Vegas, Baby! Part 6: Ku Noodle Dim Sum and Then Some

Photo by Caroline H. via Yelp

Sleep schedules get a bit messed up in Vegas, and today we start the day off with lunch at SLS Las Vegas' Ku Noodle, by chef José Andrés. This restaurant is Andrés' homage to the varied, rich asian cuisine. This casual dining establishment offers homemade noodles, a variety of dumplings, and unique, inventive cocktails.

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The restaurant is fairly small and simple. The place is made larger and brighter by lining the walls with mirrors covered in hand-written Asian lettering in red, yellow and black, which gives a unique decorative touch. If you look above the mirrored walls, there are red and white bags of rice lining the shelf by the ceiling. A unique, inexpensive method of decorating that added a really authentic touch. Another nice detail is the ability to sit near the entrance, which affords a view of the chefs creating and hand pulling the noodles before your very eyes. Very cool!

Slightly  skeptical, and not overly hungry, we ordered a sharing plate of dumplings called Lucky 12 ($20.88), which is a combination of the three steamed dumpling (Siu Mai) flavours offered by the restaurant. The three variations are as follows:

1. Shrimp and Pork Siu Mai - a traditional combination with jicama, mushrooms, peanuts and gold
2. Bay Scallop and Pork Siu Mai - with shiitake mushrooms, sesame and tobiko (flying fish roe)
3. Chicken Siu Mai - with cloud ear mushrooms, soy sauce and preserved goji berry
   

Shrimp and Pork with jicama, mushrooms, peanuts, and GOLD and Scallop and Pork with cloud ear mushrrom, sesame and tobiko

Chicken Siu Mai with cloud ear mushrooms, soy sauce, and preserved goji berry

Cold "Tea" for Two

We also ordered a drink called "Cold "Tea" for Two", ($14) which they call "a punch-like creation of green tea, tequila and beer (serves two, or one if very thirsty)". Ok it wasn't quite noon, yet, but it's 5 o'clock somewhere, right?

The tea was delivered first in an actual tea pot, and holy crap, this stuff is potent......and totally amazing!! This stuff is extremely tasty and refreshing despite the fact your lips practically go numb at first sip. I was in love. If I'm going to be an alcoholic, I'd do it for Ku Noodle's tea.

The dumplings were lovingly prepared and delivered to us in a steamer basket. They were adorable little morsels, and the shrimp variety were even flecked with gold leaf! Oh, Vegas! You're so extravagant! The dumplings were served with a black vinegar for dipping, and my oh my are they mouth watering. They are super delicate in both texture and flavour, and pork didn't overpower the light taste of the seafood at all. The chicken dumplings, however, remain our favourite, and we could have eaten about a million of them. They were so good, in fact, that we ordered one more item from the menu before leaving. The alcohol was certainly working its magic!

We ordered another sharing plate called "Five Spice Duck" ($11.88), which is slow-cooked duck leg on a scallion pancake with hoisin sauce, fresno chili, pickled vegetables and cilantro. We received 2 pretty little pancakes piled high with the shredded, spiced duck and vegetables. It smelled delicious, and our mouths watered in anticipation, but the taste was much better than we could ever have hoped. Rich, tender duck meat perfectly spiced and balanced with the salty hoisin sauce and pickled veggies with just a hint of freshness from the cilantro garnish.

These pancakes are worth every single penny.

Five Spice Duck

Our server was very thorough and sweet, and was sure to keep us topped up on water, and kept us well informed about everything we chose. Ku Noodle was a wonderful taste experience. So wonderful, in fact, that we returned the day before our departure, but unfortunately, they were closed that day. Sad face. We have many great reasons to go back, though, and so many things we have yet to sink our teeth into! If you're a fan of Asian flavours, then you should definitely give this place a shot if you ever find yourself in Sin City.

It's ok. This secret can definitely leave Las Vegas!