ABOUT OUR CHEF:
Jason Chow
Jason Chow was never meant to be an accountant.
As a Malaysian, Jason grew up surrounded by flavors and influences from all around Asia: from China, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. And he learned how to harness those flavors in his mom's kitchen, helping her prepare the family meals.
Despite his culinary talent, he pursued a conventional path and went to college for accounting. Try as he might, documents and balance sheets couldn’t compete with the thrill and heat of the kitchen, the alchemy of taking raw ingredients and creating a masterpiece.
So, he answered the call, enrolled in culinary school, and life started clicking. After graduating, he began work as a Cantonese-style dim sum chef in his home country. There he mastered Hong Kong barbecue, including dishes like Peking duck and roasted, crispy suckling pig. The chef’s life took him across the globe—from Malaysia and Singapore to New York City—and from grilling street-food to plating in 5-star hotels.
Following his move to the Triangle, Jason brought his 12 years of Indo-Chinese mastery and took on Japan. He started fresh. He embarked on the 10-year path to learn the art of preparing authentic Japanese sushi and hibachi, personally studying under the sushi master Masa-San.
Now, at Koi, he offers you the best from his travels and his craft: his sensibilities from a Malaysian upbringing, his experience from grilling on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, his education under Thai food masters in New York City, and 13 years of mastering sushi.
Chef’s Picks:
Jason has carefully designed his sushi menu, but he has his favorites. His recommendation? The house specialty Koi Roll: smoked salmon, shrimp, and cucumber rolled reverse and topped with tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and avocado.
And when it’s in season, he suggests you try his favorite sushi fish: Shima-aji, unique fish with a firm flesh and a hint of coconut flavor to it.
WHY KOI?
Koi fish hold a unique significance to Asian cultures. In China, they symbolize prosperity and in Japanese folklore, they represent courage and determination, earning the moniker, "the Warrior's Fish."
But they are also social creatures who form close bonds of friendship with each other—and some koi have been reported to have lived for over onehundred years, together in peace.
As you walk in, we invite you to pause by our pond and reflect on their bonds of friendship—and bring it with you as you share a meal at our table.
