Ichiza

The closest thing to a true Japanese bar bites experience, outside of flying 16 hours to Tokyo, can be found in a quiet little strip mall in Las Vegas. Besides a lengthy menu spanning everything from bluefin tuna tartare to beef patty stew, there are little cards (most with English translations) for hundreds of little bites and skewers and bowls. It's also one of the few places in town you can get the classic Japanese bar foods like fried smelts, whole grilled squid (ika-yaki), and the very shareable "Honey Toast" (half a loaf of bread filled with ice cream, red bean, berries and honey).

This is truly the place to go for a pre-game (or post-game) night out; huge plates of sashimi, fried gyoza and huge frosty mugs of beer. Remember: the way to ask for another is "Mou-Ichi-do birru, kudasai!"

Both Chef James Trees of Esther's Kitchen and Adam Rains, Beverage Director for The Golden Tiki recommend Ichiza as their go-to Japanese bar experience.