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Came in on a Saturday evening with a party of 5 and got seated right away. The restaurant itself is in a Milpitas strip mall with plenty of parking and the seating area is clean and well-lit. Service was attentive and the food came out pretty quick after ordering. Menu included mostly ramen, some appetizers, and a few donburi and katsu options as well. Black Garlic Pork Ramen: this is the ramen they are most known for I think, and it was pretty good. The broth was not as creamy as tonkotsu and had generous portions of whole garlic cloves inside, and lots of black pepper of course. Pork was tender and noodles well cooked. Chicken Karaage: crispy and juicy pieces of chicken that were big and meaty. The breading was light which is also a plus. King Tonkatsu: a huge flat piece of pork tonkatsu served with curry and rice on the side. It came out on a big slab of wood which was quite the presentation. Meat was good but nothing too special. Wish it came with more cabbage and pickles to balance.
Great Friday lunch spot! It wasn't crowded, so seating was super quick. The spicy black garlic pork chashu ramen with thick noodles was excellent. The beautiful char on the pork and garlic really elevated the taste, and the portion size was great. Highly recommend. 4/5 stars!
Kokoro Ramen is a small restaurant that's located inside a busy plaza. There is a lot of parking but it can get crowded. The inside had a wooden and brick aesthetic. Staff were friendly, quick, and efficient. You order on the tablet placed on the tables. I got the Tonkotsu Ramen and the noodles were soft. Portion size was filling. Meat was tender and savory. The broth had a lighter Tonkotsu flavor compared to other ramen restaurants I have been too. The egg was cooked perfectly and tasted creamy.
The place is on the smaller side. We ordered through the small kiosk at our table and was super easy. I liked how it gave us recommendations based on what was "liked" and most popular. Our waitress was attentive and the only one for the whole restaurant. The miso ramen was super flavorful and good for the cold weather. The thick noodles are my favorite. The gyoza was crispy and flavorful with a thicker sauce
It's been about a couple years since I went here. It was quite packed on a weekend especially that the restaurant is small. Good news is that I'm able to get a seat since I'm a solo diner. I was deciding if I wanted to either get Shoyu Ramen or Black Garlic Pork Ramen, which is highly recommended. So I got the garlic one. Honestly, the broth is too garlicky. Also they noticed that usually serve big pieces of sliced meat rather than few smaller ones. Everything else including the toppings is good though. If you plan to dine out with your friends here especially on the weekend, try planning in advance because you'll have to wait longer.
Sandwiched between Tong Sui & K On The Go, Komodo Ramen is nestled within the Calaveras Plaza Shopping Center. Came here in hopes of adding another meal to my picky toddler's list of eats. We purchased: Miso Ramen Black Garlic Pork Ramen w/ Kale Noodles Edamame Food here was good. Broth was complex and delicious. Noodles were cooked well and had the typical bite that you would associate with properly cooked ramen. Edamame was very basic. 3 stars overall because the service was off. The lady was very short and unfriendly. It would be one thing if the restaurant was busy but it wasn't- this didn't justify the vibes.
Been to this place several times and it never disappoints! Seating is typically fast and the store is always clean. Service is friendly and your water will never be empty for long. They will accommodate your requests. The portions are huge. My favorite is their spicy niku ramen. It's super flavorful and spicy even without the extra spicy request. It comes with chashu and spicy pork bits which was a lot of meat. The egg is also really good, not old nor overcooked and paired nicely. The bamboo is good and not too earthy. The presentation is kinda on and off. I went there yesterday and the seaweed piece was way too submerged causing it to be super soggy, but I have been there in the past where it was placed perfectly.
okay been here a few times but it's been a while surprisingly not too busy at like 8pm on a Tuesday, but maybe we just ate dinner late ordering happens on iPads at. each table now, which is def something new - also not every table has one so the waitress still needed to go around taking some people's orders tonkatsu ramen - 7/10 same old thing as always - the meat was dry/over torched tho which didn't happen before; overall not too shabby chicken & rice - 8/10 huge bowl lol like hugeeee; friend couldn't even finish it ; seemed like a decent amount of chicken too so that was nice side note I always get p thirsty after eating here so maybe there's msg idk
Black Garlic Tonkatsu (5/5): My favorite and the most flavorful in my opinion. The broth is rich with depth, the soft-boiled egg is seasoned all the way down to the yolk and cooked perfectly, and the whole garlic bits take it to another level. Vegetarian Dry Ramen (3/5): Heads up; this is a dry ramen (no soup), so be mindful when ordering. It's a salty-sweet combo, but honestly, it leans WAYYY too salty for me. Tonkatsu Ramen (4/5): Solid choice. Can't go wrong with ordering this. Service: Attentive, and food came out within a reasonable time. Atmosphere: Small space in a crowded parking lot, so expect a wait during peak hours. The shop is cozy but limited in seating. Pro tip: They now have togarashi (Japanese chili pepper) available on the tables, so you can adjust your spice level to your liking.
Absolutely delicious Japanese ramen that I rate up there with Jinya. The broth is rich and so flavorful! I got the curry ramen with chicken karaage and subbed kale noodles, just like I do at Jinya. Divine! I drank that broth up like it was my last meal. The chicken was delicious and crispy, and the corn and bamboo shoots paired so well adding crunch in every spoonful. My friend got the miso ramen and he loved it. We also shared the roasted garlic edamame and let me tell you it was to die for! That roasted garlic...i'd like to put it on everything! Good thing I wasn't kissing anyone! The restaurant itself is pretty tiny, it's definitely a dine and dash place. You slurp your ramen and don't linger. It's also in a super busy complex so watch out for crazy drivers. I'll be back for more ramen goodness!
This place absolutely hit the spot. The Black Garlic Ramen is my new favorite--deep, rich umami with a bold garlic backbone that's on another level. It's a small spot with limited seating, and part of me wants to gatekeep it... but this ramen deserves to be tasted.
3 stars for the black garlic ramen, 4 for the tonkatsu. Black garlic ramen was too salty. We came right at opening so didn't have to wait. Ordering via machine was efficient and service was decent. Noodles were not bad, but nothing standout and def not worth waiting in line for. Portions were pretty big, especially with the extra noodles we ordered for each of our ramen bowls.
5 months ago
There's plenty of parking in front BUT inside is very small. Came here for lunch but it gets busy around 12:30pm. You can order by the server or tablet (if it's on the table), they're very accommodating to requests and substitutions. I got the Tonkatsu Ramen with a less salty broth and my friends got the regular broth. With the less salty broth, you can tell it's diluted but the flavor still remains. The regular broth keeps it creamy. Both are savory. Noodles are soft and well-cooked, love how the meat is balanced with the fatty parts, and toppings are well-proportioned to the noodles. read more
Overall, the flavor is pretty good. Every time I eat ramen, I only choose miso ramen, so it really reveals how good each place is. In terms of price, this place is very affordable, with each bowl costing under $20, which is not expensive. The only downside is that the space inside is quite small, so you may have to wait if it gets crowded. However, overall the restaurant is very clean, the broth is solid, and the thick noodles have a great chewy texture. Next time, I'll probably try the thin noodles. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys ramen. Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5. 基本上口味還不錯，我每次吃拉麵都只挑味增拉麵，這樣每一家的好壞會直接呈現。價格方面，這家非常的親民，一碗在$20以內，不算貴。唯一缺點是店內空間很小，要是遇到人多就要等！不過整體來說，店內衛生非常好，湯頭也不錯，粗麵條也很有嚼勁，我下次應該會嘗試細麵條看看。推薦給喜歡吃拉麵的各位。整體評價4.5/5。 read more
8 days ago
Came in on a Saturday evening with a party of 5 and got seated right away. The restaurant itself is in a Milpitas strip mall with plenty of parking and the seating area is clean and well-lit. Service was attentive and the food came out pretty quick after ordering. Menu included mostly ramen, some appetizers, and a few donburi and katsu options as well. Black Garlic Pork Ramen: this is the ramen they are most known for I think, and it was pretty good. The broth was not as creamy as tonkotsu and had generous portions of whole garlic cloves inside, and lots of black pepper of course. Pork was tender and noodles well cooked. Chicken Karaage: crispy and juicy pieces of chicken that were big and meaty. The breading was light which is also a plus. King Tonkatsu: a huge flat piece of pork tonkatsu served with curry and rice on the side. It came out on a big slab of wood which was quite the presentation. Meat was good but nothing too special. Wish it came with more cabbage and pickles to balance. read more
Great Friday lunch spot! It wasn't crowded, so seating was super quick. The spicy black garlic pork chashu ramen with thick noodles was excellent. The beautiful char on the pork and garlic really elevated the taste, and the portion size was great. Highly recommend. 4/5 stars! read more
Kokoro Ramen is a small restaurant that's located inside a busy plaza. There is a lot of parking but it can get crowded. The inside had a wooden and brick aesthetic. Staff were friendly, quick, and efficient. You order on the tablet placed on the tables. I got the Tonkotsu Ramen and the noodles were soft. Portion size was filling. Meat was tender and savory. The broth had a lighter Tonkotsu flavor compared to other ramen restaurants I have been too. The egg was cooked perfectly and tasted creamy. read more
The place is on the smaller side. We ordered through the small kiosk at our table and was super easy. I liked how it gave us recommendations based on what was "liked" and most popular. Our waitress was attentive and the only one for the whole restaurant. The miso ramen was super flavorful and good for the cold weather. The thick noodles are my favorite. The gyoza was crispy and flavorful with a thicker sauce read more
It's been about a couple years since I went here. It was quite packed on a weekend especially that the restaurant is small. Good news is that I'm able to get a seat since I'm a solo diner. I was deciding if I wanted to either get Shoyu Ramen or Black Garlic Pork Ramen, which is highly recommended. So I got the garlic one. Honestly, the broth is too garlicky. Also they noticed that usually serve big pieces of sliced meat rather than few smaller ones. Everything else including the toppings is good though. If you plan to dine out with your friends here especially on the weekend, try planning in advance because you'll have to wait longer. read more
12 days ago
Sandwiched between Tong Sui & K On The Go, Komodo Ramen is nestled within the Calaveras Plaza Shopping Center. Came here in hopes of adding another meal to my picky toddler's list of eats. We purchased: Miso Ramen Black Garlic Pork Ramen w/ Kale Noodles Edamame Food here was good. Broth was complex and delicious. Noodles were cooked well and had the typical bite that you would associate with properly cooked ramen. Edamame was very basic. 3 stars overall because the service was off. The lady was very short and unfriendly. It would be one thing if the restaurant was busy but it wasn't- this didn't justify the vibes. read more
6 months ago
Been to this place several times and it never disappoints! Seating is typically fast and the store is always clean. Service is friendly and your water will never be empty for long. They will accommodate your requests. The portions are huge. My favorite is their spicy niku ramen. It's super flavorful and spicy even without the extra spicy request. It comes with chashu and spicy pork bits which was a lot of meat. The egg is also really good, not old nor overcooked and paired nicely. The bamboo is good and not too earthy. The presentation is kinda on and off. I went there yesterday and the seaweed piece was way too submerged causing it to be super soggy, but I have been there in the past where it was placed perfectly. read more
okay been here a few times but it's been a while surprisingly not too busy at like 8pm on a Tuesday, but maybe we just ate dinner late ordering happens on iPads at. each table now, which is def something new - also not every table has one so the waitress still needed to go around taking some people's orders tonkatsu ramen - 7/10 same old thing as always - the meat was dry/over torched tho which didn't happen before; overall not too shabby chicken & rice - 8/10 huge bowl lol like hugeeee; friend couldn't even finish it ; seemed like a decent amount of chicken too so that was nice side note I always get p thirsty after eating here so maybe there's msg idk read more
Black Garlic Tonkatsu (5/5): My favorite and the most flavorful in my opinion. The broth is rich with depth, the soft-boiled egg is seasoned all the way down to the yolk and cooked perfectly, and the whole garlic bits take it to another level. Vegetarian Dry Ramen (3/5): Heads up; this is a dry ramen (no soup), so be mindful when ordering. It's a salty-sweet combo, but honestly, it leans WAYYY too salty for me. Tonkatsu Ramen (4/5): Solid choice. Can't go wrong with ordering this. Service: Attentive, and food came out within a reasonable time. Atmosphere: Small space in a crowded parking lot, so expect a wait during peak hours. The shop is cozy but limited in seating. Pro tip: They now have togarashi (Japanese chili pepper) available on the tables, so you can adjust your spice level to your liking. read more
1 year ago
Absolutely delicious Japanese ramen that I rate up there with Jinya. The broth is rich and so flavorful! I got the curry ramen with chicken karaage and subbed kale noodles, just like I do at Jinya. Divine! I drank that broth up like it was my last meal. The chicken was delicious and crispy, and the corn and bamboo shoots paired so well adding crunch in every spoonful. My friend got the miso ramen and he loved it. We also shared the roasted garlic edamame and let me tell you it was to die for! That roasted garlic...i'd like to put it on everything! Good thing I wasn't kissing anyone! The restaurant itself is pretty tiny, it's definitely a dine and dash place. You slurp your ramen and don't linger. It's also in a super busy complex so watch out for crazy drivers. I'll be back for more ramen goodness! read more
8 months ago
This place absolutely hit the spot. The Black Garlic Ramen is my new favorite--deep, rich umami with a bold garlic backbone that's on another level. It's a small spot with limited seating, and part of me wants to gatekeep it... but this ramen deserves to be tasted. read more
9 months ago
3 stars for the black garlic ramen, 4 for the tonkatsu. Black garlic ramen was too salty. We came right at opening so didn't have to wait. Ordering via machine was efficient and service was decent. Noodles were not bad, but nothing standout and def not worth waiting in line for. Portions were pretty big, especially with the extra noodles we ordered for each of our ramen bowls. read more
This is a small cozy spot in Milpitas. The place is really small and closes early. So make sure you get in there on time. The broth has a wonderful flavor and both vegetarian and non vegetarian ramen lovers can enjoy the food here. read more
Yesterday we went pretty close to when they opened at 11am and there was only one other person so we were seated quickly. The way you order is through a tablet at your table. The food came out pretty quickly. For our appetizer, I got the chicken karaage. For my main, I ordered the black garlic pork ramen. The chicken karaage was juicy and flavorful. I'm not sure what sauce it comes with, but boy the combo was elite!!! The ramen was pretty good. The noodles were a little too overcooked for my liking, but the garlic flavor was on point. It was super filling. As we were toward the end of our meal, we noticed how the inside was more packed. Would come back to this spot! read more
a solid& standard ramen shop. i passed by this shop a lot but never gave it a try, since my go to ramen spot in the bay is ramen nagi. However, i had a ramen crave today and felt lazy to drive all the way to valley fair. I was thinking to myself that i'd give this place a try. ramen itself is like a 3.5/5. meat, noodles, and broth are very standard not bad but not standing out good. I left satisfied. Service is quick and friendly. Sometimes there's a wait for dine-in, since it's a small shop with limited seating. read more
Wow what an underrated spot for easily one of the best ramen places I've tried in the Bay Area! We stopped by for a Tuesday dinner and we were able to be seated without a wait. There were only a few other diners -- ya'll be sleeping on this banging ramen! I got the Black Pork Ramen (extra spicy). One sip of the broth and my mouth was lit on intense flames burning straight from the underworld -- I have a really high spice tolerance so the heat level here is legit! Next time I'd get a spice level down, it's a bit too spicy even for me. The spiciness couldn't distract me from the rest of the broth flavor profile -- a rich, porky essence sensually infused with the savory bite of intense black garlic. It has the right level of salt and body that made me shake with gastronomic pleasure with each bite! They are also super generous with the toppings here. My bowl was filled to the brim with a garden of wood ear slices, bean sprouts, big roasted whole garlic cloves, and long skinny slices of green onions which elevate the texture of this ramen to another level! The chashu is tender, NOT porky, well-salted, and has a super charred taste that makes it a naughty treat even for someone like me who usually avoids eating too much pork. The ramen egg is perfectly creamy and not sweet like a lot of other ramen spots, which I prefer. The interior isn't super fancy but it's reasonably clean and inviting. Overall, would definitely recommend giving this spot a try the next time you're looking for a new ramen spot! read more
I had Kokoro Ramen a long time ago when they first opened but never returned until recently. And I remembered why I didn't return. The ramen is so salty! I ordered the black garlic ramen with thick noodles. I enjoyed the slight chewiness of the noodles but couldn't get past the saltiness and the bowl came out luke warm which is a big disappointment. We also ordered chicken kaarage, nothing to really write about there. But service was fast and friendly! read more
2 years ago
This review is solely for their black garlic ramen, because that's the only thing I've tried here, because it's just so good I never want to eat anything else when I'm here haha. I have a few criteria when it comes to ramen. Broth needs to be rich and flavorful but not too salty, noodles al dente with nice chew, pork tender and well-seasoned, and egg needs to be flavorful and have a soft yolk. Kokoro's black garlic ramen hits all of these criteria and more! I love how garlicky this pork broth is, and how they also have whole cloves of garlic in it. YUM. My only qualm, and reason why I'm giving 4 stars, is that they only give you half an egg!! You do have the option of buying an extra egg, but then that leaves you with 1.5 eggs which is just too much on top of everything else. 1 whole egg would have been perfect :( Otherwise, service is pretty fast, though there can sometimes be a wait. This is in a pretty big plaza in Milpitas so parking is plentiful. They're also on delivery apps which is nice when I don't feel like making the drive out to Milpitas--the ramen tastes pretty good even when delivered too! read more
Came by on Sunday afternoon as a reward for the little one. Only one server for the front but she did a great job running the show. The place is pretty small but enough tables with sim table split into 2 seater with a screen. She got the ship ramen and I got the miso ramen. 4.4 stars for the ramen since they put plenty of toppings which provided great contrast in texture for the ramen. I was only able to eat half of the ramen and saved the other half to eat for dinner. I enjoyed the chasu and egg (half) for protein. The broth itself was a bit salty but nothing a little water can't fix. lol. I guess next time I'll try to order some greens although I don't know if they have it. Just need my serving of veggies. read more
Food is good but I had better ramen. Service is good too people that work there are very friendly and welcoming. The place is pretty small but I like the decorations. We got shio, Shoyu, miso, and tonkotsu ramen with chicken karaage appetizer read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Kokoro ramen is a great ramen shop in the milpitas area. Lots of parking (u just gotta walk a bit as itll be filled next to the store but go to grocery outlet lot) but in typical ramen style seats are pretty limited. Ofc if ur in a rush the next door restaurants are good choices too (but the korean ones will def be filled too) Overall great side dishes we got the garlic edamame and karaage chicken which were solid choices I got the miso ramen with just spicy which wasn't that spicy tbh (for asian standards) Overall a solid experience read more
6 months ago
Walked by Kokoro Ramen and decided to give it a try, so glad I did. Got the katsu chicken, katsu fish, and ramen, and everything was really good. Only one server, so we had to wait a bit, but I didn't mind. Definitely coming back! read more
2 years ago
This is our ramen go to spot in Milpitas. The broth here is tasty and rich. My husband and I added the black garlic oil to our bowls. They add roasted garlic, too. So if you like garlic... lol go here. The chashu pork was nicely cooked with great flavor, too. Service is pretty fast. Love the wooden walls, gives a chill vibe inside. read more
6 months ago
One of the Best Ramen I had, i usually order garlic ramen here, Hope Michelin will see them , I tried Mesho Tokyo rated as Michelin, but i preferred to have this restaurant rated as Michelin.Also when they give you a to go box, they will give you 2 containers to separate soup from noodles which i appreciate it!! Service and Ambiance are Great!! Highly recommended!! read more
2 years ago
This place seats about 30 people. The service is quick and server is polite. My daughter gets the tonkatsu and I get the black garlic ramen. Which is my fave! It's rich and so flavorful. I've also ordered the crispy mayo chicken with rice To-go and my son loved it. I love this place! It's my go to for ramen! read more
4 months ago
7 months ago
Their Ramen was good, Service was fast and team members are nice, ambiance was nice. We will definitely go back! read more
2 years ago
My friend and I came into Kokoro Ramen for dinner. Upon arriving, there was a line, but they were able to seat us within just 5 minutes. We were able to quickly put in our orders; our food came out fairly quickly as well. I had the Veggie Shoyu Ramen, which was absolutely delicious. I am not a vegetarian, and I usually don't order vegetarian dishes, but I have to admit that, even without pork, this ramen was superb. In fact, I ate everything in my bowl, which usually doesn't happen when I get ramen! My only minor complaint is that they gave us an obviously damaged chopstick that had its end broken off. Otherwise, Kokoro Ramen is a solid choice for ramen. read more
Very small little Japanese ramen joint, feels just like in Japan, more mom and pop shops are very small there. Therefore, seats are also pretty tight together to maximize their space. There's barely enough space to get in and out of your table. Despite small space, I live the ramens here. Tonkatsu Ramen broth was so delicious broth is not overly oily nor salty. Strong bone broth and a little creamy. Noodles were nicely done, not too soft nor too firm. There's thick and thin ramen noodle options to choose from. I was surprised with the roasted garlic. I normally don't consume the entire clove of garlic, I was curious how it was going to taste like, so I tried one, it was soft and little creamy with full of flavors but not over powering. Each bowl came with two pieces of roasted garlic, don't miss it next time. read more
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More info about Kokoro Ramen
263 W Calaveras Blvd
Milpitas, CA 95035
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(408) 262-5000
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Ask the Community - Kokoro Ramen
Is outdoor seating still available?
Hi Amanda, unfortunately, we don’t offer outdoor seating anymore. The indoor is very cozy at the moment ^^
Does anyone know the nutritional value (ie. carbs) for the kale noodles? Just wanted to know if it's Keto friendly!
Not sure of the nutritional value but they said it's regular wheat noodle with kale powder. Hope this helps! 👍
How does this place compare to Porco on Berryessa? To clarify as I think it's an entirely valid question (comparisons are helpful in providing a point of reference): - Broth…
Hi Dorothy, Thank you for the question and I don’t think it’s necessary to compare us to anybody…
Do they have a kids menu?
They have kids ramen under 12 years old only and they have some mini donburis.
It’s close to one year for the vegetarian option question, but have they added a veggie ramen? Recently Please kindly list all ramen that’s vegetarian or vegan.
Yes, veggie shoyu ramen. Also a non soup base ramen: veg maje ramen. I looked at photos of recent menus.
Hi Kokomo, Do you have vegetable broth, if we ask? Besides the vegetarian appetizers, what ramen can you offer for Vegans or vegetarians?
Looks like the menu still says that the Veggie Ramen has a veggie bonito broth. But bonito is made from fish. So none of their broths are vegetarian/vegan even though they list that dish as vegetarian.
Where can I find your menu?
We have menu pictures posted under Photo > Menu on Yelp. The ones with pictures would be our most recent ones.
Is all the ramen broth pork based or are their beef, chicken and vegetarian options?
There are no ACTUAL vegetarian options. Their "vegetarian" ramen contains fish. It does state on the menu that it is vegetarian but when I asked they replied that it was vegetarian except fish, so NOT vegetarian.
What's the spicy paste made of? Because on the pictures it just looks like the Korean spicy paste
I am Japanese and traditional authentic Japanese ramen usually doesn't include a spicy paste. Use the Togarashi "pepper flakes" provided on the table.
Are there any vegetarian options? :)
there is one call, "Vegetarian Maje Ramen" it's not a soup base. Regular Maje Ramen comes with roasted pork, but we made option for Vegetarian Maje Ramen without roasted pork.
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