Zu Izakaya Sushi Bar — Restaurant in Tempe

UPDATED review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sat at the raw bar this time for a low-key dinner with just two impeccably fresh dishes. I got the jalapeño hamachi and a trio of oysters, as selected by Chef Chris. From what I remember, I got the Satori, Chappell Creek, and (1 unidentified - I forgot) (feel free to correct me if I am wrong). The [unidentified] and Chapell Creek were possibly two of the best oysters I have had so far. I am still exploring my way around raw seafood so I look forward to coming back to try the rest of the varieties. I don't know if they rotate their oyster selection but I am going to be in for a real treat if they do! The jalapeño hamachi was delightfully fatty and so easy to enjoy as a treat. The Chef gave me pickled jalapeños on the side but I have to admit, the spice level could have been pumped up a bit more. He treated me to some wasabi and a pickled wasabi variant on the side on request and that turned the dish around for me! I loved the preserved crunch on the jalapeños and had few complaints even without the wasabi. The accompanying sauce was light, not overpowering, but just sweet enough to provide another layer of complexity for the tasteful cut of yellowtail. Overall, I really enjoyed my second visit to Zu & Pocha. I only had water on the side today, but will try to get some bubbly along with my oysters next time. I went around 8:30 PM and the place was comfortably empty. Apart from another couple, I was served with careful attention by my server, Tyler, and chef Chris. I really enjoyed having personalised attention and giving immediate feedback as I ate my food. I will be back soon to try their Tuesday/happy hour deals! I really enjoyed how intimate the ambiance felt and appreciated the laidback atmosphere as I had a really social day and wanted to unwind for a low-key dinner.

Old review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I visited Zu & Pocha for the first time yesterday and I can't believe the amount of times I went to Kuka, not giving this place a second thought! I wish I had been here before but better late than never. 😁

We ordered the Fried Soft Shell Crab legs (my first time trying soft shell crabs!) and Cheeseballs (would never get something like this but felt like something cheesy!). If it hadn't been for the crab legs to cut through the sweetness of the cheeseballs, I wouldn't have eaten half a portion of them! Part of the reason why I was able to get them down was the little green dip that came with the crab legs as well.

For main course, I ordered the Mango Roll and the Las Vegas Roll and yellowtail nigiri (2pc). I didn't try the Mango Roll but I did try one piece of the Las Vegas roll. It was probably the most well-constructed yet delicate and beautiful looking piece of sushi I've seen to date. Nothing fell out of the roll, everything stayed intact until I put into my mouth. I only had the one piece so maybe there was more to it than I gathered, but the taste lacked any sort of depth. It felt plain but high quality and to be honest, sometimes you just need to eat meat or seafood and enjoy the protein's natural taste. And for me, the Las Vegas roll really worked. My nigiri was delicious - again, just a simple bit of sushi rice laden with a luscious, creamy, and sweet yellowtail. Recently realised it's one of my favourite fish to eat and this place only strengthened my belief in yellowtail further!

Overall, I really recommend Zu and Pocha. I was feeling particularly experimental so picked stuff I personally wouldn't have in any other situation. If their "experimental" food is good, I can't wait to try some of their house recommendations! Will be...

Excited to try this place for restaurant week. Somehow when I saved my reservation through OpenTable on my calendar it posted as 8pm when it was 5:30. I called the restaurant to apologize and see if we could still get in. Angel was so friendly and accommodating and we were still able to get a table. Food was a little slow coming out, but seemed they were short staffed front and back of house and busy from restaurant week. They were sincerely apologetic and we got the honor of meeting Chef Rica! The food was SO delicious and you get very nice portions. You can tell she is passionate about her craft and it shows. We started with the Smokey, Korean Margarita which our server, Nick recommended [great suggestion!] and then Oysters which were served cold and had such a nice sweetness to them! We also ordered the Shrimp Sliders, which we ended up taking home, but they look delicious on the fluffy bun. I ordered off the Restaurant week menu which was the Baked Scallops. Loved the flavor profile of these delicious morsels, but wish the Scallops shined a little more. The Ribeye was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy with a flavorful Chimichurri along with creamy mash. My guest had the Whole Fish. It was fried perfectly to reveal the moist, flaky delicious flesh. The Tempura Vegetable side was lightly battered, super crispy and the two sauces were a perfect combination to the vegetables. Desert, a Yuja Curd which was perfectly tart served with graham crumbs and house-made marshmallow fluff that was lightly toasted was a nice ending. Each component balanced themselves and the graham crumb provided some texture. We encountered several other staff members who all were so friendly and pleasant which must be a reflection on how Tyson the Manager treats everyone. I highly suggest checking this place out as you won’t be disappointed. There were several other items on the menu we want to try, so we...

I'm visiting Arizona for the first time, and thus far, my experience with restaurants in the Tempe area has sadly been a bit subpar. I am certain there are amazing eateries, but was having difficulties finding one I could truly enjoy. Fortunately, I came across Zu & Pocha. My first impression: the interior decor is tastefully done - elegant yet simple. The ceiling displaying a mixture of wood and plants is beautifully modern.

My second impression came in the form of our server, Gwen. She was not able to answer a couple of our questions regarding the menu, but quickly got our answers; I appreciated her transparency that this was her first week working at this establishment. Her service was top-notch throughout the night: checking in with us consistently without being pushy; confirming our orders whenever needed; refilling our water glasses promptly; and bringing us requested items, such as utensils, napkins, extra minced garlic. Her bright personality made the atmosphere friendly and inviting.

Our group of 5 over-ordered because there were so many amazing-sounding food items in both the Happy Hour and general menus. And those "amazing-sounding food items" turned out to be amazingly tasty! Delicious highlights include Bossam Board; Bulgogi Japchae; Korean Spicy Chicken; and Skewers (Pork Belly, Beef, and So Tteok).

We ordered $215 worth of food and alcoholic beverages, and ended up bringing at least $50 of it to our hotel because we could not finish it all. Gwen seemed to have been kept busy by multiple tables, and we were one of the final tables to leave at 11pm. For her service and attitude, and to help welcome her a bit as a server at Zu & Pocha, I tipped her a very much deserved 35% ($75). Many thanks to the staff behind the scenes that worked on our food and made our dinner the best one in...