When news came out that PBS food star Martin Yan of Yan Can Cook was opening a restaurant in Las Vegas, every PBS fan around geeked out, including this writer. M.Y. Asia opened in mid-March at Horseshoe Las Vegas, with the James Beard Foundation 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award winner introducing his cuisine at several events beforehand.
At one, Yan wandered in the crowd dispensing handshakes and taking selfies before introducing one of the signature dishes he has been associated with—hand-pulled noodles, with a chef pulling the noodles as Yan explained that the process “has been practiced in China for 3,500 years.”
“Everybody say ‘lai mein,’” he said, exhorting guests to repeat the phrase “with energy, with commitment,” as each subsequent pass through the younger chef’s hands resulted in a doubling of the amount of noodles. In less than a minute, thousands of strands had been produced.
In the restaurant, a vibrant, modestly proportioned dining room is anchored by a large exhibition kitchen, where that noodle-pilling process occurs nightly, as well as a tradition-based face-changing performance.
It’s not only Chinese specialties that you can try at M.Y. Asia; in a release before the opening, Yan said, “Having traveled through Korea and Japan in the North, to Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam in the South, and through the many fabulous food meccas in China and all over Asia, allowed me to fill my culinary treasure chest with unique, colorful, authentic and tasty. Those dishes will make up the M.Y. Asia menu, showcasing food in an exciting, entertaining and nourishing way.”
That diversity is evident across the menu, with each section pulling from different countries, including starters of Beijing pork pot stickers and a traditional Vietnamese roll with vermicelli rice noodles, shrimp, pork belly and vegetables; and dim sum with har gow shrimp and siu mai, shrimp and pork in a wonton wrapper. Green papaya and Vietnamese herb glass noodle salads, beef chow fun, fried rice, Chef Yan’s Cantonese roast duck, Street Hawker pad Thai, Thai yellow curry coconut chicken, orange chicken, Mongolian chicken and wasabi walnut shrimp are all represented.
Recipes from Yan Can Cook are also represented, with Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken Wings being inspired by Season 5, Episode 20 of the series, where Yan butchered a chicken in 18 seconds.
Weekly specials mean you might find dishes such as M.Y. sweet and sour prawns, crab fried rice, whole lobster in different sauce like salt and pepper, and more, plus rice noodles and chow fun. The Lucky Bell Bar may become the perfect place to hang out after dinner, with several delicious cocktails available including the Stepping Stone, with Patron reposado, Grand Marnier, lemon juice, passionfruit and yuzu, plus wine and beer.
Horseshoe Las Vegas, myasialv.com
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