Zen Kafe in Shepway

First of all, this restaurant is a good value, and the atmosphere inside is nice. And it does seem to draw in groups of people. So far so good. However... The food does not seem to be expertly cooked by someone who really knows about chinese food. The taste of the dishes is okay but nothing to write home about. The so-called teriaki beef was drowned in soy sauce. Usually teriaki is a glaze made of soy, honey, ginger and sesame seeds. The kung pao chicken was simply a standard sweet and sour chicken with a few cashews thrown in. That is not at all the real recipe for a kung po chicken. And the sweet and sour sauce doesn't seem homemade either. This is a bit tragic if you are a true fan of Chinese food. Added to that the fact that the service was incredibly lackluster: the server just kind of plunked the food down on our table barely giving us the time of day. Fortunately We didn't experience the curmudgeonly attitude of the chef/manager that is highted in a couple of other recent reviews, but that's a bit troubling as well. If you want a sort-of chinese type meal you could do worse but don't expect anything really authentic. (I wish I could suggest where else to go in Folkestone for a decent chinese meal.) Value: 5 Atmosphere: 4 Food: 2 Service: 3

We arrived at 5:30 on a weekday (the restaurant was empty), we asked where we could sit and a very pleasant waitress said anywhere. So we chose a table to be told, no we couldn’t sit there as it was booked (no reservation sign on it). So we chose another table and this time the cook/manager came rushing out saying the table was booked at 8pm (2.5 hours later). The cook then proceeded to berate the waitress, telling her off about giving tables away that were booked, within earshot of us. So we felt very welcome - not!! We naturally decided to leave and go somewhere with a better vibe, so got up and went to leave, suggesting to the cook that he might consider treating customers better. He then decided to give us a torrent of abuse, telling us to f### off, he wouldn’t cook for us etc. He was very uptight and on edge as soon as we walked in - we’re 2 gay men and felt a whiff of homophobia. Truly disturbing and bizarre. I’d suggest you invest in reservation signs and keep the cook well away from customers (unless they’re heterosexual). We ended up in a restaurant a couple of doors up, were treated superbly and had a great evening. When we walked past the Zen Kafe later it was still empty which is sad but not a surprise.

Tonight, my mate and I embarked on what can only be described as a culinary journey of epic proportions, guided by the legendary Ben, the maestro of the menu at Zen Cafe. It's not every day you come across a waiter who doesn't just serve food but serves wisdom. Ben, with a sparkle in his eye that could rival the cutlery, recommended we try the katsu curry. Calling it "legendary" might seem like an understatement; it was like finding the Holy Grail, but edible and without having to deal with a crusade. But let's not allow the katsu curry to overshadow the other stars of the show. The Singapore noodles were a symphony of flavors, each strand a virtuoso playing in perfect harmony. And by "other stuff," I mean an array of dishes that could easily be mistaken for the culinary lineup of a royal feast. Every bite was an exploration of Asia's finest offerings. The price? Let's just say you won't need to auction off family heirlooms to enjoy a meal here. It's as if the pricing was designed by a benevolent deity who understands the value of superb dining without the need to consult your bank app with a trembling finger. In conclusion, if you're scrolling through endless options wondering where your next meal should be, consider this a sign. Zen Cafe, with Ben as your culinary guide, is not just a meal; it's an experience. One that will have you returning faster than you can say "extra servings, please." This place gets my highest recommendation – not just as a dining spot, but as a beacon of joy for taste buds worldwide. Remember, a meal without laughter is a meal wasted. And at Zen Cafe, the only thing you'll be wasting is...actually, you won't waste anything; it's all too delicious

Absolutely love coming to the Zen Kafe. I had the mushrooms to start, with Zen Mixed and Salt & Chilli Fries for mains. We were planning for an upcoming holiday, and the staff did not try and rush us out the door - In fact, we were there for 4 hours in all.

Ordered a tofu and vegetable dish. When it came I realised there were only 2 bits of tofu so queried this with the waitress. She brought me more but then i discovered when it came to paying the bill that I'd been charged for it. If the restaurant felt that 2 bits of tofu in the meal was reasonable then they should have said this rather than mislead me into thinking they were addressing my query by giving me more and not mentioning the additional charge.

Craving something that I won't cook for myself and dropped by here late o a cold Thursday in January. The restaurant and welcome were warm and we could sit almost anywhere as there were just a few patrons (most restaurants here are closed during Jan). The starter of oriental ribs had the best sauce I've had outside of fancy London places) withmeltinglysoft meat. The pumpkin croquettes were not too strongly flavoured and had a good chilli dip. The mains were Satay and Szechuan chicken, with a very good Singapore rice. Portions were generous and extremely flavoursome along with a reasonable amount of chilli on the rice and Szechuan. Staff were top class, attentive but retired to allow you to eat and enjoy. Overall a fusion that works and we appreciated the flavours and textures. We also talked with the owner/chef and will try the recipe for "confinement soup" which isn't on menu, but is delicious.

Ate here on Friday 6th January whilst out exploring. Possibly the best Chinese I've had for a long time. They advised us to share the special fried rice as were going to order 1 each and was good advice as it was a very generous bowl. If I'm in the area again would definitely go back

Food was really tasty and it was affordable compared to other places...

Food was delicious as was service. Portions perfect size . Pudding was also delicious

Quality food freshly cooked at reasonable rates . Lovely ambiance . More people should try this pan Asian diner.

I haven't ratwd flr atmosphere as we had a takeaway. But service was very wuick and polite. Food was great. We will definitely be visiting again and eating in.

Return visit after some time.Tuesday night quiet everywhere in Folkestone but Zen pretty busy.Their successful formula is good food,reasonable prices and friendly efficient service. Nice selection of curries,rice noodles etc so spoilt for choice-we had smoked chicken,satay and crispy chilli beef for starters and mains were 2 katsu curries[one lemon] and kungpo chicken-plus 2 soft drinks and one beer.Food tasty and very good portions-nearly all customers had containers to take home food they were unable to finish.With mains about £7 and rice with it for £3 you can eat pretty well for £10-12 which these days is pretty good-our bill for 3 was £50. Strange kitsch decor but thats part of its charm.

Great food and customer service. Seems that they changed the menu for the better. Portion sizes could be bigger.

An amazing little Chinese that delivers on all fronts. The food was served hot, extremely tasty and not oily or too salty. The service was great too and always with a smile. Plus, the prices are very fair and offer fantastic value. We recommend the beef in black bean sauce too!

Lovely food, friendly service and reasonable prices. Will definitely go back if I'm in the area.

What a great way to spend an evening, staff were excellent food was amazing with just the right portion sizes and arrived quickly, would definitely recommend this lovely restaurant to anyone.

Really nice food and vegan options.

Sadly not a great experience for me. While the food was adequate, service was very poor. The starter came up the same time as the main course and the waitress seemed perplexed when I asked for the main to be kept hot. In addition those coming in after me were served first. Would not recommend.

Friendly staff. Average food for the price

So pleased this restaurant has reopened. Its food is fresh, delicious, reasonable priced and comes in good sized portions. We always order a mixture of appetisers and share amongst us all with a side of rice each and it's a feast! Can highly recommend the wasabi prawns. Staff are attentive and friendly. Restaurant is always clean and bright. Could do with adding some cocktails to the menu to complete the vibe but that's just a personal preference. Highly recommend.

Me and my fiancé absolutely love going here, the food is incredible. We took my fiancés sons with us and even the oldest enjoyed trying new food and said he wanted to come back. Service is always excellent.

Still great food and very good pricing, definitely be returning

Absolutely unbelievable experience. Arrived at 13:20, no front of house so sat down on a table with two friends, after 3 minutes lady comes and throws, yes throws, menu's at us and said we should have waited to be seated, clearly unacceptable. Head Chef or owner came out and said if we have a problem, which we didn't then leave. We left, one table occupied, level of service, below zero

Lovely food and excellent service . We were delighted at the flavours achieved . Quality belies it’s exterior appearance

Fantastic chef, freshly prepared food and knowledgeable waitresses.

Literally the best chinese I've ever been too 😋

Food was very nice, came out quick and service was brilliant. Thank you and see you again x

Absolutely amazing great munch enjoyed it truly. Bosh

Authentic Asian food. Fresh, well cooked and well priced. Recommended.

With the recent menu revamp streamlining the options Zen Kafe is able to shine where it counts, delivering great food, with great service.

Popped in at lunch for a quick bite, very friendly staff and amazed how good the food was lovely.

Good food good service and a reasonable price, but nothing special to write about.

This place really is the best! Always a lovely atmosphere, delicious food and good portions. Chicken katsu curry is amazing!

Service was quick and friendly. Slight mishap with our order but it was immediately corrected. Quite an extensive menu to choose from. Kung po chicken, salt and chili prawns and won ton ramen were really tasty. Reasonably priced. I'd definitely go there again!

We had a nice evening out, but we would not rush back there again. There was nothing bad - service was good, atmosphere was OK, food was tasty, and price was reasonable. Can't really fault it, but it did not 'click' with us for a special evening out. It probably is more of a lunchtime place. Perhaps the clue is in the name 'Zen CAFE' Our recommendation is to try it and see if it is 'your cup of tea'

Stunning venue. Friendly, helpful staff, exceptional food, reasonable prices. Well worth visit.

Good at Zen is simply fabulous!

Visited the Zen Kafe recently and had an amazing experience. The staff were friendly and very helpful, and the food itself was fantastic! My partner and I both went with a big noodle bowl and to say the portions are generous really doesn't do it justice. We were presented with a huge bowl of delicious noodles each. The broth was light and flavourful, the noodles springy and perfectly cooked. I wholeheartedly recommend giving this place a try if you're in the mood for ramen.

Cross between a noodle bar and Chinese restaurant.

Food was as good as always especially the smoked chicken, very clean,and staff very pleasant and helpful.

Excellent food and attentive well meaning service... also good vfm

Delicious food and amazing service. Atmosphere slightly lacking but the crispy chilli beef was so good we ordered an extra portion! Don’t be put off the food is banging!

Excellent food here. Very impressed. Had read good reviews but was better than I expected. Chilli beef and salt and pepper prawns especially good

Ate here for the first time today with my daughter and it was brilliant. Fast service and exceptional food. Waiter was very friendly and efficient. Be warned - generous portions so you might want to ask for a doggy bag! Can't wait to come back.

By far the best take-away we've eaten in the area. The chicken satay skewars were amazing! Will definitely be back.

Nice cafe..amazing food..economical price Recommend

What a great find! Really engaging owner who took the time to chat to us about the food. We shared a mix of starters and mains and all were not only delicious but really inventive and plentiful. We visiting Folkestone fairly regularly and this will now be a definite on the check list for the next visit. Go and you’ll not be disappointed

Me and my partner were visiting for the evening I had previously found this place online and read the reviews.Well we were not disappointed!To look at from the front it doesn’t look all that but I can honestly say it is one of the nicest Chinese’s I have ever tasted and I’ve had a lot. The girls that worked in there were very friendly and helpful chatting away to us making sure we were ok and if we needed anything.The food portions were excellent we were stuffed when we left. And the price was so cheap compared to London prices.We would definitely recommend it and we will definitely be back.Thank you for making our visit such an enjoyable one!

Great restaurant with a fabulous waitress. I went with a friend and the dishes were reasonably priced with great portions for the price. I love the honey ribs they had and all of the food came quick and delicious. I would recommend and I would come again in the future.

WOW!!!! What a a surprise find this place is, we fancied Asian food but didn’t know the area, so good old google suggested this little gem! From the outside you wonder if this place lives up to its reviews. Well if far out reach the reviews, every table was fun & we had to wait a little while for a table to become free. I’m so glad we did, the food was freshly prepared & the tastes of everything, prawns in sweet & sour sauce you could taste the prawn as well as the sauce, honey spare ribs just melted in your mouth, satay chicken the sauce was to die for!! The waitresses were friendly & informative. This was our first visit but it will not be our last.

We had lunch here on a quiet Tuesday and absolutely loved it. The wasabi prawns and the chilli pork ribs starters were divine. We had the Zen special with egg noodles and the chicken sate mains which were also perfect and utterly delicious. The cook/owner and the gorgeous waitress were also equally delightful. The flavours were completely authentic and the cooking of a very high standard. Very generous portions meant we revisited the delights at home the next day. Wish Zen was in Thanet. Go go go you’ll love it!

This was our first visit to Zen Cafe. It was for a birthday meal for me and my family. It was by far the best Chinese meal we have had. The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating. The variety of food on the menu was excellent and there were quite a few dishes wed not seen before, which made for a very interesting and fabulous meal. The portions were generous and it's was no more expensive than a takeaway meal for 6, which we do regularly. I only have one criticism - the loo could do with updating and paper towels or a hand dryer would be more hygienic, especially in the current Covid climate. Despite that small issue, the food was excellent and we will definitely be visiting again. Thank you Zen Cafe for a lovely evening.

Simply Amazing... Food & Service 11 out of 10. Please Relocate to Croydon so I can taste your delicious food weekly.. if not I will drive the 1hr 13 minutes to satisfy my taste buds.... Simply Amazing... Enough Said..

Plenty of food and very tasty. Staff great.

Food is always amazing and so is the hospitality.. I always leave zen cafe very happy 😊

Thanks for a lovely freshly made delicious lunch and warm welcome. We will be back.

Really nice here. Can't wait for it to open.

Excellent, well managed and polite takeaway service. Food quality is same as always.

Food great as always and Covid safety measures great.

Fab place.. Food is amazing... Staff very friendly.. Good price

Great Thai and Chinese restaurant, went here recently for a meal, staff were friendly and recommended some great food to us all. food came quickly and tasted great!

My girlfriend and I came here on a whim recently and had the most delicious appetizers. Best chicken satay and salt and chilli ribs I've ever eaten! Wonderfully friendly staff, too.

Simply the best place to eat in all of Folkestone! The food is always perfectly prepared and served. The staff are friendly, inviting and attentive without being in your face. The layout is homey, clean and cozy but also allows for intimacy at your own tables. But more importantly, the menu is large and (having had everything on it at some time or another) we can safely say: delicious!

This is a must if you come to Folkestone the food is amazing and you never feel rushed to leave but the one thing that you remember is the warm and very friendly staff they always remember you and make that extra effort to make you visit first class

I came here with a few friends and we were all blown away by the incredible standards of the foodWe will 110% be coming back as soon as possible, Friendly Staff, Amazing Food, Beautiful Decoration, and a great menu and selection of foodEasily the best Chinese cuisine in Folkestone and possibly in the whole of Kent Definitely my favourite place in the town

First visit, won't be my last! The food is so delicious. Was great for my family which includes a toddler and twin babies. Only feedback would be that the decor needs a bit of tlc but apart from that very happy.

We had a truly fantastic meal the other evening. The food was incredibly tasty and fresh. We would definitely recommend it and will make a return visit.

Girlfriend actually said "I feel like this is the best Chinese I have ever had." And we have tried a lot of Chinese :-)

Been shielding , now I am aloud back out could not wait to eat from my favourite restaurant. Food as always superb, yummy scrummy. Highly recommend, your missing out. Flavours are incredible. Thanks for another great meal ,Zen cafe.

I am a long term tri weekly customer and will continue to be such for as long as they keep up these excellent standards.

Great food. Good service. Which is all that you want for a nice evening out .

My best mate and I go here quite often. As stated above, when you have a great choice of yummy food, great price, and great staff, (Love Caitlin 'cos of her ink and bling, like me!) then you're onto a winner. One of my fave places in Folkestone. Well done on the Excellence Award!

Zen Cafe is one of my favourite places to eat in Folkestone. Every time I’ve had their food, wether it’s takeaway or eat in, its been fantastic. Perfect portion sizes and the food is high quality. The restaurant is clean, and nicely decorated. The staff is so friendly and welcoming it always completes the experience.

Lovely staff. Food fresh, tasty and reasonably priced. Good size portions. Decor could do with an update, but worth going for the food alone.would Def visit again.

Another cracking meal. Having visited on quite a few previous occasions we decided on another visit. Not disappointed in the slightest. Delicious dishes start to finish, smoked chicken and Gyoza to start followed by Singapore noodles, special ramen and teriyaki special. DELICIOUS. I mentioned what a shame you’re not open on a Sunday, the lovely lady (sorry can’t remember names) said, “hang on, just had a call about a table for 16 on Sunday, I’ll ask the boss!” Hey presto, opening this Sunday! 29Th Dec, so of you’re looking for a lovely dinner Sunday evening, give them a try!

Popped in for lunch on a Saturday. Very glad we did, a really good find. Food was really good and staff were lovely. Look forward to our next visit.

Zen kafe is a hidden gem for Chinese food in Folkestone. The food is good value for money and the service friendy. I dare anyone to finish the Won tong soup main course.

Friendly service, absolutely delicious food and I enjoy eating in and also having a take away! There is new management at this restaurant and they are only able to accept cash payments at the moment. Update... We had the most amazing meal tonight. The appetizers were absolutely delicious. The service was great as usual and the staff were able to advice us about the choices available to us. I look forward to going again.

Fabulous dim sum starters, fried prawns in a wasabi dressing, astonishing wun ton noodles in a broth full of fresh vegetables. Can't wait to return and so close to home. Thanks to my best neighbour for discovering this treasure!!!

The squid is brilliant. Tom yum very good. I would prefer for the Szechuan pork to have more kick. Will be coming back.

Although the entrance to the restaurant & the decor was out dated, but as we walked in, it was a warm welcome.We were served by Stephanie & ordered 5 different dishes. Every single dish was delicious & full of flavour.Highly recommend this restaurant & we will definitely be back.

I have been a customer of the Zen Cafe, Folkestone for MANY years. It has long been a favourite of 3 generations of my family. The food is excellent, the staff are very friendly and helpful and the prices extremely good. I highly recommend it.

1st class service, 1st class food without the 1st class price. Warm and welcoming, staff can't do enough. I always try to visit when I'm in Kent visiting. Can't recommend this cafe enough

The staff themselves were absolutely wonderful and incredibly polite, they were more than happy to share suggestions and their own opinions of items on the menu without coming across as pushy. The food itself could not be flawed, it was not only rich in flavour and nutritional value but also pleasantly affordable with some very handsome portion sizes, 10/10 would recommend.

I have been eating here for over a decade so, I was a bit concerned when it was taken over by new management. One month has passed and I am pleased to say that the food is stll as fresh and interesting as ever. Currently Max, the former owner, is working in the kitchen but, I noticiced some subtal changes such as more corn flour thickening in the mixed veg and Zen special.The garlic and chilli sweet potato fries / pork ribs were all perfectly cooked and tasted devine.I hope that the new managers don't relax and continue to follow the extreemly high standards maintained by Max for so long.Good luck, keep it fresh and you will sucede.

Very lovely place. Food is always amazing and cooked to a high standard. Staff is polite helpful and friendly. Highly recommended.

Arrived late on Thursday night, we were the only table, the food was really lovely I had prawn Pad thai it was delicious and tasty others had dishes with rice it was clean plates all round, all reasonably priced. Staff polite and friendly would recommend.

Super good food, really good value for money (we got 2 mains, 2 desserts, 2 beers and a starter for less than 35£) and friendly staff : superb!!

This place is great very friendly staff and great food i normaly have the Katsu Curry which is outstanding

Not much to look at from the outside and inside it’s quite basic,but the menu and food are fab.Loads to choose from on the menu and it looks and tastes great.The staff are so friendly and helpful and the prices are very realistic.It’s a Winner!

Truly the greatest restaurant in Folkestone, have been a sort-of regular. Staff are nice, food is honestly amazing, pretty reasonable prices. BRING CASH!! They don’t have a card machine. Highly recommend the Ebi Katsu and the smoked chicken.

Fantastic food and excellent, friendly service from attentive staff - congratulations everybody, well done

Wow Folkestone has really got some good restaurants now and this is one of them. Again had been meaning to try for a while as recommended by so many. Great dumplings, lovely satay noodles all the food looks great. A Friday night and quite busy but service still great.

WASABI PRAWNS! We love the Zen Cafe. The waitress was lovely and as eclectic as the place itself. We ordered a Zen Combo (duck and pork in a yummy sauce), honey ribs (sweet and soft), egg fried rice and sweet wasabi prawns. Everything was really tasty but the sweet wasabi prawns were spectacular! Wasabi is spicy like mustard but the sauce on these prawns had only a hint of wasabi and sweetness. If you are ever in Folkestone at least try the wasabi prawns.

Lovely food and a warm welcome!

Delicious food and amazing staff :)

Very good food, excellent service

So much food, staff are amazing, and prices are great. Love it there.

Ok it was a quiet Tuesday night with only 4 of us in all evening. But it was great food and great value! Will be back!

Really disappointed with the food. Far too pricey for the quality of the food which was sub par. On a positive note really friendly staff but will not visit again.