Koodo Sushi
“Ramen noodles are delicious at this quiet hidden spot in the financial district.”
“The actual sushi place is in tbe basement of the building so it was pretty hard to find the restaurant.”
“Anyway, she keeps you amused if you arrive early for your takeout and she even gives you a free bottle of cold water while you wait.”
Koodo Sushi
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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———Overall Verdict:
SERVICE: Very friendly and sweet
VENUE: Sub-terrain; nothing too spectacular
FOOD: Subpar
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Entrance is on Nassau
VERDICT: I've definitely had better. I wasn't blown away by the food, the venue was unmemorable but our server was such a sweetheart and saved the entire experience from being completely unsatisfying.
———Experience/Service:
My friend and I arrived around 12:15pm for lunch on the streets of Nassau. I open the door that leads to Koodo Sushi and think, "This place seems somewhat sketchy". It was quiet, somewhat dirty, and hidden. You'd have to go down the stairs before actually entering the restaurant. As I approached the actual entrance, I thought that the place is empty. I did not notice any other patrons. But once we stepped inside, we were greeted by the host immediately and led towards the back where I saw a populated room of lunch patrons. It's a relatively big space, with several rooms to have guests dine-in.
Our server was very kind and accommodating – she freely offered suggestions, happily provided us with more time to review the menu and set our expectations (i.e when we ordered our food, she immediately told us that they are a little backlogged so we will just get whichever dish finishes up first)
———Food:
We ordered the following (ranked in the order they came out):
– Dumplings: Not bad, but not the best. This had about 6 pieces.
– Pad See Eue: My favorite out of everything we ordered. It wasn't too sweet and had enough flavor to keep me satisfied. However, compared to other pad see eue's I've had, this certainly wasn't the best and at times had bland pieces.
– Sushi Lunch: Ugh. This was not fresh nor was it at all satisfying. These were some of the worst sushi/sashimi I've had.
The place was really hot when I went, but you get used to it. I got the pad-thai (medium spicy) and it was surprisingly good! It was a bit too spicy for me, but was still ok. The sushi, however, was not very good. My friend got a spicy roll combo and it looked like they blended up the fish together (maybe that's the way its supposed to be), neither of us was a fan. Unfortunately we did not get to try the drinks there, which I heard were pretty good.
Yes, it seems a little troubling that you can order any dish or food you could imagine from the entire continent of Asia from an underground restaurant in the Financial District. But this place is surprisingly good.
Normally when I see a place with sushi that's also cooking up Chinese food or Thai food, I avoid it like the plague. They usually end up making everything mediocre to terrible. Not only is this place an exception, but they actually have entire full menus devoted to each country – pick up the Koodo Sushi one if you want Japanese, Koodo Kitchen for Chinese, or Lemon Leaves for Thai.
We wanted some sushi on a Sunday night, when most of the neighborhood is dead, but I noticed that this place around the corner was one of the few that was open. We got a bunch of special rolls, which were all pretty tasty. Maybe they've improved over the last few years since the barrage of brutal Yelp reviews, because it tasted perfectly fine to me. The rice was cooked well and the fish was fresher than you would expect from a place with 200+ items on the menu. The Salmon Skin ($4.50) was tasty, and the Eel Lover ($16) was a great version of a Dragon Roll.
Since the experience was good, we went back for Chinese the next day, which also didn't disappoint. The Boneless Honey Ribs ($9) were awesome – a large portion of that addictive BBQ pork with that sweet sweet sauce. Among the many other dishes we got, the Beef with Bean Curd ($11.50) was also excellent.
Aside from the food though, one of the things that sets this place apart is Michelle, the talkative and very friendly woman handling the takeout orders. One thing I don't understand that I've finally learned is that she always says the order will be ready in 10 minutes no matter how big it is, when it clearly ends up taking longer. No need to lie – in fact, tell me longer and I will be happy when it's done earlier. Anyway, she keeps you amused if you arrive early for your takeout and she even gives you a free bottle of cold water while you wait. This kind of treatment is unprecedented in the world of Asian takeout food.
This place isn't exactly cheap, but it is a very solid, convenient choice for the Financial District. I'll be back soon, there's still an entire Thai menu I have yet to try.
This place is a tricky one to find, but it's a nice hidden gem for some simple, delicious, yet not too fancy sushi. The place isn't truly authentic Japanese as the sushi is like a fushion style but it's still quite good. The bar can get a little rowdy and noisy but they have an area sectioned off for eating so it's good to have the separation. The sushi is also well priced so if you want some more affordable sushi, you'll find it here. Check it out.
Ramen noodles are delicious at this quiet hidden spot in the financial district.
I agree with some of the other posters that this place is a hidden gem. They rolls are fresh and good. Their cooked meals could use less sugar. I've ordered the chicken and beef with basil lunch special before and while it was good, I wish it wasnt so sweet. Other than that, I have to say that they usually have a decent lunchtime crowd so they are obviously doing something right. I would definitely recommend this joint.
Hidden fun in FiDi.
I can't comment on the food, as I usually come here for drinks, but the bar area always has the liveliest, friendliest group of patrons in town.
Cheap drinks at the bar, the bartender is always welcoming.
Great for the price and area.
I had the braised duck with mushrooms and the scallion pancake. The duck wasn't super fatty like that served by many of the other restaurants in FiDi. The scallion pancake may have been the best I've ever had. All of the ingredients were fresh.
This is a "Sushi Bar" but their menu is extensive. They offer Thai, Chinese, Japanese, & Korean dishes
All in all – this isn't the best place you'll find. But it's great for the area and you probably won't be disappointed. The prices good and the portions are generous.