Kokoro

We stopped by Kokoro during a day out with friends, not really sure what to expect—just hoping for some good ramen. What we got was way more than that. From the moment we walked in, the owner (wish we’d caught his name!) made us feel completely welcome and taken care of. We all ordered different ramen—pork, beef, chicken, mushroom—and every single one was amazing. The broth was rich and flavorful, honestly some of the best we’ve had. We added some egg rolls and sushi, which were great, and then the owner surprised us with shrimp tempura and dumplings—just because. That kind of hospitality isn’t something you forget. We’re still talking about how good everything was. And while we were sitting there enjoying our food, we saw a constant stream of people picking up takeout—clearly this place is no secret. We're from Cleveland, but Kokoro is absolutely on our list for the next time we’re back in State College. Highly recommend it if you’re in the area and craving something really good.

My boyfriend & I listened to our friend's suggestion & stopped by here for dinner one night. We were NOT disappointed. I prefer spicy dishes, and am usually let down, but not here! Food was quick and delicious. I believe the owner came out to speak with us a little bit about the dishes we had ordered, I really appreciated the hospitality & overall quality of service. 10/10 will visit again.

Talk about a hidden gem and state college… this was by far the best Ramen I’ve ever had… the owner. James was so welcoming, friendly, and even gave us some complementary cucumber salad, and even gave us some cheesecake bites at the end… we had the spicy Beef Ramen bowl… He really was the most nicest guy he was super helpful and even did less spicy in mine because I am a sissy lol…

This was our first time dining at Kokoro and we were not disappointed. The food was amazing!! The owner was so helpful, friendly and kind. He brought us a couple of appetizers on the house to try. I highly recommend this restaurant. The hardest part is deciding what to order!

​The food itself was, of course, the star of the show. We ordered the dumplings and a beef ramen, and each dish was fresh, expertly prepared, and bursting with authentic flavors. Whether you're a ramen fan or looking to explore classic Japanese cuisine, Kokoro's menu has something for everyone. ​For an authentic taste of Japan paired with some of the best service in town, Kokoro is an absolute must-visit. We can't wait to go back!

This is one of the best restaurants I've ever had the pleasure of dining at in my life. Everything in every aspect was top notch, 10/10. Having been a chef, I'm incredibly picky about the quality of food so was a bit skeptical when I saw a Japanese restaurant with Poutine; however I was deadset on giving it a shot. I found myself in state college on 3/8 for a wrestling tournament with my son. We both visited the establishment on a Saturday night and were treated to an array of delicious items. We ordered the following: Salmon Nagiri, Poutine, Shrimp/Beef Ramen, Beef Ramen, Soup Dumplings, Mango Lemonade and Strawberry Boba. Every single item was amazing. Easily the best Poutine I've ever had (including the time I lived in Canada), and crazy good soup dumplings that weren't overloaded with filler. The broth had the perfect amount of spice and seasoning. The owner was incredibly friendly and spent time at our table talking about business, family and food. He generously gave us mini-cheesecakes (and some to take home to my wife), deep fried pork dumplings with a multitude of sauces (very spicy but very good) and the shock of the restaurant; literally melt in your mouth brisket. I was speechless at the quality of this food, and baffled at how it all worked. A japanese restaurant serving canadian poutine and texas brisket....CRAZY! I give my fullest recommendation to this place and implore anyone curious to give it a shot. With 100% certainty, I will make the 2 hour drive to eat here again! Fantastic!!!

Fantastic restaraunt! Some of the best food I've eaten in State College in a very long time! The gentleman running the place that day was awesome! Friendly conversation. Prompt service. Even a delicious Iced Coffee to end the experience. Only bad thing was we were traveling and couldn't take the left overs with us.

Our go-to place at PSU. By far the BEST food and service around, they are so kind and make the most delicious dishes. Whether you like spicy, mild, meat-free, etc, there is truly something for everyone. I wish I could give more stars because this place is the best!!!! Delicious every time!!!

Run. Don't walk to this place. The food is AMAZING. The owner is beyond kind and truly cares about the food you are eating and the care you get when you come in. You are made to feel like a cherished family member. Parents of Penn State students...this is the place you want to send your kids. They will be well fed and treated well. Locals. This food is affordable excellence. College kids. If you want a ton of amazing food at affordable prices, visit here. Often. We made a visit based on Yelp reviews while we were in town looking at colleges and this was the perfect way to end our visit. Not a fancy place but the food and the owner taking care of your needs makes this place a 5 star experience. Ramen--amazing. Cucumber salad he offers as a free treat is crazy good. The dumplings are fantastic. The broth is multi layered and better than I have had here or abroad. Just visit. Your tastebuds will be happy and your spirits will be lifted because they care!

Food and services was top notch. When in the area agin I will definitely visit. The flavor profiles were great.

this place is absolutely awesome, just got takeout and got the simple ramen and broth. i'm a simple gal and don't like all the topics so i just requested to add scallions and they did it for me at no charge which i really appreciate, i will be back ASAP 10/10

I've come to Penn State a couples of times a year- coming from a busier city it's always appreciated when a see a business with diverse foods, especially Asian cuisine. My partner and a friend went to Kokoro on a Thursday for lunch, it wasn't busy and we took some time to order at the front register. We each ordered the tonkatsu ramen, and it wasn't good. The ramen had a very sweet flavor, almost tasting like barbeque. It seemed like the meat was chopped up like a bbq type of brisket style and put on the broth, but it did NOT remind me of traditional tonkatsu ramen. The taste was simply off, had none of that delicious umami flavor and was very overpowered by whatever bbq-like sweetness it had. I wasn't too impressed, and frankly I think that Todoro's ramen is more on par with a traditional tasting tonkatsu ramen. I hope to visit again and have my mind changed, though.

So working in a college town this place is a diamond in the rough. The food is delicious and the portion for ramen was huge. The service was pretty quick for delicious food. I got a chance to talk with the owner and they were pretty cool. We got to swap experiences we had working that area and I can tell you the ambiance was a typical college Resturant but it was pretty spacious inside. I would very much recommend this place if you're looking for great food.

We just had a wonderful meal at Kokora! I don't really like ramen so when my husband said he wanted eat there, I wasn't excited, but I said I'd go with an open mind. I'm SO glad I did! We started with the free cucumber salad which we very fresh and good. Between us we ordered the shrimp rolls, fried gyoza, steak ramen and duck ramen. Everything was delicious! You can either order through their app and take out, but we opted for table service. The service was quick. James, the owner, was friendly and helped us with our food order. It is clear that he takes great pride in his restaurant! The ambiance is very basic but don't let it deceive you. The food is wonderful! Highly recommend! We'll be back!

We have been here twice now and both times we have really enjoyed everything we have tried! Today we had gyoza, egg roll, ramen and rainbow sushi roll. Along with that we were served some wonderful cucumbers for free too! Great service and very friendly too. Give it a try!

Great place to pick up a quick and healthy lunch. The staff was amazingly friendly and helpful. Nice quiet dining option.

This place is the BEST! Friendly, fast service and the food is fresh and delicious. We had the the 12 PC. Dumpling with chilli oil and beef brisket Raman soup. The brisket melts in your mouth and the broth is packed full of flavor. The dumplings were tender and stuffed full. They gave us a free dessert. Very kind humans.

We came here earlier tonight, not knowing what to expect as first timers passing through State College, on a foggy empty night. We really enjoyed our experience here. From the start the owner was very friendly and treated us so well. We really enjoyed chatting with him throughout our dinner. There were signs in the restaurant about being kind, working hard, and staying humble. I think these really describe his values. Not only did meeting him make us happy, but all the food also tasted good and made us happy as well. The vegetarian based ramen with mushrooms was the best I've ever had so far. And the only one that was so good that I had no complaints about it. I'm usually restricted to vegetarian versions unless halal so that's why I chose a vegetarian option here and I'm usually disappointed with the taste and quality at other places or at least don't like something about it. Rarely am I able to completely finish it. Also you can request beef/ chicken broth if you don't want pork broth. Although it's not stated as an option in the menu. And any can also be substituted with vegetarian broth (given as an option in the ordering menu on the machine). We're unlikely to pass through state college again, so I'll probably really miss this ramen, but of course would love to come back if we do ever come through this area again.

One of the best places in state college. I haven't seen a restaurant care so much, urgg, I and my boyfriend have been here at least 5 times since I moved to state college. The food is also soooo good and there is no place that has this type of ramen. The quantity and quality is amazing. I could rave of this place for days! The food also comes out sooo fast. Love it 100/100

Not to be missed. Exceptional hand and homemade food Delightful kind and generous service and ownership. Fresh local dynamically prepared and flavored meats Uniquely delicious cucumber salad Amazing dumplings Incredible subtle and complex ramen bowls Generous portions Fair prices. Unpretentious atmosphere. Most highly recommended! This is a must have each time I visit State College.

The food here was outstanding. Everything was super fresh and homemade. Everything was eaten so quickly I forgot to take photos. Don't let the ambiance and kiosk ordering fool you - the food and service here are impeccable. We will definitely be back.

I was very happy with the service and the food, and everything about my experience when I first walked in the door. I did not catch the gentleman's name, although, he was extremely polite and inviting, and so kind. I felt happy walking out knowing we had a nice interaction with each other despite it being late that he is working, he showed up optimistic. Food was delicious. 10/10 will go again!

Nice variety of food. I would have lived a different broth in the ramen but enjoyed the veggies and noodles. Portions are big, and the location is easy to access by campus. Definitely get some apps for the table!

Excellent service, great food, and fun music. I stopped in for a work trip and the staff was extremely friendly, attentive, and the food was ready quicker than the predicted estimate. I'd highly recommend stopping in!

Stumbled upon this place in Downtown State College on our way to another restaurant, the soup dumplings caught my sister eyes. We decided to back track into this little gem since we were unable to get into the restaurant down the block. My son was actually happy that we ended up at Kokoro because he now has a new place to dine at. Service was great it was eleven of us in the group and they quickly accommodated us as well as presenting us with some appetizers on the house. We ordered so much food that's not pictures and honestly everything was fresh and delicious. We had Pork Buns, Shrimp Rolls, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Souo Dumplings, Fried Chicken, Vegetable Dumplings, Roasted Chicken Ramen, Duck Ramen and much much more.

The place is a hole in the wall. Great service and great food. The ramen was amazing. Being a vegetarian, I am picky on the places I go to, but, this place has great food. Customer Service is top notch. Highly recommended!

Fantastic food and service! The spicy beef ramen is one of the best I have ever had! The beef is soooooo amazingly tender. The chef came and spoke to us. He share his cooking techniques. You can tell he takes pride in his food and wants to be sure all of his customers are happy. We also received complementary sweets and a delicious mango drink. I will definitely return!

First time trying here. When you walk on there are two computers you can order on, and further back is an order counter as well. It's not super fancy inside- the order counter and open kitchen, and the tables for seating. We ordered the roasted chicken, tofu, and spicy breaded chicken ramens. Also got spring rolls for an appetizer and two lemonade drinks. While we were waiting we got a seasoned cucumber appetizer which was a nice surprise. The ramen itself was okay. I personally found the broth lacking in that rich, deep meaty flavor, but the chicken, noodles, and veggies were all nice additions and tasted very fresh. The portions are very large so can't complain there. The broth for the tofu ramen was tastier IMO, maybe a different base? Sadly, our lemonade were a huge disappointment. I got a strawberry mint lemonade, which somehow tasted of none of those ingredients and had a strange aftertaste. We were brought out little cheesecake bites at the end of our meal- they were yummy and a nice way to end the meal.

This place is amazing!!! Ordered the spicy beef ramen. Couple minutes later a couple appetizers came out. Salad with cucumbers (I don't like them but my buddy loved the salad) and dumplings were deeeelicious. Ramen came out and WOW. A lot of food and it was so delicious and flavorful. The beef was incredibly tender. And it wasn't overly spicy it was perfect. The owner also brought out a couple sample desserts for us. I will absolutely be back again and definitely recommend this place. The food was sooo flavorful I can't wait to try something else. I wish I could give more than five stars.

Hidden gem downtown State College. Lovely atmosphere, the owner is so sweet and caring about everyone that walked in. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Toby is awesome, walked us thru the menu. My 13yo had the shoyu tonkotsu, which is the ramen with pork (and the restaurants most popular), 16yo and DH had the seafood ramen and I had the chicken ramen. It was all so good, like a warm hug from the inside. Each broth tasted different, too. We had appetizers of chicken wings, shrimp tempura, and deep fried dumplings. We will tell friends and come back soon.

Was after spicy pork ramen and fried dumplings This place didn't do either - not on their ordering app at the counter anyway I got the normal tonaksu pork ramen and added chili oil - didn't have the kick so not spicy Couldn't see friend dumpling starter on their screens (they have 2 order screens) so had steamed - healthier option anyway I guess My daughter had chicken ramen bowl You get some cut up cucumbers in a sauce with your order With the starter - 12 steamed pork dumplings - we had too much food and it was very filling Because mine wasn't spicy it wasn't a hit for me - why don't you do spicy pork ramen? (I saw the spicy beef ramen). Sauce flavor was ok though It's a cheap cafe set up with tables and toilets It's penn state college town so I expect the prices (quite high) are reflective of the lease cost. I had a similar meal in ithica which was much nicer in a proper restaurant though it was spicy pork soup dumplings... and cheaper It gets a 3 from me - it was ok but can't recommend it

Great food and service. Very friendly server. Portions were large. Will definitely eat here again when in State College.

Very tasty place. The spicy beef ramen blew my expectations and sushi was good. The complementary cucumber salad was very good as well. Would recommend this place.

What an unexpected delight for lunch today. What Kokoro lacks in ambiance and atmosphere it more than rectifies with its exceptionally sophisticated food, coffee, service and personality. I found the flavors sublime, the quality high, the portions healthy, and the staff kind and wonderful. They specialty roast their own coffee in house. I recommend the iced Vietnamese. It's subtly divine. They smoke their own meats. I opted for the pork over the brisket. It was so good that I only ate half of my dish so that I could eat it twice in one day. They have a few house made hot sauces that are incredibly flavorful and perfectly spiced. Rumor has it that they will soon be offering a house made spicy noodle as an option in their already sublimely spiced cuisine. It seems impossible I know, but expect the unexpected.

Went here last night had a great experience food was delicious owner was thoughtful and very accommodating would definitely recommend the ramen the fried shrimp were very good and Goyoza! Will definitely go back and highly recommend that you try you won't be disappointed

Love it here. Mintu and his business partner so so accommodating and amazing to talk to. The food is delicous and I have now had two amazing meals. I've brought different people each time and they want to come back on their own now.

very fast service. Everyone was very attentive. I had the spicy beef ramen and it delicious

Food was excellent and packed nicely for takeout. Real care and attention to detail is evident. Thank you!

Food was great and came out quickly. The beef ramen was very good. Great service. They brought water to our table right after we sat down. Restaurant is clean and nice inside. They gave us a free order of goyza!

My wife and I visited quite late on a Friday night. We spoke extensively with the owner and the owner's friend throughout our visit. We were so impressed with the ethos of the business and the attitudes of both men. This, all before we gush about the food. Everything we were served was simply outstanding, from vegetarian appetizers to spicy beef ramen to cheesecake bite desserts. Despite the almost 1 hour drive each way, I suspect that Kokoro will become a regular pilgrimage for us. This is the kind of restaurant we want to support. If you like ramen or Asian fusion, you just have to give it a try, but I warn you, you will likely become a regular.

Excellent Ramen and dumplings. Wife really enjoyed the cucumber salad and the service was top notch!

I happened to be in State College area; and noticed this place for Ramen. I was hungry for Ramen and decided to stop by late afternoon. I ordered Shoyu Tonkotsu Ramen. The bowl came out relatively fast...that was good thing. Well, unfortunately, the taste of Ramen was not good. First, the broth was really weak and had not much Shoyu flavor. The menu simply said "Shoyu flavored pork broth" on it. Name with Tonkotsu was kind of misleading as broth was not really Tonkotsu as I tasted. Soup temperature was luke warm at most. I prefer rather hot trmperature than luke warm for sure. Soup itself did not have much flavor or taste at all, especially Shoyu flavor. Interesting thing was...Tonkatsu (or Takoyaki/Okonomiyaki) source poured onto chooped Chashu pork. That flavor took over everything. Soup just tasted of this particular source. I have never tasted such combination before - Tonkatsu source over Ramen soup. Honestly thought it was a bad mixture. Chashu itself was undercooked for my taste, just chewy and not much taste other than the source. Scalion was thick cuts and quite amount along with plain corn pieces. Half boiled egg was literary just half boiled, no flavor or taste added. Nori was folded and already fairly soaked into soup. Noodle was over cooked for my taste, though the noodle got a potential to be good if cooked a little less. I am not sure I visited just wrong date/time?, but it was not good for my taste.

What a great little spot! Everything was delicious. We ordered apps--all of which were super tasty--but the standout were the baos that the owner gifted us. Fluffy little pillows of goodness. The Ramen was outstanding. My son got the duck ramen and it was really flavorful. The noodles were perfect. The owner told us they are driven on from Chinatown in NYC. All of the other ingredients are fresh and local. You can taste the freshness of the vegetables. The owner waited on us and he was a great guy--funny and super nice to us. We'll definitely be back.

Very nice owner.. I gather, working was super pleasant. Canned soda only $1 each. Love that. The R1 ramen was listed as best selling so I got that. The sliced pork belly was amazing. The broth was bland. Next time I would get spicy or tomato.

This place was small and quaint in the best way. Service was lovely and we received complimentary cucumber salad which was very fresh and delicious. We also had cheesecake bites after our meal, the raspberry was the best in my opinion. The fried rice was awesome and the steamed vegetable dumplings were great! You order on a tablet and can see the whole menu when you walk in and we received our food pretty quick!

Another new place in State College, PA! Perfect for a cold day. With tip and everything I paid around $30 and the service was awesome. The workers are super nice and will accommodate to many needs. The food was good with more options coming! There is street parking as well as lot parking in the area. It is also a super easy place to walk to from campus! I'm super excited to try the newer flavors when they come out.

Great food and service! The tonkotsu ramen was great. Food arrived quickly and the flavor was good. The staff here was super friendly, I would definitely recommend!

Food was amazing. I especially loved the cucumber salad and the curry tofu ramen. Service was great. 10 out of 10. Would recommend.

Nice workers. You can get beer at the bar across the street and bring it in. Delicious ramen. Even brought us cheesecake dessert

Delicious food. Wonderful flavor combinations. Incredible hospitality. We had the Alaska bowl and rainbow bowl. Food is fresh and servings are generous. The food arrived quickly and was nicely seasoned. The host checked in and made us feel welcome. Our Ube and Irish Coffee iced lattes were also generous and nicely balanced. Our first trip but it won't be our last.

What a little gem !! Not only is the food and atmosphere good the service is really incredible!! Absolutely loved my experience here!! (Honorable mention the owner is so kind and humorous)

This place is great. After recovering from some Jaw bone surgery, I can only eat soft food. So I can only eat certain foods. As you can imagine it becomes very limiting and boring. So while on work trip I was in search for a Ramen bowl spot. I stumbled on this new little hidden gem. I am so glad o did. The staff was friendly and accommodating & the Ramen was definitely 5 Star.

Kind of a hole in the wall with bright colored walls including Pepto pink in the women's restroom but the food made up for it. Prices were fair. There was a lot of DoorDash and grub hub ppl in and out. We ate inside. The server brought us a complimentary fried dumplings that was amazing with so much flavor. When she'd what's he make it with he replied "love". We will go back to try other things. Do yourself a favor and try it too.

LOVE the food, and the service is fantastic! Very friendly and attentive. Both times we've gone, we had the steamed bao buns and they were absolutely delicious. I love the "standard" ramen, and my partner has loved both the spicy and the beef ramen he's gotten. We also got dessert on the house for Valentine's Day, which was such a nice touch. Thank you, Kokoro, for the lovely cozy dining experience.

I ordered takeout. Extra egg and chili oil that I was charged for were not included. That aside, this tasted nothing like traditional ramen. I ordered the pork and it was a smoked, bbq flavor that took over the broth. I was only able to eat a few bites.

We ordered takeout on a Monday evening. Both had ramen and it was delicious! Everything was fresh and really tasty. I had the vegetarian curry and it was so flavorful. Highly recommend!

Pick up was easy and quick. Food was delicious, got the dumplings and they were very good!