COTE Korean Steakhouse Arrives in Las Vegas: Gracious Hospitality Management’s First West Coast Flagship at The Venetian

The Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse lands on the Strip, bringing Vegas spectacle, Korean soul, and a new level of immersive dining to The Venetian Resort.

NEW YORK, NY — October 6, 2025 — Gracious Hospitality Management (GHM), the trailblazing team behind COTE Korean Steakhouse and COQODAQ, announces the debut of COTE Las Vegas at The Venetian® Resort—marking the brand’s first West Coast location and its most ambitious project to date. As the only Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse in the United States and named North America’s Best Steakhouse by World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants, this opening is a defining moment for both GHM and The Venetian Resort amidst the resort’s $1.5 billion transformation—a top to bottom reimagining, introducing the next-generation of luxury dining in Las Vegas.

Founded by James Beard Award-nominated hospitality visionary Simon Kim, COTE is renowned for blending the conviviality of Korean barbecue with the hallmarks of a classic American Steakhouse – earning global accolades and a devoted following in New York, Miami, and Singapore.

As the brand’s fourth global location, COTE Las Vegas celebrates Kim’s return to the city where his hospitality journey began. Located in the iconic Waterfall Atrium of The Venetian Resort, the opening delivers an entirely new expression of that ethos: high drama, interactive dining, and uncompromising quality—anchored in Vegas spectacle and executed with the precision GHM is known for.

“Las Vegas is where it all started for me—studying at UNLV, managing restaurants and casino floors, and learning the fundamentals of hospitality from the ground up in a city that never sleeps,” said Simon Kim, founder and CEO of Gracious Hospitality Management. “The energy of the Strip, the spectacle of lights, and endless possibilities have always lived in the DNA of COTE, and now we’re bringing that full circle. Opening COTE in Las Vegas is not just a personal milestone, but a defining moment for our company as we expand to the West Coast with intention and integrity. It’s our boldest project yet, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the partnership of The Venetian, whose vision for the future of the Strip we’re proud to be part of, and David Rockwell of Rockwell Group, whose creative collaboration has helped us reimagine COTE through the lens of Las Vegas—vibrant, electric, and unlike anywhere else in the world.”

Marking Rockwell Group’s first COTE collaboration with GHM, the 17,000-square-foot Las Vegas outpost propels the brand’s design DNA into the future, through a lens of theatricality, bold spectacle, and immersive energy. From the moment guests step through a cinematic gold-and-crimson portal, they’re transported into a grand, theater-inspired dining room that unfurls like a flower—an homage to the

COTE emblem—spiraling around a glowing, high-energy central bar. The atmosphere intensifies with stadium-style seating, giving the phrase ‘see and be seen’ a whole different meaning. Guests are at the center of the action—a live DJ booth fuels the night, dynamic lighting responds to the crowd, and each detail comes together for an exhilarating and immersive experience. Upstairs, skybox-style private dining rooms allow for surveying the scene, while a hidden bar encapsulated in a lush green terrarium wall offer an intimate, yet elegant retreat for unforgettable nights.

“Our collaboration with Simon Kim and Gracious Hospitality has resulted in some of the most rewarding and exciting creative experiences," said David Rockwell, founder and President of Rockwell Group. "We are thrilled to have helped conceive a journey for COTE Vegas diners that alludes to the language and atmosphere of its predecessors but takes an entirely new and unprecedented approach to the theatricality of dining.”

At the table, Executive Chef David Shim oversees the menu of beloved favorites, including the signature Butcher’s Feast™, a curated progression of four premium cuts grilled tableside, complemented by Korean-inspired sides, along with rare A5 Wagyu and USDA Prime steaks that are dry-aged in-house for 120 days. Exclusive to Las Vegas, new signature dishes include the ‘BlackJack’ Sandwich—a decadent creation layered with Kagoshima A5 Wagyu, Périgord black truffle from Burgundy, truffle aioli, and pillowy milk toast.

The four-time James Beard Award-nominated beverage program, led by Executive Beverage Director Victoria James, boasts over 1,200 meticulously curated labels. The cocktail menu curated by Global Director of Bars Sondre Kasin channels the electric spirit of Las Vegas with inventive new creations, including the Vegas-only Diamonds Are Forever, a sparkling tribute to the 1971 James Bond classic.

“As we continue to define one of the most dynamic and diverse culinary destinations on the Strip, we’re proud to partner with Simon Kim and the team at Gracious Hospitality to debut COTE Las Vegas,” said Patrick Nichols, president and chief executive officer of The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. “From its daring, statement-making design to its exceptional cuisine and flawless, detail-oriented service, COTE Las Vegas embodies the bold innovation and world-class hospitality we strive to deliver. This collaboration marks an exciting chapter in our culinary evolution, and we can’t wait to welcome guests into an experience unlike anything else in Las Vegas.”

The opening of COTE Las Vegas marks a critical step in Gracious Hospitality Management’s broader expansion. Following the successful opening of COTE Singapore and the breakout success of COQODAQ in New York City in 2024, GHM will open its most comprehensive project to date: 550 Madison Avenue in 2026. The multi-level flagship will feature three new concepts, including New York’s second COTE location, a multi-bar restaurant reshaping Midtown’s dining scene, and an intimate sushi counter by Michelin-starred chef Masahiro Yoshitake.

GHM’s mission is to build hospitality brands that resonate beyond the table—galvanizing community through cuisine, design and cultural relevance. The opening of COTE Las Vegas—realized in close collaboration with The Venetian and Rockwell Group—brings that philosophy to life on the Strip, and signals the next chapter in the evolution of experiential hospitality.