Eat This Now: Zen Zero’s “noodles in broth” and a pot of tea

Zen Zero’s Thai glass noodle soup and chow mein // Photo by Kolby Brown

The best-smelling place on Lawrence’s bustling Massachusetts Street isn’t the cozy Waxman Candles but, in fact, Zen Zero—Lawrence’s one-stop shop for trying a variety of Asian cuisines. Walking into the quaint storefront, you’re hit with its delicious aroma immediately. The dining area is situated right next to the walk-in kitchen, whose scent wafts out into the snug space.

The alluring scent inside this warm restaurant is a mix of curry powder, sizzling meats, and soy sauce, perfectly matching the pleasant atmosphere of low lighting and simple, yet aesthetically decorated walls. Upon being seated, you’re handed the cause of the smell: An extensive menu featuring a diverse number of foods from Nepal, Tibet, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan.

This menu boasts starters, salads, noodles from the wok, curries, and house specialties, along with multiple vegetarian options. But the standout among these is the “noodles in broth” section—with a wide range of flavors, veggies, and noodle styles, each broth bowl is a unique tastebud experience to customize with one of their protein options.

The gluten-free Thai glass noodle soup is served in a steaming ceramic bowl with piles of bean sprouts on top. Scooping in with the white and blue soup spoon, you find a heap of clear cellophane noodles flavored by the chicken stock. 

Mung beans, napa cabbage, scallions, and bean sprouts fill up the garlicky broth beside the noodles, making this massive $11 dish lots of bang for your buck. But while this bowl is plenty of food for a lunch or dinner portion—almost clearing your bowl doesn’t put you in a food slump, as the broth and noodles are light and comfortable on your stomach. 

Zen Zero’s pork momo starter and a pot of tea // Photo by Kolby Brown

Zen Zero offers a large menu of crafted drinks, wine, juices, coffee, and teas that pair well with a savory noodle bowl. Their pomegranate-raspberry tea, which you can order a full pot to be delivered piping hot to your table with unlimited refills and teacups for every guest, costs $6.50. This refreshing and subtly flowery tea is a nice treat next to any meal and doesn’t overwhelm the senses. 

Appetizers are also a necessity when dining at Zen Zero, specifically the pork momos. Offered steamed or fried with either pork or veggies inside, they are served on a platter with two dipping sauces: Tomato and sesame chutney. The pork momos are juicy and best with the creamy sesame chutney, a strong flavor next to the milder momo filling. 

Zen Zero is at 811 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044.