WEST SEATTLE RESTAURANTS: New owner, new menu additions for Kokoras

By Linda Ball
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Readers have noticed new signage at Kokoras Greek Grill in Morgan Junction – the addition of “sushi bar” and “teriyaki” on the awning.

This is the result of another ownership change for the restaurant at 6400 1/2 California SW.

It’s been less than a year since the original Kokoras owners retired to move to Greece, selling the restaurant to Miranda Krone and Kim Depew, who briefly ran it as a revival of Krone’s popular Meander’s Kitchen. Then their partnership dissolved and Depew ran the restaurant for a while, bringing back the Greek food.

Now, we’ve learned, Phillip Kim is the restaurant’s new owner. We talked with manager Carlos Tovar, who says Kim has three other restaurants – Teri Fresh in Maple Valley, and two in Kent and in the University District.

The “new” Kokoras still specializes in Greek cuisine, but a sushi bar has been installed (WSB photo at right). Once a sushi chef has been hired, Kokoras will serve sushi, teriyaki, and wok-cooked dishes in addition to Greek food. It sounds like an unusual combination, but Tovar says it’s worked in Kim’s other locations.

Appetizers include tzatziki, hummus, baba ghanoush, and taramo salata, which is a Greek caviar. The food is prepared using all of the same recipes that have been handed down, Tovar said, including dolmadakia, lamb dolmas, keftedes (Greek meatballs), spanakopita, Greek fries, gyros, souvlaki, Greek salad and Greek omelets. Scrambles and omelets are served all day. The kids’ menu includes a kid-size gyro, cheeseburger and chicken souvlaki. Everything is made from scratch, including baklava and Greek yogurt for desert.

Kokoras has also added three brand-new big-screen TV’s, and draft beer is on the way to add to the full bar and wine. Kokoras has seven employees. Hours of operation are Monday 4 -9 pm and noon to 10 pm Tuesday through Sunday.

29 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE RESTAURANTS: New owner, new menu additions for Kokoras"

  • Just Wondering December 23, 2016 (4:10 pm)

    It will be interesting to see the new layout.  

    Not sure about 3 big screen tv’s though as it’s not that big a place.

  • JVP December 23, 2016 (5:37 pm)

    Greek sushi teriyaki – what could go wrong?

    • JeffK December 24, 2016 (9:29 pm)

      Greek sushi teriyaki sports bar (!)

  • dhg December 23, 2016 (5:43 pm)

    TVs have their place in sports bars but nowhere else.  If I want to watch television, I’ll stay home.  I don’t care for the noise and distraction the televisions bring to a restaurant.

  • TDe December 23, 2016 (6:55 pm)

     Interesting timing on this article.  as just this afternoon I spoke to Spiro and Dimetra, the original owners  of Kokora’s, who retired to Greece.  For those of you who knew them, I would like to pass along that they are happy and doing very well in their international retirement, working in their gardens and enjoying the warmth of the Greek Isles.     

    • EllenM December 23, 2016 (7:42 pm)

      That is great news!  Thanks for sharing! 

    • lookingforlogic December 24, 2016 (4:50 pm)

      So don’t criticize the Greeks it is a new game.

  • kate December 23, 2016 (7:11 pm)

    Big screen tvs in that small space seem like a really bad idea. Not a fan of tvs in restaurants.

  • Krs December 23, 2016 (7:37 pm)

    Talk about an identity crisis. I couldn’t keep up after the og kokoras left. Definitely am not planning to start now. 

  • Alki Bee December 23, 2016 (8:34 pm)

    That sounds ill-advised.  What is the logic behind serving sushi at a Greek restaurant?  Kokoros did very well, why not continue to run it as a Greek restaurant?

    • brogan December 23, 2016 (10:08 pm)

      Every time I went in to pick up food during prime time dinner hours, there was literally only 1 or 2 tables of customers, and every single time a different individual person as the wait staff.  Both are signs of a restaurant struggling.  The old Kokora’s tables were chock full of diners and there was a wait just to pick up togo food from the loudmouth extrovert running the till.

      So new Kokora’s wasn’t doing so well.  It even showed in how they would switch to cheap substitute ingredients occasionally.

      May as well run something that works elsewhere.  I also think it’s good business acumen to have something new and tasty for the Beveridge Place patrons looking for togo/deliverable grub across the street.  Sushi and teriyaki may be a hit, and invite a renewed taste for Greek as well.

    • lookingforlogic December 24, 2016 (4:55 pm)

      Skill and knowledge.

  • Rod December 23, 2016 (11:17 pm)

    Um, no.

  • ImmaMom December 24, 2016 (12:22 am)

    Yikes 

  • WsEd December 24, 2016 (1:31 am)

    I keep looking at my calendar just to make sure.  Nope it’s not April 1st.

  • Rick December 24, 2016 (3:47 am)

    So many folks with their panties in a bunch. Maybe they should build their business around your particular wants and needs. Merry Christmas!

    • lookingforlogic December 24, 2016 (4:54 pm)

      Looking for authentic Greek, Teriyaki and Sushi go to Kokoras and spend your hard earned dollars on……………. which is none of the above.  Or get frozen lasagna at Trader Joe’s and at least get what you paid for.

  • 22blades December 24, 2016 (5:09 am)

    My friends chuckle at me for being somewhere between un-adventurous to purist. I don’t even like California Rolls; “when did California become a Japanese prefecture & where in Japan do they grow avocados?” I ask. They work in the Tokyo Metropolitan Wholesale Fish Market (at Tsukiji).   :-)

    This is a  whole new level…

  • JoB December 24, 2016 (7:58 am)

    this should be interesting..

  • Terry December 24, 2016 (8:00 am)

     My first thought was – 3 TVS!  in that small space.  Jeez, can’t we do anything without constant outside stimulation?  My second thought was I shouldn’t post that, but after reading the above comments I thought I’d throw my 2 cents in too.

    And while we’re at it,  can we do away with music outside at gas stations?  

    Thank you! 

  • Meyer December 24, 2016 (8:10 am)

    I’m always down to give a new place a try and this one is no different. I look forward to it!

  • HappyOnAlki December 24, 2016 (8:26 am)

    Wow. Whatever happened to “Welcome to the neighborhood! We’ll check you out!”

    • Ben C December 26, 2016 (6:10 pm)

      AMEN!

  • Morgan Cali December 24, 2016 (9:59 am)

    Finally, all of those times I’be wanted to dip my nigiri in hummus and finish off my meal with some baklava and green tea ice cream will become a reality. And can’t wait to watch the game while sipping sake and eating a gyro. Why didn’t anyone think of this before!?

    /s 

    • WSB December 24, 2016 (10:34 am)

      Multiple cuisines in one establishment isn’t rare. Even the basic teriyaki places offer Japanese/Chinese/hybrid, and of course we have several outposts of Greek/pizza. The place where our South Park walking tour started the other night offered Mexican and Vietnamese. Anyway, personally, we’ll be interested to try the sushi once that’s up and running. Here in the south end, we’re a little short on sit-down sushi.

  • Larry S December 24, 2016 (3:04 pm)

    Maybe what doesn’t get sold as sushi will magically turn into teriyaki.

  • Sam_c December 26, 2016 (11:00 am)

    I do appreciate wsb open lists for the holidays, thank you.  And thanks to all the grocery stores open on Christmas.  It’s helpful when you realize you’re a little short on flour, and when you discover that you need to add ginger ale,Gatorade, and saltines to your menu.

  • Sam_c December 26, 2016 (11:02 am)

    Ha back, this didn’t post where I thought I was😁😁😁😁😁

  • Ben C December 26, 2016 (6:01 pm)

    Loved the place when held by the original owners. Disappointed with the place after they retired. Heard it was under new ownership. Gave it a try a few nights ago. Bingo. The food was at least as good as the original, perhaps a bit better. Had an excellent experience. So, for those knocking it who haven’t tried it–give it a shot before offering your review.

Sorry, comment time is over.