Tokyo Joe’s
1001 16th St, Denver, CO, 80265
Tokyo Joe’s Menu
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Address :
1001 16th St
Denver, CO, 80265 - Phone (303) 825-0321
- Website https://www.tokyojoes.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Anna D.
I had forgotten about how much my family and I have loved this place! Yes, it's a chain, but a dang good one! Love how it's so easy to customize your order or pick from their signature bowls. I have always gotten the rice bowls, and loving the fact they have gluten free and vegan options. Yes!!!! Fresh food that always hits the spot! This is a go-to if you have no idea what you want for lunch or dinner, and the kiddos are with you. :)
(4)Melanie G.
I have been craving Tokyo Joe's forever, and since moving am not close enough to grab it, so when I found myself on 16th St. I used the opportunity to head on in here and get one of my favorite things. Not having had Tokyo Joe's in over a year my head was swimming with visions of tons of fresh veggies in teriyaki sauce, so I placed my order to go and waited patiently. It was done much quicker than I expected, so I went straight home and planted myself on the couch with the world's emptiest belly. Immediately after taking the lid off of the to-go container I knew I was in for massive disappointment. While still good (Tokyo Joe's always uses good ingredients), the vegetables were scarce, the rice was white instead of the brown I asked for, and the bowl itself was noticeably and significantly smaller than the ones you receive when you order in-store. The biggest letdowns by far were the maybe three pieces of broccoli, the spinach that was clumped and stuck together, and the fact that I was still seriously hungry after finishing. While I will remain a Tokyo Joe's fan I think that my craving is diminished, not because it was satisfied but because the bowl just wasn't worth missing. EDIT: To be honest, this is less a review of Tokyo Joe's, which I'm sure is still great, and more a review of their halfassed to-go orders.
(3)Shahzad A.
I am giving this place a 3 star only because the food was fresh and the place was nice but the taste was really lacking. I ate their bowl with green dragon sauce which was just sour with not much of any other flavor. I also had sushi that was just ok. The rolls were too much rice with not enough flavor. Overall a very average place.
(3)Lonnie L.
great service with a smile. The female that took my dine in order thirty minutes prior to close was polite and friendly. I will be back again since it's close to the gym. Hi five!
(5)Ellie O.
Great for a quick bite, whether you want sushi or hot food. I got a build your own bowl and did ramen noodles (although the options listed are white or brown rice or udon). Everything tastes fresh and was less than $8 for a hearty portion that included both meat and veggies! The girl working, Katrina, was super helpful in selecting something as there were quite a few options on the menu. And my food came out in less than 5 minutes.
(4)Sarah S.
Great spot! The service was phenomenal. The girl taking our order extremely honest her favorite dishes, and even about the ones she wouldn't recommend. That won us over. The food itself was great, and very well priced. The servings were far more generous than I expected. I'd recommend the yakitori bowl! Fast food at its finest.
(4)HaleyBeth O.
The food is well prepared, the ingredients are fresh, and they have a plethora of gluten-free options. Can't really ask for much else.
(4)Michael S.
I've always had off experiences at this place. Tonight, I bought two cookies and two sodas to gift to homeless and the total was over 10 dollars. Two cookies and two sodas. Over 10 dollars. Those really are Tokyo prices.
(1)Kelcie S.
This a new chain that I tried today as I am usually not the type of person to hit up chains. Tokyo Joe's was a great quick fast meal that I could enjoy, feast on sushi without my bf, and was friendly to my wallet. The price for a four piece roll was $3 and quality was spectacular I got the classic California roll and the crab wonton roll. California roll was delicious with just the right amount of ingredients. The best of all was the crab wonton roll with sweet chili sauce. The crisp wonton crumbles were a great balance of cold and sweet. I really enjoyed the sushi as it was great quality. Be prepared to order quickly as you move fast through the line. I would love to try a bowl sometime but would have to prepare ahead of what I want in it. Staff is very polite and tend to you very quickly with your food and taking your plate away when finished. Can't wait to try more at Tokyo Joe's
(5)Conner K.
I advise that you avoid this place, and here's why: I've been to this specific location three times. Each time I literally found a fly, or some other sort of bug in my food. I know, I should have learned the first time, but never imagined that it would happen THREE times. The third time it happened, I took my bowl up to the manager who was very rude, and not understanding at all. The last trip left me feeling grossed out and uncomfortable. I hopefully will not be going back to this location any time soon. It's too bad that they lost a customer over a very rude manager/employee.
(1)Bhajan R.
Quick japanese food in a dark den like location even though its ground level with a lot of windows. Food is always yummy and staff has a sense of humor.
(4)Sasha L.
Very slow service, you would think in a bustling area that employees would move in a manner respecting that you probably have somewhere better to be than inside this hipster wannabee fast food chain.
(3)Charles K.
I find this place nice on so many levels. Their place was kinda good, the cool feeling when you sit on those fine chairs. Its like the vibrant color of the tables and chairs makes you feel good while in there. The food was exceptionally good. Not to mention that its was far most good than the other Japanese restaurant that I've been to.
(3)mozart e.
I tried the yakitori bowl and it had a good taste and food seemed freshly made. Would order again.
(3)Fede X.
Fast, friendly, hot & delicious (like a girl I dated in college). If only the 16th Street vagrants would stop hassling me on the way in. I don't think Colorado's marihuana laws have helped that situation but that's not Joseph from Japan's fault. Anyway, I wish I could eat this healthy when I'm in a hurry more places in this country. Thanks, Joe.
(4)Justine G.
Rice bowls are AWESOME! great food quality in very affordable price! PLUS very friendly staff!
(5)Misty H.
Very fresh! We had the create your own bowl w white meat chicken, udon noodles and yakatori sauce. We also had lettuce wraps and the zushi box! Everyone loved their lunch. The lettuce wraps were the fave!! Definitely will come back!!
(4)Krystal M.
So... I got the salmon bowl and brown rice and some veggies. It was pretty good and the salmon was cooked perfectly which was awesome. The bf got a bowl as well and also liked it. Our only complaint... the bowl was literally DRENCHED in sauce... like, I wanted sauce, but I also wanted to be able to taste the rest of my food as well. It was a bit much, so next time I would probably ask them to go a little easy on the sauce. Otherwise the staff was nice enough and the place was really clean. The was a row of tvs in the back in case you were by yourself so that was kind of nice. We'll probably be back in the future when we're looking for quick and cheap.
(3)Foo D.
Thank you to the very friendly and attentive staff. You are quick to take responsibility and be gracious about any scenario. Some times small mistakes just happen, these guys are usually super busy and often simultaneously training new staff...."all about how you handle it." so thanks for noticing. I work nearby and like to eat here often, I really appreciate the care. Hats off. Oh, and by the way, my sushi was delicious lol
(5)Mike J.
I like this place. It's good, clean food for less than ten bucks. I get the regular sized, build your bowl of steak, brown rice, yakitori sauce with edamame, green onions and mushrooms. If you drink water, it will be under ten dollars. That is a bargain. Try to go to any other fast-food place with real food and generous portions for that price... Lol, it's not going to happen.
(4)Lee K.
The only "fast food" that is acceptable in Denver. I love the oyako sauce or the stevaki sauce: very low in calories per serving. Difficult to say my favorite bowl. I love this place.
(5)Jennifer B.
Okay, no laughing. I have lived here 8 months and this is my first time at Tokyo Joes! I work on 16th Street down by Union Station and have always walked by this place, and was determined to find out what all the fuss is about. Turns out I really like this place. I know it's a chain, but I enjoy the variety and all the choices that are non-greasy (no more cheese burgers for me). I walked in and it was pretty busy, it was the lunch rush. Line moved pretty fast and then BOOM - I was overwhelmed by all the wonderful choices. I love that they offer fresh rolled sushi. I decided on a bowl and went with the Mahi Mahi bowl with noodles. YUMMY! I ordered it with udon noodles and it came with some tropical salsa, macadamia nuts, with sweet lemongrass and teriyaki sauce. So good, really the perfect lunch size and totally hit the spot. I want to come back and try some of the sushi, salads, and more version of "create your own bowl". That sounds very nice. You get tons of veggies to choose from and the ability to have nicely cooked and seasoned fish to any dish, a nice lighter choice that I like. Overall this place is great and I will be back to up the variety in my life.
(3)Ciara G.
You kind of cant go wrong at a fast cas build your own bowl joint. The options are endless for your custom creations. And if you don't feel like putting much thought into your bowl you will be pleased with their standard bowl options. Portions are good but I could have used and would have liked more veggies in my bowl. GASP yes I realized I just said more and veggies in the same sentence. I had the peanut teriyaki sauce and it was quite tasty. I tried some of the Curry sauce and that was bomb DOT com. Fast (when not busy) and reasonably priced for the portion size. The real kicker was that they had me at their fresh brewed iced tea bar. 5 flavors to choose from?! I think I'll have 5 refills please. A holla at Tsquared back home for putting this place of my D-Co eats radar.
(3)Ted C.
I know I have a problem listening to other people when I am not at work. I feel like I follow directions ALL DAY and when I'm not there I am free. But really its becoming a problem because apparently I don't even listen to myself anymore. I knew better than to get Ramen from Tokyo Joe's, but I did it anyway. FAIL. Why, why must I be so stubborn. It was painfully bad Don't do it. At least don't do it at this location on a rainy Wednesday at around 5:45 PM. I have heard the Boulder Bowl is the way to go. Give that a try. Or whatever, maybe your like me and are reading this review thinking, "You know, Ramen sounds pretty good."
(2)Renee W.
I love the location of this Tokyo Joe's! The line moves quickly and it was easy in and easy out. I usually will get the build your own bowl as I think their sushi is not good; plus the bowl is easy for take out.,nice outdoor patio for gorgeous summer days....
(4)Nicole W.
Hookipa salad bowl! Diet Dr Pepper on "tap" I love me the tokyo joes, no matter the location. This one is a little rough if you come on a nice day and want to sit outside. I have my 1/2 birthday bowl coupon and they were pleased as punch to help me right out! Friendly, crowded (plan accordingly), outdoor seating with umberellas, and diet dr pepper - have i mentioned that? yes - diet dr pepper!
(3)Amy O.
I think the food could have been better if I just got something else. I ordered a udon noodle veggie bowl and the teriyaki sauce wasn't mixed in with the noodles. Does that always happen? Better luck next time perhaps. The service was nice and decently fast, though, despite being absolutely slammed for lunch.
(3)Joe Y.
Yes 4 stars for a chain because it's the only fast casual sushi in Colorado. Don't compare a $6 roll with sushi den. Tue Thu Sat after 4pm get $1 beer with sushi purchase. Mini TVs to catch up on your CNN. Great patio at this location, catch mall ride get off at Arapahoe.
(4)Katie R.
Being obsessed with all things Asian at the moment, Katie T and I have made Tokyo Joes our go to stop for lunch during the week. It gives us a good chance to catch up on gossip while noshing on yummy food. -Their bowls are delicious, but I recently ordered a few of their sushi rolls and was blown away by how good they were. The ugnai & Joe roll are my absolute favorites!! top it off with a cup of misto soup and i'm in heaven! -This place tends to get super packed during lunch, so service is hit or miss, but overall, everyone is friendly and nice :) -Located right on the 16th street mall, prices seem to be higher but worth every penny! YUM-O! :)
(5)Caleb H.
not a huge sushi fan, but this place had some decent sushi and good service. Worth trying
(3)Brittany S.
Came here for lunch today after my office recently moved to LoDo. I used to love the location down near Park Meadows at my last job, so I'm already a fan of the menu. Although most people were pretty friendly at this location, it took far too long for my order to come out. When I went to ask about it, it was obvious everyone behind the counter was frazzled and disorganized. Granted it was the lunch rush (line was out the door), but there needs to be a better system in place for handling tickets. It was not a pleasant experience. After I asked though, they did get me my food and I left. Only to discover when I got back to my office that they forgot to put chicken on my Nikko salad. The salad comes with either chicken or tofu. I clearly said 'chicken', and got neither. Not cool. I really like Tokyo Joe's, but this location is not happening for me. Too bad.
(2)Cris H.
We stumbled across this place after we were milling around the 16th Street Mall. It was mid afternoon and we hadn't had lunch yet and so we decided to check this place out. Neither of us were in the mood for a burger (we saw Smashburger nearby). Pretty much it's an Americanized Japanese chain restaurant. However it wasn't that bad considering you can customize your lunch bowl. That was kind of the gimmick and it works. First you pick the size bowl you want, pick your carb base(udon, brown or white rice), pick a protein, pick your sauce (a nice variety ranging from teriyaki, curry, peanut, dragon (hot), yakitori, plain soy etc.), and then pick 5 veggies. We both ordered chicken rice bowls one with a dragon sauce and the other flavored with yakitori. My bowl had dark meat chicken with edamame, red onions, broccoli, spinach, and mushrooms. I opted for the dragon sauce and it was true to its description it was a hot. The yakitori chicken was too light for me so I was happy with my choice. It's an inexpensive, hearty, fast, and fresh meal. Authentic Japanese no, but definitely a better option than a burger.
(3)Justin A.
There is simply no better quick, "fast food" option downtown for a healthy meal to eat when on the run for lunch or after work! To say the least, MasterCard loves Tokyo Joes because I just can't get enough of this place. So many sauce options also makes for a large amount of savory combinations for my pallet aka it's really, really yummy in my tummy! The staff is pierced and tattooed all over usually, but as friendly and cordial as your local Applebee's. Get your MasterCard stat and go devour a great dish at Tokyo Joes!
(4)Dan T.
I have to admit, I was disappointed after being drawn in by their menu. Nothing I ordered was a standout. I guess I am more demanding than most about Japanese food, since I have lived in Japan. I have found much better Japanese food elsewhere, and will stick to those places. Might get higher marks from me if I could see it as something other than poor versions of Japanese food. I really wanted to like this place, since it's so close to my office, but I couldn't.
(2)Jim R.
I've always had the white chicken teriyaki noodle bowl. It's consistently good. My only complaint is that every time I'm there the staff usually has horribly disfigured earlobes. I guess self mutilation is a personal thing, but I would prefer not having my food order taken by, prepared by or served by someone's whose ears are so stretched out it makes me lose my appetite.
(3)Shana H.
This is obviously the location for the hip, alternative, and 'in' crowd. I frequent Tokyo Joe's in my area all the time (DTC) but decided to meet at this location for a lunch date since it was the halfway point for both of us. The staff are young, vibrant, and colorful ... literally - with fluorescent hair coloring, major facial piercings, tattoos, and the hipster wear. The restaurant has small flat screens along one wall for those who hang on every media word. The food is the same as usual. I always get the same things- california rolls, avocago rolls, or the spring rolls with a green tea. Still good.
(3)Josh B.
I've wanted to try Tokyo Joe's for almost a year, since moving to Colorado. What were my expectations? That it wouldn't suck? I went to the location 2 blocks from my office, and I had researched my order, trying to minimize the sodium content. You really have to watch that. The Teriyaki sauce has nearly a day's worth of sodium, and if you get it over Udon, ouch. I opted for dark chicken (more flavor, lower in sodium), brown rice (healthier), dragon sauce (spicy, less sodium) and 5 veggies. My order was under $7 out the door, and no it didn't suck. They give you the sauce on the side, and I thought that I might get away with using only half of it, but no the brown rice really needs sauce. The dragon sauce was spicy, but not that flavorful. If I go back, I'll get a different sauce. I'm not sure that I need to go back. I got the point, and I scratched my itch. Did I miss anything?
(3)Christopher S.
This location of Tokyo Joe's is usually jammed at lunch time. If you don't like waiting in line I'd suggest going early or late. There is not anything all that spectacular going on here. It's basic Japanese fast food. I've had mixed experiences but I do keep coming back so that says something. More often than not I'm happy after a meal here. Occasionally you'll get a bowl with some "crunchy" rice or they forgot the tofu in my miso soup once, but overall the food has been decent. I have not tried the sushi here, but my lunch comrades have and they tell me it's OK. I'm usually focused on a rice or noodle bowl, of which Tokyo Joe's has plenty as well as a build your own feature. Three different types of iced tea, toothpicks, mints, and a well stocked condiment area are all pluses. Functional, fun and filling. Eat at Joe's.
(3)Christine P.
The dish that I got from this place was on the mediocre side, but it does the trick if you're hungry or too lazy to go anywhere else. I ordered one of their rice dishes, which gives you the option to select the type of protein, vegetable, carb (rice or noodle), and sauce. I selected rice with grilled salmon and a couple of vegetables. The worst part of the dish was unequivocably the salmon, which was super dry. It was just a whole fillet sitting on top of the rice, and I wouldn't be surprised if they had simply microwaved an already pre-cooked salmon. The vegetables were also not cooked but just placed raw on top of the dish. I would be interested in trying out their sushi, but I would avoid the meal that I got.
(3)John M.
Reasonably priced noodle bowls. They absolutely nailed the vegetables but noodles were a little over done for my taste. The line moves quickly and the staff very nice. I'm sure I'll try it again.
(3)Curtis G.
I would not eat here if I was starving. This Teriyaki joint with is its frozen vegetables, boiled chicken, minute rice with syrup for Teriyaki sauce is gross. I can get better Teryaki from the freezer section at Costco. This chain has given Teriyaki a bad name in the city of Denver. Real Teriyaki is grilled but home made secret sauces and given with sticky rice. If you liked this place, keep looking there are much better places to get real Teriyaki.
(1)john W.
Dragon sauce and yaki. not a good combo. BUT good tasty food if you're near one. don't go out of your way or anything crazy, but if it's right there. eat there, it's good.
(3)Leslie R.
Tokyo Joe's is kind of my go to when I don' t bring my lunch to work. It's fast, I don't feel as though I'm so full I can't move afterwards, and it does the trick. Today was their take of Pho; white meat chicken, rice noodles, coconut curry broth, cilantro and I chose to add broccoli. The broth was good, the chicken was ok, and the broccoli was ok. Overall, just A-OK. I've never tried the sushi here, nor will I. However, if I am in the need of a quick noodle bowl of some sort, it is worth grabbing on a weekday for a quick and easy lunch that doesn't break the bank.
(3)Naomi G.
Quick service, generous portions, and delicious, healthy, food. It was clean and the staff was friendly and delightful. Definitely would return! We recommend the build-your-own-bowl.
(4)Demitri R.
I went in to Tokyo Joes a few years ago. And on a Whim last night i went back in. My first experience the food was bland and i believe it was around the time they just opened the 16th St Location. They have redeemed thereselves. I had the Mojoe Regular sized with a Hot White Tea. I loved the flavors of the pineapple and chicken and red peppers. The Mini Tvs when you sit at the counters against the wall are a very nice touch. I didnt have the Sushi but it looked decent. The employees were friendly and the food came out pretty quickly i might add that as well. I will be back to try more on the menu.
(4)Heather H.
ate here today & was not satisfied. none of the sodas tasted right. dr pepper came out clear, sprite had extra carbonation no flavor, root beer was flat. my rice was over cooked & had so much sauce I didn't even eat the rice. I paid $8 for a couple slices of chicken basically.
(2)Holly E.
You'd think I'd learned my lesson from last time. I'm giving it 2 stars not because I recommend it, but because half of the meal was ok. I ordered a steak bowl (fatty and gristly, not sure if that's a word), mushrooms (shitake yum), snow peas (crisp like I like it), broccoli (crisp like I like it), bamboo shoots (I didn't order these! I ordered water chestnuts and it says it on the receipt) in the green curry sauce (watery and greasy, no flavor and splashed on my me, my computer and desk while I ate due to the watery consistency ). So of this meal I liked the broccoli, snow peas and mushrooms! The people here are nice , but if corporate or the guy that I'm assuming is some type of manager would stop singing and dancing for two seconds and focus on improving the quality of the food, this place would a frequent lunch stop. Last time when I emailed corporate their repsonse was, well then why do we get such great reviews. I was like, yeah right, have you looked at Yelp. Dumbass!
(2)Alan W.
This place is packed and chaotic during lunch, and the bottle neck layout of the restaurant makes things worse. I have experienced quite a few mess ups with my order, and I have found their sauce extremely sweet and overpowering. I noticed that their portions has gotten smaller and I never found their food to be very satisfying. I do like their side salads with the sesame dressing. I really wish we have a Kokoro's on the mall -- I would definitely go there all the time!
(2)Joshua B.
Kitchen staff knew exactly what was and wasn't gluten free. Wish we had one back home.
(4)Andrew W.
It's fast food people!! I'm a junkie. I go here for a quick lunch all the time. The bowls are great to go or stay. It is always packed over lunch time, the only time I go so it has never bothered me. It's packed for a reason, it's good. What I have realized is that you have to TELL them what you want, they put it into a computer screen and then the cook slaps it together, all 10 of them. Of course they are going to mess a few up. That has never bothered me, it is still good.
(4)Diane A.
Great food for fast food. I like how you get to choose the ingredients and sauce for the bowl. Great idea! I wish there was one closer to me-- I'd be there all the time.
(4)Chris F.
Excellent. Went here while on a trip from Florida, and it was a great choice. Started with the Gyoza. Must say, some of the best dumplings I've had outside of Asia. The sauce is perfect, and the dumpling itself is amazing. The sushi is great. Had the shrimp one.. (can't recall the name) and must say I was very pleased. I went later in the evening after having a few beers next door, so it was rather quiet. But with that came great, and quick service. Friendly and welcoming. Would and will go back anytime, especially since I've just moved into town.
(4)Lisa S.
Tokyo Joe's isn't gourmet Japanese food... hell, some would argue that it barely qualifies as Japanese food at all. Definitely a fusion-type restaurant with a fast-food aspect, but it's a great non-greasy alternative to a burger joint. Very quick and veeeery good. I liked that their menu was simple and the dishes were very straightforward. Wasn't in the mood for an actual meal, so me and some friends ordered off the Starter menu and got edamame, gyoza, and peanut skewers. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The only complaint: my roomie ordered some hot tea, but was surprised at how sweet it was. She couldn't drink it, but luckily I have a Sweet Tooth with limitless sugar boundaries. I finished the tea and thought it was great! Proceed with caution, though, if you're not a sugar fiend like me.
(4)Lawrence C.
Wow, this place is so mediocre. The only thing stopping me from giving it one star is that the service was pretty good while I was there. They should really try to make their food just a little bit better. Two stars are more than generous for this place.
(2)Kati B.
WHY?! Why is this place always so crowded at lunch? It blows my mind that people line up to eat here. My friend dragged me here..ugh. Never again. I had a rice bowl with tofu and veggies - there was waaaaay too much rice, and just a small sprinkling of tofu and veggies. The dragon sauce managed to be both spicy AND flavorless - the only flavor was hot. Bleh. The edamame was ok, but honestly, is it even possible to screw up edamame? The food was relatively cheap, but I was hungry within 30 minutes of eating here, so I don't think that's a good deal at all. Now, let's all boycott Tokyo Joe's so that a decent Japanese restaurant can open in its place. Join me, friends!
(1)Gloria S.
So our hotel was near this place and I just wanted a quick snack, so we stopped in. I ordered the spring rolls and the Yo roll. The cashier was very nice. I saw that my rolls were made on the spot which was cool. It's too bad they didn't do the same for our spring rolls. The wrap had harden and thicken so I know it's been there a while. I did like their take on the peanut sauce. it had a kick that I wasn't expecting which I really thought was delicious. The Yo roll didn't really have anything memorable but it was a good snack. Next time I guess I'll have to try their bowls.
(3)Agustina P.
The side salad and sushi looked as though they came in a box, but it tasted decent. Almost all of the tables were dirty or wet. If you need to grab a quick lunch, I would recommend coming here because the service is fast, but get the noodles - those look like they were freshly made.
(3)Jenn P.
Yea... so, the best way I know how to explain the experience is this. It was 22 dollars and 5 cents and about 35 minutes I will never get back. I have very little else to offer. My daughter was performing at The Shakespeare Festival last week and she needed something to eat between performances. So we trucked down to the mall and decided to try Joe's. The place was PACKED which is quite often a good sign, well not here. It must have been a bunch of hungry desperate people with 30 minutes for lunch all descending on the Mall at once. The line moved quickly and the food came to our table fast as well. So the food, ummm... It was kinda icky. My meat tasted, well, odd. Not very fresh. The sauce was also just "meh" and nothing at all seemed as though it did NOT come from the freezer. The line to get to the soda fountain was INSANE and the place was so loud I thought my ears would bleed. Our bowls seemed less than half full and I guess it doesn't even matter because I couldn't eat it anyway. 22 bucks for 2 regular bowls and 2 sodas all to end up with indigestion and a still hungry tummy. Tokyo Joe.... I bid you farewell.
(2)kunal k.
Vibe: Casual, friendly. Food: Good stuff - basically the way it'll work is that you choose your base meat, a carb, and a sauce, and add veggies at will. I made my own bowl with white chicken and was happy with the quality of the meat and ingredients. Love the opportunity for customization all in all. The yakitori sauce was great, sweet and a little spicy, though I probably could have used a bit more sauce on my bowl. Area: On 16th street, though not in the busiest part of it. Went on Memorial Day for a late lunch and it wasn't crowded. Soda fountain: Anyone who has root beer and dr pepper is good in my books! Cost: Around 8 bucks a bowl. The large is overkill, I could barely finish the regular.
(4)Lauren T.
I've done my experimenting and tried quite a few of their bowls. My favorites remain the mojoe and mahi. And always with an order of edamame. (I love that it keeps my hands busy kinda like potato chips but way healthier). Stay away from their sushi, but all the bowls are satisfying and yummy. I usually get food to go here but the short time I'm there, I enjoy the environment and 'proudly pierced' employees.
(3)Janet H.
Great tofu and vegetables dish. Fast and delicious.
(4)Lisa K.
Not traditional Japanese food but more like a Japanese-American's like sugar sauce fusion, but ok for the money and the speediness of service. Their fresh spring rolls are loaded with chicken and fresh veggies, this is a great value nutrionally and money-wise as you're not getting a roll full of rice noodles like most Asian places will serve. They did forget the avocado in the roll that the menu lists as an ingredient. All of their sauces have a butt-load of sugar in them except for the Curry sauce, last I checked. In fact, their soy-ginger sauce for the spring roll dippin' is so sweet (with a strange layer of oil that's not sesame floating on top) that I'm not craving dessert. I guess I could go w/o any sauce but then most of the dishes would just be meat and carbs. I also thought it lame that you have to pay quite a bit extra for any vegetables in their meals/bowls. Their sushi is okay. If you get the spicy tuna roll ask for extra sauce as they barely waived the mayo-based chili sauce next to the roll. I bet it would be good if I could actually taste it. Overall: If you want a semi-fresh fast meal for lunch while you're downtown the service is always pretty quick and the staff, although hurried, are as friendly as they have time to be.
(2)Kate G.
Completely blah. Frozen meat and veggie chunks tossed with sugary, completely unauthentic sauces and rice or noodles. Huge lines at lunch and loooong waits for food once ordered. I could buy a King's Hawaiian frozen chicken teriyaki bowl from Costco and get the same exact thing. Teriyaki is lost on this city, no one has any idea what it is! I long for the real deal in Seattle, where teriyaki shops are on every corner and I can get a huge, freshly cooked chicken breast sliced over perfectly steamed rice with a family-secret teriyaki sauce and salad with homemade gingery dressing, plus gyoza, for $5 or $6. I give Tokyo Joe's two stars purely because it seems like somewhat healthy fast food, but I'd never pick this place again.
(2)Taj M.
Got my order to go today because I had to be back to "take care of bidness." When I got back to the office I realized they gave me white rice instead of brown. "Shwoooooooo. Breath, Taj. It's okay, it's alright, no need to go off the rails. They didn't know how strongly you feel about white rice, the 'Wonderbread of Asian Cuisine.'" I trucked back over there, explained the missing brownness, and they had me back out the door, correct rice in hand, in about 90 seconds. But hey!!! Has anyone noticed how sturdy their to-go containers are? I mean jeez looweez! This thing is better than that marginal GladWare you find at Strafeway ... and it's free. I mean, this container holds a seal! It's better than the Star Wars glasses you could get at Burger King back in the 80's. Okay, not really, but you know what I mean. I'm totally getting my bowls "to go" until my cupboard's stocked with Joeware. I'll even order the large once in a while so I have a complete set.
(4)Lauren H.
I didn't want to spend a fortune on dinner my last night in Denver, but I didn't want tourist chain crap or normal fast food either, so I stopped in here. I had the mahi mahi bowl over brown rice, which had macadamia nuts and came with a sweet lemongrass sauce and some other brown sauce. Even an hour later (I got sidetracked), it was yummy! They had a lot of menu options I wanted to try and I thought it was reasonably priced. I wish they would open up one here. Also cool, was the counter which had tvs built into the wall in front, good if you are eating alone.
(4)izumi n.
NOT authentic Japanese food by any means. We walked into Tokyo Joe's as sort of a last resort. The food was okay. We had the spring roll, cali roll, oyako & joe's noodle bowl. Nothing special, forgettable.
(2)Rebecca M.
When I worked downtown I would frequently get lunch at Tokyo Joe's. It was quick and convenient. Generally I would get the Tokyo Chicken Salad or just a side salad or two with the miso dressing. Sometimes I would mix in some of the sesame dressing. I really like the tangyness of the miso dressing. The bowls don't really impress me, but they will do in a pinch when you only have a 30 minute break. My last visit to this location took place a couple of months ago. I was "enjoying" my Tokyo Chicken Salad, relaxing on my lunch break. Then I looked down and what do I see? A MOTH IN MY SALAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Â!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After swallowing the bile I took it to the manager and she apoligized a little then explained that it must have come from the salad. I don't know what kind of explanation that was. I just wanted my money back and to get out before I started to heave. I carefull inspect my salads everywhere I eat now. Thanks Tokyo Joe's
(1)Kent T.
I like Tokyo Joe's food. At all other locations. The 16th Street Mall branch is horrible, though. The food is typically the same as the other locations, yet they tend to go light on the sauce. I've been dropping by about once a month, since the place opened, because I like their basic teriyaki bowl. Yet everytime I go, the service pisses me off. You'll stand in line to order, but suddenly one clerk will disappear and you'll be stuck in a non-moving line. The clerk hasn't left to grab something...he's gone. As in, stopped working the register and isn't returning. This has happened to me roughly 75% of the time I've been there. My luck can't be THAT bad, can it? I usually go in the 1-2pm hour, but several times it has taken up to 15 minutes for my food to arrive. Nothing fancy, either...I always order a basic bowl. One time, the server walked by and dropped my order at the table next to me. After a few minutes, I looked around, saw nobody was claiming it and realized: "oh, I guess that's mine". The next time he walked by, I hollered at the waiter: "thanks, turbo!" The place is typically crowded and the tables are placed disturbingly close to one another. It's tough for me to walk around the place. I would hate to be a waiter there. But like their employment ads stated, I'm not cool enough to be one because I'm not one of "the few, the proud, the pierced". As if poor service is acceptable because your waiter has eight piercings, tatoos, dresses like a goth...and in their mid 30's. They also can't be bothered to wipe the tables too often, either. I enjoy all other branches of Tokyo Joe's, but can't stand this particular location. Honestly, if it wasn't located on 16th St, this place would've closed down months ago.
(1)Zach H.
I always have a great experience when I go to Tokyo Joe's. They are the type of company that allows their employees to be themselves and do whatever is needed to make happy customers. I was at the 16th street mall store during a rain storm, and they were getting ready to close down. I'm sure they probably broke some corporate policies, but the staff let us wait in the store a few minutes after closing while the rain slowed down. They also packed us up some sushi that was going to be thrown away that night and gave it to us on our way out. The staff is always very friendly, and they definitely made some loyal customers on this occasion.
(5)Ethan M.
My God, the staff is new or on antidepressants! Thank god for small miracles! Way to go ToJos!
(4)Kathleen A.
Think of this place as a Chipotle-esque Asian Food place. You pick the meat, the kind of rice, and the sauce and they stir fry it up quick. They also have delicious sides like edamame and California Rolls. I have not had one bad dish here. It gets four stars though because it never quite fills me up, leaving me wanting more! They need more locations in Denver.
(4)C S.
LORD OF THE FLIES!! I don't know how the hippies that work here manage to get so many flies flying around inside this restaurant. It's pretty disgusting, but then again hippies don't shower right? I've never seen so many flies inside of a restaurant, kind of makes you wonder where they're all breeding from? the meat, terrible fish they have, the sauces? Minimum wage, college hippie kids aren't really going to have much reason to care. Their steak bowl isn't bad but all the flies freak me OUT!! Maybe they should consider buying a bunch of those flourescent bug zappers. Wouldn't that be cool to hear flies being fried and zapped while you eat your rice bowl? The VEGETABLES ARE ARE AS dry rot FROZEN as humanly possible. Someone needs to get the colorado or denver deparment of HEALTH OR SOMETHING INTO THIS PLACE ASAP!!
(1)Patrick M.
decided to have lunch here, not a bad food choice. I had a side of California rolls and a stir fried chicken entree. The service was decent and so was the food. It is a nice break from the usual lunch places.
(3)Colin B.
I love Asian food -- noodles, rice, sushi, whatever. And I love Asian fast casual to boot, so I was glad when we decided to go here for lunch. I had some kind of mango shrimp rice bowl -- wasn't the greatest thing in the world, but it was definitely good. And for around $8 it was a win.
(4)Brian S.
Ya know, if you're going to run a rice and noodle bowl place you really ought to know how to make rice and noodles. It's hard to f* it up really - rice cookers are pretty flawless and boiling noodles is pretty dirt simple - unless you totally overcook them. And this is what I had to suffer through. Folks, you know - or at least ought to know - when the noodles you are serving are hideously overcooked. Given that, you ought not to serve them. Sure, you can save a dollar in food cost at the expense of losing a bunch of customers - but who cares? You don't own the place, you just work there for $8 an hour and making a new batch of noodles is a pain. Jeeze - when picking up the noodles with my chop sticks causes them to disintegrate it pretty much ruins the entire meal. Never again.
(1)Adriana C.
I love Tokyo Joes. Their bowls are so good, and their teriyaki sauce is one of a kind. I have searched in many other places for a similar taste but, nothing can compare. I want to go back to Denver just to eat some. I envy all that are fortunate enough to go there.
(5)Dave C.
You won't confuse this joint with authentic Japanese food once you walked inside. The only thing Japanese about this place probably is its name, but it's not bad for American "Japanese" fast food. I also liked the flat screens throughout the restaurant so you can watch multiple channels while chewing down some sort of bowl dish - just try doing that in some place where everyone wears a kimono!
(4)Don G.
I work near this 'Joe's and I've been going there a couple times a week for the last two years. I think the variety of reviews is accurate, because the quality of the food varies. The sushi is nothing special and if that's your thing, you should go to a "real" sushi place and not a fast-food place. The salads are decent, but you can get better across the street at Mad Greens. The bowls are a mixed bag, but one stands out above the others: the Big Boulder Veggie Bowl with tofu. And guess what? I'm a red-blooded, meat-eating guy -- not a tree-hugging, granola-munching vegetarian. The brown rice is tasty (and good for you), the veggies are nicely cooked, and the tofu nicely grilled. If you get the big version of the bowl for lunch I guarantee you won't be hungry till dinner, if at all!
(3)Beth F.
Yuck. I can't really think of anything else to say.
(1)Joseph C.
I decided to stop in here one night after work and give Joes a try. I'm not a huge fan of Asian food, but it couldn't hurt to see what is good or not good about Tokyo Joes. From time to time I will go out on a liimb and try things that I've never had before, so for me it was a chance to have my first encounter with that dreaded idea of sushi. Probably not my best choice of places for sushi, but as good as any, right? I had a Mojoe rice bowl which was very very good, great blend of sweet mixed with tangy. And I also had an order of the "Yo" rolls(salmon, tuna, mango, avocado) to go. I like Joes, though it was my first visit I assume the service here has gotten better from previous reviews. I found the service to be pleasant and the food was as really good. I'm not sure if I am yet a fan of sushi, but I will try something different on my next visit.
(4)Carissa M.
I like to eat at Tokyo Joe's when I'm feeling the need for a quick, quasi-healthy lunch and a good out-of-the-office lunch jaunt. This location of Tokyo Joe's is situated on 16th Street Mall and has outdoor seating, so it's easy to access and has great people watching opportunities. I had a "Yo Roll" today for lunch and although mango was listed among the ingredients, I only found two tiny pieces in my four yo rolls. I did have some edamamme with my meal and that always satisfies. I'd definitely recommend going to Joe's for an inexpensive lunch experience. Enjoy!
(3)William M.
It's decent for what it is. My friend described it to me as a Japense Chipotle - how right she was! It's worth it every now and then. I've got an eel bowl and a dolphin bowl - that's mahi mahi for those that don't know what mahi is. They can use a little too much glaze on the fish, but I like that you can get it with brown rice. The bowls typically don't come with too many veggies, not the ones I've ordered anyways, but fish and rice sustains an entire eastern half of Asia, so it can't be all that bad, right? Service is fairly quick, and the food is generally tasty. I think I was spoiled while living in San Francisco when it comes to fresh fish, but the quality is decent for not being on the coast.
(3)David L.
1.5 stars: I got their teriyaki bowl, and everything comes drenched in bottled teriyaki sauce. Keep on looking. Maybe some Italian?
(1)Roll T.
This is a fast food restaurant so it shouldn't be too surprising that they aren't a destination for high quality rice bowls. Having said that, I wish that very healthy fast food like Tokyo Joe's was available in more places across the country. If you are in the Denver area, and you just need to grab something quick, this is definitely a great alternative when compared to national fast food chains.
(4)Jay L.
Tokyo Joe's is where you go for Japanese fast food on the 16th Street Mall if your priority is speed. Try the chicken and rice bowl with teriaki sauce if you would like something entirely tasteless. If you have time for minute walk, try Yoko's Express at 19th and Lawrence.
(2)matt h.
This is a great option for a cheap and healthy lunch, plus, with all the ways to customize your food, there are almost endless possibilities. I almost always have the white chicken bowl with curry sauce and veggies, but when I have earned a free bowl I always have the salmon bowl. They are very generous with the amount of salmon in the bowl and the new dragon sauce goes great with fish. The porch is very nice, but I always seem to sit inside.
(4)Claudia B.
this place is so much cleaner than "healthy, authentic taki's". the boulder bowl is my favorite. totally vegan. really yummy. affordable. walking distance from any apartment complex in the capitol hill area. i'm a fan of the side salad with the miso dressing. it's small, but refreshing.
(4)T T.
OK it's not genuine but it's not terrible either. I had Unagi domburi (bowl) and their rice was pretty good quality, I would guess it's from California-made Japanese rice. The price was OK too and they serve you with salad. I don't have too much to complain.
(3)Shiho F.
I'll have to go back for a more complete visit but the time it popped my cherry I wasn't very thrilled. I actually went in to get some quarters for the parking meter outside and I felt bad so I ordered a side salad with soy ginger dressing and an eel roll (the 4pc.) for a snack. I counted 10 leaves of spring mix and the eel roll was nothing special.
(3)Frank C.
good eatin'! quick 'n relatively cheap. miss it!
(3)