Earlier this month, I was in Vegas.
When the plane landed and I raised the window shade, the heat hit me and I knew it was real: I was, in fact, in Vegas. After deplaning, checking into the hotel, and moving between the heat outdoors and aggressive air conditioning indoors, I was ready to eat. Thankfully, I knew exactly where I wanted to go.
That restaurant was Best Friend.
Located inside Park MGM on the Las Vegas Strip, Best Friend is the Korean BBQ restaurant from Los Angeles chef Roy Choi, the chef behind The Kogi Truck. Best Friend opened at Park MGM in December 2018, bringing Choi’s Los Angeles influences to Las Vegas in a restaurant that blends a bodega, bar, and restaurant into one experience. And honestly, as someone who lives in Los Angeles, that was part of the appeal.
I found out about Best Friend after asking for restaurant recommendations in a Threads post. Best Friend came up repeatedly, which is usually enough to make me curious. When multiple people are telling me the same place is worth visiting, I’m going to listen. So I made my way in.
The restaurant immediately feels like something different from the polished casino dining rooms surrounding it. There’s energy, personality and a sense that you’re supposed to come in, order something good, and hang out. Upon entering and checking in with the hostess, you get the sense of the entrance: many tables and guests sitting close to one another surrounded by the ever-so cool interior. A few steps further and the space changes to the full-scale restaurant that welcomes you to dine.
I started with the Veggie Noodles ($17), made with cabbage, sprouts and seasonal vegetables. It was a simple enough dish on paper, but satisfying and full of texture. The vegetables gave the noodles some freshness while still making the dish feel substantial. A great choice for vegetarians (of course) and surprisingly meat lovers too.
But what I was really here for was the BBQ Kalbi ($40). This was the dish that made me understand why Best Friend comes up so often when people talk about where to eat in Las Vegas. The Korean BBQ bone-in short rib was rich, flavorful and exactly the kind of thing I wanted after traveling and dealing with the Vegas heat. The meat was tender, had a semi sweet accent, and there was more than enough on the plate for one person.
What I appreciated about Best Friend was that it didn’t feel like I had simply left Los Angeles and landed somewhere completely unfamiliar. Instead, I found a little piece of home in Las Vegas while the restaurant still carried its own Vegas flare. Maybe that’s part of why the restaurant came so highly recommended. Best Friend takes the food and influences Roy Choi has become known for in Los Angeles and gives them a Vegas home without losing the personality that made people fall in love with his food in the first place.
And for someone who had just stepped off a plane and was ready to eat? It was a really nice welcome to Las Vegas.
Follow Them.
Address: 3770 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: (702) 730-6770
Hours: Monday through Thursday – 4:00 to 11:00 pm, Friday to Saturday – 4:00 pm to 12:00 am, and Sunday – 4:00 to 11:00 PM
Social: Website and Instagram.
