Cocoro Japanese
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We loved all of our food here! Dry authentic and delicious. We went right when they opened and it was not too busy and we had great service. We brought our 3 young kids and the staff was so attentive and accommodating with them by bringing special kids plates, spoons, and bowls, which they really enjoyed. Our server was also great about explaining things on the menu to us. Would go back for sure !
A little pricy but expected in this area. Authentic Japanese spot. I got the nabeyaki udon. A little sweet but again to be expected in this area. Portions were large so almost makes up for the price. Service is ok. Design of the place is interesting. You can clearly hear conversations from across the restaurant due to the weird ceiling design so don't talk about your pending divorce Steve we can hear you and totally judging.
This place is such a gem! The sushi and sashimi are always incredibly fresh and flavorful. My go-to is the Citrus Breeze roll, it's light, and perfectly balanced. The salmon sashimi never disappoints. The restaurant is spotless, and the staff and servers are consistently attentive and friendly. Every visit feels like a treat!
Service was amazing here. Our server was really caring and would always be on top of our service. Food wasn't completely authentic but was yummy regardless. My boyfriend ordered a rice meat and egg dish soaked in broth (sorry forgot the name) and he really enjoyed it. He stated that it tasted "warm and cozy" and was perfect to eat on a snowy day. My ramen was good as well, I have had better but it was delish. The spicy chili they offer is amazing! And indeed very spicy haha. This time we ate they offered us pieces of fudge to end the course and omg it was decadent in the best way ever!! I would've ate a whole plate of them if they offered. Vibes are great overall :) thank you for having us
Came here on a Tuesday evening with a party of three. We were seated promptly by the friendly wait staff. Their fryer was broken so we didn't get a chance to try anything that required it. The seaweed salad, cold tofu with bonito flake sauce, and the various rolls were excellent! I finished off the meal with some fantastic red bean ice cream with the anko topping. Definitely recommend trying this place out!
Tried the shabu-shabu here and honestly, it wasn't worth it. The set came with just a few thin slices of meat and a small pot that's supposedly for sharing, but really only enough for two people. The broth was basic, nothing special, and the overall flavor was just okay , something you could easily make at home. Service was mid, not rude but not particularly friendly or attentive.
Cocoro goes far beyond sushi and ramen with an extensive list of Japanese dishes not as commonly found in Chicago. They advertise their products as authentic cuisine, so I was really looking forward to visiting. Unfortunately, this experience really missed the mark for me. The restaurant was pretty quiet at 6pm on a Saturday night, and after perusing the menu I opted for the Nabeyaki Udon which was advertised as a house special. The dish arrived with the broth still boiling. Although it was presented beautifully, my heart sank a bit as I saw the tempura batter on the shrimp and seaweed immediately fall off and turn to mush. I heftily blew on a small spoonful and burnt my lip after an unfortunate underestimation of the temperature. Most of the meal was spent icing it and waiting for the udon to cool down. By the time the dish had cooled enough to eat, the noodles were limp and chicken quite tough. I found the broth to be very bland, as if the dashi stock was hurriedly steeped. $33 and a blistered lip later, I left hungry and disappointed. I'd really hoped to find a new favorite in this restaurant and its interesting menu. Hopefully, some of these points will be addressed as I would love to see this local spot succeed.
My friends and I went here for dinner and loved this place. One of my friends called it possibly his new favorite restaurant in Chicago. We already want to go back because their menu is so big and there are so many interesting things we want to try. It's also such a beautiful space - I can say it looks not like many of the other Chicago restaurants I've been in and something about being here felt like a portal transporting you to another space. For drinks, the table got the melonpico (beautiful green color) and the yuzu highball. For food, we got the smelt tempura, agedashi tofu, tuna tataki, 2 pieces of sashimi (mackerel and I'm blanking on the other one), nabeyaki udon, and the tonkatsu. My personal faves of what we got were the agedashi tofu, smelt tempura, black sesame pudding, and the sashimi. My friends really liked the tuna tataki and the staff also recommended it. The entrees we got were just okay, but I would def try more of their raw fish because what we got was fresh. I also want to get their shrimp tempura next time (one of the apps the staff recommended). I also think it's impressive that this place has been around for a while and seems to serve members of the Japanese community (other customers spoke Japanese with the staff which at least in my experience is a bit of a rarity in Chicago Japanese restaurants I've been in). TLDR: great place, we will definitely be back.
Super cozy spot in River North! Feels and tastes more authentic than the other Japanese restaurants in the area. The energy is homey and comforting too Dine in to share a pot of sukiyaki, cooked right at the table. It's big with fresh veggies but probs better if they used fattier cuts of beef. Sushi & makis are yummy too! Sukiyaki (for two) $78 Crunchy spicy tuna roll $15 시카고 일식은 2프로씩 부족한듯. 그나마 여긴 퓨전이 아니라 재대로된 느낌의 요리들이 많아서 좋다 분위기도 따듯하면서 아늑해서 밥먹으러 혼밥하러 오기 편하다. 2인용으로 준비되는 스키야키가 양도 많고 야채도 다양해서 추천!
Always wonderful service. Their bento box choices are great for people wanting soup and salad. I would recommend adding another bento box with sashimi option instead of just Cali roll. Their tempura is very light and crispy. Chicken teriyaki could use thicker sauce and their salad dressing can be a little watered down than what I am used to in bento boxes. Their fish is always fresh. Overall this is a great authentic place in the city that is not a chain. I am all for supporting local small businesses.
The sukiyaki was decent, but I felt it was a bit overpriced for what you get. I also ordered the unagi rice bowl, and there wasn't much eel, which was a little disappointing. On the bright side, the ramen was actually pretty good and had a nice flavor. Not a bad place, but there are probably better options for the price. read more
(Kari's Rating 7/10) Came with two friends about 6pm on a Monday. We were seated in a small table/corner booth starting off with the takoyaki-we advanced through the entrees with strategic selections starting off with a few beef and onion rice bowls and ending off with a beef udon noodle. The server was extremely knowledgeable as he trained us to try something new or think about the differences within each dish. I was extremely impressed he knew all the menu items and was about to differentiate! Overall it was fairly intentional! Would come back!! read more
Nice interior. Looks like a lot of work dinners were happening here, which the ambiance was perfect for. The food was solid but pricier than I think it should've been. The service was friendly but very slow. They only seemed to have 1-2 servers working at once, while also trading off as hostesses. Overall, it was a good spot but very comparable to many other nearby Japanese restaurants. If you're looking to splurge a bit, this is the spot! read more
My friend brought me here. I ordered Sashimi Bento box and it is so delicious. Lots of ingredients. Tempura is very crispy. I enjoyed the dinner experience here. Authentic dining Japanese experience. The only downside is the sound. It's so noisy here that I can't hear well the conversations. read more
We loved all of our food here! Dry authentic and delicious. We went right when they opened and it was not too busy and we had great service. We brought our 3 young kids and the staff was so attentive and accommodating with them by bringing special kids plates, spoons, and bowls, which they really enjoyed. Our server was also great about explaining things on the menu to us. Would go back for sure ! read more
A little pricy but expected in this area. Authentic Japanese spot. I got the nabeyaki udon. A little sweet but again to be expected in this area. Portions were large so almost makes up for the price. Service is ok. Design of the place is interesting. You can clearly hear conversations from across the restaurant due to the weird ceiling design so don't talk about your pending divorce Steve we can hear you and totally judging. read more
Cozy atmosphere, authentic Japanese food, and a great neighborhood spot. It's a tad expensive, but the sushi quality is delicious so it's worth it! It does fill up so you may need to wait if you're coming in past 7! We walked in around 6 and were fine on a Friday night. read more
9 months ago
This place is such a gem! The sushi and sashimi are always incredibly fresh and flavorful. My go-to is the Citrus Breeze roll, it's light, and perfectly balanced. The salmon sashimi never disappoints. The restaurant is spotless, and the staff and servers are consistently attentive and friendly. Every visit feels like a treat! read more
1 year ago
Service was amazing here. Our server was really caring and would always be on top of our service. Food wasn't completely authentic but was yummy regardless. My boyfriend ordered a rice meat and egg dish soaked in broth (sorry forgot the name) and he really enjoyed it. He stated that it tasted "warm and cozy" and was perfect to eat on a snowy day. My ramen was good as well, I have had better but it was delish. The spicy chili they offer is amazing! And indeed very spicy haha. This time we ate they offered us pieces of fudge to end the course and omg it was decadent in the best way ever!! I would've ate a whole plate of them if they offered. Vibes are great overall :) thank you for having us read more
Amazing delicious delicate plates! From sushi, fried oysters, beef udon soup, mini salad, steamed egg soup too. Yumm. Everything was delicious! Service was impeccable and timely. Metered street parking was easy on a Saturday dinner hour. You must try! read more
Came here on a Tuesday evening with a party of three. We were seated promptly by the friendly wait staff. Their fryer was broken so we didn't get a chance to try anything that required it. The seaweed salad, cold tofu with bonito flake sauce, and the various rolls were excellent! I finished off the meal with some fantastic red bean ice cream with the anko topping. Definitely recommend trying this place out! read more
10 months ago
Tried the shabu-shabu here and honestly, it wasn't worth it. The set came with just a few thin slices of meat and a small pot that's supposedly for sharing, but really only enough for two people. The broth was basic, nothing special, and the overall flavor was just okay , something you could easily make at home. Service was mid, not rude but not particularly friendly or attentive. read more
Cocoro goes far beyond sushi and ramen with an extensive list of Japanese dishes not as commonly found in Chicago. They advertise their products as authentic cuisine, so I was really looking forward to visiting. Unfortunately, this experience really missed the mark for me. The restaurant was pretty quiet at 6pm on a Saturday night, and after perusing the menu I opted for the Nabeyaki Udon which was advertised as a house special. The dish arrived with the broth still boiling. Although it was presented beautifully, my heart sank a bit as I saw the tempura batter on the shrimp and seaweed immediately fall off and turn to mush. I heftily blew on a small spoonful and burnt my lip after an unfortunate underestimation of the temperature. Most of the meal was spent icing it and waiting for the udon to cool down. By the time the dish had cooled enough to eat, the noodles were limp and chicken quite tough. I found the broth to be very bland, as if the dashi stock was hurriedly steeped. $33 and a blistered lip later, I left hungry and disappointed. I'd really hoped to find a new favorite in this restaurant and its interesting menu. Hopefully, some of these points will be addressed as I would love to see this local spot succeed. read more
2 years ago
My friends and I went here for dinner and loved this place. One of my friends called it possibly his new favorite restaurant in Chicago. We already want to go back because their menu is so big and there are so many interesting things we want to try. It's also such a beautiful space - I can say it looks not like many of the other Chicago restaurants I've been in and something about being here felt like a portal transporting you to another space. For drinks, the table got the melonpico (beautiful green color) and the yuzu highball. For food, we got the smelt tempura, agedashi tofu, tuna tataki, 2 pieces of sashimi (mackerel and I'm blanking on the other one), nabeyaki udon, and the tonkatsu. My personal faves of what we got were the agedashi tofu, smelt tempura, black sesame pudding, and the sashimi. My friends really liked the tuna tataki and the staff also recommended it. The entrees we got were just okay, but I would def try more of their raw fish because what we got was fresh. I also want to get their shrimp tempura next time (one of the apps the staff recommended). I also think it's impressive that this place has been around for a while and seems to serve members of the Japanese community (other customers spoke Japanese with the staff which at least in my experience is a bit of a rarity in Chicago Japanese restaurants I've been in). TLDR: great place, we will definitely be back. read more
9 months ago
Super cozy spot in River North! Feels and tastes more authentic than the other Japanese restaurants in the area. The energy is homey and comforting too Dine in to share a pot of sukiyaki, cooked right at the table. It's big with fresh veggies but probs better if they used fattier cuts of beef. Sushi & makis are yummy too! Sukiyaki (for two) $78 Crunchy spicy tuna roll $15 시카고 일식은 2프로씩 부족한듯. 그나마 여긴 퓨전이 아니라 재대로된 느낌의 요리들이 많아서 좋다 분위기도 따듯하면서 아늑해서 밥먹으러 혼밥하러 오기 편하다. 2인용으로 준비되는 스키야키가 양도 많고 야채도 다양해서 추천! read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
Always wonderful service. Their bento box choices are great for people wanting soup and salad. I would recommend adding another bento box with sashimi option instead of just Cali roll. Their tempura is very light and crispy. Chicken teriyaki could use thicker sauce and their salad dressing can be a little watered down than what I am used to in bento boxes. Their fish is always fresh. Overall this is a great authentic place in the city that is not a chain. I am all for supporting local small businesses. read more
1 year ago
Entrees were yummy! Except Ramen was a little bland, shrimp tempura was so-so, tatsu-age was not I was expecting. Agedashi tofu and takoyaki were the best! Excellent service. Place was nice. read more
We walked in on a Monday night and were able to be seated quickly. Food: I ordered the nabeyaki udon. The noodles were tender, the broth was light and refreshing. The pot it came in also maintained the temperature of the soup well. Interior: warm and welcoming; lots of seating Service: I dock it one star because the kitchen service was quite slow, I waited a while for my food to come out. read more
I've been here once with friends. I ordered a Japanese curry with katsu. It came with miso soup. Portion size was great and has generous amount of food. Quality was good. However, the price doesn't sit well with me. It's currently $26. After examining the other items on the menu, I'm not a fan of the price gouging. I suppose if you only lived in the city, with no car, and was virtually clueless, this would be okay with you. If you head out to the burbs like the Arlington Heights or Elk Grove area, you can find this exact dish for under $20. Tensuke Market has it for $11. The quality is exceptional. This is about a 3 for me since I know you can get great, authentic Japanese for less. read more
1 year ago
If you're looking for likely one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in the city limits of Chicago, look no further than Cocoro. They are probably one of maybe two in the city that actually offer Sukiyaki, where Chicago seems to be lacking in that department. The two ladies that we had the pleasure of interacting with were very nice and took care of us well. We went with the Sukiyaki dish which was $70, and did not include eggs (which I found to be interesting). Their cocktails were yummy, and although I've had better Sukiyaki in LA, this is truly the closest you're gonna get to the best in Chicago. Their menu is fairly extensive so I know I'll be back to try some other items as well. This place has been in Chicago since the mid-90's and is still whippin' up some great Japanese meals. Keep supporting these places y'all. We need to keep them open! read more
Until coming to Cocoro, I had never had sushi before. My friends thought that this had to change, so we made our way over here for dinner. In order to get a taste of everything, we got the sashimi plate as well as a dragon roll (apparently that's a good starter sushi roll). I honestly had some mixed feelings about the sashimi for my personal taste palate, but it was still delicious. Also, I understand why people buy expensive bottles now because we ordered a nicer bottle of sake and I've never had a smoother drink in my life. I highly recommend getting one to pair with your dinner. read more
Visiting from Texas, I wanted something Japanese that is rare in Dallas scene. Recommended by my old Japanese friend who now lives in Chicago, I was excited to come to Cocoro. I could definitely see Japanese customers filling up the space to have meals or small dishes for some beer time. We were more drawn to try their infamous Sukiyaki which was huge at first sight and the lady in a cute accent explained how to enjoy this dish very thoroughly. 3 girls left that place 200% full. I have tried sukiyaki in Japanese friend's house and since this is restaurant version, it seemed to have more variety of vegetables and greater quality of beef. Although $75 value was little overpriced, given the fact that this dish is intended for 2 people. Tamago Yaki was also pleasantly good. Sushi was not as significant experience for me, so I recommend coming for home-made like dishes. When I come back to Chicago, I will give it another try with other awesome looking choices! read more
1 year ago
Have walked by Cocoro hundreds of times and have not given a shot. Curb appeal is a little tough - on the block between Hooters and CVS on Wells St, but give it a try!!! No reservations, but you can check an estimated wait time online! We were seated immediately and ordered beers, edamame, gyoza and two rolls of sushi (dragon & I'm forgetting the name, but spicy tuna) and everything was amazing. Highly recommend giving it a try and we'll absolutely be back! read more
3 years ago
Very traditional Japanese restaurant! Great atmosphere and the food was delicious! Lots of different food options like ramen, sushi and other dishes. Nice staff, would recommend! read more
We got a last minute reservation with 5 hungry kids in tow. The service is slow actually extremely slow ... we ordered a whole bunch of stuff from apps to sushi and Ramens. Everything tasted ok but they forgot one of our orders for main course and my poor friend had to wait for her soba noodles for a long time while rest of the hungry hounds finished up dinner. Overall nothing wow about this place except it's family owned and so they probably care what diners feel read more
2 years ago
Been only twice, but the food and service is amazing. I highly recommend dining with a group of people and doing family style- this allowed us to try more dishes! My friend ordered for all of us because she frequents and has eaten so many dishes here. Everything that was ordered was perfectly prepared and tasty. Presentation was nice, too. Don't be fooled by the basic photo of the katsu curry- it was good. I'll gladly be back! read more
I really wanted to like Cocoro more after being so excited to find a more authentic Japanese restaurant in the downtown Chicago area, but unfortunately I think there were some issues that prevented Cocoro from being great. I called in to make a reservation right as the restaurant opened and I would highly recommend doing so or reserving in advance since this restaurant gets very crowded. Additionally, I would recommend eating here closer to opening hours rather than later in the evening since the orders can get extremely backed up. For dinner, my friend and I ordered the following items: -Agedashi Tofu: nice, light dish to start things off. The sauce that it was served with was also pretty tasty. -Chawanmushi: also another appetizer on the lighter side. I liked chawanmushi but the portion was quite small for the price. -Uni Nigiri: definitely skip ordering the uni nigiri. The uni had a bitter, fishy aftertaste and was not worth the price for the one piece of nigiri. -Eel Seiro: the eel was nicely seasoned and I liked the lightness of the miso soup as well (it was not overly salty). This dish came with way too much rice for the amount of eel provided, however. I wish the portion of eel was a bit larger so I could eat it with more of the rice. -Chicken Box: this bento order actually came with a surprisingly large amount of food. The chicken itself was a bit too dry for my taste, but it was nice that there were lots of side dishes and items that came with the order. The California rolls would probably be the thing that pushed you over the edge at this point if you were already feeling full since there was so much rice in them...but let's be honest, California rolls are never really great to begin with anyways. I was surprised to see how large the menu was at Cocoro so it was nice to be able to choose from a huge variety of dishes. Unfortunately, the service here like many other reviewers have stated was quite slow due to the lack of staff. As the night went on, it looked like the restaurant was having an increasingly difficult time accommodating all of the tables. The food at Cocoro was decent, but the service time is something that definitely needs to be considered when dining here. read more
2 years ago
Great food and great service! The people working are so kind and try to get reservation and non-reservations seated as soon as they can! The food is delicious!!! read more
1 year ago
6 years ago
Cocoro is an extremely rare case of Japanese authenticity in the city of Chicago. I've visited a handful of times and look forward to continue doing so unless they decide to leave me... Some of the items that I have tried are: 1) Shio ramen 2) Grilled squid 3) Salmon nigiri 4) Curry Katsu - breaded pork with curry sauce and rice 5) Katsu ju - fried pork topped with an egg, onions, and scallions 6) Nabesaki udon - a huge bowl of hot broth with udon and seafood 7) Eel Seiro - eel with shredded eggs and shitake mushrooms 8) Horse Mackerel - fried mackerel 9) Sansai Seiro - steamed rice with five kinds of mushrooms and shredded eggs Thus far, there has not been an item that I disliked at Cocoro. In fact, #4-9 are my usual go-to's and #7-8 are my favorites. Two [major] personal pros: 1) Children-friendly 2) Bathroom with a changing table read more
This neighborhood cozy Japanese restaurant has been my go to for years. I always feel so welcome here by the "aunts" working here! Today was a night I craved Shabu Shabu and hot pot. So glad to have authentic Japanese that serve it here. I took a video of it, so no pix but my fiancé and I also shared a few apps and a tonkatsu. All so delicious. I love having this place close! read more
2 years ago
In a word Magnificent. One of the best Tonkatsu Ramen ever. Flavorful porky broth, perfectly cooked noodles. Great service. read more
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More info about Cocoro Japanese
668 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60654
River North, Near North Side
Directions
(312) 943-2220
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http://cocorochicago.com
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Ask the Community - Cocoro Japanese
Do they have gluten free items on the menu?
Cocoro has a limited gluten-free menu including both appetizers and entrees. Your server will point these out to you upon request. Also, we have gluten-free sushi and soy sauce, but keep in mind that gluten-free sushi rice requires a little extra…
Do they serve raw egg with the sukiyaki?
Yes they offer that option. But sometimes they forgot to ask you so if you want the egg make sure you ask for it.
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Cocoro Japanese - japanese - Updated July 2026
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