Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Zen Thai

    4.3 (383 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Zen Thai Photos

    Business Info

    ZEN THAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    More like Zen Thai

    Recommended Reviews - Zen Thai

    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

    Long Island Thai tea
    Jamie W.

    Pad see ew portions were great, and they came out quickly after ordering. The medium spice was a true medium and perfect for me. We were also there during happy hour where they have cocktails for 6.50! I tried the Long Island Thai tea, which as warned was very strong. I should have asked for lighter alcohol and more Thai tea to dilute it. But overall very convenient location to the convention center and arena downtown, and authentic Thai food. We also liked sitting on the couches which were comfortable.

    Large menu
    Steve A.

    4 stars (really 3+ rounded up). Want to know the real scoop? Read on... **Communication: Wanted to make a reservation, called six times over two days, left voicemails, even texted. No response, ever. We went anyway for a birthday dinner and fortunately found only 2-3 other tables occupied, no reservation needed. Found street parking nearby, but you'll need to feed the meter for a couple hours even on weekends. Score: 2 out of 10 (additional reason for this score in the UPDATE below) **Atmosphere: Comfortable and relaxed inside, a bit dark and cold, some fun and slightly kitschy Thai décor. Booths are cozy, and the couch-style seating looked inviting. Check out my posted photos to get a feel for it. Score: 7 out of 10 **Food & Drinks: We shared three appetizers (Super Summer Rolls, potstickers, and crispy veggie rolls), all fresh, flavorful, and nicely plated. Accompanying sauces were very good. Unfortunately, they were all pricey, approaching the price of entrees. Appetizer Score: 8 out of 10. - Drinks were a letdown. We tried four different drinks from their $10 special list, and none impressed, they weren't good: the Long Island Thai Iced Tea was strong but harsh tasting, no curated flavor; the Thai Tea Espresso Martini was the best of the bunch but still not great, bland; the Lychee and Green Apple martinis were both overly sweet and syrupy. Drink Score: 2 out of 10. - Entrée taste redeemed the night. Red curry with chicken was rich, creamy, and perfectly spiced, a little spicy, yum. Pad Thai was balanced and satisfying with good bouncy, slightly chewy noodles. Pad Se-iew was excellent, smoky, savory, and our favorite dish. None were large portions, they were adequate size. Fortunately we had three appetizers ($35) or the three entrees ($17.50 each) wouldn't have been enough for four people to share. Score: 8 out of 10. **Service: Friendly and attentive. The second gentleman seemed like an owner, knowledgeable and engaged. The host was pleasant but couldn't explain why no one answers the phone for reservations, takeout, general info, nothing. Service Score: 8 out of 10. **Value: $140 before tip that included four not-good drinks, three apps, and three entrées: fair for the food quality and decent service, not for the cocktails and communication. With tip and parking, around $175 - $185 for four people who took no food home and left none on the table. **Overall: - Communication = poor - Atmosphere = pretty good - Drinks = not good - Apps = good - Entrées = very good - Service = very good in restaurant, worse with owner response and sharing their number is listed incorrectly online **Final: 3.25 stars, rounded up to 4 to give the benefit of the doubt. Great entrées, good food choices, friendly service, and okay ambiance, but skip the cocktails and don't bother calling their posted number ahead. Photos posted! ------UPDATE-------- The owner claims she "never received communication from me." My review history speaks for itself, thorough, fair, and honest. I called the search engine listed number (480-420-8424) three times and texted it. After reading her response, I researched further and found the number is incorrect, something the restaurant clearly knows. I even kindly called to advise it is listed incorrectly online, and their reply was, "we only use Google." What? That's not how you thank someone trying to help improve your business and correct your contact information. The wrong number appears multiple times in search listings (see attached photo). Rather than acknowledge or fix it, they deflected. More poor communication from Zen Thai. Should update rating to 3 stars to reflect the true "level of service."

    Pad kee mao
    Kelie E.

    Literally best pad kee mao I've ever had in my entire life. I will forever be comparing Thai food to this place! It was small but very comfy and decorated cute. The staff were so great with my allergies and helped me feel safe eating Thai food (which is really very hard with peanut, sesame, and coconut allergies.)

    Jie G.

    We stayed in a nearby hotel and decided to give this a try. Did not disappoint! Pad Thai has decent portion and great taste. Vegetable delight (stir fried veggies) were also decent with a flavorful soy based sauce, but I wish portions could be bigger.

    Ameena A.

    Visited this delicious spot while in town for a conference! The only reason I have 4 and not 5 stars is only related to being a gluten free folk- if you are not gluten free, consider this restaurant 5/5 stars! I thought the ambiance of the place was super cute (even though I took my food to go), I thought the portion size of my curry was great, and it was extremely delicious. Service was also very kind. The only reason I have docked a star is because there was some back and forth about whether my dish was gluten free among the staff, so, I took a risk by eating it (even though they ultimately all agreed it was GF, it made me nervous). I would suggest a simple edit on the menu, because they said a lot of their stuff is naturally GF! It would make it easier for us, and more accessible in general for those with dietary needs :)

    Chicken drunken noodles
    Petra V.

    The tom yum soup is my favorite. Whenever I want something warm and comforting this is my place. It always feels warm and inviting in the restaurant and the servers are all soooo nice. The food has so much flavor and it is super good.

    Noodle bowl
    Jaleebi S.

    I'm a fan for sure. And a regular! Zen Thai offers delicious Thai cuisine at reasonable prices right on the light rail line. I'm always greeted and seated promptly and the service is very efficient. I love the fried shrimp rolls and today I had a bowl of noodle soup that exceeded my expectations and put many of the local ramen places to shame. I love the decor! Authenticity, great food served fast and hot: downtown delivers again.

    blanca g.

    I did a google review stating I had a bad experience here. Zen Thai responded asking me to show proof the Hawaiian Fried rice is supposed to have chicken AND shrimps as I complained I only got chicken. Here you go.

    Drunken noodles
    Christa M.

    This placed whipped us up yummy Thai food for dinner. I ate here with my mom and sister after seeing a show nearby. We were quickly greeted, seated, and menus were given to us to look over. We ordered three entrees and one dessert. We ordered: One order of drunken noodles One order of combo fried rice One won ton soup One mango with sticky fried rice The food was all served hot. The drunken noodles were cooked perfectly and had so much flavor, they were our favorite. We also really enjoyed the mango sticky rice, it was sooooooo good. All three servers were friendly and attentive. Will be back!

    Joe K.

    Tasty food conveniently located within a few blocks of the convention center. Thats a good combination worth trying.

    Pad Thai

    Cute restaurant, Servers were friendly and service was quick. Thai Tea was pretty good. Shrimp Pad Thai was in need of some more shrimp but flavor was good. Pork Laab! Disappointed, skip that one. It was just sweet and sour - missing roasted rice powder, barely any herbs. Sticky Rice was robbery. $3.50 for a barely a fist size - didn't even fill up a sauce bowl.

    Latrice J.

    I was meeting a friend who was visiting from out of town and she was staying downtown. We decided to go for a walk and found the Zen Thai Cafe! It was an early afternoon and there wasn't a crowd there which was good. We ordered Thai coffee to drink and Thai wing apps which were so good and crispy and for our entrees we ordered drunken noodles. We also ordered dessert the Fried Banana with Coconut Pineapple Ice Cream and it didn't disappoint it was sooo good. The Zen Thai Cafe was cute and cozy and I will definitely return when I'm in need of my Thai fix!

    Green tea
    Tia T.

    We came here for lunch at 11:40 am on a Monday and they are definitely the spot for lunch. The sweet potato was really good with this peanut dipping sauce. The food came out quickly and the servers were kind. The decor is very Thai themed with the red and black influence. I love it. My drunken noodle wasn't too heavy, very flavorful and hit the spot. I will definitely be back for dinner

    See all

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Scout D.
    497
    72
    16

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Food was great and has a cool atmosphere. The sweet potato appetizer was really good definitely recommend

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lauren N.
    333
    14
    21

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Excellent service, very accommodating. Drunken noodle was different from what I'm use to, but quite tasty.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    My husband love this vegan Thai place. Food was good for the price. Will definitely order here again.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J M.
    0
    5
    2

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Xiomara F.
    107
    20
    10

    4 years ago

    The restaurant was clean and trendy, service was fast and friendly too. Had the drunken noodles and spring rolls and it was great.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Al J.
    438
    2
    1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    The food was ok but the customer service was terrible. We waited 35 min for our food and the staff kept ignoring us.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mari M.
    0
    12
    13

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    The coconut smoothie with boba and pad see ew is amazing! I highly recommend this restaurant the staff is very hospitable

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Food was great, although not as spicy as I would expect for a full spice. Nonetheless the flavor and portion was great for lunch.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa K.
    149
    165
    21

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Seth B.
    424
    188
    17

    5 years ago

    Great food and service. Masaman curry was food, but the Sundried beef with sticky rice was

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 7 of 10

    Zen Thai Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Zen Thai

    Are there gluten-free options other than curry?

    Yes I've had pad Thai and pad see iew here before both gluten free. I just specify when I order.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Thai 23,057 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    The Scookie Bar - 1/12/25 FYI. Entrance.

    The Scookie Bar

    4.7(52 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    We walked over because we were craving a dessert. It is located at The Churchill which is a cool…read morespace with multiple small businesses. It was my first time trying it and the combination of a warm cookie with ice cream was perfect. The ice cream melted into the toppings and made every bite so good! I recommend sharing one because it's small but mighty. I chose to build my own with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and almonds. The service was kind and welcoming!

    I have seen many food trucks while working on the various Arizona State University campuses, though…read moreI was recently introduced to The Scookie Bar, and what a treat it was (literally and figuratively!). There is a nice variety of sweet treats, and the service provided by the team inside the truck was stellar. One of our student organizations was hosting The Scookie Bar, and after walking around their event, you could score a ticket for a complimentary Scookie. As we pre-ordered so many as incentives for our students, I thought I'd give it a try. Unfortunately, something wasn't set up properly so we didn't have the cookies themselves, but we did have sundaes. We had six options to decide between. I went with The Standard consisting of vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips, and chocolate sauce, and on a normal day, there would have bene a chocolate chip cookie, too. The other five options included the Chocolate Lover, The Celebration, The Signature, Reese's Lover, and The VNA. While I enjoyed the sundae, I'm sure it would have been even better with the cookie included. The Scookie Bar is "where the scoop met the cookie" and serves freshly baked, warm deep-dish skillet cookies also known as scookies. They have a location at The Churchill in Downtown Phoenix, though I would assume I would more regularly see them when their food truck stops by ASU. Their Churchill location is closed on Monday but open Tuesday through Friday from 5-10 PM and Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 10 PM. If you want to order catering, it includes 2 hours of service and a 100 scookie minimum. They can provide a Build Your Own Menu where guests can choose the cookie, ice cream, and toppings, or they can choose from the Signature Scookie Menu which is what ASU did. They have been operating since 2016 in Phoenix. Now that I realize that I was missing the chocolate chip cookie, I need to try it again with that included! I definitely recommend this sweet treat to others.

    Photos
    The Scookie Bar
    The Scookie Bar
    The Scookie Bar

    See all

    The Sicilian Baker - Espresso & sweet ricotta in dark choc pistachio shell

    The Sicilian Baker

    4.3(281 reviews)
    13.5 mi
    $$

    After a wonderful meal next door at The Sicilian Butcher, our waiter suggested some dessert, but…read morelittle did I know they had a whole bakery connected to the restaurant. I can't speak on the customer service as we never left our table and our waited just walked over and got what we needed. We were pretty stuffed from our massive meal, but we decided on sharing a cup of gelato just to satisfy our sweet tooth. I peeked inside as our table was right at a little walkway from the restaurant to the bakery. Gelato is just one of many things they serve here. They also have all your typical Italian desserts. Cakes like tiramisu, pastries like Italian flag cookies, cookies like Italian wedding cookies, cannolis of different varieties, and of course gelato. What was suggested to us if we wanted gelato was the hazelnut flavor. I was expecting a little cup for the 6 of us just to get a taste, but what he brought over was a massive serving. I don't know how many scoops it was or even how much we even paid, but we all got plenty with some even left behind. Now this gelato was life changing. Probably the best I've had in the states. I know it's gotta be way better in Italy, but I'll take what I can when I can. Think of a Ferrero Rocher but in gelato form. It was delicious and I couldn't get enough of it. It wasn't overly sweet and it had a little crunch with bits of chocolate and hazelnuts. My sweet tooth was extremely satisfied after having dessert here. I have literally been thinking about that gelato since I left Phoenix. Luckily this company has locations in Texas so I will definitely be seeking out this gelato soon.

    The Sicilian Butcher is one of my favorite restaurants in town. So, my recommendation is that you…read moremake it a one-two punch. Have a meal at The Sicilian Butcher and then follow that up with dessert at The Sicilian Baker. There are several locations in town, with this one being in North Phoenix. On my most recent visit, I stopped by on a Thursday. Parking tends to be busy in their complimentary lot, but you'll find a spot. Ambiance (4/5): The Sicilian Baker is connected to The Sicilian Butcher. It's a small bakery, with only a few seats. More of a grab-and-go type of spot or the source of your dessert if you're dining at the restaurant. While small, the decor and ambiance is nice. Service (3/5): A little bit of bad luck, but on my most recent visit, they were having trouble with their refrigeration so no gelato was available. While interacting with the staff, it was an average experience. I will say that the service was much better in the restaurant. Drinks (N/A): I only got dessert, but they do have coffee and a few other beverages available. Food (4/5): The Sicilian Baker is known for its cannolis, tiramisu, gelato, and lobster claws (dessert, not real lobster haha). On my most recent visit, I had a cannoli. They have your classic cannoli but also a nice variety of other fillings including pistachio, Reese's, and more. A+ for creativity, though I decided to stick with the classic. Solid. In fact, all of the desserts I've had here over the years have been quite good.

    Photos
    The Sicilian Baker - Gelato

    Gelato

    The Sicilian Baker - Pastries Galore!!!!

    Pastries Galore!!!!

    The Sicilian Baker - Outside

    See all

    Outside

    Banham’s Cheesecake - Oreo cheesecake.

    Banham’s Cheesecake

    4.8(400 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    Banham's Cheesecake was a great find. From the moment I walked in, the customer service was…read moreexcellent. Everyone was friendly, polite, and welcoming, which made for a great first impression. I tried the Strawberry Cheesecake and the Key Lime Cheesecake, and both were absolutely delicious. The cheesecake was rich, creamy, and full of flavor without being overly heavy. It's easy to see why this place has such great reviews. If you're looking for quality cheesecake and outstanding customer service, I would definitely recommend stopping by.

    Let's start with what they absolutely nailed, the cheesecake. This is the reason people keep coming…read moreback. It's smooth, rich without being too heavy, and the flavor actually develops as you eat it instead of just being one-note sweet. You can tell they take this part seriously. Leave it outside the fridge for an hour and watch that cheesecake melt on your tongue crystals (if you have the patience for that) Their rotating monthly flavors keeps things interesting, and you're not just stuck with the same lineup every time. Out of what I tried, the banana pudding one was easily a standout--super nostalgic, creamy, and just done right without being overly sweet. The coconut one was also up there, more subtle but still really clean and flavorful. Love me some coconut! They also have a punch card system--buy 9 slices, get the 10th free--which is a nice touch. It lowkey turns into a mission because once you've tried one flavor, you kinda want to work your way through all of them anyway. Now...the downside. The customer service just isn't great. It's not aggressive or anything, just noticeably lacking. There's not much warmth or engagement--it feels pretty transactional. For a place that clearly puts effort into their product, you'd expect at least a baseline level of hospitality, and it's just not really there. So overall, if you're going to Banhams, go for the cheesecake. The rotating flavors keep it fresh, the quality is legit, and it's definitely worth trying. Just don't expect much from the service side, and you'll enjoy it a lot more.

    Photos
    Banham’s Cheesecake - Slice of Key Lime Cheesecake

    Slice of Key Lime Cheesecake

    Banham’s Cheesecake - Red Velvet Cheesecake

    Red Velvet Cheesecake

    Banham’s Cheesecake - Inside

    See all

    Inside

    Olla Olla

    Olla Olla

    4.4(78 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    very good crapes, amazing lady and very funny I loved the…read moreservice and I highly recommend best Crapes in town. highly recommend a Horchata drink

    Changing my review immediately, Olla Olla hosted a charity event, demanded all of the money from…read morethe bands performing, did not pay any bands for their time, travel or any other expenses. The owners pocketed all the money raised, even demanded additional funds from bands merchandise sales. Absolute disgrace to the community. They put on the face of someone helping the community when in reality they are greedy conniving individuals taking advantage of the youths desire to perform and display their creative music with one another. Phenomenal crepes, horchata and more. This place is like a hidden little secret. They have many different delicious crepe options that are made when you order them so they are always fresh, hot and tasty. There are so many freshly made drinks to choose from Horchatas, Shakes, Lemonades in a variety of flavors that come in Mason jars you can take home. They offer catering, make cakes for you special events, host special events for the local youth. They open their doors and allow the local youth community to put on small music shows to show their support of their hard work and support their passion for their love of music. They offer painting classes and even cake decorating classes. This truly is a small hidden gem that shouldn't get passed by. If you are ever in the area stop by for a bit to eat or to enjoy a delicious drink.

    Photos
    Olla Olla
    Olla Olla
    Olla Olla

    See all

    Zen Thai - thai - Updated June 2026

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