Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Zen

    3.8 (20 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated a few days ago

    Zen Photos

    ZEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Zen

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Mentai Cream udon
    Raul B.

    First time coming to the newly opened restaurant Zen where they do Handcrafted Udon! I was very excited to try out their new dishes! I've been a Long time customer when they were Ramen Seas! It seems like they have the same owners, kitchen and serving staff so that's a good thing! Their price range per food was about 17$ - 35$. I tried their Kawaebi shio appetizer. They're small crispy salted shrimp. I enjoyed the crunch and shrimpy umami flavor. I also ordered a Sapporo beer which paired well with the fried shrimp. For my main entree, I ordered the Mentai Cream Udon! And my goodness I was in love! The rich creamy texture of udon soaked with cream and spicy cod roe gave such an explosion of Umami goodness! It was like a Japanese version of an Italian creamy pasta. I'm definitely coming back to order this again. Service was great and attentive as well. 10/10

    Sarah C.

    We are super disappointed that Ramen Seas closed. We've been dedicated customers for the last 4+ years. We came here with our newborn, then infant, and now toddler. We love coming here as a family - our toddler usually eats very well. The ramen /broth along with the chicken karaage. The Yaki -onigri was our favorite. We decided to come here to give it a chance. Unfortunately, they don't sell any of our favorite appetizers anymore. The udon was really doughy - our daughter didn't eat much and then was hungry again that night. Not too much toppings in all 3 off the dishes we ordered. We won't be returning.

    counter area, drinks
    Hildeliza O.

    Was finally able to come try out Zen after hearing so much about the newly opened udon restaurant in Sunnyvale, and it did not disappoint! Finding parking is not difficult, as there are many free parking spots around the area. I tried their Tempura Udon, and I have to say, the noodles have to be some of the best in the bay area. The chewiness and texture was perfect, and paired perfectly with the broth. The soup itself carries a deep dashi flavor with tons of umami. I personally like to sprinkle some chili powder, which they do offer if you ask. The tempura was perfectly crispy, and paired really well with the soup. The only downside to my trip was coming solo. The counter showed a great selection of drinks, beer, and sake. I will definitely come back with friends to give more items and drinks a try . The interior of the restaurant is really calm, not too loud, clean, and has simple decour. I felt really at peace while eating here. Service was great as well. Friendly, attentive, and gave really good recommendations.

    Menu
    John D.

    Udon It Newly opened Japanese restaurant replacing the former Ramen Seas** here in Downtown Sunnyvale. They specialize in Tempura sets and Udon Noodle soups, with the latter featuring their traditionally made four-ingredient Udon Noodles that take a full day to make, along with rich umami-filled broths that are done sans MSG. The Good: * Free street parking as well as a parking lot * Service was friendly and efficient. * Housemade noodles were nice and thick and had a great chew and mouthfeel. * Small curated menu * Sake and a the standard Asahi & Sapporo beers. * Mentai Cream Udon was simply superb and was ordered upon the recommendation of the waiter. Savory, salty, smoky, and an umami bomb on top of it. Reminded me of a carbonara of sorts, but with the nice thiccc noods instead of spaghetti. * Ebi Shumai was a nice, hearty rendition of this classic dumpling and came packed with shrimp in these fat little satials. The concomitant dipping sauce was another umami bomb and definitely had kombu in it. The Meh: * No outdoor dining The Ugly: * The Tonkotsu Udon was not our favorite. While the noodles were terrific and the broth was good, the rest of it needed some work. Firstly, the egg that came with it was so severely underdone that once Carissa went to open it, the whole thing just disintegrated into the broth, egg whites and all. Secondly, the "pork" (and I use that term loosely) that came with it was, to put it mildly, not good. It was gristly, tough, and had no seasoning whatsoever. I'm not sure if this is their intention, because if it is, then it's back to the drawing board. Conclusion: Overall, probably 3.5*, but I would definitely come back for the Mentai Cream Udon--and more of those noodles! **I'm not sure if it's a re-brand or new owners. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    Clarisse T.

    came here on friday night after rumble. i do like a good cold udon bc usually the texture is better and not soggy! i do like Zen's udon texture and loved the chewiness! however my friends' warm nami udon was soggy and the cold nami udon has inconsistent textures! some were chewy and some were a bit overcooked! we do like the flavor but wish that there were more variety of udon flavors. i wish they could have mentaiko udon but COLD and would be amazing with some nagaimo mashed and ponzu!

    Tonkatsu udon with side beef bowl

    Ive passed by this place a couple of times since it changed from Ramen Seas. It's a little more expensive than it used to be when it was Ramen Seas, but the broth was really tasty, the noodles were great, and the meat was excellent. My favorite thing was actually the beef bowl on the side, I'll probably order it as a full dish next time. Definitely worth checking out.

    Hershey C.

    I love udon, first off the service was good, the seating was comfortable. I really wanted to love this place, but the udon was a bit starchy? And the broth was fishy? Not sure but I barely ate the noodles and broth, the vege tempura was good but a bit light in portions, it's a 1 star but will make it 3 star to support a local business

    Zen Handcrafted Udon has taken over the space once occupied by Ramen Seas, and fans of the former restaurant will immediately recognize the familiar decor. The dining room feels largely unchanged, but the menu has shifted its focus from ramen to handmade udon. On this visit, I tried the Mentai Cream Udon. The handmade noodles had a wonderful chewy texture, serving as the perfect canvas for the rich, creamy mentaiko sauce. The spicy cod roe brought plenty of umami, while the shiso and nori added freshness and balance. It's a dish that feels more like Japanese-style mentaiko pasta than a traditional bowl of udon, but it works surprisingly well. If you're curious about the new direction of the restaurant, this is a good place to start. The familiar setting may remind you of Ramen Seas, but the handmade udon is carving out its own identity.

    This is supposed to be beef curry udon. As you can see, extremely watered down and the noodles aren't udon.

    Service was fine. Food was terrible: 1. Noodles aren't udon. They remind me of Korean knife cut noodles. Definitely not udon even though their website shows food pictures with udon noodles. 2. I ordered the curry beef udon. This was the most watered down curry udon I have ever had and it was $20 3. Got the deluxe tempura ($30). Pieces were small and the squash and sweet potato were super thin. Like eating a potato chip. Learn from my $50 mistake. If you want udon, go elsewhere for now

    Extremely thin piece of vegetable tempura

    See all

    24 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    26 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah C.
    163
    2367
    1011

    5 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    25 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 4
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    28 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 36
    Thanks 17
    Love this 37
    Oh no 4

    6 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Hershey C.
    128
    300
    1939

    24 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of YueStudio Y.
    106
    150
    33739

    28 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 3
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    26 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 days ago

    The food is really terrible! It doesn't even like they have a real chef to cook. Feel like a car washer shop's manager becomes a chef now.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Akari I.

    Akari I.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    25 days ago

    The food was delicious. I'll definitely, come back and tell my friends about it. Friendly service, and really welcoming space!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Zen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Zen

    Review Highlights - Zen

    The Udon had a lot of flavors and we could tell the sauce and broth are made at store as advertized!

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Enka Japanese Izakaya

    Enka Japanese Izakaya

    4.3
    (348 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Takes reservations

    High quality food! Took my parents here to celebrate Mother's Day and we got to try a little bit of…read moreeverything! Food: - agedashi tofu: 5/5 my fave app and it was really flavorful! Love the bonito flakes on it as well - 3 kinds of sashimi: no rating because I don't like sashimi but everyone else enjoyed it! - carpaccio: 5/5 ok I said I don't like sashimi but this is different ok, it's delicious prob cuz it's thinly sliced AND the sauce is soo good - chicken thigh: 5/5 liked the smoky flavor - chicken wing: 5/5 I love wings so can't hate this one - squid: 5/5 the flavor was so good - hotate: 4/5 it tasted good but didn't wow me - kaisen don: no rating because im not a huge seafood fan so i could only nibble a little of it - unagi don: 4/5 i know unagi has those little bones but they really bother me when i eat it, flavor wise it was good tho! - kamo: 5/5 wow didnt expect to eat duck that night but it was so tender and delicious

    For our first time, we didn't have a great experience. Our waiter didn't send our order to the…read morekitchen and it took 30 minutes of waiting before we called them over to check. None of the staff checked in with us or noticed that we hadn't received our food yet. Parties that were seated after us received their food first. The first item we received was the nankotsu cartilage. There were only small fibers of chicken meat attached and not well heated. Very crunchy though. Then the salted edamame arrived. It seemed to be grilled as some of the pods had burnt spots. The enringi mushroom and shiitake had minimal umami flavor. We ordered 2 additional yakitori items from their dinner specials, which seem to be different from what was listed on Yelp. Cherry tomatoes came last - would have preferred for it to arrive earlier and enjoy it with the meat. Make sure to let the tomatoes cool down or you'll burn your tongue. The grilled mochi was fun to try - chewy mochi with crunch from the outer layer and seaweed. Wagyu steak was less tender but the flavor was good. Well seasoned. May try again and hope for an overall better experience.

    Photos
    Uni poached egg shooter
    Uni poached egg shooter
    Grilled Squid
    Grilled Squid
    Yuba Shot

    See all

    Yuba Shot
    Sushi Boat

    Sushi Boat

    4.5
    (41 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    Sushi Boat family offers the freshest sushi, generous portions, creative and refreshing flavors in…read morea package that makes the experience unforgettable, that you'll be looking for the next excuse to order from them. It's a must try and a great affordable way to host a friends to pig out with or to impress without any mess or cleanup. Not to mention pick up options are so creative. Owner is a true pioneer, reshaping the way we think of sushi and making it so accessible. Keep it coming, Sushi Boat!!!!

    This place completely surprised me! I'd seen it pop up on social media a few times and finally got…read morethe chance to try it--and I'm so glad I did. It's takeout only, which made ordering super easy. We ordered online and even scored a discount through a special on their website. We got the Salmon Lover for two and the two-person combo sushi boat. We split everything between four people and still had leftovers! The fish was incredibly fresh, with generous portions. My favorite poke was the spicy mango tuna--so flavorful. They even include a mini bottle of soy sauce, which was such a cute touch. There are plenty of sides to choose from, and you get a really good amount of rice. The sushi boat is definitely on the pricier side, and I was a bit skeptical at first because of the packaging. I wasn't sure if the quality would live up to the presentation, but it absolutely did. The packaging is not only fun but also super functional--perfect for taking to the beach, a park, or a party.

    Photos
    Sushi Boat
    Large 6-8 Person Poke Boat
    Large 6-8 Person Poke Boat
    Poke boat

    See all

    Poke boat
    Gochi - Cupertino

    Gochi - Cupertino

    4.0
    (2.4k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    My family and I came to Gochi Japanese Fusion Tapas for Father's Day, and it ended up being such a…read moregreat choice. We ordered a variety of dishes to share, and it was one of those meals where everyone at the table found something they loved. One dish I was surprisingly impressed by was the Ankimo (steamed monkfish liver in ponzu). I'll admit, the word liver immediately made me hesitant, and if they hadn't told me what it was, I probably would've been less nervous trying it. But I'm really glad I did because it was incredibly buttery, smooth, and rich. It almost melts in your mouth, and I honestly think it would pair perfectly with a bowl of steamed rice. We also ordered the Hiyayakko (cold tofu with ginger & scallions), which was a really refreshing starter. The tofu was silky smooth and delicate, and the ginger, scallions, and soy-based seasoning added just enough flavor without taking away from the freshness of the tofu. It was simple, but really well done. We also ordered the Salmon Mayo Yaki Onigiri. While it was good, I think this is the one dish I'd probably skip next time. The crispy grilled rice ball itself was delicious, but there just wasn't enough salmon mayo on top. It felt like I only got a tiny spoonful, so once that was gone, it was mostly just rice. Since my family couldn't decide, we ended up ordering all three clay pots: the Sake Oyako Meshi (grilled salmon & salmon roe), Unagi Meshi (BBQ freshwater eel), and Tori Soboro Meshi (braised ground chicken). Out of all of them, the Unagi Meshi was easily my favorite. The eel was tender, slightly smoky, and coated in a sweet-savory glaze that soaked into the rice underneath, making every bite incredibly satisfying. The clay pots also gave the rice a nice crispy layer on the bottom, which added even more texture. We also shared two of their signature pizzas: the Mentai Kinoko and the Nasu Curry. I wasn't expecting much since it's pizza at a Japanese restaurant, but they were honestly so good. The crust was paper-thin, crispy, and light, so it didn't leave you feeling heavy afterward. The Mentai Kinoko had a great balance of spicy cod roe, snow crab, mushrooms, bacon, and cheese, while the Nasu Curry had a rich curry flavor that paired surprisingly well with the eggplant and cheese. Both were huge hits with my family. The restaurant itself has a warm, traditional Japanese atmosphere that makes it feel cozy and inviting. The server was incredibly friendly and helpful, taking the time to explain the menu and recommend dishes when we couldn't decide what to order. Their recommendations definitely did not disappoint. My whole family left happy, and it's one of those restaurants where I already know I'll be coming back to try even more of the menu.

    Food: Wafa Cesar salad 3/5 pretty standard salad…read more Sirloin steak 5/5 delicious with the fried garlic Kamo yuzu Duck 3.5/5 the duck was cooked very well, but I didn't like the salsa that went with it as much as I thought i would. The yuzu makes it more of a sour sauce than sweet. Nasu Buta Hasamiage fried eggplant in broth 4/5 this was perfectly fried and am interesting dish served in a light broth. Unagi claypot 4/5 it was delicious, but I wish they included a little more Unagi. The rice on the bottom was crispy and all the flavors were well blended. Green tea creme brulee 5/5 well balanced flavors, maybe could use a little more green tea flavor, the vanilla over powered it. But it was still very delicious. Service: 90 minutes of dining time, the menu is large so it took time to decide what to order and they don't have paper menus anymore which is a little hard to review the small font on the phone. I think they should go back to providing at least 1-2 real menus per table. It was very warm in the restaurant even though they said the AC was on. The food came out relatively fast, but there were some pauses between dishes. The claypot rice took the longest and I was almost full by the time it arrived. Ambiance: casual restaurant, authentic Japanese style where you have to remove your shoes and sit on mats. The restaurant filled up quickly by 7pm. We had a reservation for 6:15pm.

    Photos
    Cute wall
    Cute wall
    Unagi meshi
    Unagi meshi
    Hiyashi Somen

    See all

    Hiyashi Somen
    Nokori

    Nokori

    4.1
    (36 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    Want whisky? This is your spot! Whisky flights available with four different tiers ranging from $25…read moreto $225. Lots of whisky based drink options as well as several beers on draft and select wines. Lots of specialty drinks too to tickle your fancy as yours truly isn't a big whisky drinker. Give me vodka or gin please. Anyway, ambiance is cool with several lounge tables to communal tables and bar seating. Bar bites from chicken karaage to agadashi tofu to burger! Can also order from the full menu of Adrestia, official restaurant of hotel. Service is friendly and efficient. Prices for drinks range from $14-20- going rate nowadays. Cheers to 2026! Let's go and make it epic and elite, friends!

    This is a cool whiskey themed bar on tha AC Hotel. I came for a small wine tasting, then was…read moredirected to the bar if I wanted to get a full glass of wine or to buy a bottle. So of course after tasting some nice wine, I made my way over. After talking with the bartenders, I learned of the theme. I've never seen so many whiskeys in one place! Lots from Japan too! Had to try an Old Fashion. So, the bartender was making one for another customer. He added extra to the Shaker, and served me a sample from it to make sure I liked it. So nice! And, it was delicious. All the bartenders were very friendly & talkative. And, as it is in a hotel that caters to international travelers, there lots of customers from around the world. I met one guy from England, then had a pleasant conversation with a guy from Seattle. Good vibes in this place!

    Photos
    Seating area
    Seating area
    Yellowtail Crudo
    Yellowtail Crudo
    Lobster Sando

    See all

    Lobster Sando
    Ramen Wakusei

    Ramen Wakusei

    4.1
    (185 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    Free parking
    Free WiFi

    Came in after a long day on the road, and a couple hours at home to gather our senses…read more Wife wanted Ramen, had been asking for Ramen for the last few days, but we hadn't figured out a place to go and the weekend didn't allow for it till now. Saw this on yelp, figured why not? It's near the house for us. Seems to be well reviewed and a new establishment. Came in, not very many people... In fact, one other family. So got seated pretty quickly and dug into the menu. It's not expecting to be greeted with some unorthodox Ramen options in comparison to many of the other places that we've been to. Of course they have your standard offerings, but then they have a lot of other different takes on Ramen that seemed pretty good. Of course, my wife had to go and try the most eye catching one: the Saturn, with it's crag of fried softshell crab on top! I wasn't really feeling soup and elected to try the Gemini (exes be damned!). I didn't try my wife's just because I can't handle spice unfortunately, for the gym and I was really good! Really hit the spot, and not too much. A lot of places to go to the 10 to overdo it on servings and always end up leaving a lot behind. This was just enough for me for one night. Noodles were very chewy and I love the texture! I don't think I've tried that before. Also, the noodles were hot instead of cold like so often in tends to be. Wagyu was cooked and seasoned nicely, a hood shade of pink, any crispy toppings, added both the flavor and the texture. All in all, I loved it and was very pleasantly surprised! Looking forward to coming back to try some other dishes! PS: Pisces, Capricorn, and a few others are out of this menu. On one hand, I can understand it (sorry Cancer, not ordering that deliberately lol) but hopefully some more of the zodiac can make it on the menu at some point!

    Food: 4 stars. I got the Libra brothless soba. Noodles are…read morecooked perfectly, the flavor was unique, and the crispy fried toppings give the dish nice contrasting textures. The food is made to order, and I could see the chef preparing the noodles and soft boiled egg using timers, so it's consistent every time. Service: 1-2 stars Expect the service to be almost nonexistent. I was the only one dining here at 4pm and still the staff was unattentive. Want a water refill? Need extra napkins? Raise your hand and hope the waiter looks up. Finished and want the check and a to-go box? Walk up to the waiter who's busy staring at his phone at the check-in counter. The worst part is the restaurant charges 18% mandatory service charge for this nonexistent service. Please fix this pricing model. Might as well order the food for takeout, which I will do if I decide to come back.

    Photos
    Summer dish: Leo Abura Soba
    Summer dish: Leo Abura Soba
    Mars
This ramen features a bold blend of chili garlic, creating a classic and stimulating taste.
    Mars This ramen features a bold blend of chili garlic, creating a classic and stimulating taste.
    Seasonal Dish
Golden Sun

    See all

    Seasonal Dish Golden Sun
    Fugetsu - Sunnyvale

    Fugetsu - Sunnyvale

    3.9
    (759 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Have been wanting to come here for a while, I love okonomiyaki and don't see it at too many…read morerestaurants. I had the seafood okonomiyaki which was delicious. Wish there was a tiny bit more seafood but it was fresh and served on the hot plate which kept the food warm throughout the meal. Also tried the chicken karaage and veggie tempura. Flavor of the chicken was great but it was a bit chewy. It said it would take 20-30 min for the okonomiyaki but it felt like the food came out much quicker than that. Nice cozy restaurant interior, plenty of tables when I arrived around 11:45am on a Saturday but the restaurant was full by the time we left.

    If you're going to come here during dinner time on a weekend I suggest making a reservation because…read moreit does get busy. Parking can suck too. The workers were really nice and they accommodated our large group. The had interesting drink which I forgot to take a picture of. They also have beers by the pitcher. As for the food, I got all seafood, and the fish was actually pretty fresh. I got the salad and I thought it was going to be a small plate but it was actually a huge bowl made to share, so keep that in mind. I will coming back to try all the other stuff on their menu. If you are looking for some good eats in the downtown Sunnyvale area I recommend checking out this place.

    Photos
    Inside - Rokko/Fugetsu shared same premise
    Inside - Rokko/Fugetsu shared same premise
    Gyusuki yakisoba
    Gyusuki yakisoba
    Negi-tsukimi pork okonomiyaki

    See all

    Negi-tsukimi pork okonomiyaki

    Zen - noodles - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...