Blue Koi
1803 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO, 64111
Blue Koi Menu
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Address :
1803 W 39th St
Kansas City, MO, 64111 - Phone (816) 561-5003
- Website https://www.bluekoi.net
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Lisa D.
Never been big on Asian eats, but this place has become a staple/go-to. Consistently fresh/high quality/delicious every time. You know you've found a great place when you want to eat/sample everything. Never been? You're majorly missing out.
(5)Amanda I.
Saw this joint on Drive in, Diners and Dives and decided to give it a whirl. A must try!!!! The noodles are awesome. apps - the chili pepper sauce and pan fried wontons. OMG it's great!!! Shrimp with black bean sauce over noodles. Huge pieces of mushrooms and bell peppers. Great dish. Their bread and butter is Firebird - must be over noodles. Nice and spicy. Very very good. Ginger Basil Chicken doesn't have a good plating effect as the chicken is cut in large portion however the dish is actually very appealing. Almond chicken with Asparagus over noodles. The description of the dish says mayo is involved however it isn't noticed at all. A must is over noodles not rice.
(4)Pete L.
We have been here several times, and have even made the drive down to the Overland Park location when the 39th street location was closed due to being filmed for a TV food program. The dumplings are SO good. We opt for the panfried each time and you can't go wrong. Couple that with the lettuce wraps and you will be one happy person.
(5)Janet P.
Delicious! I have been here multiple times for their dumplings but never stopped in for their actual entrees since they're a bit pricier. Their dumplings are great and the pan fried shrimp ones are my favorite. Their crispy tofu with amazing sauce was a real treat even for people who don't usually eat tofu. We finally stopped in for entrees and ordered their firebird chicken and the pot roast noodles. They were both super delicious and the meat was succulent. The pot roast could've used a sauce on top of the meat however. The noodles are really soft and worth the extra pay for some of the dishes while others come with it. Really loved all the food and will be back promptly for date night!
(5)Daniel H.
We have been here twice. Its was on Diners, Drive-Ins, and dives. Everytime we go the food is great. Had the Cantonese roast duck and my wife had the roast beef. The duck was really tender and very flavofull. The roast beef just melted in your mouth. The second time i tried the Firebird with roast duck. Also really good. Went well with the Boulevard Funky Pumpkin beer i had. Highly recomend it to anyone.
(5)Chris L.
The most amazing dumplings ever. We ordered the shrimp, chicken, and the combination dumplings. I honestly can't decide which one is my favorite. Amazing. The dumpling was tender and cooked to perfection. I want a 5 gallon bucket of the dipping sauce! I can't say enough good things about the food here!
(5)Ruth N.
Sometimes I trust yelp enough to pick my meal based off of reviews. I saw raving reviews for the firebird chicken, so I opted for the firebird duck and asked for noodles. It's $2 extra for noodles, so I thought, "This better be worth it!" When the waiter brought out the bowl, my nose was greeted with a slightly sweet but tangy smell, and to my pleasant surprise, it was slathered with satay bbq sauce. The noodles are delicious, but the duck and green onions could afford to be a little more succulent and less overcooked. I ordered the bubble tea, expecting semi-decent boba for Kansas City, but maybe I have to try other places before I judge. Imo, the boba was undercooked, too chewy, with the middle having a different texture than the outside. The chai latte was good though, would have been just as tasty without the boba. All in all, the firebird flavor was very nicely done, execution mehh..
(3)Michael A.
This place has always been a favorite since my early days in KC. Nice atmosphere, very relaxed, not too loud...just enough sound to keep the flow going. Very friendly staff. Just a cool place in general. Nice artwork. 1) FireBird - most places I try to change it up but this is my consistent order here. The meld of spices is awesome. It definitely satisfies my spicy tooth. I have had it with chicken, tofu, and shrimp. Chicken is my fave but all are good. Ask for the house chili sauce for extra spice or the Saracha is good too. Brown rice makes the whole thing a little healthier :). 2) I leave the variety to what my wife orders: -Veggie Noodle Soul - very tasty. The tofu and veggies add nice texture to it and add a very very subtle sweetness to the soup. 3) Crispy Tofu with Awesome Sauce - yes, the sauce is awesome. Mix it with a little Saracha for sweet 'n spicy. 4) Not sure if they still serve it but I have had Dave Matthews' Dreaming Tree wine here which is a gooood red.
(5)Tonya G.
This place is so good. Kansas City's best dumplings! The stuffed eggplant is a must try.
(5)Susan T.
I had a really nice lunch here today with a friend. I ordered the Seafood Dumplings (fried) and Fried Eggplant Pockets. The Dumplings were outstanding. The eggplant was just so so. The sauces for each were incredibly salty. I love salt, but even for my taste they were a bit much. The flavors were good, otherwise. We shared a pot of the King Oolong tea, my date had the Shrimp Noodles and Rice. He comes here regularly and naturally had his favorite entree. The space in the front of the restaurant seemed as though a better layout could be arranged or instead of round tables maybe square one would fit better, but now I sound ridiculously picky. It's a fung shui thing. Our waiter was spectacular. He made sane suggestions for the tea and appetizer, he seemed conscientious about getting things right. No big wait for our food. He was on top of it and had a charming personality to boot. I'm sorry I didn't get his name. This is a solid place for food but atmosphere was off.
(3)Michael P.
I started out with the combo dumplings, let me start out by saying these dumplings are addicting. They have garlic bits on the top and holy crap... it's insanely good. The sauce their in will make you want to drink it. It's almost a meal in itself. I ended up getting the firebird duck, it turned out being really greasy so I sent it back and got the Chinese style pot roast with noodles. It was awesome. I'd highly recommend getting the pot roast. Good depth of flavor and it's full of flavor. I'll be back.
(4)meli l.
Blue Koi is one of those weird spots where I never, ever order entrees because the appetizers are so freaking delicious. I honestly could eat tofu with awesome sauce for dinner once a week and be perfectly happy, but the wraps and the dumplings are divine as well. Service is consistently prompt, friendly and knowledgeable. Super-quick turnaround on takeout, too (which I appreciate on late work nights!). Also worth noting: super cocktails.
(5)Theresa W.
Everything was awesome except the cocktails. Amazing homemade noodles. The dumplings were are awesome and I recommend the duck wrap!
(5)Kim O.
Best Asian food I've ever eaten!!' Homemade noodles in the basil chicken were the bomb!!! Pan fried pork dumplings and the awesome sauce are a must have!
(5)Kaitlyn M.
I have been here twice. The first time I went to Blue Koi, it was warm out and it was crazyyyyyy busy. We had to wait a bit and we ended up sitting at the bar, which was fine though the chairs were squished next to each other so I barely had any room and kept accidentally hitting the guy next to me with my elbow. I got the Seafood Noodle Soup, which the broth was great, but all of the seafood was overcooked, so I was bummed about that and I kinda thought maybe I wouldn't come back. A friend wanted to try it out, so I went back last night (it was like 3 degrees out!) and we were the only people waiting in line and we only had to wait 5 minutes for a booth. I got the fire bird duck and it was very good! And the perfect amount of spicy, so don't be afraid of the 'three chiles' rating it is given, I didn't find it uncomfortably spicy at all. My friend got the shrimp curry and the shrimp were cooked perfectly and were a decent size, I had a very nice experience last night. Oh, and the server was very kind and attentive.
(4)Keiko F.
Went here at 3:30 pm so there wasn't many customers. Ordered Ginger Basil Chicken and Chicken Curry. Noodles with Ginger Basil Chicken were undercooked and clumping together. There was absolutely no flavor whatsoever, and this was just chicken and noodles. That's it. No veggies or anything. The Chicken Curry was only slightly better. It was supposed to have some heat to it but there was no spice at all. The curry was liquidy and running all over the place. Button mushrooms were a cheap cop out to try and elevate the dish. We said something to the waiter about the Ginger Basil Chicken and he took it off the check and said he would bring complimentary chicken dumplings out. After being told they would be "right out" and waiting an additional 15 mins, we finally paid our bill and left. Definitely not a "return again" place.
(1)Tommee C.
The food here at the Blue Point is very delicious I was very surprised my sister brought me here. the service is Excellence
(5)Viviane L.
I would like to give them 4.5 stars! We had vegan dumplings, veggie wraps, braised pork noodle, and eggplant pocket. The veggie wrap is too sweet, but doesn't taste bad. The rest of the food taste amazing!! I'm from Taiwan and their food taste A LOT like Taiwanese food. Another amazing thing is that we accidentally order only vegetarian dishes and we didn't realize it until we finished the meal :D we didn't know vegetarian food can be this delicious!! Though I won't recommend their bubble tea, if you are a bubble tea drinker. Their bubble tea is not authentic.
(4)Michele F.
The group started with shrimp dumplings, duck wrap and china moon. All were awesome! I ordered the chicken curry over rice noodles, awesome!!!! Friends ordered the following: --shrimp w black bean sauce (spicy and delish) --ginger basil chicken (awesome) --chicken zen mix, great flavor! Bottom line, everything was wonderful and i doubt anything would be anything less than wonderful!
(5)Josel B.
Feeling under the weather? Grub on their Seafood Noodle Soup and Dumplings! Perfect Asian comfort food for this sick Yelper. I guarantee it will warm you right up! :) Great and friendly service. Clean and I love their interior Japanese decor...oh and I love how all the servers wore black t-shirts with Japanese Kanji on the back. Hehe cute how they all match. Ok, let's get down to the...FOOD! Seafood Noodle Soup: Lost count of how much seafood that was in it ranging from mussles, crawfish, shrimp, scallops, to calamari! Love how generous they were with the seafood. The soup base was seafood broth, but you can get it in chicken broth if you want, was DELICIOUS. I literally went ala Beauty and the Beast style and drank my soup with the bowl tipped into my mouth! It was that good. The rice noodles paired quite nicely in it. Oh and did I mention how huge their bowls are? I needed help to finish it, but I was so hungry that I think I ate 75% of it! :) We ordered their dumplings too....those were scrumptious too! I think we ordered the combination meat ones. The sauce definitely made that dish shine. So...gave up dessert for lent...but got the Mango Boba Tea...cuz you know it's a drink and not a dessert...right?!?! (in denial...lol) I've always loved their boba tea, but the Mango in particular tastes just like Filipino Mango drinks. Try them you won't be dissapointed, especially since their tapioca pearls taste fresh! Happy Eating!
(4)Audrey J.
Family and I visited KC earlier this year and we stopped by Blue Koi after seeing it on DDD in our hotel room while in KC! We were not disappointed at all. Very tasty food. We obviously had to wait, but it was not too terribly long. I ordered a strawberry bubble tea, and got it cold. I personally, didn't love it. My mom enjoyed it though. So that's good. It's obviously a popular thing here. Maybe I would need to try it again. I don't know. Before we ordered our meals we ordered the Crispy Tofu with Awesome Sauce, and the pan-fried dumplings. For me, our appetizers were the high light of my meal. So tasty. I could drive back to KC for both of those... Mmm....... For my entree I ordered the Chinese style pot roast over the noodles. I'm glad I got it over the noodles because the noodles were so fresh and just so comforting. The pot roast itself was decent. Not as melt in my mouth as I was hoping, but it was for sure good. I think I will try something different next time. My mom got some chicken dish with asparagus, and hers was good, but not outstanding to me. And my step dad got the firebird duck. He loved it apparently. I didn't try it. My favorite part of this experience was the appetizer and the service, for sure. After watching the show we saw that the restaurant is owned by two very vibrant sisters! The sister who made the tofu with awesome sauce on DDD was at the restaurant and came over to talk to us! She was so sweet, and I really loved seeing her just after watching her on tv! It was pretty cool. She is exactly how she was on the show, which I loved. I'm looking forward to coming back again when I'm in KC to try more of the dishes here!
(4)Kristi A.
After being a regular customer of this establishment and its other location for years, I had the absolute worst experience possible dining at the 39th Street location recently, and won't be returning to Blue Koi in the future. Our friends from South Dakota came down for their first visit to KC and our friend is vegetarian, so we thought what better place to take them than Blue Koi, home of the most delicious veggie dumplings ever, right?! So it was Saturday night and we knew it'd be busy. We had a party of seven and expected to wait. We arrived and were told it'd be around an hour wait. Okay, no problem. We'll grab a beer at the very crowded bar. So each person in our party orders one drink. Upon finishing this drink, my husband and his friend, attempted to order another beer, and were told by the gentleman behind the bar that he could no longer serve them. My husband inquired as to why they were not being served, and the guy informed him that they'd had enough and that my husband's friend looked sleepy. Meanwhile, there was an incredibly intoxicated older gentleman on the other side of us at the bar that was disruptive and intrusive to all patrons at the bar, and he was being served. We were not loud or disruptive, and had each had one beverage at this establishment. My husband is British, as is his friend, and tried to explain to the barman that he could understand why he thought they were intoxicated, because it probably sounded to him like they were slurring and/or mumbling when they speak quickly to each other. The barman did not care for any explanation and informed us he was the owner, which we later found was not true. We decided to go ahead and be seated, because we'd waited over an hour and were all starving. After being seated at our table, our waitress took drink orders from other people in our party, and then took our food order. Twenty minutes later, the food came out and we still had not one single drink on our table. Our server then informs us that our entire table had been cut off, and she was not allowed to serve us. Well, thank you kindly for waiting until our food came out to tell us. At this point, everyone at our table is very upset, and we ate our entire meal in silence. It was absolutely the worst dinner I've had out at any restaurant anywhere, and to top it off they were out of veggie dumplings. Our friend got no dinner and was too angry to order after being treated so poorly at the bar. After later inquiring with the server about why we'd been cut off, we found out that the barman was not the owner and not even the manager, so we requested to speak with the manager. She found a million things to do before coming over to our table. She finally came over and we explained what an awful experience we'd just had in her restaurant, and she clearly didn't know what to say. It took forever before we could even get an apology and for her to acknowledge that she was not aware of the entire situation before cutting off our entire table. She just knew what she'd been told by the jerk behind the bar. We were offered free dessert as compensation for our ruined dinner, to which no one was up for after painfully sitting there in silence through our meal. This experience ruined what was meant to be a fun night out with friends. We were appalled at being treated the way that we were in this establishment and will not be going back. I would be embarrassed for anyone to be treated the way we were and the response by the restaurant management was less than satisfactory. Absolutely horrendous customer service. We should have walked out, but as a table of former service industry employees, we didn't want to short our server, who was not at fault in this situation.
(1)Joseph T.
I went with high expectations and a friend who is Taiwanese. The decor is trendy as were many of the other diners that evening. Service was very good. However, the food itself was a mixed bag. We tried several different dumplings, all were excellent. The tofu appetizer was boring and the dipping sauce seemed bottled. I had the ants on trees, based on other reviewers and was disappointed. Plenty spicy, which I like, but the "ants" were drowning in oil. I've had this dish in many restaurants and, when done well, the meat is slightly crisped and overall should be no more greasy than a good Pad Thai. The noodles had decent bite but the abundance of oil was off-putting. My friend didn't get a main course and instead kept ordering more dumplings. She was pretty happy with all of those and I liked them as well. Maybe it was just an off night.
(3)Daniela G.
I have legit never had anything I didn't love here! It's always our go to noodles place and soon we'll be able to walk to it! My absolute favorite dish is the Firebird, my father-in-law ordered it with noodles the last time we went and it was a total game changer! Ants on a Tree and their lettuce wraps are awesome as well. Don't forget an order of dumplings for the table either. Mmmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about their, might have to make it out there for dinner this week!
(5)Yembur A.
All my friends know that I'm obsessed with Blue Koi. I took my very picky mother here for her birthday and even she loved it. And kudos to them for really knowing how to cook tofu! The black bean tofu is my fave! "Ants on a tree" is also very cool to try - I've never seen it being served anywhere else. The menu is great for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike. It is a bit pricey, but the portions are large so I usually have plenty of leftovers. And yes, the awesome sauce is as awesome as everyone says.
(5)Lisa S.
The FireBird Duck and Almond Shrimp with Asparagus are my two favorite dish. The food is pricey but they give a good portion of serving. I love this place.
(4)Alix C.
The service is so horrible that I am not willing to try to food. Prior to arriving to Blue Koi, I called and asked if they offered Thai Tea, the person on the opposite line assured that they did serve Thai tea. Upon my arrival, the waitress (which happened to be the person I spoke with), asked what she could do for me. I told her that I had just called about ordering Thai tea, she replied with, "I thought you said Chai tea, and this is a Chinese restaurant, so we don't have Thai tea." After the uncultured reply, she proceeded to recommend that I go to Vietnam Cafe if I wanted Thai tea. Now if we are following her pitiful mentality, if Vietnam Cafe is a Vietnamese restaurant--why would they sell Thai tea. The five minute encounter with this woman permanently discouraged me from this establishment.
(1)Lorena M.
I am so glad that I took my friend here for his birthday! He had never been, even though we both live in the neighborhood and I told him it was a must. We had another friend with us and were seated and met quickly by our server. Since it was a birthday celebration, we decided to do a sake bomb while our friend decided she just wanted her own warm sake. We chose the O.D.B. Bomb with unfiltered sake and I must confess, I do not like sake but the unfiltered sake was not bad. the bomb part was a boulevard wheat and it went down smooth. Now on to the food! I ordered the Chinese Pot Roast with white rice (I didn't know I had a brown rice option) and wow, was it tender and delicious! I thought it would come in a gravy or sauce but didn't, just scallions, cilantro and pickled carrots so I jazzed it up with some Siracha and Awesome sauce (must order) but it was good by it's self too. Birthday boy ordered the pork and shrimp dumplings and the duck wrap. The dumplings come in 8 and are the perfect size for eating. The duck wrap is wrapped in a basic flour tortilla which I think they could have a better option but it's filled with roasted duck, cilantro, scallions and hoisine sauce. It's on the starters list but is good paired with a soup or dumplings as he did. For 2 people (I bought dinner) it was under $40 for all of that, not too shabby!
(4)Amelia T.
Where do I start? My first visit (over 5 years ago) I was surprised at first glance of the menu- it didn't have combo lo mien or even general tso chicken like EVERY "chinese" restaurant! What?! That's because it's authentic & has real Chinese dishes made by the owner Scott's own family that have been passed down for years (or so he said). Over the years of trying out everything, my spouse & I have decided the Black Bean Chicken, Chinese Curry Shrimp (a sweet/spicy yellow curry), Ants on a Tree (noodles & diced chicken), Vegan Dumplings, & China Moon are hands down the best Chinese dishes in the city. Service is fast & our servers over the years have made the right recommendations that keep us coming back. Even better than the infamous Bo Lings. If you want something other than carry out "chinese" items, try them out- you won't regret it!
(5)Hope C.
Having come from Honolulu, I was thrilled to find a dumplings spot in Kansas City. I went with friends before a Starlight show, and even with our 10 year olds, we were treated very professionally and efficiently. We ordered the tempura veggies for an appetizer, and the awesomesauce was just that. I love dumplings, and my daughter loves saimin, so that's what we ordered. The pan fried pork dumplings were terrific and a good price ($6.50/ 8) for hand made fresh. The dumpling saimin was GIANT- as it should be. Don't remember the price. I had the lemon cooler for a drink and it was just perfect. I'd like that recipe. Over all, very very good. Looking forward to going back soon. I don't give 5 stars easily, and I'd like to try other things on the menu before I give that rating.
(4)Mina N.
If I could give 4.75 stars, I would. The only reason this Blue Koi would have received a teeny tiny point deduction is because the Mission Farms location just barely beats it as being the better location. I know, blasphemy. With that said, Blue Koi is stellar. The service is very professional and very welcoming. Almost every visit I've made to either location, I've seen one of the owners (husband and/or wife) running around greeting people or running food. It's nice to know that I'm patronizing a local establishment run by such hard working people. I've never had to wait more than 2 seconds before being greeted by a host. When they are really busy, they are quick about getting tables turned to get you seated, but when you're seated yourself, you'll never feel rushed. Blue Koi is definitely in contention for being my favorite KC restaurant. Their food is consistently good and with a variety of choices on the menu, it is sure to please everyone. "Bland" is not in Blue Koi's vernacular. You are going to have an explosion of flavor in each bite of whatever you order there! Their Spicy Awesome Sauce should have its own Yelp page -- and it would get 5 stars all around, easy. Be sure to order it extra on the side since it is a condiment for the Crispy Tofu appetizer only and it's not included with the other menu items -- the ponzu dipping sauce that actually comes with the dumplings is delicious, but once you go Awesome Sauce... The dumplings are to die for - my favorites are the Seafood Dumplings. They come 8 pieces per order, so they can easliy be an entree. Get them pan-fried. However, I do find that the Mission Farms dumplings are a little more durable than the 39th Street dumplings. The 39th Street dumpling dough seems to be a little thinner, so when you pick up your dumpling, they may break apart while you're in mid-dip (in Awesome Sauce, of course). The Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps are my other go-to option from Blue Koi. Something about the vegetable mixture just oozes of "umami". The serving again is large enough for an entree -- for me at least. Add a couple drops of Awesome Sauce in each wrap and you're golden. Again, I do have to make the comparison between the two locations. Both provide the same in flavor and "umami-ness', but at the Mission Farms location, I find that I get a larger portion of the vegetable mixture. The menu and prices are the same for both locations. Blue Koi is one of those places that would keep me here in Kansas City. It is also one of the few places in Kansas City that I would take out-of-town guests because I know it guaranteed to be good and impressive.
(5)Christopher Thomas B.
I've had Ants On A Tree (a noodle dish with tiny pits of roasted pork) and tried all the dumplings. All were delicious. Especially with a little sriracha hot sauce. It's located in that little restaurant row on 39th street and is a tasty place for Chinese/Taiwanese food. Moderately priced.
(4)John V.
Good dumplings! Wasn't a fan of the ambience and decor all that much. I know it's next to the college and all but it's over "collegegy" when it comes to design and decoration. I'm not a big fan of Chinese food or any Asian cuisine for that matter but I could eat any of the pan fried dumplings for extended durations! The sauce they serve on the side is a must and basically makes the dish soar above and beyond!
(3)Isaac H.
This is your other highly biased, Asian individual who will pounce on this restaurant with a review that expects nothing short of utmost authenticity because it's an Asian restaurant. Therefore, I expect nothing less, because. You know. We're in Missouri. The epic hub of Asian culture and cuisine. So yeah. Get your shit together Blue Koi, a'ight? Why should I have to lower my standards. Roooigggght.... /SARCASM. Oh yeah. I caps all that shit. You know I'm extra serious now. -- You get what you pay for here. Great friendly service, reasonable prices, and great portions to go with it. In my several trips here, it has been nothing short of substantial, delicious servings of meat and flour, in holy matrimony, complemented with their popularly pitched sauces - exploding into your very own taste buds to which if they had their own feet, they'd arch. The arch that'd leave your foot straining in delight. Now, that's just an opinion, of course. I can also, believe the stereotype or not, make this shit at home too. Because, ya know. Asians can make anything that you have in the fridge from leftovers at some local chinese joint. *face palm* Sadly, it is true. But it's not about that. You're in there, with friendly faces and a delightful selection of dumplings in various preparations, alongside some complimentary dishes like the fried tofu with special plum sauce. Yes they have noodles too. But I'm so friggin' tired of noodles. Whether you enter the doorway by word of mouth or some raving editorial review, the point of this entry is dead simple - go try it. No expectations. Just go. I mean, why the hell not? If you're all about authenticity, go book your ass on a 16 hour flight to China and get your authenticity there. But you wanna know something interesting? Chances are, and the chances are great since statistically, you're not Asian in this confined context of the reviewing community, that you might not actually like the "authentic" dishes in China, and would much rather satisfy your hunger for some asian food with some joint on 39th in Kansas City, MO of all places. /fin.
(4)Shea C.
This was the perfect post-work spot for my girlfriends and I. The appetizers were excellent: fried tofu and spicy chili pepper wontons. We eagerly scarffed them down. Half the group orderd boba tea (I, sadly, am not a boba tea fan) and the other half ordered wine (I always fall in the wine group). Everyone was pleased with the drink options. For our entrees, I ordered the boiled shrimp dumplings, which were excellent. Like so good that my mouth is watering just thinking about them. A friend ordered the vegetarian dumplings and was equally as pleased. Everyone else ordered duck or chicken over noodles (I can't recall the specifics), but we were all stuffed and happy by the end. I will definitely be going back.
(4)Celeste L.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. I never visit without getting an order of pan-fried pork dumplings. It's a good place to go if you want to just try a whole bunch of appetizers (highlights: chicken lettuce wraps, scallion biscuit and tofu with awesome sauce), but they have some wonderful entrees as well. Some of my favorite dishes include Chinese Style Pot Roast, Ants on a Tree and Chicken with Black Bean Sauce. Most of the entrees are large enough that I can eat about half at a single meal. When I go with my sister or another woman, often I'll split one with someone. Otherwise, I'll bring the leftovers home.
(5)Lilian O.
When I think of this place now, only word one comes to mind: OVERRATED. I remember when I first moved to KC from a city with a large Asian population, there wasn't anywhere else I could find authentic Taiwanese-style food so this place was mecca to me. Back in the day when I wasn't vegetarian and I'm talking about 6 years ago, I've tried many of their noodle soups and thought it pretty good though it was difficult to pay 4 times the price than what I was used to for a big bowl of noodle soup. Yes, FOUR TIMES! Also thought it was pretty freakin fantastic that I could get my bubble tea spiked with rum. Now that was one happy night! Flash forward 4 years and I tried Blue Koi again after a long hiatus with a non-vegetarian friend (I had moved out-of-state). Wow what a difference and in a bad way! The spicy chili pepper vegetarian wonton tasted HORRIBLE. Reminded me of the smell of old rubber tires combined with too much white pepper. The vegan broth that my noodles swam in practically had no flavor except for too much white pepper once again. I can make MUCH MUCH MUCH better noodles and dumplings at home. The portions were big so I had to take my food home. Being the good Chinese I am, I had to take my leftovers home even though I didn't like the food. Maybe non-vegetarian dishes taste better here but I really don't remember from that far back. Then again maybe not as the 3 ladies that were sitting at the table next to me flagged down the waitress to tell her they didn't like the chicken dumplings they ordered and normally they like dumplings. The waitress offered to substitute it with another dish but they were so dissatisfied with the food that they didn't want anything else. They kept grumbling about how bad the food was after she walked away too. My friend enjoyed his noodle dish but I don't recall what he ordered. hehe. However, he hasn't had as much experience with Asian food as I have. Yes yes I'm pretty biased and my standards are really high for good Asian food. Most people love this place but I will not be going back. I much prefer the pre-packaged frozen dumplings found in Asian grocery stores than the fresh dumplings at this place. I know not everyone can make the food, so go to Po's Dumpling and Noodle Bar down the street from Blue Koi for much better food!
(2)Richard P.
Probably a case of unrealistic expectations, but when the other reviews here on Yelp and The Pitch award for best dumplings in KC, I had to try it. I was literally the only customer in the place when I arrived just before 5 on a Thursday. There were three cooks and several waiters standing by so I figured this was gonna be really good. It wasn't. First off I asked if I could have 4 of my 8 dumplings steamed and the other 4 "fried" (potsticker style) and was told no. This didn't seem like a difficult request to me. So I ordered the pork dumplings fried. Growing up on the west coast I have had dumplings hundreds of times in LA & SF including the legendary U-Lee on Knob Hill in SF. And as Lloyd Bentsen might have said "this was no U-Lee". First off, they were quite small. And a huge pet peeve the wrapper was so thin that they were falling apart on the plate and were nearly impossible to pick up with chop sticks. The Awesome Sauce mentioned by others on the side was nice with a slightly sweet flavor. I gave this review 3 stars on the strength of my entree which was the Braised Pork with Shitake mushrooms on noodles. The noodles were the perfect blend of soft but chewy texture and the generous portion of pork and mushroom were very well seasoned. Really an excellent dish. The two dishes and two Boulevard Pale Ale (served ice cold) came to $31.40 before tip. Service was excellent.
(3)Jordan A.
Liked the friendly ambiance of the restaurant. I went in for lunch on a Thursday by myself because I has been craving some dumplings and after scrolling through yelp I chose this over Po's right down the street. I started off with the fried tofu with awesome sauce because it was pretty busy and I had a feeling my actual meal would take a while (I was spot on with this). Although it was busy and my order took a little bit of time my server was very attentive. He even helped a couple next to me by recommending some of his preferred gluten-free options. As for the food, the fried tofu was okay. The true star of the starter was the awesome sauce. It was really tasty. I basically drenched the rather bland tofu in the sauce because it was that flavorful. For my main meal I ordered the Shanghai Wonton Soup with meat. It was honestly one of the best Asian meals I think I have ever eaten. There were wonton dumplings stuffed with a pork mixture floating along side freshly made noodles, fresh cilantro, green onions, and bean sprouts. I added a bit of sriracha too. This dish was so warm and delicious. It had a nice heat and excellent flavors which surprised me because the soup had a clear broth. I definitely underestimated it! The dumplings were soft and slightly sweet due to the pork mixture. The noodles were tender and fun to try to eat with chop sticks! Also, this portion size was HUGE. I could barely eat half. Prices were decent especially for the size and quality of the food. I would definitely recommend this friendly and tasty option to anyone in the area! 4 stars - Keep it up Blue Koi!
(4)Bruce C.
Ok, firstly, my meal was pretty good. We split an order of Spicy Chili Wontons (Vegetarian, wife forced of course ) and it was tasty. Nice building heat. Paired it with a New Belgium 1554 Black Lager (nice). For dinner I had the Chicken Basil lettuce wrap appetizer and the wife had the Vegan Delight soup. Lettuce wraps were very tasty (nicely sweet) however Wife's soup was more chore than delight. Everything in the soup had to be removed and cut down from 3 to 4 inches in length to enjoy with a spoon. Not adventurous either as the waitress had described. Overall, service was good, quality was good atmosphere was good. I will return.
(4)Bryan G.
This place never lets me down. China moon, pork dumplings, ginger basil chicken with noodles, chicken almond asparagus and ants on a tree... Delicious! A plumber once told me that this was the cleanest kitchen he had ever seen.
(5)Dave C.
So I am in San Francisco watching Triple D on TV when the host starts raving about this place. I got curious and wanted to find out where it was and turns out I was going to be in Kansas City on business this Thursday. Had to be a sign. I was so excited about coming here after seeing the personable owners describing their delightful dishes. Although I was skeptical about getting asian food in a predominantly white midWest town, I took the gamble. Bottomline is that the home made noodles were very well done but that the "sauces" everyone raves about were too sweet. I know these lady owners and cooks need to cater to the caucasian taste which tends to favor sweeter asian food but I could only finish half the dish as I was overwhelmed with the amount of sugar. Ladies, please offer a less sweet option on your menu and I think you will have a hit on your hands with the asian customers or those of us with asian tastebuds.
(3)Kent Jacob S.
Dumplings, dumplings, dumplings!!! If you love them, then Blue Koi is where you need to get them! Situated in the W 39th street row of restaurants in the Volker area of Kansas City, Blue Koi is a casual Asian themed restaurant. Not to be confused with typical Chinese restaurants, this place has a smaller menu and highlights their dumplings and noodles. Chinese restaurants can be a bit quiet and let's say, strict? But Blue Koi has a friendly and trendy ambiance. There is a full service bar in the restaurant as well. Oder their dumplings, either steamed or pan fried, for your entrée or appetizer. They will not disappoint as they are large and fluffy on the outside while the inside is packed full of juicy and moist meat. You have a choice between shrimp, pork, chicken, seafood, or a combination of shrimp chicken, and pork. One order with a side of rice can definitely fill you up. Their noodle soups are also delicious. The base broth is so tasty that I could have gulped the entire thing. The noodles were cooked perfectly as well. The seafood noodle soup had a good mix of seafood from scallops, mussles, crab, and squid. It is definitely great on a normal day but even better on a cold day or when you're feeling under the weather. They have a decent selection of loose leaf tea, but I'll say it is a bit pricey in my opinion. I do love my eight treasure tea as it is a good mix of fruits and herbal teas. I love the natural sweetness and bitter tea mixed together. They also have great bubble (boba) tea here. I prefer their boba than other drink places because it is fresh and boiled/cooked correctly. All in all, Blue Koi is a great place whenever I crave Chinese but also want to keep it a little healthy. The service is good with attentive and friendly staff. The food is delicious and is great for tea tasting.
(4)krysztof n.
I just finished the last few bites of my leftovers. Ginger Basil Chicken. Looking at the bowl, scraped-clean, I'm still hungry. Not that I don't think I didn't get enough in my stomach, as I certainly do feel full; but that I need more of that flavor in my mouth. Is this addiction? Is it that I literally had to stop myself from gorging myself at the restaurant, itself, and save some for later, and then attack that box of flavor a few hours later because, like now, I can't stop wanting it in my mouth? Perhaps. Blue Koi is simple in premise : The space is fine, nothing particularly over-the-top about it's presentation. Except....for the smell. You walk in the place and seriously are just greeted with the most amazing smells of food cooking. That's expected in a restaurant, right? But, with their open kitchen, and usually packed tables of food being enjoyed, it's almost like a....Sauna of Smell? Perhaps! I just like walking in there to take a big sniff, to be honest... But then it's the choices that need to be made....Pot Roast? Fire Bird? Won Ton Soup? Damn, I really don't even know how to choose, because each one is it's own "Flavor Tour of The Orient"...and a giant, GIANT helping of it. I'm licking the bowl, now...addiction. Does that say enough? Is it enough to say, "Holy crap, I cannot stop wanting to get this in my mouth?" Go down there, get a Tsing Tao, enjoy the "Sauna of Smell", and get addicted.
(4)Rads N.
This is the absolute BEST restaurant in Kansas City. Everyone on Yelp claims the Ants in a Tree is the best dish. It is good, but a little bland for my tastes. The best dish, in my opinion, at Blue Koi is the Black Bean Tofu. It is flavorful and I don't know how they do it but the tofu blows my mind every time! I find myself dreaming about the tofu and I come to KC just to get my fix. In terms of appetizers, the crispy tofu with awesome sauce is my favorite. My brother is an incredibly picky eater and he loves it! Also, I highly recommend trying the Sesame Ball dessert at least once, it comes with a sweet plum sauce and is enjoyable sweet and I love the texture. What more can I say? It is a bit pricy, but the portions are huge and it's worth every penny. Lots of vegan/vegetarian options, delicious food and good service. If I lived in KC I would come here every week.
(5)Carrie D.
The noodles are fantastic, whatever dish you get make sure you get it over noodles. Had the black bean chicken over noodles, and I think I have to go here once a week now for that dish! Sweet with a hint of spicy and lots of delicious chicken and large chunks of veggies, simply delicious!
(5)Tom C.
Terrific, this is a wonderful restaurant! Food,fresh and delish, service is spot on. Yes, we will dine here in the future many times.
(5)Tee S.
I was eating here as a tourist and our server was really nice and knowledgable about the menu. she recommended the fire duck with pasta and the combo dumplings. Not the best dumplings i've had. I really liked the hand-made pasta with a nice chewy taste. the duck was tender and I ordered it extra spicy which made it better. The only complaint with this dish was it was really salty and oily with too much sauce. I enjoyed the experience but don't expect an authentic Chinese restaurant experience if this is what you're looking for.
(3)Alyssa R.
This restaurant is too legit to quit. I was amazed by their selection of vegetarian choices as well as meat choices. The environment is casual and cozy. It's not a very big place but it's a definite go-to place in Kansas City. I had their Fried Tofu with Awesome sauce and it was incredible. Even if you aren't into tofu, anything fried is delicious especially with this sauce. I also recommend the Dumplings, they are the best and if you have awesome sauce left over.... dip it in that. Your life will have just been made. You must try it! For my entree, I had the Ginger Basil Chicken over noodles. It is a ton of food but so worth it. I had to box the rest of mine up but it made the perfect leftovers for lunch. I also got the strawberry bubble tea (smoothie style) and it was so good. The "bubbles" in it are good and luckily they give you a massive straw so you can suck them up. It was full of flavor and I would definitely get another. I will be visiting again soon. Such good food and a comfortable place to eat!
(5)Lea L.
I died and went to heaven over and over again at this place. The Sweet Chili dumplings were amazing...every bite made me coming back for more...I should of eaten it slower but I couldn't help myself! My braised pork was so tender and the ingredients were just so darn fresh. I can't sat enough to about how nice the staff were...especially Lulu...she took great care of us. Thank you Blue Koi for making this one of the best dinners of my life!
(5)Shanley C.
I was actually on my way to another Midtown restaurant when I walked by Blue Koi and changed my mind. I looked through the front window at all the happy people sucking down noodles and sipping tea and I couldn't resist. Walking in, you're met with the warm scents of curry, garlic and soy sauce. The vibe is relaxed and welcoming and the staff reflects that mood. The bar offers a small selection of local beers, along with the usual libations. I enjoyed a Boulevard Wheat while looking over the menu. I ordered the Shrimp with Chinese Curry Sauce. This dish includes ginger, onion, mushrooms, snow pea pods and fresh basil sauteed with sesame oil and spicy Chinese curry sauce. There isn't a lot of heat in this dish, which allows you to enjoy the flavors of the ginger and basil. You can order this dish with shrimp, tofu, chicken or beef. I thought the shrimp with the spicy Chinese curry was a good pairing. If you need a little more heat with your meal, order the Fire Bird. The boneless roast duck is sauteed with chili peppers and scallions and large chunks of bamboo strips accompany the dish. This was my first taste of duck and I was pretty surprised with how tasty it was. I was worried about the consistency of the meat but it reminded me of pork. This dish is a must-have. If you don't live close to Midtown, Blue Koi has a second location in Leawood. I highly recommend checking this place out.
(4)Joanna N.
Went here after seeing it on DDD. Tried the spicy dumplings, which were fantastic. Other than that, food was mediocre. The "curry" had well cooked chicken, but wasn't curry at all. They serviced me triple the amount of rice they should have. Total waste of food. The spicy noodles were a joke too. If you want noodles with a flavorless sauce covered in classic chili sauce, waiting way too long for your food with subpar service, this place is for you. Don't expect good Chinese food.
(2)Faith B.
I tried Blue Koi after a request from out of town guests, who saw it on Guy Fieri's show. Our party of three was seated quickly on a Friday night. The place was busy but not jam packed. We requested a drink menu from our server, who said they were reprinting them and only had a few and that he'd see if someone would share with us. Um, okay. Someone did, which was helpful for actually choosing drinks. We tried the tofu with awesome sauce, because come on!, AWESOME sauce, right? It was pretty good, but I'm not going as far as awesome. I liked it. It was a slightly spicier take on an sweet sour. The waiter offered to get us some siracha as well, but never did come back with it. He also offered us chopsticks, which I wanted, but those didn't make an appearance either. I had a tofu Ants on a Tree. Nice noodle dish with good flavor. It's also available with pork. I liked it. It wasn't magical. Dad had a curried shrimp dish which he very much enjoyed. The curry flavor was excellent and a little different than most. Mom had a chicken dish, which she also liked, but I can't vouch for that. Eventually the waiter came back by with chopsticks so I could waylay him for a set and re-request the siracha. Overall, the food was good. Not extraordinary, but very good. The service was pretty "meh." I'm not sure I'd be compelled to come back with all the great KCMO options out there, but I'm glad I tried it.
(3)Cindy R.
As much as I know you're not supposed to order the same thing every time you go to a place, I can't help it here! I love the China moon with the plum sauce (my mouth is watering thinking about it)... and the amazing crispy tofu with awesome sauce. It's to the point that my mom actually liked tofu after she tried it... I like the dumplings but I'm not a huge dumpling person but they're good for dumplings :) GET THE BUBBLE TEA! So refreshing.
(4)Bennie N.
Third attempt at trying this restaurant. Now I preface this with saying that I'm not a picky eater and i do avoid pork and red meat but each try I've been disappointed. I have heard mostly positive things about this place and find myself wanting to like it. The spicy chili wontons were amazing but every entree I've tried seemed like a waste of money. I've worked in the service industry for almost a decade now and I will compliment the atmosphere and service but without a menu I feel compelled to explore I probably won't be making a fourth appearance. Also avoid the mango bubble tea like it's the plague. *cringes
(2)Teague P.
This is a good restaurant. I have had lunch here several times, and it's always been very tasty. I haven't really explored the menu, because I keep ordering the same things. The crispy tofu appetizer is delicious, it comes with "awesome sauce" which is a gingery, slightly chile-hot, sweet/sour/savory condiment. Wonderful. And I also keep ordering the brisket, which comes as soup or with noodles. It's fabulous both ways. Tender slices of brisket, savory broth, chewy-tender noodles. I think I love the noodle version best because, noodles. I've also had the stuffed eggplant, it's battered and fried in a super crispy coating, ohhhh yes, yes! (Uh, sorry, just remembering.) Service has always been prompt and pleasant. I've never had a problem with time at lunch, they get the food out quickly. The prices are very reasonable. The ambiance isn't really noticeable, but it's not loud and good for a business lunch.
(4)Cheryl B.
Awesome food!! I had the firebird with chicken and added cooked cauliflower, and substituted noodles instead of rice ..very good! We had the firecracker wontons, which were my favorite part of the meal. we ordered a drink from the bar, they decided to just take their time with that and brought it out right before we left. I was not impressed with that, and the mixed drinks weren't worth the wait after all. my husband had the ants on a tree, he really enjoyed it and said he will order it again. We sat at the counter overlooking the very busy kitchen, I would recommend sitting there; it was fun watching the hustle and bustle. word of warning-- do not change or revise your order once its placed! They tend to not like that and won't speak to you for the remainder of your visit :-\ while the service was not spot on during our visit, I will return only because I am CRAVING the wontons and the Firebird with Chicken!!! all in all for my review I would say the food is spot on! the service needs some work, and our server needs a slight attitude adjustment. Blue Koi is a must try for anyone around the KU area that loves a little bit of spice, a little Asian fusion and doesn't mind a bit of a wait. As my son says, Blue Koi is a little bit hipster and a little bit funky......enjoy
(4)Kent F.
Not an Asian cook in the place. Like going to a Soul food restaurant and seeing white cooks. I asked for duck crispy, and got duck. So, they didn't know what crispy meant. Guess I should have asked for a duck taco.
(1)Jo B.
Pretty decent. I had the roasted duck appetizer and the spicy wontons. The duck was a bit too sweet and the sauce too thick, but not to a disappointing point. The wontons were very good, but the sauce may have been a bit much. Overall it was solid but nothing off the charts. I think they overdid the flavor. Sometimes less is more. The dishes were a little intense and not in a good way. Again if didn't take away but didn't impress.
(4)Gemy V.
I have been going to Blue Koi since they opened years ago and the food is always good. The china moon appetizer and bean noodles are excellent!
(5)Laura Y.
Great service on a Monday night. Enjoyed the unobtrusive soundtrack. Ordered the Chinese Pot Roast as a soup and it was not piping hot and short on noodles, but the server obligingly heated it and noodled it up for me for an extra $4.50. He was very helpful with showing me thru the menu as it was my first time here. I'd come back, if not for dinner definitely for lunch.
(3)Acer T.
I'd like to try Blue Koi for a while; finally I went there today and had a satisfied dinner. I ordered cantonese duck with rice and pan-fried dumplings. I was quite expecting an authentic dish with cantonese roasted duck, but it wasn't (at least to me). However, it was surprisingly good, very tasted. Regarding the pan-fried dumpling, I wish it could be a bit more crispy outside, but again it's not bad at all. Overall, I like their food and restaurant itself, although it's slightly pricy to me. I think I definitely want to go back to try other meals in the future.
(4)Yolanda K.
Bad service alone is enough to make a girl not want to come back to an establishment. We got there around 9th on a Saturday night and they were not busy at all. We were greeted by the hostess with a Yes,,, unmm,, ok we looked past that. We got a table and ordered the chicken dumplings and shared the chicken curry dish. First I'll say that the sauce was really good. The chicken dumpling just didn't do it for me, I didn't understand the large ball of meat in the dumpling, I think I could have gotten over it BUT the chicken had a very bad taste, like it was spolied. Ok, we both agreed that the curry dish was very good. I'd like to try here again but probably not anytime too soon based on the service alone as we kept flagging the waiter down for something we needed.
(3)Jeff K.
Mindy (the owner), this review is for you. Thank you for a wonderful visit. We just returned from visiting Blue Koi this evening. I first took in a slushy coconut and sweet taro boba tea - which I had never heard of before, but turned out to be an excellent treat! The appetizer we had included the cantonese style roasted duck which I tried because I hadn't had duck in a long time. The meat was tender and came with a sauce mixed with carrots and peanuts. It was a nice way to have duck again. The best part were the DUMPLINGS: we had boiled pork dumplings and the magnificent spicy chili pepper wontons. I have to say that these spicy chili pepper wontons are out-of-this-world fantastic. The meat is actually a combination of pork and chicken in a tangy-mildly spicy soy sauce. We also had the Shanghai wonton noodle soup which came in a clear and mildly spicy broth. The noodles were tender. I ended up mixing in some of the sauce from the spicy chili pepper wontons in my soup which made it excellent. We also had the shrimp with curry sauce and added some tofu into it. Another excellent dish - I loved the curry taste which is unusual for a chinese dish - but I love Indian and thai food so it was great. In fact, I would have like to have had a little more curry to really spice it up. And, the white rice was fluffy and moist! To top it off, Mindy ordered a special cheesecake fried wonton dessert for us. What a wonderfully delicious surprise. The wontons were in a special sweet sauce with cut grapes. Thank you again for a memorable time!!!
(5)Kathleen J.
Excellent food, wonderful services! Music changed the atmosphere from what I'd expected but overall great experience. Will def be back!
(4)Jennifer S.
Dumplings! Braised pork and shiitake mushroom! Crispy tofu with awesome sauce!!!!!
(5)Zac S.
My wife and I come here all the time. They have the best dumplings in KC. We often split the Ants on a Tree as it is a large portion but very delicious.
(5)Deandra A.
I cannot express how overrated this place is. I went with friends for lunch. We had dumplings for an appetizer. They were so-so. We also had the scallion biscuit, which was less than so-so. It was very chewy. Our server was pretty rude. I asked him if he had any suggestions (I often ask my server for such advice, who knows the menu better than them?) I was told "rice, noodles, or soup" in a tone that suggested he didn't have the time to address my question. When we finally had our orders taken, I ordered the ginger basil chicken with rice. The rice was overcooked. The chicken was good, there was a huge chunk of ginger in the midst of my chicken. That was a surprise. We also had the basil chicken in lettuce wrap. It was not good. Pretty flavorless. The side salad was such a joke. It was plain spinach, with no other vegetables with a pesto type viniagrette. I was hoping being an asian restaurant they would have the delicious ginger dressing that I've had at other places. No dice. I have heard that the tofu bites are amazing, but based on my experience it is not worth the hype.
(2)Dianne W.
People absolutely love this place. Guy Fieri was here and raved about it. I'm a little lost. Don't get me wrong, the food is good. I just don't think it's THAT good. We go here periodically as it's around the corner. I've never gotten a bad meal, but I never crave it either. Worth a visit but nothing spectacular.
(3)Billie H.
I was surprised to find out I haven't reviewed Blue Koi yet. This is one of my favorite spots. Although tonight we just stopped for boba tea, this is the place to go if you want dumplings. I personally am a huge fan of the pork dumplings, because if there is an option for pork, why would you choose anything else? I have tried the other dumplings and all of them are great. Seriously, the best dumplings in town! The meat blends are perfectly spiced and ground up for a just right consistency. I have had other dumplings where the filling is mushy or stringy, these are just right. The actual dumpling is well made and the perfect ratio of dumpling to filling. The dipping sauce is also perfect. Just go try them. If you like dumplings this is the place! Besides dumplings they also have a selection of noodles that are delicious. And I also have to rave about the duck wraps. Occasionally I step out of my norm, but the duck wraps and an order of dumplings is my go to. Service is always fantastic here. I have never had anything less than a fantastic server. Tonight was maybe the best. The girl who served us was just one of those people who spew happy and positive and no matter how bad a day you are having makes it better just being your waitress. Just genuinely nice. She noticed our name tags from dinner and mentioned she uses Yelp and we had a nice convo about the site, letting her know about the events. Also, when we were in love with the music option she took time to explain the system they used and found the channel name for us. This place knows how to pick the right people. The boba tea is one of the best I have had too. One of the few places I actually find a red bean option and the boba is always good. Stop and try Blue Koi, it is one of the few places that does everything right and I have absolutely nothing that they can improve on.
(5)Andrew L.
Ate here this evening for a meeting. When I showed up at the table, I had some Tofu and Awesome sauce waiting for me. I have never been a huge fan of the whole tofu thing, but I have to admit, I fell in love at first bite. Finished off the Tofu with a plate full of awesome sauce left. Tried out the pork dumplings to help finish off the awesome sauce. I would strongly recommend trying the dumplings out. They made my night. For the main course I took the advice of those dining with me and tried the Cantonese roasted duck. The oly duck I have tried before was shot about 30 min before it was on my plate. This was amazing. Got it on a bed of brown rice, and added a bit of hot sauce just to give it a kick. Unfortunately I had filled myself up on the tofu, awesome sauce, and pork dumpling and wasnt able to finish the plate. On the bright side, I got to take it home with me. Give the place a try. It is definitely low key, and a great place to have an intense conversation. Loved it, and will be returning in the future.
(5)Delia P.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the servers and of course the food. Nice Friday night place.
(5)Stephen H.
Since I live down in JoCo I have the "corporate" Blue Koi nearby so I usually go there anymore but was recently staying with a friend nearby and got some take out. Just as a note - "take out" at Blue Koi just means you'll be paying their regular restaurant prices (not cheap) for their stuff in boxes. Not recommended as a take-out place. I mean, if you're gonna go expensive for takeout I want Grace Kelly bringing me lobster from 21. And if you got that reference, we need to date. :-)
(5)Colin C.
Went here while visiting since it had good reviews and all the BBQ places were full on a Friday night. Service was great and the food was pretty tasty. However, the menu was a bit strange and quite small. Definitely don't go here if looking for a traditional Chinese restaurant. It was sort of like they were trying to be vegan or healthy and it was somewhat but not completely. I just couldn't figure out the theme exactly and thought there needed to be more to the menu. Some interesting drinks and the prices were ok. The black bean sauce was good and most of the plates were large. Overall though just didn't do it for me. Other better options out there. You won't be unhappy just not fully satisfied and a strange menu would be my overall review. Also probably worth noting that we both had stomach issues after eating here. Could be a coincidence but happened for both immediately after leaving....
(3)Tricia H.
LOVEEEEE this place...being in KC since birth I ask myself how in the world have I NOT been to Blue Koi??? Seriously I have been totally missing out... My first visit I was so confused with all the yummy choices on one menu!! Holy happy taste buds :-) I will be a regular from here on out!!! The Homemade noodles with the Awesome sauce is a little taste of heaven for sure!! I can honestly tell you I have been back three times and haven't gotten one thing I didn't like..no LOVE.... Dumplings, tofu, Braised chicken with noodle's goodness I can go on for days on how succulent the flavors are :-) yum yum yum I have to end it with.....BUBBLE tea, hello lovely where have you been all my life :-)
(4)Michelle F.
Friday Date NIght at Blue Koi! We got there a little early, maybe 5:30, and I'm glad we did as this cozy place filled up quickly. We started with the China Moon. Crispy dough filled with minced shrimp and served with homemade plum sauce for dipping. It's fantastic. We decided to do dumplings so we ordered the pork pan fried dumplings and the chili pepper wontons. The panfried dumplings were hot and crispy in all the right places. The filling is well seasoned and a perfect match to my leftover plum sauce. They were also tasty with the provided dipping sauce but seriously, that plum sauce! The chili pepper wontons look like they could really light you up but they are mildly seasoned and filled with a pork-chicken-shrimp mixture. One more order, the sesame buns, made this a perfect dinner and came in at around $30 with tip. Three cheers for not busting the budget!
(4)Cathy C.
Blue Koi is why I don't get excited about conventional (American) Chinese food. I don't care if I never eat General Tso's chicken again, as long as I can have Ants on a Tree or Ginger Basil chicken. I also like the pot roast, but I usually just snag a few pieces from my dining companion. Everything is seasoned and cooked to perfection; the meat falls apart under your fork. The only thing missing last time was that they seem to have taken the big slices of ginger out of the GB chicken-though the taste was still there. The dumplings are delicious no matter which filling you get, and Awesome Sauce is truly well named. They've always been my starter of choice until I made a discovery last time out...now let us talk about Eggplant Pockets, possibly the best thing anybody ever put in a deep fryer! The closest thing I can compare these things to is a pakora, but they're about three times as big, and softer inside, and just unbelievably good! The "raw garlic sauce" they come with tasted like the Awesome Sauce which is now missing from the menu. I could make a meal of just these. Just like everybody else, I find the service to be top notch. The decor is bright and modern, without any real ethnic overtones. And maybe I'm just silly, but it's kinda fun to sneak in up the back staircase.
(4)Azile Y.
I had all appetizers: fried tofu (YUM), lettuce wraps (good), China moon (AMAZING) and the chili dumplings (AMAZING). Cocktails were delicious. Service was outstanding, music was cool. I cannot wait to go back!
(5)Olive D.
Was here a couple days ago while moving my sister in to her new apt. First thought, ambience is hipster asian. Like most of the other places around, it seemed like it was in an older building and it's been around for awhile... Not that I would know since I'm not from the area but yeah. Our waiter was neither amazing or bad, just your typical run of the mill waiter. Menu wasn't crazy with a bunch of different menu items which I was happy about since it usually gives me anxiety. I ordered the pot roast in the noodle soup form. It reminded of beef pho, which I'm obsessed with. The only thing I wasn't too impressed with were the noodles that it came with. I forget what their called but I can describe them as a thin flat rice noodle? Delicious noodles but weird in a pho type setting. Or maybe I was put off because I was thinking that I was supposed to be eating pho with that type of noodle... It didn't bother me too much but I wasn't crazy about it either. The meat was, however, delicious just as the broth was on point. Overall a good experience. I'd definitely like to try this place again when I'm in the area!
(4)Lorena M.
There are two reasons I really wanted to come here. 1. They were featured on Triple D, and I love Guy. 2. My friends have loved the dumplings. On Diners Drive-In's and Dives one of the dishes featured was the Firebird, so ever since then I've been dying to try it. I went with a group of 5 to the 39th st location on a Saturday evening. It was fairly busy but we were seated quickly. We ordered pan fried dumplings to start and I had a bubble tea. Four of us had the Firebird and one had the Chinese style Pot Roast. Food- So the dumplings were delicious! We almost ordered a second round if our food had been a little slower to come out, but that isn't really a complaint! The two of the four of us who ordered the Firebird ordered it differently. A friend and mine were regular with duck as the meat and we both had some complaints about the dish. First there was seriously a ridiculous amount of the spicy oil they use to cook it. I mean we could fill a small dish with all that access oil. Second we did not like the duck; this was our first time having duck to don't know if it's more of personal taste or the preparation. There wasn't very much actual duck meat but a lot of fat and the smell was off. The other two had chicken instead of duck and one of them had less oil (mainly to make it less spicy). We all agreed that the best firebird was the one with chicken and less oil. (The noodles used in the firebird dish were really good) The one friend who had the Chinese Style Pot Roast was the lucky one. Everyone loved that dish, it was delicious! The dish didn't have any sauces or oil so it didn't feel heavy yet the meat was so flavorful. Service- The server was nice but not really engaging. You kind of expect your server to want to make your experience a good one, but he seemed totally out of it. Anyways, I would go back to try other things on the menu, but this experience was a little disappointing. One star for dumplings, one star forthe noodles, one star for the Chinese style pot roast.
(3)Tina H.
I read a lot of great reviews before coming here and I guess my expectations was over my head.. Sorry to say the least but this place was not what I was expecting.. the service was HORRIBLE, we had this older lady and she did not give us any attention, she served a table in front of us and she was real friendly with them but the moment we got seated she was just horrible, food took forever to come out and it tasted like noodles from a package.. NEVER COMING BACK.
(1)Dean H.
Cool atmosphere, good waitstaff, and most importantly great food. Not far from the Plaza where we were staying. We started with the spicy fried wontons & seafood dumplings. I had the Cantonese Duck with noodles. I would recommend it if you like duck, it was great. The best dish at the table was my Brother in law's. The chicken in bean sauce. The noodles on all the dishes were amazing.
(5)Melissa S.
Love this place and crave it often! I always get the tofu and awesome sauce because it's always a winner! Everything I've tried has been amazing! My fave go to is fried dumplings or the shrimp with black bean sauce! Always have enough left for next days lunch! They have some amazing martinis also ;) I mean to take pics every time but dig in too quickly!
(4)Carol L.
I was in town for business and heard of Blue Koi in Kansas City from the tv show, diners drive in (something like that). I decided to try it. I had the fried tofu with the awesome sauce and broil pork dumplings. They were ok... I was born and raised in Hong Kong so I know what authentic Chinese food is. I say this restaurant is more an American Chinese fusion not authentic Chinese. I ordered the seafood noodle soup, it was ok. Will I come back??? I might if I'm in town again for business.
(3)Sarah A.
One of my favorite restaurants in the KC area! Lots of vegetarian options. The crispy tofu with awesome sauce is a no brainer - gotta have it. Also enjoy the veggie lettuce wraps and dumplings. The jasmine tea is lovely. Friendly staff and great service. Fun decor; displays work from local artists.
(4)Morgan K.
I have heard great things. I've read great reviews. So when my mom asked if I wanted to go to lunch at Blue Koi......YES, PLEASE!!! The verdict.......MORE, PLEASE! I enjoyed my lunch so much (got to give credit to my mom there...she's excellent company) that I honestly don't know where to begin in my review. There were so many things that hit the right spot that I just want to blurt out, ramble on and finally get so overwhelmed that I just say "GO TRY IT. YOU HAVE TO TRY IT!" I don't know where to start. So let's start at the very beginning.... We had the eggplant pockets for a starter and I have been craving those crazy things ALL FRICKIN' WEEK!! Big thick slices of eggplant stuffed with veggies and deep fried for your pleasure. When I say big, I mean BIG. When the plate was empty, I was worried I wouldn't have room for my main dish. My mom had the wonton soup (which apparently includes a full serving a dumplings that makes it WELL worth the price) and I indulged in the braised pork with shitake mushrooms. You have the option of ordering most of the main dishes as a soup with noodles, with rice, or with noodles.; my pork was served noodle-style. The taste of the food reminded me of when I worked at a Japanese restaurant for a Chinese couple and the food that they made themselves for lunch before we opened for dinner. There was nothing processed-tasting about this food. Everything tasted like it was made from scratch - even the noodles (if they are processed, well done - you fooled me). The sauce on the braised pork reminded me a little of beef stroganoff (the noodles didn't help), but it was delicious. While they're a little on the pricey side (about $13 a dish), the portion size (easily enough for two meals) and the quality of the food made this budget-bound broad beam. Also to note, the food did take a little long to come out from the kitchen, but like I said earlier (and have said before), if you're with good company that's nothing to huff-and-puff over. At the end of the day, I fell in love with this place and can't wait until my next plate of eggplant pockets.
(5)Denise C.
Local business owners, take note from this place. I have been going here for years. You can tell that a person loves what they do and takes pride in their business when it is always consistent, and I mean always. The staff is always friendly, the cooks are always consistent, the food is amazing and they always care enough to check with your table and make sure you had a good experience. Wow. Always amazed, and A+ for both locations, however I prefer and frequent the 39th St one. Kudos, Blue Koi. One of the best restaurants in Kansas City.
(5)Jim L.
Probably the best duck I've ever eaten. I almost never order duck in a Chinese restaurant because it's often dry. This was moist, juicy and more than I could eat. My server said he ate only the duck dish for the first 2 months he worked there, and I certainly see why. Excellent!
(5)Francie f.
Do not get any take out. It will be VERY disappointing.The pork and chicken dishes are DRY and very on appealing. The food seems to be from yesterday's left overs.
(2)Kelly G.
One of the best restaurants in kc. Fresh, vibrant, savory. So good. Bubble tea is delicious. The vibe of the place is super cool and on point for the neighborhood. Crispy tofu, cheesecake wontons, and shrimp dumplings..
(5)Rose L.
I have been here a couple of times now. The food is wonderful, but the service is a bit lacking. I always order the Firebird with chicken and homemade noodles. It is perfectly spicy. I think the noodles are on the oily side, but my only concern is health and calories. The flavor is great, and my mouth burns just a bit, and that's what I like. The dumplings are yummy as well. Service? Well, perhaps Blue Koi/39th Street is a bit too hipster for me, but I expect a little more personality and definitely more attention. We sat for 10-15 minutes at a time with no notice from our server. He was perfectly fine when he was around, but I had to flag him down a couple of times, and they just weren't that busy. I will definitely continue to frequent this location, as it is convenient and the food is outstanding.
(3)Bill B.
Unfortunately most Chinese restaurants add sugar to entrees, often a lot of sugar, since those restaurants think Americans have a "sweet tooth." Blue Koi, while very considerate of vegetarians and vegans, is no exception to the rule about added sugar. But there are exceptions. They can prepare three entrees without sugar, if requested: Ants on a Tree, Firebird, and Almond Chicken. If you also want to avoid refined carbs, you can do that here too. All entrees are listed as served with noodles or rice. But the options include brown rice and soybean noodles along with the usual choices. Alternatively, they'll substitute spinach for the rice or noodles. But ask about upcharges for substitutions. They are small charges, but the menu and the servers don't tell you. I would have gone for five stars, if it had not been for the surprise upcharges on the bill for the substitutions.
(4)Gloria T.
Great service and appreciated the gluten free menu. I had shrimp in black bean sauce with rice. It was delicious...lots of shrimp and big pieces of mushroom. It was on my food bucketlist to try this place, and it lived up to my expectations!
(5)Rachel A.
I love Blue Koi, both locations are great, and even look similar to each other. I feel like I always go here for asian "comfort food." I usually get the crispy tofu with the awesome sauce and the asian pot roast. . . I tried it as a "soup" for the first time, by the recommendation of the serve, and I loved it. They add spinach and veggies, and serve it in a warm broth. Yummy. The lettuce wraps and pot stickers are great too! The service is always friendly and promt, and it has a great comfortable atmosphere.
(4)Ali T.
This tasted no better than food court mall food. My entree was served in a puddle of grease and I had to stop eating after three bites. My husbands duck was extremely fatty and low quality meat. I would not recommend
(2)Lois W.
Tasty food! The vegetarian dumplings are odd tasting bit the sauce it comes with is awesomer than their Awesome sauce. Good value too.
(4)Diana M.
Excellent service. Our waitress was outstanding. I had the shrimp with black beans sauce and the chicken noddles. The noodles are the best noodles I ever tried.
(5)Tammy L.
Lunch here with my son Jared and we were both impressed. Great service, great food, and a beautiful presentation. If you are in the mood for a change, come give it a try. My son had an entree with Duck and I had a fabulous chicken dish
(4)Bobbi T.
It had been awhile since I had been here. We came years ago after we found out they served bubble tea but weren't too impressed. My boyfriend recently discovered the fire bird and now drags me in with him. Each time we go we are with a couple other people so I'm able to try a new dish each time. So far my favorites would be the fire bird and the spicy chili wonton. Other dishes that we have tried were just ok (crispy tofu, eggplant pockets, duck wrap, ants on a tree, ginger basil chicken, and the shrimp with chinese curry sauce.) While I am not quite as obsessed with the food as he is, I'm not giving up just yet!
(3)Abbey A.
I just don't get what people see in this place. Decor is eh and the menu is unimpressive. I want to like this place, but after a few attempts, I won't be back.
(2)Mark M.
Excellent service & fare! Our party of 5 showed up ~30 minutes prior to close. The hospitable server sat us down and dismissed our apologies as unnecessary. They followed through with attentive and prompt service up until we were the last folks scooting out at 10:31 PM. :) The food was amazing - we had pre-game noshies. Golden tofu bites were just right, and the spicy "Awesome Sauce" isn't just a clever name.
(4)Duong V.
This is definitely one of my favorite and go-to restaurants in Kansas City. I love their crispy tofu, braised pork, and firebird chicken. I highly recommend it.
(4)Ivette J.
The homemade dumplings a were great. We tried the shrimp & the pork dumplings. The amazing sauce was good but was expecting a little more with a name like that. The service was on point & we'd definitely come back again on our next visit to KC.
(4)Joi B.
Blue Koi=Happy Joi! I was pretty blown away by the flavors of just about everything I ate here the other night. It was as if I had taken some kind of drug to enhance my taste buds because they were throbbing with pleasure at every bite. Blue Koi markets itself as "cool Chinese food." Cute advertisement but it doesn't do the food justice, I tell you! You know those awesome containers that you get at almost every takeout joint in the US (I think?) that say, "Chinese Delicious Foods?" Well, that's usually a lie. Most places serve up some kind of approximation of "Chinese food" that is greasy and flavorless, the very antithesis of "Chinese" and "Delicious," if you ask me. "Food" may even be a stretch. Blue Koi deserves to make that claim on their takeout containers (their takeout containers are the kind of brown paper deal that you'd get in a finer restaurant, thankfully. No Styrofoam here) and yet they don't because they are too classy for that. What we ordered: -lettuce wraps (a vegetarian appetizer. There are several) 4 leaves of green lettuce served up next to a pile of minced deliciousness (shitake, green onions, tofu, water chestnuts, I believe, celery and peanuts). Absolutely (Chinese) Delicious (Food). -Firebird (I had the tofu and the K had the duck) WOW!!! Almost spicy enough, but nothing is ever spicy enough for the likes of me. I daresay it was a bit too...rich for me. I'd need to ask them to prepare it with half the oil for it to be just right. That said, this dish was indeed also (Chinese) Delicious (Food). If possible, K was even more into his dish than I was into my own, so thumbs up to the duck! They also have quite a cocktail list. The citron lemonade cocktail was absolutely perfect, crisp, lemony, not too sweet which is what I was afraid of, not too sour. THE summer drink. That means I have to keep going back all summer! Woohoo!
(5)Ray L.
This place is pretty tasty! I do have to say that I was a bit disappointed by the misnomer; they call themselves a noodle and dumpling place, but there aren't many noodle options on the menu at all! However, I was much appeased by the shrimp in curry sauce. The shrimp were decent sized and covered with a sweet Chinese curry sauce. It was a pretty mild curry in terms of flavor and heat. The menu marks this item as spicy, but I could have used a little more heat. The shrimp and veggies were cooked satisfactorily. My friend got shrimp in the black bean sauce, which was even more delicious -- a little bolder in flavor. Think I'll get that next time. I think the amount of rice they serve is a bit wasteful. Some might say generous, but that is more starch than a person needs in one sitting. I had to restrain myself from inhaling the whole plate. Speaking of rice, there's an up charge for brown rice. Next stop will be Po's, so I can do a little compare and contrasting. Very happy with my meal here though!
(4)Sheryl B.
Very small place but The dumplings were amazing. We had them fried versus boiled. We had the firebird dish with noodles and shrimp which was delicious. A little hot but nothing you can't handle.
(5)David G.
I really can't imagine going to this place in the summer because the menu has such a heavy focus on rich nourishing soups and stews. Yeah, I know that's stupid but when it's a cold winter day this place satisfies like no other. Carnivores and vegetarians will love this place because menu items that are vegetarian are clearly marked and they'll gladly accommodate menu modifications when they can. The menu is simple and primarily consists of noodles or rice in either a dish or a soup bowl depending on the combination. On first glance I was disappointed at the prices on the menu: $10 and up for a bowl or rice or noodles. When my feast arrived I couldn't believe the portion size. It was huge. I mean really huge. Warm, satisfying and absolutely delicious. That's another reason why it's a winter meal rather than summer. Summer reminds me of "light" eating and these meals are anything but light. Rich and flavorful is the theme here. Even the vegetarians soups are made from a earthy mushroom broth that could easily hold it's own against a umami laden beef broth. The "awesome" sauce (chili/garlic sugar) goes great with the tofu appetizers and try, at least, to save room for dessert because the wonton cheesecakes are a must try. Speaking of awesome, the service and atmosphere is equally as awe worthy. Every meal I've gotten is beautifully presented and is extremely prompt and friendly. I love sitting by the windows and look out on rainbow boulevard seeing frost form on the windows while my soul and spirit is nourished here.
(5)Dave F.
This is a tough review to write as I really do not like most Chinese food. However, a customer insisted we follow him to Blue Koi, which turned out to be "Kansas City meets Chinese" v authentic. I was happy about this cuisine shake up and would label Blue Koi as a unique culinary fusion experience v pure Chinese. The menu features a wide assortment, even meatloaf. Lack of authenticity was confirmed as one of our Asian lunch mates complained about the noodles. I ordered Shrimp Curry, which for a $2 upcharge comes with healthy brown rice v white rice. The brown rice is excellent and the shrimp quality was average. The sauce is light enough that you barely taste the curry. We had excellent service as we were pressed for time and needed to feed 5 in 45 minutes. They sat us quickly, even though they were very full and we ordered a wonton appetizer. The cleaver server knew this would slow us down, so he suggested we have it with our lunch as it would shave off 12 minutes. Great call and 5 star service.
(4)Charley B.
This Blue Koi is a more artistic and laid back version of its southern Kansas City cousin, but has the same solid menu and equally stout service. I had the super hot chicken curry and it was as hot and spicy as ever. Another at the table couldn't stop raving about the veggie dumplings. The seating can be a little cramped, but it's not a big deal. You just have to use your inside voice.
(4)Amanda P.
Blue Koi is one of my favorite dining places on 39th street, and I'm frequently there, if not to dine in person but at least get takeout. I can't live without their Crispy Tofu with Awesome Sauce! Truly superb and highly recommend! The atmosphere inside is trendy and cool, often showcasing some local art for sale. Great place to go if you're looking for more on the 'fusion' side of Asian fusion. Has a menu that's more unique (in a good way). I don't really have anything bad to say. It's slightly pricy, but worth it for the quality so I wouldn't consider that a negative.
(5)Jimmi H.
Blue Koi has one of the most aptly named sauces in the culinary world: Awesome Sauce. Awesome Sauce is awesome! There are not many instances when I eat out that I'm actually tempted to purchase extra sauce to bring home with me, but every time I go to Blue Koi I consider it. The Crispy Tofu (which comes with the Awesome Sauce) is ordered by myself or the bf as we are sitting down, there is just no questioning it; we want awesome sauce! This delightful little eatery is in Volker, one of my favorite neighborhoods in KC; one of the few areas that I would consider moving to if I ever left the Market. The staff here has always been top notch, efficient and friendly. The kitchen is open to the dining area so getting a bar seat during the busy hours is still fun because you can watch all of the excitement. My favorite dish is Ants on a Log, I'm not totally for sure as to why this is the name of it, but I don't really care, it's delicious. The portions are large, I generally bring some home for a tasty little snack for a later date. I also usually have to get a bubble tea. This drink seems to be either loved, or hated; I'm in the love category. Even better though, if you would like, they can make "adult" bubble teas! YUM. Everyone can find great food here. For the veggies there are multiple dishes, one of course being the tofu with Awesome Sauce! I had some good friends visit recently and one of them ordered the vegetable and noodle soup. I only got to have a few spoons full but was mighty good! We all tried the vegetable dumplings made with spinach in the dough, also a culinary delight. Blue Koi is well worth the visit and on my list of top restaurants in KC!
(4)Nikki P.
Food is very good, and the restaurant has neat atmosphere. This was one of my fav places to eat when I lived in KC, and I always come here to eat when I come back home to visit. Their bubble tea is good, as is their green tea ice cream. For meals, I ALWAYS get the ginger basil chicken on rice instead of noodles. The serving of food is so big, my husband and I always split it, and we still have food to take home to eat later. Depending on if it's the weekend, sometimes you can get stuck waiting awhile, but totally worth it.
(4)Vianca L.
Food is great ((( currently eating))) however out waiter really sucks ps. He looks like Thor
(5)nicki l.
I will go back to blue koi again and again. veggie dumplings and awesome sauce are the way to go! looking for an appetizer? try the eggplant pockets.
(5)Dan D.
Blue Koi remains at the top of my list for places that I can always eat at when I am on 39th street. The food quality is consistent and they do a solid dinner business which is nice if you like eating in a bustling restaurant. The service is excellent and friendly. Always full of suggestions and will tell you what everyone has been ordering and their responses to certain dishes. Where Blue Koi can sometimes be a little iffy is when it comes down to how long you will wait for dinner to be served. On a recent visit dinner took an exceptionally long time to come out, thankfully when it did the food was very hot and well made, worth the wait. The fried pork dumplings are amazing, highly recommended.
(4)Rick H.
I've found noodles to be incredibly good for the soul (well, my soul anyway - bedankt, Wagamama - Max Euweplein) and like to know that I have good options on the road; Blue Koi is a good KC option. Ants on a Tree (sautéed minced pork or vegetables with bean noodle) is always tasty and visually appealing. A recent run with the Chinese Pork Roast was just OK. The blend of flavors didn't work for me and the roast was actually too tender. The pork dumplings/potstickers and tea has always been excellent. The vibe is trendy, but without any posing, and the decor lends itself well to the dining experience. Parking is in the back with back and easy fron door access.
(3)Josh M.
B My girlfriend is making me write this review... The first time I set foot in Blue Koi I must have been having an off day. I wanted asian food and the life-partner (oh how she hates that term) had been carping about how good Blue Koi was. We walked in, sat down and stared at the menu. After a couple of minutes I sat the menu down and told her I wasn't eating here. Nothing sounded good. She was horrified as I got up and walked out. She made some polite excuse to the hostess and we walked across the street to Friends Sushi and had a wonderful meal. Flash forward probably a month, give or take a week. We're both hungry for asian food and I want to go back to Friends. She insists I give Blue Koi another shot, and even offers to pick up the tab. I agree to give it another go.. I'm happy I did. Best. Dumplings. Ever! I could eat them just as a meal (they are listed as an appetizer). Crispy, meaty little nuggest of mouth-joy. Sigh.. Then came the entree. Chinese Style Pot Roast. You could blow on the cutlets of beef and they'd break apart, they were that tender. And they rested on a bed of the best noodles I ever tasted. I don't even know how to discribe them properly, I couldn't do the noodles justice if I tried. Also, it was 90 degress outside and I had not problem eating pot roast. That good.. This was all washed down with a few asian beers I've never heard of but have since, unfortunately, forgetten. The service was okay, almost teetering on the slow-side. The restaurant is very clean with bright colors of blue and orange. I will most definitely being make a return trip, I've had dreams of those dumplings, and I think next time it will be the ginger chicken dish. And hell, I might even pick up the tab.
(4)Deana M.
The food and drinks tasted great but I thought the selection was pretty slim as far as edibles go. The only thing I have really liked is how the tofu is cooked. The staff is pretty hipster-ish but they were very nice. :)
(3)Meghan M.
Very good food. I love their noodles and black bean sauce, but I wish they had a bigger menu. I feel like many of their dishes are some slight variant of noodles & black bean sauce. Therefore, I can't eat here a lot b/c I get bored. Loves- dumplings, chili pepper wontons, noodles, black bean sauce, and ve their pepper dumplings and Almond bubble tea with Jim Beam (sounds disgusting but it tastes fabulous!) We are a divided household. I love Po's (down the street) and my hubby loves Blue Koi. So we split custody between the two.
(4)Hannah R.
So I heard quite a bit from my mom and dad who frequent here a lot. However, the first time I visited with my father who was super excited to have me try this place we waited 45 mins for a table. Now they were busy, so that's fine. But the hostess sat people who came after us before she ever sat us. We told her we were fine with a table or bar, but she continued to sit people (parties of 2) who walked in after us and who were further down on the list. It was a bit unorganized. Anyways, finally got a table and ordered food. The waitress seemed rushed, we ordered a few things to start with and she asked us a couple of times if that was our final order... no it was not, we told her we were going to order several appetizers at a time. Finally got to try the vegetarian dumplings, pork dumplings, scallion biscuit, the duck wrap. It was all pretty good, but I would have enjoyed it more if our dumplings weren't cold. Once again, people who sat down after us got their food before us. Our order must have sat around and had been forgotten which would explain the temperature of the dumplings. Food tasted good and was worth another go, but not when they are busy on a weekend. It's just not managed well when it's busy.
(3)Grace B.
On my last trip back to Kansas City, I had to revisit this place. It was a staple lunch joint in college, and I always ordered Ants on a Tree cooked in hot oil. I decided to order it again along with a honeydew milk tea. It was the same as I always remember it and it was just as good as I wanted it to be. Definitely go and enjoy.
(3)Kevin F.
We had a spectacular meal. We had the fire bird (duck) on house noodles and shrimp with bean sauce. The fire bird was a delicious spicy dish and the duck was cooked perfectly. The shrimp was fantastic as well. Coming in, things looked a little pricy, but the portions are huge and it was well worth it. You could definitely get away with splitting one of the entrees for a lighter meal. I would recommend it absolutely. Also has plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians.
(5)Alicia R.
So one day, I convinced a bunch of my friends in Lawrence to try Peruvian food in Kansas City. Something most unfortunate happened - the place was closed!! Luckily, someone suggested Blue Koi, which I had bookmarked. We had an excellent experience, which made me feel better about the Peruvian food fail. Their fried tofu is so far my favorite out of all the fired tofu I've had. We also had some dumplings which were tasty. I think I tried some of a friend's China Moon - also good. I had the ginger basil chicken as an entree - so delicious!! It was definitely a unique, but Asian, flavor. I also enjoyed a bubble tea - I believe I had the Almond Joy. Yum.
(5)Robert C.
The food is great, especially the appetizers and dumplings. The awesome sauce truly lives up to its name (no MSG). The shrimp moon and eggplant are my favorites, as is the dumpling soup as a main course. I usually come at odd times after a trip to KU. Now there's a Po's Dumplings. Tried it. Nowhere near as good as Blue Koi.
(5)Jocelyn R.
I cannot believe I haven't already written a review for Blue Koi. Are you sure, Yelp? Do you even know me?? Blue Koi is our absolute go-to, and although my husband varies his order, mine never changes and yours shouldn't either - Tofu in Black Bean Sauce, no mushrooms. If you must try something else, any of the dumplings are great, Ants on a Tree is good, and my mom is crazy about their duck entree. For starters, I'd go with the Tofu in Awesome Sauce (it's awesome indeed) or the Scallion Biscuits. It's reasonably priced, the service is usually great and the food is terrific and a healthy choice if you order right. Also, it's a place that we can go and take our 5-year-old and feel like we had a nice dinner out without the "how dare you bring a kid in here" glares. Something about the soothing music means that in the 50 or so times I have been to Blue Koi, I've only seen a kid acting up in there two or three times (and it was only mine once and they packed our food to go in a hurry!).
(5)Amanda S.
The food and service are very, very good. A big score when you order a split entree and you receive it already split on separate plates. We weren't starving and ordered the Fire Bird - Duck and a side of veggies to share. The Fire Bird was quite delicious but not spicy enough. I did have to add sirachaca. I was impressed with the side of veggies. It was an unique blend of cauliflower, carrots, little corn cobs and cabbage. This place has been on my mind since trying it. I am anxious to go back and try more from their quite extensive menu.
(4)Zach G.
Honestly, this may not be the best review of Blue Koi, since I only had one thing, but...man, it was awesome! Specifically, the dumplings...oh my, the dumplings. They can out fast and piping out, and tasted fresh and full of just unbelievable flavor. I remember thinking the price was really fair and the service was quite good. Oh yes, and the beverage was tasty and quite alcohol filled, though I think I remember saying "better be for that price!" I keep meaning to make it back, but just have not yet. I always forget about this place, which is a real shame.
(4)David H.
I know I reviewed this before, but for some reason, Yelp is recycling their reviews. Went there with my colleagues. We all ordered the noodle soups and bubble tea which were awesome. Started with shrimp dumplings. We'll be back again.
(4)Olin G.
You're never going to go wrong with Blue Koi. Whether it be the lettuce wraps, noodle dishes, or their amazing dumplings, you'll find something great every time. Always get props for the tasty fried tofu w/ awesome sauce and the great 39th street location.
(5)Nicole K.
I come here just for the crispy tofu with awesome sauce. One of my friends said it best at dinner last night, "this awesome sauce is pretty awesome." And as someone who grew up vegetarian, the crispy tofu reminds me of a favorite home-cooked meal from my childhood. After the tofu, I always get an order of the vegetarian dumplings. You can get them steamed or fried, and mine are always steamed. I like to take the nice sauce that comes with them, cut a hole in my dumpling, and pour a little inside. Mmmm... I've always had attentive, efficient service here, and price is right.
(5)Rachel P.
What can I say about Blue Koi? It rocks my world. I should eat there a lot more than I do. I always get the wonton soup, which comes in a huge bowl that is two meals' worth of food. The fresh flavor is an infusion of green onion, lots of cilantro, and I think lemongrass. It is soothing yet awakening to the senses. The pork inside the wontons is very flavorful. And so juicy. My boyfriend ordered the duck entre, and just raved about it. And you can get bubble tea :)
(5)Brandi C.
I'm definitely a fan of Blue Koi. We've been here twice now, and both times we've left full (with leftovers), tried a bunch of different things, and didn't spend a ton of money. Win-win-win. Both times it was busy enough (a Saturday evening and a Friday night), but we were seated right away and approached by a server only a couple of minutes after we sat down. Service was fast yet friendly, with our waitress each time offering suggestions when we were undecided on our options. The food is excellent - really flavorful, and the Awesome Sauce is aptly named. Seriously, if you go here and get dumplings, get the awesome sauce. You can thank me for that later. The dumplings themselves are huge - 2 portions are more than a meal, so we usually get a couple of starters and a couple of orders of dumplings and just split everything. We've had the pan fried seafood, shrimp pork & chicken, and shrimp dumplings, and they were all excellent. We've also had the Duck Wrap: good, but the peanut "sauce" that comes with it is a bit odd texturally for me, the Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps: add some Sriracha or Awesome Sauce if you want a bit of a kick, and on the suggestion of a friend, the Cantonese Roast Duck with noodles (which are made in house). The Cantonese duck was a tiny bit fatty for my taste, but my husband really enjoyed it. Both times we've had dumplings left over, as the portions really are generous for the price, and they've been neatly boxed up for us, along with our remaining Awesome Sauce. I've been nice enough to share a leftover dumpling with our dog, and she is also a fan, though she was not allowed to have any sauce with hers. The ambiance is nice (plenty of interesting things to look at), the restrooms are clean (and the women's room is HUGE!), and the service is efficient without making you feel rushed. We're going to bring our (vegetarian) friends here when they visit in a couple of weeks, since there are plenty of veggie friendly options for them. I'm already looking forward to the dumplings and Awesome Sauce.
(4)Alicia W.
We went here Friday night, they don't take reservations unless you have at least 6 people, but we still got in fairly quickly. The restaurant was small but didnt seem cramped. I got the Pomegranite fizz martini-DELICIOUS but very sweet. And i got the almond shrimp with aspargus and white rice. it was very yummy! and definitely had enough for leftovers, which were still fantastic the next day! I would definitely come back here! The service was excellent as well!
(4)Jacob S.
I've been past this restaurant dozens of times, but was never compelled enough by the exterior to go inside. It wasn't until I realized that BK Blue Koi was the latest Burger King concept restaurant that my interest was piqued. I work a few buildings down from here, and because it was so hot outside today I decided that I wanted to try somewhere close. My GF and I were hoping for a buffet, but I read all the reviews online for BK Blue Koi and decided to give it a go. The restaurant was moderately busy at noon on a Thursday, but we were seated immediately. Looking over the menu my anticipation grew. What was in store for us as loyal BK fans? How would BK add their signature touch to the "Fusion Chinese" restaurant scene? We started with the Crispy Tofu with Awesome Sauce. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical. BK usually isn't one to 'toot their own horn' so to speak, so it was a bit off putting that they claim this particular sauce was so 'awesome.' Combined with the fact that BK is well known for hamburgers (clearly falling into the "meat" section of the food triangle), how would they do with tofu? Boy, were we wrong. BK has DONE IT AGAIN. Too bad this appetizer just wasn't up to par with the remainder of the meal to come. When it came time to order, there was no question on my mind about what to choose. I had to see what Burger King's take on duck would be. As this is a "Fusion Chinese" concept, I was expecting some type of duck-burger, or possibly some duck fries (a la their famous "chicken fries"). My disappointment immediately began to set in as the only entrée duck options were served over rice, noodles, or in a soup. I went ahead and ordered the duck over rice. It was acceptable, but it was just missing that BK flair I was expecting. Hardly innovative, to say the least. There weren't even the visible grill marks that are the signature of BK's burgers. It would have been a nice touch. The lady ordered the braised pork over rice. Once again, this dish just lacked the BK presentation we were seeking and have come to know from BK Whopper Bar, BK Beer Kitchen, and even BK Burrito King. The service was great, and for the most part I enjoyed everything I tasted. For the BK diehard, you will be disappointed. I'm really not sure what BK was thinking with this one, but possibly they'll revamp if enough people write reviews. I will definitely be back and might bump up my rating to a 4, but I'm holding back on that last star until I get an innovative entrée option (such as "duck fries").
(3)Tim M.
Let me get one thing out of the way. There's been a lot of comparison between the dumplings here and at Po's down the street. The dumplings here KILL the dumplings at Po's. So amazing. The fried tofu is off the chain as well...incredibly good. Both of these are on the appetizer menu, but paired together make for a great meal. The entrees here just aren't great like the apps...the ones I've had were just meh, hence the missing star. Luckily, those appetizers save this place and make me a fan.
(4)Amanda G.
I'm actually not sure the last time I had meat here, and I'm not even technically a vegetarian - that's how good the veggie options are at Blue Koi. The fried tofu, as other reviewers have noted, is amazing. It melts in your mouth, and the "awesome sauce" lives up to its name, adding a nice spice to the cubes. The veggie dumplings (I always get them steamed) are delicious and not too sticky. The black bean tofu is also a gem on the entree menu, but most dishes you can get a handful of the other noodle dishes with tofu as well. The spiked bubble tea is a fun, unique offering and the sesame balls for dessert are the perfect end to what is always an enjoyable meal.
(4)Alexandra W.
This place is a little pricey, but the quality is all there so I don't mind. Try the dumpling soup and veggie lettuce wraps. Or, for something a little more ribsticking, they make a roasted pork in brown sauce which is as close to asian soul food as it gets. The only thing I tried and didn't love was the vegan delights soup, which would have been fine if it wasn't overly salty. This may have been a fluke, however, since everything else I've tried here has been well seasoned. I also had a green tea toddy cocktail that was one of the most heartwarming things I've every drank, and came in an adorable little teapot/sake cup service. So good!
(4)Paul L.
The dumplings were de-lish but the noodle and rice entrees were okay. Our party had some boiled chicken and vegetarian dumplings ($6.50 per order of 8) to start off with and they were excellent. They have a variety of noodle and rice entrees, with variations on meat and noodle, rice, or noodle soup. I had the Fire Bird ($13)--boneless duck with some scallion and bamboo strips. I requested the spiciness be taken down a notch. It was really that there was plenty of rice, as the chili flavor was still very strong. My dad had the seafood noodle soup ($13), which had scallops and shrimp, and my mom had the Ginger Basil Chicken ($11.5). The dishes were a little on the salty side, where the spices were a little too strong. Perhaps it is hard to get the balance right with their rice, noodle, and noodle soup variations. The restaurant has nice decor. The walls are blue with splashes of white that make it look like water, with some brightly colored paintings on the wall.
(4)Paul M.
Yeah, I eat tofu here. You should too. As often as possible.
(5)Fiona H.
We visited KC from SLC with a vegan in tow. VegKansasCity.com helped us find a list of friendly restaurants and we started with Blue Koi (alphabetical, doncha know). It was fantastic. We started with duck, fried eggplant, and lettuce wraps, then ordered dumplings, a hot pot, and some noodles. Everything - everything - was delicious. We agreed later that it was the best meal of the trip. Our waiter couldn't have been more friendly. He helped direct us to the vegan bakery down the street, chatted with us about Kansas City, and checked our list of restaurants to confirm our thoughts and make recommendations.
(5)Joshua A.
I absolutely love this place. Though I prefer to order the food and then take it home. When I ate there it was in the middle of summer and the place was like a blast furnace, even with numerous fans sitting around. I had the duck noodles and they were amazing. The duck was just simply fantastically flavored. The portions were huge for the price and I didn't eat that much. I did have leftovers for days afterwards. Since then, i've had their food once more and that was ordered and picked up. I had their duck soup with rice and it was just downright beautiful. I'll definitely be visiting again and again.
(5)Kim L.
Very tasty, decently-priced food in a quiet, serene ambiance... The mixed drinks are bordering on lethal. Ordering a bunch of appetizers was the way to go for our group with mixed dietary requirements... this place is definitely veg*n friendly. Tofu with awesome sauce is legend, wait for it... awesome ;p
(4)Munro R.
It had been years since I last visited Blue Koi on April 21, 2012 with my wife. As I recalled, the decor and ambience was inviting. I was definitely in an Asian foodie kinda mood. The vegetarian dumplings were fantastic, the best I've had in Kansas City outside of what my wife or mother-in-law makes. (I had the fried kind--). Much better than the veggie dumplings at Bo Ling's. The main courses by comparison were disappointing. My wife had the tofu with black bean sauce; I had the tofu with Chinese curry sauce. The black bean sauce was saltier than we expected; the curry sauce was flavorful and sweet. (MSG??) For both dishes we were disappointed that there were fewer vegetables than we expected. However, I have to say that the fried tofu was some of the best I've had at any restaurant in some time. So, all in all, a mixed experience. I wish the menu was more expansive. I probably won't be going back to Blue Koi anytime soon.
(2)Mary Ann S.
Great place! My family from Joplin and I came next door to eat when our first option (d'Bronx) fell through. Wonderful service, and the braised tofu and mushrooms was delicious!
(4)Breanna S.
Blue Koi is in my top favorite restaurants. They have a great selection for vegetarians and vegans. I always order the braised tofu with shitake mushrooms with noodles. My boyfriend really enjoys the ginger basil chicken. Blue Koi's appetizers are also top notch. My boyfriend is not a vegetarian, but we both rave about the crispy tofu with spicy awesome sauce. The vegetarian dumplings are also great. My boyfriend and I always suggest Blue Koi to our family and friends.
(5)Inessa F.
An excellent place for lunch or dinner, Blue Koi has 2 locations. The one near KU Medical Center has the feel of a little college joint, and the one close to I-435 is a bit more upscale. The food is absolutely delicious, Chinese fare. Check out the fresh and crunchy lettuce wraps, the ultra-addictive dumplings (the fried pork dumplings are my favorite), and the duck entree. All the soups are pretty awesome, too; they come in large portions, and can easily feed 2-3 people. I haven't had anything I haven't liked at this place. The service is fine (unlike some of these reviewers, I've never had an issue with the staff). The ambiance is colorful and artsy. Highly recommended!
(5)Julia F.
The food is really good, but the service is definitely sub par. Every once in a while I will refuse to come back because of the attitudes of the wait staff. Fortunately for them, the food is good enough to cause me to give in when I have a craving for their dumplings. For a good meal at a good deal, order the dumplings ($6.50/ half dozen). The are quite delicious. I am particularly fond of the Cantonese roast duck ($12), available in three preparations (I get it as a noodle soup). But the dumplings are really the star of the show; that's why my friends keep wanting us all to come back. Parking can be a bit of a problem depending on the evening, but it is manageable. They're not open on Sundays. I've not tried the carry-out, but I plan to some time when I want the food without dealing with the servers.
(3)Z K.
Awesome sauce? Seriously? You call it awesome sauce because it really is awesome to not get any someplace else, thats how bad it is. The noodles I ordered were not cooked properly, and the shrimp tasted OK. And the bubble tea was horrible, mango pulp from a bottle with the molasses...eh. Service was great however.
(3)Michelle B.
Blue Koi is one of my mainstays in town. The food, atmosphere and service are always consistently good. I also take advantage of the giant Sriracha bottle that always ends up at my table. I usually end up with one of two dishes. The Chinese style pot roast (slow marinated, tender meat) soup or the Cantonese roast duck soup. I'm a sucker for duck and a sucker for noodle soup. Their noodles are homemade and usually a great complement to the tasty broth. The vegan delights soup, ants on a tree, and fire bird are all pretty good ones too, but I generally always go with one of those two. Some people rave over the dumplings, but I haven't had an excellent experience with them yet. They're fine (pan fried is the way to go), but I prefer Po's down the street. Their bubble tea is some of the best I've had in town, but at $4 a pop it's saved for special occasions. Try the taro or red bean though. Yum. The worst thing about Blue Koi is that it's not the cheapest Asian place (probably $12-15 for an entree). But n Kansas City, it's probably one of the better Asian-type (although I call it more of a fusion cuisine) restaurants in town. Sure, I've eaten similar dishes in US cities with bigger Asian populations that were probably as good for cheaper, and I definitely have eaten in other Asian countries that were better for about 3/4 of the price. But we're in the Great Plains, so when it comes to Asian cuisine and culture, I take what I can get when it's good, even if it's a little pricier.
(4)Elizabeth P.
I love Blue Koi. Looooooove. Creature of habit, so my go-to order is always the same: vegetarian spicy chili wontons and black bean tofu. I've nibbled on lots of other things, but those two make a perfect meal (and they are the absolute perfect amount for a meal for two)! Service has never been great, but the food makes up for it. Although I'm not a vegetarian, I think the meatless options are the best things on the menu. I've been to the one 39th St. more often than the one in Leawood, and it is definitely better -- but maybe it's just the atmosphere once you walk outside? I don't know, but all I am sure that I want to go back right now.
(5)Stephanie G.
This is one of my favorite places in KC and always on the list to take visitors! Great ambiance. You can get away with casual to dressy. Great place for hanging out with friends or for an intimate date. My personal favorite are the Spicy Chili wontons, I get the vegetarian steamed/boiled but there are meat/fry options as well. I also enjoy Ants on a Tree. Texture Alert! They are bean noodles...hard to describe but I think they are fabulous. I get the dish with tofu which makes it vegan but again, meat is available. You will have leftovers and they are just as great warmed up a day or two later. As for drinks, you MUST try the bubble tea! Twice. Another texture alert! The first time the texture of the 'bubbles' (tapioca balls) will be too odd. But after the second try, you will find yourself craving them. :-) I have tried the Chai and enjoyed it. I have also tried the Almond Joy with a "kick" (alcohol - Rum to be exact) and it was great as well. Very sweet. (and vegan) They also have a great selection of hot teas. I have no doubt other menu items are great, but I love the two I get so much I never try the others! If you are reading this, even slightly considering trying it out...do.
(5)Tristen U.
The tea is amazing the are dumplings cooked and wrapped to perfection. The ambiance is modern but somehow make's it feel traditional at the same time. The waiters are very well coordinated and there not too pushy but not too relaxed, just right. When I got my food they said they missed folded a dumpling a gave me double order(I didn't even notice because they were all perfect) I couldn't even eat them I was so full after eating the first eight. But I did get some really good left overs, The Oolong tea was fabulous and they had beautiful serving cups.
(5)Travis S.
Blue Koi is one of my KC staples. Living on the East side of the state, I make it to the West coast of Missouri a couple of times a year and Blue Koi is becoming a must visit! My most recent trip was on a rainy spring evening. Sitting at a table in the front window provided a great vantage point to absorb Blue Koi's ambiance while watching soggy pedestrians scurry down 39th street. My companion and I started with the mixed filling pan-fried dumplings. Crispy yet chewy with a tasty blend of shrimp, chicken, and pork and a flavorful dipping sauce, the dumplings are a must! For entrees, I ordered the Firebird Duck and my date had the Black Bean Chicken. The Firebird was spicy and amazingly delicious. However, I would order it with chicken next time. I love duck, but this was a little tough and still had a substantial amount of fat and skin attached. The sauce on the Black Bean was outstanding too. We both opted for noodles instead of rice, which I would recommend for an extra $2. Blue Koi is a great casual date spot and gets even better in the winter months, when you can warm up with a tasty noodle soup or a steamy pot of tea.
(4)Holly H.
Is place is delicious and fun. I have only gone twice with friends, but had a fun and delicious meal both times. We always get dumplings for the table to share. The first time we ordered the Shrimp, pork, and chicken dumplings pan seared I beileve. After we had eaten them we found out they had given us a chicken batch on accident. They apologized and gave us out original order, so we got to try two different orders for the price of one! We have had all of the dumplings except the veggie one and they were all yummy. We prefer the steamed, but the seared are good as well. Both the ginger basil chicken and the chicken with black bean sauce are delicious. I fully enjoyed both, and they are pretty generous portions in my opinion! Smething that I love about this place is that they will cook it to order. If you want something super spicy, just tell them and they will do it. If you want something more mild, they will do that as well. They also have bubble tea, which I love. You can also get it with alcohol in it if you want. I can't remember if I ordered it with or without alcohol, so I can't really review that, but I think it is a pretty fun option! Overall, writing this review has made me hungry and now I want to go to Blue Koi!
(5)Kat A.
I love Blue Koi and miss it tremendously since moving away from KC about four years ago. Lucky for me, I got to visit last week while in town. Score! The jasmine and oolong teas are insanely good. The tofu with the awesome sauce is in a category of its own. The braised pork (or tofu - I like both) with the shitake mushrooms is ridiculously tasty, and my husband swears by their pot roast. Furthermore, you can't go wrong with their boiled dumplings. I prefer the pork or combination, but who are we kidding - they're all good. And I didn't even mention their boba. For the love of tapioca pearls, batman. The honeydew and the lychee are my favorites. I never did get my nerve up to try the green bean flavor, and I sort of (only sort of) regret that fact. The decor is relaxing, the staff is friendly, the prices are beyond reasonable, and aside from having a less than stellar parking situation, I'd recommend that just about anyone go here.
(4)James P.
Usually, Chinese food is just OK for me, (Chinese food is Chinese food) but these guys are uniquely tasty. I had the Black Bean Chicken. The only negative here was that it was a little pricy for lunch.
(4)Paul E.
Superb. The dumplings were delectable, and the duck was excellent. Order your entree as noodle soup. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Stuti J.
Lettuce Wraps and Dumplings were awesome! I was a little disappointed with the original red tea (bubble tea).. it lacked flavor.
(4)Katie H.
I LOVE Blue Koi. I've been going here since 2004 and have never had a bad experience. I occasionally get cravings for this place and can't think about anything else. :) We typically go to the original location near the KU Med Center, but the newer location on Mission Rd. is just as good. It actually looks exactly the same inside, just triple the size. Same blue door and everything. It's classified as Chinese food, but don't worry. It's not like a typical take out Chinese place. First off....it's not take out. Well....I think you can order ahead of time and take it home....but don't. Eat there. Second, you're not going to find sweet and sour or kung pow anything on the menu. This place does it up right. First of all, their dumplings are super tasty. You can get them boiled or pan fried....you're good to go either way. They also have great lettuce wrap options. Then for the main course, you get to choose from an awesome selection of unique options and then decide if you'd like it as a soup, over noodles, or on rice. My absolute favorite is the Ginger Basil Chicken with rice. The cravings I mentioned before....it's for this dish. The chicken is so tender and flavorful. You're not going to get this anywhere else. My husband typically gets either the Chinese style Pot Roast or the Braised Pork with Shitake Mushrooms. They also have a great selection of hot loose leaf teas OR flavored Bubble teas! The Bubble teas are great. You can also get them with "kick," if you know what I mean. :) So anyway....if you're looking for a restaurant in the KC area with a very cool vibe, awesome/unique dishes, and tasty drinks, this is definitely a place you need to check out.
(5)Matt E.
Blue Koi was one of the first restaurants I visited when I moved to Kansas City a few years ago, and I find myself going back here more often than most anywhere else in town. The food is always so simple yet delicious, the service is always efficient and unobtrusive, and the people watching is generally top notch. Well every other review said it, so i should as well. The Fried Tofu with Awesome Sauce is ridiculously good. Really heavy on cilantro, but i dig cilantro, so it works out well for me. Whenever i find out that one of my friends hasn't been here, we immediately go and i insist that we order this dish. On my last visit i found out that for only $5, they'll sell you a pint of awesome sauce to take home! I grilled up some shrimp and this is the perfect sauce for dipping. Warning though, it goes bad fast. The dumplings are also supposed to be fantastic, but i don't eat dumplings (bad food poisoning experience) so I can't help you there. I alternate between two different entrees here. Either the ginger chicken on noodles (add steamed tofu please!), or the Cantonese roast duck. I'm kind of a wuss when it comes to spicy food, so there are a lot of things that I haven't tried that my friends swear are delicious. I have no complaints about this place. In fact, while writing this review, I think i've decided that i'll go back to Blue Koi again tomorrow.
(4)Dina B.
Best noodles I have ever had! Consistently flawless. I always have a side of the wide noodles, sometime 1 to go:) Best lettuce wraps ever, pork and shitake mushrooms, spicy dumplings. Everything is made from scratch, excellent value, addictive. Privately owned of course. Did I mention the noodles? Like silk. RUN to Blue Koi if you have not eaten here.
(5)Neala B.
To my palate, it's good, not the best ever or anything, and a bit pricy for good. Don't mind paying if its great. Service was good. We had chicken dumplings and they were ok, nothing extraordinary. The bad thing was that every single one of them were broken and the filling fell out. We both had firebird, hubby had chicken I had duck. Nice and spicy on mine and they toned it down for him. Have to say I was a little disappointed in the noodles; I thought they would somehow be noodlier, maybe have a flavor of their own. I would like to try the crispy tofu enough that I'll probably go back at least one more time just to have that. Maybe make it an appetizer meal and try the eggplant pockets too. And beware, if you go there because you saw it on triple D, you have to request noodles for the firebird and there is an up charge.
(3)Zachary C.
I get made fun of a lot for being addicted to dumplings and it is all Blue Koi's fault. This is one of my favorite spots to eat in Kansas City. It is right down the street from me. I have been to Blue Koi 15 or 20 times and never had a bad experience. That kind of consistency is impressive for any food establishment. They have a varied menu but I enjoy the pan fried dumplings the most. All of the dumplings are great but the seafood ones stand out to me and are often what I choose. Aside from the dumplings they do duck very well, I am a big fan of their duck wrap appetizer. The veggies have a good fresh flavor and the duck has a unique sweetness that is perfect, not over powering. I am personally not big on bubble tea in general but my friends love them and often get them at Blue Koi. The staff is friendly and usually quite efficient. They are generally very busy but the restaurant does a good job dealing with volume.
(5)Russ D.
Holy shit this place is delicious!!! Seriously. "Ok...want to tell us why?" Because when I put the food in my mouth receptors in my tongue tell my brain, 'holy shit this food is delicious, more please!' so I continue to put more in my mouth.
(5)Gyan S.
Superb asian food!!!!! Enjoyed vegetarian dishes...
(5)Angela W.
I love Blue Koi. Never had a bad or even mediocre meal there and the leftovers always get finished no matter how fattening they are. My favorite items are the shrimp or chicken and asparagus with noodles. Everything with noodles, the rice is good, but noodles are amazing (and I normally avoid carbs like the plague). The crispy tofu is maybe the best thing on the menu, all of the dumplings are great, the duck, and the specials are almost always the thing to get. The hot teas and coconut bubble teas are delicious as well as the chocolate tart/cake.
(5)Eva J.
Sure, the dumplings are passable, but aren't the ones at Lulu's just as good? Apart from adorable kitschy waiters and waitresses and some bright, off-beat interiors, this place doesn't really have much going for it, food-wise -- especially when compared to some of the other Asian places in town, like Saigon 39 or Vietnam Cafe. I'm not really sure why people swear by this place.
(2)Meg L.
We popped in for dinner on a Saturday before the rush. Location is good, assuming you can park in that lot behind Jazz. Otherwise, good luck. The atmosphere is nice. The tables were clean, and we sat down right away and ordered the combo dumplings, pan fried. Those are great, cheap, and filling. Next time, I might just order those all for myself! The rest of the menu is very small. One page, and left a bit to be desired from where I was coming from. What they do have and what we ordered were good. My man ordered something like Zen Chicken Mix or something, and liked it. He felt it overdid the carrots a bit, but the flavor was very good. Its an inexpensive, clean, and semi-healthy place to pop in and try!!
(4)Brenna O.
NOM NOM NOM. I love Blue Koi's dumplings and bubble tea, and it's such a relaxed and fun place to go for lunch or dinner to sit and chat. The dumplings are made fresh and fast, and there's a choice of different fillings that are all excellent. Also I like the option that you can get a shot of alcohol in your bubble tea to make it a cocktail. The only complaint I have is that if you are wanting something more substantial than just dumplings, there are very few choices on the entree list. It is also more pricey. I say stick with the dumplings and you'll be happy.
(4)Anna B.
For me the Best Chinese restaurant in town, Friendly staff (usually college student), great atmosphere, and the dumplings as well as the entrees are ridiculously yummy! Just to make sure you got it, I hate Chinese food and this place turned me into liking it!
(5)Joe L.
This place is alright. There's nothing real special going on here. Good service and good food, just not my favorite place in town.
(3)Timothy C.
Blue Koi is a favorite spot. Lychee bubble tea, dumplings galore. Lots to love in this little shop. Pot roast is killer --tender and GREAT flavor. -- Get any dish w/ noodles, big fat slurpy delicousness. TIP: Get Awesome Sauce for your dumplings, pure win! The Green Onion Flatbread/biscuit is a great little side to munch on!
(5)Kate B.
This is my all time favorite restaurant in the whole wide world. And I travel a LOT. Why is it my all time fav? Because the food is consistently delicious, the menu is big enough to offer both vegetarian and non-veg options, the prices are reasonable, the ambiance is perfectly chill, and service is never lacking. My favorite starters here are the crispy tofu with awesome sauce, and the tofu lettuce wraps (I hear from my carnivorous counterparts the chicken and pork lettuce wraps are also very good). For the main meal, you can't go wrong with the black bean tofu, or ants on a tree. There are probably other delectable items on the menu, but these are the ones I love so much that I can't bear to pass them up whenever I'm in town. I visit Kansas City 3 or 4 times each year, and no trip is complete without at LEAST one meal here!
(5)T E.
The setup is very cute, classy and comfortable. Lots of great vegan and vegetarian choices. My favorites are ants on a hill, tofu with black bean sauce, and the veggie dumplings. Sheer goodness. The bubble teas are good too, if a bit sweet. It's a staple of my eating out.
(5)Jennifer K.
This place had wonderful service and food. The waitress was very helpful in checking on items to make sure they were animal ingredient free. She didn't even blink when I said I was vegan. She was also very accommodating in providing substitutions for my mother's food allergies. I ordered the fried vegetarian dumplings, which were pretty good. I ordered the Tofu with Black Bean Sauce as an entree and is was absolutely delicious! Not heavy or greasy like a lot of Chinese/Asian food. The atmosphere is pretty casual and a little noisy from the kitchen.
(4)Rose S.
I have lived in Kansas City for 16 years; Blue Koi remains my favorite Asian restaurant in town! Their "Ants on a Tree" always hits the spot. Their service always friendly. I made a reservation for 10 people and they were extremely accommodating. Everybody enjoyed their food (this rarely happens anywhere else) and left happy. I recommend this restaurant to anyone, whether it be a large group or a date night.
(5)James C.
Very good. Like a mom & pop privately owned PF Chang's. Creative bartender/manager (Andy), great waitstaff (Eric). Bubbleteas, dumplings, and duck wrap are amazing. Highly recommend.
(5)Carolyn W.
I have enjoyed every visit to Blue Koi. We celebrated my daughters 21st birthday here three years ago and she and I have made it a "special" visit place. She was visiting from Mississippi this week and, of course, it was where she wanted to go. We both have the same things each time we go. So I can only comment on a couple of menu items (and should have tried everything on the menu by now!). I have the Shanghai Wonton Noodle Soup (made it spicy this time) and love it each time! Delicious broth, huge wontons, and enough for three meals! My daughter has the seafood noodle soup. Beautiful seafood and broth - she typically finishes her meal! We share an order of dumplings - pork & pan fried - they are to die for! So amazingly yummy. They also offer many flavors of bubble tea that include alcohol if you choose. Amazing. The service is always friendly and prompt. The parking is behind the restaurant and there is plenty of it. A great stop in Westport!
(5)Jocelyn M.
I love everything I have eaten here. I really like the boiled dumplings; I crave them. I ordered the Braised Pork and Shitake Mushroom Noodles/Soup for lunch once and it was enough food for 3 meals. Literally. I took home leftovers (which I rarely do) and ate it again for dinner and the next day for lunch. My go-to item is the Ginger Basil Chicken. I typically don't order chicken dishes in restaurants, I like to go with a more-interesting meat, but the flavor levels are right on with this dish and the chicken is well cooked. There is a generous amount of basil which you can really taste. I have tried similar dishes at other Asain restaurants and there will be very little basil to speak of. This dish has a wonderful sweetness to it. The service is typically very good, but has been slow at times.
(4)Jill H.
We're regular's here. Food is excellent and the decor is bright and cheerful. The music is always fun and interesting. Service is usually great but its been a little slow a few times.
(4)Sarah W.
This is consistently my go to place for when I want good take out. Worth the price with huge portions, so I always get 2+ meals out of it. My stand bys are the dumplings and the black bean chicken.
(5)Jeremy W.
Loved the Lettuce wraps and Dumplings. I did not care for the special though and found it to be a little expensive, I can't remember the name of it but it took up a whole page of the menu with a picture of it. I thought it was very bland so I needed lots of hot sauce to make it a little more pleasing to me. The hipster girl that served us was very friendly and it is definitely different then your typical china buffets or togo places.
(3)Chippy S.
Great ecclectic assortment of asian food. If you are looking for a quick lunch joint, however, I would steer clear. It took quite a long time to get seated and even longer to get our food. However, when we did get it, it was DELICIOUS and lots of it! If you plan to give it a try, I would call ahead and do takeout to save yourself the wait, or be prepared to wait awhile for everything, even refills on water.
(3)Elizabeth R.
I was very disappointed by my meal here. I thought it was WILDLY overpriced for the quality. The waiter was cheerful, but brought my husband the wrong beer. My firebird tofu ($14!) was lukewarm and drowning in oil. Nor was it spicy, as advertised. The chili dumplings vegetarian were great, but charging an extra $1.75 for some cilantro is ridiculous. I will never spend my money here again. I prefer Po's around the corner.
(1)Beau S.
Best curry I've ever had hands down! Duck wrap was amazing! Coming back for the dumplings!
(5)Craig E.
In a word, yummy. We strolled up 39th Street during a two hour gap when it happened to stop raining and dashed into Blue Koi. It was a little humid and stuffy inside but the food more than made up for that. I ordered the chopped pork braised with shitake mushrooms over rice noodles and my gal had the chicken with black bean sauce. Flavor city!! It is nice to see a packed restaurant at 6:00 on a Monday evening. With reasonable prices and the great flavors, Blue Koi has me dialed in.
(4)Melissa R.
You can't go wrong with Blue Koi. Vegan or meat eater, cozy comfort food or date - Blue Koi has it. My favorite app is definitely the Crispy Tofu with Awesome sauce, by far the best tofu I've ever had. If you are craving a big crock of soup, vegan delight will satisfy. For a light lunch, I always go for the chicken lettuce wraps. My fiance swears by their wonton noodle soup with a side of chili oil. Service is great, everyone is friendly, and the ambiance can't be beat.
(5)Julie D.
After reading the yelp reviews on this place, my expectations were high. Although, I must admit that reviews on Asian restaurants which are written by non-Asians are taken with a grain of salt (or a big fat block of salt). Let me start off with the service. It was about 2 PM during the week and my friend and I were some of the only people in the restaurant. Service was sllllloooowwww. We both ordered bubble tea, I got strawberry smoothie and he got taro smoothie. We were both satisfied. The tapioca was the perfect texture. The flavor of the tea was good. For an appetizer, we got the scallion biscuit and boiled chicken/pork/shrimp dumplings. The scallion biscuit was ok, there was certainly nothing special about it and probably not worth the money that we spent on it. The dumplings were decent. I was not disappointed with them, but I've certainly had better. I ordered the braised pork and shitake mushroom noodles. It didn't make me have the urge to vomit, but I would not order it again. My friend ordered the wonton soup, and gives it zero stars out of five. He said that it was more like ginger soup. There was way too much ginger. The wontons were quite disappointing as well.
(2)Brian L.
I try to visit Blue Koi every time I travel to Kansas City. Great food and atmosphere. Dishes to try: Chinese Style Pot Roast Ants on a Tree Tofu with Chinese Curry Sauce Pork Dumplings I can't wait to stop in when I'm back in KC!
(5)C V.
A bit pricier than what I was expecting... As many other reviewers note, the portions here are large enough that you'll likely have enough for more than one meal. The food is good, though not my favorite. I've had the seafood noodle soup (really good, but could have used a little more seafood) and some pork dish (ok but a little too sweet for me). Entrees are $11-15.
(3)Ben D.
One of the best Chinese restaurants in Kansas City. Certainly not your typical Chinese fare, rather an eclectic assortment of Chinese comfort food that may seem intimidating at first, but nearly everything on the menu is worth trying out. For something spicy, the Firebird is the way to go and for vegetarians, Blue Koi's Veggie Dumplings, also the feature of their Vegetarian Wonton Soup, are some of the best you'll find anywhere.
(5)chris c.
excellent high quality food! You wont regret this savory meal... I used to work at KU and would go to lunch here 2-3 times a week. Awesome food, very tasty.
(4)Krista N.
How could you not like this place? Every time I eat here I leave more than sated than the last time. The steamed dumplings are always good, tofu with awesome sauce couldn't get any better, and the vegetable soup with vegan broth always makes me feel better when I am ill. The tea selection is quite large, and no matter what dish I get here I always leave satisfied.
(5)Cara F.
On a weekend trip to KC this past weekend, I came down with a nasty cold. The one and only vegetarian wonton noodle soup and a side of the crispy tofu with awesome sauce from Blue Koi helped me get through. After a few bites, I could instantly feel my taste buds come back to life and my lost appetite somehow found its way back to me! Moral of the story, this food isn't just delicious - it's medicine for the soul.
(5)Kate V.
Wonderful fusion place on wonderful 39th street. Good service, a few good wines, delicious bubble teas, and exciting entrees! The housemade noodles are the ultimate comfort food. No, wait, the dumplings are. Or the eggplant appetizers. I wish they flavored up the fried tofu a bit, but otherwise I've loved everything I've eaten there. And I refuse to leave before I've stuffed myself with the sesame red-bean-paste balls. Best dessert in the world!!
(5)Jeff H.
I was a bit skeptical of this place when I first looked at the menu. The wife and I were looking for something different for dinner, someplace we wouldn't normally think of. So we decided upon Blue Koi. The wife and I decided to share some shrimp dumplings as an appetizer. What a wonderful decision that was. They were equally awesome with the sauce that came with them as they were with some sriracha. I had the roasted duck over noodles. I had a bit of a confused moment because I initially wanted my duck served "over" noodle soup and I wanted to choose the pork noodle soup from the menu. But the server corrected me after an astoundingly long minute of completely misunderstanding of what I was asking for. What I misunderstood was that the duck would be made into noodle soup, so I would have duck noodle soup. I didn't like the idea of that so, based on the waitresses recommendation, I had the duck served over noodles. The noodles were fabulous and a wonderful choice. The only problem was that I couldn't eat them with chopsticks and had to switch to a fork. Asian food isn't the same when eaten with western cutlery. The duck was very good but a little sweeter than I would normally enjoy, I'm more of a spicy sort of dude. The wife had lettuce wraps and has been raving about them ever since. I don't like lettuce wraps very much. Next time I think I will just get 2 different types of dumplings as my dinner because they were fabulous and I can't imagine going to Blue Koi and not getting dumplings.
(4)Kackie C.
You know, sometimes everything is in line in a restaurant and I'll still give them four stars based simply on how I feel when I'm there. Everything can be totally on point, but the restaurant is never elevated to a greater level than the sum of its parts. But in Blue Koi's case, even if I've once or twice ordered something I didn't love (MY taste, not their foible) I will STILL give them five stars because of how I feel when I'm there. First of all, Mark and I have a strange knack for always going to Blue Koi when our favorite waiter is working. His name is David, and he deserves a review all on his own. We always say, "I don't know a ton about him, but he's the best WAITER ever." He always makes us feel like he has all the time in the world for us, even if he's got a full section. (He also works at Pizza Bella, so we stalk him there, too.) Secondly, you know, sometimes you're just in the mood for dumplings and NOTHING else will do. Lucky for us we live right around the corner from West 39th and Blue Koi stays open pretty good and late for us. Like I said, I've had some of the entrees and, while tasty (Mark is a big fan) I still prefer their dumplings, crunchy veggies (panko fried...nom), and their lettuce wraps. We almost play our visits to Blue Koi like dim sum, just a little bit of a lot of things and leave extremely satisfied. The prices are in alignment with the rest of 39th, also. Very reasonable. Can't really say enough about this place. It's fantastic.
(5)Randy H.
Great place to eat. The dumplings are very, very good. But my favorite thing on the menu is the chive pancake...delicious. The staff and owner are very friendly.
(4)K. H.
Very, very good! I ordered the fire bird and it was delicious. Also their bubble tea is wonderful with the perfect taste and texture in their tapioca pearls.
(5)Jeff H.
This place is very interesting. Original, modern, authentic, bargain price and very alternative. if you're looking for Americanized Chinese dishes such as Orange Chicken, you're in the wrong place. There is a plethora of "Chinese" cuisines, you have Shanghainese, Cantoneses, Pekingnese, Sichuan, Hunan all offering exceptionally wide variety or localized dishes. Blue Koi offers Taiwanese dishes. The soup based pot roast noodles are amazing, great warming sensation especially during the colder months. Fried tofu, and Scallion cakes are amazing appetizers. Heard of Boba? Yep, this is one of only a handful of places in KC that offers boba drinks. Their portions are quite large, so I would suggest you order an appetizer or two and just split the main entree.
(5)Tara B.
Went here for dinner tonight and it was as great as always. The food is so flavorful and pure tasting... meaning: tastes made just right! I always have appreciated the staff there. They are down to earth, kind and helpful. You could dress up to go here, which is nice, but its really just a little oddly quaint and you won't feel out of place in jeans and t shirt. Every time I go I have to get the Eggplant Pockets-- tonight was no exception! You get 4 to an order and they about the size of a fist so there's plenty to share or eat a couple and take a couple home for later. Dumplings, good... Crunchy veggies-- awesome. The dipping sauce is wonderful. I also had the duck roll (I think that's what it was called) and it was sweet and rich and entirely savory-delicious! Oh yes... I'll continue to go back.
(5)Brenna P.
I had been meaning to visit Blue Koi for a long time. I recently made my way there to meet a friend for lunch one afternoon. We were immediately seated and served our beverages. We didn't get any appetizers, but several of them sound great. There are more than one appetizers fit for a vegetarian, which isn't very common, even in the Asian cuisine world. Glancing over the menu, I immediately noticed that there are several vegetarian options, and most entrees can be made vegetarian. Knowing this, my usual four or fewer choices were suddenly expanded into multiples! I chose the Tofu with Chinese Curry Sauce ($13). It consisted of ginger, onion, mushroom, snow peas and fresh basil, topped with a spicy Chinese curry sauce. The dish was spicy, but not too spicy to overpower all of the vegetable flavors. The vegetables were perfectly and lightly sauteed, giving them a delectable crunch. There was easily enough food on my plate for two servings, but it was so good that I engulfed it all in one setting. Yum! I look forward to coming back here again and trying out other entrees. It's definitely worth a visit.
(5)travis c.
Spicy chili proper wontons!
(4)Amanda F.
I have always been to the location in the Mission Farms shopping center- I have an obsession with Asian food and blue koi hits the spot! The dumplings are amazing, lettuce wraps amazing, drinks amazing... Obviously there is a trend here. Amazing. Sometimes when go to the same restaurant different location I get slightly disappointed, I however did not. I was equally impressed with this location as well!
(5)Nick P.
The koi is definitely a good stop. Everything on the menu has great flavor. My only gripe is their definition of spicy isn't even a pleasant burn.
(4)Stephen B.
This is my go to place for a light dinner of apps. The duck wrap is mouth watering perfection and the combo dumplings (I get them steamed) are plentiful and delicious. Order the chili oil if you are a fan of spicy, this is very addictive and IMO better than the dumpling sauce. I have yet to try everything else there but I certainly intend to based on the quality of these two apps. The long bamboo bar is exceptionally cool, and the guys in the open kitchen are well trained and consistent. Owner is very nice also, and the service is prompt and professional. 9.5 out of 10 only because the prices are a little steep.
(5)Chad S.
We stopped in Blue Koi on a Saturday for lunch. Neither of us were very hungry when we arrived so we decided to split the Firebird (with duck) and added a side of steamed vegetables. A quick note on splitting entrees: I never expect, but always appreciate, a restaurant like Blue Koi that actually splits the entree and its sides onto two individual plates - it's a little thing that scores big points with me. We were seated toward the back of the restaurant, near where the orders were picked up when ready. We didn't wait a long time for our food, but it was enough time to work up an appetite as we watched large bowls of tasty looking noodles, plates of pot stickers, and entree after entree pass by. When our food came up, we were both ready. The Firebird was excellent, though (as Joi also mentioned in her review) a bit on the oily side, with large pieces of duck and a nice scoop of rice for each of use. The side of steamed vegetables (which included small sections of corn on the cob, cabbage, carrot and cauliflower) were the perfect compliment to the entree. As one of my favorite parts of Kansas City, 39th Street already has some of my favorite places to eat, and Blue Koi has easily made it's way onto that list.
(4)Cassie A.
I eat here pretty often. The noodles and the tofu are the BEST. I do think each menu item could use a $1 or $2 reduction in price, and I would enjoy it if the entrees came with more vegetables - they're usually a bunch of meat or tofu with only a few vegetables. I often ask for extra garnishes (sliced cucumber, carrots and cilantro). Service is quick and usually friendly. I do not care for the meat dumplings but the vegetarian ones are awesome.
(3)Ted H.
I tried this place several times over a two year period, and ordered a variety of different dishes. Unfortunately, everything tasted of too much MSG.
(2)HisHer R.
His: everyone around me likes this place more than I do. I always get the duck and its pretty good but I'm not sure a wait door a table here is warranted. Hers: blue koi is a charming little spot. I love love their vegetable dumplings with a side of steamed rice. However anytime I've veered off my usual I wasn't that impressed.
(3)Rhonda S.
Absolutely my favorite place to eat in Kansas City. Located east of KU Med Center with ample parking behind the resturant. (Enter parking at the street to the west of the shopping area.) The food offers interesting cuisine, vegetarian and vegan options. Their vegetable dumplings with awesome sauce are one of my favorite. Their crispy fried tofu tastes like cream cheese. Lettuce wraps are the bomb! Their filled sesame balls must be ordered at the end of each meal. Trust me, this place is good.
(5)Erin M.
I think I'll name my first born "Awesome Sauce." I'm slowly but surely making advances in my chopstick training, but in the middle of my braised tofu with portobellos I had to dig into the rice with a fork to get bigger bites because it was SO FACKING DELICIOUS. My roommate loved her chicken curry dish and we both had tons of leftovers (not that we didn't try to or want to demolish the meals). The crispy tofu as an appetizer was perfect and like I said...I'm a little obsessed with the Awesome Sauce. Blue Koi is such a cute restaurant. If I liked bubble tea, I'm sure I'd appreciate the wide array of available flavors (tapioca pearls remind me of goldfish eyeballs--ptooey!). Service was great, if a little slow at time. The dreamboat of a manager who I tried to make lovey-dovey eyes at should expect a return costumer (can anyone get me his number?!).
(4)Nancy T.
This is my favorite Chinese spot in town. The food is really, really good. There are a few dishes in particular that I love. I could make a meal out of two duck wraps. They are incredibly good, as is the braised peanut salad that comes on the side. Mmmm! I love the lettuce wraps, the dumplings and the crispy tofu with awesome sauce (the sauce is key). My favorite entree is the Ants on a Tree. I've had the pot roast, fire bird and another soup (can't recall the name) and they were good, but not like "omg I must have this again soon." Still, the overall quality of food here is top notch. I also love the ambiance and the service. Try the bubble tea if you've never had it. Yay for this place!
(4)Kelly E.
Absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Kansas City, I go every time I'm in town. The veggie dumplings (pan seared) are a beautiful green, and so so tasty with soy sauce. I also really love the crispy tofu. Service is relaxed, helpful, and friendly. Comfortable atmosphere and decently priced. Although one time I had a vegan soup-ish dish I can't remember the name of and that was not at all my taste, but stick with the dumplings or other entrees and I can't complain!
(5)Robert R.
Tofu in my mouf and bubbles in my tea. Its the final frontier. When I became a vegetarian I knew at one point or another I would have to eat tofu. It never really appealed to me, and it didn't seem like it could ever replace the feeling I got from eating a 1/2 lb. burger. Blue Koi changed all that. Its hard to describe my state of euphoria, but if I had to, I would say its similar to eating a exploding star cut it into cubes and dipped in a magical elixir. Regardless if its in curry sauce, black bean sauce or made into crispy little cubes, I can't stop ordering it. It's just plain wrong how much I like it. I'll probably need a intervention one day. Unfortunately, tofu isn't my only addiction. I have also come to love Bubble Tea. Drinking liquid threw a ginormous straw and having to suck up a black chewable treat makes me feel like I'm enjoying a futuristic cocktail aboard a star ship. Like most star ship's they have a range of seating options. I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes, even on Friday or Saturday night. If you don't feel like waiting, or are impatient like me, check the bar for open seats. You can bypass the line, eat at the bar, and watch as they prepare your food. Just be sure to give the guy shoveling tofu in his mouf a Vulcan salute.
(5)Anna B.
Blue Koi is the type of place that, if it was in my neighborhood, I'd eat at once a week. They offer several different dishes - all with very unique and varying flavors. And the staff is always very energetic and enthusiastic. It's a great lunch spot or casual dinner spot and it won't break the bank!
(4)katie s.
Blue Koi, Did you know I love you so much that as part of his wedding vows, my husband promised to take me to you as soon as we got back from our honeymoon? It's true. As soon as we got back, we headed down 39th Street and I happily ate my fill of Crispy Tofu w/ Awesome Sauce and Veggie Pan-Fried Dumplings. In the winter, we've made a habit of splitting those two dishes, and splitting a big bowl of the Shitake Mushroom w/ Braised Tofu Soup. That meal is the perfect antidote to a cold winter day, and we've indulged many times over the last few months. You make me happy to live in KC, and should I ever move, trust that I'll be there, in tears, begging for your Awesome Sauce recipe. Love, Katie
(5)Beth L.
The Pot Roast Noodle Soup is my all time favorite; it totally peps me up on a chilly or dreary day. The "Ants On a Log" is also very good, and my husband is a sucker for their fried dumplings and "Crispy Tofu in Awesome Sauce". The sauce is, in fact, awesome. They have a nice variety of vegetarian options, and even some entrees that low carb; how many chinese restaurants can you say that about? The staff is always prompt and courteous. About the only criticisms I can make are that they don't change up the menu much, and blue sponge paint is a yucky wall treatment. But if they removed the Pot Roast Noodle Soup I'd be heartbroken, so I suppose menu stasis isn't always a bad thing. And I can live with the sponge paint.
(4)Mike G.
What happened to Blue Koi? Had lunch there yesterday with a friend and the service was bad and the food mediocre. We ordered the duck wraps and the shrimp cakes to start. Our waiter brought the two plates to the table and retreated without so much as "Can I get you anything else?". It took 5 minutes to get his attention and ask for share plates so we could enjoy our first course. The duck wraps were pretty good but in need of a complimenting sauce instead of the peanut & vegetable brunoise it came with. The shrimp cake was overcooked and charred in places that should be a baked golden brown. We ordered wine and when we were ready to order our next course our waiter never bothered to ask if we wanted another glass despite the empties sitting in front of us. Our second course was the roasted 1/4 duck and chicken dumplings. The dumplings were delicious. The duck dish was a succulent roasted leg with fall of the bone meat but the medallions (which comprise the majority of the dish) were fatally overcooked. The waiter was uninterested in our feedback concerning the food and when I asked for a cup of coffee after our meal he informed me that "we don't serve coffee". Now, I can maybe, maybe accept that you don't offer coffee....wait, no I can't. Are you crazy? No coffee? The icing on the cake (by the way the waiter did not offer dessert-maybe they don't serve dessert either) was that he did not bother to offer me black tea or anything in lieu of the coffee. Sorry Blue Koi but 39th street is a treasure trove of decent places to eat. I wish you were still one of them.
(2)Senushi J.
This place pretty much has a cult following. The prices aren't horrible, but it's definitely not a bargain eatery either. Their firebird chicken dish is great and not at spicy as the red notation makes it out to be. The one thing you must have is their *Mango Lychee Bubble Teas* made in a semi-smoothie form. It's AMAZING and maybe safer to have for dessert because you might get too full sipping on it waiting for your food.
(5)Patrick S.
Blue Koi is so good I make a note to come here at least once a week, as long as my budget can afford it :( The crispy tofu, fried shrimp dumplings, vegetable lettuce wraps, mmmmmmm.... too good.
(5)Kartik K.
Have been frequenting the place quite a bit since we moved to KC. The vegetarian options are excellent. Crispy Tofu with Spicy Awesome sauce is truly stellar -- the sauce doesn't lie, it really is awesome. Also enjoy the eggplant pockets, and lettuce rolls (Yes, I eat all the appetizer's with the awesome sauce). Phoenix's nest is often a special on the menu, and I highly recommend you get it when it's available. Overall a wonderful asian fusion place in KC, a real gem for the area. Prefer the Leawood location for ambience, but the 39th st location has more character.
(4)brian g.
The curry tofu dish was amazing! The tofu was braised, unusual for most tofu dishes. It was very flavorful. The rice was sticky and authentic. Highly recommended! And the boba tea with alcohol was clever and tasty.
(5)Lannette G.
This place rocks! I love everything about it. I'm not going to go into how good it is, just go or read the other reviews that go into detail about their plates. Just don't go while your fainting of hunger because it will take a while to get seated........which is a good sign...it means the food is worth the wait.
(5)Audrey R.
Okay, I actually only get two things on the menu (lettuce wraps and vegetarian dumplings), but when I take my friends, they love it. Yummy! I wish I lived within walking distance and I would eat here as much as possible, but for now it's just a treat every now and then.
(5)Jill P.
Yum. Yum. Yum. The dumplings are awesome. Fried Tofu. Eggplant pockets.... braised beef... phoenix nest. I have never had a bad experience here. Blue Koi has been around for years and to this day my only complaint is that with such a LIMITED wine list - a server had to consult a cheat sheet to help pair my wine and food. The staff is young and friendly. The food never disappoints. I would eat here every day if i could. One of the many cute and quality restaurants on 39th St.
(4)Katie B.
I think this place is just okay. The dumplings are amazing and awesome and whatever positive adjective starts with an a. I love the atmosphere of this place, and love to sit right by the window to do a little people watch or make fun of people's parallel parking abilities. This is a place I like to go to to show people that Kansas City has interesting little places all around to grab a bite. However, I have some problems with some dishes on the menu. Their ginger chicken has huge pieces of uncooked ginger in it which is impossible to eat. I mean, literally impossible. You will chew for days. The duck is always too sweet and overcooked. There is too much 5 spice powder used on everything. But the noodles and dumplings ARE killer, so you should probably eat here. But it probably shouldn't be your absolutely favorite restaurant in the world. Unless it's your favorite restaurant in the entire world simply because they have awesome sauce.
(3)Heather P.
We occasionally have work meetings here, otherwise I would have never stopped by. Their food is great. I had the chicken and sun-ripened tomato, but subbed the rice for noodles. We also tried the fried vegetable plate for an appetizer. Great food here, will visit again.
(4)Cris M.
I like Blue Koi. Usually have visited the one in Leawood though. The China Moon is my favorite. I like taking sriachi and putting a few drops on the plum sauce that is served with this appetizer. Sweet and hot! I know, I'm a freak but it's good. I also get a side of awesome sauce. Pan fried dumplings are good as well, as is the Chinese Pot Roast. Also like the Thai Basil Shrimp. Was not a fan of the fried tofu. Just didn't have any flavor. Liked the cheesecake won tons and the bean paste balls as well. The plum sauce is wonderful and is served with both the China Moon and bean paste balls. Bean paste balls are different, so if you are looking for a typical dessert, go with the cheesecake wontons.
(4)michelle p.
This place was alright, I had mushrooms with noodles or something along those lines. It was good and plentiful, but not super stellar. My friend did order the eggplant pockets which were delicious. My other friend ordered something that he has gotten before at another location, it was not similar and he was put off by it. If you are a vegetarian, they do use fish sauce in some of there items, so don't forget to ask.
(3)Joel N.
This place is so yummy, and they have several flavors of bubble tea. Which I like to remind people, they will put alcohol in if you're interested. The menu is quite the variety for fans of Chinese food, with plenty of options. The choice of herbal teas is quite impressive as well.
(4)Abby A.
Wonton Noodle Soup. Wow wow wow. I used to live in Lawrence and after relocating have yet to find anything comparable. Trust me, I've tried. Simple and savory flavors combined in one big steaming fragrant bowl. I love to sit and take in the smells before I dig in. Yum! The Chinese Pot Roast is also delicious..and the Crispy Tofu is a great appetizer..this coming from a girl who normally harbors a strong dislike for the stuff. The prices are great, the food is even better. Already planning on going back over my trip in June. Possibly before hittin up First Friday..another KC favorite.
(5)Roxanne A.
I've been there a few times and it's never been particularly good. The pot roast was okay, chicken dumplings okaaay.... Last week I had chicken with asparagus and the asparagus was fresh but the sauce had no distinct taste at all. The sun-dried tomatoes and almonds seemed like an afterthought because the flavors didn't work together at all. Bland my friend, just bland. On the up side, it's got cute decor and I could see myself possibly having a casual business lunch there.
(2)Margaret D.
On a very frigid January night my husband had a craving for Chinese. This was the best meal I've ever had at Blue Koi. We got the Eight Treasures tea which was the perfect cold weather drink. The crispy scallion appetizer was tasty. I had tofu with black bean sauce. I'm not a vegetarian so any tofu dish has to be as tasty as any dish on the menu-it was. My husband had the wonton soup-really ample serving. He loved it. Service was great.
(4)Annette D.
Just okay, won't need to go back for another 4 years again. The Pot Roast reminded me how much better Pine and Bamboo does it, and so much more authentic. When beef comes to the table with that rainbow trout sheen on it... not so appetizing. Did not get dumplings this time, but once again go to Pine and Bamboo on the weekend for Dim Sum, it is so good. I got the Tofu with Awesome Sauce as other reviewers loved it and it was good. Won't go back for it though. Oh and the Firebird was good but heavy with bamboo shoots, very spicy, good noodles. There was enough flavor there that I was able to stretch the left overs with some sauteed halibut and I think I added some green veg which it needed.
(2)Annie T.
Hands down, delish. I was seriously impressed with the service, tasty num nums and atmosphere. We did a late birthday celebration and they brought me a tasty dessert-- on the house. Standard restaurant etiquette but hey, I was gratiously in awe. I'd highly recommend the curry, dumplings and oodles o noodles! I heart KC yelpin with the ahmazing Erin M.
(4)Haley D.
The only person who loves Blue Koi more than me, is my little niece. Blue Koi is awesome. I like the Black bean tofu over spinach and the eggplant pocket appetizer. My niece loves the potstickers, potstickers, potstickers. They serve most of their meals several different ways, over spinach is not on the menu. It's a special request, with no up charge.
(5)Sarah B.
I'm having a hard time rating this place...not because it has bad food or crappy service, but because I'm just not too keen on this type of food. Since I'm vegetarian now, that limited my selection considerably. I gave a glazed veggie dish a try with tofu instead of chicken. It was then that I realized that I do not like tofu. It's weird and gross. We also ordered tofu and Awesome Sauce as an appetizer. The sauce was awesome indeed, but again, tofu=ick. The veggies were great, the tea was fantastic and the wait staff is the best looking group of servers that I have ever seen. So...if I wasn't such a picky eater I would have enjoyed it much more. If I wasn't vegetarian, I would have ordered their chicken dumplings because I hear they are phenomenal!
(4)Aurora S.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Kansas City, hands down! I love the cool, intimate atmosphere and the service is always great! My favorite dish is the Shanghai Wonton Noodle Soup. Delicious with both meat or vegetarian dumplings. And as an avid fan of bubble tea, theirs is probably the best in KC (much better than Tea Drops). The perfect place to share wonderful, comforting food with close friends.
(5)Heather K.
YAY GODDAMNED YAY!!! THIS is good food. They have BOBA. I had mango and my partner had Butterfinger. Well, it was his first time having boba but I practically lived off of it in Vegas. I'd never had a chocolate version, don't recommend it. Stick with milk tea or fruity flavors. Wheeeew I need to get a towel just thinking about it. Take that however you want it. I got a huge bowl of vegan tofu soup with glass noodles, tofu that actually had a flavor, giant carrots and veggies, and these awesome little tied up balls of thin tofu sheets with a crazy texture. It was fun. Really savory without the signature midwest over-doing it on the cheap seasoning like...table salt... flavor. My friend got a ginger-y chicken and rice dish that was very simple and had a happy smell. I actually got his leftovers because he had class after, so I got to try it for lunch. It was phenomenal. Seriously. Nothing bad to say. Loved the smells, the food, the background music, the staff was alright, though maybe a little shy? I give them a bonus banana sticker for having a ridiculous selection of boba, AND for the daring.... you can get it with bourbon. rrrrr.... where's the towel...
(4)Jamison U.
The Blue Koi is my noodle house of choice, I like nearly (at least all that I have tried) main dishes, all of the soups, and all of the dumpling dishes they serve. The atmosphere is urban and trendy without being pretentious. The prices are fair, portions are pretty large, and the tea is top notch.
(4)Dave B.
Tofu n awesome sauce is all you need to know
(4)Sean O.
This is a cool spot in a cool neighborhood. The cozy atmosphere and huge window overlooking 39th street make this a great place to go for dinner. They have really HUGE noodles that are really really tasty! Check it out!
(4)G B.
I enjoyed food at the location on 39th KCMO until I experienced a long piece of hair wrapped around the veggies in my seafood stir fry. When I bought it to the waitress' attention she appeared nonchalant about it and the cooks looked at us as if it was my hair. I will not eat there again because of unsatisfactory response I received. They did replace the plate but the whole experience was not enjoyable.
(1)Dave L.
Can't improve too much on what others have said. The food is very simply prepared and presented, so don't expect carefully constructed pretty plates. Prices are reasonable and the quality is top-notch. It can be very crowded at peak hours so prepare for a wait on weekend night or at the height of lunch hour.
(4)Rhett H.
This is a pretty great asian food place. The dumpling are great. The rest of the menu reads like an westport Chinese food restaurant. That being said, what exactly does it mean to be a restaurant serving asian food these days? Blue Koi doesn't really tell you much, and I'm sure they don't serve Koi fish here, but it doesn't really tell you which area of ethnic dining you're going into, so there really isn't a geographic cuisine focus here. Nevertheless, for folks who don't like to be picky about that stuff, there is really nothing to dislike. I have to say, the food is well prepared, hot, generous, and if you look around you might find some hot sauce and chopsticks. A little pricey, but you're paying for the shwanky location and plush booths (if you get a booth).
(4)Emily H.
One of my all-time favorites. I might not ever have become vegan if it weren't for such gems as this one. I patronize all of the family establishments, BK and Genghis Khan locations, and they really don't mess around. It is actually difficult to try everything on the menu because each dish I enjoy ends up being addictive. I couldn't get out the door without an eggplant pocket for years. I have finally broadened my vegan horizons quite a bit, but I can definitely still live on their appetizers. They always have fresh ingredients and the flavors have a depth, that little extra complexity, that many other places just don't seem to get. Say what they will about awesome sauce-- it is a bit too sweet for my taste-- but it's got nothing on the raw garlic sauce. Whether you like things savory and mild or spicy and intense, they have something for you. Blue Koi also happens to be on the hip 39th Street strip, great for an after-dinner stroll, cocktail, new book, etc. etc. Just go ahead and plan to make it a night.
(4)Siege A.
I just got home from eating there, and I'm already craving it again! Its a good thing the portions were generous, because I have leftovers in the fridge. Ants on a stick is my favorite entree so far, and I love the cups for the single serving hot teas.
(5)Madelaine G.
Dumplings were not bad, though not as good as the ones I make at home. The jasmine tea was wonderful, and I think the restaurant had a nice ambiance.
(3)Alison M.
Oh, the dumplings!! I just went to Blue Koi's new suburban location at Mission and 435, and it's just as great as the original on 39th St. The Tofu with Black Bean Sauce is spicy and delicious, the house-made noodles are fantastic, and the Fire Bird (made with tofu) is super spicy and tasty. These folks know how to cook up some tofu! The Awesome Sauce, well, the name says it all. They have a great selection of tea, which is always a pleasure. I have had good service at both locations. Fantastic.
(4)Scott D.
The best Asian food I've found in Kansas City. The decor is understated yet exquisite.
(5)Domo R.
Tofu and Awesome Sauce! The dumplings are good, too.
(4)Rob C.
This was my favorite place in KC when it first opened 2001?--the noodle soups were incredible. After awhile, it declined a little but still excellent. I may be mistaken, but I think midwestern asian restaurant owners often realize they don't have to keep their cuisine at such a high level and still please "the masses."
(4)Carrie H.
my first real asian food attempt in kansas city, and i was moderately surprised. it was much better than i thought it would (honestly, my expectations were pretty low). but once i saw the bottle of sriracha on the table, i thought, that's a good start. i ordered the wonton soup, a bit pricey, but the generous portion and flavorful wontons made up for it. the broth had just the right amount of flavor and the wheat noodles were just the right texture--soft but slightly chewy. my dad ordered the chicken dumplings, a bit on the greasy side, and the sauce was a bit too salty. otherwise, a really enjoyable meal. will be returning to try other dishes :)
(4)Michelle G.
pork fried dumplings almond bubble tea and ants on a tree, the three things i miss most about not being close enough to go to lunch on 39th stree anymore, Blue Koi is AWESOME so good, highly highly HIGHLY recommend.
(5)kp w.
this is easy. blue koi, bar none, is the best chinese ("best ethnic restaurant" according to ingrams's mag in 2003) restaurant in town. this is coming from a self-described pan-asian food elitist (who also happens to be chinese - not that it means anything other than people ask me for drink orders on my way to the loo - j/k). so, having grown up and traveled all over asia (and the US) i've had the good fortune (note: no fortune cookies here = no messing around, good food sure to be had) of tasting the best in beijing, shanghai, taipei and tokyo. Blue koi's fares from their dumplings (made just the way my own grandma makes them) to their noodles (try their melt-in-your-mouth-crazy-tender potroast w noodles, it's not the name on the menu, but they'll know when you ask for it) to their selection of teas can definitely hold its own... it's truly an authentic experience unique to a genre dominated by sweet-and-sour anythings and all you can eat everythings. the decor is at once stylish (local artwork on display on a rotating basis) and inviting (can sit at the open bar/kitchen while sipping on bubble tea or a beer while waiting for a table) but never pretentious. the prices are reasonable considering the portions and the service is impeccable with a wait staff who bend over backwards to meet your dining needs. can't say enough about this place other than you need to just go and get your food on (goto kansascitymenus.com/blue… ). note: don't be surprised if you find there's a line when you get there - guarantee it's worth the wait. they recently opened a new location in leawood (10581 mission rd) - very popular already - which is very much like the westport location, only bigger (but still cozy) with newer features. see you there sometime - but don't ask me for any drink orders, unless you're willing to buy mine.
(5)cindy c.
i'm not a fan of asian fusion, but this place is yummy! i come to KC once a year and this place is such a treat! i got the braised pork with shitake mushroom in a noodle soup and it is delish! can't wait to come back again next year.
(4)C W.
First off, great customer service in an age where that seems to be rare. Pretty darn good non-traditional asian food. I sub the noodles for the rice when ever I can. The blackbean chicken or tofu entre is awesome. Chinese pot roast is good too. The crispy tofu appetizer is a large portion, but good for a group of 4+. The place has a good vibe as well. I certainly appreciate having places like this in KC.
(4)Rob C.
This was my favorite place in KC when it first opened 2001?--the noodle soups were incredible. After awhile, it declined a little but still excellent. I may be mistaken, but I think midwestern asian restaurant owners often realize they don't have to keep their cuisine at such a high level and still please "the masses."
(4)Carrie H.
my first real asian food attempt in kansas city, and i was moderately surprised. it was much better than i thought it would (honestly, my expectations were pretty low). but once i saw the bottle of sriracha on the table, i thought, that's a good start. i ordered the wonton soup, a bit pricey, but the generous portion and flavorful wontons made up for it. the broth had just the right amount of flavor and the wheat noodles were just the right texture--soft but slightly chewy. my dad ordered the chicken dumplings, a bit on the greasy side, and the sauce was a bit too salty. otherwise, a really enjoyable meal. will be returning to try other dishes :)
(4)Michelle G.
pork fried dumplings almond bubble tea and ants on a tree, the three things i miss most about not being close enough to go to lunch on 39th stree anymore, Blue Koi is AWESOME so good, highly highly HIGHLY recommend.
(5)kp w.
this is easy. blue koi, bar none, is the best chinese ("best ethnic restaurant" according to ingrams's mag in 2003) restaurant in town. this is coming from a self-described pan-asian food elitist (who also happens to be chinese - not that it means anything other than people ask me for drink orders on my way to the loo - j/k). so, having grown up and traveled all over asia (and the US) i've had the good fortune (note: no fortune cookies here = no messing around, good food sure to be had) of tasting the best in beijing, shanghai, taipei and tokyo. Blue koi's fares from their dumplings (made just the way my own grandma makes them) to their noodles (try their melt-in-your-mouth-crazy-tender potroast w noodles, it's not the name on the menu, but they'll know when you ask for it) to their selection of teas can definitely hold its own... it's truly an authentic experience unique to a genre dominated by sweet-and-sour anythings and all you can eat everythings. the decor is at once stylish (local artwork on display on a rotating basis) and inviting (can sit at the open bar/kitchen while sipping on bubble tea or a beer while waiting for a table) but never pretentious. the prices are reasonable considering the portions and the service is impeccable with a wait staff who bend over backwards to meet your dining needs. can't say enough about this place other than you need to just go and get your food on (goto kansascitymenus.com/blue… ). note: don't be surprised if you find there's a line when you get there - guarantee it's worth the wait. they recently opened a new location in leawood (10581 mission rd) - very popular already - which is very much like the westport location, only bigger (but still cozy) with newer features. see you there sometime - but don't ask me for any drink orders, unless you're willing to buy mine.
(5)cindy c.
i'm not a fan of asian fusion, but this place is yummy! i come to KC once a year and this place is such a treat! i got the braised pork with shitake mushroom in a noodle soup and it is delish! can't wait to come back again next year.
(4)C W.
First off, great customer service in an age where that seems to be rare. Pretty darn good non-traditional asian food. I sub the noodles for the rice when ever I can. The blackbean chicken or tofu entre is awesome. Chinese pot roast is good too. The crispy tofu appetizer is a large portion, but good for a group of 4+. The place has a good vibe as well. I certainly appreciate having places like this in KC.
(4)Rose L.
I have been here a couple of times now. The food is wonderful, but the service is a bit lacking. I always order the Firebird with chicken and homemade noodles. It is perfectly spicy. I think the noodles are on the oily side, but my only concern is health and calories. The flavor is great, and my mouth burns just a bit, and that's what I like. The dumplings are yummy as well. Service? Well, perhaps Blue Koi/39th Street is a bit too hipster for me, but I expect a little more personality and definitely more attention. We sat for 10-15 minutes at a time with no notice from our server. He was perfectly fine when he was around, but I had to flag him down a couple of times, and they just weren't that busy. I will definitely continue to frequent this location, as it is convenient and the food is outstanding.
(3)Bill B.
Unfortunately most Chinese restaurants add sugar to entrees, often a lot of sugar, since those restaurants think Americans have a "sweet tooth." Blue Koi, while very considerate of vegetarians and vegans, is no exception to the rule about added sugar. But there are exceptions. They can prepare three entrees without sugar, if requested: Ants on a Tree, Firebird, and Almond Chicken. If you also want to avoid refined carbs, you can do that here too. All entrees are listed as served with noodles or rice. But the options include brown rice and soybean noodles along with the usual choices. Alternatively, they'll substitute spinach for the rice or noodles. But ask about upcharges for substitutions. They are small charges, but the menu and the servers don't tell you. I would have gone for five stars, if it had not been for the surprise upcharges on the bill for the substitutions.
(4)Gloria T.
Great service and appreciated the gluten free menu. I had shrimp in black bean sauce with rice. It was delicious...lots of shrimp and big pieces of mushroom. It was on my food bucketlist to try this place, and it lived up to my expectations!
(5)Rachel A.
I love Blue Koi, both locations are great, and even look similar to each other. I feel like I always go here for asian "comfort food." I usually get the crispy tofu with the awesome sauce and the asian pot roast. . . I tried it as a "soup" for the first time, by the recommendation of the serve, and I loved it. They add spinach and veggies, and serve it in a warm broth. Yummy. The lettuce wraps and pot stickers are great too! The service is always friendly and promt, and it has a great comfortable atmosphere.
(4)Ali T.
This tasted no better than food court mall food. My entree was served in a puddle of grease and I had to stop eating after three bites. My husbands duck was extremely fatty and low quality meat. I would not recommend
(2)Lois W.
Tasty food! The vegetarian dumplings are odd tasting bit the sauce it comes with is awesomer than their Awesome sauce. Good value too.
(4)Diana M.
Excellent service. Our waitress was outstanding. I had the shrimp with black beans sauce and the chicken noddles. The noodles are the best noodles I ever tried.
(5)Tammy L.
Lunch here with my son Jared and we were both impressed. Great service, great food, and a beautiful presentation. If you are in the mood for a change, come give it a try. My son had an entree with Duck and I had a fabulous chicken dish
(4)Bobbi T.
It had been awhile since I had been here. We came years ago after we found out they served bubble tea but weren't too impressed. My boyfriend recently discovered the fire bird and now drags me in with him. Each time we go we are with a couple other people so I'm able to try a new dish each time. So far my favorites would be the fire bird and the spicy chili wonton. Other dishes that we have tried were just ok (crispy tofu, eggplant pockets, duck wrap, ants on a tree, ginger basil chicken, and the shrimp with chinese curry sauce.) While I am not quite as obsessed with the food as he is, I'm not giving up just yet!
(3)Abbey A.
I just don't get what people see in this place. Decor is eh and the menu is unimpressive. I want to like this place, but after a few attempts, I won't be back.
(2)Mark M.
Excellent service & fare! Our party of 5 showed up ~30 minutes prior to close. The hospitable server sat us down and dismissed our apologies as unnecessary. They followed through with attentive and prompt service up until we were the last folks scooting out at 10:31 PM. :) The food was amazing - we had pre-game noshies. Golden tofu bites were just right, and the spicy "Awesome Sauce" isn't just a clever name.
(4)Duong V.
This is definitely one of my favorite and go-to restaurants in Kansas City. I love their crispy tofu, braised pork, and firebird chicken. I highly recommend it.
(4)Sheryl B.
Very small place but The dumplings were amazing. We had them fried versus boiled. We had the firebird dish with noodles and shrimp which was delicious. A little hot but nothing you can't handle.
(5)Ivette J.
The homemade dumplings a were great. We tried the shrimp & the pork dumplings. The amazing sauce was good but was expecting a little more with a name like that. The service was on point & we'd definitely come back again on our next visit to KC.
(4)Joi B.
Blue Koi=Happy Joi! I was pretty blown away by the flavors of just about everything I ate here the other night. It was as if I had taken some kind of drug to enhance my taste buds because they were throbbing with pleasure at every bite. Blue Koi markets itself as "cool Chinese food." Cute advertisement but it doesn't do the food justice, I tell you! You know those awesome containers that you get at almost every takeout joint in the US (I think?) that say, "Chinese Delicious Foods?" Well, that's usually a lie. Most places serve up some kind of approximation of "Chinese food" that is greasy and flavorless, the very antithesis of "Chinese" and "Delicious," if you ask me. "Food" may even be a stretch. Blue Koi deserves to make that claim on their takeout containers (their takeout containers are the kind of brown paper deal that you'd get in a finer restaurant, thankfully. No Styrofoam here) and yet they don't because they are too classy for that. What we ordered: -lettuce wraps (a vegetarian appetizer. There are several) 4 leaves of green lettuce served up next to a pile of minced deliciousness (shitake, green onions, tofu, water chestnuts, I believe, celery and peanuts). Absolutely (Chinese) Delicious (Food). -Firebird (I had the tofu and the K had the duck) WOW!!! Almost spicy enough, but nothing is ever spicy enough for the likes of me. I daresay it was a bit too...rich for me. I'd need to ask them to prepare it with half the oil for it to be just right. That said, this dish was indeed also (Chinese) Delicious (Food). If possible, K was even more into his dish than I was into my own, so thumbs up to the duck! They also have quite a cocktail list. The citron lemonade cocktail was absolutely perfect, crisp, lemony, not too sweet which is what I was afraid of, not too sour. THE summer drink. That means I have to keep going back all summer! Woohoo!
(5)Ray L.
This place is pretty tasty! I do have to say that I was a bit disappointed by the misnomer; they call themselves a noodle and dumpling place, but there aren't many noodle options on the menu at all! However, I was much appeased by the shrimp in curry sauce. The shrimp were decent sized and covered with a sweet Chinese curry sauce. It was a pretty mild curry in terms of flavor and heat. The menu marks this item as spicy, but I could have used a little more heat. The shrimp and veggies were cooked satisfactorily. My friend got shrimp in the black bean sauce, which was even more delicious -- a little bolder in flavor. Think I'll get that next time. I think the amount of rice they serve is a bit wasteful. Some might say generous, but that is more starch than a person needs in one sitting. I had to restrain myself from inhaling the whole plate. Speaking of rice, there's an up charge for brown rice. Next stop will be Po's, so I can do a little compare and contrasting. Very happy with my meal here though!
(4)Rick H.
I've found noodles to be incredibly good for the soul (well, my soul anyway - bedankt, Wagamama - Max Euweplein) and like to know that I have good options on the road; Blue Koi is a good KC option. Ants on a Tree (sautéed minced pork or vegetables with bean noodle) is always tasty and visually appealing. A recent run with the Chinese Pork Roast was just OK. The blend of flavors didn't work for me and the roast was actually too tender. The pork dumplings/potstickers and tea has always been excellent. The vibe is trendy, but without any posing, and the decor lends itself well to the dining experience. Parking is in the back with back and easy fron door access.
(3)David G.
I really can't imagine going to this place in the summer because the menu has such a heavy focus on rich nourishing soups and stews. Yeah, I know that's stupid but when it's a cold winter day this place satisfies like no other. Carnivores and vegetarians will love this place because menu items that are vegetarian are clearly marked and they'll gladly accommodate menu modifications when they can. The menu is simple and primarily consists of noodles or rice in either a dish or a soup bowl depending on the combination. On first glance I was disappointed at the prices on the menu: $10 and up for a bowl or rice or noodles. When my feast arrived I couldn't believe the portion size. It was huge. I mean really huge. Warm, satisfying and absolutely delicious. That's another reason why it's a winter meal rather than summer. Summer reminds me of "light" eating and these meals are anything but light. Rich and flavorful is the theme here. Even the vegetarians soups are made from a earthy mushroom broth that could easily hold it's own against a umami laden beef broth. The "awesome" sauce (chili/garlic sugar) goes great with the tofu appetizers and try, at least, to save room for dessert because the wonton cheesecakes are a must try. Speaking of awesome, the service and atmosphere is equally as awe worthy. Every meal I've gotten is beautifully presented and is extremely prompt and friendly. I love sitting by the windows and look out on rainbow boulevard seeing frost form on the windows while my soul and spirit is nourished here.
(5)Dave F.
This is a tough review to write as I really do not like most Chinese food. However, a customer insisted we follow him to Blue Koi, which turned out to be "Kansas City meets Chinese" v authentic. I was happy about this cuisine shake up and would label Blue Koi as a unique culinary fusion experience v pure Chinese. The menu features a wide assortment, even meatloaf. Lack of authenticity was confirmed as one of our Asian lunch mates complained about the noodles. I ordered Shrimp Curry, which for a $2 upcharge comes with healthy brown rice v white rice. The brown rice is excellent and the shrimp quality was average. The sauce is light enough that you barely taste the curry. We had excellent service as we were pressed for time and needed to feed 5 in 45 minutes. They sat us quickly, even though they were very full and we ordered a wonton appetizer. The cleaver server knew this would slow us down, so he suggested we have it with our lunch as it would shave off 12 minutes. Great call and 5 star service.
(4)Charley B.
This Blue Koi is a more artistic and laid back version of its southern Kansas City cousin, but has the same solid menu and equally stout service. I had the super hot chicken curry and it was as hot and spicy as ever. Another at the table couldn't stop raving about the veggie dumplings. The seating can be a little cramped, but it's not a big deal. You just have to use your inside voice.
(4)Amanda P.
Blue Koi is one of my favorite dining places on 39th street, and I'm frequently there, if not to dine in person but at least get takeout. I can't live without their Crispy Tofu with Awesome Sauce! Truly superb and highly recommend! The atmosphere inside is trendy and cool, often showcasing some local art for sale. Great place to go if you're looking for more on the 'fusion' side of Asian fusion. Has a menu that's more unique (in a good way). I don't really have anything bad to say. It's slightly pricy, but worth it for the quality so I wouldn't consider that a negative.
(5)Jimmi H.
Blue Koi has one of the most aptly named sauces in the culinary world: Awesome Sauce. Awesome Sauce is awesome! There are not many instances when I eat out that I'm actually tempted to purchase extra sauce to bring home with me, but every time I go to Blue Koi I consider it. The Crispy Tofu (which comes with the Awesome Sauce) is ordered by myself or the bf as we are sitting down, there is just no questioning it; we want awesome sauce! This delightful little eatery is in Volker, one of my favorite neighborhoods in KC; one of the few areas that I would consider moving to if I ever left the Market. The staff here has always been top notch, efficient and friendly. The kitchen is open to the dining area so getting a bar seat during the busy hours is still fun because you can watch all of the excitement. My favorite dish is Ants on a Log, I'm not totally for sure as to why this is the name of it, but I don't really care, it's delicious. The portions are large, I generally bring some home for a tasty little snack for a later date. I also usually have to get a bubble tea. This drink seems to be either loved, or hated; I'm in the love category. Even better though, if you would like, they can make "adult" bubble teas! YUM. Everyone can find great food here. For the veggies there are multiple dishes, one of course being the tofu with Awesome Sauce! I had some good friends visit recently and one of them ordered the vegetable and noodle soup. I only got to have a few spoons full but was mighty good! We all tried the vegetable dumplings made with spinach in the dough, also a culinary delight. Blue Koi is well worth the visit and on my list of top restaurants in KC!
(4)Nikki P.
Food is very good, and the restaurant has neat atmosphere. This was one of my fav places to eat when I lived in KC, and I always come here to eat when I come back home to visit. Their bubble tea is good, as is their green tea ice cream. For meals, I ALWAYS get the ginger basil chicken on rice instead of noodles. The serving of food is so big, my husband and I always split it, and we still have food to take home to eat later. Depending on if it's the weekend, sometimes you can get stuck waiting awhile, but totally worth it.
(4)Vianca L.
Food is great ((( currently eating))) however out waiter really sucks ps. He looks like Thor
(5)nicki l.
I will go back to blue koi again and again. veggie dumplings and awesome sauce are the way to go! looking for an appetizer? try the eggplant pockets.
(5)Dan D.
Blue Koi remains at the top of my list for places that I can always eat at when I am on 39th street. The food quality is consistent and they do a solid dinner business which is nice if you like eating in a bustling restaurant. The service is excellent and friendly. Always full of suggestions and will tell you what everyone has been ordering and their responses to certain dishes. Where Blue Koi can sometimes be a little iffy is when it comes down to how long you will wait for dinner to be served. On a recent visit dinner took an exceptionally long time to come out, thankfully when it did the food was very hot and well made, worth the wait. The fried pork dumplings are amazing, highly recommended.
(4)Josh M.
B My girlfriend is making me write this review... The first time I set foot in Blue Koi I must have been having an off day. I wanted asian food and the life-partner (oh how she hates that term) had been carping about how good Blue Koi was. We walked in, sat down and stared at the menu. After a couple of minutes I sat the menu down and told her I wasn't eating here. Nothing sounded good. She was horrified as I got up and walked out. She made some polite excuse to the hostess and we walked across the street to Friends Sushi and had a wonderful meal. Flash forward probably a month, give or take a week. We're both hungry for asian food and I want to go back to Friends. She insists I give Blue Koi another shot, and even offers to pick up the tab. I agree to give it another go.. I'm happy I did. Best. Dumplings. Ever! I could eat them just as a meal (they are listed as an appetizer). Crispy, meaty little nuggest of mouth-joy. Sigh.. Then came the entree. Chinese Style Pot Roast. You could blow on the cutlets of beef and they'd break apart, they were that tender. And they rested on a bed of the best noodles I ever tasted. I don't even know how to discribe them properly, I couldn't do the noodles justice if I tried. Also, it was 90 degress outside and I had not problem eating pot roast. That good.. This was all washed down with a few asian beers I've never heard of but have since, unfortunately, forgetten. The service was okay, almost teetering on the slow-side. The restaurant is very clean with bright colors of blue and orange. I will most definitely being make a return trip, I've had dreams of those dumplings, and I think next time it will be the ginger chicken dish. And hell, I might even pick up the tab.
(4)Deana M.
The food and drinks tasted great but I thought the selection was pretty slim as far as edibles go. The only thing I have really liked is how the tofu is cooked. The staff is pretty hipster-ish but they were very nice. :)
(3)Hannah R.
So I heard quite a bit from my mom and dad who frequent here a lot. However, the first time I visited with my father who was super excited to have me try this place we waited 45 mins for a table. Now they were busy, so that's fine. But the hostess sat people who came after us before she ever sat us. We told her we were fine with a table or bar, but she continued to sit people (parties of 2) who walked in after us and who were further down on the list. It was a bit unorganized. Anyways, finally got a table and ordered food. The waitress seemed rushed, we ordered a few things to start with and she asked us a couple of times if that was our final order... no it was not, we told her we were going to order several appetizers at a time. Finally got to try the vegetarian dumplings, pork dumplings, scallion biscuit, the duck wrap. It was all pretty good, but I would have enjoyed it more if our dumplings weren't cold. Once again, people who sat down after us got their food before us. Our order must have sat around and had been forgotten which would explain the temperature of the dumplings. Food tasted good and was worth another go, but not when they are busy on a weekend. It's just not managed well when it's busy.
(3)Grace B.
On my last trip back to Kansas City, I had to revisit this place. It was a staple lunch joint in college, and I always ordered Ants on a Tree cooked in hot oil. I decided to order it again along with a honeydew milk tea. It was the same as I always remember it and it was just as good as I wanted it to be. Definitely go and enjoy.
(3)Kevin F.
We had a spectacular meal. We had the fire bird (duck) on house noodles and shrimp with bean sauce. The fire bird was a delicious spicy dish and the duck was cooked perfectly. The shrimp was fantastic as well. Coming in, things looked a little pricy, but the portions are huge and it was well worth it. You could definitely get away with splitting one of the entrees for a lighter meal. I would recommend it absolutely. Also has plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians.
(5)Alicia R.
So one day, I convinced a bunch of my friends in Lawrence to try Peruvian food in Kansas City. Something most unfortunate happened - the place was closed!! Luckily, someone suggested Blue Koi, which I had bookmarked. We had an excellent experience, which made me feel better about the Peruvian food fail. Their fried tofu is so far my favorite out of all the fired tofu I've had. We also had some dumplings which were tasty. I think I tried some of a friend's China Moon - also good. I had the ginger basil chicken as an entree - so delicious!! It was definitely a unique, but Asian, flavor. I also enjoyed a bubble tea - I believe I had the Almond Joy. Yum.
(5)Robert C.
The food is great, especially the appetizers and dumplings. The awesome sauce truly lives up to its name (no MSG). The shrimp moon and eggplant are my favorites, as is the dumpling soup as a main course. I usually come at odd times after a trip to KU. Now there's a Po's Dumplings. Tried it. Nowhere near as good as Blue Koi.
(5)Jocelyn R.
I cannot believe I haven't already written a review for Blue Koi. Are you sure, Yelp? Do you even know me?? Blue Koi is our absolute go-to, and although my husband varies his order, mine never changes and yours shouldn't either - Tofu in Black Bean Sauce, no mushrooms. If you must try something else, any of the dumplings are great, Ants on a Tree is good, and my mom is crazy about their duck entree. For starters, I'd go with the Tofu in Awesome Sauce (it's awesome indeed) or the Scallion Biscuits. It's reasonably priced, the service is usually great and the food is terrific and a healthy choice if you order right. Also, it's a place that we can go and take our 5-year-old and feel like we had a nice dinner out without the "how dare you bring a kid in here" glares. Something about the soothing music means that in the 50 or so times I have been to Blue Koi, I've only seen a kid acting up in there two or three times (and it was only mine once and they packed our food to go in a hurry!).
(5)Amanda S.
The food and service are very, very good. A big score when you order a split entree and you receive it already split on separate plates. We weren't starving and ordered the Fire Bird - Duck and a side of veggies to share. The Fire Bird was quite delicious but not spicy enough. I did have to add sirachaca. I was impressed with the side of veggies. It was an unique blend of cauliflower, carrots, little corn cobs and cabbage. This place has been on my mind since trying it. I am anxious to go back and try more from their quite extensive menu.
(4)Zach G.
Honestly, this may not be the best review of Blue Koi, since I only had one thing, but...man, it was awesome! Specifically, the dumplings...oh my, the dumplings. They can out fast and piping out, and tasted fresh and full of just unbelievable flavor. I remember thinking the price was really fair and the service was quite good. Oh yes, and the beverage was tasty and quite alcohol filled, though I think I remember saying "better be for that price!" I keep meaning to make it back, but just have not yet. I always forget about this place, which is a real shame.
(4)David H.
I know I reviewed this before, but for some reason, Yelp is recycling their reviews. Went there with my colleagues. We all ordered the noodle soups and bubble tea which were awesome. Started with shrimp dumplings. We'll be back again.
(4)Olin G.
You're never going to go wrong with Blue Koi. Whether it be the lettuce wraps, noodle dishes, or their amazing dumplings, you'll find something great every time. Always get props for the tasty fried tofu w/ awesome sauce and the great 39th street location.
(5)Nicole K.
I come here just for the crispy tofu with awesome sauce. One of my friends said it best at dinner last night, "this awesome sauce is pretty awesome." And as someone who grew up vegetarian, the crispy tofu reminds me of a favorite home-cooked meal from my childhood. After the tofu, I always get an order of the vegetarian dumplings. You can get them steamed or fried, and mine are always steamed. I like to take the nice sauce that comes with them, cut a hole in my dumpling, and pour a little inside. Mmmm... I've always had attentive, efficient service here, and price is right.
(5)Meghan M.
Very good food. I love their noodles and black bean sauce, but I wish they had a bigger menu. I feel like many of their dishes are some slight variant of noodles & black bean sauce. Therefore, I can't eat here a lot b/c I get bored. Loves- dumplings, chili pepper wontons, noodles, black bean sauce, and ve their pepper dumplings and Almond bubble tea with Jim Beam (sounds disgusting but it tastes fabulous!) We are a divided household. I love Po's (down the street) and my hubby loves Blue Koi. So we split custody between the two.
(4)Lisa D.
Never been big on Asian eats, but this place has become a staple/go-to. Consistently fresh/high quality/delicious every time. You know you've found a great place when you want to eat/sample everything. Never been? You're majorly missing out.
(5)Amanda I.
Saw this joint on Drive in, Diners and Dives and decided to give it a whirl. A must try!!!! The noodles are awesome. apps - the chili pepper sauce and pan fried wontons. OMG it's great!!! Shrimp with black bean sauce over noodles. Huge pieces of mushrooms and bell peppers. Great dish. Their bread and butter is Firebird - must be over noodles. Nice and spicy. Very very good. Ginger Basil Chicken doesn't have a good plating effect as the chicken is cut in large portion however the dish is actually very appealing. Almond chicken with Asparagus over noodles. The description of the dish says mayo is involved however it isn't noticed at all. A must is over noodles not rice.
(4)Pete L.
We have been here several times, and have even made the drive down to the Overland Park location when the 39th street location was closed due to being filmed for a TV food program. The dumplings are SO good. We opt for the panfried each time and you can't go wrong. Couple that with the lettuce wraps and you will be one happy person.
(5)Janet P.
Delicious! I have been here multiple times for their dumplings but never stopped in for their actual entrees since they're a bit pricier. Their dumplings are great and the pan fried shrimp ones are my favorite. Their crispy tofu with amazing sauce was a real treat even for people who don't usually eat tofu. We finally stopped in for entrees and ordered their firebird chicken and the pot roast noodles. They were both super delicious and the meat was succulent. The pot roast could've used a sauce on top of the meat however. The noodles are really soft and worth the extra pay for some of the dishes while others come with it. Really loved all the food and will be back promptly for date night!
(5)Daniel H.
We have been here twice. Its was on Diners, Drive-Ins, and dives. Everytime we go the food is great. Had the Cantonese roast duck and my wife had the roast beef. The duck was really tender and very flavofull. The roast beef just melted in your mouth. The second time i tried the Firebird with roast duck. Also really good. Went well with the Boulevard Funky Pumpkin beer i had. Highly recomend it to anyone.
(5)Chris L.
The most amazing dumplings ever. We ordered the shrimp, chicken, and the combination dumplings. I honestly can't decide which one is my favorite. Amazing. The dumpling was tender and cooked to perfection. I want a 5 gallon bucket of the dipping sauce! I can't say enough good things about the food here!
(5)Ruth N.
Sometimes I trust yelp enough to pick my meal based off of reviews. I saw raving reviews for the firebird chicken, so I opted for the firebird duck and asked for noodles. It's $2 extra for noodles, so I thought, "This better be worth it!" When the waiter brought out the bowl, my nose was greeted with a slightly sweet but tangy smell, and to my pleasant surprise, it was slathered with satay bbq sauce. The noodles are delicious, but the duck and green onions could afford to be a little more succulent and less overcooked. I ordered the bubble tea, expecting semi-decent boba for Kansas City, but maybe I have to try other places before I judge. Imo, the boba was undercooked, too chewy, with the middle having a different texture than the outside. The chai latte was good though, would have been just as tasty without the boba. All in all, the firebird flavor was very nicely done, execution mehh..
(3)Michael A.
This place has always been a favorite since my early days in KC. Nice atmosphere, very relaxed, not too loud...just enough sound to keep the flow going. Very friendly staff. Just a cool place in general. Nice artwork. 1) FireBird - most places I try to change it up but this is my consistent order here. The meld of spices is awesome. It definitely satisfies my spicy tooth. I have had it with chicken, tofu, and shrimp. Chicken is my fave but all are good. Ask for the house chili sauce for extra spice or the Saracha is good too. Brown rice makes the whole thing a little healthier :). 2) I leave the variety to what my wife orders: -Veggie Noodle Soul - very tasty. The tofu and veggies add nice texture to it and add a very very subtle sweetness to the soup. 3) Crispy Tofu with Awesome Sauce - yes, the sauce is awesome. Mix it with a little Saracha for sweet 'n spicy. 4) Not sure if they still serve it but I have had Dave Matthews' Dreaming Tree wine here which is a gooood red.
(5)Tonya G.
This place is so good. Kansas City's best dumplings! The stuffed eggplant is a must try.
(5)Susan T.
I had a really nice lunch here today with a friend. I ordered the Seafood Dumplings (fried) and Fried Eggplant Pockets. The Dumplings were outstanding. The eggplant was just so so. The sauces for each were incredibly salty. I love salt, but even for my taste they were a bit much. The flavors were good, otherwise. We shared a pot of the King Oolong tea, my date had the Shrimp Noodles and Rice. He comes here regularly and naturally had his favorite entree. The space in the front of the restaurant seemed as though a better layout could be arranged or instead of round tables maybe square one would fit better, but now I sound ridiculously picky. It's a fung shui thing. Our waiter was spectacular. He made sane suggestions for the tea and appetizer, he seemed conscientious about getting things right. No big wait for our food. He was on top of it and had a charming personality to boot. I'm sorry I didn't get his name. This is a solid place for food but atmosphere was off.
(3)Michael P.
I started out with the combo dumplings, let me start out by saying these dumplings are addicting. They have garlic bits on the top and holy crap... it's insanely good. The sauce their in will make you want to drink it. It's almost a meal in itself. I ended up getting the firebird duck, it turned out being really greasy so I sent it back and got the Chinese style pot roast with noodles. It was awesome. I'd highly recommend getting the pot roast. Good depth of flavor and it's full of flavor. I'll be back.
(4)meli l.
Blue Koi is one of those weird spots where I never, ever order entrees because the appetizers are so freaking delicious. I honestly could eat tofu with awesome sauce for dinner once a week and be perfectly happy, but the wraps and the dumplings are divine as well. Service is consistently prompt, friendly and knowledgeable. Super-quick turnaround on takeout, too (which I appreciate on late work nights!). Also worth noting: super cocktails.
(5)Theresa W.
Everything was awesome except the cocktails. Amazing homemade noodles. The dumplings were are awesome and I recommend the duck wrap!
(5)Kim O.
Best Asian food I've ever eaten!!' Homemade noodles in the basil chicken were the bomb!!! Pan fried pork dumplings and the awesome sauce are a must have!
(5)Lisa S.
The FireBird Duck and Almond Shrimp with Asparagus are my two favorite dish. The food is pricey but they give a good portion of serving. I love this place.
(4)Kaitlyn M.
I have been here twice. The first time I went to Blue Koi, it was warm out and it was crazyyyyyy busy. We had to wait a bit and we ended up sitting at the bar, which was fine though the chairs were squished next to each other so I barely had any room and kept accidentally hitting the guy next to me with my elbow. I got the Seafood Noodle Soup, which the broth was great, but all of the seafood was overcooked, so I was bummed about that and I kinda thought maybe I wouldn't come back. A friend wanted to try it out, so I went back last night (it was like 3 degrees out!) and we were the only people waiting in line and we only had to wait 5 minutes for a booth. I got the fire bird duck and it was very good! And the perfect amount of spicy, so don't be afraid of the 'three chiles' rating it is given, I didn't find it uncomfortably spicy at all. My friend got the shrimp curry and the shrimp were cooked perfectly and were a decent size, I had a very nice experience last night. Oh, and the server was very kind and attentive.
(4)Keiko F.
Went here at 3:30 pm so there wasn't many customers. Ordered Ginger Basil Chicken and Chicken Curry. Noodles with Ginger Basil Chicken were undercooked and clumping together. There was absolutely no flavor whatsoever, and this was just chicken and noodles. That's it. No veggies or anything. The Chicken Curry was only slightly better. It was supposed to have some heat to it but there was no spice at all. The curry was liquidy and running all over the place. Button mushrooms were a cheap cop out to try and elevate the dish. We said something to the waiter about the Ginger Basil Chicken and he took it off the check and said he would bring complimentary chicken dumplings out. After being told they would be "right out" and waiting an additional 15 mins, we finally paid our bill and left. Definitely not a "return again" place.
(1)Tommee C.
The food here at the Blue Point is very delicious I was very surprised my sister brought me here. the service is Excellence
(5)Josel B.
Feeling under the weather? Grub on their Seafood Noodle Soup and Dumplings! Perfect Asian comfort food for this sick Yelper. I guarantee it will warm you right up! :) Great and friendly service. Clean and I love their interior Japanese decor...oh and I love how all the servers wore black t-shirts with Japanese Kanji on the back. Hehe cute how they all match. Ok, let's get down to the...FOOD! Seafood Noodle Soup: Lost count of how much seafood that was in it ranging from mussles, crawfish, shrimp, scallops, to calamari! Love how generous they were with the seafood. The soup base was seafood broth, but you can get it in chicken broth if you want, was DELICIOUS. I literally went ala Beauty and the Beast style and drank my soup with the bowl tipped into my mouth! It was that good. The rice noodles paired quite nicely in it. Oh and did I mention how huge their bowls are? I needed help to finish it, but I was so hungry that I think I ate 75% of it! :) We ordered their dumplings too....those were scrumptious too! I think we ordered the combination meat ones. The sauce definitely made that dish shine. So...gave up dessert for lent...but got the Mango Boba Tea...cuz you know it's a drink and not a dessert...right?!?! (in denial...lol) I've always loved their boba tea, but the Mango in particular tastes just like Filipino Mango drinks. Try them you won't be dissapointed, especially since their tapioca pearls taste fresh! Happy Eating!
(4)Audrey J.
Family and I visited KC earlier this year and we stopped by Blue Koi after seeing it on DDD in our hotel room while in KC! We were not disappointed at all. Very tasty food. We obviously had to wait, but it was not too terribly long. I ordered a strawberry bubble tea, and got it cold. I personally, didn't love it. My mom enjoyed it though. So that's good. It's obviously a popular thing here. Maybe I would need to try it again. I don't know. Before we ordered our meals we ordered the Crispy Tofu with Awesome Sauce, and the pan-fried dumplings. For me, our appetizers were the high light of my meal. So tasty. I could drive back to KC for both of those... Mmm....... For my entree I ordered the Chinese style pot roast over the noodles. I'm glad I got it over the noodles because the noodles were so fresh and just so comforting. The pot roast itself was decent. Not as melt in my mouth as I was hoping, but it was for sure good. I think I will try something different next time. My mom got some chicken dish with asparagus, and hers was good, but not outstanding to me. And my step dad got the firebird duck. He loved it apparently. I didn't try it. My favorite part of this experience was the appetizer and the service, for sure. After watching the show we saw that the restaurant is owned by two very vibrant sisters! The sister who made the tofu with awesome sauce on DDD was at the restaurant and came over to talk to us! She was so sweet, and I really loved seeing her just after watching her on tv! It was pretty cool. She is exactly how she was on the show, which I loved. I'm looking forward to coming back again when I'm in KC to try more of the dishes here!
(4)Joseph T.
I went with high expectations and a friend who is Taiwanese. The decor is trendy as were many of the other diners that evening. Service was very good. However, the food itself was a mixed bag. We tried several different dumplings, all were excellent. The tofu appetizer was boring and the dipping sauce seemed bottled. I had the ants on trees, based on other reviewers and was disappointed. Plenty spicy, which I like, but the "ants" were drowning in oil. I've had this dish in many restaurants and, when done well, the meat is slightly crisped and overall should be no more greasy than a good Pad Thai. The noodles had decent bite but the abundance of oil was off-putting. My friend didn't get a main course and instead kept ordering more dumplings. She was pretty happy with all of those and I liked them as well. Maybe it was just an off night.
(3)Daniela G.
I have legit never had anything I didn't love here! It's always our go to noodles place and soon we'll be able to walk to it! My absolute favorite dish is the Firebird, my father-in-law ordered it with noodles the last time we went and it was a total game changer! Ants on a Tree and their lettuce wraps are awesome as well. Don't forget an order of dumplings for the table either. Mmmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about their, might have to make it out there for dinner this week!
(5)Yembur A.
All my friends know that I'm obsessed with Blue Koi. I took my very picky mother here for her birthday and even she loved it. And kudos to them for really knowing how to cook tofu! The black bean tofu is my fave! "Ants on a tree" is also very cool to try - I've never seen it being served anywhere else. The menu is great for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike. It is a bit pricey, but the portions are large so I usually have plenty of leftovers. And yes, the awesome sauce is as awesome as everyone says.
(5)Kristi A.
After being a regular customer of this establishment and its other location for years, I had the absolute worst experience possible dining at the 39th Street location recently, and won't be returning to Blue Koi in the future. Our friends from South Dakota came down for their first visit to KC and our friend is vegetarian, so we thought what better place to take them than Blue Koi, home of the most delicious veggie dumplings ever, right?! So it was Saturday night and we knew it'd be busy. We had a party of seven and expected to wait. We arrived and were told it'd be around an hour wait. Okay, no problem. We'll grab a beer at the very crowded bar. So each person in our party orders one drink. Upon finishing this drink, my husband and his friend, attempted to order another beer, and were told by the gentleman behind the bar that he could no longer serve them. My husband inquired as to why they were not being served, and the guy informed him that they'd had enough and that my husband's friend looked sleepy. Meanwhile, there was an incredibly intoxicated older gentleman on the other side of us at the bar that was disruptive and intrusive to all patrons at the bar, and he was being served. We were not loud or disruptive, and had each had one beverage at this establishment. My husband is British, as is his friend, and tried to explain to the barman that he could understand why he thought they were intoxicated, because it probably sounded to him like they were slurring and/or mumbling when they speak quickly to each other. The barman did not care for any explanation and informed us he was the owner, which we later found was not true. We decided to go ahead and be seated, because we'd waited over an hour and were all starving. After being seated at our table, our waitress took drink orders from other people in our party, and then took our food order. Twenty minutes later, the food came out and we still had not one single drink on our table. Our server then informs us that our entire table had been cut off, and she was not allowed to serve us. Well, thank you kindly for waiting until our food came out to tell us. At this point, everyone at our table is very upset, and we ate our entire meal in silence. It was absolutely the worst dinner I've had out at any restaurant anywhere, and to top it off they were out of veggie dumplings. Our friend got no dinner and was too angry to order after being treated so poorly at the bar. After later inquiring with the server about why we'd been cut off, we found out that the barman was not the owner and not even the manager, so we requested to speak with the manager. She found a million things to do before coming over to our table. She finally came over and we explained what an awful experience we'd just had in her restaurant, and she clearly didn't know what to say. It took forever before we could even get an apology and for her to acknowledge that she was not aware of the entire situation before cutting off our entire table. She just knew what she'd been told by the jerk behind the bar. We were offered free dessert as compensation for our ruined dinner, to which no one was up for after painfully sitting there in silence through our meal. This experience ruined what was meant to be a fun night out with friends. We were appalled at being treated the way that we were in this establishment and will not be going back. I would be embarrassed for anyone to be treated the way we were and the response by the restaurant management was less than satisfactory. Absolutely horrendous customer service. We should have walked out, but as a table of former service industry employees, we didn't want to short our server, who was not at fault in this situation.
(1)Alix C.
The service is so horrible that I am not willing to try to food. Prior to arriving to Blue Koi, I called and asked if they offered Thai Tea, the person on the opposite line assured that they did serve Thai tea. Upon my arrival, the waitress (which happened to be the person I spoke with), asked what she could do for me. I told her that I had just called about ordering Thai tea, she replied with, "I thought you said Chai tea, and this is a Chinese restaurant, so we don't have Thai tea." After the uncultured reply, she proceeded to recommend that I go to Vietnam Cafe if I wanted Thai tea. Now if we are following her pitiful mentality, if Vietnam Cafe is a Vietnamese restaurant--why would they sell Thai tea. The five minute encounter with this woman permanently discouraged me from this establishment.
(1)Richard P.
Probably a case of unrealistic expectations, but when the other reviews here on Yelp and The Pitch award for best dumplings in KC, I had to try it. I was literally the only customer in the place when I arrived just before 5 on a Thursday. There were three cooks and several waiters standing by so I figured this was gonna be really good. It wasn't. First off I asked if I could have 4 of my 8 dumplings steamed and the other 4 "fried" (potsticker style) and was told no. This didn't seem like a difficult request to me. So I ordered the pork dumplings fried. Growing up on the west coast I have had dumplings hundreds of times in LA & SF including the legendary U-Lee on Knob Hill in SF. And as Lloyd Bentsen might have said "this was no U-Lee". First off, they were quite small. And a huge pet peeve the wrapper was so thin that they were falling apart on the plate and were nearly impossible to pick up with chop sticks. The Awesome Sauce mentioned by others on the side was nice with a slightly sweet flavor. I gave this review 3 stars on the strength of my entree which was the Braised Pork with Shitake mushrooms on noodles. The noodles were the perfect blend of soft but chewy texture and the generous portion of pork and mushroom were very well seasoned. Really an excellent dish. The two dishes and two Boulevard Pale Ale (served ice cold) came to $31.40 before tip. Service was excellent.
(3)Bryan G.
This place never lets me down. China moon, pork dumplings, ginger basil chicken with noodles, chicken almond asparagus and ants on a tree... Delicious! A plumber once told me that this was the cleanest kitchen he had ever seen.
(5)Dave C.
So I am in San Francisco watching Triple D on TV when the host starts raving about this place. I got curious and wanted to find out where it was and turns out I was going to be in Kansas City on business this Thursday. Had to be a sign. I was so excited about coming here after seeing the personable owners describing their delightful dishes. Although I was skeptical about getting asian food in a predominantly white midWest town, I took the gamble. Bottomline is that the home made noodles were very well done but that the "sauces" everyone raves about were too sweet. I know these lady owners and cooks need to cater to the caucasian taste which tends to favor sweeter asian food but I could only finish half the dish as I was overwhelmed with the amount of sugar. Ladies, please offer a less sweet option on your menu and I think you will have a hit on your hands with the asian customers or those of us with asian tastebuds.
(3)Jordan A.
Liked the friendly ambiance of the restaurant. I went in for lunch on a Thursday by myself because I has been craving some dumplings and after scrolling through yelp I chose this over Po's right down the street. I started off with the fried tofu with awesome sauce because it was pretty busy and I had a feeling my actual meal would take a while (I was spot on with this). Although it was busy and my order took a little bit of time my server was very attentive. He even helped a couple next to me by recommending some of his preferred gluten-free options. As for the food, the fried tofu was okay. The true star of the starter was the awesome sauce. It was really tasty. I basically drenched the rather bland tofu in the sauce because it was that flavorful. For my main meal I ordered the Shanghai Wonton Soup with meat. It was honestly one of the best Asian meals I think I have ever eaten. There were wonton dumplings stuffed with a pork mixture floating along side freshly made noodles, fresh cilantro, green onions, and bean sprouts. I added a bit of sriracha too. This dish was so warm and delicious. It had a nice heat and excellent flavors which surprised me because the soup had a clear broth. I definitely underestimated it! The dumplings were soft and slightly sweet due to the pork mixture. The noodles were tender and fun to try to eat with chop sticks! Also, this portion size was HUGE. I could barely eat half. Prices were decent especially for the size and quality of the food. I would definitely recommend this friendly and tasty option to anyone in the area! 4 stars - Keep it up Blue Koi!
(4)Bruce C.
Ok, firstly, my meal was pretty good. We split an order of Spicy Chili Wontons (Vegetarian, wife forced of course ) and it was tasty. Nice building heat. Paired it with a New Belgium 1554 Black Lager (nice). For dinner I had the Chicken Basil lettuce wrap appetizer and the wife had the Vegan Delight soup. Lettuce wraps were very tasty (nicely sweet) however Wife's soup was more chore than delight. Everything in the soup had to be removed and cut down from 3 to 4 inches in length to enjoy with a spoon. Not adventurous either as the waitress had described. Overall, service was good, quality was good atmosphere was good. I will return.
(4)Viviane L.
I would like to give them 4.5 stars! We had vegan dumplings, veggie wraps, braised pork noodle, and eggplant pocket. The veggie wrap is too sweet, but doesn't taste bad. The rest of the food taste amazing!! I'm from Taiwan and their food taste A LOT like Taiwanese food. Another amazing thing is that we accidentally order only vegetarian dishes and we didn't realize it until we finished the meal :D we didn't know vegetarian food can be this delicious!! Though I won't recommend their bubble tea, if you are a bubble tea drinker. Their bubble tea is not authentic.
(4)Michele F.
The group started with shrimp dumplings, duck wrap and china moon. All were awesome! I ordered the chicken curry over rice noodles, awesome!!!! Friends ordered the following: --shrimp w black bean sauce (spicy and delish) --ginger basil chicken (awesome) --chicken zen mix, great flavor! Bottom line, everything was wonderful and i doubt anything would be anything less than wonderful!
(5)Kent Jacob S.
Dumplings, dumplings, dumplings!!! If you love them, then Blue Koi is where you need to get them! Situated in the W 39th street row of restaurants in the Volker area of Kansas City, Blue Koi is a casual Asian themed restaurant. Not to be confused with typical Chinese restaurants, this place has a smaller menu and highlights their dumplings and noodles. Chinese restaurants can be a bit quiet and let's say, strict? But Blue Koi has a friendly and trendy ambiance. There is a full service bar in the restaurant as well. Oder their dumplings, either steamed or pan fried, for your entrée or appetizer. They will not disappoint as they are large and fluffy on the outside while the inside is packed full of juicy and moist meat. You have a choice between shrimp, pork, chicken, seafood, or a combination of shrimp chicken, and pork. One order with a side of rice can definitely fill you up. Their noodle soups are also delicious. The base broth is so tasty that I could have gulped the entire thing. The noodles were cooked perfectly as well. The seafood noodle soup had a good mix of seafood from scallops, mussles, crab, and squid. It is definitely great on a normal day but even better on a cold day or when you're feeling under the weather. They have a decent selection of loose leaf tea, but I'll say it is a bit pricey in my opinion. I do love my eight treasure tea as it is a good mix of fruits and herbal teas. I love the natural sweetness and bitter tea mixed together. They also have great bubble (boba) tea here. I prefer their boba than other drink places because it is fresh and boiled/cooked correctly. All in all, Blue Koi is a great place whenever I crave Chinese but also want to keep it a little healthy. The service is good with attentive and friendly staff. The food is delicious and is great for tea tasting.
(4)krysztof n.
I just finished the last few bites of my leftovers. Ginger Basil Chicken. Looking at the bowl, scraped-clean, I'm still hungry. Not that I don't think I didn't get enough in my stomach, as I certainly do feel full; but that I need more of that flavor in my mouth. Is this addiction? Is it that I literally had to stop myself from gorging myself at the restaurant, itself, and save some for later, and then attack that box of flavor a few hours later because, like now, I can't stop wanting it in my mouth? Perhaps. Blue Koi is simple in premise : The space is fine, nothing particularly over-the-top about it's presentation. Except....for the smell. You walk in the place and seriously are just greeted with the most amazing smells of food cooking. That's expected in a restaurant, right? But, with their open kitchen, and usually packed tables of food being enjoyed, it's almost like a....Sauna of Smell? Perhaps! I just like walking in there to take a big sniff, to be honest... But then it's the choices that need to be made....Pot Roast? Fire Bird? Won Ton Soup? Damn, I really don't even know how to choose, because each one is it's own "Flavor Tour of The Orient"...and a giant, GIANT helping of it. I'm licking the bowl, now...addiction. Does that say enough? Is it enough to say, "Holy crap, I cannot stop wanting to get this in my mouth?" Go down there, get a Tsing Tao, enjoy the "Sauna of Smell", and get addicted.
(4)Rads N.
This is the absolute BEST restaurant in Kansas City. Everyone on Yelp claims the Ants in a Tree is the best dish. It is good, but a little bland for my tastes. The best dish, in my opinion, at Blue Koi is the Black Bean Tofu. It is flavorful and I don't know how they do it but the tofu blows my mind every time! I find myself dreaming about the tofu and I come to KC just to get my fix. In terms of appetizers, the crispy tofu with awesome sauce is my favorite. My brother is an incredibly picky eater and he loves it! Also, I highly recommend trying the Sesame Ball dessert at least once, it comes with a sweet plum sauce and is enjoyable sweet and I love the texture. What more can I say? It is a bit pricy, but the portions are huge and it's worth every penny. Lots of vegan/vegetarian options, delicious food and good service. If I lived in KC I would come here every week.
(5)Carrie D.
The noodles are fantastic, whatever dish you get make sure you get it over noodles. Had the black bean chicken over noodles, and I think I have to go here once a week now for that dish! Sweet with a hint of spicy and lots of delicious chicken and large chunks of veggies, simply delicious!
(5)Tom C.
Terrific, this is a wonderful restaurant! Food,fresh and delish, service is spot on. Yes, we will dine here in the future many times.
(5)Tee S.
I was eating here as a tourist and our server was really nice and knowledgable about the menu. she recommended the fire duck with pasta and the combo dumplings. Not the best dumplings i've had. I really liked the hand-made pasta with a nice chewy taste. the duck was tender and I ordered it extra spicy which made it better. The only complaint with this dish was it was really salty and oily with too much sauce. I enjoyed the experience but don't expect an authentic Chinese restaurant experience if this is what you're looking for.
(3)Alyssa R.
This restaurant is too legit to quit. I was amazed by their selection of vegetarian choices as well as meat choices. The environment is casual and cozy. It's not a very big place but it's a definite go-to place in Kansas City. I had their Fried Tofu with Awesome sauce and it was incredible. Even if you aren't into tofu, anything fried is delicious especially with this sauce. I also recommend the Dumplings, they are the best and if you have awesome sauce left over.... dip it in that. Your life will have just been made. You must try it! For my entree, I had the Ginger Basil Chicken over noodles. It is a ton of food but so worth it. I had to box the rest of mine up but it made the perfect leftovers for lunch. I also got the strawberry bubble tea (smoothie style) and it was so good. The "bubbles" in it are good and luckily they give you a massive straw so you can suck them up. It was full of flavor and I would definitely get another. I will be visiting again soon. Such good food and a comfortable place to eat!
(5)Lea L.
I died and went to heaven over and over again at this place. The Sweet Chili dumplings were amazing...every bite made me coming back for more...I should of eaten it slower but I couldn't help myself! My braised pork was so tender and the ingredients were just so darn fresh. I can't sat enough to about how nice the staff were...especially Lulu...she took great care of us. Thank you Blue Koi for making this one of the best dinners of my life!
(5)Shanley C.
I was actually on my way to another Midtown restaurant when I walked by Blue Koi and changed my mind. I looked through the front window at all the happy people sucking down noodles and sipping tea and I couldn't resist. Walking in, you're met with the warm scents of curry, garlic and soy sauce. The vibe is relaxed and welcoming and the staff reflects that mood. The bar offers a small selection of local beers, along with the usual libations. I enjoyed a Boulevard Wheat while looking over the menu. I ordered the Shrimp with Chinese Curry Sauce. This dish includes ginger, onion, mushrooms, snow pea pods and fresh basil sauteed with sesame oil and spicy Chinese curry sauce. There isn't a lot of heat in this dish, which allows you to enjoy the flavors of the ginger and basil. You can order this dish with shrimp, tofu, chicken or beef. I thought the shrimp with the spicy Chinese curry was a good pairing. If you need a little more heat with your meal, order the Fire Bird. The boneless roast duck is sauteed with chili peppers and scallions and large chunks of bamboo strips accompany the dish. This was my first taste of duck and I was pretty surprised with how tasty it was. I was worried about the consistency of the meat but it reminded me of pork. This dish is a must-have. If you don't live close to Midtown, Blue Koi has a second location in Leawood. I highly recommend checking this place out.
(4)Joanna N.
Went here after seeing it on DDD. Tried the spicy dumplings, which were fantastic. Other than that, food was mediocre. The "curry" had well cooked chicken, but wasn't curry at all. They serviced me triple the amount of rice they should have. Total waste of food. The spicy noodles were a joke too. If you want noodles with a flavorless sauce covered in classic chili sauce, waiting way too long for your food with subpar service, this place is for you. Don't expect good Chinese food.
(2)Carol L.
I was in town for business and heard of Blue Koi in Kansas City from the tv show, diners drive in (something like that). I decided to try it. I had the fried tofu with the awesome sauce and broil pork dumplings. They were ok... I was born and raised in Hong Kong so I know what authentic Chinese food is. I say this restaurant is more an American Chinese fusion not authentic Chinese. I ordered the seafood noodle soup, it was ok. Will I come back??? I might if I'm in town again for business.
(3)Sarah A.
One of my favorite restaurants in the KC area! Lots of vegetarian options. The crispy tofu with awesome sauce is a no brainer - gotta have it. Also enjoy the veggie lettuce wraps and dumplings. The jasmine tea is lovely. Friendly staff and great service. Fun decor; displays work from local artists.
(4)Faith B.
I tried Blue Koi after a request from out of town guests, who saw it on Guy Fieri's show. Our party of three was seated quickly on a Friday night. The place was busy but not jam packed. We requested a drink menu from our server, who said they were reprinting them and only had a few and that he'd see if someone would share with us. Um, okay. Someone did, which was helpful for actually choosing drinks. We tried the tofu with awesome sauce, because come on!, AWESOME sauce, right? It was pretty good, but I'm not going as far as awesome. I liked it. It was a slightly spicier take on an sweet sour. The waiter offered to get us some siracha as well, but never did come back with it. He also offered us chopsticks, which I wanted, but those didn't make an appearance either. I had a tofu Ants on a Tree. Nice noodle dish with good flavor. It's also available with pork. I liked it. It wasn't magical. Dad had a curried shrimp dish which he very much enjoyed. The curry flavor was excellent and a little different than most. Mom had a chicken dish, which she also liked, but I can't vouch for that. Eventually the waiter came back by with chopsticks so I could waylay him for a set and re-request the siracha. Overall, the food was good. Not extraordinary, but very good. The service was pretty "meh." I'm not sure I'd be compelled to come back with all the great KCMO options out there, but I'm glad I tried it.
(3)Cindy R.
As much as I know you're not supposed to order the same thing every time you go to a place, I can't help it here! I love the China moon with the plum sauce (my mouth is watering thinking about it)... and the amazing crispy tofu with awesome sauce. It's to the point that my mom actually liked tofu after she tried it... I like the dumplings but I'm not a huge dumpling person but they're good for dumplings :) GET THE BUBBLE TEA! So refreshing.
(4)Bennie N.
Third attempt at trying this restaurant. Now I preface this with saying that I'm not a picky eater and i do avoid pork and red meat but each try I've been disappointed. I have heard mostly positive things about this place and find myself wanting to like it. The spicy chili wontons were amazing but every entree I've tried seemed like a waste of money. I've worked in the service industry for almost a decade now and I will compliment the atmosphere and service but without a menu I feel compelled to explore I probably won't be making a fourth appearance. Also avoid the mango bubble tea like it's the plague. *cringes
(2)Teague P.
This is a good restaurant. I have had lunch here several times, and it's always been very tasty. I haven't really explored the menu, because I keep ordering the same things. The crispy tofu appetizer is delicious, it comes with "awesome sauce" which is a gingery, slightly chile-hot, sweet/sour/savory condiment. Wonderful. And I also keep ordering the brisket, which comes as soup or with noodles. It's fabulous both ways. Tender slices of brisket, savory broth, chewy-tender noodles. I think I love the noodle version best because, noodles. I've also had the stuffed eggplant, it's battered and fried in a super crispy coating, ohhhh yes, yes! (Uh, sorry, just remembering.) Service has always been prompt and pleasant. I've never had a problem with time at lunch, they get the food out quickly. The prices are very reasonable. The ambiance isn't really noticeable, but it's not loud and good for a business lunch.
(4)Cheryl B.
Awesome food!! I had the firebird with chicken and added cooked cauliflower, and substituted noodles instead of rice ..very good! We had the firecracker wontons, which were my favorite part of the meal. we ordered a drink from the bar, they decided to just take their time with that and brought it out right before we left. I was not impressed with that, and the mixed drinks weren't worth the wait after all. my husband had the ants on a tree, he really enjoyed it and said he will order it again. We sat at the counter overlooking the very busy kitchen, I would recommend sitting there; it was fun watching the hustle and bustle. word of warning-- do not change or revise your order once its placed! They tend to not like that and won't speak to you for the remainder of your visit :-\ while the service was not spot on during our visit, I will return only because I am CRAVING the wontons and the Firebird with Chicken!!! all in all for my review I would say the food is spot on! the service needs some work, and our server needs a slight attitude adjustment. Blue Koi is a must try for anyone around the KU area that loves a little bit of spice, a little Asian fusion and doesn't mind a bit of a wait. As my son says, Blue Koi is a little bit hipster and a little bit funky......enjoy
(4)Kent F.
Not an Asian cook in the place. Like going to a Soul food restaurant and seeing white cooks. I asked for duck crispy, and got duck. So, they didn't know what crispy meant. Guess I should have asked for a duck taco.
(1)Jo B.
Pretty decent. I had the roasted duck appetizer and the spicy wontons. The duck was a bit too sweet and the sauce too thick, but not to a disappointing point. The wontons were very good, but the sauce may have been a bit much. Overall it was solid but nothing off the charts. I think they overdid the flavor. Sometimes less is more. The dishes were a little intense and not in a good way. Again if didn't take away but didn't impress.
(4)Gemy V.
I have been going to Blue Koi since they opened years ago and the food is always good. The china moon appetizer and bean noodles are excellent!
(5)Laura Y.
Great service on a Monday night. Enjoyed the unobtrusive soundtrack. Ordered the Chinese Pot Roast as a soup and it was not piping hot and short on noodles, but the server obligingly heated it and noodled it up for me for an extra $4.50. He was very helpful with showing me thru the menu as it was my first time here. I'd come back, if not for dinner definitely for lunch.
(3)Acer T.
I'd like to try Blue Koi for a while; finally I went there today and had a satisfied dinner. I ordered cantonese duck with rice and pan-fried dumplings. I was quite expecting an authentic dish with cantonese roasted duck, but it wasn't (at least to me). However, it was surprisingly good, very tasted. Regarding the pan-fried dumpling, I wish it could be a bit more crispy outside, but again it's not bad at all. Overall, I like their food and restaurant itself, although it's slightly pricy to me. I think I definitely want to go back to try other meals in the future.
(4)Yolanda K.
Bad service alone is enough to make a girl not want to come back to an establishment. We got there around 9th on a Saturday night and they were not busy at all. We were greeted by the hostess with a Yes,,, unmm,, ok we looked past that. We got a table and ordered the chicken dumplings and shared the chicken curry dish. First I'll say that the sauce was really good. The chicken dumpling just didn't do it for me, I didn't understand the large ball of meat in the dumpling, I think I could have gotten over it BUT the chicken had a very bad taste, like it was spolied. Ok, we both agreed that the curry dish was very good. I'd like to try here again but probably not anytime too soon based on the service alone as we kept flagging the waiter down for something we needed.
(3)Jeff K.
Mindy (the owner), this review is for you. Thank you for a wonderful visit. We just returned from visiting Blue Koi this evening. I first took in a slushy coconut and sweet taro boba tea - which I had never heard of before, but turned out to be an excellent treat! The appetizer we had included the cantonese style roasted duck which I tried because I hadn't had duck in a long time. The meat was tender and came with a sauce mixed with carrots and peanuts. It was a nice way to have duck again. The best part were the DUMPLINGS: we had boiled pork dumplings and the magnificent spicy chili pepper wontons. I have to say that these spicy chili pepper wontons are out-of-this-world fantastic. The meat is actually a combination of pork and chicken in a tangy-mildly spicy soy sauce. We also had the Shanghai wonton noodle soup which came in a clear and mildly spicy broth. The noodles were tender. I ended up mixing in some of the sauce from the spicy chili pepper wontons in my soup which made it excellent. We also had the shrimp with curry sauce and added some tofu into it. Another excellent dish - I loved the curry taste which is unusual for a chinese dish - but I love Indian and thai food so it was great. In fact, I would have like to have had a little more curry to really spice it up. And, the white rice was fluffy and moist! To top it off, Mindy ordered a special cheesecake fried wonton dessert for us. What a wonderfully delicious surprise. The wontons were in a special sweet sauce with cut grapes. Thank you again for a memorable time!!!
(5)Kathleen J.
Excellent food, wonderful services! Music changed the atmosphere from what I'd expected but overall great experience. Will def be back!
(4)Billie H.
I was surprised to find out I haven't reviewed Blue Koi yet. This is one of my favorite spots. Although tonight we just stopped for boba tea, this is the place to go if you want dumplings. I personally am a huge fan of the pork dumplings, because if there is an option for pork, why would you choose anything else? I have tried the other dumplings and all of them are great. Seriously, the best dumplings in town! The meat blends are perfectly spiced and ground up for a just right consistency. I have had other dumplings where the filling is mushy or stringy, these are just right. The actual dumpling is well made and the perfect ratio of dumpling to filling. The dipping sauce is also perfect. Just go try them. If you like dumplings this is the place! Besides dumplings they also have a selection of noodles that are delicious. And I also have to rave about the duck wraps. Occasionally I step out of my norm, but the duck wraps and an order of dumplings is my go to. Service is always fantastic here. I have never had anything less than a fantastic server. Tonight was maybe the best. The girl who served us was just one of those people who spew happy and positive and no matter how bad a day you are having makes it better just being your waitress. Just genuinely nice. She noticed our name tags from dinner and mentioned she uses Yelp and we had a nice convo about the site, letting her know about the events. Also, when we were in love with the music option she took time to explain the system they used and found the channel name for us. This place knows how to pick the right people. The boba tea is one of the best I have had too. One of the few places I actually find a red bean option and the boba is always good. Stop and try Blue Koi, it is one of the few places that does everything right and I have absolutely nothing that they can improve on.
(5)Andrew L.
Ate here this evening for a meeting. When I showed up at the table, I had some Tofu and Awesome sauce waiting for me. I have never been a huge fan of the whole tofu thing, but I have to admit, I fell in love at first bite. Finished off the Tofu with a plate full of awesome sauce left. Tried out the pork dumplings to help finish off the awesome sauce. I would strongly recommend trying the dumplings out. They made my night. For the main course I took the advice of those dining with me and tried the Cantonese roasted duck. The oly duck I have tried before was shot about 30 min before it was on my plate. This was amazing. Got it on a bed of brown rice, and added a bit of hot sauce just to give it a kick. Unfortunately I had filled myself up on the tofu, awesome sauce, and pork dumpling and wasnt able to finish the plate. On the bright side, I got to take it home with me. Give the place a try. It is definitely low key, and a great place to have an intense conversation. Loved it, and will be returning in the future.
(5)Delia P.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the servers and of course the food. Nice Friday night place.
(5)Stephen H.
Since I live down in JoCo I have the "corporate" Blue Koi nearby so I usually go there anymore but was recently staying with a friend nearby and got some take out. Just as a note - "take out" at Blue Koi just means you'll be paying their regular restaurant prices (not cheap) for their stuff in boxes. Not recommended as a take-out place. I mean, if you're gonna go expensive for takeout I want Grace Kelly bringing me lobster from 21. And if you got that reference, we need to date. :-)
(5)Colin C.
Went here while visiting since it had good reviews and all the BBQ places were full on a Friday night. Service was great and the food was pretty tasty. However, the menu was a bit strange and quite small. Definitely don't go here if looking for a traditional Chinese restaurant. It was sort of like they were trying to be vegan or healthy and it was somewhat but not completely. I just couldn't figure out the theme exactly and thought there needed to be more to the menu. Some interesting drinks and the prices were ok. The black bean sauce was good and most of the plates were large. Overall though just didn't do it for me. Other better options out there. You won't be unhappy just not fully satisfied and a strange menu would be my overall review. Also probably worth noting that we both had stomach issues after eating here. Could be a coincidence but happened for both immediately after leaving....
(3)Tricia H.
LOVEEEEE this place...being in KC since birth I ask myself how in the world have I NOT been to Blue Koi??? Seriously I have been totally missing out... My first visit I was so confused with all the yummy choices on one menu!! Holy happy taste buds :-) I will be a regular from here on out!!! The Homemade noodles with the Awesome sauce is a little taste of heaven for sure!! I can honestly tell you I have been back three times and haven't gotten one thing I didn't like..no LOVE.... Dumplings, tofu, Braised chicken with noodle's goodness I can go on for days on how succulent the flavors are :-) yum yum yum I have to end it with.....BUBBLE tea, hello lovely where have you been all my life :-)
(4)Michelle F.
Friday Date NIght at Blue Koi! We got there a little early, maybe 5:30, and I'm glad we did as this cozy place filled up quickly. We started with the China Moon. Crispy dough filled with minced shrimp and served with homemade plum sauce for dipping. It's fantastic. We decided to do dumplings so we ordered the pork pan fried dumplings and the chili pepper wontons. The panfried dumplings were hot and crispy in all the right places. The filling is well seasoned and a perfect match to my leftover plum sauce. They were also tasty with the provided dipping sauce but seriously, that plum sauce! The chili pepper wontons look like they could really light you up but they are mildly seasoned and filled with a pork-chicken-shrimp mixture. One more order, the sesame buns, made this a perfect dinner and came in at around $30 with tip. Three cheers for not busting the budget!
(4)Cathy C.
Blue Koi is why I don't get excited about conventional (American) Chinese food. I don't care if I never eat General Tso's chicken again, as long as I can have Ants on a Tree or Ginger Basil chicken. I also like the pot roast, but I usually just snag a few pieces from my dining companion. Everything is seasoned and cooked to perfection; the meat falls apart under your fork. The only thing missing last time was that they seem to have taken the big slices of ginger out of the GB chicken-though the taste was still there. The dumplings are delicious no matter which filling you get, and Awesome Sauce is truly well named. They've always been my starter of choice until I made a discovery last time out...now let us talk about Eggplant Pockets, possibly the best thing anybody ever put in a deep fryer! The closest thing I can compare these things to is a pakora, but they're about three times as big, and softer inside, and just unbelievably good! The "raw garlic sauce" they come with tasted like the Awesome Sauce which is now missing from the menu. I could make a meal of just these. Just like everybody else, I find the service to be top notch. The decor is bright and modern, without any real ethnic overtones. And maybe I'm just silly, but it's kinda fun to sneak in up the back staircase.
(4)Azile Y.
I had all appetizers: fried tofu (YUM), lettuce wraps (good), China moon (AMAZING) and the chili dumplings (AMAZING). Cocktails were delicious. Service was outstanding, music was cool. I cannot wait to go back!
(5)Olive D.
Was here a couple days ago while moving my sister in to her new apt. First thought, ambience is hipster asian. Like most of the other places around, it seemed like it was in an older building and it's been around for awhile... Not that I would know since I'm not from the area but yeah. Our waiter was neither amazing or bad, just your typical run of the mill waiter. Menu wasn't crazy with a bunch of different menu items which I was happy about since it usually gives me anxiety. I ordered the pot roast in the noodle soup form. It reminded of beef pho, which I'm obsessed with. The only thing I wasn't too impressed with were the noodles that it came with. I forget what their called but I can describe them as a thin flat rice noodle? Delicious noodles but weird in a pho type setting. Or maybe I was put off because I was thinking that I was supposed to be eating pho with that type of noodle... It didn't bother me too much but I wasn't crazy about it either. The meat was, however, delicious just as the broth was on point. Overall a good experience. I'd definitely like to try this place again when I'm in the area!
(4)Lorena M.
There are two reasons I really wanted to come here. 1. They were featured on Triple D, and I love Guy. 2. My friends have loved the dumplings. On Diners Drive-In's and Dives one of the dishes featured was the Firebird, so ever since then I've been dying to try it. I went with a group of 5 to the 39th st location on a Saturday evening. It was fairly busy but we were seated quickly. We ordered pan fried dumplings to start and I had a bubble tea. Four of us had the Firebird and one had the Chinese style Pot Roast. Food- So the dumplings were delicious! We almost ordered a second round if our food had been a little slower to come out, but that isn't really a complaint! The two of the four of us who ordered the Firebird ordered it differently. A friend and mine were regular with duck as the meat and we both had some complaints about the dish. First there was seriously a ridiculous amount of the spicy oil they use to cook it. I mean we could fill a small dish with all that access oil. Second we did not like the duck; this was our first time having duck to don't know if it's more of personal taste or the preparation. There wasn't very much actual duck meat but a lot of fat and the smell was off. The other two had chicken instead of duck and one of them had less oil (mainly to make it less spicy). We all agreed that the best firebird was the one with chicken and less oil. (The noodles used in the firebird dish were really good) The one friend who had the Chinese Style Pot Roast was the lucky one. Everyone loved that dish, it was delicious! The dish didn't have any sauces or oil so it didn't feel heavy yet the meat was so flavorful. Service- The server was nice but not really engaging. You kind of expect your server to want to make your experience a good one, but he seemed totally out of it. Anyways, I would go back to try other things on the menu, but this experience was a little disappointing. One star for dumplings, one star forthe noodles, one star for the Chinese style pot roast.
(3)Tina H.
I read a lot of great reviews before coming here and I guess my expectations was over my head.. Sorry to say the least but this place was not what I was expecting.. the service was HORRIBLE, we had this older lady and she did not give us any attention, she served a table in front of us and she was real friendly with them but the moment we got seated she was just horrible, food took forever to come out and it tasted like noodles from a package.. NEVER COMING BACK.
(1)Dean H.
Cool atmosphere, good waitstaff, and most importantly great food. Not far from the Plaza where we were staying. We started with the spicy fried wontons & seafood dumplings. I had the Cantonese Duck with noodles. I would recommend it if you like duck, it was great. The best dish at the table was my Brother in law's. The chicken in bean sauce. The noodles on all the dishes were amazing.
(5)Melissa S.
Love this place and crave it often! I always get the tofu and awesome sauce because it's always a winner! Everything I've tried has been amazing! My fave go to is fried dumplings or the shrimp with black bean sauce! Always have enough left for next days lunch! They have some amazing martinis also ;) I mean to take pics every time but dig in too quickly!
(4)Morgan K.
I have heard great things. I've read great reviews. So when my mom asked if I wanted to go to lunch at Blue Koi......YES, PLEASE!!! The verdict.......MORE, PLEASE! I enjoyed my lunch so much (got to give credit to my mom there...she's excellent company) that I honestly don't know where to begin in my review. There were so many things that hit the right spot that I just want to blurt out, ramble on and finally get so overwhelmed that I just say "GO TRY IT. YOU HAVE TO TRY IT!" I don't know where to start. So let's start at the very beginning.... We had the eggplant pockets for a starter and I have been craving those crazy things ALL FRICKIN' WEEK!! Big thick slices of eggplant stuffed with veggies and deep fried for your pleasure. When I say big, I mean BIG. When the plate was empty, I was worried I wouldn't have room for my main dish. My mom had the wonton soup (which apparently includes a full serving a dumplings that makes it WELL worth the price) and I indulged in the braised pork with shitake mushrooms. You have the option of ordering most of the main dishes as a soup with noodles, with rice, or with noodles.; my pork was served noodle-style. The taste of the food reminded me of when I worked at a Japanese restaurant for a Chinese couple and the food that they made themselves for lunch before we opened for dinner. There was nothing processed-tasting about this food. Everything tasted like it was made from scratch - even the noodles (if they are processed, well done - you fooled me). The sauce on the braised pork reminded me a little of beef stroganoff (the noodles didn't help), but it was delicious. While they're a little on the pricey side (about $13 a dish), the portion size (easily enough for two meals) and the quality of the food made this budget-bound broad beam. Also to note, the food did take a little long to come out from the kitchen, but like I said earlier (and have said before), if you're with good company that's nothing to huff-and-puff over. At the end of the day, I fell in love with this place and can't wait until my next plate of eggplant pockets.
(5)Denise C.
Local business owners, take note from this place. I have been going here for years. You can tell that a person loves what they do and takes pride in their business when it is always consistent, and I mean always. The staff is always friendly, the cooks are always consistent, the food is amazing and they always care enough to check with your table and make sure you had a good experience. Wow. Always amazed, and A+ for both locations, however I prefer and frequent the 39th St one. Kudos, Blue Koi. One of the best restaurants in Kansas City.
(5)Jim L.
Probably the best duck I've ever eaten. I almost never order duck in a Chinese restaurant because it's often dry. This was moist, juicy and more than I could eat. My server said he ate only the duck dish for the first 2 months he worked there, and I certainly see why. Excellent!
(5)Francie f.
Do not get any take out. It will be VERY disappointing.The pork and chicken dishes are DRY and very on appealing. The food seems to be from yesterday's left overs.
(2)Kelly G.
One of the best restaurants in kc. Fresh, vibrant, savory. So good. Bubble tea is delicious. The vibe of the place is super cool and on point for the neighborhood. Crispy tofu, cheesecake wontons, and shrimp dumplings..
(5)Rachel P.
What can I say about Blue Koi? It rocks my world. I should eat there a lot more than I do. I always get the wonton soup, which comes in a huge bowl that is two meals' worth of food. The fresh flavor is an infusion of green onion, lots of cilantro, and I think lemongrass. It is soothing yet awakening to the senses. The pork inside the wontons is very flavorful. And so juicy. My boyfriend ordered the duck entre, and just raved about it. And you can get bubble tea :)
(5)Brandi C.
I'm definitely a fan of Blue Koi. We've been here twice now, and both times we've left full (with leftovers), tried a bunch of different things, and didn't spend a ton of money. Win-win-win. Both times it was busy enough (a Saturday evening and a Friday night), but we were seated right away and approached by a server only a couple of minutes after we sat down. Service was fast yet friendly, with our waitress each time offering suggestions when we were undecided on our options. The food is excellent - really flavorful, and the Awesome Sauce is aptly named. Seriously, if you go here and get dumplings, get the awesome sauce. You can thank me for that later. The dumplings themselves are huge - 2 portions are more than a meal, so we usually get a couple of starters and a couple of orders of dumplings and just split everything. We've had the pan fried seafood, shrimp pork & chicken, and shrimp dumplings, and they were all excellent. We've also had the Duck Wrap: good, but the peanut "sauce" that comes with it is a bit odd texturally for me, the Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps: add some Sriracha or Awesome Sauce if you want a bit of a kick, and on the suggestion of a friend, the Cantonese Roast Duck with noodles (which are made in house). The Cantonese duck was a tiny bit fatty for my taste, but my husband really enjoyed it. Both times we've had dumplings left over, as the portions really are generous for the price, and they've been neatly boxed up for us, along with our remaining Awesome Sauce. I've been nice enough to share a leftover dumpling with our dog, and she is also a fan, though she was not allowed to have any sauce with hers. The ambiance is nice (plenty of interesting things to look at), the restrooms are clean (and the women's room is HUGE!), and the service is efficient without making you feel rushed. We're going to bring our (vegetarian) friends here when they visit in a couple of weeks, since there are plenty of veggie friendly options for them. I'm already looking forward to the dumplings and Awesome Sauce.
(4)Alicia W.
We went here Friday night, they don't take reservations unless you have at least 6 people, but we still got in fairly quickly. The restaurant was small but didnt seem cramped. I got the Pomegranite fizz martini-DELICIOUS but very sweet. And i got the almond shrimp with aspargus and white rice. it was very yummy! and definitely had enough for leftovers, which were still fantastic the next day! I would definitely come back here! The service was excellent as well!
(4)Jacob S.
I've been past this restaurant dozens of times, but was never compelled enough by the exterior to go inside. It wasn't until I realized that BK Blue Koi was the latest Burger King concept restaurant that my interest was piqued. I work a few buildings down from here, and because it was so hot outside today I decided that I wanted to try somewhere close. My GF and I were hoping for a buffet, but I read all the reviews online for BK Blue Koi and decided to give it a go. The restaurant was moderately busy at noon on a Thursday, but we were seated immediately. Looking over the menu my anticipation grew. What was in store for us as loyal BK fans? How would BK add their signature touch to the "Fusion Chinese" restaurant scene? We started with the Crispy Tofu with Awesome Sauce. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical. BK usually isn't one to 'toot their own horn' so to speak, so it was a bit off putting that they claim this particular sauce was so 'awesome.' Combined with the fact that BK is well known for hamburgers (clearly falling into the "meat" section of the food triangle), how would they do with tofu? Boy, were we wrong. BK has DONE IT AGAIN. Too bad this appetizer just wasn't up to par with the remainder of the meal to come. When it came time to order, there was no question on my mind about what to choose. I had to see what Burger King's take on duck would be. As this is a "Fusion Chinese" concept, I was expecting some type of duck-burger, or possibly some duck fries (a la their famous "chicken fries"). My disappointment immediately began to set in as the only entrée duck options were served over rice, noodles, or in a soup. I went ahead and ordered the duck over rice. It was acceptable, but it was just missing that BK flair I was expecting. Hardly innovative, to say the least. There weren't even the visible grill marks that are the signature of BK's burgers. It would have been a nice touch. The lady ordered the braised pork over rice. Once again, this dish just lacked the BK presentation we were seeking and have come to know from BK Whopper Bar, BK Beer Kitchen, and even BK Burrito King. The service was great, and for the most part I enjoyed everything I tasted. For the BK diehard, you will be disappointed. I'm really not sure what BK was thinking with this one, but possibly they'll revamp if enough people write reviews. I will definitely be back and might bump up my rating to a 4, but I'm holding back on that last star until I get an innovative entrée option (such as "duck fries").
(3)Tim M.
Let me get one thing out of the way. There's been a lot of comparison between the dumplings here and at Po's down the street. The dumplings here KILL the dumplings at Po's. So amazing. The fried tofu is off the chain as well...incredibly good. Both of these are on the appetizer menu, but paired together make for a great meal. The entrees here just aren't great like the apps...the ones I've had were just meh, hence the missing star. Luckily, those appetizers save this place and make me a fan.
(4)Amanda G.
I'm actually not sure the last time I had meat here, and I'm not even technically a vegetarian - that's how good the veggie options are at Blue Koi. The fried tofu, as other reviewers have noted, is amazing. It melts in your mouth, and the "awesome sauce" lives up to its name, adding a nice spice to the cubes. The veggie dumplings (I always get them steamed) are delicious and not too sticky. The black bean tofu is also a gem on the entree menu, but most dishes you can get a handful of the other noodle dishes with tofu as well. The spiked bubble tea is a fun, unique offering and the sesame balls for dessert are the perfect end to what is always an enjoyable meal.
(4)Alexandra W.
This place is a little pricey, but the quality is all there so I don't mind. Try the dumpling soup and veggie lettuce wraps. Or, for something a little more ribsticking, they make a roasted pork in brown sauce which is as close to asian soul food as it gets. The only thing I tried and didn't love was the vegan delights soup, which would have been fine if it wasn't overly salty. This may have been a fluke, however, since everything else I've tried here has been well seasoned. I also had a green tea toddy cocktail that was one of the most heartwarming things I've every drank, and came in an adorable little teapot/sake cup service. So good!
(4)Paul L.
The dumplings were de-lish but the noodle and rice entrees were okay. Our party had some boiled chicken and vegetarian dumplings ($6.50 per order of 8) to start off with and they were excellent. They have a variety of noodle and rice entrees, with variations on meat and noodle, rice, or noodle soup. I had the Fire Bird ($13)--boneless duck with some scallion and bamboo strips. I requested the spiciness be taken down a notch. It was really that there was plenty of rice, as the chili flavor was still very strong. My dad had the seafood noodle soup ($13), which had scallops and shrimp, and my mom had the Ginger Basil Chicken ($11.5). The dishes were a little on the salty side, where the spices were a little too strong. Perhaps it is hard to get the balance right with their rice, noodle, and noodle soup variations. The restaurant has nice decor. The walls are blue with splashes of white that make it look like water, with some brightly colored paintings on the wall.
(4)Paul M.
Yeah, I eat tofu here. You should too. As often as possible.
(5)Fiona H.
We visited KC from SLC with a vegan in tow. VegKansasCity.com helped us find a list of friendly restaurants and we started with Blue Koi (alphabetical, doncha know). It was fantastic. We started with duck, fried eggplant, and lettuce wraps, then ordered dumplings, a hot pot, and some noodles. Everything - everything - was delicious. We agreed later that it was the best meal of the trip. Our waiter couldn't have been more friendly. He helped direct us to the vegan bakery down the street, chatted with us about Kansas City, and checked our list of restaurants to confirm our thoughts and make recommendations.
(5)Joshua A.
I absolutely love this place. Though I prefer to order the food and then take it home. When I ate there it was in the middle of summer and the place was like a blast furnace, even with numerous fans sitting around. I had the duck noodles and they were amazing. The duck was just simply fantastically flavored. The portions were huge for the price and I didn't eat that much. I did have leftovers for days afterwards. Since then, i've had their food once more and that was ordered and picked up. I had their duck soup with rice and it was just downright beautiful. I'll definitely be visiting again and again.
(5)Kim L.
Very tasty, decently-priced food in a quiet, serene ambiance... The mixed drinks are bordering on lethal. Ordering a bunch of appetizers was the way to go for our group with mixed dietary requirements... this place is definitely veg*n friendly. Tofu with awesome sauce is legend, wait for it... awesome ;p
(4)Munro R.
It had been years since I last visited Blue Koi on April 21, 2012 with my wife. As I recalled, the decor and ambience was inviting. I was definitely in an Asian foodie kinda mood. The vegetarian dumplings were fantastic, the best I've had in Kansas City outside of what my wife or mother-in-law makes. (I had the fried kind--). Much better than the veggie dumplings at Bo Ling's. The main courses by comparison were disappointing. My wife had the tofu with black bean sauce; I had the tofu with Chinese curry sauce. The black bean sauce was saltier than we expected; the curry sauce was flavorful and sweet. (MSG??) For both dishes we were disappointed that there were fewer vegetables than we expected. However, I have to say that the fried tofu was some of the best I've had at any restaurant in some time. So, all in all, a mixed experience. I wish the menu was more expansive. I probably won't be going back to Blue Koi anytime soon.
(2)Mary Ann S.
Great place! My family from Joplin and I came next door to eat when our first option (d'Bronx) fell through. Wonderful service, and the braised tofu and mushrooms was delicious!
(4)Breanna S.
Blue Koi is in my top favorite restaurants. They have a great selection for vegetarians and vegans. I always order the braised tofu with shitake mushrooms with noodles. My boyfriend really enjoys the ginger basil chicken. Blue Koi's appetizers are also top notch. My boyfriend is not a vegetarian, but we both rave about the crispy tofu with spicy awesome sauce. The vegetarian dumplings are also great. My boyfriend and I always suggest Blue Koi to our family and friends.
(5)Inessa F.
An excellent place for lunch or dinner, Blue Koi has 2 locations. The one near KU Medical Center has the feel of a little college joint, and the one close to I-435 is a bit more upscale. The food is absolutely delicious, Chinese fare. Check out the fresh and crunchy lettuce wraps, the ultra-addictive dumplings (the fried pork dumplings are my favorite), and the duck entree. All the soups are pretty awesome, too; they come in large portions, and can easily feed 2-3 people. I haven't had anything I haven't liked at this place. The service is fine (unlike some of these reviewers, I've never had an issue with the staff). The ambiance is colorful and artsy. Highly recommended!
(5)Julia F.
The food is really good, but the service is definitely sub par. Every once in a while I will refuse to come back because of the attitudes of the wait staff. Fortunately for them, the food is good enough to cause me to give in when I have a craving for their dumplings. For a good meal at a good deal, order the dumplings ($6.50/ half dozen). The are quite delicious. I am particularly fond of the Cantonese roast duck ($12), available in three preparations (I get it as a noodle soup). But the dumplings are really the star of the show; that's why my friends keep wanting us all to come back. Parking can be a bit of a problem depending on the evening, but it is manageable. They're not open on Sundays. I've not tried the carry-out, but I plan to some time when I want the food without dealing with the servers.
(3)Z K.
Awesome sauce? Seriously? You call it awesome sauce because it really is awesome to not get any someplace else, thats how bad it is. The noodles I ordered were not cooked properly, and the shrimp tasted OK. And the bubble tea was horrible, mango pulp from a bottle with the molasses...eh. Service was great however.
(3)Michelle B.
Blue Koi is one of my mainstays in town. The food, atmosphere and service are always consistently good. I also take advantage of the giant Sriracha bottle that always ends up at my table. I usually end up with one of two dishes. The Chinese style pot roast (slow marinated, tender meat) soup or the Cantonese roast duck soup. I'm a sucker for duck and a sucker for noodle soup. Their noodles are homemade and usually a great complement to the tasty broth. The vegan delights soup, ants on a tree, and fire bird are all pretty good ones too, but I generally always go with one of those two. Some people rave over the dumplings, but I haven't had an excellent experience with them yet. They're fine (pan fried is the way to go), but I prefer Po's down the street. Their bubble tea is some of the best I've had in town, but at $4 a pop it's saved for special occasions. Try the taro or red bean though. Yum. The worst thing about Blue Koi is that it's not the cheapest Asian place (probably $12-15 for an entree). But n Kansas City, it's probably one of the better Asian-type (although I call it more of a fusion cuisine) restaurants in town. Sure, I've eaten similar dishes in US cities with bigger Asian populations that were probably as good for cheaper, and I definitely have eaten in other Asian countries that were better for about 3/4 of the price. But we're in the Great Plains, so when it comes to Asian cuisine and culture, I take what I can get when it's good, even if it's a little pricier.
(4)Elizabeth P.
I love Blue Koi. Looooooove. Creature of habit, so my go-to order is always the same: vegetarian spicy chili wontons and black bean tofu. I've nibbled on lots of other things, but those two make a perfect meal (and they are the absolute perfect amount for a meal for two)! Service has never been great, but the food makes up for it. Although I'm not a vegetarian, I think the meatless options are the best things on the menu. I've been to the one 39th St. more often than the one in Leawood, and it is definitely better -- but maybe it's just the atmosphere once you walk outside? I don't know, but all I am sure that I want to go back right now.
(5)Stephanie G.
This is one of my favorite places in KC and always on the list to take visitors! Great ambiance. You can get away with casual to dressy. Great place for hanging out with friends or for an intimate date. My personal favorite are the Spicy Chili wontons, I get the vegetarian steamed/boiled but there are meat/fry options as well. I also enjoy Ants on a Tree. Texture Alert! They are bean noodles...hard to describe but I think they are fabulous. I get the dish with tofu which makes it vegan but again, meat is available. You will have leftovers and they are just as great warmed up a day or two later. As for drinks, you MUST try the bubble tea! Twice. Another texture alert! The first time the texture of the 'bubbles' (tapioca balls) will be too odd. But after the second try, you will find yourself craving them. :-) I have tried the Chai and enjoyed it. I have also tried the Almond Joy with a "kick" (alcohol - Rum to be exact) and it was great as well. Very sweet. (and vegan) They also have a great selection of hot teas. I have no doubt other menu items are great, but I love the two I get so much I never try the others! If you are reading this, even slightly considering trying it out...do.
(5)Tristen U.
The tea is amazing the are dumplings cooked and wrapped to perfection. The ambiance is modern but somehow make's it feel traditional at the same time. The waiters are very well coordinated and there not too pushy but not too relaxed, just right. When I got my food they said they missed folded a dumpling a gave me double order(I didn't even notice because they were all perfect) I couldn't even eat them I was so full after eating the first eight. But I did get some really good left overs, The Oolong tea was fabulous and they had beautiful serving cups.
(5)Travis S.
Blue Koi is one of my KC staples. Living on the East side of the state, I make it to the West coast of Missouri a couple of times a year and Blue Koi is becoming a must visit! My most recent trip was on a rainy spring evening. Sitting at a table in the front window provided a great vantage point to absorb Blue Koi's ambiance while watching soggy pedestrians scurry down 39th street. My companion and I started with the mixed filling pan-fried dumplings. Crispy yet chewy with a tasty blend of shrimp, chicken, and pork and a flavorful dipping sauce, the dumplings are a must! For entrees, I ordered the Firebird Duck and my date had the Black Bean Chicken. The Firebird was spicy and amazingly delicious. However, I would order it with chicken next time. I love duck, but this was a little tough and still had a substantial amount of fat and skin attached. The sauce on the Black Bean was outstanding too. We both opted for noodles instead of rice, which I would recommend for an extra $2. Blue Koi is a great casual date spot and gets even better in the winter months, when you can warm up with a tasty noodle soup or a steamy pot of tea.
(4)Holly H.
Is place is delicious and fun. I have only gone twice with friends, but had a fun and delicious meal both times. We always get dumplings for the table to share. The first time we ordered the Shrimp, pork, and chicken dumplings pan seared I beileve. After we had eaten them we found out they had given us a chicken batch on accident. They apologized and gave us out original order, so we got to try two different orders for the price of one! We have had all of the dumplings except the veggie one and they were all yummy. We prefer the steamed, but the seared are good as well. Both the ginger basil chicken and the chicken with black bean sauce are delicious. I fully enjoyed both, and they are pretty generous portions in my opinion! Smething that I love about this place is that they will cook it to order. If you want something super spicy, just tell them and they will do it. If you want something more mild, they will do that as well. They also have bubble tea, which I love. You can also get it with alcohol in it if you want. I can't remember if I ordered it with or without alcohol, so I can't really review that, but I think it is a pretty fun option! Overall, writing this review has made me hungry and now I want to go to Blue Koi!
(5)Kat A.
I love Blue Koi and miss it tremendously since moving away from KC about four years ago. Lucky for me, I got to visit last week while in town. Score! The jasmine and oolong teas are insanely good. The tofu with the awesome sauce is in a category of its own. The braised pork (or tofu - I like both) with the shitake mushrooms is ridiculously tasty, and my husband swears by their pot roast. Furthermore, you can't go wrong with their boiled dumplings. I prefer the pork or combination, but who are we kidding - they're all good. And I didn't even mention their boba. For the love of tapioca pearls, batman. The honeydew and the lychee are my favorites. I never did get my nerve up to try the green bean flavor, and I sort of (only sort of) regret that fact. The decor is relaxing, the staff is friendly, the prices are beyond reasonable, and aside from having a less than stellar parking situation, I'd recommend that just about anyone go here.
(4)James P.
Usually, Chinese food is just OK for me, (Chinese food is Chinese food) but these guys are uniquely tasty. I had the Black Bean Chicken. The only negative here was that it was a little pricy for lunch.
(4)Paul E.
Superb. The dumplings were delectable, and the duck was excellent. Order your entree as noodle soup. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Stuti J.
Lettuce Wraps and Dumplings were awesome! I was a little disappointed with the original red tea (bubble tea).. it lacked flavor.
(4)Katie H.
I LOVE Blue Koi. I've been going here since 2004 and have never had a bad experience. I occasionally get cravings for this place and can't think about anything else. :) We typically go to the original location near the KU Med Center, but the newer location on Mission Rd. is just as good. It actually looks exactly the same inside, just triple the size. Same blue door and everything. It's classified as Chinese food, but don't worry. It's not like a typical take out Chinese place. First off....it's not take out. Well....I think you can order ahead of time and take it home....but don't. Eat there. Second, you're not going to find sweet and sour or kung pow anything on the menu. This place does it up right. First of all, their dumplings are super tasty. You can get them boiled or pan fried....you're good to go either way. They also have great lettuce wrap options. Then for the main course, you get to choose from an awesome selection of unique options and then decide if you'd like it as a soup, over noodles, or on rice. My absolute favorite is the Ginger Basil Chicken with rice. The cravings I mentioned before....it's for this dish. The chicken is so tender and flavorful. You're not going to get this anywhere else. My husband typically gets either the Chinese style Pot Roast or the Braised Pork with Shitake Mushrooms. They also have a great selection of hot loose leaf teas OR flavored Bubble teas! The Bubble teas are great. You can also get them with "kick," if you know what I mean. :) So anyway....if you're looking for a restaurant in the KC area with a very cool vibe, awesome/unique dishes, and tasty drinks, this is definitely a place you need to check out.
(5)Matt E.
Blue Koi was one of the first restaurants I visited when I moved to Kansas City a few years ago, and I find myself going back here more often than most anywhere else in town. The food is always so simple yet delicious, the service is always efficient and unobtrusive, and the people watching is generally top notch. Well every other review said it, so i should as well. The Fried Tofu with Awesome Sauce is ridiculously good. Really heavy on cilantro, but i dig cilantro, so it works out well for me. Whenever i find out that one of my friends hasn't been here, we immediately go and i insist that we order this dish. On my last visit i found out that for only $5, they'll sell you a pint of awesome sauce to take home! I grilled up some shrimp and this is the perfect sauce for dipping. Warning though, it goes bad fast. The dumplings are also supposed to be fantastic, but i don't eat dumplings (bad food poisoning experience) so I can't help you there. I alternate between two different entrees here. Either the ginger chicken on noodles (add steamed tofu please!), or the Cantonese roast duck. I'm kind of a wuss when it comes to spicy food, so there are a lot of things that I haven't tried that my friends swear are delicious. I have no complaints about this place. In fact, while writing this review, I think i've decided that i'll go back to Blue Koi again tomorrow.
(4)Dina B.
Best noodles I have ever had! Consistently flawless. I always have a side of the wide noodles, sometime 1 to go:) Best lettuce wraps ever, pork and shitake mushrooms, spicy dumplings. Everything is made from scratch, excellent value, addictive. Privately owned of course. Did I mention the noodles? Like silk. RUN to Blue Koi if you have not eaten here.
(5)Neala B.
To my palate, it's good, not the best ever or anything, and a bit pricy for good. Don't mind paying if its great. Service was good. We had chicken dumplings and they were ok, nothing extraordinary. The bad thing was that every single one of them were broken and the filling fell out. We both had firebird, hubby had chicken I had duck. Nice and spicy on mine and they toned it down for him. Have to say I was a little disappointed in the noodles; I thought they would somehow be noodlier, maybe have a flavor of their own. I would like to try the crispy tofu enough that I'll probably go back at least one more time just to have that. Maybe make it an appetizer meal and try the eggplant pockets too. And beware, if you go there because you saw it on triple D, you have to request noodles for the firebird and there is an up charge.
(3)Kackie C.
You know, sometimes everything is in line in a restaurant and I'll still give them four stars based simply on how I feel when I'm there. Everything can be totally on point, but the restaurant is never elevated to a greater level than the sum of its parts. But in Blue Koi's case, even if I've once or twice ordered something I didn't love (MY taste, not their foible) I will STILL give them five stars because of how I feel when I'm there. First of all, Mark and I have a strange knack for always going to Blue Koi when our favorite waiter is working. His name is David, and he deserves a review all on his own. We always say, "I don't know a ton about him, but he's the best WAITER ever." He always makes us feel like he has all the time in the world for us, even if he's got a full section. (He also works at Pizza Bella, so we stalk him there, too.) Secondly, you know, sometimes you're just in the mood for dumplings and NOTHING else will do. Lucky for us we live right around the corner from West 39th and Blue Koi stays open pretty good and late for us. Like I said, I've had some of the entrees and, while tasty (Mark is a big fan) I still prefer their dumplings, crunchy veggies (panko fried...nom), and their lettuce wraps. We almost play our visits to Blue Koi like dim sum, just a little bit of a lot of things and leave extremely satisfied. The prices are in alignment with the rest of 39th, also. Very reasonable. Can't really say enough about this place. It's fantastic.
(5)Randy H.
Great place to eat. The dumplings are very, very good. But my favorite thing on the menu is the chive pancake...delicious. The staff and owner are very friendly.
(4)K. H.
Very, very good! I ordered the fire bird and it was delicious. Also their bubble tea is wonderful with the perfect taste and texture in their tapioca pearls.
(5)Jeff H.
This place is very interesting. Original, modern, authentic, bargain price and very alternative. if you're looking for Americanized Chinese dishes such as Orange Chicken, you're in the wrong place. There is a plethora of "Chinese" cuisines, you have Shanghainese, Cantoneses, Pekingnese, Sichuan, Hunan all offering exceptionally wide variety or localized dishes. Blue Koi offers Taiwanese dishes. The soup based pot roast noodles are amazing, great warming sensation especially during the colder months. Fried tofu, and Scallion cakes are amazing appetizers. Heard of Boba? Yep, this is one of only a handful of places in KC that offers boba drinks. Their portions are quite large, so I would suggest you order an appetizer or two and just split the main entree.
(5)Tara B.
Went here for dinner tonight and it was as great as always. The food is so flavorful and pure tasting... meaning: tastes made just right! I always have appreciated the staff there. They are down to earth, kind and helpful. You could dress up to go here, which is nice, but its really just a little oddly quaint and you won't feel out of place in jeans and t shirt. Every time I go I have to get the Eggplant Pockets-- tonight was no exception! You get 4 to an order and they about the size of a fist so there's plenty to share or eat a couple and take a couple home for later. Dumplings, good... Crunchy veggies-- awesome. The dipping sauce is wonderful. I also had the duck roll (I think that's what it was called) and it was sweet and rich and entirely savory-delicious! Oh yes... I'll continue to go back.
(5)Jennifer S.
Dumplings! Braised pork and shiitake mushroom! Crispy tofu with awesome sauce!!!!!
(5)Zac S.
My wife and I come here all the time. They have the best dumplings in KC. We often split the Ants on a Tree as it is a large portion but very delicious.
(5)Deandra A.
I cannot express how overrated this place is. I went with friends for lunch. We had dumplings for an appetizer. They were so-so. We also had the scallion biscuit, which was less than so-so. It was very chewy. Our server was pretty rude. I asked him if he had any suggestions (I often ask my server for such advice, who knows the menu better than them?) I was told "rice, noodles, or soup" in a tone that suggested he didn't have the time to address my question. When we finally had our orders taken, I ordered the ginger basil chicken with rice. The rice was overcooked. The chicken was good, there was a huge chunk of ginger in the midst of my chicken. That was a surprise. We also had the basil chicken in lettuce wrap. It was not good. Pretty flavorless. The side salad was such a joke. It was plain spinach, with no other vegetables with a pesto type viniagrette. I was hoping being an asian restaurant they would have the delicious ginger dressing that I've had at other places. No dice. I have heard that the tofu bites are amazing, but based on my experience it is not worth the hype.
(2)Brenna P.
I had been meaning to visit Blue Koi for a long time. I recently made my way there to meet a friend for lunch one afternoon. We were immediately seated and served our beverages. We didn't get any appetizers, but several of them sound great. There are more than one appetizers fit for a vegetarian, which isn't very common, even in the Asian cuisine world. Glancing over the menu, I immediately noticed that there are several vegetarian options, and most entrees can be made vegetarian. Knowing this, my usual four or fewer choices were suddenly expanded into multiples! I chose the Tofu with Chinese Curry Sauce ($13). It consisted of ginger, onion, mushroom, snow peas and fresh basil, topped with a spicy Chinese curry sauce. The dish was spicy, but not too spicy to overpower all of the vegetable flavors. The vegetables were perfectly and lightly sauteed, giving them a delectable crunch. There was easily enough food on my plate for two servings, but it was so good that I engulfed it all in one setting. Yum! I look forward to coming back here again and trying out other entrees. It's definitely worth a visit.
(5)Dianne W.
People absolutely love this place. Guy Fieri was here and raved about it. I'm a little lost. Don't get me wrong, the food is good. I just don't think it's THAT good. We go here periodically as it's around the corner. I've never gotten a bad meal, but I never crave it either. Worth a visit but nothing spectacular.
(3)travis c.
Spicy chili proper wontons!
(4)Amanda F.
I have always been to the location in the Mission Farms shopping center- I have an obsession with Asian food and blue koi hits the spot! The dumplings are amazing, lettuce wraps amazing, drinks amazing... Obviously there is a trend here. Amazing. Sometimes when go to the same restaurant different location I get slightly disappointed, I however did not. I was equally impressed with this location as well!
(5)Nick P.
The koi is definitely a good stop. Everything on the menu has great flavor. My only gripe is their definition of spicy isn't even a pleasant burn.
(4)Stephen B.
This is my go to place for a light dinner of apps. The duck wrap is mouth watering perfection and the combo dumplings (I get them steamed) are plentiful and delicious. Order the chili oil if you are a fan of spicy, this is very addictive and IMO better than the dumpling sauce. I have yet to try everything else there but I certainly intend to based on the quality of these two apps. The long bamboo bar is exceptionally cool, and the guys in the open kitchen are well trained and consistent. Owner is very nice also, and the service is prompt and professional. 9.5 out of 10 only because the prices are a little steep.
(5)Chad S.
We stopped in Blue Koi on a Saturday for lunch. Neither of us were very hungry when we arrived so we decided to split the Firebird (with duck) and added a side of steamed vegetables. A quick note on splitting entrees: I never expect, but always appreciate, a restaurant like Blue Koi that actually splits the entree and its sides onto two individual plates - it's a little thing that scores big points with me. We were seated toward the back of the restaurant, near where the orders were picked up when ready. We didn't wait a long time for our food, but it was enough time to work up an appetite as we watched large bowls of tasty looking noodles, plates of pot stickers, and entree after entree pass by. When our food came up, we were both ready. The Firebird was excellent, though (as Joi also mentioned in her review) a bit on the oily side, with large pieces of duck and a nice scoop of rice for each of use. The side of steamed vegetables (which included small sections of corn on the cob, cabbage, carrot and cauliflower) were the perfect compliment to the entree. As one of my favorite parts of Kansas City, 39th Street already has some of my favorite places to eat, and Blue Koi has easily made it's way onto that list.
(4)Cassie A.
I eat here pretty often. The noodles and the tofu are the BEST. I do think each menu item could use a $1 or $2 reduction in price, and I would enjoy it if the entrees came with more vegetables - they're usually a bunch of meat or tofu with only a few vegetables. I often ask for extra garnishes (sliced cucumber, carrots and cilantro). Service is quick and usually friendly. I do not care for the meat dumplings but the vegetarian ones are awesome.
(3)Ted H.
I tried this place several times over a two year period, and ordered a variety of different dishes. Unfortunately, everything tasted of too much MSG.
(2)HisHer R.
His: everyone around me likes this place more than I do. I always get the duck and its pretty good but I'm not sure a wait door a table here is warranted. Hers: blue koi is a charming little spot. I love love their vegetable dumplings with a side of steamed rice. However anytime I've veered off my usual I wasn't that impressed.
(3)Rhonda S.
Absolutely my favorite place to eat in Kansas City. Located east of KU Med Center with ample parking behind the resturant. (Enter parking at the street to the west of the shopping area.) The food offers interesting cuisine, vegetarian and vegan options. Their vegetable dumplings with awesome sauce are one of my favorite. Their crispy fried tofu tastes like cream cheese. Lettuce wraps are the bomb! Their filled sesame balls must be ordered at the end of each meal. Trust me, this place is good.
(5)Erin M.
I think I'll name my first born "Awesome Sauce." I'm slowly but surely making advances in my chopstick training, but in the middle of my braised tofu with portobellos I had to dig into the rice with a fork to get bigger bites because it was SO FACKING DELICIOUS. My roommate loved her chicken curry dish and we both had tons of leftovers (not that we didn't try to or want to demolish the meals). The crispy tofu as an appetizer was perfect and like I said...I'm a little obsessed with the Awesome Sauce. Blue Koi is such a cute restaurant. If I liked bubble tea, I'm sure I'd appreciate the wide array of available flavors (tapioca pearls remind me of goldfish eyeballs--ptooey!). Service was great, if a little slow at time. The dreamboat of a manager who I tried to make lovey-dovey eyes at should expect a return costumer (can anyone get me his number?!).
(4)Nancy T.
This is my favorite Chinese spot in town. The food is really, really good. There are a few dishes in particular that I love. I could make a meal out of two duck wraps. They are incredibly good, as is the braised peanut salad that comes on the side. Mmmm! I love the lettuce wraps, the dumplings and the crispy tofu with awesome sauce (the sauce is key). My favorite entree is the Ants on a Tree. I've had the pot roast, fire bird and another soup (can't recall the name) and they were good, but not like "omg I must have this again soon." Still, the overall quality of food here is top notch. I also love the ambiance and the service. Try the bubble tea if you've never had it. Yay for this place!
(4)Kelly E.
Absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Kansas City, I go every time I'm in town. The veggie dumplings (pan seared) are a beautiful green, and so so tasty with soy sauce. I also really love the crispy tofu. Service is relaxed, helpful, and friendly. Comfortable atmosphere and decently priced. Although one time I had a vegan soup-ish dish I can't remember the name of and that was not at all my taste, but stick with the dumplings or other entrees and I can't complain!
(5)Robert R.
Tofu in my mouf and bubbles in my tea. Its the final frontier. When I became a vegetarian I knew at one point or another I would have to eat tofu. It never really appealed to me, and it didn't seem like it could ever replace the feeling I got from eating a 1/2 lb. burger. Blue Koi changed all that. Its hard to describe my state of euphoria, but if I had to, I would say its similar to eating a exploding star cut it into cubes and dipped in a magical elixir. Regardless if its in curry sauce, black bean sauce or made into crispy little cubes, I can't stop ordering it. It's just plain wrong how much I like it. I'll probably need a intervention one day. Unfortunately, tofu isn't my only addiction. I have also come to love Bubble Tea. Drinking liquid threw a ginormous straw and having to suck up a black chewable treat makes me feel like I'm enjoying a futuristic cocktail aboard a star ship. Like most star ship's they have a range of seating options. I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes, even on Friday or Saturday night. If you don't feel like waiting, or are impatient like me, check the bar for open seats. You can bypass the line, eat at the bar, and watch as they prepare your food. Just be sure to give the guy shoveling tofu in his mouf a Vulcan salute.
(5)Anna B.
Blue Koi is the type of place that, if it was in my neighborhood, I'd eat at once a week. They offer several different dishes - all with very unique and varying flavors. And the staff is always very energetic and enthusiastic. It's a great lunch spot or casual dinner spot and it won't break the bank!
(4)katie s.
Blue Koi, Did you know I love you so much that as part of his wedding vows, my husband promised to take me to you as soon as we got back from our honeymoon? It's true. As soon as we got back, we headed down 39th Street and I happily ate my fill of Crispy Tofu w/ Awesome Sauce and Veggie Pan-Fried Dumplings. In the winter, we've made a habit of splitting those two dishes, and splitting a big bowl of the Shitake Mushroom w/ Braised Tofu Soup. That meal is the perfect antidote to a cold winter day, and we've indulged many times over the last few months. You make me happy to live in KC, and should I ever move, trust that I'll be there, in tears, begging for your Awesome Sauce recipe. Love, Katie
(5)Beth L.
The Pot Roast Noodle Soup is my all time favorite; it totally peps me up on a chilly or dreary day. The "Ants On a Log" is also very good, and my husband is a sucker for their fried dumplings and "Crispy Tofu in Awesome Sauce". The sauce is, in fact, awesome. They have a nice variety of vegetarian options, and even some entrees that low carb; how many chinese restaurants can you say that about? The staff is always prompt and courteous. About the only criticisms I can make are that they don't change up the menu much, and blue sponge paint is a yucky wall treatment. But if they removed the Pot Roast Noodle Soup I'd be heartbroken, so I suppose menu stasis isn't always a bad thing. And I can live with the sponge paint.
(4)Mike G.
What happened to Blue Koi? Had lunch there yesterday with a friend and the service was bad and the food mediocre. We ordered the duck wraps and the shrimp cakes to start. Our waiter brought the two plates to the table and retreated without so much as "Can I get you anything else?". It took 5 minutes to get his attention and ask for share plates so we could enjoy our first course. The duck wraps were pretty good but in need of a complimenting sauce instead of the peanut & vegetable brunoise it came with. The shrimp cake was overcooked and charred in places that should be a baked golden brown. We ordered wine and when we were ready to order our next course our waiter never bothered to ask if we wanted another glass despite the empties sitting in front of us. Our second course was the roasted 1/4 duck and chicken dumplings. The dumplings were delicious. The duck dish was a succulent roasted leg with fall of the bone meat but the medallions (which comprise the majority of the dish) were fatally overcooked. The waiter was uninterested in our feedback concerning the food and when I asked for a cup of coffee after our meal he informed me that "we don't serve coffee". Now, I can maybe, maybe accept that you don't offer coffee....wait, no I can't. Are you crazy? No coffee? The icing on the cake (by the way the waiter did not offer dessert-maybe they don't serve dessert either) was that he did not bother to offer me black tea or anything in lieu of the coffee. Sorry Blue Koi but 39th street is a treasure trove of decent places to eat. I wish you were still one of them.
(2)Lorena M.
I am so glad that I took my friend here for his birthday! He had never been, even though we both live in the neighborhood and I told him it was a must. We had another friend with us and were seated and met quickly by our server. Since it was a birthday celebration, we decided to do a sake bomb while our friend decided she just wanted her own warm sake. We chose the O.D.B. Bomb with unfiltered sake and I must confess, I do not like sake but the unfiltered sake was not bad. the bomb part was a boulevard wheat and it went down smooth. Now on to the food! I ordered the Chinese Pot Roast with white rice (I didn't know I had a brown rice option) and wow, was it tender and delicious! I thought it would come in a gravy or sauce but didn't, just scallions, cilantro and pickled carrots so I jazzed it up with some Siracha and Awesome sauce (must order) but it was good by it's self too. Birthday boy ordered the pork and shrimp dumplings and the duck wrap. The dumplings come in 8 and are the perfect size for eating. The duck wrap is wrapped in a basic flour tortilla which I think they could have a better option but it's filled with roasted duck, cilantro, scallions and hoisine sauce. It's on the starters list but is good paired with a soup or dumplings as he did. For 2 people (I bought dinner) it was under $40 for all of that, not too shabby!
(4)Amelia T.
Where do I start? My first visit (over 5 years ago) I was surprised at first glance of the menu- it didn't have combo lo mien or even general tso chicken like EVERY "chinese" restaurant! What?! That's because it's authentic & has real Chinese dishes made by the owner Scott's own family that have been passed down for years (or so he said). Over the years of trying out everything, my spouse & I have decided the Black Bean Chicken, Chinese Curry Shrimp (a sweet/spicy yellow curry), Ants on a Tree (noodles & diced chicken), Vegan Dumplings, & China Moon are hands down the best Chinese dishes in the city. Service is fast & our servers over the years have made the right recommendations that keep us coming back. Even better than the infamous Bo Lings. If you want something other than carry out "chinese" items, try them out- you won't regret it!
(5)Hope C.
Having come from Honolulu, I was thrilled to find a dumplings spot in Kansas City. I went with friends before a Starlight show, and even with our 10 year olds, we were treated very professionally and efficiently. We ordered the tempura veggies for an appetizer, and the awesomesauce was just that. I love dumplings, and my daughter loves saimin, so that's what we ordered. The pan fried pork dumplings were terrific and a good price ($6.50/ 8) for hand made fresh. The dumpling saimin was GIANT- as it should be. Don't remember the price. I had the lemon cooler for a drink and it was just perfect. I'd like that recipe. Over all, very very good. Looking forward to going back soon. I don't give 5 stars easily, and I'd like to try other things on the menu before I give that rating.
(4)Mina N.
If I could give 4.75 stars, I would. The only reason this Blue Koi would have received a teeny tiny point deduction is because the Mission Farms location just barely beats it as being the better location. I know, blasphemy. With that said, Blue Koi is stellar. The service is very professional and very welcoming. Almost every visit I've made to either location, I've seen one of the owners (husband and/or wife) running around greeting people or running food. It's nice to know that I'm patronizing a local establishment run by such hard working people. I've never had to wait more than 2 seconds before being greeted by a host. When they are really busy, they are quick about getting tables turned to get you seated, but when you're seated yourself, you'll never feel rushed. Blue Koi is definitely in contention for being my favorite KC restaurant. Their food is consistently good and with a variety of choices on the menu, it is sure to please everyone. "Bland" is not in Blue Koi's vernacular. You are going to have an explosion of flavor in each bite of whatever you order there! Their Spicy Awesome Sauce should have its own Yelp page -- and it would get 5 stars all around, easy. Be sure to order it extra on the side since it is a condiment for the Crispy Tofu appetizer only and it's not included with the other menu items -- the ponzu dipping sauce that actually comes with the dumplings is delicious, but once you go Awesome Sauce... The dumplings are to die for - my favorites are the Seafood Dumplings. They come 8 pieces per order, so they can easliy be an entree. Get them pan-fried. However, I do find that the Mission Farms dumplings are a little more durable than the 39th Street dumplings. The 39th Street dumpling dough seems to be a little thinner, so when you pick up your dumpling, they may break apart while you're in mid-dip (in Awesome Sauce, of course). The Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps are my other go-to option from Blue Koi. Something about the vegetable mixture just oozes of "umami". The serving again is large enough for an entree -- for me at least. Add a couple drops of Awesome Sauce in each wrap and you're golden. Again, I do have to make the comparison between the two locations. Both provide the same in flavor and "umami-ness', but at the Mission Farms location, I find that I get a larger portion of the vegetable mixture. The menu and prices are the same for both locations. Blue Koi is one of those places that would keep me here in Kansas City. It is also one of the few places in Kansas City that I would take out-of-town guests because I know it guaranteed to be good and impressive.
(5)Christopher Thomas B.
I've had Ants On A Tree (a noodle dish with tiny pits of roasted pork) and tried all the dumplings. All were delicious. Especially with a little sriracha hot sauce. It's located in that little restaurant row on 39th street and is a tasty place for Chinese/Taiwanese food. Moderately priced.
(4)John V.
Good dumplings! Wasn't a fan of the ambience and decor all that much. I know it's next to the college and all but it's over "collegegy" when it comes to design and decoration. I'm not a big fan of Chinese food or any Asian cuisine for that matter but I could eat any of the pan fried dumplings for extended durations! The sauce they serve on the side is a must and basically makes the dish soar above and beyond!
(3)Isaac H.
This is your other highly biased, Asian individual who will pounce on this restaurant with a review that expects nothing short of utmost authenticity because it's an Asian restaurant. Therefore, I expect nothing less, because. You know. We're in Missouri. The epic hub of Asian culture and cuisine. So yeah. Get your shit together Blue Koi, a'ight? Why should I have to lower my standards. Roooigggght.... /SARCASM. Oh yeah. I caps all that shit. You know I'm extra serious now. -- You get what you pay for here. Great friendly service, reasonable prices, and great portions to go with it. In my several trips here, it has been nothing short of substantial, delicious servings of meat and flour, in holy matrimony, complemented with their popularly pitched sauces - exploding into your very own taste buds to which if they had their own feet, they'd arch. The arch that'd leave your foot straining in delight. Now, that's just an opinion, of course. I can also, believe the stereotype or not, make this shit at home too. Because, ya know. Asians can make anything that you have in the fridge from leftovers at some local chinese joint. *face palm* Sadly, it is true. But it's not about that. You're in there, with friendly faces and a delightful selection of dumplings in various preparations, alongside some complimentary dishes like the fried tofu with special plum sauce. Yes they have noodles too. But I'm so friggin' tired of noodles. Whether you enter the doorway by word of mouth or some raving editorial review, the point of this entry is dead simple - go try it. No expectations. Just go. I mean, why the hell not? If you're all about authenticity, go book your ass on a 16 hour flight to China and get your authenticity there. But you wanna know something interesting? Chances are, and the chances are great since statistically, you're not Asian in this confined context of the reviewing community, that you might not actually like the "authentic" dishes in China, and would much rather satisfy your hunger for some asian food with some joint on 39th in Kansas City, MO of all places. /fin.
(4)Shea C.
This was the perfect post-work spot for my girlfriends and I. The appetizers were excellent: fried tofu and spicy chili pepper wontons. We eagerly scarffed them down. Half the group orderd boba tea (I, sadly, am not a boba tea fan) and the other half ordered wine (I always fall in the wine group). Everyone was pleased with the drink options. For our entrees, I ordered the boiled shrimp dumplings, which were excellent. Like so good that my mouth is watering just thinking about them. A friend ordered the vegetarian dumplings and was equally as pleased. Everyone else ordered duck or chicken over noodles (I can't recall the specifics), but we were all stuffed and happy by the end. I will definitely be going back.
(4)Celeste L.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. I never visit without getting an order of pan-fried pork dumplings. It's a good place to go if you want to just try a whole bunch of appetizers (highlights: chicken lettuce wraps, scallion biscuit and tofu with awesome sauce), but they have some wonderful entrees as well. Some of my favorite dishes include Chinese Style Pot Roast, Ants on a Tree and Chicken with Black Bean Sauce. Most of the entrees are large enough that I can eat about half at a single meal. When I go with my sister or another woman, often I'll split one with someone. Otherwise, I'll bring the leftovers home.
(5)Lilian O.
When I think of this place now, only word one comes to mind: OVERRATED. I remember when I first moved to KC from a city with a large Asian population, there wasn't anywhere else I could find authentic Taiwanese-style food so this place was mecca to me. Back in the day when I wasn't vegetarian and I'm talking about 6 years ago, I've tried many of their noodle soups and thought it pretty good though it was difficult to pay 4 times the price than what I was used to for a big bowl of noodle soup. Yes, FOUR TIMES! Also thought it was pretty freakin fantastic that I could get my bubble tea spiked with rum. Now that was one happy night! Flash forward 4 years and I tried Blue Koi again after a long hiatus with a non-vegetarian friend (I had moved out-of-state). Wow what a difference and in a bad way! The spicy chili pepper vegetarian wonton tasted HORRIBLE. Reminded me of the smell of old rubber tires combined with too much white pepper. The vegan broth that my noodles swam in practically had no flavor except for too much white pepper once again. I can make MUCH MUCH MUCH better noodles and dumplings at home. The portions were big so I had to take my food home. Being the good Chinese I am, I had to take my leftovers home even though I didn't like the food. Maybe non-vegetarian dishes taste better here but I really don't remember from that far back. Then again maybe not as the 3 ladies that were sitting at the table next to me flagged down the waitress to tell her they didn't like the chicken dumplings they ordered and normally they like dumplings. The waitress offered to substitute it with another dish but they were so dissatisfied with the food that they didn't want anything else. They kept grumbling about how bad the food was after she walked away too. My friend enjoyed his noodle dish but I don't recall what he ordered. hehe. However, he hasn't had as much experience with Asian food as I have. Yes yes I'm pretty biased and my standards are really high for good Asian food. Most people love this place but I will not be going back. I much prefer the pre-packaged frozen dumplings found in Asian grocery stores than the fresh dumplings at this place. I know not everyone can make the food, so go to Po's Dumpling and Noodle Bar down the street from Blue Koi for much better food!
(2)Zachary C.
I get made fun of a lot for being addicted to dumplings and it is all Blue Koi's fault. This is one of my favorite spots to eat in Kansas City. It is right down the street from me. I have been to Blue Koi 15 or 20 times and never had a bad experience. That kind of consistency is impressive for any food establishment. They have a varied menu but I enjoy the pan fried dumplings the most. All of the dumplings are great but the seafood ones stand out to me and are often what I choose. Aside from the dumplings they do duck very well, I am a big fan of their duck wrap appetizer. The veggies have a good fresh flavor and the duck has a unique sweetness that is perfect, not over powering. I am personally not big on bubble tea in general but my friends love them and often get them at Blue Koi. The staff is friendly and usually quite efficient. They are generally very busy but the restaurant does a good job dealing with volume.
(5)Russ D.
Holy shit this place is delicious!!! Seriously. "Ok...want to tell us why?" Because when I put the food in my mouth receptors in my tongue tell my brain, 'holy shit this food is delicious, more please!' so I continue to put more in my mouth.
(5)Gyan S.
Superb asian food!!!!! Enjoyed vegetarian dishes...
(5)Angela W.
I love Blue Koi. Never had a bad or even mediocre meal there and the leftovers always get finished no matter how fattening they are. My favorite items are the shrimp or chicken and asparagus with noodles. Everything with noodles, the rice is good, but noodles are amazing (and I normally avoid carbs like the plague). The crispy tofu is maybe the best thing on the menu, all of the dumplings are great, the duck, and the specials are almost always the thing to get. The hot teas and coconut bubble teas are delicious as well as the chocolate tart/cake.
(5)Eva J.
Sure, the dumplings are passable, but aren't the ones at Lulu's just as good? Apart from adorable kitschy waiters and waitresses and some bright, off-beat interiors, this place doesn't really have much going for it, food-wise -- especially when compared to some of the other Asian places in town, like Saigon 39 or Vietnam Cafe. I'm not really sure why people swear by this place.
(2)Meg L.
We popped in for dinner on a Saturday before the rush. Location is good, assuming you can park in that lot behind Jazz. Otherwise, good luck. The atmosphere is nice. The tables were clean, and we sat down right away and ordered the combo dumplings, pan fried. Those are great, cheap, and filling. Next time, I might just order those all for myself! The rest of the menu is very small. One page, and left a bit to be desired from where I was coming from. What they do have and what we ordered were good. My man ordered something like Zen Chicken Mix or something, and liked it. He felt it overdid the carrots a bit, but the flavor was very good. Its an inexpensive, clean, and semi-healthy place to pop in and try!!
(4)Brenna O.
NOM NOM NOM. I love Blue Koi's dumplings and bubble tea, and it's such a relaxed and fun place to go for lunch or dinner to sit and chat. The dumplings are made fresh and fast, and there's a choice of different fillings that are all excellent. Also I like the option that you can get a shot of alcohol in your bubble tea to make it a cocktail. The only complaint I have is that if you are wanting something more substantial than just dumplings, there are very few choices on the entree list. It is also more pricey. I say stick with the dumplings and you'll be happy.
(4)Anna B.
For me the Best Chinese restaurant in town, Friendly staff (usually college student), great atmosphere, and the dumplings as well as the entrees are ridiculously yummy! Just to make sure you got it, I hate Chinese food and this place turned me into liking it!
(5)Joe L.
This place is alright. There's nothing real special going on here. Good service and good food, just not my favorite place in town.
(3)Timothy C.
Blue Koi is a favorite spot. Lychee bubble tea, dumplings galore. Lots to love in this little shop. Pot roast is killer --tender and GREAT flavor. -- Get any dish w/ noodles, big fat slurpy delicousness. TIP: Get Awesome Sauce for your dumplings, pure win! The Green Onion Flatbread/biscuit is a great little side to munch on!
(5)Kate B.
This is my all time favorite restaurant in the whole wide world. And I travel a LOT. Why is it my all time fav? Because the food is consistently delicious, the menu is big enough to offer both vegetarian and non-veg options, the prices are reasonable, the ambiance is perfectly chill, and service is never lacking. My favorite starters here are the crispy tofu with awesome sauce, and the tofu lettuce wraps (I hear from my carnivorous counterparts the chicken and pork lettuce wraps are also very good). For the main meal, you can't go wrong with the black bean tofu, or ants on a tree. There are probably other delectable items on the menu, but these are the ones I love so much that I can't bear to pass them up whenever I'm in town. I visit Kansas City 3 or 4 times each year, and no trip is complete without at LEAST one meal here!
(5)T E.
The setup is very cute, classy and comfortable. Lots of great vegan and vegetarian choices. My favorites are ants on a hill, tofu with black bean sauce, and the veggie dumplings. Sheer goodness. The bubble teas are good too, if a bit sweet. It's a staple of my eating out.
(5)Jennifer K.
This place had wonderful service and food. The waitress was very helpful in checking on items to make sure they were animal ingredient free. She didn't even blink when I said I was vegan. She was also very accommodating in providing substitutions for my mother's food allergies. I ordered the fried vegetarian dumplings, which were pretty good. I ordered the Tofu with Black Bean Sauce as an entree and is was absolutely delicious! Not heavy or greasy like a lot of Chinese/Asian food. The atmosphere is pretty casual and a little noisy from the kitchen.
(4)Rose S.
I have lived in Kansas City for 16 years; Blue Koi remains my favorite Asian restaurant in town! Their "Ants on a Tree" always hits the spot. Their service always friendly. I made a reservation for 10 people and they were extremely accommodating. Everybody enjoyed their food (this rarely happens anywhere else) and left happy. I recommend this restaurant to anyone, whether it be a large group or a date night.
(5)James C.
Very good. Like a mom & pop privately owned PF Chang's. Creative bartender/manager (Andy), great waitstaff (Eric). Bubbleteas, dumplings, and duck wrap are amazing. Highly recommend.
(5)Carolyn W.
I have enjoyed every visit to Blue Koi. We celebrated my daughters 21st birthday here three years ago and she and I have made it a "special" visit place. She was visiting from Mississippi this week and, of course, it was where she wanted to go. We both have the same things each time we go. So I can only comment on a couple of menu items (and should have tried everything on the menu by now!). I have the Shanghai Wonton Noodle Soup (made it spicy this time) and love it each time! Delicious broth, huge wontons, and enough for three meals! My daughter has the seafood noodle soup. Beautiful seafood and broth - she typically finishes her meal! We share an order of dumplings - pork & pan fried - they are to die for! So amazingly yummy. They also offer many flavors of bubble tea that include alcohol if you choose. Amazing. The service is always friendly and prompt. The parking is behind the restaurant and there is plenty of it. A great stop in Westport!
(5)Jocelyn M.
I love everything I have eaten here. I really like the boiled dumplings; I crave them. I ordered the Braised Pork and Shitake Mushroom Noodles/Soup for lunch once and it was enough food for 3 meals. Literally. I took home leftovers (which I rarely do) and ate it again for dinner and the next day for lunch. My go-to item is the Ginger Basil Chicken. I typically don't order chicken dishes in restaurants, I like to go with a more-interesting meat, but the flavor levels are right on with this dish and the chicken is well cooked. There is a generous amount of basil which you can really taste. I have tried similar dishes at other Asain restaurants and there will be very little basil to speak of. This dish has a wonderful sweetness to it. The service is typically very good, but has been slow at times.
(4)Jill H.
We're regular's here. Food is excellent and the decor is bright and cheerful. The music is always fun and interesting. Service is usually great but its been a little slow a few times.
(4)Sarah W.
This is consistently my go to place for when I want good take out. Worth the price with huge portions, so I always get 2+ meals out of it. My stand bys are the dumplings and the black bean chicken.
(5)Jeremy W.
Loved the Lettuce wraps and Dumplings. I did not care for the special though and found it to be a little expensive, I can't remember the name of it but it took up a whole page of the menu with a picture of it. I thought it was very bland so I needed lots of hot sauce to make it a little more pleasing to me. The hipster girl that served us was very friendly and it is definitely different then your typical china buffets or togo places.
(3)Chippy S.
Great ecclectic assortment of asian food. If you are looking for a quick lunch joint, however, I would steer clear. It took quite a long time to get seated and even longer to get our food. However, when we did get it, it was DELICIOUS and lots of it! If you plan to give it a try, I would call ahead and do takeout to save yourself the wait, or be prepared to wait awhile for everything, even refills on water.
(3)Elizabeth R.
I was very disappointed by my meal here. I thought it was WILDLY overpriced for the quality. The waiter was cheerful, but brought my husband the wrong beer. My firebird tofu ($14!) was lukewarm and drowning in oil. Nor was it spicy, as advertised. The chili dumplings vegetarian were great, but charging an extra $1.75 for some cilantro is ridiculous. I will never spend my money here again. I prefer Po's around the corner.
(1)Beau S.
Best curry I've ever had hands down! Duck wrap was amazing! Coming back for the dumplings!
(5)Craig E.
In a word, yummy. We strolled up 39th Street during a two hour gap when it happened to stop raining and dashed into Blue Koi. It was a little humid and stuffy inside but the food more than made up for that. I ordered the chopped pork braised with shitake mushrooms over rice noodles and my gal had the chicken with black bean sauce. Flavor city!! It is nice to see a packed restaurant at 6:00 on a Monday evening. With reasonable prices and the great flavors, Blue Koi has me dialed in.
(4)Melissa R.
You can't go wrong with Blue Koi. Vegan or meat eater, cozy comfort food or date - Blue Koi has it. My favorite app is definitely the Crispy Tofu with Awesome sauce, by far the best tofu I've ever had. If you are craving a big crock of soup, vegan delight will satisfy. For a light lunch, I always go for the chicken lettuce wraps. My fiance swears by their wonton noodle soup with a side of chili oil. Service is great, everyone is friendly, and the ambiance can't be beat.
(5)Julie D.
After reading the yelp reviews on this place, my expectations were high. Although, I must admit that reviews on Asian restaurants which are written by non-Asians are taken with a grain of salt (or a big fat block of salt). Let me start off with the service. It was about 2 PM during the week and my friend and I were some of the only people in the restaurant. Service was sllllloooowwww. We both ordered bubble tea, I got strawberry smoothie and he got taro smoothie. We were both satisfied. The tapioca was the perfect texture. The flavor of the tea was good. For an appetizer, we got the scallion biscuit and boiled chicken/pork/shrimp dumplings. The scallion biscuit was ok, there was certainly nothing special about it and probably not worth the money that we spent on it. The dumplings were decent. I was not disappointed with them, but I've certainly had better. I ordered the braised pork and shitake mushroom noodles. It didn't make me have the urge to vomit, but I would not order it again. My friend ordered the wonton soup, and gives it zero stars out of five. He said that it was more like ginger soup. There was way too much ginger. The wontons were quite disappointing as well.
(2)Brian L.
I try to visit Blue Koi every time I travel to Kansas City. Great food and atmosphere. Dishes to try: Chinese Style Pot Roast Ants on a Tree Tofu with Chinese Curry Sauce Pork Dumplings I can't wait to stop in when I'm back in KC!
(5)C V.
A bit pricier than what I was expecting... As many other reviewers note, the portions here are large enough that you'll likely have enough for more than one meal. The food is good, though not my favorite. I've had the seafood noodle soup (really good, but could have used a little more seafood) and some pork dish (ok but a little too sweet for me). Entrees are $11-15.
(3)Ben D.
One of the best Chinese restaurants in Kansas City. Certainly not your typical Chinese fare, rather an eclectic assortment of Chinese comfort food that may seem intimidating at first, but nearly everything on the menu is worth trying out. For something spicy, the Firebird is the way to go and for vegetarians, Blue Koi's Veggie Dumplings, also the feature of their Vegetarian Wonton Soup, are some of the best you'll find anywhere.
(5)chris c.
excellent high quality food! You wont regret this savory meal... I used to work at KU and would go to lunch here 2-3 times a week. Awesome food, very tasty.
(4)Krista N.
How could you not like this place? Every time I eat here I leave more than sated than the last time. The steamed dumplings are always good, tofu with awesome sauce couldn't get any better, and the vegetable soup with vegan broth always makes me feel better when I am ill. The tea selection is quite large, and no matter what dish I get here I always leave satisfied.
(5)Cara F.
On a weekend trip to KC this past weekend, I came down with a nasty cold. The one and only vegetarian wonton noodle soup and a side of the crispy tofu with awesome sauce from Blue Koi helped me get through. After a few bites, I could instantly feel my taste buds come back to life and my lost appetite somehow found its way back to me! Moral of the story, this food isn't just delicious - it's medicine for the soul.
(5)Kate V.
Wonderful fusion place on wonderful 39th street. Good service, a few good wines, delicious bubble teas, and exciting entrees! The housemade noodles are the ultimate comfort food. No, wait, the dumplings are. Or the eggplant appetizers. I wish they flavored up the fried tofu a bit, but otherwise I've loved everything I've eaten there. And I refuse to leave before I've stuffed myself with the sesame red-bean-paste balls. Best dessert in the world!!
(5)Jeff H.
I was a bit skeptical of this place when I first looked at the menu. The wife and I were looking for something different for dinner, someplace we wouldn't normally think of. So we decided upon Blue Koi. The wife and I decided to share some shrimp dumplings as an appetizer. What a wonderful decision that was. They were equally awesome with the sauce that came with them as they were with some sriracha. I had the roasted duck over noodles. I had a bit of a confused moment because I initially wanted my duck served "over" noodle soup and I wanted to choose the pork noodle soup from the menu. But the server corrected me after an astoundingly long minute of completely misunderstanding of what I was asking for. What I misunderstood was that the duck would be made into noodle soup, so I would have duck noodle soup. I didn't like the idea of that so, based on the waitresses recommendation, I had the duck served over noodles. The noodles were fabulous and a wonderful choice. The only problem was that I couldn't eat them with chopsticks and had to switch to a fork. Asian food isn't the same when eaten with western cutlery. The duck was very good but a little sweeter than I would normally enjoy, I'm more of a spicy sort of dude. The wife had lettuce wraps and has been raving about them ever since. I don't like lettuce wraps very much. Next time I think I will just get 2 different types of dumplings as my dinner because they were fabulous and I can't imagine going to Blue Koi and not getting dumplings.
(4)Senushi J.
This place pretty much has a cult following. The prices aren't horrible, but it's definitely not a bargain eatery either. Their firebird chicken dish is great and not at spicy as the red notation makes it out to be. The one thing you must have is their *Mango Lychee Bubble Teas* made in a semi-smoothie form. It's AMAZING and maybe safer to have for dessert because you might get too full sipping on it waiting for your food.
(5)Patrick S.
Blue Koi is so good I make a note to come here at least once a week, as long as my budget can afford it :( The crispy tofu, fried shrimp dumplings, vegetable lettuce wraps, mmmmmmm.... too good.
(5)Kartik K.
Have been frequenting the place quite a bit since we moved to KC. The vegetarian options are excellent. Crispy Tofu with Spicy Awesome sauce is truly stellar -- the sauce doesn't lie, it really is awesome. Also enjoy the eggplant pockets, and lettuce rolls (Yes, I eat all the appetizer's with the awesome sauce). Phoenix's nest is often a special on the menu, and I highly recommend you get it when it's available. Overall a wonderful asian fusion place in KC, a real gem for the area. Prefer the Leawood location for ambience, but the 39th st location has more character.
(4)brian g.
The curry tofu dish was amazing! The tofu was braised, unusual for most tofu dishes. It was very flavorful. The rice was sticky and authentic. Highly recommended! And the boba tea with alcohol was clever and tasty.
(5)Lannette G.
This place rocks! I love everything about it. I'm not going to go into how good it is, just go or read the other reviews that go into detail about their plates. Just don't go while your fainting of hunger because it will take a while to get seated........which is a good sign...it means the food is worth the wait.
(5)Audrey R.
Okay, I actually only get two things on the menu (lettuce wraps and vegetarian dumplings), but when I take my friends, they love it. Yummy! I wish I lived within walking distance and I would eat here as much as possible, but for now it's just a treat every now and then.
(5)Jill P.
Yum. Yum. Yum. The dumplings are awesome. Fried Tofu. Eggplant pockets.... braised beef... phoenix nest. I have never had a bad experience here. Blue Koi has been around for years and to this day my only complaint is that with such a LIMITED wine list - a server had to consult a cheat sheet to help pair my wine and food. The staff is young and friendly. The food never disappoints. I would eat here every day if i could. One of the many cute and quality restaurants on 39th St.
(4)Katie B.
I think this place is just okay. The dumplings are amazing and awesome and whatever positive adjective starts with an a. I love the atmosphere of this place, and love to sit right by the window to do a little people watch or make fun of people's parallel parking abilities. This is a place I like to go to to show people that Kansas City has interesting little places all around to grab a bite. However, I have some problems with some dishes on the menu. Their ginger chicken has huge pieces of uncooked ginger in it which is impossible to eat. I mean, literally impossible. You will chew for days. The duck is always too sweet and overcooked. There is too much 5 spice powder used on everything. But the noodles and dumplings ARE killer, so you should probably eat here. But it probably shouldn't be your absolutely favorite restaurant in the world. Unless it's your favorite restaurant in the entire world simply because they have awesome sauce.
(3)Heather P.
We occasionally have work meetings here, otherwise I would have never stopped by. Their food is great. I had the chicken and sun-ripened tomato, but subbed the rice for noodles. We also tried the fried vegetable plate for an appetizer. Great food here, will visit again.
(4)Cris M.
I like Blue Koi. Usually have visited the one in Leawood though. The China Moon is my favorite. I like taking sriachi and putting a few drops on the plum sauce that is served with this appetizer. Sweet and hot! I know, I'm a freak but it's good. I also get a side of awesome sauce. Pan fried dumplings are good as well, as is the Chinese Pot Roast. Also like the Thai Basil Shrimp. Was not a fan of the fried tofu. Just didn't have any flavor. Liked the cheesecake won tons and the bean paste balls as well. The plum sauce is wonderful and is served with both the China Moon and bean paste balls. Bean paste balls are different, so if you are looking for a typical dessert, go with the cheesecake wontons.
(4)michelle p.
This place was alright, I had mushrooms with noodles or something along those lines. It was good and plentiful, but not super stellar. My friend did order the eggplant pockets which were delicious. My other friend ordered something that he has gotten before at another location, it was not similar and he was put off by it. If you are a vegetarian, they do use fish sauce in some of there items, so don't forget to ask.
(3)Joel N.
This place is so yummy, and they have several flavors of bubble tea. Which I like to remind people, they will put alcohol in if you're interested. The menu is quite the variety for fans of Chinese food, with plenty of options. The choice of herbal teas is quite impressive as well.
(4)Abby A.
Wonton Noodle Soup. Wow wow wow. I used to live in Lawrence and after relocating have yet to find anything comparable. Trust me, I've tried. Simple and savory flavors combined in one big steaming fragrant bowl. I love to sit and take in the smells before I dig in. Yum! The Chinese Pot Roast is also delicious..and the Crispy Tofu is a great appetizer..this coming from a girl who normally harbors a strong dislike for the stuff. The prices are great, the food is even better. Already planning on going back over my trip in June. Possibly before hittin up First Friday..another KC favorite.
(5)Roxanne A.
I've been there a few times and it's never been particularly good. The pot roast was okay, chicken dumplings okaaay.... Last week I had chicken with asparagus and the asparagus was fresh but the sauce had no distinct taste at all. The sun-dried tomatoes and almonds seemed like an afterthought because the flavors didn't work together at all. Bland my friend, just bland. On the up side, it's got cute decor and I could see myself possibly having a casual business lunch there.
(2)Margaret D.
On a very frigid January night my husband had a craving for Chinese. This was the best meal I've ever had at Blue Koi. We got the Eight Treasures tea which was the perfect cold weather drink. The crispy scallion appetizer was tasty. I had tofu with black bean sauce. I'm not a vegetarian so any tofu dish has to be as tasty as any dish on the menu-it was. My husband had the wonton soup-really ample serving. He loved it. Service was great.
(4)Annette D.
Just okay, won't need to go back for another 4 years again. The Pot Roast reminded me how much better Pine and Bamboo does it, and so much more authentic. When beef comes to the table with that rainbow trout sheen on it... not so appetizing. Did not get dumplings this time, but once again go to Pine and Bamboo on the weekend for Dim Sum, it is so good. I got the Tofu with Awesome Sauce as other reviewers loved it and it was good. Won't go back for it though. Oh and the Firebird was good but heavy with bamboo shoots, very spicy, good noodles. There was enough flavor there that I was able to stretch the left overs with some sauteed halibut and I think I added some green veg which it needed.
(2)Annie T.
Hands down, delish. I was seriously impressed with the service, tasty num nums and atmosphere. We did a late birthday celebration and they brought me a tasty dessert-- on the house. Standard restaurant etiquette but hey, I was gratiously in awe. I'd highly recommend the curry, dumplings and oodles o noodles! I heart KC yelpin with the ahmazing Erin M.
(4)Haley D.
The only person who loves Blue Koi more than me, is my little niece. Blue Koi is awesome. I like the Black bean tofu over spinach and the eggplant pocket appetizer. My niece loves the potstickers, potstickers, potstickers. They serve most of their meals several different ways, over spinach is not on the menu. It's a special request, with no up charge.
(5)Sarah B.
I'm having a hard time rating this place...not because it has bad food or crappy service, but because I'm just not too keen on this type of food. Since I'm vegetarian now, that limited my selection considerably. I gave a glazed veggie dish a try with tofu instead of chicken. It was then that I realized that I do not like tofu. It's weird and gross. We also ordered tofu and Awesome Sauce as an appetizer. The sauce was awesome indeed, but again, tofu=ick. The veggies were great, the tea was fantastic and the wait staff is the best looking group of servers that I have ever seen. So...if I wasn't such a picky eater I would have enjoyed it much more. If I wasn't vegetarian, I would have ordered their chicken dumplings because I hear they are phenomenal!
(4)Aurora S.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Kansas City, hands down! I love the cool, intimate atmosphere and the service is always great! My favorite dish is the Shanghai Wonton Noodle Soup. Delicious with both meat or vegetarian dumplings. And as an avid fan of bubble tea, theirs is probably the best in KC (much better than Tea Drops). The perfect place to share wonderful, comforting food with close friends.
(5)Heather K.
YAY GODDAMNED YAY!!! THIS is good food. They have BOBA. I had mango and my partner had Butterfinger. Well, it was his first time having boba but I practically lived off of it in Vegas. I'd never had a chocolate version, don't recommend it. Stick with milk tea or fruity flavors. Wheeeew I need to get a towel just thinking about it. Take that however you want it. I got a huge bowl of vegan tofu soup with glass noodles, tofu that actually had a flavor, giant carrots and veggies, and these awesome little tied up balls of thin tofu sheets with a crazy texture. It was fun. Really savory without the signature midwest over-doing it on the cheap seasoning like...table salt... flavor. My friend got a ginger-y chicken and rice dish that was very simple and had a happy smell. I actually got his leftovers because he had class after, so I got to try it for lunch. It was phenomenal. Seriously. Nothing bad to say. Loved the smells, the food, the background music, the staff was alright, though maybe a little shy? I give them a bonus banana sticker for having a ridiculous selection of boba, AND for the daring.... you can get it with bourbon. rrrrr.... where's the towel...
(4)Jamison U.
The Blue Koi is my noodle house of choice, I like nearly (at least all that I have tried) main dishes, all of the soups, and all of the dumpling dishes they serve. The atmosphere is urban and trendy without being pretentious. The prices are fair, portions are pretty large, and the tea is top notch.
(4)Dave B.
Tofu n awesome sauce is all you need to know
(4)Sean O.
This is a cool spot in a cool neighborhood. The cozy atmosphere and huge window overlooking 39th street make this a great place to go for dinner. They have really HUGE noodles that are really really tasty! Check it out!
(4)G B.
I enjoyed food at the location on 39th KCMO until I experienced a long piece of hair wrapped around the veggies in my seafood stir fry. When I bought it to the waitress' attention she appeared nonchalant about it and the cooks looked at us as if it was my hair. I will not eat there again because of unsatisfactory response I received. They did replace the plate but the whole experience was not enjoyable.
(1)Dave L.
Can't improve too much on what others have said. The food is very simply prepared and presented, so don't expect carefully constructed pretty plates. Prices are reasonable and the quality is top-notch. It can be very crowded at peak hours so prepare for a wait on weekend night or at the height of lunch hour.
(4)Rhett H.
This is a pretty great asian food place. The dumpling are great. The rest of the menu reads like an westport Chinese food restaurant. That being said, what exactly does it mean to be a restaurant serving asian food these days? Blue Koi doesn't really tell you much, and I'm sure they don't serve Koi fish here, but it doesn't really tell you which area of ethnic dining you're going into, so there really isn't a geographic cuisine focus here. Nevertheless, for folks who don't like to be picky about that stuff, there is really nothing to dislike. I have to say, the food is well prepared, hot, generous, and if you look around you might find some hot sauce and chopsticks. A little pricey, but you're paying for the shwanky location and plush booths (if you get a booth).
(4)Emily H.
One of my all-time favorites. I might not ever have become vegan if it weren't for such gems as this one. I patronize all of the family establishments, BK and Genghis Khan locations, and they really don't mess around. It is actually difficult to try everything on the menu because each dish I enjoy ends up being addictive. I couldn't get out the door without an eggplant pocket for years. I have finally broadened my vegan horizons quite a bit, but I can definitely still live on their appetizers. They always have fresh ingredients and the flavors have a depth, that little extra complexity, that many other places just don't seem to get. Say what they will about awesome sauce-- it is a bit too sweet for my taste-- but it's got nothing on the raw garlic sauce. Whether you like things savory and mild or spicy and intense, they have something for you. Blue Koi also happens to be on the hip 39th Street strip, great for an after-dinner stroll, cocktail, new book, etc. etc. Just go ahead and plan to make it a night.
(4)Siege A.
I just got home from eating there, and I'm already craving it again! Its a good thing the portions were generous, because I have leftovers in the fridge. Ants on a stick is my favorite entree so far, and I love the cups for the single serving hot teas.
(5)Madelaine G.
Dumplings were not bad, though not as good as the ones I make at home. The jasmine tea was wonderful, and I think the restaurant had a nice ambiance.
(3)Alison M.
Oh, the dumplings!! I just went to Blue Koi's new suburban location at Mission and 435, and it's just as great as the original on 39th St. The Tofu with Black Bean Sauce is spicy and delicious, the house-made noodles are fantastic, and the Fire Bird (made with tofu) is super spicy and tasty. These folks know how to cook up some tofu! The Awesome Sauce, well, the name says it all. They have a great selection of tea, which is always a pleasure. I have had good service at both locations. Fantastic.
(4)Scott D.
The best Asian food I've found in Kansas City. The decor is understated yet exquisite.
(5)Domo R.
Tofu and Awesome Sauce! The dumplings are good, too.
(4)