If your group is craving Asian cuisine, head to the delightful Kumi Japanese Restaurant & Bar. Kumi is situated in what seems like a beachy oasis in the resort, with bamboo and sleek interiors yielding a very zen feel. If you’re lucky, you’ll be seated at the sushi bar, where you can watch the chefs at work. A high ceiling lofts over the dining area, and a good-sized bar is backed by the gorgeous colors of cherry blossoms.
The menu was recently revamped by Kumi’s director of culinary, chef Thanawat Bates, and the team. It features Japanese dishes with a Korean American twist. On the menu are plenty of shared plates, both hot and cold, plus a variety of entrées. Although most items changed, some stayed, including nigiri and sashimi.
Warm and cool dishes include a bluefin tuna pizza with onion, a ponzu aioli and truffle oil; steak tartare, constructed with Prime beef and served with milk bread and gochujang dressing; soy ginger tofu with silken tofu, ginger scallion sauce and tosaka; a chicken katsu sando with black garlic tonkatsu sauce; marinated maple-glazed pork ribs; and wagyu gyoza.
Entrées include galbi toban, A4 wagyu striploin from Kagoshima prefecture, crispy striped bass, Kumi yakisoba noodles and even a chef’s tasting menu, with a variety of hot and cold dishes plus your choice of strip loin, grilled salmon or wagyu ribeye, with a chef’s selection of mochi ice cream for dessert.
On the sashimi menu, you’ll find everything from unagi and anago to king crab and Japanese scallops; you can order separately or get the moriawase. But a great option is the popular sushi set (pictured), with crispy rice, two specialty Kumi rolls, nigiri and sashimi. It’s a true feast.
The Kumi rolls feature a variety of unusual ingredients, from the Hot Mess with poke sashimi and kanikama to the Garden with gobo (burdock root) and takuan (pickled daikon).
Mandalay Bay, 702.632.7200
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