read more

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Your service is amazing and even though they changed their manual slightly, everything was delicious as I remembered read more

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Finally got to try Zu & Pocha! It's such a cute place. However, came here on a Friday evening, it was pretty hot inside. Ordered this and that from Happy Hour menu, food was good- nothing exceptional, but I was surprised that they are pricey for the portion. And people were friendly, yet it took them a while to come check on us. But I think it's a cute spot for a drink or two! read more

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Well, it's by ASU, didn't expect much. Food was ok, service was fine, ambience was ok. Just don't expect high quality food and you'll be fine. The poke bowl was a disaster. Poke is cut fish, not mashed up like a potato. read more

We wanted to visit Zu & Pocha now before the ASU students get back and tables are hard to come by, so we made a reservation on Open Table. It turned out we didn't need them tonight, but better safe than sorry. I love the decor of this place, with ring lights and plants peeking through the wood hanging from the ceiling. The place settings are really pretty with gold spoons and chopsticks. Our server was one of the best things of the evening--she was charming and helpful and cute as a bug's ear. She was also our bartender. The menu is not huge but has great choices. We ordered the Zu Bramble and Seoul Highball for cocktails. Both were blackberry based and both were delicious. They make their own syrups, so they aren't overly sweet. We had the Bulgogi Tteokbokki, which had a fantastic broth, clear noodles, rice cake, and veggies. Different from other bulgogi we've had, but it was fantastic. We also had spicy tuna and spicy yellowtail sushi rolls and shrimp tempura. What a great meal! read more

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I was excited to try this restaurant. I love the ambiance of this place, very cozy. The staff were nice and friendly. Although it took awhile for our food to be ready, it was a great night with great food. I will definitely go back. read more

Zu Izakaya - ASU - GYOZA - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

First time trying this place out, the service was friendly and prompt. The atmosphere is aesthetically pleasing with cute decor, a full bar, and sushi bar and plenty of seating. There's no unpleasant odor in the restaurant. I ordered gyoza, a spicy tuna roll, and a Las Vegas roll. I have no complaints about the food I ordered. And for those who enjoy cocktails or soju/sake, Happy Hour is from 5 pm to 7 pm. read more

Pros- Service was excellent! Sake bomber. Prices were fair. Rolls were okay. Cons- Food was just meh. Tried other dishes... takoyaki, agedashi tofu, gyoza, and tempura- all pretty bland and basic. This could be a fun place if you are looking to meet up with friends and have some drinks at the bar. However, it is not likely we will be back. read more

Staff were great and very nice. Food came out very fast and was delicious. We were visiting the area and the waitress recommended some shops. It's the prettiest cozy restaurant. read more

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Had dinner with a girlfriend, reservation optional at this place. Was lucky enough to order from the happy hour menu which had $2 oysters. Started thinking we only wanted six and ended up going for a full dozen. What we had and our eyes we're bigger than our stomach, but we enjoyed a little bit of everything: Potstickers Japchae Oysters Spider roll Spicy salmon roll Sashimi omasake YUM! read more

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We were visiting Phoenix for just a couple nights and were looking for a great dinner near the Arizona Grand Resort, and happily we ended up at Zu and Pocha! It wasn't too busy on a Saturday night and had a fun laid back atmosphere. We started with the takoyaki and the fried smelt. I've been wanting to try takoyaki for a while and they certainly met my expectations! Crispy on the outside with a hot delicious filling. The smelt was a new experience for me, when I imagined whole fried fish I thought they would be smaller and crispier, but they were tender and juicy. I even ate the heads lol; fun and unique for sure. For our mains we both got the kimchi fried rice; there were a ton of entrees I'd love to try but that fried rice just sounded too good to miss! Portions were generous, food was great, and the service was fast and attentive. I'd love to come back if I'm in the area again! read more

We met up here for happy hour and had a tasty sample of the menu. The soy garlic wings were definitely my favorite and the fries were delicious and crispy. Inside was empty besides us as we got there right when they opened, which was nice for chatting. The decor is very cute with nice greenery and plenty of tables if you want to bring a group. The sushi was also really tasty. read more

Zu Izakaya - ASU - SOY GARLIC WINGS and GARLIC FRIES - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Amazing food and services, the hot pots . The drinks are delicious as well. Would love to come again and try more items. read more

Zu Izakaya - ASU - Sushi Bars Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Food was a Delicious as always but this time I would have to say Thank you to the lovely waitress Lydia C. for making the experience more enjoyable. I would definitely eat here again the next time I am back in town. read more

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- service was very decent. Our waitress was so accommodating and helpful ! We has brought our puppy and we stayed in the patio! - their ambiance was okay, although the Patio during lunch time was nothing special. I had tried this restaurant's inside seating and it was pretty cool! - I believe this restaurant changed ownership/menu and they got rid of the kimchi fried rice which was MY ALL TIME FAVORITE. Other than that the food was decent and fresh. Our favorite was the tofu appetizer. read more

Had no idea that this was under the Zu Izakaya umbrella! Love the dark, comforting vibes of the restaurant. The prices were definitely higher than expected, and I wish I came during happy hour. Food came out quickly, which was appreciated. I tried the bulgogi tteokbokki and although it was decent, I wasn't as impressed as I'd hoped. The karaage skewers were excellent though! read more

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What a great spot for happy hour! Happy hour is every day before 6 pm. Stopped by with a friend on a Sunday and it wasn't too busy at all. The interior is very cute and well designed, with greenery hanging from the ceiling. We ordered a couple of drinks each and they were excellent, with fruity yet herbal flavors. The sushi was decent, they had a 2 for $20 deal on rolls which was great value. We preferred the red dragon roll over the mango roll but they were still overall pretty good. The bulgogi japchae was excellent and I really enjoyed the pork belly & kimchi stir fry --the kimchi was perfect! Service was great and our booth was very comfortable. Parking in the lot is a bit tight but overall a great evening! read more

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Chill vibe, good service, and delicious food. I had the brussel sprouts, soy garlic wings, and bulgogi japchae - all flavorful, seasoned well, and fully enjoyed and finished each dish. We went on a Friday; happy hour was 9pm to closing. read more

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Swung by for a late night snack and the seared salmon nigiri did not disappoint. The oysters were a disappointment. It was dressed with sriracha and ponzu but the sriracha tasted bitter which ruined the taste of the oyster itself. Maybe next time I'll try the oyster shooter. Service was great, very friendly and the inside is clean, spacious, and modern looking. read more

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I've been here a few times over the past 2 years - from date night, celebrating a birthday (party of 22 people), to a friends/girl night. Their Happy Hour specials are spot on, especially with all the cocktails being $10, and their food/seafood has always been great! I even had family from the OC and Houston that came here and they thought the food was good and enjoyable! They also have always had great service- from the servers to bartender. Would highly recommend, if you're looking for a place that offers good drinks, and want to try a variety of Asian fusion food (tapas style). Whenever we go, it's not crowded at all. I'm not sure why, but believe this place is solid and I would expect it to be more packed especially with the specials they have! read more

I love coming in here. Between Tran and Abby working the bar, this place is always a VIBE oh yes, of course the food is amazing. One of the few places with fresh uni love you zu and Pocha! See you soon read more

Zu & Pocha is my go to happy hour spot in the valley. Their prices, service, vibe and flavor is top tier. The staff is always so kind and attentive and the food is always fresh. If you're a fan of sushi, you've gotta swing by the hidden gem in Tempe. Plenty of vegetarian options and seating options. read more

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I've wanted to go here for a while but I'm usually in Tempe until after work, and it opens at 4pm. Glad I could finally try it and I wish it was open for lunch! Also found out Monday is all day happy hour which was a nice surprise, everything was delicious and the ascetic was very cute, gold roses on the wall and gold silverware read more

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Used to be my go to spot before new management took over. Unfortunately this place has gone majorly downhill. The quality and effort is not the same. I ordered a to go and didn't receive happy hour prices until I realized when I got home I was charged extra, i was also given the wrong roll when on my receipt it says it was put in right. I would recommend Kuka read more

We had a very nice second visit to Zu & Pocha last night. I love that they have happy hour until 6pm on Saturdays. Our server Alyssa was top notch even though she was also taking care of several other tables. I had a hard time choosing because I wanted to order almost everything on the menu, but I'm sure I'll get around to trying the remaining menu items during future visits. We ordered the smoked chicken mandu, kimchi fried rice with crab, garlic butter oysters, jalapeño hamachi roll, and carne galbi. The only thing that was a bit strange during our visit was that the lights in the restaurant were flickering on and off for a while, but we still had a great meal. read more

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