Foodie Review - The Clever Koi
The clever mastermind of three Valley co-owners ’ vision of modern Pan-Asian cuisine was effective . It is truly exciting when you get giddy just walking into the modern , urban minimal design with upbeat music piping and the aroma of the food wafted out the door . The food is far from minimalistic . We happened to arrive during their Happy Hour ( HH ).
We were lead out into the patio seated in a cushioned banco overlooking a water feature and Gilbert Road . Duck Fat Sriracha Wings ( HH $ 6 ) for a starter was a great first impression . I wish I remembered how many came in an order but it went quick and I was left with one . I wanted the sriracha sauce covering the crispy fried wings to be a little heftier , garlicky vinegar flavor which at least the pickled pepper added a little tang .
Weather being a little chilly , I opted for the steamy Pork Ramen ( HH $ 9 ) paired with Dark & Stormy cocktail ( HH $ 7 ) . I wasn ’ t expecting the pork belly to be crispy fried because braised to me should be sticky reduced in its own sauce . Perfect ! It had an amazing flavor that seems to be a red miso infused pork broth . Topped with soft boiled egg , bamboo shoots , kimchi and ribbons of green onion . Some purist may think this is too complicated for a ramen dish , but I personally like that I can ’ t simply replicate this at home in a jiffy .
What would Asian inspired fare be without Thai Chili Beef ($ 15 )? Juicy , spicy crusted and melt in your mouth seared sirloin beef sliced over a cornucopia of stir fried veggies , steamed jasmine rice and topped with a tempura battered scallion . This was paired with a suggested light draft beer ( HH $ 4 ).
Straightforward Soft Shell Crab Po ’ Boy ( HH $ 10 ). Just the right crispness on the outside breaking into the moist flaky crab with each bite . Accompanied with radish , green olives and pickled peppers , black vinegar aioli and crunchy fries put this on top of my son ’ s favorites . All these offerings and their diverse changing menu put the Clever Koi on our favorite list . Kanpai !