Zaku Izakaya 520 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA 02118

"I had relatively high expectation as the ratings were pretty high (when I wrote this review it was about 4.9). The food was okay. The ramen was not authentic and the Chashu was not well marinated. There were better ramen around the area. The bibimbap was a bit expensive but it was not bad. The atmosphere was a bit noisy too."

"My husband and I get takeout from here (formerly Shun’s) once a month or so. Pickup is always straightforward and everything is packed nicely. Spicy basil chicken and fried rice are our favorites, but we also occasionally get maki rolls and shishito peppers. The folks working at pickup are so nice- thanks for being a reliable dinner spot in South End!"

"**NOTE: I've amended this review which had previously listed a service charge that was erroneously charged to us on our initial visit. It has since been resolved. I've added additional items we've tried on our second return below (1 week later).** RIP to Shun's Kitchen! Came here on a Thursday evening at ~530pm and was seated with no issues. Interior décor is very nice and staff was friendly (they offered us hot towels after we sat down!). In my opinion the Prefix Menu that they offer ($55 per person) is quite the deal and is STRONGLY recommended. You get a choice of up 2 cold and 2 hot appetizers, an entrée and a dessert. Here are the items we ordered (as of 5/2024). For the Prefix Menu: - Seaweed salad (normally $6) - Refreshing and not too heavy on the sesame oil. - Ika Wasabi (only part of a set) - This is bits of squid that is marinated in wasabi. If you like squid AND the flavoring of wasabi then this is your jam. We personally enjoyed it. - Beef Flank Steak Yakitori (normally $12) - This was great. Very tender and the soy based sauce they have on it is a great combination. Would recommend. - Saba Nanban (normally $12) - If you like mackerel then get this. The texture is akin to tuna fish in a can and has a strong fish flavor to it. Again, if you've had saba (mackerel) then you'd enjoy this. I would eat this with rice however to help diffuse the intense flavor. - Beef Bi Bim Bap (normally $23) - This comes in a hot stone bowl which is GREAT. The sauce isn't super spicy so feel free to pour it all in and mix it up! The hot stone bowl will give the rice on the bottom a delightful crunchy texture to it. Would get this again (assuming its in a stone bowl). - Green Tea Ice Cream Mochi (normally $5) - Good palate cleanser but nothing to write home about. Items we ordered separately: - Pork Belly Yakitori - $7 - Really enjoyed this one as it had a delightful light oil based sauce (with green onions) that helped compliment the pork belly. I would get this one again. - Sweet and Sour Chicken - $17 - Sleeper hit with lots of chunks of chicken breast that is well sauced and juicy on the inside with a nice crunch on the outside. Really enjoyed this dish! Comes with a small bowl of white rice. - Chashu Ramen - $20 - Nice clean broth with noodles that were cooked perfectly. This would be great on a cold day. - Zaku Combo Appetizer (9 items) - $27 - This was a fantastic way to try out a little of all their appetizers. This is perfect for sharing with 2 people and everything tasted fantastic! -Smoked Salmon and Yogurt - $5 - This dish is highly recommended. The bread that the smoked salmon and yogurt rested on was delightfully crisp with a nice chew in the middle. I would highly recommend this establishment with no reservations!"

"The food was all cooked well, there were a few things I had never had before like wasabi octopus. The staff was friendly and even gave us a complimentary appetizer. The atmosphere was probably the best part, like walking into a private slice of another world. If we were locals, I would probably make this a common spot to spend time with friends."

"ZAKU Izakaya effortlessly channels the deco vibes of Japan right here in Boston. From the moment you step in, it's like being transported to a cozy izakaya in Tokyo. If you're yearning for that authentic Japanese atmosphere, look no further. ZAKU nails it!"