The pizza and cheesy bread was perfect! Rarely do we find true brick oven food like this while traveling. We will be back before leaving Texas!

We had a simple pizza during Kilgore’s Oktoberfest, and we loved it! I’m picky about my pizza, and I’ve been saying for a while to anyone who will listen that there’s no pizza in Kilgore, Longview or Tyler that’s worth the time or money. That’s no longer true! Zen Kitchen has the best pies in the area, and I’m sure the rest of the menu is great too. Looking forward to dining there again.

I cannot begin to express how awesome this place is!! The pizza in the brick oven makes such a difference!! Casey has such an amazing talent for making delicious recipes and putting it in pizza form!! The freshest of ingredients and she even has Vegan friendly pizza options AND gluten free baked goods!! If you haven’t been you sure should give it a try!!

Zen Kitchen Bakehouse and Craft Beverage Company in Kilgore, Texas, is a gem that offers a delightful experience for all visitors. This charming spot is celebrated for its welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious menu options. One of the standout items is their cinnamon rolls, which many customers rave about, calling them "to die for." These treats are freshly made and perfectly balanced with a cinnamon butter glaze, making them an irresistible choice for breakfast or dessert. In addition to their famous cinnamon rolls, Zen Kitchen offers a variety of delicious items, including craft pizzas, deli sandwiches, and smoothies. The breakfast pizzas, in particular, are highly praised for their unique and flavorful combinations. The coffee and craft beverages are also top-notch, ensuring a satisfying visit whether you’re stopping by for a quick bite or a leisurely meal. The ambiance at Zen Kitchen is another highlight, with a cozy and inviting setting that makes it a perfect spot for both solo dining and gatherings with friends. Many reviewers have noted the excellent customer service and the effort put into ensuring every guest feels welcome and well taken care of. Overall, Zen Kitchen Bakehouse and Craft Beverage Company is a must-visit if you’re in Kilgore. Its combination of delectable food, inviting atmosphere, and exceptional service make it a standout destination in East Texas.

Zen Kitchen has amazing made from scratch food. I have tried almost everything on the menu and it has all been great. My personal favorites are the prosciutto & burrata pizza, turkey BLT, chicken salad, pasta salad and charcuterie. I cannot wait to try the new fall menu and I really appreciate that they regularly add new items to the menu for me to try. The coffee is wonderful and I also enjoy the craft beer selection and bloody marys. I eat here at least once a week...sometimes 2-3 times! My kids really enjoy the food as well. Great staff and owners...this place is truly an asset to Kilgore.

Great atmosphere for downtown Kilgore, friendly staff, and Excellent pizza!

10 out of 10 DO recommend! This atmosphere is so chill!! Food was amazing!!

Absolutely amazing food, I was overwhelmed on the quality and that it was all homemade and used real ingredients. Gotta get more soon! Had a spinach and sausage breakfast pizza; garlic parm. Chicken and 2 cinnamon buns. We need to get the word out to the community…

Very delicious pizza, with a super cute atmosphere! I tried the cauliflower crust— and it was amazing!! Would definitely come back!

Unique pizza and great selection of craft beer!!

I had an online pickup for a pizza yesterday. It was my first visit. Upon arrival, I was told I may want them to make me a new pizza. I was confused. They were just afraid I might be disappointed because it may have gotten cold. I was 20 minutes late picking it up. I was so impressed that they would even offer to do that!! I refused a new pizza and the pizza did end up being still slightly warm and was perfect!!! Thank you so much!! I will be back soon!!

What an absolutely delightful place on a petfect waning Texas-summer day. Sat at the outdoor covered patio where a gentle breeze made the already perfectly cooked and delicious and pizza and flatbreads, just perfect. The mango wheat beer made everything go down with amazing ease. Will definitely be going back next time we are in the area.

You won’t be disappointed trying this place out. We had the seasonal blue cheese and bacon pizza, and it was better than we could have imagined. The flavor combination was incredible. Don’t skip the pastry case. Her desserts are decadent and fresh

Can’t remember what pizza me and the wife got but it was dang good. Stoped in Friday for lunch. We will be back as soon we get back to. Texas again

Friendly staff, Rachel, recommended the Cuban sandwich which turned out to be the best I’ve ever had. Fantastic bread, great taste and I took half home for later! We drive all the way from Bossier City and will do it again.

So good, everyone is very nice! I’ll be back often 🥰

We tried the pepperoni for an original and thee sausage, feta and hot honey pizza. Let me tell you, TRY IT!! THE HOT honey made me want another pizza bc I ate all but 2 slices only bc I had to share!!! Really loved the atmosphere, very chill vibe. Will come back!!

Easily top 5 best pizza I've ever had, and that's saying something given I'm from a couple hours out of Chicago.

We love this place! Great food from pizza to salads to adult beverages! It's a great place to hang out and always feel like you are around friends.

A great place for freshly made brick oven pizza. They offer great craft beer, cocktails and coffee from the bar.

Makes a ballerrr americano. The owners are very warm and open to conversation, pizzas are great, the shaken teas are a nice switch up.

Food and service are excellent. I don't super vibe with the atmosphere in the place or decor, food thought absolutely makes up for it.

Pizza is the best ever. Brisket and smoked Gouda! Very friendly and welcoming staff. Definitely a must visit and revisit!!

I am extremely gluten intolerant and have been able to eat here 3 times without becoming ill. They have a dedicated GF oven and area they prep our food and a dedicated person to prep, cook, and present the GF food. The atmosphere is wonderful. I highly recommend it! I will add that I call ahead of time to ensure they have the staff and that the dedicated oven is on. It's just a courtesy for both of us imo. (I've gone places that weren't prepared and ended up quite sick...)

Pricey but delicious. Enjoyed the craft cocktails and custom.pizzas.

We have been here several times now and have not been disappointed once. Both the breakfast pizza and the dinner pizza are fantastic! My husband is in love with the homemade pop tarts. My daughter and I both love anything chocolate chip they offer. They also have coffees and cocktails. I love the drip coffee and mimosas. This place is a gem and I am so happy to have it here in Kilgore. The owners are very friendly and the service is excellent. If you are thinking about trying it hurry up and go for it!

This is so rare for the region! Zen Kitchen is VERY accommodating! They don’t just have questionably marked GF items on the menu, like many east or northeast texas locations. They have an entire separate preparation area and separate oven for their gluten free items!!! That means a gluten free pizza has its own dedicated prepared space and dedicated oven! People in the community of eating gluten free need to know this location is Celiac friendly, not just gluten free friendly. So if you’re traveling along I-20 in either direction, it’s only ~15 minutes roundtrip off the highway to make this beautiful stop! There’s ample parking around the restaurant, a GREAT outdoor space for kids to burn off some energy, especially if on a long car trip, and there’s ample indoor space as well! Obviously, you have quicker access from HWY 31, HWY 259, HWY 135, or HWY 42. Our party enjoyed two different pizzas and sandwich as well (sandwich not gluten free). If you’re loving in NE Texas, traveling between DFW and Louisiana, or anything of the like, please visit this amazing location! I selfishly don’t want them to go anywhere 🤩

My wife and I come here at least once a week and it's just a wonderful little pizza cafe. I often build my own pizza for dinner or if we go in the morning I'll get a grilled cheese and acai bowl. Don't discount the grilled cheese cause "you can make that at home" YOU CANNOT MAKE THIS GRILLED CHEESE it is simply the best one I've ever had, and if they ever add tomato soup to the menu I will die. Me and my wife met in Denton and this place brings that sort of vibe, so it's almost like going back to when we first met every time.

Visiting Zen Kitchen was a wonderful experience. The service was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was welcoming and relaxed. I like how there wasn't loud music to talk over while you're visiting with your family and friends. The menu had a nice variety to choose from, even for kids. All the items were reasonably priced with nice portions. The smoothie was light and fluffy served in a large mason jar. The cinnamon rolls were very big with whipped icing on top - delicious warmed up or not. The sandwiches had thoughtful flavor profiles - unique combinations that complimented each other nicely. The flatbread was warm and soft with robust toppings. This restaurant captured the perfect balance of a peaceful ambiance with a fun setting to hang out. We also picked up shirts that are a nice cotton-poly blend that are true to size and don't shrink after a wash.

They have gluten-free treats every day including gluten-free pizza that is stone brick fired.

Love this place! I keep coming back for the italian sausage and butternut squash pizza, but everything I've tried is phenomenal. Can't wait for the seasonal blueberry mimosa to come back, yum!

They have coffee, pastries and pizza and they do a good job with it all. You dont have to spend a ton of money to feel satisfied with your visit either. My wife and I have been twice now and amd we are definitely going to go back.

Great food at decent prices. Hard to beat pizza this good anywhere around here.

Zen's is amazing! Their food is always fresh and made with the best quality ingredients. There is something for everyone. From their Pastries to their gourmet pizza's and sandwiches and fresh Salads, you are sure to find something you love. They also have the best selection of beverages around. They have on tap beers, mixed drinks, coffee and teas. The Atmosphere is relaxed and inviting, with both indoor seating and outdoor seating, you feel welcomed as soon as you walk through those doors. The staff are always so welcoming and helpful and bring the whole experience to life. I highly encourage you to see for yourself and experience this one of a kind Gem in downtown Kilgore!

We’ve been in a couple of times since they opened and know we’ll be frequenting! The pizzas are amazing and great portions. The chocolate chip bread is my new favorite thing. I hope it’s a regular on the menu! The atmosphere is SO awesome. I can’t wait to try the cold brew.

This place is trully a hidden gem. You walk into a 1900’s era building that has been transformed into a warm welcoming enviroment. The staff was very nice and helpful too. We bothborder the meat lovers pizza and truly full of flavor. The pizzas was thin crust but not super thin. Just right to hold the pizza and have an excelent flavor. They do have a full bar and great selection of craft beers. All and all i would recommend this place to all looking for a relax and comfortable place.

Just passing through for breakfast. The breakfast pizza was wonderful, coffee equally as great! Grabbed pastries to go too. Staff is super friendly and I definitely recommend.

What a fun place to have lunch! The chili relleno pizza and the pumpkin parm and bacon pizzas were excellent. The bakery items we sampled were yummy. Looks like a great multigenerational neighborhood spot to hang out to play games or have a bit of breakfast or lunch.

Zen Kitchen catered our wedding and it was incredible! The charcuterie board (pictured) was unbelievable and the hand crafted artisan pizza was so delicious! Several guests commented to us that it was the best pizza they ever had. Thank you Zen Kitchen for helping us make our special day so beautiful!

Nice open atmosphere, regular dinning tables along with couch/comfy area. The staff are very friendly and courteous. The food is fantastic - European flair. Had a great lunch!

Drove in from Dallas and were looking for a place for lunch. We found a place we will definitely return to!! The guy that helped us was great (so helpful and nice) and the food was DELICIOUS!! We did the build your own pizzas and I had peach tea. Pretty sure we will get the exact same thing next 😉

So...I am a New Yorker and pizza runs through our veins. This place is top notch and stands in line with NY pizza. The artisan combinations along with a wonderful crust was a pleaser. I was visiting Tyler from NY and saw this place and had to try. The drinks are wonderful as well. If your an out-of-towner, this place is located in a rustic area with old world feels. A must visit. When I'm back in a area I'll be sure to visit.

I had a simple herbed grilled cheese sandwich and tomato bisque, and it was delicious! I like the modern pub-like feel, and the prices are more than reasonable. Take your spouse or your whole family!

I’m from out of town and stopped by this new place for dinner tonight. The pizza and sweet tea were delicious and well priced! One pizza was a great size for an adult. Cool atmosphere. I wish I’d done the BYO pizza cuz it was a good deal - four toppings for $14. The stuff for take away in the cooler looked great too. Best of luck! 🍕

The "meat lovers" pizza was hands down the best we've ever eaten! Everything about it was delicious! The tasty crust, sauce and toppings baked in their brick oven was amazing. The variety of freshly made baked goods made it difficult to choose dessert! Settled on two different types of scones. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

There's a reason it's called Zen. You feel it when you walk in, even when it's loud and busy. It's peaceful there. A place you can go alone at 10am for some tea at and a scone and to think about life. Or, drop in at 7pm and eat pizza and have a cocktail with your best friends. ☮️

+6

Emily, Elizabeth and Abram were EXCELLENT at everything they did. So friendly and knowledgeable about the food and drinks. They all worked together and did it all. We can’t wait to go back again - it’s our favorite place in Kilgore!

Definitely a place you want to visit. Love the staff, food was amazing. The atmosphere...let's just say I felt relaxed the moment I walked in the door. I went later in evening, so no one is in a rush. Great place to hang out with friends, have some great food and just chill.

A really cool place in Kilgore. The brick oven pizza is awesome. This time I had the brisket with garlic cream sauce and it may be my favorite.

I came for the first Wednesday open mic and stayed for the make your own pizza! This one was chorizo, candied bacon, spinach, mushroom, and goat cheese. So fresh and delicious!

Absolutely lovely this place. Amazing food and atmosphere. Love the modern look in the downtown area. 10/10 would dine again!

+2

Delicious unique pizza options! Friendly service.

+1

Such a great place! Stocked bar, great pizza, relaxing atmosphere! The pizza dough I could just eat by itself! Handmade and so many options for toppings! Cauliflower crust avaliable for those that are gluten free. Have grab and go meals too! The Jalapeno Bourbon Limeade is my favorite drink! Morning coffee and pastries too!

+2

Awesome gem in downtown Kilgore. There's a reason they were voted the best new business, it is because of how great this place is. Deli craft sandwiches and pizzas. All made to order, and delicious. Super friendly staff and location. We will be back!

+2

The worst part of my experience here is that I didn’t know about it earlier. TL;DR is that the food was satisfying, fresh, good portions, and there really weren’t any misses. Sunday coffee can be hard to find outside of the typical stalwarts, but the year is 2025 and supporting local is a political credo I believe if we have anything left in common, it’s that. All said, driving through Kilgore last Sunday on my way to family Easter, we looked for “coffee near me” and this didn’t come up. Better finding the golden egg than finding Zen. It makes me wonder how many others may be having a hard time finding this place for that reason. I’m writing this in part feedback to the owners to maybe modify their SEO and also to help it, perhaps. Here, I’ll write the key words again. Coffee near me. Anyways, they have a brick pizza oven, an espresso machine, and a fella (I think) who brings them pastries. They also have a bar but we did not imbibe, though others were sipping on what I believe were espresso martinis. 10:30AM. It’s slow right now but it’s Sunday and it comes with the territory, owing motivation for why most coffee shops observe the Sabbath. You can tell there was some effort and vision that went into the interior, but it’s 2025 and things are expensive, and if we can agree on any one thing, it’s that. So the look is cheerfully eclectic with both real and fake foliage, some serviceable but aspirational faux suede loungers, a rug that is too small, and a set of mid back chairs that came from a furniture sale off when Don Benitos bought out Casa Olé. There are repurposed pews should you feel conviction about choosing coffee over the Lord. A smattering of murals show me that someone cares about this space and I do feel that way, especially in Kilgore; a city developed around strict pragmatism and whose progeny either stay and practice tradition or move on to where their color is valued. I shared a potato and chorizo flat bread with my wife, and an egg over easy. The egg was cooked correctly and the flat bread burnt my mouth. Weaker people may see that as a flaw but the rest of us kept growing after the 3rd grade and value the hallmarks of food prepared well, hot, and delivered quickly. It was great. I got a drip coffee and my wife an Americano, hot and iced respectively. Both were good, locally roasted Silver Grizzly beans. We also both shared a lavender lemonade which we enjoyed. It’s 11:30 now because I write slowly and I’m still working on my drip coffee, now cold. Things are picking up and Kilgore is introducing me to its community. Eclectic. Brunch girls at the bar, a young mom with her mom and her new baby, a bit of after church ladies dressed heat to toe in Cato, a young man in a Chicago jersey I don’t recognize, and an awfully warm sense of hope and joy. It’s Sunday, after all. I’ve written too much and my phone is lagging. Come down to Zen. They have a good thing going on, and if we can agree on any one thing, it’s that. Come to think of it, I bet we can agree on more than we think.

Service and food were top notch!!! Abraham was great and very knowledgeable about the menu!!!

I loved this spacious spot to eat and relax. The car in preparing the food was above and being. Thank you for caring about your customers. We each got a pizza and all enjoyed.

+1

I absolutely love this place. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is cozy and warm, and the staff is what keeps me coming back. They always welcome us and have made a point to remember who we are. We also had a 9inch German chocolate cake made for a special birthday party and it was decadent!! Everything they do is from scratch and it’s become our go to date spot at anytime of the day.

Put Zen on your to do list. Ham and chive breakfast pizza, out of this world. In house crafted iced coffee, fabulous. Overnight oats, spot on. Cinnamon roll A+. Craft cocktails, well priced and nicely done. (Only suggestion i might have is to upgrade the cocktail glasses to glass not plastic. If an iced coffee deserves a glass, a cocktail even more so.) Wonderfully friendly and helpful staff. There's a reason we've visited Zen 4x in the past couple of days, and I know we will be back again before we leave Kilgore.

A local gem! My family and I absolutely love Zen’s Kitchen—we go at least once a week, sometimes more (we just can’t stay away!). The food is always fresh and delicious. Their pizza is perfectly crisp and flavorful, the sandwiches are hearty and satisfying, and the baked goods? Absolutely irresistible. The service is consistently fast and friendly. You can tell the staff truly care and enjoy what they do. The cozy, family-friendly atmosphere makes it a comfortable place to relax and enjoy a great meal together. Whether we’re grabbing something quick or sitting down for a casual dinner, Zen’s Kitchen never disappoints. Highly recommend for anyone looking for great food and a welcoming vibe. This place is truly a staple in our weekly.

First time visiting. We will be back, so worth the time coming over to Kilgore & eating here. The ladies were superb with customer service & I LOVE THE DECOR & SET UP!!

Great local spot! Awesome drinks, even better service, and food that hits the spot. We are always looking for a casual place for breakfast or lunch with great drink options and we have found it at Zen! I tried their champagne flight 🥂, which is a great idea and don't know why I've never thought of it, and it was very refreshing. My husband also really enjoyed their honey Paloma. We also tried one of their pizzas 🍕 and got it well done because we like a crispy crust. The pizza did not disappoint; the fresh ricotta, meat, and sauce were so balanced in flavor. My husband also enjoyed one of their homemade sandwiches. We can't wait to go back and try even more things. #GoogleGal

Specials you won't hear any where else! Do not hesitate yall!! Brickoven pizza too! Craft cocktails with games u can play too plus a patio area! Great delicious food!

This place is awesome, the staff is welcoming and knowledgeable, food was absolutely delicious and they had dairy free substitute options for all the pizzas!! 10/10 experience and we'll be coming back for sure.

I had a meat lovers pizza and a hot white mocha latte. The pizza dough is homemade every morning and is served piping hot out of the brick oven. They do not hold back on the topping either. It was absolutely divine. My coffee was a perfect combination of rich, creamy, and slightly sweet. I do recommend having your coffee stirred because the syrup sinks to the bottom and makes the top too bitter, and the bottom too sweet. The bartender/waiter(and waitresses) are awesome, and make sure you feel welcome. They make great small talk as well (coming from a socially awkward mess). The atmosphere is relaxed and has a modern/whimsical look to it. Overall 10/10 love this place, I come anytime I'm In the area.

My daughter and brother highly recommended Zen Kitchen to us, so it was only right for us to make the drive to Kilgore to give it a try. The staff was very friendly and helped us with our choices. My wife had a custom pizza, and I had a breakfast pizza with a blueberry scone. Both of our pizzas and the scone were great. If you're in the area, you'll definitely want to stop here to eat.

We ordered pizza from Zen Kitchen Bake House in Kilgore and it was absolutely delicious! The crust was perfectly baked, the toppings were fresh, and the flavors were spot on. You can tell they put care into their ingredients and recipes. Highly recommend if you’re in the area and craving something homemade and satisfying! It’s just cute place!!

Very cute place and the pizza...so yummy and unique flavor combos. We had the meat lovers, high noon and the chicken bacon caesar all were delicious. I think my favorite was the high noon.

I had the best pizza and espresso Martini of my life at this restaurant! The pizza was perfectly cooked and the pepperoni fresh and delicious. The espresso Martini was strong and flavorful, and it was the perfect way to end my meal. The atmosphere is warm and cozy with trendy decor. The service was also excellent. The Bartender, Shayna, was friendly and attentive, and she made sure that i had everything I needed. I will definitely be back to this restaurant!

This place is incredible! The atmosphere is so cozy, friendly, clean, and artistic. They offer teas, coffees, alcoholic drinks, smoothies, etc—lots of craft beverages. As far as food goes, they also have wood-fire oven baked pizzas (DELICIOUS) grab and go sandwiches and charcuterie kits in a cooler, and fresh pastries. There are so many options for people with dietary needs. The pizza dough and mozzarella in particular really impressed me—texturally and taste-wise, they are so fresh and satisfying. I would certainly call these artisan pizzas. Everything tastes wonderful and is priced so reasonably. Props to the entire team behind this new restaurant, and happy opening! I plan to be a regular!

Lindsey Mayo

I absolutely love this place. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is cozy and warm, and the staff is what keeps me coming back. They always welcome us and have made a point to remember who we are. We also had a 9inch German chocolate cake made for a special birthday party and it was decadent!! Everything they do is from scratch and it’s become our go to date spot at anytime of the day.

javier munoz

Put Zen on your to do list. Ham and chive breakfast pizza, out of this world. In house crafted iced coffee, fabulous. Overnight oats, spot on. Cinnamon roll A+. Craft cocktails, well priced and nicely done. (Only suggestion i might have is to upgrade the cocktail glasses to glass not plastic. If an iced coffee deserves a glass, a cocktail even more so.) Wonderfully friendly and helpful staff. There's a reason we've visited Zen 4x in the past couple of days, and I know we will be back again before we leave Kilgore.

Erin Meraz

A local gem! My family and I absolutely love Zen’s Kitchen—we go at least once a week, sometimes more (we just can’t stay away!). The food is always fresh and delicious. Their pizza is perfectly crisp and flavorful, the sandwiches are hearty and satisfying, and the baked goods? Absolutely irresistible. The service is consistently fast and friendly. You can tell the staff truly care and enjoy what they do. The cozy, family-friendly atmosphere makes it a comfortable place to relax and enjoy a great meal together. Whether we’re grabbing something quick or sitting down for a casual dinner, Zen’s Kitchen never disappoints. Highly recommend for anyone looking for great food and a welcoming vibe. This place is truly a staple in our weekly.

J. Scott Williams

First time visiting. We will be back, so worth the time coming over to Kilgore & eating here. The ladies were superb with customer service & I LOVE THE DECOR & SET UP!!

Lindsey Reagh

Specials you won't hear any where else! Do not hesitate yall!! Brickoven pizza too! Craft cocktails with games u can play too plus a patio area! Great delicious food!

Alyia Doktor

This place is awesome, the staff is welcoming and knowledgeable, food was absolutely delicious and they had dairy free substitute options for all the pizzas!! 10/10 experience and we'll be coming back for sure.

Jennifer McBroom

Great local spot! Awesome drinks, even better service, and food that hits the spot. We are always looking for a casual place for breakfast or lunch with great drink options and we have found it at Zen! I tried their champagne flight 🥂, which is a great idea and don't know why I've never thought of it, and it was very refreshing. My husband also really enjoyed their honey Paloma. We also tried one of their pizzas 🍕 and got it well done because we like a crispy crust. The pizza did not disappoint; the fresh ricotta, meat, and sauce were so balanced in flavor. My husband also enjoyed one of their homemade sandwiches. We can't wait to go back and try even more things. #GoogleGal

Logan Marshburn

I had the best pizza and espresso Martini of my life at this restaurant! The pizza was perfectly cooked and the pepperoni fresh and delicious. The espresso Martini was strong and flavorful, and it was the perfect way to end my meal. The atmosphere is warm and cozy with trendy decor. The service was also excellent. The Bartender, Shayna, was friendly and attentive, and she made sure that i had everything I needed. I will definitely be back to this restaurant!

Macee Beckham

I had a meat lovers pizza and a hot white mocha latte. The pizza dough is homemade every morning and is served piping hot out of the brick oven. They do not hold back on the topping either. It was absolutely divine. My coffee was a perfect combination of rich, creamy, and slightly sweet. I do recommend having your coffee stirred because the syrup sinks to the bottom and makes the top too bitter, and the bottom too sweet. The bartender/waiter(and waitresses) are awesome, and make sure you feel welcome. They make great small talk as well (coming from a socially awkward mess). The atmosphere is relaxed and has a modern/whimsical look to it. Overall 10/10 love this place, I come anytime I'm In the area.

Lonnie Stanley

My daughter and brother highly recommended Zen Kitchen to us, so it was only right for us to make the drive to Kilgore to give it a try. The staff was very friendly and helped us with our choices. My wife had a custom pizza, and I had a breakfast pizza with a blueberry scone. Both of our pizzas and the scone were great. If you're in the area, you'll definitely want to stop here to eat.

Celida Montoya

We ordered pizza from Zen Kitchen Bake House in Kilgore and it was absolutely delicious! The crust was perfectly baked, the toppings were fresh, and the flavors were spot on. You can tell they put care into their ingredients and recipes. Highly recommend if you’re in the area and craving something homemade and satisfying! It’s just cute place!!

April Davis

Very cute place and the pizza...so yummy and unique flavor combos. We had the meat lovers, high noon and the chicken bacon caesar all were delicious. I think my favorite was the high noon.

fransisca simanjuntak

This place is trully a hidden gem. You walk into a 1900’s era building that has been transformed into a warm welcoming enviroment. The staff was very nice and helpful too. We bothborder the meat lovers pizza and truly full of flavor. The pizzas was thin crust but not super thin. Just right to hold the pizza and have an excelent flavor. They do have a full bar and great selection of craft beers. All and all i would recommend this place to all looking for a relax and comfortable place.

Ayda

This place is incredible! The atmosphere is so cozy, friendly, clean, and artistic. They offer teas, coffees, alcoholic drinks, smoothies, etc—lots of craft beverages. As far as food goes, they also have wood-fire oven baked pizzas (DELICIOUS) grab and go sandwiches and charcuterie kits in a cooler, and fresh pastries. There are so many options for people with dietary needs. The pizza dough and mozzarella in particular really impressed me—texturally and taste-wise, they are so fresh and satisfying. I would certainly call these artisan pizzas. Everything tastes wonderful and is priced so reasonably. Props to the entire team behind this new restaurant, and happy opening! I plan to be a regular!

I’ve been here personally for dinner and it’s wonderful but today my little 4 year old was able to eat cake for the first time ever! She is allergic to eggs and Casey from Zin made the most delicious eggless cake for her. We are forever customers for all my littles cakes!

They catered a breakfast meeting for us, and I couldn't be more pleased with the food and the way they accommodated our needs. They delivered the meal, and all of it was delicious. It was also a great value considering the quality and amount of food provided. We will definitely use them again.

A cool, calm atmosphere that is welcoming to all. The voices of patrons fill the air, not the roar of a game day battle. The menu is full, bold, full of flavor and expressed freshness. Large enough to satisfy cravings but small enough to want a taste of everything. All I could hear from Chef..."in house, in house, in house". Not only shows but the stacked flavors that do not over power one another, yet come together to be incorporated in to a dish you maybe able to find on many menus, in many places, but here gives you a sence of satisfaction compared to a childhood memory, of "that is how that is supposed to taste". I see many more evenings exploring Zen's menu and conversations with the amazing staff. Painting on the wall says "This is where we are ment to be". Agreed.

This is a hidden gem in Kilgore. Great food and great atmosphere! I had an idea about a different kind of pizza and they made it happen. I took my 9 year old and we sat by the window and looked at one of the many books available at the restaurant We both loved the food and drinks. They had even suggested a fun drink for my son and he loved it. He has since asked to go back.....for the food, fun drinks and atmosphere.

Absolutely 10+ stars! I have celiac disease, and it’s incredibly hard to find a restaurant I can fully trust when it comes to cross-contamination. The moment I walked through the door, the staff made me feel genuinely welcomed and completely understood what I needed. They explained their gluten-free procedures with confidence and clarity, and I immediately felt safe and taken care of. I honestly didn’t expect to find a place like this out in the country in Texas, but we were so lucky to stumble upon this absolute gem. The owners and staff are some of the most warm-hearted people I’ve met — the kind who make you feel like family the second you walk in. Their attention to detail goes far beyond standard restaurant service. You can tell they truly love what they do, and it shows in both the food and the experience. I can’t express how grateful I am to have found this restaurant. I would recommend it to anyone, near or far — and if you have celiac disease, this is exactly the place you want to be. A huge shout-out to Casey, Mitch, Chef Casey, and the wonderful front-of-house team. They are the heart and soul of this place, and it truly shows. I also want to give an extra special acknowledgment to the owners Casey and Mitch for choosing to add gluten-free options to their menu with the knowledge, care, and commitment required to serve people with celiac disease safely. It’s not an easy task for any restaurant, but they go above and beyond — and it makes all the difference.

First time there and had their The Godfather pizza and it was amazing! The house made pesto was excellent, the meatballs were tasty, and all other ingredients went perfectly on that pizza. The staff was real chill and helpful. I enjoyed it and will be coming back for more pizza.

Zach

First time there and had their The Godfather pizza and it was amazing! The house made pesto was excellent, the meatballs were tasty, and all other ingredients went perfectly on that pizza. The staff was real chill and helpful. I enjoyed it and will be coming back for more pizza.

Sheri Burlingame

They catered a breakfast meeting for us, and I couldn't be more pleased with the food and the way they accommodated our needs. They delivered the meal, and all of it was delicious. It was also a great value considering the quality and amount of food provided. We will definitely use them again.

Muffin Stagner

This is a hidden gem in Kilgore. Great food and great atmosphere! I had an idea about a different kind of pizza and they made it happen. I took my 9 year old and we sat by the window and looked at one of the many books available at the restaurant We both loved the food and drinks. They had even suggested a fun drink for my son and he loved it. He has since asked to go back.....for the food, fun drinks and atmosphere.

jenelle timmers

Absolutely 10+ stars! I have celiac disease, and it’s incredibly hard to find a restaurant I can fully trust when it comes to cross-contamination. The moment I walked through the door, the staff made me feel genuinely welcomed and completely understood what I needed. They explained their gluten-free procedures with confidence and clarity, and I immediately felt safe and taken care of. I honestly didn’t expect to find a place like this out in the country in Texas, but we were so lucky to stumble upon this absolute gem. The owners and staff are some of the most warm-hearted people I’ve met — the kind who make you feel like family the second you walk in. Their attention to detail goes far beyond standard restaurant service. You can tell they truly love what they do, and it shows in both the food and the experience. I can’t express how grateful I am to have found this restaurant. I would recommend it to anyone, near or far — and if you have celiac disease, this is exactly the place you want to be. A huge shout-out to Casey, Mitch, Chef Casey, and the wonderful front-of-house team. They are the heart and soul of this place, and it truly shows. I also want to give an extra special acknowledgment to the owners Casey and Mitch for choosing to add gluten-free options to their menu with the knowledge, care, and commitment required to serve people with celiac disease safely. It’s not an easy task for any restaurant, but they go above and beyond — and it makes all the difference.

Django

A cool, calm atmosphere that is welcoming to all. The voices of patrons fill the air, not the roar of a game day battle. The menu is full, bold, full of flavor and expressed freshness. Large enough to satisfy cravings but small enough to want a taste of everything. All I could hear from Chef..."in house, in house, in house". Not only shows but the stacked flavors that do not over power one another, yet come together to be incorporated in to a dish you maybe able to find on many menus, in many places, but here gives you a sence of satisfaction compared to a childhood memory, of "that is how that is supposed to taste". I see many more evenings exploring Zen's menu and conversations with the amazing staff. Painting on the wall says "This is where we are ment to be". Agreed.

I want to start by saying that this is by no means a negative review, I really enjoyed this place but there was just one aspect of my visit that I feel needs to be stated and seen. I'm not going to be harsh as this is a small business and is fairly new, but myself and two others ordered the margherita pizza yesterday evening and when we saw what was on the platters in front of us we were pretty disappointed; you can't just throw a couple of sliced/diced tomatoes on top of a layer of dough (albeit very good dough) with mozzarella on it and call it a margherita pizza. A traditional margherita pizza needs to have a layer of tomato sauce/thoroughly baked tomatoes. With that being said, upon looking at other reviews here and seeing that this was not an error and appears to be the intended way that your margherita pizza is supposed to look, I would suggest either altering the title on your menu to something such as "deconstructed margherita" or including a brief description of the ingredients under each menu option to prevent further confusion in the future. You could even maybe keep the deconstructed margherita pizza on the menu and just add a traditional margherita alongside it as a separate option. Aside from this issue, the atmosphere, service and ingredients were all great, the downtown location and interior decoration provided an overall relaxing feel throughout our time in the restaurant, I will visit again to try other menu options in the future as most other things looked to be normal and as I said, the crust/dough was delicious (as was the mozzarella), I just really had an issue with the take on the Margherita pizza being unclear. Again, I'm not going to be harsh and leave a horrible rating on a small business in my hometown, but I just felt that this criticism needed to be voiced and seen by management to take into further consideration, I wish the owner and the team all the best in their business.

Great lil place Pizza was good ,sandwiches ok I was expecting a hot sandwich and they probably would have made it.

Very nice place. Lunch was great. The brisket pizza was amazing. Drinks were great. The service was very friendly. Everyone was incredibly nice.

Lovely restaurant ambience. Servers were wonderfully friendly! Pizza was hot and prepared fresh and very good, Did not love the “grab your premade salad from the refrigerator”… I feel like they should put it on a real plate and serve it to us.

Get bigger cups for to-go orders, please! 2.50 for a TINY cup is ridiculous! “But you get free refills” doesn’t help a person who ordered it to go. The food and coffee are spectacular, but this drink is crazy.

Best pizza crust probably ever! Pizzas are cooked in a Stone oven in full view. Imaginative flavor combos and traditional Italian pizzas. Full bar. A great addition to downtown Kilgore.

Great little quiet place to sit for breakfast. Spinach and sausage breakfast pizza with scrambled egg is amazing. Crust is soft but crunchy. Cold brew coffee is some of the best in town. It's a little pricey. But the cost of a quiet breakfast is never cheap.

Boss Lady and I were in town for work and found this joint on the interwebs. It was Saturday morning and the town was just waking up. We entered and were greeted warmly by the owners. We ordered a ham and a bacon breakfast pizza. Boss Lady said that it's in my wheel house because I do that at home. The pizzas were made fresh when we ordered them. You get your egg made how you want. The coffee was really good too. Next time we're in Kilgore, this is our go-to breakfast joint.

D Scott Cook

Boss Lady and I were in town for work and found this joint on the interwebs. It was Saturday morning and the town was just waking up. We entered and were greeted warmly by the owners. We ordered a ham and a bacon breakfast pizza. Boss Lady said that it's in my wheel house because I do that at home. The pizzas were made fresh when we ordered them. You get your egg made how you want. The coffee was really good too. Next time we're in Kilgore, this is our go-to breakfast joint.

2nd time I've been now. Nice place to hang out, the pizza is great. There have been no issues with the food, but I am giving up on the drinks. I've had the honey Paloma (watered down aloe vera/ honey) taste..idk where the alcohol was at. I've had the strawberry gin fizz (full of fizz, little strawberry), and the zen mule (tasted more of the mule) All no go's for me. I don't suggest spending the money on their mixed drinks. Grab a beer or a glass of wine instead, enjoy the yummy pizza and your crew. Never any issues with service...they're friendly...though this place is pretty self service type. I'll be back...for the pizza...but definitely not the mixed drinks. Skip those.

We’re really glad Zen Kitchen is doing so well! It’s great to have a place to hang out downtown, and their pizzas and mixed drinks are awesome. That said, we’re coffee people and getting coffee here is a frustratingly inconsistent experience. You never quite know whether you’re getting a good cup—rivaling Joe Pine or Silver Grizzly—or what tastes like burnt Americano with some milk in it. I wish they could figure out the consistency of their coffee, because we’d stop by a lot more often.

Atmosphere was good. I got a spinach dip, grilled cheese and it was very hard. Couldn’t tell there was any cheese on it. The pepperoni pizza was awesome..

The service is very laid back and not eager to receive your order which may be a plus or minus depending on your expectations. The portions are small and the coffee not very sweet at all despite adding in the “s’mores” syrup option to my latte, which they didn’t tell me would charge as two syrups instead of one (mocha and marshmallow). Staff was friendly. What really earned them points was the taste of the food.

There was a mix-up with my order. The thin looking cook was upset about it and I believe he threw in the trash and made me another one. See attached photo. Advice: don’t make the cook mad or he will burn your food and make you wait a very long time to get. Will not be recommending this restaurant.

We recently had a turtle cheesecake from here at a party. Since then I have been impatiently waiting to try it. The cocktails were good and they also had specials. The waitress explaining the menu was slightly confusing and didn't know what the wing flavors were she just knew the list. The original was a house seasoning, but they also had original spicy. We ordered some wings and a chile relleno and chorizo pizza. When I think of Chile relleno I think of poblano peppers, but this was bell peppers - red, orange and yellow, which made the pizza slightly sweet and I did not like it at all. We did sit at the bar and we were never checked on by the waitress. I will return to try the pastries and coffee though.