LuckyRice Night Market

I have never been to a LuckyRice event before this 2013 Night Market at the Cosmopolitan Pool. I thought it was fantastic… I would definitely go again. We were able to try everything except the Duck Laab Congee by Toki Underground and Maketto, they were out when we hit up their stand and wouldn’t have any made in a while. The only line we had to wait in was the Raku stand serving up Yakitori, it was near the end of the night so I think patrons were trying to get in their last bites.
I wasn’t a big fan of the Bordeaux wines they served, but all of the other drinks they had were excellent.
My top 5 favorites of the night… Coconut Pumpkin Soup by Strip Steak (LV) was incredible. Blackberry Ice Cream Sandwich from Pichet Ong (NYC)…YUM! Open Face Arepa from Fukuburger (LV), we better see that on your truck! Lobster with Melon and Celery with Crème Fresh and Smoked Brioche by Menton (Boston). And the simple yet fresh and delicious Baked Crab Hand Roll by Yellowtail (LV). My husbands favorite was the Grilled Sirloin by Pig and Khao (NYC).
There was plenty go around for everyone and we never had to wait long. The majority of the crowd was friendly and polite even with all the booze flowing.
I can’t forget I had the pleasure of meeting Todd English. Bumped into some fellow Unilocalers and exchanged notes on which foods to get.
The weather was perfect and so was my company. Made for a most excellent night.

This was great event. Definitely worth getting the VIP tickets to get in early. Other reviewers already left great reviews of the food, so I’ll just say I was thoroughly inebriated and stuffed. Shokuhin konsui

This review is for the 2013 Lucky Rice Night Market which happened on October 5^th, 2013… This year’s event was totally a HUGE improvement from last year’s inaugural event! Y’ALL MISSED OUT!!!
No endless lines, no long wait, no shortage of food this time! ALL booths were prepared for those attending. The turnout this year was lower, partly due to the fact that it was kinda chaotic last year when the crowd outnumbered the food supply. Once we got in, mixed drinks from BOMBAY SAPPHIRE were handed out, I got a free shirt from the ladies from ASAHI BEER, and our LuckyRice gluttonfest began! Here are the various bites and booze we got to partake in:
AKIRA BACK, YELLOWTAIL, LAS VEGAS
Akira Back Tuna Tartare and Baked Crab Handrolls… meh
ANDY RICKER, POK POK, PORTLAND & NYC
Khanom Jiin Naam Phrik-​Thin Rice Vermicelli with Southern Thai Curry of Coconut, Cream, Prawns, Toasted Mung Beans, and Chili-​Garlic Oil
(**3-​way tie for best noodle dish… killed two of these!)
ANTHONY MEIDENBAUER, HOLSTEIN’S, LAS VEGAS
Bahn Mi Street Taco-​Braised Pork Belly, Kimchee Slaw, and Spicy Mayo-​YUM!
Mango-​Lime Pudding with Sesame Crispies, Almond Cake, and Miso Caramel-​YUM!
BANK ATCHARAWAN, CHADA THAI, LAS VEGAS
Housemade Crab Curry with Rice Noodles
Spicy Herb Spring Roll-​Both dishes were good with alot of HEAT!
BROOKE WILLIAMSON, THE TRIPEL & HUDSON HOUSE, LOS ANGELES
Chilled Tapioca Noodle Salad with Sweet Marinated Black Soybeans, Ground Rock Shrimp and Pork, Green Papaya, Chili Oil, Mint, Thai Basil, and Black Puffed Rice. LOVED the flavor profile in this dish!
(**3-​way tie for best noodle dish… killed two of these!)
CEDRIC VONGERICHTEN, PERRY ST., NYC
Butter Poached Shrimp, Lemongrass Kaffir Broth, Potato-​Garlic Ravioli, and Shiso
So good, had to have two of these!
KRISTEN KISH, MENTON, BOSTON
Lobster with Melon and Celery, Crème Fraiche, and Smoked Brioche… A-​Ok…
LEAH COHEN, PIG & KHAO, NYC
Grilled Sirloin with Spicy Issan Sauce in Cabbage Cup with Crispy Garlic and Cilantro. An explosion of flavors in your mouth!
STEVE GOTHAM, WICKED SPOON, LAS VEGAS
Uni (Sea Urchin) Chawanmushi with Shiso Pickled Black Radish, Matsutake Mushroom, and Smoked Trout Roe-​Nice, delicate flavors of this one got my vote for the best bite of the evening… had to kill three of these!
MITSUO ENDO, ABURIYA RAKU, LAS VEGAS
Assorted Yakitori… Nuff’ Said!!!
DAVID GILBERT, TUK TUK TAPROOM, SAN ANTONIO
Steamed Red Snapper with Lemongrass Rice… this one wasn’t a tasty bite, it was more like a tasty APPETIZER… HUGE!
ERIK BRUNER-​YANG, TOKI UNDERGROUND & MAKETTO, WASHINGTON D.C.
Duck Laab Congee… A-​Ok
RENE ORTIZ & LAURA SAWICKI, COCHISUPERSTAR, AUSTIN
Angry Bear Prawn with Szechuan Pepper, Long Pepper, Fermented Soybean, Daikon, and Caramelized Garlic… all you tasted was heat and BURNT garlic. Least favorite bite of the evening.
STEPHEN HOPCRAFT, STK, LAS VEGAS
Short Rib Gyoza with Wasabi Sesame Ponzu… one of the better tasting bites of the evening.
NEAPOLITAN AT THE COSMOPOLITAN
Watermelon Patch Popsicle-​Watermelon Margarita and Cucumber in Chili Salt
La Bamba Popsicle-​Modelo and Lime Juice with Chipotle Salt and Pop Rocks
Babe Ruthless Sundae
Breakfast of Champions Sundae
PICHET ONG, NYC
Blackberry Ice Cream Sandwich with Berries and Lemon Verbena
More like a sliver of a sandwich, sounded better than it tasted. Least favorite dessert of the evening.
TODD ENGLISH, TODD ENGLISH P.U.B, LAS VEGAS
Hoisin Braised Short Rib Bun with 5-​Spice Rubbed Tenderloin and Sweet and
Sour Pickles-​So Good!
ERIC SUNIGA, CHINA POBLANO, LAS VEGAS
Cochinita Taco, Bejing Noodle Salad, Salt Air Margarita
Cochinita Pibil Taco was very good, and the Noodle Salad was refreshing… didn’t try the Margarita
COLIN FUKUNAGA, FUKUBURGER, LAS VEGAS
Uchida Sobrante: Okonomiyaki-​like open faced Arepa
Very tasty collaboration and conveniently close to the ASAHI BEER bar!
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE BAR
A variety of mixed cocktails… can’t remember them all, but I enjoyed the Thai of the Tiger drink the most…
JET TILA, KUMA SNOW CREAM, LAS VEGAS
Nu-​Kid on the Block: Nutella Snow Cream with Crushed Oreos, Cocoa Condensed Milk, and a Fortune Cookie
Khao Soy
WOW! Such an improvement since Kuma opened! the snow cream was the best dessert of the evening, and Chef Tila’s Khao Soy got my vote for the best noodle dish of the evening, along with POK POK and TRIPEL.
We were all stuffed and could continue no more, but it was a great evening and I am definitely looking forward to next year’s event! ALOHA!!!

Loved attending LuckyRice Night Market! My brother-in-law’s been wanting to attend a LuckyRice Night Market event for a few years and was really excited that it came to Vegas. We bought tickets via TicketMaster (love the new Passbook feature for the iPhone!) and were ready to go!
We arrived just after 8 PM and the entrance didn’t have the scanner for Passbook, so a young man was kind enough to escort us to another entrance. On the way there, we were offered drinks: Snake in a Glass and Lemongrass and Elderflower Collins. I really enjoyed the freshness and subtle floweriness of the Lemongrass and Elderflower Collins. My sister said the Snake in a Glass was her favorite of the two — not overly sweet with just a bit of a bite. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE EAST GIN was well represented!
Once we got scanned in we walked around a bit, and decided to try the White Chocolate Curry from POPPY DEN. I was going to wait because I thought it was a desert, but they encouraged me to give it a try and I’m so glad I did! It was still warm and had a layer of flavors that added a nice complexity to the dish. I was especially happy to discover that POPPY DEN is in Tivoli Village, so it’s now on my list of places to try.
We then moved down the Boulevard to try RENE ORTIZ + LAURA SAWICKI’S Angry Bear Prawn with peppers, soy beans, daikon radish and caramelized garlic. Nice! Anytime you add caramelized garlic…
Next up, Tuk Tuk’s steamed snapper w/​lemongrass. I now have a reason to visit Austin. Ser-​i-​ous-​ly.
We headed back downstairs and ASAHI was serving a Kuronama Black — I thought it would be heavy and was pleasantly surprised. And I got an Asahi t-​shirt — yeah!
Next — of course we tried the Bordeaux wines. They had a nice selection of whites and a Sauternes that I saved for later in the evening (pretty little dessert wine).
Have you ever had a short rib gyoza? Me neither. Until we tried it at STK’s booth and it was served with wasabi sesame ponzu. I need more.
Another great local place — CHADA THAI serving two items: an artistically created, delicate spring roll and crab curry with noodles. Sigh. And guess what??? They serve a lunch with a wine tasting. Oh yes. We’re definitely doing THAT.
Thanks to our Boston friend, KRISTEN KISH (Menton, Boston), for serving lobster with melon, celery and smoked (yes!) brioche. And yes, I grabbed a glass of CHAMPAGNE NICOLAS FEUILLATTE to pair with the lobster. My husband tried the rose and I tried the brut. Both were nice, but I have to say I preferred the rose.
And then there was a woman walking around with cones full of seasoned pork chicharones. They were really tasty — crunchy with a nice chili-​like flavor (ends up it was curry). Back at the booth they were serving… sea urchin. Go big or go home. It was so delicate and so delicious, with a slight smoky flavor. I had no idea WICKED SPOON was below the Boulevard Pool at the Cosmopolitan. Yes, another local joint to put on our list!
Of course, we had to wait in line for Endo’s famous pork cheeks and chicken on a skewer. Endo was so accommodating and his food is ‘da bomb! If you haven’t been, imagine small plates of a nice variety of meats and veggies, great selection of fresh fish (love the sushi salad). Must go to try the absolute best grilled tomatoes you’ve ever had. Seriously.
We then headed straight to the bar to try an Eastern Promise & a Professor Plum, which was a lovely lavender.
Over on the south side of the Boulevard we decided to try the sirloin wrapped in cabbage with garlic and fresh cilantro by LEAH COHEN (Pig & Khao, NYC). The sirloin was tender and tasty, and the cabbage smelled like cabbage. Lol — the garlic is always appreciated, and the fresh cilantro really freshened it up.
I saw someone walking around with popsicles, and sure enough it was THE NEAPOLITAN serving a variety of adult frozen goodness. I snagged a watermelon popsicle — it had a dusting of salted chili powder and bits of cucumber. Refreshing! Love the Neapolitan!
We wrapped it up with a barbecue pork taco and a salt air margarita (way to go Jose Andres!) from CHINA POBLANO (Eric Suniga). Tasty, savory, pork in a soft, pliable wrap. The margarita was so much fun! Think margarita with a briney foam on top.
Ok, I did try one more tempting drink. Drunken noodles. This is the most clever drink I’ve had, and definitely the most fun (tough competition). Imagine japanese gelatin flavored and shaped to look like noodles and an egg. You got it! A drink that looked like a ramen dish — how cool is that??? There were sweetened, crunchy pineapple bits on top, and the gummy-​like fun shapes were slightly sweet. This was a dangerous, oh-​so-​good concoction.
We didn’t try everything (we were so stuffed) and definitely felt the experience was well worth it. We are excited to try LUCKYRICE NIGHT MARKET at the Ferry Building in San Francisco next year and then again in our hometown, Vegas Baby!
Excellent evening!

LuckyRice is a great concept. They have many well-​known culinary artists serve their signature dishes in one venue. However, the planning for this event is lacking.
When you can bear a long line to get a small portion it is very rewarding. However, places like Raku and Bombay had lines extending hundreds of feet! WAY too many people! When you expect an event where for $ 85 (or $ 125 VIP) you can eat and drink as much as you want, you don’t envision fighting a mob to get to the vendors. Some vendors closed early, so the mobs hoarded those who were still serving…
I loved the foods and drinks I could get, but be prepared to fight for it!

The event is alright… we did not purchase the VIP tickets so by the time we got there, the lines were long and for the most part the vendors ran out of food. There was no quantity control, which I have mix feelings about because for those who did wait patiently in line didn’t get the food. Makes me feel like the vendors were eager to be done with their table so they can walk around and see what other vendors were serving and instead of waiting in line like the rest of the people who paid to attend, they just walked right up and grabbed whatever they wanted.
Again, the tickets we got were discounted but overall I don’t think I would attend again unless there are some reassurance that there will be plenty of food and that each vendors are eager to hurry up and be done with their table. I love the idea and concept but overall, I didn’t get to experience it the way I thought it was going to be. The drinks were good but some of the station you had to wait forever… overall, if I was to attend again, it will have to be at a very discounted ticket price or comped.

Started in New York, LuckyRice is a celebration of what Asian culture does best; street food. With many master chefs on hand, the variety of food in food was endless. Sadly, the same could not be said about quantity. As Jeanette D. has mentioned, many places ran out of food before the designated end time. If most were as lucky as I, you would have had the chance to try a majority of the stalls. There were a few times were I got close to the front and was turned away due to empty reserves, but I did not leave on an empty stomach.
Between the creativity of the kitchen and bar, it was a pleasant event. With the Groupon, it was well worth it for a taste of what is to come. In the future, if the issue with preparation is dealt with it will be an event worth the price.
The venue was an excellent selection. The Cosmo pool, with all of the Las Vegas lights, reminded me of walking through the streets of Asia. The beautiful weather that night was perfect for hanging out and the cabanas gave guests plenty of resting areas to lounge on. I look forward to future events.

Excellent food tastings, yummy drinks and great venue. They even had a fun little photo booth. Knocking off one star because most vendors ran out of food or drink by 9:30 or 10:00. Given that this was the first year I expect they’ll plan better next year… and I’ll be back!