Cocoro

Cocoro is always delicious -- it tastes "right" (authentically Japanese). I love this place. Not sure why it's rating so low otherwise. more

My husband took me here for my birthday. It was a great choice. The food was absolutely wonderful, as well as the server. We've highly recommend it to family and friends and will return very soon. Definitely go!! Pros: food, service - great personalities and so helpful Cons: I have nothing bad to say about cocoro more

Food was average maybe price is little better than any other casual sushi restaurant in the city. However, service was not so satisfying. I've been there several times and each time it was pretty disappoitng. so I usually do carry out now. Pros: Price, Roll(Maki sushi) Cons: Kitchen menu, service more

I heard that this restaurant was going to be featured in an Asian restaurant magazine as one of the best date places to go to (my best friend knows the reviewer). I have to say that I was not disappointed. First of all, we were treated well from the moment we walked in, but not in a way that made us feel uncomfortable like some places. We just felt welcomed and comfortable. The decor is in mellow earth tones, adding to the warmth and appeal of the place. We decided on the shabu-shabu; that's the paper thin beef that is cooked right at the table, and we had heard was delicious, but hard to find, since most Japanese places don't offer it. It was fun to have it cooking right at the table and the final result was delicious. It was a generous portion for two, but we finished every morsel. Almost forgot, we started with sashimi and sushi roll, and it was the freshest I ever tasted. I found out that their sushi chef is a master from Japan, and the results he achieves are extraordinary. My standards for this food are now much higher after eating at Cocoro. Except for one other couple, we were the only non-Asians in the place, and I think that says a lot. The manager told me that their popularity with Japanese customers is in their sticking with the Japanese way of doing things. There are a few fusion items like the spicy tuna roll (excellent!), but everything else is strictly Japanese. Next time I go I want to try the ramen. I saw it being served at a nearby table, and it looked like a dish from what I imagine is the rural part of Japan. The bowl looked huge! I will review my next visit to Cocoro, hopefully soon! Much recommended. Pros: great food, top-notch service, mellow atmosphere Cons: would like to see more desert items more

Definitely the most authentic Japanese food in Chicago, maybe this side of the planet. Ramen is perfect, sushi is perfect, the best (and I know my sushi - New York, San Francisco, LA, Tokyo). I like the ambience. My next date, we're going to Cocoro. Service is fast and I liked the waitress a lot. This might be my favorite restaurant. Pros: Quality, Authenticity, Ambience, Service Cons: No valet parking more

I actually found this place while heading to the H o o t e r s next door. Hungry and mindful that I'd take something ""healthy"" over deep fried any day I decided to wander on in and have some sushi. Upon entering, I noticed the place was empty (taking in the fact that it was only 6PMish on a Thursday night) and the lights were dim. I was greeted by a guy who tried to act like he was Japanese. I decided to sit by the sushi bar which is way in the back of the restaurant. I felt like leaving after a couple of minutes, but I was that hungry that, despite the fact the place looked old and gray, I decided to stay. Onto the menu. What caught my eye was the fact that they served Shabu-Shabu, a VERY HARD dish to find around Chicago (in my tasting travels, I only found 1 place that served the dish in the Chicagoland area and it's in Rolling Meadows). But onto the sushi itself. Despite my order being good I was somewhat disapointed on the proportion of the pieces as they were small, came in single pieces, and cost more than what I'm used to paying for an order of 2 pieces (keep in mind, I'm not talking about rolls, although they were small too). The roll I ordered (which the chef said was a ""special"" roll) was also good, but again overpriced. Maybe if I had the time (and read the previous reviews of this place) I would've ordered the ramen. I'll just have to try them again and maybe change this review afterwards. Pros: Close to Chicago Brown Line stop, choices of sake Cons: overpriced, not 100% authentic, parking more

You see more Japanese customers here than any other Japanese restaurants in downtown, Pros: authentic Cons: not a good place if you are looking for a fun / fusion Japanese food more

I've been looking for a restaurant that serves good ramen, but have frequently disappointed; however, I can finally recommend a good ramen restaurant to try. Sushi and teriyaki were excellent as well. Although the price is slightly more expensive than other Japanese restaurants, it is definitely worth it. Moreover, there are many Japanese customers, which is usually a sign of a restaurant being truly authentic. Pros: Quiet atmosphere, Good service Cons: A bit out of the way more