This week, we’re putting the spotlight on the creators who help tell our neighborhood’s story every single day.

From mouth-watering food to hidden-gem discoveries, the four standout voices in our new Chinatown 20 series are boosting visibility for restaurants, businesses, and experiences across Spring Mountain Road.

We’re also taking a close look at a timely local issue: is the new pedestrian crossing between Shanghai Plaza and Chinatown Plaza truly making streets safer, or does it need adjustments?

Shouting out to everyone who made the Claw World Grand Opening the biggest one yet

Plus, we’ve got fresh breaking news, live music all week at the Sand Dollar, exciting auditions for Come From Away, and killer grocery deals at 99 Ranch and 168 Market.

Let’s dive in!

Breaking News

Brian Howard Named James Beard Finalist
Big news for Chinatown Las Vegas. Chef Brian Howard of Sparrow + Wolf has officially been named a 2026 James Beard Award Finalist for Best Chef: Southwest — one of the highest honors in the culinary world.

This recognition places Howard among the top chefs in the region and marks a major moment not just for him, but for the entire Chinatown corridor. It’s another clear signal that Chinatown Las Vegas continues to rise as one of the most important dining destinations in the country.

The James Beard Awards will announce winners on June 15, 2026, in Chicago.

Earlier this year we sat down with Chef Brian Howard:

With more than 248 sit-down restaurants packed into a 3-mile corridor, Chinatown continues to prove it’s competing at the highest level.

Fukuya Japanese Market Rebrands as J Gourmet Market
The long-standing Japanese grocery store Fukuya at 3910 Spring Mountain Rd has transitioned to new management and a fresh brand: J Gourmet Market.

The shop is shifting toward a premium, ingredient-focused experience with direct-import ultra-fresh seafood from Toyosu, Osaka, and Fukuoka (pre-order for weekend pickup), expanded certified Japanese A5 Wagyu, and a kitchen now preparing bento boxes and sushi fresh to order.

The market remains open daily during its store renewal.

New Soup Dumpling Concept “Lai Yi Long” to Replace Tea Way Plus
Cathay Hills Plaza is seeing another shift as Tea Way Plus makes way for Lai Yi Long (来一笼) Soup Dumpling at 5300 Spring Mountain Rd, Suite 109.

New signage featuring a chef with a steamer basket has already gone up. The concept focuses on authentic Xiao Long Bao while carrying over some beverages like avocado smoothies and fruit teas. Stay tuned for the grand opening date.

Fresh signage is up at Cathay Hills Plaza as Lai Yi Long Soup Dumpling prepares to open, bringing a new specialized dumpling concept to the former Tea Way Plus space.

Live Performance Spotlight

Live Performance Vibes: Music and Dance Take the Stage

🎶 The Sand Dollar Lounge (April 6 – April 12)
No cover. No excuses. One of the most consistent live music lineups in Las Vegas—right here in Chinatown.

From blues and rock to late-night energy, the stage stays active all week:

• Monday, April 6: The Smokestacks
• Tuesday, April 7: Cory Cross
• Wednesday, April 8: PRE VIVA ROCK & ROLL PARTY!
• Thursday, April 9: Brody Buster
• Friday, April 10: Early Set – Until The Eclipse • Late Set – Burn & Cherry Hill
• Saturday, April 11: Cordell Winter
• Sunday, April 12: The Foster Collective (Chris Foster)

For over 40 years the Sand Dollar has brought top-tier talent to Chinatown with no cover charge.

Pro tip: Early set for the groove. Late set when it gets wild.

Chinatown Spotlight

🔥 Chinatown Las Vegas Content Creators — The Chinatown 20

Part of our ongoing series: Chinatown’s Top Content Creators (2026)

Note: Creators featured in The Chinatown 20 are not ranked. They are presented in a random order, mirroring the weekly Community Corner section of This Week in Chinatown. Once all 20 creators have been revealed, the full list will be organized alphabetically.

👉 View the full list (updated weekly)

Chinatown Las Vegas content creators are driving a new wave of discovery across one of the most dynamic dining and cultural corridors in the country.

Something big is coming to Chinatown Las Vegas. 👀 We’re launching Chinatown’s Best Content Creators (2026) — a curated list of 20 creators putting the corridor on the map.

As part of this series, we’re recognizing the voices helping shape how Chinatown Las Vegas is experienced, discovered, and shared — locally and around the world.

This inaugural edition kicks off The Chinatown 20 — a curated list by ChinatownVegas.com highlighting creators driving visibility, energy, and attention to one of the most dynamic dining corridors in the country.

From viral food coverage to hidden gems and everyday dining moments, these creators play a key role in showcasing the depth and diversity of Chinatown Las Vegas in real time.

Each week, we’ll feature four creators as we build toward the full list of 20.

📸 Creator #1 of 4: @lasvegasfill

🎥 Platform(s): Instagram
📍 Chinatown Connection: Regularly features restaurants across the Chinatown corridor as part of broader coverage of the Las Vegas food scene.
🔥 Why They’re One of Chinatown’s Top: @lasvegasfill is one of the most influential food creators in Las Vegas, consistently driving massive visibility to restaurants across the city. With a reach that extends to locals and tourists alike, the account plays a major role in drawing attention to Chinatown’s evolving dining scene.
👉 Follow: @lasvegasfill

📸 Creator #2 of 4: @lvfoodgoddess

🎥 Platform(s): Instagram
📍 Chinatown Connection: Frequently highlights local dining across Las Vegas, including a strong presence of Asian cuisine and restaurants throughout the Chinatown corridor.
🔥 Why They’re One of Chinatown’s Top: @lvfoodgoddess delivers vibrant, food-focused content that spotlights both popular destinations and standout dishes across the city. With a clear passion for diverse cuisine and consistent coverage of local favorites, the account plays a key role in bringing attention to Chinatown Las Vegas.
👉 Follow: @lvfoodgoddess

📸 Creator #3 of 4: @therubyontherocks

🎥 Platform(s): Instagram
📍 Chinatown Connection: Regularly features Las Vegas dining, including spots throughout the Chinatown corridor, bringing consistent visibility to the area’s evolving food scene.
🔥 Why They’re One of Chinatown’s Top: @therubyontherocks delivers approachable, everyday food content that resonates with locals and visitors alike. With a steady stream of restaurant highlights and real-world dining experiences, the account plays a key role in showcasing the accessibility and variety of Chinatown Las Vegas.
👉 Follow: @therubyontherocks

📸 Creator #4 of 4: @tiarappgyo

🎥 Platform(s): Instagram
📍 Chinatown Connection: Regularly highlights local Las Vegas eats and small businesses, with consistent coverage of spots across the Spring Mountain corridor.
🔥 Why They’re One of Chinatown’s Top: A strong advocate for local and small businesses, @tiarappgyo brings an authentic, community-first approach to Vegas food content. Her consistent support of independent spots and approachable style helps drive real visibility to the Chinatown dining scene.
👉 Follow: @tiarappgyo

🏆 About the Chinatown 20

This feature is part of Chinatown’s Top Content Creators (2026) — a curated list recognizing 20 creators helping define and amplify Chinatown Las Vegas.

We’re revealing 4 creators each week as we build toward the full Chinatown 20.

👉 Explore the full list (updated weekly)

Next drop: 4 more creators you should be following.

Follow them. Share them. This is who’s shaping Chinatown right now.

Shop Local: A Feast of Fresh Deals

This Week in Chinatown is back with some incredible deals for your grocery run in the 89102 and 89146. From April 3rd through April 9th, 99 Ranch Market and 168 Market are offering fantastic prices on seasonal fruits, premium seafood, and kitchen staples.

99 Ranch Market (4155 Spring Mountain Rd. & 3768 S Maryland Pkwy.)

• Champagne Mangoes: $1.49 each ($16.99 case)
• Kyoho Grapes: $9.99 / 2lb pack
• Dragon Fruit (White): $2.49/lb
• Brown Shinko Pear: $4.99 / 3-count pack
• Goat Meat: $4.99/lb
• Head-on Blue Diamond Shrimp: $4.99/lb
• Swai Basa Fillet: $5.99 / 2lb pack
• Striped Bass: $3.99/lb

168 Market (3459 S Jones Blvd.)

• Green & Red Leaf Lettuce: 69¢ each
• Small Bok Choy Sum: $1.29/lb
• Kabocha Squash: 89¢/lb
• Green Kiwi: $4.99 / 2lb pack
• Natural Pork Belly (Frozen): $2.99/lb
• Belt Fish: $3.99/lb
• Scallop U10: $20.99 / 1lb pack
• All Nature Boiled Hard Shell Clams: 4 packs for $10

Happy shopping!

Coming Soon: Chinatown’s Scene Heats Up

Calling all local performers! Las Vegas Little Theatre (LVLT), just minutes from Chinatown on Schiff Drive, has announced open auditions for the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away.

Auditions: Monday, April 27 & Tuesday, April 28 at 6:30 PM at 3920 Schiff Dr. Prepare 16–32 bars of a song. Callbacks April 29. Performances July 10–26, 2026.

Visit lvlt.org/come-from-away-auditions for details and the audition form.

Weather: Chinatown Weather Post – April 6–12, 2026

It looks like we are heading into a classic spring heat climb, followed by a much-needed cool down and a chance of rain by the weekend.

• Monday (4/6): 86°F / 62°F — Warm with periods of sun
• Tuesday (4/7): 92°F / 65°F — Sunny and hot (peak heat)
• Wednesday (4/8): 90°F / 64°F — Partly sunny and very warm
• Thursday (4/9): 85°F / 61°F — Partly sunny and warm
• Friday (4/10): 82°F / 59°F — Partly sunny
• Saturday (4/11): 74°F / 56°F — Showers and noticeably cooler (60% chance)
• Sunday (4/12): 80°F / 60°F — Morning showers then clearing

Community Corner

A momentous grand opening for Claw World as community leaders and performers gather to celebrate the newest addition to the district.

🌟 Claw World Grand Opening Draws Massive Crowd and Marks a New Era for the Corridor

Chinatown showed up in a big way this weekend. The grand opening of Claw World Chinatown wasn’t just another business launch — it was a full-scale community event that packed the space from start to finish and signaled a bold new chapter for the corridor.

Local media, including 8 News Now and Fox 5 Vegas, spotlighted the opening in advance. From the moment doors opened, the energy was electric: live DJ, vibrant lion dance, Shaolin Kung Fu demonstrations, a powerful National Anthem, face painting, and all-ages activities. More than 1,500 attendees came through.

What stood out most was the collaboration. This opening brought together performers, organizers, local partners, media, and community organizations in a powerful show of unity.

Claw World represents the corridor’s evolution beyond dining into experiences and large-scale events. With over 248 sit-down restaurants already making it one of the densest food corridors in the country, openings like this show the next phase is here — bigger, bolder, and more experiential.

This wasn’t just a grand opening. It was a statement that Chinatown Las Vegas continues to grow, and the community is stronger when it shows up together.

Community Shoutouts
Hosting and ceremony: MC Comedian Cat Ce, National Anthem by Sue Weet (Ms. Universe World International), Ana Saia, Habibi Karim (Beast Games), Maria Tran, and Sonny Vinuya from the Lt. Governor’s Office on behalf of Governor Joe Lombardo.

Cultural performances: Las Vegas Hung Ching Lion Dance and Shaolin Kung Fu Chan Exhibition. Entertainment by DJ Amethyst and DJ Turtle. Family activities: Shey Face Painting and InTUitive Balloons by Kim Tu.

Media & production: @Neosinn (cinematography), 8 News Now, Fox 5 Vegas, ChinatownVegas.com, and dozens of local creators.

PR, marketing & community support: ChinatownAmplify.com, VegasAmplify.com, the Asian Community Development Center, and the Asian Community Resource Center.

Featured displays: Vegas Auto Gallery. Local business supporters: ShangHai Taste, Urban Matcha, Gyu+, Cafe Moignet, Milk Bread, Krok, Aaron Lee, Yo Mochi, and Ichiza.

Additional thanks to community leader Gary Wu and local leaders and candidates from across the community.

Together, this is what Chinatown looks like at its best — collaborative, energized, and continuing to grow beyond expectations.

Looking Back

In May 2023, Ayala Tattoo Shop opened in Cathay Hill Plaza, bringing fine-line and one-line tattoo artistry to the neighborhood. Founded by 22-year-old Ayala Bratt from Israel, the studio quickly became known for its delicate, precise style.

Located next to Hong Kong Garden, the shop offers professional tattooing, body piercing, and art services. It stands as a testament to the young, international entrepreneurial spirit shaping Chinatown Vegas.

Chinatown Gripes

Is the New Pedestrian Crossing Working as Intended?

The pedestrian signal between Shanghai Plaza and Chinatown Plaza is only a few months old, but concerns are already surfacing from business owners on both sides of Spring Mountain Road.

“When people press the light, oftentimes vehicles don’t stop and continue moving,” says Peter Chen of 888 Collectibles. “Vehicles coming out of Shanghai Plaza can’t see the flashing lights well. Traffic builds during busy times, and cars coming out of the plaza get stuck. Bridge preferred.”

Across the street, a long-time business owner at Chinatown Plaza said the new crosswalk is poorly placed — too far from their main entrance — and the flashing yellow beacons barely slow drivers down. Many still don’t feel safe crossing.

The signal was installed to improve safety, but as foot traffic grows, questions remain about visibility, placement, and driver compliance.

Weekly Recurring Gripes:

• Speed limit too high
• Ferocious Potholes
• Awkward bus stops and pick-up spots
• Badly timed traffic signals
• Ineffective pedestrian signals

Explore More Chinatown

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Let’s Celebrate

Let’s Celebrate

Another week, another reminder of why Chinatown Las Vegas keeps getting better.

Whether it’s a James Beard finalist putting our culinary scene on the national map, a beloved Japanese market leveling up, a new soup dumpling spot on the way, or a packed grand opening like Claw World that brought the whole community together — momentum is real.

Big thanks to every content creator, business owner, performer, and neighbor who shows up and keeps this corridor vibrant.

Keep sharing your stories, supporting local, and crossing those streets (carefully).

Here’s to another great week in Chinatown — see you out on Spring Mountain Road!