Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

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CHAPTER 6 . WHERE TO DINE
chef cooks in front of you—but we do note that the crowd is often predominantly
Asian, so from that we can gather they are doing things right, gimmick or no. Yes
indeedy, from our standpoint they are definitely doing things right; we told the
chef what we wanted, what we didn’t, and he followed instructions—with a great
show, all clinging and clanging and flying utensils and even flashing Vegas strobe
lights. It’s hilarious even if it is schlock—and we loved everything he did for us.
What we ate recently (but hey, don’t limit yourself to our choices—he’s your personal
chef, remember!): crunchy and crispy deep-fried pork pot stickers (gyoza),
filet mignon with fried rice cooked to order, and teppanyaki vegetables featuring
perfectly spiced enormous onions. The menu options are either the Samurai dinners
(one entree with all the fixings, including miso soup and salad) or the Shogun
combo (all of the above but with two entrees). This is a good choice for a group
or even a celebration, since it’s such a giddy dining experience.
In Tropicana Resort & Casino, 3801 Las Vegas Blvd. S. & 702/739-2713. Reservations recommended. Full
Samurai dinners mostly $15–$20, Shogun combination dinners $25–$45.AE, DC, DISC, MC,V. Daily 5–10:45pm.
MODERATE
See also the listing for Coyote Cafe (p. 128), an expensive restaurant fronted by
a more moderately priced cafe.
Dragon Noodle Co. ASIAN A strong choice for a reasonably priced meal,
Dragon Noodle is one of the better Chinese restaurants in town. We were glad to
see that in addition to the usual suspects, there are some other interesting (if not
radically less commonplace) choices on the menu. Note also the many Asian
clients (part of our criteria for the authenticity of a place) and that the restaurant
can handle large groups. Food is served family-style and prepared in an open
kitchen, so you know it’s fresh. Be sure to try the very smooth house green tea. You
might let your waiter choose your meal for you, but try the crispy Peking pork, the
sweet pungent shrimp, the pot stickers, and perhaps the generous seafood soup.
We were a little disappointed by the popular sizzling black-pepper chicken, but
you may not be, so don’t let us stop you. And they now have a sushi bar!
In the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, 3770 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (between Flamingo Rd. and Tropicana Ave.).&702/
730-7965. Main courses $5.50–$17 (many under $10). AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun–Thurs 11am–11pm; Fri–Sat
11am–midnight.
Grand Wok and Sushi Bar Value ASIAN A pan-Asian restaurant runs the
risk of attempting to be a jack-of-all-trades and master of none, but somehow this
new MGM eatery pulls it off. We didn’t try every cuisine offered (Japanese, Chinese,
Korean, Vietnamese, and maybe more!), but a random sampling (including
lovely fresh sushi, fat dumplings, and a huge Vietnamese combo soup that was
full of noodles and different kinds of meat) produced really superb and delicately
prepared food. Hotel Asian restaurants are often a bit dubious, especially if they
try to have too much variety, but this one really is marvelous—and the primarily
Asian clientele clearly agrees. Note that soup portions are most generous; four
people could easily split one order and have a nice and very cheap lunch, one of
the best bargain meals in town.
In the MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S. & 702/891-7777. Reservations not accepted. Main courses
$8.95–$14, sushi rolls and pieces $4.50–$9.50. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Restaurant Sun–Thurs 11am–10pm,
Fri–Sat 11am–midnight; sushi bar Sun–Thurs 5–10pm, Fri–Sat 11am–midnight.
Sazio ITALIAN We’re happy to have a place like this to recommend,
because this area of town is kind of shy on decent dining joints. For this spot,
you have Gustav Mauler, who originally set up all the restaurants in The Mirage,