Las Vegas Restaurant Reopens At MGM Grand, Morimoto

Morimoto Las Vegas new menu and design are now live inside MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, after the Japanese restaurant reopened on December 1, 2025, following roughly two months of closure for a full refresh. The redesign adds a darker, Tokyo inspired dining room, a glowing sushi bar, and an expanded teppanyaki lineup that shift the tone from classic resort sushi toward a more nocturnal feel. Travelers staying at MGM Grand or nearby Strip resorts who want Japanese fine dining now have a newly reimagined option that rewards advance planning and a flexible budget.

The Morimoto Las Vegas reopening at MGM Grand means the Strip's best known Japanese restaurant now offers a new dining room, updated tasting menus, and later night energy that will influence how travelers plan dinner reservations on the south Strip.

Background: From Temporary Closure To Reopening

MGM Grand first announced in late September that Morimoto Las Vegas would close on October 1, 2025, for an "exciting design and menu refresh," signaling that the makeover would run through late November. The actual reopening came on December 1, 2025, which lines up with the resort's description of a roughly two month shutdown rather than a simple cosmetic tweak.

For travelers, that gap removed one of the Strip's most established Japanese options right as holiday and event traffic begins to build. With the restaurant now back in service, MGM Grand once again has a marquee name to pair with its other chef driven venues, so dining plans made earlier this fall may now be revised to include a dinner at Morimoto.

Design: Tokyo Nightlife Brought Indoors

The reimagined Morimoto is designed to feel closer to Tokyo's after dark energy than to a typical casino restaurant corridor. Guests now step through a glowing entry portal filled with playful Japanese text, a deliberate nod to Shinjuku's neon heartbeat. A redesigned backbar layers bottles, art, and a personal message from Chef Masaharu Morimoto, so even the first steps past the host stand are meant to feel like arrival in a different city.

Inside, the sushi bar is backlit with sweeping brushstrokes of magenta, vermilion, and electric violet, creating a bright visual anchor that contrasts with the darker tones of the main room. That dining room blends cues from rain slicked Tokyo streets with charred wood finishes that reference traditional Yakisugi carpentry, while lantern lit tables soften the look so the room still works for date nights and small groups. It is a more theatrical space than the original design, but it stays within the polished, gallery like aesthetic that has always defined Morimoto.

For travelers used to thinking of MGM Grand's District as a straightforward restaurant row, this redesign also gives the corridor a stronger visual landmark. Walking from the casino floor, Morimoto's glowing entrance now functions as a wayfinding point, which can make it easier for first time visitors to orient themselves among venues like Craftsteak, L Atelier, and nearby bars.

Menu Highlights: Sushi, Teppanyaki, And Shared Desserts

Chef Morimoto's updated menu leans into a mix of sushi, teppanyaki, wagyu, and playful small plates that appeal to both traditionalists and Vegas showpiece diners. One of the headline items, the Land and Ocean Roll, layers smoked wagyu beef with sweet shrimp, crab, and tobiko into a single roll that reads like a surf and turf tasting in bite sized form. The Chef's Combination Sushi uses his well known "stained glass window" technique, letting guests customize intricate rolls built from multiple fish and garnishes for a more composed presentation than a standard combo plate.

Beyond the raw bar, the kitchen pushes comfort dishes with a Morimoto twist. Pork Sticky Ribs come with a glaze built from sweet chili and hoisin, giving them enough heat and depth to work either as a shared starter or as a main for less adventurous sushi eaters. Lobster Bao Buns wrap lobster tail in soft steamed dough with a spicy aioli, a straightforward crowd pleaser that still feels aligned with the Japanese meets Western concept.

The teppanyaki bar remains a major draw, especially for travelers who prefer a show along with dinner. Chefs work live on the iron grill, searing premium meats, seafood, and vegetables while guests sit around the flat top, and the menu allows add ons like yakisoba noodles or foie gras for those who want to turn the experience into a splurge. For dessert, the Bento Box format lets tables share mini portions of hazelnut tiramisu, strawberry cheesecake, coconut panna cotta, pistachio profiterole, and a yuzu meringue tart, which is useful when a group wants variety without a long dessert menu debate.

Cocktails: Familiar Formats With Japanese Spirits

The refreshed cocktail list at Morimoto Las Vegas follows the same East meets West pattern as the food. The Emerald Dragon builds from peach soju, midori, yuzu, and lime, finished with a yuzu white peach soda that keeps it bright rather than overly sweet. The Morimoto Kofu Old Fashioned takes Iwai Japanese whisky, Kuro Aato, and Japanese brown sugar and channels them into a stirred, spirit forward drink that will feel comfortable to bourbon fans while still tasting distinct from a classic bar old fashioned.

That s The Tea leans into matcha, combining Haku vodka with ceremonial grade green tea, lemon, and mint, while Hibis Kiss mixes Flecha Azul reposado with yuzu, hibiscus, and orange liqueur for guests who want a tequila base. For Vegas visitors, that range means a mixed party can order drinks that echo popular Strip cocktail styles without losing the Japanese anchor that defines the restaurant.

How To Visit: Hours, Reservations, And Budget

Morimoto Las Vegas is in The District at MGM Grand, toward the back of the resort, with walking directions signed from the lobby bar and casino concourse. The restaurant is open for dinner only, from 500 p.m. to 1030 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 500 p.m. to 1000 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays. Reservations are handled via MGM Grand's online system and partner platforms, and early coverage of the reopening suggests that prime weekend slots are already booking out.

Third party guides describe Morimoto as a premium priced venue, often quoting checks of around 200 to 300 dollars (USD) for two people including appetizers, shared mains, and cocktails, although exact totals will vary widely by how much wagyu and omakase style sushi a table orders. For most travelers, it is better framed as a special night out or trip highlight rather than a casual midweek dinner.

Because Morimoto is an indoor, dinner only experience, it also fits neatly into arrival or departure days for Las Vegas trips. Most visitors will arrive through Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and can plan a first or final night reservation around their flight times, as long as they account for typical evening traffic and check in delays on the Strip. Advisors should steer clients away from very tight same day pairings with late shows or club reservations, since teppanyaki tables and multi course sushi orders can run longer than a simple entrée service.

Who It Is Best For

The reworked Morimoto should appeal most to culinary travelers, couples, and small groups who care about atmosphere as much as food. The Tokyo nightlife inspired design, backlit sushi bar, and lantern lit tables create the kind of environment that feels aligned with a Las Vegas vacation without slipping into theme restaurant gimmicks. Guests who want a quieter experience should request a table away from the main bar and sushi line, while those who want more energy can aim for seats with a view of the open kitchen or teppanyaki grills.

Families with older teens or multi generational groups may also find Morimoto a useful option when different palates need to be satisfied in one sitting. The menu allows a mix of straightforward dishes, such as ribs, bao, and fried items, alongside more adventurous sushi and wagyu plates, which can keep everyone at the table engaged without forcing a split into separate restaurants. For guests who primarily want sushi with minimal ceremony, it might still be worth comparing Morimoto to simpler Strip sushi bars, but for most visitors the combination of showmanship and quality will be the key selling point.

Sources

• Morimoto Las Vegas Reopens at MGM Grand with Vibrant Japanese Dining Experience
• Sushi restaurant at MGM Grand closing temporarily for refresh
• Morimoto Las Vegas, official restaurant page, MGM Grand
• Iron Chef star s restaurant reopens on Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas Review Journal Neon
• Morimoto restaurant review and pricing context, The Las Vegas Report