Cocoro Japanese

Food:The combination of tender slices of beef and fresh vegetables simmering in the hotpot created a symphony of flavors that was both comforting and delicious.Drinks:The meal come with a bowl of salad, dessert and green tea! Service:The service at Cocoro was impeccable. The staff were attentive and knowledgeable, guiding us through the hotpot process and ensuring we had everything we needed. Their warm hospitality and efficient service made our dining experience seamless and enjoyable.Ambiance:The ambiance at Cocoro was warm and inviting, with a cozy and intimate setting perfect for enjoying a hotpot meal. The stylish decor and comfortable seating added to the overall charm, making it a great

Cocoro goes far beyond sushi and ramen with an extensive list of Japanese dishes not as commonly found in Chicago. They advertise their products as authentic cuisine, so I was really looking forward to visiting.Unfortunately, this experience really missed the mark for me. The restaurant was pretty quiet at 6pm on a Saturday night, and after perusing the menu I opted for the Nabeyaki Udon which was advertised as a house special. The dish arrived with the broth still boiling. Although it was presented beautifully, my heart sank a bit as I saw the tempura batter on the shrimp and seaweed immediately fall off and turn to mush. I heftily blew on a small spoonful and burnt my lip after an unfortunate underestimation of the temperature. Most of the meal was spent icing it and waiting for the udon to cool down. By the time the dish had cooled enough to eat, the noodles were limp and chicken quite tough. I found the broth to be very bland, as if the dashi stock was hurriedly steeped. $33 and a blistered lip later, I left hungry and disappointed. I'd really hoped to find a new favorite in this restaurant and its interesting menu. Hopefully, some of these points will be addressed as I would love to see this local spot succeed.

My friends and I went here for dinner and loved this place. One of my friends called it possibly his new favorite restaurant in Chicago. We already want to go back because their menu is so big and there are so many interesting things we want to try. It's also such a beautiful space - I can say it looks not like many of the other Chicago restaurants I've been in and something about being here felt like a portal transporting you to another space.For drinks, the table got the melonpico (beautiful green color) and the yuzu highball. For food, we got the smelt tempura, agedashi tofu, tuna tataki, 2 pieces of sashimi (mackerel and I'm blanking on the other one), nabeyaki udon, and the tonkatsu.My personal faves of what we got were the agedashi tofu, smelt tempura, black sesame pudding, and the sashimi. My friends really liked the tuna tataki and the staff also recommended it. The entrees we got were just okay, but I would def try more of their raw fish because what we got was fresh. I also want to get their shrimp tempura next time (one of the apps the staff recommended).I also think it's impressive that this place has been around for a while and seems to serve members of the Japanese community (other customers spoke Japanese with the staff which at least in my experience is a bit of a rarity in Chicago Japanese restaurants I've been in). TLDR: great place, we will definitely be back.

Super cozy spot in River North! Feels and tastes more authentic than the other Japanese restaurants in the area. The energy is homey and comforting too Dine in to share a pot of sukiyaki, cooked right at the table. It's big with fresh veggies but probs better if they used fattier cuts of beef. Sushi & makis are yummy too! Sukiyaki (for two) $78 Crunchy spicy tuna roll $15시카고 일식은 2프로씩 부족한듯. 그나마 여긴 퓨전이 아니라 재대로된 느낌의 요리들이 많아서 좋다 분위기도 따듯하면서 아늑해서 밥먹으러 혼밥하러 오기 편하다. 2인용으로 준비되는 스키야키가 양도 많고 야채도 다양해서 추천!

I've been here once with friends. I ordered a Japanese curry with katsu. It came with miso soup. Portion size was great and has generous amount of food. Quality was good. However, the price doesn't sit well with me. It's currently $26. After examining the other items on the menu, I'm not a fan of the price gouging. I suppose if you only lived in the city, with no car, and was virtually clueless, this would be okay with you. If you head out to the burbs like the Arlington Heights or Elk Grove area, you can find this exact dish for under $20. Tensuke Market has it for $11. The quality is exceptional. This is about a 3 for me since I know you can get great, authentic Japanese for less.

Great place. Quiet. Very fresh food no matter what we ate. Great service. Loved the cut of the fresh sashimi

The real deal. Like eating in a small restaurant in Japan or Granada ma's kitchen. Great place.

We walked in on a Monday night and were able to be seated quickly.Food: I ordered the nabeyaki udon. The noodles were tender, the broth was light and refreshing. The pot it came in also maintained the temperature of the soup well.Interior: warm and welcoming; lots of seatingService: I dock it one star because the kitchen service was quite slow, I waited a while for my food to come out.

Have walked by Cocoro hundreds of times and have not given a shot. Curb appeal is a little tough - on the block between Hooters and CVS on Wells St, but give it a try!!!No reservations, but you can check an estimated wait time online! We were seated immediately and ordered beers, edamame, gyoza and two rolls of sushi (dragon & I'm forgetting the name, but spicy tuna) and everything was amazing.Highly recommend giving it a try and we'll absolutely be back!

Amazing food!! Love love love the sushi. I recommend the super crunchy roll. Was not a fan of the fashion roll. The shrimp shumai was so yummy. Service was great.