Koi Sushi, Thai & Bar

A Flavorful Escape Beneath the Sea There are restaurants you enjoy, and then there are restaurants that become part of your regular dining rotation. From the very first time we visited KOI Sushi & Thai & Bar, we knew we had found one of those special places. As longtime sushi lovers, we’ve visited countless sushi restaurants over the years, but what keeps bringing us back to KOI isn’t just the sushi. It’s the complete experience. From the atmosphere and service to the incredible variety of food and handcrafted cocktails, KOI has become one of our true Favorite Tables Around Town. Walking through the doors feels like stepping into an underwater world. A massive wall-sized video display fills the dining room with colorful tropical fish, graceful sea turtles, coral reefs, and ocean life that slowly drift across the room. As an avid scuba diver, Peter finds himself just as captivated by the scenery as the food. The relaxing ambiance is unlike anything else you’ll find in Northeast Florida. Add in the beautifully designed dining room, elegant place settings, and custom chopsticks that became so popular that guests were taking them home, and it’s easy to see the attention to detail that defines KOI. We began our meal with the dish that introduced Susan to one of her all-time favorite soups, the Tom Kha Soup. This creamy coconut-based Thai soup, filled with mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers, immediately earned our Best of the Best Award. What makes KOI’s version stand apart is the simple decision to leave the vegetables larger than most restaurants do, creating incredible texture while allowing each ingredient to shine. Susan has ordered Tom Kha Soup all over Florida, and she still says this is the very best she’s ever had. Although KOI has become one of our favorite sushi restaurants, what many people don’t realize is that their menu extends far beyond sushi. That is one of the things we appreciate most. Whether someone in your party loves sushi or not, everyone can find something exceptional to enjoy. Over the years, we’ve worked our way through almost every specialty roll on the menu, and remarkably, we’ve never been disappointed. The menu is extensive, giving guests everything from traditional favorites to creative signature rolls, all prepared with consistently fresh, high-quality ingredients. Among those rolls, two have earned our coveted Best of the Best Award. The Pink Lady Roll, wrapped in delicate pink soy paper and filled with tuna, salmon, eel, avocado, and seaweed salad, is every bit as beautiful as it is delicious. The flavors are perfectly balanced, allowing each ingredient to complement the next. Equally deserving is the Lobster General Roll, which combines lobster tempura, spicy tuna, and avocado before being topped with crawfish salad, spicy mayo, and eel sauce. Susan loves the combination of lobster and spicy tuna, while Peter can’t get enough of the crawfish topping. Together, they create one of the most memorable specialty rolls we’ve enjoyed anywhere. On this visit, however, the chef encouraged us to step outside our usual favorites, and we’re certainly glad we did. The Whole Red Snapper with Authentic Thai Red Curry Sauce was nothing short of spectacular and immediately earned another Best of the Best Award. Before we even tasted it, the presentation made an impression. The beautifully prepared whole red snapper arrived at the table looking like a work of culinary art. Perfectly cooked, the fish was tender, flaky, and incredibly fresh. It was then topped with an authentic Thai red curry sauce made with Thai garlic paste, fresh ginger, and crisp vegetables that delivered remarkable depth of flavor without overwhelming the delicate fish. Every bite demonstrated the chef’s attention to detail and passion for authentic Thai cooking. It is one of those dishes that people will remember long after the meal is over. Another unexpected surprise was the Mongolian Beef, which also received one of our Best of the Best Awards. Peter hadn’t found a Mongolian Beef dish in decades that lived up to his favorite restaurant from college. KOI changed that with incredibly tender beef and a rich, perfectly balanced sauce that instantly brought back those fond memories. The experience was complemented by several outstanding handcrafted cocktails. The Thai Basil Tini quickly became one of our favorites, combining fresh muddled Thai basil, agave syrup, vodka, and pineapple juice into a refreshing summer cocktail unlike anything we’ve tasted before. We also thoroughly enjoyed the Lychee Martini, the restaurant’s signature cocktail, which blends fresh lychee juice, lime juice, and vodka into a light, crisp martini that’s easy to understand why guests order again and again. Attentive service, exceptional presentation, remarkable consistency, and one of the most unique dining atmospheres in Northeast Florida continue to make KOI one of our favorite restaurants. Whether you’re a devoted sushi lover, someone who prefers authentic Thai cuisine, or simply looking for a memorable date night, KOI Sushi & Thai & Bar delivers an experience that will keep you coming back. Star rating: ★★★★★ | 59/60