Koi

Reviews

• Michelle Y.

  star star star star star_border 8 June 2026

  Um, this place serves Japanese food? I had no idea.
  
  I got the koi burger lunch special ($10 including fries) and this was probably the best burger I have ever had. It was huge plus the burger was well-cooked yet juicy. The fries were good too. Plus it has a nice patio on Hess St. It loses a star rating because our server was flakey and forgetful. And it wasn't because the patio was busy, she really was flakey.

• Vincent S.

  star star star star_border star_border 8 June 2026

  I will discuss the club and dinner atmosphere, two distinct and very different atmospheres.
  
  For clubbing, Koi is an interesting atmosphere, they have the first floor which is great for grabbing drinks when the other rooms are busy, chatting with friends as the music is much less intrusive of conversations or  just sitting down taking a break from dancing. The club has two distinct rooms, one with electric/EDM music that is much larger has a larger bar, many booths and a balcony to get some fresh air. The other room features hip-hop/R&B/Rap music and is much smaller. Both rooms have unique vibes and Koi creates a great mix with both of these combined. The drinks are fairly priced as is cover.
  
  For dinner, Koi has excellent service, the food is above average but the cost can be pricer on special occasions. I would by no means say Koi is a Japanese restaurant, what they do well is serve a small menu with excellent wine and great tasting food. I would recommend the restaurant but I would take a look at the menu to determine if it is right for you.

• E F.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 1 June 2026

  Two things you need to know:
  
  1.) watched a bouncer get punched in the face after asking some prick to leave
  2.) got a beer /thrown/ on me
  
  I don't know what is wrong with this country. I hate to be a douche like that, but it's true. I probably had 100+ nights in premier Chicago clubs and never once saw an altercation. (not to suggest that fights never happened, but they seem to be a regular public spectacle here in Hamilton) I'm pretty sure I've personally witnessed 1 fight for every 2 clubs in Hamilton. I really don't get it. Chicago has some of the worst crime in north america, talk about full-retard.  Seriously, think about that. What is wrong with you people? If you go to this club, you really should, honestly, legit, be ashamed of yourself. I am literally stunned. No words can describe the awful experience here.  
  
  Koi, as a venue, is alright. The place is pricey, but seems to be on par with other clubs. The place is fairly well kept.  In general, it's too big. Even though I was trying to relax and have some drinks, it took me quite a while to explore the entire place.  It's 3 levels, which in my opinion is a little gimmicky.  The top two floors get filled, but the bottom was empty. Folks seemed to spend most of their time navigating the various corridors instead of dancing/grinding/boozing. Because the place is laid out like a maze, it's difficult for staff to effectively police the entire place. The third floor had electronica, the second had rap/pop.-I don't know if it's like that regularly. In terms of dancing and grinding, although I really liked the electronica dj, I've had a more positive experience at other places.
  
  The women are very attractive. On the night I went there was way more guys than girls, but that's standard for most clubs in my experience.

• Bryan G.

  star star star star_border star_border 30 May 2026

  GENERAL NOTES
  It should be noted that I was pretty drunk the entire time I was here and never knew whether I was in Koi or Sizzle and I feel that's pretty much how everyone experiences Koi/Sizzle.
  
  I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing but Koi/Sizzle seems to be the only place in Hamilton devoid of beards and plaid shirts. Once again, I was pretty drunk but everyone seemed to be pretty good looking, especially the bartenders. Seems to be the place to be if you're young, hot and into hip hop and house (and in Hamilton). Probably a decent chance of hooking up with a drunken Mac student.
  
  MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
  In addition to being a nightclub, Koi/Sizzle are also restaurants. However, I don't know which side I ate in and apparently the (limited) menu changes often. Seems like pretty good food at a slightly higher than you like to pay price.
  
  I had the chicken teppanyaki. If you're white, I'd say go for it.
  
  SERVICE NOTES
  As mentioned, the bartenders are by in large better looking than you. Despite this I seem to recall receiving fast and friendly service. No really, the staff was actually great.
  
  LOCATION NOTES
  It's a fucking maze. Honestly, I don't know how you're supposed to find your way around when you're drunk. It's like the Madison, only with more rooms and narrower hallways. Lucky for me, a nice Chinese boy named Eugene helped me out when I got lost.
  
  The nice thing about the plethora of rooms is each room plays a slightly different style of music so you won't get stuck listening to music you hate all night (unless you hate all dance, hip hop and house). Also, if you want to lose someone in there, you most certainly can do so. Which I guess is a plus only for some.
  
  HUMOUROUS STORY
  After facetiously complaining about having my rye and ginger poured in a plastic cup I immediately (accidentally) dropped it on the floor right in front of the bartender. Of course I asked for my refill in a proper glass. She obliged. My friend who works there saw this and made me mop up the mess and return the mop to the kitchen. She's a bitch.

• Irene P.

  star star star star_border star_border 22 May 2026

  Ate at Koi for the first time for dinner. The wait staff were friendly, but service was slow. It took about 10-15 minutes to get our menu. We were sat at the back of the restaurant with a view of their very messy deck (random plates, garbage bins, haphazard furniture). It took another 25 minutes or so to get our food even though the place was not busy.
  
  The food they serve is Asian (con)Fusion, consisting of a mish mash of curries, sushi and burger. I ordered the Volcano Chicken and Shrimp with rice ($13). It was edible, but nothing special. More fillers (read: vegetables) than the chicken or shrimp, and the red curry tasted like something I would make myself at home -- store bought curry paste plus a can of coconut milk, and dinner is served.
  
  It was an a-OK experience, but I will not be going back.