Yonaka gets a true full five stars! My friend used to come to LAS monthly to play poker, and he said that all the poker players come here during happy hour. Now happy hour lasts only 1.5hrs, so we had to really rush from the Strip to make it out here, but it was well worth the effort. (If you miss the first happy hour, there is a second late after 11p...but not avail on Sunday seeing how they close around that time).
What we ordered:
Brussel Sprouts: The thick lemon chili sauce really made this the best brussel sprouts dish I've ever had. The crisped rice made the texture interesting. V. good portion size. 10/10
Crab Handroll: The crab seemed to be mixed with a mayo based sauce, which was great for texture, but I'm not a big fan of that. The handroll was big enough to share with my husband. 5/10
Sake Kale Salad: Huge fan of this one. I liked how the cooked kale soaked up the slightly tart sauce, so that eaten with the sake, it was a wonderfully balanced bite. I actually liked this much more than the sake orenji, which had a similar flavor profile. This dish was more flavorful. The deep fried kale on top though didn't add anything to the dish for me. 9/10
Shime Saba: Whenever available, I always order this. The flavor and texture were good, but what was nice was that we were given an extra piece. Incredibly, the price is even on par with what I pay in KS, but the pieces are actually larger! So generous! 8/10
Buka Jam: This was the most creative dish that we tried. I'm not sure what was in it really. I think there was foie gras maybe...and perhaps kaya jam along with lettuce. You dip this sandie (conveniently cut in fours) in a savory sauce that held a beautifully poached egg. I lurv savory/sweet, but I have to admit that it was a little too sweet. Otherwise, perfect. 8.5/10
Raw Oysters: Though it was topped with veggie ceviche and you can add lemon, I found this not very interesting. Perhaps something spicy would've helped. 5/10
Grilled Mackarel: Just as you would expect it to taste. The fresh cucumber was the perfect touch. 6.5/10
Sake Orenji: Our waiter said that it was the most popular dish. I thought it was fine. Nice to eat the sake with sliced orange. 6.5/10
Service was impeccable and perfectly orchestrated. Though there were a number of other ppl at the restaurant as the meal progressed, our waiter kept an eye out for us, so as soon as we finished a dish, someone would come by to pick up the plates and replace it with a next dish.
Our poker friend said that meals average around $40pp during happy hour, and after taxes and tip it came out to exactly that. Factor in the creative, well executed dishes and excellent service...and I haven't even tried the drinks and desserts(!)...makes Yonaka during happy hour a rare find, and well worth your trip off Strip.