Blue Koi Noodles & Dumplings: Kansas City's Authentic Asian Café

Blue Koi is Kansas City's reliable noodle and dumpling shop. Located in both midtown and Leawood, this café is a hip, inviting hangout to grab a quick bite. The Asian-inspired dishes are affordable and the menu also includes a number of vegetarian options for those who do not eat meat.

The starter menu includes classic Asian appetizers such as pan-fried dumplings (filled with your choice of chicken, shrimp, seafood, pork, or a combination of all four), boiled dumplings, and veggie dumplings. Also on the starter menu is a China moon flatbread with marinated and minced shrimp; crispy tofu with "spicy awesome sauce," a duck wrap with cucumber, onion, cilantro, and hoisin sauce; a lettuce wrap with a selection of chicken, tofu, or pork served with shitake mushroom, crushed peanuts, carrots, and onion; and chili pepper wontons. 

The main courses include options like the firebird duck served with chili pepper, scallion, and bamboo strips over white rice; ginger basil chicken over white rice; Chinese style pot roast that is "bathed" in marinade for hours and served over rice or noodles as "noodle soup;" vegetarian noodle soup; black bean chicken over white rice; and the customer favorite, almond shrimp asparagus with garlic shrimp, mayonnaise, and sundried tomatoes served over white rice.

Blue Koi has a full bar equipped with beer, wine, and liquor for mixed drinks, and they also have an assortment of loose leaf teas and bubble tea.  Their midtown location is open Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Fridays, and 12 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The Leawood location is open Monday to Thrusday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Skyler Bouchard is a junior writer at the Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter at @skylerbouchard.