115, Rosmead Place, Colombo 7
Open 11.30 AM–10.30 PM
Zen is Zylan boutique hotel's hidden gem of a Japanese restaurant. They made a great first impression on our visit, and we love their new bento boxes.
Zen is Zylan boutique hotel's hidden gem of a Japanese restaurant. They made a great first impression on our first visit, and this time around they've taken it a step further with their new bento boxes.
When it comes to Japanese restaurants in Colombo, everyone's well acquainted with Nihonbashi, Yumi and even the lower priced likes of Sakura and Naniyori. However, similar to Cafe Japan, Zen has managed to fly under the radar, only known to a select few. That shouldn't be the case since they do a darn good job of the cuisine. The menu at Zen has remained relatively unchanged over the past year with the exception of their newly introduced range of lunch bento boxes. Compared to its contemporaries, Zen is priced quite reasonably – the price per head came to under Rs. 2,000 in our case.
To start off, we got the nigiri platter (Rs. 450) which comes with one each of tuna, salmon and ebi nigiri. Since most places generally charge around Rs. 200 per nigiri, this is a decent deal. Before even taking the first bite, we had a good feeling about our plate, going by the presentation, knifemanship and structure of the nigiri. The rice was cooked just right, so it held its form well. We got a hint of wasabi first, followed by the the fresh seafood that left no fishy aftertaste. Each element was fresh and came through beautifully.
We followed it up with the Philadelphia maki (Rs. 850) which is an uramaki or inside-out maki with avocado, cream cheese and salmon, topped with black sesame. The addition of cream cheese separates this one from usual makis, but it also adds an element of personal preference. We were satisfied with the overall flavour, but felt that the combination of both avocado and cream cheese made it a tad too creamy. However, we can see others liking it for just that reason. Adding a bit of wasabi and soy helped cut through the creaminess, though, and we'd gladly have this again.
Around a week ago, Zen introduced a new range of bentos for lunch with a varied selection. They've got 12 options that cover all the essential meats and seafood, priced between Rs. 1,100 and Rs. 2,150. Since we had already tried the sushi separately, we went for the shogiyaki bento (Rs. 1,350 nett), which comes with shogiyaki pork or fried pork in ginger sauce, crumb-fried prawns, tuna and salmon sashimi, steamed rice and miso soup. Encased in a well-seasoned, thin yet crispy batter, the prawns were cooked just right. The sauce and mayo dip added a bit of sweetness and creaminess. When it came to the sashimi, they used an akami cut of tuna (one with very little fat), which tasted super fresh, along with a slightly fatty cut of salmon that added a nice contrast. Despite using thinner cuts of lean meat, the shogiyaki pork was not overcooked, and doused in a well-balanced sauce that wasn't too heavy on ginger. This worked well with the steamed rice.
We had some leftover rice, and seeing as how we were still within our budget, we also got the teriyaki pork (Rs. 750). This time, the pork had a bit more fat but we didn't feel too guilty about what we'd had up until this point, so it was all good. While on the sweeter side, the teriyaki sauce was still appealing with a slightly thick consistency that made for a good glaze over the well-cooked, lightly caramelised pork.
Zen is somewhat hidden away at The Zylan Luxury Hotel on Rosmead Place. Being a boutique hotel, the interior decor and overall look of the space is quite tasteful with polished cement floors, large paintings, a beautiful grand piano and a tiny, well-maintained bamboo garden. This is honestly a great place for a private meal considering the fact that it's rarely ever crowded. Since we dropped in for lunch, we sat on the ground floor but they've also got rooftop seating that is perfect for dinner.
The service was one area we weren't too impressed with on our previous visit, but now the staff seems to be far more familiar with the menu and better trained in general. We were seated in one of two ocuppied tables at the time so the food arrived quite quickly. But Japanese food requires relatively little cooking time, so we don't anticipate long delays even when the restaurant is more crowded.
Despite being quite underrated, Zen remains one of the better Japanese restaurants in Colombo. If you're a fan of Japanese cuisine and you prefer a private meal in a peaceful setting, Zen is definitely worth a visit.
Zen is Zylan boutique hotel's hidden gem of a Japanese restaurant. They made a great first impression on our visit, and this time around they've taken it a step further with their new bento boxes.
ZEN is a brand new Japanese restaurant on Rosmead Place. While their menu is a bit limited, the food was good and pretty authentic. Their service however, needs a bit of work.
Address
Directions
Go straight on Kynsey Road past Gonuts with Donuts and Cioconut Lounge. ZEN is at the Zylan Luxury Villa, just as you turn into Rosmead Place.
Contacts
Report InaccuracyOpen 11.30 AM–10.30 PM
Cuisine
Price Range
Dish Types
Ratings Breakdown
4/5
5/5 for Zen's food, 2.5/5 for its service.
Except for one, the waiters were so inattentive we had to repeatedly wave to get their attention. When we finally did and politely brought this to their notice, the manager (!) got defensive and rude. He clearly doesn't know how to deal with customers.
Other than that, they're just not trained for good customer service. And that's fine if you're a random hole in the wall, but Zen is not.
Having said that, their food really is excellent so we'll probably return!
4/5
Had sushi, ramen, and donburi here. Good place, the ambiance is pretty chill, especially at night. Would come again!
Great food and ambiance. The chef here was working in Hilton Ginza. The pricing is very reasonable compared to other Japanese restaurants in town. We came for lunch and they have a lunch set with 3 courses for R.S. 1450 which is a bargain. Will definitely come back and recommend to friends.
Sounds as if ZEN has a lot of potential. The food and the service of the previous Zylan restaurant was just downright shocking. Pity, since it's a decent looking hotel.
Am at the restaurant at the moment . The food is tasteless , the menu is limited and it's so upstairs you could fry the food on the table without a problem . You must have had a great day when you did the review because we certainly aren't coming back here again .
Be careful which night you visit. As we, a couple, recently went on a Monday night, and the restaurant only had dishes with salmon and tuna to offer. So telephone ahead and confirm. OK the food and ambiance were good, but please only salmon and tuna.
We went on a weekday, we called in the afternoon and made a reservation for 7.30pm. The ambiance is great and so is the food. The miso soup is definitely the best I've had in SL. The tuna and salmon sashimi was really good and the fish was fresh. Loved the tuna salad with avocado, lettuce and cucumber. They also had a Philly Salmon Maki which was to die for. Philadelphia cream cheese, with avocado and salmon.
Definitely going back to try the Katsudon and a few other delectable sounding dishes.
Best sushi in town! Head Chef from previous Ginza Hilton, and his food is out of this world! We eat here atleast twice a month and they have never let us down. Try the Sonia sushi and Mexican maxi, personal favs!
Love the food at Zen. It is a little oasis in the city. I come here with my girlfriend once a week, if it rains we sit downstairs next to the verandah. I have tried their new Lunch Bento menu. It's worth every penny. The restauarant is still new and not many people know about it, it's great to come on weekdays. I would recommend the Spicy Raw Tuna Salad. It is the best in town!
Anyone knows where Chef D - the former Sushi chef at Urban Kitchen is ? His preparations were the best I have had in Sri Lanka - Trust me…
Great place for good authentic Japanese food. Has been my #1 go to place for Japanese food ever since my first visit back in 2014. It has also been my go to place to impress the ladies. (Had a first date here and she absolutely loved it. Request for a private seating upstairs near the pool) Been here soo many times for both Lunch and Dinner, and have never been disappointing. I highly reccomend the Mexican Maki, Teriyaki Chicken and the Katsu Don. Must visit for any Japanese food fan…!!!
Fantastic find. Subdued from the street yet behind theae walls and tucked above a very well done boutique hotel lies a hidden jem of restaurant. Nigiri was the perfect size, fried dishes done so well, rolls with the right kind of heat. And the anviance. Seriously? Why is this place not packed. The previous reviewer's recommendation for upstairs seating was spot on, do it asap!
We just ordered a take away from Zen and had the worst experience and take away food ever. First of all they dont know to explain a food item in any language … When i picked up the food they had messed up the order … the pork was just fat and oil … The sushi marki had no sushi … and the rest of food we just tossed in the bin … Sri Lanka wake up …
4/5
dopamine
5/5 for Zen's food, 2.5/5 for its service.
Except for one, the waiters were so inattentive we had to repeatedly wave to get their attention. When we finally did and politely brought this to their notice, the manager (!) got defensive and rude. He clearly doesn't know how to deal with customers.
Other than that, they're just not trained for good customer service. And that's fine if you're a random hole in the wall, but Zen is not.
Having said that, their food really is excellent so we'll probably return!
4/5
Gavin Matthew
Had sushi, ramen, and donburi here. Good place, the ambiance is pretty chill, especially at night. Would come again!
4/5
Sula Mahagamarachchi
Rated 4/5