Every time I’ve eaten at Kumi—every time!—there’s been a world-famous DJ in the next booth over, finding sublime nourishment before headlining at a nearby nightclub; or a celebrity superstar with entourage in tow, hitting one of the hippest restaurants to start their quest to conquer Vegas in one night. Why do the hottest of the hot keep finding their way to chef Akira Back’s Mandalay Bay sushi stronghold? For the coolest food, naturally.
The dish not to miss right now is the chef’s signature AB Tuna Tartare, a study in simplicity. The pristine fish is skillfully sliced into creamy, textural bliss, smooth and richly indulgent. It’s augmented with Korean sesame oil, micro greens and crunchy corn crisps, creating the ideal starting plate. But you can earn bonus pleasure points by eating it in another form: The AB Tuna Hand Roll was born when Kumi’s chef crew started eating the tartare as this quick snack, fun and portable and completely addictive. We wonder if those DJs take a bunch of these to go. Kumi at Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7200. Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 5-11 p.m.
