KOKU Japanese Restaurant in Armonk
Categories
Location on the map
Armonk, Westchester County, New York, US
Service options
Health and safety
Highlights
Popular for
Accessibility
Offerings
Dining options
Amenities
Atmosphere
Crowd
Planning
Payments
Site: http://www.kokujapanese.com/
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:11:30AM–3PM
- Wednesday:11:30AM–3PM
- Thursday:11:30AM–3PM
- Friday:11:30AM–3PM
- Saturday:1:30–10PM
- Sunday:1:30–9PM
Today (1/9/21) was my 1st visit and won’t be my last. Took my mother for her birthday and it was absolutely exceptional. I love Asian food but this was tremendous. Started with the Japanese vegetable egg rolls then had the spicy lemongrass soup (ridiculously good) and topped it off with veggie curry (with tofu).So good I ordered a 2nd soup & curry to bring home.Seriously. Don’t miss Koku
Where to begin? I guess I will start off by saying that my girlfriend and I are huge foodies and very specifically make sure to try out every sushi spot in our surrounding area and what we hear are the best spots around when we are on vacation. I only bring this up to highlight the facts stated in the rest of this review. Koku is one of a kind; you will not find a better sushi restaurant within any of the surrounding towns or counties. The quality of their fish is unmatched- while in other restaurants you will find what seems to be fish from the same distributors, Koku’s selection is very clearly handpicked. Parallel to the quality is the consistency; those two aspects seem to be what they have built their business around. That coupled with the fact that their staff is unbelievably kind and informative makes every experience here one for the books! We would like to thank Koku for always being so wonderful in every facet of its business.
The food was impeccable. Big problem with our night though. We sat down and immediately ordered our food because we were tired after a day of skiing at the mountain near by. We got our appetizers after about half an hour of waiting. We thought to ourselves “well I guess they’re a bit slow tonight. It’s Covid, we get it.”. Then we waited another hour and a half. Still didn’t get our food. We asked our waitress if our food was ready yet. She gave us a look like she’s seen a ghost. Pulls a lie out of her arse and says “oh the uh.. the... miso sea bass takes a much longer time to make.”. We’ve ordered the miso sea bass at plenty of other places and it comes in a normal time. Maybe 20-30 minutes. 40 MAXIMUM. She runs over to the sushi bar, tells her coworker something, and they scurry back to the kitchen. We wait another 15 minutes for our food to come and they run over speaking loudly in another language(I’m not gonna make any assumptions here),apologize loudly, and run back to the kitchen. I think we can all tell what happened there. She forgot to put in our order and then lied about it to cover her own arse. Plain and simple. Food was good and raised it from a 1 star to a 2 but 2 hours for some food is ridiculous. Unacceptable.
Oh. My. Goodness! What a find! Great food and great service! The ambiance is perfect for an intimate night out.. yet casual enough for dinner with the family. Pro tip: Try anything thats a special.. you wont be disappointed. Everything is so fresh! The servers are professional and knowledgeable and the food is simply amazing! Im already planning my next dinner here.
Been there several times with couple of friends, not only impressed by the food, but also the variety of premium drink options. I am your typical raw fish lover, but saw my hot-plate-only friends had pretty good time too.Make sure you try the Miso Black Cod and Crispy Rice Tuna, and dont forget to ask for their Japanese beer that hard to get elsewhere.Enjoy
Service 3.5 StarsFood Quality 3.5 starsEnvironment 3.5 starsI eat here with my company every week. What ruins it for us is the music and lighting. The minute you step into this establishment you get hit with a deep pulsating base club music. Totally inappropriate for an Asian dining experience. The food is good, but you can’t enjoy it.
One of my go to foods is Hibachi, I love it. I found out this place had Hibachi take out. I ordered my dinner brought it home and... its really not Hibachi, noodles were gooey, veggies, just broccoli and zucchini, were so so, they didnt have any flavor. No Hibachi fried rice, it was just brown rice. Filet Mignon was ok not seasoned very well and nothing special about it. Over all the prices are high for what I had. I dont think ill be going back there. Real Hibachi just cant be beat!!
Visited the restaurant yesterday. The interior is cozy and inviting, the food is tasty and well presented, the service is attentive and welcoming. I do take an exception with their cocktails - for $12 a piece you would expect a larger glass also one of the cocktails we ordered I had to send back due to the luck of the stated alcohol ingredient in it since all I could taste was a club soda (the second cocktails did not fare much batter in my opinion but my wife decided to keep it). Another issue I have is the value for the money. The sashimi single dinner portion was $25 and while the fish was exceptionally fresh, the amount served did not justify the cost. The specialty sushi roll that I ordered also seemed smaller than specialty rolls you can get at competing restaurants in the area. Therefore two stars less than a perfect score - one for the diluted cocktails another is for value for the money.
As a last minute thing, my friends and I went to Kokus for a drink. We arrived around 6:00 pm and they were running specials at the bar. We ordered a fabulous bottle of wine, suggested to us by out bartender. It was excellent. We ordered about 10 of the bar specials. Keep in mind they were very small portions, 3-4 pieces per dish. It was perfect. We did not over eat, but tasted a little bit of everything. The whitefish in the sesame truffle oil was, so delicate. The blue crab fajita was delicious. The calamari and the sauce it came with was so light. I did not eat the sushi trio because I do not like tuna, but that is my personal preference. My friends had it and said it was so fresh, it just melted in your mouth.Dessert time! We ordered the chocolate lava cake ... I can say with confidence, it is one of the best lava cakes I have ever had. We had to wait a little longer for it because they may it themselves. The outside had a nice crisp but not overdone taste, the chocolate was not too sweet, had the perfect balance of sweet and bitter, the vanilla bean ice cream is was served with was so smooth and silky. You just have to order it. Do yourself and your taste buds a favor, order it. You will not be disappointed.The staff is so nice and friendly. The restaurant is very clean. The decor is very nice and the music is not blaring but it is loud enough that you can hear the song but also have a conversation with others without having to yell.We will be visiting again very soon! By the way, I have catered two business luncheons with Kokus and both times, they have done a phenomenal job!!Kokus is truly a fabulous place to eat at. You must try it
Ive been to Koku many times with friends and coworkers. I love the environment and the bar! Its so relaxing to hang out with friends there. As far as the food, they only serve the freshness and best quality. The sushi literally melted in my mouth every time. As far as hot dishes, I would recommend Miso Black Cod, they are prepared just right. Lastly, the service staffs are always friendly and helpful.Thank you Koku!
We were hesitating where to have a good sushi and as usual took advice from a Google. The rating of Koku was quite high, so we went there. It appeared a crowded place with Japanese staff and a lot of families. The choice of sushi etc was very wide, so we took advice from the waitress. My platter was really delicious. Green tea too. So Koku made our evening in Armonk.
Very nice Japanese restraunt. The sushi was top notch, and perhaps some of the freshest fish I have tasted in a really long time! Chefs were clearly skilled in their art, the nigri and sashimi were both excellent. Fresh wasabi is a subtle nice touch for those that notice. Only surprises were that the tea (extra charge) was served Too hot to drink and the miso soup was not served traditionally, but in a big bowl with a spoon. All in all, a very enjoyable meal!
Very tasty sushi!Went back last night and as a result removed one star, staff not motivated at all we did not feel welcome there, not a smile! 😐 Thats really too bad its not solely just about food, customers need to be greeted and hosted properly, do I really need to write this?
Exceptional service and a great teriyaki chicken. Staff constantly filled tea and water. Additionally, my friend dropped his employee badge outside and they gave it to him. I also saw a waitress find a handbag and literally run after a patron to give it to her. We were there for two hours and not rushed.
KOKU is hands down the best upscale Japanese Restuarant in Westchester! The food/sushi has generous portion sizes, the drink menu has a good variety of cocktails, and the ambience has a fresh vibe. Also, the management and staff are extremely friendly. They go out of their way to make us happy and provide a personal experience. Plus, its conveniently located less than a minute off route 684. I highly recommend checking KOKU out.
This is hands-down the best sushi place around. We even have an authentic Japanese restaurant in my town and Kokus fish is fresher and better presented. Food is very fresh, beautifully presented, and there is enough variety on the menu to create new combinations every time you dine. Favorites include the spinach and wonton soup (best thing youll ever eat - I wish they offered this in a larger portion on the soup menu), tuna tartare, the miso black cod appetizer (HEAVEN), Greenwich roll, and several of the sashimi combos. Extremely clean space, efficient and friendly staff. Love Koku!!
Weve been to Koku many times over the year, the food and service never disappointed us. Always a good place to go for a nice treat whenever we have sushi cravings, and Koku has way more than just sushi. Let me begin by saying that, a good restaurant experience always starts with the ambiance and the friendliness if the staff. The mood is so nicely set with the lighting, wood works and the bronzed pipes running through the restaurant. I found it ingenious with the design. The staff always comes around and see how you are doing without being intrusive. The food is impeccable, to say the least. I had to satisfy my craving for the lobster soup and sashimi among other things. So we ordered the soup, still the same velvety texture we had last and it was to die for. I highly recommend it. Being a foodie myself, I need variety than just raw fish. We also ordered the sashimi salad and beef ribs. Sashimi was super fresh and the dressing adds another layer of flavor to the creamy fish. The beef ribs was so tender, we barely had to use the knife. Onward with the entries, we had the sushi sashimi platter for 2 and the must have filet mignon fried rice. Most important part of the sushi or sashimi is the fish, outside of chefs knife skill. I can tell how fresh the fish is, it has its own natural sweetness to the fish and the creaminess just melts in your mouth. It was so well prepared. I didnt really need that much soy sauce to compensate for the taste. To top everything off, the fried rice gives such a nice finish to your carb and meat craving.
We have been coming to Koku since it opened up. We have never been disappointed whether it was dine in or to go. The sushi always fresh. Kumamoto oysters top notch and we always order a couple of dozen no matter what else we are getting. Recently I took my mother there for her birthday, and Eric went above and beyond to help us celebrate, and make her day great. Phenomenal service and food. We moved at the end of last year and still make the trip up to Armonk. My wife, kids, and I go there at least once a week. No better place in Westchester, and believe me I’ve tried way too many and been disappointed. None can hold a candle to Koku! IMO, the only other place that comes close is in Manhattan (to remain nameless), and I’ve been to many in the city as well.
I am updating my review of this restaurant based on a recent experience. I am a business person, I specialize in branding and marketing. A big part of a successful business is public relations and taking care of your customers. I have had instances in the past exactly like the one that took place here. I have taken care of and have been taken care of properly in these situations. In this situation, the owner of this restaurant did not handle it properly. He has not only lost me as customer, he has strong advocate.Prior to this incident I had what I called KOKU Day. Everyone in my office called it that and would often partake in KOKU Day with me. At least once a week or whenever I was in the area I would order my lunch from KOKU. Their 3 roll sushi lunch special price truly cant be beat. My office even had our Holiday Dinner there. We loved KOKU. The food is top notch and up until that day, their service was too.Now, I will NEVER eat there again and I will make sure to tell anyone and everyone who will listen that they shouldnt either. The way I was treated by the owner was unacceptable. Things happen and if you want to do business properly you should absolutely do right by your regular customers.I ordered online and something happened with the online ordering site. I was charged but my order didnt go through. I called and ordered over the phone. I went to pick up my food and my card was declined again, but I was still charged. Despite my asking them not to run it again they did and I was charged a third time. Clearly there was something wrong with either my card or their system. Either way, my lunch was there and ready for me. What I thought would happen was the owner would come out and say no worries, we can work it out next time or some kind of good will attempt. Instead, I was made to feel like a criminal, like I was trying to get one by them.Something similar happened to me before at another restaurant I frequent, Gin Ban in Mamaroneck. After finishing a lovely lunch with my daughter, I looked in my wallet and my credit card was not there. I remembered where I had left it and was mortified to have to explain. The owner Tommy told me not to worry about it, this one was on him. I came back an hour later with my card to pay and he insisted I not worry about it since I am a regular customer and I have sent so many people to his restaurant over the years.Maybe Im wrong, I know if the roles were reversed how I would have handled it would not have been to make one of my regular customers, someone who buys from me once a week, feel the way I felt.Its a shame because their food is really very good. I will miss KOKU Day but I will NEVER give my money to someone who runs their business that way and I dont think anyone else should either.
I would have to say that this place not only has the best sushi and sashimi in this area, it also has the best service and ambiance as well. It has a NY city feel with excellent music and atmosphere. We live in Mt Kisco and have some decent Asian Fusion restaurants in our area however Koku is clearly the best around. You couldnt ask for friendlier service. It was my 60th birthday this evening and they personalized my desert plate writing on my plate with happy birthday and our server personally sang happy birthday. That meant a lot to me. The food was fantastic. I had the tri color sushi dinner and my wife had the Koku king roll. We were both very happy with our selections. We dined on a Thursday evening and the place was busy. That says a lot right there. We will be back for sure. Thank you Koku staff for providing me with a very memorable evening on my 60th birthday. You will be seeing me again in the very near future.
Seriously the best sushi Ive ever had. Visiting Armonk on business, I stumbled on Koku and Im so glad I did. I ordered the chefs choice sashimi and was very impressed with the quality. Then I ordered the salmon carpaccio, which is salmon wrapped around spicy salmon, a variation on the menus tuna carpaccio. Out of this world! Sushi this fresh is no accident. Talking to Chef Nick while sitting at the sushi bar, I learned that the quality food served there is a good portion of the restaurants overhead, as its fresh from all over the world. And the residents of Armonk seem to appreciate it, judging by the bustling business on a Thursday night!
I’m in New York visiting! My first time here in fact! We are crashed in at the hotel minutes away from this place! I specifically asked for the hibachi style grille and i ordered chicken and shrimp meal and i specially said “ teriyaki” chicken and romaine noodles. They said they didn’t have romaine noodles so i said fine give me what you got with the teriyaki chicken. She quoted me $42..Firstly the meal came warm not hot, we didn’t get what we asked for so i expressed to the driver how unsatisfied i was with the food not being what i ordered .. the driver told me that had nothing to do with him and how he had the next order to deliever and how i needed to pay him for coming and call them to express to them how i felt!The food isn’t good at all, they lied and said it was just like the hibachi grille and the only thing they told me was “SORRY” & hung up! Totally turned off and i wouldn’t recommend NO ONE to carry out here!
There are several Japanese restaurant locations competing in my area which I used to frequent , but since I paid my first visit to Koku 10 days ago, I have returned twice with friends and family. I like the fact that they focus on genuine Japanese cuisine with the availability of a unique twist. Im obsessed with the TNT rolls served with a zesty truffle sauce, the crispy rice apertizer, and the red bean and green tea mochi.
Total reviews rating 4.6
138 Reviews for KOKU Japanese Restaurant 2023:
Review №1
2022-06-03The quality has gone way down here. Used to be one of my favorite spots. Fish is low quality. Prices have gotten insane. One thing that has stayed the same? Their attitude. I called to complain about the quality tonight and the price of their minuscule ikura hand roll at $15… she just hung up. They have always had the attitude that the customer needs them not the other way around. I’m done. Go elsewhere.
Review №2
2020-10-26Awesome sushi! Great service! The best COVID precautions I have seen so far. We will be back whenever possible- not from the area but wish we were. Katrina was our server and was super sweet and helped us find the best dishes during our visit.
Review №3
2022-06-27Over priced and poor service, low quality sushi for high prices and wait staff doesn’t pay attention, don’t waste your money here.
Review №4
2022-05-01Good food, excellent service and location. Everything we ordered was prepared very well, quickly and exactly as we wanted it
Review №5
2021-07-15Sushi was excellent with a small caveat. There was a small piece of wrap they use to roll the rolls left attached to my sushi... No big deal, I didnt eat it (I hope) and just pulled it off what I had seen. It happens.Otherwise the sushi was very good! Service was good as well, there when you needed it but no overwhelming. Will return soon!
Review №6
2021-08-25Absolutely heavenly sushi. So fresh and delicious. You can tell the fish is extremely high quality. Ive eaten here twice and Im such a huge fan now. This place deserves definite accolades.
Review №7
2021-10-21Loved the ambiance! One of the best spicy tuna rolls and spicy salmon!
Review №8
2022-05-05Had a really nice meal at the bar. Staff was friendly and just the right level of attentive.
Review №9
2021-12-14This is really difficult to write, because the food was actually great, no problem with waitstaff or the place itself but I didnt eat anything out of the ordinary all day, about 5 hours after eating dinner...I got really sick. I would totally go back the food was that good but I doubt my wife would let me.
Review №10
2021-01-27Our first experience at Koku a few months ago was fantastic. Since then we have been back several times. My wife and I love to dine out and we have sampled just about every decent restaurant within 50 miles. YOU CAN NOT GO WRONG AT KOKU! Th food is incredibly delicious and presented beautifully. The sushi is so fresh that you are waiting for it to swim off of the plate! The service is also amazing. You will want for nothing. The room itself has a beautiful ambiance and the music is carefully considered to enhance your dining experience. Last but not least, the bathrooms are impeccably maintained. A clean bathroom clearly lends itself to the notion that the kitchen is also clean. Every thing about this place begs you to come back. Say hello to the owner, Eric! Tell him Montgomery and Connie sent you! Enjoy!