These Are the Top 8 Chinese Restaurants in Las Vegas

As the Las Vegas fine-dining scene has broadened and matured over the years, gourmet Chinese restaurants have become a key draw for the city’s casino-resorts, which compete for the increasingly-sophisticated palates of high-rollers, business travelers, and leisure guests.  And since the number 8 is considered to be lucky and auspicious in Chinese culture, it’s only fitting that – after extensive research – we’ve identified the 8 top spots for an upmarket Chinese culinary experience in Las Vegas. 

MR CHOW (Caesars Palace)
Genting Palace (Resorts World)
Chyna Club (Fontainebleau Las Vegas)
Ping Pang Pong (Gold Coast Hotel & Casino)
Wing Lei (Wynn Las Vegas)
Mott 32 (The Venetian)
Hakkasan (MGM Grand)
Blossom (ARIA)

MR CHOW (Caesars Palace)

With an incredibly rich, multi-faceted and vibrant life (as detailed in the wonderful MAX documentary, “aka MR. CHOW”), Michael Chow has imbued his eponymous eatery at Caesars Palace with a lifetime’s worth of artistry, elan and unique dishes that are unmistakably his own.  The Glazed Prawns With Walnuts is a popular starter, and a Beijing Duck for the table is almost mandatory here, with the tableside carving presentation approaching performance art.  The Green Prawns (don’t let the color fool you) carry a deliciously-delicate flavor, but the Dressed Dungeness Crab, a house specialty featuring rich crabmeat deftly folded into a cloud of egg whites, is yet another delectable work of art born from the mind of a culinary genius.  And although it’s an unlikely option for dessert in a gourmet Chinese restaurant, MR CHOW’s Coconut Cream Cake is an impossibly-rich, custardy version that puts other renditions of the classic dessert to shame.

Genting Palace (Resorts World)

Put simply, Genting Palace is a perfect example of old-world elegance defined by a formal, high-ceilinged room with generously-spaced tables and floral accents that create a tranquil ambience.  Wait staff are efficient and attentive, but never obsequious.  And chef Billy Cheng’’s modern interpretations of Cantonese classics turn dinner here into a look back at what an elegant Las Vegas fine-dining experience once was, and can now be again.  Guests gravitate towards the 5-course Chef’s Tasting Menu ($168) with wine pairings ($88) expertly curated by the restaurant’s sommelier.  Chef Cheng’s Chilled Duck Salad with Black Truffle Sauce is a flavor sensation, and the Maine Lobster with Three Cup Sauce is a decadent and delicious treat.

Chyna Club (Fontainebleau Las Vegas)

It’s only fitting – considering its location inside the drop-dead gorgeous Fontainebleau – that the decor and style of Chyna Club is a marvel of interior design.  And thankfully, the quality of the gourmet Chinese cuisine served here matches the lofty setting.  With the guiding touch of Hakkasan founder Alan Yau and chef Richard Chen (previously of Wing Lei) at the helm, Chyna Club’s gourmet fare deftly blends complex flavors with sauces that enhance, rather than overwhelm, the dishes.  Start with the Scallop Shumai topped with caviar, then follow by savoring fall-off-the-bone-tender Jasmine Tea Smoked Iberico Pork Ribs.  Of the mains, the Drunken King Crab in aged rice wine is impressive, but the Black Cod with Champagne Honey Sauce is a stunning combination of texture and taste.  

Ping Pang Pong (Gold Coast Hotel & Casino)

The age-old advice to “go where the locals go” is nothing if not sage when applied to Ping Pang Pong, the perpetually-busy, off-Strip eatery inside the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino.  Co-founded and run by longtime Las Vegas restaurateur Kevin Wu, Ping Pang Pong is popular with Chinese locals and in-the-know visitors who pack the place daily for authentic dim sum (served until 3:00 p.m.) hawked via the traditional carts – at affordable Chinatown prices.  A full menu of reasonably-priced and authentic seafood, noodle, duck and rice dishes supplements the extensive dim sum array, which is all served by an efficient and friendly staff.  On a recent lunch visit, the executive chef of a top Vegas Strip restaurant was seen dining at a nearby table, thus providing further proof of Ping Pang Pong’s impressive local credibility.

Wing Lei (Wynn Las Vegas)

As the first Chinese restaurant in North America to earn a Michelin star and receive a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award in multiple years, Wing Lei has an image – and a reputation – to uphold.  Graceful and extremely professional managers and servers combine to ensure that patrons feel special when dining on chef Ming Yu’s elevated cuisine in a lavish gold dining room that evokes a Chinese jewel box.  The highlight here is Chef Ming’s Signature Tasting Menu ($227.88 per person), which includes Red King Crab Merus, Braised Prime Short Rib, Truffle Soup Dumpling and Imperial Peking Duck”

Mott 32 (The Venetian)

In a strikingly-gorgeous, cinematic dining room featuring eclectic design and decor infused with classic Feng Shui principles, Hong Kong-based Mott 32’s guests enjoy extraordinary, one-of-a-kind dishes that complement the environs.  Don’t-miss Signature dishes include Iberico Pork Siu Mai delicately filled with a soft quail egg yolk; Hot & Sour Iberico Pork Shanghainese Soup Dumplings that leave a fiery kick; Apple Wood Roasted 42 Days Peking Duck; and the Crispy Sugar-Coated BBQ Pork Buns – a guilty pleasure that takes classic char siu bao to new heights.  Of the mains, the Crispy Triple-Cooked Wagyu Beef Short Rib is a fall-off-the-bone tender, gustatory delight that pairs perfectly with Wok-Fried Snow Pea Tips with Minced Garlic.  Meanwhile, the specialty cocktail program enhances the menu, with the Forbidden Rose, an interesting, tropical riff on the classic Pisco Sour, leading the way.  Service here is crisp, efficient and extremely professional, as would be expected from an eatery with a distinguished Hong Kong pedigree. 

Hakkasan (MGM Grand)

Despite the four-level restaurant/nightclub setup, diners in the serene, upscale environs of Hakkasan Restaurant don’t hear a peep – or even feel the thumping base – from the club action above them.  Instead, they’re treated to an elegant meal of fine Cantonese cuisine, served amidst luxe surroundings.  And the dishes here are truly works of art, including the gorgeous Hakka Basket of assorted dim sum, which is as delicious as it is beautiful.  But diners shouldn’t miss the Crispy Duck Salad, an iconic dish that has defined the restaurant for years.  New to Hakkasan this year are the Dragon, Phoenix and Lotus multi-course menus, which spotlight executive chef Pinyo Saewu’s talents.

Blossom (ARIA)

With dinner set in an attractive room carefully architected with traditional Chinese design principles, patrons enjoying the cuisine at Blossom take in the environs along with the meal.  Featuring soft ambient lighting, mirrored leaf walls and ornate clusters of dew drop-inspired crystal and metal chandeliers, the dining room here certainly sets the mood for the venue’s specialties, including the tableside Peking Duck presentation, OxTail Hot Pot and Hong Kong-Style Maine Lobster with Ginger and Scallion.