Koi Awards

Koi Restaurant Review:

Koi is one of those trendy L.A. eateries where the cuisine and the scene coexist in a surprisingly healthy balance. Being the favored Japanese restaurant of many Hollywood stars, Koi offers great people-watching opportunities in a stylish setting, but also delivers some high quality sushi and contemporary Japanese cooking courtesy of chef Robb Lucas. Broken into several distinct spaces --- both indoors and out --- this is a smart, sexy venue, flatteringly illuminated by candles and fireplaces, accented with bamboo and some sheer, burnt orange curtains. Reflecting the restaurant's modern sensibilities are dishes such as Hamachi Fusion, composed of sashimi accented with soy yuzu and truffle essence. Hot dishes range from grilled sea bass with honey balsamic glaze and shiso-pea coulis to peppercorn filet mignon with shishito mashed potatoes. Augment your meal with a side of the glazed string beans. A slightly decadent finish can be had with molten chocolate cake or Koi’s signature cheesecake with passion fruit sauce. The aforementioned qualities plus a flight of saké (look for Koi's own house-branded saké) and the always-dynamic scene usually add up to an enjoyable evening in this unique corner of the Pacific Rim called L.A.