Yusho: Causal And Tasty At The Monte Carlo Resort's Open Air Plaza

The Monte Carlo Resort has recently completed a multimillion dollar renovation of its strip-facing façade. This fun, open air plaza features six dining venues and live entertainment located right on the famed Las Vegas strip; one of these gastronomic treats is Yusho.

We dined on creative Izakaya fare, perfectly prepared by chef Matthias Merges. His artful culinary creations have been honed for years as he previously helmed Charlie Trotter's acclaimed Chicago flagship, and now has brought this experience to Las Vegas with this gem of a restaurant.  His culinary expertise is amplified in this new Japanese street food eatery.

We started our meal with some very unique cocktails, which are made in limited quantities and then poured from a tap like a beer, giving the cocktail a slightly carbonated finish. Our meal started with lovely oysters, fresh with their salty, briny taste, alongside our plate of the octopus with haricot vert, egg yolk, and Enoki mushroom. The octopus was cooked to perfection and the mixture of the green beans and creamy egg yolk made it a dish worth ordering more than once.

Up next, our server delivered an assortment of tasty bites. A standout was the Logan Poser Ramen, made with crispy pork, egg, nori, and cucumber. This dish had a rich savory broth, delectable noodles, and a lovely dollop of nori and egg. Other notable treats included their homemade pickled radishes, which helped bring a bite of acidity and sparkle between courses. The 2X Fried Chicken, created with spicy kanzuri, green tea, and lime zest, was sumptuous and satisfying. The culinary adventure didn't end there, as perfectly cooked rib-eye that would satisfy any meat-lover's palate arrived on our plates.  

The finale to our meal was their signature dessert: soft serve-ice cream drizzled with Fernet caramel, which was refreshingly light and left us pleased. With all this in mind, we think it's safe to say that Yusho is most likely the best, most innovative restaurant that has opened in Las Vegas in years.