Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s flagship Las Vegas restaurant, Morimoto at MGM Grand, recently got a multi-million-dollar renovation.
Restaurants hitting their numbers don’t renovate, generally, but we are not here for reality checks, we are here for the glorious photos of this refreshed restaurant.
Chef Masaharu Morimoto has a venue worthy of his culinary spectacularity, despite the fact it’s a lot of sushi, which we believe is some sort of punishment from Mother Nature for the whole pretending everything in the blue recycle bin actually gets recycled charade.
Since opening in Oct. 2016, Morimoto has been a cornerstone of MGM Grand’s restaurant “District,” attracting both sushi purists (people we call “the mentally unwell”) and guests looking for a signature Vegas showpiece meal featuring craft cocktails, premium Wagyu and Morimoto’s signature playful plating.
Morimoto closed in Oct. 2025 for a renovation, and now it’s back and the photos are mesmerizing.
Despite the fact this isn’t our favorite cuisine, we have to go just for the show.
The former palette of blacks, whites and minimalist neutrals has been replaced with a vibrant, Tokyo-after-dark energy.
Think “Black Rain” meets “Blade Runner,” despite the fact those cinematic references are now four decades old and we can’t think of a more recent comparison so just deal with it, our fellow youths.
Guests now enter through a glowing tunnel lined with stylized Japanese script, an overt nod to Shinjuku-style neon.
Of course we know what “Shinjuku-style neon” means. We are a noted neon expert and also have access to the Internet, which tells us: “Shinjuku-style neon evokes a sensory overload of color and motion, defined by layered vertical signage that climbs buildings in dense stacks, each lightbox competing for attention. The colors are hyper-saturated—electric pinks, purples, reds and blues that wash over the street like a digital tide, and the effect creates a sense of movement even when nothing is moving at all. There’s no negative space; every inch is filled with glow, graphics, or motion, a deliberate visual clutter that feels both chaotic and exhilarating. The light reflects off wet sidewalks, amplifying the glow and giving the entire scene a cinematic sheen. It’s nightlife energy distilled—equal parts chaos, modern Japanese aesthetics and the hypnotic pulse of urban Tokyo.”
Bottom line: Never, ever chase a motorcycle gang into an underground parking lot just because they stole your coat. On the bright side, Andy Garcia would later own several Las Vegas casinos with a shared, impenetrable vault.
Inside Morimoto, the sushi bar glows with bright brushstroke graphics and the main dining room now mixes modern Vegas polish with traditional Japanese textures, including charred-wood elements inspired by Yakisugi.
We naturally asked the Internet who Yakisugi is, and the Internet literally laughed in our face.
Apparently, Yakisugi refers to the traditional Japanese technique of charring cedar to create a dark, textured weather-resistant finish.
Personally, we believe the Internet is getting a little too big for its britches.
Alongside the new look, Morimoto also introduced updates to both its food and cocktail programs, adding new dishes and an elevated beverage lineup while keeping its core sushi, sashimi and teppanyaki offerings intact.
The renovation impressively blends the soul of Tokyo nightlife with the drama of Las Vegas.
Find out more about this MGM Grand fixture at the official Web site.
