Kokeshi

Ok to start off, the place overall is very pretty, the food is good, the service and atmosphere is very nice and chill. However, we did find the place a bit expensive and it did have a few hidden prices that were not indicated. We ordered two pizzas, fried dumplings and a ramen. The quality of the food was really good and you could taste it, such as the cheese of the pizzas that didn’t taste plastic and the sweet chili sauce of the dumplings was nice and had no artificial flavor. Overall, the place is good, the people are super friendly and chill, and the atmosphere is so relaxing, definitely a place good to go with family or friends.

Service and atmosphere always on point. The food missed the bar again unfortunately. Pork belly dumplings, great flavor but the meat was very hard and felt like it was sitting for quite some time, likely not a popular dish. This will sound strange. The Dan Dan noodle soup had too much meat to noodle ratio. The issue is that it was EXTREMELY salty. The other bowl, flavor also good but the bacon was soft and not crispy at all. The pork belly also was hard and not very easy to chew. It's neat for a date night, pretty much.

I've been to Kokeshi a few times pre and post the merger with Bambolina. The food was really good when they first opened. I decided to get some hot ramen with my family to warm up. Service was OK. The person serving the food needs to taste it before sending it out. The broth in all of our dishes tasted like it was sitting on the stove for hours and reducing to a salty brine. The Back Alley Bacon ramen is supposed to be salty and delicious. However, the salty broth made the dish inedible and my kids are not ones to leave an empty of ramen on the table. The salty broth was also used in my Vietnamese Noodles as well. The carrots were not matchsticks like the picture on the online menu. They were long bias cuts of carrots which isn't what the original creator of the dish was going for. Temperature-wise all of the bowls could have been warmer. It's a real shame because I honestly liked having a decent ramen spot near my house. Hopefully the quality of the food improves. May give it another shot in the future but for now, I'm staying away.

Heard great things about this place…if I ever return I’ll be getting food from the pizza menu instead. The ramen was crazy salty, I barely ate half the bowl. The other reviews are definitely correct about the insane amount of seaweed thrown in there too.

Stopped in for lunch yesterday after visiting the (excellent) bakery around the corner. The kimchi ramen was phenomenally good, and a huge portion with 3 thick slabs of delicious pork. Unobtrusive and attentive service. Was very pleasant sitting at the bar watching the fire in the oven and the staff prepping dough. Will definitely be back.

TLDR; Not your average ramen shop. Great flavors, unique dishes in the heart of Salem. Kokeshi, you had me at Colonel Sanders ramen with Vermont butter. And you did not disappoint. Yes, this ramen house has traditional recipes you know and love, but it also has delicious new takes on the classics. We loved the fried dumplings, steam buns, and - of course - noodles. The atmosphere is very laid back, and the staff is very friendly. A great place to curb your hunger with lunch or dinner while on the witchy trail.

Love it while visiting Salem from Florida with the family we encountered this fusion of wood fire pizza and Korean Ramen oh lord we all had something different I had the pasta 🍝 good lord it was great we had a chicken wings and the dumplings To die for. We also ordered a Ramen noodle with pork belly galore. Amazing flavors. Also try the margarita. Pizza Awesome the Service Lakia although she was new was excellent The ambience and surroundings were great. I truly recommend this place by the way, the portions are very large. 😆