Kokoro

After spending a week in Houston, our plans to explore the city's culinary scene were unfortunately thwarted by a hurricane that left most restaurants and attractions closed. As things began to open up on our last day, we decided to visit Kokoro, a sushi spot conveniently located within walking distance from our hotel. Kokoro is a charming little spot nestled in a food court in the heart of downtown. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by our server, Mia, who was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. She took the time to walk us through the menu, providing detailed insights into the dishes and recommending some fantastic options. The quality of the fish at Kokoro was outstanding—exceptionally fresh and clean. While the food were slightly overpriced and the portions could be a bit more generous, the overall dining experience was wonderful. The excellent service and high-quality food made our visit memorable. Despite the challenges we faced this week, we highly recommend Kokoro for anyone seeking top-notch sushi and exceptional service in Houston.

I almost dont want to share to keep this place to myself. Delicious smokey fried rice. The raw tuna was ever so soft and the sauce it’s in is a mouthwatering balance of tangy and salty. The pork belly is cooked over coals so the bbq flavor comes through. This place is in a food hall of sorts.

Unexpectedly delicious and super fresh sushi in the heart of downtown. The fish was very fresh and high quality. The sauces had perfect flavor. In love with the tuna and karaage! And even the prices are fair. Def my new favorite sushi spot in the city center

This was such an amazing find during my trip to Houston! Was in town for a three day conference and came here twice. It’s tucked in a food hall with mostly countertop seating and the Uber driver was able to drop me off right in front of the doors. Mia was an incredible server and truly made it an excellent experience! Honestly less of a server and more of a dinner guide. She recommended her favorite dishes as well as things I’d like based on my taste. The hotate foie was one of the best single bites of food I’ve ever tasted so had three of them in total. It’s a perfect bite of rice and scallop topped with a bit of foie gras, caviar, and finger lime! Finger limes have been on my list for ages but never had them and they’re from Australia so Kokoro was quite literally making dreams come true. The crudos are where it’s at! Excellent melding of flavors you won’t find anywhere else. Sushi is one of my favorite foods. I’ve even been to Nobu a few times and I can honestly say Kokoro competes. Quality is there and so is the presentation. All the ingredients are really fresh and came out quickly. They even have a happy hour so you can try a bit of everything! If I ever find myself in Houston again, you’ll find me here.

Nice busy sushi bar! The staff was super friendly and service was quick. Fish was extremely fresh and melt in your mouth. They are around the corner from Aris and have great music. There is a parking area right across that is about 15 bucks for a couple hours.

One of the best sushi places in all of Houston! Their fish is so fresh and all their menu items are delicious. I like Kokoro more than some of the more well known famous sushi places in Houston. Service is great and the food is even better! Their saketoro Aburi, wagyu toast, and kaarage, is a must try! All of their nigiris are so so yummy too!

Thien put on a master class in service and education of sushi. Everything he recommended was explained in great detail and tasted great. Ask him to walk you through a 5 course experience and enjoy.

Service was friendly and fun, pacing of dishes was perfect. Fish was fresh and sauces were complimentary to each.

Exceptional dining experience with fresh flavors, beautiful presentation, and top-notch service. Perfect for any occasion, it's a spot you'll want to revisit. Make sure to ask for Thien on recommendations he's amazing!

Had dinner here last night and it was fabulous. Thien provided excellent service and helped point out several menu selections for us. This was the best sushi we have ever eaten. Amazing flavors and the presentation was beautiful.

I picked this place at random. Won the lottery. Wait staff and cooks were accommodating and helpful. It was a Wednesday, so that they were enthusiastic on a down day impressed us. Food top notch!

Finally made it out here!!! Kokoro was so good!!! Real houston gem!!! Located in a food hall, but super easy to spot as it is first right by the entrance. Seating is all counter style, service was prompt, attentive and engaging! Now to the food, they've got yakitori/hot items and nigiri/sushi as well. I ordered the wagyu toast, totally unmissable in my opinion. Splurge on this. It was delicious. Probably the most delicious thing I've had all month. Chicken fat rice, was a literal dream. Delicious bits of crispy chicken skin and very basic fried rice. Lastly I had the negitoro roll which was also straight fire!!!!

Summary: We visited during Houston Restaurant Weeks with some friends. The only downside is the lack of free parking; we ended up paying $20 for parking, which didn't feel worth it. So if you're looking to save, consider doing a to-go order or curbside pickup--the food will still be just as delicious! Note that the Houston Restaurant Weeks menu is priced similarly to ordering à la carte. Service: The place isn't the easiest to find, and inside, it feels more like a food stall area with a few other restaurants you can try as well. It's not particularly impressive in terms of ambiance--you just sit there. However, the service is excellent since they prepare everything right in front of you, and if you need anything, you can simply ask them directly. Food: Appetizer: We had the shishito peppers and sunomono. They were refreshing, not bad, but nothing that really stood out. Crudo: We tried both the Sake Koko and Sake. My wife loved them, but I thought they were just okay. It's essentially small cuts or cubes of sashimi served with ponzu and other sauces, see menu! Maki (Sushi Rolls): We chose the Sake and Hamachi rolls, which were really good and different from the standard rolls. We also ordered the wagyu roll, which was amazing--the texture was great, the presentation was beautiful, and it had a delicious hint of a burnt taste. A5 Wagyu Toast: I loved how they shaped it into a heart, and the quail egg and caviar really enhanced the flavor of this delicious fourth course. It's definitely worth trying, though not something I'd get every time, especially at $18. Nigiri: I think I'm in love with the nigiri sushi at this place--I'm thinking about it everyday. Although it's pricey, but there's just something special about the nigiri that makes it taste incredible. I can't quite put it into words, but I'd recommend it 100/10. TLDR: The parking is expensive and not worth it--consider taking it to go. But definitely try the Nigiri, Maki and the Wagyu toast!

Came here for dinner tonight at around 7:30pm.(No reservations walk in only) probably a 5 min wait on a Sunday night. I went for the $39 set menu houston food week thing. First course: I got the sunomono (pickled cucumbers) pretty good 8/10. My friends had the shishito peppers and those were bland as heck! Tasted like water. 2/10 Second course: I got the sake crudo: pretty good nothing to complain about 7.8/10 sauce was good, but it got OUTSHINED by the choice my friends made of the "maguro crudo" THAT was easy the best one out of all choices. The sauce was to die for. 10/10. Even kept dipping future dishes into that sauce. Third course: spicy tuna maki: was good I liked the texture of it. Dipped it into the maguro crudo sauce and it was mmm chefs kiss. 8/10 Fourth course: 4 pieces of nigiri. Super good 8.9/10 Service was fast, good, ambience was cute laid back but still very presentable. I loved the way they presented their food. Fancy type thing. I would try it again. Recommend: definitely

Hands down favorite sushi spot in Houston!!! I will rave about this place forever and ever. Everything about the place is amazing. The staff is 100/10, very inviting, making conversation with us and giving us great recommendations. I wish bravery chef hall was more popping still but I'd go anywhere for kokoro! Their fish is so incredibly fresh & I've watched them cut open a brand new tuna that they just received. Their crudos are so flavorful and unique with every bite. Their grilled edamame with lemon gives such a delicious unique edamame flavor. The star of my show is the A5 Wagyu toast!!!! The first time we had the toast, we ordered a second one because its was good. The toast is a must get if you come, it's phenomenal. Vibes are amazing here, sitting at the sushi counter is so fun getting to watch the magic happen & chatting with the chefs. Highlyyyyy recommend

Originally was planning to come here at 5 pm for HRW but decided to come for their normal menu at 3:30 instead because I was too hungry to wait lol. Having done so, I can 100% say that the HRW menu is absolutely worth it because while the food is expensive, it's high quality. Tucked away inside bravery chef food hall, it provides a relatively small countertop service. I like this kind of layout because you can see them make the dishes and you can really tell they take the time and effort to master their craft and present the food well. Got the sushi set A which comes with 1 maki & 3 nigiri, magudo crudo, and wagyu toast. Probably the freshest fish I've had yet. While I did enjoy the Wagyu toast, I honestly didn't really taste any Wagyu and didn't quite think it was worth $18. Nonetheless the food is great, the service is quick, and I would definitely come back. To note, it is downtown so the parking can be a little troublesome but I came on a Sunday and street parking was free so I didn't have any issues.

We have had sushi at 5 places this week and Kokoro was the best by far. The environment, service, chefs, and servers aren't matched anywhere. One word THIEN. He made our night. Best thing you can do is just let him take control. The textures and mouth feel of their fish is different than most places. You can tell they really care about the product and the experience. If we were going to be in the area for longer we would have eaten here multiple times.

This was such an amazing find during my trip to Houston! Was in town for a three day conference and came here twice. It's tucked in a food hall with mostly countertop seating and the Uber driver was able to drop me off right in front of the doors. Mia was an incredible server and truly made it an excellent experience! Honestly less of a server and more of a dinner guide. She recommended her favorite dishes as well as things I'd like based on my taste. The hotate foie was one of the best single bites of food I've ever tasted so had three of them in total. It's a perfect bite of rice and scallop topped with a bit of foie gras, caviar, and finger lime! Finger limes have been on my list for ages but never had them and they're from Australia so Kokoro was quite literally making dreams come true. The crudos are where it's at! Excellent melding of flavors you won't find anywhere else. Sushi is one of my favorite foods. I've even been to Nobu a few times and I can honestly say Kokoro competes. Quality is there and so is the presentation. All the ingredients are really fresh and came out quickly. They even have a happy hour so you can try a bit of everything! If I ever find myself in Houston again, you'll find me here.

Every time I come here the service and quality are consistent. It's no wonder they are the only stall from the original group still standing at Bravery Chef Hall. There was literally a wait for a spot there. We did the Houston Restaurant Weeks menu and one of the sushi combos. The HRW menu is really the best combo because you get four decently sized courses.

Nice little spot downtown to grab a quick bite or stay awhile --- definitely one of the top spots downtown. Super fresh and staff was friendly/helpful. Happy hour is always a plus! Definitely check them out.

Oh. My. God. Best sushi I have had in years. And the quality is on par with places that are 3x as expensive. It's not cheap, but you won't regret it. On par with an upper tier Omakase experience or Nobu. I walked in and had middle of the road expectations. It's a food hall for crying out loud. But just like Japanese gems inside subways don't judge this place by the digs. The food is Just plain incredible.

Delicious fresh fish. Enthusiastic preparation. Quick service. The restaurant is a bar surrounding the open air kitchen. This is about as close as you can get to the action. If you like the restaurant shows, you will love this spot. If you want cocktails, wine or beer, you get that at a bar right next to the sushi bar. If sushi is too crowded there is pho, Thai, oyster bar, and Italian in same area. $120 for two with tip. Drinks extra. Could do it cheaper.

Delicious. Get the maguro crudo, you won't be disappointed. The shishito pops with the aioli, the nigiri was also delicious. It's a bustling counter with only a small staff and loud industrial vibe, not an intimate setting. Would return.

As one of Aiko's biggest fans I'm so disappointed by Kokoro. I got many of the same things I got at Aiko and these just seemed flavorless. The karaage just tastes like flour and the cucumbers make it taste spoiled. The nigiri I got had no strong flavors everything was just so mild and bland when it's usually my favorite bites. The maki rolls were also just nothing to write home about. I was extremely excited to support more of this owners business at a cheaper price point but this fell short

Kokoro, located in a food hall with plenty of sushi bar seating and some standard tables. The staff were extremely friendly and explained the menu very well including each course. My favorite thing was their aburi saketoro and chicken fat rice. My least favorite thing was their foie gras, I just thought it was overly garnished on their sauce, chicken fat, and fruit puree. All the other nigiris were pretty standard as well. Definitely a casual spot to drop by when you're around the area. No alcohol here though!

Came here on a Thursday evening and did a walk-in/was seated right away at the bar. Located inside of Bravery Chef Hall and easy to spot! Greeted by the manager Ricardo with a friendly smile and the staff Maddie and Mike provided great hospitality throughout the meal. For two people we ordered quite a bit just to try everything. Chicken Fat Rice + Fried Egg Bluefin Chutoro Nigiri Saketoro Aburi (must get/melt in your mouth) Unagi Nigiri Kinoko Nigiri Hotate Foie Loup De Mer Nigiri Hamachi Nigiri Shima Aji Nigiri Managatsuo Nigiri Buta Kashria (aka Pork Jowl on a skewer/another MUST GET item, loved the garlic and beautifully seared) Karaage Foie Gras Nigiri (MUST GET) Wagyu Toast Negitoro Maki BGB Sake Crudo (a staple for crudo/thick pieces of salmon and great marinate) Hokkaido Uni The quality of all of the fishes were great and seasoned nicely. You can tell it was pretty fresh! I wasn't super full, but pretty content. My favorite things were the Buta Kashira and the Foie Gras Nigiri. It is reasonably priced especially being the location in downtown Houston. Parking - Street Parking and free after 7pm on weekdays

I walked in here not knowing what to expect and omg was I so glad I went it was delicious the staff helped us choose such good options they had a fantastic happy hour as well! Love how everything is fresh & made right in front of me very quick & clean

Great quality sushi tucked away in a cool and hip food hall. Really nice quality fish that is allowed to shine in all of their rolls and crudos. The chicken fat rice is 10/10 and a must try for your first visit. The staff are really nice and knowledgeable about the menu to make sure you have the best experience. My only complaint is the lack of seating. We were seated at a table that was right under a loud speaker/music and super powerful AC fan. I could barely have a conversation with my partner. We were yelling at each other! We couldn't sit at the main sushi bar because it was full of kids who were grabbing a soda with their skateboards. A bit disappointing, but not a deal breaker.

Great authentic sushi joint! If you're looking for a crunchy roll this is not your place but you will be missing out if you don't try it! Small and quaint but don't let that fool you. We had the edamame to start. I had the chicken fat rice and the hamachi maki. My daughter had the avocado roll. My son had ebi maki. My husband had sashimi lite and nigiri. Everything was fresh and delicious. Service was fast and courteous. Server was very kind to offer guidance of menu choices for the kids. Would recommend and definitely come back too.

Would definitely recommend! I stopped by during Houston Restaurant Week and tried the small coursed menu and it was a fantastic way to mix and match a few different plates. Highly recommend the Sake Crudo and the Chef's choice 4 piece Nigiri

Excellent fresh sushi. A bit surprised to find a place like this in Houston. But very very good and would go back

Everything! Everything was so good! I had a sister date here and we went all outtt. My favorite was the Foie Gras and Ebi Maki! The chicken fat rice wasn't as good as I thought it'd be but definitely worth the try! It was just a little too simple for me. Service was fast and we came during lunch time in downtown so it was very impressive how everything was effortless to order, receive food, pay bill and leave. It's a cute little spot in downtown which is walkable to so many bars and the market square park. We went to Day 6 Coffee (right around the block) and it was the perfect boost after all the deliciousness! Favorite sister date ever!

I'd forgotten I've come here before. It's inside a marketplace that has multiple restaurants inside. I was seated right away. They have a few long rows of the bar people sit at. The food is fantastic. Super fresh, well presented and very fresh tasting. Will definitely come again for both the makis and hot appetizer. The rice with egg on top was made just right and the chicken was fried nicely with juicy tender chicken

Fun place to go for date night! Located inside a food court. Staff are kind and attentive. Came on a Saturday night and it was packed, no options to make reservations ahead of time so you just have to put your number down and wait for a text that your spot is ready. Everything was fresh and delicious. My favorite was the wagyu toast. After dinner it is walking distance to near by bars. Parking is a little difficult and expensive. A parking garage near by was $20 and the parking lot next to the garage was $25.

This place is amazing!! We had way more to eat but we ate it all before taking pictures. It was so fresh and we highly recommend this place! The guys were working so fast and with great skill! The place was very inviting.

Thien helped me make decisions today lol the service is always good and i always enjoy the food. But the shishito peppers are a miss imo. definitely my favorite quick sushi restaurant. Perfect price point and the kitchen's attention to detail is immaculate. I'll be back here next week.

Ordered the sushi set B for delivery for lunch. Everything tasted super fresh and staff had labeled the items clearly. Will definitely have to check it out in person as well.

Great spot. Definitely expensive but reflective of good quality fish. The appetizer karage was the only reason I left full, since the roll I got (otoro chive) was pretty small. Wish they had something like a charashi bowl so I didn't feel like I needed to order 5 rolls to fill up. Otherwise, the service was stellar and the food was delicious.

Was craving sushi and found this little spot in downtown. It's situated inside of Bravery Chef hall and has limited seating, but let me tell you...it did not disappoint!! Everything was so fresh and super tasty. Staff were super friendly and it was fun watching them make everything. Definitely recommend!

went for HRW but star of the show was definitely the sake. Everything was so delicious and service was so kind with good recommendations. Next time I have to come back to try their toast.

It's in a food hall Food was ok fresh but not impressed Service is really good The vibe is I don't know what to say Still it's in a dining hall

Best scallops I've ever had! Fresh sushi, well balanced and delicious! I didn't know what to expect since it's inside a food hall but the food was soooo very good! I'm adding to this to my Houston regular rotation and going to check their sister restaurants too. My favorite items were the various crudo - I tried all and they were amazing, with my favorite being the scallop dish. It's in the food hall so you can order alcohol and beer at the bar next to the restaurant and bring it to your table. The team was very friendly and engaging. I tried almost half the menu and loved every item. There is a daily happy hour as well.

Short and sweet, I loved everything I ate today. Everything was delicious and full of flavor. I have to apologize I can't remember what I had, we tried so many things. I do remember the staff was amazing, honest and helpful with menu suggestions. These pictures are not doing any justice for the experience, missed half the food and took pictures after I started eating. I promise to do better next time- I will be back real soon.

This place is AMAZING! First off it's located inside a food hall so my expectations weren't that high, but the food was absolutely delicious and I'll definitely be back! Food - 5/5 everything we ordered was on point; the nigiri was very tasty, and the yakitori was very authentic. I had to stop myself from ordering too much bc everything was so good! Service: 5/5 we came on a Monday for lunch so it was just us, but our server Mike was very attentive and answered all of our questions and gave great recommendations. Atmosphere: 5/5 it's inside a food hall and can get a bit loud, but we loved it! Very clean and they played great music. Note you can't order alcohol here but there's literally a bar right next to this stall and you can bring the drinks back to your table. Go here for lunch, dinner, date night, you won't regret it!

Came here 3x already. Location- food court type Food- its good Price- not bad $$ Portion- decent Service- great Ambiance- its kinda tight. Not big deal.

Super fresh Sushi! And I am a sushi snob... if it's not over the top, consistently fresh sushi, I WILL PASS! But can't pass on this place .. located in Bravery Chef Hall downtown, it is the only sushi spot for a reason. Came here on a Saturday afternoon around 6pm , and was able to be seated at the bar quite promptly! Had a variety of menu items and NONE disappointed! Will return

Great dining experience! We opted for Set C, where the sake and hamachi maki impressed with their freshness and flavor, and the nigiri showcased meticulous craftsmanship. The chicken fat rice was an absolute highlight, offering a heavenly and indulgent addition to our meal. To cap it off, the sake crudo was the perfect finale. Great service overall - perfect balance of attentiveness and discretion. Looking forward to our next visit!

Fresh, quick, no nonsense, but straight up quality nigiri sushi, this place check all the boxes. Every bite was full of umami flavor, properly seasoned with some truffle oil that enhanced the richness of the dish. The chefs really goes above and beyond each dish they put out. Our servers were very knowledgeable explaining each dish. Also felt like we had a proper Omakase for a very reasonable price. Our server Michael was awesome. Ambiance is fantastic in the heart of downtown.

If you want good Japanese food this is not the place. It appears none of the staff are trained in sushi. Watching them make Maki without a bamboo Matt, or cutting fish for Nigiri and not cleaning the knife between cuts. if you happen to water any of the food that requires Ting get ready to have your food taste like propane

We are here around 7.30pm on a Tuesday evening. We sat at the bar. We had a variety of things from the menu. Everything was ok-to-fine, nothing particularly special or memorable. The service was relatively slow. The staff were quite friendly, though. You have to order any alcohol from one of the other vendors in this food market.

Food was incredible! Everything was beautifully presented! Service was great as well!

Chicken Fat Rice - I expected more juice from the dish. Dryer than I expected. Came out like double fried rice. Hotate Serrano - I love scallop, portions are small, the tangerine slice overpowered the expected freshness and sweetness from scallop that I love and missed here. Chef Nigiri 4 - portions are small, expected more flavor.

The sushi here is the best I've had anywhere. Incredibly fresh. The flavors and textures were delicious. The presentation of the food made the experience even better. The service was also friendly and helpful. There are so many great and unique choices on the menu. You must come and eat here! It's located in an upscale food court and deserves a visit from Michelin.

The sushi is super fresh. The service is great. This is a BYOB restaurant, but there's a bar right next door that serves cocktails and beer. Sunday through Thursday from 3p to 6p is happy hour, and you can't beat the value!!

I'm visiting and stumbled on this really cool spot. The sushi was so fresh and excellent. I also got the chicken fried rice, which was great. Ryo was a friendly and great host. I will go back at some point.

Very cool (if a bit pricey) sushi spot in the Bravery food hall. It's a bit loud, but not so much that it's hard to have a conversation. I went with the chef's choice nigiri for a sampler, and everything was really incredible. The yellowtail with pickled wasabi was literally the best I've ever had, and the salmon was also particularly good. My only "complaint" was that the chef's choice was 5 of the cheapest options, so you only saved $1 by getting it instead of the same five things separately. It would be nice to have one slightly more premium option included in the sampler. I also got the eggplant yakitori, which was wonderful. They use a lemon miso that gives it a lovely acidic note. I could have eaten a whole second plate!

I haven't dined in yet but the takeout is always amazing. Sushi is so fresh! It's truly the best addition to my self care days.