Umami Goes Vegas (2010): Day 1: Aloha Specialties

It makes no sense to Umami, to fly six hours to Las Vegas, be surrounded by tons of different food places, and then choose local style saimin for the first thing to eat.  It makes no sense to Umami, but it made perfect sense to Umama, which is why they were in Aloha Specialties mere hours after landing in Sin City.


It's not that the food is bad, far from it, it's very well done local fare.  The problem is that it's local fare that any Hawaii resident would have no trouble finding, or even cooking, at home.  But if that's what you're looking in for, then Aloha Specialties is for you.


Oh, and be advised that there are plenty of other people who will wait in line for half an hour plus for the privilege of eating here.  We waited about twenty minutes to place an order.  The food does come out fast, though, and the staff is very competent and friendly.

All that being said, the food is good.  Umami opted for the Chicken Tofu Saimin; his thinking being that a mashup of Chicken Tofu and Saimin would be kind of interesting.  Maybe a little sweeter than a typical saimin?  Maybe with some long cut green onion and bamboo shoots?


Nope.  It's a standard saimin, with slices chicken cutlet and cubes of tofu.  Very good (albeit standard) saimin broth, noodles with good texture.  Chicken was fine, tofu was . . . tofu.  What can you say?  Make some S&S at home, put some chicken and tofu in it, and you'd have this dish.


In sum, good if this is what you want.

Aloha Specialties
California Hotel (Mezzanine, 2nd floor, near the sports book.)

12 E Ogden Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 382-0338