Japanese cuisine may not always come to mind when thinking of comfort food, but Mama Poke is an excellent reminder of its existence.

The small restaurant on the north side of Colorado Springs featured bowls of ramen, noodles, sushi, dumplings and more, all made fresh in-house. There was nothing fancy about the place. Even in plastic bowls the food was enticing and soothing; plus the owners were diligent and welcoming.

Orders were placed at the counter, above which were four large screens listing the menu items divided by category: Mama Poke Signature; Mama DIT Poke; Noodle and Appetizer; Japanese Ramen and Mama Sushi Rolls.

Bao buns (two for $6.99) and homemade dumplings (six for $10.99) seemed like the best way to begin the meal – or so we thought until they arrived after our entrees. Nonetheless, the dumplings were supple and filled with well-seasoned ground pork. These were accompanied by a soy sauce-based dipping sauce that was both sweet and salty. It enhanced the flavors of the toothsome dumplings.

The buns were less successful but only because they fell apart at the fold. They were filled with shredded beef, identified on the menu as “seasoning beef” and lettuce.  The meat was flavorful and tender, but the bun itself was too spongy. This popular street food item is meant to be eaten by hand, but we had to use forks to ensure we didn’t miss any beef; we left most of the doughy buns.

Poke is most often associated with Hawaii and refers to cubed raw fish. Japanese poke incorporates cubed fish along with a range of ingredients that not only complement one another, but also have a lot of visual appeal. The Mama Special Poke Bowl ($17.50) features cubed salmon and spicy tuna along with avocado slices, seaweed salad, cucumbers, sesame seeds and green onions and strips of green peppers. It’s topped with crunchy fried onions. It’s colorful and each bite was a refreshing blend of savory and tangy flavor profiles.

Other poke bowls feature a choice of pork, chicken, tofu, tuna or salmon. Depending on what’s ordered, accompanying ingredients could include several of the same items as the Special Poke Bowl and fried rice, edamame, sweet pepper and more. The DIY poke options are too numerous to list.  Just know the variety is impressive.

The Japanese ramen ($14.99) was a large bowl thick with long noodles, bok choy, diced red onions, carrots, green onions, hard boiled egg and cilantro. There’s a choice of several soups and seven types of protein. We added teriyaki pork. The diced meat added another element of texture but the teriyaki seasoning was indistinguishable. Although this was a considerable serving, nothing was left uneaten or unslurped.

It’s apparent Mama Poke does a steady takeout business. This might explain the use of plastic ware, including plastic bowls. However, the interior is vivid with bright, colorful walls. Each table is covered with a plastic mat featuring a different, colorful, large cat. In Japanese culture cats are often a symbol of good fortune. That was certainly the case for our meal at Mama Poke.

Mama Poke

Fast casual Japanese cuisine

Location: 3502 Hartsel Drive, Suite 100

Contact: 1-719-598-2129; www.mamapokeonline.com

Prices: $5.99 to $18

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily, except closed Tuesday.

Details: Credit cards accepted. Wi-Fi.

Favorite dishes: Mama Special Poke Bowl and dumplings.

Other: Gluten-free and vegan options available.