Welcome

Welcome Back to This Week in Chinatown

Welcome back! After a brief summer pause following our July 13 issue, we’re excited to return with a refreshed edition of This Week in Chinatown.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been busy behind the scenes completing a major server upgrade designed to improve the performance, reliability, and future growth of ChinatownVegas.com. While the work took a little longer than expected, we’re pleased to say the upgrade is complete—and so is a fresh new look for this newsletter, reimagined to be easier to browse and read while we keep documenting everything happening across Las Vegas Chinatown.

This week’s Spotlight explores another sign of Chinatown’s evolution. For years, the district has been known as a place people visited for incredible food, shopping, and nightlife. Today, it’s increasingly becoming a place people choose to call home. We take a closer look at COYA, a new luxury apartment community that reflects this shift. Elsewhere in this issue, we’re tracking construction at Diamond Spring Mountain Plaza, following the latest businesses preparing to open across the corridor, and looking back at the history behind one familiar storefront.

Whether you’re a longtime resident, a business owner, or simply someone who loves exploring Chinatown, thank you for joining us—we’re glad to be back.

Breaking

🏗️ Groundbreaking Update: Diamond Spring Mountain Plaza Construction Underway

While much of the recent attention has focused on major developments like Jade Promenade, another significant project is now officially moving from concept to construction.

Construction has begun on Diamond Spring Mountain Plaza, located at the corner of Spring Mountain Road and Lindell Road. Readers may remember that ChinatownVegas.com first reported on the proposed development more than a year ago. Today, that vision is becoming reality, with foundations now being set as work gets underway.

Unlike many shopping centers, Diamond Spring Mountain Plaza is designed with convenient access from both Spring Mountain Road and Lindell Road, providing multiple points of entry for visitors and helping improve traffic circulation.

We’ve included exclusive construction photos in this week’s issue, and we’ll take a closer look at the project’s progress, site layout, and what it means for the continued westward expansion of the Chinatown corridor in Friday’s episode of This Week in Chinatown.

On Stage

🎵 Live Performance Spotlight: This Week’s Shows at The Sand Dollar

One of the best things about Las Vegas Chinatown is that the fun doesn’t stop after dinner. The Sand Dollar Lounge hosts live music seven nights a week, all year long, so there’s always something happening on stage no matter when you stop by. This week, we’re highlighting a couple of standout shows from the lineup.

🎸 Tuesday, August 4 – A Night with Jimmy Powers & The Hang Dynasty

Tuesday kicks off with Pro Jam, hosted by Jimmy Powers & The Hang Dynasty, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Musicians are encouraged to join the jam, making every performance a little different and every visit a unique experience. If you can’t make the early session, the band returns for a full late-night performance beginning at 10:00 p.m., keeping the music going well into the evening.

🎶 Friday, August 7 – A Full Evening of Blues

Friday is one of the week’s biggest nights for live music. The evening begins with the Down South Jukers from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., setting the stage with a high-energy blend of blues and roots music before the action shifts into one of Southern Nevada’s longest-running musical traditions.

At 10:00 p.m., the Las Vegas Blues Society Jam takes over the stage, featuring Catfish John and a rotating lineup of talented local musicians. Whether you’re a longtime blues fan or simply looking to experience one of Chinatown’s most authentic nightlife venues, Friday night at The Sand Dollar rarely disappoints.

From open jam sessions to nationally respected blues performances, The Sand Dollar Lounge continues to prove why it’s one of the cornerstones of Chinatown’s entertainment scene—with live music seven nights a week, year-round. Best of all, there’s no cover charge, making it one of the best values for live music anywhere in Las Vegas.

Spotlight

Living in Chinatown: COYA Brings a New Lifestyle to Spring Mountain

Luxury apartments are nothing new in Las Vegas. Living just steps from one of America’s most vibrant Asian dining and cultural districts is.

COYA represents another milestone as Chinatown continues evolving into a true live-work-play neighborhood.

For decades, Las Vegas Chinatown has been known primarily as a destination. People drove in for dinner, dessert, karaoke, shopping, or a late-night bowl of ramen before heading back home. Today, that story is changing. More people are choosing to call Chinatown home, and developments like COYA Apartments are helping shape the neighborhood’s next chapter.

Located at 3475 W. Desert Inn Road, COYA sits just north of Spring Mountain Road. While the formal address faces Desert Inn, the everyday experience is very different. Exit through the rear of the community and you’re less than half a block from Spring Mountain Road itself — placing residents within moments of the district’s restaurants, cafés, lounges, spas, markets, and entertainment venues.

Within a short walk are destinations including The Sand Dollar Lounge, Aroma Latin American Cocina, and The Center at Spring Mountain. Continue a little farther and you’ll reach dozens of restaurants stretching along Spring Mountain Road. Looking ahead, residents will also find themselves just minutes from the future Pacifica Vegas development and the planned Chinatown Visitor Center — projects expected to further strengthen the eastern end of the corridor and expand what’s available to both residents and visitors alike.

COYA is developed by the same team behind Green Leaf Lotus Apartments, another Chinatown-area residential community — giving them a track record of building housing tailored to life in this corridor before COYA came along.

COYA itself delivers the modern amenities expected from a luxury community. The 226-residence development offers studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans with smart-home technology, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, high ceilings, and in-unit washers and dryers. Residents also enjoy a resort-style swimming pool, outdoor barbecue and fire pit areas, a sky lounge overlooking the Las Vegas skyline, a 24-hour fitness center, co-working lounges, a resident clubhouse, pet spa, EV charging stations, package lockers, covered parking, and controlled-access entry.

Perhaps COYA’s greatest amenity isn’t found inside the community at all — it’s Chinatown itself. More than 248 verified sit-down restaurants, neighborhood cafés, specialty markets, bakeries, dessert shops, wellness businesses, and live entertainment venues are all part of the lifestyle that surrounds the property. As projects like Pacifica Vegas, improved transit connections, and future transportation investments continue to reshape the corridor, living in Chinatown is becoming about far more than convenience. It’s about being part of one of Las Vegas’ fastest-growing and most culturally diverse neighborhoods.

Learn more or schedule a tour at COYALiving.com →

Community

Community Corner

Throwback

Looking Back: Before Shokku Ramen

One of the things that makes The Center at Spring Mountain so fascinating is that it never stands still. Often considered one of the signature destinations in Las Vegas Chinatown, the sprawling three-strip retail center is home to more than 120 restaurants, cafés, specialty retailers, professional offices, and service businesses. For decades, it has been a place where new concepts debut, established businesses expand, and the neighborhood continually reinvents itself.

This storefront is a perfect example of that evolution.

Longtime Chinatown visitors may remember Mr. Tofu, which occupied this space for nearly a decade before closing in 2016. The location was then transformed into Marugame Monzo, an acclaimed Japanese udon restaurant from the Mon Restaurant Group that introduced handmade Sanuki-style udon to the corridor. Although highly regarded, the concept had a relatively short run before the owners decided to move in a different direction.

On May 14, 2018, the space reopened as Ramen Kobo & Sake, a sister concept from the same ownership group that shifted the focus from udon to ramen. When ChinatownVegas.com photographed the restaurant in 2021, Ramen Kobo had become another familiar stop for diners exploring Spring Mountain Road during a period when Las Vegas Chinatown’s dining scene was experiencing remarkable growth.

Like so many businesses throughout Chinatown, the story didn’t end there.

Today, the storefront is home to Shokku Ramen, one of the district’s best-known restaurants. Open 24 hours a day, Shokku has built a loyal following with its anime-inspired atmosphere, creative ramen dishes, and late-night energy, serving everyone from hospitality workers ending their shifts to visitors looking for a meal long after most restaurants have closed.

The evolution of this single address tells a much larger story about Las Vegas Chinatown. While some restaurants become longtime institutions, others pass the torch to new concepts that reflect changing tastes, new owners, and the neighborhood’s continued growth. Every storefront along Spring Mountain Road has its own history, and every new business adds another chapter to the district’s ongoing story.

As ChinatownVegas.com continues documenting the neighborhood, photographs like this become more than old images—they become part of Chinatown’s visual history, preserving businesses and moments that might otherwise fade from memory.

Do you remember dining at Ramen Kobo, or even Marugame Monzo before it? We’d love to hear your memories of how The Center at Spring Mountain has changed over the years.

Deals

🛒 Shop Local: This Week’s Best Grocery Finds

Every week, we highlight some of the best values from Chinatown’s Asian markets—whether you’re looking for a quick snack while exploring the neighborhood or stocking your kitchen with authentic ingredients and everyday essentials.

🛍️ 99 Ranch Market

A cornerstone of Spring Mountain Road, offering exceptional prices on pantry staples, specialty ingredients, and refreshing treats.

🧳 For Visitors (Grab & Go)

• Want Want Yogurt Drink (4 x 80g) — A cool, refreshing probiotic drink that’s perfect for staying energized between restaurant stops. Sale Price: $2.49/pack (Regularly $2.79)
• Taoqi Peach Ice Bar / Great Forest Propitious Mango Ice Bar (225g) — Beat the Las Vegas summer heat with these fruity frozen treats. Sale Price: $7.99 each (Regularly $9.99)

🏡 For Your Pantry

• Sekka Rice (15 lb) — One of this week’s standout bargains. This premium short-grain rice is perfect for everything from sushi to everyday family meals. Sale Price: $11.99 (Regularly $17.99)
• Kikkoman Less Sodium Soy Sauce (64 oz) — A kitchen staple for stir-fries, marinades, and dipping sauces. Sale Price: $8.99 (Regularly $11.99)

🛍️ 168 Market

Your go-to destination for authentic ingredients, household staples, and unique snacks you won’t find in most traditional supermarkets.

🧳 For Visitors (Grab & Go)

• Want Want Seaweed Rice Crackers (102g) — A light, crispy snack that’s easy to toss into a backpack while exploring Chinatown. Sale Price: $1.99 (Regularly $2.99)
• Demisoda Soda Series (6 x 8.45 fl oz) — These popular Korean fruit sodas make the perfect refreshment on a hot Las Vegas afternoon. Sale Price: $2.99 + tax (Regularly $5.99)

🏡 For Your Pantry

• Mogami 8-Blend Wholegrain Rice (5 lb) — A nutritious blend of whole grains that’s perfect for everyday meals. Sale Price: $15.99 (Regularly $19.99)
• CJ Foods All-Purpose Wheat Flour (5.51 lb) — Great for homemade noodles, dumplings, pastries, or weekend baking projects. Sale Price: $3.29 (Regularly $5.49)

💡 Why We Picked These Deals

This week’s featured specials focus on everyday favorites that offer outstanding value. Whether you’re grabbing a refreshing drink while exploring the neighborhood, cooling off with a frozen treat, or stocking your pantry with staples you’ll use all month, these are some of the best grocery buys currently available in Las Vegas Chinatown.

Prices are based on this week’s advertised circulars and are valid while supplies last. Be sure to check each store’s weekly ad for additional specials and any applicable purchase limits.

Preview

Coming Soon: Chinatown’s Scene Heats Up

New restaurants, retailers, and major developments continue to shape the future of the Chinatown corridor.

Forecast

Chinatown Weather

Live conditions for the Spring Mountain corridor, updated automatically.

Unfiltered

Chinatown Gripes: Building the Future Without Repeating the Past

After a few weeks away, we returned expecting to find at least some of Chinatown’s long-standing transportation challenges improved. Unfortunately, many of the same concerns remain. Congested intersections, aging pavement, difficult left turns, speeding traffic, and pedestrian safety continue to be everyday realities along the Spring Mountain corridor.

The good news is that change is on the horizon. Projects like Pacifica Plaza, Jade Promenade, Diamond Spring Mountain Plaza, and other planned developments represent major investments in Chinatown’s future. New businesses, residents, and visitors will continue to strengthen one of Las Vegas’ most vibrant neighborhoods.

But growth also raises an important question.

How do we make sure today’s traffic and infrastructure problems don’t simply grow alongside Chinatown itself?

As new projects move forward, now is the time to think beyond buildings. Better traffic management, safer pedestrian crossings, improved roadway maintenance, thoughtful access points, smarter signal timing, enhanced public transit, and a more walkable corridor should be part of every conversation about Chinatown’s future.

Las Vegas Chinatown has proven it can become one of the city’s premier dining and cultural destinations. The next challenge is ensuring its streets evolve just as successfully.

We’ll continue highlighting both the progress being made—and the issues that still deserve attention—because building a stronger Chinatown isn’t just about what opens next. It’s about creating a neighborhood that’s safer, more connected, and easier for everyone to enjoy.

Explore More Chinatown

Ready to dive deeper into everything our neighborhood has to offer? Whether you’re hungry, curious, or just looking for something new to experience—we’ve got you covered. Spring Mountain Road offers endless adventures, from dining to community events. Revisit our past guides for more inspiration.

Embrace Traditional Chinese Medicine

Discover centuries-old wellness at Chinatown’s herbal shops and acupuncture clinics. From custom tea blends to holistic treatments, these centers offer balance and healing whenever you need a reset.

Discovering Traditional Chinese Medicine in Las Vegas Chinatown

Share your experience with #ChinatownVegasVibes!

Try Your Luck in Chinatown

No mega-casinos here, but Chinatown’s gaming scene has its own charm. Hit up cozy lounges with video poker or hidden spots for classic betting, all paired with great food and drinks.

The Golden Tiki, 3939 W. Spring Mountain Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89102

Can You Gamble In Chinatown? A Guide To Gambling In Las Vegas’ Chinatown

Share your experience with #ChinatownVegasVibes!

Insider Tip: Visit ChinatownVegas.com daily for breaking news, openings, and the stories behind your favorite neighborhood spots.

Let’s Celebrate

Let’s Celebrate

This week, we’re glad to be back — and even gladder that Chinatown never really paused.

While we were offline finishing the site upgrade and redesign, Spring Mountain Road kept doing what it does best: serving late-night ramen, packing karaoke rooms, welcoming new tenants, and giving residents and visitors one of the most distinctive neighborhoods in Las Vegas.

So this week’s celebration is simple:

To the businesses that stayed open through the summer heat and kept the corridor buzzing.
To the workers — kitchen staff, servers, shop owners, musicians, and delivery drivers — who make everyday Chinatown possible.
To the readers and neighbors who kept checking in, sharing tips, and supporting local spots while we were away.

We’re also celebrating the quiet progress that doesn’t always make headlines: new signage going up, storefronts getting ready, construction starting on the corridor’s next chapter, and more people choosing to live closer to the food, culture, and nightlife they already love.

Here’s to another week on Spring Mountain Road.

Submissions

📣 Share Your News

Have a neighborhood update, press release, event announcement, business milestone, or community story to share?

We’d love to hear from you. This Week in Chinatown welcomes submissions from businesses, organizations, nonprofits, creators, and community members helping shape the Las Vegas Chinatown community. While we can’t guarantee every submission will be published, we review every story for possible inclusion in future editions.

Email: hello@chinatownvegas.com