You gotta admit this particular place is pretty unique, plus any Japanese joint that serves brown rice gets extra points. The problem is this is one of those places that serve Krab with a "K". Kalifornia rolls. Anyone can make a decent kukumber or avokado roll, but to pass off Alaskan pollock in a roll is a krime, and I see (and loathe) it everywhere. I'd love to give this place 3 stars because it's a great alternative to other forms of fast food, plus the roller koaster kounter design is kind of fun. Ultimately, it tips the scales as a 2. 44 rather than a 2.45 when it komes to rounding up. read more

I've been going to Kokoro since I was 9 years old and I love it today as much as I loved it back then. I always get the Chicken Bowl with the Gyozas -- the perfect combo. My dad swears by the Spicy Chicken Splash. Definitely sign up for the Aragato Card, it's a great deal. It's pretty well priced and the service is really quick and friendly. I prefer to not take it to go because I think it tastes the best when it fresh served to you while you're in the restaurant (just a personal preference). They do have a drive up window which is pretty legit :) read more

Perfect ending to what wasn't an all-that-relaxing Mother's Day weekend. Husband worked both days this last weekend, thus I spent most of both days finding ways to entertain my ill son and his not-ill little sister without letting the TV suck out their brain cells for hours on end. Sunday night he came home and kicked me out to "go topless" in the jeep to enjoy the summer eve weather and grab myself something I hankered for... which, this time, meant all roads led to Kokoro. I didn't go in to experience the service, but I did relish their easy drive-thru where I ordered an unagi bowl on udon noodles and a couple of egg rolls. My food was fresh, still hot when I got home and a delightful ending note to my weekend. It seems criminal to be able to have tasty sushi via drive-thru, yet Kokoro pulls it off. Yay for me and everyone else! read more

The Kokoro bowl for 8 bucks. Leaves you hungry; that sums it up. And, it wasn't delicious; it leaves you with a bad after taste. Won't be coming back. To many other good places to go which include soup and an egg roll. read more

Forest Child Soup, Beef Bowl, & House Salad have been my Go-To since the Tokyo Bowl days in Westminster back in 1978....Yumm! read more

Kokoro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Meh. Portion sizes and quality weren't worth the price for us. Expected it to be a economical choice, but probably won't be returning.

We love Kokoro, I've been a customer for years (since childhood) and we visit regularly. The prices are good, the teriyaki bowls are a lot like Tokyo Joe's. Just recently tried the sushi and we love it as well as our regular Kokoro bowls. The atmosphere is nothing special, very diner like, the prices are great though and the quality is good. We love that this location has a drive thru. The sit down service is excellent and they have great specials. The only thing I don't appreciate is when a waitress told us in a very rude manner to move when we sat ourselves at a 4 seater table (it was all they had at the time we walked in it was so busy!) she could have been more kind or made an exception since it was almost packed. They don't like small parties to sit at their larger tables. Which I get, unless it's the only table open! But overall I can't complain and we visit Kokoro's and enjoy it almost weekly. read more

Kokoro has been around for decades. There is a reason for that. The Staff are Super Friendly and it's genuine. The food is fresh, clean and consistent. Even in the chaotic eating hours, Kokoro Servers remain focused and caring. Great example on how to run a successful business! read more

I ordered a few rolls to go and it was by far the worst sushi I've had. The rolls were not fresh and the salmon had a green tint to it. Would not recommend read more

I've been going to Kokoroo since at least 1995. It's always good, never a surprise or bad visit. I can always rely good service. It's the perfect place for families, my kids love it also. We've been going since they were babies. It's also good place to take the novice sushi family member. read more

This is a goto staple for me.....at least once a week. I love the Curry bowls....or straight up beef or chicken bowl... Sobaghetti is delicious with chicken... They only use Redbird brand.....best to hit HH...$2 Saki!!!....all day Sunday is double points for the Arrigato club!!!! read more

The original... As good as 5 stars gets. My family and I have been coming here for beef bowls, chicken bowls, Kokoro bowls, Goya, chicken katsu, forest child soup, salads and more for going on 3 decades... Yep since I was a little boy and I am turning 29 in a week. I don't get the one star reviews. This is a single $ eatery... Judge it as such.. The McDonald's of Japanese food? What do you expect for $5-6? You can barely get a side of rice at Benihana for that price. I don't expect excellence in this price point of my dining experience... But Kokoro delivers... Forever Yours read more

So this place is small but the food is so good! My friend suggested this place for dinner and I was down to try something new and this place was alot better than I expected!! so totally coming back here again read more

I first tried this place with a friend of mine from the International house @ DU. I've never tried this kind of menu before. I order the chicken curry bowl with white rice along with gyoza which enhances the flavor. They are consistent with their food and have an okay customer service. read more

Consistent, cheap, with an old coffee-shop feeling. I was first introduced to Kokoro when I first moved to Colorado some mumble years ago, by the folks I worked with at the time. It was my first experience with Japanese rice bowls, and remains my favorite to date. I love the lunch-counter ambiance so reminiscent of my days at "Chock full o'Nuts" in mid-town Manhattan some mumble years ago. Yulia has been a fixture there the whole time. My regular, a chicken curry bowl with white rice, sometimes augmented with gyoza constitutes comfort food par excellence! read more

This is not good sushi. They add so much rice to the rolls it's just too filling to get through more than a couple pieces of sushi. I purchased the spicy tuna, unagi, and regular tuna rolls. The tuna was just awful and tasted so incredibly fishy. Unagi was passable but definitely not great. Won't be eating here again. read more

Went here one night when the real Japanese restuarant down the street was closed. Took my daughter, aged 24. It was late but quite busy. It had the ambiance of a diner. The menu was a range of Japanese items. I have eaten in Okinawa and Osaka and my daughter loves sushi. We had a mix of sushi and of other dishes, including seaweed salad which I love. The food was bad by any standard. The only thing that was barely passable was a chicken noodle dish I ordered, can't recall which. She didn't even like the sushi; it was tough and fell apart at the same time. It was cheap but sometimes things are not bargains. I don't eat very many places where I wonder if I will get sick but this was one of them. The staff was very nice and pleasant and service was good. The crowd was interesting. I wished I'd liked this cheap chain for Japanese food. read more

I crave a nice, hot bowl of ramen AT LEAST once a week. Saw Kokoro on UberEATS (shout out numero dos) and decided to give them a try! Of course, the Shoyu was the only option when it came to ramen. So yes, I'll take the Shoyu Ramen, please. The ramen was delicious; I enjoyed the rich flavor of the broth and the saltiness of the seaweed. Albeit a simple bowl, consisting of only noodles, seaweed, bamboo shoots, scallions, and pork, I appreciated its simplicity. However, I literally got maybe 2 small pieces of chashu pork. Not sure what that was about. Regardless, it was damn good. If I did order again, I would probably call just to make sure they don't skimp out on the pork next time! read more

Sushi + Drive-Thru Window = Crap Even for a quick bite in a pinch, this isn't worth your time. read more

My first trip to Kokoro was for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. My boyfriend I went because Kiki's was closed. I ordered the Shoyo Ramen, an egg roll and the edamame. He ordered the Kokoro Bowl and fried gyoza. The edemame and gyoza were good, but tasted no different than generic chinese food. The Kokoro Bowl was bland and average - white rice, chicken, and pre-made teriyaki sauce - no better than a frozen meal. The Shoyo Ramen was terrible with bland ramen, bland broth, and bland boiled egg - I've had chicken stock with more flavor. I was completely underwhelmed. I was baffled when I first walked in and noticed that at least 80% of the customers were over 50. It seems to be a hotspot for people looking for cheap and boring food. On a positive note, the waitress was attentive. Kiki's, just one block away, will remain our go-to spot for tasty and affordable Japanese country food. read more

Always good, consistent high quality food, really great waiters, a "home cooking" feel to the place.

Please don't go to Kokoro expecting anything extraordinary. It's basically the McDonald's of Japanese food. That being said, everything is extremely well priced, and reasonably tasty. I'm a fan of the unagi and the beef bowls. The one time I tried the salmon bowl, it was almost too fishy (which is saying something, since I love fish). The food passes as "healthy" as there is the option for white meat Red Bird chicken, and brown rice, though frankly, the oil used to saute any of the items pretty much kills any possibility of this place being "diet friendly". Ultimately, if you want quick service, decent food, and not a lot of buck for your bang, Kokoro is a pretty solid choice. read more

Reliably good and fast Japanese food. I had the miso ramen today and found it both tasty and reasonably priced. There is a counter where it is easy to dine, or tables should you prefer. Also the drive through window is a refreshing alternative to the hundreds of burger joints that have one. read more

I love this place. It is fast food Japanese style. The bowls are full of white or brown rice and topped with your favorite vegis and meats then drizzled in teriyaki sauce. I love the red pickled ginger and spicy shaker pepper available to further customize your bowl. The drink refills just keep coming. I always feel like I had a friendly, filling and healthy lunch! Japanese comfort food served at a counter! read more

This place is the original Tokyo Joe's and I think it's much better. It's quaint, friendly, and efficient so I'm all about it. It's been around for many years so I figure it's a staple and should be honored and visited often. Love me the simplicity of this restaurant. It's totally casual so walk in, have a seat and the kind staff will be with you shortly. There are many food options so if you're new, take a moment to take a gander. I usually stick with the same old trusted chicken and rice. I know - I'm so exciting. But if it ain't broke don't fix it. However, there are a ton of options which is always a plus. When you come in you can either sit at a table (for groups of 3 or more) or belly up to the bar. I prefer the latter option just because it's different from most restaurants. The servers come right up to you and take your order - in no time flat you've got your meal. It's that simple! As far as easy squeezy goes for delicious food that is inexpensive Kokoro is a solid option. I definitely don't go as frequently as I should. read more

Excellent service, especially considering we came in around 8pm. Our server.was Sue. She made us laugh and offered many suggestions. That's the positive. The food was average at best, and the salmon teriyaki was bland. They advertised sushi but didn't have sashimi. Said we should order the tuna poke, which we did but it was flavorless as well. Even though the service was amazing I don't think I'll be back. read more

If half star was an option, that's what I'd give them. It's so bad I could not even stomach it. Asked if they have a cucumber salad and received a few tiny shriveled up, dehydrated who-knows-what type of vegetable. The salmon roll smelled so bad I couldn't stand it. They smoke the salmon, obviously to hide the fact that it's well past its prime. Even the steamed rice was undercooked. How can a Japanese restaurant mess up rice? Just drive down the street to Kiki's instead for real food. read more

I really love the chicken bowls. I enjoy the fact that you can get good brown rice as well. Today I was craving sushi and remembered that they had some on the menu the last time I went so I decided to give it a try. I think the bowls are the way to go. The sushi was cheap but not very tasty. The staff is friendly and I appreciate a place that can provide a healthy lunch that is good with fast service. read more

It's ok. The food is perfectly fine. It's a bit bland in my opinion. I like that they serve brown rice and you can get a decent beer. Other than that it's nothing too exciting. Good service. read more

Went here a few weeks ago, and it was okay. The restaurant seemed clean and the waitresses were attentive. The food was good. I had some type of ramen and was just a bit confused with everything that was in the bowl, but that may have just been my lack of knowledge on Japanese comfort food. Their sushi was okay, nothing spectacular about it. The green tea was delicious, and it was nice to have gotten a free refill. As for the restrooms, they could use a bit of TLC, since they looked so run-down. All in all, it was an okay experience, but probably not my choice of Japanese comfort food next time. read more

I've been coming here forever, usually making a special detour to come here when we are in Denver because we live in the Springs. Kokoro USED to be 5 stars to me, but they changed their beef, trying to be more health conscious.. Hey...... NOT EVERYTHING has to be so damn healthy.. The beef bowl used to be heaven!! Now, the meat is dry and tasteless. Sooooooooo disappointed!!! The two stars are for the employees. Extremely nice and attentive.....They are the only reason I might return to try something else. read more

One of my favorite places for great service and economical Japanese Bowl fix... Their egg rolls are unlike anywhere else and melt in your mouth like they should. Recommended for those on a budget who like this type of food and enjoy a warm friendly staff and a quirky dining area. read more

Good Japanese counter fast food. Really like their $7.75 super beef bowl and $8 super curry beef bowl. Their regular beef bowl is just $6.25. $1 hot green tea and you have a good lunch. Make sure to sprinkle plenty of beni shōga (pickled ginger) and shichimi (ground chili pepper) on top. Their $4.25 gyoza potstickers and fried ckicken katsu appetizers are good to get as well, but mostly I go to get a big beef bowl and I usually get served quickly. Much more preferable to going to a burger joint. read more

We tried Kokoro for the first time today. I had a miso soup starter and the salmon bowl with brown rice. My partner had dumplings for a starter and the chicken rice bowl. The salmon was delicious and the brown rice option was a nice healthy treat. My partner's chicken was tasty, but there could have been more of it, with more sauce to flavor the rest of the rice. They have happy hour all day on the weekends, so the $2 beer was cool. Pleasant service, economical price, and healthy options will see me back in Kokoro's. read more

Rude service. Waiter or drink runner (Wei Wei) seemed to have an attitude problem when simple requests were made. He was not friendly and did not greet us what-so-ever. The restaurant got 3 out of our 5 of our orders wrong. As it turns out, they gave us the food for the people behind us, and didn't figure it out until it was too late. All of our food was delivered 10 minutes apart, so half of our table was done eating by the time the rest of us got our food. Oh yeah, there was a hair in my food as well as my girlfriends food. No apologies for anything. They tried to explain the hair we found as a sliver of ginger root...ummm nope, that was human hair. Restaurant is atmospherically challenged, and the bathrooms need a cleani... ermmm HAZMAT team. They did however adjust our check for the hair we found. read more

The food was pretty good, my only issue was the seating. I felt very cramped and as though we were on top of the people on either side of us. The service was fast a friendly, I will definitely give it another chance! read more

Can't sit where you want and they are rude about it too. Worst customer service available. If you like being uncomfortable while eating, eat here On top of the rude service the server got me spicy teriyaki sauce which I did not want and then proceeded to go eat her own food and I had to flag another server down to fix it. Overall very disappointed and upset with the service at this location. The Arvada location is much better With better service, and better food. read more

I went with a friend tonight to Kokoro. I bought a Groupon b/c I had been wanting to try it. I really wish I hadn't... We ordered a variety of food. We ordered Unagi Rolls, Salmon Rolls, California Rolls, Keystone Roll (appetizer), Spicy Tuna Roll, Salmon Rice Bowl, and a Spicy Chicken Noodle dish. Pretty good range of things to try... The appetizer was not good. I'm not sure how you can mess up a Vietnamese Spring roll, but they managed... Yuck. The Unagi was just eh. Not good, not completely terrible. Just... Eh. The Salmon roll had to be sent back. It was foul. My friend ordered the spicy noodle dish and the spicy tuna roll---so I can't speak to how good those were or were not. The service was good. The bathrooms were gross. We won't be back... read more

I have always liked their food, especially the salmon bowl and their eel. Their appetizers are all good. The only problem is, is that their salmon is not wild caught. So their salmon is farm raised and genetically modified. Yuck! read more

Really nice staff and great food. I got the Kokoro bowl and the beef was legit to die for, I'd also recommend getting the chicken curry bowl. read more