Koko Zen is a traditional Japanese cafe in Tel Aviv-Yafo, blending Japanese aesthetics with Israeli influences. It features a unique bohemian shabby chic decor, including a small river with fish inside, creating a cozy, chill, and vibrant atmosphere. The cafe is known for its authentic Japanese vibes, unique coffee experience, and is part of the Koko Neko family. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Customers highly praise Koko Zen for its amazing, fluffy, and generous Japanese pancakes, often describing them as a 'must-visit.' The authentic and beautifully designed Japanese-Israeli decor, featuring a calm and relaxing ambiance, is frequently highlighted. Reviewers appreciate the friendly staff and the cafe's suitability for socializing or a relaxing day out. While generally positive, some minor feedback noted that pancakes could sometimes be served lukewarm, and the matcha latte was considered 'okay.' The cafe can experience crowding and busy queues, especially on Friday mornings.
Additional Details
Koko Zen is a relatively new establishment and is part of the Koko Neko family of restaurants/cafes. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Vegetarian options available (e.g., savory avocado pancake)
Best Times to Visit
It is advisable to arrive early, particularly on Friday mornings, as the cafe can have lines forming even before its official opening time of 11:00 AM.
4
I was here for breakfast and really enjoyed food here. Everything was delicious and the portions are quite big. Would recommend. The queue to the cafe was forming right from the opening and didn’t get any smaller while I was there, but I’d say the food is worst waiting.
Review Title: Loved Koko Neko, but terrible service experience at Koko Zen.
Review Text:
We visited both locations on the same day, and the experiences were completely opposite.
At Koko Neko, everything was absolutely amazing! The ramen was incredibly delicious, the gyoza was top-notch, and the pink lemonade was a total wow. A well-deserved 5 stars; we left happy and gladly tipped the staff.
However, we then moved to Koko Zen for desserts, and the evening was completely ruined. The service there was incredibly dry and unwelcoming. It felt like the waitress just wanted us to leave as quickly as possible because it was close to the end of her shift. When we asked her to explain a drink with white Japanese peach, she gave a lazy answer: "Just peach," without any proper explanation.
Even though the service was poor and rushed, we still decided to leave her the change from our cash payment (9 NIS). Instead of a simple "thank you," she looked at the money and aggressively demanded more, saying: "10% is not included in the bill, did you leave me 10%? You must pay a 10% tip for the service."
What service? Forcing guests out and being rude is not service. I would like to remind the management that demanding tips, pressuring guests, or claiming that tipping is mandatory is a major breach of restaurant etiquette and a direct violation of Israeli law. Tipping is strictly at the guest's discretion. It is a shame that the aggressive and unlawful behavior of one staff member at Koko Zen completely ruined the great impression left by Koko Neko. I truly hope management takes action.
Arrived on Friday morning. Even though the place officially opens at 11:00 AM, there was already a line about 30 minutes beforehand, and they do open exactly on time.
We ordered two kinds of Japanese pancakes: a savory avocado pancake, as I’m vegetarian, and the Osaka sweet option with amarena cherries, cream, and pistachio. The flavors were nice, but both pancakes were quite cold, somewhere between warm and cold, which was a bit disappointing.
I also had a matcha latte, which was okay and nothing special.
Overall, it’s a nice, cozy spot to spend time chatting with a friend. The atmosphere is chill, and the Japanese-style décor is really lovely, which makes it a pleasant place to sit and relax.
A must visit place! Very authentic! The pancakes very fluffy and amazing. My kids enjoyed their hot and cold chocolade drinks. I really enjoyed jello coffee
