Our Story
Kokoro Ramen was founded in 2016 by a group of professionals with a shared passion for great food. Kokoro stores are a destination for healthier and delicious, authentic Japanese Ramen. We strive to source the freshest ingredients to create delicious meals that leave a lasting memory. Food is the fuel for the body; our team keeps this fundamental belief at the core of every decision we make.
Our team loves to engage with our local community to create supportive and meaningful relationships. We want to build inviting restaurant spaces that bring friends, family and community together. We are excited to help create lasting memories that our team and customers will cherish for years to come.
At Kokoro we believe it is a privilege to have customers visit our restaurants. We are always looking for ways to innovate and improve. We strive to make each visit better than the last for our patrons. The feedback we receive is very important to us, and we hope to learn and grow together with our customers and community.
Meet The Team
Yasuhiro Sumino
Yasu has over 15 years of experience in the food industry in Tokyo, Seattle and Vancouver. He has worked at varieties of small business and large chain food establishments. He graduated from one of the best Udon schools in Kagawa, Japan and Ramen schoosl from Tokyo, Japan. Yasu also has training from the Barista school in Portland, USA. Yasu continues to be curious and excited to expand on his culinary journey and skills.
Daniel Der
Daniel has over 15 years experience in the food industry. He has a love of good food and a cooking mindset that seeks ingenuity and innovation. Daniel fell in love with ramen and Japanese cuisine at an early age and has never looked back. Daniel continues to seek new opportunities that challenge and deepen his love for food.
Masaru Yaguchi
Masaru has over 20 years of experience in the food industry in Japan and Canada. Masaru graduated from one of the top ramen schools in Japan, and had previously worked at a popular ramen restaurant in Vancouver for many years. His culinary experience brings a more unique and masterful quality to Kokoro Ramen.
Taku Kakimi
Taku has over 5 years of experience working in the food industry in Japan and Canada. He has worked at a variety of small business and large chain food establishments. He has experience in Japanese, Western-Canadian and French cooking. His unique back ground and love for food takes our product to next level.