Zen Ramen & Sushi Burrito - Downtown Tacoma

It is 1/15/26 at 12:09 PM. I just downed some Chachu pork that brought tears to my eyes and made me think about my mother’s Japanese cooking. I really don’t understand why this place is empty. Maybe it’s a reflection of the local economy and the fact that it’s tucked away. I ordered the chashu side with of kimchi (about a cup serving) and chicken Katsu. I am a heavy eater I could not finish it all. The kimchi was extremely fresh, I tasted more ginger and no fish. I’ve not been to a restaurant that served such large portions well except for the tofu houses that serve the banchan—but even those portions are skimpy. This would be enough for one adult and one child or actually two adult adults. The quality of the chicken Katsu rivals to sit down restaurant and the oil did not taste like it was used for 20 days straight. The pork chashu was gently marinated in the fat on and served over high quality rice.It was juicy and delicious. The price doesn’t seem r rather high, but given the quality and the accessibility and the portions, I would suggest when seeking ramen, chicken Katsu one should visit this restaurant. As a person of color, I’m well aware that there can be difficulties with service at some Asian restaurants. That is not the case here I’ve been here multiple times and received the same business like demeanor. As to hygiene no thumbs or fingers placed Apparently visited my soup, and although the server was aware was still served to me à la the ramen restaurant at the mall. And yes, this mom says the bathrooms were clean.

The staff is absolutely very kind, generous, and sweet. And the food is outstanding. The sushi burritos are to die for and the appetizers. I recommend the Takoyaki I would be cautious tho It’s very hot I would give it a minute or so to cool down! The taste melts in your tongue the moment you eat it!

Came here for the Naruto themed ramed spot and it didn't disappoint. I enjoy eating good food in a fun atmosphere. I had the chicken ramen which was very delicious. I will have to come back and try and sushi burrito!

This place has a unique vibe. In the heart of the Tacoma, you can come in here and have some delicious food, enjoy the unique atmosphere and have excellent service. We had the pop rock shrimp which was delicious as an appetizer. We then ordered the soyu based ramen. As a warning to all, this is a very salty based broth so you need to be prepared for that. I've eaten at other places with the same kind of experience. I have also eaten at other places with a soyu based broth that was more on the creamier side. Can't wait to come back and try other parts of the menu.

I thought this place was going to be a full-service restaurant. There was only one front-of-house staff member who did everything—taking orders, bussing tables, answering the phone, and serving. I wasn’t sure how many people were in the kitchen, but when I first walked in, I was a little surprised. Instead of being seated and ordering at the table, we had to place our order and pay at the cashier first before finding a seat. There weren’t many tables, and since there was only one staff member handling everything, it was clear that cleaning and resetting tables took a while. At one point, I even had to clear and wipe my own table because the staff was busy waiting to serve food and didn’t notice who had just walked out. When we arrived, I noticed a family sitting nearby and thought they were already eating. But no! they hadn’t even been served yet. After we ordered and waited quite a while, I saw their food finally arrive. Another table that ordered before us also hadn’t gotten their meal yet. At that point, I turned to my husband and whispered, "Let’s brace ourselves 🤣🤣 Looks like it’s going to be a long wait." When the food finally came, the portions were generous so big and worth the price. However, I was a little disappointed with the taste. The broth was thick and a bit slimy. I wasn’t sure if it was because of starch from the noodles or if cornstarch had been added. Personally, I don’t enjoy soup with that kind of texture. it didn’t taste rich or flavorful, just sticky. On the bright side, the noodles were great—like wonton-style eggs noodles. But overall, the soup base itself just didn’t hit the mark for me.

My favorite restaurant out of all Zen Ramens in the Pierce county. Always coming back! I don't typically get their ramen as it's not that good but the rest of their menu is FIRE 🔥

I've eaten here multiple times and service is always quick. Every menu item I've tried is delicious. The portions are really huge which is good because the prices are high. A ramen bowl could easily serve two people. The katsu is fried fresh and super crispy! The decor here is really cute and creative, especially the bathrooms. Except there is a sign that says you can't flush anything into the toilet including toilet paper. There is a giant bucket beside the toilet for that. The music in here seems to always be playing super loud and makes me feel like I'm attending a big party.