A new fast-casual restaurant specializing in Japanese comfort food has opened in Walnut Creek.
Kokolo Donburi & Bar, a rapidly expanding Bay Area chain known for curry, rice bowls and tempura, has unveiled its newest location in the former Baja Fresh at 1251 S. California Blvd. Sandwiched between The Habit and Yogurtland, Kokolo should become a popular destination for affordable downtown dining.
A wall of colorful maneki-neko, the lucky cat, can be seen nibbling tempura shrimp and saluting with sake. The “bar” part of the restaurant’s name refers to its house sake ($6) and Japanese beer on draft and in bottle ($6.50-$8.50), while “donburi” refers to the Japanese dish made with fish, meat or vegetables simmered together with a savory sauce — often curry — and served over rice.
Kokolo Donburi is known for its curry tonkatsu, fried pork or chicken with a house special curry sauce served over rice or udon noodles. It is one of 14 bowls ($11.50-$26.50), and you can find bowl-topping proteins, like grilled eel and sea urchin, that you might not find elsewhere in Walnut Creek. The dozen or so small plates include gyoza, Japanese fried chicken, braised pork belly and hamachi kama, the tender grilled yellowtail collar; all under $12. They have wagyu beef, too.
This East Bay location, which is open from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., is one of many from the rice bowl and curry house. By January, the Kokolo team plans to open four more in the cities of Livermore, Fremont, Richmond and Sunnyvale. Kokolo currently operates restaurants in Alameda, Pleasanton, Berkeley and Milpitas.
