NC Triangle Dining

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Retake: Sono Sushi in Raleigh for a Deluxe Japanese Dining Experience

Refreshed dining room at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Refreshed dining room at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Over the years, as I’ve grown to appreciate sushi and Japanese food, one Raleigh restaurant has been consistently doing a great job for the cuisine: Sono. From its convenient downtown location, Sono has consistently dished out authentic and tasty Japanese eats since I’ve lived in Raleigh (nine years) and I have a tremendous amount of respect for its original owner-chef Mike Lee. So of course I was a bit concerned when I found out from Chef Mike that he would be moving on from Sono’s operations to focus on his two new concepts in Durham (M Sushi and M Kokko). What would happen to my favorite Japanese restaurant? Would it be in good hands? Well as time would tell, I had nothing to worry about and here’s why!

Bar at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Bar at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

As Chef Mike was transitioning to his Durham restaurants in 2016, I did notice some interesting changes at Sono. The decor was refreshed and while it still maintained its red and back motif, Sono seemed a bit newer and updated. Little did I known but new Chef Hyunwoo Kim (formerly chef at An) had already taken over the kitchen and was slowly making changes in back. Eventually I did get formal notice from Sono’s PR representative, Jennifer Noble Kelly and made a concerted effort to see what had really changed during this transition and I can tell you that most everything has stayed up to the high standards that Chef Mike had initially delivered along with some new additions!

Salmon crudo at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Salmon crudo at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Tasty gyoza at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Tasty gyoza at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Currently, Sono is doing a Sunday and Monday ramen special which I’m a huge fan of. For $20, you can choose any ramen off their menu and it’s paired with a tasty starter such as crudo or gyoza The crudo I tried was a beautiful salmon topped with jalapeno and some sriracha giving the dish a bit of pop. And the pan-fried dumplings-gyoza showed off a wonderfully tender skin along with a tasty minced meat filling, yum!

Ramen selection at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Ramen selection at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Tonkotsu ramen at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Tonkotsu ramen at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

But oh, it’s time to get excited about ramen, especially now with the weather cooling down! They’ve got several options on the menu right now (tonkotsu, shoyu, spicy miso) and the meat-focused ramens come with cha-siu pork, bamboo shoots, wood-ear mushrooms and an egg. Really wonderful bowls that will fill you up, I highly recommend the tonkotsu with its milky-creamy pork broth. The tonkotsu has a wonderful savory depth to its flavor profile that just pulls you into this delicious meal. And the cha-siu at Sono is tender and sliced nicely thin. Overall you can’t go wrong with the ramens here at Sono so enjoy!

Dancing eel and Surf n Turf rolls at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Dancing eel and Surf n Turf rolls at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

But let’s face it, if you’re talking about Sono and Japanese food, you have to try the sushi! During a recent lunch visit, I tried the Dancing Eel and Surf n Turf rolls for lunch (2 for $20) and they were wonderful. Medium-sized they showed off some excellent rice and construction. I usually enjoy specialty rolls and Sono does a great job here with excellent ingredients that are allowed to shine with a minimum of sauces. The Surf and Turf roll was topped with tenderized beef and stuffed with tasty crab which really pops out on the palate. And the seared eel on the second roll was deliciously seared and generously applied.

Ishiyaki barbeque at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Ishiyaki barbeque at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Wagyu beef over sushi rice at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Wagyu beef over sushi rice at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

The rest of Sono’s menu is pretty interesting featuring a table-side ishiyaki (grilled beef), Korean fried chicken, hamachi jalapeno and more. During a media visit, I tried out a sublime starter of Wagyu beef atop sushi rice and topped with some jalapeno, a fantastic treatment of high-quality beef. And Sono also offers an omakase (chef’s choice, coursed meal) which I imagine would be a lot of fun.

Sake can at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Sake can at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

All I can say is that Sono is in good hands with Chef Kim and I’d trust him in same way I trusted Chef Mike Lee, previously. They’re staying true to their ingredients while offering up some twists in the menu to keep things interesting. They’ve also increased the emphasis on their sakes offering over 35+ options in their program along with a Tuesday night, Wine & Sake social for $10 along with some complimentary sushi. How can you go wrong there?! So thank you Chef Kim and GM James Yang for taking care of one of my favorite downtown Raleigh restaurants. I know you’ll keep up the same great standards that Sono has always had and I’m looking forward to my next meal with y’all!

 

Sono Sushi

319 Fayetteville Street #101

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.521.5328

 

Location on Google maps

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First Take: Mama Jee Delivers Sushi and Thai for W. Raleigh and NC State

Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Hillsborough Street in Raleigh is one of the busier streets in the area but given its proximity to a college, it’s food offerings are usually somewhat mixed. You get the usual burgers, pizza, subs and Chinese food here but it’s usually a case of quantity over quality. But over the years, it’s had its fair share of decent restaurants. Good dining options include H Street Kitchen, Gonza Tacos y Tequila and now the new Mama Jee. Billed as a Thai and Sushi Bar, Mama Jee sits on the intersection of Hillsborough and Dixie Trail Road in an area rife with construction. But I decided to drop in for lunch and see what this new restaurant was bringing to the neighborhood!

Bar at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Bar at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Built in a brand new building, Mama Jee is pretty unassuming on the outside. I had poked my head into their windows during construction but didn’t get a good feel for the space. But as soon as you step in, wow! Super modern, clean and impressive design all around their interior, where do you start? From the lovely polished wood bar complete with leather high-top chairs to the curved, granite-faced sushi bar to the dark wood floor, everything just feels right to the eyes here. And definitely better than most restaurants on Hillsborough Street, Mama Jee just feels a little bit fancy.

Sushi bar at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Sushi bar at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

I’m seated at the sushi bar by the restaurant manager, Jung. He’s a friendly young guy and fills me in on the Mama Jee story. Brought to you by the people behind Thai House in N. Raleigh (and yes, Mama is real), Mama Jee is their 2nd restaurant and an attempt to bring a high-service feel to the NC State dining crowd. The tough part of dining at these Japanese-Thai combo restaurants that are so popular in the Triangle is which way to go? The spicy flavors of Thai cuisine or the more subtle and simple flavor profile of Japanese? Well, my decision gets made when the manager sends over a comped plate of salmon carpaccio.

Salmon carpaccio at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Salmon carpaccio at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

And given it’s my first visit to Mama Jee, color me impressed! It’s a fantastic looking plate full of texture and color. The base of the carpaccio is flash-fried salmon skin with a light bubbly coating. On top there is chopped salmon, mango salsa, ponzu sauce and red/black tobio (fish roe). Pop one of these bad-boys into your mouth and you get an explosion of flavor and mouth-feel. From the slightly crunchy skin to the soft fish on top and sweet from the fruit, it’s a great bite and starter.

Dragon fire and Tornado rolls at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Dragon fire and Tornado rolls at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

For my main I’ve gone with a couple of manager recommendations. While Mama Jee doesn’t do BOGO rolls, the prices is totally reasonable for lunch: 2 rolls for $16. I’ve ordered up the Dragon Fire roll along with the cooked Tornado roll. The plate of rolls comes out and it looks gorgeous with tons of color. The Dragon Fire pulls together spicy crab, shrimp tempura, jalapeno with a bit of sriracha and sweet glaze on top. Love it, there’s a bit of sweet and spicy on this roll and it’s just good. And while the Tornado roll isn’t “traditional”, I can’t resist this roll given it’s flash-fried with potato strings and is plated in a twisted heap! Shrimp tempura, avocado and spicy mayo completes this roll and it’s a lot of food, Imma ready to tap out…

Modern interior at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Modern interior at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Service at Mama Jee’s is very good, they’ve got young staff but are definitely ready to keep you happy. But because the manager knew I did a food blog, I came back for a second visit to try the Thai side of the menu, incognito. The spicy Thai wing appetizer is fantastic! Bubbly, crusty battered chicken with some sweet and sour sauce, I highly recommend this dish. And the pad kee mao (drunken noodles) was solid but not my favorite dish out of what I’ve tried at Mama Jee’s.

Spicy thai wings at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Spicy thai wings at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Drunken noodles with pork at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Drunken noodles with pork at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

All in all, l I was really impressed with what they are doing here. While I’m usually not a fan of pan-Asian restaurants (feel they should stick to one cuisine), Mama Jee’s is doing a great job on both the Japanese/sushi and Thai side of their offerings. Service is solid, prices are decent and the decor is excellent. Especially for their prices. Based upon that performance, I’m adding them to my best restaurants around NC State list. So welcome to Hillsborough Street Mama Jee! Love your food and look forward to meeting you some day…

 

Mama Jee Thai, Sushi and Bar

105 Friendly Drive, Suite 101

Raleigh, NC 27607

919.307.8403

 

Sample Mama Jee menus

Location on Google maps

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First Take: City Market Sushi in Raleigh Dazzles the Eyes and Taste Buds

Front of City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Front of City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Over in City Market, you’ll find an interesting group of restaurants. Longtime favorites like Woody’s, Big Ed’s, and Vic’s Italian serving up the basics. But I’ll be honest with you, those options don’t really do much for me. So I’m glad to see some more upscale restaurants coming to the cobble-stoned streets of City Market. First there was the edition of Cafe Lucarne, a French eatery for lunch. Next up was Royale, an upscale French restaurant. And now what? City Market Sushi, a fresh and new taste of Japanese food for the area. I had seen some good online reviews for City Market Sushi so I was able to slip in for a lunch during their opening week. And  I can tell you it was all pretty impressive…

Interior of City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Interior of City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Head over to Blake Street in City Market and you’ll see some reflective plate glass windows with some white, decorative art adorning the faces. Beyond those windows lie some delicious fish and Japanese food! Inside, City Market Sushi takes on a more beguiling look. Simple but fashionably adorned, you’ll find some more modern bent-wood seating, overhead lamps and a simple brown, black and white color palette. A small sushi bar sits to your right along with some two-top seating for the “lounge” area.

Sushi Bar at City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Sushi Bar at City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

It’s only day 3 for City Market sushi and since I’m dining solo, I grab a high boy in the sun shiney front of the space. The menu is small with 5 or 6 small plates, some bento boxes, signature dishes and rolls. I go for the Ni bento box which offers up a soft-shell crab slider, pork belly salad, sashimi and spicy tuna rolls. For $12, it sounds like a great deal!

Garlic edamame at City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Garlic edamame at City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

They’ve got a substantial amount of staff at City Market Sushi and while the space is pretty empty even after noon, patrons start flowing in after 12:15. I’m guessing word is still getting out about City Market Sushi! My waiter Jason, drops off my garlic edamame which are nicely seared and drizzled with a garlic soy marinade. Very tasty, the tender soybean gets amped up with that hint of savory sodium with some garlicky underneath, interesting preparation!

Ni bento box at City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Ni bento box at City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Next up is my bento box which looks fabulous. City Market Sushi has done a great job with preparation, serving this lunch meal in a six-compartment bamboo tray. I spy a beautiful slider, a fresh looking salad, 4 pieces of sushi, 2 pieces of sashimi along with some pork belly and a colorful collection of condiments to bling out the meal. So we’ve got a beautiful presentation for a LOT of food, thanks City Market Sushi!

Sashimi at City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Sashimi at City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

I dive into the sashimi first which is tender and substantial to the tongue. Luscious salmon and tuna slices, nicely striated with sinew. Next up are the spicy tuna rolls which are truly spicy and show off some great, supple rice on the outside. I move on to the salad which is a nice mix of mesclun, avocado, tomato and cucumber in a light marinade.

Soft-shell crab slider at City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Soft-shell crab slider at City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Moving on to the main course, City Market Sushi does a wonderful pork belly salad! Lightly breaded and tender pork slices with a bit of chew. Contrasted against the light greens makes for some deliciousness. And then the soft-shell crab slider is certainly interesting. A well-fried crustacean peeking out from between a soft round bun, I wasn’t sure how to bite into this sammich. But overall I was pretty impressed with the creativity, plating and diversity of food on City Market Sushi’s lunch bento. You can’t ask for a much better mid-day meal, in my opinion. Although you might need a nap afterwards…

Spicy tuna roll at City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Spicy tuna roll at City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Service at City Market Sushi was excellent with Jason. Seasoned server who knows the menu well and timed the meal. Note that City Market Sushi does not have its liquor license as of late December but I’m sure they’re working hard on it. I’m so glad you’re here City Market Sushi, providing some diversity in the Raleigh food ecosystem. Along with Sono, we’ve now got an excellent second choice for Japanese food and sushi, arigato!

 

City Market Sushi

315 Blake Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.322.1987

 

Location on Google maps

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Event: Mura Wine vs Sake Battle Royale, Part 2

Mura's Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Mura’s Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

In the world of special dinners in the Triangle, it’s hard to go wrong with the offerings from Eschelon Experiences! I’ve done them at Mura, Oxford and Cameron Bar & Grill and it’s always a fun evening of excellent food paired with good wine and/or beer. I had been to Mura for lunch a while back and had spoken to their manager Tripp who told me they were working on an upcoming wine/sake dinner. So as soon as I saw the event go up for sale on Eschelon Experiences, I grabbed a couple of seats and good thing since they sold out in under 48 hours. With nine food courses on tap and six wine-sake pairings I had NO doubt it would be a fun evening and even better, on a Monday night…

Mura's lounge for Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Mura’s lounge for Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Place setting for Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Place setting for Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

We stopped in at about 6:30 and the group was just starting to gather in Mura’s lounge and bar area. At a bit before 7pm, 30+ lucky diners get escorted to Mura’s back dining room for this very special meal. At each place setting is a menu on a long card for the evening. We will get to choose our favorite beverage out of each pairing for the evening, all provided by Mutual Distributing. And even though we won’t get a wine-sake pairing for each of the nine courses, we will get them for six which means 12 pours in total, whoa!

Mutual Distributing at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Mutual Distributing at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Sara Guterbock, a sake sommelier from Mutual Distributing Company opens up the dinner with some fluent Japanese and tells us about the pairing process for the meal. She suggests trying the wine or sake first solo and the after you’ve tried the dish which will give it a very different flavor profile. We will also have the option to purchase any of the wines or sakes sampled tonight, wholesale at the end of the evening! Winner, winner, wine and sake dinner!

Crab crisp at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Crab crisp at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 2 Hiramasa tataki at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 2 Hiramasa tataki at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

We open up the meal with a crab crisp: warm melty crab piled on a crunchy wonton strip, very nice start. Hiramasa tataki is next, three slices of amberjack tuna lightly seared. It’s served with garlic chips and black salt which makes for a mouth-meltingly bite! A carrot butterfly sits on the plate overlooking the dish, excellent presentation. Paired with a Mondavi fume blanc and some clean sake works well for this plate.

Course 3 botan shrimp nigiri at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 3 botan shrimp nigiri at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Next up is a beautiful botan shrimp nigiri with caviar presented with the flash-fried head of the prawn. On the side, came a sushi slice (mostly rice) designed with a butterfly. Each diner had a slightly different sushi slice with a different creature on it, great creativity. The shrimp nigiri was plump and had great texture to each bite. I was really impressed by the work that went into this plate from a presentation standpoint.

Course 4 grilled abalone at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 4 grilled abalone at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Course four is grilled abalone with garlic butter, three slices of chewiness presented on the back of a shell. It all had the look of an artistic snail and while the sliced abalone was not a diner favorite at the table, again it was a fun presentation and plated beautifully. The abalone was more about texture than taste which was fine by me!

Course 5 pineapple sorbet at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 5 pineapple sorbet at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Chefs at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Chefs at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

We’re finally at the mid-point of the meal and served a palate cleanser: pineapple sorbet. As the wine and sake has flowed, the volume and noise in Mura’s dining room has gone up four times and of course the lucky guests are getting a little boisterous! We’re introduced to the Mura chefs and Eschelon restaurant group’s leader is in the house, G. Patel. I see the man everywhere and of course it’s always good to catch up with him.

Course 6 sake braised pork belly at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 6 sake braised pork belly at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Course six for this grand meal shows up and it’s a sake-braised pork belly with Asian pear and scallions. I love the color and depth of the broth it’s served in, looks great. My friend Gina loves it but it’s not my favorite! The sear leaves a pretty chewy surface on top but it’s still tasty. Come on now we’re talking pork belly. The wines have moved into the reds now, we’re doing a solid pinot noir with our first meat course. Overall I’ve found the sakes to be very consistently decent and more neutral which makes for an easier pairing. However with the correctly paired wine, the plate and food definitely pops a bit more.

Course 7 golden toro tartar at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 7 golden toro tartar at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Course seven is toro tartar served on crispy taro chips. It’s a simple but amazing looking dish with lots of deep colors set off by the flash of gold, beautiful stuff. And I love the stiff chip contrasted against the soft, luscious fish. Nicely done here!

Course 8 grilled lamb chops at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 8 grilled lamb chops at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

We’re on our last savory course, charred lamb chops on grilled rice with wasabi dijonaisse. The lamb is nicely seared and I like the lightly spicy sauce it’s paired with. And after all the lighter courses it’s great to get a bit of reddish meat to amp up the meal a bit.

Course 9 yuzu cheesecake w sesame tuile at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 9 yuzu cheesecake w sesame tuile at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

And finally dessert! A yuzu (citrus) cheesecake with a sweet, chewy sesame crisp perched atop. Good mouth-feel here with the lusciousness of the cheesecake contrasted against the crisp, chewy tuile. A fine ending to a wonderful meal here at Mura!

Gina loves the Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Gina loves the Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

As the meal and evening ends, Gina and I mark off some of our favorite wines and sake for purchase and we are off. The whole Wine vs. Sake crowd heads out full of great food, vino and sake. It was one of the best special dinners I’ve had in the Triangle and a wonderful surprise for me. Between the great beverages and well presented dishes, Mura’s Wine vs. Sake dinner was an incredible value. And while I’m not sure when they will run this dinner again, there are plenty of other good ones to check out on the Eschelon Experience website. But if Mura runs Wine vs. Sake Part III, you can be sure I’ll be there again, kampai!

 

Monday, April 4th 2016

Mura’s Wine vs Sake Dinner, Round 2- Menu

1st course
Amuse Bouche
Crab crisp, ohitashi spinach

2nd course
Hiramasa Tataki
Seared Amberjack, yuzu, truffle oil, chives, garlic chips, black salt
BUNRAKU NIHONJIN SQUARE
MONDAVI FUME BLANC NAPA

3rd course
Botan Nigiri
Botan Shrimp Nigiri, Caviar, Grated wasabi root
MABOROSHI JUNMAI GINJO
RUFFINO LUMINA PINOT GRIGIO

4th course
Abalone
Grilled Abalone, Garlic Butter, Parsley
SHO CHIKU BAI REI GINJO DRAFT
SIMI CHARDONNAY SONOMA

5th course
Pallet Cleanser
Braised Pineapple Sorbet

6th course
Pork Belly
Sake braised Crispy Pork belly, Caramelized asian pear, charred scallion, Tamari Jus
WATARI BUNE 55 JUNMAI GINJO
WILD HORSE PINOT NOIR CC

7th course
Golden Toro Tartar
Spicy Toro, Gold Flakes, Taro Chips
BORN GOLD JUNMAI DAIGINJO
PRIMAL ROOTS RED BLEND

8th course
Lamb Chops
Garlic, Ginger charred lamb chop, Grilled Rice, Edamame truffle puree, Wasabi Dijonaise, Crispy Shiitake
SHICHI HON YARI JUNMAI
CLOS DU BOIS MARLSTONE

9th course
Yuzu Cheesecake
Sesame Tuile, Candied Blueberries, Salted Caramel

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Travel: Creative Sushi & Omakase at Kumi in Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

KumiLasVegas-FrontEntrance
Front of Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to business conferences, you’re usually treated to an endless line of steam trays filled with over-cooked chicken, fish along with hard rolls and a cold pat of butter. But it is definitely a nice treat to get off the ranch and try something a bit more special. At IBM InterConnect 2016 at Mandalay Bay it was Kumi restaurant that made up for that industrial hotel food and boy, did it ever!

Back dining room at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining
Back dining room at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

Conveniently located just north of the convention centers and across from Aureole, Kumi is a bustling hip spot drawn up in a bit of sexy ambiance. Small bar up front, two main dining rooms with a side room for small groups, the space has a very warm feel and offers up a mix of Japanese and Korean on the menu. I managed to stop in for two visits, the first for omakase which is the chef’s choice from $65 to $150 per person. Rolls a la carte on the menu run in the $21 – $28 area, appetizers in the $10 – $15 range.

Dining room at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining
Dining room at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

While the main dining room is appealing with a nice view of the sushi bar, the second dining room in back is spectacular! Circular and glowing underneath a jumble of a lit stick structure overhead. Wish I could describe it better but it looked good! Cherry blossom wallpaper fills out the rest of this special dining room in back.

KumiLasVegas-Omakase-PoachedLobsterOmakase roll at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

For our first meal, we did the $90 omakase which consisted of 10 or so plates brought to the table ranging from warm apps to sushi-sashimi and ending up in hot entrees. There were a slew of great flavors but some favorites included the sashimi plate which include clam and octopus, poached lobster and sizzling filet mignon plate.

Nigiri plate at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining
Nigiri plate at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining
Salmon carpaccio at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining
Salmon carpaccio at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

Really nicely done and not a bad deal for Mandalay Bay at the price. Unfortunately since the meal was the chef’s choice, I’m not really sure what we ate for the evening! With a smaller group, service at the table was excellent for the evening.

Pork belly and Hot Mess rolls at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining
Pork belly and hot mess rolls at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

For visit #2 we went a la carte, with a little bit of edamame to start the meal and sushi for my main. I went with the pork belly and hot mess rolls which were well-reviewed online. But I was totally tempted to try Kumi’s pop rockin roll which caught my eye. The sushi here is obviously pretty creative and untraditional but what would you expect for Las Vegas? The pork belly roll is presented as 8 pieces and covered with a slaw, delicious stuff. And the hot mess is crab and poke with some Screaming O sauce, a spicy concoction drizzled on table-side. It’s a pleasantly spicy sauce with just enough heat. Service for this second meal was pretty stilted and challenged but with a conference of 20,000+ people going on next door, not a total surprise.

KumiLasVegas-BarNight
Sushi bar at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

What can I say but Kumi hit all the high spots for me during my week in Las Vegas. While I do think the sushi and rolls here are pretty darn good, they are probably enhanced by the great ambiance. Think very good, but not great. However when you tie in the ambiance and decor it certainly rises above the average for what you can typically find around here. So enjoy Kumi for the sushi, decor and experience!

 

Kumi Japanese Restaurant

Mandalay Place

3950 S Las Vegas Boulevard

Las Vegas, NV 89119

702.632.9100

 

Kumi menu

Location on Google maps

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