Former Tao Group Chef Plans an Asian Restaurant in the Southwest

Last November, former Tao Group corporate executive chef Marc Marrone announced plans to open a new rooftop restaurant at 201 Las Vegas Blvd. S. with Colin Fukunaga of FukuBurger fame.

While that restaurant hasn’t started on construction, Marrone now has plans to expand his culinary empire to the southwest with Graffiti Bao opening in August.

The new restaurant mimics his counter-service outlet at T-Mobile Arena with Southeast Asian street food including bao, dumplings, noodles, xian bing, a full bar, and more. A rendering of the space at Buffalo Drive and Warm Springs Road posted on Instagram features an industrial feel.

Marrone also opened Piña by Graffiti Bao with Mexican fare at T-Mobile Mobile Arena over the weekend. That spot features tortilla chips made in house, queso, and salsa for nachos topped with chicken tinga and barbacoa, as well as tofu fajitas.

The chef also plans to open Italian Graffiti with an attached pizza window at the The Bend, the proposed retail center north of Ikea at Sunset Road and Durango Drive. That restaurant will serve pastas made in house when it opens in 2020.

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