Just weeks after opening Stubborn Seed Las Vegas—the Vegas sibling to his Michelin-starred restaurant in Miami—Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford did a bold thing in the middle of a major restaurant launch: he hopped into a bright orange SUV with us and went on a 10-stop food crawl through Chinatown.
Ford had spent weeks in his Resorts World kitchen but hadn’t explored much of Las Vegas, he told VisitLasVegas.com editor Andrea Bennett and me. An idea was born: a crash course of some of our favorites. We wanted to show Jeremy what locals already know—that this stretch of Spring Mountain Road is one of the most varied and rewarding food districts in the country. With hundreds of restaurants packed into a few miles, it’s a place where you can chase soup dumplings with Neapolitan pizza, sample Grand Marnier soufflés before walking into a narco-tunnel-like bar and finish the night with sizzling Korean barbecue and spicy risotto.
This wasn’t a greatest hits tour, and it wasn’t built for balance—it was built for breadth. The first four spots were in the same strip mall, and none were what you'd expect to kick off a "Chinatown" crawl. But that’s the point. Here’s how it went down:
Stop 1: Le Club by Partage — Champagne, Charcuterie, and French Flex
Next door to acclaimed tasting-menu spot Partage, this plush, low-lit lounge offers French small plates, oysters, and one of the most impressive Champagne selections in the city. We kicked things off with glasses of bubbles, a spread of cheeses and charcuterie, and a knockout beef tartare. Jeremy, eyeing the neighboring dining room, said he’d be back to do the full tasting at Partage soon. Smart man.
Stop 2: 00 Pie & Pub — Neapolitan Pizza with Swagger
Tucked into the same plaza, Double Zero is one of the best pizzerias in town—no exaggeration given Mike Vakneen’s recent James Beard Best Chef SW nom. Their Neapolitan-style pies are crafted with hyper-hydrated 00 flour for a crust that’s both light and crisp. We inhaled the vodka-sauced Tempesta Market pepperoni pizza and a short rib all’arancia version crowned with orange chimichurri. If you go, don’t skip the wagyu carpaccio or caramel budino.
Stop 3: Más Por Favor — Taco Shop Meets Narco Tunnel
At first glance, Más Por Favor looks like a casual taco counter serving al pastor and an egg roll-shelled “Pho-Kin” chicken taco. But head to the back and you’ll find yourself walking through what Jeremy dubbed a “straight-up narco tunnel”—one that eventually spits you out into a dimly lit tequila lounge that feels like Día de los Muertos via Wes Anderson. We focused on the back bar, where cocktails are dialed-in and the vibe is full tilt.
Stop 4: The Golden Tiki — Grown-Up Dole Whip and 3PM Gremlin Energy
This place has it all: mini waterfalls, glowing skulls, shrunken heads of Vegas legends, and one of the best frozen drinks in town. While you could eat here (Ford declared the ribs “legit” and we suggested he pace himself) we were laser-focused on the boozy Dole Whip that tasted like an Imagineer got into the rum. “Wait—this place never closes?” Jeremy asked, mid-sip. You can literally wander in like a gremlin at 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. Snagging a booth means booking ahead—a must if you’re hitting it at prime time.
Stop 5: Shanghai Taste — Dumpling Theater
Chef Jimmy Li’s beloved dumpling shop specializes in xiao long bao (soup dumplings), and part of the magic is watching the team make them in real time through a glass-walled prep station.We ordered both the traditional pork Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) and shen jian bao (pan-fried dumplings), and parked ourselves right in front of the dumpling-makers. Jeremy, wide-eyed, said: “This dumpling ninja show is oddly hypnotic—and the flavors hit hard.”
Stop 6: Aburiya Raku — Where Chefs Go to Eat
If you’ve ever asked a Vegas chef where they go, Raku is probably the answer. This izakaya is legendary for its agedashi tofu, pristine sashimi, robatayaki skewers, and foie gras rice bowl.
After a few sakes and drinks to loosen up, we settled in for a stunning array of dishes, but the yellowtail carpaccio hit hardest. Jeremy was practically giddy: “I mean, this yellowtail carpaccio [we’re bleeping him here, this is a family website] I’m losing my mind—seriously one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.”
Stop 7: Shigotonin — Big Cuts, Big Laughs
Located in Golden Spring Plaza, Shigotonin specializes in Japanese-style tapas, sake, and big, beautiful slabs of toro. I joked to Jeremy, “These toro pieces are so massive, it’s like they had a BBL—Big Beautiful Layers of fish.” He fell over laughing but couldn’t disagree. We chased it with uni pasta, hand rolls, and yet another round of sake. Kanpai!
Stop 8: EDO Gastro Tapas & Wine — Barcelona by Way of Spring Mountain
Chef Oscar Amador Edo’s spot brings Catalonian inspiration and some El Bulli DNA to Chinatown. His dishes are clever, confident, and just indulgent enough. We started with caviar and eggs topped with bottarga espuma, and drinks from a roving cocktail cart that felt more Barcelona than Vegas. “This is some next-level brunch energy,” Jeremy said with a grin. Hit this spot before September, when EDO closes—to open what we’re sure will be an equally inventive French restaurant—Braseria at the Collective. To avoid dying, we forwent the full tasting menu and crawled back into our orange Resorts World SUV for the final push.
Stop 9: Daeho Kalbijjim — Korean Comfort, Supercharged
You can smell the beef from the parking lot. At Daeho, a bubbling pot of kalbijjim—sweet and savory braised beef rib, rice cakes, and veggies under a bubbling layer of torched mozzarella—arrives looking like a Pixar food fantasy. We paired it with yuk hwe (Korean beef tartare), suyuk in ox bone broth, and hot stone bibimbap. Jeremy, glassy-eyed, said: “This is like a hug in a hot tub.”
Stop 10: Sookdal Korean BBQ — Seoul Swagger, Vegas Style
We ended just a few doors down at Sookdal, a high-end Seoul import known for its pork belly—but we were all about the luxurious beef cuts and a spicy, creamy kimchi risotto that stole the show. “This beef is insane—and that risotto? I'd 100% steal that idea,” Jeremy said, somewhere between euphoric and exhausted. The table went quiet. Chopsticks slowed. Laughter turned into wheezy half-breaths. We’d officially broken Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford. Mission accomplished.
The Aftermath
The beauty of Vegas’ Chinatown isn’t just the variety—it’s how accessible it is. You could plan your own crawl around these ten spots or discover your own favorites in a plaza you’ve never stepped into. Whether you’re chasing xiao long bao, robata, risotto, or boozy pineapple soft serve, there’s no wrong turn. Just bring friends, pace yourself, and maybe block off the next morning.
Pro Tip: Don’t Want to Plan It Yourself?
Pulling off a 10-stop culinary crawl like this is no small feat—it took serious coordination, strategic pacing, and more than one group chat meltdown. If you’d rather skip the logistics and just show up hungry, check out Lip Smacking Foodie Tours. Founded by former server Donald Contursi, the much-loved local company offers guided tasting tours across the Strip, Arts District, and now—just in time—Las Vegas’ Chinatown. You’ll hit curated spots with VIP treatment, skip the lines, and dive deep into the city’s food scene with local guides who know their stuff. Want something more personal? They also build custom crawls to match your cravings, from high-end omakase to street food bangers. Use our route as inspiration—or let them do the heavy lifting.