As my first meal in Las Vegas, Milpa set the bar extremely high. This small chef-driven eatery specializes in elevated Mexican food and house-ground masa. And the chilaquiles I ordered here may have been one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever eaten. The quality is so apparent. Visually the dish was beautiful. A black bean purée and zesty salsa verde provide a base for the mountain of tortilla chips. Then two perfectly cooked sunny side eggs are placed on top with a side of slow-cooked short rib in a mole. I just don’t know what else you could ask for. The chips are softened by the liquid elements and the egg yolk but retain a good crunch with every bite. The mole offers a rich sweetness against the tang of the salsa and the nuttiness of the chips. Texturally it hits every mark. And the taste is a sensory overload. No ingredient is overshadowed by the other; everything plays its role perfectly.
Chef DJ has created something unique with Milpa. The enthusiasm from him and his staff create an inviting and fresh atmosphere. I felt welcome from the moment I walked in. I have no doubt that Milpa will go on to become a destination for Vegas locals and travelers alike. And honestly, I can see myself purchasing a plane ticket to the city for the sole purpose of eating that chilaquiles again. I wonder if that could be a tax write-off? Anyway. Go there when you’re in Vegas. You won’t regret it.

Freeds is not a secret. This Vegas staple is well known for its wide variety of cake slices and specialty pastry. I may be biased because cake is one of my favorite things. But anyone who enjoys sweets would be hard-pressed to find anything disappointing about this place. On my most recent visit, I ordered the carrot cake. For only $5, the slice would quickly satisfy two people. It’s about the size of a VHS tape (throwback). The portion boasts 3 beautiful layers of moist cake, cream cheese frosting, and ample amounts of nuts and carrot shreds. The bites were perfect. There was no dryness, and it retained its structure with each cut. Even if you don’t like cake, they also offer a variety of traditional deli pastries. The black and white cookies are delicious and very authentic to conventional preparation. I was tempted to order a slice of Oreo cheesecake or shortbread, but I had more work to do. So if you’re on the hunt for something sweet and somewhat easy, I’d highly suggest you order a slice or a brownie from Freed’s. I’ve visited a few times and have yet to leave unsatisfied. They have 3 locations as well, so you have no excuses.

This place is an absolute show-stopper. Before getting into my review, Do me a favor and search for O.Onigiri’s Instagram page. Do you see what we are working with? Ok then. I’ll continue. I don’t know how I stumbled upon this place, but I’m glad I did. O.Onigiri offers a vast menu with several different varieties of Okinawa-style onigiri. And after trying two iterations of their flagship product, all I want to do is go back to sample the rest. It’s just fun food. The onigiris are baseball-sized. Each comes with a slice of spam, a small omelet, and your choice of the main ingredient.
I ordered the chicken curry katsu and curry potato croquette. Both were fantastic, but I think the croquette took the edge. The soft fried potato had a tremendous flavor from the curry. The exterior crunched with each bite and played perfectly against the chewy texture of the seaweed and sushi rice. The sweetness from the spam and teriyaki sauce provided an incredible depth. It was like a spam musubi crossbred with a McDonald’s hash brown. I’m sold. This place really is one of a kind and so worth the trip to Chinatown. I’ve never tasted anything quite like that before. I don’t know when else you’ll have the opportunity to eat something so unique. So get your ass in an Uber and be prepared to have your mind blown. Save room for two; I’m still craving that croquette and wish I had ordered a third.

I never would have guessed that some of the best sushi I’ve ever eaten would be in a city 7 hours from the nearest ocean. Then along came Nene to completely defy logic. What a meal. I have nothing to complain about, from the service to the food. And after dining there, I’m left wondering how they aren’t entirely booked out for months. The chef is a 20-year veteran of fine dining, and it’s so clear that he only uses the most delicate fish. The prices are incredibly fair, and the experience is every bit as good if not better than one double its price point.
My meal began with the o-toro nigiri. A small piece of fatty tuna topped with caviar around sushi rice. It was exquisite. It’s hard to explain the beauty of good sushi rice. But the texture of the soft grains against the tender fish provides a feel and flavor that simply unravels on your tongue. And that was only course number one. Next came the spicy tuna crispy rice, one of my personal favorites. Pan-fried rice squares brushed with a sweet glaze and topped with spicy tuna. The fried rice shatters against your teeth with every bite, and the combination of flavors is something so unique and delicious. I also had the fried spicy tuna roll, a chicken yakitori, and a salmon avocado hand roll. All of which made my eyes roll back in ecstasy. Not one thing was missed. I don’t know what I did to deserve food this good, but I must have done something to have karma on my side.
The meal went by almost too quickly. I could have stayed at Nene for hours allowing the veteran chef to continue sending his beautiful creations my way. But it was my time to leave. And now, all I’m left with is the memory of that perfectly fatty tuna and caviar bursting against my taste buds. Nene is about 20 minutes from the strip by car. But their happy hour menu is too good to pass up. I paid $40 for one of the finest meals in recent memory. This is the one, folks. Go grab some sushi.

This one is for those who want some strip-level excitement without the 4000% markup. Q Bistro is a staple for traditional Korean food and some Instagram-worthy twists like fondue fried chicken wings and sweet potato pizzas. It’s definitely a celebration vibe at Q Bistro. They are open until 2am and offer a massive variety of soju and liquor. But what drew me here was their famous wings teamed with excellent dolsot bibimbap.
If you’ve never had bibimbap, you are in for a treat. The simple Korean staple comprises rice, bulgogi beef, vegetables, and a fried egg. But Dolsot bibimbap takes this dish to a new level by adding the ingredients to a hot stone pot. The pot is oiled at the bottom, and the rice forms a crispy texture as it cooks and adheres to the surface. It’s a treat. Q Bistro’s was excellent. A perfect balance of all ingredients served with house kimchi and chili sauce. But the star(s) of the show was the wings. Deeply fried pieces of chicken slathered in sweet and spicy sauce. They had a unique flavor and kick, and the meat below the crust was perfectly tender. I’m sad I didn’t go to Q BIstro with a group. Because the menu offers many options suitable for a party, I’d love to try more. This is a great place to get rowdy and have some top-tier Korean cuisine. So if you are in the city and want to get crazy but not go full bottle service, Q Bistro is the place to make that happen.

My visit to Meraki was not planned. But I like to think that fate brought me to this fantastic place. I wanted my last meal in Vegas to be easy and casual. Then came Meraki to rearrange everything I thought I knew about Greek food. I am half Greek. I grew up on staples such as rice pilaf, lamb, and baklava. It was my understanding that a plate of chicken kalamakia tasted the same no matter what. But Meraki turned that idea on its head and changed the rules of what once was.
My meal at Meraki could have been double what I paid, and I wouldn’t have been surprised. It’s served on a literal platter, and the chicken preparation rivaled any high-end restaurants I’ve dine in. It was cooked flawlessly. I don’t know how to convey the superiority of Meraki’s souvlaki (hah) to other eateries. It just was. It was elevated in every way. Even the salad and pilaf, usually bland and boring, were exciting and flavorful. They offer many different menu options, from sandwiches to Mediterranean bowls. And I’m kind of bummed I didn’t get to try a gyro because I have a sneaking suspicion it would be life-changing. I really enjoyed my meal at Meraki. It was the perfect way to end a long few days in Vegas. The only thing I’m upset about is that I’ve been lied to about my people’s cuisine for this long. They have a few locations; make sure you don’t leave without a piece of baklava!