Dining Pick of the Week: 8 Noodle Bar

8 Noodle Bar

Red Rock Resort, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-797-7012

Red Rock Resort’s 8 Noodle Bar takes its name from tradition: A dragon takes the shape of the number eight and is considered lucky in many Asian cultures. The restaurant is tucked just off the heart of the gaming area, and inside, the traditional Chinese red is in the decor but adds a modern twist, with dark tabletops and ivory chairs. Banquet seating lines two walls with made-for-two tables in the center. There is also seating at the chef’s counter, where guests can watch meals being prepared. “When we came up with the concept, we decided to make it Asian fusion, so we have (influences of) Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese,” chef Andy Vu said. Those influences show up in the signature dishes — gyoza (pork and shrimp dumplings with Chinkiang dipping sauce), mochiko chicken (crispy chicken oysters with sticky garlic-ginger sauce), grilled beef short rib bao bun (with ginger-sake reduction, cucumber and pickled onion), pork belly bowl (with steamed white rice, green onions and pickled ginger), kimchi fried rice (with bacon, carrots, fermented black beans and scallions), shoyu ramen (chicken and veal broth, with soy, pork belly, bamboo, green onions and mushrooms), tonkotsu ramen (rich and creamy pork broth with pork belly, poached egg, pickled ginger, bamboo, scallions and mushrooms), pad Thai (rice noodles with egg, bean sprouts, peanut and lime, served with tofu, chicken or grilled shrimp), and fried pork sauce noodles (udon noodles with cucumber, bean sprouts, snow peas, scallions). Most dishes are priced $4 to $12. 8 Noodle Bar is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday. Dim sum is served from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit redrock.sclv.com/dining/8-noodle-bar.