During our last night in Louisiana during the Christmas break, Sophia and I headed here for dinner. Cafe Zen has been a favorite of ours for years when we lived in the Westbank. Sushi, noodle salad and more...great comfort food. We found out they relocated to the old Gretna neighborhood near the Courthouse recently so why not see how things are now in their new digs? Walking in, we noticed a big difference. In the previous spot, they were in a strip mall where they were small and intimate. In their new location, they have more space and a separate area with a bar. I think this was previously occupied, but on the eyes it can be a bit confusing. Within minutes, we were ready for ordering. For apps, we both ordered noodle salad, one of our favorite dishes. Sophia said the aftertaste was like mayonaise and I noticed the difference too. Maybe the mix was a little strong, but it was good. For the main course, I ordered baked salmon rolls which consisted of baked salmon fillet wrapped around snow crab filling and we shared fried fish cakes with wasabi sauce for dipping. Everything was delicious and just like previous times after moving away, made us feel like we were back home. However, the reason why the rating was 4 stars was due to the lack of intimacy the new location offered. It looks gorgeous, but again, the presence of intimacy seemed a distant memory. We sat next to a group who was a little loud and inebriated, even though they weren't harming us. A situation like that at the previous location would never happen. Sophia mentioned the same thing too as we left. Would we come back? Yes, but maybe during lunch where it's less people. We'll give them some time in this location. read more

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Love the new location! Same great food and service!! Perfect for a date night or work lunch.

Cafe Zen is always very welcoming to me every time I visit their food speaks words and words

We have been coming to Cafe Zen for almost 20 years and even though we no longer live in the area we eat here when we are in town. He and his friendly staff have always served delicious food with a smile. This location is a bit secluded but it is a nice spot for date nights in a calm atmosphere. See you next time Hiro! read more

Good so far. Nice place to visit & see friends. The receptionist is so nice, she support us alot. The food is well done, I think the chef comes from 5-star restaurant read more

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Used to love Sushi before went Vegan. Met a friend here and they were very accommodating to my diet. Ate a veggie roll and avocado roll. Very good food and the service was excellent. She allowed us to visit without interference or rush. It held up to its name because it was a very calm/zen experience. If I lived on Westbank, I would return often. read more

I come here very often bc it's close to home and my dude really enjoys it. It has slowly become one of my fav sushi places in the Westbank. The rolls here are basic, but they do it well. The fish is always fresh and I've never had a bad experience. I usually dine in for lunch and it comes with complimentary noodle salad. Some of the rolls I always order that never disappoint are: Red dragon roll - Crunchy roll with tuna, BBQ eel, and avocado on top. Tiger roll - California roll with BBQ eel and salmon on top. Tornado roll - this comes tempura fried, but since we don't really enjoy fried rolls, we always ask for it not to be fried and they always accommodate to our needs. Zen tempura - shrimp tempura with spicy tuna and cream cheese. Tiger eyes - my bf really enjoys this, but it's a very big roll and instead of being wrapped with rice and seaweed, it's wrapped in cuttlefish. It's a very different roll and a little heavy for me. I always get all my rolls light rice bc if not, it's very thick and filling! And get their sauces on the side or else your rolls will be drowning in it! read more

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Love cafe zen! Love the new location just located down the street from me. The food is always good, service is fast and employees are attentive. I have had a few food options that I didn't care for but that could be my preference. The sushi is always fresh and the noodle salad is to die for! A nice place to go grab lunch or dinner! read more

There isn't a bad item on their menu. I love everything that they prepare! I'm keto and the Naruto rolls are so delicious and fresh every single time! read more

Food is OK but the service is terrible. Both times I have been, they are busy and there are only two people working on the floor. We were told the bar is closed because they are shortstaffed. read more

Great food. Very fresh sushi and a wonderful staff. Very polite and very clean. We had appetizers and sushi rolls. The food was prepared fresh and quick. Great presentation! read more

I usually go to Daiwa for sushi on the Westbank but I saw Cafe Zen last time I went to Jasmine Rice for Thai food. I figured let see if I can add Cafe Zen to my go to list for sushi on the Wank. Unfortunately, it wasn't up to standards as the many other sushi establishments in The New Orleans area. I would rather drive to Marrero for Daiwa or across the CCC for sushi. The interior is modern and up to date. The mood and atmosphere were calming and serene. This place has the potential to be an outstanding sushi establishment. In addition, they have ramen, except it's not listed in the menu. I hadn't noticed the ramen option posted on the board above the sushi bar until we had already ordered. I docked 1 star because the service was well, I don't know where it went, but it wasn't there tonight. The waitress did the bare minimum when serving us. Brought us the menu, got our drinks, and served us our dishes. No check back to see how we were doing or to get refills or to ask if we wanted desert or anything else. I docked another star because the food was subpar. We ordered the surf clam, spicy tuna roll, baked salmon roll (I'll get into that in a bit), and chicken teriyaki (also more below). The surf clam and spicy tuna roll was actually the highlights of the evening. Both were really good and I give it to them, instead of they usual mushy spicy tuna mixture other places use, the spicy tuna roll here had actual visible whole tuna in the roll. The baked salmon roll is just a regular baked salmon appetizer even though it isn't listed under the appetizer list. It is NOT a ROLL. I was expecting something totally different since it was listed on the house special roll list. The chicken teriyaki was overcooked and so OMG dry, had it not been for the teriyaki sauce it would be an absolutely waste. read more

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Cafe Zen was where I tried sushi for the first time as a teenager. It's been hit or miss over the years, and last weekend was the first time I'd been back in several years. We only went because our usual sushi place was temporarily closed for renovations. In my opinion, the price was a little expensive for what we ordered and I was in a bit of sticker shock when we got the bill. We were disappointed that the hamachi kama appetizer was small and dry, it tasted like it had been left in the freezer for too long. My husband thought the pepper tuna appetizer tasted "funny," like the quality wasn't fresh. We also ordered a baked salmon and a mango salmon roll which both tasted fine, so no issues there. Like I said, hit or miss. I'd probably pass in the future. read more

Top notch Sushi the best on the Westbank!! Hiro and his staff are the best, we love his new location in Old Gretna

I have been wanting to try this place for years! It's pretty far from me, so it never really crosses my mind to make my way to try it out. I was lucky enough to have a friend to bring me here, which is one of his favorite sushi spots! The restaurant was spacious and decor was nice. This was my first meal of the day, so we ended up ordering a good bit. We ordered the Fried Octopus Balls (Takoyaki), Seviche Salad, Catepillar Roll, Red Dragon Roll, Tiger Roll, and the Baked Salmon Roll. The server brought our drinks and hot towels on a neat hammock tray. Our server brought out complimentary bowls of noodle salad for us, which I thought was nice. The food came out quickly and everything looked great! The Seviche Salad had a generous portion of sashimi and had a slight kick of spice. The Takoyaki came out piping hot with the perfect amount of sauce and octopus in each bite! The sushi rolls were well prepared and the sushi rice was seasoned nicely. The overall combinations of ingredients and sauce were pretty good, I barely had to dip in any sauces! The baked salmon roll was literally four mini baked salmon pieces, can't ever go wrong with that! Overall, a great spot to enjoy some sushi with your friends, family, or even by yourself! There's still much I need to try, but so far I enjoyed my recent visit. read more

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The food was great, as were the portions. The service was excellent. The ambiance, not so much. All the hard surfaces and the wide open space amplified every sound; dishes clanking, chairs scooting, conversations competing with each other, so it sounded a lot like a cafeteria. We were there for our anniversary and seated near a loud and obnoxious customer a few tables over. We could hear and see everything. Great restaurant if you don't mind the noise. Don't go there for a romantic dinner until partitions or some other soundproofing is in place. read more

The best sushi and service on the westbank! Every time I come to Cafe Zen it is delightful. The sushi is always large portions with big slices of fish. The service is better than any other sushi restaurant on the Wank. Hidden Gem! read more

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So very good! I opted for this local restaurant instead of swinging by a grocery store for sushi. Did not disappoint. Best service and always call me by name. Very grateful to have this place close! Open for takeout and they continue to do a great job with their food! (It's July 2020.) Also, I always struggled to find photos of their menu so I can remind myself what rolls have what in them. Snapped photos of every menu page they had laid out on the counter for you in case you're like me. Enjoy! read more

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The food is fantastic and very delicious. The atmosphere was amazing and clean. Very cool place. The service was not what I expected seems like the waitress was in a hurry and not enjoying what she was doing. I will definitely go back just hope for Better waitresses. read more

The lunch deals at Cafe Zen are a huge part of why I love coming here. They're very affordable and delicious! You also have the option of adding a sushi or roll combo to your lunch sets. When I'm not getting their lunch, I love coming for the nigiri sushi and sashimi. Their raw fish is so fresh an delicious. My personal favorites for their nigiri is their scallop(hotate) and sweet shrimp(amaebi)! When I'm getting rolls, I love to get a side of their special hana sauce which is sweet, tangy, and so yummy! read more

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I don't really eat here often even though it's the closest sushi restaurant to me, but their sushi is pretty good. The salmon and squid we had tonight tasted very fresh but the scallops tasted a little clammy, which is unfortunate because I love scallops a ton. We had some pretty simple rolls with our sashimi but the snow crab was a little creamier than I'm used to. I don't really mind that, but my boyfriend wasn't a fan. Our servers were really nice but just weren't as attentive as I expected for being one out of three tables at the time on a Monday evening. I'm not a huge fan of this place, but the food was decent and I wouldn't mind coming again to give them another chance. read more

We dont eat here often because we are closer to other spots which we like equally or maybe even a little more, but Cafe Zen is still Good. read more

Café Zen - What's in the photo? Deliciousness, specifically when almost every other sushi spot is closed for Covid. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

Never again. . So disappointed. I can't believe they packaged that to go. They should have said no avocado's, instead of serving something spoiled. Makes me wonder what else would they serve spoiled. Looking for a new sushi place!! read more

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I order sushi from here at least once a week! Sushi is always fresh and they have great service as well! They do dine in right now and to go order, they keep a really clean business I highly recommend going! Also they have a great LSU roll with fresh tuna!!! read more

I recommend the Spicy Tuna roll on Friday's. I'm a huge fan of Cafe Zen. Not a sushi expert but have eaten sashimi and sushi since I was small. A small dining room, intimate, casual atmosphere. They carry the typical sushi fare for New Orleans but my go to dish hereis the spicy tuna roll. On Fridays I've had this with chunks of tuna rather than the ground up/processed tuna I see everywhere else. These are good cuts of tuna (no tough membrane and does not have the previously frozen texture) with little fanfare or sauces so you are able to taste the fish. I'll get a crunchy roll also, but the spicy tuna is worth the price of admission. For those who care: the rice is a little sweet, reminds me of the rice for Chirashi or Inari sushi which I love. Really balances the flavors. Haven't had this in other places in NOLA. Rice is cooked to have more moisture content, so you're not needing to drink water after each bite. Though you're not able to soak up as much Soy Sauce, which I also prefer since the ingredients have awesome flavor. Skip the supermarket stuff, drive a few more minutes to get to this place! read more

It honestly used to be my favorite sushi place in New Orleans. The spicy tuna roll was amazing. After getting food poisoning, I won't go back. Three days of hell have turned me off. read more

Cafe Zen is definitely becoming my favorite sushi restaurant on the Westbank. They are consistently serving quality ingredients. My new favorite roll is the Tiger Roll (california roll wrapped over with fresh salmon and BBQ eel). & just FYI, the Zen Tempura (tempura shrimp, spicy tuna, smelt roe, and avocado roll, sprinkle over with rice seasoning) & Medium Special (fresh tuna & salmon, avocado, snowcrab, smelt roe, rice seasoning) rolls are SUPER similar so don't make the mistake of ordering these two together. another note, skip the beef bowl cause it's mostly rice. read more

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I really try to love this place but I can only like this place. I really hate the wait time here, however, I believe that's due to the trend of Americans, becoming obsessed with sushi. I like good sushi. This place comes closest to a roll that doesn't leave you utterly disappointed after every bite. For example a poorly wrapped roll that falls apart, wasabi thats bland, or packs of soy sauce. Their dinner options are mediocre and come with no interest to revisit them, just go for the sushi. The service is bland with a smile, and the wait time is excessive . Have at it and give it a go. read more

I love this place! The staff are super friendly and accommodating every time I've been there. The sushi is always made fresh and delicious. Plus the Japanese interior design is a nice mix of traditional and modern. It's definitely my favorite sushi place on the Westbank! read more

This was my first time here. I must say I was completely surprised. The service was awesome! The staff was super friendly from the greeting when you walk in to the time you leave they all are friendly! I ordered two of the shrimp rolls, added avocado and cream cheese. I was thinking that the rolls were going to be small much to my surprise they were HUGE! I said to my self "mercy". The rolls were stuffed to capacity. More to the size the taste was also amazing. When you bite into the roll it was like explosion in your mouth. Everything taste really fresh and it felt like it was made with love. The only problem that I had with the Resturant was the floors were sticky. So sticky that you have to actually put some effort into lifting your feet. Other than that everything was really nice! I would definitely return. read more

Café Zen - Shrimp Roll with avocado and cream cheese added! I took it To Go! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

Cafe Zen is definitely my favorite for sushi on the westbank. Their rice has this distinctive flavorful taste that makes all the rolls taste so much better to me. My absolutely favorite roll is the tornado roll. It's lightly deep fried. I hate when deep fried rolls are fried to the point where it's so stiff and hard. The tornado roll is fried perfectly for me with a light crispy batter. Another thing I absolutely love about Cafe Zen is their spicy tuna roll. Normally, if you order a spicy tuna roll at sushi restaurants they will give you a smushed up tuna filling. Not at Cafe Zen though, they'll give you a spicy tuna roll in the form of freshly sliced tuna inside. I can't stand pulverized smushed up tuna! Cafe Zen is the only place I'll order a spicy tuna roll from. The only time I've been disappointed at Cafe Zen is when I tried to eat during their midday closing hours. read more

When I was a kid, Cafe Zen was where I first ate sushi. Ever since then I have been a sushi lover. I have been to many different sushi restaurants but none of them could compare to Cafe Zen. What bothers me the most about every other sushi place is that they would drench their sushi with spicy mayo and eel sauce. Thats just ruins the sushi. Cafe zen's sushi by itself already taste great with no other added sauce. If sauce is added, a small amount would be used to not overpower the freshness of the fish. The decor is clean and the whole restaurant has enough room to make you feel comfortable. Overall, Cafe Zen will always be one of my favorite restaurants that no other place could compare. read more

We went for lunchtime and ordered the teriyaki tuna and salmon plate. The dish no longer comes with rice, noodles, salad, and soup. You now have to chose between rice or salad and you no longer get the piece of fruit with the meal. Adding rice to meal will not break the! Also, the noodles were just noodles, no sauce or flavor on them. I asked the server why they stopped serving the rice with the meal and she said the chef didn't want to any more since CoVid. This was one of our favorite places to eat but this is not the way to try to get ppl back to your restaurant. Price is the same as before but less in amount of items on plate. read more

This place was great, they give you a hot towel when you first sit down and the place is very clean and smells nice. Our server was very friendly and it was fast service. We got the clear soup and ginger salads to start, the clear soup is ok tastes a little funky, the salad was great (delicious dressing) my wife and I ordered 3 rolls to share, the shrimp tempora, tiger roll, and the caterpillar roll. They were all good but a bit pricy. Still we enjoyed our dinner and were happy to find some good food on this side of the bridge (its been hard to get good food AND good service on the west bank) The reason for 4 star was only because I have had better soup and better rolls dor better prices..the ones we got were over 10 bucks each and the caterpillar wasnt even that fancy or had a lot goin on so it just seemed a bit over priced. read more

Café Zen - Shrimp tempora, tiger roll (middle), caterpillar roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

I had been here a few times in the past and I was left pretty underwhelmed. While my experience today was better, it's still not going to be my favorite Westbank sushi stop anytime soon. My friend and I were in the mood for some pre Christmas sushi, so we stopped in here for lunch. I knew exactly what I was going to get, as I am fairly easy to please when it comes to sushi. Since the sashimi here is only served in 2 piece increments, I decided to just focus on rolls. We got two tuna rolls, a rainbow roll and a tornado roll. The tuna rolls weren't bad and the rainbow roll was fantastic. The tornado roll was good and a nice size, and although I usually think that fried sushi is gross (doesn't frying it kind of defeat the purpose?), I found the tornado roll interesting. It's really big, so I didn't feel any shame when I had to forgo my chopsticks and just pick it up with my fingers. One complaint that I have is- I ordered iced green tea, which came with ice. Every time it was refilled, she would refill it from a pitcher with no ice in it. I was left with room temperature green tea, which was just weird. Tennou is still my favorite Westbank sushi place, but Cafe Zen would do in a pinch. read more

Café Zen - Tuna rolls and rainbow roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

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If I'm in the mood for sushi while I'm at work Café Zen is my go to spot. We come here pretty often so I usually know what I want before I get here. Lots of specialty rolls on the menu that don't have too much raw fish in then. Hey, I never said I was a sushi connoisseur. The prices are pretty reasonable. Four of us can usually get about five rolls to split and spend about $10 per person. The Hawaiian roll is a fav. I love the avocado and mango on top. You can't go wrong with spicy tuna and a spicy crawfish roll. Two other favorites of mine are the fried lobster and oyster roll. Service is kind of hit or miss. Long wait times and waitresses or the kitchen forgetting to put in orders for certain items. But it has been better as of late. read more

Café Zen - Hawaiian and spicy tuna roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

Cafe Zen has been my favorite place to hit up when I need a sushi fix. Yes, it is located in an unassuming strip mall in Gretna, but don't let that deter you. We all know that sometimes the BEST restaurants are the ones without all of the outside bells and whistles, and if you have great offerings, there's nothing more that you need! Last night's dinner was no exception to the experiences that I've had here. My date and I split three rolls: the rainbow roll, fresh salmon with avocado, and the shrimp tempura. Cafe Zen takes a lot of care in a beautiful presentation, which I find is lacking at many other Westbank sushi joints. The fish was also very fresh and not fishy at all. I also like coming here for lunch. They have great specials, my favorite being the maki combination. You choose two small rolls--I always opt for fresh salmon with avocado and the spicy tuna--along with a bowl of soup (the miso is great!) and a side salad. Next time you're cruising down Belle Chasse Highway and feeling a yen for some sushi, be sure to give Cafe Zen a try! I wouldn't steer you wrong! read more

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We dined in tonight. We had already ate a little something at the house but a couple hours later it just didn't hit the spot. We both agreed on a quick sushi run to cafe zen. Close to the house and moderately priced. We each had one roll and they were great. Not our normal spread but enough to fix the craving. Our waitress was super duper helpful and sweet. She was working the whole place basically by herself and doing a great job. We enjoyed. Now with our full bellies we can sleep sound :) read more

Café Zen - Complementary noodle salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

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Service was terrible. They took forever to serve us once we were at our table and we had the menus it took them forever to ask us what we wanted. Once we finally ordered I waited about a half Jodie for my food. The chicken I ordered was not good and would not recommend read more

Excellent food and excellent service, I've known these chefs since I was in high school. They still keep the best and the biggest crowds read more

Café Zen - From left to right , the BAKED SEAFOOD ,omg is so delicious, the TIGER EYES , from the broiler always have me attention - Sushi Bars Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana