Koi

Tucked behind a tall bamboo fence, Koi would be nondescript if not for the flashbulbs of paparazzi lurking outside. It’s become a young Hollywood favorite for its homey atmosphere and its easy menu of Japanese small plates and sushi (crispy rice topped with spicy tuna is the house favorite). A table in the back patio is most desirable (probably because you can look into the rest of the restaurant from the back booths) but a seat at the sushi bar is more fun. It’s a ‘reservations required’ kind of place, sending those without a reservation along to The Belmont or The Spanish Kitchen, both within walking distance. But newcomer and neighbor STK may steal some of Koi’s heat.