Slim Drinks at Koi

The Koi Skinny Menu is one of the many great things about the Koi restaurants. However, many people don't even think about the calories they drink. Those fancy cocktails are also packed with tons of unnecessary calories that can ruin your game plan of eating light. But have no fear, Koi's skinny drinks are here to save the day! That's right, Nick Haque and the people behind the menu at Koi think of everything. Koi offers some low calorie drinks that are so delicious and refreshing, you would have ordered them even if you weren't counting calories. The citrus slim-tini is one of my favorites and it only has 145 calories. The Pom Springs is another terrific martini of vodka, pomegranate juice, agave and soda water. Be sure to check out all the great low calorie dishes on the skinny menu as well. For instance the lettuce wraps are especially crave-worthy!

Koi is a Kool Restaurant

Koi is a cool restaurant for several reasons. Nick Haque opened Koi to be not just a restaurant to eat food, but a full dining experience. Everything from the decorations to the people that hang out there makes the restaurant very trendy. However, Koi's trendiness is not just a fad. In fact, it has been a hot spot for many years. Many celebrities hang out there and are regulars to Koi. In fact, Michael Buble even mentioned it as his favorite restaurant in Los Angeles. Koi is decorated with a beautiful zen vibe that makes everyone that dines there feel relaxed and at home.

Another thing that is very cool about Koi is the food of course! The food at Koi will raise your bar for dining in Los Angeles. You will be craving the food again and again. It is just completely amazing and delicious. Some favorites are the spicy tuna with crispy rice and the lobster tacos. One thing I really love about Koi is the Skinny Menu. The Skinny Menu is fabulous because it provides a great way to stay on your diet when eating out. The dishes on the skinny menu are full of flavor and under 300 calories.

Furthermore, Koi is an amazing restaurant because it is committed to charitable causes. These causes include raising money for the earthquake in Japan and also raising money for victims of famine in Africa.

Get the Skinny on Koi

If you are looking for a restaurant for a special occasion, but don't want to eat a million calories where should you go? There are many restaurants that offer delicious food, but also have food that is very rich and fattening. Maybe you want to eat somewhere that is a little on the lighter side, but still delicious and completely satisfying. If you go to Koi you have come to the right place. Nick Haque Koi is available in many locations including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, and even Bangkok. This restaurant is a favorite of dieting celebrities for a good reason. This reason is the Nick Haque's Koi offers the famous Skinny Menu. This great menu offers many food and beverage choices that are under 300 calories. There are not many restaurants where you can find a great selection of healthy options for under 300 calories. Next time you are looking for a wonderful restaurant but want to stay health conscious, consider Koi. Koi is one of the most highly rated restaurants and offers a great selection of light low calorie options!

Eat Well and Help Others at Nick Haque's Koi

If you're visiting Las Vegas and in the mood for sushi, why not eat at a restaurant where you will not only be able to enjoy delicious food, but donate to a great cause while doing so! Koi is a gorgeous restaurant located above the Planet Hollywood. After an exhausting day of site seeing and gambling, Koi is the perfect place to relax and decompress. Its zen atmosphere will be a welcome retreat from the wild and crazy Vegas surroundings. Koi's food is fabulous, which is why Koi is a hot spot in Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, and Bangkok.

One of the amazing things about Koi is its attitude towards helping those in need. After the tsunami in Japan, Koi raised over $22,000 for the victims. Now Koi is helping another great cause, the victims of the famine in Africa due to the recent drought. Half of the money from two menu items will go to the cause. These items are the Edamame Dumplings and Just a Little Shot. The money raised from these items will go towards the U.N. World Food Program’s relief efforts through the ‘Just A Little’ foundation. While you are enjoying the excess of Vegas, you don't have to feel guilty because you will know that you are also helping out those in need!

Black Book Nick Haque

Recently, Black Book featured an article on Nick Haque as an industry insider in the restaurant business. Nick Haque is a good choice for featuring an article on about the restaurant business because he is a successful restaurateur who has opened several extremely popular restaurants. These restaurants are the Koi restaurants which serve Japanese Fusion food. Nick Haque focused on several specific areas when opening these restaurants. By creating an enjoyable design concept, inviting atmosphere, and of course delicious food Nick Haque was able to build successful restaurants. These restaurants are loved by many from everyday people to well known celebrities. The original Koi restaurant was opened in Los Angeles on La Cienega in 2002. Since then Nick Haque has opened more locations in Bangkok, Las Vegas and New York. He also plans on expanding the Koi empire by opening even more locations. Some of the areas he hopes to open more restaurants in are Dubai, Miami and Washington DC.

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw Dined at Nick Haque Koi

Country stars Tim McGraw and wife Faith Hill were recently spotted dining at Nick Haque Koi with their family. These two singers are not the only celebrities to be spotted at Koi. Stars are constantly being spotted at the West Hollywood location of this delicious restaurant. For anyone hoping to see a celebrity in Los Angeles, once again this proves that Koi is a hot spot for siting the rich and famous. This is why you will often see a row of paparazzi camped out outside Koi restaurant ready to flash their cameras away at celebrities leaving the restaurant. Koi became extremely popular with celebrities due to its unique and creative Japanese fusion menu, its calm and inviting zen inspired decor, and its welcoming and outstanding staff. Koi makes all of its customers feel like celebrities. The restaurant is extremely popular and trendy and a place to be seen. The crave worthy items on the menu are what keep people coming back again and again. It is no surprise that customers crave the spicy tuna with crispy rice, and albacore with crispy onions, and the baked crab handroll among other dishes. Koi is a complete experience from the food to the ambiance.

Flower Inspired Drinks at Nick Haque Koi

There are many delicious ingredients that go into various drinks at Nick Haque Koi. From chocolate to fruit to wasabi, Koi's bartenders are very creative in the combination and presentation with their drinks. There is a new trend in New York when it comes to drinks. Not only are flowers popping up outside, but they are also showing up in the cocktails of New York bars. Did you know some flowers are edible? If you are wondering which flowers fall into this category check out the following choices: Elderflower and Violet, Lavender, and Hibiscus. These are just some of the popular choices for flower inspired beverages. Of course, for those who prefer a more traditional alcoholic beverage those options are available at Koi too. Just tell the bartender what you like and he will probably be able to make it for you. One of the bartenders at Koi, Ben Waclaw spoke to the New York Post about the recent flower craze. He said that it is common to have different types of herbs on the menus at restaurants. However, he elaborated that it is the floral additions that get people talking.

Esquire Hostess of the Week is Koi's Carolina Kreckler

We knew that staff at Koi was excellent, but now Esquire Magazine has named Koi's Carolina Kreckler as the hostess of the week. The lovely hostess has a killer smile and knows it. She admits, "I kill people with my smile." If you are wondering where her accent is from she tells Esquire an easy way to remember both her name and where she is from (since it kind of rhymes). "Carolina from Argentina" Carolina wanted to work in the restaurant business and after moving back to Argentina for a year to study and discover herself, she came back to Los Angeles. Nick Haque Koi was a great choice for Carolina because she loved sushi, "I tried sashimi, I thought it was butter melting in my mouth. So delicious." Carolina has seen it all working at Koi and admits that she has noticed some of the popular LA stereotypes turning up at Koi. For instance she says that everyone is "superficial." She also shares some funny story about some of the customers that dine at Koi which demonstrate her theory about people in LA being superficial. One of the stories is about female customers going into the restroom and asking the bathroom attendant if they are too skinny. This validates Carolina's idea about LA customers being superficial because it shows how image obsessed some of the customers are. Good thing Koi offers the Skinny Menu!

The Citrus Slim-Tini from Nick Haque's Koi

Now you can make a delicious beverage just like one of the beverages at Nick Haque Koi. The Citrus Slim-Tini is both refreshing a low calorie. With only 144 calories there is nothing to feel guilty about. If you are throwing a summer party, this is a perfect crowd pleaser. We are happy to share a Koi recipe secret with you, thanks to Redbook who divulged this Koi recipe.


Citrus Slim-Tini:
2 oz Junmai sake
2 oz Blood Orange Hibiscus Tavlon Tea
½ oz agave nectar
1 piece fresh ginger
1 lemon wedge

Instructions: Add all ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake, then strain into martini glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Restaurant Week

Restaurant Week is a great time to try new restaurants in Los Angeles. If you have always wanted to try a specific restaurant this is the time to do it! Many of the top restaurants in the city participate in DineLA. This month DineLA will be occurring from January 23-28, and from January 30-February 4. With so many restaurants to choose from, it will be a tough decision where to eat.

This month 297 restaurants will be featuring fixed price menus. With so many restaurants to choose from, whatever you crave, you will be able to find something delicious. The fixed price menus provide you with a three course meal including an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. Prices range from $16 to $24 for lunch and $26 to $44 for dinner.

If you are trying to decide which restaurant you want to try you should consider if you are looking for a more casual dining experience or a finer dining experience. For instance, if you are looking for a casual dining experience you can eat at restaurants like El Torito or the Hard Rock Cafe. If you are looking for a more upscale atmosphere, DineLA features many of the highest rated restaurants in the city. For instance, Nick Haque's Koi is one of the restaurants that participates in restaurant week. Koi is highly regarded for its amazing food and beautiful atmosphere. In addition, if Nick Haque's Koi is normally out of your budget, this is a great time to splurge and get great value and food.

A Memorable Dining Experience at Nick Haque's Koi

If you are visiting Los Angeles, there is a very important decision that you will have to make. This decision is where you will eat your meals. Deciding on where is to dine is important for several reasons. First, exploring the city can be very exhausting. You will need lots of energy and the best way to get that energy is from a nutritious meal. Second, with all the running around you will be doing, you may be very tired and hungry. A satisfying meal can make a big difference in your mood. Finally, trying out the different food a city has to offer is one of the most fun things about visiting a new city!

Picking out a restaurant can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time, especially if you are new to a city. How will you know which restaurants to pick with so many choices? You many want to consider what type of food you are in the mood for. Do you have a lot of time to dine? Are you in a hurry due to having other plans such as theater tickets or plans to attend a concert? If you have minimal time you may want to ask a local which restaurants are fast yet good. One option is to ask your hotel for some quick recommendations. On the other hand, maybe you want to center your night around your dining experience. You may want to have a long relaxing dinner or maybe you are celebrating a special occasion and looking for the right restaurant to make the occasion memorable. One great choice for a special celebration while in Los Angeles is Nick Haque's Koi.

Koi is the perfect choice for a special dinner celebration. Nick Haque's Koi offers upscale Japanese inspired cuisine that is great for a night out. The restaurant offers four dining rooms and a sushi bar, but it is so popular that you may want to make a reservation. Start your meal with a signature cocktail such as the Koi Lychee Martini or the Koi Perfect Platinum. Next you can choose from a variety of appetizers, cold dishes, sushi, hot dishes and sides. Finally, end your meal with a sweet dessert. You may even spot a celebrity while dining at Koi, since the restaurant is well known for its celebrity clientele.

Social Interaction and Food

Restaurants need to be more than just a place to go and eat. They should be more of a social experience, a place to hand with friends and meet new people. Food has an incredible way of bringing people together. Think of the dining experiences in the middle ages at the king's castle. It was more than just eating, it was about the social experience. Nick Haque's Koi restaurant is one of the few restaurants that has mastered this concept for the modern consumer.

Just like the people present in the king's court in the middle ages, people at Koi are generally affluent individuals or celebrities. This creates a prestige for the restaurant that adds to the social/dining experience. Being in the presence of like-minded individuals allows for easier social interactions and has increased the success of these lounge restaurants. Although Nick Hawk (his pseudonym) has opened more than one location of his restaurant, he still manages to create an impressive social atmosphere for each.

Lounges and Restaurants Can Live Together In Harmony

To simultaneously create a successful lounge and restaurant is no easy task. How do you cater to the people who want to mingle and the people who want to dine at the same time? Nick Hawk's Koi restaurant seems to tackle this feat seamlessly. When trying to create an atmosphere of the happening place to be, it makes sense that a restaurant would be a lounge, but combining the two seems like it wouldn't work.

The key is in making sure that the diners feel separate from the fun, if desired, but can also be a part of the action just as quickly. If you make sure that each diner can feel comfortable in their booth, then you can ensure that they won't feel intruded on when people walk to the lounge. Likewise, giving the opportunity to walk to the lounge is a successful idea itself.

Nick Hawk's Koi restaurant will show you how to successfully combine a lounge and restaurant. The key for him is understanding his audience. He is trying to cater to diners who want the capability to go meet new people at the lounge when they are done with their meal. They know that they will feel comfortable and secluded while dining, but can just as easily hang with the people in the lounge. This element gives Koi its appeal.

Restaurant Expansion For a Global Market

When your restaurant has reached a successful level, you'll prob want to expand your business. Some restaurant owners will feel that expanding to another location in a single city is a goal to reach. For the most sought after restaurants, like Nick Haque's Koi, a global influence is the attainable goal. There are few restaurants that are able to set up a similar dining experience in completely different regions, but that should be the ultimate goal.

If you don't feel like your restaurant would be accepted anywhere it opens, then you may have created a restaurant gearing to a localized niche. It is safe to say that if you create something enjoyable, yet still applicable to all, that your expansion will be a success. Nick Haque's Koi restaurant is a perfect example of this. Comfortable, chic, welcoming, and delicious, are words that diners all around the globe can relate to. Harnessing this in your restaurant can be your ticket to expansion success.

Design Your Way To Success

Design seems to be an extremely important aspect of restaurant success. Nick Haque's Koi restaurant acheives this because he is the visionary of the entire project. Handing over the entire project to a team of designers would be a disaster. There would be no coherent goal of what the restaurant should be.

In this care, Nick is the one who envisioned what the dining experience should be like. As the investor, he cares a lot obout whether or not the restaurant will be a success. This helps when someone is trying to make sure the vision of a fine dining experience is being fulfilled.

Nick Haque's Koi restaurant has been able to take this vision and apply it to different regions. The restaurant is expanding constantly, but each restaurant has the same goal: comfortable and memorable dining experience.