by Charles Karel Bouley II

It’s easy to dismiss strip malls as overcrowded retail of little quality. But you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you did such to one on Lake Mead Blvd in Las Vegas, NV. Because nestled on the north side of the street in between Tenaya and Rainbow, in an nondescript strip mall housing Whole Foods is possibly the best sushi, let alone vegan, in Las Vegas.

And I feel guilty for saying it. 

Daikon Vegan Sushi is serving up the absolutely best rolls in town, and I feel like I’m betraying Chef Kenny by saying so; but it’s true. The quality, the inventiveness, the presentation, it all combines to make an excellent dining experience that everyone, vegan, vegetarian, carnivores can enjoy. 

I first went there for ramen. While Jinya, Chef Kenny and others offer vegan ramen, Daikon takes it to the next level with their tomato-based ramen with fried tofu skin on top. It’s like no other ramen you’ve ever had, and that’s a good thing. Robust, bursting with flavors and full of delicious veggies and noodles, this dish is worth the trip from anywhere in the Las Vegas valley and a must for any visitors that want something unique and delicious. 

But sushi is the real star here, as it should be. Two billion pounds of fish are pulled from the world’s oceans daily; an unsustainable figure. And, fresh fish is increasingly full of mercury, radiation from Fukushima and other areas, and parasites, not to mention we are literally running out. But there’s no need to use fish in sushi when it’s this good. I guarantee you will not miss our scaled friends at all. 

A great starter is the Dynamite Pockets; baked mushrooms and sweet corn in a mayo base, stuffed in to a pocket with rice and served two-up. I’d like to say I share them, I don’t. I eat them both. Notice I said “like to say.” If you go with a friend, get two orders.

The faux Garlic Albacore will make you believe you’re eating fish, I literally had to confirm it was vegan. At $5.50 (currently) they make a great appetizer as well.

The Bulgolgi Roll will mix Korean flavors with traditional sushi and ends up being a unique and must-try entree. King oyster mushrooms serve as the base with carrots, onions and cucumbers topped with “tuna” “albacore” and dried shallots. You won’t find this many other places.

Another unique creation is the Black Garlic Roll which is black garlic and chickpea on top of carrot, cucumber and avocado roll. They go down quickly and easily and leave a lasting, satisfying flavor unlike many others I’ve had.

Daikon also serves Black Rice, a treat and delicacy, prepared perfectly with it’s fragrant aromas and unique, robust flavors. Black Rice is a rarity in restaurants and when it is in them they often do it wrong. Not here. It’s perfectly cooked and seasoned and rounds out any dish.

Daikon offers over 20 rolls, six types of ramen, appetizers, salads, enough to go back weekly and not run out of options for almost a year. The rolls are affordable, given today’s prices, and given the quality. If they were in a resort here they could charge double, and get, and people would still be satisfied. And yes, they also have sushi nigiri and I challenge even the most devout pescatarian to experience it and think it is anything but perfection. 

When I became vegan seven years ago, I gave up my weekly Friday habit of sushi for lunch. Then, I discovered Chef Kenny in Las Vegas and couldn’t believe I could eat sushi again. Now that I’ve discovered Daikon, not only do I not miss anything at all, but as usually happens with vegan food, my palate has been expanded and I have another great place to go and enjoy either alone with Ember or with friends. I had lunch there just yesterday, my ramen and pocket, for under $20. 

Located at 7210 W Lake Mead Blvd #1, Las Vegas, NV they can be reached at 702.749.3283. Their website is here.  See their menu in the gallery below.

Be sure to mention you saw them on Vegan in Vegas and Bob Appétit!