Attention, Japanese noodle lovers!
Richmond is about to be even more delicious as the world’s largest mazesoba chain, KOKORO Tokyo Mazesoba, soft opens its first outpost in the city at the Ironwood Plaza.
Since it is soft opening mode, you’ll want to make sure you check the hours below to avoid disappointment!
And if you can wait, you’ll find the grand opening promo at the end of the article.
Who is KOKORO Tokyo Mazesoba?
Started in 2013, KOKORO Mazesoba has become known for its crafted Japanese mixed soba dishes. Their secret lies in the handmade soba noodles, which use multi-grain flour and Japanese water-softening technology.
Recently they’ve expanded their menu to offer udon and extra-large portion options at no extra cost.
Since 2018, the chain has expanded rapidly throughout Metro Vancouver, with eight locations and counting.
Just in May last year, they launched their Kitsilano outpost.
Now they’re ready to begin taking over Richmond!
The new Richmond location takes over the previous Browns Social House (beside Bubble Waffle) at the Ironwood Plaza.
If you have sharp eyes, you’ll notice that the signage says “Japanese Ramen” instead of its usual mazesoba title. According to the team, this is on purpose as it clarifies they are more than just mazesoba.
KOKORO Mazesoba will now join Pho 37, Five Guys, Kisha Poppo, Popeyes and other food spots at Ironwood Plaza.
It is a huge 3200 sq.ft space that can seat 100 diners.
Unlike their usual bright wood and purple theme, they’ve opted for a darker palette and maintained the setup from Browns.
You’ll encounter black cushioned booth seats and grey tiled walls throughout the room. Their iconic neon purple ramen bowl sign buzzes on the wall.
Somewhat off-brand, TVs showing sports games are mounted above the bar in the center of the room.
Menu-wise – the Ironwood location remains consistent with their other spots, featuring favourites like Niku Mazesoba, ramen dishes, and a selection of popular drinks and desserts.
They’ve also recently swapped their drinks from plastic bags to these beautiful glass mugs. The staff told us that these will be now the standard for the rest of the locations.
If you’ve never had Mazesoba before, we recommend trying out their Niku Mazesoba as it makes for an excellent introduction to this world of soupless ramen.
If you’re extra hungry, you can ask for XL or XXL for free!
To compliment your meal, don’t forget to order one of their popular drinks such as Blue Hawaii Lemonade or Yogurt Refresher.
Lastly, top off your meal with a sweet treat such as a Hokkaido Creme Cup or Hokkaido Creme Cone.
The Ironwood Plaza location will be soft open until March 8th. According to the displayed hours on their Instagram, here are the soft open hours:
- Monday: 11:30 AM – XX PM
- Tuesday: 11:30 AM – XX PM
- Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Thursday: 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday: 11:30 AM – 10 PM
- Saturday: 11:30 AM – 10 PM
- Sunday: 11:30 AM – 8 PM
The tentative date for the grand opening is March 9 – 10. Like their previous grand openings, customers can enjoy a Buy-one-get-one 50% OFF on main dishes for the two days.
KOKORO Mazesoba told Noms Magazine that one more location is in works for Richmond and another in Surrey. The latter is expected to open in the Fall.
With KOKORO Mazesoba expanding its presence, the noodle game in Richmond is about to get even more exciting!
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Address: 11660 Steveston Hwy, Richmond, BC V7A 1N6