Since Sushi is something I crave on a weekly basis, it was surprising to me that it took us all the way to the letter 'K' to make our way to a sushi restaurant! If you are counting at home that's 11 whole restaurants without one that specializes in sushi! Koyi Sushi Too is an offshoot of the now closed Koyi Sushi in downtown Minneapolis. Their menu does consist of non sushi items (if raw fish isn't something you ever crave), including soups, salads, and a variety of (cooked) meat dishes. The beverage selection also varies, from juices and teas, to wine and beer, both local and imported.
As it was another cold winter evening when we arrived at Koyi, we decided to start with something warm to take off the chill. The Jazz Puffs were selected for just that reason. They looked like an ordinary cream cheese puff but were filled with small bits of jalapeno pizazz (adding to the warming factor).
Enough about the cooked food, bring on the sushi! Since sushi is perfect for sharing we ordered a plethora of different rolls to sample. Starting with the Dynamite Roll, a combination of salmon and yellowtail, cucumber, gobo, and radish sprouts.
Then, on to the Spicy Tuna Roll, which consists of tuna, cucumber, carrots, and radish sprouts.This roll is not only pleasing to the eyes but also to the tongue (and tummy). It had a great fresh zing paired with a perfectly spicy punch.The Crunchy Roll was also ordered. Filled with shrimp tempura, tobiko, crunchy tempura, and massago. This would be a great roll to try if you are eating sushi for the first time and like shrimp. The shrimp is fried to a nice crunch.
Then, along came the Spider roll. An artfully assembled
assortment of deep-fried soft shell crab, asparagus, avocado, and masago. A classic, but always yummy!
Most sushi restaurants carry all of the classic rolls (as were all of the above), but usually they will also have a few signature rolls that are unique to them (or only a select few restaurants). The Problem Solver roll was one of the unique ones. It consisted of shrimp tempura, cucumber and avocado inside, rapped with salmon, spicy Japanese mayo and crunchy batter. The outside was lightly torched adding a slight cooked texture and a great spicy and smokey flavor. Half cooked, half raw, and 100% delicious!The ambiance of this Seward neighborhood restaurant was fun and light hearted; from the sushi bar, to the lit up orange wall, to the booth seats with Japanese style cushions. The service was attentive and the food served quickly. We made it just before happy hour was over, so getting a great price on some of our rolls and drinks was a plus. As we finished our evening at Koyi Sushi Too my sushi cravings were completely satisfied (at least until next week)!
Other recommendations from our club that start with a 'K'
Kieran's Irish Pub- Traditional Irish dishes like fish & chips, corned beef & cabbage, and shepherd's pie. A St. Patty's Day must!
Kikugawa -One of Minneapolis' original sushi joints. Still just as delicious!
King & I Thai - Great pad thai, many curry dishes, and vegetarian friendly.
Kramarczuk's East European Deli - Amazing Holubets (cabbage rolls), soups, pirogis, and goulashes. Is there a better Polish sausage in the entire USA? Doubtful!! They make their sausages daily and they can also be found at a select few Target Field kiosks. Play Ball!
Next months destination - Lucia's Restaurant (1432 W 31st St. Mpls, 55408)
