I am not the hugest Ramen connoisseur, but I appreciate a good bowl of Ramen and some Japanese cuisine from time and time again. My fiancé, she loves ramen, and seeks it out on most of our vacations. When it was her choice to pick a restaurant in Minneapolis, she chose Zen Box Izakaya, which had good ratings, and was relatively close to our hotel and in the downtown area.
It was hard to find parking on the street, so we paid a few dollars for parking in a lot a block away. When we got to Zen Box Izakaya, we immediately noticed the ambiance of the restaurant. I haven’t been to Japan yet, but it looked like a place you may find in Japan and had a buzzing atmosphere. The place was packed so we had to wait, they said it would take about 20 minutes; and it ended up being only about 10 minutes.
Obviously when eating at a restaurant the food is the most important element to the experience, but the décor and atmosphere is another huge factor for me. It is about the experience and having a fun meal. The atmosphere was good, and the décor was Japanese and it looked really cool inside.
We ordered the Takoyaki which was battered octopus and Chicken Karaage to start. The appetizers were good and of course, when eating Japanese, I needed a couple Sapporos. Then I ordered the
Spicy Karaage Sando (sandwich) served with seasoned fries. The fiancé and her friend ordered ramen. The Spicy Karaage Sando was okay, but believe it or not the fries were some of the best that I’ve ever had. The ramen was excellent and flavorful. The food was good and the prices were good, minus the fact that our Canadian dollar doesn’t go very far in the US anymore.
Here is how I’d rate Zen Box Izakaya:
Food - good
Price - good
Service - good
Atmosphere/vibe – great
Location – good
There are many good restaurants in Minneapolis, so there are lots to try. But, overall, the restaurant was great and I would go back if I am craving for Asian food in Minneapolis.
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