Chef Pinyo Saewu left Hakkasan at the MGM Grand after seven years to pursue a more personal venture. He opened Amata Modern Thai, an off-Strip restaurant on South Rainbow Boulevard at West Russell Road, featuring refined Northern Thai dishes like bone-marrow khao soi and truffle fried rice.
From a 200-seat operation to a neighborhood dining room
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Saewu left Hakkasan in December after a seven-year run to open Amata Modern Thai on South Rainbow at West Russell Road. The Review-Journal notes that before this latest move, he helped open Hakkasan locations in San Francisco and Dubai, and that he teamed up with Misonori Hospitality to launch his new neighborhood restaurant.
Menu highlights and technique
Per Amata's website, the menu stretches from appetizers and raw plates to soups, noodles, mains, and vegan options, with a focus on dishes that feel comforting but are executed with fine-dining polish. House favorites include Khao Pad Truffles, a fried rice loaded with black truffles, garlic, and enoki mushrooms, and a Bone Marrow Short Rib Khao Soi that hits the table with a roasted marrow “canoe” ready for a bit of tableside torching. The kitchen leans on slow-braised proteins too, including a duck that is crisped before being finished in a Panang curry.
Early reviews and local buzz
Eater Vegas has already slotted Amata onto its list of notable city openings, calling out the truffle fried rice and the bone-marrow khao soi as early signature dishes. A local write-up from Everyday Vegas praised the warm dining room with its mid-century lean and the attentive service, arguing the place works just as well for regular weeknight dinners as for special-occasion splurges. The mix of theatrical plating and recognizable Thai flavors has helped the restaurant build a steady neighborhood following since opening.
What this shift says about Vegas dining
Saewu’s move fits neatly into a growing pattern of Las Vegas chefs trading in Strip megarestaurants for smaller, community-focused rooms, a trend highlighted in another Las Vegas Review-Journal report on neighborhood openings in Henderson and beyond. For Saewu, stepping away from the high-volume casino grind creates room to spotlight Thai techniques and ingredients without the pressure of nonstop Strip service, while still drawing on the polish he picked up on global opening teams.
How to visit
Amata Modern Thai takes both reservations and walk-ins. For hours, the full menu, and booking details, check Amata's website. The restaurant also shares photos and updates under @amatamodernthai. Locals say it is worth veering off the Strip when the craving hits for elevated Thai cooking with a bit of tableside flair.
