Bar Masa Restaurant Review, Las Vegas

Reviewer: Foodnut.com Bar Masa - Aria Hotel and Casino 3730 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, NV 89109 (877) 230-2742 Bar Masa - Aria Hotel and Casino Website

Bar Masa is the latest outpost for Masayoshi Takayama, famous for ultra expensive, three-star Michelin star Masa and Bar Masa Japanese restaurant in New York City. This restaurant is located on the Las Vegas Strip the new City Center, Aria Hotel on the first floor. He also runs Shaboo, an even more expensive ($500 per person) Omakase Shabu Shabu restaurant next door. Do not visit Shaboo until you have experienced and enjoy Shabu Shabu hot pot dining, otherwise you will be wasting money. No one was dining there when we visited.

Decor, Vibe – Brand new, sleek, awe-inspiring environment with large open area, high ceilings, tiny light tubes falling from the ceiling. Lipstick Red color boothes, techy music, modern wine frig wall, and yellow colored chairs. Well heeled foodies, convention attendees, as well as some big parties were dining when we went.

Menu (Click to zoom into any picture)

Bar Masa Menu has a wide range of items from many varieties of Sushi and Sashimi to Udon to Hibachi grilled items.

Bar Masa Full Picture Set

Server with Wooden Tray

Picks:

Chicken Yakitori Skewers ($18) were 4 skewers of tender chicken with a sweet sauce and situated on a hot stone dish. Solid rendition with high quality.

Kobe Skewers ($25) hibachi grilled with yuzu spice initially came to us way too spicy. The return version was perfect. Excellent and real Kobe beef whose quality anyone could taste. Cheaper than the $68 the Kobe steak cost.

Tempura

Udon

Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura Udon ($24) was a decent sized dish. Very lite tempura batter unlike most places outside Japan. Perfect, almost buttery smooth and crispy, not greasy. Udon was bigger than we thought it would be. Top notch noodles and broth.

Alaskan King Crab California Roll ($28) had no mayo or fake crab, it was just the best. Six good sized pieces full of top notch crab and fresh avocado.

Seared Wagyu Beef Sushi ($12) was a good sized bite of excellent wagyu beef on top notch rice.

Hamachi Sushi ($7) was a super fresh cut of Yellowtail that was excellent. We could eat six of these easily, but our pocketbook would hurt.

Sake Salmon Sushi ($6) was a bite size chunk of perfect fish. Thin, small, not fishy, just pure authentic sushi.

Braised Black Cod with Daikon ($34) had 3 pieces of fish that was cooked in a simple style but to perfection. Better than Nobu’s Miso Cod.

OK:

Kobe Beef and Bean Sprout Yakisoba ($24) was a good sized portion of very thin noodles, chives, along with a huge portion of kobe beef. The dish was a little spicy and salty, beef overcooked, but overall it was ok. A good way to fill up.

Pans:
None

Bar Masa had excellent service with our friendly knowledgeable server providing us fast, accomodating service. They carry the food in cool wooden boxes. Prices are incredibly high here. People can blow $300 a person easy, so we reviews some early reviews and ordered strategically to keep it to about $60 a person. Use the starch and noodle dishes interspursed with expensive small items. The food here is excellent and is unlike any Japanese restaurant in the San Francisco Bay area. Bar Masa is recommended for Japanese food enthusiats seeking authentic high quality food.
25 page expensive Wine list with glasses from $9, bottles from $30.

Restaurant Map: