Zen Chinese Restaurant

This is one of my favourite Chinese restaurant, it's traditional Yunnan style. If you like Chinese food, I would recommend you to eat it in winter. Rice noodles and hot pot are served here, the beef soup tastes great, and the side dishes are delicious as well!

Excellent chinese restaurant, great taste and unique cuisine. Don’t think you will be able to find another restaurant in Adelaide that sells similar food. The bbq platter was delicious, the steam chicken soup was perfectly made. I would recommend the soup as it had a sense of chinese herbal but not too strong, definitely good for winter. The rest of the dishes were OK, not the best in town but not bad either. However, the price point was at the high point and I will not encourage walking in. Always call and make a reservation as it usually is packed. Tips: you will need to preorder the bbq platter and the steam chicken soup at least a day before.

A great taste of Yunnan cuisine at Zen Chinese Restaurant on Magill road. Most of the dishes are off-menu specials selected by the chef and pre-ordered.

We have been here many times over the years as we live around the corner. It is comfortable with tables spaced far apart because it is almost never busy. The last time we were here was Saturday 7pm 27/03/2021 and there were only 2 waiting staff and 3 other tables. The food is reasonably priced and reliably good. While not blow your mind good, it is good enough for a quick satisfying family meal when too lazy to cook. As a Chinese who grew up on Chinese food and Chinese restaurants, I would bring my Australian friends to eat here, but not my Chinese guests. This time we ordered sizzling mongolian beef (nice, but a tad too much hoisin sauce), salt and pepper squid (very nice, the best dish of the night, and the crispy wantan skin accompaniment is a good idea), chicken with honey and black pepper (chicken was well velveted and glossy but too much honey making it too sweet) and mixed vegetables (nicely done, but no smokey wok aroma at all).

The food wasn’t the problem. However we came in for dinner with 5 of us and within an hour only 3 of us had our mains. The owners family were in and took the main attention. We watched a total of 8 people walk out due to not getting food or service. After the 3 dishes being finished 20 mins later our 4th dish and 5th dish arrived.3 of us sat waiting for others to start while we were finished. Entrees were 15 mins apart. We understand there was one chef but when you’re watching a whole table being served constantly there was no share between customers and the owners “guest” . But sadly a very selfish feel as others sat waiting for an hour plus, people leaving, there was no customer care. The chef an amazing cook, the two young servers amazing running around very well done. but sadly the owner allowing so many people to walk out we will not return to support local business. Customer care factor is important but unfortunately wasn’t seen tonight. Very disappointing as the food was amazing and servers were great. The wait time was not acceptable as not an acknowledgement as the owner sat watching people leave.

Wonderful meals，good service. I highly recommend this Chinese restaurant to everyone. The best Chinese restaurant in the east area.

Beautiful tasting food, the fried won tons were divine and the sweet and sour sauce is on point! Will definitely be back!

Good flavour. This place make me homesick. You can try really good rice noddle here. yunnan style

Appalling experience. Made a booking. Struggled to find someone to escort us to our table. Took half an hour to get our drinks after repeated requests. Waited an hour after ordering meals and no food turned up and no explanation provided for the delay. Other tables where diners arrived after us received 2 courses. We left without eating, covering our drinks costs, without an apology. We noticed another group also leaving and another table the diners said they were experiencing similar delays. Zen, Whilst I appreciate your response, it doesn’t explain seeing staff standing around on their mobile phones, staff not apologising on behalf of the owner or accepting bookings that the number of staff/chefs cannot service.

Just went in to order takeaway and they were too busy apparently to do takeaway orders even though it was 5:30pm and there was no other customers in the restaurant yet. Never been turned away for a takeaway order from any restaurant before. Pretty stupid really