There’s sushi in Las Vegas, and then there’s Nobu. One of the pioneers of modern Japanese cuisine, chef Nobu Matsuhisa takes traditional Japanese ingredients and technique and applies to them the knowledge he acquired while working in South America. There may now be about 20 versions worldwide of Matsuhisa’s original restaurant, but this outpost at the Hard Rock Hotel is particularly welcoming, with calming green walls behind bamboo stalks, small birch trees and an onyx-tiled sushi bar. The yellowtail sashimi with jalapeńos simply melts in your mouth and the lobster salad includes a spicy lemon dressing that will kick-start any meal. You know that black cod with miso that you find on every menu in every trendy Japanese restaurant across the country? This is one of Matsuhisa’s original signature dishes, and there’s nothing quite like the original.

Nobu Information:

• Japanese menu. Dinner.