Kokoro Japanese Restaurant Opens in Downtown State College

Kokoro, a Japanese restaurant, recently opened its doors at 404 E. Calder Way, State College, in the former location of The Hut Pot.

The restaurant officially opened at the end of October and aims to “make ramen with kokoro (heart).”

Its ramen menu, which is priced between $13 and $14, includes kokoro signature tonkatsu, creamy tomato and a spicy tantan, which is “coming soon.” Toppings, such as scallions, extra noodles and seaweed can be added to your dish.

The ingredients for the kokoro signature tonkatsu ramen are pork belly, marinated soft-boiled egg, nori, scallion, corn and mushrooms. The creamy tomato ingredients are tomato, onion, garlic, dashi, black pepper, mozzarella cheese, shoyu and oyster sauce.

Appetizers include pork or veggie gyoza, shrimp tempura, Japanese cucumber, karaage, edamame, seaweed salad, fried chicken wings and veggie spring rolls. Appetizer prices range from $3 to $8.

The restaurant is selling an opening special combo for $17 that includes the signature tonkatsu ramen dish, one shrimp tempura and three pork gyoza.

Kokoro is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for lunch and dinner and closed on Wednesdays, according to an employee. Delivery is also available through DoorDash.

Kokoro joins Möge Tee and Teadori as the latest businesses to open in downtown State College. Campus Steaks is expected to open on South Pugh Street in early 2023 and the Starbucks on South Garner Street is set to close in January with a new location opening on South Pugh Street sometime in the spring.