I recently returned after about seven or eight years, and it was interesting to see how the experience held up over time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The staff were perfectly nice and the atmosphere felt welcoming from the moment we walked in, which made the visit comfortable and relaxed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered the shoyu ramen, which was good, but honestly the sake ended up being the true highlight. Everything was solid and satisfying, though I admit a bit overrated compared to how enthusiastically a friend drones on about Kokoro. Still, it was an enjoyable enough experience. Who knows it might be another near decade before I return, so I'll just relish the memory. Lolzsies. read more

5 star review. All went well. Entered Sunday afternoon, motioned to a server if ok to sit by the left side. She nodded and all were good. She came over with the menu, ordered hot tea. She came back within minutes with the tea and water and took our order. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Sunday afternoon with mid March snow storm. Not as busy and the restaurant was quite[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I actually noticed one of the wall with red bridge over the creek with typical Japanese mounting in the fall. Very nice[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Our food arrived quickly. Asked for beni shoga. Surprised to see a container of it instead of on a small dish. Back to the olden days Got to chat with Lenny too. Score! Splash was perfect, rolls were nice and Arigato card had one free bowl. That was a surprise! read more

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The food here at Kokoro was good for the price. I ended up getting the Unagi (Eel) bowl with steamed white ride and veggies. I enjoyed what I had. However, I thought my veggies were a little bland and too soft to the taste. Also my eel could have used some more eel sauce, since mine was on the skimpy side. One of the staff members there was very friendly and talkative which was nice. My food came out very quickly which made me surprised. I didn't realized that Kokoro had a drive through window which is convenient; but their drive through menu is out in the parking lot (takes up a lot of drive by space) which could be an issue for traffic flow (parking lot is tight and small). [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance there was a little outdated and needed a refresher but other than that I enjoyed my time there for quick lunch.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Kokoro - Unagi Bowl (with Steamed Vegetables) - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I ordered a surprise bag from TGTG and got a pork bowl with a salmon roll. Delicious! read more

Kokoro - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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. read more

Kokoro - Unagi Don w/ veggies - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Kokoro is always comforting and delicious! I am addicted to the shrimp tempura splash- they updates the veggie bundle to include corn which I love! They offered a 40% discount this month for loyal customers- who ever gives a discount that large?! Thank you for yummy food, great service and cozy comfy ambiance- I slurped my soup down so fast I didn't get a pic- next time! read more

Disappointed in the quality of their food. Ordered the Ramen flavorless tasted like it came from a can! No Japanese seasoning's barely any vegetables to speak of in addition. I had to ask for the missing seesawed adding extra veggies was an up charge $3. I had to add hot sauce soy sauce Japanese red pepper so I could at least finish my $14 ramen After hearing rave reviews I was highly disappointed! Restaurant reviewer read more

Love this place. Not everyday you find a Japanese restaurant with a drive thru. Their lunch specials are our go-tos. We've had the salmon rice bowl with veggies and the chicken teriyaki rice bowl. Both menu items are consistent in quality and taste, which is something that I love! (There's nothing more annoying than ordering something from somewhere and always getting a different version of it, and not always good). Their Forrest child mushroom soup is delicious, highly recommend it if you are wanting a light but hardy soup. The veggie tempura is good as well. I've only ever gotten food vía drive thru and the service has always been quick and pleasant. Definitely can say we are regulars at Kokoro! read more

Kokoro is amazing and has the best atmosphere. I always get a text with discount offers from them! The food is amazing every single time.

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. read more

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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! read more

Kokoro - Salmon Roll, Shrimp Tempura Splash, onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Service is quick! Staff is sweet. Restaurant decor looks like an old diner setting. There is plenty of options on the menu. I grabbed the beef curry. The curry flavor is good but the beef was slightly chewy. The meal was very filling though but next time I may go with a different protein or do veggies. Plenty of parking in its own lot! read more

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. read more

Kokoro - Beef Bowl Regular. Tasty and filling. Good value for $8.50 - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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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. read more

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I love Kokoro! I've been coming here for a long time. Food is always consistently good. I typically order a traditional beef bowl but my husband likes the curry bowl. Also, love the egg rolls and gyoza! It's one my favorites for quick serve Japanese. read more

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! read more

Kokoro - Philadelphia roll and shrimp tempura roll - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Absolutely the best Japanese food that I've been going to for 40 years. The food is authentic, consistent & hearty. The service is also a wonderful part of the experience as they have always had a great staff. No matter what you order you will be satisfied! Now it is my families favorite! read more

Casual Japanese restaurant to get beef bowls, curry chicken and ramen. Quick and great service from the crew. Always a good go to place when you want something healthy and tasty. read more

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Not sure why I haven't given Kokoro their flowers yet, but the food here is consistently delightful. Shrimp Tempura Roll is a must. read more

Amazing value for some delicious, quick service Japanese food at a spot that has a pretty large dining room and a drive through if you're short on time. I love Kokoro, they have an udon noodle bowl called Splash that has a delicious soup. I like to pair this with one of their sushi items which makes for an amazing under $15 meal. Prices here are phenomenal and you always get a good sized portion. The staff here are always so nice and provide quick, efficient service. I don't ever have to wait long for my food. They also have a parking lot where you'll easily be able to find a space. I love coming here for quick, delicious Japanese food and am looking forward to my next visit. read more

Love the retro vibe. Great prices. Got the ramen and hubs got the eel bowl. We will be back. Loved all the regulars and how they interacted with the staff. read more

I got takeout, and this lady named Lenny was giving me a really hard time. I made a Yelp account just to post this. Ridiculous. I asked for my vegetables(That were supposed to come with it) and they said it was gonna be 3 extra dollars, talk about cheap! Going back to Lenny, she was very disrespectful and treated me like an infant. If I were the owner here, I would talk to Lenny about being respectful. read more

We found this after working a late night job. Small hole in the wall sushi place. Not a lot of rolls but they were good, miso was great and price was amazing. read more

Terrible! sad this this restaurant has new ownership that shrunk the size of their bowls. sad that the bottom line is profit. We have been going to this restaurant when they were the Beef Bowl. Its been about 45 years. We've been going to this Kokoro location for as long as it's been there... it's been many years. Today, I called the Colorado Blvd location to say how disappointed I was with our last visit and the change and size of the bowls. The manager DID NOT Care. Good Bye Kokoro... it was nice knowing you.. read more

Great fast casual Japanese food and quick service. I am a long time weekly customer! They even have limited gluten free options!

I have been coming here for maybe 30 years, seems like forever. I have moved further away so can't make it as often for lunch but it is always on my top three choices when I am near. Also used to go to the one on Broadway which is no longer there. Haven't been in about six months. Not sure if they have new owners or just upgraded a little. Menu looks updated. Prices have gone up slightly like everyone else but still a rather inexpensive lunch. My wife came with me and had the chicken ramen and I had the standard beef rice bowl. On other occasions I get chicken rice or curry race. Hard picking just one. In the past there was ginger on the table you could add but not this time. It was still good but something was missing that I can't place. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could. Friendly people as usual. read more

It's such a hole in wall great quick dine. Curry or ramen or sushi or rice bowl.... Something for everyone. My first time but won't be my last. Love that it's a drive thru too There are lots of seating inside but it's just a chill place to grab a bite. Good food and great prices. I got the ebi furai. Mushroom soup and kokoro bowl. The kid got onigiri and we had a great fast meal read more

Yep, I love this place. I have visited Japan over 75 times, and I covet Japanese food as a result. But I REALLY LOVE authentic Japanese food, and that's why they have my support and loyalty. I wish that I could get Hideko as my server every time! The customer service is so good here, whether you sit at the counter or at a table. Quality, well-priced meals in a positive environment with easy parking. Whether you have sushi, teriyaki, miso, or any dish, this place truly nails it. Get their Arigato Card and you'll be thankful in the future. read more

i wanted to love this place. It's near my house, has great reviews, and is a quick service dine in spot. Unfortunately the flavors weren't there. I ordered a salmon roll and a spider roll and both were bland. Lots of rice but the rice needs more (or did they even put any?) rice vinegar. No flavor at all. Even my kids didn't like their sushi rolls! And they usually eat everything! read more

The food is always good at Kokoro. I love the mushroom soup and order it every time. I was looking for something simple so I went with the Unagi Bowl and the Vegetarian Roll Sushi. Service is ok. The lady behind the counter didn't have a menu to give me. The place had a nice atmosphere and wasn't too noisy and was very relaxed. read more

Kokoro - Vegetarian Roll Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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We've been coming here for 30 years and my mom and I came in on a Friday afternoon at 2 pm today. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There maybe was 6 people in the whole restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Where we know there are policies for the "only" 3 or more people to have a booth , rules to accommodate your guests should always be considered. We asked if we could sit there and the server was incredibly rude. We walked out because nobody deserves that kind of service. It's one thing to have a policy, and it's another thing to be so incredibly rude. You just lost two customers who will now be visiting the Arvada location. I am so disappointed. What a shame. read more

Decided to come here again for a Chicken Kara'age snack. This time I got it with the Ebi sauce which I like even more than the regular Mayo sauce. The Forest Child Soup is good too although the portion seems to have gotten a bit smaller. read more

Kokoro - Chicken Kara'age, Forest Child Soup, and Onigiri. - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Kokoro is consistently delicious food that's fairly priced and they have friendly service. Can't ask for anything more than that!

This is a great place for good, fast, healthly food at a great price. I would recommend any of the rice bowls to try. read more

Kokoro - Fantastic curry rice with beef, ginger, hot sauce and veggies tempura! - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Unable to give 0 stars. I ordered delivery and the Restaurant staff did not fufill the order completely before packaging and sending with delivery driver. They told me 3 different options of what could've happened: 1. It wasn't made. 2. Was made but not put in the bag. 3. Or put in another bag. All 3 of these options were the restaurants fault and they will not send any money back or help in any way. A busy night does not mean someone else should get a bad experience or spend money for a product they will not receive. Horrible customer service. There is no care for their product. WILL NOT be returning. I suggest you don't waste your money. read more

Been going here for years Good food good price will for sure return open till 9 another nice thing read more

Kokoro - Small Beef Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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I've been going here for decades, including all three of the stores. I love their food and I love the prompt service. read more

This place is simple but does their menu really well. The bowls are flavorful, filling, and affordable which I think makes it a great spot for a delicious lunch! I had the chicken and vegetables bowl with white meat and brown rice- they are both up charges but given how affordable the bowls are I wasn't bothered. My fiancé got some inari and the kokoro bowl with beef + chicken and then we shared gyoza and edamame. Everything came out incredibly quick like less than 5min and we were not complaining. The gyoza were better than expected given the price and while the edamame was a small portion it was still great. We loved our bowls and the option for the pickled ginger which was a great addition. Overall a really solid teriyaki bowl spot. The only hiccup was that we waited and waited for our check and then finally had to go up and ask for it as they'd kind of forgotten about it. No big deal they were busy and it was a weekend. Looks like they do a ton of delivery and takeout, and if you'd prefer to head home they do have a drive thru. Looks like they also have a reward program with discounts ! read more

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The service was great but my food was 4/10 For me, I've had way better Japanese style food. The restaurant was nice, a bit older style (like built 15-20 years ago and no upgrades since feel.) I'm giving this 2 stars as the food flavor was very poor. The gyoza tasted like many other restaurants which was fine. But the Shrimp tempura had way too much batter on it you could barely taste the shrimp. Chicken Katsu was the worst I've had. Tasted like a frozen chicken fillet deep fried in old oil then cut up. No flavor except for frost bite taste. The korokoro bowl was nasty, tasted like lunch meat with yet again "frozen chicken" flavor and the sauce wasn't the best either. Tasted like someone poured ketchup & Dr Pepper soda into teriyaki sauce! Literally! I will not be back again until they change the menu and perhaps cooks. First time & last time. Best thing I had was the beer. read more

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Nice japanese noodle restaurant in Denver. We went for more eclectic dishes and they did not disappoint. Recommended for a nice place to eat with friends (which is what we did). read more

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