My work got this catered for lunch. We could order 2 onigiris of our choice and catering provided mini salads and potato salads as sides. I ordered the spicy salmon and the spicy tuna onigiris and I was unfortunately disappointed. They were lacking flavor overall. Additionally both were cooked (I was thinking it may come poke style, but I honestly wasn't sure because it was not in the description), and that added to the dryness. I also tried the miso beef and it was ... odd. The filling is ground beef with a miso marinade, but the filling was dry and pasty-ish. Can't quite explain but it was not good, and I would not order these flavors again much less get onigiris here. read more

Koro Koro - salad and onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Where do I begin. This will be about my 3rd visit. The first time I couldn't give an honest review since they just opened and were settling in. The 2nd time I ordered pick up and I only ordered the Miso Beef Rice ball which is pretty straight forward. Now my 3rd visit I noticed they upgraded the seating area. The seats are uncomfortable and not meant for you to be there more than 20mins or so. The menu doesn't have many items but they have more than what they began with. They added the musubi menu and soups and I decided to give it a try. I ordered the ahi tuna, the miso beef and a spam musubi. The spam musubi tasted great but was made sloppy and completely fell apart before I even got a chance to take a bite .The seaweed was crumbling and the rice fell apart immediately . Never had that happen with musubi before The truffle tuna was bland and had no taste whatsoever . which is disappointing given what the menu stated it came with. The only redeeming factor was the miso beef. Still taste great but the I felt like the portion of protein was less than i've had in the past. The staff was awesome . Friendly and personable . I am looking forward to them maybe changing up their recipes and making them a bit more flavorful . The ratio for rice to protein should be even. The rice for all 3 was $15 not too bad considering the area and the choices of items. If you're looking for a quick and fast rice ball spot and not too worried about flavor . this is the spot for you read more

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(Overall: 78% | C) - While the rice balls were not necessarily a hit, the staff were very kind and playful which brought joy to my day. Perhaps with a bit of tweaking to the seasoning could help improve the satisfaction of the food! (Truffle Tuna: 72% | C) - This rice ball has notes of the truffle oil coming through, which is nice given the low price point. Unfortunately, I found the tuna to be otherwise bland and the rice ball fell apart in a single bite. (Sexy Shrimp: 77% | C) - This one tastes a little better than the tuna because it has a little more seasoning, but I still found it to be too light. I suppose they kept it simple but perhaps a little too simple. IG: @amei.eats read more

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I got the cochinita pibil and the bbq rice balls. The person taking the orders was so kind. The rice balls were pretty yummy. I would go here again if in the area, as there are other flavors I would like to try. read more

Koro Koro - Cochinita Pibil and BBQ Korean - Japanese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I ordered lunch from here for the first time today and it was so good! I opted for the drink special which included two rice balls and a bevy and I also ordered a side of spicy mayo + the honey bae. The packaging was really well done and kept warm despite delivery taking longer than expected (that's Jersey City traffic for ya though). I was thrown off by the "assembling" at first but was happy they packaged it that way so everything was still fresh. The Korean BBQ was SO good. The brown rice was fluffy and slightly nutty and I enjoyed the saucy, minced chicken. I wasn't as big of a fan of the kimchi salmon - it was on the fishy side...which as I'm typing sounds like an egregious comment to make because I ordered, well, fish (so duh it's gonna be fishy). I think I was expecting raw salmon similar to a sushi roll. I kinda wish I ordered a 3rd rice ball for the variety but two hit the light lunch spot. I will absolutely be back and will be adding Koro Koro to my go-to lunch spots. I love the inclusive gluten free menu and can't wait to try more of it! read more

Koro Koro - a hand holding a piece of food - Japanese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I only had a few hours to spare in New Jersey before my flight back home. So I was looking for something quick and easy to eat and Koro Koro was perfect for it. This is what I ordered! Salmon Kimchi Onigiri - Since I ordered a togo. The onigiri was packed and wrapped in plastic exactly the same way as in a Japanese convenience store. It separates the seaweed from the rice and it keeps the seaweed nice and crunchy until you eat it. It was also a little fun to unpack them. For the onigiri, the rice was pretty hefty. I think it could use a little more filling for its rice portion. While the salmon was the star of this dish. The kimchi flavor was pretty light. It doesn't mean it was a bad thing. The flavor was friendly for everybody, but personally, I preferred something a bit more rich. Spam Musubi - Again, Koro Koro doesn't hold back on their rice. You can honestly get full from just one onigiri and one musubi. The spam had a nice caramelization from the teriyaki sauce with a nice crust on the outside. The teriyaki sauce was delightful, just the right amount of sweetness. It really helped balance the rich and salty flavor of the spam. Thick piece of spam with thick layers of rice. It was simply perfect. Spicy Salmon Musubi - Whooh! This one was feisty. The spicy salmon was creamy and spicy. The extra jalapeños that were added per request gave it such a nice kick. However, the filling was a bit dry for me. Maybe you just needed a little more spicy mayo, but if you're a fan of something fiery. I recommend this one! All and all, I really like Koro Koro. The service was good. The restaurant was nicely decorated. The menu was visually clean and easy to navigate. The parking was easy to find. If you're looking for a quick bite, I recommend Koro Koro. Next time I'm in town, I forsure will be back here! read more

Koro Koro - a bag of food on a wooden table - Japanese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

The food is great they have everything u can ever think about the service is amazing this is just my favorite place to go to and I am always happy and satisfied when I leave read more

Koro Koro - This is my 3rd order - Japanese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Decided to walk around downtown on this beautiful day checking out shops I have never been too. I decided to indulge a quick snack at this place. Food: very nice rice ball place with the option of nori/seaweed wrap or soy wrap, but we know that the OG Nori is #1. Delicious. Aesthetic: cute shop that makes the most of the space. With current COVID restrictions they only ask for one person. Service: polite people, quick service. read more

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I needed a compact food item to bring to a BYOF bar on a boat and onigiri was the most exciting hand food I could think of. Fortunately Koro Koro was mere blocks away from said boat and their extensive menu of non-traditional onigiri fillings like Korean BBQ, plantains, and miso beef cater to a variety of cuisine cravings, and I had a lot of cravings! The salmon rice one satisfied my hankering for more traditional Japanese flavor, the Tuna Puttanesca served as my Italian inspired snack, and the Indian Rice Ball sated my desire for some curry. They're priced at $3.50-$4 per onigiri, which feels appropriate because the premium ingredients are plentiful, flavorful, and I'd say most people would be sufficiently full after 3. Alternatively you could get 2 and order any one of their sides like a soup or salad and be totally satiated. They're one of the more stringent businesses I've observed practicing social distancing during the pandemic, only allowing 1 customer inside at any given time and then asking them to step outside to wait for their order. There's also a big wall of plexiglass separating the business owners from customers and payment is completely contactless, and of course masks are required inside. I only wish more businesses were being so careful. It's hard to think of a food item more versatile than the onigiri, which can serve as a small snack or full on meal, can be a vehicle for any meat, vegetable or even fruit (check out the plum one for a traditional kind of onigiri) and Koro Koro is fusion done right. read more

It's a little strange to see a restaurant dedicated to a convenience store snack. Nonetheless, Koro Koro does bring a very welcome and somewhat-niche product to the neighborhood. Who doesn't love onigiri? There's not much to criticize. If you have nostalgia or craving for the neat packaging and perfectionistic design standards of Japan, this will probably scratch an itch. There is a nifty little video of the founder rolling onigiri to watch at the counter while you wait. And since they roll them to order, yes, you'll probably have to wait, unless you order ahead. But if they just stuffed the onigiri with more filling, they would have five stars from me. That could elevate them from average to great. read more

Terrible bland food ! So disappointing! I ordered the Kimchi soup and it was so bland it tasted like sour water. It also had no spiciness! Kimchi no spiciness? Weird. I told the young lady with the highlights working there, that I think something is wrong with the soup because it was bland and she literally scoffed at me and said oh have you had kimchi before? That's the way it is . That's the way we make it read more

Flavoring and seasoning. Those are the biggest things that I left wanting from my experience at this place. Everything was indeed perfectly packed and tasted fresh but the Spam, Beef, and Tuna packed rice cakes were too bland. Everyone was nice and pleasant once inside but the tables were somewhat sticky. I don't think that they were wiped down properly. read more

After almost 6 months of living in the area, we finally tried Koro Koro on a random Sunday afternoon. We were out grabbing coffee nearby and decided to grab some rice balls for lunch. X had the Yama Chicken and I had the Korean BBQ Chicken Rice Ball. I absolutely loved my rice ball. The chicken was flavorful and moist. I do like that they have a large menu of non-standard rice ball fillings - makes it more adventurous! I also had their potato salad, which wasn't quite your standard Japanese potato salad, but it was quite good. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting or looking for though. Staff were very nice. They're very good about social distancing right now - only one person in the store and they bring your order out to you. read more

It used to be good but it's very disappointing now. There is barely any meat. We ordered two sets. It was so bad without any meat. We could not eat it so we asked for to go box. They didn't give me a to-go box. They just have a paper bag to put our food in. I will never ever be going here. And I don't typically write reviews. I went in the evening on Sunday. We were also up charged for drinks because they were out of the base-tier drink. read more

Koro Koro - Japanese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Visited a few months back but this is such an awesome cute little store to grab & go rice balls. I got the Buffalo chicken & the BBQ chicken one. Looooved the bbq chicken one (a bit more than the Buffalo flavor). Overall though, would make great snacks/small meals & they've got such a wide variety of flavors which is all the more amazing. "Assembling" the to go packaging also wasn't that difficult (as someone who's never done it before). All in all, definitely stop by this place if you can and try a few flavors out! read more

Koro Koro - Japanese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Overall: If you are looking for quick, cheap lunch on a workday - Koro Koro is a go-to! I recommend ordering 3-4 per person! Service: The staff is super helpful when deciding what to order, especially since there are so many menu options. I gave a few options, and the staff was helpful in completing my order. Food: I think of the rice balls as a sushi taco - the seaweed is crunchy, the rice is nice and sticky, and there is a great amount of stuffing. As someone who hates spice, my favorite is the Korean BBQ chicken rice ball. I could eat 3 of these for lunch and call it a day. For my non-spicy friends, my other go-to is the miso beef rice ball. My husband is more adventurous and has enjoyed all of the other ones he has had - even the side of potato salad. read more

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This place is so especially delicious. The menu suits all different cuisines such as Miso beef, Tuna Puttanesca, Spicy Salmon, Mediterranean (vegetarian), to name a few -something to suit every mood- these amazing combinations packed into a beautiful, yet hearty rice balls-everything single one is packed with flavor in amazing combination of delectable ingredients-leaves you wanting to try everything of the menu. A truly unique eatery, and the folks there could not be nicer. This place in a gem. Great for all people, all ages, and very reasonably priced. This place is the best! I live in California, but anytime I visiting this area, I can not pass up the opportunity to eat here. Wish there were more Koro Koro. Great if you are gluten free too!!! How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried? -- Excellent Other Characteristics - Good for dairy-free - Good with other allergies - Good quality & quantity of healthy options - Good for takeout -Gluten Free Comment: Great for anyone that appreciates super delicious food!! read more

Koro Koro - Japanese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Don't understand the high reviews. I got the truffle tuna, kimchi salmon, spicy chicken, and spicy rainbow musubi. Because it was takeout, I requested the plastic wrapping to prevent sogginess. Overall, all of the rice (two were white rice, two were brown) was really soft and mushy. The salmon was bland (despite the kimchi). The truffle tuna tasted bad (didn't even want to finish it) and the rice ball fell apart as I unwrapped it. The spicy chicken tasted alright. The spicy rainbow musubi I thought was going to be raw fish but it wasn't, it was also kind of bland. They were worse than the musubi/onigiri I make at home, and the ones I make aren't even that good. Just bland and mushy and sad. Also for some reason, the plastic wrappings were slick with oil? It was really gross taking them out of the paper bag and trying to unwrap them. read more

Always wanted to try this place and finally got a chance. Ordered the Spam Misubi, Kimchi Salmon, Miso Beef, Garlic Chili Shrimp and Cochinita. Rice to filling ratio is seriously disappointing. 80% rice and 20% filling. And the filling is flavorless and underseasoned. To pay $5-6 for a ball of rice is a waste of money. I have plenty of rice at home. read more

Tried the rice balls for the very first time and totally loved the concept !! I tried the Indian and korean bbq flavors in seaweed wrap and both tasted good. The portion size is good enough for a quick snack. Great staff! Can't wait to go back and try remaining flavors read more

Since the new owners took over, it hasn't been the same. Quality is lacking. I am very sad because I used to love this place.

Oh Koro Koro. What happened? When we used to live in JC, it was one of our quick go to spots. Since we were in the area, we thought we would pick up some and have our daughter try it. When I walked in, the vibe was different. It wasn't as cute as it used to be. The guy working the counter seemed miserable and the kitchen area was not as clean. When we got home to dig into it, we were not pleased. It was packed with rice and very little meat. It was also very bland. No love in the food. Have the owners/cooks changed? read more

I recently found out I had to stop eating gluten and since Koro Koro is reported to be completely gluten free I decided to give it a try! It was so yummy and it will definitely become a regular spot for me! My partner and I tried the red bean, Mediterranean, Indian, and Umeboshi rice balls and they were all fantastic. Next time I will definitely try some of their soup and salad combos. There's also a ton of seating space outside! The portion size is very large - I would say two of their rice balls would be lunch for me. Looking forward to coming back! read more

Koro Koro does one thing, and they do it well: it's the only spot in Jersey City that you can get onigiri (Japanese style rice balls wrapped in nori) Offering up about a dozen varieties (ranging from a Cuban style pork and black bean to a Korean BBQ chicken to Italian tuna puttanesca with capers and olives), there's a rice ball for every taste. The habanero kick of the conchinita pibil and the bracing salty sweetness of the umeboshi are favourites. The onigiri are pretty cheap at $3.25 a piece and surprisingly dense; two of them paired with a small miso soup (packed with eggplant and sweet potato) make for a satisfying meal. read more

I should have taken pic but I forgot, but the rice balls were delicious. I was craving rice balls and where I love they don't have a place just for them so I'm glad I found this in JC. me and a friend got the food delivered to us and it was good, the salmon and kimchi is my favorite read more

Koro Koro, you are so perfect. When you are looking for something quick, easy and filling, this is your place. They are known for their rice balls which cost $3.25 each. Not bad. The flavors go beyond just the regular Japanese flavors. They have other items like soups and salads, ice cream and beverages. Highlight of my day is to go during HAPPY HOUR! 5PM-7PM, buy 3 get 1 free. So far, I have tried the following... Miso Beef - Pretty Standard Lean Ground Beef, Miso, Shallots, Leeks, Scallions, Ginger, Sake Cuban - Yum! Pork, Black Beans and Plantains Spicy Salmon - a little sour, but of course there is KimChi Salmon, Kimchi, Garlic Chili and Mayonnaise Yama Chicken - love all the textures and flavors Chicken, Mountain Vegetables, Shredded Coconut, Cilantro and Green Curry Tuna Puttanesca - interesting Tun, Capers, Black Olives, Red Onion, Tomato, Mayonnaise, Lemon and Parlsey Korean BBQ Chicken - Would love more of the BBQ flavor Chicken, Siriacha, Tamari, Garlic, GInger, Sesame Oil, Browne Sugar and Vinegar Will definitely be back to try them ALL! Grade: A read more

Disclaimer: I did not eat these right away. I ate these approximately four hours later but the rice was good dry. The onigiri rice kept breaking apart. Having said that the flavors were very good. Service was quick and efficient. read more

Hipster rice ball spot would be the perfect way to describe Koro Koro. Not at all authentic, but cheap, filling, and tasty. I had the miso beef, Indian, and spicy salmon onigiri. The fillings were all good and unique in their own right. But the rice, the most important part of the rice ball, was executed poorly. It was way too moist/overcooked so the rice balls fell apart very easily, even as you unwrapped them from the plastic. The rice also lacked seasoning, and there was not too much filling in them either. I'll give them extra credit for serving Mod Cup coffee though. read more

Koro Koro - Miso beef, Indian, and spicy salmon - Japanese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I would like to give three stars for the food but I wish they can do better and still has a potential. Pls dont put too much rice and cook the rice well. read more

I'm so happy that I finally go to try Koro Koro! It had been on my bookmarks list for a while. Our party of three came in on a Sunday at around 1. The place is very small - it seats about 10 people. It definitely looked a lot bigger in the pictures I saw on Yelp because from those photos, I thought it would be more of a cafe type of place. But there happened to be a table for us and it didn't seem to busy. I ordered the miso beef and the spicy salmon rice balls. The miso beef was good but I wasn't really getting a miso flavor in there. The spicy salmon was cooked salmon, but they don't indicate the fact on their menu. I enjoyed both of them but I wish there was more filling. I didn't think there would be much in there though, so I wasn't too disappointed. I had a bite of my boyfriend's Cochinita Pibil rice ball (pork, habaneros, achiote, cilantro, garlic and lime). This is pretty spicy but I really loved it! There's a huge lime flavor and It reminded me of pork larb you would get at a Thai restaurant. The Japanese potato salad was not for me. It had a lot of mayonnaise in it, and when I have these types of salads, I like to be able to taste the actual ingredients more. I'll be avoiding this next time, but I'll definitely be back for some more rice balls! It's great for a quick lunch or a snack. read more

Koro Koro - Japanese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Stopped by this place tucked away in jersey city. Ordered a few rolls including the chicken teriyaki onigiri. Hands down one of the best tasting rice balls I have tasted aside from the ones I have had in mitsuwa. It is a good place to stop by for the casual takeout. Ordered tea, but was not really too big of a fan. Regardless the rice ball was too good to pass up. read more

Not that tasty, kinda messy. Wish the rice was more flavorful considering how much there was. Filling didn't taste very good in my opinion.

Koro Koro is if on onigiri took a wanderlust gap year to discover the world. Or if Taqueria JC cheated on its SO and had Japanese babies. The flavor profile of all the protein assortments are just off-the-charts good that I wish they would straight up make bowls sometime. Check it out if you like (or dislike even) onigiri. It's definitely notches up from the Nippon 7-Elevens. read more

I'm not saying I'm impressed without writing a review first. It's a small little spot that I happened to pass by on my Lyft ride from EWR. It immediately caught my eye when I saw images of musubi on the glass. Immediately looked it up right there and then. Saw what I liked and bookmarked it. I wasn't planning on visiting it actually but change of plans during the day and I needed something quick and filling. I came when they had Norwegian Salmon on the menu for Musubi of the Day, which I wasn't expecting. So being a salmon lover, I opted for it. I also opted for the Spicy Salmon as well. After taking my first bite of the Spicy Salmon, I was pleasantly greeted by a large amount of salmon. This is probaby one of the first places I know that stuffed their musubi with the actual fish in large amounts. Quickly gobbled that up. Proceed with the Norwegian Salmon and that didnt disappoint me either. So overall, if you happen to be in the area, come visit this local spot and check out what they have to offer! read more

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Not sure if they changed owners or redid their recipes, but it's definitely not the same compared to a few months ago - overall less flavorful. I used to order Koro Koro at least twice a month and the last few times have been disappointing. They've also been using a bit too much water in the rice so the rice balls have been continuously mushy. The cochinita pibil, which used to be my favorite, is more oily (way too much achiote?), less spicy, and more sour. Not a fan of this new recipe. The miso beef is lacking the miso flavor and the ground beef isn't as finely ground as it used to be. The salmon is the only one that's (almost) the same. Maybe it's the rising food costs & inflation, but not sure I'm a fan anymore. read more

Ah Koro Koro! This review has been a long time coming. My heart is 100% yours. You save me on days I can't decide what I want. You're always consistent, and always delicious. I would say that at this point (2 years of coming here) I've tried almost all of the options. But I have my favorites: miso beef, cochinita (spicy...you're warned), & spicy salmon (not that spicy). And as I'm writing I'm wishing I was eating them. This love affair will last a lifetime. read more

Koro Koro - Japanese Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I didn't come in here, but this place was kind enough to donate some rice balls for a party that the community put together for Jersey City's favorite dog walker -- they were delicious! Highly recommend the Miso Beef one, or the salmon! They can be difficult to open, so read the instructions! read more

The most unique onigiri experience. So many fun combinations to try from. Each flavorful and delicious. The Indian one was a personal favorite. The staff working were very friendly. A great spot to pick up a quick meal or snack. read more

I love this spot! I eat from here almost every week! I work at barcade so it's a quick walk over. Food is always good hot and made to order. The owner is also so nice and friendly. If you're looking for good food and great customer service this is the spot for you! read more

During my first and only visit here, I was halfway through eating an onigiri when I found a large dead fly inside the filling right where I bit. Not a small fly -- a full sized black fly with smushed wings and legs. I was in complete shock and could barely say anything when I showed the two staff members. They gave me some free onigiri as compensation, but I couldn't eat them after that. I emailed the store afterwards about the incident and never heard back. This happened a while ago and hopefully they've improved, but I had to get this off my chest because I can't look at rice balls the same again. read more