Zen Restaurant

[Millard]

Cuisine: Japanese, specializing in sushi

Location: Royal Garden Plaza Central Festival Mall

Food: 4.5/5 stars

Service: 4/5 stars

Price: 4/5 stars

Overall: Not nearly as good as Toyko, but up to par with American sushi houses. Prices are a fraction of what is charged in America.

 

I love sushi and have it frequently in the States. Something I always take advantage of when in Pattaya is the affordable sushi. Despite the lower price, I've found sushi to be at least as good as it is in the States. My favorite place in Pattaya is Zen. It was recommended to me by locals and they were right. Since I've found Zen, I haven't returned to Fuji, another popular Japanese restaurant in Pattaya.

 

When seated at Zen, you'll be presented with a large menu. The selection is one of the biggest I've seen at any restaurant. I've tried the sushi, hot entrees and appetizers. All have been more than satisfactory. Just as pleasing is the service. Each waitress is dressed in a kimono and are very polite. They'll even pour your soy sauce and drinks.

 

Perhaps the highlight for me is that the prices are about one third of what I pay in the States. On one occasion, I ordered so much that my girl and I couldn't even finish everything. That's quite notable considering my sizable appetite. Despite this, our total bill was only 1,200 baht. Back home, that same meal would have been about 3,500 baht.

 

Unfortunately, I didn't take photos of that huge feast since I was too busy stuffing my mouth! Though here are some photos of various dishes I've tried at Zen.

 

Toro (fatty tuna)

 

Salmon Nigiri Set

Edited June 29, 2011 by Millard
Updated with new location.

[Cryfreman]

Looks great! Must admit I am a sucker for the sushi when in Pattaya.

 

Have you tried top floor at central festival? Was fantastic food in there.

[Bastard]

I always eat at "Fuji" in Big C. I will def. give it a try, it looks delicious.

 

Thanks for making me even more hungry for Pattaya now.

[Millard]

Have you tried top floor at central festival? Was fantastic food in there.

I've only eaten at the food court, a ramen shop and that Shabu conveyor belt restaurant at Central. Do you have any suggestions on where to go?

[Geeberish]

How is their Agadeshi tofu? I have to ask because that's my favorite appetizer.

Edited January 29, 2010 by Geeberish

[Millard]

How is their Agadeshi tofu? I have to ask because that's my favorite appetizer.

Unfortunately, I didn't try their tofu. It's not something I commonly order.

[Khunsingha]

I went to the Zen at the Central Festival a few days ago and I was fully satisfied with the quality of the food. Great taste.

 

Well, there is one thing that drives me crazy: If I go to a restaurant with me TGF all the waiters talk to her. Not to me.

It's like: 'What you want to eat' in Thai and 'What your fallang wants to eat'? WTF? I'm the one who pays the food so

talk to me! All the waiters speak english good enough to take my order.

 

I experienced that not only at the Zen it's the same in any other restaurant like Fuji or MK. Seems to be easier for them to

talk in Thai - it makes me feel stupid and offended.

 

To make myself clear I'm not talking about small Thai restaurants. I'm just getting angry when that happens in

restaurants where they serve international guests.

Edited January 29, 2010 by Khunsingha

[polan]

really good sushi from a street vendor on soi buakuow after 6pm and opposite the food market near rcon hotel. 10 baht a piece and a good fresh selection. highly recommended

[Millard]

really good sushi from a street vendor on soi buakuow after 6pm and opposite the food market near rcon hotel. 10 baht a piece and a good fresh selection. highly recommended

Street vendor sushi? You are a brave man! Though I am frugal, to say the least. Sushi for only 10 baht is music to my ears.

[adiggity]

Street vendor sushi? You are a brave man! Though I am frugal, to say the least. Sushi for only 10 baht is music to my ears.

 

Yeah, I would be scared of the raw sushi but the ones with cooked shrimp, egg, bbq eel etc would probably be safe... I just paid 70Baht (I think) for two piece ebi (cooked shrimp) sushi from Fuji this afternoon... pretty pricey (in Thailand) for 2 shrimp and a little rice.

 

When I eat sushi I really like to relax though, start with some miso soup, have some hot tea. Enjoy the atmosphere. Off a street stall it just wouldn't be the same imho.

[ritch]

i dont really try sushi from a stall

 

i go to samurai sushi which is next to mcdonalds opposite alcazar on 2nd road

[headcheck]

a thai girl recommended me this place, haven't tried it yet since my trip is now in danger of being postponed. But the toro looks to be of high quality. at leats it looks like real toro. If you order toro and others but the bill is only about 1200 thats a graet deal!

 

I'm noting this down as one of my restaurant target. Thanks man

[Millard]

If you order toro and others but the bill is only about 1200 thats a graet deal!

I should clarify that the toro was not included in my 1200 baht meal. I had the toro plate on a separate occasion and it was not cheap.

[THguypattaya]

thanks for the nice review..what are their hours? so1/3 of the price vs the states and quality is as good? definitely have to try it out then..

[THguypattaya]

what are their hours?

[Millard]

what are their hours?

I don't know.

[IBF]

what are their hours?

It's in Royal Garden Plaza (and it does not have direct outside access) - so at best it seems their hours would be the same - 11AM - 11PM. However, they might close a bit earlier.

http://www.royalgardenplaza.co.th/pattaya/index.html

Open daily from 11.00 a.m. – 11.00 p.m.

[pchan]

I've been there twice during my last visit and the Sushi was very good.

If you order a set with soup, sushi and some other stuff the price is unbeatable.

I have orderd a set for about THB 170 and Tuna Maki for THB 80 and was full afterwards.

 

Cheers

Carsten

[Mtlvader]

added to my to-do list

 

love a good sushi/jap joint !!

 

cheers,

[Millard]

FYI, the Royal Garden location has closed. Another Zen Restaurant is located at Central Festival mall.

[rystar]

hi guys, I come from a very working class town in England, Grimsby (shithole). Theres no sushi

restaurants and i wouldnt have a clue how far I'd have to travel to find one. On my last visit

to thailand i really wanted to try out one of the restaurants, however none of my mates were up for

it. So i went by myself to a restaurant, but what the fuck, all them plates spinning around a conveyor belt

everyone using chopsticks (which i cant do), and not knowing if i would like any of them jap sushi dishes.

I found it quite intimidating and ended up just walking off, pissed off that i didnt have the confidence to go and try

it.

 

Would some one mind giving me a few tips on basically this

1. why are all the plates spinning around (is it like an all you can eat?)

2. Can you use a knive and fork.

3. Is there a starter, main course like order to follow.

 

thanks gangsters xx

[Spursman]

Hi Rystar,

 

Taking in to account the amount of fresh fish you northern monkeys land in Grimsby, I am surprised you don't have any sushi restaurants! You've certainly got plenty of award winning fish and chip joints.

 

Don't blame you for being intimidated; a newbie to sushi wouldn't know his wasabi from his wakame and that might pose some real problems!

 

The place you walked in to was probably Shabushi which does an all you can eat for Sushi (raw fish on rice) and shabu shabu (japanese hotpot where you cook the ingredients at your table) as well as a few other things too.

 

If you want to try sushi for the first time, I would recommend ordering some of the following items:

 

Maki roll - seaweed on the outside, then rice and with a filling that can range from cucumber, pickle, asparagus to raw salmon or tuna.

 

Uramaki aka inside out rolls - here the rice is on the outside, then the seaweed and the centre containing the filling. One type I am sure you will like is the prawn tempura uramaki made with deep fried crispy coated prawn or the california roll which consists of crabmeat, cucumber and avocado.

 

Nigiri - these are finger shaped oblongs of rice witha raw fish topping. Try the tuna, salmon or sweet prawn for a good intro to sushi.

 

The way you eat your sushi when it arrives is to first make a dip using the soy sauce and wasabi (green horseradish paste) you find in front of your place setting. Add a pea-shaped amount of wasabi, be carefull as it can be fiery, to a few teaspoons of soy sauce and mix with the narrow end of your chopstix.

 

Next, pick up your sushi with your fingers.

 

Yep, you heard right, it is perfectly acceptable to use your fingers and much politer to do so rather than flick food about using chopstix for the uniniated! Don't even think about asking for a knife and fork and you'll just end up looking like a prick.

 

Dip your susi in the wasabi soy mixture and pop the whole morsel in to your mouth. Once in your mouth, if you don't like it, swallow, don't fire the damn thing out at the sushi chef across the counter from where you are sitting!

 

As you might be able to tell, I love sushi and the above items are a good way to start before you move on to the more exotic items that can be found in a typical sushi bar.

 

Enjoy!

Edited June 30, 2011 by Spursman