"Hands Down: Favorite Asian Food in the KC Metro Area. We have been eating regularly at the Blue Koi for years, having first gone to the original location on 39th Street and then migrating over to the Leawood location due to its proximity to our house. The owners are regularly there; they have seen our kids grow up. Watching the cooks at Blue Koi is in itself an amazing experience. These guys are masters at the art of sauteing, frying, roasting, and braising, and they work as a team, much like a dance troupe. We always sit at the bar to watch them work. The food is creative, comforting (the restaurant's claim to fame), and consistently excellent. The firebird duck is my favorite, with a super-spicy sauce that coats the duck and the green onions and sings out. It's kind of a rough feel on the tongue, as if the spices were fresh, hand-ground. The noodles are fantastic, and if you wish for brown rice, the portions are pleasing. Also a favorite is the braised tofu which comes in an unctuous brown soy gravy with lots of mushrooms. The dumplings are fantastic, be they pan-fried or boiled. My kids swear that the bubble tea here is the best that they have had, and they have had a lot. This place has expert service with friendly waitstaff and greeters (often the owners). The food is delicious, and although it's pricey, it's because the quality of ingredients is superb, food is made to order by that great team of cooks, and you will get enough for a meal the next day. I can't speak more highly of this restaurant."
