FindEatDrink | Vegas - The Inside Track

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Edition: 17 September, 2010

Sure Vegas is all about the glitz, the grandiosity, and the giga-wattage. Then there is gluttony. Chef-driven monster-sized dining halls.

But if you really want a great meal in Vegas, go where the chefs actually dine... strip malls.

Award-winning, mega-chef Michael Mina owns nearly 20 restaurants around the country, five of them in Las Vegas. Here are his picks for off the strip:

RAKU (5030 West Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV, T: 702.367.3511, view map)

What: Tiny, affordable and hidden away in a strip mall in Chinatown. Open until 3am, this is where the chefs go for Japanese. They were nominated for a James Beard Award Best New Restaurant Semifinalist in 2009.

Eat: "Everything."

LOTUS OF SIAM (953 E. Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV, T: 702.735.3033, view map)

What: They do offer the typical Thai greatest hits selections, but they also have a special request menu with lesser-known dishes from northern Thailand.

Eat: "Order Tom Ka Gai and Issan Style Beef Jerky."

HONEY PIG (4725 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV, T: 702.876.8308, view map)

What: They put dome-shaped grills on your tables for cooking your own meats and vegetables.

Eat: "Great Korean Barbecue."

Recipe...

What's better than dipping bread into gooey, hot cheese? Try Michael Mina's Classic Cheese Fondue.

Learn More...

Read the Q & A with Michael Mina to find out why he hasn't opened a restaurant in NYC and why he loves geoduck and goat. Also check out where he likes to eat in San Francisco.