Poppy Den Asian Bistro by Chef Angelo Sosa Introduces New Menu and Hours

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Poppy Den Asian Bistro by Chef Angelo Sosa has introduced an all-new menu featuring an innovative combination of traditional and contemporary Asian cuisine along with new hours for the restaurant and The Den, a hip new second-story ultra-lounge.

“We wanted to infuse more traditional Asian items into our menu selections, going beyond Asian influences into offering more modern renditions of authentic cuisine,” said Sosa. “During my travels I’ve learned a variety of different Asian techniques from top chefs of the many different countries, and the result are flavorful dishes that blend the various cultures.”

Acclaimed for his Añejo Tequileria in New York City as well as finish as a runner-up in the seventh season of Bravo’s popular “Top Chef,” and then a subsequent appearance on “Top Chef All-Stars,” Sosa has now made Las Vegas his home. His desire to bring more Asian offerings to the menu and his love of the Las Vegas community compelled him to make the move. “The Summerlin area of Las Vegas has a very hometown feel to it; and now many of our ‘regulars’ have become my friends.”

Sosa’s new menu emphasizes a “trinity of flavors” in every dish and includes: Peking duck marinated for three days in ginger, salt, cinnamon, scallions, coriander and star anise and served with scallion pancakes, pickles and hoisin for $23; ramen noodles in a light, flavorful broth accented by the flavors of soy hardboiled eggs, pickles and scallions for $9; a succulent braised pork belly infused with soy and hoisin wrapped in an Asian bao bun for $11; lup chong lo mein made with wok-charred noodles to infuse the “dragon’s breath” into the flavor, mixed with Chinese sausage, scallions and bean sprouts for $11; sashimi tuna spring rolls enriched with a sweet Korean chili sauce and served with kimchi and scallions for $12; and pork belly fried rice mixed with sesame and kimchi, priced at $7.

Poppy Den has also introduced its own gojuchang soy sauce, made from Sosa’s signature recipe. A time-consuming and meticulous process, Poppy Den is the only restaurant known to make its own soy sauce in house. Guests may witness different stages of the preparation during visits to the restaurant.

Favorites remaining on the menu include the watermelon and goat cheese salad topped with candied wasabi, sesame seeds and yuzu for $9, peppered glazed chicken served with kecap manis, crackled pepper and mango for $9 and curried crab dumplings with scallions, curry and chili for $13. House-made fortune cookies for $7, yuzu panna cotta for $7 and a pupu platter for $18 round out Sosa’s dessert selections.

Beer, wine and sake are available during normal dinner hours along with signature cocktails including: the Singapore swing made with gin, cherry, pineapple and grenadine; the scorpion made with dark and light rums, orange, lime and almond; the absinthe dream made with dark rum, absinthe, grenadine and lime; and the desert rose made with sake elderflower, passion fruit and jasmine.

Poppy Den is now open from 4 to 10 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. A happy hour menu is served daily from 4 to 7 p.m. featuring $5 drinks and $7 to $10 specialty food items, including ramen noodle soup, dim sum and peppered glazed chicken. The interior of the 6,000-square-foot eatery combines themes from a traditional Asian café, including a long, narrow dining room and earthy accents, with a modern American bar complete with three TVs.

The Den is open from 7 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The swanky indoor-outdoor lounge features intimate seating, red accents, Asian-inspired art and vintage black and white Asian movies projected onto the wall along the stairway. The Den serves a variety of beer, wine and sake selections along with $10 signature cocktails, and bottle service is available beginning at $100. A late-night menu featuring dim sum for $7, chicken wings for $7 and ramen for $10 is available downstairs only from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends.

In addition to a new menu, Sosa has a new business partner in local entrepreneur and restaurateur, Ken Henderson, who owns Pizza Lounge at Tivoli Village and BEST Agency. Sosa also recently introduced a cookbook titled “Flavor Exposed” and has a second cookbook in development.

About Poppy Den Asian Bistro by Chef Angelo Sosa:
Chef Angelo Sosa’s Poppy Den Asian Bistro offers his own signature blend of traditional fare with modern influences inspired by his travels throughout Asia. Sosa relocated to Las Vegas and can often be seen at the restaurant, whether he’s in the kitchen or our meeting the guests. The hand-crafted cocktails and sake, along with wine and draft beers, complement the expertly crafted fare. The restaurant is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with a happy hour available daily from 4 to 7 p.m. The Den, Poppy Den’s hip second-story ultra-lounge, is open from 7 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information or reservations, guests may call 702-802-2480.