Chef Jet Tila didn't set out looking for his next restaurant partnership — it found him.
During a visit to Live! Casino & Hotel, a collaboration with Wolfgang Puck introduced him to the property, its culinary team, and the people involved.
“Once I saw the facilities, it's a beautiful property. And me coming from gaming and wanting to get back into restaurants at hotels, I thought, man… this could be an amazing opportunity," explains Tila.
Tila brings decades of culinary experience to the partnership, along with a deep personal connection to the cuisine he cooks. Born into a family that helped establish the country's earliest Thai markets and restaurants in Los Angeles, he grew up immersed in the traditions that would shape his career. A classically trained chef, bestselling cookbook author and familiar face on Food Network, Tila has built a reputation for himself in the culinary world.
For his collab at Luk Fu, he set out to bring some of his signature flavors to the plate — paired with a taste of Philly.
“I build menus by understanding the geography first. Philadelphia has some of the best chefs in America and a vibrant food scene. To be able to have a piece of that for me, that's exciting,” continues Tila.
“The [menu] demand also has to be driven by a few things: Number one, everyone wants phenomenal high-end Asian food. And then I think about, well what is Luk Fu? Luk Fu is already a fantastic Chinese restaurant; it has other Asian roots and does it all extremely well. So the idea was to bring my Pan-Asian touches, blow out the sushi menu and really bring in things that are current, not trendy, but proven Asian concepts that will work.”
The result is a collection of dishes that reflects both Chef’s Thai heritage and decades of experience cooking across Asia. New additions include Hamachi Chili Ponzu, Crispy Spicy Tuna served over crispy rice cakes, Tamarind Prawns, Sizzling Mongolian Filet Mignon and a Seared Salmon Dynamite Bowl, alongside elevated takes on familiar favorites like Tom Yum Soup, Sweet Heat Wings and Thai Pineapple Fried Rice.
Some dishes, however, are unmistakably Jet Tila. He points to the Tempura Crunch Roll as a personal favorite, drawing on more than two decades of sushi experience. Rather than relying on the typical tempura flakes found on many specialty rolls, Tila wraps this roll in imported crispy rice pearls before finishing it with house-made eel sauce and a yuzu miso glaze. Then there's Tila's Pad Thai, a dish he describes as deeply personal. Inspired by the recipe his grandmother made more than 50 years ago, he calls it his "L.A. California Pad Thai"—an homage to the city that shaped his cooking and the family legacy that continues to influence every plate he creates.
For Tila, a casino restaurant should match the energy of the gaming floor. Guests come dressed up, celebrating, taking chances and looking to indulge, he says, and the food should reflect that excitement. It's an approach he has refined over nearly two decades of developing restaurants in Las Vegas, one he believes is a natural fit for Live! Casino & Hotel.
“I'm always challenged because every single restaurant and every single concept, every single cookbook is always about creating the guest experience. When I'm on TV, I'm a little bigger than the normal guy because I'm trying to entertain and edutain you," Tila said. "When I built [the menu at] Luk Fu, I wanted you to come in and feel, oh, I get to be fed by Jet. And if you don't know who I am, great. You come into Luk Fu and you have a fantastic meal and then maybe it binds you to Live! and Luk Fu. Maybe it makes you go, "Who the heck is this Jet Tila guy and why do these flavors hit?" But no matter what I do, it's all about creating experiences. And I think we've knocked it out of the park.”
That appreciation for Philadelphia's culinary identity extends beyond Luk Fu. Tila has long admired the city's restaurant scene (and can even be seen hanging out with local talents like Marc Vetri), making the opportunity to contribute to the region's dining landscape especially meaningful. While the dishes may be rooted in his Thai heritage and shaped by years of experience in Las Vegas, LA and beyond, Tila sees this partnership as part of something bigger.
Tila's schedule also shows no signs of slowing down. He is preparing for another season of his Food Network series ‘Ready Jet Cook’ and confirmed he will return for Season 8 of ‘Tournament of Champions’, as well as the network's ‘Tournament of Champions’ Christmas special.
“Having partnerships like Luk Fu actually keeps me home. I see my family more. When you have a team that is like your family, it makes it really easy,” finishes Tila. “It's just all a ride, man. I never thought I would achieve a hundredth of the level of success that I have… a little Thai restaurant kid in LA 51 years ago. I think I was just always chasing the ride and that helped me make a lot of really good decisions. I've got another 20 years left of me and we'll see what happens.”
To learn more and make a reservation at Luk Fu by Chef Jet Tila at Live! Casino & Hotel (900 Packer Ave.), visit livech.com/philadelphia/dine-and-drink/luk-fu
MORE: Post Haste’s next chapter: Philly cocktail destination becomes restaurant with a purpose
