Dining: Zen on Guadalupe
Pick a favorite dish at Zen, then pick another
By Dale Rice
American-Statesman Restaurant Critic
Web posted: Nov. 3, 2004
Zen's spring rolls are made with greens and seafood and come with sauce on the side for dipping. 
The hibachi bowl with beef mixes strips of meat with red peppers and mushrooms over a bowl of udon noodles. The dish is covered in a teriyaki sauce. 
Seven-pepper ahi tuna makes for a delicious start to the Zen experience, with thick slices of the spicy fish accompanied by a complementary sauce. |
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Photos by Michael Broadbent/AA-S |
With that expansion, along with restaurants at 2900 W. Anderson Lane and 1303 South Congress Ave., Zen joins the ranks of more than a dozen casual-food chains based in Austin. (According to my definition, a company must operate at least three distinct locations to be a chain.)
While chaindom has not always been kind to Capital City enterprises, Zen appears poised for major success -- because it keeps getting better.
I have to confess I had become something of a Johnny-one-note when it came to Zen. I tried several dishes early in its history and found only one -- the chicken chop salad -- that I really enjoyed. So I stuck with it.
For this review I sampled appetizers and main dishes that I had not eaten in years or ever before, and there wasn't one that I wouldn't happily order again.
From the prepackaged sushi lineup, the spicy tuna roll ($2.59) provided four thick slices featuring raw ahi tuna wrapped in rice and topped with a spicy sauce. Served with wasabi and pickled ginger, the sushi was fresh-tasting and filling.
The sunomono (85 cents), a salad of thinly sliced cucumbers and julienne carrots marinated in a sweet vinaigrette dressing, was crunchy and refreshing.
A heart-healthy main dish, the white chicken and broccoli ($4.39) were paired with fried egg in a light sauce, while the chicken teriyaki ($3.79) provided chunks of charbroiled meat in a slightly sweet sauce.
My new favorite, the hibachi bowl ($4.99) combined tender slices of beef with red peppers and mushrooms in a teriyaki sauce over udon noodles (a welcome alternative to white or brown rice).
Now I have several dishes to consider when I return to Zen, a chain that's improving with growth.
Zen Japanese Food Fast
3423 Guadalupe St.
(512) 300-2633
Rating: Forks Up. Price: Cheap.
Nov. 4, 2004 Reviews:
• Bahia Abrigada
• Zen on Guadalupe
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