Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba opened up in Downtown Vancouver right under BCIT Downtown Campus on Seymour Street. Japanese Chef Takuma Ishikawa created KOKORO mazesoba in Tokyo Japan in 2013 and soon expanded quickly around Japan. Ever since they opened in Vancouver, its sent the city in a frenzy over their mazesoba.
Mazesoba is literally translated as mixed noodle – a soupless ramen.
Interior
There are a good amount of seats, but I usually avoid the rush. If you want to get a seat around lunch, come at 12 or before then. For dinner, early is best around 5:30pm.
If you just want ice cream to go, you can order it at the counter and bypass the lineup. This would be great for the Summer.
Menu
Nika Mazesoba
This is their best seller mazesoba on the menu. It has slow-brased chashu, spicy minced park, raw egg yolk, minced garlic, green onion, seaweed flakes, saba fish, chives, and their multi-grain noodles which is made in house.
Zenbu Mazesoba
Zenbu Mazesoba is their chef’s special and it has a bit of everything. It has slow-braised pork chashu, spicy minced pork, raw egg yolk, seaweed, soft boiled egg, bamboo shoot, seaweed flakes, chives, green onion, minced garlic, saba fish, and their multi-grain noodles.
Don’t forget to get the free scoop of rice afterwards to soak up all the extra sauce.
Mentaiko Cream Mazesoba
There is mentaiko, slow-braised pork chashu, raw egg yolk, seaweed flakes, spinach, green onion, minced garlic, Japanese cream sauce, saba fish, and the multi-grain noodles. It was very delicious and there is plenty of sauce on the noodles and you’ll want the extra ball of rice to soak it all up.
Chicken Karaage
The pork gyozas are crisp and have a nice subtle ginger taste. A good side dish to go with your meal.
Pork Gyoza
The pork gyozas are crisp on the bottom. Very delicious and has a good mixture of pork and veggie.
Kokoro Yogurt Refresher
You can get this in passionfruit or peach flavours, but it is a very sweet drink.
Tokyo Iced Milk Tea
They also have milk tea which is brewed with 100% organic black tea.
Hokkaido Creme Cone
This sells in limited quantities as they can only make so many cones per day. It is made with organic milk soft serve ice cream made by their Japanese Nissei machine. It is delicious and the cookie cone is addictive. The only problem with it is that it melts fast and will start leaking out the bottom, so be careful when eating.
Fuji Cheese Cup Cake
The spoons are so cute as it’s shaped like a shovel. There is cheesecake, which is rich and delicious. On the bottom, there is a chocolate cookie crumb on the bottom to break up the taste.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the hype is real and their mazesoba is the start of the show. Drinks are mediocre, but the desserts and side dishes are good accompaniments. I didn’t have the ramen this time, but since Mazesoba is their specialty, you’ll want to go get that.
Address:
551 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC
Website:
http://menyakokoro.com/
