Koi Crispy Rice: Spicy Tuna or Yellowtail Tartare over Crispy Rice
I recommend the Spicy Tuna if you only choose one. It’s the classic way to eat crispy rice and Koi does it really well.

Creamy Rock Shrimp
Little pieces of shrimp tempura coated in a delicious cream sauce. Nothing else like it!

Salmon Carpaccio
Delicious cuts of salmon sashimi in a soy type sauce but really you have to try it to understand. I frequently order seconds.

Your Favorite Sushi
When you go to such a fancy restaurant, you might feel strange ordering something as simple as salmon sushi or tuna sushi, but I think Koi really shines here. So order at least an order of your favorite Sushi.

Baked Lobster Roll
So decadent. So much more than a roll. You have to try it. It’s exactly what it sounds like but the sauce is just incredible.

Koi is great at honoring requests for specific tables (especially if you call in advance). I particularly like the patio half-circle booths, but then again, so does everyone else. But so long as I request it when I make my reservation, I always get one!  I love restaurants that keep their promises.

I’m always so pleased by my servers’ knowledge and charisma. Since I’m quite familiar with the menu I always ask my server lots of questions about the specials and they always seem to know what to recommend to me based on what my favorite dishes are. I’ve also noticed that the servers always seem available, but they don’t hover. They don’t make you feel like you need to rush. Plus, if you order a lot of dishes, they’re great at timing it so that not everything comes out at once (which means you have to eat the hot items first). Furthermore, I’ve dined here on occasion with a friend of mine who has dietary restrictions and they’ve been very accommodating to her needs.

Plus–the bathrooms are always tidy! Not all restaurants can manage that (and I’m so grossed out when they can’t) so props to Koi!

My all time favorite is the lychee martini. It’s delightfully sweet without being syrupy. And man, is it strong! I’m serious, if you drink more than one-and they’re so delicious you will-you better have a designated driver! 

Another favorite of mine is the Wasabi Praise. It’s a brilliant blend of Vodka, Saki, Lime Juice and fresh wasabi. The vodka and saki balance perfectly, while the wasabi gives it a little kick, and the lime juice makes it tart. Yum!

If you’re not a fan of sweet cocktails, I’d recommend the Ginger Sidecar made with Cognac, Ginger Liqueur, and Sweet and Sour. The Ginger gives it a really unique flavor: almost dry. It’s not overly sweet at all.

Finally, if you ever have the chance to go to Koi when they have one of their seasonal cocktails, you must partake! One year around Thanksgiving, I had a pumpkin martini at Koi that was absolutely to die for! The pumpkin flavor made it fluffy and sweet, so it felt like I was enjoying dessert through the entire meal.

As if you needed to be tempted further, I’ll just leave you with a few other appetizing names of their cocktails: Koi Chai Tea, Tangerine Cosmo, Blackberry Martini, Saketini, and the Espresso Martini.

The Trump Hotel Soho opened 2 years ago with Quattro Gastronomia Italiana in their restaurant space, but the restaurant pulled out shortly thereafter and Trump had been operating the restaurant itself under the same name. No doubt bringing Koi in will be an excellent move. Its Soho location will most likely draw in all the Celebrities who love Koi, including Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Garner, George Clooney, Liv Tyler, Emma Roberts, and Jennifer Lopez.

I can’t wait to sample all my favorites in the new Soho location: Crispy Rice, Salmon Carpaccio, and the Lobster Tacos! But I do wonder if they’ll add any special items for the Soho opening? All the menus do differ a little bit from each other. For example, the Lobster Tacos are available in LA, but not in the Midtown NY location. But the Bryant Park Koi has Seared Red Snapper Sashimi and LA does not. I can’t wait to see what they add to the new location! Kobe Hot Rock Beef perhaps? Or maybe some kind of Fried Rice dish? We’ll just have to wait and see!

The Trump Hotel Soho Koi opens this summer at 246 Spring Street. This will be the 5th location for Koi and the second location in New York. No doubt it will have the same super appealing upscale zen lounge environment as the others. But even more exciting for the Trump Hotel, apparently the owner Nick Haque will run several other dining and entertainment options within the hotel! I’d love to see them do a more casual Japanese dining option as well, or maybe some other fusion fare!

Anyway, Koi New York was featured in Business 2.0 Magazine.  Koi Restaurant in New York City is located right in the Bryant Park Hotel, just blocks from Bryant Park.  If the name of that park rings a bell, it should, because that’s where NY Fashion Week takes place.  Pretty cool.  When I’m a famous restaurateur, I will be attending upscale events like fashion week.