When looking for a new place to try food I always do my homework and read a lot of the negative and positive reviews. As I am a huge fan of sushi and Maru has been my favorite spot, this place hands down beats it. My boyfriend and I went for date night dinner around 6ish on a Friday night and were seated right away. It being our first time, we like to order their popular items and try something creative and new. Shrimp tempura was delicious, it wasn't greasy or flavorless and it was a big portion too. We chose three rolls and made it into a dinner. Finally I have found a place that makes miso soup correctly, and their sesame dressing for their salad is like crack. After reading reviews on what to try, we chose the reggae maki, alaskan maki, and bahama maki. The alaskan was my favorite because the fish tasted really fresh and it was quite a big sized roll. Reggae roll which is alligator meat was the boyfriends favorite, and we both weren't too excited about the bahama. Met Tony and thought he was really nice, and funny so unsure how some people had a bad experience with him but it was just our first time so never know. All in all we both left with full stomachs and to go boxes. Plan on trying more rolls, and some other items they serve. Really fun place for a date night and I kinda want to know where they get their bowls cause I want them. Some say its a bit over priced but the rolls are filled and quite large, plus he makes them personally so i'll gladly pay for something I know is made fresh.
Review Source:Bar-none, the best sushi that I've ever had.
Every time I visit Lafayette, I make sure to save a few hours (and precious stomach space) for this downtown gem.
Yes, Tony has a strong personality, and yes, food does take a while to prepare (~hr; I once waited 3 hrs for a 6-person meal), but the food is delicious.The portion sizes are completely worth the price tag as well. Fried rice? 2-3 meals; sushi roll - 1 roll = 1 meal (meal size equiv to a large from noodles and company). I highly recommend the salmon fried rice, spicy tuna roll, and caterpillar roll.
Do yourself a favor, go visit Kokoro for dinner before we lose Tony's wonderful cooking. Remember to be humble, don't complain, and wear a jeans/closed-toe shoes (or more formal) attire (No hats!).
My boyfriend and I went there for a date on a Saturday. When we entered, the waiter told us it would be a long wait for the entrees, but we weren't in a hurry so we stayed anyways. The time they had quoted us was exaggerated (He said 1.5 hours and it only took about 40 min to get our food sushi).
Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgable about the menu. It seemed like the kind of place where the waiters had worked there a long time and really cared about the success of the place. He made good recommendations on the sushi front. We ordered a Bahama Maki which was humongous and probably would have been enough for both of us. The other roll we ordered was the Tony maki which was also good, although, as the waiter warned us, does not contain any vegetables, cream cheese or sauces: just fish. If you don't like the taste of fish go for one of the bigger rolls. The size and quality are worth the price. For an appetizer we had the chicken tempura which was great and VERY big. If we go back, we will just get an appetizer and one roll.
I drank wine and the Jun Cosmopolitan made with Shochu, a Japanese liquor, and it was excellent. My boyfriend had Asahi and Sapporo beers and like both. The waiter also gave us the Sapporo for free and Tony (the owner and chef) bought a round of shots for the whole place which were delicious!
Overall, the service, food and ambience were great. It was comfortable and fun. You can tell Tony cares about the quality of food he puts out. We will definitely be returning soon.
Kokoro is easily one of the top-5 restaurants in Lafayette. Â It is not a "sushi joint," it is Japanese fine-dining.
I have eaten at Kokoro numerous times, and have never had a bad dish. Â The great thing about this restaurant is one single chef(Tony) prepares every dish, which means it is extremely consistent. Â I hear horror stories about Tony's attitude, but he has always been respectful and cordial towards me. Â His wife is wonderful.
Try the Mongolian Beef. Â it is my favorite dish in lafayette.
the bad news: Â kokoro is expensive. expect to pay $20-$30 per person
After driving cross-country to move to this area, my friend and I were craving some sushi and decided to quickly Yelp a place. Kokoro was toward the top of the list so in we went.
After waiting for our rolls, which was perfectly fine, we receive the largest physical mass of... something... on our plates. I don't think I have ever seen sushi that large in my life. However, I still wasn't going to judge based on that. It could be excellent!
Secondly, I ordered a rainbow roll, which typically has slices of a variety of fish layered over the top of a basic roll. However, instead, there were little cut up pieces within the roll itself. Which is not part of the point of why people really order a rainbow roll. But I still did not want to judge based on this, either.
However the quality of the food after taking my first bite, was just absolutely awful. I ate a piece of my roll and could not muster any more. My best friend had some as well and was completely disappointed. And I felt horrible to waste food.
So, we ended up leaving, craving unsatisfied, and just ordered a pizza. Don't think I will be going back.
I really reall dont like Chef Tony. We watched him yell at a little 5 year old kid when the kid was touching his wine barrel decorations. We went back once with like 10 people... we ordered 9 dishes and he came out and yelled at us. Half of us were girls and didnt eat much. Keep in mind his portions are really really huge. He came out mad yelling at us for ordering 9 dishes and having 10 people. So we were like ok fine, we will order another agedashi tofu. He came out after and yelled at us still and threw the food on the table spilling stuff all over and onto other peoples clothes. the waiter there was apologizing for his behavior. Chef tony drinks on the job too, maybe thats why hes so angry. Angry drunk.
The fried rice is good tho. Everything else is blah. Just get it to go. Or else youll wait for over an hr to get seated cus Chef tony takes his sweet little time
I was pretty unimpressed with Kokoro. I can't believe that this is supposed to be the best sushi in town. Ah-z and maru seemed better quality for the price.
I had the cucumber salad in light vinegar dressing and it was pretty good though I wish the liquid had been drained. It was basically cucumbers floating in vinegar.
The sushi was big which had been warned by other reviewers but I felt bad for my mom who couldn't actually fit them in her mouth so they kept on disintegrating. The rice was also a bit raw. At the end of the day we spent around $50 for two rolls of sushi that were not well prepared with raw rice and the salads and soup. Megh. Not worth it. I doubt I'll come back.
On another note though, if you do want to try it you should be going there soon since Chef Tony is retiring. Just look for the extremely melodramatic sign he put up all over the doors.
This is probably the best food in town. Try the Blue Crab Claw Fried Rice, you won't regret it! Also, the hibachi tofu, and hot and spicy tofu are both really good. I actually can't believe there is a bad thing on the menu. The sesame dressing for the salad is like crack. I have to restrain myself from licking the bowl. The miso soup is also excellent. I can't say enough good things about this place. It would definitely be my last meal on earth. Just remember you're in Tony's house so be respectful. The food is so amazing because of the care that goes into making it and like anything great, it takes time, but your patience will be rewarded. If you want mediocre fast-food go somewhere else. If you want an unforgettable meal, a place to sit down, savor, and enjoy the company you're with then you're in the right place.
Review Source:Kokoro deserves every single one of these stars! The owners here are FABULOUS! They are the sweetest business owners I have ever met. Â Tony's wife, Kay, is the sweetest lady EVER! She walks around tables to make sure everything is ok and will make the sweetest remarks. Tony is also a character and is always a good laugh with his funny comments.
The rolls here are a tad pricey, but that's because they are HUGE. Nothing like your small tiny rolls that you will find at most sushi restaurants. The alligator sushi roll is delicious! Definitely worth trying and always my favorite. They also offer vegetarian rolls which were perfect for my guest who is vegan. It was so hard to find a place that offers appetizing vegan food, but my guest LOVED IT HERE!
The only down side is it takes a while to be seated sometimes and the food takes a long time to come out. (this is because they have only one chef) Sushi rolls also come out at totally different times where you may be waiting a while other people in your party are already eating. BUT if you are with good company and are not in a hurry this should not bother you at all. In fact, it gives you a great chance to spend some quality time talking with the people at your table.
Went soon after they opened on a weekday. Took a long time for anyone to seat us. The salad was ok and the miso was really good.
We ordered Tony Maki, which is just random fish in a maki roll, nothing else in it. Not great. Lafayette maki was really good. Also had a Spicy aurora which was monstrous, but pretty good. It took me three bites to eat some pieces and it's very rare I even take two bites at normal sushi places. All rolls are larger than average.
The service was fast since we went early, but I think the prices are too high. I have gotten equivalent quality & quantity for $53 out the door around town whereas total bill was $75 for three rolls, 2 miso, 2 salads and tax/tip at Kokoro.
When this restaurant first opened they were one of only two places in town to get sushi. The food was high quality so people put up with the very slow service. Now, there are many places in town that serve very good sushi for lower prices and with faster service.
I ate here last night as part of a group of 5 and this is the first time that I've been here for many years (the last time I tried to eat here we were seated for an hour and a half with no food so we left).
Last night our group of 5 ordered 5 rolls. Three people were finished eating before the last 2 people got their rolls.
Yes, the rolls are huge (one cut roll filled a very large dinner plate), but they are expensive and I'm not sure that sushi is something that should be super sized. The rolls felt like the rice had been clumped together and the fish had big chunks hacked off....hardly the pleasing balance of rice and thinly sliced fish. I would much rather have smaller rolls and order a variety than fill up on one of these expensive super sized rolls.
The food was delicious! Tony is a character - but I already expected it and he ended up being the night's entertainment! My boyfriend and I ordered the Steak Teriyaki to share and it was more than enough for the two of us. We were stuffed!
Expect a long wait for your food. Tony and his wife Kay are the only ones who prepare the food and so the wait can be extensive.
Go with good company and you'll have an amazingly satisfying experience.
Granted, my time at Purdue, and my usual times at Kokoro was a while ago. Â But a recent trip to Kokoro left me satisfied that the place hasn't changed, which is amazing because I graduated nearly 7 years ago, and even back then he was thinking of quitting. Â I have fond memories of going with friends or my girlfriends. Â
The good:
-You get a TON of food for the price,
-Close enough to campus to work up an appetite to walk there and past the newly constructed (to me) mini mall on the Landing, and is close to a lot of nice cafes if you are early,
-The food is an awesome blend of American tastes with Japanese and Chinese flavors, traditional or fusion,
-This place is hands down the best sushi place for many miles around
The bad:
-To "keep prices down" the chef, Tony, does not have a lot of wait staff, and has no assistance in the kitchen besides his wife. Â This means during peak dinner times you have to wait 3 hours (not kidding) for food, and another hour to eat and get the check.
-Attitude ... I don't care if the majority of patrons are immature college brats. Â You do not yell at them with very large, sharp knives. Â I've seen both sides of this man. Â You do NOT want to be on the wrong side.
Best sushi in Indiana, the rolls are the size of your fist! Â It's pretty expensive but keep in mind the portions are like family size. Â I love the Spicy Jumbo Maui Roll and the Alligator roll, because you get a lot of meat. Â This is not the typical one bite sushi, more like 2-3 bites depending how much you can stuff in your mouth. Â There is only one chef and he prepares everything at the time you order so be patience and you will not be sorry.
Review Source:Let me tell you about my Kokoro story...
I've been at Purdue nearing 4 years now, and if Kokoro didn't exist It would've been that much easier for me to go crazy craving for some proper food. The first time I went there was with then newly acquainted friends, so I didn't know what all the hype was about. Got there, waited for nearly three hours, and was sort of pissed because I thought no food is worth that long to wait. I ordered the blue crab fried rice. I was pleasantly surprised that it was one of the best fried rice I've tried anywhwere in the world (and I've been to over 40 countries, trust me.) but in truth the waiting time kinda put me off a bit, so I was reluctant to go there again.
In my first year I sparsely visited Kokoro, god knows why. Come the next year me and some friends went there more and more, and figured out the 'mechanics' if you will, to go here.
1. Come during their opening hours, 11.30 for lunch on weekdays, and 5.30pm for dinners. I guarantee (except on the busiest of days) that your food will be on the table quickly.
2. Food selection (for dinner especially):
  a. If you're new to Kokoro and have a big stomache and want to splurge,go dive right in to Tony's Teriyaki Steak (pictured on the page).  You'll have a hard time finding a better sweet sauced Japanese steak this part of the world. If not try Tony's Blue crab fried rice, or any one of his fried rice, they're all great. If you're like me, i would ask my fried rice to be a bit spicy. Another recommendation would be the Katsu Curry/Chicken Katsu Curry and the Sukiyaki.
  b. For appetizers, their Agedashi Tofu is truly amazing. I'm still having a hard time finding a better Agedashi anywhere. The fried calamari is also great in my opinion. I almost never order anything else outside of this for appetizers.
  c. For lunch i usually get either the calamari, chicken katsu (for a simple meal), or sushis..which leads me to the next point.
  d. Tony's sushi, as i would call it is, no bull sushi. Nothing fancy or glittery, no over the top decorations etc. It just is. If you want a more modern or fusioned sushi, and expecting a wide variety of weird or creative sushis, you might be disappointed with Kokoro. Tony's sushis are huge, a lot of rice, a lot of fillings, and yes sometimes it's not packed enough. But that aside, some of his sushis are really good. My personal favorites: spicy salmon/tuna, thai spicy tempura, spicy vancouver roll, spicy rainbow roll, and the bahama maki. If you want to taste the spiciest sushi within a radius of 200 miles, get the volcano roll.
  e. Try the sesame dressing for the salad, if you're getting dinner portions.
3. Be patient. It's common knowledge that Tony and Kay are the only ones preparing your food (reasons on why on the menu), so imagine what it'd be like during busy hours. If you're here during the busy hours, know that you might be there for a while. The way I do it, if I go there above 6pm, I'm ready to spend the next three hours waiting (except for certain unusual occations). If you have plans at 8 or 9pm, come at 5.30 or 6pm.
4. Have a sense of humor. If you're sitting in the bar area (or even the table area) you'll most likely encounter and see Tony himself. The things he might do or say sometimes may be out there and quirky. But as I've come to know him over the years, he's mostly joking and playful, and you can tell if he's really pissed or not. I've almost never seen Tony pissed off. I would say he's often misunderstood, and in truth he's a really nice guy.. As long as you're being decent, respectful and just follow common sense.
5. If you dont have a big apetite, of course share. Or the way i sometimes do it, is order a dinner portion, eat half or a quarter of it, and save it for breakfast or brunch or whatever. Tony's food is definitely better than frozen food.
Overall, Kokoro has a couple dishes(teriyaki steak, the fried rice, calamari, katsu curry, spicy salmon/tuna, thai spicy tempura) that I would miss and crave if I were to leave Purdue. And for me at least, if a restaurant managed to instill a longing or craving for more than one of their food, then it's a great place to eat.
Go ahead, give it a try.
If I could eat anywhere EVERY day and be okay with it, it would be HERE! The sushi is warm, fresh, and lovingly made by the Master himself, Tony. BIG rolls, too! Have had sushi all over the country, some of it quite fabulous, but have NEVER had rolls this big or this good! And, though the wait can be substantial, I agree with the others: art takes time! And it is WORTH IT. Assume an hour and a half, at least, to have dinner here. I'd say dinner for 2 is, on average, about $40-50 or so. Great place to celebrate something! Or just to celebrate life and the availability of great sushi! Assume, if you are hungry on arrival, that you will add the miso soup and salad to your order...you will be happy you did! Makes the wait seem shorter...lol I cannot remember even leaving this place without a warm, happy feeling inside and a satisfied tummy! Tony is such great entertainment, as well...lol And Kaye is the sweetest and most wonderful person, ever! Only a person of such compassion could "deal with" Tony! As abrasive as he may seem, to the un-initiated, he is a SWEETIE! Have known them for over ten years! They both have hearts of gold! I wish I could tell you about non-sushi dishes, but I can't remember NOT ordering sushi! lol I am sure everything else is just as wonderful, though...it couldn't help but be! <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sushinazi.com&s=a4f01ee4ad284764c2a9913542048692dc2cb9aa3e7042c4d7d47f051fecc766" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.sushinazi.com</a> for news and info about this great place! Good for groups, beautiful decor, just GO!
Review Source:Food - 4/5
I'd say this place has the best sushi in West/Lafayette area. Â The rolls are extremely big. Â One roll can generally fill me up. Â :) Â The food here is well prepared by the owner of the restaurant, Tony. Â You can find him behind the sushi bar along with his wife. Â I had visited here several times while going to Purdue and hadn't once been disappointed in their food.
Service: 2/5
As most people can be intimidated by Tony. Â Some may have gotten thrown out before. Â It is a good idea to read the first page of their menu, where it is telling you to be patient, which also implies.. DO NOT COMPLAIN. Â lol. Â I find it amusing of those stories I have heard from my fellow co-workers. Â Some got thrown out by wearing flip flops. Â Some got thrown out from complaining about the wait for food. Â Also, be sure to dress properly, no shorts, and for guys, absolutely no hats!
Parking: 3/5
Street parking sometime could be unpleasant to find around downtown Lafayette. Â Go during a weekday will guarantee you a spot around that area. Â Fridays, and weekends are the busiest time but perhaps the food could make up for it. Â So make sure you don't get thrown out before taking your first bite ;).
Overall: 3/5
Like many people have mentioned, the service could occasionally outweigh the food but if you are looking for the best sushi that does not require at least a 2-hr drive to indy or a 3-hr drive to chicago, Kokoro is definitely the place to go to.
I've tried many sushi restaurants, but I have not been able to find a sushi roll as good as the Spicy Jumbo Maui Roll! Â I wish I knew what Tony puts in there 'cuz I am missing it A LOT ever since I graduated. Â It's true that Tony is a bit mean to guests at times and he has personally yelled at our table for getting impatient (2+hrs of waiting), but I just can't find that roll anywhere else. Â So I am willing to take the beating. Â :D Â
It's hard to believe that my favorite sushi roll is in West Lafayette, IN, but it's true. Â Try it out if you haven't already!
Stopped by Kokoro for lunch the other day. Â Nice aesthetics inside. Â Had the Tony maki roll. Â As the previous reviews point out, their rolls are quite large. Â But why so expensive? Â The fish was very fresh and tasty, but I paid $18.00 (incl. tax and tip) for one of their smaller rolls. Â I'm used to LA sushi, so maybe I'm a little jaded, but that's a little steep.
Review Source:Going to Kokoro and complaining about Tony's attitude is like going to Dick's Last Resort and griping about the waiter making you wear a stupid paper hat. Or, for a more local analogy, it'd be like going to the Neon Cactus and complaining because Bruce called you out for not singing or talking on your cell phone. IT'S PART OF THE EXPERIENCE, KIDS.
We went to Kokoro around 8:00 on a Saturday night because the wait at Bistro 501 across the street was still going to be at least 45 minutes. After reading the reviews on Yelp, we were a little apprehensive, but it was cold and parking was limited downtown, so we decided to walk over and try it out.
As soon as we walked up to the front door, we knew it was going to be amusing, not scary. There's a sign prominently placed by the hours that clearly states "THIS IS NOT TRADITIONAL JAPANESE FOOD. THIS IS TONY'S FOOD." The website address was also posted: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sushinazi.com&s=a4f01ee4ad284764c2a9913542048692dc2cb9aa3e7042c4d7d47f051fecc766" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.sushinazi.com</a>. Signs all over the restaurant indicated that it was Tony's way or the highway. I'm pretty sure if this guy took himself so seriously, he wouldn't be having as much fun playing up his reputation.
The service was fine. Our waiter wasn't friendly, but he was efficient and that's really all that matters. We were in and out of there in a little over an hour, and that was with the place pretty much full. Yes, our food came out in five-minute increments, but with one guy doing all the sushi preparation, that's not too bad. I also don't think it's overpriced - we spent as much as we do at any other sushi restaurant.
I got the miso soup and the spicy crab roll. My boyfriend got the Tony Roll (four different kinds of fish that Tony chooses [of course!]) and a Japanese sweet stout (I don't know the brand, but it has a cute little owl on it). We got the sashimi appetizer to split. The soup was a little salty, but good and hot. The sashimi was incredible. Best salmon I've ever had. The portions ARE huge, and no, the rolls didn't come out in the shape of a choo-choo train with a little wasabi panda under a paper umbrella waiting to board at the end of it. If you need that much entertainment in order to enjoy your food, go get a Happy Meal.
I will say that the rolls are not "packed" tightly, so it makes them a little hard to hold onto. It became kind of a game between my boyfriend and me, testing which methods would work the best for harnessing the sushi. (I found that using the chopsticks as a sort of shovel worked for me.)
Tony seemed to be in a good mood. A girl at another table gave her waiter a dollar to hear Tony sing, and when Tony found out what she wanted, he cheerfully flipped her the bird and went on about his business.
Don't avoid this place because you're afraid of the chef harassing you or having to wait for several hours. I think college kids need to get a sense of humor and relax a little. If you're planning on taunting Tony, be prepared to get a reaction, but otherwise, just enjoy the reggae music, the delicious food and the funky decor.
I have been coming to this place for about 8 years now. Â Off and on since I haven't lived near Lafayette for the past 4, but it is a must stop whenever I'm in the vicinity. Â Tony is a great chef that creates huge portions of food with amazing nuances of flavor. Â One giant maki roll is enough as an entree, and the entrees are enough to stretch into at least 2 meals. Â My favorites include, Cajun Roll, Alligator Roll, Thai Fire Chicken, and Bibimbop.
Tony makes the food himself, so don't go at peak times unless you are prepared to wait. Â I would say this is one of my favorite restaurants on the planet, and I don't say that lightly.
My Purdue alumni husband raved about this place FOREVER. Be forewarned..this place is not typical, gentle, or even sensible. Tony, the owner, is yes, loud and obnoxious. When I've heard of this place from other alumni, I hear Tony and sushi nazi in the same breath. The prices are not that kind, but the food is decent. Maxi makis are what he is famous for. If you like fried rice, take a chance on those. Just remind yourself that you are in West Lafayette, IN eating sushi.
Review Source:The food is pretty good. Â The sushi isn't my favorite, but the fried rice is great. Â The service is slow, but if you can go in expecting that you can make it a good time. Â If you are being annoying Tony is probably going to be rude, but maybe you have it coming....
Lastly, the portions are HUGE and take this as a hint that you should view this as family style serving.  Sharing an entree between two people makes the price perfectly affordable and the service much quicker.  Tony  and his wife are the only ones cooking and that is going to take awhile to do, so go in expecting to spend the evening enjoying a meal, drinks and conversation.
Personally I am not a fan of this place. Â Here are the reasons:
1) Â Chef is very rude and yells frequently. Â Not a good place to go on a date. Â He says "If you want fast food, go to mcdonalds" very often.
2) Â SLOW. Â be prepared to spend 3 freaking hours in the restaurant. Â It's just not worth it.
3) The food is not that great. Â I'm from Los angeles and if you go to west coast or east coast you will find great food for not even half the price.
4) They don't take reservations, so you have to be prepared to wait for a long, long time.
So overall I do not like this place. Â I am Japanese and I don't even think the food is great. Â The chef is arrogant which makes me lose my apetite.
I went to Kokoro for my birthday dinner, and the atmosphere was somewhat dead. It is definitely pricier than some of the other sushi restaurants I've been to, and in my opinion, it wasn't worth it. We waited about 40 minutes for our food to arrive because it all gets prepared by one chef - Tony. Also, my sushi would fall apart on the plate because it wasn't rolled tightly enough to stay together.
Overall, the food wasn't bad, but for the money, I could've gone to Heisei and got something better.
I was hoping Kokoro would offer better sushi considering they had a pretty high rating on Yelp. Â I was wrong.
1. Everything is RIDICULOUSLY overpriced. Â $22 for a caterpillar roll?? Â I'm from California, and caterpillar rolls generally run between $8-9. Â And yes, they make pretty big rolls, but they're big because they use too much rice.
2. Presentation is TERRIBLE. Â I am a huge fan of sushi, and if you know sushi, you know presentation is a key element. Â The rolls we ordered were poorly put together - they were hardly circular. Â Also, the rice was unevenly placed on the roll. Â It was as if the chef didn't even try to make it pretty
3. Sushi pieces are supposed to be bite-sized so you can fit a whole one in your mouth. Â This is impossible with these rolls. Â Trying to dip the pieces in soy sauce/wasabi was a challenge as each piece basically fell apart in the dipping dish.
I was looking forward to trying this place out since the owner is Japanese. Â Â I guess the vegetable tempura was decent, and the decorations were great. Â But, you'll find better sushi at Bea One and Heisei - and it'll be a whole lot cheaper. Â Oh yeah, and they play reggae music kind of loudly, which I thought was kind of weird.
I live in San Francisco, and have countless awesome sushi restaurants everywhere I look. Â A lot of people in Lafayette love this place. If I lived in Lafayette and only had 1 or 2 sushi joints to go to I would perhaps give this 5 stars. Â I was only there once and at the time it seemed like enough for me. My rolls were very sloppily doused in sauces which was a mess. I was not impressed. There wasn't much of an atmosphere. Our server was a nice kid. Bea One has better sushi and a more hip atmosphere, but I would give Kokoro another shot. Maybe next year.
Review Source:If this restaurant was in a place with any visible competition it might be mediocre. Â
I have been dragged here for dinner and lunch multiple times by people who act like it's the best thing since sliced bread. Â Every time the food seems to have been slapped together with no attention to flavor. Â The only thing that this place has going is size. Â You get huge portions that IME always fall apart before you get them off your plate.
Worse yet I've seen multiple people get kicked out for no reason other than the owner is a snob. Â And no, I haven't been kicked out personally. Â I just dont see any reason to pay the inflated prices for a meal that is bland given the better alternatives in the area such as Heisei or Asahi.
In my opinion, the sushi is not bad, but not outstanding.
However, their thai fire chicken and crab fried rice is amazing!
The price is a little on the high side and the cook (Tony) could be sensitive, but the food is great. The Korean BBQ beef is great as well. This is the best Japanese restaurant in the Purdue area.
Best rolls that i have ever tasted (i have had better sushi, but its close). Â Wait can be a bit long for food, a bit expensive for WL, and occasionally you might get "kicked out for life" (he forgets) from the restaurant for pissing off Tony (the owner/chief. Â just dont be a drunken college jackass and for good measure kiss up to Kay, his wife and u should be ok), but if you can get around that and you happen to be in West Lafayette or at Purdue, its a must go.
Review Source:Kokoro simply has the best sushi anywhere ever. Â People from Chicago have said that they have yet to eat sushi anywhere as good as Kokoro's. Â The restaurant is owned by "Crazy Tony," who is known to be a stickler of quality food. Â Though the wait can be long for your sushi, it is definitely worth it. Â I have found that if you come around opening time, the sushi wait is much shorter. Â The sauces are quite original and delicious, I highly suggest the spicy salmon roll and the roe nigiri is incredible.
I dream of this sushi, that's how good it is.
The atmosphere is pleasant and original with dim lighting with a large painting of Hokkaido on a wall, a beautiful kimono on another wall and rice/sake shipment boxes in the center of the floor which take up empty space that would otherwise make the room feel not as cozy. Â
There is a full bar with special cocktails and drinks as well as beers on tap.
For a guy who seems to be somewhat anal, he's a great fan of Bob Marley, so expect to listen to reggae the entire time you are there.
Prices can seem a bit steep initially for sushi in Indiana, but the value is really incredible for the food you get.
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