Sushi-Ko

 Location: Sushi-Ko

7971 Bird Road, Miami FL
http://www.miamisushiko.com/



While Miami is often celebrated as an international mecca,  it's apparent to anyone that Asian food is not as well-represented as in, say, California or the Northeast. Authentic Asian food is also a rarity. When we do find it, it's hard not to want to go back.

It was a happy  co-incidence, then, when decided one night to try out the restaurant Sushi Ko planning to eat sushi, but deciding upon seeing the rest of the menu to try something else.

Best. Decision. EVER.

We both ordered a Katsu meal set - pork and chicken, respectively - which came with soup, salad, and rice. The service was phenomenal -  Meals were fairly priced, we had a very friendly waitress who checked on us regularly but wasn't overbearing,  our cups of water and tea were never empty, and we received a happy face on our receipt along with two pens. (It seems inconsequential, but think about it the next time you have to wait for a pen when you're getting ready to leave a restaurant!) - 5




The ambiance of the resuarant is great. It's mostly wooden, giving an authentic Japanese feel that most Japanese restaurants in Miami lack. There's a legitimate sushi-style bar-front that you can also sit at to enjoy your meal. There are large booths and small. 2-person booths, and while it initially looks crowded, it provides a nice sense of privacy. The booths and tales themselves don't look new, but are clean and mostly well-kept. The noise level was also kept at a good level, with no overwhelming music. - 4.5

GOOD: 

The food was DELICIOUS. The serving of katsu pork and chicken was large, and the sauce served with it was good. While many times, these fried cutlets tend to get soggy the longer they're on your plate, these stayed perfectly crispy until the very end. The presentation of the katsu was quite traditional, with a small bunch of shredded cabbage salad on the plate. The rice, served separately, had a delicious aroma, taste and texture that was notably well-prepared and Japanese grain. - 5

OKAY: 

The tea and salad was average, and the miso soup was not particularly memorable.I remember wishing that the cabbage salad on the plate had a little bit of dressing.

BAD: 

Nothing to report.

It's been well over 2 months, so I can't particularly remember details about flatware, but I don't remember being displeased.

Overall - 4.6

Additional commentary:

We also overheard a guy at another table mention that this is the place where he can get the closest to good Ramen in Miami (he lived in Japan for 3 years). I tried the ramen there on a different occassion, and it was pretty decent. The katsu curry is also delicious; so far no bad experiences in the three times I've been.

The Rating Scale: Getting Close to God

When we first concocted this idea, it didn't start out as a blog. It was a joke that would (evidently) become reality, thanks to the prodding of some friends. (Thank you, Captain!)

We both love food, but more importantly, we both love GOOD food -- and we can't help discuss the pros and cons of any given place. It was as we sat inside a little Japanese restaurant that we really began to playfully build up the qualifications for our Chuban "Food Review"...except, we are both very serious about food and the experience of dining out.

While this is a collection of our own private opinions, we will try to remain objective. There are certain to be bad reviews as well as good ones, but we encourage you to find out for yourselves if you think we're right!

So, what, pray tell, raises a good restaurant from the snake infested grounds of the jungle to the sun-sparkling canopies?

• Appearance: Is the place well-decorated? Is it well-kept, if not brand-spanking- new?
• Ambiance: Are the tables crowded together? Is the music too loud?
• Plates and silverware: Is it clean? Is it appropriate, given the setting? (e.g. plastic vs. glass)
• Cleanliness: Has the table at which you've been seated been cleaned properly?
• Accessibility: Are facilities relatively easy to locate and not in a questionable place/condition?
• Service:
•  Are you seated promptly (or, as promptly as possible, giving leeway for large crowds)?
•  Does your order come in a decent timeframe?
•  Is your waitstaff friendly?
• Is your glass empty?
• FOOD: Is it well-presented? Reasonably priced? More importantly, IS IT DELICIOUS?!
• Extras: Are there moist towlettes? Are there other things provided to you that raise your opinions, which other restaurants don't necessarily provide?

These are the main criteria we consider when we're  determining how many stars a restaurant deserves, 5 being "Closest to God."


As we continue to examine the eateries in the coming months, these standards will surely grow and change. We may even argue a bit. Stay tuned to see just how they are applied!