Kokeshi - Salem

Heads Up due to the pandemic, Kokeshi has relocated has set up shop in their sister pizza restaurant Bamboljna (just around the corner). At Bambolina you can order from either pizza or Asian menu. Rated Kokeshi 2 stars because it was a poor American take on Asian food. From Best to Least Best: White Kimchi Ramen had a very American flavor to it with an overwhelming Togarashi spice profile as little to none kimchi flavors. The 3 slices of pork was over cooked and had huge fatty and meat separation. The noodles were thin egg noodles decent. Chicken Lemongrass Dumplings (appetizer) the MaePloy (sweet chili sauce) overpowered the lemongrass flavor (if there were any at all). The fry on the dumpling itself was decent but the filling was a very plain chicken filling and for some reason was speckled with very out of place corn kernels. More of a filler food than a tasty treat Farmer's Harvest Soup (Vegetatian) pretty atrocious. The soup was a jarring miso plus heavy sour lime concoction. The noodles were vermicelli, not ramen. Quite hard to eat with such a sour finish. Poke The fish was not fresh as you could tell from it's cloudy non tender depiction. The plate looked big at first until you realize it's majorly rice. Description mentioned sticky rice but it was just cold long grain rice. Service was extremely kind but the Western attempt at executing Asian food was quite tragic. Loved the pizza Bambolina restaurant though.

My favorite ramen spot I've ever been to. The colonel sanders is to die for. Their collab with bambolina is amazing now I don't have to choose between my 2 fav Salem restaurants!! So good.

This review is for the Kokeshi part of the new Bambolina/Kokeshi combination restaurant. First of all, not easy to find Kokeshi since directions take you to the old location and that is closed up. We happened to walk down the street and decided to eat at Bambolina, only to find out that Kokeshi was inside as well. Besides a pizza, we ordered the potstickers and ramen from Kokeshi. The potstickers were pretty good, just a little on the sweet side. The Back Alley Bacon Ramen was not really very good and we didn't end up eating much of it. I think it might have been the bacon itself, but the broth was strange tasting.

F ing perfect. Colonel Sanders ramen, get it. Little heat little spice. Perfect dish.

The food was great and the outdoor seating was even better. Definitely would come back when I'm back in Salem!