Kooma Asian Fusion & Martini Bar is coming to the Cherry Hill Mall. During my visit last week, crews were working on final touches ahead of their upcoming opening… which they expect to be mid-September.
This is just slightly longer than their originally planned opening of August.
Kooma restaurants offer an Asian-fusion dining experience from South Korea, Thailand, Japan and more. They describe their restaurant as “modern, fine dining touch to the traditional experience”.
This will be the third location for the Philly-metro based restaurant brand, which is actively hiring for a variety of positions for the Cherry Hill location including; Restaurant Manager, Sushi Chef, Line Cook, and Food Runner/Barback. Previously there was a Kooma location in Wilmington Delaware
News of this third location was originally published by the South Jersey Food Scene website back in early December 2023, and was then picked up by almost every other Philly metro area news outlet.
Kooma opened their first location in West Chester PA back in 2001 and after many years of successful and delicious meals, they expanded into King of Prussia in 2020.
The upcoming Cherry Hill Mall location is being developed at the former California Pizza Kitchen unit, which closed back in 2019. Kuma Cherry Hill is an outside entrance restaurant located very close to the Apple Store and Macy’s Department Store
A 2004 experience review of the West Chester Kooma in the Delaware News Journal describes a high quality yet comfortable dining experience… that they enjoyed so much they were sad to see it end!
Sushi and Sashimi make up a big part of the dining experience which also includes classic, spicy, tempura vegetable rolls and a selection of special rolls.
Something that is new to me is Korean Stonepot Bibimbaps, which according to the 2004 News Journal article it is a combination of fresh sushi, lettuce and mixed vegetables… laid over rice and topped with glass noodles and roe. It is served sizzling in a fire heated stonepot!
Yes I understand that the referenced review article is 20 years old but that was intentional on my part, as even 20 years later Kooma still considers Bibimbaps as one of their top selling dishes!
Other Signature Specialties include beef hibachi, teriyaki chicken or salmon, Japanese style pork belly and even a seafood pot of boiled scallops, king crab, seasonal clams, shrimp and mussels with yuzu butter.
All that being said, it appears they do vary up the menu for each location so we should expect some surprises for Cherry Hill
As the full name of the restaurant indicates, Kooma Asian Fusion and Martini Bar will also offer a full bar with a focus on a variety of innovative martinis.
I did stop at the upcoming restaurant last week and chatted briefly with an onsite representative but I did not get a peek inside. I will be back at opening to share the experience with readers.
Links and Location
Kooma Asian Fusion & Martini Bar
Cherry Hill Mall
2000 Route 38, Suite 1025
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002