Best Friend — Restaurant in Paradise

Best Friend at Park MGM: An Elevated Culinary Journey

Best Friend, envisioned by the acclaimed chef Roy Choi, is a captivating fusion of bodega, bar, and restaurant that transports the vibrant essence of Koreatown directly to the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. The Chef's Menu, offered at an enticing price of $75 per person, is a curated showcase of Choi's most iconic dishes alongside innovative new creations, all reimagined for Vegas's dynamic and eclectic dining scene. This unique fusion of Korean and American cuisines promises a dining experience like no other.

Upon entering Best Friend, guests are enveloped in a stunning environment that artfully combines the nostalgic elements of a Korean bodega with the contemporary glitz of Las Vegas. The space is alive with striking neon signage, cozy wooden booths, and a rhythmic soundtrack spun by in-house DJs. The vibrant atmosphere, while some patrons mention that the music can reach impressive volumes, it only adds to the electric energy of the venue, making you feel energized and ready for a lively dining experience. Service is regarded as a hallmark of the experience, with attentive and warm staff members, such as Jasmine, embodying the pinnacle of hospitality with their thoughtful recommendations and genuine care for each diner's experience.

Chef's Menu Highlights Banchan Trio: The meal begins with a delightful trio of house-fermented kimchi, refreshing seasonal fruits drizzled in a nuanced syrup, and crisp Persian cucumbers. Each bite creates an orchestra of flavors that awakens the palate, balancing spices, sweetness, and cool, refreshing crunch. Kogi Tacos: A tribute to Choi’s renowned food truck, these tacos unite tender short-rib Kalbi with a vibrant cilantro-onion-lime slaw, elegantly wrapped in a silky tortilla. The combination of savory umami and zesty acidity dances on the taste buds, offering a taste of culinary nostalgia. Slippery Shrimp: Indulgently glazed rock shrimp with a satisfying crunch arrive dressed in a luscious chili-mayo and garnished with toasted walnuts, creating a delightful medley of textures and a gentle warmth that lingers delightfully on the palate. Hawaiian Sweet Bread "Po' Boy": At the suggestion of a clever server, the slippery shrimp takes a playful turn as they nestle within soft Hawaiian sweet bread—an impromptu but brilliant reinterpretation of the classic po'boy. It's a whimsical, indulgent experience that delivers layers of flavor and texture. Kimchi Fried Rice: This dish features caramelized rice speckled with house-made kimchi and topped with a flawlessly poached egg. Each forkful is a comforting embrace of flavors that expertly melds simplicity and sophistication. Barbecue Platter: Sizzling and fragrant, this platter showcases garlic-marinated chicken and tender short-rib Kalbi, glistening with a luscious smoky depth. Each morsel pays homage to Choi's respect for traditional Korean barbecue, delivering an unforgettable taste of smokiness and tenderness.

Conclusion Whether you indulge in a sumptuous brunch or dive into a late-night feast, Best Friend at Park MGM stands as a masterclass in Korean-American fusion. Bold, vibrant flavors, imaginative presentations, and exemplary service seamlessly converge, creating an extraordinary dining experience. This bustling hotspot will become an essential stop in Las Vegas for those searching for innovative dishes, a spirited atmosphere, and a level of hospitality that truly shines...

Here in Vegas for the weekend with friends and I got to pick out one restaurant for dinner. Looked online for recommendations and Best Friend came up as highly recommended.

The front of the restaurant was great. It had the cool old school asian snack shop feel to it which you will see from lots of pic in the review area, but when we got seated in the back, the vibe changed. None of the decor aside from a small portion of the wall with painting of koji food trucks gave off the korean or korean mexican vibe. It got kinda blah from there. I didn't mind the darker/dimmer lighting but the table next to us had their phones' flashlight on to view the menu. It made me think, does the menu/ atmosphere benefit from a dimmed lightning? Honestly, I didn't think so. I wished the back has more accent of korean / korean mexican to match the menu. Modern decor alone just seem a bit vanilla to me.

Food wise, I would have rated 1 star if it wasn't for the birria ramen. We ordered korean wings, kimchi fried rice, garlic chicken, and birria ramen. I didn't know what to expect with birria ramen since I've never had it before but everything else is pretty classic and they came highly recommended in google review so I was looking forward to it. To my biggest disappointment, the chicken for both dishes were DRY. The coating of the korean wings were subpar. It wasn't crispy and the coating was not well seasoned. Granted there is a dipping sauce but the wing itself should be well seasoned. The kimchi fried rice was my triggered point. There was hardly enough kimchi in there for the amount of rice prepared with it. I understand kimchee is an acquired taste that not all foreigners will enjoy, so let that be an experience for the patron trying kimchee for the first time to learn instead of robbing the joy and the expectation of patrons who LOVE kimchee that order KIMCHEE fried rice. The kimchee fried rice needs more kimchee, PLEASE. I was digging around for it and honestly it was upsetting to have so little of it. That dish cannot be eaten alone since the only source of protein is the single egg, not very much vegetable component as well with the lack of kimchee, so we are left with seasoned rice. Good old starch for $20. It got a little kick to it but aside from that I didn't enjoy the rice texture as well. The garlic chicken was again an unexpected disappointment. Flavor wise I didn't think it was very garlic forward. It had a well balanced flavor profile, almost like a teriyaki chicken, so it didn't scream off "garlic chicken", which was what I ordered, so my taste bud was expecting something different from what I was served. The chicken was just dry so I was pretty upset at that point. Then the birria ramen came. The broth was good. Noodle of choice was great. I had a taste of it but it wasn't what I ordered for me so the entire time I was sitting there nibbling on the horrible choices I thought will be amazing ball really upset me. I didn't finish all of my food, so I packed it to go, had it again later tonight after a show and thought maybe I will feel differently being more hungry later in the night. Nope. Still dry and flavor lackluster. I hope by sharing my experience, it will lower the high expectation for the first time patrons referencing all of these 5 star ratings or for the restaurant to recognize the need for improvement. This is probably the most disappointing meal I'll always...

Being Las Vegas locals and an extreme fan of Korean food, my family and I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while. At one point, it was very challenging to get reservations to this restaurant because of its popularity and the lack of timing on our part. The day to try this place out had finally arrived on 25 Nov 2023, to celebrate our daughter's "early" birthday before she had to head back to college.

When we walked in, we were met with unfortunate news that they didn't have a table waiting for us because in their system, they had us down for a 22 Nov 2023 reservation. We originally had our reservation on that day; however, we had to move it to the 25th because of family events that took priority. When my wife had called to change the reservation, the person on the phone assured to her that everything had been changed and that our new reservation was on 25 Nov 2023 - clearly this wasn't the case. You would think that this would be the end of our night and that we'd have to find a new place to eat for my daughter's birthday dinner? NO! Thankfully for us, we had Lilian working as the hostess. She did such a remarkable job in squeezing us in at a table because of the mix-up and was very friendly and professional about it while coordinating this effort. She even managed to seat us at the "Chef's Table" which was a unique experience and clearly unexpected. Needless to say, a special shout-out to Lilian for setting this up for us!

When we sat down, we experienced another dose of professionalism, attentiveness, and friendliness in our main server by the name of Maria C. (MC). She did such a superb job which made the evening unforgettable. One thing I noticed was how MC consistently filled our water glasses - this was truly phenomenal! This is typically a service you'd experience at a 4-dollar sign restaurant. Regardless, she was extraordinary to my family and I.

We ordered the Lumpia and Korean Wings; Chef Menu consisting of: Banchan, Kogi Tacos, Slippery Shrimp, Kimchi Fried Rice, Garlic Chicken, Kalbi, Date Cake, and Strawberry Cheesecake. Everything was great, but the star performers on this list were the Kogi Tacos, Korean Wings, and as odd as it sounds, the rolls (my daughter is the carb queen). Whereas, all the items were great, I will say that the Kimchi Fried Rice and Garlic Chicken wasn't as good as I was hoping. The fried rice didn't have that traditional Korean-style fried rice feel to it...maybe because of its darker color? (yes, I understand that this is a fusion-type restaurant)...I don't know but I can definitely say that I've had better. Also, the texture in the chicken was slightly less than adequate.

The price-to-quantity/quality ratio was reasonable. If you were to ask the gluttonous, 23-year old me, years and years ago, then I'd wish there were more food. But since I understand what "normal" portions are and the fact that I'm older and can't eat as much, I feel that this place serves the perfect amount of food for the price you pay. Thank you Best Friend/Roy Choi for supporting the men and women of the Armed Forces and its Veterans - this is profoundly commendable and appreciated. I highly recommend this place to all locals...