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    Kokoro

    3.7 (335 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Kokoro Takeout or Delivery

    Kokoro Photos

    KOKORO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Kokoro

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    Unagi Don w/ veggies
    Dedo K.

    This is the spot! I have always loved eating here. Been eating at Kokoro for years! I miss the Kokoro that was on Broadway and 6th Avenue. I would always go there during my lunch break when I was in school. I went through the drive through. The service was fast and the server was nice. I usually order the beef bowl but this time I ordered the unagi don with vegetables. I also asked for the red pepper seasoning on the side. The unagi don hit the spot. I love unagi and rice with veggies so it was a no brainer to order. I wish I would have ordered a miso soup to go but the eel bowl made me full so it a was all good.

    Part of strip mall off Colorado Blvd
    Bennett P.

    It's been over a year since I visited their original location in Denver. I have been going to the Arvada store because it was close to my former employer. I noticed they now offer more choices for Sake and added Soju. I got a 200 ml bottle of Kuni Zakari Nigori for only $7. It was cloudy and slightly sweet with a nice finish, despite the 14% alcohol. I got the Spicy Tuna roll (8 pieces) and a combo of shrimp & vegetable tempura. I added an iced tea. I was served by Manny E. She was easy to converse with. The restaurant was clean. I saw several people come in and they must have been regulars because the staff came over to say hi. They updated their rewards program. No additional service charges.

    Salmon Roll, Shrimp Tempura Splash, onigiri
    Isa B.

    Having a drive thru Japanese restaurant is such a game changer. Service was fast and food was cheap, with decently sized rolls and onigiri. Shrimp tempura wasn't too greasy and everything was very filling. It's just about what you would expect- meets expectations without breaking the bank. Overall a 3.5- would come back!

    Beef Bowl Regular. Tasty and filling. Good value for $8.50
    Will H.

    Visiting friends in the area, and I see why this is one of their regular spots! We showed up with a party of 7 and they made room for us at the bar top. Service was friendly and fast. Prices are good: the "regular" sized beef bowl is $8.50 and it'll fill you up! I bet the larger size is enough for 2. Others in the party had salmon and Philly rolls, some noodle bowls, I don't even know what else. But all was good. There is a frequent guest program, so if you live locally it can really pay to join that. Sorry I don't know the specifics, but it saved my friend some $. They seem to have a strong take out business too. Parking in the plaza is decent, we found spots at 7:30 on a Friday night. Nice diverse neighborhood crowd. I got a big pitcher of tasty hot matcha tea for $2! I think a place where I'm from back east would charge 3-4x that. Good food, good value and good service. 5 stars all around for that! If you're around southeast Denver and crave some good Japanese cuisine, this is the place.

    Strange counters.
    JoJo E.

    Sadly, you get what you pay for here. It's cheap but not good. Not a very responsive staff if you're not sitting at the counters. This place looks OLD and run down. The ramen was not good. It wasn't fresh and the pork had freezer burn so I spit it out. The unagi roll had very little unagi inside but wasn't bad. I will not return.

    Philadelphia roll and shrimp tempura roll
    Lena N.

    Really good quality and value for the price! Friendly and warm service, plus they have a drive through which is cute and convenient. I picked up takeout sushi, and it was surprisingly fresh and delicious for budget sushi. I'd definitely come back here if looking for a quick and affordable Japanese meal!

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Kokoro - Denver is always great value; super fast; and, delish! Kinda odd location but worth the 2 seconds added effort.

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    1 year ago

    Amazing miso soup!! Definitely try the green tea cheesecake, it's freakin wild!! I also tried the tuna poke bowl, also gas.

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    1 year ago

    I would recommend not wearing fake nails when preparing a to go order. How do I know you were wearing fake fingernails?

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    2 years ago

    Amazing food and service! The food is simple, but made with high quality ingredients. Loved the spicy tuna roll!

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Mas T.

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    3 years ago

    Kokoro is the best fast casual Japanese food in the north metro area. The menu is great and the staff is very friendly.

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    Page 2 of 9

    Ask the Community - Kokoro

    Does Kokoro have MSG in any of its food?

    Hi Casey! No! We do not add MSG to anything. We try to also source top ingredients. From local produce, to USDA Choice Beef, to Red Bird (no antibiotic, never frozen) chicken. We also cut and prep all of our vegetables by hand.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Sushi Den

    Sushi Den

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    2.4 miSouthwest
    $$$

    This is not a review of Sushi Den as a whole, but instead a review of the Chef Table run by chef…read moreYasu Kizaki. The experience truly begins with the reservation, where you are asked a series of questions from your familiarity with sushi, fish preference, appetite level, and so on. This truly is an in-depth questionnaire so that the chef Yasu could source fish from Nagahama fish market for your meal. It's an incredibly personal, curated meal. On the date of, you are led to a private room in the back, Denchu Den, which is a simple, private sushi bar for up to 4 guests. Then, Chef Yasu comes out for a truly intimate experience, one that is extremely rare to come by, even in Japan. It is truly just your party and the chef as he prepares some truly epic bite. And the menu is not set, it really depends on your personal taste, and the food continues basically until you tap out. As such, there is no set price, though typically we run up about $150-200 a person. It's a 2 hour experience during which you get to experience that Japanese hospitality with chef Yasu. We talked with him about his home, learned about his experience in Denver, and he provided some fun facts about sushi and Japanese in culture in general. I cannot praise this truly unique experience enough, and, in fact, we have been back here every single year. The cherry on top is that as you return, Chef Yasu starts to remember your preference and even past conversation. And it does not end there. Based on our conversation where I discussed my next Japan trip, Chef Yasu even took time to send us an email with his recommendations. The Chef Table at Sushi Den is truly a one of a kind experience here in Denver.

    The appetizers and sushi we got were definitely good, but some of the fish was a bit too fishy for…read morehow fresh it's supposed to be, the wagyu was chewier than it should've been, and the ambience felt less warm and welcoming than other restaurants of this refinement. What we ordered: Wagyu kushiyaki - flavor and char was great, but had to chew a good amount more than you would want with wagyu. The little side of truffle mashed potatoes is amazing. Toro nigiri - on the "fresh from Japan" menu. Kinda fell flat - not bad, but didn't have much of that melt your mouth, buttery flavor. Mikan himachi nigiri - on the "fresh from Japan" menu. This was the nigiri that was fishier than expected. Deluxe sushi platter - great option to get more food for your buck. 4 nigiri, 6 sashimi, 2 hand rolls, and 1 california roll. Salad + miso soup.

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    Inside

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    Chocolate cake.

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    Uchi Denver

    Uchi Denver

    4.5(1.1k reviews)
    6.2 miFive Points, Northwest
    $$$$
    Takes reservations
    Fine dining

    Uchi Denver exceeded every expectation and gave us the best culinary experience I have ever had…read more We came in for our anniversary on our first trip without our kids, and from the moment we arrived the team made us feel genuinely taken care of. Having champagne waiting at the table was such a great touch and set the tone for the night. We went with a chef's choice experience and every course was thoughtful, creative, and incredibly well executed. The surprises throughout the meal and the complimentary dishes made it feel even more special. The wagyu on the hot stone was easily the best thing I have eaten in my 36 years. What really made the night unforgettable was the team. They gifted us a cookbook signed by everyone with a beautiful message, which meant a lot to us. This is a night we will be talking about for a very long time. Thank you to the entire Uchi team for such an incredible experience.

    Uchi was the perfect place for an intimate birthday dinner. The atmosphere is elevated, and the…read moreservice was attentive throughout the entire meal. We had the somakase, and every dish seemed better than the last. The hama chili and walu walu were phenomenal. From the quality of the food to the overall experience, this was easily one of the best meals I've had in Denver. A must try for anyone who appreciates exceptional sushi, great service, and an experience that feels special from beginning to end.

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    Uchi Denver
    Uchi Denver - Spicy Crunchy Tuna

    Spicy Crunchy Tuna

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    Rocky Yama Sushi - Sashimi Dinner

    Rocky Yama Sushi

    4.7(310 reviews)
    5.0 miLincoln Park, Southwest
    $$

    I usually have a magical ability to select a good restaurant by glancing at the facade, but my…read moreinstinct just wasn't sure about this place and I walked past many times without considering it. That was a big mistake. My friend was in the mood for fish and we also wanted to visit a couple of the galleries on Santa Fe Drive, so we took a chance for an early dinner. We were amply rewarded--the food was terrific, the space was comfortable, and the service was efficient and friendly. There's a small sushi bar at the entrance and a large, covered and enclosed patio to the south of the building (warm weather use only). You can't see the main dining room from the street, but it is tucked in the back of the building. The menu is not huge, but there's a good selection of starters/small plates, an interesting selection of entrées, plus fried rice and ramen options. There are multiple vegetarian choices in every part of the menu. The raw menu includes 26 sushi/sashimi choices, 26 regular rolls, eight vegetable rolls, and ten special rolls. Everything we tried was fresh and delicious. The seaweed salad was particularly good. The Unagi (freshwater eel) was extremely tender and flavorful. We also tried the Dragon Roll and the flavor and texture combination was great. Our other nigiri selections were beautifully sliced and at the peak of perfection. The place was totally packed by 6:00 p.m., but the service continued to be attentive and fast. We had a really great time and the bill was very reasonable. Give this place a try!

    This was a great dinner. I appreciated that there were plenty of vegetarian options (and not just…read morebland cucumber rolls)--having a delicious and large tofu roll, large veggie roll, and fresh avocado roll left me full and happy! The service was friendly, and the atmosphere was lovely with outdoor seating and plenty of space on the table and between each party. So glad we tried this place out!

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    Rocky Yama Sushi
    Rocky Yama Sushi
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    Nozomi - Some sushi classics and signatures

    Nozomi

    4.6(203 reviews)
    7.8 miNorthwest

    listen to me when i tell you this: nozomi HH hand rolls are…read morethe BEST bang for your buck you will ever get in colorado. salmon is always my favorite- it has a HUGE piece of soft salmon that is super high quality. i also love their spicy salmon! you can never go wrong with spicy edamame or any of their other rolls, but the hand rolls are the star for me for sure. service is so speedy! the servers are always very kind and attentive. it's a tiny restaurant but very intimate for a cute date night! overall, 5 stars for nozomi!!!

    Service can be better. They use paper for menu which is no eco friendly not to mention no one…read moreguides you really about it. So had to figured out ourselves. They have handful of tables i'm sure they can get cheap ipads and replace those papers. Also for people who are into hygiene (which is most) i really don't wanna touch a pencil which is touched by 100's... Parking is 50-50 you might get it , you might not. Food is good except the avocado sushi there's no flavor in it tbh and if there are any spices or any sauce in it then you can't taste it. Ambiance is good, it's cozy. A waiter did came to us multiple times to ask us if we need anything during food serving. But since it's cozy and there's not much space between tables maybe have a buzzer or a bell on tables so server only comes when customers actually need something. We spend around $100 on food for two people including one alcoholic beer. It's good for one time experience but if i wanna make this my spot i have to think twice about it.

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    Nozomi - Sushi bar seating

    Sushi bar seating

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    Seaweed Salad (~$8)

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    Tatsu Izakaya - Tantan

    Tatsu Izakaya

    4.5(392 reviews)
    1.1 miUniversity Park, Southeast
    $$

    We had a great meal here and our server was very attentive and nice! The decor in this restaurant…read moreis OnePiece themed but it's not super noticeable, as they have a strong izakaya theme throughout the place. The vibe is fast and loud, but the servers are super efficient and communicative. I really liked the tokidoki roll and hamachikama. Hard to go wrong with those! The hamachi kama was HUGE. They give you the entier collar! I also liked the yaki ika which was very tasty, not rubbery at all. They have a lot of ramen on the menu which was a crowd pleaser for our group. Their edamame is also very spicy and quite good -- not your typical simply salted edamame. One thing I wouldn't order - the kimchi fried rice. One person in our party ordered it but it wasn't really fried rice, just kimchi and meat mixed with steamed white rice.

    Yaki Ika and yes, I did it. I have been eyeing on stopping by at this restaurant for awhile…read morewanting to try it. It was good and glad I did. Commonly called ikayaki and checked off! You can try to park at the free parking, off the street or on the street. It was Sunday 3 pm and parking was no problem. Ambiance. Very Japanese like feeling with knick knacks every where with banners, akachõchin. Sushi bar takes one side and also a small bar to the back. Drink menu featured several imported Japanese bottled beers on top of the common ones at reasonable price. Ended up getting the house salad, chicken yakitori, spicy tonkatsu ramen and yaki ika. All tasted good, no complaints. Spicy tonkatsu ramen had rich broth, chatsu was grilled and plenty. Repeat

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    Tatsu Izakaya - Luffy roll, Cali roll and I forgot the other one lol

    Luffy roll, Cali roll and I forgot the other one lol

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    Kumoya - Salmon, unagi, and needlefish Sashimi. Smeltfish roe

    Kumoya

    4.4(160 reviews)
    7.3 miNorthwest, Highland

    Kimora has the makings of a giant izakaya but somehow sectioned things off to make the back rooms…read morefeel more modern. If that doesn't raise expectations the service is on a whole other level with super knowledgeable staff as if they have been there for a while or even own the places. Its impressive! When you tie service and ambiance that leaves the food. Delicate and flavor forward dishes really play to all levels of the meal. Precisely cut pieces of fish and decorated with spices and sauces for an amazing meal! Highly recommended and an easy decision to return. Make your reservation and get that sushi in your belly!

    I've been to Kumoya twice now, once in 2023 and again recently, and I really wanted to love it. The…read morefood is good, the ambiance is great, and the staff is kind when you interact with them. Unfortunately, both visits had the same issue: very long gaps between dishes. On my most recent visit, we waited nearly 50 minutes between courses and never received the remaining three dishes. We ended up asking for the check instead. What made it more frustrating was the lack of service. No one checked on us, and we had to flag down another staff member just to get the check. Our server never came by. It was also surprising because the restaurant wasn't busy. There were open bar seats and plenty of open tables, so I'd be nervous to see what the experience is like on a busy night. It's disappointing because the food is solid, but the pacing and service make it hard to come back.

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    Kumoya - The cocktail bar

    The cocktail bar

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    Mizu Izakaya - Breakfast Roll

    Mizu Izakaya

    4.2(880 reviews)
    7.0 miNorthwest, Highland
    $$

    5 star food and service at Mizu Izakaya! Our experience made for a perfect, fun Friday Date night…read more I came for the crispy spicy tuna and it was easily the best I've had. We also really enjoyed the chili wontons, pork belly skewers, and Kobe beef buns - all were super high quality and packed with flavor. We didn't care for the cucumber salad - the large chunks just didn't take on any flavor and felt like eating plain cucumber. The ambiance is very high energy and can be loud (there's a live DJ), but we had a wonderful experience on the patio.

    I stopped by this spot after catching a candlelight orchestra performance nearby and was craving…read moresome sushi--and this place definitely delivered, just not in the way I expected. When I walked in, it felt more like a club than a traditional restaurant. The music was loud, the energy was high, and the crowd was definitely on the younger side. Honestly, I've never really experienced anything quite like it--part restaurant, part nightlife vibe--but it was kind of cool in its own way. I grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered sushi along with a seaweed salad and an Old Fashioned. The food was actually really good--fresh, flavorful, and hit the spot after the show. That said, if you're looking for a quiet, relaxing dinner, this probably isn't your place. But if you're open to a lively atmosphere and something a little different, it's a fun experience. I enjoyed my food, soaked in the vibe, and left glad I gave it a try.

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    Kokoro - japanese - Updated May 2026

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