Las Vegas Mixtape: Exploring a Vibrant Medley of Eateries, Hotels, and Entertainment — Track #4: Trattoria Nakamura Ya in Chinatown

Track #4: Trattoria Nakamura Ya in Chinatown

Seems like there’s always a new gem to find in Chinatown Vegas. Like Trattoria Nakamura Ya, a Tokyo-style Italian restaurant that’s been open since 2011 (apparently the only one of its kind in Vegas). In his intimate space along Spring Mountain Rd, Chef Kengo Nakamura from Japan delivers distinctive taste sensations by deftly blending Italian cooking with Japanese flavors.

At a recent dinner there, we started with a mind-blowing appetizer out of the gate: “Bruschetta Nakamura-ya Style,” consisting of toasted baguettes topped with spicy tuna and cod roe; octopus and avocado; and anchovy oil topped with mozzarella cheese. We then moved on to two entrees: the evening’s special of spinach and ricotta with scampi floating on a subtly flavored tomato sauce, and the eatery’s super-popular (noted our waiter) “Ikasumi” Squid Ink Spaghetti with calamari.

The latter dish was delicious and turned my lips, mouth, and teeth goth-black—perhaps not a wise entrée choice if you’re on a first date. Dessert was a bonafide home run: “Soy Milk Panna Cotta with black sugar sauce” (there are five other dessert choices here).