Aroma Latin American Cocina — Restaurant in Henderson

Went to this restaurant with a friend of mine after she heard about it online. I have to say that it’s really overhyped and not that memorable. I really wanted to love it since it’s a mom and pop restaurant, but the prices are very high and the food isn’t very good. It’s also more of a fusion restaurant than a traditional Mexican/Latin restaurant. Its more Latin cuisine meets bistro food with traditional Latin dishes reimagined and frankensteined with an American twist.

We paid $7 for a single carne asada taco, $6 for a single pork belly taco, and $18 for a steak sandwich. The carne asada was incredibly bland. For a Latin restaurant, it didn’t appear to have any seasoning beyond salt and pepper. It was incredibly disappointing given that seasoning and flavor is the cornerstone of Latin food. The steak sandwich was just as equally bland. The only real flavor imparted by both the sandwich and the taco were from the additional ingredients in each respective dish. For the sandwich, the aioli had more flavor than the steak. For the taco, the pickled onion had more flavor than the bland carne asada. The pork taco was a little bit better than the other two plates, but that dish also seemed to be saved simply based on the fact that pork belly already imparts a lot of its own flavor due to the fat content from the protein. It was really sad that such wonderful dishes were lacking both seasoning and flavor.

The service was alright. To give them credit, the restaurant is incredibly cleanly. However, my friend and I arrived very shortly after they opened and guests who arrived after us and placed their order after ours, received their order before us. Given the high prices for the food and drink items too, it was surprising that chips and salsa are not offered while you wait as is typically standard for most Latin/Mexican restaurants like this one. Considering their food and drinks are outrageously priced, it was kind of a shock that such a low cost complementary item like this one wasn’t offered.

I also have to add that I’m glad my friend and I didn’t add an agua fresca to our order. That item alone would have been $5 for an abysmally small glass with no refills that we spotted on the tables of other patrons. At my favorite Mexican restaurant in town, you’ll pay the same price for an entire PITCHER of fresh limonada.

To follow up on my previous comment about the food not being entirely traditional, I wanted to add that I was initially very excited and interested in trying their Chile Relleno since it’s was described as being stuffed with carne picada (seasoned beef) and potatoes. A style I don’t typically see in Nevada and was hoping would remind me of a taste of home (Tex Mex food). Upon looking further inspection though, I saw the restaurant decided to forego the traditional Chille Relleno preparation of the pepper being dipped in an egg-batter. They instead prepare their Chille Relleno by stuffing their pepper in a brioche bun.

All that being said, I can’t recommend this restaurant. There are far better places in town with better price points, better quality flavors, better ingredients, and more familiar/traditional preparations. I’d recommend Mas Takos (an affordable and flavorful restaurant just two lights away from Aroma) or Tacos El Gordo if you’re looking for a taqueria. I’d recommend La Mojara Loca Grill for a great sit down Mexican restaurant. I appreciate all the effort that went into making Aroma and crafting their menu, but this just isn’t the spot if you’re looking for...

Congratulations to Chef Steve Kestler for being a finalist in the Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK) James Beard Awards 2024. Good Luck! I also found out after I dined there that Aroma Latin American Cocina took the #1 spot on Yelp’s Top 100 US Taco Spots in 2023 and you need to visit to see why for yourself.

Located in a strip mall like many good Vegas restaurants once you enter you are transformed to a space that is simply but nicely decorated. The vibe was set by the guy who was the cashier and server by the way he greeted and interacted with customers. Good music was playing in the background. There are only 8 tables in the place so I imagine that this place will get packed as the word spreads about how good this place really is.

There is a very good selection of appetizer and entrees making it so hard to choose. This makes multiple visits mandatory.

I ordered: Horchata (5/5) I know it differs by county and this one was great, not overly sweet or overwhelming with cinnamon, just perfect.

Pork belly taco / guacamole / pico / pickled onions / queso fresco (10/5) Seriously I can’t come close to describing how good this taco was. The pork belly was amazing! So tender and flavorful and the tortillas were just perfect. All of the toppings complemented the pork belly and this really was the best taco that I have ever eaten. Well worth the price, especially when you consider everything that went into creating it. I seriously think I have to have at least one a week, or at least average one a week by the end of the year.

Beef short ribs / mole / roasted sweet potato / esquites (5/5) While I am no expert on mole sauce this one was wonderful, just the perfect blend of flavors. The short ribs themselves were perfect, I didn’t really need a knife to cut them, just a fork would do they were so tender.

The presentation of each dish makes it a work of art. So much time and detail go into everything made here.

Aroma could easily be located in any hotel on the Strip (probably at double the prices), so we are luck to have it here for us locals.

This truly is one of the best restaurants in Las Vegas and I highly encourage...

Okay - there is no disputing the great reviews Aroma has. The food is legit and fantastic! Wonderful flavors and sizeable portions. The pork belly taco was a beast and oh so tasty. Two of those may have been enough on their own. However, I had the Beef Short Rib in mole as well. To be fair, I am a sucker for a good mole and this homemade version bludgeoned the spot! Smooth with a tinge of spice and sweetness, the mole was a great sauce with a tenderly braised piece of boneless short rib. The corn and sweet potatoes that accompanied it added a nice bit of spice to the dish.

The service was impeccable and the dining room absolutely immaculate. This is the type of place I love to visit - it's all about the food and they make the most of their strip mall location. If they were on the Strip in a plum location, the food would be much more expensive and travelers would happily pay for it. This is a wonderful find for those willing to get off the beaten path. Go visit Aroma - you may think it's pricey given its location, but they pour their hearts (and investment) into the food. The value is definitely great.

My one complaint is that they ought to have a few great South American wines on their menu. The Chilean pinot noir I had was not nearly up to the standard of the food and it was my only choice for a red wine by the glass. Multiple dishes on the menu would pair great with a full bodied Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile or Argentina. A large (nor expensive) wine list isn't necessary but the food coming out of this kitchen deserves more!

Bravo! I will be back (maybe even again on this...