Chinatown Report: This Week in Chinatown

 

Las Vegas Chinatown news and analysis by Chinatownvegas.com. Food. Restaurants. Tips. Things to do. Events. What’s in? What’s out? RUMORS + much more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chinatown was filled to the max this week with two concerts by Chinese Superstars, Leehom Wang who performed at the Resort World Theater, and JJ Lin who performed at the MGM Garden Arena. Both concerts were sold out and filled to the max. Before as well as after the concerts, fans of both artists took to Chinatown, filling the restaurants,  many having 3+ hour wait times.

 

 

This past week also ended the Chinese Lunar New Year festivities with a lovely event at Desert Breeze Park. The event featured a Lion Dance and martial art exhibition by Chinatown’s Lohan Scool of Shaolin.

 

 

Chinatown has a new fan in MMA legend Nick Diaz who has been spotted in several of our restaurants such as Shokku Ramen in the Center at Spring Mountain, ShangHai Taste in the Shanghai Plaza, and Sea Fresh in the Mountain View Plaza. Nick has recently relocated from Stockton to Las Vegas. Word on the street is that there will be some meet and greet dinner with Nick coming up soon

 

Letters of the Week:

 

We receive several inquiries about Las Vegas Chinatown. We will feature some here in our weekly report

 

Veronica Hu asks:

Is there a Chinatown bus to LA?

Veronica,

There used to be ( pre covid-19) a few that left from the Chinatown Plaza and made a few stops in LA, including Monterey Park, Chino, and Union Station. They could be booked through Go To or Wanderu Bus. Unfortunately, they never resumed after Covid and the success of European company Flix Bus also contributed to them not resuming service. The Chinatown busses provided inexpensive and efficient transportation and we hope they start again. When they do, Chinatown Vegas will post about it.

 

Let’s have a look and see what is new in Chinatown.

 

 

 

Starting from the east and heading west on Spring Mountain Rd.

 

What’s Up at The Center at Spring Mountain?

 

Izakaya Go has a full liquor license and new cocktails

 

 

Popular late-night spot, Izakaya Go has added some scrumptious cocktails to its menu. Highlights include the Okinawa Fashioned with Akashi, Kuromitsu, and bitters, a Tokyo Mule with Tito’s vodka, Yuzu, and ginger beer, and their version of a Margarita with Don Julio tequila, triple sec, yuzu, and lime juice. The restaurant is open from 5 pm to 2 am 7 days a week

 

 

 

Also in the Center at Spring Mountain,  Mas Por Favor, the Mexican eatery with a hidden tunnel that leads to a speakeasy bar is celebrating its 3rd year anniversary.

 

 

Chinatown Retail

 

Fukuya: お知らせ, which we first reported was soft-opening in the January 6th issue of  This Week in Chinatown, is now open 7 days a week from 10 am to 7 pm. The Japanese food supermarket features many items directly imported from Japan such as Glico Pocky, the chocolate-covered biscuit snack, and Nama soy sauce– the raw (unpasteurized)  soy sauce that’s become popular and the standard in recent years in Japan. These soy sauces are fermented in the traditional way, in wooden barrels in full sun, and contain living enzymes and beneficial organisms. We expect foodies and raw food enthusiasts to flock to this store for this product.

The Japanese Anime shop located next store still has no opening date set.

 

 

Chinatown Plaza

 

This week, the 99 Ranch Market has some of the best specials we have seen in some time. Might be a good time to check out some of the restaurants in the plaza and then load up on some good deals to take home.

 

Mama Chai’s sets opening date

 

Heading west, across from the Chinatown Plaza and next to the Shanghai Plaza, Mama Chai’s,  has set an opening date. Barring any last-minute delays, the dessert shop will open on February 9th.  It’s the same owner as the PAYCE barbeque restaurant next door, Mr. BBQ.

 

Shanghai Plaza

 

It’s been business as usual in what may be the best strip mall in all of Las Vegas so not much has changed this week. But they did add a cotton candy vending machine. Cash only

Seoul Plaza

 

New Dessert at Sweets Raku

 

 

Sweets Raku, the dessert shop that specializes in modern interpretations of Japanese French Style desserts has introduced a new item to its menu. Honey ice cream with crispy pie, apple compote, and sugar-coated almond slices. Doesn’t this look absolutely delicious?

 

Mountain View Plaza

 

Newly nominated James Beard Award finalist Jimmy Li’s new tasting menu has gained many new fans and rave reviews. Food, drink, travel, and entertainment guide, Thrillist recently featured the restaurant and its tasting menu, praising the new 6-course menu’s price as “more than fair”. The restaurant only has 16 seats so you’ll need to reserve well in advance.

 

 

Spring Mountain Center

 

 

The new end-cap anchor for the Spring Mountain Center is ready for its facade.  There is still no confirmed tenant but rumors are swirling around. Chinatown Vegas will keep an eye on this and report when we learn more.

 

That’s it for this week. Until next week – enjoy Chinatown and don’t forget to check out our YouTube Channel