Finally: Hakkasan's Restaurant Has Its Chance to Glow

Hakkasan
Address: MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Phone: 702-891-7888
Website: Hakkasan
Status: Opens at 5 p.m.

After two weeks of nightclub premieres, Hakkasan unveils the ground floor restaurant component of their five level takeover of the MGM Grand's nightlife scene. The massive combination restaurant, lounge and nightclub crowns its $100 million dream project with a room helmed by Michelin-starred chef Ho Chee Boon.

Despite Hakkasan's 80,000-square-foot multi-level total footprint, the restaurant itself seeks for an intimate atmosphere. The design is a contemporary spin of romanticized Chinoiserie and built with latticed wooden dividers, it creates an intricate maze of airy, open plan rooms, known as "cages." Seating includes small tables and combinations with long banquettes. The lengthy bar, lit with mesmerizing wall projections, glows from a dark blue underlit bar top.

That signature Hakkasan blue visually pops from all angles against the dark woods and modern marble and stone accents and is a constant brand carry over across the company's 11 locations.

The restaurant has added 15 dishes exclusive to their Las Vegas destination, but keeps a full roster of choices they refer to as "classics" denoted by an Hakkasan icon annotation on the printed menu. Favorites imported from the original London location include the crispy duck salad with pomelo, pomegranate and pine nut, roasted silver cod with champagne and Chinese honey and stir fry black pepper ribeye beef with Merlot.

A series of signature cocktails have been crafted, including their namesake libation, The Hakka, concocted from "Belvedere vodka, Masumi Okuden junmai sake, coconut, passion fruit and lychee juice."

For the well-heeled whale, a series of "Supreme Special Dishes" have been quietly introduced to the menu, including the $188 braised whole abalone with black truffle creation.

Hakkasan will be open nightly for dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight.
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Hakkasan [Photo: Angel Management Group]