Kokoro
(765) 742-8180
526 Main St
Lafayette,
IN
47901
40.4191
-86.8916
Neighborhood: Downtown
What People Are Saying About Kokoro
User Reviews
Anonymous
September 05, 2008
Kokoro rules the roost among Japanese restaurants in Lafayette--largely because it isn't a yucky chain. If you don't annoy the chef, he'll make wonderful creations for you (though vegetarians may have an easier time at other sushi places).
read full review
eskercurve
July 06, 2008
I'll be simple about this place: in my years at Purdue, I always took my dates or good friends to Kokoro. The food is astonishing, and you get big heaps of food for the price you pay. His wife is an awesome Chinese cook and he does everything else, and if I had the talent for culinary arts Tony has in his pinky, I'd be content in my own skills. Having a limited serving staff and only him and his wife in the kitchen does have drawbacks. On busy nights you may have to wait two hours for food. That is because Tony never compromises on quality. On slower nights though, you see a different side to the stern and sometimes unforgiving man. He comes out with his wife, greets you, asks personally how is the food, and gets to know you. Truly a man of extremes, to your benefit, for he combines flavors that one never would have dreamt of if they were sane. So, if you're looking for traditional Japanese food with original taste, look elsewhere. If you want a bang-on blend of American and Asian flavors, an oasis in a land otherwise starved of good Asian food, served by a man who on one hand is happy you came, but just beneath the surface is a crazy axe-murderer, this is the place.
read full review
sujung
April 16, 2007
THIS PLACE TOOK FOREVER FOR ANYONE TO TAKE NOTICE OF US. FOOD WAS OVERLY PRICED FOR THE QUALITY THAT WAS GIVEN. I LOVE SUSHI AND HAVE BEEN TO EVERY RESTAURANT IN INDIANA AS WELL AS ILLINOIS, NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, ETC. THE FISH HERE IS VERY LOW GRADE AND THE TUNA SEEMS NOT TO BE CHEAP COOKING USE TUNA;' THEREFORE, MASKED WITH SPICY SAUCE AND GIVEN IN LARGE QUANTITIES. IT'S QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY!!! THIS RESTAURANT WAS RAVED BY MANY AS THE BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT.. I WOULD SAY IT'S MORE OF THE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT TYPE OF JAPANESE FOOD WHERE LARGE QUANTITES ARE GIVEN. LOCALS SEEM TO LOVE THIS RESTAURANT DUE TO THE RUDE CHEF, BUT OUR OPINION IS THAT ONE MAY NOT CALL HIMSELF A CHEF IF THE FOOD IS LOW QUALITY. ON TOP OF THIS THE SERVERS DO NOT KNOW THE MENU AND SERVICE IS SLOW. THIS RESTAURANT SEEMS TO USE THIS RUDENESS AS ITS MARKETING STRATEGY. WE LOVED THE OLDER JAPANESE LADY WHO WAS THERE; THEREFORE GIVE THIS RESTAURANT A ONE INSTEAD OF A ZERO.
read full review
