Koi
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Phone: (310) 659-9449
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- Melrose Place
- Specialties:
- Fireside Dining
- Hours:
- Mon-Wed 6pm-11pm, Thu 6pm-11:30pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-12am, Sun 6pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Koi – by Jennifer Schwartz
The Scene
Guarded by towering bamboo spikes, this sprawling La Cienega space houses four dining rooms, a patio with a glowing fireplace, a lounge and a bustling sushi bar. A chic Asian theme is accented by crimson hues, dark-wood beams and Buddha statues. Couples fill tables in candelit dining rooms, while decked-out singles sip sake and size up the action on the patio.
The Food
Sushi and traditional Japanese favorites are generally well executed, but it's the chef's signature menu that fuels this party scene. Like Japanese tapas, these tasty tidbits are small and easily shared. Lightly seared spicy tuna on quarter-size bed of crispy rice is a perfect bite-size treat. Other favorites include buttery black cod glazed with miso sauce, sweet broiled Alaskan king crab legs coated with garlic-butter sauce, and tuna sashimi boosted by jalapeno pepper. Sushi chefs keep it simple with fresh, generous cuts of salmon, yellowtail and mackerel.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
When to DrinkKoi offers an extensive cold sake list. The wine is served in hollowed-out bamboo shoots with matching cups.
Know Before You GoWalk-ins are accepted, but without a reservation expect a long wait, even for the sushi bar.
User Reviews for Koi
09/03/2008 Posted by PennyPretty
Koi has one of the most fantastic layouts I have ever seen in a restaurant. The dining rooms are all open and have a view of everything that is going on. I actually have to go- at least once every two weeks for the Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna. I was surprised reading the reviews below. Koi is not dirty at all- there are parts that are outside, and that may be why there is natural things outside. Regardless, in the years I have been going I have always found it to be delish, comfortable, beautiful and clean!
Pros: Food, Decor and Service
Cons: $
08/29/2008 Posted by lbctx
Summary: Sublime food, enhanced by a gorgeous setting, attentive staff, and great soundtrack. Koi is unbelievably beautiful patio setting with a mixture of Asian accents, foliage, lighting, waterfalls, and the namesake fish. Cool background music was upbeat and energizing, without being loud or distracting. We arrived a few minutes prior to our reservation, were greeted pleasantly and seated promptly at a table next to a miniature waterfall. Stunning. Our dining goal was a sampling of the best Koi had to offer. Our server, Paul, was professional and informative when assisting us with our menu selections, then attentive without being intrusive as we dined. We began with a selection of appetizers. First, perfectly steamed and salted edamame. Then came the rock shrimp hand roll with avocado and the hamachi fusion. The former was arguably the best appetizer I've ever tasted ... creamy, smooth, bursting with flavorful chunks of fresh rock shrimp. The latter was also divine, with slivers of hamachi lightly drizzled with a tangy, sweetly spicy sauce. Next out was the dragon roll, which will be the standard by which we measure all future dragon rolls. Spicy, crunchy, perfection. The entrees: Yellowtail salmon salad, with its tangy balsamic/soy dressing and the steamed sea bass, wonderfully tender in a tasty broth which could have stood on its own as a soup. Our evening concluded with a pineapple upside down cake which was nothing like anyone's grandmother ever made in a cast iron skillet. Full as we were, every bite was savored. Quantities of each dish were nice (no skimpy bite-size doll food here), and prices were quite reasonable for the quality. Our complete dinner, including a modestly priced bottle of riesling, was just over $100 per person. Koi gets a lot of press for being a place to spot celebrities, but the food and the restaurant itself are the real stars. We plan on returning often, and will heartily recommend Koi to all.
Pros: Food, service, atmosphere
Cons: A bit expensive, but the value is definitely there!
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