"Thanks to Mark P. and Kristen S. I decided to check out this restaurant based on their reports. This is my first time in Scottsdale AZ and I wanted to go to a Japanese restaurant without the glitz or glam. \n\nTo find Sushi Ko (from 101): \nI suggest turning right on N 92nd St and then turn left into the shopping center (look for Starbucks and Quiznos). You'll see Chompie's sign...you can't miss that one. To the right of that establishment, you need to take a very short walk down an alley and there's Sushi Ko. You will not see this restaurant from the parking lot route. \n\nI went to Sushi Ko on Sunday on or about 7:15 PM and I was immediately seated. There were 2 sushi chefs (one Japanese and one Mexican). The sushi bar was filled so I took a small table. Upon sitting, I noticed two bottles of soy sauce (one at full strength...and the other with low sodium). \n\nSince this was my first time here, I ordered enough food to sample their cuisine. Here's my dinner order:\n\n1. Yakko Tofu (cold tofu): The tofu was fresh and served perfectly cold. The seasoning was also good. It could have used some bits/strips of nori (seaweed). The cube of tofu is small (3 x 3). For the price and size, I felt it was a little bit much...should be $2.75, not $3.50. I know...that's petty, but it's important to note if you order this. \n\n2. Beef Teriyaki (dinner): The miso soup has bits of tofu and soft seaweed. The flavour was very good...not too salty. The dinner salad was good, but a little too much salad dressing for me. Ask for it on the side. The beef teriyaki was served with short 1-inch spears of asparagus, a slice of potato, slices of carrot, and 1 broccoli crown. The beef is served on a hot plate, but it's important to request for your specific cooking preference (rare, medium rare, medium). Otherwise, the steak will come out medium. If the hot plate is sizzling, your steak may be slightly well-done. There is enough teriyaki sauce to enjoy your meal. And, if all else fails, ask for more. :)\n\nOf course, eating at a Japanese restaurant is not complete without some sushi. \n\n3. 4 pcs of Salmon (Sake) Nigiri: The salmon was fresh and not fishy tasting. The natural oil of the fish was perfect. The slices of salmon were very generous and thick. The sushi rice was fair. It needs a little more rice vinegar to sharpen the taste. \n\n4. 4 pcs of Yellowtail (Hamachi) Nigiri: The yellowtail was also fresh and not fishy tasting. It was not as smooth or \"buttery\" in texture which is essential to yellowtail. The slices were also very generous and thick. The sushi rice was fair. It needs a little more rice vinegar to sharpen the taste. \n\n5. 2 pcs of Eel (Unagi) Nigiri: I absolutely loved the way this was prepared...the Unagi was grilled leaving a crispy edge. The flavour was very good and in spite of the sushi rice...it did not diminish the overall taste. \n\n6. 6 pcs Salmon Roll (Sake Maki): The salmon was excellent (as stated above in Nigiri format), but the sushi rice is what didn't pull this through. The surrounding nori was a little too soft, and should be a little crisper. \n\nMy overall dinner cost was $54.00 including a soft drink. \n\n\nThe meal above is really for two people, but whenever I try a new restaurant...it's important to order a lot so that you can get a better spectrum of the cuisine. \n\nBy in large, I really enjoyed this restaurant. The staff was very friendly, attentive, and cordial. I even had an opportunity to talk to the chef who grilled my steak. :)\n\nThis \"whole-in-the-wall\" restaurant is great. It is indeed much more preferable than the other Japanese restaurants that have loud music, loud tvs, fusion, and drinking atmospheres. If you want to go and have a nice quiet Japanese dinner, this is an excellent choice. \n\nThank you for your time! Bon Appetit! :)"^^ . . "2009-06-01T00:00:00"^^ . . "4"^^ . . "0"^^ . "3"^^ . "0"^^ .