Cocoron (Soba in NYC)

Last winter Spike and I went to Cocoron to try their soba. It was very cold outside but we insisted on ordering the natto soba because we had read positive reviews of it. However I think the cold soba didn't match our moods because we waited until two weeks ago to go back to Cocoron.

It was a little chilly so we went for the dip soba, cold soba served with a very hot dipping sauce. Spike got pork kimchee and I chose curry pork. Both were very good, but due to our tastes the pork kimchee was the winner (and what we both ordered when we went back the next day.) After you finish your noodles, you are brought soba-yu which is the water that the soba was boiled in. You add the soba-yu to your dipping sauce and enjoy the rest as soup. The meal finishes with a cup of tea which we enjoyed alongside their tapioca/coconut milk/frozen fruit/mint dessert. A very refreshing way to end a very satisfying meal.


Pork Kimchee Soba

This is one of the most genuinely exciting/soul-satisfying meals I've had recently . However, the restaurant is very small and it is my understanding that it can get crowded in the evening so perhaps it's a good idea to plan ahead.

Cocoron
61 Delancey street
New York NY 10002
http://cocoron-soba.com/

I was in NYC for Thanksgiving and decided to check out Cocoron with Tangela (who coincidentally is my daughter). I used to visit Honmura An every time I went to NYC and was saddened by it's demise. I have been to 15 East a number of times and ordered soba noodles with uni, but it was more of a smaller fancy dish than a full on soba experience. I believe the soba noodle maker from Honmura An is now working at 15 East.

We started with house made silky tofu and steamed chicken meatballs. As it was a bit cold outside, we had the warm soba for our main course. Both the Japanese curry soba and the kimchee soba with pork were very good. My only complaint about our experience is that the dining area is very cramped. It could be a bit difficult to have tsukemen style soba (where you dip the noodles in broth yourself) and not invade your neighbors personal space. This might be a bit better at the few tables, but they also looked very small. In addition, I wouldn't go in a party of more than two (unless I was willing to separate) as there are very few seats.

I'll be sure to return for lunch on my next visit.

I found this review of Cocoron on Serious Eats and I thought it might be of interest. The food is really very good.
http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2011/08/ ... a-nyc.html