One of the largest mazesoba chain restaurants has soft opened in Richmond.
Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba, known for its Japanese mixed noodle dishes, opened the doors to its Ironwood Plaza location last week.
The chain restaurant serves bowls of noodles with no broth and with various toppings such as minced meat, slow-braised port chashu, soft-boiled egg, green onion and chives.
Other flavours on the menu include carbonara, mentaiko cream, salmon and vegan mazesoba dishes, as well as rice bowls, soup ramen and appetizers like chicken karaage, gyoza and bao buns.
Kokoro is also known for its Hokkaido ice cream and refresher drinks.
Although their drinks were typically served in their iconic bags, they will now be served in a tall glass mug at all their locations.
The Richmond restaurant is set to fully open by early March. However, staff mentioned the date might be extended based on training and operations during the soft opening period.
The Japanese chain was founded in Tokyo in 2013 and has since expanded across Asia and into Canada.
There are currently eight locations for the restaurant franchise in the Lower Mainland with its newest locations in Vancouver's River District and Kitsilano.
Richmond's Kokoro restaurant can be found at 11660 Steveston Hwy. with soft opening hours from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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