Recently, there has been a large influx of new restaurants in Cherry Hill and the surrounding area. Among these is a unique high-end Asian fusion restaurant.
Kooma Asian Fusion & Martini Bar has been open in West Chester and King of Prussia for years but recently opened up a new location outside the Cherry Hill Mall between the Apple Store and Macy’s Department Store. This year-long project replaces the former California Pizza Kitchen which closed in 2019. According to their website, Kooma claims to have an ‘exquisite dining experience’.
As I walked in at 5 p.m., the spacious interior design of Kooma caught my eye. It is modern and sophisticated with gray coloring throughout the restaurant, abstract paintings on every wall, and cloud-shaped mesh lighting hanging over every table, ensuring it is well-lit. There is plenty of seating, a full bar area, and an open-air sushi bar where customers can watch sushi chefs artfully prepare their meals.
As I got seated, the waitress poured me a glass of water and handed me a menu. The large menu includes dishes with components from different cuisines including a variety of sushi, stone pot bibimbap, noodles, stir fry, and various meat and seafood dishes. I decided to order the Short Rib BBQ Buns and the Hawaiian Roll to start, while ordering the Spicy Coconut Noodle, and the Spicy Chicken Stone Pot Bibimbap for my entrees.
Within 10 minutes, the Hawaiian Roll ($22) and Short Rib BBQ Buns ($24) arrived at my table. Cut into 8 pieces, the Hawaiian Roll includes shrimp tempura, avocado, and cream cheese, topped with mango, strawberries, and almonds with a drizzle of mango sauce. The taste of strawberries was a surprising addition, as it is not a common flavor in Asian cuisine. The Short Rib BBQ Buns, 3 per serving, included marinated beef, sliced cucumber, carrots, and Japanese radish, all packed inside of a fluffy bao bun. The short rib was cooked to perfection as it was tender and juicy.
Quickly after I was finished with my starters, the Spicy Coconut Noodle ($26) and the Spicy Chicken Stone Pot Bibimbap ($26) came to my table. The spicy coconut noodle consists of lo mein-style noodles, your choice of meat or seafood (I chose shrimp), and assorted vegetables inside of a bowl filled with a creamy coconut tomato sauce. The noodles are nicely coated in the savory sauce with an unexpected hint of spice. Although it did have a bit of spice, it was not too much, which I appreciated about the dish. The Spicy Chicken Stone Pot contained sizzling crispy rice at the bottom, with sautéed greens and chicken at the top, tossed in a sweet and spicy chili sauce. The ratio of sweetness and spice balanced both flavors, so neither flavor overpowered the other. This dish is a must for someone who enjoys some heat.
The service at Kooma was great, as my friendly, attentive server made sure the food was as ordered and checked on me often throughout my meal. All of the food came out in average-sized portions and the flavors that I indulged in were very tasty. Although the service and food were amazing, the dishes tended to be priced above average. Overall, Kooma provides delightful unique flavors, a vibrant atmosphere, great food along with friendly staff, and is a perfect restaurant for all occasions.