Michael Chen IN as Executive Chef at Momofuku

David Chang has fans in a frenzy as they await an opening date for Momofuku at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, bringing his furthest expansion west with his Asian concept. Reps for Chang will only give January 2017 as the opening timeframe, and the Southern Nevada Health District already approve the eatery to open.

Now comes word that former chef de cuisine at Wing Lei at Wynn Las Vegas Michael Chen is moving into the executive chef position.

The Taiwanese-born, San Francisco-raised chef attended the Culinary Institute of America and worked under chefs such as Ming Tsai, Michael Mina and Eiji Takase. In 2005, he joined the opening staff of three Michelin star Joël Robuchon at the Mansion inside MGM Grand as a chef de partie. In 2009, he moved to Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge at the Bellagio as the chef de cuisine. His experience includes overseeing all culinary operations at Palms Place at the Palms.

Currently, the new menu is in development, but expect dishes such as buns and noodles, large format meals like the pork shoulder or fried chicken and caviar for group dining and "everything in between."

A rep for Momofuku tells Eater, "We are currently doing a lot of R&D specific to Las Vegas. Expect the menu to grow and evolve throughout the year as well as include some more extravagant offerings — this is Vegas after all."

• Everything You Need To Know About David Chang’s Momofuku [ELV]