Koko Sushi: Fresh and Authentic Japanese Food

Koko Sushi has been in Scarsdale for six years, and is owned by Mr. Ko, hence the name, Koko Sushi. I remember going to this location, before it was Koko Sushi on middle school "dates" and lunches with friends, far before the Nobu and Haiku set entered my life.

I've taken advantage of their take-out meal with my family on weeknights, but I've rarely, if ever sat down to eat dinner there, and I'm not sure I would want to again, unless I had a lot of time to spare.

The restaurant is in an extremely convenient location, next door to DeCicco's supermarket and across the street from Chat American Grill. There is ample parking and since there are so many businesses in that area, Koko Sushi is a great place to lunch at on an impulse.

The restaurant is slightly understaffed and could benefit from an extra waiter or two; the day I went only two people were trying to keep six different groups of people happy. One of the meals I ordered was completely forgotten, which is why, if you are going to eat here, make sure you do it for lunch and not for dinner. This is not the place to go if you are running late or have appointments scheduled after your meal.

The Salmon Skin Roll came in the form of a cone. The crispy seaweed covering the slightly warm rice and the warm salmon skin juxtaposed against cool cucumber slices is a textural delight. All ingredients complement each other nicely. It's a good appetizer to start with.

I ordered the Scallop Roll  because I wanted to be as adventurous as the menu would allow, and in this case, raw scallop was it. This 8-piece simple sushi roll was pretty great. The small crunchy roe mixed with the very rare scallop had a really fresh flavor. There is a taste of the ocean that is achieved with the help of the raw scallop, which is normally seen seared or cooked.

Both bento boxes came with a Miso Soup that is as good as any other I've ever had. We ordered the Teriyaki Chicken Bento Box and the Beef Teriyaki Bento Box. I love miso soup and I've had a lot of it, and let me say that Koko Sushi version is one of the best. The flavor is just right.

The beef and the chicken were slightly overpowered from the sautéed peppers, which I probably should have asked them to hold, considering I don't like peppers in anything. The meat and chicken were cooked well and there is a healthy portion or white rice to mix everything with. The salad given with a ginger dressing was sufficient. The one dumpling in the corner is delicious but lonely, and I can guarantee that he would love at least one more friend.

The Udon Soup was hearty and had generous pieces of beef, barley, broccoli and noodles in it, making it a nice big warm meal for those cooler nights. The portion is also generous and there are different varieties to choose from.

Aside from the fact that it came to the table late (because the order had been forgotten), all the sushi – we ordered the Sushi Delux platter – was fresh, and that's the most important part. Finding fresh sushi is not always easy, but everything from the savory salmon, to the tuna and the yellowtail was absolutely delicious and makes a full meal in itself with 10 pieces of Sashimi and 6 pieces of a cut California roll.

Koko Sushi is not perfect, but if you go at a good time when it's not too crowded you can have a really delightful and authentic Japanese meal. If you're in a hurry, this is not the place to go, but it is always a great option if you are in the mood for takeout. The small, somewhat overlooked restaurant was completely full, and though its newer competitors may offer a "trendier" environment, the food at Koko is just as authentic, just as fresh, and just as delicious. And isn't that what it's all about?

Koko Sushi accepts all major credit cards, including American Express.

They are open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For more information on Koko Sushi you can visit: http://sushikoko.com/