Liz’s Top 5 Recommended Restaurants In Las Vegas
As an avid foodie and a frequent traveler to Las Vegas, I have seen many, I mean many restaurants come and go.
Restaurants in Vegas have endured so much over the past two years, from pandemic regulations to limited business hours, it seemed as if not many would sustain during this period. But it’s the old favorites that have stood the test of time, serving generations of fans, that have become the city’s most famous restaurants.
At its core, restaurants in Vegas thrive on diversity, which has resulted in genre-bending formats and cuisines that have given rise to some of the country’s best omakase restaurants and fine dining institutions.
With due respect to all the restaurants that not only survived but thrived during one of the worst economic crises, it was difficult to pick just five of my favorite restaurants in Vegas for this blog.
From a casual date, to a dinner with family & friends, these are my top picks for where to eat in Las Vegas.
Omakase is all about trust. The Japanese dining experience puts the chef in control, resulting in a personalized and deeply intimate meal. Food experts who sneer at the California rolls and deep-fried meals that have come to represent commercialized interpretations on sushi, will appreciate both the beauty and the flavor of omakase at Kame omakase.
Kame Omakase offers a unique and creative sushi experience that will leave you wanting for more. These brilliant chefs use only the freshest ingredients to make delectable dishes that will delight your taste buds.
Their popular dishes are, Fresh Hokkaido Uni (Sea urchin) from Japan and Santa Barbara Uni, Bluefin Tuna from Spain and Kamashida Toro , Kama Toro, O-Toro, Fresh Live lobster sashimi, Live Shrimps, Live Abalone, Mirugai ( Giant clam ), miso marinated black cod, Chilean sea bass, grilled duck breast, A5 Wagyu beef ( Kobe beef , Kagoshima, Hokkaido and Miyazaki). Their ingredients are brought by overnight flights four days a week from Japan and throughout the country, depending on the season.
For just $195 per person, diners can expect unique dishes like Hokkaido hairy crabs, giant clams, and sea urchin in nori tacos.
The Venetian Resort is an inevitable inclusion on any list of hotels in Las Vegas. This magnificent establishment, with its architecture and design, teleports you to Renaissance Venice. As an integrated resort, the place exudes magnificence, romance, serenity, and opulence around every corner. It was once named as one of the most romantic hotels in Las Vegas by USA Today.
Designed tastefully to cater to the refined taste of guests who are looking for a romantic getaway, every key at The Venetian Resort opens a suite.
It was our first trip to the much talked about futuristic Asian fusion restaurant, The X Pot, located at the Grand Canal Shoppes, inside The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. It is the perfect addition to the Las Vegas entertainment scene. The X Pot serves guests with a wide array of acts including ancient Chinese “face-changing” ceremonies, innovative noodle dances, and table animation shows. This high-tech, one-of-a-kind hot pot restaurant provides both an interactive dining and entertainment experience.
It promises to engage all five senses to create an exceptional gourmet experience where the past and the future merge, with magnificent HD 360 projections, thematic soundscapes, and interactive light shows right on your dinner plate.
Mott 32 takes the food and decor to a whole new level even for Las Vegas. The magnificently over-the-top space, named after a famous convenience shop in New York City’s Chinatown, draws inspiration from its Hong Kong and Vancouver forefathers while putting a contemporary, buzzy spin on the first U.S. location. Alan Ji, the executive chef, is a Vegas household name; he casts a wide net, exploring Cantonese, Szechuan, and Beijing-style cuisine.
The real star however, is the applewood-smoked Peking Duck, which is prepared in a special air-drying duck fridge for 48 hours before being roasted.
The dining room features works by Hong Kong artist Joe Joe Ngai, which include Chinese characters and birds, as well as a portrait of Anna Wong, who is regarded as the first Hong Kong-Chinese American Hollywood movie star, and a dash of Las Vegas neon.
Alan Ji, a James Beard Foundation semifinalist, created the menu, which features Peking-style spicy crispy duck rack, impossibly flavorful soup dumplings, crispy roasted pork belly, and plenty of dim sum standouts.
If you’re a Vegan, then you’re in for a treat, because Mott 32 has a large selection of vegan and vegetarian options. You’ll find plenty of savory plates to indulge in; from wild mushroom and water chestnut dumplings to braised tofu.
Vegan Champagne, red and white wines are also available here.
Ichiza is located on the second floor of one of the numerous Chinatown/Koreatown strip malls on Spring Mountain Rd. This late-night hangout is very popular among students and the young crowd. It was one of the first ever Izakaya style Japanese restaurants to open in Vegas. It also features an open kitchen with counter seating where diners can watch chefs as they prepare meals.
Diners can try their roasted eggplant as an appetizer and move on to egg drop soup or a seaweed salad before feasting on their main dish. Rice, noodle and bowl entrées are also offered, as well as desserts like honey toast. They also serve beer, sake and wine with meals, and have meal specials and a daily happy hour, can’t get any better than this.
Do not miss trying their Homemade Ponzu; it is made by squeezing a total of 5 types of fruit: yuzu, lemon, mandarin orange, lime, and grapefruit and combining it with 3 types of bonito flakes to create a refreshing and mildly balanced taste.
Sweets Raku is owned by Chef Mitsuo Endo, featuring excellent meats and vegetables grilled with precision.
The centuries-old cooking method employs a large stone grill popular on Japanese fishing boats on the northern island of Hokkaido. In recent years, the style has grown in popularity throughout Japan. This is where dessert lovers flock to enjoy attentive service, creative dishes, and pastries made right in front of their eyes.
“Raku” means “enjoyment” in Japanese, but the majority of the pastries here are translated from French. You can try their signature dish, climbing to the sweet heights of Mt. Fuji, which is fluffy sponge cake with chestnuts and chestnut paste covered in chestnut cream and served with Hennessy ice cream and cinnamon cookies. Or see stars with Stella, which is a raspberry tart with fresh strawberry and mascarpone mousse, served with strawberry sorbet.
Despite its name and stated mission, Sweets Raku also serves savoury dishes. There’s the Iberico bacon sandwich (with grilled mozzarella cheese), as well as the quiche (made with Italian bacon and Gruyere).
While the desserts are slightly more expensive than at other places, I believe it is well worth it to come here and see your dessert being prepared right in front of your eyes. The presentation was impeccable, and the desserts were mouth watering.
Chef Robuchon, the founder of Joël Robuchon has the most Michelin Guide stars award for any chef in the world, with 28 in total, his 2nd Las Vegas restaurant “L’Atelier de Jol Robuchon” also contributed four to his total. His career was and continues to be one of the most illustrious in the culinary industry, even years after his death.
The Joël Robuchon is located inside the MGM Grand Hotel and is the city’s only three star Michelin restaurant in Las Vegas. They provide a complimentary gold limousine transportation from and to your hotel. The limo provides you a glimpse into another part of the MGM Grand that is not usually viewable to the general public. Rather than taking you to the main entrance, the limo takes you to a private entry with beautiful villas, fountains, and lush greenery. The restaurant provides a few prix fixe alternatives as well as a full 14-16 course menu degustation ($425 per person).
Here are some images from the 15 course meal which was offered to us. And the best part about the visit? It was my moms birthday.
Orchid Garden for dim sum