Koi Sushi is Gaithersburg's best new workaday sushi spot

Koi Sushi, which opened earlier in 2026 at 203 Boardwalk Place in the Rio shopping center in Gaithersburg, has established itself as a reliable spot for quality sushi without the high-end price tag that comes with special-occasion dining.

The restaurant's menu spans sushi, ramen, donburi, teriyaki and katsu, but the most satisfying meals stick to the fundamentals. The best approach is to focus on nigiri and rolls rather than the more ambitious and pricier creations on the menu. The fish used in nigiri is consistently well-carved and properly portioned. For rolls, the best first order should skip the elaborate Emperor Roll and instead focus on simpler options like yellowtail, yellowtail and jalapeño, or salmon and avocado—the scraps and trimmings here show remarkable quality.

The kitchen's technique shines in minced fillings like spicy tuna and shrimp, where chefs work air into the mix to create a soft, almost melting texture that blends seamlessly with the rice. The ratio of fish to rice remains generous throughout the menu.

The dining room reinforces the quality of the food. The narrow, intimate space and low ceiling evoke Tokyo izakayas and urban Japanese cafes rather than a suburban strip mall restaurant, with cherry blossom-pink lanterns and wooden rafters adding to the atmosphere.

Koi Sushi is located at 203 Boardwalk Place, Gaithersburg. Call 301-545-2795 or visit koisushimd.com for hours and reservations.

First reported by Bethesda Magazine.