Zen Box Izakaya, home to ramen rituals and loyal diners, set to close
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In the shadows of U.S. Bank Stadium and the Guthrie Theater, Zen Box Izakaya has long been a Mill District institution. Now it’s preparing for its final service on Saturday, ending a two-decade run beloved by everyone from Vikings linebackers to neighborhood regulars.
“Both Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks were frequent diners here when they were, you know, in Minnesota,” said Lina Goh, Zen Box’s general manager and co-owner.
“They definitely ate a lot, you know, a bowl of ramen and short rib app and a side of the hot sauce. That's their usual order.”
And it wasn’t only Vikings and theatergoers who came for the warm ramen and Japanese beer. According to Executive Chef John Ng, the restaurant has become something similar to a “cult.”
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“Guests come up to us and say this place became their ritual,” Ng said, adding that many have shared stories of family celebrations at Zen Box. But come Nov. 23, those acolytes will have to find a new place to dine.
How the restaurant took shape
Earlier this fall, Zen Box announced it would close after more than 10 years at its current location and 20 years in Minneapolis overall. The closure follows the foreclosure of the building that houses Zen Box Izakaya, but Goh and Ng say there were other factors, like a desire for change, that led to the decision.
“We were overwhelmed with so much support,” Goh said. “So many emails and messages from our regulars.”
In the mid-2000s, Goh and Ng — who are married — first opened a lunch counter spot in the Minneapolis Skyway. During the 2010s, they had moved into their Mill District space and reshaped Zen Box into an “izakaya,” a Japanese-style pub, rather than a lunch spot.
Zen Box Izakaya would go on to host the “Ramen Attack” festival for several years in the 2010s — a block party which saw hundreds of people line up to get ramen from chefs from across the country.
Caring for staff first
With the closure of Zen Box, Goh and Ng don’t have defined plans, but they aren’t worried about their futures. They are more concerned about finding their staff new places of employment.
“We reached out to our network of other restaurant friends, owners, managers,” Goh said. “Our longtime staff are the best people.”
Diners only have a few more chances to enjoy that hospitality before Zen Box Izakaya officially closes, although they might be able to take a piece of the restaurant home. Zen Box has set up a forum allowing people to bid on pieces of the decor.
As the final service date approaches, Goh and Ng say they feel grateful for their patrons.
“I’ve been crying a lot, but it's tears of joy,” Goh said. “I can't ask for more.”
Zen Box Izakaya’s final service is on Nov. 22.
