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Located in the heart of Charlottesville, VA, Now & Zen is a highly-rated **Japanese Restaurant Charlottesville** locals love for its fresh ingredients and authentic flavors. We serve a variety of traditional favorites, from expertly crafted **Sushi Near Me** to hearty bowls at our **Ramen Restaurant Charlottesville**. Our chefs take pride in preparing the **Best Sushi Rolls** and **Fresh Sashimi Charlottesville**, served in a modern yet cozy atmosphere. Whether you’re joining us for one of our popular **Japanese Lunch Specials** or exploring our diverse dinner offerings, you’ll find **Authentic Japanese Cuisine** made with precision and passion. Prefer a night in? Try our quick and convenient **Sushi Takeout Charlottesville**
Modern, intimate eatery serving classic sushi & eclectic Japanese/Asian mains, plus vegan options.
Hours
| Wednesday | 5–9 PM |
| Thursday | 5–9 PM |
| Friday | 5–9 PM |
| Saturday | 5–9 PM |
| Sunday | 5–9 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 5–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 202 2nd St NW, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 971-1177
Website: https://nowandzen.hrpos.heartland.us/menu
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
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Now and Zen! Order now. OPEN Tuesday – Sunday 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm. (We try … Location & Hours. Now and Zen 202 2nd Street NW CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia 22902
Now & Zen restaurant – Facebook
Now & Zen restaurant. 2490 likes. ~ Gourmet Japanese~ Sushi Restaurant ~ In Downtown Charlottesville ~ Across From McGuffey Art Center ~
Now and Zen Sushi | Visit Charlottesville
Now and Zen Sushi. 202 Second Street NW Charlottesville, Virginia 22902. (434) 971-1177. Stay Connected. Join Our Email Newsletter. Sign Up. Stay Connected.
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Reviews
Jessica A
This restaurant was phenomenal. I can’t say more about how lovely the service was.
I arrived with a work colleague about 15m before the location opened and met the busser/dishwasher out front who gave us all the best recommendations. He advised us to chat up the server who could advise us on exactly what to get. Boy was he correct! Tell your waiter what your preferences are and they can make recommendations to satisfy your taste.
What a phenomenal experience! Wine, saki, sashimi, sushi, miso soup, flan…. The entire experience was a 10.
… moreI arrived with a work colleague about 15m before the location opened and met the busser/dishwasher out front who gave us all the best recommendations. He advised us to chat up the server who could advise us on exactly what to get. Boy was he correct! Tell your waiter what your preferences are and they can make recommendations to satisfy your taste.
What a phenomenal experience! Wine, saki, sashimi, sushi, miso soup, flan…. The entire experience was a 10.
Heather R
Delicious food and the waiter was so friendly and helpful! He gave us some great suggestions on what to order and recommended that we dip the sushi in the chili oil from the dumplings, which we did and it was delicious! Really nice people and space and great prices for what you get.
… moreJen Yang
Great service and lovely staff. The sashimi was fresh and interior decor is kept minimal. Only caveat was that ginger had to be asked for and the chopsticks were disposable. Prices are decent, definitely would recommend for dinner.
… moreWoojin Kye
I made a 4 hour trip to find out the owner recently changed. Not that there is anything wrong with someone buying a business, but the food was simply terrible.
The rice was not cooked properly for sushi. I am not sure if they keep the sushi inventory at proper temperature. Wasabi looked like it was about to go bad. Sushi cuts for chirashi were too big and not trimmed properly. Rolls were sticked together. Some parts of rice were more sour.
Everything was edible. But chirashi bowl and rolls were worse than some of the better made supermarket sushi.
The lady that looked like a new owner asked me how everything was when I was heading out. I was about to tell her the above points in the hopes that the place gains back its old quality. But she turned her head and walked away immediately after asking me the question. I still hope the new owner reads this and improves the quality for their own sake.
… moreThe rice was not cooked properly for sushi. I am not sure if they keep the sushi inventory at proper temperature. Wasabi looked like it was about to go bad. Sushi cuts for chirashi were too big and not trimmed properly. Rolls were sticked together. Some parts of rice were more sour.
Everything was edible. But chirashi bowl and rolls were worse than some of the better made supermarket sushi.
The lady that looked like a new owner asked me how everything was when I was heading out. I was about to tell her the above points in the hopes that the place gains back its old quality. But she turned her head and walked away immediately after asking me the question. I still hope the new owner reads this and improves the quality for their own sake.
Ram Chico
Our recent dining experience at Now & Zen offered a delightful mix of dishes, highlighting their strengths with a few areas for potential enhancement. Here’s a closer look:
The Pokebowl was undoubtedly the star of our meal, featuring impeccably fresh ingredients that blended harmoniously to create a truly enjoyable dish. Each component was well-balanced, showcasing the restaurant’s commitment to quality and flavor.
While the California Maki showcased creativity by using avocado instead of mangoes, it provided a creamy twist that, while enjoyable, missed the usual fruity sweetness we expected. It’s a unique take that might appeal to those looking for a different flavor profile.
The Tempura Roll, while not as standout as the Pokebowl, still offered a decent crunch and flavor. It complemented the meal well, though it didn’t leave as strong of an impression as some of the other dishes.
The Beef Gyudon pleasantly surprised us with its flavorful combination of tender beef and well-seasoned rice. It was a comforting and satisfying choice that showcased the kitchen’s skill in preparing traditional Japanese dishes.
The only disappointment was the Spicy Ramen, which lacked the depth and richness we anticipated. It resembled instant ramen more than a gourmet bowl, missing the mark compared to the other offerings.
Overall, Now & Zen excels in delivering delicious dishes like the Pokebowl and Beef Gyudon, highlighting their ability to create satisfying flavors. With some adjustments to dishes like the California Maki and Spicy Ramen, they could elevate their entire menu to consistently impressive levels.
… moreThe Pokebowl was undoubtedly the star of our meal, featuring impeccably fresh ingredients that blended harmoniously to create a truly enjoyable dish. Each component was well-balanced, showcasing the restaurant’s commitment to quality and flavor.
While the California Maki showcased creativity by using avocado instead of mangoes, it provided a creamy twist that, while enjoyable, missed the usual fruity sweetness we expected. It’s a unique take that might appeal to those looking for a different flavor profile.
The Tempura Roll, while not as standout as the Pokebowl, still offered a decent crunch and flavor. It complemented the meal well, though it didn’t leave as strong of an impression as some of the other dishes.
The Beef Gyudon pleasantly surprised us with its flavorful combination of tender beef and well-seasoned rice. It was a comforting and satisfying choice that showcased the kitchen’s skill in preparing traditional Japanese dishes.
The only disappointment was the Spicy Ramen, which lacked the depth and richness we anticipated. It resembled instant ramen more than a gourmet bowl, missing the mark compared to the other offerings.
Overall, Now & Zen excels in delivering delicious dishes like the Pokebowl and Beef Gyudon, highlighting their ability to create satisfying flavors. With some adjustments to dishes like the California Maki and Spicy Ramen, they could elevate their entire menu to consistently impressive levels.
Emma Guarino
Spicy tuna and salmon are spicy with Tabasco sauce!!! It was so interesting and so gross that I didn’t finish the meal. Also, the rolls were mostly rice.
… moreben b
The food was phenomenal!! The miso gyoza is a must!! The atmosphere is real quaint and vibey, real cozy for sure; however the service me and my girlfriend received was not the best. We went in at 7:30 and the server not only made us feel rushed, but he gave my girlfriend something totally different from what they ordered (still delicious but) and also charged us twice for said incorrect item. Aside from that, the food was fantastic and I would recommend it if you’re in the area!!
… moreTetra Grammaton
Nice change of pace for a sushi restaurant. Staff knowledgeable about food. Fish very fresh. Gyoza had a weird flavor and was not very appetizing. One of our dishes was brought out incorrectly as the waiter did not hear the order correctly – probably a simple miscommunication. The rolls are VERY large so beware. Restaurant was clean. Food came out reasonably quickly but I could see a wait if they were busy. Parking is a definite issue so plan for this. Also, looks to be very busy Friday and Saturday so come earlier. Would definitely recommend one try this for sushi in Charlottesville.
… moreHenrique Lopes
Good local sushi spot that has become very aggressive and rude over tips on take out orders! Multiple friends have had a bad experience recently. It’s disappointing as this has been our favorite in the past, but now we feel discouraged.
… morePanagiotis Apostolellis
Decent sushi place in the downtown mall. Lots of options with reasonable prices. Serving was ok but it always irritates me when servers will grab plates in front of you while still eating. And then bring the bill kindly telling you to get out of there and empty the table. Such a different mentality from the typical eatery in Europe or most other places around the world!
… more