Forgettable Bang Bar to Close at Cosmopolitan’s Block 16 Food Court
Bang Bar at Cosmopolitan, from noted jerk and trademark bully Chef David Chang, is closing on Oct. 4, 2026.
In related news, successful things don’t close in Las Vegas.
“Bang” in this context is Korean (usually “ppang” or “bbang”) for bread. Which Bang Bar didn’t make, otherwise it wouldn’t be closing.
Bang Bar has been at Cosmo since 2021, when it moved into the Pok Pok Wing space.
Chang opened the first Bang Bar in 2018 at the Shops at Columbus Circle, then called the Time Warner Center, in Manhattan. It was an offshoot of Momofuku, Chang’s popular restaurant brand.
The original Bang Bar is still operating in New York today and the venue’s menu has expanded to include items such as kimbap, a popular song by the Hanson brothers.
That joke would’ve killed 30 years ago.
Virtually all of Chang’s Las Vegas restaurants have closed. Majordomo Meat & Fish at Palazzo closed in 2022. Its sister outlet, Moon Palace (a tiny quick-service slider counter) at Palazzo, also closed. After Bang Bar shutters, Momufuku is it.
As mentioned, Chang has had a number of public kerfuffles.
He has acknowledged being an angry, volatile boss, describing his early management style as a mix of “fear and fury.” We would add “douchebaggery.” Former employees have described screaming, humiliation and threats in Momofuku kitchens. That reputation took another hit in 2024 when Momofuku sent cease-and-desist letters to smaller food companies using terms such as “chili crunch,” sparking accusations of trademark bullying and trying to monopolize what critics considered a generic food term. After some backlash, Chang and Momofuku reversed course and said they would stop enforcing the “chile crunch” trademark.
Chang will presumably be involved with whatever replaces Bang Bar. A new concept is expected to open in the same space next year, according to MGM Resorts, operator of Cosmopolitan. (MGM doesn’t own the Cosmo. The real estate is owned by a partnership of Stonepeak, the Cherng Family Trust and Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust. Long story.)
The remaining concepts in the Block 16 food court are Naughty Patty’s, District: Donuts. Sliders. Brew., Ghost Donkey, Tekka Bar, Lardo and Hattie B’s Hot Chicken.
Ghost Donkey is more of a tequila/mezcal bar than a food outlet, but it’s definitely in the food court, sort of tucked away in the back without a sign. Look for the donkey.
Most of the food at Cosmo is pretty weak. Superfrico is excellent. Eggslut is overrated. STK is fantastic but far too loud. Amaya Modern Mexican is Mexican food. Beauty & Essex isn’t bad. China Poblano is consistently mediocre. Scarpetta is weak. Secret Pizza isn’t secret or outstanding (unless you’re drunk). Haven’t been to Jaleo, Momofuku, Red Plate, The Henry or Zuma. Wicked Spoon is one of the better buffets on The Strip. You should try it before it’s gone.
Gird your stretchy pants: A high-ranking MGM Resorts executive says the buffets at all their Las Vegas resorts will be closed by Q2 of 2027. Wicked Spoon at Cosmo will be the last to close.
— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) May 8, 2026
Unconfirmed.
The Corner Store is scheduled to open at Cosmo in November, which is a glimmer of hope.
The Corner Store will take over the former Blue Ribbon American Grill & Oyster Bar space.
Corner Store is a New York import from Tilman Fertitta (yes, the one buying Caesars Entertainment if his check clears), Eugene Remm and Catch Hospitality Group. The concept debuted in SoHo in 2024 and is an upscale, tongue-in-cheek version of a classic American restaurant with velvet booths, old-school service, steak frites and Wagyu French dip sharing menu space with fancy pizza rolls and a martini program that includes sour cream-and-onion and tomato variations, if you’re into that kind of thing. The original is about being nostalgic, a little ridiculous and very much about being seen.
Cosmo could use a little fun in its culinary line-up.
That said, the name of Cosmo’s food court is very fun.
Block 16 is a wink at Las Vegas history. When the original Las Vegas townsite was laid out in 1905, Block 16 downtown was one of the few areas where liquor sales were allowed and it evolved into the city’s popular red-light district, packed with saloons and brothels.
Reminder: Prostitution is illegal in Las Vegas, which means it never, ever happens. Sorry to be a buzzkill.
Let’s get something great in the Bang Bar space, shan’t we? None of the current concepts offer chicken parm sandwiches. Just saying.
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