Zama Introduces Three New Lower-Priced Tasting Menus

Story and Photo by Danya Henninger

Hiroyuki “Zama” Tanaka’s wood-saturated sushi bar just landed at No. 5 on our Best Japanese Restaurants list, and here are three more reasons to check out the Rittenhouse spot. In addition to Zama's high-end chef’s tasting menus, which run $55 or $75, diners can opt for a three-course prix fixe meal built around maki ($36) or sushi ($39) or sashimi ($45). Modeled after Center City Restaurant Week deals, there are options for each of the courses, though the fish for the main dish may be selected by the chef, to assure it’s the freshest available. Click through to check out the menus, which are available at lunch or dinner.

Maki Tasting Menu

First Course (choice of one)
California Salad with ume dressing
Kaiso Salad
Assorted seaweed with tosazu and grated sesame seeds
House salad with ginger vinaigrette
Miso Soup

Second Course (choice of one)
Spicy Paiche Tempura with broccoli and cauliflower
Fried Pork Dumplings
Fresh ginger and spicy soy sauce
Vegetable Tempura
Vegetable tempura with dashi soy and spicy sauce

Third Course  (choice of three, 2 pieces each, served with a mini SST)
Bronzizzle
Cucumber and avocado inside out roll with Bronzino finished with yuzu-soy sauce and hot sesame oil.
Wasabi Lobster
Shrimp California, inside out with wasabi tobiko topped with lobster salad and mango chili sauce.
Wasabi Tuna                                                  
Snow crab tempura, Tuna tartare, Wasabi mayo
Shrimp and Eel Fiesta                                
Tempura shrimp, BBQ eel. Avocado salsa
Spider
Tempura soft shell crab with asparagus and lettuce

Sushi Tasting Menu

First Course (choice of one)
California Salad with ume dressing
Kaiso Salad
Assorted seaweed with tosazu and grated sesame seeds
House salad with ginger vinaigrette
Miso Soup

Second Course (choice of one)
Spicy Paiche Tempura with broccoli and cauliflower
Fried Pork Dumplings
Fresh ginger and spicy soy sauce
Vegetable Tempura
Vegetable tempura with dashi soy and spicy sauce

Third Course
Chef’s Selection 7 piece nigiri
Served with a mini SST.

Sashimi Tasting Menu

First Course (choice of one)
California Salad with ume dressing
Kaiso Salad
Assorted seaweed with tosazu and grated sesame seeds
House salad with ginger vinaigrette
Miso Soup

Second Course (choice of one)
Yuzu Miso Salmon
Norwegian Salmon sashimi with Yuzu Miso Mustard sauce. micro greens and salmon roe.
Hamachi Ponzu
Yellowtail sashimi with soy pickled jalapeno and ponzu sauce
Takowasa
Thin sliced Octopus with soy marinated chopped wasabi stem

Third Course
Chef’s Selection 12 piece sashimi