Zen Chay - Asian Vegan Restaurant in Köln

The food was delicious, and the staff was extremely friendly. Everything was perfect—highly recommended! Thank you for the great service. 🍽️😊

Great selection, friendly service, and a very nice atmosphere. 😊

The food was absolutely delicious. I really enjoyed it and would gladly come back.

Just had - for the 3rd time in a few months - an amazing dinner at this vegan Vietnamese spot in Cologne 🌿🥢 Seriously one of the best food experiences I’ve ever had ! Everything was super fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The summertime rolls were delicious, and the crispy tofu was next-level. The Pho Tron was really tasteful ;) And the hot banana was sooo yummy, and the Café Cot Dua, is da bomb!! The staff were really friendly too, and the atmosphere felt cozy and relaxed. Highly recommend it — even if you’re not so into vegan food, you’ll love it! 🌱✨

The food was absolutely delicious; we'd go back again and again! The bowl I ordered was also a decent portion size! You'll definitely be full 😋 The service was also top-notch 👍🏻

Fresh, delicious, healthy, and affordable—a flavor-explosive lunch accompanied by the sweet, spicy Zen Chai tea: top!

By far my favorite restaurant in Cologne.

The food was delicious. The staff is super friendly. The shop is nice and cozy. The storage is great. I highly recommend it 😊

Very tasty food and a huge selection. Highly recommended!

Everything was great, very tasty! :)

Super great restaurant!! My girlfriend and I have been here for the 4th time now to celebrate our anniversary and were once again reminded why this is our favorite restaurant 💝 A visit feels like a little bit of wellness ;) The food not only tastes incredibly good but also leaves you with a great feeling!! My personal favorite is the Buddha Bowl :) I can also recommend the tea. Served in a beautiful bowl with a cute little wooden spoon 🤭 My personal favorite is Pink Blossom, a bit sour but thoroughly warming. Like a good sauna session ;)

This is just AMAIZING! Mine and my girlfriend restaurant of choise. Went here for our first date, for Christmas and 1st year anniversary, never disappointed:) Atmosphere is calm and peaceful, personel is nice and always tries to help out! The food, oh, dont get me started is a masterpiece. genuinely one of the best vegan foods in restaurant i ever tried! the shrimp substitute is also amaizing im very glad to have found zen chay, will 100% come back again and again, and recommend to friends:)

Very tasty, very fresh, and super fast service! And a very nice atmosphere. I've tried several different dishes, and everything tastes absolutely delicious!

We've been here twice in two years and loved it both times! We'll be back :-)

Good location, pleasant atmosphere, fast service. A definite recommendation!

Everything was delicious, the salad tapas just had a bit too many spring onions for me.

A bit too much salad and onion sprouts in the tapas, but otherwise very tasty and beautifully presented, normal service, everything stayed warm :)

Really, really good food, even for me as a meat eater. Ramen is good, peanut cream is good.

Super delicious food, all vegan, and friendly service! The prices are also completely reasonable :)

We came here spontaneously: Super delicious food. Great service, and the lunch menu is very good. We both had the peanut dish and would order it again. Compared to some overly busy restaurants, this is a truly peaceful haven in Cologne. It's also a great place to eat alone. And unlike other Asian restaurants in Cologne, which left me a bit traumatized, everything here seems freshly prepared. My opinion/wish/tip: Keep offering the inexpensive lunch menu and don't expand, because your main selling point is your relaxed atmosphere and unbeatable price. Instead, go for a more expensive evening menu, which is surprising. Because I would eat anything here.

Super delicious! The menu offers a wide variety of choices. The service was also very friendly, and the food and drinks arrived quickly. The portions were decently sized. I'll be back!

Very very tasty, would come again!

Very good, generous, fast service 💛

Really delicious vegan food, great selection of sharing dishes. Delicious non-alcoholic lemonades :)

Nice service and super delicious food 👍🏼👍🏼

Very tasty and affordable lunch

Fast, tasty and fresh! Not a single lie. We've been here so many times, we've tried everything on the menu. I would love to see more gender neutral toilets :)

During our trip to Cologne, the question arose: where to eat? It had to be vegan. We chose Zen Chay and were all thrilled. The appetizers alone were so good that we were hooked (except for the super-delicious Buddha Bowl). The homemade lemonades were fantastic. And the dessert was excellent, too. The service was on point, and we always want to come back. A real "go here!!!"

All the dishes were absolutely delicious. We ordered almost exclusively appetizers, and the three of us were very full. And it was beautifully presented, too!

Value for money was excellent. Vegan-friendly. Good food and drinks. Cash is king, because, in Germany.

Everything was really delicious and beautifully presented

Had the Hanoi soup and the avocado and pear tempura, both outstanding!! I accidentally stumbled across this little place by the church of the twelve apostles when I was starving and it filled the hole very nicely. The food was absolutely delicious, big portions, very reasonable prices and I was looking at everyone else’s food and it all looked absolutely delectable! Would love to return when I’m next in Cologne!

Small but fine selection for lunch.

Attentive staff and fast service. The food was delicious.

The food was very tasty and the staff was very friendly and attentive.

The food is soooo delicious and the atmosphere is very cozy.

A very nice vegan restaurant. The food was excellent and the drinks were good too. Unfortunately, it's not for everyday dining as it's quite expensive, but it's great for a special occasion!

Very unfriendly service, the waiter had a bad face from the start. We weren't allowed to order tap water with our meal. He ended up getting unreasonably angry and banging on dishes because we didn't want to eat there. Truly embarrassing.

Honestly overrated, expensive and not worth the money. The selection of sushi and drinks really sucks. We got Ramen and Avocado sushi and it just tasted bland and simply bad. The drinks were all looks and no taste, taste like cheap syrup with water and frozen fruits. Service was friendly and fast tho. Overall Do not recommend

It's impossible to describe; you just have to try it. We're here as tourists and have tried a lot of things, but here we found the absolute best.

Exceptionally good, fresh, and delicious food. The dishes are also presented in a very appealing way. I tried the Pho Tron dish from the lunch menu. The service is very attentive and courteous. Overall, a very pleasant atmosphere in a beautiful restaurant.

Very tasty golden soup, fast service and a cozy atmosphere - what could be better!

Great place, great service and I enjoyed my meal very much indeed

Super friendly staff, super fast service, and super delicious food and homemade drinks. I recommend it 100%! 😊🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I've eaten here once so far and ordered delivery once. Both times, the food was incredibly fresh and delicious. Very tasty! A real compliment to the kitchen. The ambiance and service are also very pleasant, even though there's currently a construction site right outside.

Delicious food and very good homemade drinks

Excellent. The dishes are good, balanced, sufficiently filling (standard bowl filled for starters, large deep plate for main courses), the prices are reasonable, the homemade drinks are good. 11/10 compared to German standards.

Amazing! Incredibly delicious food and drinks. Huge portions and very friendly staff.

Fresh, aromatic, and perfectly seasoned. The air conditioning was a relief on the hot day. Beautifully presented, and cold drinks with stainless steel straws instead of paper—a small detail that makes a huge difference. A cozy atmosphere and a friendly team. We'd be happy to come back.

We'll definitely eat there again on our next visit to Cologne. It was simply delicious!

Amazing food, calm place, and very quick service. The business lunch options are cheap and nice. The Pho Tron was rich and flavourful with nice protein and mushrooms. The lemon sea was refreshing and not too sweet.

Very tasty Asian-vegan food with quick preparation.

Absolutely delicious and very reasonably priced. A real insider tip! We've been here three times and would love to come back!

Beware, they do not accept foreign credit cards .... very lucky I had just stopped for euros at an atm .... wonderful! So fresh! So fast! Big portions for very reasonable prices. But most important, so healthy!!!

The food was very good, expensive but good. The service from the guy who took my order was very questionable; he was extremely rude. Add to that the problem of not being able to pay by card as a foreigner, which is idiotic since nobody carries cash these days. I wouldn't go back just because of the unpleasant waiter and the poor service! :)

We tried a variety of dishes so we could try as many as we could. We really enjoyed all the dishes. Even if you're not usually vegan, you'll be impressed by the diverse and varied dishes here. It was beautifully presented, and the overall atmosphere was relaxed. There was nothing to complain about; it was simply a very nice and delicious evening ☺️☺️!

Delicious, simply delicious. This is currently our favorite vegan restaurant in Cologne. It's centrally located; be sure to make a reservation, especially if you're traveling with a group.

Delicious and sophisticated dishes in a lovely atmosphere. Vietnamese ice cream parlors finally offer vegan options. Affordable lunch until 3:30 p.m.

I discovered Zen Chay by chance and didn't realize at first that it was vegan. I was immediately impressed by the homemade lemonades and iced teas. The vegan shrimp were absolutely delicious. The Zen Chay tea was another highlight to finish the meal. The trip to Cologne is definitely worth it, even for non-vegans like me. It's a shame there isn't a branch in Bonn yet.

The food was excellent! We had a variety of dishes, and everything was great! Unfortunately, the waiter was unfriendly from the very beginning. What a shame!

The food was really delicious, the service was very friendly and the atmosphere was also very nice!

Super, super delicious! The four of us ordered some snacks to share, and it was fantastic. What a taste experience! Lovers of vegan Asian cuisine will definitely get their money's worth!

The bowls are really large and the price is unbeatable, especially with the lunch menu. However, you should be aware of the size if you want to try several. I would have liked the peanut cream to have a stronger peanut flavor, though. Our favorite was the Crispy Dream Sushi, which was truly incredibly delicious. I think the prices for the 20 to share are a bit excessive. I think 6.50 for two pieces of fried tofu is too much. I think it would be good if they adjusted the price depending on the order, because 6.50 for the small bowls is certainly justified.

Super delicious vegan food and good, fast service :)

Super delicious food and great selection.

Delicious food, good portions and friendly service!

Absolutely! It was truly delicious, the staff were really friendly, and overall, I highly recommend it.

Everything was perfect!! I loved the place and the food

If you love good vegan food AND drinks, you should definitely eat here. There's a wide variety of dishes, so there's something for everyone. When we arrived, the sidewalk in front of the restaurant was open, so there was no patio. But given the temperature today, it wasn't a hardship to sit inside where it was nice and cool. When we got there, the place was only half full. Considering it was between lunch and dinner, this was reasonable. The food and drinks were delicious. The staff was friendly and helpful. PLEASE NOTE! You can only pay with cash or a German debit card!

Delicious food in a great location and nicely decorated. The staff is very friendly. I'd be happy to go back :)

This is the perfect cute little place for a vegan snack or a full blown meal! It was so good 👍 I had the BaoBao and loved it, the strawberry ice tea was divine ❤️ definitely will come back for the sushi because it looks amazing!

The food is great and arrived very quickly after ordering. But if you're looking for a pleasant evening with a "peaceful meal," you're in for a miss! We had various tapas that we wanted to enjoy in peace and not in a hurry, but the waiters repeatedly insisted on clearing our bowls, even though they were still full. Why? Don't they have enough dishes in the kitchen? 🤔 The demanding requests for clearing also came several times at our next table, so that the guests almost had to hold onto their plates so they wouldn't be cleared too quickly! The service staff must have noticed that this behavior doesn't go down well with guests! Since our waiter was still very young (less than 20), we wanted to give him valuable feedback for his superior in a very friendly and non-accusatory tone that the hasty clearing of dishes doesn't go down well, but instead of thanking him (and possibly apologizing), he blocked us, defended himself, and showed no real understanding that this behavior is unpleasant for guests. Despite the delicious food, I'll think twice about whether I want to eat there again or whether I'll just take Togo with me. 🙄 I hope the management reads this review and accepts it – just as they intended to do with the young waiter last night.

A must-see, also good for vegans and vegetarians. The sushi from the lunch menu is highly recommended!

I was here on a Sunday during Pride and, despite the restaurant being full, I got a seat quickly, and the food was served very quickly. I had the incredibly delicious matcha and a red curry bowl with noodles, tofu, vegetables, and nuts. Everything was freshly prepared and delicious. The atmosphere is cozy, and the restrooms are clean. All in all, a great experience. I'd love to come back!

Good service and delicious food

Very tasty, unusual food—all vegan. The service is friendly and fast. The food is of high quality, and the prices are extremely fair.

Very tasty, I love going there :)

Very friendly service, delicious food and everything was served very quickly – highly recommended!

The restaurant is beautifully decorated and serves delicious food. The tapas are especially recommended for larger groups! We'd be happy to come back anytime!

Super delicious, fresh food! Delicious, homemade drinks, and fast service—we'll be back!

Beautiful restaurant with super delicious vegan food. We were there with four people on the weekend. The place was quite busy, but the food still came super quickly, the service was very friendly, and the food was incredibly delicious. We'll definitely be back. I recommend numbers 3, 9, and 13. ♥️

Everything is vegan and, in our opinion, very tasty. We definitely recommend this restaurant.

A very nice vegan restaurant. The entrance area features a beautiful arch and indirect lighting with ornamental wall decorations. Gold, black, and green elegantly blend into the ambiance of the establishment. This is underscored by the friendly, courteous, and elegant staff.

We read on another comment, the food looks nice but is average. I can confirm it's above average but not that above.

A huge selection of delicious food, all vegan! They also offer a variety of delicious homemade lemonades and iced teas, as well as Kaffee Da, a special Vietnamese coffee. Highly recommended!

A modern, stylishly decorated restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere. We had reserved a table for dinner. The welcome from the waiter was a bit reserved, but we were allowed to choose a quieter seat in the back. The Café Cot Dua was our highlight: Vietnamese iced coffee with oat milk, coconut cream, and agave syrup. Incredibly delicious and refreshing. I would come back for that alone! For starters, we shared the Tempeh Bowl and Glorious Pear. Both were very aromatic, with fresh, crunchy vegetables. For the main course, we chose the Pagoda Dream with crispy tofu and udon noodles, and the Pho Tron with flat rice noodles, soy medallions, and papaya. The flavor was good, but the many similar ingredients made the dishes seem a bit uniform. Personally, I didn't like the lamb's lettuce-like salad in the bowls, but that's certainly a matter of taste. I loved that the tofu, tempeh, and soy medallions provided a decent portion of plant-based protein. Overall, a highly recommended vegan Asian restaurant with a creative concept. If you love Vietnamese coffee, you should definitely try Café Cot Dua!

I came alone, received a very warm welcome, and was served incredibly quickly. I really enjoyed my meal. Thank you!

The food was thoroughly impressive—fresh, delicious, and lovingly prepared. The Buddha Bowl was wonderfully balanced, and the Lemon Sea was wonderfully refreshing. I was particularly impressed by the BaoBao, which I hadn't tried before, but was a real highlight. The Buddha Rolls, Mango Tango, and Summertime Rolls were also really good. The crowning glory: a creamy Cafè Cot Dua—highly recommended! 😊

Nice atmosphere and the food is excellent.

Not only vegan, but delicious! I only paid €10.50 for my meal (11:30-15:30) for a large portion of fresh and delicious vegetables! Highly recommended! The drink (matcha) was a 10/10, as I got to choose how sweet it was. Big fan! I'd love to go again! The atmosphere is cozy and the staff are super friendly.

Really delicious and fresh food! The lunch menu is fantastic and the prices are really good.

A very nice and modern ambiance. Very friendly staff who serve you quickly. Delicious drinks and food, with a wide selection. Visiting this restaurant is definitely an experience and I highly recommend it.

Very tasty food, friendly service, and quick preparation. We were very satisfied and would gladly return.

The food was delicious as always, highly recommended!

Fantastic food. Why would anyone want to eat meat and fish when the food is so vegan?

The food was truly delicious – absolutely fresh, perfectly seasoned, and truly creative. The service was incredibly friendly, unhurried, simply relaxed and attentive. The atmosphere was cozy and tranquil, and you immediately felt at home. I've rarely felt so well looked after – I'll definitely be back!

I try three starters every time I visit. Treat yourself, folks—it's a good feeling!

Very good value for money, we were there at lunchtime and were satisfied with the food and lemonades and shakes.

Always great food at fair prices! Very friendly staff, great sodas. In my father's words: "The most delicious Asian food I've ever eaten."

Super delicious vegan restaurant in a great location! The food is always great!