Raku

"If you're an adventurous foodie devoted to dining with the insiders, hail a cab and seek out Raku, a small Japanese grill tucked discreetly in a strip mall a couple miles west of Las Vegas Boulevard."

"Seating is at a premium in this dimly lit strip-mall robata, where, at 6 pm sharp, doors open for small-plate offerings of creamy house-made tofu." Full review

"The focus is on robata—charcoal-grilled meats and vegetables—but the real treats are on the daily-changing chalkboard menu." Full review

"Japanese food "like you've never had before" is the province of this "cozy" West Side robata grill, which instills its "exquisite", "high-end" small plates (no sushi) with "bold, complex flavors"." Full review

"Off-Strip Japanese spot draws in-the-know locals (including celeb chefs like seafood maven Rick Moonen) with a menu that extends far beyond sushi."