Momofuku — Restaurant in Paradise

TLDR: Some of the best Asian food I’ve ever had. Friendly staff and warm atmosphere. Go here!

The whole story: I was in town for a conference and didn’t have time for the “typical” Vegas experience. The one exception I made was treating myself to dinner at David Chang’s restaurant. I was excited to eat here. I have been a fan of David Chang’s food and personality for years—since I saw him on the late Bourdain’s show, and since I made his famous Bo Ssam at home. Typically when one goes into an experience with such high expectations they can only be disappointed. But this restaurant was anything but.

It was so good I went two nights in a row.

And it wasn’t just the food that was great, it was the whole experience.

Night 1: I went alone and sat at the chef’s table where I was thoroughly entertained watching the grill station. Because I went close to open, the kitchen was calm and I could talk with the chefs. I ordered spicy cucumbers, mushroom ramen and the jidori chicken. The spicy cucumbers were unique—sliced brined cucumbers tossed in a green goddess reminiscent blended dressing of green onion, garlic and vinegar, then topped with togarishi and almonds. The mushroom ramen was on par with the best ramen I’ve ever had, Tonkatsu at a hole in the wall on the UCLA campus some years ago. This ramen was different, a rich and luxurious broth, with a tempura fried oyster mushroom that added a pleasantly contrasting crunch, a roasted hen of the woods mushroom, a small pile of what I can only assume was a finely diced mushroom reduction, fresh sprouts and ribboned green onions, and of course perfectly toothsome noodles. I asked for a side of chili oil to heat this up a bit, but otherwise can only describe this dish as perfection. After the ramen I expected the chicken to be good, but couldn’t accept that it could possibly be better. It was. The chicken is first brined in a shio koji elixir, then roasted to moist perfection and periodically brushed with a savory garlic, soy and perhaps gochujang (guessing here) sauce that carmelized the skin beautifully. Served over a bed of confusingly creamy collard greens that I was told were created with coconut milk and pork fat. On top, crispy, perfectly salty chicken chicharon. I pride myself on making a mean roast chicken, so do some of my other favorite restaurants, but as far as I’m concerned this dish was in a class of its own. My new favorite chicken prep. I paired this meal with a light, crisp lager and a mildly sweet sake for the chicken course.

Night 2: I have a battle tested theory that many restaurants can blow your mind once, but that only the best restaurants can do so consistently. Second visit was also at the chef’s table, same seat, which felt auspicious. Watching the grill station was still fun and it was cool to see another chef’s take on the same dishes. For round two, I ordered the spicy cucumbers and mushroom ramen again because I couldn’t resist. But this time I also splurged and tried the sprouting cauliflower. For an entree I chose the Iberico pork. The spicy cucumbers and mushroom ramen were once again perfect. Sprouting cauliflower is caulifower that is harvested at a stage of its lifecycle that gives it more of a broccolette vibe. It’s pan fried with sliced hot peppers then topped with an addictive sweet/sour sauce and delightfully crunchy rice grains. On night 1 the chef I was talking to had told me the Iberico pork was one of his favorites. I can see why. Presenting like a flank steak, this coveted hunk of acorn fed pork, also had a mouthfeel like beef. Served medium rare, imparted with the grill marks it deserves and then plated with a sweet/sour sauce, grilled pineapple and little sweet peppers. So incredibly good. Cannot wait to order this one again! Oh and they gifted me some sesame ice cream at the end of dinner #2. Truly a...

We had a wonderful lunch at Momofuku in the Cosmopolitan and would definitely recommend it, though for us it was a solid 4 out of 5 stars rather than a perfect 5.

The experience started off on a high note. The host greeted us immediately when we walked in, checked us in quickly, and had us seated inside within minutes. The vibe of the restaurant was spot-on with lively and buzzing with energy, but not so loud that you couldn’t have a conversation. The design of the place is modern and stylish with a touch of edge, exactly what you’d expect from a David Chang restaurant. It felt both casual and elevated at the same time, making it a great place for friends, a date, or even a solo stop if you’re staying at the Cosmo.

We began with the buns, which are clearly a staple on the menu. The pork buns were soft and fluffy with tender pork. They were enjoyable and worth trying, but for us they didn’t completely wow. The flavors were good but not exceptional, and we felt like a little extra sauce or boldness could have pushed them over the top. It wasn’t that they were bad, in fact, they were tasty, but compared to everything else we ordered and other places we’ve had this similar item, they just didn’t stand out as much.

The small plate that surprised us was the Spicy Cucumber. This was a fantastic dish, crisp cucumber slices served cold, lightly dressed, and refreshing. Despite the name, it wasn’t overwhelmingly spicy, which we actually appreciated. It was balanced, bright, and something we would happily order again. Sometimes simple dishes end up being the most memorable, and this was one of them.

The star of the night was the ramen. We ordered the one with mushroom broth, and it was unlike any other ramen we’ve tried. The broth was rich, earthy, and layered with flavor without being too heavy. The noodles were perfectly cooked, springy and satisfying, and they soaked up the broth beautifully. Every bite felt comforting and unique at the same time. This dish alone is reason enough to visit. We also ordered the cold noodle entree which was just okay.

Service throughout the evening was another highlight. The team struck the right balance between attentiveness and giving us space. Dishes arrived at a well-paced rhythm, not rushed, but not so slow that we were left waiting. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and professional, and the overall pacing of the meal made the experience relaxing.

The only reasons I’d rate this as 4 instead of 5 stars are the buns and cold noodles, which could use a little more punch, and the fact that while the food was excellent, it didn’t feel completely unforgettable in the way that a top-tier Vegas dining experience can. That being said, the ramen and cucumber dishes more than made up for it, and the atmosphere and service were fantastic.

Overall, Momofuku delivered exactly what we were hoping for: creative American-Asian food, a lively environment, and professional service. If you’re staying at the Cosmopolitan or nearby, this is a strong choice and one I’d recommend to anyone looking for something memorable but approachable. We’d gladly return, next time I’d love to try more of the menu and maybe see if the other buns or large plates deliver that extra spark that pushes the experience into...

This is one of the places where if you can pull off something like a chef's tasting menu... You will not be disappointed. Everything that came out was top tier. I'll say this right off the top, this was a solid 5 star meal, beginning to end. So while I'm going to do a thorough review, take any criticism I give a long side the fact that this experience from beginning to end was 5 stars. The menu rotates, so all or none of this could be available when you visit.

Before I start here's some details on this visit. We were a group of 4, and we did (as suggested by our waiter) a chef's tasting menu, and set a spend limit of $400 ($100 each) for the food portion.

The good: Where to start?

The service was top notch, even to the point where they were bringing fresh plates between courses. Nothing took very long to come out. Our waiter (Manny) went above and beyond to make sure everything was on point, and even brought a few drinks over that he thought paired well with the meal.

The atmosphere was upscale, but unpretentious, not uncomfortable to show up in jeans and order a bottle of wine, or bottle of beer. Sitting close to the kitchen you can watch your meal take shape.

The food... The star of the show obviously. The presentation was remarkable, but the flavors were the real star. So much variety, very complex flavors. Nothing was one noted. The menu covered all the bases from a small vegetarian plate for under $10 all the way up to large format meals for a group. I suggest family style dining, because you are going to want to try everything.

The bad: I'm going to have to get real nitpicky here because I think for most people, there are no complaints. While everything was cooked perfectly, I'd have to say that the steak, while delicious, was a bit on the cool side when it hit the table. Not a deal breaker, and I may have been the only one to notice, but maybe a hot plate would have made a big difference on the meat. That's it? Yeah, I think so, being Vegas and having a constant stream of people used to 5 star meals, I think you work the kinks out pretty fast.

The ugly: Again, going to get real nitpicky because there's not a lot to complain about. The bathroom, it was fine, but there was an add on plug in bidet seat on the toilet that just left me sort of confused. If it were a high end Japanese smart models that is self contained and self sanitizing, I get it... But this is a plastic add on that just felt out of place.

All in all, this is one of those occasions where I don't mind spending the money, it was worth every penny. And to answer your question, yes, that's shaved fresh truffle on the Brentwood corn, and no, it wasn't on the menu, that was added by the staff as a thank you. I only wish I could have shook the hand of David Chang as a thank you...