Zen Sushi to Go - St. Julian's — Restaurant in Saint Julian's

I had initially tried to book a table at their portomaso restaurant on a Saturday night, but since it was fully booked I thought I'd try their Zen to go outlet. What a mistake that was! We entered a busy restaurant and were seated. I had to make an effort to make our order as we were forgotten in the corner. Once we ordered, the long wait began! The food took a good 45 minutes to come out! We were literally about to walk out until we saw they were plating our dishes at the sushi bar. What annoyed us the most was the complete focus of the staff on their delivery orders. They completely ignored the guests that were right under their nose in order to accommodate courier deliveries. I joked with my partner that it would have been quicker to order via an app rather than have the order processed as seated guests! To add insult to injury, there was no sign of apology or even communication from the staff about the delay. When the food actually came, it was quite mediocre! The rice was mushy and tasteless. After seeing their delivery service production line, and having been left waiting for ages, we were able to have a good look at their preparation methods. Gone are the traditional methods of fanning sushi rice, blending in vinegar and sugar, and gently cutting through the rice to mix and cool. Instead staff were bringing out still steaming hot rice, still in the rice cooker! When it comes to the fish, the tuna on the nigiri was cut and stretched so thin that it was almost translucent! Prawn tempura in the rolls was quite thick, and the supposed crab temaki at 5 euro each were made with surimi sticks!(not specified on menu!) When it comes to the condiments, these were your usual 'made in China' poor quality items. Of particular note was the wasabi, but the ginger and soy sauce were also poor. As someone who has traveled extensively in Japan I can confidently say that their whole menu is pseudo Asian made to appeal to Western tastes. At the end of the meal we got up to pay but had to wait a minute or 2 until the staff member punched in our order from scratch into their point of sale. that was a first! The bill was around 40 Euro for 2 rolls, 4 nigiri and 2 temaki and a beer and soft drink. When considering the small size of their rolls, and the quality of the food I would say that this was a total waste. I definitely won't be...

If you’re a sushi lover or even someone curious to try it out, ZEN to Go Sushi & More in St Julian’s is an absolute must-visit! Conveniently located in the heart of this vibrant area, ZEN to Go sets the bar high for sushi dining in Malta. As a local, I’ve tried several sushi places across the island, and I can confidently say this is the best by far.

The food was exceptional—every bite was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The wide selection of sushi on the menu caters to all tastes, and what truly impressed me was how the menu includes pictures of each dish along with the full list of ingredients. It makes choosing your meal so much easier, especially if you're new to sushi. They also go above and beyond to accommodate different dietary needs with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options available, which is a huge plus.

The service was flawless. The staff were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu, always happy to offer recommendations or clarify any questions. They made the dining experience even more enjoyable.

The attention to detail, from the presentation of the food to the care in customer service, is unparalleled. I’ll definitely be returning—and often! Whether you’re a local like me or just visiting Malta, this spot should absolutely be on your list. Check out my attached photos and videos to see the quality and artistry for yourself....

Basically just a take away or delivery service. They only have two tables inside to eat. We went there to grab a small bite to eat. Atmosphere to sit inside is not the best but it's not a restaurant so totally fine. Food is outstanding and you can watch them prepare everything. It's really great tasting and best quality. We definitely go back there. Being used to excellent sushi in NY and now unfortunately being limited to sushi availability in southern Germany this was one of the highlights of our vacation in Malta. Highly recommendable. Only downside, as it's a take away, are the non environmental friendly small packages of the soy sauce and wasabi. Sushi creations are very creative and it was fun and delicious to try...