Lawrence.com

mongchau (anonymous) says...

Service is important to me and it should be to any restaurant as well. The atmosphere at Z.Z. is really ambient and cool and hip. The server that I had was really really apathetic and not very friendly at all. She didn't ask how everything was or check to see how I was doing at all. Terrible! The food is bland. If you order a dish with rice, there is only only rice bowl's worth of rice (seriously) and about the same amount of stir-fry or whatever meat/veggies you ordered with the rice. The flavors and spices are missing, i.e. the food is bland. If you order a noodle dish, expect a lot of oil (gross) and a pool of oily liquid at the bottom of the dish--or tilt it and see how much fat is in your food. I was disappointed with the service and the quality and taste of the food. It's a bit Americanized for my tastes. I'd say come with low expectations and see what happens. Besides, you're in Lawrence, KANSAS. :P

March 1, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jaketh (anonymous) says...

Bland is not what I think of Zen Zero's food. I find it just the opposite. I love their Drunken Noodles which has garlic, chilli, fresh basil cooked with veggies & some kind of stir fry sauce. It is full of flavor--very yummy.

Curries, ginger, garlic, chilli, basil is not bland. If u want it hot or Thai hot, they will make it as you like it. It is also very cheap. For the quality of food, its a bargain.

I eat there a lot & have never had a bad meal there. The service is efficient, polite & customer friendly. I am quite surprised to read the bad comments about this place. If it was bad, they would not be busy.

December 16, 2007 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

fascinating_person (anonymous) says...

I'm honestly shocked to hear any bad comments about this place. I go there frequently and have never had a meal that was anything but great, and I've never had service that was anything less than what it should be (considering that one can expect one's server to be rather busy when the restaurant is packed).
My vegetarian and vegan friends love this place - it has a vegetarian section on the menu, and, as other commenters have noted, many of the dishes can be modified by subbing tofu for meat. I've brought friends and family from out of town and they've all thoroughly enjoyed it. I also think the prices are reasonable - I eat half of my entree, take it home, and have a second meal later because the portions are that large. (Consider the prices at other sit-down Asian restaurants in Lawrence, such as Panda Garden and especially Kokoro - one also usually pays $7 and up for an entree.) I don't expect an Asian restaurant in Kansas to be 'authentic'; all I ever expect of any restaurant is for it to be delicious. Love Zen Zero.

October 17, 2007 at 7:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Gullah (anonymous) says...

Am I the only one who doesn't get this place? Nasty food, nasty servers and overall a bad eating experience. I had food poisoning the last time I ate here. I've since spoken with dozens of people who have also gotten sick at zen zero. Maybe they're letting this place go down the drain but I wouldn't even drink a glass of water here.

July 7, 2007 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

emilyhadley (Emily Hadley) says...

I hesitate to give places super-high ratings, but god, I will just never burn out on Zen Zero.. my latest favorite is ordering EVERYTHING "Thai hot". It isn't Thailand-Thai hot, but it is sooo good.

Thai hot veggie dishes + a foo-foo cocktail with top-shelf vodka and blue curacao = very happy Emily

Several really good vegan options with no fish sauce, though I really, really, really wish they didn't stew the fish sauce (which is not like fish stock, by the way, it is heads and scraps left to ferment for weeks in open vats) into the curry mixtures before prepping them. Many Thai will add the fish sauce just before removing from heat, which means it can be excluded on the fly. Maybe in the future there will be more vegan options here... in the meantime I can split my attention between Zen and Thai Siam, who does add their fish sauce at the end, and never burn out on either. Mmmmmm

June 14, 2007 at 1:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

altheasus (Althea Schnacke) says...

I tried Zen Zero when it first opened, and it was terrible. I tried it recently and nothing has changed. Bland and overcooked.

March 13, 2007 at 4:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Quaff (anonymous) says...

This place rocks! Yes, all the arguments about it not be "genuine Thai" aside. I don't care if you call it Thai, American, or Martian; what is important to me is the flavour - and Zen Zero pays of in spades. Some have complained that the same dish ordered multiple times will not taste the same each time. For me, while not always true, it sometimes happens; and yet, this is part of the appeal to eating there. The Drunken Noodle are fabulous, the Hoisen BBQ ribs are too good to be true. Some of the soups that I have tried were a little wanting, but all in all, you should be able to find something here which is delicious and you can not get anywhere else.

February 22, 2007 at 1:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Gullah (anonymous) says...

This place makes me sick - literally as in food poisoning. I've talked to quite a few folks who have had the same experience. How hard is it to keep a clean kitchen?? It's also overpriced. But I guess it's trendy so whatever.

January 23, 2007 at 7:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

crazyleaflady (anonymous) says...

I don't think that's fair, Tim. I've been there since it opened, and it always claimed to be pan-asian fusion. It's never claimed to be Thai. That doesn't mean you should like it, just that you shouldn't judge it as a straight Thai joint.

I agree somewhat with Kelly, though: they aren't always consistent, which can be annoying.

Overall, though, they're tasty and the service is usually good--sometimes excellent.

January 17, 2007 at 5:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lol3331 (anonymous) says...

The only thing that I dont like about Zen Zero is that there is a manager there with red hair that seems intoxicated and is not very nice. Other Wise the employee's are greet and the food is very good. The vibe is nice but I don't like going there when that manager is working.

December 16, 2006 at 7:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

blobaum (anonymous) says...

delicious food, large portions, and great appetizers.

the only downside is that every once in a while you get horrible service.

October 10, 2006 at 1:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

DandM (anonymous) says...

By far our favorite restaurant in Lawrence! Great food, service, and atmosphere. I always get Singapore Noodles--awesome! I don't know if it's "authentic" or not, but who cares--the food is amazing anyway! Actually, we are going right now . . .

May 19, 2006 at 1:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mj_pritchard (Mike Pritchard) says...

Not the most authentic Thai food in Lawrence...having lived in Thailand and being half Thai might cause me to have a bit of a higher standard for Thai Restaurants.

With that said, they are definitely a little more Americanized for my taste....but overall not bad. Pad Thai is a little over-sauteed...it shouldn't be swimming in a pool of fluid. Also, their Chicken Curry is over sweetened...and rendered down to much. More white rice should be served up with the curries.

Food isn't bad, just not cooked like home. But if you are looking for a good atmosphere, Zen Zero isn't bad.

May 8, 2006 at 1:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

AviStetto7 (anonymous) says...

As with some other commenters, all I know about Thai food is pretty much what I've learned from Zen Zero. So whether or not it qualifies as authentic is beyond me. But I'm with mitzibel, minus the Nazis. I'd probably avoid the place then... but I love me some Phad Thai and the Singapore noodles are great when I'm in the mood for something a little different (but not too different). Their spring rolls (non-fried) I enjoyed very much, especially the yummy peanut dipping sauce! I do wish you got a few more than two, but then, it is just an appetizer.

My main complaint is that one time, our (admittedly cute) waitress was, rather blatantly, hitting on my girlfriend while we were there on a date.

Oh and also I really wish I knew what those funky styrofoam-looking chip things they give you before you order are made of. They fizzle if you hold them on your tongue!

May 5, 2006 at 7:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

iamliam (Liam Gray) says...

I agree with "Mitzibel." I don't know much about proper Thai food and I don't keep track of who comes and goes at Zen Zero, but service has always been adequate and I've enjoyed every bite I've eaten there.

January 4, 2006 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usaschools (anonymous) says...

I have eaten here 3 times, each about 6 months apart. My food and the food of my companions was awful. I really don't care if the food is authentic or anything like that, I would never know. I just want it to taste good. The appetizers were pretty good. The main dishes were pretty awful. The prices were quite high given the cost of the ingredients.
The service has only been fair to poor whenever I have eaten here. This is a horrible value for your money. Overpriced, poorly-prepared food. Look elsewhere for a decent meal.

August 28, 2005 at 8:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

turtlegirl37 (anonymous) says...

This is our family's favorite. The price is fair, I think, as you'll find similar prices at cleaned-up fast-food joints such as Panera. The staff are exceedingly friendly to my two sons, unlike some other restaurants. I've been there, say, 20 times, and the majority of the time I have been very happy with the food and service. My boys really like the pharam tofu with soba, the edamame, the mango juice, and the bubble tea (of course). My husband and I usually share an entree, as they are large, and we've tried a little of everything. We're all vegetarians, and the staff are able to tell you what ingredients are not veggie. And most recipes can be ordered veggie, if you see something that sounds good on the menu. Finally, I'm utterly addicted to the Thai iced tea. I also liked this place when it was the Lotus, but what do I know? I'm a life-long Kansan, and definitely not a world traveler. ;)

August 20, 2005 at 10:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

doggie (anonymous) says...

there are still a couple of really good servers
the orders may come out slow once in a while because everyone in lawrence wants to eat at the same time. it happens at every decent place. they accomodate a LOT of customers so just chill out on the service they are nice people. try kokoro on saturday night when school is in session. haha
eating out early is super fun and more people should do it.

August 7, 2005 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ruby2 (anonymous) says...

I have been to Zen Zero on many occasions, but on this particular night, I had the worst experience. We requested the patio and sat out there without water or a waiter for a good 15 minutes. When we requested a table inside, the bitchy hostess wanted to seat the other people waiting, even though we'd been waiting to get a waiter outside. She finally snapped "I'll seat you right now," and took us to a table and slapped menus down and stomped away.

It was another 10 mintues before we got a waiter, and he was extremely unattentive.

This was the worst service I've had there. Usually when we go, we request the same servers (either William or Juliette), but it looked like they had a new crop of servers who were all terrible at keeping up with their tables.

I'll definitley think twice about going here again.

August 7, 2005 at 12:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Wesley35 (anonymous) says...

I dont know why people are complaining about the pad thai. i think its delightful. and for the price, you get a pretty huge serving. its the only place of its kind around, so people need to quit whining about how its not authentic thai

July 26, 2005 at 7:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kugrad (anonymous) says...

I have enjoyed the appetizers that I have had at Zen Zero, but I have never been served a decent meal at this restaurant. The service has been slow each of the several times I have eaten here. I could deal with this if it was worth the wait. Each time, both my wife and I were thoroughly disappointed with our meals. The portions were small and the food poorly prepared. Twice I have been served main dishes that were so poorly prepared I thought there must have been some sort of mistake.
I do enjoy this sort of cuisine, but this restaurant cannot prepare food well. The dishes are overpriced, which makes tipping for mediocre service even more painful! I wish I could recommend eating here, but I cannot.

July 6, 2005 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

dontlikecoffee (anonymous) says...

The very worst Pad Thai I've ever had - it was one sticky, sweet mass of noodles with like 3 pieces of fatty chicken. I actually resorted to soy sauce to choke it down. Not enough choices on the menu, either. There's more to Thai food than curry!

June 21, 2005 at 4:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

katron (anonymous) says...

Picky eaters, I see. It doesn't matter that it's not "true" Thai food... we're in Kansas here people. Don't expect anything brilliant to come out of the foreign food restaurants around. Example: when I first went to Zen Zero, I had no idea what to get. A friend suggested the Pad Thai. It was delicious. I've been to a variety of Thai/Asian restaurants since and have always ordered the Pad Thai. Not once has it tasted drastically different than the dish at Zen Zero.

So maybe you ought to taste the food without expecting to taste something authentic. I wouldn't know authentic Thai if I lived in Thailand, but I know that Zen Zero has NEVER failed to fill my stomach with satisfying food!

June 16, 2005 at 1:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tunarubber (anonymous) says...

Well, after living in Lawrence for three years and constantly hearing about Zen Zero, my husband and I finally gave it a try. I don't know if it was all the build up, but we were both quite disappointed. I'd be willing to try it again, but I wasn't impressed.

The food is so-so. I agree with the previous comments of it being "safe" Asian food. It's Asian food you take your parents to who don't like Asian food. It's Asian food for people who have never had true Thai and Vietnamese foods. It's perfect for the kind of person who likes to brag about how much they love Sushi and were eating it before it was trendy. It wasn't terrible, it wasn't terrific.

The portions are HUGE, which is good, because the prices are incredibly high. But they did not make for such good leftovers, so it was quite a waste.

Our service was pretty great. We had a nice waitress who was very friendly and a great server. The atmosphere is okay- not amazing, not boring.

Finally, if you haven't been there, it's worth a try to make up your own mind. Many will love it (and feel so hip for eating there), many will wonder what the hoopla was about.

May 21, 2005 at 5:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sadtaco1 (anonymous) says...

It's authentically delicious and that's all you need to know. Climb down off your high horse and pull up a seat.

May 20, 2005 at 7:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SunshineKitty (anonymous) says...

You're better off getting Chinese at Hy-Vee! They use the same noodles in almost every dish, and the sauces are watery -- they don't stick at all, and there really isn't any special taste to any of it. I'd rather spend a couple bucks extra and head to Thai house! Also, I recommend Thai House over Zen Zero because ZZ's portion sizes are quite small considering the price. I've eaten there three times and been happy with my food only once. My boyfriend hasn't been happy at all. Let me put it this way: We have buy one get one free cards, and this is one of the few places in Lawrence we DON'T use them. I'd only check this place out if you're too drunk or high to care!

May 14, 2005 at 10:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kbean63 (anonymous) says...

I'm so tired of hearing all the snobs and crybabies whining that the food isn't AUTHENTIC Thai food. So what? That's what I like about it and that's what makes it UNIQUE. They serve food that I can't get any where else. Cooking is an art form and they don't have to be slavish to be good. Most of the criticisms I heard sound like they came from people trying to show off how wordly and well-travelled they are. Big deal. I've travelled plenty too. Lighten up and you might discover that it's really good.

Try the Thai Sweet & Sour. I absolutely love it.

May 9, 2005 at 10:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

gtaman (anonymous) says...

mmmmmm tasty

April 23, 2005 at 9:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SarahSota (anonymous) says...

I don't give a crap what it's called: Thai, pan-asian, who cares? It's good. They have lots of vegetarian dishes (or tofu can be substituted) and the portions are huge. I recommend the Drunken Noodles, Phad Lhad Nna, or the Pharam Tofu. I don't recommend it if you've been to Thailand once and now think you're an expert on thai food and you have to make sure everyone knows what an expert on thai food you are.

April 13, 2005 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

doggie (anonymous) says...

vegetarians BE CAREFUL everything here has fish in it whether your server admits to it or not. there are a lot of people disappointed about this.

the food is really tasty and i have been there several times

Great service.

April 3, 2005 at 11:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Huskerdave (anonymous) says...

call it thai or call it what ever, just don't forget to call me when you go.............this place rocks and the food is great. The waitresses are very helpful too.

February 11, 2005 at 10:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mitzibel (Misty Nuckolls) says...

I know jack about Thai food, but I know what I like, and Zen Zero is it. This place could be serving spiced-up Chef Boyardee to an all-Nazi clientelle for all I care, I'm goose-stepping my way right on in.

February 10, 2005 at 4:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

basscadet (anonymous) says...

The only people who think this is A) Thai food or B) GOOD food have never been more than 15 miles out of Lawrence.

Anybody who has ever been to a major metropolitan area with a large population of Asians knows that this is simply white-washed food for indiscriminate midwesterners...the same people who gorge themselves on General Tsao's chicken at buffet restaurants.

January 19, 2005 at 4:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oigdaym8 (anonymous) says...

Best salad in town! A must try! I eat this dish atleast 1-2 times a week! Amazing barbeque hoisin sauce!

April 30, 2004 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

lili (anonymous) says...

i love how everyone and their dog seem to be experts on the authenticity of thai food. what is the probability that half the people posting on lawrence.com have been to thailand? if people have issues with zenzero's thai-ness, maybe they can take them up with the little old thai lady that makes all the sauces from scratch. she used to run a cooking school in thailand. and by the way, zenzero is and always has been a pan-asian restaurant. maybe a quarter of their menu even claims to be thai in origin, so "experts" may be calling japanese, vietnamese, malaysian, or other asian dishes "fake thai food." check it out for yourself.

April 2, 2004 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

rednekbuddha (Kelly Powell) says...

Every time I have eaten here I have felt let down....Its not that it lacks creativity in their cooking, its more around the line that I've ordered the same dish four times and all four times it came out wildly differant.
The place is beutiful, but it seems that you too must be beautiful to get good service from the apathetic , bored hipsters play acting at being servers.

March 6, 2004 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

sarahiscool (anonymous) says...

Zen Zero isnÂ't Thai, its not trying to be. Instead, Zen Zero is a very good Pan-Asian restaurant that can fulfill the needs of anyone. IÂ'm vegetarian, and I have been for years, and at Zen Zero I have more to choose from than at any other restaurant in town. Even some items that are not in the vegetarian group can be made vegetarian with a little tweeking. Just ask your server because the majority of the servers have been there since the restaurant opened and if they donÂ't know they will definitely ask.

February 3, 2004 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

loco (anonymous) says...

After trying 3 times I am through with Zen Zero. Strike one: a less than average curry with much sauce and rice but very little vegetables and meat. Strike two: a stirfry with a bland sauce and overcooked chicken. Strike three: drunken noodles that are all stuck together in one big ball, with a bland overall flavor. YOU'RE OUT!

January 9, 2004 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

Tauneel (anonymous) says...

This is not a Thai restaurant - it doesn't even claim to be. It is asian -if you notice they have Chinese style, Nepalese style, and even some Japanese style. Their Pad Thai is delicious, as is their green curry and the drunken noodles are very tasty. Yummy momos and spring rolls - and the sauces are wonderful. Why does it have to be authentic Thai to taste good? If I want authentic Thai food I can drive to KC. If I want really tasty food in Lawrence and be able to walk to the restaurant, I'll go to Zen Zero.

January 7, 2004 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

gyrodukc (anonymous) says...

If you don't like the vegatarian food at Zen Zero or think it's too expensive, I would recommend that you try the BK Veggie at Burger King and just keep telling yourself you got a good deal. There are many vegatarian dishes at Zen Zero, most of them are wonderful. There are some things on the menu that will have to go because they simply are not very good. Being a new restaurant I trust they will recognize this and take care of the bad items.

December 18, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

neon_swan (anonymous) says...

I ate here and I think its laughable that this resteraunt was awarded best vegetarian eatery in lawrence for this year. They 2 maybe 3 vegetarian selection on their tiny menu, they are overpriced and i didn't even eat the leftovers of the soup that I took home.This place is all image no substance. I miss Lulu's.

October 11, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

kimberly (anonymous) says...

This is the best Thai food, best variety and the best prices that I've found. Impressive decor, open late on weekends and caters to vegetarians - all icing on the cake. I've never had anything bad there. Like the review said, these guys know what they're doing. I drive from Kansas City just to eat here - there's nothing as consistently good in KC.

October 7, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

blkchrist (anonymous) says...

I have frequented Zen Zero many times. I love the flavors of their food, the hip atmosphere and the friendly service. The prices are very reasonable and the value is great. It is a good addition to the Downtown scene.

It seems that some others have pointed out some flaws of Zen Zero, but, I must disagree. The restaurant may offer mostly Thai dishes, but, it is a pan-Asian joint comprising noodles and curries from various parts of Asia.

Some of their dishes are creative & innovative that is much lacking in other Asian restaurants, eg, the Green Papaya Cured Flank Steak.

Finally, one should check out Zen Zero's restaurant review, "Now & Zen" by Charles Ferruzza, the Restaurant Critic of The Pitch on July 18, 2003 which is very positive and is contrary to the flaws as labelled by some.

September 30, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

monkeywrench (Tim vonHolten) says...

first, i'll get this out of the way: until tom king coined the phrase "variations on a thai theme", zen zero was actually claiming to serve thai food. there. i want to make this clear since that is the main defense/excuse given by fans of this sub-par noodle stand when confronted with the fact that nothing thai has ever even driven past this restaurant. thai theme? that's an empty claim. if you're serving beef stroganoff, don't call it pad khee mao. for that matter, don't call it beef stroganoff either if you don't even include the beef. i will say one thing for zen zero: there is no way they could wedge another table in there. nice job.

September 17, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

incitatus (anonymous) says...

Finally the truth comes out: Zen Zero might be frequented by those who "think" they know Thai food but anyone who knows authentic Thai food can tell you that this place is a sham. For all the wannabee hip environment and sub-service cuisine someone who craves REAL Thai food is left hungry and disappointed. Take note, when you see more indie rockers than Asians eating at a place like Zen Zero there is a reason for it. To all the townies that think that everything that washes up on the KAW 15 years after it hits the coast is the best, well then you and this place deserve one another.

September 17, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

optimus_prime (anonymous) says...

If you've ever had real Thai food, you'd know the food here is Thai in name only. Dishes lack lime, salt and fish sauce. They butchered the Phad Thai, the curries are too sweet, service is slow, and the food is overpriced for the quantity and quality. Maybe I'm spoiled by my Thai wife, maybe not. But if you want authentic Thai food, go someplace else.

July 31, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

kamirplease (anonymous) says...

The food is great. The prices are very reasonable. Decore is subtle and effective for a breezy meal. Service is a bit on the "snooty" side at times, but it is very dependent on the server. When visitors come to town, that is one restaurant I make sure they try. Love it!

July 30, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

dougiebe (anonymous) says...

True, the ZZ menu is not strictly Thai but thier offerings are diverse. I've tried only a few things and while I found they were all good, my favorite is the Soba (buckwheat) noodles. The flavorful broth along with the crisp assortment of veggies is very refreshing.

The vibe is ultra cool and urban. I always feel like I should be somewhere other than Kansas. The aromas make me salivate the minute I enter. I don't mind that it's a little pricier than your standard asian fare.

I remember when there wasn't a single asian restaurant downtown (but maybe five mexican restaurants, though). I think it's great that we even have choices like this.

July 30, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

Tumwan (anonymous) says...

Service is slow. Food is not tasty. I was really disappointed with Zen Zero. Especially considering the amount of food you get at most Thai places for the same amount of money you would spend at Zen Zero. I wouldn't recommend to go there.

July 14, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

Satit (anonymous) says...

After I tried many dishes at Zen Zero, I found that the taste is not Thai food at all. The name of food is thai but taste is not.

July 9, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

adrian (Adrian Holovaty) says...

One of the best restaurants downtown. The portions are big, the service is fast, and the food is top-notch. #32 is the bomb.

The only bad thing is the prices: Expect to pay around $7 to $10 for a dish.

June 17, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )

Sara (anonymous) says...

Never had a bad meal here. The service is prompt and pleasant without being overbearing and the food comes out fast and delicious. One of my favorite places to eat in Lawrence. Try the phad thai. It's great.

June 17, 2003 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )