Robinspo

I’ve just returned from a 5-day trip where I stayed on the Vegas Strip (the picture above is a view over the Bellagio fountains at night which I got to experience!) I consider this my first time going to Las Vegas, so I was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was! My friend is traveling to Vegas next month and needed recommendations so I got straight to work compiling a list of my favorite eateries, while it was still fresh in my mind.

The majority of my meals were either Chinese or Italian, so I’ve broken my thoughts down into these categories: Chinese, Italian, Quick Bites, Drinks, and lastly, Other (okay) Restaurants (these were places I tried but I didn’t find particularly novel. Please note that nothing was bad, even fast casual was quite decent!):

Chinese

1. Din Tai Fung: The food was good, though of course Vegas-strip pricing.

The interior has a nice, bright aesthetic with booths, tables, and countertop seating (good for solo diners!) Since it’s in the Aria hotel, you’re paying for the ambiance. At the restaurant entrance, you can watch the chefs wrapping dumplings behind glass windows. Additionally, you can earn MGM Rewards Membership points on you meal.

Order: cucumber salad, string beans in garlic sauce, truffle soup dumplings (disappointingly, they were on the drier side), Shumai, spicy wontons, and beef noodles (which I enjoyed so much I ate before I taking a picture!).

2. ShangHai Taste: better than DTF but not on the Vegas Strip. It’s good but not aesthetic, with reasonable prices. You also can watch chefs wrapping dumplings behind a window, so you basically get the same experience! It’s located in Chinatown, 10 minutes away from the Strip. Everything was really tasty, and quality-wise I would go here over somewhere on the Strip.

Order: Pork/crab Soup dumplings (had a lot more soup than DTF), pan-fried buns, scallion pancake, wontons, noodle soup.

3. China Poblano: The place serves Mexican and Chinese food separately, not in a fusion form. Each dish was really tasty, and the interior featured fusion decor.

Located on the 3rd floor of Cosmopolitan, it offers dine-in and takeout options.

Order: Quesabirria tacos, squid-ink ceviche, Dan Dan noodles, Mongolian beef lettuce wraps, beef with peppers.

Italian

1. Scarpetta: The food is good, but the best thing about this restaurant is the view overlooking the Bellagio fountains.

Located in the Cosmopolitan Hotel, expect Vegas Strip pricing. Tip: to get a window view to watch the Bellagio fountain while dining, you might have to pay extra but if you ask nicely they’ll seat you near it. Or if you tip the hostess.

As you can see, we were seated behind another table so our view of the fountain was slightly obstructed.

Order: Agnolotti, squid ink tagliatelle, asparagus, Sophia Loren cocktail

2. Superfrico:

It’s located in the Cosmopolitan Hotel. You will probably need a reservation but for smaller parties (1-2), you could try walk-in bar seating. There’s a speakeasy to the left of the entrance that is apparently very cool but the line outside was too long so I didn’t see it. The restaurant itself is notable because of the sporadic performances that happen in the middle of the diners. It’s a cool place, and I would agree with their self-description that the setting itself is psychedelic.

Order: Beef agnolotti (good) and an apple mocktail (which I do not recommend).

Quick bites

1.  Tekka Sake & Rolls: At the food court on the 3rd floor of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, the handrolls were so fresh and yummy 

2. Hello Kitty Cafe: It’s a truck in the Park at MGM. The “cafe” has some public outdoor seating since it’s in a park, and I think the whole truck itself is super cute for a cookie or drink. You can take the Aria Express to the MGM and cross towards New York New York to the truck.

Order: Hello Kitty donut cookie, and I recommend a drink because it is so dry outside in Vegas!

Drinks

1. Superfrico’s Speakeasy: Be prepared to wait on a bit of a line! It’s the door the the left of the Superfrico entrance, and it has its own waiting line.

2. The Speakeasy next to Hattie’s Chicken: At the food court on the 3rd floor of the Cosmopolitan Hotel there’s a speakeasy right next to Hattie’s chicken by the garbage cans in the seating area. I didn’t go in but it seemed cool! There is a donkey on the door.

3. Chandelier Bar: A good photo opp, even from the outside. in the center of Cosmo hotel

4. Record Store Speakeasy: I also did not visit, but I was told that there is a speakeasy inside the guitar at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

5. Taco Bell club: Apparently there’s a Taco Bell-themed club that was the most fun, but this was a recommendation from a Gen-Zer so I will have to take her word for it. It’s not in the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

Other Restaurants

• Brera Bistro: It’s in the Venetian, at the edge of the square by the indoor canal. Decent food, mostly enjoyed because of the setting!

• Hattie’s chicken: 3rd floor of the Cosmopolitan food court. Fried chicken was a good portion and decent but not groundbreaking

• Bang Bar by Momofuku: 3rd floor of the Cosmopolitan food court, fast casual like Chipotle for Asian food. I would compare this to mall quality food, but it wasn’t bad!

• Lotus of Siam: This Thai restaurant is 10 min off the Strip. The food was decent, but I don’t think I would travel for this again. The drinks were the best, I got a purple gin and lychee cocktail.