What began as a head to head review for Koi Sushi and the Highland location of Waka House has since evolved into a ‘Would you rather?’. Both are sit down sushi restaurants within the same affordable price range and within two miles of LSU campus. So which is the one to choose? It depends on your situation.
Atmosphere
Koi is very cozy and relaxed. The furniture is simple and well spaced out, the lighting is warm, and the decoration is pleasant without feeling to crowded. Overall this is the better choice for a group of friends going out for dinner.
Waka House has a more “upscale” décor. They have a bit of a bigger space so they can do more with it. Hence, there’s more decoration; flowers on the tables (or in some cases in the tables). The lighting and table spacing gives the diners a little more privacy, making Waka House more of a ‘date’ restaurant.
Wait staff
In the times that I’ve been to Koi the wait staff has been very prompt. They’re attentive without being overbearing and very fast about getting the food out.
Waka House just hired new servers. We were our server’s first table so she was a little awkward, but nevertheless very cheerful and polite.
Food
At Koi the ordered dishes were a Spicy Girl roll and a Spicy Veggie roll.
The Spicy Girl roll came out as an odd amalgamation of the Spicy Girl and Spicy Boy rolls, featuring seared pepper tuna, cucumber, and avocado and topped with crab mix and fish roe. The tuna was seasoned well but overcooked and overall the roll was tasty but not spicy as advertised.
The Spicy Veggie roll was fantastic. Tempura asparagus, cucumber, and avocado, topped with sesame seeds and served with a light spicy dipping sauce. It had a wonderful textural balance between the creaminess of the avocado, the crispy crunch of the tempura asparagus, and the refreshing bite of the cucumber. The serving sauce was delicately spicy, a nice change from the heavy spicy mayo.
Overall, both rolls were well structured. The rice held together making them easy and accessible for chopstick handling.
The featured Waka House dishes were the Karatuna roll and the cucumber salad. The Karatuna roll was absolutely on point with flavor. Spicy tuna, avocado, and cucumber, topped with green onion, crunchy batter, and sweet and spicy sauces. The tuna was well seasoned and had a distinct flavor without being overly fishy and the green onion lifted the roll wonderfully. The one complaint would be that the rice did not hold together well, causing the roll to fall apart easily.
The cucumber salad featured fun little cucumber spirals with a simple sweet sauce. It was both aesthetically pleasing and a good palate cleanser, though a bit difficult to maneuver with chop sticks.
Other Perks
Koi’s biggest advantage is its proximity to campus. This makes it easier to have a spur of the moment outing with friends (again lending itself to a more relaxed atmosphere).
Waka House has much more variety on its menu. A lot of American sushi restaurants seem to fall back on the crutch of cream cheese and crab mix. Waka House does have some of these rolls but they branch out with various fruits, pickled veggies, Swiss chard, etc. They also serve a delicious ginger tea.
Overall
Overall there’s not so much a winner as two restaurants suited better for different situations. Koi is much more chill with a decent selection and a quick staff, making it better for a hang out or a quick lunch. Waka House is a little more upscale without breaking the bank so it’s better for romantic outings. Personally I’m more of a fan of Waka House because I really enjoy their selections, but I’ve had many yummy experiences at Koi.