Koi Shi Sushi Bistro

Located at 17801 International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98158, Koi Shi Sushi Bistro aims to provide Japanese cuisine to travelers and local patrons in the Seattle area. While the platform category is "Doctor Near Me," it is crucial for a restaurant, especially one serving raw fish, to prioritize food safety and quality, which directly impacts public health. The information available about Koi Shi Sushi Bistro, however, presents a challenging picture based on recent customer experiences.

It is important to approach this introduction with an objective perspective, relaying the direct feedback from customers as it appears online. This allows potential diners to make informed decisions about their dining choices at this establishment.

Environment and Ambiance

Details about the specific environment and ambiance of Koi Shi Sushi Bistro are not extensively provided in the given reviews. However, its address on International Blvd suggests it might be located within or near a high-traffic area, possibly a transportation hub such as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Indeed, other online information confirms it is located in the Main Terminal food court of SEA Airport, which typically means a fast-paced, open-concept dining area designed for quick service to travelers.

In such a setting, the ambiance is usually functional rather than intimate, with a focus on quick turnover. Customers might expect communal seating or limited private tables, consistent with an airport food court environment. The convenience of location for travelers is usually a primary factor for such establishments.

Service: Efficiency in Question

Information directly pertaining to the service quality at Koi Shi Sushi Bistro is limited. Reviews primarily focus on the food itself rather than the staff's attentiveness or speed. In an airport setting, service often prioritizes efficiency due to the constant flow of customers and time constraints. However, the overwhelmingly negative feedback on food quality overshadows any potential efficiency. For instance, if food is served quickly but is deemed inedible or causes illness, the speed of service becomes a moot point.

Without explicit positive remarks on service, one can infer that it may not be a standout feature. In high-volume locations, service can sometimes be impersonal.

Features: A Focus on Sushi with Significant Concerns

Koi Shi Sushi Bistro, as its name suggests, primarily features sushi. The menu likely includes common sushi combos, rolls, and possibly other light Japanese bites. One review specifically mentions the "Fiji combo of sushi" and a "California roll and rice."

However, the most prominent feature emerging from customer reviews is the alarming feedback regarding food quality and freshness. This is a critical concern for any sushi establishment, as raw fish demands the highest standards of freshness and handling.

• Poor Fish Quality: A customer reported the sushi as "super fishy tasting, unlike any sushi I’ve ever had." This description suggests a significant issue with the freshness of the fish, which is a fundamental requirement for enjoyable and safe sushi. Fresh sushi should have a clean, subtle taste, not an overpowering fishy odor or flavor.

• Questionable Seaweed Texture: The "seaweed tasted chewy like weeks old lettuce" indicates a severe problem with the nori (seaweed) used in the rolls. Fresh nori should be crisp and slightly pliable, not tough or stale. This detail further points to a potential lack of attention to ingredient quality and freshness.

• Reported Illness: Perhaps the most serious concern raised is a customer's account of their "young son was so sick with severe vomiting on our flight from SEA to ORD that emergency services had to meet us at the gate, and the only thing he had eaten was a California roll and rice from here." This is a critical allegation of foodborne illness, directly linking the restaurant's food to a severe health incident. Such reports are grave and warrant careful consideration by potential diners and health authorities.

• High Price for Perceived Low Quality: Despite the poor quality, the "Fiji combo" was noted as "$23," and the overall assessment was "High prices for gas station sushi." This indicates a significant disconnect between the price charged and the perceived value and quality of the food. Customers feel they are overpaying for a product that is substandard and potentially unsafe.

While a typical sushi bistro would pride itself on fresh ingredients and expert preparation, the available feedback for Koi Shi Sushi Bistro directly contradicts these expectations. The reviews paint a picture of a restaurant that may be struggling with fundamental aspects of sushi preparation and food safety.

Promotional Information and Considerations

Based on the provided reviews, there is no positive promotional information available for Koi Shi Sushi Bistro. Instead, the customer feedback serves as a cautionary tale. The reviews are highly critical and recommend against dining there, with explicit statements like "Never again. So gross" and "Should’ve looked at reviews first."

For any establishment, especially one associated with a platform like "Doctor Near Me" which implies health and well-being, reports of food causing illness are incredibly detrimental. The convenience of its location at an airport might be its only inherent "promotional" factor, but this convenience is significantly undermined by the severe concerns about food quality and safety.

Potential diners considering Koi Shi Sushi Bistro should be aware of these significant negative customer experiences. The reports of stale-tasting seaweed, fishy sushi, and particularly the alleged food poisoning incident, suggest that exercising extreme caution or choosing alternative dining options might be advisable. It is always recommended to consult the most recent and comprehensive reviews and, if concerns persist, prioritize establishments with a strong reputation for food safety and quality.

In conclusion, Koi Shi Sushi Bistro, located at 17801 International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98158, is a Japanese sushi establishment. However, available customer reviews raise serious concerns regarding the freshness and quality of its sushi, describing it as having a "fishy tasting" profile and "chewy" seaweed. Most alarmingly, one review directly links consumption of food from the bistro to severe illness, leading to an unequivocal recommendation to avoid the establishment due to high prices for perceived low-quality and potentially unsafe food.

Koi Shi Sushi Bistro

17801 International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98158, USA