Welcome
What’s Ahead This Week
Chinatown has a new voice on the Clark County Commission, and a new noodle-and-dumpling banner is hanging on Jones Boulevard. Our Spotlight goes beyond the noodles to meet Chinatown’s martial arts masters, and Community Corner toasts Nakamura-Ya’s 15th anniversary and Lohan’s lion-dance brunch.
Then it’s live music at The Sand Dollar, an $8.45 soup dinner from 168 Market, a look at what’s coming soon, and Looking Back at Star Foot Spa and Koreatown Village. We also have the weather, F1 gripes, a catch-up on Episode 16, and Explore More picks.
New episode Tuesday: “Chinatown Las Vegas: This Week in Chinatown | Episode 17” arrives Tuesday, November 10, on YouTube.
Breaking
Breaking News
Minja Yan Wins District F Race — A New Commissioner for Chinatown
Las Vegas Chinatown will soon have a new voice on the Clark County Commission, and it’s one the neighborhood already knows well.
Minja Yan emerged victorious in the Nov. 3 District F election, defeating Heidi Kasama and Becky Harris in the race to succeed outgoing Commissioner Justin Jones.
For Chinatown, this election matters well beyond the ballot box. District F includes our neighborhood, and its next commissioner will help shape decisions affecting redevelopment, transportation, pedestrian safety, and local businesses.
Jones has overseen a period of major changes along the Spring Mountain corridor, including the Chinatown redevelopment initiative and the recently announced business improvement grants.
Those projects will now move forward under new representation. We’ll be following Yan’s priorities, the transition, and what the changes mean for Chinatown.
Photo: Courtesy of Minja Yan for Clark County Commission.
Dough Master Is Coming to Mountain View Plaza
There’s a new name on South Jones Boulevard, and this one’s all about the dough.
Dough Master Noodles & Dumplings has hung its “Coming Soon” banner at Mountain View Plaza, 3400 S. Jones Blvd.
The restaurant is already recruiting hand-pulled noodle chefs and xiao long bao specialists, giving us an early hint of what’s headed for the menu.
No opening date yet, but we’ll be keeping an eye on this one.
Read our original report and see the storefront photos.
Dough Master Noodles & Dumplings’ “Coming Soon” banner at Mountain View Plaza, 3400 S. Jones Blvd. Photo: ChinatownVegas.com.
Spotlight
Beyond the Noodles: Chinatown’s Martial Arts Masters
Behind Chinatown’s restaurants and shopping plazas, there’s a whole lot of kicking, punching, discipline, and tradition going on.
You might come to Las Vegas Chinatown for the dumplings, but did you know you can also learn Kung Fu, practice Tai Chi, or train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu right here in the neighborhood?
And we’re not talking about watching a Bruce Lee movie after dinner.
Chinatown has a martial arts scene that stretches from traditional Chinese disciplines to modern competitive sports. There are classes for youngsters just getting started, adults looking for something new, and experienced practitioners sharpening their skills.
Martial arts in Las Vegas Chinatown. Photo: ChinatownVegas.com.
Where Tradition Meets Training
One of Chinatown’s longtime cultural institutions is Lohan School of Shaolin, upstairs at Chinatown Plaza, 4255 Spring Mountain Road.
Founded in 1994 by the late Sifu Steven Baugh, the school teaches traditional Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Qigong, and other Chinese martial arts.
Lohan is also known for its lion dancers, whose colorful performances have become a familiar sight at celebrations and community events throughout Las Vegas.
Just south of Spring Mountain Road, Las Vegas Modern Kung Fu, at 4050 Vanessa Drive, brings another dimension to the scene with Wushu, an athletic Chinese martial art known for its powerful movements, flexibility, and acrobatic techniques.
The school offers programs for children and more advanced students, combining traditional martial arts fundamentals with modern performance training.
And Chinatown’s martial arts scene doesn’t stop with Kung Fu.
At 3904 Schiff Drive, Sergio Penha Jiu-Jitsu Academy teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to children and adults, focusing on grappling, leverage, positioning, and ground techniques.
Nearby, Mayweather Boxing Club, at 4020 Schiff Drive, represents another side of the neighborhood’s fighting tradition. Associated with boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, the facility is primarily a professional training gym, with visits and training opportunities subject to arrangement.
Different disciplines, different approaches, but a common thread runs through them: practice, patience, and the discipline to keep improving.
More Than Self-Defense
For many families, martial arts are about much more than learning to throw a punch.
They’re about confidence, coordination, respect, physical fitness, and giving kids — and adults — something meaningful to work toward.
And in Chinatown, there’s an added cultural connection. Traditional Chinese martial arts and lion dancing help preserve generations of cultural heritage while welcoming students from all backgrounds.
So next time you’re exploring Spring Mountain Road, look beyond the restaurant signs.
Somewhere upstairs, behind a storefront, or inside a training studio, the next generation of martial artists may be hard at work.
Because in Chinatown, there’s more than one way to master your craft.
Explore our original guide: Perfect Places to Master Martial Arts in Chinatown
Community
Community Corner
This week: Nakamura-Ya celebrates 15 years on Wednesday, and Lohan School of Shaolin’s lion-dance fundraiser brunch is set for Nov. 21.
Celebrate 15 years on Wednesday, November 11, with a special menu, walk-in-only dining, and takeout available. Service starts at 4:30 p.m., with last call at 10 p.m.
Nakamura-Ya’s 15th Anniversary Menu Is This Wednesday
Trattoria Nakamura-Ya’s one-day anniversary menu runs Wednesday, Nov. 11, 4:30–10 p.m. (last call), at 5040 W. Spring Mountain Road, Suite 5, with deals like squid ink pasta for $21 (regularly $30) and takoyaki for $4. Walk-ins only; takeout available.
Squid ink pasta, one of the dishes on Nakamura-Ya’s Nov. 11 anniversary menu. Photo (2021): ChinatownVegas.com.
Save the Date
Brunch With Lions & Lohans
Here’s a brunch with a little extra roar!
Lohan School of Shaolin is opening its doors for Brunch With Lions & Lohans on Saturday, November 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., upstairs at Chinatown Plaza.
The fundraiser and open house features brunch, demonstrations, and a behind-the-scenes look at how the school’s lion dancers train and prepare for performances.
Founded in 1994, Lohan teaches traditional Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi, and its lion dancers are a familiar sight at celebrations across Las Vegas. Brunch plates are $50, with proceeds supporting the school’s cultural programs and traditions.
Where: 4255 Spring Mountain Road
Details: LVLohans.org
On Stage
Live Performance Spotlight
The Sand Dollar Lounge is keeping Chinatown’s nightlife alive this week, with everything from smooth soul to blues-fueled rock.
Three Nights Worth Staying Up For
Here are our three picks!
- Soul Town & Jack Conner: Monday, Nov. 9 (10 p.m.–2 a.m.). Kick off the week with an evening of soul and R&B. A little rhythm, a little soul, and a good reason not to call it an early night.
- Balkun Brothers: Friday, Nov. 13 (10 p.m.–2 a.m.). Straight out of Connecticut, brothers Steve and Nick Balkun bring a high-energy mix of punk rock and heavy blues riffs. They’ve shared stages with names including Gary Clark Jr. and Joe Bonamassa. This one’s for the guitar lovers!
- Buffalo Larry & The Rollin’ Hazard: Saturday, Nov. 14 (10 p.m.–2 a.m.). A familiar name on the roots-rock scene, Buffalo Larry brings years of experience with The Rhyolite Sound into his latest project, The Rollin’ Hazard. A great pick for Saturday night.
All three shows are 21+ with no cover! Great music, no admission charge, and another reason to stay a little longer in Chinatown.
👉 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
An $8.45 Chinatown Dinner? 168 Market Makes It Possible!
Who says a delicious home-cooked Asian meal has to cost a fortune?
This week’s 168 Market specials include some serious bargains, from Chinese winter melon at just 59 cents a pound and daikon radish at 69 cents a pound to pork spare ribs for $2.99 a pound.
And here’s an idea: turn three of this week’s bargains into a comforting Chinese soup that serves four.
This Week’s Recipe: Cantonese-Style Winter Melon & Pork Rib Soup. A warm, savory broth with tender pork ribs, delicate winter melon, and enoki mushrooms. Simple ingredients, traditional inspiration, and plenty of flavor.
🛒 What to Grab
- 2 lbs natural pork spare ribs: $5.98
- 2 lbs Chinese winter melon (Don Qua): $1.18
- 1 package enoki mushrooms: $1.29
Total: $8.45 for the featured ingredients — approximately $2.11 per serving!
You’ll also need water, ginger, salt, and white pepper from your pantry. Optional: scallions and a splash of soy sauce.
👨🍳 Quick Steps
- Prep the ribs: Cut the ribs into manageable pieces. Blanch in boiling water for 3–5 minutes, then drain and rinse.
- Simmer the broth: Place ribs in a clean pot with 7–8 cups of water and several slices of ginger. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for approximately 45 minutes.
- Add the winter melon: Peel the winter melon, remove the seeds, and cut the flesh into generous chunks. Add to the pot and simmer for another 20–25 minutes, until tender.
- Add the enoki: Trim and separate the enoki mushrooms. Add during the final 3–5 minutes of cooking.
- Season and serve: Season with salt and white pepper. Finish with chopped scallions if desired. Serve hot, with steamed rice on the side for a heartier meal.
The result? Four comforting bowls of Chinese-inspired home cooking, made with less than $9 in featured sale ingredients.
📍 Market Tip: If soup isn’t your thing, 168 Market also has frozen shrimp at $3.99 a pound, perfect for a quick garlic shrimp stir-fry. 168 Market sale dates: November 6–12, 2026, at participating Nevada stores.
Sometimes the best Chinatown meal is the one you make at home!
Note: Pricing and availability may vary.
Preview
Coming Soon: Chinatown’s Scene Heats Up
🚧 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 Star Foot Spa to Koreatown Village
We first revisited the old Star Foot Spa sign earlier this year. Now, with a fresh November 2026 photograph of Koreatown Village, we can put the two scenes side by side. Same address, eight years apart—and a completely different Chinatown landscape.
Take a look at our first photo from August 2018. That’s Star Foot Spa at 5599 Spring Mountain Road, once one of the largest foot spas in Las Vegas.
Then
Star Foot Spa’s roadside sign at 5599 Spring Mountain Road, August 2018. Photo (2018): ChinatownVegas.com.
With its towering green-and-red roadside sign, traditional Chinese-inspired storefront, and a menu of foot reflexology, body massages, and other treatments, Star Foot Spa was a familiar part of the Chinatown landscape. Its sign promoted couple massage, foot reflexology, body massage, foot detox, and facials, while red lanterns hung along the storefront. Signs out front advertised $20, one-hour sessions.
For years, businesses like Star Foot Spa helped shape Chinatown’s identity beyond its restaurants. Foot spas, massage establishments, herbal shops, and specialty stores were just as much a part of the neighborhood as its noodle houses and dim sum restaurants.
Now, take a look at the second photo.
Same address, completely different scene.
Now
Koreatown Village at the same address, November 2026. Photo: ChinatownVegas.com.
The old spa building and its distinctive sign are gone. In their place stands Koreatown Village, a modern commercial development with contemporary architecture, large glass windows, and updated landscaping. Dark brick and steel frame the new buildings, a digital screen tops the property sign, and a colorful underwater-themed mural brightens a utility box along the sidewalk.
Today, the property is home to businesses including Open Bank, Master Kim’s BBQ, and Industry 13 Karaoke & Bar, reflecting another chapter in the neighborhood’s evolution. One thing hasn’t changed: the number 5599 appears on the 2018 sign and at the base of the new property sign.
And that’s what makes this week’s Looking Back interesting. It’s not just about an old building disappearing or a new one taking its place. It’s about how the businesses, architecture, and character of Spring Mountain Road have changed as Chinatown continues to grow.
Then: Star Foot Spa, August 2018. Now: Koreatown Village, November 2026.
Eight years. One address. Quite a transformation.
That’s another chapter in the ever-changing story of Las Vegas Chinatown.
Forecast
Chinatown Weather
Live conditions for the Spring Mountain corridor, updated automatically.
Spring Mountain (East)
89102
Spring Mountain (West)
89146
Unfiltered
Chinatown Gripes
F1 Is Coming — And So Are the Traffic Headaches!
Here we go again! Formula 1 preparations are shifting into high gear, and the orange cones are making their annual comeback.
From November 9–13, expect overnight and morning lane reductions on Las Vegas Boulevard between Spring Mountain Road and Harmon Avenue, with just one lane open in each direction.
Koval Lane closes completely between Rochelle and Harmon from November 14–23, while RTC bus riders face temporary stop closures and special Race Week schedules, including changes to Route 203, which serves Spring Mountain Road. RTC riders, take note: westbound bus stop 2572 on Spring Mountain Road, just after Las Vegas Boulevard, is scheduled to remain closed through November 25.
Chinatown remains open for business, but getting to and from the Strip could require extra patience.
Our gripe? The race lasts a weekend. The traffic headaches get a head start!
Check the latest closures at F1 Las Vegas Transportation.
Watch
In Case You Missed It
Catch Up on Episode 16
Missed last week’s episode? Watch “Chinatown Las Vegas: This Week in Chinatown | Episode 16,” which was published Tuesday, November 3. 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.
Ramen
Steaming bowls of ramen are one of Spring Mountain Road’s great comforts.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Herb shops, acupuncture, and practitioners carry on traditions you’d find across Asia, right here in the neighborhood.
Browse our Traditional Chinese Medicine coverage
Gambling
Feeling lucky? Explore the gaming side of Chinatown.
Insider Tip: Visit ChinatownVegas.com daily for breaking news, openings, and the stories behind your favorite neighborhood spots.
Let’s Celebrate
Let’s Celebrate
New commissioner, new banners, lion dancers, noodle masters, and one big anniversary: Chinatown never sits still, and that’s exactly why we love it.
🎬 Don’t miss tomorrow’s episode: “Chinatown Las Vegas: This Week in Chinatown | Episode 17” arrives Tuesday, November 10, on our YouTube channel. It recaps this week’s main stories: Minja Yan’s win, Dough Master, our martial arts Spotlight, Community Corner, and Looking Back. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Bring your appetite, bring your friends, and we’ll see you on Spring Mountain Road!
— 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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We publish daily at ChinatownVegas.com, with This Week in Chinatown every Monday and a new video episode every Tuesday. Follow along: Facebook · YouTube
