Koi Noodles in Chicago

I paid a visit recently to Koi Noodle in the West Loop. This cozy Asian eatery opened in July and it’s a perfect spot for happy hour deals, a lovely weekend brunch with bottomless mimosas, a great lunch location with an array of specials, a perfect place to lounge with a tropical-tasting cocktail or just a great date night spot for a warm bowl of ramen during these chilly Chicago winters.

And as far as cocktails, there’s a fun list of fruity, floral and tropical sips. We tried the Midori Sour and the Pear Blossom Special. They also have classics with a twist, like the Japanese-inspired Old Fashioned and a 5 Spice mango-rita.

I loved the crab rangoon with true crab legs inside rather than blended in with cream cheese. Vegans will have plenty of options like the tasty vegan wontons. They make a wonderful house specialty apricot sweet and sour sauce that goes well with both. If you’re a fan of fungi, make sure you try the forest mushroom appetizer of dark woodier mushrooms with soy sauce and sesame oil.

For entrees, there are a variety of soups with a long list of add-ons. The Koi Vegetable Noddle Soup is loaded with veggies and a silky egg tofu. We also tried the Yin and Yang dry noodle dish with hand-pulled noodles in rich black and white sesame sauces and added shrimp as a protein.

It’s the perfect, cozy little spot to duck into on these chilly days in Chicago for a warm bowl of noodles and a cocktails that will take you away to a warmer place.