Zama is located at 128 South 19th Street in Rittenhouse Row. Zama brings the rich culinary traditions of Japan to Center City. The restaurant offers more than 30 a la carte sashimi, as well as a wide variety of maki rolls and vegetable offerings. The restaurant also serves a wide variety of Japanese beers, as well as a lengthy list of sakes, wines hand-picked to complement the cuisine, and a full bar.

Chef Hiroyuki “Zama” Tanaka, is one of the Philadelphia’s most venerated sushi chefs, and is deeply knowledgeable and passionate about his craft. Chef Zama specializes in updated Japanese cuisine. He is completely self-taught. Zama was named to Philadelphia magazine’s 50 Best Restaurants list and distinguished as one of the Best Sushi restaurants by Zagat. In the Fall of 2013, Zama will open as second restaurant called coZara at 3200 Chestnut Street in Chestnut Square on Drexel University’s campus. It will be an izakaya and will serve ramen, donburi, yakitori and dumplings.

Since 2010, beginning with Philadelphia Eagles player Winston Justice and his “Justice For All Roll” that benefited Variety, The Children’s Charity, Chef Zama has been reaching out to celebrities and athletes to create collaborative dishes for the benefit of a chosen charity. Zama has partnered with some of Philadelphia’s most revered chefs to create signature dishes that blend the guest Chef’s cuisine with Zama’s refined Japanese cuisine.

Partnerships to date include: Jose Garces, Garces Chirashi for the Garces Family Foundation; Marc Vetri, the Vetri Roll for the VetriFoundation for Children; Michael Solomonov, The Zahav Roll for the Police Athletic League; Pierre Calmels, The Bibou Roll for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; as well as past collaborations with ?uestlove, Bernie Parent, Ryan Madson and Tony Luke. Zama has donated more than $10,000.00 to charities since the inception of the program.