Located inside the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Kumi Japanese Restaurant + Bar features a modern Japanese menu with a Korean American twist. Kumi presents guests with an extraordinary ambiance of raw natural woods, hammered steel accents and touches of red lacquer to compliment the dining experience. Kumi’s sumptuous cuisine is complimented by a wide array of specialty cocktails and sake. And it even has a secret menu, the “Sake To Me” Secret Menu.
I had the pleasure of visiting Kumi Japanese Restaurant + Bar in January 2020, and following that visit doing Q&A with Carlon Kira, its General Manager. Highlights from that interview are below for your reading pleasure, while more on Kumi can be found online by visiting the websites of Mandalay Bay and/or parent company SBE.
How would you describe Kumi Japanese Restaurant to someone who has not yet dined there?
Carlon Kira: Kumi has something for everyone. We have some of the best sushi chefs I’ve ever been around, but if sushi is not your jam, our selection of hot appetizers and entrees are built around Japanese comfort classics with a twist.
Tell me about the sbe connection, or is it primarily run within itself?
Carlon Kira: Over the last year Kumi has been integrated into the SBE family. While we are our own unique culinary concept, we adhere to SBE’s global lifestyle culture as the driving force for success.
What about Mandalay Bay, is the hotel at all involved? Or is Kumi run independently of the hotel?
Carlon Kira: Kumi is Independently owned by SBE, but we consider Mandalay Bay our partners and we have always had great communication and support within the hotel that benefits both entities.
Do you have a favorite item on the Kumi menu?
Carlon Kira: The Miso Glazed Black Cod!
What can you tell me about Kumi’s secret menu?
Carlon Kira: Kumi’s secret menu was first developed with the idea of catering to our industry friends once a week on Friday nights. Dishes are meant to be shared for more of a social experience. If you know about the secret menu and request it, you will see different menu items that you normally cannot get off the dining room menu.
We also offer 50 percent off all bottles of sake and lastly we partner with beverage companies to feature some of their highlighted product at lower price point so people can try things they may not normally drink. The promotion has worked out very well since its inception.
What is coming up for Kumi in 2020?
Carlon Kira: We are very excited for Kumi in 2020. We will continue with menu innovation and bring some exciting new culinary ideas to the restaurant that will help grow the Kumi brand in Las Vegas.
Kumi aside, do you have a favorite spot to dine and/or drink at in Las Vegas?
Carlon Kira: Don’t tell my boss or chefs, but Sen Of Japan is my sushi spot! The Golden Tiki Bar for great cocktails and ambiance.
Finally, Carlon, any last words for the kids?
Carlon Kira: STAY IN SCHOOL!
