We almost canceled this reservation. We were staying at Conrad Las Vegas, which is further down the Strip from Park MGM, and after a long day we were not sure we wanted to make the trek. Then I checked Reddit and kept seeing the same thing: go. We went. Here is our honest take on Best Friend, Roy Choi's restaurant at Park MGM Las Vegas.
Roy Choi is the chef behind the Kogi BBQ trucks that basically started the gourmet food truck movement in Los Angeles. Best Friend is his love letter to Koreatown: the food, the energy, and the attitude of LA's Korean dining scene filtered through a Vegas setting. If you have ever spent time in Koreatown in LA, walking into Best Friend will feel immediately familiar in the best way. If you have not, it is a strong introduction to what that neighborhood actually tastes and feels like.
The Vibe
The entrance is designed like a classic LA bodega, complete with snacks and merch. We even spotted a Bruno Mars pop-up nearby, which felt perfectly on-brand for where we were. Once you walk through the "secret" entrance into the main dining room, the energy completely shifts: 3D art covering the walls, resident DJs spinning vinyl, dim lighting, and a crowd that is clearly having a good time.
It is loud. It is not a place for a quiet conversation. But it is also genuinely fun in a way that a lot of Vegas restaurants try and fail to pull off. The vibe is distinctly LA rather than Las Vegas: more relaxed and self-assured, less about spectacle for its own sake. You feel like you stumbled into a party that has been going on for a while and is nowhere near winding down.
The DJ setup is worth mentioning specifically because it is not background noise. Whoever is behind the decks at any given time is actually mixing, and the music responds to the energy in the room rather than running on a preset playlist. That responsiveness makes the atmosphere feel alive in a way that a lot of "concept" restaurants in Las Vegas do not manage. The design team put a lot of thought into every visual detail of the space, from the artwork to the lighting, and the result is a room that rewards you for looking around.
It is not a traditional Korean restaurant at all. Think Koreatown remix, elevated and unapologetically itself.
What We Ordered (A La Carte)
They offer a $75 per person Chef's Menu, but we went a la carte to keep room for snacking after. First thing they bring you: complimentary Hawaiian rolls with salt and butter. Surprisingly addictive. They are warm, soft, and the kind of bread that disappears from the table without you noticing. We went through more of them than I want to admit before the actual food arrived.
Korean Wings ($20)
These were the clear winner for me. The batter is incredibly flaky and crunchy, tossed in a savory citrus glaze. At $4 per wing, yes, it is pricey. But the texture is phenomenal and I would order them again without hesitation. The glaze is not a heavy coating: it is more of a finishing layer that adds brightness and depth without weighing down the crunch. This is the dish that made me understand why Roy Choi built a reputation. Even at an inflated Vegas price, these wings are genuinely exceptional.
Kimchi Fried Rice ($20)
This one is different from what you might expect. Strong black pepper flavor, a crunchy almost al dente rice texture. It took a few bites to get used to. Once I mixed in the egg, the flavors balanced out nicely. Unique, not traditional, but good once you lean into it. This is not the comforting, soft kimchi fried rice you make at home or order at a regular Korean spot. It has its own identity. On the first bite it reads as strange. By the fifth bite it reads as intentional. Give it a chance before deciding.
Chego Pork Belly ($22)
Served in a bowl over rice with a fusion sauce that pulls in Mexican flavors. Serious spicy kick. The pork itself is incredibly fatty and basically melts. This is the dish that will make you glad you loosened your belt before sitting down. The Mexican flavor influence is more subtle than you might expect: it shows up in the spice profile and the sauce rather than in any obvious ingredient swap. The result is something that does not taste like Korean food or Mexican food but is very clearly informed by both.
If we had to rank the three main dishes, the wings are first, the pork belly is second, and the kimchi fried rice is third. But all three are worth ordering.
Dessert: Eataly Las Vegas
After dinner we walked through Eataly, which is right there at Park MGM on the way out, and grabbed gelato. They make it fresh daily in small batches. We tried Pistachio and Ferrero Rocher. The Ferrero Rocher tasted exactly like the real thing: chocolate, hazelnut, the whole thing. A perfect, light reset after the spice and richness of Best Friend.
If you have never been to an Eataly, it is worth a slow walk even if you are not hungry. The cheese, pasta, and prepared food sections alone are worth the detour. But the gelato is the move at the end of a big dinner. After Korean wings and braised pork belly, something cold and creamy at the exact moment you step out of the restaurant is better planning than it might look.
The Pistachio was also excellent, for what it is worth. A deep, nutty flavor that is very different from the watered-down pistachio gelato you find at tourist spots. This one tastes like actual pistachios.
Is It Worth It?
Yes, even at Vegas pricing. The portions are generous, the flavor profiles are genuinely original, and the atmosphere is unlike anything else on the Strip. Best Friend does not try to be a fine dining experience and it does not pretend to be an "authentic" Korean restaurant either. It knows exactly what it is, and it executes that vision very well.
The $75 Chef's Menu is on our list for a return visit. Going a la carte this time let us control the spend, but there were enough dishes on the menu that we did not get to try that we want to come back and work through it more methodically. The LA Galbi, the Bo Ssam, and the fried rice variations we did not order are all on the list.
If you are in Las Vegas and like Korean food, bold flavors, or just a room with real energy, make the walk to Park MGM. It is worth it.
Practical Tips
- Make a reservation. Best Friend is popular and walk-ins on busy weekend nights can be a long wait. Book through the Park MGM website or OpenTable.
- Go a la carte your first visit to hit the must-orders without committing to the full chef's menu. Come back for the tasting menu if you loved it.
- Eataly is right there. Build 20 extra minutes into the night for gelato. You will not regret it.
- Park MGM is at the quieter, south end of the Strip. If you are staying further north, budget for the walk or a short ride.
- It is loud. Not concert-loud, but loud enough that a quiet, intimate dinner is not really what this place is for. Lean into the energy and you will have a better time.
