Welcome
What’s Ahead This Week
A courtyard is taking shape between Weera Thai and Royale Frites, Win Kee celebrated its grand opening in style, and Shanghai Taste debuted a truffle-laced take on xiao long bao — and that’s all just in Shanghai Plaza! We’re also saying goodbye to two corridor favorites, A Different Beast and One Piece Cafe, and looking back through nearly 50 years of Las Vegas Little Theatre, from its 48-seat beginning to next month’s staging of Clue.
Plus: ten live shows over seven nights at The Sand Dollar Lounge, this week’s best grocery deals turned into dinner, and, as always, a gripe or two about the corridor’s potholes and traffic signals. All that and more below.
Breaking
Breaking News
Courtyard Seating Planned Between Weera Thai and Royale Frites
A new courtyard seating area is taking shape at Shanghai Plaza between Weera Thai and the upcoming Royale Frites. Decorative barriers carrying the Royale Frites name and logo have been installed around the space in recent days.
Barriers bearing the Royale Frites name now ring the courtyard between the two restaurants.
This Week in Chinatown has learned that courtyard seating is planned for the area, though it remains unconfirmed whether it will be reserved for Royale Frites or also available to Weera Thai patrons.
TWIC first reported that Royale Frites would replace KARÉ at this address, and later confirmed the new restaurant shares ownership with Weera Thai.
One detail still unresolved: the community mailboxes currently housed beneath the Weera Thai archway. Whether they’ll be relocated or built into the finished courtyard is not yet known.
We’ll continue following the project as Royale Frites moves toward opening.
Sorry to See Them Go
Las Vegas Chinatown is saying goodbye to two concepts ChinatownVegas.com followed from the start.
A Different Beast has closed at 5420 Spring Mountain Road, with its final service held Sunday, August 30. In September 2023, ChinatownVegas.com reported that A Different Beast would replace Osaka Sunset, introducing readers to the Basque and Catalan-inspired concept before its doors opened.
Down the road, One Piece Cafe has announced that it will serve customers at its current location, 5600 Spring Mountain Road, for the final time on Saturday, September 26. ChinatownVegas.com was first to report that the nation’s first official One Piece Cafe was opening in Chinatown, breaking the news during its April 26, 2024, soft opening and following with an exclusive feature on the concept.
This isn’t necessarily the end of One Piece Cafe — operators say it will continue as a pop-up experience, with another location to be announced, and the Los Angeles cafe remains open.
From A Different Beast’s endless Basque table to One Piece Cafe’s anime-inspired food and merchandise, both brought something distinct to the corridor. We were glad to break the news when they arrived, and we’re sorry to see them go.
Spotlight
Shanghai Taste Debuts Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao
Shanghai Taste at Shanghai Plaza has debuted a new creation: Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao, developed over several years by Chef Jimmy Li and business partner Joe Muscaglione, founder and co-owner of ChinatownVegas.com.
Shanghai Taste’s new Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao, fresh out of the steamer.
This isn’t a traditional soup dumpling with truffle folded into the filling. The recipe was developed so the truffle character runs through every element, creating a fuller, more integrated flavor rather than a single truffle note.
Exactly how they accomplished it remains closely guarded. “Ever hear of an ancient Chinese secret?” Muscaglione said. “Well, this is a modern one.”
The jet-black dumplings arrive with Shanghai Taste’s signature delicate folds wrapped around a truffle-rich broth and filling. The Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao is now available at Shanghai Taste in Shanghai Plaza.
Community
Community Corner
Win Kee Celebrates Its Grand Opening
From breaking news to grand opening, This Week in Chinatown has followed Win Kee HK BBQ & Noodle at every stage.
Lion dancers and drummers perform outside Win Kee’s new Shanghai Plaza storefront during Saturday’s grand opening.
ChinatownVegas.com first reported on February 21 that Win Kee was preparing to take over the former Sinh Sinh space at Shanghai Plaza. When storefront signage went up in May, we returned and continued following the restaurant through weekly coverage and video episodes before its August 17 soft opening.
This past weekend marked the next milestone: Win Kee’s grand opening featured lion dancing, drums and ceremonial banners, drawing a crowd outside its Shanghai Plaza storefront.
Win Kee serves Hong Kong-style barbecue and Cantonese comfort food — roast duck, crispy pork belly, char siu, wonton noodles and rice plates — from the heart of the Spring Mountain Road corridor.
Congratulations to the Win Kee team on its official grand opening in Las Vegas Chinatown.
On Stage
Live Performance Spotlight
Ten Performances, Seven Nights at The Sand Dollar Lounge
The Sand Dollar Lounge presents ten live performances across seven nights this week.
Must-See Performances
Thursday: BOOTY Plays TOOL! — BOOTY performs Tool’s Ænima in full for the album’s 30th anniversary, the week’s biggest special-event show. 10 p.m.
Saturday: The Rayford Brothers — The touring Southern California trio plays vintage rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, country, blues and surf with upright bass and throwback rhythms. 10 p.m.
Wednesday: Otto Junior — The 19-year-old Norwegian blues guitarist arrives in Chinatown after building a following across Europe and Asia. 10 p.m.
Friday: Chris Tofield Band — Soulful vocals and blues-rock guitar close out the night. 10 p.m.
Complete Weekly Lineup
Monday, September 14 — 10 p.m., Christian Phifer & The Phifertones (blues-rock and covers)
Tuesday, September 15 — 6:30–9:30 p.m., Pro Jam; 10 p.m., Jason Langley & Friends (groove-driven blues and rock)
Wednesday, September 16 — 10 p.m., Otto Junior
Thursday, September 17 — 10 p.m., BOOTY Plays TOOL!
Friday, September 18 — 6–9 p.m., The Spectators, a multigenerational blues and classic-rock group led by Dr. LeRoy Henry; 10 p.m., Chris Tofield Band
Saturday, September 19 — 6–9 p.m., Until The Eclipse (Las Vegas pop-rock); 10 p.m., The Rayford Brothers
Sunday, September 20 — 10 p.m., Red Eye Gin closes the week with Americana, blues, funk, and roots-rock
All performances take place at The Sand Dollar Lounge, 3355 W. Spring Mountain Road. All shows are 21 and older with no cover.
Full schedule: thesanddollarlv.com/events
Deals
Shop Local: A Feast of Fresh Deals
Two Markets, Six Deals and One Very Good Bowl of Noodles
This week we’re turning Chinatown’s grocery specials into dinner. Our picks come from 99 Ranch Market and 168 Market, and all six work together in one fast recipe.
Inside 99 Ranch Market’s produce section in Las Vegas Chinatown.
Sale alert: these advertised prices end Thursday, September 17, so shop early.
99 Ranch Market Picks
Head-On Shrimp — $4.99/lb. The seafood-counter standout of the week. Leave the shells on for extra flavor, or peel for easier eating.
Enoki Mushrooms — five 150-gram packages for $4 (80 cents each). Good in hot pot, ramen, soups, or a fast noodle stir-fry.
Indomie Mi Goreng Five-Packs — two for $5, about 50 cents per serving. Must buy two five-packs to get the price.
168 Market Picks
Taiwan Cabbage — 79 cents/lb. Sweet and tender for a hot wok; also works in dumpling fillings, soups, and slaws.
Organic King Oyster Mushrooms — $2.99 per 300-gram package. Meaty enough to anchor a vegetarian dish, sturdy enough to grill, sear or stir-fry.
Brown Onions — 59 cents/lb. Not flashy, but one of the hardest-working deals in the flyer.
🍜 Pro-Tip Recipe: Two-Market Shrimp and Mushroom Mi Goreng
Ready in about 20 minutes.
You’ll need: 1 lb head-on shrimp, cleaned and peeled if preferred; 2 individual packets of Indomie Mi Goreng; 1 package enoki mushrooms, ends trimmed; 1 package king oyster mushrooms, thinly sliced; 2 cups shredded Taiwan cabbage; 1/2 brown onion, sliced; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tablespoon cooking oil; chili crisp, sliced scallions or fresh lime, for finishing.
Directions: Cook the noodles for about two minutes, slightly less than the package instructions, then drain and set aside. Heat the oil in a large wok or skillet and cook the shrimp two to three minutes per side, until opaque, then remove. Add the onion and garlic, then the king oyster mushrooms, cabbage, and enoki; stir-fry three to four minutes, keeping the vegetables slightly crisp. Add the noodles and seasoning packets with a splash of water, return the shrimp, and toss until hot and evenly coated. Finish with chili crisp, scallions or a squeeze of lime.
Advertised specials are valid through Thursday, September 17, while supplies last. Prices and availability may vary.
Preview
Coming Soon: Chinatown’s Scene Heats Up
Clue Takes the Stage
The classic murder-mystery comedy Clue comes to Las Vegas Little Theatre October 16 through November 1. Six strangers, one mysterious mansion, and one increasingly deadly dinner party set off a chase through secret passages, hidden weapons, and outrageous accusations.
Performances run Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. All seats are $38; tickets for students 18 and younger are $20 by calling the box office at 702-362-7996.
Auditions Coming Soon: Christmas Belles
Las Vegas Little Theatre will hold open auditions for Christmas Belles, a Southern holiday comedy directed by Chris Davies. All roles are open, and performers should be prepared for cold readings. Headshots and résumés are accepted but not required.
This is an entirely volunteer production; performers are not paid. Audition dates are still to be announced.
Performances run December 4–20 at Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive. For updates, call 702-362-7996 or email info@lvlt.org.
Throwback
Looking Back
1978
Las Vegas Little Theatre (LVLT), tucked at 3920 Schiff Drive just south of Spring Mountain Road, is Southern Nevada’s oldest continuously operating community playhouse — an anchor that’s thrived quietly alongside Chinatown’s culinary corridor.
The volunteer company began in 1978, when founders Jack Bell and Jack Nickolson turned a modest storefront into an intimate 48-seat playhouse built for accessible, grassroots theater.
After decades in strip-mall leases, LVLT made its defining move in 2004: Las Vegas Weekly reported in May that the company was relocating to 3920 Schiff Drive that September, doubling its footprint. By April 2005, the Las Vegas Sun was already covering early stagings of Surviving Grace and the Insomniac Project at the new address.
By 2009, the Las Vegas Review-Journal was covering a full campus running two venues at once — the Mainstage for marquee productions and the Fischer Black Box for experimental work. The address’s earliest surviving audition records date to this stretch: a March 2009 casting call for Great Western Wanderlust, followed in early 2010 by auditions for Paul Rudnick’s Regrets Only.
A few seasons later, Harold Pinter’s Betrayal turned up as a featured Special Event in the 2012–13 season archive, not a grand opening or a debut, just an archival title too fitting to pass over.
Nearly five decades after its 48-seat start, LVLT remains anchored on Schiff Drive, staging season after season of homegrown comedy and drama a few steps from Spring Mountain Road.
Those who know, know.
Forecast
Chinatown Weather
Live conditions for the Spring Mountain corridor, updated automatically.
Spring Mountain (East)
89102
Spring Mountain (West)
89103
Unfiltered
Chinatown Gripes
Potholes: Phased, Confused, and Unphased
We gave the pothole complaints a rest because City and County planners promised Spring Mountain Road is finally getting repaved. If crews tackle this corridor with the same speed and precision they bring to Formula 1 setups on the Strip, we’ll happily sing their praises. But if they drop a sea of orange cones and let them sit, like the ones that became permanent fixtures at Decatur and Spring Mountain for two-plus years, which we’ve documented extensively, we’re in for another long haul. We’ve been told relief is coming in Phase 1. Or Phase 2. Or Phase 1B. There are so many phases in circulation that we’re officially unphased. Just pave the street.
Signal Timers: Do the Opposite
While we wait on pavement, traffic light timing along the corridor remains a daily headache. Fixing it shouldn’t take a multi-phase study or a six-month environmental review. The cycles are so dysfunctional that flipping every timer to the exact opposite of its current setting would probably improve traffic flow overnight. Sitting through endless red lights while empty cross-streets get endless green makes you wonder if whoever programmed the sensors was reading the map upside down. Flip the switch and try anything else.
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 coverage for more inspiration at chinatownvegas.com/chinatown-blog.
Master Martial Arts in Chinatown’s Core
Channel your inner warrior at Chinatown’s premier martial arts dojos, offering Kung Fu, Taekwondo, and more. From kids to adults, beginners to experts, these studios blend fitness, focus, and tradition—perfect for building strength and discipline year-round.
Chinatown Vegas Features Perfect Places to Master Martial Arts for Kids and Adults
9 Ramen Bowls to Warm Your Soul
Chinatown’s ramen scene rivals the best, with steaming bowls of tonkotsu, spicy miso, and more. These dishes deliver bold flavors any time you’re craving comfort.
9 Amazing Ramen Dishes to Try in Chinatown
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
Insider Tip: Visit ChinatownVegas.com daily for breaking news, openings, and the stories behind your favorite neighborhood spots.
Watch
In Case You Missed It
In Case You Missed It
Let’s Celebrate
Let’s Celebrate
This week’s biggest reason to celebrate is Win Kee’s grand opening — lion dancers, drums, and a crowd turning a storefront TWIC has tracked since February into a full Shanghai Plaza celebration. Congratulations also to Chef Jimmy Li and Shanghai Taste on the debut of the Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao, years in the making. And a nod to Las Vegas Little Theatre, nearly five decades strong and rooted on Schiff Drive since 2004 — Clue opens next month, with Christmas Belles auditions on the way.
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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