Steve W
This was a delight. The food was well-prepared. The Ramen was very good. The drink menu is a hidden gem.
The gin-based cocktails were exceptional. They also have some unique Japanese Whisky to choose that make a boozy dessert.
It was a great experience. Worth a visit. If I lived in Minneapolis, I would be a regular.
cyril xiong
The atmosphere here is amazing and one of the best I’ve seen! Food was great but the TacoYaki was a little doughy. The service was great especially for a busy Friday night and over all enjoyed dining in.
S G
Zenbox is the place to go to for great ramen and Japanese comfort food. Everything shines here, from the interior decoration, service and menu! Our family love to come here to dine and there are so many favorites, their ramen in particular is outstanding. The broth is cooked for a long time so that the flavors are fully extracted, giving it a rich and deep flavor.
Suni Zmich
The Tonkotsu Ramen fueled both my spirit and body. The silky pork bone broth felt like a warm hug on a damp fall day in Minnesota. The perfectly seasoned pork slices unexpectedly melted in my mouth. This was my first visit to Zen Box – my partner and I popped in on a whim when we passed by on a chilly walk. Eating their ramen gave me the courage to face the impending Minnesota winter jack-slap. The service and atmosphere were equally as warm. Our server was just as enthusiastic about our meal as we were. I highly recommend Zen Box ramen to anyone looking for courage. Winter is coming.
Maryam D
I will be making a trip specifically to come back and eat this ramen again, it was so flavourful and delicious. Would highly recommend especially if you don’t eat pork. I ordered kimchi on the side and had one of their lychee drinks, everything was phenomenal!
Michael Gofman
Delicious Japanese food. You literally can not go wrong with anything on the menu. Great for a date or a casual meal.
The flame salmon is amazing.
JC 52
First time here. Food was great. Service was quick and amazing. Food was timely and fresh.
hyunjin
Food was good, but to me, their menu seems more like a Japanese restaurant, not an Izakaya. There were some specific items I was looking forward to eat when I found this place, but felt like I came into a Japanese restaurant for a bowl of ramen or bento boxes..
Highly recommend their takoyaki! 😋
Jay Shen
First, I have to make it clear that if there is a 4.5 then I would have resorted to that. The atmosphere is amazing, like a classic izakaya that finds itself in a good location for people to swing by. There are different bottles of sake and other kinds of alcohol on display, which enhance the vibe. From a service standpoint, I have seen a lot of reviews saying that service is slow, and I can understand why. When my partner and I went, despite a Wednesday when it was not really busy, service was still a tiny bit slow, so I can imagine what it must be like on weekends. Now in terms of food, most of what I had was what I had expected. The takoyaki, aburi salmon, and chicken karaage curry were great in classic manners. The spicy karaage sando had good chicken, but the sauces definitely elevated the flavor. The N.H.K. was an appetizer that I have never had elsewhere, and despite a spice wimp, I managed to eat all of it! The tonkotsu ramen was slightly bland, but definitely not bad. Finally, the green tea tiramisu came in a box, but I have seen a recommendation for this dessert from Star Tribune, and was excited to try it, and enjoyed it! Granted that since mascarpone is the main ingredient in tiramisu, that creating the green tea tiramisu probably is not as difficult as imagined, the idea itself is worth a lot of points already. I would like to try their kimchi ramen and pork katsu curry the next time I visit, but as of now, given the fact that most of what I have had was conventionally good but not spectacular, I will give a 4 (which really mean 4.5), and hoping that what I want to try here next will help with updating the review!
Joe M.
Good place. Food is good and typical Japanese dishes you find in the US. Food is a bit pricy, but I'm a fan of their policy on how they deal with tips. Basically, they add 18% fee to your bill to cover employee wages and benefits, and you no longer tip. It's a nice change and I wish more restaurants would move to this model. I understand that it can negatively impact certain wait staff losing out on tips but I'm a fan of paying a living wage to your employees and doing away with tip culture, especially in the US. Overall good experience and I would go back.
Beth Powers
Really tasty food! Waiter was very friendly...we had the option of ordering on phone or with him which we did-easier. Only draw back to the night was our food was slow to come out but we were not in a hurry. They brought our table a free dessert to share just because. Thank you! Will be back!!!!!
Cyrus Rezvanifar
Accidentally found this place to have dinner before a show at Guthries and loved it! VERY FRESH food, great taste, nice atmosphere with Japanese style decorations. I had the Hiyashi Soba Salad and liked it a lot, but simply LOVED their Chicken Teriyaki Bento! They also have other meat-based and vegan Bento meals (served in wooden lunchboxes), highly recommended!
Shahrin Shabnam Upoma
The food is okay here. They look good, but taste wise I will give them 3/5. The Takoyaki was good though. Ambience was nice, service was good, but will not be returning as its expensive for mediocre food.
Chris Valenty
Zen Box has been one of our favorite restaurants for few years now! Exceptional quality and consistently great service. Enjoyed trying the Spicy Karaage Sando (Chicken Sandwich) and the options for Ramen are always delicious and robust in flavor. Definitely one of the better Chicken Sandwiches I’ve had in Minneapolis.
Chinner
Zen Box is a very casual restaurant with a good Japanese aesthetic and upbeat Japanese music. The gyoza and curry we had was pretty solid as was the Peach Chuhai beverage and green tea mochi. The staff doesn't need to do too much other than seat you and bring your food as you order and pay through your mobile device, but all interactions with the staff were friendly. Overall it might be a tad pricey for what you get, but there are no complaints with quality or speed of food and service.
Andy Park
Potato salad is on point and authenthic. Yakisoba is okay, could use some torching to add some smokiness. Kimchi ramen is good but need more Kimchi. Not a lot of Kimchi for Kimchi ramen. But Kimchi was legit. Side of white rice needs price change to 2 dollar or increase the portion by 50%. $3.50 for that amount of sticky white rice is a major ripoff.
Jess Spinner
We got the pork curry and tantanmen ramen. Both were delicious! Ended with the green tea and black sesame mochi.
Evan Baskerville
The dumplings and rice bowl were perfect. Great flavor! The server was good had a couple little issues but nothing worth writing home over. Nice place. One of the top 3 in town for sure.
Tim Mechlinski
Happy hour prices are reasonable for beer. Ramen is expensive. They serve "tonkatsu" ramen, which is mis-named. The serving of pork is stingy. Tonkatsu (豚カツ, とんかつ or トンカツ, pork cutlet), is a Japanese dish which consists of a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet. They are actually serving braised pork belly known as Chāshū (チャーシュー).
Robert Bischel
I moved to Minneapolis a month and a half ago and when I walk to work, I always go past this place and I was determined to try it soon. I got to go here for a late dinner and this place was packed, but the service was still prompt and my food was awesome! I do believe that this is now my favorite place to eat in town!
Darren O'Dwyer
This is my favorite restaurant in the metro, I like to try different places all the time and now Zenbox has ruined that, I cannot see past this place . The flavors, the presentation and the atmosphere is one of the best I seen . I take cards and pass them out to all my friends raving about the place . Well done 5 stars
Jeffery A. Dobberpuhl
I love this place more than oxygen. It reminds me so much of the little shops I'd visit in Japan. Is it Americanized? Sure. But the staff is always super friendly, the food hot and fresh, and the quantities generous. Lunch is my favorite. Their Bentos are just great. 🍱
Allison Maurer
We love the Ramen here. We drive 50 minutes for it. Having tried it around the country and different restaurants around the Twin Cities...it's hands down our fave.
Gregory Kajiwara
A huge shout out to Zen Box Izakaya who hosted our wedding last Saturday. Incredible to work with, innovative and delicious food, first rate service. This is the place to go in the twin cities! A special thank you to Lina and chef John for making our day the best it could possibly be. If you ever have a special occasion and you are looking for a place to host it, contact Zen Box Izakaya. AMAZING!!!
Jen Ferriere
We were very pleased with our food and the service! We both had the Tonkatsu Ramen and shared the Mido braised short ribs. My husband wasn't sure about the short ribs because they weren't what he was expecting but I loved the flavor and the texture! As for the ramen, I wanted to lick my bowl when I was done but didn't want to look crazy� Also I was terribly excited to try Asahi on tap for the first time! (And it was splendid! ) Definitely will be back!
Emily Jenkins
I went with the simple teriyaki chicken bowl (I'm not much of a ramen person) and it was very good, but this is not why people come here. My husband had the Ramen, my brother the yakisoba, and my sister in law the sashimi. Everything was very delicious! I could have eaten half my brothers yakisoba! Their noodles are the bomb! Also, liquor/beer very good! Great service, a bit hard to get into but I see why, very delicious! They should open a place in the north suburbs! <3
Alan Hane
Wonderful place ... weekly dinner , always a great place to join friends for dinner .
Eunice Niel
Awesome place good food n service a must when ur in the mills ruin park area
Tanya Bishop
The Ramen is the meaning of soul food. It was perfection
Jenna Hisa Norton
I loved this place wow! Super impressed everything we ordered tasted so authentic. Not to mention the service was wonderful.
William Jesseman
Service was amazing, and the food was great. I can't emphasize how great the staff was.
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