Welcome
What’s Ahead This Week
Chinatown is getting a glow-up. Clark County has approved 26 businesses and properties along Spring Mountain Road for improvement grants, and work is getting underway. Upstairs at Pacific Asian Plaza, Yohama Noodles has closed, and Manila Taste LLC has filed paperwork for the space. Then we climb the stairs: this week’s Spotlight uncovers the second-floor secrets of four Chinatown plazas, from seafood and hot pot to mango desserts, collectibles, karaoke and nightlife.
Community Corner raises a glass to Trattoria Nakamura-Ya’s 15th anniversary, with a one-day menu on Nov. 11. The Sand Dollar Lounge serves up three nights of blues and rock, Shop Local sizzles with budget-friendly lamb noodles from 99 Ranch Market, and Coming Soon has signs up for Myungin Dumplings plus our new On the Radar ticker. Looking Back follows one Wynn Road corner from Vegas Noodle House to daGemi to Gyu+. Check the live weather, then Gripes aims for another round of Formula 1 lane closures. We wrap with Episode 15 in case you missed it and three favorite guides to explore.
New episode Tuesday: “Chinatown Las Vegas: This Week in Chinatown | Episode 16” arrives Tuesday, November 3, on YouTube.
Breaking
Breaking News
26 Chinatown Businesses Approved for Improvement Grants — Work Is Getting Underway
A little more lighting, better security, and some much-needed sprucing up could be coming to Chinatown’s shopping plazas.
Clark County reports that 26 businesses and properties along the Spring Mountain corridor have been approved for improvement grants, with projects now beginning to move forward.
The county’s $1.5 million Inspiring Spring Mountain Corridor Improvement Grant Program offers matching grants of up to $75,000 per property to help fund upgrades including security cameras, parking lot lighting, storefront improvements, landscaping, and public art.
According to the latest update, nine approved recipients have begun work, while another 17 are finalizing arrangements with vendors.
Among the recipients is Palette Tea Lounge and Dim Sum, which plans to improve its property with additional artwork and security-related upgrades.
Palette Tea Lounge and Dim Sum, one of 26 grant recipients, plans artwork and security-related upgrades. Photo (2023): ChinatownVegas.com.
For Chinatown, the significance goes beyond fresh paint and brighter parking lots. Better lighting, safer public spaces, and more welcoming storefronts can benefit the entire neighborhood, from longtime merchants to the millions of visitors exploring Spring Mountain Road each year.
The grants were approved earlier this year, but with projects now moving forward, visitors may soon begin noticing the improvements.
Chinatown keeps growing. Now some of its familiar plazas are getting a little extra attention, too.
Source: Clark County, via FOX5.
Yohama Noodles Closes; Manila Taste LLC Eyes Chinatown Location
Another restaurant change is taking shape at Pacific Asian Plaza.
Yohama Noodles has closed at 5115 W. Spring Mountain Road, and a possible successor may already be in the works.
Our sources tell us that Manila Taste LLC has filed paperwork for a restaurant at the former Yohama location, covering Suites 217–218. The application remains pending, with no confirmed opening date.
Longtime readers may remember that Yohama opened in June 2023, replacing Island Malaysian Cuisine, a transition first reported by ChinatownVegas.com earlier that year.
Yohama Noodles’ new signage at Pacific Asian Plaza in June 2023, when the restaurant opened in the former Island Malaysian Cuisine space. Photo: ChinatownVegas.com.
Now, just over three years later, another restaurant concept may be preparing to take its place.
The name Manila Taste hints at a possible Filipino dining concept, although the cuisine, ownership details, and eventual restaurant name have yet to be confirmed.
Another Chinatown storefront, another chapter unfolding. We’ll keep you posted.
Spotlight
Look Up! Chinatown’s Second-Floor Secrets
Some of Chinatown’s best discoveries are hiding in plain sight. You just have to look up.
Every day, thousands of people visit Las Vegas Chinatown, scanning storefronts, searching for restaurants, and hunting for parking. But here’s something even longtime visitors occasionally overlook: there’s an entire second-floor world above many of those familiar businesses.
We’re talking hidden restaurants, dessert cafés, Japanese nightlife, collectibles, karaoke, and specialty shops. Some have been neighborhood fixtures for decades. Others are relatively new.
This week, we’re taking you upstairs at four Chinatown shopping centers. And stick around for a bonus: two little-known parking secrets at Pacific Asian Plaza that could change how you visit.
Chinatown Plaza: The Original Has an Upstairs Story
4205–4215 W. Spring Mountain Road
Chinatown Plaza’s upper-level walkway, lined with restaurants many visitors never see from the parking lot. Photo (2023): ChinatownVegas.com.
Let’s begin where Las Vegas Chinatown began.
The original Chinatown Plaza, with its distinctive Chinese architecture and iconic entrance, helped establish the neighborhood in the 1990s. But while most visitors head straight for the restaurants and shops downstairs, there’s more to discover above them.
Take Capital Seafood Restaurant, an upstairs destination serving Chinese seafood dishes, family-style favorites, and banquet-style dining. It’s easy to overlook if you’re simply walking past the ground-level storefronts.
Nearby, Shoo Loong Kan Hot Pot brings the bold, spicy flavors of Sichuan to the second floor, with bubbling broths, thinly sliced meats, seafood, and ingredients diners cook right at their tables.
Insider tip: Look for the upper-level restaurant signs around 4215 Spring Mountain Road. Capital Seafood is in Suite B202, while Shoo Loong Kan is in Suite B203.
The original Chinatown has been hiding an entire upstairs dining experience in plain sight.
Shanghai Plaza: Desserts, Collectibles, and After-Dark Discoveries
4258–4284 W. Spring Mountain Road
Shanghai Plaza may be one of Chinatown’s busiest destinations, but the real adventure doesn’t end at street level.
Start with SweetHoney Dessert, a second-floor Hong Kong-style dessert café known for mango creations, silky tofu pudding, grass jelly, durian specialties, and fluffy soufflé pancakes. Its upstairs location even offers outdoor patio seating overlooking the activity below.
But don’t head downstairs just yet.
888 Collectibles, located upstairs above Weera Thai, is a treasure trove for Pokémon fans and trading-card enthusiasts. The shop buys, sells, and trades everything from Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards to anime collectibles and imported merchandise. It’s one of those specialty shops that make Shanghai Plaza’s second floor worth exploring.
Clawtopia offers a completely different kind of treasure hunt, with colorful claw machines, plush toys, anime figures, and prizes waiting to be won.
And when the sun goes down, Moxie Ultra Lounge adds nightlife to Shanghai Plaza’s second-floor scene, with cocktails, music, hookah, and an upscale lounge atmosphere.
Stairs lead up to Moxie Ultra Lounge and Shanghai Plaza’s upper level. Photo (2022): ChinatownVegas.com.
Insider tip: Shanghai Plaza has several separate upstairs sections. Don’t assume you’ve explored the entire upper level just because you’ve climbed one staircase. SweetHoney Dessert is in Suite D204, while 888 Collectibles is in Suite 203 above Weera Thai.
It’s a reminder that Shanghai Plaza isn’t just a place to eat. It’s somewhere you can spend an entire evening discovering something new.
4355 Spring Mountain: The Upstairs Neighborhood Veterans
4355 W. Spring Mountain Road
Just west of the original Chinatown Plaza is another two-story building with some serious neighborhood history.
Its most recognizable upstairs resident is Ichiza, one of Chinatown’s longtime Japanese izakayas.
For more than two decades, Ichiza has attracted diners seeking Japanese small plates, grilled skewers, sushi, sake, and its famous honey toast. Its second-floor setting has become part of the experience—an intimate, lively restaurant that’s easy to miss from the street.
Also upstairs is KG BBQ (Korean Garden), serving Korean barbecue with an all-you-can-eat format and a selection of traditional side dishes.
Insider tip: If you’ve driven past this building hundreds of times without visiting the second floor, you’re hardly alone. Ichiza is in Suite 205, and KG BBQ is in Suite 201.
It’s a fascinating mix of longtime neighborhood favorites, all sharing the same upper-level walkway.
Pacific Asian Plaza: Mango Desserts, Karaoke, and a Parking Surprise
5115 W. Spring Mountain Road
Our final stop is Pacific Asian Plaza, near Decatur Boulevard.
From Spring Mountain Road, the plaza’s multi-level architecture is easy to recognize. What’s less obvious is how much there is to explore upstairs.
One delicious reason to make the climb is Hui Lau Shan, the Hong Kong dessert specialist celebrated for its mango creations.
Think fresh mango with chewy rice balls, mango pomelo sago, coconut jelly, and refreshing fruit desserts. If you’ve never tried a Hong Kong-style mango dessert, this is an excellent place to start.
For a completely different experience, there’s Ninja Karaoke, where private karaoke rooms turn an ordinary evening into a night out with friends. With themed rooms, food, and drinks, it’s another reason to explore beyond the ground floor.
Ninja Karaoke sits one floor above street-level dining at Pacific Asian Plaza. Photo (2023): ChinatownVegas.com.
But here’s where Pacific Asian Plaza gets especially interesting.
The Two Secret Parking Spots Most Visitors Miss
Anyone who has visited Chinatown during a busy dinner rush knows the frustration of circling a crowded parking lot.
Pacific Asian Plaza has something many drivers overlook: two additional parking options that aren’t immediately obvious from the street.
Yes, there’s more parking than first meets the eye.
And if you’ve ever pulled into this plaza, found the front lot packed, and driven away, this might be especially useful.
We’re saving the exact locations and how to reach both parking areas for Tuesday’s This Week in Chinatown video, where we’ll show you the entrances and how to find them.
Consider it a little Chinatown insider knowledge that might save you some frustration on your next visit.
The Best Chinatown Discoveries Aren’t Always at Street Level
Four plazas. Multiple second floors. Restaurants, desserts, collectibles, nightlife, and a couple of parking surprises.
And we’ve only scratched the surface.
Chinatown isn’t just a collection of storefronts along Spring Mountain Road. It’s a neighborhood with layers, literally and figuratively, where a staircase can lead to an entirely different experience.
Some businesses have been part of Chinatown’s story for decades. Others are writing new chapters. And plenty are waiting to be discovered by visitors who have walked or driven past them countless times.
So the next time you’re heading to your usual restaurant, grabbing groceries, or meeting friends, try something different.
Look up. Take the stairs. Explore a little.
You might discover your next favorite Chinatown spot was right above you all along.
Coming Tuesday: Watch our This Week in Chinatown video for an upstairs look at these plazas, plus our reveal of Pacific Asian Plaza’s two overlooked parking areas.
Have a favorite second-floor Chinatown business? Tell us what we missed!
Community
Community Corner
This week: Trattoria Nakamura-Ya marks 15 years on Spring Mountain Road with a one-day anniversary menu.
15 Years of Nakamura-Ya: A Chinatown Original Worth Celebrating
Fifteen years, countless plates of pasta, and plenty of squid ink later, Trattoria Nakamura-Ya is celebrating a milestone!
Since 2011, this longtime Spring Mountain Road favorite has been serving its distinctive Japanese-Italian cuisine, combining Italian comfort food with Japanese ingredients and flavors. In a neighborhood where the restaurant landscape never stops changing, reaching 15 years is no small accomplishment.
To celebrate, Nakamura-Ya is rolling out a one-day anniversary menu on Wednesday, November 11, with special prices on some of its best-loved dishes.
Highlights include premium Santa Barbara uni for $19.50 (regularly $28), Wagyu harami steak for $18 (regularly $26), squid ink pasta for $21 (regularly $30), and premium uni tomato cream pasta for $29.50 (regularly $42).
Also on the anniversary menu: squid ink risotto for $22.50, crab cream croquettes for $5.75, and takoyaki for just $4.
- When: Wednesday, November 11, 4:30–10 p.m. (last call).
- Where: 5040 W. Spring Mountain Road, Suite 5.
- Good to know: Walk-ins only, no reservations. Takeout available.
Trattoria Nakamura-Ya celebrates 15 years on Wednesday, Nov. 11, with a one-day anniversary menu. Walk-ins only; takeout available. Flyer: Trattoria Nakamura-Ya.
Chinatown has welcomed hundreds of restaurants over the years, but the establishments that helped shape the neighborhood deserve a little extra applause.
Happy 15th anniversary, Nakamura-Ya! Here’s to the next 15 years.
On Stage
Live Performance Spotlight
This week: three nights of live blues and rock at The Sand Dollar Lounge.
Three Nights Worth Staying Up For
The legendary Sand Dollar Lounge at 3355 W. Spring Mountain Road keeps Chinatown’s blues and live-music tradition alive, with talented musicians, craft cocktails, and never a cover charge!
Our three picks this week:
- Jimmy Carpenter: Wednesday, November 4 (10 p.m.–2 a.m.). Award-winning blues saxophonist bringing soulful sounds and serious musical chops.
- Vegas Crossroads: Thursday, November 5 (10 p.m.–2 a.m.). The Ultimate Eric Clapton Experience! A night of unforgettable blues-rock classics.
- The Foster Collective: Sunday, November 8 (10 p.m.–2 a.m.). Chris Foster and company close out the week with a lively blend of blues, rock, and jazz.
All shows are 21+ with no cover.
Great music, no admission charge, and a little old-school Vegas magic. Sometimes the best show in town is right here on Spring Mountain Road!
👉 Want more beats and stage times? Check out the full lineup on The Sand Dollar’s events calendar.
The Sand Dollar Lounge, 3355 Spring Mountain Road, Suite 30, Las Vegas, NV 89102.
Deals
Shop Local: Cook Chinatown
Sizzling Asian Lamb Noodles on a Budget
Who needs takeout when 99 Ranch Market is serving up deals this delicious? This week’s kitchen adventure: Spicy Soybean Lamb Noodles!
🛒 What to Grab
- Lamb shoulder slices: $8.99/lb (regularly $12.99)
- Paldo noodles: $4.29 a pack
- Haday Signature Soybean Sauce: $2.99 (regularly $5.99)
- Mizuho red-skin peanuts: $4.49 for 3 pounds
- From your pantry: garlic, chili oil
👨🍳 Quick Steps
- Sizzle: Cook the lamb in a hot pan with garlic.
- Sauce: Add a spoonful of soybean sauce, a splash of water, and a little chili oil for a spicy kick.
- Toss: Toss with cooked noodles.
- Finish: Top with crushed peanuts.
The result? A savory, spicy, restaurant-worthy noodle bowl without the restaurant bill!
📍 Market Tip: Find these deals at Chinatown’s 99 Ranch Market on Spring Mountain Road. The lamb special ends Thursday, November 5; other featured deals run through Thursday, November 12, while supplies last.
Note: Pricing and availability may vary.
Preview
Coming Soon: Chinatown’s Scene Heats Up
In Development
Myungin Dumplings Coming to Chinatown — Signs Are Up
A well-known Korean dumpling name is making its way to Las Vegas Chinatown!
New signage has appeared at Kangnam Square, 3650 S. Jones Boulevard, announcing the upcoming arrival of Myungin Dumplings, the celebrated Los Angeles-based restaurant known for its oversized, handmade Korean dumplings.
New Myungin Dumplings signage at Kangnam Square, photographed Oct. 25, 2026. Photo: ChinatownVegas.com.
Founded in Los Angeles in 2007 by Yu Jin, Myungin gained international attention when it appeared on Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown, alongside artist David Choe.
The restaurant specializes in wang-mandu, generously stuffed Korean king dumplings filled with savory combinations such as pork, vegetables, and kimchi. Its handmade dumplings have earned a devoted following in Southern California.
Our sources confirm that plans for the Chinatown location are moving forward, although an official opening date has not been announced.
From Anthony Bourdain’s spotlight to Spring Mountain Road, another recognizable name is joining Chinatown’s growing dining scene.
We’ll keep you posted as opening day approaches!
🚧 Coming Soon in Chinatown
What’s opening, what’s rising, and what’s on the horizon?
Opening dates and project timelines remain subject to change. Follow ChinatownVegas.com as we track the neighborhood’s next chapter.
For more on the corridor’s redevelopment, see our Special Chinatown Redevelopment Issue.
Throwback
Looking Back
From Vegas Noodle House to Gyu+ — Three Restaurants, One Address
Same corner. Three different cuisines. Eight years of Chinatown history.
Take a look at this photograph from August 2018. Behind the overgrown greenery and traditional Chinese-style roofline sits Vegas Noodle House, once a familiar neighborhood restaurant at 3516 Wynn Road, just off Spring Mountain.
Then
Vegas Noodle House on August 29, 2018, before the location became Gyu+. Upstairs, Crossing now attracts Pokémon and collectible-card enthusiasts. Photo: ChinatownVegas.com.
For years, the restaurant served Thai favorites, from steaming noodle soups and fragrant curries to stir-fried dishes. It was the kind of unassuming Chinatown establishment you could easily drive past without realizing what was cooking inside.
Inside Vegas Noodle House, where a wall mural blended Las Vegas icons with Thai mythology. Photo: ChinatownVegas.com.
But Chinatown rarely stands still.
The next chapter brought daGemi Ristorante + Putia, a Sicilian-inspired Italian restaurant built around traditional family recipes and Old World flavors. By late 2022, daGemi had joined BabyStacks and Half Bird Chicken along the newly revitalized “Restaurant Row” at The Center at Spring Mountain, part of a $1.2 million makeover that introduced shared outdoor dining areas.
Its time on Wynn Road was relatively brief, but it added another international flavor to an already remarkably diverse neighborhood.
Then came the next transformation.
In February 2024, ChinatownVegas.com reported that Gyu+, a locally born Japanese-inspired concept, was preparing to take over the former daGemi space. Construction followed, and on October 5, 2024, Gyu+ celebrated its Chinatown grand opening.
Founded by Freddie Paloma and Luis De Santos during the pandemic, Gyu+ had grown from a cloud-kitchen operation into a destination for Japanese-style sandos, Wagyu beef, and rice boxes. The Wynn Road location also introduced Gyu+ Social Lounge, an intimate speakeasy-style experience.
Today, Gyu+ occupies the same corner where Vegas Noodle House once welcomed customers beneath those distinctive roof tiles.
Now
Gyu+ today, in the former Vegas Noodle House and daGemi space. Photo: ChinatownVegas.com.
From Thai noodles to Sicilian cooking to Japanese sandos, this little corner has traveled quite a culinary distance without moving an inch.
That’s Chinatown. The storefronts change, the flavors evolve, and every address has a story.
Do you remember Vegas Noodle House or daGemi? We’d love to hear your memories.
Forecast
Chinatown Weather
Live conditions for the Spring Mountain corridor, updated automatically.
Spring Mountain (East)
89102
Spring Mountain (West)
89146
Unfiltered
Chinatown Gripes
Formula 1 — Here We Go Again!
The race cars aren’t here yet, but the traffic headaches have already arrived.
Formula 1 preparations are bringing another round of lane restrictions near the Strip. Beginning November 2, overnight reductions resume on Sands Avenue, Spring Mountain Road’s continuation east of the Strip, between Las Vegas Boulevard and Manhattan Street, continuing through November 13.
An RTC sign warns riders of Formula 1 delays, detours, and bus stop closures. Photo: ChinatownVegas.com.
For Chinatown drivers heading toward the Strip, that means more cones, fewer lanes, and another test of patience.
Formula 1 promises speed. For the rest of us? Not so much.
Watch
In Case You Missed It
Catch Up on Episode 15
Missed last week’s episode? Watch “Chinatown Las Vegas: This Week in Chinatown | Episode 15,” which was published Tuesday, October 27. New episodes publish on Tuesdays on YouTube.
Explore More Chinatown
Ready to dive deeper into the neighborhood? Whether you’re hungry, curious, or looking for something new, Spring Mountain Road has plenty to explore, from dining to community events. Revisit our past coverage at chinatownvegas.com/chinatown-blog.
9 Ramen Bowls to Warm Your Soul
Chinatown’s ramen scene includes bowls of tonkotsu, spicy miso, and more, for any time you’re craving comfort.
9 Amazing Ramen Dishes to Try in Chinatown
Master Martial Arts in Chinatown’s Core
Chinatown’s martial arts studios offer Kung Fu, Taekwondo, and more for kids and adults, combining fitness, focus, and tradition.
Chinatown Vegas Features Perfect Places to Master Martial Arts for Kids and Adults
Sing Your Heart Out
From private rooms to themed suites, Chinatown’s karaoke spots turn any night out into a sing-along.
Chinatown Karaoke Revealed: 8 Amazing Must-Visit Spots
Insider Tip: Visit ChinatownVegas.com daily for breaking news, openings, and the stories behind your favorite neighborhood spots.
Let’s Celebrate
Let’s Celebrate
From grant-funded upgrades at street level to hidden gems one flight up, Chinatown keeps finding new ways to surprise us. This week, look up, take the stairs, and raise a fork to 15 years of Nakamura-Ya on Spring Mountain Road.
🎬 Don’t miss tomorrow’s episode: “Chinatown Las Vegas: This Week in Chinatown | Episode 16” arrives Tuesday, November 3, on our YouTube channel. We’ll take you upstairs at Chinatown Plaza, Shanghai Plaza, 4355 Spring Mountain and Pacific Asian Plaza, and reveal Pacific Asian Plaza’s two overlooked parking areas. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Have a favorite second-floor spot we missed, or memories of Vegas Noodle House or daGemi? Tell us at hello@chinatownvegas.com.
— The ChinatownVegas.com Team
Submissions
📣 Share Your News
Have a neighborhood update, press release, event announcement, business milestone, or anything else Chinatown should know about? Send it to hello@chinatownvegas.com, and we may feature it in an upcoming issue.
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