Japaneiro
Rock Shrimp Tempura
Japaneiro Special Fried Rice
Baby Octopus
Truffle Marrow Filet
Japanese Uni Chawamushi
6oz Nigerian Prawn with Yuzu-Wasabi
6oz Nigerian Prawn with Uni Butter
6oz Nigerian Prawn with Truffle Butter
Yuzu Coconut Mochi with Genmacha Ice Cream
Tiramisu
Banana Harumaki
Hoji Cha Ice Cream
Designated as an Asian “Fusion” restaurant, and tucked inside an out-of-the-way strip mall with a former chef from Nobu manning the small kitchen, Japaneiro has received quite a bit of praise since opening earlier this year and sitting down with two friends in the small space where Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, and Kanye West boomed overhead the results proved an underwhelming mixed bag – the Strip-side pricing rarely in step with the quality of the product served across nearly a dozen plates.
Admittedly a ‘locals-only’ sort of spot, and removed from Spring Mountain a bit of a novelty considering the locale, entry to Japaneiro sees the diner face-to-face with the kitchen and flanked with enough seating for a total of just thirty the service trends friendly without really being transparent, a limited laminated menu joined by several chalkboard specials that are detailed with limited explanation while costs are even more obscured – several numbers written next the name of an ingredient with the staff not really going out of their way to describe the upcharges or price per serving.
Sipping water and iced green tea, both provided with copious refills at no cost throughout the course of a ninety minute stay, it was in three rounds that orders were placed after asking a few questions and beginning with two modestly priced menu items the first bites of lightly battered shrimp in spicy cream sauce offered a brief glimmer of hope, the house ‘special’ fried rice tossed with beef, shrimp, and pork a competent rendition, but certainly nothing to write home about.
Moving next to several specials, three baby octopi were next presented with a good char and snappy flesh beneath light citrus at a cost of $4 each and although the nicely seared filet dramatically draped over a delicious charred marrow bone was indeed a dramatic presentation, the $34 surcharge for flavors marred in cheap truffle oil were still quite excessive – the use of the oil additionally making one wonder what other shortcuts the kitchen may be willing to take.
Thoroughly underwhelmed by watery Chawanmushi carrying an upcharge of $13 from the five dollar base due to the addition of one meager tongue of Japanese Uni, it was onward to prawns that the meal progressed, and with confusing menu pricing seemingly the rule than the exception each “6oz” Nigerian specimen carried a unique charge ranging $23-$28, all but the yuzu and wasabi-tinged cheapest featuring the crustacean overcooked and more than a little tricky to liberate from its shell with the use of only chopsticks, spoon, and fork.
Seemingly offering a bargain with desserts, and at this point certainly nowhere near full despite the eventual tab of $75 per person, suffice it to say that neither the tiramisu or mochi are particularly memorable save for the high price per bite, and although the Banana Harumaki with $3 ice-cream supplement was admittedly well made with creamy fruit tinged in sweet cheese beneath the lightest of shells it still was not enough to save the meal from regrets of not going elsewhere, a situation admittedly unexpected and leaving one to wonder what others see in this place that the group clearly missed.
TWO STARS: Priced on par with Raku, or even some places located within casinos on South Las Vegas Boulevard, Japaneiro would have proven a better experience at half the volume and 2/3 the cost, marred by slipshod execution and the sort of ambiance that almost instantly makes one want to get up and leave even the assumption that the group may have “ordered wrong” or “suffered an off night” provides little impetus to give the space a second chance to shine.
RECOMMENDED: Banana Harumaki with Hoji Cha Ice Cream, Rock Shrimp Tempura.
AVOID: Prawns, Upcharges.
TIP: Open at 4pm with Happy Hour until 6. No liquor license as yet, so byo may present good savings to some.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor
