Hakkasan Las Vegas at the MGM Grand is the type of restaurant you visit when you want to pamper your senses. My first experience at the highly acclaimed modern Chinese restaurant was in 2022 when I was invited to a hosted media dinner to savor the Lunar New Year prix-fixe menu.
As a first-timer, the anticipation was palpable. The minute I stepped inside the restaurant, I was mesmerized by the stylish interior, which offers a modern take on traditional Chinese design with the right amount of luxury and sophistication.
The evening included a sampling of authentic dishes, multiple cocktails, and entertainment to celebrate the Year of the Tiger. I was highly impressed and couldn’t wait to return.
My second time dining at Hakkasan Las Vegas was recently when I was invited to another hosted dinner. This time around, it was more intimate and private. Instead of dining with a large group as I had done previously, my guest and I were there to try some of the restaurant’s new menu items in a secluded setting.
Upon seating in the main dining room, we were greeted and presented with a chef’s tasting menu of diverse and distinctive dishes.
Our waiter presented us with the beverage menu, which featured a variety of specialty cocktails. One drink that stood out to me the most was The Hakka ($21), made with Belvedere vodka, Junmai sake, lychee, coconut, and passionfruit.
We also ordered the Year of the Dragon ($24). Like an old-fashioned cocktail, it had Bushmills, a 10-year-old single malt whiskey, cognac, Cocchi Americano, Peychaud Bitters, and dragonfruit honey.
The culinary feast began with the Golden Iberico Char Siu Bao ($32) crowned with Ossetra caviar. Caviar isn’t my thing, but I tried it since it was included in the tasting menu.
We were also served the Crispy Bee Pollen Chicken ($26), tossed in honey-black pepper sauce. Both dishes were the perfect way to start our meal.
For the main courses, the chef presented the Grilled Wagyu Loin ($72), perfectly sliced succulent and juicy meat, which was a true carnivore’s delight. It was served on a bed of king oyster mushrooms with radish sprouts and black garlic sauce.
We also indulged in the Crispy Walnut Chicken ($38), with chunky walnuts and hints of black vinegar, soy, and kumquat.
The chef served us the Singaporean Vegetable Fried Rice ($24), a vegetarian dish made with asparagus, sweet peas, eggs, lemon, mint, and chili sauce to accompany the main courses. It had a spicy kick and was enjoyable with every bite.
For our last side, we went vegan and tried the Wok Fry Green Bean ($16), which has a peppery, hot flavor and contains lily bulbs and dried chili.
The real surprise of the evening was the Hakka Platter ($42), featuring mini versions of the restaurant’s most popular desserts. It included:
- Sweet Caviar with layers of cherry compote, vanilla crémeux, and chocolate mousse served in a traditional caviar tin
- Lychee Raspberry Dumplings featuring rose infusion and sesame nougatine
- The Soufflé with hazelnut praline and warm chocolate mousse
- Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Parfait with sea salt caramel, chocolate crumbs, and warm chocolate sauce
- Spikey Lemon featuring vanilla cake and an aromatic citrus flavor of yuzu curd and calamansi gel
If you visit Hakkasan Las Vegas soon, order the dishes above individually (as you can see with the prices listed for each, it can get quite expensive) or take advantage of tasting menus like the Taste of Hakkasan ($68 per person), where you can enjoy dim sum, two main courses, a side dish, and dessert.
The restaurant offers other tasting menus, like the Lotus, Phoenix, and Dragon (between $108 and $198 per person). These signature menus feature the new dishes mentioned above and offer optional wine pairings.
We didn’t make it to the neighboring nightclub after dinner, but it’s an option to consider if you want to extend your evening into the late night. The nightclub is known for its resident DJs and headlining acts. Be sure to get on the guestlist for expedited entry and free drinks for ladies.
Here’s a valuable tip: If you have a Hakkasan Las Vegas dinner reservation, you can use the exclusive valet, separate from MGM Grand’s main valet. This puts you within steps of the restaurant’s main entrance.
For the full Hakkasan Las Vegas menu or to make a reservation, visit www.hakkasan.com.
