Koyo — Restaurant in Millcreek

I have lived in the Millcreek area for the last 5 years, however, I had never stopped by at this restaurant. I had driven by it so many times and figured I should finally try it. Right when I walked in, I was already enamored by the decor and the set up of the restaurant. The decor in the waiting area is almost like a section out of a museum. There are painting and masks on the walls. It's so interesting to look at and it makes the place look authentic. You get a glimpse of the set up of the restaurant from the waiting room and it is set up like a very authentic Japanese establishment. There are rooms where you can SIT ON THE FLOOR AND EAT ON A CUSHION AROUND A LOW TABLE like Japanese people did back in the day. Each table is sectioned off with authentic wood dividers with wooden lights and hanging sphere lights. I love the touches of the place!

The food was delicious as well. There are not many sushi options as it seems more like a dish and side dishes type of place rather than a sushi house. I ordered the breaded pork combo dish that came with tempura, salad, and soup. I had no complaints with it! There was a good amount of food for the price of the combo. I also tried the Smart Roll. I did not realize the salmon was cooked in the roll until I received it. I was wanting a raw fish roll, but that was my mistake, I probably did not read the menu diligently enough. The roll was still delicious and I enjoyed it. A note though: It was stuffed with an abnormal amount of rice, so the ratio between things in the sushi roll and the amount of rice did not match up... There was a lot more rice.

This place is a very cute place to come with a date or for an intimate get together with friends! I suggest getting a rice plate rather than sushi at this place. You get more bang for your buck that way and I think the dishes are...

First visit — mixed experience, but overall positive.

We ordered the Japanese curry, Nabeyaki udon, Sapporo beer, spicy tuna roll, and the Smart roll. We came in looking for a refined, traditional Japanese dining experience and were excited to try a variety of items. Unfortunately, the Nabeyaki and Japanese curry fell short of expectations. Both dishes felt unrefined, with textures that were mostly mushy and lacking contrast. Flavors were bland and forgettable, and nothing stood out. These dinner plates felt average at best. In contrast, the sushi rolls were excellent — flavorful, well-balanced, and with a great distinction of textures. The Smart roll and spicy tuna were clear highlights and are definitely recommended. We were also served miso soup and a fresh salad as part of the meal, and to our surprise, they paired together beautifully. Taking a bite of salad followed by a sip of soup created a surprisingly perfect combo that added a comforting start to the experience. Service was flawless, and the ambiance was perfect... especially sitting at the traditional-style booth where you take your shoes off. That part of the experience felt genuinely special. In hindsight, if we had skipped the Nabeyaki and Japanese curry, the experience would’ve felt much more satisfying. Next time, we’ll likely stick to sushi... and if we’re feeling adventurous, maybe try the chicken or beef...

Let me start off by saying that this was an amazing first experience. Good location not far from the heart of Salt Lake City. Hours are lunch and dinner on weekdays and dinner on weekends. Here's my walk through: Went there for Valentines day. I called ahead to make a reservation because they prefer you to do this. Our host was very friendly and got us to a private tatami room. The decorations were lively and added to the atmosphere. One word to describe it: authentic. Our server was very nice and helped us decide what to get as we had not been there before. We ordered the Koyo sushi roll (shrimp and avocado with sweet sauce) and started with the house salad and tempura vegetables and shrimp. Very light and crispy frying. I would highly recommend using the sauce they give you for the tempura. Super sweet and addicting! Next we got bowls of rice for our entree. I ordered the Kiwa which is beef sukiyaki. Tender beef strips with Harusame noodles, vegetables, and tofu in a beef broth. Served in a cast iron skillet. Presentation was definitely a huge part of service. Super delicious. This was legit Japanese. A great choice for Valentines. 5 Stars! I will...