Amaya Modern Mexican

“Lunch at Amaya was like getting a warm hug from a spicy octopus: Solid coordination of flavor, heat, smoke and vibe. The birria tacos with signature salsa made me happy, but I'll be back for the grilled octopus,” says Andrew Morgan, creator of HappyHourVegas.com.

Amaya, in the former Holsteins space at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, features a fun (but not over-the-top) ambiance, sustainable ingredients, bold and vibrant flavors, a ginormous taco salad and fire-eating entertainers.

The grand opening Jan. 31 featured Kendall Jenner behind the bar. Dinner was fantastic a few weeks later: chips and salsa, chicken tortilla soup, that ginormous taco salad with skirt steak and shrimp aguachile.

Additionally, sizzling fajitas with skirt steak, Mexican street corn, churro ice cream sandwich, margaritas, skinny margaritas, carajillos and a lot of leftovers. There wasn’t a false step, and the prices are reasonable for the Las Vegas Strip.

Pro tip: Order the Fiego Y Hielo margarita. The tasty concoction arrived alit — perfect for social media without being obnoxious. The front-entrance bar and lounge is great for dinner and drinks, too.