Great hand roll bar! Lots of seating options Fresh WARN seaweed, great quality Seared salmon! Toro, you name it Fish quality is incredible, Hand rolls were KIND OF small but super yummy. Not to pricey, Our female server was super kind. read more

Pros: good food, friendly staff, decent vibes/decor Cons: IMO - very expensive, limited variety. Spent $186 and left hungry. Conclusion: was a good experience, but just not worth the money given the other options in the area read more

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I was out in the Woodlands hanging out with a friend who lives in Conroe and we were trying to find a place to eat. When I saw Kokoro pop up on my list, I knew I wanted to go and try it! Since my friend had never tried handrolls before it was a pretty quick decision! I've been to many of their sister restaurants like Aiko, Handies Douzo Montrose, Heights & Spring Branch location, Himari and Doko which are all really good, so now I can cross this one off my list too!! I made a reservation while we were on our way just in case they were busy. However, it was a pretty quiet evening. I like how they not only have the sushi bar seating which is a lot bigger than the other Sushi bars they have, but it also has standard tables so more of a restaurant feel. We ordered the 3 Handroll set which has BGB Sake (Salmon), Hamachi (Yellow tail) and Spicy Tuna. It was good to see the Salmon as part of the handroll set as Handies Douzo has switched theirs out to a different fish. I love sitting at the Sushi bar because everything is handed to you freshly made and if you have never tried a handroll you are missing out! You have to make sure to eat it right away because the seaweed has a perfect crisp to it, if you wait too long then it gets all chewy. We also ordered the Maguro Crudo which comes with bluefin tuna and the ponzu sauce is sooo good. I did ask if they had any specials and the only one available was the Kanpachi, so we also had that and it was very delicious! Overall we had a wonderful experience and the service was great!! read more

Kokoro Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - The Woodlands, Texas

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Kokoro was amazing! The fish was so fresh and I enjoyed the flavor combinations in all of my dishes. My server was attentive & fun to speak with. The ambiance had chill vibes and great music. Will be back the next time I'm in town. read more

Kokoro Handroll Bar - Sunumono salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - The Woodlands, Texas

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Like always- everything was great! Service is fantastic. Music had the perfect vibe. Their maguro crudo is the perfect way to start your meal. Fish melts in your mouth and the crunch on top is perfect. The hand rolls are all good but their spicy tuna one is the best one in my opinion. You really can't go wrong with anything here. read more

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If you eat sushi in the Woodlands, you should eat it here. Get both the seaweed salad and the cucumber. The nori is toasted immediately before the handle are rolled. It makes a huge difference! Try the hotate crudo, it's good as a starter and/or dessert. Their desserts are really good too. read more

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I'm so happy we have such an amazing handroll restaurant here in the Woodlands! I came here with my friends on their recommendation, and everything from the food to the decor to the service exceeded all my expectations. I ordered the 3 Handroll Set (BGB Sake, Hamachi, & Spicy Tuna), then added an additional BGB Sake handroll and Hotate nigiri a la carte. The pricepoint is on the higher side but you get what you pay for; all the ingredients were incredibly fresh and delicious. My personal favorites were the BGB Sake (salmon) handroll and Hotate (scallop) nigiri. I honestly don't think I've had scallop that delicious before. Enjoyed a 'Night 'Night Espresso Martini from the cocktail menu, then was offered a carajillo by our server at the end of the night (not on the menu). Both were great but I preferred the espresso martini for its reduced sweetness in comparison. The ambiance and interior decor is lovely and our server was super fun & helpful. We got treated to a couple extra pieces of nigiri and complimentary mochi when they heard we were celebrating a few things, which was so sweet of them. Highly recommend this place- I'll be back sooner than I should be! - Ambiance: 5/5 - Food: 5/5 - Service: 5/5 read more

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I finally got a chance to come to Kokoro for a while ever since reading about all the hype on reddit and Facebook. Two of us sat for a light snack around lunch time after apps and drinks at another establishment. The interior/decor was very cute without overdoing it and the menu wasn't too big/complicated. I did have to ask what BGB stood for in front of the salmon which was for Big Glory Bay, a NZ based ocean-farm for King Salmon. For those curious, Kokoro does not do omakase. Kanpachi Crudo - $23 6 thin slices of amberjack with a sweet vinegar sauce, a dried fruit, Thai chilis, red onion slide, cherry or grape tomato slice, and a leafy herb (parsley?). There was a bit too much going on in terms of flavor for me. I couldn't taste the fish at all with all the other accompaniments. Hotate Nigiri - $9 P2 had this and she said it was the best scallop she's ever had. Visually, it was very appealing. Madai Nigiri - $7 Sea Bream. Delicious. I thought the piece of fish was a bit small but the flavor was on point. Chutoro Nigiri - $9 The tuna belly came with a crushed green onion topping with some soy based sauce. I like when restaurants find what goes well with each piece of nigiri but this was overdone. There was too much sauce that I could barely taste the chutoro, sadly. The fish itself had great color. Otoro Nigiri - $11 Same as chutoro nigiri, way too much sauce which really covered up the tuna itself. Very sad as the tuna was beautiful with all the fat lines and the small amount of flavor that did come through was amazing. BGB Sakegoro Aburi - $11 This was a torched salmon belly that was neither here nor there for me. It felt like a super high heat quick torch on the outside while leaving the inside completely raw. This may be personal preference for torched sushi, I prefer it cooked a little more on the inside with a distant or lower temp heat, finished with a high heat torch on the outside. Otherwise, I'd rather it just be raw. 3 Handroll Set - $23 The seaweed in the handrolls were really crisp and the added fried garlic chips inside the handrolls were also a really great touch (not overpowering). Albeit on the small side, I thought the handrolls were excellent. Whole meal (snack) was $131 for two before tax and tip. Kokoro knows that it is one of the best sushi restaurants in The Woodlands/North Houston area, and it reflects on the menu prices. For me personally, when compared to Houston area sushi restaurants, Kokoro is a bit on the high side, even when compared to its sister restaurant Handies Douzo (e.g. 3 Hand-Roll Set $17 vs $23). With the elevated pricing and the lack of balance between fish and sauce, Kokoro, unfortunately, did not hit the mark for me. read more

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The quality of the offerings at Kokoro are undeniable. I came here for a quick lunch, and quick it was. Quick and incredibly satisfying. I have been craving two choice delicacies lately, and both are present, albeit in single precious bites, on this menu: bluefin otoro and A5 Wagyu. I ordered a piece of Otoro nigiri, a set of 3 hand rolls, and an A5 gunkan. My server suggested ending my meal with the Wagyu, and it was an excellent and much appreciated tip. First, to start with the otoro was a luxurious beginning to my meal. How I've missed this distinctive treat! Following the nigir was a succession of three delicious and wonderfully savory hand rolls. And the pièce de résistance, the grand finale bite of A5 did not disappoint. It was rich, fatty, and incredibly flavorful. The hot tea paired nicely with, and I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch in this smallish but stylishly simple dining room, which thankfully still felt spacious due to its soaring ceiling. Service was stellar, as well. Pricey? $58 before tip for lunch felt like a splurge. But it was absolutely worth it. And I see a few return splurges in my future. read more

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Have been a handful of time now from when we first stumbled upon them one late Friday night. Very attentive staff foods always fresh. Definitely recommend if you haven't tried them. Everything on the menu is great! read more

Amazing food. Got the off the menu lychee cocktail (8/10), the kanpachi crudo (10/10), and the spicy tuna hand roll (9/10). The only reason why everything didn't get a 10/10 is because the kanpachi crudo blew me away so much that I had to rate it above everything else. The flavors were so unique and balanced, felt like every little bite was a burst of flavor in my mouth. 10/10 would recommend anyone go here. read more

Kokoro Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - The Woodlands, Texas

I was super excited to hear that this establishment was opening up in North Houston! I came on a Friday night and it wasn't super packed, but definitely was busy. I would highly recommend making a reservation. Here's the food items that I ordered: 1. Bluefin Otoro & BGB Saketoro Aburi Nigiri: Absolutely delicious. Super buttery and melts in your mouth. Both of these items are a must order. 2. 3 pcs. HR set: Items tasted exactly like Handies' establishment. 3. Sake & Kapachi Crudo: I thought I would prefer the Sake crudo more since I love salmon, but surprisingly I enjoyed the Kapachi more as it had more flavor. The Sake didn't have that much "sauce," so it was very very fishy for my preference. Overall, the food was amazingly delicious and did not disappoint! I believe this place might have the same owners as Handies? Therefore, the menu looked exactly the same, minus the nigiri's. The prices here are much higher than Handies, as you can get 2 crudos there for the price of 1 here. My friend and I ordered the same items mentioned above and our total came out to be $140 (without tip). We left the restaurant on a slight empty stomach. I don't know if this will be a usual spot for me but I'd definitely say this place is worth a try! read more

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This place was absolutely fantastic and if I lived closer, I would come back here every day, it was that good! It was my first handroll ever and now they are my new obsession. I tried several different kinds, and I recommend them all. The service was fine, and quite quick, and the ambience was casual, great to just stop in for a quick bite or to stay for a while. I really cannot wait to come back!!! read more

Why 5 stars? Because this was some of the best sushi we've have in the Houston area. --- --- --- We celebrated my wife's birthday here after she racked her brain for days deciding where she wanted to have this meal. She couldn't have chosen a better option. I don't think I could, in good conscience, rate anything individually less than 5-stars. It was all so meticulously prepared and tasted like it was as fresh and as high quality as food can possibly be. Hotate Crudo - If I had to pick my "least favorite of all the 5-star items," this would be it. But it's honestly more so because I'm not big on citrus-y stuff. However, it was still excellent. 5 Handroll Set - You get a BGB sake, negitoro, spicy tuna, kani and avocado. All are excellent, even the avocado that had plenty of flavor to make up for the lack of protein. I don't even know if I could pick a favorite - we loved them all. Nigiri - Bluefin Otoro, BGB Saketoro Aburi, A5 Wagyu, Tuna Gunkan and Kanpachi. My only "negative" feedback is again citrus related on the Wagyu. But the flavor and the texture of the beef more than made up for it. I could not believe how amazing all of these were. I would love to come back again - it's certainly a pricey place to eat for the amount of food you get, but the quality is out of this world and absolutely worth it. read more

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This is a really chick bar place with modern and fun decoration, but keeping it elegant and welcoming. The staff is wonderful, they go above and beyond to explain everything in the menu, the way things should be eaten, and how to make the most out of your experience. The food quality is excellent. You can't beat the freshness that they offer in all of their ingredients and every dish that comes out is great. My recommendation is to get a handroll set with a crudo and maybe a couple of nigiri's. read more

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Clean, open, fast, casual but can be a cute date night spot. I saw a 2 families having dinner as well at the tables. I sat at the bar for an easy pre dinner snack everyone was super sweet and service was easy going, but well paced. Otoro literally melts in your mouth, as it should! Love how they dress every nigiri so you don't need much soy sauce. Cant wait to be back! read more

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Since Kokoro Handroll Bar is the best Sushi I have had in the Woodlands area, its going to garner 5 stars. My wife and I stopped in for an early dinner on a Tuesday evening and sat at the sushi bar. The space is dominated by the sushi bar, with a few tables to sit at also. Sushi is best experienced at the bar. Our server was very attentive and seemed like the head server. I should have gotten his name, but alas I did not. The restaurant has a great Sake and Wine selection, but my wife and I were trying to cut back a little on our consumption, so I opted for my second ever mocktail - The Honeycomb Hi-Fi. Very tasty. I'm still getting used to Mocktails, but it was a very interesting fruity drink so, I'm saying it was a success. On to the food - We started with the Maguro Crudo and the Hamachi Crudo - both were tasty and good portions where we each got at least 3 bites of fish each. My favorite was the Maguro as it had better texture and a little more heat. Then came a round of Nigiri. We started out with the special off the menu nigiri - The Kamasu (barracuda) that was dressed with a plum sauce which had a little mustard like flavor but didn't drown out the fish flavor. Excellent bites. The other Nigiri we tried were the Chu Toro, Hotate (scallop), Madai, and Saketoro Aburi which is a seared salmon belly. All dressed where not extra soy or wasabi was necessary. Could have continue eating Nigiri all night if I had no budget. The Nigiri selections aren't as plentiful as some of the higher in Houston sushi places, but very good nonetheless. After the Nigiri it was on to the Handrolls. We shared the 3 handroll set with Sake, Spicy Tuna and Hamachi and added two spicy Hotate handrolls - 1 for each of us. Excellent bites. I think I'd rather eat less handrolls and more Nigiri, but since we were in a handroll specific restaurant it was time to go all in on hand rolls. I ordered one more Kani hand roll, and it wasn't as good as the previous 4 we tasted. Bottom line - best sushi experience in the Woodlands - Not cheap, but you don't have to break the bank either. read more

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I am a duckstache hospitality girl through and through!! And this place I always bring my suburb friends to since they don't have the joy of handies douzo in the burbs! This is a very similar experience but it has table tops instead of just counter. Quality is still amazing. My favorite is always the 5 piece handroll set and add the spicy hotate handroll as extra. So delicious and great service always! read more

i think 4 stars for food but 3.5 for service. overall really cute and elevated place for sushi! plus i loveee the ducks sake crudo: light, refreshing. however towards the end, the salmon tasted slightly fishier than normal??? i think in the beginning my brain was like FLAVOR but then as i kept eating it was able to discern the fishiness 4 hand roll set: everything was sooo delicious MMMM MMM. gimme that melt in your mouth deliciousness. service: we sat at the bar and noticed that the chefs were sometimes on their phone, which kinda took away from the elevated-ness of this place. i've been to other similar places and the chefs were always focused on food preparation read more

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A phenomenal restaurant located here in The Woodlands! I was impressed with every dish! Obviously their hand rolls are what they're known for (and with good reason because they're amazing), but the salad and additional appetizers were still outstanding! We additionally had an attentive server who gave wonderful recommendations! 10/10 would recommend! (Parking: either street or garage parking is available). read more

I visited on a weekday evening, and the restaurant was about half full. I didn't have a reservation but turns out I didn't need one. The hostess sat me at the bar, at the back corner, which turned out to be a nice spot right in front of the chef's torching the sushi. Having visited a few of their other restaurants, I sort of knew this place (and menu) is setup a little different from your average sushi restaurant, and more exclusive of course. At first glance, the prices may seem a little high, but some of their dishes are actually priced similar to other sushi restaurants in town while some are unique and are priced a little higher than what you would expect. For example, the salads are average priced, nigiri is a little high but the pieces are thicker than average, the sashimi is average priced, crudo priced a little higher than expected, handroll sets average priced, and the a la carte handrolls are slightly above average, imo. I chose the 3 handroll set, avocado handroll, spicy hotate handroll, kampachi (amberjack) crudo, 2 BGB saketoro aburi nigiri, and the BGB sake sashimi. BGB (aka Big Glory Bay) sake handroll (from the set) - all of their salmon was super fresh the day I visited and since this was the first handroll that came out, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Hamachi handroll (from the set) - I was expecting fireworks in my mouth since I love yellowtail, but this one didn't wow me. Spicy tuna handroll (from the set) - NOT your typical spicy tuna roll, or handroll. Their tuna was out of this world fresh and not really spicy. This is a great handroll and I can see why it's priced $1 more than the other two above when ordering a la carte. Avocado handroll - this comes with a cucumber stick inside and I don't see the need for it unless chef's just wanting to use less avocado. I would have preferred more avocado. Spicy hotate handroll - similar to the hamachi handroll. I was expecting this to taste better. I prefer the spicy hotate handroll at a sushi restaurant in Kingwood more, which is half the price. Kampachi crudo - I actually liked this one, and I should have due to the price. It is not cheap, but all flavors go together well. BGB saketoro aburi nigiri - This one is salmon belly, so it is fattier than regular BGB sake. They dab it with a sweet sauce (ponzu? maybe), torch it, then dab it again before serving. This one is pretty tasty for sure. BGB sake sashimi - my 2nd round of BGB sake (remember that I loved it in the handroll). The sashimi comes with 4 slices which were nearly as thick as the nigiri. I didn't order the A5, uni, or caviar since I has just eaten all three a couple of weeks previously at another sushi restaurant, but I felt they were priced appropriately, when it's placed in a handroll which has about 4 bites. Overall, the service was top notch as you would expect from sitting at the bar. However, I was really disappointed that I didn't see more of the less common fish here like at their location in Downtown. After having recently visited a handroll bar in Ft. Worth last month, which was beyond awesome and I was able to try several never-before-seen fish, I was underwhelmed here in the Woodlands. read more

service quality and taste is top prices are high. 2 hand rolls and 3 crudos was $100 + tip read more

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Best restaurant in The Woodlands right now. Creative hand rolls, amazing service, beautiful interior, great vibe overall.

Came here for the first time for a date and it did not disappoint. It's low lit and not very large which makes it more intimate. We sat at the sushi bar which is rather large. The upside of sitting at the sushi bar was being able to see what was being prepared and being able to order. One of the dishes we saw being prepared was the oysters. And by far it was some of the best oysters I've had since leaving Florida. They were super refreshing. I'll definitely be back if not just for the oysters. The service was top notch. Nick was phenomenal with the recommendations and attention. I wish I took pictures but it was all such a great experience that we didn't take a single picture read more

We have had sushi around the world - a lot in Japan. Kokoro is a jewel for real sushi lovers and connoisseurs of authentic raw bluefin dishes. Everything was great - Special recommendations for the Bluefin - Akami, Chutoro, Otoro and the A5 Wagyu Gunkan with Caviar. Top of the line. It's going to cost you, but real good sushi always does read more

Wow never tasted such a fresh seaweed paper in my life !! The hand rolls were amazing !! Good service the best spot in town !! Good vibes only ! read more

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My fiancé and I visited Kokoro yesterday and had one of the best sushi experiences we've ever had. We tried almost everything on the nigiri menu -- each piece was incredibly fresh, beautifully prepared, and perfectly balanced. The staff made the experience even better. They were welcoming, knowledgeable, and made great recommendations. Pro tip: don't forget to ask about their off-menu selections. They surprised us with five additional items that were absolutely outstanding, and even the "adventure bites" were delicious and worth trying. We paired everything with the Demon Slayer sake, which turned out to be the perfect addition to the meal. Between the thoughtful service, creative off-menu bites, and top-tier quality of the fish, we left extremely happy (and already planning our return). I didn't get photos of everything we ordered because we were enjoying the experience too much in the moment, but here are a few shots to give you an idea of the artistry and presentation. If you're in The Woodlands and love sushi, Kokoro is a must-visit. read more

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Best sushi in The Woodlands! Food is excellent and the staff is always great! Great place for a quick lunch or a romantic dinner!

Love having a good sushi place just minutes away!!! Finally! Good drinks and great food! read more

Kokoro Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - The Woodlands, Texas

I'm not even a huge sushi fan but this place is mouth wateringly good! Totally opened my eyes to new flavors. Everything we tasted was top notch. What a treat! Superb service and ambiance. read more

The food is fresh, delicious, and beautifully served. The decor and ambience is modern. Cocktails are good. Service was okay, could be a bit more attentive. Overall, a great spot for date nights or dinner with friends & family read more

Kokoro Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - The Woodlands, Texas

Great place! Nice to have a non run of the mill restaurant in The Woodlands. Fish is great and very fresh. Great service and execution. The issue - super expensive. We all know that high quality sushi is not cheap but almost everything there is overpriced. As a result it's rarely busy. I literally ate there on a Thursday evening recently and was the only person the whole time. I hope they can find a balance on price so they can thrive. read more

This place is such a hidden gem on the waterway. Walked in to see the most amazing sushi bar with friendly staff they showed me to my seat and handed me a menu with all their handrolls and other sashami and sushi option. I tried a handroll set which came with a avocado, spicy tuna, and hamachi handroll. Hamachi was my favorite with a slight tang to it. I finished my night with a nice espresso martini. 10/10 will definitely be eating here again read more

Kokoro Handroll Bar - Espresso martini - Sushi Bars Near Me - The Woodlands, Texas

We've been searching for sushi that lives up to city standards ever since moving to the suburbs--and we finally found it! This spot delivers everything we missed: top-quality fish, perfectly balanced flavors, and a true appreciation for the art of sushi. Just like their sister restaurants, they maintain an impressively high standard. Big thanks to Ricardo and the sushi chefs for their warm hospitality and for helping us celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday! Hoping to see even more unique and exotic fish offerings in the future. If you're a real sushi lover in north Houston, this is your place! read more

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Went for a second time and yum yum yum!! So good we couldn't help ourselves. The servers are all amazing. read more

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I've been to one of their sister locations, Aioko, with the iconic rubber duckies. This place did not disappoint. And I am so happy they opened a shop in the Woodlands area. The staff was incredibly attentive, making the experience all the more enjoyable. The quality of the fish was outstanding--each bite was fresh and full of flavor. My favorite dish was the BGB Saketoro Aburi Nigiri. You can truly taste the difference in the ingredients. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with a beautifully designed sushi bar at the center and cozy tables along the sides. I'd love to see an omakase menu in the future, but even without it, this place is a standout. I'll definitely be returning read more

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very intimate setting but came at lunch at it was pretty empty. hand rolls were good but nothing to rave about. set of 3 for $23 - would want to come again for dinner to get a better vibe read more

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Very tiny spot on Waterway Drive, but boy what outstanding friendly employees that are very knowledgeable of the menu. We only went in for a glass of wine to check the place out since we'd just had lunch. After seeing the BGB Sake Nigiri caught my eye as fresh New Zealand Salmon so had to give it a try......WOW best I've ever had with just enough Rice. Very good wine list. Small bar and reservations are highly recommended. We will certainly return for a lunch/dinner soon and grab a few ducks on the way out. read more

5 Stars all around! Started with a glass of the Chateau Loudenne Bordeaux Blanc - chilled to the perfect temp and delish. Jose was amazing! Everything he recommended as 10/10! Had the Hotate Crudo, Maguro Crudo, Madai, Spicy Hotate hand roll and the BGB Saketoro Aburi. OMG ...everything was pallet perfection! Stumbled on this place and it was a GEM! Will definitely be back. read more

The quality of the sushi far exceeds anything else available in the Woodlands. This is more of an authentic experience than with hand rolls and small plates. The cocktails are also great. Staff is helpful. So glad we have a restaurant by the owners of Handies here. read more