AWS-ome Vegas Asian Restaurant Guide for AWS re:Invent 2024

With AWS re:Invent being a 6-day / 5-night marathon, the places on the main strip can become a bit boring and monotonous (buffets, buffets, buffets, buffets, and more buffets). Sometimes a change of pace from the typical places on the main strip is much needed over a week-long conference.

From my experience, I’ve found that the best places to eat in Vegas are not on the main strip but away from it. 

I reached out to my friends via Facebook for Asian restaurant recommendations since I am looking for a change of pace:

I organized the restaurant recommendations by adding a Google Maps pin, the website (if available), suggestions on what to order (essentially, what I would order), and my own personal observations. The list is in no particular order: 

Shang Artisan Noodles

• Cuisine: Chinese Noodle Soup
• Google Maps Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/e3SdTVVHSnj12svn6
• Website: https://www.shangartisannoodle.com/
• What to order: Shang Beef Noodle Soup, Beef Shank Noodle Soup, Dan Dan Noodles
• Observation: This place looks like a solid spot for Chinese Beef Noodle Soup made with traditional hand-pulled noodles. Chinese Beef Noodle Soup is one of the most popular dishes in China with every region having its own interpretation. It looks like Shang Artisan Noodles focuses on the Shan-Xi style Beef Noodle Soup, which is a northern province of China. 

Kogi Korean BBQ & Seafood Hotpot

• Cuisine: Mostly Korean, Chinese, and Japanese
• Google Maps Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/r1vKFyrkMSU3Z4NJ6
• What to order: It’s a buffet, so EVERYTHING!
• Observation: Who doesn’t love an AYCE Korean BBQ? On top of that, they have Chinese Hot Pot in addition to the BBQ! This place would be a great place to have a small team dinner. I was informed that this place can get really crowded, so be ready to wait a little bit unless you can go right when it opens. 

888 Japanese BBQ

• Cuisine: Japanese
• Google Maps Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/5ous3WhPrHjYaeqz9
• What to order: It’s a buffet, so EVERYTHING!
• Observation: I was told this is the absolute best place for an AYCE Asian BBQ experience. This spot specializes in Japanese Yakiniku, which is grilled Japanese meats. There seems to be a large variety of cuts and grades of meat you can choose from. I was told that this place can be up to a one to three-hour wait at peak times, but it’s totally worth it. This place would be a great place to have a small team dinner at.

Yummy Rice 

• Cuisine: Chinese – Cantonese / Hong Kong 
• Google Maps Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/wNASLF1JrtFb9d3y7
• What to order: Three Preserved Meat Clay Pot and Pork Spare Ribs Clay Pot, 
• Observation: This is the one place I am visiting in Vegas. Yummy Rice specializes in a regional dish called Clay Pot Rice where they cook the protein and rice together in a clay pot. By doing so, the flavors and drippings from the protein soak beautifully into the rice. The best part is the crispy rice bottom at the end.

Lotus of Siam

• Cuisine: Northern Thai
• Google Maps Pin: https://g.page/lotusofsiamflamingo
• Website: https://lotusofsiamlv.com/
• What to order: Khao Soi, Larb, Garlic Prawns 
• Observation: This might be the best Thai place in Las Vegas since four people recommended it.  I also went here in 2022, and I can confirm this was one of the best Thai restaurants I’ve visited. This restaurant is closer to the main strip, which could be an excellent option for a small team dinner if you want to stay close by. There are two curated menus that feed 2-4 people, which can help if you don’t know what to order. Be sure to make a reservation in advance.

88 Noodle Papa

• Cuisine: Chinese – Cantonese / Hong Kong 
• Google Maps Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/Kktaq6X3gRQKRuUN8
• Website: https://www.88noodlepapa.com/
• What to order: Shrimp & Pork Wonton Noodle Soup, Hainan Chicken 
• Observation: I was told from the recommendations that this is the best for Hong Kong-style Won Ton Noodle Soup in Las Vegas. This is another spot that I am hitting up. This place would be a great spot for a quick lunch or dinner. 

Shanghai Taste Xiao Long Bao

• Cuisine: Chinese – Shanghai
• Google Maps Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/GRSBHrCKE7cSUcsE7
• Website: https://shanghai-taste-las-vegas.business.site/
• What to order: Traditional Shanghai Xiao Long Bao, Sheng Jian Bao, Shanghai Scallion Pancake
• Observation: This is another spot on my “must-visit” spots since there are not a lot of solid Xiao Long Bao places in Chicago. If you’re not familiar with Xiao Long Bao, it’s a popular regional dish made famous in Shanghai. Never had XLB? Well, your mind is about to be blown by visiting this spot. I am looking forward to trying this place out since I have had a lot of great XLBs in Vancouver and New York City. 

Best Friend MGM Grand

• Cuisine: Korean American
• Google Maps Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/MueQcyhwV2KDrKZo7 
• Website: https://parkmgm.mgmresorts.com/en/restaurants/best-friend.html
• What to order: Chef Menu, Kimchi Fried Rice, Kogi Short Rib Tacos, Kalbi, Slippery Shrimp
• Observation: This is Roy Choi’s restaurant, who is famous for his Korean-Mexican taco truck Kogi in Los Angeles. This place was recommended by three different people so it must be good. It seems like a reservation is needed if you want to dine here. This could be a great spot for a small team dinner if you want to be closer to the strip. 

The Magic Noodle

• Cuisine: Northern Chinese
• Google Maps Pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sZY3t1YoaRC2TE1r7
• Website: https://themagicnoodle.net/
• What to order: Lan Zhou Noodles
• Observation: It looks like a solid hand-pulled noodle spot specializing in Lan Zhou noodles, a northern Chinese beef noodle soup specialty!

Conclusion

I hope this guide encourages you to explore other areas of Las Vegas and support small businesses off the main strip. If you’re looking for more places, search “Las Vegas Chinatown” in Google maps and you’ll see a large concentration of Asian restaurants slightly northwest of the strip.

The two East / West Streets are Flamingo Road and Spring Mountain Road going west of Interstate 15:

If you have any follow-up questions, need other recommendations, or would like to join me in these fun food adventures, you can email me ([email protected]), or DM me via LinkedIn (@toeknee). I would love to meet up, coordinate a small group, and share these places with anyone interested!