Cafe Zen
Backstory
Owner Hiro Tomiyama came out of another local sushi place to open Cafe Zen in 2001. It began as a very small, tight place, but in 2008 it moved to larger quarters in the same strip mall, right next to its original spot.
Dining Room
The sushi bar absolutely dominates the space, with more than the typical number of seats fronting it. A wall of windows in front keeps the place bright. The clientele is decidedly on the young side.
Why It's Essential
The West Bank is loaded with Asian restaurants, but only recently has a significant number of Japanese restaurants opened there. Scarcity, however, can't explain the following Cafe Zen attracts. It's often full, particularly at lunch. All that happens because its sushi bar is much better than you'd expect from an anonymous strip-mall space on Belle Chasse Highway. It could hold its own in any other part of town.
Why It's Good
A sushi bar that stays busy stays sharp, and this place does. The freshness, selection, and conformation of everything from the basic nigiri sushi through the more adventuresome rolls show high standards of ingredients and techniques. The many regulars keep the sushi chefs on target. The cooked dishes are decent, but the sushi bar is where the action is.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br /> Edamame<br /> »Tempura ( crab or shrimp)<br /> Yakitori (chicken skewer teriyaki)<br /> »Beef tataki<br /> Baked green mussel<br /> »Gyoza<br /> »Grilled yellow tail neck<br /> Wasabi shumai<br /> Japanese mushroom saute<br /> »Hasami-age (chicken, shiso leaves, cheese, tempura style)<br /> Zen tofu<br /> Baked seafood<br /> Spring roll<br /> Sauteed sea scallop<br /> »Steamed monkfish pate<br /> White fish carpaccio<br /> »Sushi appetizer<br /> »Sashimi appetizer<br /> »Tuna tataki<br /> <em><strong>Entrees</strong></em><br /> »Tiger eyes (salmon, snow crab, wrapped with cuttlefish)<br /> Caterpillar roll<br /> Sashimi roll<br /> Baked salmon roll<br /> »Inari combo (fried seafood-stuffed tofu sheets<br /> Lobster roll<br /> Red dragon roll<br /> Tiger roll<br /> »Kimchee tuna<br /> »BBQ squid<br /> Zen tempura roll<br /> Fried fish cake<br /> Fried salmon roll<br /> Smoked salmon and mango roll<br /> Tornado roll<br /> Chicken teriyaki<br /> »Ribeye steak, shiitake mushrooms<br /> Shrimp tempura<br /> »Grilled tuna, onions, teriyaki<br /> Grilled salmon, onions, teriyaki<br /> Tofu steak<br /> Zen combination (tempura, grilled chicken, beef, dumplings and baked green mussel)<br /> <em><strong>Sushi bar</strong></em><br /> »Nigiri sushi<br /> »Sashimi<br /> »Chirashi sushi<br /> »Unagi don (BBQ eel)<br /> »Tekka don (sliced tuna, sushi rice)<br /> »Sushi and sashimi combination<br /> Sushi rolls (many varieties)<br /> <em><strong>Desserts</strong></em><br /> Ice cream <br /> Fried ice cream <br /> »Fried banana with vanilla ice cream <br /> »Coconut sorbet <br /> »Mochi ice cream
Deficiencies
The waiters often don't want to spend much time explaining the rolls, but who could blame them?
For Best Results
The key to any sushi bar is making friends with the chefs by becoming a regular customer. Here you can get away with just acting like you're a regular customer.
Bonus Ratings
1
Attitude
2
Hipness
1
Value