This Week in Chinatown
Published by chinatownvegas.com
April 20, 2025
Welcome to your weekly dose of Chinatown happenings! We’re thrilled about TP Tea, the bubble milk tea pioneer, coming soon to Las Vegas Chinatown. It’s taking over the former Sweet Coco spot at 4770 Spring Mountain Rd—stay tuned for updates!
Our Chinatown spans over three miles along Spring Mountain Road, hosting big-name Asian brands in one vibrant strip: Shoo Loong Kan, Paris Baguette, Kura Sushi, Pepper Lunch, ShareTea, Fish With You, 85 Degree Bakery, B.BQ Chicken, Hui Lau Shan, Chi Cha San Chen.
This week, we’re introducing “Chinatown Gripes,” a new section for our weekly lament on community challenges. Stay tuned!
From live events to community updates, here’s what’s unfolding in our neighborhood this week, moving east to west along Spring Mountain Road.
This way to Chinatown Vegas
Sand Dollar Lounge Hosts Pre-Viva Party
A special event at Sand Dollar Lounge is this week’s highlight: the Pre-Viva Rock ‘n’ Roll Party on Wednesday, April 23! From 10 pm–2 am, catch special guests The Centuries (LA), Lady Luck Lexy (UK), The Holy Smokes (LV), and Bo Peep & The Backbeat (AZ) at this 21+ bash with no cover.
The week also features acts like Crazy Swayze & Friends and Lexie Phifer & The Hot Trash Express for more live music vibes. For a complete list of live bands, click here
Las Vegas Little Theater Presents Glass Menagerie and Pajama Game Auditions
Experience Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie at the Las Vegas Little Theater, running April 25 at 7 pm, April 26 at 7 pm and 2 pm, April 27 at 2 pm, and continuing May 2 at 7 pm, May 3 at 7 pm and 2 pm, and May 4 at 2 pm—all seats $35! This poignant tale of family, memory, and lost hopes will leave you spellbound.
Calling all actors: LVLT announces open auditions for the 2025 summer musical The Pajama Game, a Tony-winning comedic love story, on April 21 and 22 at 7 pm at 3920 Schiff Dr, with callbacks on April 24! This volunteer production, performing July 11–27 with hits like “Steam Heat” and “Hernando’s Hideaway,” starts rehearsals in May—don’t miss your chance to shine!
Las Vegas Chinatown: Unmatched Asian Brand Powerhouse
Las Vegas’ Chinatown, spanning over three miles along Spring Mountain Road, packs a unique punch with big-name Asian brands. Check this lineup: Shoo Loong Kan, Paris Baguette, Kura Sushi, Pepper Lunch, ShareTea, 85 Degree Bakery, B.BQ Chicken, Hui Lau Shan, Chi Cha San Chen. Other cities claim “we have those too,” but they’re talking their whole metro area, not their Chinatown. Which North American Chinatown has all these in one vibrant strip? Not NYC. Not San Francisco. Only Las Vegas Chinatown delivers this density!
Spring Mountain Road isn’t just home to big Asian brands—it’s a vital incubator for local culinary concepts that grow far beyond Las Vegas Chinatown! Take Hot N Juicy Crawfish, which started here and now boasts locations in Rowland Heights, San Gabriel, and even Orlando, Florida, showcasing Chinatown’s role in launching success stories.
Another gem, Chef Jimmy Li’s Shanghai Taste, brings authentic Shanghai flavors to our strip, earning chef Jimmy Li a James Beard nomination and proving Spring Mountain Road is where unique culinary visions flourish and reach a wider audience. This is why our Chinatown stands out!
Next week we will take a look at all of our James Beard-nominated chefs, which might be more than the total of all American Chinatowns combined, and a look at Chinatowns’ Master Sommelier. Does your Chinatown have one?
Explore Eater’s Picks for Exceptional Chinatown Dining
Las Vegas shines as a culinary hotspot, and Chinatown is a standout, as noted in Eater Las Vegas’ “An Eater’s Guide to Dining and Drinking” this past week! Our neighborhood proudly features some of the city’s best dining spots on its prestigious list.
Explore these exceptional Chinatown establishments: Kame, Le Club by Partage, Double Zero Pie and Pub, China Mama, Raku, ShangHai Taste, Yui Edomae, Xiao Long Dumplings, Sparrow & Wolf, Kabuto. Grab a bite and taste why Chinatown is a food lover’s paradise!
The unofficial state bird: The Traffic Cone
Chinatown Gripes: What’s Bugging Our Community?
Every neighborhood has its challenges, and Chinatown is no exception—we applaud County Commissioner Justin Jones for his proactive advocacy for our area. We are fortunate to have such support. However, some issues need urgent attention.
At Desert Breeze Park, the new events center brings food festivals and concerts, yet cones at Spring Mountain and Cimarron have become a permanent fixture for 30 days, frustrating locals. Heading east, the traffic light at Tenaya and Spring Mountain has an obnoxious 10-second timer before 5 am, forcing long waits while the north-south Tenaya timer stretches to 30 seconds with rarely any traffic.
Further east, ferocious potholes near McDonald’s to Lindell rattle cars and bones, desperately needing emergency repairs—can we make this happen? A blinking parking light next to One Piece Cafe flashes like a strobe, blinding drivers, and the 45 mph speed limit on Spring Mountain feels absurd with heavy foot traffic, especially when Twain is mostly 30 mph.
Traffic light timers are a city-wide issue, but a 1.5-mile drive from Starbucks to Desert Breeze can take 25 minutes at 4 am due to multi-minute left-turn waits and backups at major plazas like Shanghai Plaza—let’s fix this!
KROK Softly Opens, A Modern Thai Follow-Up We Predicted
Back in January, This Week in Chinatown broke the news about KROK Thai Food, and now it’s here! KROK’s soft opening is underway in the mall next to Chinatown Plaza, downstairs from Ichiza (4355 Spring Mountain Rd, Unit 107). From the Mama Surang Thai Kitchen team, KROK blends authentic Thai flavors with a modern twist.
The menu features shareable Thai tapas, bold noodle dishes, and Thai-inspired cocktails in a stylish setting. We hit the soft opening and loved the delicious Beef Kerky, Pad Thai, and Thai Guacamole with its lovely tableside presentation as seen in the clip below.
A Thailand native, Arm honed his craft under world-renowned chefs Alex Stratta and Guy Savoy, blending traditional techniques with modern flair, as showcased in this vibrant Thai Guacamole His leadership at Mama Surang has earned accolades, while his innovative approach at KROK—featuring Thai tapas and cocktails—has already made waves during its 2025 soft opening, solidifying his status as a Thai cuisine trailblazer in Chinatown.
Have you tried KROK? Share your experience with us! @chinatownvegas
Explore More Chinatown
Are you looking to dive deeper into the Chinatown experience? Check out our guides:
Chinatown Vegas Gambling Guide: Discover hidden betting gems along the Strip.
Perfect Places to Master Martial Arts Guide: Find top-notch martial arts training locations.
History of Chinatown: Uncover the rich history of Chinatown.
Still to Come…
Las Vegas Chinatown’s food scene is heating up—here’s what’s on the horizon:
Shoo Loong Hotpot: Simmering at 4125 Spring Mountain Rd. Ste B203, Chinatown Plaza. Chinatownvegas.com’s November 3, 2024, tease hints at a spring opening—remodel’s in full swing.
Shin-Sen-Gumi Yakitori: This legendary California yakitori chain brings its famous skewers to our ‘hood.
Sen Thai Noodle: Slated for 3380 Arville St., per January 12, 2025, chinatownvegas.com—Thai noodle bliss incoming.
Sea Harbour Seafood by Chef Tony: Landing at 5780 Spring Mountain Rd.., per February 9, 2025, update—Chef Tony’s dim sum legacy’s set to shine.
VT Mania: No trail yet—Vietnamese vibes or something else? It’s a tasty mystery.
Pho Saigonese: Taking over Lamoon’s old haunt, soft opening is imminent
TP Tea: A subsidiary of Chun Shui Tang, the inventors of Bubble milk tea.
Spring Mountain’s 25+ mall empire keeps growing—watch these spots light it up!
New Spa and Clawing Arrives at Golden Spring Plaza
There’s a change-up at Golden Spring Plaza with the former 4 Seasons Nail Lounge space transforming! The spot has either been sold or shuttered, making way for a new spa called @Spa and Clawing Arcade to open its doors.
We’ll keep you updated as more details emerge about @Spa Clawing Arcade and its upcoming opening. Stay tuned for further information on this exciting addition to Chinatown!
Stay connected, support local, and dive into the heart of Chinatown’s culture! Got something to share? Don’t forget to tag us.
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