Welcome

What’s Ahead This Week

Welcome to This Week in Chinatown. This issue, we say goodbye to Yui Edomae Sushi in our Looking Back tribute and watch the ground turn at Jewel, the $143 million development bringing 380 apartments to the neighborhood. We’re also tracking a possible new Thai spot in the former Baan Thai space, previewing a new stage comedy, and rounding up market deals worth the trip.

Plus, a governor meet-and-greet at Greenland Market on Wednesday, and a first look at Mina, our new AI presenter, in this week’s video episode on Tuesday. Let’s dive in.

Breaking

Breaking News

Tuk Tuk Thai Street Food Planned for Baan Thai Space

Chinatown Vegas has learned that Tuk Tuk Thai Street Food is planned for the second floor of 5115 Spring Mountain Road — the longtime home of Baan Thai.

Baan Thai’s Google listing is currently marked as temporarily closed.

Sen Thai Noodle LLC is named as the proposed restaurant’s business owner. Sen Thai Noodle operates nearby on Arville Street, but we have not confirmed whether Baan Thai’s owners are involved in the new venture. No opening date has been announced. We’ll keep following the story.

Spotlight

Jewel Breaks Ground in Chinatown

Last week, Chinatown Vegas stood at the corner of Valley View Boulevard and Procyon Street as project leaders turned the ceremonial first shovels for Jewel. The Las Vegas Strip rose behind them; ahead lay 10.54 acres where a major new piece of Chinatown is about to take shape.

Fore Property’s $143 million development at 3588 S. Valley View Boulevard will bring 380 apartments and roughly 26,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and commercial space to the neighborhood. No commercial tenants have been announced yet. Leasing is anticipated in July 2028, with construction wrapping in March 2029.

Jewel’s real significance reaches beyond its property line. More residents near Spring Mountain Road means more neighbors within walking distance of Chinatown’s restaurants, markets and small businesses — another sign of a district growing into a place people call home, not just a place they visit.

We first spotted work underway at the site in last Monday’s issue, then returned for the September 22 groundbreaking.

Watch our Jewel groundbreaking video, read the full story, and see our photos.

Community

Community Corner

On Stage

Live Performance Spotlight

October brings a new soundtrack to Spring Mountain Road. Three shows on The Sand Dollar Lounge’s stage are our picks for the week:

Thursday, October 1, 10 p.m. — Bootylicious Deluxe
The Vegas rock ensemble kicks off the run with a high-energy set.

Friday, October 2, 10 p.m. — The Blues Society Jam
A Friday night jam brings the music that helped make the Sand Dollar a Chinatown institution back to center stage. Expect seasoned players, guest musicians and the spontaneity that makes a blues jam worth catching live.

Sunday, October 4, 10 p.m. — K. Caruso & the Elegant Vagabonds
Close out the first weekend with guitar-driven blues-rock and a lively late-night set.

That’s just a taste of the week’s music. See The Sand Dollar’s full live music calendar for the complete lineup and any schedule updates.

On Stage: “Don’t Talk to the Actors”

Sin City Players brings Tom Dudzick’s Don’t Talk to the Actors to the Black Box at Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive, this month. The comedy follows Buffalo playwright Jerry Przpezniak and his fiancée as they’re thrown into the chaos, ego and diva antics of a Broadway-bound production. It’s a young writer’s dream turning into a theatrical nightmare, and the laughs come fast.

Performances run Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3 at 8 p.m.; Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, October 11 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students (student tickets must be ordered by phone through the box office at 702-362-7996). Get tickets and details at LVLT.

Deals

Shop Local: A Feast of Fresh Deals

This Week’s Market Picks

A steak-night splurge, quick wok vegetables, and a few reasons to fire up the grill: here are six picks from 99 Ranch Market and 168 Market.

99 Ranch Market

• 28-day-aged beef tomahawk, $10.99/lb: Salt it the night before, roast it low, then sear it in a hot pan with garlic and butter.
• Napa cabbage, $0.99/lb: Sear the sliced stems first, add the leaves, and finish with Chinkiang black vinegar for a fast spicy-sour side.
• Fresh longan, $2.99/lb: Peel and chill it for dessert, or add a couple to whisky and soda.

168 Market

• Head-on shrimp, $4.99/lb: Make salt-and-pepper shrimp with a light cornstarch coating, then toss with fried garlic and jalapeños.
• Pork belly, $3.79/lb: Dry the skin thoroughly before roasting for better crackling.
• Golden pineapple, $2.99 each: Char the chunks separately, then fold them into fried rice just before serving.

Check each store’s flyer for sale end dates and availability.

Preview

Coming Soon: Chinatown’s Scene Heats Up

Spooky Spirits at The Sand Dollar Lounge

The spirits are moving into Chinatown starting October 1. The Sand Dollar Lounge’s Halloween takeover runs daily from Thursday, October 1 through Halloween night, October 31.

Rebranded this year as “The Haunting on Spring Mountain” (formerly “Nightmare on Spring Mountain”), the pop-up will be open seven days a week from 4:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

The venue at 3355 Spring Mountain Road is transforming with wall-to-wall 1980s horror movie decor and a new craft cocktail menu, created in partnership with Cocktail Kingdom Hospitality Group and served in collectible skull, cauldron and clown glassware. Free nightly live music runs into the early hours, and entry is first-come, first-served — no reservations.

Check out thehauntingonspringmnt.com and thesanddollarlv.com for the full cocktail menu and live music schedule.

Throwback

Looking Back

A Farewell to Yui Edomae Sushi

Some restaurants become part of a neighborhood’s identity. For 11 years, Yui Edomae Sushi was one of those places for Las Vegas Chinatown. Behind a modest door on Arville Street, Chef Gen Mizoguchi and his team created an experience that brought people from across Las Vegas and far beyond to our dining district.

Yui closed after its final service on Saturday, September 26. We have covered the restaurant and photographed its meals over the years. Today, those pictures feel like pieces of Chinatown history.

At the counter, every visit to Yui became a personal experience. Photo: Chinatown Vegas.

Before opening Yui in 2015, Mizoguchi helped introduce many Las Vegas diners to Edomae sushi at Kabuto. At Yui, he built a restaurant around that tradition and the quiet pleasure of watching a skilled chef at work. Executive chef Kaz Iida joined in 2016 and helped carry that work forward.

An omakase course from our Yui archive. Photo: Chinatown Vegas.

There was care in the smallest details. A course might invite you to pause and admire it, but its real purpose was the moment you tasted it. Yui asked guests to slow down, trust the chefs, and enjoy what they had chosen to share that evening.

One of the details we remember from a meal at Yui. Photo: Chinatown Vegas.

Our photographs also remind us that Yui was never only about sushi. It was about the people who prepared it, the guests who marked special occasions there, and the pride of having a restaurant of this caliber in Chinatown. It showed how much could happen in a small room when a team gave its full attention to its craft.

A memorable presentation from our Yui archive. Photo: Chinatown Vegas.

In announcing the closing, Chef Gen thanked the guests, friends, vendors, and team members who made Yui part of their lives. We thank them in return. Yui gave Chinatown 11 remarkable years, and everyone who passed through its doors helped make those years matter. We will miss you, Yui.

Forecast

Chinatown Weather

Live conditions for the Spring Mountain corridor, updated automatically.

Unfiltered

Chinatown Gripes

The Roads Still Need Attention

We have written about Spring Mountain and Decatur more than any other intersection in Chinatown. On Friday evening, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle nearby and taken to a hospital — police had not released the person’s condition when FOX5 reported the crash. We hope they recover, and we want a serious review of the crossings, turns, and traffic signals at this intersection.

We’ve eased up on the potholes because Spring Mountain is scheduled for repaving — Phase 2 covers Rainbow to Decatur, Phase 3 covers Decatur east through Chinatown’s core. Still, after more than a decade of deterioration, couldn’t the worst holes have been patched while we wait?

And the traffic light timers — has anyone seen worse anywhere in the country? Long waits and missed turns shouldn’t be a normal part of a trip through Chinatown.

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

Coming Tuesday

A New Chapter for This Week in Chinatown

The written issue will continue every Monday, and video episodes will now arrive on Tuesdays. We have several hosts lined up, so you’ll hear more voices from around Chinatown in the weeks ahead.

This Tuesday, meet Mina, our AI presenter and a regular contributor to the series. She’ll host episodes, share stories with the team, and fill in when needed. Join us Tuesday for the video!

Let’s Celebrate

Let’s Celebrate

Chinatown gave us plenty to cheer for this week. Here’s to Jewel, where ground is officially broken on 380 new apartments and a new chapter for the neighborhood. And here’s to The Sand Dollar, for making October in Chinatown a little spookier.

Got a birthday, anniversary, grand opening or shout-out the neighborhood should celebrate? Send it our way and we’ll raise a glass in an upcoming issue.

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.