Michelin-Starred Korean Steakhouse Opens in Las Vegas
When the Strip’s ever-evolving culinary scene demands a new statement, Cote steps in with ambition: October 2025 marks the debut of the brand’s first West Coast location inside The Venetian Las Vegas. This is a high-stakes launch, combining the theatricality of Vegas with the refined discipline of Michelin-starred dining.
The opening of Cote Las Vegas is framed by both emotional and strategic narratives. Founder Simon Kim, who once studied hospitality at UNLV and began working in Las Vegas, refers to this as a “homecoming.” The resort giant The Venetian sees Cote as a marquee addition to its ongoing $1.5 billion transformation of the property.
In design and concept, Cote Las Vegas differs from its siblings. The 17,000-square-foot space, brought to life by Rockwell Group, plays into the city’s insatiable appetite for spectacle. Instead of a quiet, reserved dining room, guests enter a tiered “stadium” layout with rising seating, a glowing central bar, private skybox-style rooms, and a crow’s-nest DJ booth that hovers above the action. The aim, Kim says, is to push beyond the boundaries of what a “club-restaurant” reputation might imply, without compromising culinary rigor.
The private rooms, named Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs — act as elevated enclaves where guests can still feel part of the energy below, thanks to windows that open toward the main floor.
At the heart of Cote remains its signature fusion of Korean barbecue conviviality with American steakhouse standards. Tables are equipped with smokeless in-table grills, letting servers perform the delicate cooking and rotation of meats rather than leaving that burden to guests.
Cuts include USDA Prime and high-grade Japanese A5 wagyu from regions including Kobe, Miyazaki, and Sendai. A signature offering is the Butcher’s Feast, a multi-cut progression served with banchan (Korean side dishes), kimchi stew, steamed egg, and other accoutrements, here priced at US $88.88 (a symbolic number that echoes Cote’s New York pricing schema). More indulgent is the steak omakase experience, priced around $225.
Exclusive to Las Vegas is the BlackJack Sandwich, a Kagoshima A5 wagyu, black truffle, truffle aioli, all served on milk toast. Other new items include a build-your-own gimbap and a kimchi wagyu paella. The menu also offers seafood and raw selections, such as oysters, shrimp, and sashimi platters, alongside more traditional Korean and American pairings.
On the beverage side, Cote Vegas brings a wine list of more than 1,200 labels and cocktails that reflect both Korean and Vegas sensibilities. Among the cocktail offerings is an Elvis-inspired "King" (bourbon, peanut, banana, sherry, grape) and “Nectar of the Gods,” a whiskey-based drink with ginger, honey, lemon, and shiso.
Launching Cote in Las Vegas is not without risks. The Strip has faced headwinds in recent years, with reports of tourism softening and certain venues struggling to maintain momentum during off-peak hours. Kim and partners, however, view Vegas as fertile ground for immersive dining experiences that straddle food, design, and spectacle.
This location is Cote’s most costly and ambitious yet — reportedly more expensive than all previous Cote openings combined. Operating staff for the Las Vegas location is said to number approximately 150.
Hours of operation are set to be Sunday through Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight. Because of the immersive and energetic layout, Kim has cautioned this venue is not intended for “quiet dinner” seekers.
Reservations are being handled via platforms like SevenRooms, consistent with other Cote operations.
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Yvon Lux is the editor of her Apple News channel covering lifestyle news and current events. Her “blogazine” celebrates sisterhood and empowers women by focusing on women’s health, travel, lifestyle, and entrepreneurial news while also sharing the most coveted beauty news and style stories.
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