[INTERVIEW] How chef Akira Back brought life to 'BTS menu' in Las Vegas

Akira Back, a chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant / Courtesy of Akira Back

Michelin-starred chef delights ARMY with BTS members' favorite foods

By Dong Sun-hwa

SEOUL/LAS VEGAS ― K-pop juggernaut BTS is having a hectic time staging a series of sold-out concerts in Las Vegas, but chef Akira Back is just as busy as the seven superstars at the moment.

Also known by his Korean name, Back Sung-ook, the Korean American chef has been serving a "BTS menu" for fans at the Sea Breeze Cafe in Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, which consists of the members' favorite Korean foods like gimbap (seaweed rice roll with various fillings), tteokbokki (spicy stir-fried rice cakes) and bibim guksu (spicy cold noodles). His fully booked pop-up restaurant is slated to run until April 17 (local time), one day after BTS' "Permission to Dance on Stage ― Las Vegas" concert tour wraps up.

K-pop boy band BTS held its "Permission to Dance on the Stage ― Las Vegas" concerts at Allegiant Stadium on April 8 and 9, and is set to hold two more shows at the same venue on April 15 and 16. Courtesy of Big Hit Music

This pop-up eatery is part of "The City" project by BTS' management company, HYBE. The K-pop powerhouse has transformed Las Vegas into a BTS playground where people can stay at BTS-themed hotels and try the singers' best-loved foods, among others, while staying in the city.

HYBE IPX President Rhee Seung-suk said in a press conference on April 9 that MGM ― HYBE's partner for "The City" project, which has provided BTS-themed rooms in its hotels ― helped his company get hold of Back, a Michelin-starred restaurant chef famed for his Korean-Japanese fusion dishes.

For Back, finding quality Korean ingredients in Las Vegas was not a walk in the park, but he has still succeeded in captivating the taste buds of fans from all over the world thanks to his fascinating reinterpretations of Korean dishes.

People line up to try BTS members' favorite foods at the Sea Breeze Cafe in Mandalay Bay. Korea Times photo by Dong Sun-hwa

"I discussed with HYBE the direction BTS wanted for the menu and then created it based on their feedback and my experience of Korean foods," Back said in an email interview with The Korea Times. "All my foods are my own creations. I cooked all the dishes beforehand and then constantly taste-tested them throughout the event dates to make sure that everything is of the quality needed."

Back's gimbap, for instance, looks quite distinctive from what people usually see in Korea. Flavored with truffle aioli ― a mayo-based sauce with truffles and garlic ― his gimbap is a surf-and-turf dish with a crispy vegetable medley piled on top. Given that ordinary gimbap usually includes fillings like ham, pickled radish and spinach, Back's creative deviation has allowed visitors to savor the culinary delights of Korea and beyond.

Back's gimbap served at the Sea Breeze Cafe in Mandalay Bay / Korea Times photo by Dong Sun-hwa

"I love to twist things around," Back said. "This is my style. I have 19 restaurants across the globe including Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge in Las Vegas and Dosa by Akira Back in Seoul, which earned a Michelin Star in 2018. So I understand different taste preferences and know how to blend flavors from different cultures into something that everyone is able to enjoy."

BTS fans are reacting wildly to his foods, with many thanking him for their unforgettable dining experiences.

"I went to the Sea Breeze Cafe last Sunday with my family, and we absolutely loved it," a fan wrote on Twitter. "The food was extremely delicious, and the customer service and the restaurant environment were amazing. Thank you for the wonderful experience."

Back's ice cream sandwiches served at the Sea Breeze Cafe in Mandalay Bay / Korea Times photo by Dong Sun-hwa

Back revealed that it is amazing to see so many BTS fans loving his foods.

"People genuinely love BTS, so the energy in the Cafe and the hotel has been really exciting to see and be a part of," he said. "It feels great to know that people are loving my foods and that they are able to get a taste of their favorite group's foods."

In his past interview with The Korea Times, Back said he believed his foods were all about "freedom." About a decade has passed since the interview, but he still remains firm in his belief.

"This is definitely still true and more true than ever," he explained. "Having freedom in the kitchen and creating amazing experiences for customers are something that I will always appreciate and not take for granted. The more freedom people have in both their work life and their personal life, the more happiness they will have."

Back, a snowboarder-turned-chef, started cooking after coming across a chef at a Japanese restaurant who looked so happy in his kitchen. His road to success was bumpy, as he had to go through several years of harsh training. In the end, however, he succeeded in becoming one of the most sought-after chefs in Las Vegas, whose steady customers include Hollywood star Paris Hilton and the Grammy Award-winning singer Mariah Carey.

Chef Akira Back / Courtesy of Akira Back

"The most challenging part of my job is that I often have to travel away from my family for a long time, which is not always easy," Back said. "But I love the ability to create memories for people when they dine in my restaurants and eat my cuisines. It is a wonderful feeling to know that I am helping them make a special moment and being a part of their lives."

After the BTS project, Back will immediately head to Florida to join a charity event, before opening new eateries in Dallas in early May.

"I have 10 restaurant openings in the next 18 months, so I will be pretty busy," he said. "But everything is very thrilling as the world is opening back up and things are returning to the normalcy."

The star chef wrapped up the interview by disclosing his future plans.

"It is not public yet, but I am doing the full food and beverage program for a major five-star hotel brand in London, England, which will open later this year. It will include my signature Akira Back restaurant and three other concepts, including a rooftop lounge, breakfast offerings and room services. Its location will be announced very soon."