Clever Koi, the award-winning, pan-Asian restaurant & lounge with locations in both Central Phoenix and Downtown Gilbert, just rolled out an all-new comic-book-style illustrated drink menu featuring 66 fresh-crafted and exotically-yet-familiar cocktails, and a stylized manga/graphic novel storyline. 

Need more? Read more: Ballet Arizona presents ‘The Nutcracker’ running now through Dec. 24

Onomatopoeia meets mixology

Now available, the new comic-book menu features vibrant cocktails such as the kiwi-apple kissed Stoppage Time showcasing silky smooth, organic Junmai Ginjo Nigori sake, and the purple-blue-hued Kanagawa’s Great Wave, an impossibly tall and fluffy twist on the Ramos Fizz with yuzu lime and a crystal cordial. 

Or guests can take a side quest to explore Clever Koi’s first edition of non-alcoholic drinks, such as the Thank You Berry Much featuring an alcohol-free whiskey accented with Portuguese sour-cherry liqueur and savory salt butter syrup. Plus, heroic new House Boiler Makers (aka beer and a shot), including Kanpai (Kiku sake, Harland Japanese lager and yuzu salt cucumber) and Low Key Toki (Thai tea-infused Japanese whiskey and Hazy IPA).

Clever Koi gets cozy with ramen (and more)

Just in time for winter, Clever Koi’s rolled out updated food menus featuring all-new, more flavorful broths for its signature house-made ramen and noodle dishes. Look for hearty new entrées such as Duck Ramen, an Asian-Italian Kimchi Carbonara, and the return of the fan favorite, Kimcheese Burger. 

Also new on the back of the menu, a QR code links directly to all features and specials, allowing the kitchen to change up and experiment with new flavors and dishes more often.

Love in every tumbler

Led by co-owners Joshua James, former Last Slinger Standing cocktail competition winner, and Nicholas Campisano, Clever Koi’s expanded menus have been a years-long labor of love from the entire bar staff at both locations, with additional cocktail contributions from Mike Lopez of sister restaurant Across The Pond. 

Alongside the eye-grabbing graphics and fun story, guests will discover delightful and exotic new flavor combinations, such as the Thai Berry Soda, a mix of gin, Thai basil syrup and sesame shochu, plus acid-adjusted strawberry. 

“Acid adjusting allows us to use non-acidic fruits like strawberry, orange or pineapple,” James says, “but get that same crisp balance effect you normally only get with lemon or lime juice, so it creates a whole new flavor component.” 

Another standout is the Golden Myth, a cornflake-flavored twist on a clarified punch, spiced with cinnamon and spiked with red banana-infused rum. Most importantly, James emphasizes despite all the from-scratch, hand-prepped ingredients and complex, innovative wizardry that’s gone into each new cocktail, the new menu is also designed to deliver drinks quickly and consistently. 

“All the heavy lifting is done on the backside, spending hours preparing each ingredient so we can serve it with just a few final touches once we’re behind the bar,” he says.

Clever Koi details

Clever Koi is located at 4236 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix and 384 N. Gilbert Rd., #101 in Gilbert.

For more information, follow Clever Koi on social media @cleverkoi or visit thecleverkoi.com to learn more.