Zama Reviews

High quality, delicious food. We ordered both traditional and modern dishes and enjoyed them all. We go every time were are in Philadelphia. A bit expensive because you can't have good AND cheap sushi.

We came here for dinner on a Sunday early evening because we had read that they had soft shell crabs. We had reservations and were seated promptly. We shared the escargot appetizer. It was amazing. The soft shell crabs were on the small side, but were very good. They were a special, so call ahead to see if they are available.

The first time my boyfriend and I came we had the hamachi tataki, and that's what we have been ordering since--we started going about a year or so ago. The hamachi tataki is our favourite plate on the menu--extremely filling even with its three pieces. The waiter (a very lovely woman who we always have) seems to be knowledgeable about the menu and what is worth getting. We always enjoy treating ourselves with some good food!

This place isn't too bad as far as sushi places go, but definitely not good enough to warrant a second visit. I had a sashimi platter and then some nigri rolls. There was nothing outstanding about it, but on the other hand there was nothing to really recommend it either. Simply average in my opinion but not bad.

Great little spot in Philly. Went for lunch. Nice menu, great sushi and bento bowls. Fun desserts and nice service.

I ate here with a few friends and we arrived without a reservation on a Saturday night. We had to wait a little while, but not more than 30 minutes to get a seat. We have some local friends that said the sushi was worth the wait. They weren't lying! The atmosphere is pretty good, we got our own booth separated from everyone else. The menu was pretty extensive, but the waiter was very helpful! We ordered A Lot of food and drinks and every single thing was delicious. The Kirin Ichiban Braised Short Ribs were easily the best short ribs I have ever eaten! GET THEM! Our bill was pretty high, but we did get a lot of food. If you go here expect to pay average to slightly high prices for sushi and high prices for alcohol. Still, I would go there again and again!

I was very impressed with the quality and variety of dishes at Zama. Everything was excellent. The food is really fresh and of a high quality. Zama also has authentic Japanese dishes that you can't get at many sushi restaurants in Philadelphia. The decor was very modern and the despite being busy, the atmosphere was realxed. I will definitely return.

Excellent sushi place. Dessert tasting menu perfect too. Enjoyed the visit. Would come back for sure.

What a great business lunch! Great service and scrumptious sushi. Excellent choice in Rilttenhouse. Highly recommended.

Went with great expectations and left disappointed. Reviews for this restaurant are mostly positive, and I will agree on the excellent service, the knowledge of menu items, and the ambiance, but the food was nothing memorable. Not quite sure why they would choose to split a sushi/sashimi tray considering that their portions and cuts are fit for a microscope. I have eaten sushi in several cities and this was the least appetizing. I would like it if upscale didn't equal a meager meal with a hefty price tag.

We would return and recommend this restaurant. This is some of the best sushi I've ever had in the US. Of course fresh, but the balance of flavors was excellent. Portions were fair given the quality, and some had surprising value given the ingredients and price (I'm thinking specifically of the uni sushi). Interesting combos and classics. Even their miso soup and seaweed salads, sushi house staples, were noteworthy. Service was efficient, informative, and honest.

Had dinner here on a quiet Monday night. Service was fast and efficient and the sushi was very tasty. Had a variety of rolls. My favorite was the spicy crunchy tuna roll. Will visit again. Good sushi in Philly...

I was lucky to visit this restaurant with 4 other people so we sampled a huge portion of the menu. I didn't realize how much I needed an amazing, delicious, fresh assortment of sushi dishes until I was here. The service was fantastic. Our server was able to make sure that most of the 4 serving dishes had 5 servings so we could each taste one. The softshell shrimp and dumplings were fantastic. We probably tried about 8 different rolls and all were really really good. When I am looking for a good sushi restaurant I really only need two things (1) super fresh, high quality product and (2) an interesting variety of dishes different than I see on the typical Japanese restaurant menu. This place has both. One of my best sushi experiences. Strongly recommend.

We decided on Zama for one of our restaurant week selections. It took the place of what was once Loie. The meal came out as it was prepared in the kitchen, so the dumplings arrived after the entrees, but no big deal. All were delicious. The fish was very fresh. I had nigiri and a salmon roll, and all was fresh and delicious. My husband had the Black Cod Saikyoyaki, which was a miso glazed cod... This rivaled Nobu’s miso glazed cod. In short, Zama is delicious and we will definitely return!

Very good Sushi loved the soft shelled crab. All very fresh and professionally prepared. Staff were very professional and informative.

I spent a week in Philadelphia and decided to thank my host by taking him for a meal to Zama where he had been previously. I went for the $55 taster menu. The food was beautiful and well presented but I unfortunately came away feeling hungry after several small dishes. I even paid extra for another dessert but it made no difference. The staff were lovely and we were served by a nice young Australian fellow. I was 15 minutes early for my table and was asked to reamin standing at the door. I initially thought it was because my table still had people on it. When we got to the table, I discovered that there were only three tables occupied. It's not a nice experience standing at the door for 15 minutes!

Small bar with a few floors, moving around is difficult and bathrooms normally have a long line. Will not repeat.

I have had much better sushi and so would rate this as average. The service, although our waitress was very sweet, was extremely slow and we went on a Wednesday night. I had called ahead for a table for 6 and we were seated in a back private room instead of the main dining area (which we should have been told when I called). I spent the night looking at the men's bathroom and the coming and goings of that every time the door was opened to it.

Recommended by the front desk of the hotel we were staying at. Low key vibe and decor. Friendly server. Recommend the brussel sprout appetizer and if you do the 3 dessert sampler, include the pumpkin one. Sashimi was good. Tables are close, so don't plan on discussing national security issues.

I joined a couple colleagues from work for dinner and even though I am not a huge fan of sushi this place did quite a bit to change my mind. The servers were knowledgeable in the sushi and directed us to some of the best sushi I have had. Only detraction is that the prices were high for what you got.

I ate at Zama because it was recommended by the front desk at my hotel. They told me it was the best sushi in the city. If that is true, the Philly really needs a new sushi restaurant. The food at Zama was good, but nothing out of the ordinary. I ordered the sushi sampler and it was rather average. Salmon, tuna and a rather bland white fish with a spicy tuna roll on the side. Probably could have gotten the same thing at any other sushi restaurant in the city.

"Zama" is a nice Japanese restaurant that has delicious food yet some alarming features. On arrival, we were seated without reservation, and were ushered to our table. Water with ice was giving complimentary. The first problem with "Zama" was the menu. The menu was very confusing, lacked sizes of dishes and the staff, though friendly, made no efforts to explain the manner of ordering nor clarifying the menu. Nonetheless, we were very satisfied with EVERY dish we ordered. The food was exquisite and of high quality. I would recommend to take time to understand the menu, and order a couple of dishes for each person, as they are small.

Very happy to find a great Japanese restaurant off Rittenhouse Square. Four of us had a real variety of dishes and we were pleased with everything. Sushi, cooked fish, pork, calamari and tofu "made" at the table. They brought a dish with the tofu base, added agar-agar and lit a flame under it. It was made in a few minutes and it was creamy and smooth. The mushroom sauce with it was a little bland but the tofu was great. Good variety of drinks too. The restaurant was loud but lively.

Very friendly service in an 'as expected' environment. The super spicy, crunchy tuna roll was just so-so but the hamachi and cucumber roll was fab. If you go, look for the guy with the tattoos - he definitely knows his stuff. If you sit at the sushi bar, expect the floor to shake every time someone walks by...

Hands down our go-to sushi spot in Philly. Our favorites on the menu: the Branzizzle, sesame Salmon, Kennet Square truffled mushroom roll, calamari salad with yuzu dressing. Tofu spiced doughnuts or sake to wrap.

We took our daughter to Zama for her 22nd birthday. We were seated in a private room with a large party of college students that were loud and annoying. We considered asking to be moved, but decided to just go with it. The menu was so extensive and even after reviewing it at home, it was still hard to make a decision. Our waiter offered no help, but perhaps he was also annoyed with the loud crowd behind us. In addition, the menu was very difficult to see even with glasses. There was less description of the food on the online menu than the restaurant menu, but still the restaurant menu did little to offer an explanation of the food. My husband ordered the pork chop- it arrived tempura style and drizzled with mustard which was not indicated on the menu- my husband hates mustard. I had the sushi and sashimi combo which was tasty. Our oldest daughter had teriyaki salmon which she enjoyed and the birthday girl had the Philly style rolls, she was happy with her selection. I think for all of us- the salads were the most delicious part of the meal. The most disappointing part of the entire evening was that the food was served so sporadically. The salads came out quickly, then at about 15 to 20 minute intervals starting with the pork chop- 15 minutes later, my daughter's salmon- 15 minutes again and my sushi, finally more than an hour after my husband was served his meal- the birthday girl got her meal. The waiter did tell us that "since the food is all made fresh, it will not all come out at the same time". All I could think of was "Why wouldn't the food be made fresh? Where has this guy worked before?" I wouldn't go back to Zama. I think everyone should be served at remotely the same time. When we are out to dinner or even at home, we wait until everyone is seated and ready to begin our meal together.

Never in a million years did I think I would be trying the sushi roll equivalent of a Philly cheese stak, let alone actually preferring it to the real thing. There is a LOT going on on the menu here, so you'd do best to ask the server what they like best and let them guide you. Otherwise, we only would have ended up with a couple of spicy tuna rolls that were delicious, but nothing special. The ambiance is great (if a bit noisy and freezing cold the night we went) and there really is something for everyone here.

Burger is ok, I had the "Latin" version. Meat was cooked medium rare, as ordered, and that's not happening as often as one could think. Wished for a little more creativity in the Latin vibe than a slice of avocado, but overall nothing to complain about for $10.

Hi-end sushi and other Japanese food, all very delicious. The waitstaff is also very attentive. The atmosphere is also quite nice.

I was excited to try sushi at Zama, since I had heard good things about it. I was extremely disappointed. I have never seen such small sushi - the fish was cut super thin and was very small, sitting on top of tiny bites of rice. The quality of the fish and selection was good, but that super small size sushi for that price was disappointing. For normal-sized and excellent sushi head to Sagami in Collingswood or Teikoku in Newtown Square instead.

Omakase is usually addressed to a sushi chef by a customer who wants the chef to use his or her talent and imagination to produce the best possible dining experience. At Zama customers get this treatment from the moment they step through the front door. Our greeting was warm, and friendly, and our chairs at the sushi bar were waiting for us. The sushi bar at Zama is just the way it should be -- the bar itself is low so the customer is able to sit on a real chair rather than try to be comfortable on a stool. Old fashioned, you bet, and in the best possible way. We were then handed-off to another friendly and very capable person who took our order. We specified miso soup for each of us and a shared squid salad - both were variations on the norm, and both far above what we have tasted in the past. As far as our selections from the sushi chefs, we simply requested "omakase". What happened next was a pure delight. The chefs presented us with great assortments of dishes containing all matter of raw fish and other ingredients arranged with a combination of art and precision, with palate clensing treats between courses. This is the reward that you will be given for asking the chefs to simply be themselves. What a treat. We spent four nights in Philadelphia and dined at four different restaurants. For a superb dining experience Zama topped them all.

Met a good friend for lunch. We both had the spicy chirashi. Beyond excellent. The freshest fish anywhere. Great service.

Zama is an outstanding restaurant. Their sushi, sashimi and cooked food are all worth sampling. The short rib plate is a favorite of mine, not what you might expect at a Japanese restaurant but a delicious surprise. Their service is attentive and helpful, the noise level low so conversation is never strained. While not inexpensive, I felt the food and service delivered. We enjoyed the wide variety of sake as well, a perfect accompaniment to their food.

Had an amazing meal! Lindsey was our server, outstanding! Really knew the menu, made some awesome recommendations! Great service, and food!

I love good Japanese food. It’s been almost impossible to find in Philadelphia, since the Japanese all left and sold to Koreans and Chinese. Zama was one I could depend on. It wasn’t inexpensive (I usually spent $300-500 for two), but the food was worth it. I can no longer say that. I noticed a decline a few months ago. The salmon eggs were old tasting. I couldn’t believe it and kept going. Little things were now wrong at each meal. I was there several times this last week trying to figure out what has changed. I cannot. My eggplant was under cooked; all of the fish eggs (salmon, flying fish, wasabi tobiko) are crunchy but have no taste. It’s like they were sitting in cold water until used. Beautiful but tasteless. Some of the fish for the sashimi and sushi tastes precut. While edible, it now isn’t worth the $6 to $15/bite. The ume-shiso roll once a perfect balance of flavors, now has too much ume paste in it. It seems like the Japanese aesthetic is drifting out of the restaurant. What a shame!

this is an excellent japanese sushi place the food was excellent the service was excellent and everything was uber tasty !!!

Sushi was fair. The sashimi portions were some of the smallest I have seen yet the price was insanely high. Sake was good. Waitress was nice and informed. The desserts were exceptionally good.

On a trip back to our old Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, we decided to give Zama a try. So glad we did! Excellent food and service. Great cocktails too. The menu included many of our favorite Japanese dishes, along with some of their own interpretations. We felt we received excellent value for what we paid. The staff were really helpful -- when we opted to come back two nights later to celebrate our anniversary, they gave us a warm welcome. For our four nights in Rittenhouse Square, we ended up eating twice at Zama and twice at Sansom Street Oyster House. Exactly what we wanted.

Small Japanese place just off Rittenhouse Sq. with impressive list of delicious rolls and couple of very imaginative tiraditos and other ceviches. Booking is necessary but absolutely worth it, with -during slow hours- even the possibility to get tailor-made makis. Certainly among the best in town.

I.love Restaurant Week! I get to hang out with friends and try new places at a reduced rate. My friend and I met for lunch at Zama. I arrived first. The hostess checked my Open Table reservation and seated me immediately. Our server was very attentive. After a few minutes, my friend arrived and we began to look over the special Restaurant Week menu. We started with a shared bowl of edamame. The warm pods were seasoned delicately. My miso soup was delicious. Next, there was a refreshing salad of frisee and some other greens enhanced by a light dressing. My main dish was a ribeye steak stir fry which included several juicy, tender strips of steak and a generous amount of sauteed onions and red and yellow peppers on a bed of rice. (Too bad it wasn't brown rice.) Dessert was fantastic -- a small but nonetheless satisfying serving of apple crisp. I would definitely go back to Zama, but I would not want to sit at the tiny table my friend and I had. There was no place to hand our coats and nowhere to place our handbags, and the seat cushions seemed a bit thinner than the cushions at the booths.

Zama was recommended by the concierge and doorman. It was within walking distance of our hotel so we gave it a try. It was fantastic! I wish I had had the time to eat there more than once. Although I was impressed because they accommodated my vegan diet, my non-vegan husband was equally impressed. I usually don't find delicious meals when dining out because of being vegan, but this restaurant was the exception. Try the mushrooms in miso and saki...delicious. Everything we got was exceptional so I don't think you'll be disappointed. Read the newspaper article about the owner as you walk in the door. Interesting story.

Wish I could give it a 4.5 . . . My boyfriend is a fan of sushi but it's not high on my priority list so I sought out somewhere with great sushi and lots of other options - Zama nailed it! He loved the hand rolls and we shared several other delicious "bites" including vegetable tempura with shrimp, short rib with crispy ramen and Japanese fried chicken with slaw! The short ribs were so memorable that we will definitely return. Peter offered great service and suggestions. Definitely the best Japanese we've had in Philly so far!

This is not the place to go if you want to leave totally stuffed. But, if you're looking for really good quality fish, beautiful presentation, and great service, then Zama is your place. Everything was delicious and I left super satisfied.

Very busy on Saturday night and was fortunate to be seated quickly at the sushi bar. Service, drinks and sushi were great. Especially enjoyed Vetri roll and their triple tuna sashimi special that evening. Would highly recommend for romantic dinner or out with friends.

A friend had recommended this restaurant, and it is a gem! We loved all the courses and the service was fantastic. We were here during "restaurant week" (the special 4 course meal was $35) so the prices might be a bit better than normal. The Black Cod was very good, and the Bibou Roll [$19] (if you like escargot) was wonderful and a hit (would recommend ginger & wasabi to accompany this dish). The Vetri Roll ($18) with Uni was also very good. It had very good Japanese fusion. The service we had with "Merci" was so enjoyable and she was exceptionally helpful! We will definitely return and would recommend a visit for visitors to Philadelphia.

Just came back from dinner at Zama, had a great time. Lovely creative food and excellent service. We had the salmon yozo, yellow tail, tuna tartar (lovely) spicy scallop and tobiko hand rolls (to die for)

The BENTO BOXES here for lunch are the perfect lunch. You receive soup, salad entree of your choice, I prefer the Shrimp Tempura Bento, and rice and edename. Excellent service in a very attractive setting and all for about $20

Location is ideal, service/staff is knowledgable, friendly and accomodating, food was amazing especially the fried brussel sprouts, those were out of this world! Overall had a great experience and will return.

This was my second time at Zama. Food is great. Tried a couple of new to me sashimi selections. Old favorites like yellowtail and salmon were good. Yuzu gimlet was divine. The only thing I didn't like was being asked if I had a reservation when there were six empty tables right in front of me. We were seated at the bar and the bartender's personality more than made up for the less than optimal seating.

Thank you to a California sushi-holic who recommended Zama. It's great and make sure to go here. It's small but very nice. The service is welcoming from the beginning and attentive throughout without rushing. We knew things were going to be good when the seaweed salad was more than the standard. We loved everything we ordered, but I'd be remiss if I didn't highlight the Wasabi Tuna. This was 6 pieces of heaven. It was the perfect mix of ingredients and texture with just enough wasabi mayo to spice perfectly without making it heavy. the Rittenhouse Three was fun and delicious. I'd probably order 1 or 2 of the individual items ONLY so we could try more of the menu. We'll be back the next time I visit my daughter.

If you are near Rittenhouse square you should go to Zama to get sushi. They have every sushi roll you can imagine plus you can order customized rolls. Also their fish is very fresh. You should come here. They can also accommodate gluten allergies.

This west Center City sushi bar is anything but. Rolls aplenty on the menu make this an extraordinary experience. Anyplace can serve great fresh sushi--these are some of the best rolls and creative inspirations on the planet. Your clues are in the sushi bar rolls and the tremendous assortment of "special" rolls throughout the menu. Surfer Roll, Wasabi Tuna Roll and the Spicy Yellow Tail, to name a few, are awesome, flavorful and subtle all at the same time. We ordered light bites that, among others, included tofu made tableside and served with a fabulous, not-to-be-believed mushroom sauce. The vegetable maki was amazing as well. Ending our endless roll call was a caramelized banana and coconut ice cream dessert that would kill any cravings--except for another dessert. When in Philadelphia, just 'roll with it' at Zama. Steven, our server, was incredibly knowledgeable and service was outstanding. Enjoy!

We wanted a simple sushi meal for two near our hotel in the Rittenhouse area of Philly and found Zama on TA. The experience from start to finish was superb. Very courteous and helpful staff, great "bites" from the warm kitchen to start (soft shell shrimp were delicious), a simply delicious plate of "black belt" sushi-sashimi and possibly the best maki rolls to finish (don't miss the Surfer!!). All washed down with a Reserve bottle of Junmai Daiginjo Sake (it was a special occasion after all). Go, you won't be disappointed.

One of the better places in Philly for sushi. Great selection including the Salmon Toro, the Kanpachi, the Toro and some of the rolls. The size of the premium sushi was extremely small and pricey but the quality and service was high!

We booked dinner at Zama based on a recommendation from one of our most discriminating foodie friends. We have never thought sushi as a food category could be as artisanal and creative as these people saying menus proved: we ordered one at $55 and one at $100 to sample tastes and bites at the two ends of the Zama dinner spectrum. Rob our server played starring role of sushi Sherpa, helping us along the 2.5 hour journey of identifying ingredients, nuances, and flavors. What a glorious meal and experience!

I consider myself a Sushi expert. I go to many different places. The sushi here is very small. The waitress said they had belly bluefin tuna. It was chewy. For $6 per very small piece was not worth it. I asked for a tuna roll with my sushi combination and it came with a spicy tuna roll with some vegetable in it, not what I asked for. The bill for two with a couple of drinks was $200.

This was our first omakase experience and we were blown away. The service, attention, to detail, everything was 10/10. I will be dreaming about this meal until my next trip to Philly!

Don’t ever miss an opportunity to have sushi here! They have the best fish in town especially for the price! Their lunchboxes are a great deal! Don’t miss the wasabi lobster roll!

Great food and service Black Miso Cod, crunchy spicy tuna roll, tempura salad and sushi all were excellent However, the delightful, helpful, engaging and professional service made the dinner even more of a delight I would eat here all the time if I lived in Philadelphia

The Loie burger is great and I love the outdoor seating :) more low key then being directly on the square!

I am obsessed with Japanese food in general and in particular sushi / sashimi. Zama delivers some of the best sushi that I have eaten anywhere in the world! This is real Japanese sushi; small delectable bites of exquisite fish on the top of moist plain rice or just on their own. The range of fish available is superb. Have the "Black belt" choice. The chef will choose the best fish available and you will get to enjoy one of the best Japanese meals around. Start off with the Kaisho salad that has four types of seaweed. Unbelievable! In short ... GO TO ZAMA!!

I was disappointed in my recent meal. I had Sushi & Sashimi which was pretty expensive ($39) for what I got. The portion was small and didn't include salad or soup. My wife's Sushi was even smaller but it was $29. Three others had chicken teriyaki and everyone claimed it was dry. I tried it because no one finished theirs and this was the driest piece of chicken I've had. Not going back if I can help it.

Actually, just reading the menu was fun - before we even got there. I went with my 28 year old son, who is an aficionado and connoisseur (and has multicultural genes, so those 2 adjectives especially apply!) of sushi -- and it was wonderful. The creativity and obvious dedication to freshness, quality and presentation were delightful - as was the server who explained it all to us in quick, comprehensive detail (there are a lot of questions raised by the menu, until you get familiar with it, I expect). The sashimi appetizer was notable, and you can upgrade to "black belt" for a chef's selection of more impressive fish (I expect that may have more to do with what is rare, all was fresh and flavorful, great texture), as well as the Rittenhouse trio. Definitely a place to know to look for, because it is not one that jumps out at you while walking by. But, probably the best sushi/sashimi/Japanese food experience that I have had outside of Japan. The atmosphere is pretty straightforward, pleasant, but not particularly intimate -- but everyone there seemed happy to be there (servers and customers alike).

Zama is a sure thing. We have eaten there at least twice a year for the past few years and it has never disappointed. The tasting menu is fun and offers great variety. Service is good, staff seem to be well informed of what they're serving, and the ambiance is great. The spicy shrimp hand roll is delicious -- you will want more.

Zama seems to be very popular with Penn students. The decor is traditional white birch; very beautiful and soothing. The sushi and sashimi were excellent, but we spent nearly 2 hours dining here. The reason (as other reviewers have consistently pointed out) is the slow service. Our waitress was charming, but just not very available. Our entrees did not come at the same time. Even when we asked for refills of our green tea, we waited 5+ minutes. The check took over 10 minutes to come. We would definitely return, but we would order differently. Probably only sushi and sashimi. And, explain to the waiter when we needed to depart.

If you're a sushi fan check this place out. Their extensive menu may overwhelm, but the servers are super knowledgeable. We enjoyed a variety of different rolls, miso soup, veggie tempura and dumplings.

Because if you do, have the lunch set and be prepared to slurp down the softest noodles in a miso broth. The sushi was pretty good too. Edamame were a little under salted, and the tempura was average.

I am very picky about my sushi. I have to eat gluten-free, so I can only have the simple rolls without all the extra crunchy stuff, sauces, etc... - which means the sushi MUST be fresh and not taste fishy. Zama passed my test with flying colors. Really excellent quality seafood. We went on New Years Eve so they were crowded and we had to wait a bit for some of our dishes to come out, but I would expect that on New Years and I also expect that when ordering sushi, which is made to order. Our waiter, Brian, was excellent and was able to keep on top of my gluten-free needs (even supplying gluten-free soy sauce), as well as the needs of another in our party who can't have any seeds or nuts. Good sushi is always on the expensive side, and Zama is no exception there. To me, you get your money's worth, though. You're paying for fresh, quality, sushi-grade seafood. I would definitely recommend checking out Zama if you're in Philly.

We were disappointed in Zama after reading some of the great reviews posted about it. The sushi was just average, and the portions were quite small. We had to request additional wasabi after receiving a laughably small amount for the three people at our table. None of the food was bad, but it was all just "ok." Not what we expected after reading some of the other reviews. With all of the other great sushi choices in the city, I doubt we will be back.

It has been two years that I have been enjoying Chef's Zama's unique cuisine and have never left disappointed. He uses classic Japanese traditions to create splendid innovative starters, small plates , maki entrees and sushi bar.The freshest of all the ingredients just makes you want to come back ...again and again!

This is my favorite sushi restaurant in the city. Always the freshest fish, authentic wasabi (not horseradish with food coloring), and creative rolls. Excellent service

We love sushi and this place had some unique items. Expensive but well worth the trip. The tasting menu includes different sushi options than your normal place and we loved it all. Not much on the menu for those who aren't sushi people but we were able to find something the kid would try.

Entering Zara, one is drawn into the total experience. Architectural details, natural elements, ambient lighting, and a huge paper fish sculpture suspended from the ceiling as if floating above. The serving staff are helpful in recommendations. We chose several starters to share. The steamed dumplings in a special sauce were so tasty that we ordered a second plate. Presentation was a visual delight. The textural flavors of our dishes were delicious. Save room for dessert!

This is probably my favorite sushi restaurant in Philly. Expensive but great selection of fresh, interesting sushi.

Sat aside with my service dog as it was crowded inside but was well taken care of. had a fantastic sake along with lettuce wraps and crunchy tuna. Excellent sushi and great service. Would totally go back.

The atmosphere was basically fine, but a 9-piece Chef’s Special sushi where 7 pieces are beige? Even the waiter didn’t know what they were. All different fish. Allegedly...

I tried this restaurant based on the concierges recommendation at the hotel I was staying at. The food was very good and the service was excellent. The sushi menu was extensive, having hard to find fresh items available. The only slightly negative was the portion size. This restaurant goes for quality over quantity but the pieces of fish were small.

Had nice experience by myself at sushi bar. Really was touched by other working woman at bar eating on her own who offered to share her saki. Loved everything I got and would enjoy eating again but with tip this is what I got for $60:Sushi Bar Sashimi Sampler Yuzu Miso Salmon, Hamachi Ponzu, Kanpachi Ume - $18; Wasabi Tuna- Snow crab tempura, Tuna tartare, Wasabi mayo - $19 and Soft Shell Shrimp Soft Shell Shrimp dusted in flour and fried accompanied with shishi-to peppers finished with yuzu salt - $10 Very delicious sushi and cooked shrimp and different than what you find at other sushi places. I was full after these 3 dishes but it's not a lot of food. I sat at the end of the sushi bar and a server was very friendly when I asked him about almost every dish going by me but the waiter not so much.

Run by a former chef from Pod, Zama caters to true sushi lovers. Very original rolls, extra fresh sushi, few fusion-style options - great combination of ingredients for one of the best japanese places in Philly. Do not miss spider roll nor hamachi tataki and spicy crunchy tuna - all excellent.

I just started coming to Zama recently and have always been pleasantly surprised by the interesting and delicious rolls. Although very expensive, this place is worth coming to for a special occasion! It is perfect for a date night and to just "go all out" with a bottle of wine and lots of sushi! You can't worry about the check when eating at a place like Zama!

Can't comment on the food but the drinks and beer are really good Nice, friendly staff and cheery atmosphere.

Liked this place, lots of energy, amiable service, handled our group of six well. The Philadelphia roll (basically a cheesesteak) wasn’t liked by any of us. Nice tea selection.

I love Zama. I always go there when I'm in Philadelphia. Last year, after a riduculously fun sushi tour of the entire city, I firmly decided it is defintiely my favorite sushi spot in Philly! it's weird that if you look at reviews of this place, all the negative ones are obviously from the other restaurant which used to occupy this address. These should be taken down and definitely not considered when you're looking for a good SUSHI place in Philadelphia. Zama doesnt even have brunch or burgers. that is just very, very odd that there are reviews for this ADDRESS and not for this restaurant. The sushi quality is great at Zama. Sometimes I get the special rolls (you have got to thy the Justice for All and the Bronzizzle rolls. Very creative and amazingly delicious. This most recent visit, I had simple maki rolls and those were delicious as well. They have really fun, different wines by the glass and now they even have outdoor seating. I cant wait til my next visit to Zama!

Nice location, nice place and good japanese food. The service is excellent and the menu is very interesting. The only issue I noticed is that the construction doesn't absorb the noise in any way and this makes the environment pretty noisy. Maybe they could stop the background music at least.

Of all my years visiting Japanese restaurants, this place, hands down, served the tiniest nigiri ever. I order the Black Belt nigiri at $39. The sashimi on top of the nigiri should be cut at a diagonal angle, not straight down. This place must be having cost issues because they are obviously trying to save on costs by cutting the sashimi flat down - making the proportions smaller. It was like I had order a mini-nigiri set. Disappointing and embarrassed for this restaurant. Will not be back.

Pleasant Japanese restaurant with friendly service and "different" food a stone's throw from Rittenhouse Square. We were a dinner group ordering a large number of bites to share. Hit: Sauteed brussels sprouts with cashews, sea bass, salmon; dessert flights with 3 mini servings for $10. Miss: Salt crusted tofu (utterly bland), spinach 'whatever' that tasted just like ice-cold cooked spinach mushed together into a ball. Yech. On balance, we enjoyed most of the food, the friendly service, and the ambiance. And it was nice to eat well without feeling completely stuffed.

I had very good sushi and Jpanese dishes in Zama. There are quite few authentic Japanese dishes in their menu as well as Americanised sushi/maki fillings. The autentic ones I tried were very tasty and sushi were high standard. I know high standard sushi and Japanese food as I am Japanese. And I am sure that I will go back to Zama next time I visit Philly.

Brunch is great.

The food and service were both good. I would recommend making a reservation on a Friday or Saturday night. We didn’t make a reservation and while we were seated immediately, we were seated outside…not ideal on a windy night!

I try to come to Zama whenever I'm in Philly and it never seems to disappoint. Their quality is high, inventiveness unsurpassed, and the care and friendliness of the servers is wonderful. They are especially good about food allergies, not just telling you what you shouldn't have, but working to make an acceptable accommodation when the item can be modified.

I have been 26 times now in the last 3 years, the last two we did the chef's tasting. The flavor combinations are amazing, and a little unexpected. I went a little outside of my usual comfort zone and tried everything that was placed infront of us, and was not disappointed. For sushi, the fish was perfectly cut and seasoned with wasabi, the rice was the perfect temperature and preparation. The Philly Style roll is the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia. Being born and raised here, this is a pretty bold statement. So prove me wrong...order it and then tell me it's not the most perfect bite of a cheesesteak you ever had! Wagu seared and rolled in rice and a red pepper wrapper with a horseradish dipping sauce...somehow it's everything you want in a cheesesteak...if only they had a late night window for me to order at 3am when I'm drunk! The Soft Shell Shrimp appetizer is served head and tails on and pried crisp and meant to be eaten in 1-2 bites. Very mild flavor and a great way to start off the meal. I especially love the charred green peppers served alongside. Although I usually end up ordering sushi and getting half my selections from the special menu, there are still some great specialty rolls you should try: Bronzizzle, Vetri roll, and Wasabi Lobster are amazing go-to's. The SST hand roll is best ordered to finish off the meal as the eel sauce combined with the spicy sauce is a perfect transition to a sweeter profile and ordering dessert. The most surprising dish though was dessert. Too often, sushi houses give you the generic green tea tempura fried ice cream, but here the desserts are worthy of any fine dining establishment. Rice crispy roll, chocolate with miso glaze, banana spring roll...portions are 2-bites sized and priced at 3 for $10, so order at least 3 per person and share. The yuza creme brûlée is a little on the citrusy side so don't be surprised when its not the vanilla rich custard you're used to. The servers are friendly, attentive and extremely well educated on the menu. Ask them to dig into the flavor profiles of the special fishes of the night and explore their extensive knowledge of their menu options. Overall, thus is an excellent restaurant for dates and business meetings alike. The sake and Japanese beer selections (red rice is my favorite bottled beer here!) are complimentary to menu selections. Many other sushi places in Philadelphia have lots of referrals and are very "popular", but it says a lot that the chef's name who is on the restaurant is behind the sushi bar himself (and not making the rounds of cooking shows as a celebrity competitor or planning the nightlife aspect of his restaurants). Chef Zama is there overseeing everything that goes out and the quality and attention to detail is evident with every dish you are served... I can see why they were awarded 3 bells!

There are a lot of sushi restaurants in the city but this is a cut above. I had a mixed sampler of sashimi and sushi which was extremely fresh and prepared beautifully. My friend had the branzino sushi which was out of this world. The decor is also chic, despite being a relatively small space. Service was excellent.

While it is a little noisy, the food more than makes up for it! I adored the grilled avacado and the mushroom maki. The sashimi was very high quality.

I love Japanese and Zama was within walking distance of the hotel I was staying in. The sushi was creative and delicious. Zama has differing levels of ordering and Kristin (sp?) was very helpful at choosing dishes and a good wine to go with it. She is an excellent waitress who had to deal with a couple seated near me who abruptly left without ordering and never missed a beat with me. When I return I am hoping she will be working and help choose another tasty trip through the menu options.

The sushi here is mind boggling, the crab dish and the lobster sushi was to die for. This is very expensive restaurant, but well worth it. The top shelf sashimi had not of the usual raw fish but had an assortment of ones i never ate raw before. So, if you want gourmet sushi this is the place to go.

Came here with a group of friends for dinner. And the blackbelt (premium) combination sushi platter, and the seaweed salad. The portions were generous, and the quality of the fish was high. Friendly waitstaff, and tasty drinks. Would come here again!

My husband and I had lunch at Zama twice last week, enjoying it on both occasions. It's a cool oasis a few blocks away from the Mutter Museum. Very good sushi (we ordered a variety of maki and sushi/sashimi) and amiable, prompt service. No complainsts.

Since this, our first visit, my wife has already taken a friend and has a reservation with our son at Zama all in the space of two weeks. I'd grown a bit board with Japanese cuisine. I still enjoy it but a s a staple rather than a special meal as all the restaurants are very good, but pretty much the same. Then along comes Zama and say goodbye to ordinary. I suspect you can't go wrong with anything on the menu but here are the delicacies we enjoyed. Miso soup (like tasting it for the first time), house tofu (prepared and gelled tableside), blue fin tuna sashimi (alas I'm not enough a conousier to rate it but it was very fresh), duck, black cod (best fish we've ever had) and scallops. Top that off with a very nice pinot noir and dessert trio. I recommend them all. Servers were also very friendly and attentive. I envy my wife's return visits.

The Sushi was no doubt fresh and tasty, but nothing extraordinary. I have eaten in many, many Sushi restaurants so I can compare. The pieces were thin. The ambience was average. Overall I would rate it as "Average+".

great brunch

Waiter was a snot. When I asked about a particular bottle of wine he exclaimed.." I can't tell you much about that..not many people order it". It was an Argentine white of which I had drunk many in the past. You would think he could of at least bought the bottle for me to look at. Also we ordered several dishes and instead of asking if we'd like our Edamame first he brought everything together, so eating fast avoiding their getting cold was necessary.

We had dinner there and it was really good. We particularly appreciated the chicken and the beef. The portions were not too big. We would have appreciated more sauce with the meals but everything was still very tasteful. Service was good.

We had the most delectable meal with great service. Our dinner was absolute perfection from the appetizers to the main meal. The food was timed perfectly as it was prepared and delivered to our table, so we did not feel rushed and we had time to savor the different flavors. The waiter was very professional and he offered great suggestions. The menu is extensive. The decor is mostly wood which is perfect for a Japanese restaurant. My only question is -- When can I go again?

Had a great experience here...came in late, alone, and sat at the sushi bar. Ordered the tasting menu, and everything was very high quality and delicious. Since I was there near closing, I got a little extra attention from Zama. He is very cool and a very good sushi chef. Loved the decor here, very relaxing.

This is the kind of place to go and taste the signature dishes of the Chef. Do not be afraid you will not be disappointed. Love the food, hope to return someday.

I had lunch with a colleague here today. She ordered a bento box that looked interesting. I had some a la carte sushi which was nothing to write home about. Zama had been recommended to me as the great sushi place near Rittenhouse Square. I am still looking for one.

Very attractive restaurant. Lot's of light colored wood and very clean. Menu is quite extensive and has all the "favorites". My wife and I stuck with our usual rolls and were very pleased overall. Only drawback is the cost. Somewhat expensive for what you get. Green tea is about the best we have ever had. Worth the cost.

I had such a great experience at Zama today and just had to share here. I came in soon after they opened for a quick drink and bite. I sat at the bar and was greeted by the bartender Peter. Right off the bat we hit it off and we chatted the rest of my time there and I really think this enhanced my experience so much. I did not know what to get because the menu was so extensive with so many delicious options. We talked through some options and I knew I'd have to return to get to try it all. I settled on a tuna usuzusuki and the Rittenhouse Three rolls. Stellar. I'm already so excited to go back and try more things. The Yuzu Negroni is a great refreshing drink to sip on too.

We were lucky enough to sit outside at one of the three 4 tops for dinner. The food is uneven, but the highlights were delicious! We had the Rock Shrimp Tempura (amazing! Sauce was perfect and the addition of Broccoli was nice), Short Rib Bites (good but wouldn't order again), Tuna Tempura (amazing!! The rice paper was so yum), Philadelphia roll (interesting- philly sub in a rice covered roll; the steak was fatty but the concept was fun), and Dassai Shrimp (overcooked and had a fishy smell but we heard it was usually good). I would recommend sticking with the sushi for your best bet. Prices are decent too- $120 for two with drinks. Good find!

ZAMA Review Dinner and lunch favorites: California Salad Hamachi Ponzu Red dragon Orange Dragon Rittenhouse Three We have dined at Zama over 50 times since April of 2023. The only reason I’m not there more is that we travel to other parts of the US months at a time. We have enjoyed sushi in San Diego, NYC, Jersey shore, and Philadelphia just to name a few. Enjoy Omikase dining in most cities. This is must dine for friends visiting from the big sushi Mecca of San Diego. ZAMA has consistently delivered fresh sushi in a warm, welcoming, laid back vibe. Craig and the front staff; Peter, Travis, Merci, Gianna, and Jonas have been together for many years and it shows. For this review I will only touch on our favorites. Everything on the menu is good. The Hamachi Ponzu is one of our favorites. Prepared fresh with a fine texture and visually appealing. The California Salad with snow crab is a great split dish. There is plenty of tasty crab and we enjoy having a nice light salad with our sushi. ZAMA does several great Dragon rolls, whether it be spicy shrimp tempura with Tuna, or Salmon, they seem to have a special one almost every night. The tuna and salmon always fresh and tasty. There is one distinct combination called the Rittenhouse Three. It is three different hand rolls. There is a SST, Spicy Spider, and Crunchy Scallop. A personal shout out to Jonas. One night it was packed in the bar and he noticed someone in a covid like mask saunter in to the area and prevented this person from stealing from a women’s hand bag hanging from her chair. It’s always nice to know that people are looking out for their customers.

And great service! The sushi was fresh and they had some great innovative rolls. Plus the service was really amazing, both times I've been there I've been really well taken care off.

I've been here several times for lunch and i always have a good meal. It's a cool little restaurant with high quality food. If your looking for an extravagant sushi menu with 100 different rolls, this isn't the place for you. The basics are great here, and I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu.

Zama's decor was nice, but not inspiring. The food was somewhat hit or miss for my taste. I had the Chef's tasting menu. The egg custard was not what I was expecting and in this way was a major let down. The pounded tuna was one of the best dishes they had to offer. I would say it was an overall fine place with great service but I would not return. The atmosphere was quite loud and made conversations difficult.

I grabbed a quick dinner alone at the sushi bar. Service was slow but good. I ordered three dishes since the waiter told me they were all "kinda small". He was right, portions are small but probably the size that's correct in Japan. The yellowtail snapper in a ponzu sauce was good. The raw Wagyu beef was buttery and silky tasting, a perfect flavor. The sparkling wine was decent. I spent over $100 for a small meal, but thought the quality was worth the price. Just don't go if you're starved!

We have been here 3 times in the past few months and loved the place each time. Did the ala carte route twice and the $75 per person 7 course tasting menu once (they have 3 tasting menus at different price points with various items). The sushi is fantastic with a large choice of some exotic stuff as well as the old favorites. The menu is large and diverse for those not in the mood for just sushi. We love the local feel of the room and the service is very friendly as well. Also has a very nice dessert list with a 3 item tasting of small portions (tofu beignets were a standout). It can be hard to find really good sushi in Philly but Zama clearly has it.

We needed to find a restaurant near Rittenhouse Square and wanted sushi and tried this place based on reviews from Trip Advisor and Yelp. Marimoto was ranked higher but also looked way more expensive so we decided to try Zama instead. It has a sushi bar up front and then a bunch of tables close together in a long skinny room with an eclectic wooden look. Good service is key to enjoying a night out and our waitress was fantastic; it was a sunday night so there wasn't a whole lot going on but she had 5 tables but she checked on us multiple times and was spot on with her drink reccomendations. I had the miso soup and we made our own sushi rolls which wasn't at all a problem. For two of us 2 drinks each with miso soup, a salad, 1 appetizer, and 4 rolls between the two of us, the bill came to $96 which really isn't bad at all for a night in the city. I know some people said this place was a bit pricey but I think that all depends on what you plan on ordering. Food was good, not great, but the service will definitely keep me coming back. I would reccmend over some of those overpriced pretentious sushi places.

They have phenomenal cuts of fish that carry a hefty price tag but are truly worth it. There are hot dishes from the kitchen that are also really divine. I enjoy the atmosphere there as well. Unique design. Very enjoyable.

Wow, this place really made me happy. We went for lunch and I had a Bento bite (Angus New York strip stir fry). It came with edamame and miso soup and costs only $15,- It was sooo delicious that I went back on saturday, (my day of departure) unfortunately on sat and sun they are open from 5 pm, It has a nice decor and friendly staff.

We were delayed in our arrival and phoned ahead. We were told if we did not arrive in time our table could not be held. Prior to our arrival we were separated when parking the car as we had to hurry. The restaurant policy is to only seat guests when the entire party has arrived. The kitchen had problems and we had to wait one hour between the soup and the next course. Eventually a waiter arrived to apologise and asked what he could do. We said reduce the price of the $75 menu to $55 and he agreed. When the bill arrived tree was no reduction and the owner said it was not agreed. Food was average and service slow. We would not go back and advise against this place.

Great service. Our server was very helpful with the menu since it was our first visit. Portions were good. Everything was fresh and tasty and not at all boring. My only complaint is the the cost. Drinks were expensive even for a high end Philly restaurant. Dinner for two with drinks and tip $180. I will recommend and would return - but not often.

Great experience. Absolutely delicious sushi. So fresh and delightful. Super friendly service as well. Highly recommend. I will go back for sure next time I’m in Philly again.

Didn't want to spoil it for my dinner companions who love sushi. Thought I'd be able to find veggies on menu...pleasantly surprised by the many options. Good cocktails. Black cod bites and fried Brussel sprouts were very good!!!

Zama is a conveniently located, fairly reasonably priced, tasty sushi experience. While I wouldn't say it's the best I've ever had, it was still rather good. Food: Started with the Pan Seared Kurobuta Pork Dumplings - This were good, but not the best I've had. The dipping sauce was a unique spicy concoction, that was maybe a little too oily. Then had the OToro sushi - This wasn't on the menu, but they had it when we were there. WOW. Probably the best piece of raw fish I've ever had. The rice was different from what I'm used to though, it had a spicey kick to it. Then I tried the Salmon Toro - And on the flip side, this is the single worst piece of sushi I've ever had. It was very fishy and I had to spit it into my napkin. It didn't even look like a typical piece....it still had some of the skin on it. Next wee had the Spicy Crunchy Salmon Roll (soy paper) - This was a very good roll. Just the right amount of fish, crunch and rice. Would definitely get again. We had another roll that was on the menu in the restaurant (but not on the website)...I wish I remembered what it was called. I know it was tuna and jalapeno...and that it was delicious. Sorry, wish I remembered the name. And lastly I tried the Kirin Ichiban Braised Short Ribs - Delicious! very rich and tender. great sauce too. Atmosphere - Nice, bright, but no frills. Staff - Very nice. They even took the Salmon Toro off the bill when they saw that I didn't liked it. Overall - If you're staying in Rittenhouse and in the mood for Sushi, I'd recommend this place.

Zama is an excellent place for creative sushi and japanese food. Every roll and appetizer were outstanding. Its right near Rittenhouse square. Make a reservation it was jammed. Highly recommend tuna wasabi roll and SCS roll

One of Philly's finest sushi restaurants. There's a sushi bar, of course, with a wide variety of fish and related creatures; and if you're not into sushi, a good range of other dishes on the menu. One member of our party had chicken teriyaki, and loved it. Zama also offers several varieties of saki and Japanese beer.

We had a very nice Sushi. For us Japanese, the volume of the food was enough. The staffs were friendly enough also.

I have dined for both dinner and lunch at Zama over 20 times this year. It is our go to place for high quality sushi. My personal favorite is their spicy churashi, which they can make extra spicy. I think service can be a little slow, but has never really bothered me. I personally think Zama is one of the best places in the city for sushi. Nice little tables outside that are easier to get from say Parc right on the square.

Truly. Highly recommended for all the slightly more conventional sushi items, but the chefs here definitely know how to play with their food. The roll I speak of had hot, freshly cooked beef (you even get the famous choice of "wit or witout"--we went wit) and grilled onions embedded in rice and then wrapped in a beancurd wrapper flecked with red pepper flakes. What a daring, delicious homage to Philadelphia! We were also especially taken with the Bron Sizzle roll. 'Bron' in this case is a misspelled reference to branzino, the fish, slices of which were the raw topping on a great roll that, IIRC, was finished with a tart ponzu sauce. Just loved it. Everything delivered to the tables either side of us looked as droolworthy as the food we ate. Was just sorry we didn't have enough appetite to try more of this highly creative food. Located right off Rittenhouse Square.

Service was good, cocktails and sake selection good, food presentation okay but meager. It evidently is a very popular place, but the 15,000 conventioneers in town was certainly part of the crowd. I probably will do more exploring of Japanese restaurants in Philly before I return to this one.

We return to Zama absolutely every time we're in Philly. My favorites are the tempura with shrimp, broccoli, cauliflower and cashews in a yummy sauce, and the pan-seared pork dumplings. For sashimi, the salmon belly is melt-in-your mouth tender. You can't go wrong with any of the rolls and there are some different specialty combination rolls. The service is always friendly and efficient with knowledgeable wait staff. It's always crowded and you should definitely make a reservation, especially on the weekend; plus, the bar area is very small if you have to wait. You will love this place!

We stopped in for dinner at Zama after a day in the city. We arrived earlier than our reservation and were seated promptly. The interior has a nice ambiance and we both decided to try the tasting menu. Unlike other places, Zama has four 7-course tasting menus at different price points from $55 to $120. We had a great server, Merci, who let us see all the menus so we could decide on the one that appealed to us. All of the menus, really looked great. Tasting menu chosen, we ordered hot sake and then the courses started to arrive. Every course was well prepared and delicious and we had no complaints about the quality or the preparation. The only slight downside was that the nigiri sushi, while delicious; was below average in size from other places we’ve been. Having had sushi across three continents and in multiple cities, I think that for the price point, the nigiri sushi should be to the average standard in size. For dessert, I had the tofu beignets with the two dipping sauces (on Merci’s recommendation) and they were phenomenal. Piping hot, light and delicious – don’t let the ‘tofu’ detract you. If you’ve never had bread with tofu as an ingredient, you will be surprised to find that it makes the bread light, fluffy and uber delicious. Overall, we enjoyed everything from the delicious food to Merci’s great service and we will definitely be back at Zama soon.

We ate here while on vacation to Philly. We did not have reservations and they were packed but we were able to be seated at the sushi bar. That is the best seats in the house. Watching the sushi chefs "Do their thing" was fantastic. They had a special of Yellow Fin tuna that included the collar that the chefs recommended. AWESOME!

I was sent here by the concierge at the Sofitel, he said it had 'atmosphere'. Indeed it has, I ate here twice and it was pretty full both times. The sushi and sashimi were excellent, though the 'premium' sashimi was not worth the extra money. The hot dishes were interesting, unusual and good, and as has been said, excellent range of beer and sake. The place felt friendly and it was enjoyable to eat there. Not cheap, but good value for what you get. Recommended.

I was there on a quiet Thursday evening. I liked the fantasy in the dishes: traditional sushi shapes and tastes are enriched by more "Western" hints such as avocado and greens. I usually only want basic nigiri, but here I was advised to try more. We had the tempura (good), pork dumplings (great), bronzino rolls (very very interesting taste mix), sushi trio called Rittenhouse Three (very good) and then we just nibbled a dessert. It was also bloody cold inside by European standards :) It was $40 pp and I'm looking forward to my next visit to Philly to try the other main courses.

Im a a big fan of Zama. Their custom sushi are really thought out well, and often include a chef partner that makes the sushi with the in house chef. Always very fresh and delicious!!

Everything was amazing. Food was delicious, definitely recommend the Kirin Ichiban Braised Short Rib and the Wasabi Tuna Maki.

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience here at Zama. Each of our dishes were delicious. Sushi is fresh and there is a wide variety to choose from. The waitstaff was very attentive and our food arrived in a timely fashion. Two thumbs up!

This restaurant was near the hotel we stayed at, and after being overwhelmed with the smells of fried food on the Square, we decided to go healthy, and found ourselves at Zama, a Japanese restaurant. Modern, and seems to be catering to a young crowd, as well as many Asian visitors, which is always a good sign. The first night we opted for a miso soup, Hamachi ponzu, and a calamari salad, and were delighted. An extra helping of rice made the menu satisfactory, and the meal was light on the stomach. The second night we had braised short ribs, and a combination sushi platter,called the blackbelt, a supposedly a superior cut of the various fish; this time we were underwhelmed. The third night we went back to the first night menu, and requested pickled ginger, which was generously provided, without a charge; we polished off the meal with a trio of desserts - banana spring roll, apple crumble - and the best - a yuzo creme brulee. The portions are small, but we liked the food, the service and the ambience. Prices are not bargain basement, but reasonable. (and cheaper than a trip to Japan).

For our first visit to Zama, my husband and I chose the $55 tasting menu to get a good sampling of the chef's specialties. Things started out well with the "nambanzuke" seaweed salad, a tease of textures with morsels of fried fish and shavings of bonito complementing the slippery sea vegetable in a dressing of soy sauce and vinegar. The second course was an eye-popping surprise---a square of thinly sliced tuna carpaccio crisscrossed with an emulsion of truffled ponzu and topped with pleasingly spicy wasabi sprouts. The third entry consisted of inch-sized portions of perfectly cooked, subtly flavored miso-marinated Chilean sea bass---which were, however, somewhat overwhelmed by a side of pickled cucumbers; a couple of leaves of brown-edged endives did not add interest. Dinner picked up again with a trio of clever sashimi rolls, tuna, salmon and yellowtail chunks wrapped in daikon radish, sparked by a yuzu tobiko dressing. The fifth course was possibly the highlight---seared slices of yellowtail served over avocado maki tempura with a red yuzu pepper sauce. Naturally were were looking forward to the sixth entry---five pieces of nigiri sushi---but here we met with true disappointment: the fish, though fresh, seemed to have been pre-cut a longish while before serving, evidenced by a slight rigidity at the edges; worse, the rice was undercooked and dressed with too much wasabi, overwhelming the fish flavors. When we mentioned the undercooked rice to our waiter, he stated that this was the chef's preference. Really? (BTW, we ordered two pieces of uni nigiri and these did not come with undercooked rice.) The seventh course though tasty seemed an afterthought---a small hand roll of soy paper filled with shrimp tempura and eel. Dessert was an above average version of that old standby---ice cream filled mochi. The restaurant itself is an oasis of good design---blond wood predominates, and a dark ceiling with a dotted design reminiscent of a rock garden offer a mellow atmosphere. The food is plated artistically and the variously sized and textured serving vessels present a feast for eyes and touch. In general, a very good dinner spoiled by disappointing sushi. But there are a lot of interesting dishes on the menu which would tempt us to return

This very pretty and simple sushi bar plus restaurant near Rittenhouse Square is my new favorite Japanese/sushi n Philadelphia. They have all the typical sushi including rolls plus a variety of other sushi (such a 3 types of spider rolls) with many highly interesting and delicious combinations and inventions. They have 3 "charity rolls" which were designed in combination with chefs from other Philly restaurants (Vetri, Bibou, and Zahav) with a portion of the proceeds supposedly going to charity. We tried the Vetri and it was delicious. All the sushi is fresh and flavorful. We also had two non-sushi appetizers (pork dumplings and short ribs) and they were also excellent. On the menu but not tried were other Japanese non-sushi appetizers and main courses and even two different tasting menus. There are also a variety of sushi combinations including a maki tasting selection. Then menu is long and complex so take your time reviewing it -- or come back more than once as I intend to do. The service is extraordinarily knowledgeable, friendly without being intrusive, and attentive to all our needs including food issues. I'd say ask for our wonderful server Natalie but it seems all the servers are quite good. On the separate drink menu are about 10 special cocktails (reflecting the previous experience of the chef at Pod) plus an overwhelming selection of sakes. They also have 5-6 different flights of sakes which provide a nice way of experiencing a variety of tastes.

We went to a Japanese restaurant expected soba or Udon, but neither were available on the dinner. Hungry for something immediately, we stuck it out. We ordered several small dishes. The mushroom miso soup was a bit salty for my taste; the edamame was very good;the spinach surpassed expectations on presentation and taste; finally the seared prawns dish was smoking hot and my wife loved it. The service was attentive and personable. We left satisfied.

We consider ourselves in a position to offer an opinion, although we have not had sushi in Japan, we have had it in some mighty fine places. Over the years we think we have found the best, and then we found Zama. An outstanding menu, a knowledgeable staff. Come in and order, and then keep a menu at the table because you will want more! We love the Charity Rolls. The ownership will probably not like the fact that we are spreading the word that you can bring your own wine and pay a corkage fee, but that only makes you stay longer and eat more, right? And - one time when we came we ended up running out of wine so we had to order from the restaurant's wine list - because we did so, the corkage fee was waived. (More restaurants in Philadelphia should have this attitude!) Anyway - dishes to recommend - the tofu prepared at the table. The crudo. The black cod bites. And then everything else. Zama has taken it's place not only as our favorite sushi restaurant, but as one of our favorite restaurants. Period.

To give you a feel for how popular this restaurant is; when we visited the restaurant was full and there were shopping bags full of carryout orders awaiting pickup. This is in the Rittenhouse district where the competition for great food is fierce. Yet, I found the pricing very reasonable. Service is interesting at ZAMA with the servers having diverse styles. Our server this evening was laid back but others I heard were more chatty. Service was cordial and quick in all cases despite the restaurant being very busy. This evening my wife was thrilled with the Omakase Chirashi which is a diverse bowl of sashimi served over rice. I relished the strip steak appetizer wish was cut into, what else, strips, marinated in miso with mushrooms and rather tough asparagus.

The menu can accommodate different palates. Their sushi is fresh and they have a large variety of combinations. Their cooked food is equally as pleasing. Large saki menu or cocktails. Pleasant environment.

The Sushi and Sashimi are wonderful. Also ask about their imported Japanese Beers, you will be impressed by the selection of lagers and specialty beers and sake's. Try their treatment of sushi bar oysters and maki rolls. The main course servings are on the small side, but the ingredients are lavish and decedent in flavor. The staff was helpful and very friendly.

I've eaten here several times and the two stars are for the chefs because the food was exemplary as always, however last nights service left me embarrassed. It was restaurant week and if you don't want to take part don't but honestly dreadful service is not cool and nor does it promote return visits. There are plenty of places in Philadelphia to eat great food with good service so really you are writing your own obituary. Good luck.

I enjoyed the sushi a lot. I went with my husband and the food was very good, and fresh. The lines were a little long, so next time, i will make a reservation. We ordered various sushis and a few rolls and they were all good.

If you want excellent sushi and creative rolls, then Zama is great. But it's a bit expensive for what you are getting. There are plenty of other sushi restaurants in the area that are much more reasonably priced and almost a good/fresh as Zama. But again, I have no complaints about the quality of the food there

Thoroughly enjoyed our experience here. Ordered one of the tasting menus, pork dumplings and maki. Small portions but high quality ingredients. Overall, a delicious experience and some of the best Japanese food we've ever had (including the 18 months spent living in Asia). Strongly recommend for a special occasion or when your desire for taste trumps your desire for quantity.

A group of friends & colleagues were in town for a big meeting. We dined at Zama recently, overal it wasn't what we were expecting. A very opinionated waiter told us we should order everything up front to give the kitchen a full view of what we want so the dishes would come at a steady pace. He then pushed us to order several dishes that many in our group of uninitiated or casual sushi fans found unappetizing. The food came at a slow pace with large time gaps between servings, so much for a steady pace! I'm not saying the food was bad, it just isn't good enough to overcome negative impressions. Not recommended

We had a fantastic dinner here with our young kids. The meat dishes were great! However, the sushi was just ok. The trio of mini desserts was the best! We got to try 6 different desserts and all were delicious. Service was also wonderful. After eating out for every meal on our long weekend in Philly, this was our favorite place. We will definitely return.

We went for lunch and were not disappointed. We had been fans of their sister restaurant--COZARA which closed so we made an effort to go to Zama. Good Bento-type box for lunch. We both had salmon teriyaki. It was tender and well prepared along with edamame, miso sup, salad and some vegetables. we chose California Maki over plain rice for $2 extra. Nice iced green tea too.

A very pleasant Japanese restaurant in the Rittenhouse Square area with excellent sushi and no monsodium gluconate.

These rolls were creative and different. Like the Bronzino roll, with veg inside and branzino outside. So fresh, so good, low-key and quiet ambience, and fantastic service.

A very pleasant restaurant in the Rittenhouse Square area with excellent sushi that has no mono-sodium gluconate.

Top notch Japanese restaurant near Rittenhouse Square. Modern clean lined decor. Classic sushi/sashimi menu...they stick to basics and limit multi-ingredient sushi-type fare. Good Sake assortment. Calming place in which to dine.

A work colleague of mine found this gem of a restaurant and I can’t wait to go back! We ordered several rolls which were creative, unique and most importantly delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant and will most certainly be returning. Just one block off Rittenhouse square.

Good location and less than a block from my hotel. Recommended by the concierge. Great service and nice menu of sushi but a little over priced. The super crunchy salmon was outstanding and the tuna with truffle oil was a delight. Reasonable sake options. Recommend to couples and for business dinners. Not sure this would work for families.

I took my wife and daughter to Zama to celebrate a birthday because we had been here once before and were delighted. This time around we tried new selections (new to us) and "exotic" choices (Tasmanian Salmon) and were completely satisfied with everything we had, including an array of desserts. The service was top notch. We will be back, no doubt!

It seems from the other reviews that I may be a dissenting voice on this but I thought this was a very average sushi place and was way overpriced. It felt like Nobu in New York City, where they are living off reputation and the elitism factor. The "blackbelt" sushi/sashimi combination promised the highest quality fish. It was okay, but nothing special and very small for the price (it included only one sushi roll for the $51 price tag.) The vegetable/shrimp tempura was fine but nothing special. The beer selection was okay, but very pricey. 12 dollars for a Japanese "microbrew"? Really not worth it. The service was friendly but very slow. I would not return.

No excuse. I don't care how good the sushi is. I cannot abide by gratuitously rude behavior. Its permanently off my list.

went out with friends on the spur of the moment and ended up here with no reservations and were seated quickly. The service was excellent and the meal was equally as good. Our friends had salmon and they enjoyed it. I had a seaweed salad and sushi which was well prepared. For desert we had a threesome, three small bite size servings of a brulee, an apple crisp and a lemon tart.

My husband and I had lunch there recently. The sashimi bento lunch that I ordered was good. My husband had the nigiri sushi bento and found the nigiri to be disappointing. We've been to several so-called Japanese restaurants in Philadelphia, including Morimoto -- a great disappointment. That said, Zama is the best Japanese food that we've had in Philadelphia. Generally, Philadelphia's sushi restaurants are not comparable to D.C. or NYC on the U.S. East Coast. San Francisco has superb sushi/Japanese restaurants, of course.

This was our first visit here. The restaurant is very pretty. The menu has some creative items on it. To start, the salad with ginger dressing was good as was the hamachi ponzu. The chef's crude was alsoreally good. The portions struck me as being skimpy. The rolls and sushi were tiny bites and yes I said bites. Also, the lettuce wraps was basically chicken teriyaki and lettuce. The fish was great but for the price I expected a bit more. I'd go back but not on a frequent basis.

Took a client there for lunch. I usually prefer more formal places for business discussions, but the service was very discrete and efficient such that it was very comfortable talking business. The waiters would not interrupt and were fast enough for us to get out on time. The food was outstanding and the check very reasonable. A great place.