Lauren C.
Yelp
Delicious and surprisingly vegan-friendly hole-in-the-wall for Japanese food and groceries. Cocoron (the restaurant and market) has had a few different locations, and this new one on Delancey and Allen is a must-visit. It's a tiny space designed mostly for grab-and-go, although they have two bar stools if you do want to dine in. They have a few different vegan entrees; I tried the "vegan spicy summer noodle," which is a bowl of chilled fresh ramen noodles, fresh veggies, and vegan ground "meat." The gentleman who served me (the main chef, I believe?) actually warned me about how realistic the fake ground meat was, in case it would bother me to eat something so meat-like. Not to worry. I ordered it and had no regrets. I don't know what it was made of exactly, but it was so savory and packed with flavor that just a dollop on top was enough to make every bite of the bowl delicious. Other vegan options included a tofu appetizer as well as a "vegan taco noodle sandwich" and a "vegan spicy summer noodle sandwich" that seem to be similar to the spicy summer noodle bowl I ordered, but in sandwich format. For non-vegetarian options, they are known for their bento boxes. While you're waiting for your food to be ready, take a glance around their tiny but interesting selection of groceries, or chat with the staff who are funny, welcoming, and knowledgeable.