Zen Japanese Izakaya

Experience real Japan at Zen.

What makes it fun

Zen Japanese Izakaya blends traditional izakaya vibes with a modern twist, making it perfect for a romantic meal with your sweetheart. Zen Japanese Izakaya is like a taste Tokyo right here in Texas. The dim lighting, intimate seating, and warm wooden interiors set the mood for your date. The menu features shareable delights like savory yakitori, delicate sashimi, and creative small plates that encourage playful bites between sips of sake. For a date that’s truly unforgettable, sit at the chef’s counter for an up-close view of culinary artistry. Your taste buds will thank you for ordering the Aburi Salmon Roll.

Google Reviews

4.6

Based on 469 reviews

Denny Antonio

00:28 20 Mar 26

Hidden gem!

Sasha Wang

00:48 05 Mar 26

Honestly, one of the best lunch sets I’ve had in a while. Everything in the bento was hit after hit—the sashimi was my absolute favorite and tasted super fresh. I heard the owner put lots of efforts on food quality control.

The tempura had that perfect crunch without being oily, and I was actually surprised by the sides. The eggplant was so good, and they make the most delicious burdock root—it’s sliced thin and has the best flavor! It’s rare to find a place that puts this much effort into every single corner of the tray. Definitely worth a visit!

Ethan Aguirre

05:09 14 Feb 26

Came here during happy hour, the sushi rolls were a good price. The staff was very polite and I loved the chill vibes this place had, allowed me to enjoy my food all the better. Would go again!

charles gould

18:05 06 Feb 26

Really good bento boxes. Been searching for a new go-to for bento boxes after Nippon closed. The search is over, this is the a spot.

Tong Chen

22:40 25 Jan 26

蔡汶真

06:54 16 Dec 24

Q Man

20:12 13 Dec 24

This is a small and pleasant restaurant. If you come in big numbers make sure to reserve a table. I like it that when you order hot green tea, it comes with free refills. What drew me to this place was the list of Japanese fish that they fly into Houston.

Apps
1. Takoyaki: These are okay. 2 pieces of octopus inside a soft doughy ball. I’ve never been a fan but it should be tried at least once.
2. Hamachi we’re okay. It’s a little too light for me.
3. Karaage were decent size and crispy. Nice flavor.

Sushi
1. Kinmedai has a light sear to it that brings out the smokiness and fatty oils that brings a distinctive and delicious taste.
2. Anago is a cooked sea eel that is tender and delicious.
3. Otoro is the fatty tuna belly which is always the best.
4. Chutoro is a mixture of lean and fat and is also delicious.
5. Kanpachi has a subtle clean sweet taste.
6. Aji has a slight briny umami flavor. It has a firm texture.
7. Shimaji has a light buttery taste. It has a firm chewy texture.
8. Salmon & Ikura Don: salmon is fresh and clean. I love the briny taste of the Ikura.

Desserts
1. The Yuzu cheesecake is my favorite. Lemon & lime like flavors that punctuates with every bite.
2. The salsa dango is hard chewy rice cake with a red bean paste inside. The rice shell is too hard and chewy for my liking.
3. The Matcha Chestnut cake was soft and tasty. Chesnuts really come through.
4. The mango mochi was a soft and easy to chew texture with sweet mango ice cream.

Overall, it was a good meal. I’d come back again.

Brianna Alford

18:30 13 Dec 24

The Kaarage, and Hamburger steak are the biggest game changers! You’ll never want a cheeseburger again! If you’re a fan of Eel they have a phenomenal meal for you!!

Yarima Newlin

04:28 11 Dec 24

William Wu

02:38 08 Dec 24

Stuart - スチュアート

02:33 19 Oct 24

The sushi chef is always friendly, music is not loud so that's perfect, the pork miso and chicken karaage are the best in town.

Tiffany

21:48 28 Sep 24

Unagi hitsumabushi is a must try! So so delicious!
Also had their karaage and grilled eggplant, the eggplant was flavored so well other than being a bit too oily it was perfect!
The waitress was also very nice and attentive, checked in on us after every dish.
Definitely need to come back and try other items.

Krishna Paul

20:28 04 Jun 24

One of the best sushi restaurants in Houston! While on the pricier side, this restaurant distinguishes itself by offering some of the freshest ingredients, even some that are unique to Japan.

For about $100, we got the eel bowl, takoyaki, fried chicken, chirashi bowl and a piece of nigiri.

The appetizers were warm, crispy, and tangy.

The fish for the chirashi and eel bowl was very fresh with good sized cuts and rice at just the right texture.

For the nigiri, I got the Shimaji fish, which was really fresh and tender with a hint of ocean.

Would definitely recommend this place if you want a more unique fish experience!

Kiran Movva

14:25 11 Feb 24

Feb-9: You know you're in the right place when you hear the sushi chef speak Japanese and several tables had Japanese speaking diners! Diverse menu. All of the dishes were good. They do cut their sashimi quite thick, requiring 2-3 bites per piece. Ask for salmon belly sashimi to be blow torched!