Driving down from Westminster to Lakewood, this brightly lit Japanese restaurant with a drive through attracted me being from Seattle, I love quality food, and this place brags it's "fresh". I couldn't find teriyaki on the menu (what???) but I did find curry which is not Japanese. I asked if the curry bowl has peanuts as these can be lethal to my wife. The snotty b---ch on the other side of the microphone said is disgusted tone , " I have NO idea". On a menu that has 20 items you're not bright enough or accommodating enough to know? I said , " could you find out " " no they dump it out of a bag" Did I leave? As fast I could. Wiil I return? Never. read more

Awful and pathetic. I'm shocked people come here to eat. I ordered the beef bowl with veg and the tiny bowl was filled to the rim with rice with measly amount of shaved beef and 3 vegetables. Seriously a joke. I did not want to pay for this pathetic meal worth 75 cents. First and last time I come here. Chairs are ripped and dirty. I'm so upset I came here to eat. read more

Kokoro - Arvada - Pathetic!!! - Japanese Near Me - Arvada, Colorado

Let this be a word of advice: When you find yourself starving in Arvada at 8 pm on a Sunday night, DO NOT COME HERE. I was hoping this place would be a lot like Tokyo Joe's but I was wrong, dead wrong!! I ordered the spicy chicken teriyaki bowl. The sauce was way too thick, sweet AND salty. I think I consumed more than my daily intake of sodium in that meal alone. At least it was cheap. And the brown rice was decent but..rice is pretty hard to f**k up. Sadly, Arvada doesn't offer many dining options on a Sunday evening at 8 pm, but if you ever find yourself in this situation...go to the Chipotle down the street or something. If I could give it no stars, I totally would. read more

There are plenty of reviews on here complaining about the menu and how this restaurant is not authentic. Read the menu before you go... Its not that difficult. I have loved Kokoro for as long as I can remember. I frequented the location on Colorado blvd as a child, begging my parents to go cross town for a chicken bowl. My parents didn't seem to mind because prices are reasonable and Kokoro is a very family friendly environment. I now travel from downtown to Arvada often and always stop by. There use to be a location on 6th and Broadway, which was perfect. Please come back to the downtown area, Kokoro! Their happy hour is awesome. I don't mind Black Box wine and their sushi is 2 bucks or so! Let me say, this isn't fancy sushi. But with soy sauce and a budget, you can't beat it! You can also order any bowl with extra veggies instead of rice, which is perfect for the low-carb market. Also their bowl club is awesome. I do not recommend this place for foodies. I recommend it for those who want a delicious meal with friendly staff, great wine prices, cheap sushi, for under 10 dollars. read more

I miss the Kokoro of days past. It was always a sure thing. Clean, friendly, fast, and delicious. Now what you get is messy, lackadaisical, ho-hum, and semi-delicious. read more

I visited this Kokoro location, which I call Kokoro #2 (even though I don't think it was the second location). The food is consistent with the other location, but the decor is newer and more modern. Try the sobagetti! read more

My main review is under the Colorado location, but here is where I lost my Kokoro virginity... Ahh, the memories... read more

Updating to post that Kokoro serves Shoyu Ramen - as those who enjoy it are often in a neverending search for it Since living in the CA SF bay area, it's hard to match the goodness found there. No, Kokoro does not match it but it is the most satisfying rendition that we have found in Denver to-date. Like always - I appreciate this place for the fast food alternative that is a bit more healthy (Shoyu Ramen aside, which is not necessarily the most healthy) and the beer/sake/wine availability. read more

If you don't really like Japanese food, this is the place for you. I'm revising this review because as someone who has been to Japan multiple times, I felt it was slightly disingenuous for me to say, originally, that this is not Japanese food. This is Japanese food... in the same way that Hamburger Helper Curry Flavor is Indian food. (Or my wife's favorite, Yakisoba Four-Cheese at King Soopers is... Japanese? Swiss? Mozzarellian? -- GACK!) Make no mistake, I'm no fan of this place, but I can't deny that many Japanese eat something like this stuff. The American parallel is that the Japanese have adapted all these flavors -- Indian, Italian, whatever (even American) -- but they're bastardized to the local/regional tastes. A pinch of cumin doesn't make chicken/mushroom soup/egg noodle casserole a Mexican dish any more than a half teaspoon of ground ginger makes a hot dog sushi. Granted, I only tagged along once with coworkers who were coming here for lunch. I got a curry dish that was just plain bland... Okay, it was unpleasant, for me, but I like flavor. If you like this stuff, revel in it, sure, but please don't tell me you had Japanese for lunch. If you're new to Japanese food, try Namiko's just down the street. read more

I find this place to be full of exactly what the word Kokoro means: heart. The first thing you see: the traditional japanese "aisles" of seating as you walk in. It offers you a ton of interaction with the waiters and folks working here, and Mas, the manager, is one of the warmest dudes around. He loves his customers and his employees and takes care of his regulars. For under $10, you can get a delicious bowl of food here. I had the "Spicy Chicken Splash" bowl, a noodle (udon) bowl with a good balance of warmth in heat and warmth in spice. However, if one was so bold, one could spice it up more with the japanese spices and sriracha sauce they offer. I loved their udon noodles' texture. They do offer a choice of dark meat or white, and I found it was delicious with white meat for $1 extra. More than that though, this restaurant is more than the sum of its parts. This was an excellent experience especially for the price. read more

I've been coming here for years. The food is cheap yet good for your buck. The service here has slipped quite a bit though over the years. But if your on a budget or need some food fast, go here. If there is just 2 in your party they will try to seat you at the bar or one of the little tables. They are stingy on where you sit. Used to love going there. read more

Overpriced for portion size and food quality. Menu pictures don't represent what is served. Tasted OK but below expectations. Ordered online for delivery - maybe better in house but won't be back since there are much better options. Probably generous to give 3 stars but maybe an off night?? read more

This happens to be one of my fast food, comfort food joints. Their Chicken Teriyaki with Veggies is good, as is their Chicken Curry. Like many other American-Japanese food they do offer brown rice and they also have the leaner, healthier chicken breast option for a few cents extra. They have ramune marble drinks* for the kids and unlimited refills on green tea. They do have a drive-thru, for those of you drive eaters. And a free frequent eaters card, through which you get coupons and free bowls. These are the glass bottles that are sealed shut by a little marble at the neck of the bottle. They are fizzy and a lot of fun!!! read more

This is a cute little quick and cheap Japanese food restaurant. Service was great and foodwas delicious however some things tasted different than expected. I believe battered items used a sweeter batter type and so the food had a sweet taste to it, good if that's your thing. There is a drive thru which is very convenient. read more

Let me start by saying that when we walked in, at around 8pm, there was only 1 table available for us to sit. Not because it was busy, but because a large portion of the bar area and about 8 tables were stacked with dirty dishes that just hadn't been bussed. Pretty freaking gross. My wife ordered the Sobagetti and I had the Kokoro bowl. While the wife has been known to be a pain in the ass at times so I question her opinion on food, her lukewarm Ramen noodles and cold silken tofu was almost inedible and the beef in my bowl was, I'm pretty sure, lightly heated up sliced lunchmeat. Ramen noodles and lunchmeat? Really? Was I just teleported back to my sophomore year of college? Service was very good, place was disgustingly dirty, and obviously, I don't think we'll be dining at Kokoro again. I read the reviews before I decided to post and felt compelled to share after reading the odes to what I feel is complete mediocrity. Sorry, Kokoro. read more

Dear Kokoro, I need your food in my mouth, right now. Happy hour inari and other sushis, hot green tea, and a big plate of sobagetti. I have a yakisoba addiction and Kokoro's knows how to sate it. They are marvelous at getting people in and out of the restaurant, but don't go expecting your family of 6 to get a table during rush, eating in pairs is the way to go! read more

Kokoro is a great healthy fast food option. We eat there quite frequently. We gave it a 5 star rating because compared to other fast food options its a stand out. Sure, you can't compare it to a true japanese sushi house or high end restarant, but for a good affordable quick stop its a great option. They serve Red Bird chicken which is a much healthier option than most fast food places for sure! We also love to get tea and hot sake. Our favorites at Kokoro would be the Forest Child Soup, Shoyu Ramen, Curry Bowls and Salmon Dishes. The Splash is great too. They have a rewards program for frequent dining as well. Also have Mochi for dessert which are awesome! read more

This place is amazing! The service is great and the food is delicious. The chicken is juicy and tender all while being an affordable meal. Their ebbi fry is great to, the sauce making it just the perfect touch to the lightly fried shrimp. If you are in town, I would suggest that you go to Kokoro, it is just a nice little restaurant with great food and service. read more

Mediocre food with a weird cult following for one of the staff. Also a really odd amount of racist white men come here?

The service is great! Great food! Nice environment ! I love that there is not a television and people talk to people. Food is yummy. Kid friendly! Great all around! Just say Kokoro ! What are you waiting for you should go now ! read more

Kokoro - Arvada - What are you waiting for for just go to Kokoro! - Japanese Near Me - Arvada, Colorado

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Overpriced, small portions, plain food. Borderline racist. If you're really hungry and want authentic Japanese food, I would suggest going elsewhere. come here years ago and I liked the food. Now they charge around 11 dollars for a small "super bowl" that fits inside the palm of my hands and had no more than 2 oz's of chicken, nothing else! Just rice and a small piece of chicken. Not worth 11 dollars and it should not be called a super bowl. The non-Japanese employees have to fake Japanese accents.. I was served by a white man making a Japanese accent and I was taken back. Insulting to say the least read more

A Japanese restaurant that takes place in the set-up of a diner. I'm not quite sure the idea is settling with me. Fast food Japanese at super cheap prices including basic noodle dishes and sushi rolls of 4 pieces at prices of $3-4 dollars doesn't sound bad right? It is if you're expecting stellar Japanese food, but if you're not partial to quality then this is a good place. A friend and I ordered the Shouyu noodle dish, which I thought was pretty decent, however my friend thought it was just "meh". Other customers we noticed ordered the chicken rices dishes which comes prepared on a huge bed of rice and a thin layer of chicken pieces with globs of sauce. The place was surprisingly busy, however my friend and I were not overly impressed with the food nor the service. It took a while for the server to remember that she was serving us, not to mention pick up our check. We had to go to the front to get the server's attention while she was talking away with another colleague. Not a place I care to try again, unless it is open late and I'm drunk. read more

I love this place! It's super fast and the waitress Sue is great, she always remembers us and what we like to order. Me and my son had the original "Kokoro bowl" a chicken and beef bowl over steamed rice. My husband and daughter had the beef bowl. Also had the hot green tea, which is delicious. Every thing tasted great and service was excellent as usual! read more

The food is decent, no matter what it is you order. It is safe to say you should enjoy your dining experience here. One thing I do love here is their Green Tea cheesecake. It is lighter and not nearly as heavy as your standard cheesecake and well worth trying at least once. read more

I ordered through Uber eats. The sushi was edible. The yakisoba was not. It was dry with no sauce.

Meh, Kokoro is okay. Just okay. I've gone there several times and order different things. I do like that they have healthy options for a reasonable price. There are not many options for fast-food "Japanese"-y, so they get an extra star for at least trying! Last time I went, I tried the sushi and a teriyaki bowl of some sort. Sushi was bland and boring, I wouldn't order it again. Teriyaki bowl is good- there are plenty of veggies in there, but not enough sauce on top. I've ordered the tempura bowls before and was unimpressed- served with not enough sauce, and the fried veggies were not crisp. They were mushy and oily....I still ate them, of course, but probably wouldn't get them again. read more

Food is inexpensive and good quality, I had the curry chicken it was just the right level of spice. I can see why this place was packed on a Sunday, the food was worth it and the experience warranted a second go around.Well done Kokoro! read more

Definitely a 2. The parking lot is kinda small and the spaces are tight. They have a drive-thru which is convenient. The store itself is fairly clean and the staff is attentive. The food though is a different story. I ordered the shrimp tempura roll, California roll and chicken and veggies bowl. The shrimp tempura roll was dry and falling apart. When I got it in the bag it was turned upside down with wasabi all over which made it even worse. There was one that only had a tiny bit of rice but a huge piece of the shrimp. The California roll was almost hot and had a weird taste to it. The bowl was decent but the veggies were way undercooked. Overall, it wasn't for me. read more

Good food, reasonable prices, great service. The vegetable tempura bundles are to die for: shoestring-shredded onions dominate these sweet and crunchy treats served with plum dipping sauce. Spicy tuna roll also delicious as was the "Keystone" roll. read more

Kokoro - Arvada - Keystone roll is a traditional "fresh roll" and very good - Japanese Near Me - Arvada, Colorado

My wife and I went here today to eat around 2:00pm. We love the food it was good as usual. The wait staff was outstanding both Alexandria and Michael were very kind and friendly. They went out of their way to make sure we got what we wanted. Our grandson who has Down Syndrome only will eat the thin noodles, they made sure he got the right order by going back and getting the noodles he loves. We will be back for sure. read more

Gotta love Kokoro.. The product is always fresh, always hot and steamy goodness.. The veggies are fresh, crisp and just the way their supposed to be.. I always get the Kokoro combo (house special) plenty of juicy beef, and chicken over a bed of fresh veggies and steamed rice.. They have awesome appetizers also from the gyoza to the California rolls yum yum. Also the other combo that's tha bom'b is the eel Bowl in all it's yummyness! Kokoro wish you had a place in Thornton!!!! read more

Good price, but ugh! Maybe I shouldn't have ordered a curry bowl at a Japanese place? It's my own fault in one way, assuming that there would be some type of vegetable. So, if the chicken and sauce was on point it may have been fine. I'm Filipino and grew up eating sticky white rice daily. That was the only good thing about the curry bowl. The chicken was pretty dry, and it was dark meat! The sauce was disgusting. A thick, gelatinous, brown mess. Almost like they opened a premade jar from a grocery store and poured it on top. Never again. I don't think it should even be called curry. read more

Simple yummy Japanese food. Great dining in and drive thru too. Bowls are good. I really enjoy the vegetarian options. Everything is well seasoned. read more

What do you expect for quick, relatively cheap, Japanese fast-food? I mean, I'll eat there on occasion but expectations are not too high. I like the shrimp tempura bowl and the sushi is ok but barely worth ordering. read more

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place! Soooooooooo wish we had Kokoro in Chicago! All of their food choices are great, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. Even better, the prices are incredible. The menu has several choices, without being overwhelming. So glad my sister heard of this place and that it's right by my hotel. read more

I'm a bit surprised by some of the negative reviews. My wife and I have gone there twice and the food was fresh and tasty. Really, the dumpling appetizer was delicious. I thought the vegetable chicken bowl with brown rice was better than at Tokyo Joe's, which is a reasonable comparison. We sat inside and the waitress was attentive and even a bit funny. Really, no complaints for $22 with a beer. The restaurant met our expectations and even a little more. read more

I would not recommend this place at all. The drive through attendant seemed like he hated the world. The chicken bowl made me sick and was overcooked. The tempura shrimp sushi was horrible. It seemed like it had been sitting there for days. The only thing that was decent was the ramen. read more

Great staff, Russell and Su are always a treat to me and have been for the past few years of finding this place. Sad to see good servers leave and worse teenagers be their replacement. Management must not be up to par because it shows through the turnover and how these new workers act.. common sense people if there are customers at the door waiting to be helped..help them!!! Don't stand around looking and talking to each other. Sad to say was my last visit there. read more

This was basically my first time coming here. I think I went to the other location on 6th Ave like a decade ago. Kokoro seems really outdated. I was expecting to order at the counter but instead we were seated and had a server. The booth was ripped by the way. I don't feel like it's necessary at all for a server. Plus I don't need to tip when we only each get a bowl. I got the kokoro bowl with brown rice which had chicken, beef and vegetables . Beef was kind of dry. Overall it was okay. Not really worth the $8. Also they don't have a kids menu. My water was not refilled and I had to wait forever to pay the check. They should really remodel this place and change how they run. Seems such a waste for a bunch of employees standing around on a weeknight. Originally I was surprised at the reviews but not so much anymore. A coupon brought me in this time but I doubt I'll be returning unless something changes. read more

Terrible service. Waited 15 minutes just to order. Then another 15 for terrible bland beef and rice bowl. Appetizer was chicken gatso yuck. Then our Asian waitress ignored us and was hugging her regular customers. After waiting another 15 minutes for check which didn't come, she was too busy ignoring us. I went up to counter and asked for check and guess what here comes our waitress to apologize, sorry no tip for bad service. Never going back. I wish I would have went to local Chinese restaurant instead of here. read more