Koboshi

I stopped in here for a quick lunch on a weekday after walking over here from my hotel off bourbon. if you’re looking for this place on the street, be advised its in the food court in the capital one building.
Its cash only and buffet style take out but not really great at that. The sushi wasn’t anything special and i wanted hot food so I went in that direction and got some spicy chicken that was ok but i dont recommend the eggplant.
Everything had been sitting out for a bit, if I’m going to get chinese or japanese again ill grab some from somewhere fresh.

I had lunch here. In the middle of the office-​building-​lunchtime-​rush service was pretty quick.
They had a decent variety of sushi and other Asian dishes, although none are labeled and most aren’t on the menu.
The highlight was the teri beef. It was AWESOME and is the only reason I’m not giving this place a single star. The green beans were also very good, corn salad was good, gyzoa were tossed in a sauce and were a little old but were fine.
The sushi was awful, though– I actually had one piece of it then my husband picked the rice off the other pieces and ate that (while I ate his teri beef). The rice wasn’t right. It tasted like absolutely nothing but was super gluey, most of the grains were totally smashed together. The raw salmon smelled and tasted very strongly of fish. The crunchy roll was totally soggy, only an hour after they opened.

If I worked in the CBD (and possibly hated my life), Koboshi could well be the bright spot in my day. Unfortunately, I have a 7 – 4 weekday job and so am rarely able to come by this lunch-​only restaurant. However, I have it on good authority that customers who’ve been coming weekly for 10+ years see it as such.
Koboshi’s name implies a Japanese restaurant but they actually serve a variety of Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese dishes. The owners and cooks are Taiwanese and the variety of cuisines clashing on that island are evident in the flavor profiles of their food. Lunch is served cafeteria style, with food prepared in the morning and served in styrofoam to the cash-​only, quick moving crowd.
Vegetarians and vegans rejoice! If you are a veggie/​fiber lover, this is the spot for you. The majority of dishes prepared are vegetables, which is the main reason Koboshi is so popular; there are many choices of veggies as sides, unlike the majority of fast food hamburger and pizza spots inside the Capitol One Building.
Dishes I have tried and enjoyed:
1. Eggplant — Braised in soy sauce with green onions. The best.
2. Sauteed corn — With onions and bell peppers.
3. Sauteed bell peppers — Red and green, charred on a grill.
4. Sauteed mushrooms, zucchini, and squash
5. Green beans — Crispy on the outside, with a tender bite, sauteed with some garlic and maybe a touch of chili.
6. Smothered potatoes — You have your choice of regular Yukon gold or SWEET POTATOES. Very tasty, with carmelized onions and leek.
7. Steamed veggies — The usual cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots. Fresh but bland.
8. Spicy chicken — Their most popular dish. Strips of chicken breast flash fried then dipped in a spicy teriyaki sauce. Just the right amount of char from the grill and you’ve got a great, simple, and filling lunch dish.
9. Fried Calamari — The best I have had since Taiwan. Fresh squid flash fried in light batter with fresh basil leaves and soy sauce.
10. Grape, spinach, and grilled shrimp salad — This is really good. I was skeptical because I don’t like grapes generally, but both green and red grapes are halved (so sour tang and sweet), mixed with baby spinach, and topped off with grilled bay shrimp and a light vinaigrette.
11. Sushi rolls: California roll, snow crab, crunchy, softshell crab, and eel rolls. Every order comes with your choice of roll. I like eel the best myself.
Koboshi is located on the second floor of the Capitol One building at St. Charles and Gravier, in their food court. It’s a restaurant with actual seating, more to the side. A meal shouldn’t cost you more than $ 10 (plus choice of soft drink/​bottled water), so if you’re in the area and want a quick affordable meal between the hours of 11 and 2, stop by. CASH ONLY.