I love Zen West! It holds a lot of memories for me. Some good and some not so good so I went back recently to make new memories! By the way, the memories have nothing to do with Zen. Just my personal experiences. That said, they were out of my favorite pomegranate margs so I subbed for peach. It was ok! I really wanted the pomegranate. My tacos were pretty yummy! The meat was well seasoned and everything else was also super tasty! Our waiter was super friendly! I didn't catch his name but he has definitely served me before. He usually stays behind the bar. The ambiance was easy. Struck up a convo with a neighboring stranger. It was a good vibe and a great visit, as per usual. Thanks, Zen West! read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - Chicken Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Stopped in just after happy hour. It wasn't too crowded. The crowd started to flow in while I was there. It happened to be trivia night. They were playing Jeopardy. It was pretty neat. The bartender was cool. I ordered chili and an old fashioned. We were looking to enter the speak easy located inside of Zen West but, it wasn't open. My chili wasn't bad. It had brisket in it. I added some sour cream and hot sauce. My old fashioned was tasty. I ended up ordering the margarita pitcher for $12. I wasn't able to finish it but, I came close. This seemed to be a spot where the college kids like to hang. Great place to just hang out for a little fun. read more

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If I'm ever looking for some cheap, good nachos...this is my spot. I just love that every chip has a layer of the ingredients. No soggy chips, no chips without any cheese. Every chip has cheese, jalapeños, beans and your protein (I always get chicken). We ordered house margaritas (only $7 everyday). We also got an order of wings--they were oven fried and well seasoned. Service was good. Our server checked in with us often. For some reason it seemed darker in the restaurant than usual, but we were able to find a well lit spot to sit and enjoy our food and watch sunday night football on the tv. read more

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Was looking to grab a bite after a movie at The Senator so we stopped by Zen West on the corner. The bar was busy and bustling with football playoffs on the screens. Service was fantastic. The chicken tacos were okay, not great. We used to come here often pre-Covid but never really find ourselves down this way. I admit I was a little disappointed in the food. It's hard to find good Tex Mex cuisine in this area so I was hoping for a more delicious experience with simple tacos, rice and beans. The chips and salsa were tasty, but not complimentary. Our waiter was great though. Five-star service for sure. read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Zen West is a concert venue, Tex Mex restaurant, & a speakeasy known as Clandestino. We came here for the Wheatus concert in May 2025. It was easy to find, and we arrived through Lyft transportation. The lighting was dark at the very crowded concert venue area. We didn't eat here yet I was told the food was Tex Mex and didn't have traditional Mexican food ( my preference). The staff excelled in meeting all our needs, and we captured amazing photos at the concert. The owner of Zen West was quietly and swiftly managing the different areas of Zen West. Brandon was my bartender at Clandestino and made sure I got refills for my Diet Coke. Loved how you could order food and drinks at different places all over the venue. I liked the intimacy & private space of Clandestino where a separate concert performance was taking place. It was my favorite part of Zen West. I spent a lot of time going back and forth from the concert venue area to Clandestino. I did sit and talk at the restaurant area with some performers. I liked how I could hear people easily despite how loud and crowded it was in Zen West. The place and bathroom were clean with no long lines. The ambiance was ideal for a crowded concert, restaurant, and speakeasy. I connected with many people there and loved the energy of the concert goers with the music artists performing. At the end of the concert, one of the staff helped me get a flyer promised to me on the window above the stairway - too high for me to get on my own. I greatly appreciated & thank him for his act of kindness and the meaningful conversation he had with me. He seemed concerned for my welfare and the difficulty I had getting assistance at the concert, yet I assured him I was ok and not to worry. read more

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However, Service is very slow been here for an hour, and no one has taken my order yet not happy read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - An event drag brunch - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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We went to Zen West to attend a concert later in the evening, so decided to eat there prior to the concert. There were 4 of us. First, this place needs to be shut down and thoroughly cleaned. We were at a 4-top next to the front window that you cannot see out of because it hasn't been cleaned. The tabletop was sticky and even after asking for a wipe down, it remained sticky. Gross. Everything is just grimy. Service was meh. We had to ask for water refills numerous times, we had to ask for the sides to be brought several times, we had to wait nearly 35 minutes from the time we finished our appetizer before our very basic tex-mex meals were brought to us. Inattentive at best. The food was less than average. My SO's rockfish tacos had two barely larger than pencil stick, (but not even mozzarella stick sized) rockfish sticks that were pretty overcooked. My cheese enchiladas arrived at a temp just slightly above cold. The trio sampler was okay, but we ran out of chips and never got the requested refill to finish off the queso with. But the most EGREGIOUS thing...was the 20% charge for the "Large Bill"! We eat out alot!!! First time I've ever been nicked for ordering what most people consider a normal dinner out. This was NOT a large party, there were 4 of us. This was not a large amount of food. 4 people shared 1 appetizer, 2 margaritas, 1 beer, 1 Pepsi and 4 average main meals. The bill was $100.75 for 4 people. That is NOT a large bill for 4 people! How is "large" even defined? Where is it posted in the restaurant that you are going to charge for a "large" bill? Never saw it on the menu, didn't see it on the door, wasn't told about it beforehand. Is the staff getting all of that 20% for a "large" bill? Looks like a service charge just for coming in and eating what I would consider a normal meal. Price your food and drinks however you want and if I can afford it, I will eat at your restaurant -- but STOP it with hidden fees and charges. NEVER AGAIN. read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - The "large bill" fee for our decidedly not large meal. 4 people, average meal. - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Fun bar! Had nachos and a margarita! Great spot to get happy hour and a yummy dinner! read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Probably the worst Tex Mex meal of our life. Service wasn't much better. The tacos, burritos and enchiladas were bone dry (no salsa). Avoid. read more

The food had me sick as a dog for about two days. I had a temperature of about 102 shivers body aches and all of that. Surprisingly the service wasn't actually bad at all but I absolutely cannot see myself coming here again. read more

We pulled up and got a spot right outside the door but I have a feeling we got lucky. Just to be safe, I would say be prepared to walk a block or two. When we walked in, we were seated immediately. Our server came and brought waters right away. Our server helped us pick out what menu items were tasty and they were all spot on. Now I would be lying if I said these were the best empanadas I ever had but they certainly weren't the worst. My wrap was tasty to say the least. My cup was never empty and our server was attentive. No complaints. I mean the floor was a little sticky but it is a bar for the most part so that is to be expected. It's not at the top of my list but I would go back if invited. read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - Empanadas - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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The show that Powerman 5000 put on while we were there was INCREDIBLE!!! The venue was so intimate, I felt like I was part of the band! The people were all super chill, drinks were reasonable and servers were so chill & polite. read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - This was September Mourning lead singer September & she was so accommodating, taking this photo of me & my boy, along with signing our cd's! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

A laid back spot with really good food. I've tried several items on their menu and everything has been better than expected. Most recently I had the Eggplant and Portabello Reuben which was a first for me. I didn't know quite what to expect, but I wasn't disappointed. They also have plenty of TVs if you wanna catch a game. There is a separate section where live music is played on certain nights. read more

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I have been going to Zen West ever since I was attending Towson University. The bartenders are always friendly, and the food is consistently good. My personal favorite is the Zen West Original GRILLED (yes not fried) wings! I LOVE wings but am trying to avoid fried if possible and boy do these deliver. The dry rub with that flavor coming off the grill is so enjoyable for me. There are regular wing options as well if you're not down with the grilled option. They have a bleu cheese that pairs wonderfully with the wings for me. My only complaint is living in Owings Mills, they aren't closer to home. Zen West is conveniently located near Belvedere Square. There are TVs at the bar and they do live music as well. Authentic Tex-Mex is the cuisine, with some unique options such as the grilled eggplant & portabella Reuben. Definitely check it out if you're in the area for some good food and drink selections as well. read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - Zen West Original Grilled Wings - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This spot was just ok, I got a skinny margarita, and it was probably the worst margarita that I've ever had in my life. I know by it being skinny it's already not going to be as good, but still I've had many that were better than the one here. The nachos were good, but they're different. This was the first time I had nachos where every piece was served to you fully covered. It was a nice concept because everything was even dispersed, but also it made the chips soggy read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - Nachos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I wanted to start off with a drink. After quiet sometime I saw my server glued to their phone and then walk away to go to another room so I went to the bar myself. At an event where there were no paper towels in the ladies, I stopped a server and alerted them to the situation of which they replied "you should tell the bar". Later I told the bar of the entire situation and the bartender said I was "aggressive", which was horribly impolite and untruthful, as I managed to calm the bartender down, they said the other server I alerted was their first day. Instead of the staff blaming customers maybe they should simply listen, as with the first server(on cell) I saw another table have to get up to pay the bill because the server was simply not doing their job. Also the place has a distinct smell, kindve like a vape? It's not smoke like from a grill and I always wash my clothes and hair to get rid of this smell read more

Wait, wha??? Only a 3 star average when I make my way here on 8/6/19, at around 1:45pm. The bar is mostly full, and the tables are all empty. I immediately like the dive-bar aesthetic, no-frills steel stools, very well warn tables that have clearly absorbed years of conversation and use, but everything here is clean too. There isn't a crumb to be found on the floor. The walls are ordained with murals reminiscent of Route 66's heyday... a clear theme here, all the way to the restroom, where every inch of top wall has license plates to the ceiling. What means the most to me though... I was able to sit quickly, and make my order. I'm there in the early afternoon, and I'm the only one with food. It's likely that the cook is busy preparing for the evening. MY FOOD WAS PERFECT!!! The CFS (Chicken Fried Steak) was hand battered, the Zucchini were perfectly grilled and brushed with Olive Oil and herbs, the broccoli was al dente, the mashed potatoes were neighbored by a scoop of Pico de Gallo, and I thought they forgot the deep fried green beans UNTIL I got some of the steak outta the way, finding them neatly tucked away under my steak. LET'S NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT THE STEAK! It was not prefrozen and breaded. THIS WAS LEGIT!!! It was a real steak, pounded thin, then DIPPED for a perfect crust... AND FINALLY, somebody understands that it stays perfectly crispy when you keep the gravy on the side! Massive props to today's cook!!! read more

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I visit this restaurant-bar, often, with good friends. They have reliably good Tex-Mex food, a nice patio, and the friendly bartenders are happy to learn both your name and exactly how you like your mixed-drink made. This is also the home of the very handsome, hand-crafted back room, separately listed on Yelp as "Clandestino." In addition local bands play in the side room, which features a stage. read more

Zen West is a neighborhood classic and favorite! Their grilled wings are truly one of Baltimore's best! You can never go wrong ordering the wings or the trio sampler which comes with a basket of warm (and delicious) tortilla chips. read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - Trio sampler - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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The. Chicken. Nachosssssssssss! Jesus Mary and Joseph. It's enough to feed a village (like literally) but oh so worth ittttttt!!!! The wings. My goodness....they're like grilled or smoked and full of flavorrr! The pomegranate margarita is pure mother cussing greatness! read more

Will not be coming back here. The food was good here at time. The service was awful, how can you take a order, and keep coming to table asking are we okay. The waiter forgot to even put our order in! Never again! read more

My experience may have been tainted because I went on Cinco de Mayo & it was extremely crowded but the restaurant was not clean they did have a sign stating they were short staffed my wings and Margarita were excellent my chicken tacos were terrible. I will give it another try only if it's not a celebrated holiday read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - Zen West Original Grilled Wings & chicken Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

REALLY REALLY REALLY TASTY!!! I had such low hopes. Tex-Mex in Baltimore??? The menu is extensive and the food is goooooood. I'll bring folks back there when they want something good, cheap, and fast. read more

We've been going to Zen West for years and last night I had the privilege of meeting the owner. He is amazingly welcoming and kind. The food is delicious (the individual nachos are my favorite) and the venue attached to the restaurant is a hidden gem! If you're lucky enough--find the secret door that will lead you to Charlie's place and get the Ranch Water! We will always go back--great vibes, friendly servers and amazingly nice people. Seriously one of my all-time favorite places. FIVE STARS FOR SURE! read more

Went with a friend on a sunny Saturday after enjoying the food hall next door. Not too inviting in here as it's kinda dark and drab, seemed closed. But friendly staff ! There was some party going on in the space behind the main bar. I got the seafood quesadillas per the bartenders suggestion. So good just needed to dip in something so u got salsa. I don't typically like guacamole or sour cream. They should add a crab dip to them as well. Margaritas are a little off. Not sure, just lack flavor, sweetness. read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - Seafood quesedillas - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Easy street parking nearby, reservations strongly encouraged. We dined at Zen West for Disney Drag brunch, on a Sunday afternoon. We opted for the $12 bottomless mimosas, with a food order required. They first brought out the mimosas already poured on a tray. These were weaker, all water, so we were a bit skeptical. But once they started just leaving pitchers at the table things got toasty ;) For the food I ordered the naked wings and the seafood quesadilla. The wings were large, meaty, juicy, and just the right amount of smoke flavor. The quesadilla had large lumps of crab and shrimp, very cheesy. The queens were gorgeous, there didnt seem to be a bad seat in the house, they used the space wisely. Even when they were in back rooms waitresses were dancing, everyone was partying it was a good time. I loved the ambiance. The ladies bathroom was really clean but I heard the men's not so much. Def check out their events read more

The food was good, overall. My girlfriend ordered the avocado and cheese sandwich, which she found fantastic. I got the chicken sandwich, which I found pretty good. The chicken itself seemed like a frozen patty, as it was very much pressed chicken. The cheese,bacon, toppings and roll were A+, though. For an appetizer, we got the empanadas, which were fantastic! They were crispy, hot (literally steaming when bitten into - I'm posting a photo of it!), and served with two delicious sauces. The free chips and salsa were also good - though the salsa might be a bit spicy for some. Definitely wait to eat some until you get a drink. Now, as for actual issues: 1. We never got silverware and napkins and had to get it ourselves from a bucket behind us after we were eating the empanadas and getting stuff all over our fingers. 2. We paid our $28 check with a $20 and a $10 and our server just kept the change without asking and without us telling her to keep it. We waited five minutes while she cleared other tables and waited on a new table and finally she came over and asked us, "Oh, sorry, did you want your change back?" Well, yes, yes we did... And you screwed yourself out of an actual decent tip with your assumption because that was now your tip instead of that plus the rest of the $1s we had on us, which would've been closer an $7 or $8 tip. read more

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Friendly service, friendly crowd, selection of bottled cold beers, good fries, ordered chicken quesadillas (note: I am used to a pico spicy/hot salsa with my quesadillas but this experience was a bland/neutral although I tried to improvise), charming atmosphere, TVs by the bar, clean bathrooms. Parking can be a challenge if you arrive too much after 5pm. read more

Cheap but expensive, even their chips were awful. Nachos we're disgusting with some kind of cheese sauce rather than actual cheese and the chilli on them tasted like it had come out of a can. The guacamole was tasteless because the avocados were unripe. The customers were loud and uncouth, to say the least. Huge fat men with those long camo shorts and a swarm of kids running around yelling. What my mama would have done with us had we ever behaved like that...... Disgusting! Avoid! read more

amazing food. We tried the Zen wings, fajita, ahi tuna tacos, quesadillas, and guac & chips. try the mystery shot! read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - make sure to stop in for Happy Hour!! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Stopped by for dinner and drinks with my husband on a Friday night and enjoyed it! We were seated promptly and both ordered house margaritas ($5 from 4-7pm on weeknights) which weren't too sweet and were nice and tart. I ordered a burrito bowl and he ordered their Zen West house wings and we both enjoyed our meals! My burrito bowl was delicious and a generous portion. My husband loved the wings but wished there were more of them - he was still hungry after eating and helped me finish the burrito bowl. Our server Julia was friendly and attentive, so service was great!! It's definitely more of a casual place, maybe even divey, but that suited us just fine. Will be back! read more

Let me explain the 3 star rating. First of all, the food is fantastic!! I loveddddd the nachos and even though it's listed as an appetizer, it could easily be a meal. The steak fajitas were amazing. That steak!!! I was expecting something flavorful but not cooked correctly. However this was perfection. Not chewy or tough...just right!! So, why the 3 stars?? It was impossible to have a conversation. The music in the other room was insanely loud. Even when the band was just getting set up and prepping. I'm glad they have live music, but it was just way too loud. Also, there's zero parking. Soooo...ride a bike or walk to Zen West early enough so that you don't have to worry about the noise. read more

Come if you want: tex-mex, drinks, chill hangout spot. Zen West is the kind of solid, reliable neighborhood haunt that earns its spot. Good food with a few real winners (the wings! are grilled! and great!), specials on drinks/grub when ya need them, and good service. Definitely acceptable to bring a family here, although it really shines as an adult hangout. Kitchen usually closes at 9, that kinda vibe. If you're in the general area of North Baltimore/Towson, it's as good a tex-mex spot as you'll find. And get the classic grilled wings, definitely a highlight. read more

Zen is usually hit or miss, but it seems like they're trying to do the right thing as of late. They have revamped their happy hour for Taco Tuesdays which makes me happy and I will definitely be attending. $1 tacos and $12 Margarita pitchures are a couple of the Taco Tuesday highlights. #winning! I went here today for brunch which is always good here. The prices here are great. The parking situation is already scarce, but there was a car show at Belvedere Square today, so of course, there was literally no where to park. I'm already making plans for my next taco Tuesday here! read more

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I stopped in to ZW for a quick bite. I ordered an inexpensive yet filling nachos dish. But the thing I wanted to share was that this was not the usual warm dish pilled high with limp nachos and liquid cheese. This was a dish of fresh chips with real cheese and jalapenos surrounding a bowl of pico and sour cream. All I should say is that this is a better take on the old burning blob of soggy chips and fake cheese spread with questionable toppings. Sorry I did not take the picture first, I was hungry. read more

This is our first time trying Zen West, and it was underwhelming. The food was lukewarm and greasy. Moving from TX, we were hoping that we had found our Tex Mex spot. Back to the drawing board. read more

I mean the food is ok but are table was sticky and the serves was horrible The Inside is nice though

Got to go back again recently: 1. Margarita was good 2. Service was a whole lot better!!!! YAH!! and we sat outside again with our dog. 3. They had tamales this time. They were chicken and really good! I still think Garibaldi's is better, but these were good. Just a heads up though, you only get 2 per order and they are on the small side. 4. Got the hard shell beef tacos again- they were more moist this time, but they had NO seasoning! What's up with that?? Sadly, I think next time I'm going to skip ordering them :( read more

Zen is one of my favorites! I live so close to it but I didn't start coming here until my coworkers invited me for happy hour. Now, I bring my boyfriend here whenever we hang in my area. I haven't had one thing from here I didn't like. I LOVE Mexican food so your chicken burritos with the chipotle sauce win my heart! I recently started coming here for brunch on the weekends and I love it!! Who needs a bougie Towson brunch when this little gem is a 3 min drive from my house?! The wait staff is always awesome and helpful! I just wish y'all stayed open later. read more

Zen West Roadside Cantina - Grilled Chicken Burrito with Chipotle Sauce and Margarita - Tex-Mex Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Went there with my family. It was nice that it was also a good place for kids. We got the nacho appetizer and I really, really liked it. And the calamari as well but it was a little bland. The portions were bigger than average. I got the build your own quesadilla with honestly was delicious because I got to choose all the things I liked the most but it was also very expensive. It was a bit loud but it is a sports bar. Overall great experience, the server was sweet and the food came out quickly. The kids nachos were terrible though, they were all chip and hardly any cheese. read more