by Serenity Joy Miller
On Monday night, I went to one of my favorite restaurants in Franklin to review their sushi, and I was not disappointed. I have frequented Koi Sushi & Thai Restaurant in Franklin since they opened several years ago, and the food has always been excellent. Occasionally, I order take-out to relax and enjoy their delicious cuisine in my own home, even though their quiet, dimly lit dining room is cozy with dark wood tones and comfortable booths.
Koi has a wide variety of appetizers, sushi rolls, and side items, as well as Japanese and Thai entrees. I decided to order the small House Ginger Salad, Gyoza, and the West Haven sushi roll this time. I also ordered a glass of slightly sweet and tart Riesling to enjoy with my meal.
The House Ginger Salad came out first, and it was the perfect start to dinner. Lightly creamy ginger dressing topped the simple salad of crisp iceberg lettuce and shredded carrots. The complex taste of the savory ginger dressing included flavors of garlic, onion, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and maybe even a little bit of honey or brown sugar for just a hint of sweetness.
The friendly, efficient servers brought the Gyoza and West Haven roll to my table as I finished my salad. The mildly flavored pork and vegetable-filled gyoza were cooked perfectly, leaving the top of each dumpling soft but firm with the bottom and edges a little crispy. On their own, gyoza are succulent with a pleasant texture, but the tangy sauce, which is a mix of garlic, sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, red pepper, ginger, and other flavors, makes my taste buds sing.
Now, let’s talk about the sushi. I have tried several different rolls at Koi, and they have all been delicious, but the West Haven roll remains my favorite. Wrapped in avocado and shrimp outside with tempura lobster, asparagus, and rice inside, this sushi roll is perfection. The light, buttery shrimp and smooth avocado provide a delicate, creamy flavor, while the fresh asparagus and the tempura lobster add just a hint of sweetness and a delightfully crunchy texture to each piece.
I could probably eat this exact meal at Koi every week for the rest of my life and still crave it.
Koi Sushi & Thai Restaurant is located at 102 Lumber Drive, #200 in Franklin on Columbia Avenue in the small shopping center with Lenny’s Sub Shop, Jet’s Pizza, and 4Ever Nails. You can also check out Koi online at www.koisushithai.com to peruse their diverse menu of Sushi, Thai, and Japanese dishes. Koi has two other locations in Nashville. One is located in the Melrose area on Franklin Road, and in East Nashville on Main Street.
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